Changes in the frequency of food intake among children and teenagers: monitoring in a reference service

Larissa Soares Mariz,Alexsandro Silva Coura,Bertha Cruz Enders,Carla Campos Muniz Medeiros,Caroline Evelin Nascimento Kluczynik Vieira

doi:10.1590/s0104-11692013000400020

Abstract

to identify changes in the food intake patterns among overweight children and teenagers, treated at a reference medical centre. the method used is that of a cohort study, between April 2010 and April 2011. A total of 109 children and teenagers, either obese or overweight, took part in the study. The population was divided into two subgroups depending on the permanence period (more than 6 months, and less than 6 months off the treatment). The chi-square test and logistic regression were carried out. the group which had been longer off the treatment tended to consume more soft drinks, pasta and fried foods, and less fruit and vegetables. The group with less time showed an improvement, with a reduction of consumption of soft drinks and other goodies. There was confirmation of an increased risk for consumption of soft drinks, pasta and goodies in general, as also detachment from the treatment in adolescence. The group with a longer period of monitoring has had a positive change in food intake frequency. The main contribution made by this study is that of showing that multiprofessional treatment, including some nursing care, is efficient in progressively changing the food intake of children and adolescents who are overweight.

Highlights

In Brazil, overweight and obesity are considered important nutritional deviations
The storage of body fat at school age tends to linger into adolescence, and has physiological and pathological effects on adulthood. Characteristics such as risk groups and possibilities of success of actions to be implemented mean that children and adolescents with excess weight are a target group for strategies aiming at prevention and control of overweight and related illnesses[1]
The results as here described suggest that the subjects who had been longest away from the treatment had a tendency to increase their consumption of soft drinks, pasta and goodies

Summary

Introduction

The storage of body fat at school age tends to linger into adolescence, and has physiological and pathological effects on adulthood. For this reason, characteristics such as risk groups and possibilities of success of actions to be implemented mean that children and adolescents with excess weight are a target group for strategies aiming at prevention and control of overweight and related illnesses[1]. The importance of the diet in the aetiology of obesity has been made evident through the growing number of epidemiological studies, where eating habits are one of the most important factors which can be changed. The relationship between diet and illness is not always detected in the epidemiological studies, often due to the difficulties to accurately assess food ingestion[3]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion