OBJECTIVES: to investigate food habits changes in the population of Brasília, Federal District through variables such as schooling, income and sex. METHODS: A cross sectional study, with a probabilistic sample of 500 homes through interviews of people aged over 15. The interviews were held at the Plano Piloto, Cidades Satélites and Vila Estrutural regions of the Federal District between March 2003 and March 2004. The sample landmark was defined based on Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística census sectors related to the 2000 demographic census. Twenty census sectors were randomly selected among the 2548 in the Federal District. RESULTS: daily food intake consisted of: rice, beans, bread, fruit and vegetables. Chicken weekly consumption (85.0%), beef (76.0 %), pasta (69.6%) and eggs (62.0%). The majority (71.0%) reported concern with healthy nourishment. Only 37% of the respondents reported food habits change in the last six months and among them 32.6% change was related to the wish of losing weight, 25.4% to health concerns and 20.0% to food reeducation. Change was maintained by 84.2% of the respondents. CONCLUSIONS: data indicate concern with healthy nourishment and change in food habits. Reasons reported for change are related to aesthetics and health concerns. Income and schooling are significant predictors of changes in food habits.
Food habits; Behavioral change; Food survey
