Estado nutricional de população em situação de rua

Abstract

The homeless population is particularly vulnerable to nutritional problems, yet it remains underrepresented in research in Brazil. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of people experiencing homelessness in the city of Uberlândia, MG. A cross-sectional design was used, involving 181 individuals receiving services at shelter facilities. Anthropometric measures included body mass index (BMI), calf circumference, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio. Overall, 52.8% of participants were classified as having a normal BMI, while 24.2% were overweight, 15.2% obese, and 7.9% underweight. Regarding cardiovascular risk, 68.5% were considered low risk based on waist circumference, whereas 59.0% showed increased risk according to the waist-to-height ratio. These findings underscore the importance of a multidimensional approach to nutritional assessment, as conventional indicators may not fully capture specific vulnerabilities. This study contributes to a better understanding of this population and provides evidence to inform public policies and interventions aimed at reducing nutritional vulnerabilities.