Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of consuming ultra-processed foods on the nutritional dietary profile in Brazil.METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted with data from the module on individual food consumption from the 2008-2009 Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF – Brazilian Family Budgets Survey). The sample, which represented the section of the Brazilian population aged 10 years or over, involved 32,898 individuals. Food consumption was evaluated by two 24-hour food records. The consumed food items were classified into three groups: natural or minimally processed, including culinary preparations with these foods used as a base; processed; and ultra-processed.RESULTS The average daily energy consumption per capita was 1,866 kcal, with 69.5% being provided by natural or minimally processed foods, 9.0% by processed foods and 21.5% by ultra-processed food. The nutritional profile of the fraction of ultra-processed food consumption showed higher energy density, higher overall fat content, higher saturated and trans fat, higher levels of free sugar and less fiber, protein, sodium and potassium, when compared to the fraction of consumption related to natural or minimally processed foods. Ultra-processed foods presented generally unfavorable characteristics when compared to processed foods. Greater inclusion of ultra-processed foods in the diet resulted in a general deterioration in the dietary nutritional profile. The indicators of the nutritional dietary profile of Brazilians who consumed less ultra-processed foods, with the exception of sodium, are the stratum of the population closer to international recommendations for a healthy diet.CONCLUSIONS The results from this study highlight the damage to health that is arising based on the observed trend in Brazil of replacing traditional meals, based on natural or minimally processed foods, with ultra-processed foods. These results also support the recommendation of avoiding the consumption of these kinds of foods.
Highlights
The average daily energy consumption per capita was 1,866 kcal, with 69.5% being provided by natural or minimally processed foods, 9.0% by processed foods and 21.5% by ultra-processed food
The results from this study highlight the damage to health that is arising based on the observed trend in Brazil of replacing traditional meals, based on natural or minimally processed foods, with ultra-processed foods
Médias do consumo absoluto e relativo de alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados, de alimentos processados e de alimentos ultraprocessados na população brasileira com 10 ou mais anos de idade (2008-2009)
Summary
I Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição em Saúde Pública. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados sobre o perfil nutricional da dieta. O perfil nutricional da fração do consumo relativo a alimentos ultraprocessados mostrou maior densidade energética, maior teor de gorduras em geral, de gordura saturada, de gordura trans e de açúcar livre e menor teor de fibras, de proteínas, de sódio e de potássio, quando comparado à fração do consumo relativa a alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados. Maior participação de alimentos ultraprocessados na dieta determinou generalizada deterioração no perfil nutricional da alimentação. Os indicadores do perfil nutricional da dieta dos brasileiros que menos consumiram alimentos ultraprocessados, com exceção do sódio, aproximam este estrato da população das recomendações internacionais para uma alimentação saudável. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados indicam prejuízos à saúde decorrentes da tendência observada no Brasil de substituir refeições tradicionais baseadas em alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados por alimentos ultraprocessados e apoiam a recomendação para ser evitado o consumo desses alimentos.
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
