Lunch quality and sociodemographic conditions between Brazilian regions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of lunch consumed by adults in Brazil and its sociodemographic determinants in each Brazilian region. A cross-sectional study was carried out and a representative sample of regional populations was used. The sample comprised of 16,096 adults from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey, part of the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (POF). The lunch quality was evaluated by applying the main meal quality index (MMQI), comprised of 10 items of equal weights that resulted in a score that ranged from zero to 100 points. Linear regression models measured the association between lunch quality and sociodemographic factors. The average energy consumption at lunch was 704kcal (SD = 300), and the meal quality score mean was 57 points (SE = 0.30). The North Region had the worst MMQI score (56 points, SE = 0.07), while the Central had the best MMQI adjusted score (59 points, SE = 0.05). The MMQI final score was positively associated with male gender and ages between 20-39 years, and was inversely associated with having eight years or more of education, per capita income of at least three minimum wages, and with the consumption of meals prepared away from home. Despite differences among sociodemographic factors, all Brazilian regions had a lunch composed of foods rich in sugars and fats, with insufficient portions of fruits and vegetables, resulting in a low meal quality.

Frequency of Meals Consumed by Brazilian Adolescents and Associated Habits: Systematic Review

“…5 Brazil is a country with continental dimensions, with great diversity in eating habits among the five macroregions. 25 Studies 7,10,26 report that the regular consumption of meals is associated with healthy eating. The current Food Guide for the Brazilian Population 27 recommends at least three main meals a day -breakfast, lunch and dinner.…”

Agreement between two Meal Quality Indexes adapted to evaluate food consumption of institutionalized elderly

“…Another advantage of the MMQI is that it presents components related to the risk of cardiometabolic diseases development, such as ultra processed foods (processed meat and stuffed food), sweets and sweetened beverages [22,23,32].…”

“…The quality of the meal was assessed by the Meal Quality Index [16] and the Main Meal Quality Index [17], which were chosen because they have been developed for and applied to the Brazilian population [16,22] Chart 1. In addition, it was decided to analyze the lunch meal since it represents the main meal in Brazil [22,23] and, in order to allow comparisons, it was the meal analyzed in both indexes. Such indexes were adapted to the elderly in terms of carbohydrates, total fat and saturated fat components consumption following the recommendations of the Brazilian Dyslipidemia and Prevention of Atherosclerosis Guideline -2017.…”

Consumo de refeições e petiscos da população brasileira: composição nutricional, estruturação temporal e espacial dos hábitos alimentares

“…É importante destacar que os dados apresentados como refeições e petiscos sem a definição dos horários pode subestimar ainda mais a diferença energética do consumo de refeições e petiscos. Ao analisar os dados da POF 2008, Gorgulho et al (2018 observaram que entre a população adulta vivendo em áreas urbanas, o consumo médio de energia no horário do almoço (determinado entre 11 e 15 horas), e foi de 704 kcal (DP = 300 kcal) e observou-se pior qualidade nutricional para maiores níveis de renda e educação para moradores do sudeste e do sul do país, o que poderia estar relacionado ao desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico das regiões e o maior consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados. É importante destacar que quando se comparou a ingestão calórica de 6 refeições e 4 refeições e 2 petiscos (totalizando entre ambos 6 EA), o consumo energético foi maior entre os indivíduos que realizaram a segunda combinação analisada.…”