Ultra-processed foods, dietary diversity and micronutrient intakes in the Australian population.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between ultra-processed foods consumption and dietary diversity and micronutrient intake in Australia. METHODS: As part of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2011-2012), 12,153 participants aged 2 years and above were recruited and interviewed. Dietary intake data were collected by two 24-h dietary recalls using the Automated Multiple-Pass Method. The NOVA classification system was used to group the food items based on the extent and purpose of industrial food processing. The mean micronutrient contents were calculated for the total diet, and for two diet fractions; one made up entirely of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4) and the other consisting of all non-ultra-processed foods (aggregation of NOVA food groups 1 to 3). The mean micronutrient content in the ultra-processed and non-ultra-processed food diet fractions were compared. Dietary diversity was measured using the ten Food Group Indicators (FGI) of the Food and Agriculture Organization and was defined as the sum number of FGIs per individual. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association between the quintiles of energy contribution of ultra-processed foods, dietary diversity, and micronutrient intake. RESULTS: A negative association was found between quintiles of energy contribution of ultra-processed foods and dietary diversity (ß = - 0.43; p < 0.001). The overall micronutrient content was lower in the diet fraction dominated by ultra-processed foods compared to the non-ultra-processed food diet fraction in the study population. The dietary contents of vitamins A, E, C, B9, B12, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus were reduced significantly with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, even after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and dietary diversity. CONCLUSION: The quintiles of energy contribution of ultra-processed foods were negatively associated with dietary diversity and micronutrient intake in Australia.

Smoke-free legislation and neonatal and infant mortality in Brazil: longitudinal quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of partial and comprehensive smoke-free legislation with neonatal and infant mortality in Brazil using a quasi-experimental study design. DESIGN: Monthly longitudinal (panel) ecological study from January 2000 to December 2016. SETTING: All Brazilian municipalities (n=5565). PARTICIPANTS: Infant populations. INTERVENTION: Smoke-free legislation in effect in each municipality and month. Legislation was encoded as basic (allowing smoking areas), partial (segregated smoking rooms) or comprehensive (no smoking in public buildings). Associations were quantified by immediate step and longer term slope/trend changes in outcomes. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Municipal-level linear fixed-effects regression models. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Infant and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: Implementation of partial smoke-free legislation was associated with a -3.3 % (95% CI -6.2% to -0.4%) step reduction in the municipal infant mortality rate, but no step change in neonatal mortality. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation implementation was associated with -5.2 % (95% CI -8.3% to -2.1%) and -3.4 % (95% CI -6.7% to -0.1%) step reductions in infant and neonatal mortality, respectively, and a -0.36 (95% CI -0.66 to-0.06) annual decline in the infant mortality rate. We estimated that had all smoke-free legislation introduced since 2004 been comprehensive, an additional 10 091 infant deaths (95% CI 1196 to 21 761) could have been averted. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening smoke-free legislation in Brazil is associated with improvements in infant health outcomes-particularly under comprehensive legislation. Governments should accelerate implementation of comprehensive smoke-free legislation to protect infant health and achieve the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal three.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and its association with sociodemographic factors in the adult population of the 27 Brazilian state capitals (2019).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the magnitude of consumption of ultra-processed foods in the adult population (≥ 18 years old) in the capitals of the 27 federative units of Brazil, as well as its association with sociodemographic variables. METHODS: Data used in this study stem from participants (n = 52,443) of the 2019 wave of the annual survey of the "National surveillance system for risk and protective factors for chronic diseases by telephone survey" (Vigitel). The consumption of ultra-processed foods was described based on a score, corresponding to the sum of positive responses to questions about consumption on the previous day of thirteen subgroups of ultra-processed foods frequently consumed in Brazil. Poisson regression models were used to describe the crude and adjusted associations between high consumption of ultra-processed foods (scores ≥ 5) and sex, age group, and level of education. RESULTS: The frequency of high consumption of ultra-processed foods was 18.2% (95% CI 17.4-19.0). With or without adjustment for other sociodemographic variables, this frequency was significantly lower in females and decreased linearly with age. In the crude analysis, there was an increase in the frequency of high consumption from the lower level to the intermediate level of education and a decrease in this consumption from the intermediate level to the upper level. In the analysis adjusted for sex and age, the frequency of high consumption of ultra-processed foods was significantly lower at the higher level of education (12 or more years of study), with no differences between the other levels. CONCLUSION: Ultra-processed foods are consumed with high frequency in the adult Brazilian population in the 27 capitals of the federation. Being male, younger and having less education than university are conditions that increase, independently, the consumption of these foods.

Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods: description and performance evaluation in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and evaluate its potential in reflecting the dietary share of UPF in Brazil. METHODS: This study was conducted in São Paulo with a convenience sample of 300 adults. Using a tablet, participants answered a 3-minute electronic self-report questionnaire on the consumption of 23 subgroups of UPF commonly consumed in Brazil, regarding the day prior the survey. Each participant score corresponded to the number of subgroups reported. The dietary share of UPF on the day prior to the survey, expressed as a percentage of total energy intake, was calculated based on data collected on a 30-minute complete 24-hour dietary recall administered by trained nutritionists. The association between the score and the dietary share of UPF was evaluated using linear regression models. The Pabak index was used to assess the agreement in participants' classification according to the fifths of Nova score and the fifths of dietary share of UPF. RESULTS: The average dietary share of UPF increased linearly and significantly with the increase of the Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods. We found a substantial agreement in participants' classification according to the fifths of the distribution of scores and the fifths of the dietary share of UPF (Pabak index = 0.67). Age was inversely associated with a relatively high frequency of UPF consumption (upper fifth of the distribution) for both score and dietary share of UPF. CONCLUSION: The Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods, obtained in a quick and practical manner, shows a good potential in reflecting the dietary share of UPF in Brazil.

Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of Reproductive Age (MDD-W) Data Collection: Validity of the List-Based and Open Recall Methods as Compared to Weighed Food Record.

Minimum dietary diversity for women of reproductive age (MDD-W) was validated as a population-level proxy of micronutrient adequacy, with indicator data collection proposed as either list-based or open recall. No study has assessed the validity of these two non-quantitative proxy methods against weighed food records (WFR). We assessed the measurement agreement of list-based and open recall methods as compared to WFR (i.e., reference method of individual quantitative dietary assessment) for achieving MDD-W and an ordinal food group diversity score. Applying a non-inferiority design, data were collected from non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Cambodia (n = 430), Ethiopia (n = 431), and Zambia (n = 476). For the pooled sample (n = 1337), proportions achieving MDD-W from both proxy methods were compared to WFR proportion by McNemar's chi-square tests, Cohen's kappa, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Ordinal food group diversity (0-10) was compared by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and weighted kappa. MDD-W food groups that were most frequently misreported (i.e., type I and II errors) by the proxy methods were determined. Our findings indicate statistically significant differences in proportions achieving MDD-W, ordinal food group diversity scores, and ROC curves between both proxy methods and WFR (p < 0.001). List-based and open recall methods overreported women achieving MDD-W by 16 and 10 percentage points, respectively, as compared to WFR (proportion achieving MDD-W: 30%). ICC values between list-based or open recall and WFR were 0.50 and 0.55, respectively. Simple and weighted kappa values both indicated moderate agreement between list-based or open recall against WFR. Food groups most likely to be misreported using proxy methods were beans and peas, dark green leafy vegetables, vitamin A-rich fruit and vegetables, and other fruits. Our study provides statistical evidence for overreporting of both list-based and open recall methods for assessing prevalence of MDD-W or ordinal food group diversity score in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries. Operationalizing MDD-W through qualitative recall methods should consider potential trade-offs between accuracy and simplicity.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and its association with sociodemographic factors in the adult population of the 27 Brazilian state capitals (2019) / Consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e associação com fatores sociodemográficos na população adulta das 27 capitais brasileiras (2019)

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the magnitude of consumption of ultra-processed foods in the adult population (≥ 18 years old) in the capitals of the 27 federative units of Brazil, as well as its association with sociodemographic variables. METHODS Data used in this study stem from participants (n = 52,443) of the 2019 wave of the annual survey of the "National surveillance system for risk and protective factors for chronic diseases by telephone survey" (Vigitel). The consumption of ultra-processed foods was described based on a score, corresponding to the sum of positive responses to questions about consumption on the previous day of thirteen subgroups of ultra-processed foods frequently consumed in Brazil. Poisson regression models were used to describe the crude and adjusted associations between high consumption of ultra-processed foods (scores ≥ 5) and sex, age group, and level of education. RESULTS The frequency of high consumption of ultra-processed foods was 18.2% (95% CI 17.4-19.0). With or without adjustment for other sociodemographic variables, this frequency was significantly lower in females and decreased linearly with age. In the crude analysis, there was an increase in the frequency of high consumption from the lower level to the intermediate level of education and a decrease in this consumption from the intermediate level to the upper level. In the analysis adjusted for sex and age, the frequency of high consumption of ultra-processed foods was significantly lower at the higher level of education (12 or more years of study), with no differences between the other levels. CONCLUSION Ultra-processed foods are consumed with high frequency in the adult Brazilian population in the 27 capitals of the federation. Being male, younger and having less education than university are conditions that increase, independently, the consumption of these foods.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever a magnitude do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados na população adulta (≥ 18 anos) das capitais das 27 unidades federativas do Brasil e sua associação com variáveis sociodemográficas. MÉTODOS Os dados utilizados neste estudo provêm dos participantes (n = 52.443) da onda 2019 do inquérito anual do "Sistema nacional de vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico" (Vigitel). O consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados foi descrito com base em escore correspondente à somatória de respostas positivas para questões sobre o consumo no dia anterior de treze subgrupos de alimentos ultraprocessados frequentemente consumidos no Brasil. Modelos de regressão de Poisson foram utilizados para descrever as associações bruta e ajustada do alto consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados (escores ≥ 5) com sexo, faixa etária e nível de escolaridade. RESULTADOS A frequência de alto consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados foi 18,2% (IC95% 17,4-19,0). Com ou sem o ajuste para as demais variáveis sociodemográficas, essa frequência foi significativamente menor no sexo feminino e diminuiu linearmente com a idade. Na análise bruta, evidenciou-se aumento na frequência de alto consumo do nível inferior para o nível intermediário de escolaridade e diminuição desse consumo do nível intermediário para o superior. Na análise ajustada por sexo e idade, a frequência de alto consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados foi significativamente menor no nível superior de escolaridade (12 ou mais anos de estudo), não havendo diferenças entre os demais níveis. CONCLUSÃO Alimentos ultraprocessados são consumidos com alta frequência na população brasileira adulta das 27 capitais da federação. Pertencer ao sexo masculino, ser mais jovem e ter escolaridade inferior à universitária são condições que aumentam, de forma independente, o consumo desses alimentos.

Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods: description and performance evaluation in Brazil / Escore Nova de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados: descrição e avaliação de desempenho no Brasil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and evaluate its potential in reflecting the dietary share of UPF in Brazil. METHODS This study was conducted in São Paulo with a convenience sample of 300 adults. Using a tablet, participants answered a 3-minute electronic self-report questionnaire on the consumption of 23 subgroups of UPF commonly consumed in Brazil, regarding the day prior the survey. Each participant score corresponded to the number of subgroups reported. The dietary share of UPF on the day prior to the survey, expressed as a percentage of total energy intake, was calculated based on data collected on a 30-minute complete 24-hour dietary recall administered by trained nutritionists. The association between the score and the dietary share of UPF was evaluated using linear regression models. The Pabak index was used to assess the agreement in participants' classification according to the fifths of Nova score and the fifths of dietary share of UPF. RESULTS The average dietary share of UPF increased linearly and significantly with the increase of the Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods. We found a substantial agreement in participants' classification according to the fifths of the distribution of scores and the fifths of the dietary share of UPF (Pabak index = 0.67). Age was inversely associated with a relatively high frequency of UPF consumption (upper fifth of the distribution) for both score and dietary share of UPF. CONCLUSION The Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods, obtained in a quick and practical manner, shows a good potential in reflecting the dietary share of UPF in Brazil.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever o escore Nova de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e avaliar seu potencial para refletir, no contexto brasileiro, a participação desses alimentos na dieta. MÉTODOS Estudo realizado na cidade de São Paulo com amostra de conveniência de 300 adultos, que responderam, em cerca de três minutos, em um tablet, a um questionário eletrônico de autorrelato sobre o consumo, no dia anterior, de 23 subgrupos de alimentos ultraprocessados comumente consumidos no Brasil. O escore de cada participante correspondeu ao número de subgrupos reportados. A participação de alimentos ultraprocessados no consumo alimentar do mesmo dia, expressa como percentual da ingestão total de energia, foi calculada por meio das respostas dos participantes a recordatório alimentar completo de 24 horas aplicado em cerca de 30 minutos por nutricionistas treinados. A associação entre o escore e a participação de ultraprocessados na dieta foi estudada por modelos de regressão linear. A concordância na classificação dos participantes segundo quintos do escore e quintos da participação de alimentos ultraprocessados na dieta foi avaliada pelo índice Pabak. RESULTADOS O percentual médio de participação de alimentos ultraprocessados na dieta aumentou linear e significativamente com o aumento do escore Nova de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados. Observou-se concordância substancial na classificação dos participantes segundo quintos da distribuição do escore e quintos da distribuição do percentual de participação de alimentos ultraprocessados na dieta (índice Pabak = 0,67). Relação inversa da idade com a frequência de consumo relativamente elevado de alimentos ultraprocessados (quinto superior da distribuição) foi observada tanto para o escore quanto para a participação de alimentos ultraprocessados na dieta. CONCLUSÃO O escore Nova de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados, obtido de forma rápida e prática, apresenta bom potencial para refletir, no contexto brasileiro, a participação desses alimentos na dieta.

Instrumentos de avaliação da qualidade de dietas: desenvolvimento, adaptação e validação no Brasil / Tools for evaluating the quality of diets development, adaptation and validation in Brazil

Introdução - A qualidade da dieta é um fator chave para as diferentes formas de má nutrição. No entanto, há ainda uma lacuna na coleta de dados necessários aos diagnósticos populacionais e vigilância. O Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira (2014) aponta como componentes- chave da dieta a diversidade de alimentos in natura e minimamente processados e a restrição de alimentos ultraprocessados, com base na classificação NOVA dos alimentos. Objetivo - Desenvolver, adaptar e validar instrumentos de avaliação de duas dimensões da qualidade das dietas no Brasil. Métodos - Para a adaptação do instrumento de diversidade alimentar a partir do MDD-W (Diversidade Alimentar Mínima para Mulheres) da Organização das Nações Unidas para Alimentação e Agricultura (FAO) e desenvolvimento do instrumento de avaliação do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados, foram analisados os dados do módulo de Consumo Alimentar coletado pela Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), realizado entre maio de 2008 e maio de 2009 no Brasil. Foram selecionados 10 subgrupos de alimentos in natura e minimamente processados (grupo 1 classificação NOVA) e 10 subgrupos de alimentos ultraprocessados (grupo 4 classificação NOVA). Os instrumentos foram aplicados em amostra de conveniência (n=150) por meio de entrevistas a voluntários adultos da comunidade da Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo, entre os meses de março e outubro de 2018. Em cada entrevista, após a aplicação de dois questionários simplificados, foi aplicado o método padrão ouro de recordatório alimentar completo de 24 horas. Foram gerados escores de diversidade e de ultraprocessados. Para o instrumento de diversidade, foi realizado cálculo de Kappa para análise de concordância, Alpha de Cronbach para análise de confiabilidade e análise fatorial confirmatória para validade de constructo. Para validação preditiva, as informações de composição nutricional foram avaliadas e calculadas com betas ajustados para regressão. Para o instrumento de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados, foi avaliada a validade preditiva por meio do cálculo do Kappa ponderado e ajustado para prevalência e viés (PABAK), além da análise do percentual calórico de açúcar na dieta em relação ao escore. Resultados - Os valores de Kappa de concordância das respostas para o instrumento de diversidade alimentar variaram de 0,52 a 0,81. Sua confiabilidade obtida por meio do Alpha de Cronbach foi de 0,60, enquanto a análise fatorial confirmatória apontou bons índices de adequação, apresentando propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias. Para o instrumento de alimentos ultraprocessados, o valor de Kappa variou de 0,60 a 0,81, enquanto o valor de PABAK entre os quintis das variáveis obtido foi de 0,72, considerado substancial. Foi observada associação linear positiva significativa entre o os intervalos de escore de ultraprocessados e o percentual calórico de açúcar na dieta. Conclusões - Os instrumentos simplificados de diversidade alimentar e de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados apresentam graus de validade satisfatórios. Esses instrumentos serão úteis para a pesquisa sobre qualidade da dieta em diferentes contextos de monitoramento, diagnósticos populacionais e estudos de intervenção e concepção de políticas públicas de saúde no Brasil.

Introduction - The diet quality is a key-factor for different types of malnutrition. However, there is a gap in the data collection in this area concerning population diagnosis and its monitoring. The Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population (2014) points out that the keyfactors to diet quality are diversified fresh and minimally processed foods, and ultraprocessed foods restriction, in agreement with the NOVA classification. Objective - Development, adaptation and validation of tools to assess two dimensions of diet quality in Brazil. Methods - Adaptation of the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Development of a tool for assessing the consumption of ultra-processed foods. These both tools were based on data from the Food Consumption module, collected by the Household Budget Survey (POF) of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), which was conducted between May 2008 and May 2009 in Brazil. There was a selection of 10 subgroups of fresh and minimally processed foods (Group 1 according to NOVA classification) and 10 subgroups of ultraprocessed foods (Group 4 according to NOVA classification). The instruments were applied in a convenience sample (n=150) through interviews conducted between March and October 2018 with adult volunteers from the community of The Faculty of Public Health of The University of São Paulo. After the application of two simplified questionnaires at each interview, the gold standard method of 24-hour complete dietary recall was applied, from which diversity and ultra-processed scores were generated. For the diversity instrument, Kappa calculation was performed; Cronbach's Alpha was calculated for the reliability analysis; confirmatory factor analysis was applied in order to test the construct validity. For the predictive validation, the nutritional content was assessed and calculated on the grounds of betas adjusted values for regression. For the ultra-processed food consumption instrument, the predictive validity was assessed by calculating the adjusted for prevalence and bias (PABAK) Kappa, as well as sugar caloric percentage. Results - Kappa values of agreement of responses for the dietary diversity instrument ranged from 0.52 to 0.81. Its reliability, obtained by Cronbach's Alpha, was 0.60, while confirmatory factor analysis showed good adequacy indices and presented satisfactory psychometric properties. For the ultra-processed foods instrument, the Kappa value ranged from 0.60 to 0.81, while the PABAK value obtained among the quintiles of the variables was 0.72, which is considered substantial. Also, a positive linear association was found between sugar caloric percentage and ultra-processed food score intervals. Conclusions - The simplified instruments of dietary diversity and ultraprocessed food consumption presented satisfactory validity. These instruments can be useful for research on diet quality in different monitoring contexts and population diagnoses, as well as for intervention studies and designing of public health policies in Brazil.