Processed and ultra-processed foods are associated with high prevalence of inadequate selenium intake and low prevalence of vitamin B1 and zinc inadequacy in adolescents from public schools in an urban area of northeastern Brazil.

Changes in eating behavior of adolescents are associated with high consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods. This study evaluated the association between these foods and the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 444 adolescents from public schools in the city of Natal, northeastern Brazil. The adolescents' habitual food consumption was evaluated using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Foods were categorized according to the degree of processing (processed and ultra-processed) and distributed into energy quartiles, using the NOVA classification system. Inadequacies in micronutrient intake were assessed using the estimated average requirement (EAR) as the cutoff point. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between energy percentage from processed and ultra-processed foods and prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake. The mean (Standard Deviation (SD)) consumption of total energy from processed foods ranged from 5.8% (1.7%) in Q1 to 20.6% (2.9%) in Q4, while the mean consumption of total energy from ultra-processed foods ranged from 21.4% (4.9%) in Q1 to 61.5% (11.7%) in Q4. The rates of inadequate intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, calcium, and selenium were above 80% for both sexes across all age groups. Energy consumption from processed foods was associated with higher prevalence of inadequate selenium intake (p < 0.01) and lower prevalence of inadequate vitamin B1 intake (p = 0.04). Energy consumption from ultra-processed foods was associated with lower prevalence of inadequate zinc and vitamin B1 intake (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). An increase in the proportion of energy obtained from processed and ultra-processed foods may reflect higher prevalence of inadequate selenium intake and lower prevalence of vitamin B1 and zinc inadequacy.

Spatial correlation between excess weight, purchase of ultra-processed foods, and human development in Brazil. / Correlação espacial entre o excesso de peso, aquisição de alimentos ultraprocessados e o desenvolvimento humano no Brasil.

The aim of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution of excess weight in Brazil and its correlation with household food insecurity, purchase of foods by type of processing, and Human Development Index (HDI). An ecological study was undertaken using data from three surveys conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Spatial analysis techniques were used to perform univariate and bivariate analysis. The prevalence of excess weight was 34.2% (CI 95% 33.8-34.6%). Excess weight showed a moderate and significant spatial autocorrelation (0.581; p = 0.01), with higher prevalence in states in the South, Southeast and Center-West regions. A positive moderate spatial correlation was shown between the prevalence of excess weight and HDI (0.605; p < 0.05) and purchase of ultra-processed foods (0.559; p < 0.05), while a negative moderate spatial correlation was observed between prevalence of excess weight and household food insecurity (-0.561; p < 0.05). It can be concluded that there is an unequal distribution of excess weight across Brazil. The highest prevalence rates were found in states in the Southeast, South, and Center-West regions, associated with higher HDI values and higher ultra-processed food purchases as a proportion of overall household food purchases.

O objetivo foi analisar a distribuição espacial da prevalência de excesso de peso e sua correlação com insegurança alimentar, aquisição de alimentos por tipo de processamento e Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH), no Brasil. Estudo ecológico, com dados de três inquéritos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Utilizou-se técnicas de estatística espacial para análise univariada e bivariada. A prevalência de excesso de peso encontrada para o Brasil foi de 34,2% (IC95% 33,8-34,6%). O excesso de peso apresentou autocorrelação espacial moderada (0,581; p = 0,01) e maiores prevalências nos estados das regiões Sul, Sudeste e Centro-Oeste. As prevalências de excesso de peso apresentaram correlação espacial positiva e moderada com o IDH (0,605; p< 0,05), proporção de aquisição domiciliar de produtos alimentícios ultraprocessados (0,559; p< 0,05); e correlação negativa e moderada com a prevalência de domicílios em insegurança alimentar (-0,561; p< 0,05). Conclui-se que a ocorrência de excesso de peso encontrava-se desigualmente distribuída no território brasileiro. As prevalências mais elevadas foram encontradas nos estados do Sudeste, Sul e Centro-Oeste, associadas a maiores valores de IDH e proporções de aquisição de produtos alimentícios ultraprocessados.

Correlação espacial entre o excesso de peso, aquisição de alimentos ultraprocessados e o desenvolvimento humano no Brasil / Spatial correlation between excess weight, purchase of ultra-processed foods, and human development in Brazil

Resumo O objetivo foi analisar a distribuição espacial da prevalência de excesso de peso e sua correlação com insegurança alimentar, aquisição de alimentos por tipo de processamento e Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH), no Brasil. Estudo ecológico, com dados de três inquéritos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Utilizou-se técnicas de estatística espacial para análise univariada e bivariada. A prevalência de excesso de peso encontrada para o Brasil foi de 34,2% (IC95% 33,8-34,6%). O excesso de peso apresentou autocorrelação espacial moderada (0,581; p = 0,01) e maiores prevalências nos estados das regiões Sul, Sudeste e Centro-Oeste. As prevalências de excesso de peso apresentaram correlação espacial positiva e moderada com o IDH (0,605; p< 0,05), proporção de aquisição domiciliar de produtos alimentícios ultraprocessados (0,559; p< 0,05); e correlação negativa e moderada com a prevalência de domicílios em insegurança alimentar (-0,561; p< 0,05). Conclui-se que a ocorrência de excesso de peso encontrava-se desigualmente distribuída no território brasileiro. As prevalências mais elevadas foram encontradas nos estados do Sudeste, Sul e Centro-Oeste, associadas a maiores valores de IDH e proporções de aquisição de produtos alimentícios ultraprocessados.

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution of excess weight in Brazil and its correlation with household food insecurity, purchase of foods by type of processing, and Human Development Index (HDI). An ecological study was undertaken using data from three surveys conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Spatial analysis techniques were used to perform univariate and bivariate analysis. The prevalence of excess weight was 34.2% (CI 95% 33.8-34.6%). Excess weight showed a moderate and significant spatial autocorrelation (0.581; p = 0.01), with higher prevalence in states in the South, Southeast and Center-West regions. A positive moderate spatial correlation was shown between the prevalence of excess weight and HDI (0.605; p < 0.05) and purchase of ultra-processed foods (0.559; p < 0.05), while a negative moderate spatial correlation was observed between prevalence of excess weight and household food insecurity (-0.561; p < 0.05). It can be concluded that there is an unequal distribution of excess weight across Brazil. The highest prevalence rates were found in states in the Southeast, South, and Center-West regions, associated with higher HDI values and higher ultra-processed food purchases as a proportion of overall household food purchases.