Fluid intake patterns: an epidemiological study among children and adolescents in Brazil

• Grant number: 12/17848-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos de Abreu
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos de Abreu
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground: Energy from liquids is one of the most important factors that could impact on the high prevalence of children and adolescents obesity around the world. There are few data on the liquid consumption in Brazil. The aim of this study is to evaluate the volume and quality of liquids consumed by Brazilian children and adolescents and to determine the proportion of their daily energy intake composed of liquids. Methods: A multicenter study was conducted in five Brazilian cities; the study included 831 participants between 3 and 17 years of age. A four-day dietary record specific to fluids was completed for each individual, and the volume of and Kcal from liquid intake were evaluated. The average number of Kcal in each beverage was determined based on label information, and the daily energy intake data from liquids were compared with the recommendations of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária- ANVISA), the Brazilian food regulation authority, according to each subject's age. Results: As the children aged, the volume of carbonated beverages that they consumed increased significantly, and their milk intake decreased significantly. For children between the ages of 3 and 10, milk and dairy products contributed the greatest daily number of Kcal from liquids. Sugar sweetened beverages which included carbonated beverages, nectars and artificial beverages, accounted for 37% and 45% of the total Kcal from liquid intake in the 3- to 6-year-old and 7- to 10- year-old groups, respectively. Among adolescents (participants 11- to 17- years old), most of the energy intake from liquids came from carbonated beverages, which accounted for an average of 207 kcal/day in this group (42% of their total energy intake from liquids). Health professionals should be attentive to the excessive consumption of sugar sweetened beverages in children and adolescents. The movement toward healthier dietary patterns at the individual and population levels may help to improve programs for preventing overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.Keywords: Infant nutrition, childhood obesity, carbohydrate consumption, nutritional education, fluid intake, liquid Kcal, water intake (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FEFERBAUM, RUBENS; DE ABREU, LUIZ CARLOS; LEONE, CLAUDIO. Fluid intake patterns: an epidemiological study among children and adolescents in Brazil. BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, v. 12, NOV 20 2012. (12/17848-0)