Is breakfast consumption among Brazilian schoolchildren associated with an ultra-processed food dietary pattern?

Omission of breakfast starts at school age and can be explained as a reflection of the independent behaviour acquired in this phase of life. Breakfast has been investigated for its association with healthier diet quality, but few studies have investigated this relationship in schoolchildren aged 7 to 13 years. The objective of this study was to assess breakfast consumption in schoolchildren aged 7 to 13 years and to examine associations with dietary patterns (DPs). It was a cross-sectional study carried out in 2017 with 1069 students in Florianopolis, southern Brazil. Previous-day food consumption, physical activity and screen activities were self-reported. Factor analysis was used to identify DPs. Associations between breakfast consumption and overall DPs were evaluated using multivariate linear regression. Breakfast consumption was reported by 85% of the children, with the highest proportion observed among students on the afternoon school shift. Five DPs were identified explaining 41% of the total variance in daily food consumption: Ultra-processed, Mixed, Traditional Brazilian Lunch, Healthy + Sweets and Traditional Brazilian Breakfast. Breakfast consumption was directly associated with a Traditional Brazilian Breakfast DP (β = 0.335; 95% CI = 0.227, 0.442), a Mixed DP (β = 0.241; 95% CI = 0.160, 0.323), and a Healthy + Sweets DP (β = 0.160; 95% CI = 0.061, 0.260), and inversely associated with an Ultra-processed DP (β = -0.116; 95% CI = -0.207, -0.026). Breakfast consumption was associated with overall DPs, suggesting the importance of eating this meal by schoolchildren. We emphasise the relevance of offering a healthy breakfast at public schools for students who do not take this meal at home, contributing to health promotion.

Comércio informal e formal de alimentos no âmbito escolar de um município da região central do Rio Grande do Sul

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comércio de alimentos nas escolas, tanto o comércio informal quanto em cantinas. O trabalho transcorreu de março a maio de 2011, de um universo de 110 escolas de Ensino Fundamental e Ensino Médio das redes municipal, estadual e privada de um município da região central do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Das 110 escolas, 104 (94,5%) participaram da pesquisa e, destas, 28,8% possuíam cantina, sendo uma presença marcante nas escolas privadas. Das escolas que não possuíam cantina, 40,4% possuíam comércio informal, sendo a maioria formada por escolas do âmbito municipal. Nas cantinas, há maior oferta de salgados fritos e folhados, cachorros-quentes, pizzas, hambúrgueres, balas, chicletes e pirulitos, refrigerantes, sucos industrializados e água. Os alimentos mais vendidos são salgados fritos, assados, cachorros-quentes, balas, chocolates e refrigerantes, em todos os âmbitos. Em suma, pode-se concluir que nenhuma cantina escolar está totalmente adequada em relação à lei vigente; porém, as cantinas das escolas particulares apresentam resultados mais satisfatórios quando comparadas às dos outros âmbitos.