Healthy eating markers among adolescents from the municipal school system in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2019: a cross-sectional study

Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2023 Aug 25;32(2):e2022964. doi: 10.1590/S2237-96222023000200019. eCollection 2023.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Main results: Around 3% of the students regularly consumed the five healthy eating markers, with beans being the most frequently consumed; strong association was found between healthy eating markers and behavioral variables. Implications for services: The results obtained can contribute for interventions, programs and actions, particularly in the school environment, aimed at promoting an adequate and healthy diet.

Perspectives: Better targeting of interventions, programs and actions developed in the school environment, seeking to increase consumption of fresh and minimally processed food, along with the adoption of healthy behaviors.

Objective: to analyze the consumption of healthy eating markers among adolescent students in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2019.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study carried out in schools taking part in the Health at School Program. Consumption of the five markers (beans, milk, fruit, cooked vegetables and raw salads) within five days prior to the study, obtained through a self-administered questionnaire, was defined as regular. Association between demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral variables and the outcomes was analyzed using Poisson regression.

Results: among the 797 respondents, 2.8% (95%CI 1.8;4.1) reported regular consumption. Beans were the most regularly consumed food (48.3%); fruit, cooked vegetables and raw salads were consumed regularly by less than 30% of the students. Doing physical activities, having breakfast and having meals with the family were associated with regular consumption of the foods assessed.

Conclusion: regular consumption of healthy foods was low in this population, and was associated with behavioral factors.

Objetivo:: analisar o consumo de marcadores de alimentação saudável entre adolescentes escolares de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, em 2019.

Métodos:: estudo transversal, realizado nas escolas vinculadas ao Programa Saúde na Escola; o consumo dos cinco marcadores (feijão, leite, frutas, vegetais cozidos, saladas cruas) em até cinco dias antecedentes ao estudo, obtido mediante questionário autoaplicado, foi definido como regular; a associação de variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas e comportamentais com os desfechos foi analisada por regressão de Poisson.

Resultados:: entre os 797 entrevistados, 2,8% (IC95% 1,8;4,1) referiram consumo regular; o feijão foi o alimento mais consumido regularmente (48,3%); frutas, vegetais cozidos e saladas cruas foram consumidos regularmente por menos de 30% dos escolares; praticar atividade física, tomar café da manhã e realizar refeições com a família estiveram associados ao consumo regular dos alimentos avaliados.

Conclusão:: o consumo regular de alimentos saudáveis, encontrado baixo nessa população, associou-se com fatores comportamentais.

Objetivo:: analizar el consumo de marcadores de alimentación saludable entre estudiantes adolescentes de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, en 2019.

Métodos:: estudio transversal realizado en escuelas vinculadas al Programa Salud en la Escuela. Se definió como regular el consumo de los cinco marcadores (porotos, leche, frutas, vegetales cocidos y ensaladas crudas) dentro de los cinco días previos al estudio, obtenidos a través de un cuestionario autoadministrado. La asociación entre variables demográficas, socioeconómicas y conductuales con los resultados se analizó mediante la regresión de Poisson.

Resultados:: entre los 797 encuestados, el 2,8% (IC95% 1,8; 4,1) informó un consumo regular. Los porotos fueron el alimento más consumido (48,3%). Frutas, verduras cocidas y ensaladas crudas fueron consumidas regularmente por menos del 30% de los estudiantes. La práctica de actividad física, el desayuno y las comidas en familia se asociaron con mayor consumo de los alimentos evaluados.

Conclusión:: el consumo regular de alimentos saludables fue bajo en esta población y se asoció con factores conductuales.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brazil
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet, Healthy*
  • Exercise
  • Humans
  • Vegetables*