The association between ultra-processed food consumption and obesity indicators in children and adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City

Tóm tắt

   Objectives: To evaluate the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and obesity indicators in children and adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

   Methods: A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 153 children aged 6- to 18-year-old was conducted in HCMC. Usual dietary intake was determined through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Daily intake of each food was obtained from the intake frequency. Subsequently, foods were classified as raw and minimally processed, cooking ingredients or UPFs, and their caloric contribution to the total energy value was calculated. Anthropometric variables were also investigated. BMI cut off values proposed by International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) were used to define overweight and obesity. Abdominal obesity was evaluated by the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) with a cut-off value of 0.5 was used to define abdominal obesity. The associations were tested by chi-square test and Cochran–Armitage trend test.

   Results: The frequency of overweight/obesity was 41.79%, and 39.60% presented high WHtR. The average energy intake was 3,176kcal/day, of which 58.8% was derived from UPFs. The categories with the highest caloric contributions among UPFs were industrial loaves/cakes (16.2%), sweets and candy (6.2%), pastas (6.0%) and sweetened drinks (5.1%). No association was found between UPF consumption and anthropometric indicators.

   Conclusion: Although UPF consumption has not been shown as a factor associated with excess weight, the significant contribution of UPFs to daily calories is evidence of a poor diet of this population. Therefore, there is an urgent need for public policies that discourage the consumption of these products and encourage the return to a traditional diet.

DOI: 10.59715/pntjmp.4.2.20