Objective: To analyze which are the barriers that limit the promotion of healthy eating by physicians in basic health units at the primary care level in the Federal District (DF), Brazil. Methods: Data were collected from physicians included in the study "Promoting Healthy Eating in the SUS-DF: knowledge, attitudes and practices", conducted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in 2008. Data regarding demographics, professional characteristics and perceived barriers were examined. Determination of barrier types was achieved by principal component analysis. Results: Most physicians were women (61%), mean age 45 years, mean 18.7 years of professional activity. The factor analyses resulted in a four factors solution that accounted for an explanation of 59% of the total variance, which were: (i) users socio-cultural barriers, (ii) barriers related to the management process, (iii) health service structure barriers, and (iv) education and communication barriers. Conclusion: The barriers that limit the promotion healthy eating by health professionals are multiple and complex. The results show that the patient ultimately translates the difficulty of promoting their health. In other words, physicians consider the patient's culture and social conditions as barriers to promoting healthy eating. Also seems to contribute to this, the ability of the management process of the health service. Thereby, investments in educational materials, training and infrastructure to promote healthy eating, combined with an improvement in medical education are important recommendations for overcoming these barriers.
health promotion; nutrition, public health; primary health care
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