Consumption of ultraprocessed foods by elementary school students associated with insufficient physical activity during the covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study sought to analyze the consumption of ultra-processed foods and associated factors in elementary school II students. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out. Data collection was performed using Google Forms. The variables analyzed in the study were food consumption, sociodemographic and anthropometric profile, level of physical activity, sedentary behavior, perception of body image, screen time, sleep patterns and self-perception of health status. Pearson's chi-square test was performed to assess associations between variables. Results: A total of 287 adolescents participated in the study, with a mean age of 12.97 years SD +/- 1.30, of which 60.3% (n=173) were female and 39.7% (n=114) were male. It was identified that most students (63.4%;n=182) excessively consumed ultra-processed foods during the period of social isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A significant association was observed among students who practice physical activity less than 180 minutes per week (p=0.022). Conclusion: It is concluded that the social isolation imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the eating behavior of students, with a high prevalence of consumption of ultra-processed foods being recorded, this condition being associated with physical inactivity.