Direct and indirect associations of experience of racial discrimination, dietary patterns and obesity in adults from southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the direct and indirect associations of experience of racial discrimination on dietary patterns (DP), obesity and abdominal obesity. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional population-based study. The main exposure was self-reported experiences of racial discrimination (Experiences of Discrimination scale). The mediator variables were the DP: healthy, Brazilian traditional, sugar and carbohydrates, and fast food. The outcomes were obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 88 cm for women; ≥ 102 cm for men). Structural equation modelling was applied. SETTING: Porto Alegre, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 400 adults aged between 20 and 70 years were participated. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 47·2 years (sd = 13·9), and 75 % were women. Experiencing racial discrimination had a positive direct effect on obesity (healthy DP: ß = 0·153, P < 0·05; Brazilian DP: ß = 0·156, P < 0·05; sugar and carbohydrates DP: ß = 0·156, P < 0·05; and fast-food DP: ß = 0·153, P < 0·05) and abdominal obesity (healthy DP: ß = 0·206, P < 0·01; Brazilian DP: ß = 0·210, P < 0·01; sugar and carbohydrates DP: ß = 0·204, P < 0·01; and fast-food DP: ß = 0·204, P < 0·01). The experience of racial discrimination did not have a direct effect on DP, nor did it exert an indirect effect on obesity and abdominal obesity through any DP. CONCLUSIONS: A higher experience of racial discrimination is associated with obesity and abdominal obesity, independent of diet.

Social inequities in food deserts and food swamps in a northeastern Brazilian capital.

This study identified food deserts and swamps, investigating their associations with socioeconomic and demographic conditions. This ecological study was conducted using data from urban census tracts in the city of Recife, which were considered the unit of analysis. Information on food retail was obtained from government sources in 2019. Census tracts below the 25th percentile in the density of healthy food retail (i.e., those that predominantly sell natural or minimally processed foods, mixed businesses, and super- and hypermarkets) were classified as food deserts. Census tracts above the 25th percentile in the density of unhealthy food retail (i.e., those selling primarily ultra-processed foods) were considered food swamps. The socioeconomic and demographic conditions of the census tracts were evaluated using variables from the 2010 census (per capita income, average income, race, literacy of the head of household, and the availability of essential services) and the Health Vulnerability Index. Census tracts considered food deserts (28.5%) were more vulnerable, characterized by lower income and access to essential services, more illiterate residents and more minorities (Black/Indigenous/mixed race). Food swamps (73.47%) were more prevalent in less vulnerable neighbourhoods characterized by higher percentages of literate residents and Whites, greater purchasing power, and better basic sanitation. The characteristics of Recife's food deserts and swamps demonstrate social inequalities in the food environment. Public facilities could play a vital role in promoting healthy eating within food deserts. Additionally, future implementation of taxes on ultra-processed foods and the provision of tax subsidies to natural or minimally processed food sellers might contribute to fostering healthier dietary choices.

Association between the community food environment and dietary patterns in residents of areas of different socio-economic levels of a southern capital city in Brazil.

This study aimed to verify the association between the community food environment and dietary patterns in a population of different socio-economic levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 400 adults and elderly aged between 20 and 70 years residing in the central area of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Four dietary patterns were explored: healthy, traditional Brazilian, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and fast food. The community food environment included the identification of all food stores by areas where individuals lived and auditing based on the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores (NEMS-S) score. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95 % CI. After the adjustment for individual sociodemographic characteristics, residents of the area with the best community food environment (highest NEMS-S score) had 12 % and 18 % lower probabilities of high consumption (upper tertile) of the traditional (PR = 0·88; 95 % CI (0·78, 0·98)) and refined carbohydrate and sugar (PR = 0·82; 95 % CI (0·73, 0·92)) dietary patterns, respectively, compared with those living in the area with the worst community food environment (lowest NEMS-S score). Healthy and fast-food dietary patterns showed no association with the community food environment. In conclusion, the community food environment is a factor associated with the consumption of certain dietary patterns, independent of individual sociodemographic characteristics. Thus, aspects of the community food environment become important in food and nutrition actions and policies aimed at health promotion.

Social environment perception and associations with overweight in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The prevalence of overweight in Brazilian adults has grown in recent years. There is evidence indicating that environmental factors, especially social characteristics, may be involved in the aetiology of overweight, but few studies have investigated this association adequately. The main objective of this study was to identify residents' perception of their social environment (social cohesion, security and violence) and assess its relationship with overweight in a central area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The associations between socioeconomic characteristics and social environment perception were also explored. This cross-sectional study conducted in 2018-19 had 400 participants aged from 20 to 70 years living in low- and high-income areas of the city of Porto Alegre. Participants' perception of social cohesion, security and violence were evaluated using a validated questionnaire. Participants' body mass index (BMI) was measured, and those with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were considered to be overweight. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated through Poisson regression analysis; level of significance was 5%. The prevalence of overweight in the sample was 68.8% (95% CI 64.0-73.2). Individuals with a more positive social cohesion perception had a higher prevalence of overweight (PR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.00-1.12; p=0.02) than those with a less positive perception. Brown individuals also had a higher prevalence of overweight (PR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15; p=0.03) than those of other skin colour/race. No association was found between overweight and perception of security or violence. Therefore, social cohesion may be an important factor in overweight and the findings highlight the importance of considering social factors, and their perceptions, when planning actions for the prevention and control of overweight in a population.

Association of occupational exposure to pesticides with overweight and abdominal obesity in family farmers in southern Brazil.

The association of chronic exposure to pesticides with overweight and abdominal obesity in adult farmers was investigated. This cross-sectional study included a random sample of 122 farmers and their family members of both sexes (61% were male), living in the municipality of Farroupilha, southern Brazil. Pesticide groups and their individual compounds were self-reported and classified according to major functional and chemical classes (never used, 1-20 years, or > 20 years of use). Abdominal obesity and overweight were the outcomes of interest. A multivariate Poisson regression model was analyzed. After confounding factors were controlled, chronic use (>20 years) of insecticides (PR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.00-2.10) and organophosphorus pesticides (PR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.02-2.12) was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight but not abdominal obesity. Additional studies are needed to confirm our findings and clarify the specific mechanisms of these pollutants in the etiology of obesity.

Associations of perceived stress and salivary cortisol with the snack and fast-food dietary pattern in women shift workers.

This study aimed to investigate the association of perceived stress and salivary cortisol levels with the snack and fast-food dietary pattern in a sample of women shift workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 539 women aged 18-53 years working in the production line of a poultry processing plant. Stress was assessed with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and by salivary cortisol levels (immediately after waking and upon returning home from work). Dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis. We used linear and Poisson regression models to assess multivariable-adjusted associations of perceived stress and salivary cortisol levels with the snack and fast-food dietary pattern. After adjustments, women with higher PSS-10 scores had a 28% higher probability (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.56) of consuming snacks/fast food. Mean (SD) waking cortisol levels were inversely associated with quartiles of the dietary pattern: Q1, 6.63 (0.43) nmol/L; Q2, 6.00 (0.38) nmol/L; Q3, 5.62 (0.40) nmol/L; and Q4, 5.29 (0.35) nmol/L (p = 0.019). Perceived stress was not associated with salivary cortisol levels. The work shift was not associated with perceived stress or cortisol levels. This study demonstrated an association of psychological and physiological measures of stress with a dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of hyper-palatable, energy-dense, ready-to-eat foods among women shift workers.

Shift work, sleep duration, and body image dissatisfaction among female workers in southern Brazil.

We examined the association between shift work and sleep duration with body image dissatisfaction (BID) among shift-working women in southern Brazil. In this cross-sectional study, data of 505 women shift workers, between 18 and 60 years old, were collected between January and April 2011. BID was assessed using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale. Information on shift work, sleep duration, and other explanatory variables was collected through a questionnaire. An aggregated exposure variable was created and termed "sleep deprivation," with the exposure category being night-shift workers who slept < 7 h/day. The respective prevalence ratio values were estimated using a Poisson regression. The prevalence of BID among shift-working women was 42.4 (95% CIs = 38.0 to 46.7%), and 199 (93.0%) of these women wished they had a smaller body size. Shift work (PR = 1.40; p = 0.006) and sleep duration (PR = 1.32; p = 0.010) were independently associated with BID. Additionally, workers with sleep deprivation exhibited a higher probability of BID than those without sleep deprivation (PR = 1.31; p = 0.012). These results reveal a situation of vulnerability and the need for strategies and actions directed at shift-working women with the aim of reducing the effects of sleep deprivation on mental health, particularly with regard to body image disorders.

Salivary Cortisol, Perceived Stress, and Metabolic Syndrome: A Matched Case-Control Study in Female Shift Workers.

Although the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is complex and multifactorial, there is limited information if psychological factors, such as stress exposure, are involved in the etiology of MetS. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between MetS and cortisol levels and perceived stress levels among women shift workers in Southern Brazil. A matched case-control study was conducted, including 50 cases of MetS and 200 age-matched controls (±3 years, 4 for each case). Salivary cortisol levels were evaluated immediately after waking and one upon returning home from work. Perceived stress levels were measured by the Perceived Stress Scale with 10 items (PSS-10). Multivariate-adjusted associations between MetS and salivary cortisol levels and perceived stress levels were assessed by conditional logistic regression. Means±standard deviations of salivary cortisol levels were not significantly different between cases and controls either immediately after waking (5.37±4.10 vs. 6.03±5.39 nmol/l; p = 0.53) or after work (2.74±2.87 vs. 2.78±2.85 nmol/l; p = 0.93). There was no significant difference in perceived stress level between cases and controls (14.2±5.9 vs. 15.5±5.6; p = 0.15). No independent association was observed in the multivariate model between MetS and salivary cortisol level or perceived stress level after these exposures were stratified into tertiles. Overall, there was no difference between women with or without MetS in regard to the free salivary cortisol and perceived stress. Our results do not support an association between stress exposure and MetS among women shift workers.

Eating frequency and weight and body composition: a systematic review of observational studies.

OBJECTIVE: The present review aimed to examine the association of eating frequency with body weight or body composition in adults of both sexes. DESIGN: PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus databases were searched. PRISMA and MOOSE protocols were followed. Observational studies published up to August 2016 were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with the Downs and Black checklist. SETTING: A systematic review of the literature. SUBJECTS: Adults (n 136 052); the majority of studies were developed in the USA and Europe. RESULTS: Thirty-one articles were included in the review: two prospective and twenty-nine cross-sectional studies. Thirteen per cent of the studies received quality scores above 80 %. The assessment of eating frequency and body composition or body weight varied widely across the studies. Potential confounders were included in 73 % of the studies. Fourteen studies reported an inverse association between eating frequency and body weight or body composition, and seven studies found a positive association. The majority of studies applied multiple analyses adjusted for potential confounders, such as sex, age, education, income, smoking, physical activity and alcohol intake. Six studies took into account under-reporting of eating frequency and/or energy intake in the analysis, and one investigated the mediation effect of energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: There is not sufficient evidence confirming the association between eating frequency and body weight or body composition when misreporting bias is taken into account. However, in men, a potential protective effect of high eating frequency was observed on BMI and visceral obesity.

Workplace social capital, mental health and health behaviors among Brazilian female workers.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have investigated the relationship between workplace social capital and mental health, yet few have sought to examine the mediating mechanisms. We sought to explore the role of workplace social capital on health related behaviors and on mental health among female employees in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 553 women aged 28-50 years working in the production line of a poultry processing plant. We assessed workplace social capital, common mental disorders, stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and health related behaviors (physical activity, healthy eating habits and co-occurrence of risk behaviors). We used structural equation modeling to clarify relationships between exposures, outcomes, and mediating variables. RESULTS: Our model demonstrated a direct effect of social capital on the outcomes studied. Higher workplace social capital was associated with lower stress and common mental disorders as well as more favorable health-related behaviors. Our model also showed an indirect effect of social capital on mental health and on behaviors that was mediated by lower levels of perceived stress. CONCLUSION: Workplace social cohesion may play an important role in the promotion of mental health and healthy behaviors among women employees.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity is associated with plasmatic antioxidant capacity, nutrient intake and lipid and DNA damage in healthy women.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) seems to be associated with reducing risk of diseases. However, data about the influence of the DTAC on oxidative stress parameters are scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the DTAC and its influence on plasma total antioxidant capacity (PTAC), and damage to lipids, proteins and DNA in healthy women. It was found a positive correlation between DTAC and PTAC in young and healthy subjects, where presumably the endogenous defenses are fully functional. DTAC and PTAC were positively correlated with the intake of known antioxidants, including vitamin C and polyphenols. The DTAC exhibited a negative correlation with lipid oxidative damage, while PTAC showed a negative correlation with DNA damage. This data contributes to better understanding of the recommended dietary antioxidant intake for promoting health.

Physical activity in adolescence and abdominal obesity in adulthood: a case-control study among women shift workers.

Physical activity may have a protective effect against abdominal obesity, an important risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the association between the practice of physical activities in adolescence and abdominal obesity in adulthood among women shift workers in Southern Brazil in 2011. This case-control study included 215 cases (waist circumference greater than or equal to 88 cm) and 326 controls. For both the case and control groups, participation in leisure-time physical activities was most frequent in adolescence and was significantly less in adulthood. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, women who participated in five or more physical activities in adolescence were 50 percent less likely to have abdominal obesity than women who participated in one activity or no physical activities (Odds Ratio = 0.50; 95% confidential interval: 0.27-0.93, p value = .029). Participation in various types of leisure-time physical activities in adolescence may protect against abdominal obesity in adulthood, even if the number of physical activities decreases over time. This finding demonstrated the importance of physical activity as well as the period of life in which these should be encouraged for the prevention of health disorders, such as abdominal obesity.

Sleep deprivation and obesity in shift workers in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to explore the association between sleep deprivation and obesity among shift workers. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Time of sleep was categorized as: >5 h of continuous sleep/d; ≤5 h of continuous sleep/d with some additional rest (sleep deprivation level I); and ≤5 h of continuous sleep/d without any additional rest (sleep deprivation level II). Sociodemographic, parental and behavioural variables were evaluated by means of a standardized pre-tested questionnaire. Potential confounding factors were controlled for in the multivariable model. SETTING: A poultry-processing plant in southern Brazil. SUBJECTS: Nine hundred and five shift workers (63 % female). RESULTS: Obesity was more prevalent in the participants who were female, aged 40 years and older, who had less schooling and reported excess weight in both parents. Sleep deprivation levels I and II were associated with increased income, number of meals consumed throughout the day and nightshift work. All of the workers who exhibited a degree of sleep deprivation worked the night shift. After controlling for potential confounding factors, the prevalence ratios of obesity were 1·4 (95 % CI 0·8, 2·2) and 4·4 (95 % CI 2·4, 8·0) in the workers with sleep deprivation levels I and II, respectively, compared with the reference group. CONCLUSIONS: These results show a strong association between sleep deprivation and obesity in shift workers and that sleep deprivation may be a direct consequence of working at night.

Dietary intake in children and adolescents with food addiction: A systematic review.

Food addiction (FA) is characterized by behavioral changes related to the consumption of palatable foods, marked by dependence, impulsivity, and compulsion. Children and adolescents are more vulnerable to FA owing to their significant consumption of ultra-processed foods. This review aims to investigate the differences in dietary intake in pediatric populations with and without FA. We conducted a systematic literature review. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PsycINFO databases were searched up to July 2023. Potentially eligible studies were independently checked by two researchers. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Of the 4868 articles identified, six studies were included. All the included studies had high methodological quality. High consumption of calories and fat was observed in children and adolescents with FA. A diet quality analysis showed that the consumption of ultra-processed foods, such as sugary drinks, sweets, and chips, was related to FA. Given these findings, we concluded that FA in childhood may be associated with higher energy consumption and, consequently, higher intake of macronutrients. Few studies have examined the relationship between FA and food intake in childhood, and more studies are required.

Social inequities in the food retail patterns around schools in Recife, Brazil.

This study aimed to describe the community food environment surrounding schools and its association with territorial socio-environmental vulnerability in the city with the highest intraurban social inequity index in Brazil. METHODS: this ecological observational study includes data on the presence and type of food retail in a 400 m buffer surrounding public and private schools in Recife. We have also described the Health Vulnerability Index (HVI) of census tracts and conducted multivariate analyses. RESULTS: through factor analysis, we observed two grouping patterns of food retail. The "diverse food outlets" pattern was positively associated with middle HVI (ß 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.11; 0.16) and higher HVI areas (ß 0.15, 95%CI - 0.11; 0.17), while "the large food retail chains" pattern was inversely associated with middle HVI (ß -0.42, 95% CI - 0.53; -0.30) and high HVI areas (ß -0.32, 95%CI - 0.45; -0.18) and positively associated with private schools (ß 0.15, 95%CI - 0.030; 0.27). CONCLUSION: the greatest variety in food retail is in high HVI areas, and large food retail chains prevail around private schools, especially in low HVI areas.

Estimated fetal weight standards of the INTERGROWTH-21st project for the prediction of adverse outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and assess the risk of bias in the literature evaluating the performance of INTERGROWTH-21st estimated fetal weight (EFW) standards to predict maternal, fetal and neonatal adverse outcomes. METHODS: Searches were performed in seven electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Lilacs, Scielo and Google Scholar) using citation tools and keywords (intergrowth AND (standard OR reference OR formula OR model OR curve); all from 2014 to the last search on April 16th, 2021). We included full-text articles investigating the ability of INTERGROWTH-21st EFW standards to predict maternal, fetal or neonatal adverse outcomes in women with a singleton pregnancy who gave birth to infants with no congenital abnormalities. The study was registered on PROSPERO under the number CRD42020115462. Risk of bias was assessed with a customized instrument based on the CHARMS checklist and composed of 9 domains. Meta-analysis was performed using relative risk (RR [95%CI]) and summary ROC curves on outcomes reported by two or more methodologically homogeneous studies. RESULTS: Sixteen studies evaluating fifteen different outcomes were selected. The risk of bias was high (>50% of studies with high risk) for two domains: blindness of assessment (81.3%) and calibration assessment (93.8%). Considering all the outcomes investigated, for 95% of the results, the specificity was above 73.0%, but the sensitivity was below 64.1%. Pooled results demonstrated a higher RR of neonatal small for gestational age (6.71 [5.51-8.17]), Apgar <7 at 5 min (2.17 [1.48-3.18]), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (2.22 [1.76-2.79]) for fetuses classified <10th percentile when compared to those classified above this limit. The limitation of the study is the absence of heterogeneity exploration or publication bias investigation, whereas no outcomes were evaluated by more than five studies. CONCLUSIONS: The IG-21 EFW standard has low sensitivity and high specificity for adverse events of pregnancy. Classification <10th percentile identifies a high-risk group for developing maternal, fetal and neonatal adverse outcomes, especially neonatal small for gestational age, Apgar <7 at 5 min, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Future studies should include blind assessment of outcomes, perform calibration analysis with continuous data, and evaluate alternative cutoff points.

Racial disparities in lifestyle habits and dietary patterns in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To evaluate lifestyle habits and dietary patterns among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with skin color. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1315 undergraduate students from a public higher education institution. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and food consumption were collected. Factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns and multivariate logistic regression was conducted to estimate the associations between race/skin color and outcomes. Results: Black individuals were less likely to show behaviors associated with the use of cigarettes or tobacco products (OR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.42-0.89). However, black individuals with higher income (greater than, or equal to one minimum wage per person) were less likely to show behaviors associated with illicit drug use (OR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.31-0.96), use of cigarettes or tobacco products (OR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.24-0.87) and alcohol consumption (OR = 0.64; CI 95% 0.42-0.98). In addition, individuals of race/skin color black with lower income (less than one minimum wage per person) showed decreased consumption of vegetables (OR = 0.68; CI 95% 0.48-0.96). Conclusions: Black college students with higher income were less likely to show undesirable behaviors related to the use of psychoactive substances. In contrast, individuals with lower income had lower consumption of foods from the vegetable group, which can be considered an unfavorable health-related behavior.

Perceived racial discrimination and eating habits: a systematic review and conceptual models.

CONTEXT: There is no systematic review on the relationship between racial discrimination and eating habits. OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence on the association between perceived racial discrimination (PRD) and eating habits. A conceptual model was developed to depict the most common mechanisms used to explain this association. DATA SOURCES: Articles were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase, LILACS, and PsycINFO databases from inception to January 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Only observational studies were included, and there were no restrictions on age, racial group, or country. Two reviewers selected the articles independently. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted independently by 2 reviewers. The assessment of methodological quality was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: All studies retrieved were conducted among the US population. Nineteen studies were included. On average, the studies showed a methodological quality of 66%. Forty-six associations were evaluated: 38 between PRD and negative eating habits, 29 between PRD and eating behavior, and 17 between PRD and food consumption. CONCLUSIONS: PRD negatively affects eating habits. A conceptual framework based on ecosocial theory is suggested as a guide for future research. Further studies in different countries (beyond the United States) should be conducted to understand how racial discrimination affects eating habits within different ethnic, cultural, social, and economic contexts. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019142605.

Relationship between temperature and relative humidity on initial spread of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Climate conditions may influence the transmission of COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of temperature and relative humidity on COVID-19 cases and related deaths during the initial phase of the epidemic in Brazil. METHODOLOGY: An ecological study based on secondary data was conducted. Daily data on new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and climate indicators were collected from February 20 to April 18, 2020 (n = 59 days) for all state capital cities in Brazil and the Federal District (Brasília). The climate indicators included mean temperature, temperature amplitude, mean relative humidity, relative humidity amplitude, and percentage of days with mean relative humidity ≤ 65 %. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed for all cities and stratified by quintiles of the COVID-19 incidence rate. RESULTS: The mean daily temperature was positively correlated with the number of days until the first COVID-19 case was reported. A lower mean relative humidity was correlated with a lower number of cases and deaths in Brazil, especially when the relative humidity was ≤ 65 %. Higher temperatures and humidity amplitudes were correlated with lower COVID-19 mortality. Additionally, after controlling for humidity, cumulative cases of COVID-19 were inversely associated with temperature in cities with mean temperatures less than 25.8 °C. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in temperature and humidity across the Brazilian territory may have influenced the spread of the novel coronavirus during the initial phase of the epidemic.

Association between dietary patterns and socioeconomic factors and food environment in a city in the South of Brazil. / Associação entre padrões alimentares com fatores socioeconômicos e ambiente alimentar em uma cidade do Sul do Brasil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns and demographic and socioeconomic factors and the food environment among adults and older persons in a city in the south of Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study with people of both sexes aged between 20 and 70 years. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Poisson regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Four dietary patterns were identified: Healthy; Traditional; Refined Carbs and Sugars; and Fast Food. Positive associations were found between being female and higher income and the Healthy dietary pattern; being black or brown and living in a household with at least six members and the Traditional and Refined Carbs and Sugars patterns; and higher education and the fast-food dietary pattern. Having main meals at home was associated with the Traditional pattern and having lunch or dinner away from home was the associated with Refined Carbs and Sugars and fast-food patterns. Lower socioeconomic status leads to higher consumption of the Traditional and/or Refined Carbs and Sugars dietary patterns, while higher socioeconomic status appears to enable individuals to choose between healthy or fast-food patterns.

Objetivou-se estudar a associação entre padrão alimentar, fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e o ambiente alimentar em uma população de adultos e idosos de uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. Estudo transversal com pessoas de ambos os sexos e idade entre 20 e 70 anos. Os padrões alimentares foram identificados por meio da análise de componentes principais. A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para estimar as razões de prevalência brutas e ajustadas e os intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC 95%). Quatro padrões alimentares foram identificados: saudável, tradicional, carboidratos e açúcares refinados e fast food. Encontraram-se associações positivas entre: sexo feminino e maior renda com o padrão alimentar saudável; cor da pele preta ou parda e domicílios com seis ou mais moradores com padrões alimentares tradicional e carboidratos e açúcares refinados; maior escolaridade com o padrão fast food. Realizar as principais refeições em casa associou-se ao padrão tradicional, e almoço ou jantar fora do domicílio com os padrões carboidratos e açúcares refinados e fast food. Posição socioeconômica mais baixa leva ao maior consumo do padrão alimentar tradicional e/ou rico em carboidratos e açúcares, e uma posição socioeconômica mais elevada parece permitir uma escolha entre padrão saudável ou fast food.