Efeito a longo termo do Programa de Alimentação do Trabalhador sobre o estado nutricional antropométrico de trabalhadores da indústria de transformação

Abstract

The Workers Food Program (WFP), implemented in Brazil for over 40 years, is a public policy of food and nutritional assistance to low-income workers whose main objective is to improve the nutritional conditions of workers through the provision of meals in the workplace. However, several cross-sectional studies have observed higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in populations of workers. The aim of this study was to compare with a longitudinal study the long-term variation in anthropometric indicators of the nutritional status and dietary intake between workers of manufacturing industries adherent to and non-adherent to the WFP. A prospective longitudinal study in a closed cohort selected by a combined stratified and multistage sampling was conducted, with evaluations in two waves with a 4-year interval, in 2014 and 2018. The change in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and dietary intake at lunch by the 24-hour recall method were compared between groups with analysis of covariance. A total of 273 workers in 16 industries, from an initial cohort of 1069 workers in 26 industries of the State of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, were evaluated in the two waves. The mean age was 37±10 years and 53.1% were male, with no differences between groups in age and sex distribution. BMI increased in both groups (0.44 kg/m2 in non-WFP, p=0.003, and 0.56 kg/m2 in WFP, p=0.0006) and WC increased in the WFP group (1.50 cm, p=0.0006). BMI change over time did not show statistical differences between groups (p=0.54) but WC had a greater increase in the WFP group (difference 1.37 cm, p=0.047). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the change over time of the dietary intake. The results obtained evidence the weight gain with a statistically significant increase in BMI in both groups and WC in the WFP group, and that the increase in WC was greater in the WFP group. These findings support the hypothesis of a causal nexus between worker participation in the WFP and increased WC and, possibly, BMI. These findings suggest the need for periodic monitoring of nutritional indicators in these workers. The relevance of the WFP is recognized for this portion of society and it is understood that the results of the present study may be helpful for the formulation and implementation of strategies for the promotion of workers’ health through the provision of a healthy diet that is adequate to the energetic-nutritional demands of this population, in addition the development of other health actions, with positive repercussions for productivity and the welfare of the workers.