Socioeconomic inequalities in the consumption of minimally processed and ultra-processed foods in Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated socioeconomic inequalities in the consumption of in natura/minimally processed and ultra-processed foods among adolescents. We used data from the Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE), 2015. According to the self-reported consumption of beans, vegetables and fruits, a score of in natura/minimally processed foods was generated (0-21 points). Sodas, sweets, instant noodles, and ultra-processed meat were used for the score of ultra-processed foods (0-21 points). Equality indicators were gender, maternal education, and socioeconomic level. Absolute difference, ratios, concentration index and slope index of inequality were calculated. Adolescents (n=101,689, 51% girls, 14.2 years) reported a mean score of 9.97 and 11.46 for ultra-processed foods and in natura/minimally processed foods, respectively. Absolute and relative differences between adolescents with the highest and lowest socioeconomic level, there were differences of 2.64 points and 33% for consumption of in natura/minimally processed foods; and 1.48 points and 15% for ultra-processed foods. Adolescents from higher socioeconomic level ate more in natura/minimally processed foods and ultra-processed foods.

How Do Consumers Understand Food Processing? A Study on the Brazilian Population

“…In our study, the most significant number of respondents were female (58.9%), as with other surveys, since females tend to care more about health and food and are more available to answer questionnaires [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Studies assessing consumer food choices have shown that women typically: assume responsibility for managing the household pantry; keeping the family nourished and healthy; being concerned with the feeding of children; being more concerned with health and aspects related to the nutritional value of food, possibly justifying, in such a way, the participation of women in research related to food and nutrition [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Is Related to Higher Trans Fatty Acids, Sugar Intake, and Micronutrient-Impaired Status in Schoolchildren of Bahia, Brazil

“…A survey carried out with 50 adolescents from a private school in Minas Gerais, Brazil, identified that 84.6% of them allocated half of the financial resources of their purchases to UPFs [ 24 ]. Another study, carried out with data from the 2015 National School Health Survey, which was multicentric and included public and private schools, revealed that adolescents from higher socioeconomic levels consumed more unprocessed foods, but also UPFs when compared to those from lower socioeconomic levels [ 25 ]. These results demonstrate that UPF consumption is significantly present in the diet of the Brazilian school-age population, regardless of social, economic, and geographical issues.…”

Características associadas ao consumo de alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados e ultraprocessados por adolescentes em uma região metropolitana brasileira

“…Nota-se que a associação da renda familiar com o consumo alimentar no Brasil ainda apresenta um padrão alimentar contraditório 14,15,17,41 . Em recente revisão 39 que analisou as iniquidades sociais no consumo alimentar no Brasil, destacase que famílias com maior renda possuem uma alimentação mais diversificada e rica em nutrientes, mas também, tem alto consumo de AUP.…”

“…A ingestão dos AUP tem aumentado ao longo dos anos [3][4][5][6] e, entre adolescentes brasileiros, tem sido associado a dependência administrativa da escola [10][11][12][13] ; à renda familiar 6,14,15 e o nível de educação dos pais 14 ; inatividade física 6,16 ; comportamento sedentário, especialmente em indivíduos com alto tempo de tela 13,16,17 ; culminando em excesso de peso 3,4,18 , síndrome metabólica 19 e alterações no perfil lipídico 20 e na pressão arterial 21 . Dados similares foram observados na literatura internacional 22,23 .…”

“…Dados similares foram observados na literatura internacional 22,23 . Em relação ao consumo dos alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados, também sofrem influência do tempo de tela e do estrato socioeconômico dos adolescentes brasileiros 15,17 .…”