Assessing the effects of a WhatsApp-delivered nutrition intervention on nutrients adequacy in Amazonian children

• Grant number: 25/19883-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Marly Augusto Cardoso
• Grantee: Ana Carolina de Andrade Hovadick
• Supervisor: Delanjathan Devakumar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University College London (UCL), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/03401-5 - Remote nutritional intervention to promote healthy eating practices among Amazonian schoolchildren: a randomized clinical trial, BP.DD

Abstract

The dietary quality of children in the Brazilian Amazon has declined in recent decades, with increased reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contributing to nutritional inadequacies and diet-related diseases. Given the region's geographical challenges and limited healthcare access, innovative strategies are needed to promote healthier eating habits. In this context, a WhatsApp-based randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effects of multimedia messaging on the dietary intake of 266 school-age children from the Western Brazilian Amazon. Preliminary findings suggest improvements in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and traditional regional staples, along with a reduction in UPFs in the intervention group. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the dietary data in order to assess children's energy and nutrient intakes for comparisons between and within study groups, and explore the food sources for selected nutrients in this study population.