OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the dietary quality of users of a healthcare service and their eating behavior with respect to oils and fats. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with users of a health-promoting service. Dietary quality was assessed by the instrument "How is your diet" and eating behavior by the transtheoretical model for the consumption of oils and fats, reclassified as total fat intake. RESULTS: Among the 145 respondents, 49.6% were classified as being in the pre-action group (stages of pre-contemplation, contemplation and decision). These users consumed more high-fat foods and fewer healthy foods, therefore, their mean intakes of calories, fat, saturated fats and cholesterol were higher, and mean intakes of carbohydrate and monounsaturated fats were lower. Furthermore, they were more likely to consume inappropriate diets (according to the test, 76.4% should pay attention to their diet vs. 67.1% of users in the action stage, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The similarity of the data obtained by the methods highlights the need of assessing dietary habits and eating behavior and identifies the need of changing dietary habits and better planning, implementing and assessing interventions, according to behavioral change stages.
Feeding behavior; Food consumption; Food habits; Nutritional recommendation
