Representações sociais de idosos/as de diferentes classes sociais sobre os fatores que se interpõem ao consumo alimentar saudável no processo de envelhecimento com qualidade de vida

Abstract

Studies show the increase of the elderly population in Brazil and show the profile of the elderly and their health problems, particularly the Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), determined by various economic, social and cultural factors, standing out, changes in eating habits and consumption, contradictions of contemporary consumer society, which influenced new thoughts, new habits, new customs and new eating practices. In this context, the studies emphasize that the vast majority of the elderly do not know how to identify healthy foods and those that are harmful to health and end up committing nutritional deviations compromising the quality of life, especially in the aging process. Given this problem, the studies also emphasize the need to seek to understand, from the view of the elderly themselves, their habits, food consumption and how they conceive healthy eating and its relationship with quality of life. From this perspective, this study aims to analyze and understand the social representations of elderly people from different social classes in the city of Recife-PE about the relationship between healthy food consumption and quality of life in the aging process. More specifically, understand the factors that stand in the way of healthy eating in the aging process from the viewpoint of the elderly themselves. It is a case study, with a quantiquali approach, whose method of analysis consists of the social representations of the subjects, through which the visions, words, emotions, habits, social and cultural values were apprehended, allowing to find elements of social discourse. brought by the subjects for a better understanding of the social phenomena investigated. The research sample consists of 40 elderly, of both genders, aged between 60-90 years old, belonging to social classes A, B, C, D and E, according to the socioeconomic classification of the Brazilian Institute of Geography. and Statistics-IBGE (2015). Therefore, the data collection instrument consisted of an interview form integrating open and closed questions about the variables to be investigated. The results show that most of the interviewees are female, with a higher concentration in the age group from 60 to 74 years old and that most have incomplete elementary school and that only 7.5% have completed higher education. Salaries, benefits and pensions, as a rule, did not exceed two minimum wages for the elderly in class D and E and 20 minimum wages for the elderly in class A and B. The analysis of social representations of the subjects about the investigated phenomenon show several factors that stand in the way of healthy eating in the aging process with quality of life, from the viewpoint of the elderly themselves. Influenced by the interpretations, ideas, visions and conceptions they have about the studied social phenomenon, the study evidenced the lack of scientific or systematized knowledge about the investigated categories - eating habits; healthy eating; aging; quality of life - predominant knowledge of the common sense based on the daily experiences of the elderly subjects. Regarding the factors that hinder the practice of healthy eating in the aging process with quality of life, the following factors stand out from the analysis of social representations, including: social class; low wages, especially benefits and pensions; the educational level, therefore, the scientific knowledge that differs from the beliefs and opinions of the common sense. The construction of a less fragmented and broader understanding regarding the phenomenon studied is one of the challenges for the great majority of the elderly to know how to identify the foods that are good and those that are harmful to health and to avoid making mistakes that impair the change in eating habits and healthy eating practice, resulting in quality of life in the aging process. In this context, without disregarding the financial status according to social class resulting from retirement and / or pensions, they are insufficient and end up interfering with food expenditure, favoring the consumption of low-cost, easily prepared, often rich foods in fat, carbohydrates, sodium and chemical additives that contribute to the development of chronic non-communicable diseases, especially in the elderly group.