Characteristics associated with the consumption of in natura or minimally processed and ultra-processed foods in one Brazilian metropolitan region

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with the consumption of in natura or minimally processed and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) by adolescents in the Metropolitan Region of Greater Vitória, in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The data were obtained between 2016 and 2017. Logistic regression was adopted for the multivariate analysis. A total of 2,285 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 participated in the study. Greater consumption of minimally processed foods was associated with the adolescent doing paid work (OR=1.27; 95%CI=1.04-1.56), a high family income (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.10-2.17), and engagement in physical activity (OR=1.9; 95%CI=1.45-2.63). Having brown/black skin (OR=1.3; 95%CI=1.02-1.61) and the habit of eating while surfing the web (OR=1.4; 95%CI=1.02-1.88) increased the chances of consuming UPFs. Being enrolled in a private school and being in the third/fourth year of high school reduced UPF consumption by 41.7% and 37.2%, respectively. It is concluded that greater purchasing power and engagement in physical activity influenced the consumption of minimally processed foods. On the other hand, self-reporting as brown/black and internet use increased the chances of greater UPF consumption.