Usual consumption of ultra-processed foods and its association with sex, age, physical activity, and body mass index in adults living in Brasília City, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the usual consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and its association with body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), age, and sex in adults living in Brasília City, Brazil. Methodology: A total of 506 individuals aged ≥ 20 years old were interviewed. Dietary intake was assessed with two non-consecutive 24-h food recalls. The distributions of usual intakes of energy and the amount of UPF were estimated using the Iowa State University method. The association of age, BMI, PA, and sex with the proportions of UPF consumption (%Kcal and %grams) was investigated with linear regression models. Results: UPF represented 9.2% of the total dietary consumption (grams/day) and 25% of total energy intake. Compared to eutrophic, subjects with obesity consumed a higher percentage of UPF in grams, whereas subjects with overweight had a higher percentage of UPF in kilocalories. The share of UPF in energy intake was lower in male than female individuals, and PA and age were inversely associated with UPF consumption. Conclusion: Careful monitoring of intake of UPF is recommended. Its consumption should be reduced among people with overweight/obesity and sedentary individuals. Appropriate choices for methods to evaluate the usual distribution of intake will strengthen future analysis of UPF assessment.

Sex-Dependent Effects of the Intake of NOVA Classified Ultra-Processed Foods on Syndrome Metabolic Components in Brazilian Adults

“…Regarding the contribution in grams of UPF consumption, to our knowledge, so far only one Brazilian study reported such estimates in adults. Silva et al [ 37 ], when evaluating a sample of 506 individuals aged 20 years or older living in the municipality of Brasília, the capital of Brazil, observed a mean contribution in grams of UPF consumption of 9.2%. In other countries, studies published so far evaluating UPF consumption in adults considering its proportion in grams were based on data from the NutriNet-Santé cohort study conducted in France [ 32 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ], and reported percentages of contribution in grams ranging from 14.4% [ 38 ] to 18.7% [ 39 ].…”

Nutritional status, health risk behaviors, and eating habits are correlated with physical activity and exercise of brazilian older hypertensive adults: a cross-sectional study

“…Consequently, deleterious behaviors tend to combine and co-exist (for example, higher sedentary behavior [increased exposure to cell phone, television, and computer; time sitting or lying] [33], alcohol [21], and tobacco consumption [31]). Moreover, inadequate eating habits (with high consumption of ultra-processed foods) are inversely related to sufficient physical activity levels (high consumption of ultra-processed foods and low physical activity levels) [34]. Recent findings reported that insufficiently active subjects consume 6% more ultra-processed foods (in calories) compared to sufficiently active subjects [34].…”

Gut Microbiota Differences According to Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in a Spanish Population

“…However, quite often this factor has been ignored. Although some studies have taken into account the differences between sex in the consumption of UPFs [24], changes in the microbiota produced by UPFs according to sex should be further studied. In this study we hypothesized that UPFs consumption can affect gut microbiota, but in a different manner depending on sex.…”