Percepção da doença, comportamento alimentar e motivações alimentares em pessoas com Diabetes Mellitus 2

Abstract

This study aimed to test the correlation between disease perception, eating behavior, and motivations for food choices in people with T2DM. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted between August 2023 and August 2024 in a public reference hospital in Belém/PA, with individuals aged 20 to 64 years of both sexes. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected, as well as the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Three Factor Eating Questionnaire, and The Eating Motivation Survey were administered. A total of 157 people participated, with an average age of 54.7 ± 7.3 years, the majority of whom were female (72.6%), mixed-race (51.6%), residing in the Metropolitan Region of Belém (78.3%), with a partner (54.1%), having completed or incomplete high school (84.7%), and with a family income ≥ 1 minimum wage (68.8%). In the first study, the average disease perception was 46.6 ± 9.6, with the temporal (8.6 ± 2.4), consequences (8.4 ± 2.2), and concern (8.3 ± 2.7) dimensions obtaining the highest scores. Participants showed a higher pattern of cognitive restraint eating behavior (45.8 ± 23.0) and their food motivations were more determined by habits (11.7 ± 2.5), preferences (11.1 ± 2.7), need and hunger (11.1 ± 2.4). The consequences dimension showed a positive correlation with the social norms domain (r = 0.143; p = 0.037). The temporal domain was negatively correlated with habits (r = -0.149; p = 0.031). The personal control dimension showed a positive correlation with preferences (r = 0.156; p = 0.025) and a negative correlation with health motivations (r = -0.257; p = 0.001), natural issues (r = -0.168; p = 0.017), and weight control (r = -0.312; p = 0.000). There was also a positive correlation between treatment control and preferences (r = 0.266; p = 0.000), need and hunger (r = 0.148; p = 0.032), pleasure (r = 0.140; p = 0.041), and traditional eating (r = 0.154; p = 0.027), as well as a negative correlation with weight control (r = -0.144; p = 0.036). The concern dimension was positively correlated with weight control (r = 0.139; p = 0.041), while the understanding domain showed a negative correlation with convenience (r = 0.145; p = 0.035), natural issues (r = -0.221; p = 0.003), and weight control (r = -0.252; p = 0.001), and positive with social image (r = 0.140; p = 0.041). Emotions were also positively correlated with emotion control (r = 0.210; p = 0.004). Personal control showed a positive correlation with uncontrolled eating (r = 0.198; p = 0.006) and a negative correlation with cognitive restraint (r = -0.252; p = 0.001). The understanding dimension had a negative correlation with cognitive restraint (r = - 0.268; p = 0.000) and the emotions dimension showed a positive correlation with emotional eating (r = 0.155; p = 0.026). As for the second study, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating showed a positive correlation with the domains of preferences (r = 0.284/0.159; p = 0.000/0.023), need and hunger (r = 0.230/0.002; p = 0.177/0.013), traditional eating (r = 0.138/0.255; p = 0.042/0.001), socialization (r = 0.199/0.295; p = 0.006/0.000), visual attraction (r = 0.311/0.286; p = 0.000/0.000), emotion control (0.413/0.717; p = 0.000/0.000), social norms (r = 0.145/0.179; p = 0.035/0.013), and social image (r = 0.191/0.160; p = 0.008/0.023). Cognitive restraint showed a negative correlation with the dimensions of preferences (r = -0.221; p = 0.003), need and hunger (r = -0.154; p = 0.027), and traditional eating (r = -0.186; p = 0.010), as well as a positive correlation with health (r = 0.276; p = 0.000), natural issues (r = 0.468; p = 0.000), weight control (r = 0.630; p = 0.000), and social norms (r = 0.209; p = 0.004). Therefore, the study results indicate significant relationships between disease perception, eating behavior, and food motivations in people with T2DM. The perception of disease consequences and treatment control influence individuals' food choices. Eating behaviors such as cognitive restraint and emotional eating are associated with different motivations for food choices, such as preferences, need and hunger, and weight control. These findings highlight the importance of therapeutic approaches that integrate emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects in diabetes. Understanding these aspects is crucial for creating individualized interventions that effectively promote the adoption of healthy eating habits.