Consumption of ultra-processed foods in the third gestational trimester and increased weight gain: a Brazilian cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) during pregnancy is associated with gestational weight gain (GWG). DESIGN: Cohort study with collection of two 24-h dietary recalls during each gestational trimester obtained on non-consecutive days and differentiating weekday v. weekend/holiday. The foods were classified according to the NOVA system into fresh or minimally processed foods and their culinary preparations, processed and UPF and subsequently analysed as a percentage contribution to dietary energy. The outcome was average GWG in the second and in the third trimesters, expressed in g/week. SETTING: Botucatu, a medium-sized Brazilian city. PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant women with regular obstetric risk (n 259) undergoing prenatal care in primary healthcare. RESULTS: In a multiple linear regression model, it was found that an increase of 1 percentage point in energy consumption from UPF in the third gestational trimester led to an average increase of 4·17 (95 % CI 0·55; 7·79) g in weekly GWG in this period. There was no association between second-trimester UPF consumption and GWG. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of UPF in the third gestational trimester is positively associated with average weekly GWG in this period.

The association of dietary glycaemic index and glycaemic load with gestational weight gain and newborn birth weight.

Diet during pregnancy is related to several maternal and infant health outcomes; however, the relationship between maternal dietary glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) and gestational weight gain (GWG) or newborn birth weight is controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between maternal dietary GI and GL and GWG and birth weight. A cohort of adult pregnant women with usual obstetric risk was followed in Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Two 24-h dietary recalls were collected in each gestational trimester (<14, 24-27, 31-34 weeks), one in person and the other by telephone. GI and GL were determined using the software Nutrition Data System for Research. GWG was obtained from medical records and evaluated as the weekly GWG between the second and third gestational trimesters. Newborn birth weight z-score in relation to gestational age was evaluated according to Intergrowth-21st Project recommendations. A multiple linear regression model, adjusted for potential confounders, showed a one-point increase in the GI resulted in a mean decrease of 12·9 (95 % CI -21·48, -4·24) g in weekly GWG; GL was not associated with this outcome. The birth weight z-score was not associated with GI (P = 0·763) or GL (P = 0·317). In conclusion, in a cohort of pregnant women considered at usual risk for obstetric complications, maternal dietary GI was negatively associated with weekly GWG in the second and third gestational trimesters. No association was observed between GL and GWG, and neither GI nor GL was associated with birth weight z-score.

Ultra-processed Food Consumption by Pregnant Women: The Effect of an Educational Intervention with Health Professionals.

Objectives Nutrition during pregnancy is related with many maternal and child outcomes. To investigate the consumption of ultra-processed foods is one of the newest methods to evaluate food consumption, but these studies in pregnant women are rare. Methods We conducted a non-randomized controlled educational intervention on healthy eating and physical activity during pregnancy in primary health care units of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The sample comprised two groups of pregnant women with low obstetric risk, an intervention group (n = 181) and a control group (n = 172). The health professionals that assisted the pregnant women from the intervention group were trained to promote five healthy food practices during the prenatal care appointments: consumption of three fruits; two portions of vegetables; two portions of beans, at least 5 days per week; and restriction of soft drinks and industrially processed cookies. All pregnant women answered two 24-h dietary recalls per trimester, one face-to-face, another by telephone. The foods consumed by pregnant women were classified according Nova. The impact of the intervention on the ultra-processed food consumption was evaluated by multilevel linear regression analysis. Results A quarter of the energy consumed by the pregnant women provided from ultra-processed foods. The intervention reduced these percentage of energy between the first and second trimester of pregnancy by 4.6 points (p = 0.015). This effect was not observed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Conclusions for Practice Training health care professionals to promote healthy food practices is a viable and sustainable alternative to reduce ultra-processed foods during pregnancy.

Educational intervention regarding diet and physical activity for pregnant women: changes in knowledge and practices among health professionals.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge and practices of health professionals have a recognized role in behaviors related to the health of their patients. During pregnancy, this influence can be even stronger because there is frequent contact between women and doctors/nurses at periodic antenatal visits. When trained, supported and motivated, these professionals can act as health promoters. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a focused educational intervention on improving the knowledge and practices of health professionals concerning diet and physical activity during pregnancy. METHODS: A controlled, non-randomized study was performed to assess the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge and practices of nurses and doctors who provide primary care to pregnant women. The intervention group, doctors and nurses (n = 22) from the family health units in a medium-sized city of São Paulo State, Brazil, received 16 h of training comprising an introductory course and three workshops, whereas the control group, doctors and nurses (n = 20) from traditional basic health units in Botucatu, did not. The professionals' knowledge was assessed at two time points, 1 month prior to and 1 year after the beginning of the intervention, using an ad hoc self-report questionnaire. The increases in the knowledge scores for walking and healthy eating of the intervention and control groups were calculated and compared using Student's t-test. To analyze the professionals' practice, women in the second trimester of pregnancy were asked whether they received guidance on healthy eating and leisure-time walking; 140 of these women were cared for by professionals in the intervention group, and 141 were cared for by professionals in the control group. The percentage of pregnant women in each group that received guidance was compared using the chi-square test and the Prevalence Ratio (PR), and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: The intervention improved the professionals' knowledge regarding leisure-time walking (92 % increase in the score, p < 0.001). The women who were cared for by the intervention group were more likely to receive guidance regarding leisure-time walking (PR = 2.65; 95 % CI = 1.82-3.83) and healthy eating (PR = 1.76; 95 % CI = 1.34-2.31) when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: It is possible to improve the knowledge and practices of health professionals through the proposed intervention aimed at primary health care teams providing antenatal care.

[Obesity in Brazilian women: association with parity and socioeconomic status]. / Obesidade em mulheres brasileiras: associação com paridade e nível socioeconômico.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of reproductive history on the prevalence of obesity in Brazilian women and the possible modifying effect of socioeconomic variables on the association between parity and excess weight. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of complex sample data collected as part of the 2006 Brazilian National Survey on Demography and Health, which included a group representative of women of childbearing age in Brazil was conducted. The study included 11 961 women aged 20 to 49 years. The association between the study factor (parity) and the outcome of interest (obesity) was tested using logistic regression analysis. The adjusted effect of parity on obesity was assessed in a multiple regression model containing control variables: age, family purchasing power, as defined by the Brazilian Association of Research Enterprises (ABEP), schooling, and health care. Significance level was set at below 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity in the study population was 18.6%. The effect of parity on obesity was significant (P for trend < 0.001). Unadjusted analysis showed a positive association of obesity with parity and age. Family purchase power had a significant odds ratio for obesity only in the unadjusted analysis. In the adjusted model, this variable did not explain obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that parity has an influence on obesity in Brazilian women of childbearing age, with higher prevalence in women vs. without children.

Determinants of fruits, vegetables, and ultra-processed foods consumption among infants.

The objective was to evaluate the influence of individual and contextual determinants on infant's consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV), and ultra-processed foods (UPF). The data was obtained from the Survey of Prevalence of Breastfeeding in Brazilian Municipalities, 2008. A representative sample of 14,326 infants 6-11.9 months old, from seventy-five municipalities of São Paulo state was evaluated. The influence of determinants on FV and UPF consumption was analyzed using Poisson multilevel regression. Mother's educational level and maternal age had positive dose-response effect for the consumption of FV (p trend < 0.001) and negative for UPF (p trend < 0.001). Infants of multiparous women and those who received outpatient care in public medical system showed lower prevalence of FV (p < 0.001 for both) and higher prevalence of UPF (respectively, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). Moreover, the contextual variable related to population size indicated that the prevalence of consumption of FV decreased (p < 0.001) and UPF increased (p = 0.081) with decreased population size. Therefore, infants born to women with low education levels, who received outpatient care in the public health network, and who reside in small municipalities should be prioritized for educational programs related to feeding practices.

Effectiveness of an intervention focusing on diet and walking during pregnancy in the primary health care service.

Interventions during prenatal care can mitigate negative outcomes of a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet during pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention that promoted healthy diet and leisure-time walking during antenatal care in a pragmatic, controlled, non-randomized intervention study. Physicians and nurses from all health care units of the Family Health Strategy model of health assistance participated in educational training to promote leisure-time walking and healthy diet during antenatal care visits. Pregnant women who received health care from these professionals constituted the intervention group (n = 181). The control group (n = 172) included pregnant women who received routine antenatal care, in health care units of the traditional model of health assistance. Data were collected in each trimester of pregnancy. Diet was investigated using a food frequency questionnaire adapted from Risk and Protective Factors Surveillance System for Chronic Non-Comunicable Diseases Through Telephone Interview (Vigitel). Leisure-time walking in a typical week was assessed using questions from the Physical Activity in Pregnancy Questionnaire. There were positive effects on leisure-time walking during the second trimester and the third trimester of pregnancy and on the women who achieved 150 minutes per week of walking during the third trimester. The intervention reduced the risk of pregnant women consuming soft drinks and/or commercially prepared cookies in the third trimester. This lifestyle intervention was partially effective, tripling the proportion of pregnant women who achieved the recommended walking time and reducing by half the proportion of women who had a high weekly consumption of soft drinks and industrially processed cookies.

Narrowing socioeconomic inequality in child stunting: the Brazilian experience, 1974-2007.

OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in the prevalence and social distribution of child stunting in Brazil to evaluate the effect of income and basic service redistribution policies implemented in that country in the recent past. METHODS: The prevalence of stunting (height-for-age z score below -2 using the Child Growth Standards of the World Health Organization) among children aged less than 5 years was estimated from data collected during national household surveys carried out in Brazil in 1974-75 (n = 34,409), 1989 (n = 7374), 1996 (n = 4149) and 2006-07 (n = 4414). Absolute and relative socioeconomic inequality in stunting was measured by means of the slope index and the concentration index of inequality, respectively. FINDINGS: Over a 33-year period, we documented a steady decline in the national prevalence of stunting from 37.1% to 7.1%. Prevalence dropped from 59.0% to 11.2% in the poorest quintile and from 12.1% to 3.3% among the wealthiest quintile. The decline was particularly steep in the last 10 years of the period (1996 to 2007), when the gaps between poor and wealthy families with children under 5 were also reduced in terms of purchasing power; access to education, health care and water and sanitation services; and reproductive health indicators. CONCLUSION: In Brazil, socioeconomic development coupled with equity-oriented public policies have been accompanied by marked improvements in living conditions and a substantial decline in child undernutrition, as well as a reduction of the gap in nutritional status between children in the highest and lowest socioeconomic quintiles. Future studies will show whether these gains will be maintained under the current global economic crisis.

Use of a predictive model for food insecurity estimates in Brazil.

In 2004 the National Household Survey (Pesquisa Nacional por Amostras de Domicilios-PNAD) estimated the prevalence of food and nutrition insecurity in Brazil. However, PNAD data cannot be disaggregated at the municipal level. The objective of this study was to build a statistical model to predict severe food insecurity for Brazilian municipalities based on the PNAD dataset. Exclusion criteria were: incomplete food security data (19.30%); informants younger than 18 years old (0.07%); collective households (0.05%); households headed by indigenous persons (0.19%). The modeling was carried out in three stages, beginning with the selection of variables related to food insecurity using univariate logistic regression. The variables chosen to construct the municipal estimates were selected from those included in PNAD as well as the 2000 Census. Multivariate logistic regression was then initiated, removing the non-significant variables with odds ratios adjusted by multiple logistic regression. The Wald Test was applied to check the significance of the coefficients in the logistic equation. The final model included the variables: per capita income; years of schooling; race and gender of the household head; urban or rural residence; access to public water supply; presence of children; total number of household inhabitants and state of residence. The adequacy of the model was tested using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p = 0.561) and ROC curve (area = 0.823). Tests indicated that the model has strong predictive power and can be used to determine household food insecurity in Brazilian municipalities, suggesting that similar predictive models may be useful tools in other Latin American countries.

Feeding practices of low birth weight Brazilian infants and associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize complementary feeding and to analyze the influence of individual and contextual factors on dietary practices of low birth weight infants. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 2,370 low birth weight infants aged 6 to 12 months included in the Breastfeeding Prevalence Survey in Brazilian Municipalities (2008), which covered the 26 state capitals, the Federal District and 37 municipalities. Dietary practices were assessed using two indicators: I) dietary diversity, characterized by the consumption of five food groups: meat, beans, vegetables, fruit and milk; II) consumption of ultra-processed foods, characterized by the ingestion of at least one of the following foods on the day prior to the survey: soda, or processed juice, or cookie, cracker and crisps. The covariates of interest were the socioeconomic characteristics of infants, mothers and health services. The contextual factor was the "municipal prevalence of child undernutrition." The individualized effect of the study factors on outcomes was assessed by multilevel Poisson regression. RESULTS: Approximately 59% of infants consumed ultra-processed foods, while 29% had diverse feeding. Mothers living in municipalities with child undernutrition prevalence below 10%, with higher education and working outside the home were more likely to offer dietary diversity. Consumption of ultra-processed foods was higher among infants living in municipalities with child undernutrition prevalence below 10%, whose mothers were younger and multiparous. CONCLUSIONS: The low prevalence of diverse feeding combined with the high prevalence of ultra-processed food consumption characterizes the low quality of feeding of low birth weight Brazilian infants. Individual and contextual factors impact the feeding quality of this population, suggesting the need for effective strategies to increase the consumption of fresh and minimally processed foods and decrease the consumption of ultra-processed foods by this vulnerable population.

[Association between maternal physical activity, gestational weight gain and birth weight in a cohort of 118 pregnant women in Campina Grande, Northeast of Brazil]. / Associação entre o padrão de atividade física materna, ganho ponderal gestacional e peso ao nascer em uma coorte de 118 gestantes no município de Campina Grande, Nordeste do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: This survey evaluated the effects of physical activity on gestational weight gain and birth weight of pregnant women attended by the Family Health Program in Campina Grande, Northeast of Brazil. METHODS: A cohort study enrolling 118 pregnant women was conducted between 2005 and 2006. Evaluation of the initial nutritional status was performed following Atalah's criteria and gestational weight gain was evaluated according to the Institute of Medicine. The pattern of physical activity was evaluated according to METs (metabolic equivalent) and its association with weight gain and birth weight was determined. RESULTS: The predominant physical activity pattern at 16 weeks was mild, in 85.6% of pregnant women. An important reduction of physical activity levels was observed with evolution of pregnancy and 98.3% of pregnant women were sedentary at 24 weeks and 100% at 32 weeks. In the initial evaluation of nutritional status 50% were normal, 23% had low weight and 27% had overweight/obesity. At second and third trimesters about 45% of pregnant women had excessive weight gain. Adequate birth weight for gestational age was found in 85.6% of neonates but macrosomia was highly frequent (8.5%). A significant association between METs at 24 weeks and gestational weight gain was found in the second trimester (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: All the pregnant women were sedentary in the third trimester and a significant association between physical activity pattern and gestational weight gain was found in the second trimester, but there was no association between this pattern and birth weight.

[Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in low birthweight infants under six months of age]. / Determinantes do aleitamento materno exclusivo em lactentes menores de seis meses nascidos com baixo peso.

The study aimed to assess factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in low birthweight infants under six months of age in 64 Brazilian municipalities. This cross-sectional study included the 2,745 low birth weight infants under six months of age in the Survey on Prevalence of Breastfeeding (2008) in Brazilian municipalities. The outcome was exclusive breastfeeding. Individual determinants included socioeconomic characteristics (infants' age and sex), maternal characteristics (age bracket, work status, and parity), and characteristics of health services (birth in a Child-Friendly Hospital; place of outpatient follow-up; type of delivery). Two contextual determinants were also included: "number of Human Milk Banks per municipality per 10,000 live births" and "municipal human development index". The individualized effect of the study factor on the outcome was assessed by multilevel Poisson regression with level of significance under 5%. Exclusive Breastfeeding was more prevalent in low birth weight infants whose mothers were 20-35 years of age, who were not working away from home or were on maternity leave, who had given birth in a Child-Friendly Hospital, and who lived in municipalities with more human milk banks per 10,000 live births. The result of the positive and independent effect of strategies that were already part of the National Breastfeeding Policy (birth in a Child-Friendly Hospital, living in a municipality with more human milk banks, and adopting laws that guarantee maternity leave) on exclusive breastfeeding in low birth weight infants points to the need to expand the coverage of these measures in order to meet the breastfeeding targets proposed by the World Health Organization.

Objetivou-se avaliar os fatores associados ao aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME) em lactentes com baixo peso ao nascer, menores de seis meses e residentes em 64 municípios brasileiros. Este estudo transversal incluiu os 2.745 lactentes com baixo peso ao nascer menores de seis meses da Pesquisa de Prevalência de Aleitamento Materno (2008) em municípios brasileiros. O desfecho foi "AME". Os determinantes individuais corresponderam às características socioeconômicas dos lactentes (idade; sexo), das mães (faixa etária; situação de trabalho; paridade) e dos serviços de saúde (nascimento em Hospital Amigo da Criança; local de acompanhamento ambulatorial; tipo de parto). Dois determinantes contextuais foram incluídos: "número de bancos de leite humano por município por 10 mil nascidos vivos", e "IDH do município". O efeito individualizado do fator de estudo sobre o desfecho foi avaliado mediante regressão de Poisson com estrutura multinível, considerando-se associação significante quando p < 5%. O AME foi mais prevalente entre lactentes com baixo peso ao nascer cujas mães tinham de 20-35 anos, não trabalhavam fora ou estavam em licença maternidade; nos que nasceram em Hospital Amigo da Criança e que residiam em municípios com maior número de bancos de leite humano por 10 mil nascidos vivos. O resultado do efeito positivo e independente de estratégias que já integram a Política Nacional de Aleitamento Materno (nascer em Hospital Amigo da Criança, residir em município com maior disponibilidade de bancos de leite humano e adotar leis que garantam a licença maternidade) sobre o AME em lactentes com baixo peso ao nascer, aponta para a necessidade de expansão da cobertura dessas ações com vistas ao cumprimento das metas de aleitamento propostas pela Organização Mundial da Saúde.

El objetivo fue evaluar los factores asociados a la lactancia materna exclusiva en lactantes con bajo peso al nacer menores de seis meses, residentes en 64 municipios brasileños. Este estudio transversal incluyó a los 2.745 lactantes con bajo peso al nacer, menores de seis meses, de la Encuesta de Prevalencia de Lactancia Materna (2008) en municipios Brasileños. El desenlace fue "lactancia materna exclusiva". Los determinantes individuales correspondieron a las características socioeconómicas de los lactantes (edad; sexo), de las madres (franja etaria; situación laboral; igualdad) y de los servicios de salud (nacimiento en un Hospital Amigo da Criança; lugar de seguimiento ambulatorio; tipo de parto). Se incluyeron dos determinantes contextuales: "número de bancos de leche humana por municipio por 10 mil nacidos vivos", e "IDH del municipio". El efecto individualizado del factor de estudio sobre el desenlace fue evaluado mediante regresión de Poisson con estructura multinivel, considerándose una asociación significante cuando p < 5%. El lactancia materna exclusiva fue más prevalente entre lactantes con bajo peso al nacer, cuyas madres tenían de 20-35 años, no trabajaban fuera o estaban con licencia de maternidad; en quienes nacieron en un Hospital Amigo da Criança y que residían en municipios con mayor número de bancos de leche humana por 10 mil nacidos vivos. El resultado del efecto positivo e independiente de estrategias, que ya integran la Política Nacional de Lactancia Materna (nacer en Hospital Amigo da Criança, residir en municipio con mayor disponibilidad de bancos de leche humana y adoptar leyes que garanticen la baja por maternidad), sobre el lactancia materna exclusiva en lactantes con bajo peso al nacer, apunta la necesidad de expansión de la cobertura de esas acciones con vistas al cumplimiento de las metas de lactancia propuestas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

Adherence to dietary patterns during pregnancy and association with maternal characteristics in pregnant Brazilian women.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate food consumption during pregnancy by determining dietary patterns, associations with maternal characteristics, and possible changes in adherence to patterns throughout pregnancy. METHODS: We prospectively followed two groups of pregnant women (N = 353) and collected, in each gestational trimester, two 24-h dietary recalls: one in person and another by telephone, with one of these recalls performed on a weekend or holiday. To determine the women's dietary patterns, principal component analysis was conducted using the combined data of groups and trimesters. The association between adherence to patterns and maternal characteristics was investigated using a logistic regression model, including covariates as potential confounders. Changes in adherence throughout the trimesters by the means difference test also were examined. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were identified: traditional Brazilian; predominantly ultra-processed and beef; and whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and dairy. Associations were found between adherence to patterns and not working outside the home, not being white, being younger, not living with a partner, drinking alcohol before pregnancy, years of formal education, and socioeconomic classification. Adherence to the traditional Brazilian pattern increased as gestational trimesters advanced, whereas the pattern that included whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and milk derivatives decreased from the first to the second gestational trimester. CONCLUSION: We found associations between maternal sociodemographic characteristics and adherence to different dietary patterns, as well as changes in adherence during pregnancy. This knowledge is relevant to creating specific and feasible guidelines for different population strata associated with the patterns.

INFLUENCE OF BREASTFEEDING ON CONSUMPTION OF SWEETENED BEVERAGES OR FOODS. / INFLUÊNCIA DO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO SOBRE O CONSUMO DE BEBIDAS OU ALIMENTOS ADOÇADOS.

OBJECTIVE: To verify whether breastfeeding is associated with lower prevalence of consumption of sweetened beverages or foods in infants. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with data collected from the Survey on Prevalence of Breastfeeding conducted in Brazilian municipalities in 2008. A representative sample of 14,326 infants aged 6 to 11.9 months of age, residents of 75 municipalities in the State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, was studied. The influence of breastfeeding on the consumption of sweetened beverages or food products was analyzed by multilevel Poisson regression. Variables with p<0.20 in the crude analysis were included in the multilevel analysis. RESULTS: Most infants were on breastfeeding (56.1%). The prevalence of sweetened drinks or foods consumption was 53.3%. The consumption of sweetened products was shown to be less prevalent among breastfed infants after adjustment for confounding factors (PR 0.87; 95%CI 0.83-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding was associated with lower consumption of sweetened beverages or foods. As an additional effect of actions aimed at promoting breastfeeding, a decrease in intake of sweetened products is expected among infants.

OBJETIVO: Verificar se o aleitamento materno associa-se a menores prevalências de consumo de bebidas ou alimentos adoçados entre lactentes. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com dados da Pesquisa de Prevalência de Aleitamento Materno em Municípios Brasileiros de 2008. Foi estudada uma amostra representativa de 14.326 lactentes, de 6 a 11,9 meses, residentes em 75 municípios do estado de São Paulo. Avaliou-se a influência do aleitamento materno sobre o consumo de bebidas ou alimentos adoçados mediante regressão de Poisson multinível. Permaneceram como variáveis de ajuste aquelas que apresentaram p<0,20 na análise bruta. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos lactentes encontrava-se em aleitamento materno (56,1%), e 53,3% consumiram bebidas ou alimentos adoçados. O consumo de tais bebidas ou alimentos foi menos prevalente entre os lactentes amamentados, após ajustes pelas variáveis de confusão (RP 0,87; IC95% 0,83-0,91). CONCLUSÕES: A presença do aleitamento materno associou-se a menores prevalências de consumo de bebidas ou alimentos adoçados. Assim, pode-se esperar, como efeito adicional das ações de promoção ao aleitamento materno, que haja diminuição do consumo de bebidas ou alimentos adoçados entre lactentes.

[Structural and functional aspects of social support for the elderly in the city of São Paulo, Brazil]. / Aspectos estruturais e funcionais do apoio social de idosos do Município de São Paulo, Brasil.

This study aimed to describe the distribution of social support networks for the elderly in the City of São Paulo, Brazil, based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. A probability sample of 1,568 elderly persons (> 60 years) was studied (SABE query), focusing on structural and functional dimensions of social networks. Univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. The best conditions in social networks were in the lowest income levels and the worst among older and unmarried people. For women, unmarried marital status was significantly associated with lower schooling. Cohabiting had the strongest influence on the functional dimension, while "living alone" significantly decreased the odds of social exchange. Multiple logistic regression by gender suggested that age, marital status, per capita income, and schooling were associated with social networks among elderly people. However, these relationships were expressed unevenly between the genders and depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the different dimensions of the social support network.

The relationship between body mass index and lifestyle in a Brazilian adult population: a cross-sectional survey.

This study focused on adult obesity prevalence in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil, and the association between socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, physical activity, eating habits, and food consumption frequency and body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2001 with a sample of 1,252 individuals from 20 to 64 years of age. The association between socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, food consumption, and physical activity and BMI was evaluated by hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis. Obesity prevalence was 10.7% in men and 13.9% in women. In males, age, income, and meat consumption showed a positive association with BMI, while physical activity during leisure time and commuting and the habit of eating > 4 meals per day were inversely associated with BMI. In women, positively associated factors were age, no smoking, and no meat consumption; in contrast, consumption of grains was inversely associated with BMI. High obesity prevalence was observed; active lifestyle coupled with ingestion of more grains and less meat appeared to protect against increased BMI.

[Determinants of linear growth retardation in Brazilian preschool children: a multilevel approach]. / Preditores do retardo de crescimento linear em pré-escolares: uma abordagem multinível.

This study focuses on the determinants of linear growth deficit in under-five children using multilevel modeling. The sample included 3,746 preschoolers from 15 Brazilian municipalities (ten from the State of Bahia and five from São Paulo), with a three-tier analysis (municipalities, households, and children). Municipal data were obtained from the 1991 National Census. Individual and household data were collected from 1999 to 2001 using structured questionnaires and measuring children's weight and height. Analysis used the MLwiN software. In the final multilevel model, low HDI and prenatal care at the municipal level, poor environmental and economic conditions and maternal schooling at the household level, and low birth weight, incomplete immunization, prior history of malnutrition, and no report of breastfeeding at the individual level were strongly associated with linear growth deficit. Total variability of deficit explained by the model was 27.4%, of which 51.3%, 33%, and 15.7% were explained, respectively, by individual, household, and municipal variables.

Malnutrition in the second year of life and psychosocial care: a case-control study in an urban area of Southeast Brazil.

The present study aimed to identify and measure the relationship between malnutrition and psychosocial care in the second year of life. A case-control study compared 101 malnourished 12-23-month-old children (weight-for-age < 5th percentile, WHO/NCHS) to 200 well-nourished children (weight-for-age > 25th percentile) for exposure to various maternal behaviors related to psychosocial care. A psychosocial care score was constructed, based on the number of desirable maternal behaviors that were absent (the higher the score, the worse the quality of childcare). The association was modified by per capita family income. After adjusting for possible confounders, children from higher-income households showed no association between psychosocial care and malnutrition. For children from lower-income households, worse psychosocial care doubled the risk of malnutrition (OR = 7.26; 95%CI: 2.42-21.82) compared to low income alone (OR = 3.08; 95%CI: 1.28-7.42).

[Validity of self-reported weight and height: the Goiânia study, Brazil]. / Validade do peso e da altura auto-referidos: o estudo de Goiânia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of self-reported weight and height at the time of diagnosing obesity, and to identify the sociodemographic and individual characteristics that might be a source of information bias. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional population-based study carried out in the city of Goiânia in 2001. Interviews were conducted with 1,023 individuals aged 20-64 years, in their homes, to collect sociodemographic and self-reported weight and height information. On the same occasion, weight and height measurements were made on these individuals. The mean differences and correlation coefficients between self-reported and measured data were calculated according to age, body mass index (BMI), schooling, income and height. RESULTS: Both the men and women overestimated their heights (p<0.05), by 0.9 cm and 2.2 cm, respectively. There was no difference between self-reported and measured weights, either for the men (-0.44 kg; p=0.06) or for the women (-0.03 kg; p>0.05). The behavior of overestimating height was influenced by age, schooling, height and body mass index. Although this index obtained from the self-reported data was underestimated (p<0.05), by 0.27 kg/m(2) and 0.67 kg/m(2) for men and women respectively, the measured and self-reported data presented a high degree of agreement. Both the sensitivity and specificity of the self-reported body mass index were high, in relation to identifying the measured index. CONCLUSIONS: In epidemiological studies for monitoring the prevalence of excess weight in populations, self-reported weights and heights constitute reliable data, which gives validity to the methodology utilized.

[High prevalence of inadequate calcium and vitamin D dietary intake in two cohorts of pregnant women]. / Alta prevalência de inadequação da ingestão dietética de cálcio e vitamina D em duas coortes de gestantes.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of inadequate calcium and vitamin D dietary intake and related factors in two cohorts of pregnant women according to trimester of pregnancy. Two 24-hour dietary recall tests were taken in each trimester, one pertaining to weekends. Variables significantly correlated with intake of these nutrients were included in a multivariate linear regression model, adjusted for energy. Prevalence of inadequate intake was estimated according to the National Cancer Institute method (United States). In cohort A, inadequate vitamin D did not differ between trimesters; in B there was a reduction: from 99.7% in the first trimester to 97.1% in the third. In cohorts A and B, inadequate calcium intake exceeded 70%, falling slightly from the first (89.2% and 81.4%) to the second (79.7% and 69.1%) and third trimesters (82.7% and 72.6%). There was no correlation between maternal variables and the intake of these micronutrients. In conclusion, intake of vitamin D and calcium is seriously inadequate and distributed homogeneously among pregnant women in the primary healthcare network.