Energy density in the diet of workers from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and associated socio-demographic factors*

Author(s)

Daniela Silva Canella ^[1] ; Daniel Henrique Bandoni ^[2] ; Patricia Constante Jaime ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de Sao Paulo. Faculdade de Saude Publica. Programa de Pos Graduacao em Nutricao em Saude Publica

^[2] Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Instituto de Saude e Sociedade. Departamento de Saude, Clinica e Instituicoes

^[3] Universidade de Sao Paulo. Faculdade de Saude Publica. Departamento de Nutricao

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia; v. 16, n. 2, p. 257-265, 2013-06-00.

Abstract

Objective: This paper aims at analyzing the energy density (ED) of the diet of workers from the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, and the way this is associated with socio-demographic characteristics, as well as evaluating the relationship between ED and nutrient intake. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated the diet of 852 workers using the 24-hour dietary recall; one recall was applied to all individuals and a second one was applied to a sub-sample in order to adjust intrapersonal variability. The ED of the diet was calculated using three methods: inclusion of all solid foods and beverages, excluding water (ED 1); inclusion of all solid foods and beverages containing at least 5 kcal/100g (ED 2); and inclusion of all solid foods, excluding all beverages (ED 3). Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between ED and socio-demographic variables and the relationship between ED and nutrients was evaluated using Pearson coefficient correlation. Results: Considering the workers' diet, the ED values observed were 1.18 kcal/g, 1.22 kcal/g and 1.73 kcal/g for the ED 1, ED 2, ED 3 methods, respectively. In the multiple regression models, only the age variable was maintained in the final model and showed an inverse association with all ED methods. ED 3 showed an increase in energy density for non-white individuals. Of all studied nutrients, protein was the only one that was not significantly correlated with ED 3 (p = 0.899). Conclusion: The young adults studied had a higher energy-density diet, representing a priority group for nutrition interventions. Regardless of the calculation method used, there is a correlation between ED and nutrients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/02540-1 - Impact of an nutritional intervention to prevent weight gain at worksite
• Grantee: Patricia Constante Jaime
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants