Consumption of ultra-processed foods at 11, 22 and 30 years at the 2004, 1993 and 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohorts.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the consumption of ultra-processed foods according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics in three birth cohorts. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Data from the 2004, 1993 and 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohorts were used at 11, 22 and 30 years, respectively, collected between 2012 and 2015. Outcome was the relative contribution of ultra-processed foods from the total daily energy intake. Maternal-independent variables were self-reported skin colour, schooling, age and family income (obtained in the perinatal study), and variables of the cohort member, sex, skin colour, schooling and current family income (the last two obtained at the 11-, 22- and 30-year follow-ups of the respective cohorts). We calculated crude and adjusted means of the outcome for the whole cohorts and according to the independent variables. PARTICIPANTS: 11-, 22- and 30-year-old individuals. RESULTS: Daily energetic contribution from ultra-processed foods was higher in the younger cohort (33·7, 29·8 and 25·1 % at 11, 22 and 30 years, respectively). Maternal schooling and family income at birth showed an inverse dose-response relationship at 11 and 22 years, but a positive dose-response at 30 years. Female sex, lower schooling and family income at 22 years and higher schooling at 30 years were associated to a higher contribution from ultra-processed foods in the daily energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Information from food and nutrition policies needs a higher dissemination, mostly among women and population groups of lower income and schooling, including its promotion in media and health services, aiming for a decreased consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Growth across life course and cardiovascular risk markers in 18-year-old adolescents: the 1993 Pelotas birth cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between growth trajectories from birth to adolescence and cardiovascular risk marker levels at age 18 years in a population-based cohort. In order to disentangle the effect of weight gain from that of height gain, growth was analysed using conditional weight relative to linear growth (CWh) and conditional length/height (CH). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: 1993 Pelotas birth cohort, Southern Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who have been followed up from birth to adolescence (at birth, 1, 4, 11, 15 and 18 years). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGL), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: In both sexes, greater CWh at 1 year was positively associated with BMI and WC, whereas greater CWh at most age periods in childhood and adolescence predicted higher CRP, TC, LDL-C, TGL, SBP, DBP, BMI and WC levels, as well as lower HDL-C level. Higher CH during infancy and childhood was positively related with SBP in boys and girls, and with BMI and WC only in boys. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that rapid weight gain from 1 year onwards is positively associated with several markers of cardiovascular risk at 18 years. Overall, our results for the first year of life add evidence to the 'first 1000 days initiative' suggesting that prevention of excessive weight gain in childhood might be important in reducing subsequent cardiovascular risk.

[Coverage, focus, risk factors associated with participation, and linkage to the National Campaign for Diabetes Detection in a city in Southern Brazil]. / Cobertura, foco, fatores associados à participação e vinculação à Campanha Nacional de Detecção de Diabetes em uma cidade no Sul do Brasil.

The objective of this study was to measure coverage, focus, factors associated with participation, and linkage to the National Campaign for the Detection of Diabetes Mellitus in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. 3,100 individuals living within the city limits of Pelotas were interviewed in a cross-sectional study. Coverage was calculated based on different criteria: utilization, coverage among estimated users, and coverage among self-declared users. The focus was the proportion of tests performed in individuals who had met the inclusion criteria. Coverage rates were: utilization, 45.8% (95%CI: 43.0-48.5), among estimated users, 37.7% (95%CI: 35.1-40.5), and among self-declared users, 38.5% (95%CI: 35.2-41.9). Focus was 46.5% (95%CI: 42.8-50.2). Female gender, older age, and lower schooling were associated with adherence to the campaign. A total of 42.4% of individuals with positive screening tests but without prior diagnoses were subsequently examined by physicians, and half of the diagnoses were confirmed. The campaign showed a low coverage and poor focus. Efforts should be concentrated on improving care for individuals who have already been diagnosed, linking them to services by offering regular medication and educational strategies.

Lifestyle counseling reduces metabolic syndrome prevalence in the short term / Consejería estilo de vida reduce la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en el corto plazo

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of lifestyle counseling on metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence in the short term. This was a before-after study design conducted in a nutrition outpatient clinic. Participants were adults presenting with MetS according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. In the study 109 individuals (mean age 41 ± 9.6 years old) were included, the majority women (82,6%). Participants received individualized dietary prescription guidelines for healthy eating and were encouraged to perform physical activity. After five months, a decrease of 21.5% in the prevalence of MetS (p<0,001) was observed Significant mean reductions (p<0,001) in bodyweight (3.5 ± 3.4 Kg), waist circumference (4.0 ± 4.0 cm), triglycerides (33.8 ± 69.6 mg/dl) and fasting glucose we observed (6.6 ± 18.3 mg/dl), while HDL cholesterol showed an increase (2.6 ± 6.1mg/ dl, p<0,001). We conclude that lifestyle counseling consisting of individualized nutritional guidance through a balanced diet, physical activity promotion and change in lifestyle can reduce the prevalence of MetS in the short term.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de instrucciones relacionadas al estilo de vida sobre la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico (SM) a corto plazo. Este fue un estudio tipo estudio de antes y después realizado en un ambulatorio de nutrición. Los participantes eran adultos que presentan SM según los criterios de la International Diabetes Federation. El estudio incluyó 109 personas (edad media 41 ± 9,6 años), en su mayoría mujeres (82,6%). Los participantes recibieron una dieta con prescripción individualizada, pautas de alimentación saludable, y se les motivó a practicar actividad física. Después de cinco meses se observó una disminución de 21,5% en la prevalencia de SM (P <0,001). Se observó una reducción media significativa (p <0,001) en el peso corporal (3.5 + 3.4 Kg), circunferencia de cintura (4.0 + 4.0 cm), triglicéridos (33.8 + 69.6 mg/dl) y glucosa en ayunas (6.6 + 18.3 mg/dl), mientras que mostró un aumento de HDLc (2.6 + 6.1mg/dl) (p <0,001). Consejos relacionados al estilo de vida a través de una guía de nutrición individualizada dieta equilibrada, la promoción de actividad física y cambios en el estilo de vida pueden reducir la prevalencia de SM a corto plazo.