Abstract
ABSTRACT Objectives To estimate the frequency of food insecurity in households with and without children/adolescents; compare food expenses, sugar and soft drinks consumption in these households; and to analyze the relationship between food insecurity and demographic/socioeconomic variables with food expenses, and sugar and soft drinks consumption in households with and without children/adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional study with 628 households in Campinas, SP, Brazil. Food insecurity was estimated by the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale. The dependent variables were the proportion of food expenses, and consumption of sugar and soft drinks; and the independent ones included food security/insecurity condition, monthly family income, gender, age and education of the household head. Results The frequency of food insecurity was higher in households with children/adolescents than in households without minors (41.4% vs. 27.9%). The proportion of food expenses was higher in households with children/adolescents and in all households it was associated with lower family income and, in households with minors, to the presence of a female householder. Soft drinks consumption was higher in households with children/adolescents; and was related to higher income in all households, and to the presence of male householder in households with minors. Sugar consumption in households with children/adolescents was associated with higher income, male gender and education level of the household head (<12 years). In households without children/adolescents, the higher sugar consumption was associated with food insecurity and the household head’s education (<8 years). Conclusion In households with children/adolescents there was a greater frequency of food insecurity and a greater commitment of income with food. Food insecurity was associated with increased sugar consumption in households without children/adolescents.
Highlights
Inadequate nutrition is one of the main risk factors related to the increase in chronic NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs), as well as the increase in malnutrition and overweight [1,2,3,4]
The proportion of food expenses was higher in households with children/adolescents and in all households it was associated with lower family income and, in households with minors, to the presence of a female householder
Food insecurity was associated with increased sugar consumption in households without children/adolescents
Summary
Inadequate nutrition is one of the main risk factors related to the increase in chronic NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs), as well as the increase in malnutrition and overweight [1,2,3,4]. Ultra-processed foods are those foods formulated industrially based on substances extracted, derived from food constituents, or synthesized in the laboratory with additives and which are characterized by high palatability and energy value, and low nutritional quality [7,8]. Food insecurity, characterized by irregular and insufficient access to food, qualitatively and quantitatively, contributes to overweight and obesity and malnutrition; the high cost of nutritious foods, the stress of living with food insecurity and physiological adaptations to food restriction may partially explain why families with food insecurity may be at greater risk of becoming overweight, and the coexistence of malnutrition and overweight in the same geographic space and household [9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
