Processed and ultra-processed food consumption among children aged 13 to 35 months and associated factors

Author(s)

Mônica Araujo Batalha ^[1] ; Ana Karina Teixeira da Cunha França ^[2] ; Sueli Ismael Oliveira da Conceição ^[3] ; Alcione Miranda dos Santos ^[4] ; Francelena de Sousa Silva ^[5] ; Luana Lopes Padilha ^[6] ; Antônio Augusto Moura da Silva ^[7]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - Brasil

^[7] Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Cadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 33, n. 11 2017-11-21.

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods among children aged 13-35 months and its associated factors. We studied 1,185 children within the BRISA cohort in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil. The food consumption was investigated using a 24-hour recall, and the percentages of daily caloric intake and nutrients were estimated by food groups according to “NOVA” classification. We chose to categorize children belonging to the upper tertile of the distribution as having a high consumption of processed and ultra-processed food products. The Poisson regression model with robust variance estimation using a hierarchical modeling approach was used to calculate the prevalence ratios (PRs) of variables associated with high consumption of processed and ultra-processed food products. The mean energy intake was 1,226Kcal/day. After adjustments, there was a higher proportion of high consumption of processed and ultra-processed food products among children whose mothers had < 12 years of education and among children who were older than 16 months. Mothers with low schooling and children older than 16 months should be the targets of interventions aimed at reducing consumption of these food products and preventing adverse health outcomes in later life. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/53593-0 - Etiological factors of preterm birth and consequences of perinatal factors in child health: birth cohorts in two Brazilian cities (BRISA project)
• Grantee: Marco Antonio Barbieri
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants