Consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e obesidade em adultos no município de Dourados, MS

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases has increased worldwide, including in Brazil. Sedentary lifestyle habits and excessive consumption of energy-dense foods have been widely studied as risk factors. More recently, the study of food consumption according to the degree of food processing, as well as the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and obesity has been highlighted in the scientific context. Studies that address the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases have revealed that diet is the modifiable factor that has the greatest impact on reducing morbidity and mortality, especially obesity, where UPF consumption appears to be an important harmful component to the health of the population at a global level. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess whether UPF consumption was associated with obesity in the adult population in the city of Dourados, MS. Data on the consumption of these foods were collected through a 24-hour recall and anthropometric data (weight, height, and body mass index) to classify obesity. In this way, it was possible to analyze the association between the consumption of these foods and obesity, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Regression models were used to assess the association between UPF consumption participation (quartiles) and obesity. Foods classified as UPF had an average of 20.9% of total daily energy consumption. The increase in UPF consumption was associated with a greater chance of obesity in male individuals, adults aged 30 to 39 years and 50 to 59 years, of white skin color, of lower-income, and with low and high levels of education. Additional analyzes considering the potential effect of reverse causality due to the presence of chronic diseases, revealed statistically significant associations in the second quartile of UPF consumption, indicating an increase of 0.25 kg/m² in BMI for each increment of one percentage unit in the caloric contribution of UPF in the diet. In conclusion, the increase in UPF consumption may contribute to a greater chance of obesity in some sociodemographic strata, and to an increase in BMI. Public policymakers should consider actions that promote a reduction in UPF consumption.