Parental practices, body dissatisfaction and weight control practices in female adolescents from public schools in southern Brazil.

The objective was to verify the association between body dissatisfaction (BD) - constituted by the desire to lose weight - with family and personal aspects related to the shape of the body and weight control practices in female adolescents. A cross-sectional, observational epidemiological study with adolescents aged 12-19 years, enrolled in classes of the 8th and 9th years of public schools belonging to the urban area of the city of Caxias do Sul/Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was conducted. A self-applicable questionnaire was used. BD was assessed using a silhouette scale. Multivariate regression was performed using Poisson regression with robust variation, hierarchically using a pre-established conceptual model, using the prevalence ratio (PR) adjusted with 95 % CI as a measure of effect. A significance level of 5 % (P ≤ 0·05) was considered. Among the 685 female students, 77·2 % had BD. The father's incentive to diet sometimes (PR 1·19; 95 % CI 1·07, 1·32; P ≤ 0·001) and always (PR 1·15; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·28; P ≤ 0·001), trying to lose weight (PR 1·63; 95 % CI 1·33, 1·99; P ≤ 0·001), dieting five times or more (PR 1·22; 95 % CI 1·09, 1·36; P ≤ 0·001) and skipping meals less than once a week (PR 1·16; 95 % CI 1·04, 1·29; P = 0·026) increased the chances of having BD. In conclusion, among the investigated parents' behaviours, only the father's incentive to go on a diet was associated with BD. Adolescent weight control practices increased the chances of having BD. Thus, it facilitates the identification of this condition at an early stage, enabling adequate treatment and prevention of health complications.

Seasonal variation in food intake and the interaction effects of sex and age among adults in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Because studies have evidenced variations in nutrient intake, further investigation of the interaction between demographic characteristics and the seasons is necessary. We aimed to test the differences in food intake throughout the seasons and the interaction between the seasons and sex and age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 273 individuals. Food intake was evaluated with 24-hour dietary recalls, and the reported food items were sorted into food groups. We performed the test on the differences in intake of food groups throughout the seasons with repeated measures and on the interaction effect by using the Generalized Estimate Equation. RESULTS: Intake of fruits and natural fruit juices and sweetened beverages was lower, whereas that of grains and derivatives was higher in the winter. The intake of leafy vegetables and fish and seafood was lower in the autumn. The consumption of coffee and eggs was higher in the spring. Intake of chocolate powder and sugar, salt and lean poultry was higher in the winter. The variation in consumption of grains and derivatives, eggs, fatty poultry and processed meat over the seasons was more likely to be modified by sex. Age interacted with the seasons for leafy vegetables, beans and lentils, lean beef, lean poultry, low fat milk and light yogurt, vegetable oil and unsalted margarine, chocolate powder and sugar and processed meat. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that food intake may change seasonally and that seasonal variation depends on sex and age, which might aggregate a specific co-variation component.