Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of consumption of fruits and vegetables and identify the association with low level of physical activity, exposure to sedentary behavior, consumption of soft drinks and overweight/obesity in adolescents. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional school-based study with a representative sample of 3992 students aged 14–19 years from the state of Sergipe, Brazil. The outcome was low consumption of fruits and vegetables (<5servings/day). Independent variables were: level of physical activity, sedentary behavior, consumption of soft drinks, and overweight/obesity. Global Student Health Survey questionnaire and body mass and height measurements were used, as well as chi-square test and crude and adjusted binary logistic regression. The significance level adopted was 5%. ResultsThe prevalence of inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables was high – 88.6% (95%CI=87.6–89.5). Higher likelihood of low consumption of fruits and vegetables was verified among boys who were exposed to sedentary behavior (OR=1.63; 95%CI=1.18–2.24), who consumed soft drinks (OR=3.04; 95%CI=2.10–4.40), with insufficiently physical activity (OR=1.98; 95%CI=1.43–2.73) and girls who consumed soft drinks (OR=1.88; 95%CI=1.43–2.47) and those with overweight/obesity (OR=1.63; 95%CI=1.19–2.23). ConclusionsThere is a need of public policies aimed at encouraging the consumption of healthy foods among adolescents.
Highlights
In the last decade, encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables has become a public health priority in many countries as a protective effect on the risk of obesity,[1] type II diabetes mellitus,[2] cardiovascular diseases[3] and some types of cancer.[4]
On research conducted by VIGITEL telephone survey in Brazilian capitals in 2010, the frequency of adults who consume the recommended amount ranged from 11.3% in Rio Branco (Acre, North Region) to 24.8% in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina, South Region)
There was a high prevalence of inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables among adolescents from Sergipe
Summary
In the last decade, encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables has become a public health priority in many countries as a protective effect on the risk of obesity,[1] type II diabetes mellitus,[2] cardiovascular diseases[3] and some types of cancer.[4]. In Brazil, this consumption is below that recommended by WHO, which advocates the daily consumption of at least 400g of fruits and vegetables, equivalent to five servings.[6] On research conducted by VIGITEL telephone survey in Brazilian capitals in 2010, the frequency of adults who consume the recommended amount ranged from 11.3% in Rio Branco (Acre, North Region) to 24.8% in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina, South Region). Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) manifest more frequently in adulthood, the identification of health risk behaviors has been widely documented in literature, focusing on young individuals.[8] Inappropriate eating habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, insufficient levels of physical activity, obesity and excessive time in sedentary leisure activities are some of the most common behaviors during adolescence.[9] Adolescents show excessive consumption of soft drinks, sugars and snacks like ‘‘fast foods’’ with high fat contents (especially saturated fat) and low intake of fiber and potassium.[10]
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