Ultra‐processed food consumption in children from a Basic Health Unit

• Asıl Yazarlar: Karen Sparrenberger (Yazar), Roberta Roggia Friedrich (Yazar), Mariana Dihl Schiffner (Yazar), Ilaine Schuch (Yazar), Mário Bernardes Wagner (Yazar)
• Materyal Türü: Kitap
• Baskı/Yayın Bilgisi: Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, 2015-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Konular: article
• Online Erişim: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2255-5536; 10.1016/j.jpedp.2015.07.016
• Keywords: Food intake; Nutritional status; Children; Fast‐food; Pediatrics; RJ1-570
• Source: Jornal de Pediatria (Versão em Português), Vol 91, Iss 6, Pp 535-542 (2015)

Objectives: To evaluate the contribution of ultra‐processed food (UPF) on the dietary consumption of children treated at a Basic Health Unit and the associated factors. Method: Cross‐sectional study carried out with a convenience sample of 204 children, aged 2-10 years old, in Southern Brazil. Children's food intake was assessed using a 24‐h recall questionnaire. Food items were classified as minimally processed, processed for culinary use, and ultra‐processed. A semi‐structured questionnaire was applied to collect socio‐demographic and anthropometric variables. Overweight in children was classified using a Z score >2 for children younger than 5 and Z score >+1 for those aged between 5 and 10 years, using the body mass index for age. Results: Overweight frequency was 34% (95% CI: 28-41%). Mean energy consumption was 1672.3 kcal/day, with 47% (95% CI: 45-49%) coming from ultra‐processed food. In the multiple linear regression model, maternal education (r = 0.23; p = 0.001) and child age (r = 0.40; p < 0.001) were factors associated with a greater percentage of UPF in the diet (r = 0.42; p < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant trend for higher UPF consumption was observed when data were stratified by child age and maternal educational level (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The contribution of UPF is significant in children's diets and age appears to be an important factor for the consumption of such products.