Abstract

VIANA, Victor. Psicologia, sáude e nutrição: contributo para o estudo do comportamento alimentar. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2002, vol.20, n.4, pp.611-624. ISSN 0870-8231.

Eating behaviour is one of the most important aspects of habits and lifestyle that has to be taken as object of Health Psychology approach. Eating and nutrition have been studied, in Clinical Psychology, from the point of view of the pathological processes and as eating disorders. Health Psychology approaches eating behaviour in the normal person and in a specific theoretical and methodological context. Nutrition is obviously related to disease and health. Some of the most frightening diseases of our days are in some degree the result of unhealthy eating habits learned in childhood and adolescence. This is the case of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity and others. If unhealthy habits led to this disorders, healthy eating habits can prevent some of them and are in general part of their treatment. In this paper we present some aspects about the contribution of the Health Psychology in the research of eating behaviour and nutrition. The understanding of behaviour and eating style, witch include psychological factors, seems to be fundamental for the development of strategies in order to promote changes regarding healthy lifestyle.

Keywords : Health psychology; nutrition; eating behavior; life style; eating style.

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