ABSTRACT
The study of food practices in Brazil faces important problems because of the nonexistence of properly tested methods and lack of a gold-standard instrument. Furthermore, only one instrument is capable of measuring food choice or knowledge in this specific population. In the present study we sought to develop a rapid assessment tool for food choice, consumption, and knowledge about healthy foods and test the reliability of the assessment tool in young adults as an initial step in the validation process. The scale was composed of 22 photographs of foods that were ready to consume, divided into "healthy" and "unhealthy" groups typically eaten as an afternoon snack in our region. To test the reliability of the instrument, 101 college students (51 males) were asked to select three items in response to three questions: "What would you like to eat as an afternoon snack?" "What do you consider healthy?" "What do you usually eat?" The procedure was repeated in the same subjects 1 month after the first application of the instrument. Results indicated a perfect reliability (κ = 1.0) among men when asked to select what they would like to eat, and perfect reliability was found among men and women when asked to select foods that they considered healthy. Excellent reliability (κ > .75) was found among women and the total sample for foods they would like to eat and among men and women for what they usually eat. As an initial step in validating the instrument, the results suggested that it was properly developed and had reliability in the present context for studies that involve eating behavior.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Feeding Behavior , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Propagandas de alimentos anunciadas pela televisão podem influenciar hábitos alimentares de crianças e adolescentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar escolhas alimentares de crianças e adolescentes expostos e não expostos a propagandas de alimentos veiculadas pela televisão. Grupos controle (n = 30) e experimental (n = 30) foram pareados segundo sexo (50 por cento feminino) e idade (10,1 ± 1,4 anos). Participantes assistiram a um desenho animado de 21 minutos, com dois intervalos comerciais que veicularam oito diferentes propagandas. O grupo controle assistiu a propagandas de brinquedos, e o grupo experimental, de alimentos. Imediatamente após, fotos dos alimentos anunciados foram apresentadas com imagens de um produto: similar, mais saudável e uma fruta. O método Anova mostrou efeito significativo de categoria [F(3, 216) = 126,6; p < 0,05]. O teste post hoc de Newman-Keuls demonstrou que alimentos anunciados foram mais escolhidos do que os outros produtos. Além disso, o grupo controle escolheu mais produtos similares do que o experimental. Conclui-se que a exposição a propagandas de alimentos pode influenciar nas escolhas alimentares de crianças e adolescentes.
Food advertised television can influence children and adolescences food eating habits. This study aimed to examine food choices of exposed and non-exposed children and adolescents to food advertisements on television. Both control (n = 30) and experimental (n = 30) groups were paired according to gender (50 percent females) and age (10.1 ± 1.4 years). Participants watched a 21-minute cartoon interrupted by two commercial breaks that advertised eight different commercials. Control group watched toys commercials and experimental group watched food commercials. Immediately after watching videotape, pictures of advertised food item were presented with pictures of: a similar product, a healthier product and some fruit. Anova showed a significant effect of categories [F(3, 216) = 126.6; p < 0.05]. Newman-Keuls post hoc test demonstrated that advertised foods were more chosen than other products. Furthermore, the control group chose more similar products than experimental group. These data show the influence of food advertisements on children and adolescents food choices.
Las propagandas de alimentos anunciadas por la televisión pueden influenciar los hábitos alimenticios de niños y adolescentes. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las elecciones alimenticias de niños y adolescentes expuestos y no expuestos a propagandas de alimentos transmitidas por la televisión. Los grupos control (n = 30) y experimental (n = 30)fueron pareados según el sexo (50 por ciento femenino) y la edad (10,1 ± 1,4 años). Los participantes vieron dibujos animados de 21 minutos, con dos intervalos comerciales, que transmitieron ocho propagandas diferentes. El grupo control vio propagandas de juguetes y el grupo experimental de alimentos. Inmediatamente después, las fotos de los alimentos anunciados fueron presentadas con fotos de un producto: similar, más saludable y una fruta. La Anova mostró un efecto significativo de la categoría [F(3, 216) = 126,6; p < 0,05]. El test post-hoc de Newman-Keuls demostró que los alimentos anunciados fueron más escogidos que los otros productos. Por otra parte, el grupo control escogió más productos similares que el experimental. Se concluye que la exposición a propagandas de alimentos puede influir en las elecciones alimenticias de niños y adolescentes.