Dietary patterns and factors associated in teachers of a private institution of higher education

Abstract Background Dietary pattern adopted by individuals seems to be related to sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and anthropometric parameters, and it may also reflect their health outcomes. Objective To identify dietary patterns and verify the associated factors among higher education teachers. Method Cross-sectional study with teachers from a South Brazil higher education private institution was carried out. It was evaluated the food consumption by a Food Consumption Markers Form and were collected sociodemographic, food, behavioral and anthropometric data. Factorial analysis of major components was performed to identify dietary patterns, and chi-square test and Poisson Regression to verify the association between exposure and outcome. Results Four dietary patterns described the food consumption of the 250 individuals, being two considered healthy (healthy and protein), constituted by health protector foods, and two (Western and snack), classified as mixed and of health risk, because it present both healthy food as those markers of an unhealthy eating, with predominance of the last. Teachers with characteristics of healthy life style showed larger adherence to healthy and protein patterns, and inverse relation with the Western. Those with greater actuation at the health area courses had larger adherence to protein pattern. Conclusion The large adherence of those with positive health aspects to healthy dietary patterns and their inverse relation to the Western pattern, they are probably related to the socioeconomic and demographic profile, characteristic of the population.