The Happy Child Program's Intersectionality: Prenatal Home Visit Frequency, Food Insecurity Risk, Symptoms of Depression, and Parental Practices in Brazilian Women Assisted during Pregnancy.

Food insecurity (FI) is a critical issue in developing countries, particularly in low-resource settings, where it can worsen women's mental health. Psychosocial factors such as low household income, limited education, multiparity, and vulnerability are linked to depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Additionally, the family environment influences parental practices, which may impact mental health. This study evaluates the association of socioeconomic factors, parental practices, FI risk, and home visit frequency with depressive symptoms in pregnant women enrolled in the Happy Child Program (Programa Criança Feliz-PCF) in the Federal District, Brazil. In this cross-sectional study, 132 pregnant women monitored by PCF from May to July 2023 were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire for socioeconomic data, the two-item Triage for Food Insecurity (TRIA) instrument for FI risk, the Scale of Parental Beliefs and Early Childhood Care Practices, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II for depressive symptoms. Most participants were multiparous (87.9%), had low income (under 200 USD/month; 80.8%), presented depressive symptoms (67.4%) and were at risk of FI (81.8%). About half demonstrated adequate parental practices (50.8%) and received four home visits per month during pregnancy (54.5%). Women who received four PCF home visits had a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to those with fewer visits (PR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.98). No significant association was found between FI or parental practices and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that the PCF home-visiting program may strengthen vulnerable families, support social networks, and improve mental health during pregnancy. Additionally, the results of this study highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity and promoting mental health during pregnancy, particularly among socially vulnerable populations. Furthermore, they reinforce the importance of expanding access to home-visiting programs as an effective strategy to improve maternal mental health and well-being, while fostering healthier prenatal environments for both mothers and their children.

Ultra-Processed Foods and Schooling Are Independently Associated with Lower Iron and Folate Consumption by Pregnant Women Followed in Primary Health Care.

Combined deficiencies of nutrients such as iron and folic acid intake during pregnancy are related to nutritional deficiencies risk, such as anemia. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between risk factors (sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle) and the intake of iron and folate by pregnant women followed up in Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Federal District, Brazil. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with adult pregnant women of different gestational ages. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied by researchers trained to collect sociodemographic, economic, environmental, and health data. Two nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls (24hr) were carried out to collect data about food consumption. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the association between sociodemographic and dietary risk factors and the consumption of iron and folate. The mean daily energy intake was 1726 kcal (95% CI 1641-1811), with 22.4% (95% CI 20.09-24.66) derived from ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The mean iron and folate intake were 5.28 mg (95% CI 5.09-5.48) and 193.42 µg (95% CI 182.22-204.61), respectively. According to the multivariate model, the highest quintile of ultra-processed foods intake was associated with lower iron (ß = -1.15; IC 95%: -1.74; 0.55; p < 0.001) and folate intake (ß = -63.23; IC 95%: -98.32; -28.15; p < 0.001). Pregnant women with high school degree presented higher iron intake (ß = 0.74; IC 95%: 0.20; 1.28; p = 0.007) and folate intake (ß = 38.95; IC 95%: 6.96; 70.95; p = 0.017) compared to pregnant women with elementary school degree. Folate consumption was also associated with the second gestational period (ß = 39.44; IC 95%: 5.58; 73.30; p = 0.023) and pregnancy planning (ß = 26.88; IC 95%: 3.58; 50.18; p = 0.024). Further research is warranted to enhance evidence on the relationship between the role of processed foods and micronutrients intake to strengthen the nutritional quality of diet of pregnant women attended in Primary Health Care.

Consumption of school meals provided by PNAE among brazilian public school adolescents / Consumo de comidas escolares proporcionadas por PNAE entre adolescentes de escuelas públicas brasileñas

ABSTRACT Objective: Assess adherence to school food offered by the School Food Program (Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar - PNAE) and the associated factors among Brazilian adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study with data from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents conducted in 2013-2014, with 58,707 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years-old who attended public schools. Logistic regression models were stratified by sex and the significance level of 5% was adopted for all analyses. Results: There was low adherence to school meals (17.2%). The chance of regular consumption of school meals was higher among male adolescents belonging to the medium (p<0.05) and the low (p<0.05) socioeconomic score categories. For females, the chance of regular consumption of food offered at school was higher among black-skinned, brown-skinned, indigenous-skinned or yellow-skinned adolescents (p<0.05), aged 16 and 17 (p<0.05), who worked (p<0.001) and belonged to the medium (p<0.05) and low (p<0.05) socioeconomic score categories. The regular purchase of food in school cafeterias reduced the chance of regular consumption of school meals for males (p<0.001) and females (p<0.001). Conclusions: Adherence to the food offered by the PNAE is far from ideal, and it is important to create public policies that encourage the consumption of school meals and improve adherence. In addition, the strengthening and drafting of regulations aimed at the sale of food in the interior and surrounding schools' areas is necessary.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la adherencia a la comida escolar ofrecida por el Programa Nacional de Alimentación Escolar y los factores asociados entre los adolescentes brasileños. Métodos: Estudio transversal con datos del Estudio de Riesgos Cardiovasculares en Adolescentes realizado en 2013-2014, con 58.707 adolescentes de 12 a 17 años que asistieron a escuelas públicas. Los modelos de regresión logística se realizaron estratificados por sexo, y se aplicó el nivel de significancia del 5% para todos los análisis. Resultados: Hubo baja adherencia a las comidas escolares (17,2%). La posibilidad de consumo regular de comidas escolares fue mayor entre los adolescentes varones pertenecientes a las categorías de puntaje socioeconómico medio (p<0,05) y bajo (p<0,05). Para las mujeres, la probabilidad de consumo regular de alimentos ofrecidos en la escuela fue mayor entre las adolescentes de piel negra, marrón, indígena o amarilla (p<0,05), de 16 y 17 años (p<0,05), quién trabaja (p<0,001) y pertenece a las categorías de puntaje socioeconómico medio (p<0,05) y bajo (p<0,05). La compra regular de alimentos en las cafeterías escolares redujo la posibilidad de consumo regular de comidas escolares para hombres (p<0,001) y mujeres (p<0,001). Conclusiones: La adhesión a los alimentos ofrecidos por el PNAE está lejos de ser ideal, y es importante crear políticas públicas que fomenten el consumo de comidas escolares, mejoren su adherencia, además de ayudar en el fortalecimiento y la redacción de regulaciones dirigidas a la venta de alimentos en el interior y las áreas de las escuelas circundantes.

Influence of parental perceived environment on physical activity, TV viewing, active play and Body Mass Index among Portuguese children: A mediation analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The environment is believed to be key in obesity prevention, yet it is unclear how factors in the neighborhood influence weight-related behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of parental perceived environment on physical activity (PA), television (TV) time, active play and Body Mass Index (BMI) z score, and the mediating role of these weight-related behaviors on the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and children's BMI. METHODS: Data of 8472 Portuguese preschool (aged 3-6, n = 3819) and school-aged children (aged 7-11 years, n = 4653) were collected during 2016/2017. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the associations between parents perceived neighborhood characteristics (latent variables: unsafety and built/physical environment) and child's BMI z score, PA and TV time. RESULTS: Among preschoolers, the latent variables of the perceived environment were not associated with the BMI, TV time, extracurricular PA, and active play. Among schoolchildren, the unsafety environment was positively associated with both the BMI (SC = 0.050, P = .008) and the time spent watching TV (SC = 0.052, P = .031) and negatively associated with extracurricular PA (SC = -0.125, P < .001). The latent variable Favorable Built Environment for PA (ie, environmental facilitating elements) was positively associated with active play (SC = 0.041, P = .031). Moreover, the TV time was a marginally significant mediator of the relationship between the perceived unsafe environment and the BMI of school-aged children (B = 0.002, P = .096). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, changes in the environment to targeting parental perception of neighborhood safety could have positive effects on the promotion of healthy weight and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle in school-aged children.

Association Between Standardized Phase Angle, Nutrition Status, and Clinical Outcomes in Surgical Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Different nutrition assessment tools in surgical cancer patients are used in clinical practice, which results in different prevalence rates of malnutrition. This may impact the interpretation of the association between nutrition status and clinical outcomes. Reduced standardized phase angle (SPA) values are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cancer. Thus, it is important to assess the association of SPA with nutrition status and relate it to postoperative clinical outcomes. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 121 surgical cancer patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, subjective global assessment (SGA), anthropometric measurements, and assessment of muscle strength were used to provide nutrition diagnosis 1 day before surgery. The patients were followed for infectious and noninfectious postoperative complications from the first day after the operation until discharge or death. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition was higher according to SGA (63.6%). Patients with an SPA < -1.65 had a greater chance of being diagnosed as malnourished according to the SGA (3.66 [1.35-9.90]), midarm circumference (OR 4.24; CI95%; 1.72-10.43), midarm muscle area (OR 4.38; CI95%; 1.68-11.42), and low handgrip strength (3.84 [1.31-11.25]). Patients with an SPA < -1.65 presented with more infectious complications (OR 4.19; CI95%; 1.52-11.53), but there was no association between SPA and other outcomes or death. SPA was the only significant predictor of infectious complications (AUC, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.51-0.71). CONCLUSION: SPA was associated with different nutrition status parameters, and it was able to predict postoperative infectious complications.

A higher number of school meals is associated with a less-processed diet / Maior número de refeições nas escolas está associado a uma alimentação menos processada

Abstract Objective: To compare the participation of food groups - fresh and minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed - in the diet of students (n = 1357) from Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, in accordance with the number of school meals consumed daily. Methods: Four groups were defined: children that did not consume school meals and children that consumed one, two, or three school meals daily. Food groups participation, in g/1000 kcal, was obtained using two 24-hour recalls. Three linear regression models were analyzed, in which the consumption of each of the food groups was the dependent variable, the number of school meals was the independent variable, and sociodemographic data (gender, age, health vulnerability) and overweight condition were the control variables. Results: Children that consumed 2 or 3 school meals daily showed, respectively, 7.3% and 10.5% higher ingestion of fresh and minimally processed food in comparison to children that did not consume school meals. Moreover, ultra-processed food participation was 18.0% lower among students that consumed two school meals and 26.0% lower among children that consumed three meals daily, in comparison to students that did not consume school meals. Conclusion: The study showed a possible dose-response effect in children's daily diets with two or three school meals and highlighted the relevance of the prolonged stay at school for healthy eating promotion in children.

Resumo Objetivo: Comparar a participação dos alimentos in natura e minimamente processados, processados e ultraprocessados na alimentação de 1.357 escolares de Belo Horizonte (MG) de acordo com o número de refeições escolares consumidas diariamente. Métodos: Foram definidos quatro grupos de estudo: crianças que não consumiam a alimentação escolar e crianças que consumiam uma, duas ou três refeições escolares diariamente. A participação na dieta dos grupos de alimentos, em g/1.000 kcal, foi obtida a partir de dois recordatórios alimentares de 24 horas. Foram analisados três modelos de regressão linear, nos quais o consumo de cada um dos três grupos de alimentos constituiu a variável dependente, o número de refeições escolares consumidas diariamente constituiu a variável independente e os dados sociodemográficos (sexo, idade, índice de vulnerabilidade à saúde) e de excesso de peso constituíram-se as variáveis de ajuste. Resultados: Verificou-se que as crianças que consumiam duas e três refeições escolares diariamente apresentaram, respectivamente, 7,3% e 10,5% maior ingestão de alimentos in natura e minimamente processados quando comparadas com as crianças que não consumiam a alimentação escolar. Além disso, a participação de ultraprocessados foi 18,0% menor na alimentação das crianças que consumiam duas refeições escolares e 26,0% menor entre as que consumiam três refeições escolares diariamente, em comparação com aquelas que não consumiam a alimentação escolar. Conclusão: O estudo apontou possível efeito dose-resposta na proteção da alimentação dos estudantes a partir do consumo de duas refeições escolares diárias, destacando a relevância da permanência da criança em período integral na escola para a promoção da alimentação saudável.

A higher number of school meals is associated with a less-processed diet.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the participation of food groups - fresh and minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed - in the diet of students (n=1357) from Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, in accordance with the number of school meals consumed daily. METHODS: Four groups were defined: children that did not consume school meals and children that consumed one, two, or three school meals daily. Food groups participation, in g/1000kcal, was obtained using two 24-hour recalls. Three linear regression models were analyzed, in which the consumption of each of the food groups was the dependent variable, the number of school meals was the independent variable, and sociodemographic data (gender, age, health vulnerability) and overweight condition were the control variables. RESULTS: Children that consumed 2 or 3 school meals daily showed, respectively, 7.3% and 10.5% higher ingestion of fresh and minimally processed food in comparison to children that did not consume school meals. Moreover, ultra-processed food participation was 18.0% lower among students that consumed two school meals and 26.0% lower among children that consumed three meals daily, in comparison to students that did not consume school meals. CONCLUSION: The study showed a possible dose-response effect in children's daily diets with two or three school meals and highlighted the relevance of the prolonged stay at school for healthy eating promotion in children.