Association between weight control behaviors and diet quality among Brazilian adolescents and young adults: Health Survey of Sao Paulo with Focus on Nutrition, 2015

Author(s)

Leme, Ana Carolina Barco ; Haines, Jess ; Tang, Lisa ; Fisberg, Mauro ; Ferrari, Gerson ; da Silva, Vitoria Alexandra ; Fisberg, Regina Mara

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity; v. 27, n. 2, p. 14-pg., 2021-04-30.

Abstract

Purpose Little is known about how behaviors to control weight are associated with diet quality among youth from low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to examine associations between efforts to control weight (ECW) and diet quality among Brazilian adolescents and young adults. Methods Data from 731 participants (17.89 +/- 4.92 years, 51.1% female) of the 2015 Health Survey of Sao Paulo were used for this cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24 h dietary recall and diet quality was calculated using the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index-Revised (BHEI-R). Participants reported their ECW, weight satisfaction, and socio-demographics. Descriptive statistics and linear regressions were calculated to investigate associations between ECW and diet quality. Results Approximately 47.7% of participants were dissatisfied with their current weight, and 41.0% reported ECW. Reported strategies to control weight included increased physical activity, taking care of what they eat, and dieting (8.2, 3.1, and 2.5%, respectively). After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index, reporting at least one ECW (ss = 0.08; 95% CI 0.02, 0.13), taking care of what to eat (ss = 0.15; 0.08, 0.22) and being satisfied with their weight (0.08; 0.02, 0.13) were all associated with a higher overall BHEI-R score. Conclusion Overall diet quality score showed a small increase in participants reporting ECW. Further studies should be conducted to provide strategies used by adolescents from low- and middle-income countries to control their weight. Thus, developing public health policies, and behavioral-change strategies. Level V: Cross-sectional descriptive study. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/05125-7 - Lifestyle, biochemical and genetic markers as cardiometabolic risk factors: Health Survey in São Paulo City
• Grantee: Regina Mara Fisberg
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/20852-7 - "Healthy Habits, Healthy Girls - Brazil": Randomized control trial with adolescent girls attending public schools of the city of São Paulo
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Barco Leme
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral