Consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e estado nutricional de escolares em uma escola municipal de Vale do Sol, RS.

Abstract

School age is a stage where adolescents are in intense metabolism, so nutrition plays a key role in this period. The current food pattern is marked by the excessive use of ultraprocessed food, with a higher energy density, which has increased the risk of obesity in the population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the frequency of consumption of ultraprocessed foods and nutritional status in adolescents of both sexes at a school in the city of Vale do Sol, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study with adolescents from 10 to 19 years. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index. A food frequency questionnaire containing ultraprocessed foods was applied. The sample consisted of 45 adolescents with a mean age of 13.02 ± 1.56 years. When evaluating the nutritional status, it was observed that 55.6% of the adolescents present in eutrophy, and 22.2% overweight and 22.2% of obesity. In the nutritional status and frequency of consumption of ultraprocessed foods, the results did not show a statistically significant relationship with any of the foods investigated, but note the stuffed biscuit and the bullet, with a greater frequency. There was a higher prevalence of eutrophy. The consumption of ultraprocessed foods did not obtain a statistically significant result, concluding that the consumption of these foods exists, but not expressively.