This study aimed to investigate the association of ultra-processed food consumption at 4 and 7 years of age with appetitive traits at 7 years, and body mass index (BMI) at 10 years of age. Participants were 1175 children of the population-based birth cohort Generation XXI, who provided food diaries and complete data on socio-demographic variables, anthropometric measures, and the Portuguese Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (P-CEBQ). Foods were grouped according to NOVA classification into: “unprocessed, minimally or moderately processed, and culinary preparations”; “processed”; “ultra-processed”. To assess tracking of groups’ consumption, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (r) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Generalized linear models were fitted to test main associations, mediators, and interactions among the variables. Ultra-processed consumption exhibited a fair level of stability between ages 4 and 7 (r=0.34; ICC=0.32; 95%CI: 0.25; 0.39), corresponding respectively to 27.3% (449.8 kcal per day; SD=217.2) and 29.3% (526.9 kcal per day; SD=229.7) of total energy intake. After adjusting for maternal and child characteristics, higher ultra-processed consumption at 4 years was associated directly with ‘Food Responsiveness’ (β̂ = 0.019; 95%CI: 0.007; 0.037), and indirectly through energy intake with avoidant traits: ‘Food Fussiness’ (β̂ = -0.007; 95% CI: 0.002; 0.012) and ‘Satiety Responsiveness’ (β̂ = -0.007; 95% CI: 0.003; 0.012). Ultra-processed consumption at 4 years old was associated with BMI at 10 years old, but appetitive behaviours were not powerful mediators of this association. The results suggest a path by which ultra-processed products may impact on later appetitive traits and higher BMI in children.
Objective:To assess total sugar (TS), added sugar (AS) and free sugar (FS) intakes, dietary sources, adherence to recommendations and determinants of consumption, in a Portuguese national sample.Design:Cross-sectional study. Dietary assessment was obtained by two food diaries in children aged <10 years and two non-consecutive 24 h recalls for other age groups. TS, AS and FS intakes were estimated by using SPADE software. TS content in food was estimated at the ingredient level. AS content in food was assessed through a systematic methodology and FS was based on the WHO definition.Setting:National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015–2016), Portugal.Participants:Representative sample from the Portuguese population, aged from 3 months to 84 years (n 5811).Results:Mean daily intake and contribution to total energy intake (E%) were 84·3 g/d (18·5 E%) for TS, 32·1 g/d (6·8 E%) for AS and 35·3 g/d (7·5 E%) for FS. Of the population, 76 % adhered to the FS recommendation (FS < 10 E%). The lowest adherence was in children (51·6 %) and adolescents (51·3 %). The main dietary source of TS was fruit across all ages, except in adolescents which was soft drinks. In children, the main dietary sources of FS were yoghurts and sweets, soft drinks in adolescents and table sugar in adults/elderly. FS intake was lower in children with more educated parents and in adults who practised physical activity regularly, and higher among smokers.Conclusions:Interventions ought to be planned towards decreasing intakes of added and free sugars considering population-specific characteristics.
a b s t r a c tChildren are by far more susceptible to the negative effects of air pollutants than adults. Building-level characteristics are structural factors largely beyond the control of those who live in them. Yet, there are gaps in understanding of the relationship of school building characteristics and/or occupant behaviour and indoor air parameters with implications for health and well-being.The aims of the study were to investigate the potential sources of CO 2 , PM 10 and volatile organic compound (VOCs) in naturally ventilated primary schools and to assess the potential health hazards of PM 10 on schoolchildren.CO 2 and PM 10 levels were determined in seventy three classrooms located in Porto city over a period of 8 h using low-drift NDIR sensors and light-scattering laser photometers, respectively. The VOCs samples were collected over 5-days in Tenax TA tubes and then analysed by gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry.Principal component analysis revealed the influence of activities or building features as major sources of indoor CO 2 , PM 10 and VOCs associated to the reduced airing of the classrooms which underlines the influence of indoor sources, occupant behaviour and maintenance/cleaning activities in schools and the high density of occupants.The hazard quotient calculated based on the formula suggested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency is higher than the acceptable level of 1; being for children almost twelve times higher than the safe level. This indicates that the inhalation exposure to PM 10 by children and adults occupying the school environment is not negligible.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.