Association between eating patterns and body mass index in a sample of children and adolescents in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between eating patterns and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study of 1,247 male and female students, aged between 6 and 12, from public elementary schools in São Francisco do Conde, Bahia State, Brasil. BMI was used to analyze the children’s nutritional status. Food consumption frequencies, in addition to demographic and socioeconomic information, were collected for each participant. Dietary patterns were identified through a factor analysis. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 17.3% (10.2% overweight and 7.1% obese). Two eating patterns, “obesogenic” and “prudent”, were identified. The former is characterized by sweets and sugars, typical Brazilian dishes, pastries, fast food, oils, milk, cereals, cakes, and sauces, and was positively associated with increased BMI (ßi = 0.244; p = 0.018). An “obesogenic” dietary pattern was associated with increased BMI.

Dietary Patterns and Obesity Associated Factors in Primary School Children

“…After adjustment for total energy intake and some confounders subjects in the highest quartiles of the modern and transitional north patterns were found to have significantly greater risk of obesity (OR 3.10, 95 % CI 1.52, 6.32, and OR 2.42, 95 % CI 1.34, 4.39, respectively) (27). In a cross-sectional study in Brazil on 6-12-year-old students, two eating patterns, "obesogenic" and "prudent", were identified (28). Obesogenic eating pattern included sweets and sugars, typical Brazilian dishes, pastries, fast food, oils, milk, cereals, cakes and sauces; and prudent eating pattern included oils, cereals, roots and tubers, legumes, fruits, leafy vegetables.…”

High-sensitivity c-reactive protein and total and saturated fat intake in adolescent students: a longitudinal study

“…However, the lack of association in this study does not dismiss the importance of continuing the analysis of such association, as the hs-CRP is associated with cardiovascular risk factors [50] and the fat intake in this population has increased. However, the existing results originate from cross-sectional studies, as indicated by a study that assessed two groups of children and adolescents aged between six and 12 years and found an increase in the consumption of high-total and saturated fat foods [51], as observed by Leal et al [52] and Silva et al [53] The present study had some positive points and limitations. Until now, this has been the first study in Brazil that associated hs-CRP concentrations and total and saturated fat intake in adolescents.…”

Food Consumption of Schoolchildren from Public and Private Schools in Mucambo, Ceará, Brazil

“…In the Northeast region of Brazil, a high prevalence of overweight children and adolescents (28.8%) was reported by Niehues et al 9 . Most of the available data regarding the eating habits of children in Northeast Brazil are from state capitals 10 -12 and metropolitan regions [13][14] , or from medium to large cities 15 . In one of the few studies carried out with school children and adolescents in cities of the Northeast Region with less than 20,000 inhabitants, Ribeiro et al 16 found a prevalence of overweight (22.15%) in the city of Frei Paulo in the interior of Sergipe, higher than that of malnutrition (5.23%), and a low consumption of vegetables and salads among those who were not obese.…”

“…Particularmente para os países da América Latina, Rivera et al 8 relataram que a prevalência de obesidade entre crianças de idade escolar (5-11 anos) foi de 18,9% a 36,9%. No Brasil, uma alta prevalência de sobrepeso entre crianças e adolescentes da Região Nordeste (28,8%) foi reportada por Niehues et al 9 Em relação aos hábitos de consumo de crianças do Nordeste brasileiro, a maior parte dos dados disponíveis são de capitais 10, 12 e regiões metropolitanas 13,14 , ou de cidades de porte médio a grande 15 . Em um dos poucos estudos realizados com crianças em idade escolar e adolescentes em cidades da Região Nordeste com população inferior a 20.000 habitantes, Ribeiro et al 16 verificaram em Frei Paulo, interior de Sergipe, uma prevalência de sobrepeso (22,15%) maior que a de desnutrição (5,23%) e um baixo consumo de hortaliças e saladas entre aqueles não obesos.…”