Degree of food processing and association with overweight and abdominal obesity in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the degree of food processing, overweight, and abdominal obesity in adolescents. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, with 576 adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, of both sexes. Food consumption was collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire and foods classified as in natura or minimally processed, processed foods associated with culinary ingredients, and ultraprocessed foods. Sociodemographic data, body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were collected. The analysis was evaluated by the Mann-Whitney test and prevalence ratio with 95% confidence interval, considering p<0.05. RESULTS: An intake above the third quartile of processed foods associated with culinary ingredients (prevalence ratio of 1.64; 95%CI: 1.12-2.42) and ultraprocessed (prevalence ratio of 1.58; 95%CI: 1.07-2.34) was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight. Consumption above the third quartile of ultraprocessed foods was associated with a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, assessed by waist circumference (prevalence ratio of 2.48; 95%CI: 1.41-4.36), and waist-height ratio (prevalence ratio of 2.09; 95%CI: 1.11-3.92). CONCLUSION: A higher consumption of processed foods associated with culinary ingredients was related to being overweight, and ultraprocessed foods with overweight and abdominal obesity.

Influence of sugar consumption from foods with different degrees of processing on anthropometric indicators of children and adolescents after 18 months of follow-up.

Excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with the development of metabolic changes in children and adolescents. However, the consumption of total sugars, monosaccharides and disaccharides present in these ultra-processed foods and other food groups and its association with anthropometric indicators must be evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed at analysing the influence of sugar consumption from foods with different degrees of processing on anthropometric indicators of children and adolescents after 18 months of follow-up. This cohort study was conducted among 492 children and adolescents aged 7-15 years. Information on food consumption and anthropometry was collected during three follow-up stages. NOVA classification was used for food categorisation. The influence of sugar consumption on the variation of anthropometric measurements over time was evaluated using generalised estimation equation models. During the analysis period, for each increase of 1 g/d in the consumption of total sugars and monosaccharides from ultra-processed foods, there was an increase of 0·002 kg/m2 (P = 0·030) and 0·001 kg/m2 (P = 0·019) in BMI/Age; increase of 0·073 (P < 0·001), 0·032 (P < 0·001) and 0·100 (P < 0·001) in the BMI/Age z-score; and increase of 0·001 cm (P = 0·001), 0·001 cm (P = 0·003) and 0·003 cm (P < 0·001) in waist circumference, with the consumption of total sugars, monosaccharides and disaccharides, respectively. Our study findings support the evidence that the consumption of total sugars, monosaccharides and disaccharides from ultra-processed foods is associated with weight gain and abdominal fat in children and adolescents, which may represent an important risk factor for excess weight in this age group.

Degree of food processing and association with overweight and abdominal obesity in adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the association between the degree of food processing, overweight, and abdominal obesity in adolescents. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, with 576 adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, of both sexes. Food consumption was collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire and foods classified as in natura or minimally processed, processed foods associated with culinary ingredients, and ultraprocessed foods. Sociodemographic data, body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were collected. The analysis was evaluated by the Mann-Whitney test and prevalence ratio with 95% confidence interval, considering p<0.05. Results An intake above the third quartile of processed foods associated with culinary ingredients (prevalence ratio of 1.64; 95%CI: 1.12-2.42) and ultraprocessed (prevalence ratio of 1.58; 95%CI: 1.07-2.34) was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight. Consumption above the third quartile of ultraprocessed foods was associated with a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, assessed by waist circumference (prevalence ratio of 2.48; 95%CI: 1.41-4.36), and waist-height ratio (prevalence ratio of 2.09; 95%CI: 1.11-3.92). Conclusion A higher consumption of processed foods associated with culinary ingredients was related to being overweight, and ultraprocessed foods with overweight and abdominal obesity.

Metabolic syndrome and associated factors in children and adolescents of a Brazilian municipality / Síndrome metabólico y factores asociados en niños y adolescentes de un municipio brasileño

Background: the risk factors associated to metabolic syndrome (MS) have been extensively studied in adults, but in children and adolescents it is poorly explored. Objective: To identify the prevalence of MS and associated factors in children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 540 children and adolescents from 7 to 14 years of age. The socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle data and the family history of chronic diseases were reported by the individual and/or guardian and recorded in a structured questionnaire. Biochemical tests (fasting blood glucose, triacylglycerols, reduced high-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, homocysteine and cysteine), an anthropometric assessment and a blood pressure measurement were performed. MS was defined according to the criteria of The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III adapted by Ferranti. A Poisson regression was used to identify the factors statistically associated with MS. Results: The MS prevalence was 12.8%, in which the most frequent component was a decreased high-density lipoprotein level (58.2%), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (41.8%), elevated blood pressure (29.1%), increased waist circumference (26.7%) and hyperglycemia (7.2%). Associations between metabolic syndrome and overweight [prevalence ratio (PR): 2.2 (1.22-3.95)], father education [PR: 2.19 (1.10-4.37)], serum very low-density lipoprotein concentration [PR: 1.08 (1.04-1.11)] and concomitantly increased serum homocysteine and cysteine concentrations [PR: 2.58 (1.32-5.04)] were observed. Conclusions: The MS prevalence is high in children and adolescents and it is increased in patients with overweight, higher father education, increased serum very-low-density lipoprotein concentrations and a concomitant serum homocysteine and cysteine high levels (AU)

Introducción: Los factores asociados al Síndrome metabólico (SM) han sido ampliamente estudiados en adultos, pero aún son poco explorado en niños y adolescentes Objetivo: Identificar la superioridad de SM y los factores asociados en niños y adolescentes. Métodos: Se trata de estudio transversal, con 540 niños de 7 a 14 años de edad. Los datos socioeconómicos, demográficos, estilo de vida e historia familiar de enfermedades crónicas fueron informados por la persona y/o responsable y registrados en cuestionario estructurado. Fueron realizadas dosificaciones bioquímicas (glicemia en ayuno, triglicérides, lipoproteína de alta densidad reducida, lipoproteína de muy baja densidad, homocisteina y cisteina), evaluación antropométrica y verificación de la presión arterial. La SM fue definida de acuerdo con los criterios del The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III adaptado por Ferranti. Se utilizó regresión de Poisson como técnica estadística para identificar los factores asociados a la SM. Resultados: La superioridad de la SM fue del 12,8%, siendo a lipoproteína de alta densidad reducida (58,2%) el componente más frecuente, seguido por la hipertrigliceridemia (41,8%), presión arterial aumentada (29,1%), circunferencia de la cintura aumentada (26,7%) e hiperglicemia (7,2%). Fue observada asociación entre SM y exceso de peso (RP: 2,2 [1,22-3,95]), escolaridad paterna (RP: 2,19 [1,10-4,37]), concentración sérica de la lipoproteína de muy baja densidad (RP: 1,08 [1,04-1,11]) y concentraciones séricas simultáneamente aumentadas de homocisteina y cisteina (RP: 2,58 [1,32-5,04]). Conclusiones: La superioridad de SM es elevada en niños y adolescentes y se encuentra aumentada en paciente con exceso de peso, mayor escolaridad paterna, concentraciones séricas aumentadas de la lipoproteína de muy baja densidad, y elevación simultánea de los niveles séricos de homocisteína y cisteína (AU)

Alimentação complementar nos primeiros dois anos de vida / Complementary feeding in the first two years of life

OBJETIVO: Analisar a alimentação complementar de crianças nos primeiros dois anos de vida. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo transversal, com amostra constituída de 724 crianças residentes na cidade de Salvador, BA, Brasil, elegíveis por meio de amostragem por conglomerados em três estágios. As informações referentes ao consumo alimentar foram coletadas por meio do inquérito recordatório de 24 horas e processadas pelo programa Virtual Nutri. O pacote estatístico STATA, que incorpora o efeito da ponderação, foi utilizado para realizar as análises estatísticas. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que o desmame é praticado precocemente. O consumo de leite materno declina expressivamente a partir dos seis meses de idade, e é substituído pelas fórmulas à base de leite em pó integral, espessante e açúcar. A participação dos hidratos de carbono no valor calórico total da dieta aumenta com a idade, enquanto que o lipídeo diminui expressivamente. A distribuição média da energia e da proteína da dieta está acima do recomendado segundo a idade para todos os grupos etários, mas é grande a variabilidade do consumo intragrupo. A realização do desjejum, do almoço e do jantar foi registrada para aproximadamente 90 por cento das crianças investigadas. CONCLUSÃO: A iniciação do consumo de alimentos complementares acontece em período bem precoce da vida, e são oferecidos em quantidade insuficiente para suprir as recomendações nutricionais, particularmente de micronutrientes.