The contribution of UPF is significant in children's diets and age appears to be an important factor for the consumption of such products.

Objectives: To evaluate the contribution of ultra-processed food (UPF) on the dietary consumption of children treated at a Basic Health Unit and the associated factors. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out with a convenience sample of 204 children, aged 2---10 years old, in Southern Brazil. Children's food intake was assessed using a 24-h recall questionnaire. Food items were classified as minimally processed, processed for culinary use, and ultra-processed. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to collect socio-demographic and anthropometric variables. Overweight in children was classified using a Z score >2 for children younger than 5 and Z score >+1 for those aged between 5 and 10 years, using the body mass index for age. Results: Overweight frequency was 34% (95% CI: 28---41%). Mean energy consumption was 1672.3 kcal/day, with 47% (95% CI: 45---49%) coming from ultra-processed food. In the multiple linear regression model, maternal education (r = 0.23; p = 0.001) and child age (r = 0.40; p < 0.001) were factors associated with a greater percentage of UPF in the diet (r = 0.42; p < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant trend for higher UPF consumption was observed when data were stratified by child age and maternal educational level (p < 0.001).DOI se refere ao artigo: http://dx.Consumo de alimentos; Estado nutricional; Crianças; Fast-foods Consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados entre crianças de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde ResumoObjetivos: Avaliar a contribuição dos alimentos ultraprocessados no consumo alimentar de crianças pertencentes à área de abrangência de uma unidade básica de saúde e os fatores associados. Método: Estudo transversal com amostra de conveniência de 204 crianças, entre dois a 10 anos, no Sul do Brasil. O consumo alimentar das crianças foi obtido por meio do Recordatório Alimentar de 24 horas e, posteriormente, os alimentos foram classificados em minimamente processados, processados para culinária e ultraprocessados. Um questionário semiestruturado foi aplicado para a coleta das variáveis sociodemográficas e antropométricas. O excesso de peso das crianças foi definido por meio do escore Z > 2 para menores de cinco anos e Z > +1 para entre cinco e 10 anos segundo o Índice de Massa Corporal para idade. Resultados: A frequência de excesso de peso foi de 34% (IC95%: 28% a 41%). O consumo médio de energia foi de 1.672,3 kcal/dia, 47% (IC95%: 45% a 49%) provenientes dos ultraprocessados. No modelo de regressão linear múltipla, a escolaridade materna (r = 0,23; p = 0,001) e a idade da criança (r = 0,40; p < 0,001) foram associados à maior contribuição percentual dos ultraprocessados na alimentação (R = 0,42; p < 0,001). Adicionalmente foi observada uma tendência linear significativa para maior consumo de ultraprocessados quando os dados foram estratificados pela idade da criança e nível de escolaridade materna (p < 0,001). Conclusões: A contribuição dos ultraprocessados é expressiva na alimentação infantil e a idade da criança mostrou-se como fator associado mais importante...

BackgroundThe prevalence of child obesity in Brazil has increased rapidly in recent decades. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop effective strategies to prevent and control child obesity. In light of these considerations, an intervention program with a focus on nutrition education and physical activity was developed for to prevent and control obesity in schools. The intervention was called the TriAtiva Program: Education, Nutrition and Physical Activity. This article describes the design, randomization and method used to evaluate the TriAtiva program.Methods/designThis randomized controlled cluster trial was performed in 12 municipal schools in the city of Porto Alegre/RS (six schools in the intervention group and six control schools) which offered first- through fourth grade, during one school year. The TriAtiva Program was implemented through educational activities related to healthy eating and physical activity, creating an environment which promoted student health while involving the school community and student families. The primary outcome of the present study was body mass, while its secondary outcomes were waist circumference, percent body fat, blood pressure and behavioural variables such as eating habits and physical activity levels, as well as the prevalence, incidence and remission rates of obesity.DiscussionThe intervention was developed based on a comprehensive review of controlled trials of similar design. The TriAtiva Program: Education, Nutrition and Physical Activity was the first study in Southern Brazil to use a randomized controlled design to evaluate an intervention involving both nutrition education and physical activity in schools. Our results will contribute to the development of future interventions aimed at preventing and controlling child obesity in schools, especially in Brazil. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC) number RBR2xx2z4.

Background: Childhood obesity has been growing steadily, at an earlier age, and currently comprises a public health issue. A number of studies have pointed to perinatal factors as possible determinants in the development of childhood obesity. Objective: To evaluate the influence of perinatal factors on the development of obesity in children and adolescents in southern Brazil. Design: Retrospective cohort study in which a linkage was made between anthropometric data of children and adolescents aged 0 to 15 years who had been registered in the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) from 2008 to 2016 and their perinatal data registered in the Live Birth Information System (SINASC) from 2000 to 2014. The SINASC was used to extract maternal covariables (age, schooling, marital status), prenatal variables (parity and number of prenatal visits), and perinatal variables (type of delivery, sex, and birth weight). Variables such as age, inclusion in the Bolsa Família income transfer program, and the number of anthropometric evaluations were extracted from SISVAN. Results: The sample comprised 537 children and adolescents. The median age was 8 years (interquartile range: 2-11 years). The prevalence of obesity was 15.1%. Poisson regression revealed a higher risk of obesity in children born via cesarean delivery (relative risk [RR] = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.01-2.17), children of primiparous mothers (RR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.16-2.53), girls (RR = 1.77; 95% CI:1.21-2.60), and those aged between 5 and 9 years (RR = 26.8; 95% CI: 3.75-191.55) and older than 10 years (RR = 20.74; 95% CI: 2.89-148.61). Conclusions: The linkage between SINASC and SISVAN allowed identification of prenatal and perinatal risk factors for the development of childhood obesity. These findings should contribute to the development of health promotion and prevention policies.