https://doi.org/10.37527/2021.71.S1
1Instituto de Medicina Social - Universidad Estatal de Río de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Background. The high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been associated with obesity, diabetes, and other diseases.
Objective. The goal of this study was to evaluate the change in UPF consumption in children with obesity after a treatment of obesity based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population (DGBP).
Methods. Randomized clinical trial with obese children between 7 and 12 years old. The control (CG) and intervention (IG) groups participated in 6 standardized monthly educational activities based on the 10 steps of the DGBP, involving a qualitative approach. In addition, the intervention group received an individualized food plan that included the reduction of total energy consumption. Food consumption was investigated at each visit, using a 24-hour recall. The rate of change in energy consumption from UPF was assessed in intention-to-treat analysis, based on mixed-effect models adjusted for sex and body mass index at the baseline and was tested the possibility of quadratic variation. Analysis were performed in the SAS software online version.
Results. Of the total of 101 participants, 51 were allocated to the intervention group. Both groups showed a reduction in the consumption of energy from UPF until the 3rd month (GC: Δ = -159.17 kcal; IG: Δ = -93.90 kcal) and a gradual increase in the following months (GC: Δ = + 124.85 kcal; GI: Δ = + 190.10 kcal). The consumption of energy from UPF changed over time (p = 0.03), but there was no significant difference between groups.
Conclusions. Educational activities based on the DGBP had an impact on the consumption of UPF, but this impact was not continuous. Since the consumption of these foods can harm the treatment of childhood obesity, strategies are needed to reduce the consumption of UPF over time.
Keywords: childhood obesity, dietary guidelines, ultraprocessed food.