Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between percent contribution of ultra-processed foods to total dietary energy intake and measurements of body composition obtained using high-validity methods.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 1525 adolescents 18 to 19 y of age from the second follow-up of the 1997/98 São Luís birth cohort, Brazil. To evaluate nutritional status and body composition, the body mass index (BMI)-for-age was used, along with waist circumference, total and android body fat percentage, muscle mass, and the lean mass index (LMI). Food consumption was evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire. Food items were grouped according to the level of processing as per the NOVA classification. Through semi-structured questionnaires, sociodemographic and lifestyle data were abstracted. Adjusted linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between consumption of ultra-processed foods and body composition measurements.
Results: Total average energy consumption was 2919.7 kcal, with 58% (1634.9 kcal) derived from natural or minimally processed foods and 37% (1136.5 kcal) from ultra-processed products. In the adjusted analyses, BMI, muscle mass, and LMI were inversely associated with consumption of ultra-processed foods. A 1% increase in the percent contribution of ultra-processed items to total dietary energy intake was associated with a 0.04 kg decrease in muscle mass (β = -0.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.06 to -0.02; P < 0.001) and a 0.01 kg/m2 decrease in lean body mass (β = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.02 to -0.01; P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The contribution of ultra-processed foods to total dietary energy intake of Brazilian adolescents was associated with body composition, especially with decreasing lean body mass.
Keywords: Adolescents; Body composition; Excess weight; Food consumption; Ultra-processed foods.
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