Meal habits and anthropometric indicators in adolescents from public and private schools of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To describe meal consumption habits and assess their associations with anthropometric indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,749 elementary and high school students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (mean age=15.3 years), who were selected for the baseline of the Longitudinal Study for Nutritional Assessment of Adolescents. Meal habits and meals consumed in the company of parents were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The consumption of the main meals was categorized as regular (daily) or irregular (≤6 times a week). The meal consumption profile was considered either satisfactory (breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumed on a daily basis) or unsatisfactory. Body Mass Index, waist-to-height ratio, and body fat percentage were calculated. The association between meal consumption habits and anthropometric indicators was estimated using multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for age and sex and stratified according to the type of school. Results Regular lunch consumption was more frequent among private schools students, who also had higher frequency of eating dinner irregularly. Among students from private schools, the unsatisfactory meal consumption profile and irregular meal habits were associated with being overweight, having a high waist-to-height ratio, and increased body fat percentage. Among students from public schools, it was observed association between being overweight with irregular breakfast habits. Conclusion In adolescents, the association between meal habits and weight status may be modulated by socioeconomic condition.