Abstract:

Objective: Evaluate the effects of a nutritional intervention in scholars from a school at countryside state of Rio Grande do Sul, in association with food consumption, nutritional status, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk. Strategies: A random clinic experiment through a nutritional intervention was performed on 36 students of 5th and 6th grade of an elementary school, those who were divided in intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Nutritional education strategies were applied was gauged weight, height and waist circumference, then the food consumption frequency and lifestyle were verified in both groups, before and after a month of intervention. Results: In the IG, 44,44% of sample was showed overweight situation, and in CG, 33,33%, there was no alteration in nutritional state at post test period. Analyzing the difference between groups, after the intervention, the IG showed increase on consumption of in natura food or minimally processed (cardiovascular risk protector), increased physical activity and slightly decreased hours of screen, while CG group increased the consumption of ultra-processed food (cardiovascular risk precursor), increased weight (p=0,034), waist circumference (p=0,004) and waist-to-height ratio (p=0,002). The waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference positively correlates with BMI and waist circumference in both groups. Conclusions: There was a positive effect at food habits due to a significant improve food behavior in the IG, increase of physical activity and slightly improvement of anthropometric parameters, while CG showed a worsening food habits and increase of anthropometric measures, results that evidence the need and benefits of nutritional education.

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