Mediators of parental educational differences in the intake of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks among adolescents, and the moderating role of neighbourhood income.

BACKGROUND: Existing evidence suggests that the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among adolescents remains a public health concern and that socioeconomic differences in intake exist. Tackling these challenges requires identifying the factors associated with SSB intake and the mediators of socioeconomic differences in SSB intake among adolescents. Thus, this study aimed to explore (i) factors at different levels of the ecological model associated with the intake of carbonated soft drinks with added sugar (hereafter called soft drinks), (ii) mediators of the association between parental education and the intake of soft drinks(iii) whether neighbourhood income moderates the indirect effect of parental education on adolescents' soft drink intake through potential mediators. METHODS: Data from 826 7th graders in Oslo, Norway, who participated in the TACKLE cross-sectional study conducted in 2020 were used. The association between factors at the individual, interpersonal and neighbourhood food environment levels and the intake of soft drinks among adolescents was assessed, as well as the mediating roles of these factors for the differences in intake by parental education, using multiple logistic regression and mediation analysis, respectively. Moderated mediation analyses were used to explore whether an indirect effect of parental education on adolescents' soft drink intake through potential mediators varies across neighbourhood income areas. RESULTS: Higher perceived accessibility of SSB at home, increased parental modelling for SSB intake, and increased frequency of food/drink purchased from the neighbourhood store were associated with a higher intake of soft drinks among adolescents and mediated the differences in intake by parental education. Neighbourhood food environment factors were neither statistically significantly associated with adolescents' higher intake of soft drinks nor explained the differences in intake by parental education. Moderated mediation analysis showed that the mediating effect of perceived accessibility of SSB at home on the association between parental education and adolescent soft drink intake was stronger among those living in low neighbourhood income. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified modifiable factors at the intrapersonal level (perceived accessibility of SSB at home and frequency of food/drink purchased from neighbourhood shops) and interpersonal levels (parental modelling for SSB intake) associated with a higher intake of soft drinks among adolescents and mediated the differences in the intake by parental education. The modifiable factors identified in this study could be targeted in public health initiatives among adolescents aimed at reducing the intake of soft drinks and the related differences by parental education.

Association between screen time and dietary patterns and overweight/obesity among adolescents / Associação entre tempo de tela e padrões alimentares com sobrepeso/obesidade em adolescentes

ABSTRACT Objective The association between screen time and dietary patterns and overweight/obesity among adolescents was analysed in this study. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 963 Brazilian adolescents, aged between 11 and 14 years were evaluated. Body mass index was used to assess overweight/obesity. Dietary patterns and screen time were assessed using qualitative questionnaires. Principal component analysis was used to obtain dietary patterns. Confounder variables were: type of school (public or private), sexual maturation, mother's weight and mother's education. The Chi-square test was used for the crude analysis; for the adjusted analysis was used Poisson regression with sample weighting. Results Overweight/obesity prevalence was 29.8% and statistically higher among boys (34.7%). Higher screen time prevalence was 39.1%. The dietary patterns obtained were: obesogenic; coffee and dairy products; traditional Brazilian meal; fruit and vegetables; bread and chocolate milk. The dietary pattern that more closely represented student food consumption was the obesogenic pattern. Screen time was not significantly associated with overweight/obesity. The obesogenic pattern (in both sexes), the coffee and dairy products pattern, and the bread and chocolate milk pattern (only in girls), were inversely associated with overweight/obesity. In this study, dietary patterns influenced overweight/obesity, although in some cases, in an inverse way from what expected. Conclusion A high prevalence of overweight/obesity and a high proportion of screen time activities among the adolescents were observed. Our results indicate a high consumption of unhealthy dietary pattern among adolescents.

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a associação entre tempo de tela e padrões alimentares com sobrepeso/obesidade em adolescentes de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Métodos Estudo transversal com amostra probabilística de 963 adolescentes de 11 a 14 anos de idade matriculados em escolas públicas e privadas do município. O sobrepeso/obesidade foi avaliado por meio do índice de massa corporal e o consumo alimentar do dia anterior por meio da aplicação de questionário qualitativo. Análise de Componentes Principais foi utilizada para obtenção dos padrões alimentares. Os fatores de confusão considerados foram: tipo de escola, maturação sexual, peso e escolaridade da mãe. Usou-se teste Qui-quadrado e regressão de Poisson nas análises bruta e ajustada, respectivamente. Resultados A prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade foi de 29,8%, sendo estatisticamente maior nos meninos (34,7%). A prevalência de alto tempo de tela foi de 39,1%. Os padrões alimentares obtidos foram: obesogênico; café e produtos lácteos; refeição tradicional brasileira; frutas e vegetais; pão e achocolatado. O padrão de consumo alimentar que melhor representou o consumo dos adolescentes nessa amostra foi o obesogênico. Não houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre tempo de tela e sobrepeso/obesidade. Foram inversamente associados com sobrepeso/obesidade os padrões: obesogênico; café e produtos lácteos; e pão e achocolatado (apenas em meninas). Padrões de consumo alimentar influenciaram a prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade, porém, em alguns casos, de maneira contrária ao esperado. Conclusão Observou-se alta prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade e alta frequência de atividades sedentárias. Os resultados sugerem alto índice de padrão alimentar não saudável pelos adolescentes.