Dietary intake of adolescents compared with the Brazilian Food Guide and their differences according to anthropometric data and physical activity

Brazilian Children's Dietary Intake in Relation to Brazil's New Nutrition Guidelines: a Systematic Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This systematic review reports the latest scientific evidence, from cross-sectional and cohort studies, describing the dietary intake of children and adolescents from Brazil. The goal of the review was to describe intakes according to Brazil's new food classification system (NOVA) which classifies foods according to the degree of processing, i.e., unprocessed/minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed food, and ultra-processed food. Due to a paucity of data using the NOVA classification system, studies with other intake descriptors were included.

RECENT FINDINGS

Results using the NOVA system showed a somewhat high intake of (ultra-)processed items, than of minimally processed items. Studies using other methods of dietary assessment showed not only high intake of sources rich in fat, sugar, and sodium, most of them processed items (e.g., savory snacks and sweets) but also intake of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Overall, the literature was marred by inconsistencies and variation in study definitions and methods making it hard to make firm conclusions regarding the dietary intake of Brazilian children. The development of tools to evaluate the complexities of dietary intake is much needed. Such a tool needs to be accepted and adopted by numerous study groups, to describe dietary status among Brazilian children and devise the most effective, and to evaluate the success of nutrition education programs.

Subjetividades de los adolescentes con respecto a la promoción de la salud: contribuciones a la enfermería

Introducción: Los adolescentes representan una parte importante de la población con particularidades relacionadas con el estilo de vida, por lo que es necesario promover acciones que fomenten hábitos saludables. En esta perspectiva, comprender las subjetividades que influencian los comportamientos de salud típicos de la adolescencia se vuelve esencial para la salud y la atención de enfermería, ya que las opciones de autocuidado están marcadas de singularidades. Objetivo: Exponer las subjetividades de los adolescentes sobre el autocuidado en el contexto de la promoción de la salud y la enfermería. Materiales y Métodos: Enfoque de investigación fenomenológica heideggeriana con 17 adolescentes de una escuela pública en Minas Gerais realizada entre octubre y diciembre de 2016. El movimiento analítico hermenéutico permitió la aparición del fenómeno en estudio. Resultados: Sobre el autocuidado, los adolescentes expresaron que van al médico sólo cuando se necesita; saben que tienen que cuidar su salud, pero no hacer ejercicio o comer de forma saludable y cuidar su salud ahora, sino porque en el futuro puede convertirse en un problema. De los participantes, el 68% reportó haber desarrollado actividad física durante las clases de educación física y el 30% informó haber consumido alcohol. Discusión y Conclusiones: Al comprender las subjetividades de los adolescentes sobre el autocuidado, las enfermeras encuentran mayores elementos para realizar acciones de salud dirigidas a estimular comportamientos saludables que resultarán una mejor calidad de vida en el presente y a futuro. Como citar este artigo: Paula JA, Melo MCSC, Amorim TV, Salimena AMO, Paiva ACPC, Nascimento RCN. Subjetividades de adolescentes face à promoção da saúde: contribuições para a enfermagem. Rev Cuid. 2020; 11(1): e895. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.895

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INADEQUATE MILK CONSUMPTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS: NATIONAL SCHOOL HEALTH SURVEY - PENSE 2012

Objective:

To identify the prevalence and factors associated with inadequate milk consumption among adolescents.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the National School Health Survey (2012), a Brazilian survey carried out using a self-administered questionnaire in a representative sample of 9^th-grade students from public and private schools. The frequency of milk intake and its association with socio-demographic characteristics, food consumption and physical activity were estimated. A descriptive and inferential analysis of factors associated with inadequate milk consumption (no consumption at least one of the seven days of the week) was performed. A multiple logistic model was adjusted to control confounders.

Results:

The sample included 108,828 adolescents and inadequate milk consumption ocurred in 58.9%. The final model included nine variables independently associated with inadequate milk intake: breakfast frequency less than 4 days per week (odds ratio [OR]=2.40; p<0.001), unprocessed or minimally processed foods intake less than 5 days per week (OR=1.93; p<0.001), living in the northeast region (OR=1.39; p<0.001), less maternal schooling (OR=1.35; p<0.001), physical inactivity (OR=1.33; p<0.001), attending public school (OR=1.26; p<0.001), not being white (OR=1.14; p<0.001), being older than 14 years old (OR=1.13; p<0.001) and having a habit of eating meals while watching TV or studying (OR=1.04; p=0.036).

Conclusions:

Inadequate milk consumption is prevalent among Brazilian adolescents. The identification of associated factors suggests the need to develop nutritional guidance strategies for the prevention of diseases that result from low calcium intake.

Changes in diet, and the relationship between diet and physical activity within and across the lifetime of current ultra-endurance exercisers

BACKGROUND

There is currently no information on the lifetime diet of ultra-endurance exercisers. This study describes changes in diet across the lifetime of current ultra-endurance exercisers and the relationship between diet and physical activity (specifically ultra-endurance exercise [UEE]).

METHODS

Lifetime physical activity and diet were assessed in current ultra-endurance exercisers (N.=120; ages 21-74 years) over six life periods (5-12, 13-18, 19-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75 years). Using the life period having the largest absolute increase in UEE (IUEE), diet was assessed according to food category scores and dietary patterns. Changes in lifetime diet were described by comparing food category scores between adjacent life periods. Differences in food category scores were investigated between the life period for each IUEE group and the preceding life period and associations between dietary patterns and UEE were investigated within each IUEE group. Relationships between lifetime diet and UEE were investigated by examining associations between lifetime food category scores and lifetime UEE.

RESULTS

The participant group had significant increases in all food category scores from 13-18 to 19-30 years and significant decreases in all food category scores from 19-30 to 31-45 years. UEE correlated negatively with the Western style dietary pattern in the IUEE19-30 group and positively with the fruit and vegetable dietary pattern in the IUEE31-45 group. There was a positive correlation between lifetime UEE and lifetime vegetables and fruit category scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultra-endurance exercisers in this study exhibited changes in diet similar to general populations, which appear to reflect typical nutritional requirements across the lifespan.