DIET QUALITY AND ANTHROPOMETRIC, SOCIOECONOMIC AND HEALTH FACTORS IN CHILDREN 7 TO 9 YEARS OLD
Name: FERNANDO BARBOSA DE SOUZA
Publication date: 20/11/2023
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| MIRIAM CARMO RODRIGUES BARBOSA | Advisor |
Summary: A dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of ultra-processed foods, sugary
beverages, and low intake of natural foods has been observed among children. These
changes in dietary quality and a sedentary lifestyle are proposed as key etiological
factors contributing to childhood obesity and weight-related chronic diseases. A
diverse and high-quality diet is considered effective in reducing the risk of childhood
overweight. Therefore, it is crucial to apply methods to assess diet quality and identify
other factors that may influence weight gain in children. Understanding how these
variables affect children's health and food choices can guide the development of future
interventions for this population, ultimately improving their quality of life and
contributing to the cultivation of healthy adults. Objective: To evaluate the relationship
between diet quality and anthropometric, socioeconomic, and health factors in children
aged 7 to 9 years. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among
children aged 7 to 9 years. Data on socioeconomic status, anthropometric
measurements, sleep habits, screen time, and dietary habits were collected.
Descriptive data analysis was performed, followed by inferential analyses using the
Chi-squared test and multinomial logistic regression. Results: A total of 336 children
aged 7 to 9 years were evaluated, comprising 157 (46.7%) boys and 179 (53.3%) girls.
Regarding diet quality, 109 (32.4%) children had a low-quality diet, 135 (40.2%) had a
moderate-quality diet, and 92 (27.4%) had a high-quality diet. A statistically significant
difference was found between screen time and diet quality for both boys and girls (pvalue
0.010 and 0.025, respectively). Multinomial logistic regression revealed that boys
with appropriate screen time had a 7.54 times higher chance of having a high-quality
diet, while girls had a 3.26 times higher chance. Conclusion: Children's diet quality
may be influenced by screen time. However, diet quality was not associated with BMI
and other variables. Further studies are needed to better investigate how prolonged
exposure to electronic devices may affect the food choices of these children and
promote weight gain.
