Consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity are associated with sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors: A nationwide study with Brazilian Schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity are risk factors for chronic diseases. AIM: To evaluate the association between food consumption and sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors of Brazilian schoolchildren between 6 and 11 years old. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A prevalence sample was calculated considering the number of children enrolled in elementary school. This sample was distributed proportionally to Brazil's macro-regions and the type of school (public or private). The questionnaire was developed in Google Forms and disseminated through the snowball technique. The questionnaire was filled in by the children's parents, with information about the child's identification and health. Afterward, the child completed a questionnaire by her/himself. We used the previously validated Illustrated Questionnaire on Food Consumption for Brazilian Schoolchildren and the Illustrated Questionnaire on Eating and Sedentary Behaviors. Food consumption was analyzed using the NOVA score and the dietary diversity score. Poisson's regression with robust variance was performed (p<0.05). RESULTS: The study included 2,021 dyads. Of these, 27.6% of children reported eating five or more ultra-processed foods and 39.0% four or fewer natural or staple foods the previous day. Using screens, proxy of sedentary behavior (Prevalence Ratio-PR = 1.8, Confidence Interval-CI95%1.2-2.8) and eating at irregular hours (PR = 1.6, CI95%1.2-2.2) were risk factors for high consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity in schoolchildren. In addition, eating the three main meals on the previous day (PR = 0.6, CI95%0.4-0.8) was identified as protective factors against the consumption of ultra-processed foods and in favor of dietary diversity among schoolchildren. CONCLUSION: Sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors were associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods and low dietary diversity in Brazilian schoolchildren.

Validation of the illustrated questionnaire on food consumption for Brazilian schoolchildren (QUACEB) for 6- to 10-year-old children.

Introduction: Evaluating the food consumption of school-aged children is crucial to monitor their dietary habits, promote targeted interventions, and contribute public policies that aimed healthy eating. In this context, our objective was to develop and validate the Illustrated Questionnaire on Food Consumption for Brazilian Schoolchildren (QUACEB) of 6 to 10 years old, which is a self-reported illustrated recall. Methods: Validity was obtained in four stages as follows: selection of foods, validation of items, validation of illustrations, and pretest. Foods were selected by considering the data from the main surveys that have been conducted with the Brazilian population and schoolchildren in recent years, the degree of food processing, and the main foods from each of the country's five macroregions. The content of the items was validated by comparing the children's and their parent's responses. For this, the questionnaire was published in an online format, and 6- to 10-year-old elementary schoolchildren were recruited using the snowball technique. The first part of the questionnaire was answered by the parent after the child's lunch, and the second was completed by the child the following day. Thirty-two parent and child dyads participated. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and kappa (k) tests were performed. Results: Of the 30 foods presented on the questionnaire, 15 were reported as consumed. High sensitivity (mean of 88.5%), high specificity (average of 92.0%), substantial agreement (k = 0.78), low disagreement (6.2%), and AUC of 0.90 were found. The illustrations were validated in a focus group with fourth-grade children from a school chosen for convenience. The food illustrations were designed for children, who were asked to name the food. Eighteen children participated and verified that the images were representative of the foods. In the pretest, three schools were chosen for convenience that announced the link to the online questionnaire in WhatsApp groups of parents with students from first to fifth grade. Fifteen children answered the questionnaire and 86.7% (n = 13) judged it excellent or good. Conclusion: Thus, the food consumption questionnaire is valid for elementary schoolchildren of 6 to 10 years old and can be applied in research to assess the dietary patterns of children in Brazil.

Validation of the illustrated questionnaire on eating and sedentary behaviors (QUICAS) for seven to ten-year-old children.

The Illustrated Questionnaire on Eating and Sedentary Behaviors (QUICAS) was developed and validated for schoolchildren seven to ten years old. It used previous day recall and was illustrated with ten eating behaviors (referring to the act of eating without distractions, with company, on a regular basis, the type of food eaten, and participation in tasks involved in meal preparation) and five sedentary behaviors (related to the use of television, computer, tablet, cell phone, and video game). The instrument was validated in four stages: (1) Its content was developed based on literature review and expert evaluation; (2) Items were validated by comparing the responses of children and their parents, through a questionnaire on Google Forms. At this stage, a convenience sample was adopted, consisting of 145 parent-child dyads. High sensitivity (average of 90.7%); high specificity (mean of 87.9%); low number of false positives (mean of 12.1%); low number of false negatives (mean of 9.3%); almost perfect agreement between the child's and the parent's reports (k = 0.81); and low disagreement (≤22%) were found. In addition, the child's gender and age did not significantly influence the child's report. (3) The illustrations were validated in a focus group with 18 children, who satisfactorily described all the eating and sedentary behaviors of the illustrations. (4) In the pretest of the questionnaire on Google Forms, with the participation of 15 children, the majority (86.7%) judged the questionnaire as excellent or good. Therefore, the QUICAS is valid to assess eating and sedentary behaviors in schoolchildren seven to ten years old.

Condições higiênicossanitárias de unidades de alimentação e nutrição de escolas participantes do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar: qual a realidade em Goiás? / Hygienic and sanitary conditions of "Units of food and nutrition" at schools participating in the Brazilian School Feeding Program: What is the reality in Goiás?

Introdução: Para a oferta de refeições seguras aos estudantes, preconizado pelo Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, se faz necessária uma condição higiênicossanitária adequada da Unidade de Alimentação e Nutrição. Objetivo: Avaliar as condições higiênicossanitárias das Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição de escolas participantes do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar em municípios goianos, bem como verificar possíveis associações com: índices municipais, características da escola e supervisão de nutricionista. Método: Estudo transversal, realizado entre 2017 e 2019, com amostra de 395 escolas, de 103 municípios de Goiás. As condições higiênicossanitárias foram verificadas por nutricionistas, por meio de um checklist baseado na RDC nº 216, de 15 de setembro de 2004 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e nos índices municipais de desenvolvimento humano e da educação básica em base de dados públicas. As características da escola e o recebimento de supervisão foram perguntados aos diretores escolares. Realizou-se uma análise descritiva dos itens do checklist e testes de hipóteses e correlação. Resultados: A maioria das unidades (69,4%) foi classificada como de risco sanitário regular, de acordo com o checklist. Obteve-se diferenças significativas entre: as escolas municipais e estaduais (p = 0,02); a mesorregião Norte das outras (p = 0,00) e o baixo Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano das demais categorias (p = 0,02). Ademais, o alto Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (5º ano) apresentou uma associação com o muito baixo risco sanitário (p = 0,04). Conclusões: Infere-se que há necessidade de medidas corretivas. Sugere-se a implementação de manuais de boas práticas; a formação de manipuladores; a supervisão contínua do nutricionista e do Conselho de Alimentação Escolar; e o investimento da gestão com vistas à Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional dos escolares.

Introduction: In order to offer safe meals to students, recommended by the Brazilian School Feeding Program (PNAE, in Portuguese), an adequate hygienic-sanitary condition of "Units of Food and Nutrition" is necessary. Objective: To evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of the "Units of Food and Nutrition" at schools participating in the Brazilian School Feeding Program in municipalities in Goiás, as well as to verify possible associations with municipal indexes, school characteristics and supervision by a nutritionist. Method: Cross-sectional study, carried out between 2017 and 2019, with a sample of 395 schools, from 103 municipalities in Goiás. The hygienic-sanitary conditions were collected by nutritionists, through a checklist based on Anvisa's RDC nº 216/2004 and municipal indexes of human development and basic education in public databases. The school's characteristics and the existence of supervision by a nutritionist were asked to school directors. Descriptive analysis of the checklist items and hypothesis and correlation tests were performed. Results: Most units (69.4%) were classified as having regular health risk, according to the checklist. Significant differences were obtained between municipal and state schools (p = 0.02); difference of northern mesoregion from the others (p = 0.00) and low Human Development Index of the other categories (p = 0.02) were observed. Furthermore, the high Basic Education Development Index (5th grade) was associated with a very low health risk (p = 0.04). Conclusions: It is inferred that there is a need for corrective measures. Manuals of good practices should be implemented, along with training of handlers, ongoing supervision by the nutritionist and the School Feeding Council, and investment in management with a view to the Food and Nutritional Security of schoolchildren.