MINDFUL EATING IN PRIMARY CARE: A HEALTH EDUCATION INTERVENTION STUDY WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENTS

Abstract

This study aimed to improve the relationship with food among Community Health Agents (CHAs) through the practice of Mindful Eating applied in health education interventions. It is a mixed descriptive, quantitative, and qualitative intervention study, linked to the PET-SAÚDE: Equity Project, conducted in a Family Health Unit (FHU) in a municipality in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos/RS region of Brazil. Five CHAs participated in the research, answering questionnaires before and after the interventions. Four interventions were carried out with educational activities, group dynamic, and mindfulness practices focused on conscious eating, perception of hunger and satiety signals, reduction of distractions during meals, and self-care. Qualitative data were analyzed using Bardin's content analysis, and quantitative data were analyzed using absolute and relative frequencies. The results demonstrated an improvement in the participants' perception of food, with increased mindfulness during meals, greater identification of hunger and satiety signals, a reduction in automatic and emotional behaviors related to eating, as well as greater awareness of eating habits and self-care. It was also observed that there was a decrease in screen use during meals and a greater appreciation for mealtimes. It can be concluded that the Mindful Eating interventions contributed positively to the participants' relationship with food, promoting benefits related to eating behavior, body awareness, and health care.