Consumo alimentar de idosos rurais do Amazonas: um estudo descritivo

Abstract

Introduction: The rural elderly population in the Amazonas region lives in a context of high biodiversity, with strong ties to family farming, fishing, and gathering of native foods. Despite the availability of natural resources, socioeconomic and geographic factors limit access to adequate nutrition, especially given the increasing consumption of ultra- processed foods in recent decades (Gama et al., 2022; Schor et al., 2018). Objective: To analyze the consumption of rural foods among elderly individuals in the Amazonas rural areas, identifying determining factors, recent trends, and potential impacts on health and quality of life. Method: Cross-sectional study with 215 elderly participants from different rural regions of the state. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied to collect sociodemographic information, food frequency, and dietary habits. Results: Most participants were female (54.88%), aged 60–69 years (56.74%), with low educational level (43.26%). There was high consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods, mainly fruits, vegetables, fish, rice, and cassava flour. Consumption of ultra- processed foods was low but increasing, including stuffed cookies, soft drinks, and instant noodles. Food intake reduction was reported by 70% of men and 88.98% of women, limited to up to three meals per day. Discussion: Traditional dietary patterns ensure good nutritional density and cultural preservation. However, isolation, low income, physiological changes, and gradual entry of ultra-processed foods increase the risk of food insecurity, especially among elderly living alone. Conclusion: The population maintains strong adherence to traditional dietary practices, predominantly consuming unprocessed and minimally processed foods. However, a dietary transition is observed, with gradual growth in ultra-processed food consumption, increased circulation of industrial products, and reduced productive autonomy.