title: Healthy habits: what kind of guidance the elderly population is receiving from health professionals?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of guidance on healthy habits received from health professionals by elderly and its relation to socioeconomic demographic, behavioral and health indicators, and the type of services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional population based study including individuals aged 60 years or more in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Seven guidance on healthy habits were evaluated: weight control, reduction in salt, sugar and fat intake, physical activity practice, not smoking and not drinking alcohol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 1,451 elderly interviewed, 1,281 (88.3%) consulted in the last year. The orientations more refereed were to fat (61.7%) and salt (61.5%) intake reduction and physical activity (58.2%). Elderly who consulted three times or more and in services financed by the Unified Health System received more guidance. Those elderly from the socioeconomic classes A/B were more likely to receive guidance for weight control (RP = 1.27; 95%CI 1.06 - 1.70) and physical activity (RP = 1.34; 95%CI 1.06 - 1.69).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The orientation from health professionals were uncommon and, in some cases, unfocused.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaynã Ramos
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Pereira
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cecília Formoso
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Assunção
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréa Dâmaso
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bertoldi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006282:Health Personnel; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged