Consumption of processed and ultraprocessed foods by schoolchildren from Arroio do Tigre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Changes in the diet of the Brazilian population, increasing intake of industrially processed foods, with a higher energy density has increased the risk of obesity in the population. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, verifying and comparing its relation with overweight between adolescents of public and private schools of municipality of Arroio do Tigre, Rio Grande do Sul. This is a cross-sectional study with adolescents, with aged between 10 and 15 years, of public and private school of Arroio do Tigre, Brazil. The nutritional status was evaluated by the body mass index by ratio weight and height. A questionnaire of food frequency was applied containing processed and ultra-processed food. The sample consisted of 64 adolescents with average age of 12.03±1.15 years, being 53.1% of public school. The nutritional status did not differ between schools (p=0.343), but predominated the eutrophia (76.6%). When compared the nutritional status with the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, was verified a higher frequency of in consumption of sweets or chewing gum (50.0%) and cereal bars (51.0%), 1-times per week (p=0.004; p=0.029, respectively). There was also a higher frequency of consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods as pizza (73.5%; p<0.001), soft drink (58.8%; p=0.036) and sandwich cookies (58.8%; p=0.008) between 1-3 times per week in public school than private school. The package juice intake (p=0.013) was reported not to be consumed by the majority of students of private schools than public school. There is a significant consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods by adolescents of both schools, emphasizing foods with high content of sugar and sodium.