The article aim to describe the history, purpose and health promotion action developed in the pilot Programa Academia da Cidade (PAC) in Belo Horizonte-MG. The PAC was implemented in 2005 to promote healthy ways of life through interdisciplinary interventions, mainly collective, which amplify the autonomy of individuals and to consider health demands of community, respecting cultural diversity. The first unit offering regular physical exercise and nutritional counseling integrated into basic health unit. The unit attends approximately 400 people who low income, unhealthy diet, excess of weight and comorbidities. The actions provided regular physical exercise, adopting healthier eating habits and weight reduction. The PAC contributes to health promotion with equity and social justice.

Background The food environment can influence opportunities and barriers to food access. This study aimed to investigate whether access to healthy foods varies according to store types and the socioeconomic status of the users of the public health promotion program in Brazil, known as the Health Academy Program. Methods A total of 18 Health Academy Program centers were selected via simple conglomerate sampling. Health Academy Program users living up to 1 km from the food stores were evaluated ( n = 2831). Their socioeconomic status was investigated via face-to-face interviews. The food stores were audited through direct observation. Variables included the community nutrition environment (type and location) and consumer nutrition environment (healthy food store index, involving variables such as availability, variety, and advertising of healthy and unhealthy products). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the association between access to healthy foods, socioeconomic status, and food store type. Results A total of 336 stores were investigated. The majority were specialty fruit and vegetable markets/stores or open-air food markets. Access to healthy food was only associated with the food store type. An increase of 1% in the availability of specialized fruits and vegetable markets or open-air food markets and supermarket raised healthy food store index values by 0.12 and 0.07, respectively. Conclusions Public food supply policies aimed at improving the diet quality of the population and reducing inequality in access should prioritize the implementation of stores of better quality, such as specialty fruit and vegetable markets and open-air food markets.

Objective: Describing the consumption of Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their association with the nutritional profiles among users of a health promotion service in a Brazilian city. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Public health promotion service of Primary Health Care in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants: 3372 participants Results: UPFs were found to contribute to 27.7% of the diet’s total energy. The highest consumption was associated with higher values for energy intake (1561,8 vs. 1331,8 kcal/d; p <0,01), energy density (1,7 vs. 1,4 kcal/g; p <0,01), total (32,5 vs. 27,3 %; p <0,01) and trans fats (2,1 vs. 1,2 %; p <0,01), and sodium (1001,6 vs. 758,9 mg/1000 kcal; p <0,01), and with lower values for proteins (14,9 vs. 19,6 %; p <0,01), mono-unsaturated fats (16,1 vs. 20,1%; p=0,02), omega-3 (0,9 vs. 1,1 %; p <0,01), and some vitamins and minerals when comparing individuals in the last quintile of energy contribution from UPFs in relation to the first one. The prevalence rate of nutrient inadequacy aimed at preventing NCDs increased between 30% and 100% when compared the values of the fifth to the first quintile of UPFs consumption(p<0,001). However, the participants had lower energy intake, energy density and sodium; and higher fiber consumption when compared to Brazilian population. Conclusions: Participants showed a high consumption of UPFs, but also positive diet characteristics when compared to the national data. The results suggest the importance of Health promotion services to promote healthy food and the need to include approaches to reduce UPFs consumption.

Objective: Developing health promotion activities, aimed at healthy food intake, is essential for improving quality of life and reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases. Thus, the objective of this study is to describe both dietary and nutrient intake, according to length of participation in a health-promotion service (Programa Academia da Saúde - PAS). Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a representative sample of PAS units in vulnerable areas of the city. Dietary and nutrient intake were assessed, using the average of two 24-hour recalls. Food was categorized according to the NOVA (a systematic grouping of all foods according to the nature, extent, and purpose of the industrial processes they undergo) classification. The length of participation in PAS is presented in months, and is then examined in tertiles for analysis. Setting: Belo Horizonte – Brazil. Participants: 3,372 adults (≥ 20 years). Results: Users in the third tertile of PAS (24.4-61.6 months) experienced less energy intake, lipids, and ultra-processed foods, and more culinary preparations, compared to others. Users in the second (10.1-24.3 months) and third tertiles of PAS had higher carbohydrate intake, calcium, and vitamin C, versus those in the first tertile (0-10 months). Conclusions: Results suggest that greater participation in PAS can improve dietary and nutrient intake, showing its potential to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent chronic diseases, and offer longitudinal health care.

The consumer food environment is changing: an extensive variety of foods are now available in most markets, offering palatability, convenience and novelty. However, little is known about the availability and advertising of food items within food outlets, especially among developing countries. The present study examined these dimensions in 281 food outlets located around eighteen primary healthcare services in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2013. These establishments were classified as large-chain supermarkets; specialised fruits and vegetable (F&V) markets; and local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries. Availability of F&V, availability of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and food advertising were compared across the food outlet categories by applying the χ2 test. Almost 60 % of the food outlets were specialised F&V markets, 21⋅4 % were large-chain supermarkets and 19⋅2 % were local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries. Almost 80 % contained at least eight types of fruits and vegetables, and 60 % contained UPF. Food advertisement was absent in 59⋅8 % of the food outlets, 19⋅6 % were advertising only F&V and 17⋅4 % were advertising only UPF. Higher F&V availability was noted inside specialised F&V markets and large-chain supermarkets than local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries. Advertising of F&V was more common within specialised F&V markets. However, large-chain supermarkets and local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries contained more frequent UPF food advertising isolated: 38⋅3 and 35⋅2 %, respectively. Therefore, the availability and advertising of food items within food outlets around primary healthcare services are different according to the type of food outlet.