This is a cross-sectional school-based study that evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of the daily intake of fruit and vegetables by adolescents at public schools in Caruaru, Pernambuco. Poisson regression with a hierarchical model, including sociodemographic variables in the first hierarchical level, behavioral variables in the second and diet-related variables in the third was used to assess the factors associated with fruit and vegetable intake. The results showed that of the 600 adolescents interviewed, 10% reported never eating fruit and 30.7% mentioned not eating vegetables. Prevalence of fruit intake was 32.9% and vegetables 29.0%. Only 6.5% reported eating both kinds of food daily. Merely the daily vegetable intake showed a significant difference according to sex (higher among girls). Daily fruit intake was 63% higher among adolescents living in urban areas. Not consuming alcohol was associated with higher fruit intake, though not to vegetable intake. Daily intake of fruits and vegetables was 2.4 times higher among adolescents who consumed rice and beans daily. Daily fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents in Caruaru is below the recommendations, and was associated with gender, residence area, consumption of alcoholic beverages and consumption of rice and beans.
A school-based cross-sectional study in 2007 evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of daily consumption of soft drinks, sweets and fried foods among adolescents (15 to 20 years of age) in public schools in Caruaru in the state of Pernambuco. To evaluate the factors associated with the daily consumption of the above foods, a multivariate and hierarchical analysis was conducted using Poisson regression, with social and demographic variables at the first hierarchical level, behavioral variables at the second level and dietary standards at the third level. Consumption of soft drinks, sweets and fried foods at least once a week was declared by 90.9%, 95.4% and 89.6% of the adolescents, respectively. The corresponding prevalence of the daily consumption of these items was 30.2%, 42% and 28.3%. The daily consumption of sweets was 21% higher among girls and 25% higher among adolescents who ate rice and beans daily. With respect to fried foods, girls mentioned 37% greater consumption than boys. Adolescents who consumed meat every day admitted a 43% higher daily consumption of fried foods. The consumption of soft drinks, sweets and fried foods among the adolescents from Caruaru was high and showed a homogeneous consumption standard for most variables analyzed.
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