Fatores associados à obesidade e o padrão de consumo alimentar de pré-escolares em Feira de Santana - BA

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze food consumption patterns and the nutritional status of children under four years old in Feira de Santana – Bahia. It is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohortoflivebirths population based in Feira de Santana - Bahia.This study evaluated the data of 813 pairs of mothers and children under four years old from a cohort of live births. The anthropometric profile was defined through direct method by measuring the body mass index based on the variables height and weight and eating patterns (main independent variable) determined by principal component analysis through data obtained from the food frequency questionnaire.Also, were evaluated as potential confounders: child characteristics (sex, birth weight, nutritional status, interruption of exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months of age, weaning at twoyears old, bottle feeding, feeding during sleep and consumption of blended food) and maternal (gestational age, maternal age at birth, skin color, education, work, income, overweight / obesity), defined.The association between obesity and eating patterns were estimated using Pearson's chi-squared test (p <0.05) and multiple logistic regression analysis. In children under four years old, the prevalence of obesity was 12.7%.Regarding the children's characteristics, 51.7% were male, 95.7% were born weighting more than five pounds, eight ounces. Most children (96.4%) were born in the pregnancy term. 82.9% of mothers gave birth with age equal to or higher than 20 years old, 64.8% were brown, 66.4% had high school / college level education, 61.7% did not went away from home to work and 51.3% had income above 2 minimum wages.According to food characteristics, 21.2% continued exclusive breastfeeding until fourmonths and 10.9% still breastfeeding at 2 years old.The bottle use was reported in 63.0% of children, 29.5% ate sleeping and 47.6% were in the habit of consuming blended food. Four food consumption patterns were identified: food standard 1 (milk and derivatives, vegetables and tubers, legumes, fruit, fish and eggs); food pattern 2 (cereals, snacks, fats and oils, non-alcoholic drinks and sweets); food pattern 3 (processed meats, fast-food, ketchup/mayonnaise); and, food standard 4 (red meat and chicken).In the bivariate analysis, there was a positive association between obesity and the predictor variables: appropriate birth weight, family income, maternal overweight/obesity, interruption of exclusive breastfeeding at four months, no weaning attwoyears of age and use of bottle.In logistic regression analysis, obesity was associated with the consumption of processed meats, fast food and ketchup / mayonnaise (food standard 3). It has been shown that the high intake of processed and energy dense foods were contributing factors to the occurrence of obesity in childhood.These results reinforce the need for public policies and nutrition education programs in health facilities and schools, to assist in changing the eating habits of children, an important predictor of nutritional problems.