Birth weight, skeletal maturity and dietary patterns are associated with body composition compartments differently in male and female physically active adolescents.

Background: Adequate body composition is important for health and performance of physically active adolescents; however, some factors can influence body composition. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between body composition and birth weight, skeletal maturity and dietary patterns, in male (n = 124) and female (n = 107) physically active adolescents. Methods: Birth weight was obtained from health booklets. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to estimate fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and abdominal adipose tissue (ASAT). Skeletal maturity was assessed by a hand and fist scanner using DXA. Food intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and dietary patterns by factorial analysis. Results: Seventy one percent (male = 16%, female = 55%) of the participants were mature. Two dietary patterns (in natura/minimally processed and processed/ultra-processed) were identified. In males, FM (>15%, P = 0.043) and ASAT (>30%, P = 0.042) were higher in those with low-median compared to high-median birth weight. FFM (>24%) was higher in skeletally mature compared to those immatures (P = 0.001), and VAT (>28%) was higher in processed/ultra-processed compared to in natura/minimally processed dietary patterns (P = 0.015). In females, FFM (>9%) was higher in those with low-median compared to high-median birth weight (P = 0.019); and FFM (>16%), FM (>28%) and ASAT (>45%) were higher in skeletally mature compared to those immatures (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the complex association among body composition, birth weight, skeletal maturity and dietary patterns and in physically active adolescents, differently according to sex.

Healthy eating promoting in a Brazilian sports-oriented school: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents, particularly athletes, have high exposure to ultra-processed foods, which could be harmful to their health and physical performance. School environments are capable of improving eating patterns. Our study is aimed at capturing changes in students' food consumption three years after they enrolled at an experimental school, considered a model of health promotion in Rio de Janeiro city. We also aimed to depict the promising nature of the healthy eating promotion program implemented in the school and share the learnings from its implementation. METHODS: Our pilot study was a follow-up on the implementation of a school garden, experimental kitchen activities, and health promotion classes. We evaluated 83 adolescent athletes' food consumption twice during the study: at its beginning (2013) and end (2016), by administering a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that inquired about the frequency of foods consumed in the past week. To evaluate how effectively the activities were established, integrated, and sustained in schools, the Garden Resources, Education, and Environment Nexus (GREEN) tool was used, and the school's adherence to the school garden program was classified as high (scored 47 points out of 57). RESULTS: In 2013, 89 adolescents (mean ± SD 11.9 ± 0.4 years, 54% male) participated in the study, of which 83 continued until 2016 (14.8 ± 0.5 years, 55% male). In 2013, the mean frequency of raw salad and fruits consumption was 1.4 (CI [1.0-1.9]) and 4.3 (CI [3.8-4.9]) days per week, respectively. Three years later, the frequency of raw salad and fruits consumption was 2.2 (CI [1.6-2.7]) and 5.0 (4.5-5.5), respectively. Considering that five meals were offered at school (five days/week), it may be possible to assume that the program raised awareness on the importance of healthy eating. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that such integrated healthy eating promotion programs may improve adolescent athletes' eating habits, by increasing the frequency of their consumption of unprocessed foods. This pilot study's results inspired us to implement an expanded project at the municipal level. Since 2018, teachers who participated in this program are working with Rio de Janeiro's Municipal Secretary of Education for Coordination of Curricular Projects. Some learnings from this pilot study on implementing the garden/experimental kitchen project in this school are being applied in 65 schools of the municipal network: joint activities must be fostered among students, teachers, and parents; healthy eating needs to be a respected value among adolescent athletes and become an example for parents and teachers.

Fat-free mass in adolescent athletes: Accuracy of bioimpedance equations and identification of new predictive equations.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of biological maturity on body composition in Brazilian adolescent athletes, to verify the accuracy of previous bioimpedance predictive equations for estimating fat-free mass (FFM), and to develop new predictive equations, considering sexual and skeletal maturity. METHODS: There were 318 Brazilian adolescent athletes (52% male) involved in this study. FFM was determined using single-frequency (50 kHz) bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which was used as the reference method. The adolescents were classified into skeletally mature using bone age (both sexes), and sexually mature using menarche occurrence (female). The effect of maturity on bioelectrical values was tested using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis. Three predictive BIA equations to estimate FFM were selected from the reviewed literature. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman test were used to test the concordance and accuracy of BIA equations. Stepwise multiple regression was used to develop new predictive equations, considering BIA vectors, age, skeletal, and sexual maturity. RESULTS: DXA and BIA results showed wide limits of disagreement for FFM for all the three equations. Two new equation models were developed, including age and skeletal maturity for both sexes and menarche status for females. Both models showed high R2 (males = 0.92 and females = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of body composition in adolescent athletes should consider sexual (female) or skeletal (male) maturity. The newly proposed equations showed promising results in Brazilian adolescent athletes. A test in different groups and populations is necessary to evaluate the general suitability of the equations in adolescents.

Agregação familiar e padrões alimentares na população brasileira / Agregación familiar y patrones de alimentación en la población de Brasil / Familial aggregation and dietary patterns in the Brazilian population

Resumo Identificou-se padrões alimentares consumidos no Brasil e a agregação entre pai, mãe e filhos, utilizando o Inquérito Nacional de Alimentação, realizado em 2008/2009 em indivíduos acima de dez anos de idade. O consumo alimentar foi estimado pelo registro alimentar. Os padrões foram identificados por meio de análise fatorial e a agregação familiar dos mesmos foi verificada por regressão linear. Três principais padrões alimentares foram identificados: “lanche tradicional” (1): café, pães, óleos e gorduras, e queijos; “grande refeição tradicional” (2): arroz, feijão e outras leguminosas, e carnes; e “lanches do tipo fast food” (3): sanduíches, carnes processadas, refrigerantes, salgados e pizzas. As maiores associações ocorreram no padrão 2 (β = 0,37 a 0,64). Nos padrões 1 e 3 também foram encontradas associações positivas envolvendo todos os pares, com β variando de 0,27 a 0,44 e de 0,32 a 0,42, respectivamente. O presente estudo evidenciou agregação familiar de padrões de consumo alimentar na população brasileira.

Resumen Se identificaron patrones de dietas consumidas en Brasil y la agregación entre el padre, la madre y los niños, mediante la Encuesta Nacional de Alimentos, realizada en 2008/2009, en mayores de 10 años de edad. La ingesta dietética se estimó mediante el registro de alimentos. Los patrones fueron identificados por análisis factorial y la agregación familiar de éstos se verificó mediante regresión lineal. Se identificaron tres patrones principales de dieta: merienda tradicional (1) -café, pan, quesos y aceites y grasas-; comida tradicional (2) -arroz, frijoles, otras legumbres y carne-; y fast food (3) -sándwiches, carnes procesadas, refrescos, aperitivos y pizzas. La asociación más alta se encontró en el patrón 2 ( β = 0,37-0,64). En los padrones 1 y 3 también se encontraron asociaciones positivas, involucrando a todos los pares, con β variando de 0,27 a 0,44 y de 0,32 a 0,42, respectivamente. Este estudio mostró agregación familiar de los hábitos alimentarios en la población brasileña.

Abstract The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns in Brazil and verify aggregation among members of the same family based on the Brazilian National Dietary Survey, a nationwide dietary survey conducted in 2008-2009 in individuals over 10 years of age. Dietary intake was estimated with a food record. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis, and familial aggregation was verified by linear regression. Three major dietary patterns were identified: (1) a traditional snack featuring coffee, rolls, oils and fats, and cheese; (2) traditional main meal, based on rice, beans and other legumes, and meat; and (3) fast food type snacks, namely sandwiches, processed meats, soft drinks, snacks, and pizza. Pattern 2 showed the strongest association (β = 0.37-0.64). Patterns 1 and 3 showed positive associations for all pairs of family members, with β ranging from 0.27 to 0.44 and 0.32 to 0.42, respectively. The study showed familial aggregation of dietary patterns in the Brazilian population.

Familial aggregation and dietary patterns in the Brazilian population.

The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns in Brazil and verify aggregation among members of the same family based on the Brazilian National Dietary Survey, a nationwide dietary survey conducted in 2008-2009 in individuals over 10 years of age. Dietary intake was estimated with a food record. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis, and familial aggregation was verified by linear regression. Three major dietary patterns were identified: (1) a traditional snack featuring coffee, rolls, oils and fats, and cheese; (2) traditional main meal, based on rice, beans and other legumes, and meat; and (3) fast food type snacks, namely sandwiches, processed meats, soft drinks, snacks, and pizza. Pattern 2 showed the strongest association (ß = 0.37-0.64). Patterns 1 and 3 showed positive associations for all pairs of family members, with ß ranging from 0.27 to 0.44 and 0.32 to 0.42, respectively. The study showed familial aggregation of dietary patterns in the Brazilian population.