Relation between the perception of dietary importance with socioeconomic, anthropometric and arterial hypertension variables in elderly women with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between the perception of the importance of food groups and socioeconomic, anthropometric and hypertension variables in elderly women with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study with 84 elderly women with metabolic syndrome. Socioeconomic variables (marital status, education level, monthly income and family composition), anthropometric variables (weight, height and waist circumference) and blood pressure were collected, along with a scale of importance of food groups. Statistical analyses were performed with a 5% significance level. Results: No associations were found with socioeconomic variables, but there was a positive association between milk and blood pressure; and negative among beans with age and diastolic blood pressure, also among oilseeds with body mass index and waist circumference. Conclusion: The perception of importance attributed to food groups is consistent with healthy eating, but more apprehensive for the metabolic syndrome aspects than for the socioeconomic ones.