Consumption of differently processed food by public school adolescents

• Autor(a) principal: MELO, Adriana Soares Torres
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: NEVES, Felipe Silva, NETTO, Michele Pereira, OLIVEIRA, Renata Maria Souza, FONTES, Vanessa Sequeira, CÂNDIDO, Ana Paula Carlos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Nutrição
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/8947
• topic: Adolescent; Food consumption; Food processing; Nutritional status; Adolescente; Consumo alimentar; Processamento de alimentos.; Estado nutricional

Objective To characterize food consumption, considering the degree of industrial food processing by public schools’ adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional study involving adolescents aged 14 to 19 years, of both genders, attending public schools in Juiz de Fora, MG. Food consumption was assessed using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Foods were classified into three groups according to the degree of industrial processing: (1) unprocessed foods or minimally processed foods, culinary ingredients and preparations based on these foods; (2) processed foods; (3) ultra-processed foods. In addition, weight and height information was collected, with subsequent calculation of body mass index/age to assess the individuals’ nutritional status according to the gender. Pearson’s chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed, adopting a value of p<0.05. Results The sample consisted of 804 adolescents, with a predominance of females (57.5%). In the sample, 29.9% and 26.1%, of girls and boys, respectively, were overweight. There was a difference in the daily consumption of ready-made sweet-tasting foods, being higher in females (26.2%) when compared to males (18.1%), whereas the consumption of soft drinks (one to four times a week) was 47.2% and 55.6% in girls and boys, respectively (p<0.05). Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was observed in females (p=0.02) and processed foods in males (p=0.008). Conclusion There was a high contribution of ultra-processed foods in the diet of adolescents in public schools; a high prevalence of overweight was observed in both genders.