Mothers' food choices and consumption of ultra -processed foods in the Brazilian Amazon: A grounded theory study

Author(s)

Sato, Priscila de Morais ^[1] ; Couto, Marcia Thereza ^[2] ; Wells, Jonathan ^[3] ; Cardoso, Marly Augusto ^[1] ; Devakumar, Delanjathan ^[4] ; Scagliusi, Fernanda Baeza ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Ave Doutor Arnaldo 715, Sao Paulo 01246904 - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Med Sch, Dept Prevent Med, Ave Doutor Arnaldo 455, Sao Paulo 01246903 - Brazil

^[3] UCL Great Ormond St Inst Child Hlth, Pop Policy & Practice Program, London WC1N 1EH - England

^[4] UCL, Inst Global Hlth, London WC1N 1EH - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APPETITE; v. 148, MAY 1 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

In recent decades, an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), a type of product frequently associated with diet-related obesity, chronic diseases, decrease of eating traditions and loss of culinary diversity, has been observed in middle-income countries. However, there is lack of information on factors related to choosing UPF. In this study, we aimed to understand the factors promoting UPF choices and consumption among mothers living in an urban context in the Brazilian Amazon, and to present a conceptual model grounded on their experiences that illustrates the dynamics between the observed factors. For this qualitative study, we used a constructive grounded theory approach, with a theoretical sampling of 40 women, to choose mothers with high and low consumption of ultra-processed foods. Data production and the first steps of analysis were performed concomitantly, followed by four steps of coding focused on creating conceptual categories and explaining the interactions between them. Our findings highlighted the importance of context in promoting UPF choice and consumption, particularly the ``food environment{''}, physical and virtual, and the ``sociocultural environment{''}. These contextual aspects interacted with the two main personal aspects influencing participants' UPF consumption, one concerning practices, ``cooking behaviors{''}, and the other concerning preferences, ``food tastes{''}. Factors such as economic and time constraints were also important and competed to shape eating practices through interactions with participants' health valorization. Findings are discussed in relation to food choice theories, social roles and the food environment. Implications for public health initiatives include the importance of considering environmental changes, sociocultural and economic influences, the reliance on UPF, and the role of women in the home, when promoting healthy diets. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/19279-9 - Food insecurity, hunger and consumption of ultra-processed food products
• Grantee: Priscila de Morais Sato
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 16/00270-6 - MINA study - Maternal and child health in Acre: birth cohort in the Western Brazilian Amazon
• Grantee: Marly Augusto Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/05651-0 - Ultra processed food consumption and feeding practices of mothers in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre: a mixed-methods approach
• Grantee: Priscila de Morais Sato
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral