Abstract

POLL, Fabiana et al. Food behavior of adolescents in the consumption of high-fat and sugar-rich foods. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.3, pp.1047-1060.  Epub Dec 31, 2021. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/21psd220323.

The objective of the study was to identify, in adolescents with excess weight, the stage of behavior change related to the consumption of sugars-rich and high-fat foods, based on the transtheoretical model. This is a cross-sectional study with adolescents with overweight or obesity from Santa Cruz do Sul/RS/Brazil, registered at schools in an urban area. Nutritional status (by body mass index) and cardiovascular risk (by waist circumference) were assessed. An instrument was applied in order to quantify the number of daily portions of sugar-rich and high-fat food sources consumed, the stage of change by the transtheoretical model, as well as the barriers, benefits, and self-efficacy regarding changes in habits of eating those foods. A total of 246 adolescents, with a mean age of 12.9 ± 1.8 years, was evaluated. Sixty-one percent were female; 77.3%, pubertal; 53.3%, obese; 57.3% had cardiovascular risk. Eighty-seven percent of the sample consumed more than 3 servings/day; and 53.7% were in the preparation stage. The barrier score (16.9 ± 4.5) was lower than the scores of benefits (27.7 ± 5.2) and self-efficacy (31.1 ± 6.4). The mean benefit score was significantly higher in the group with cardiovascular risk (28.8 ± 4.5 vs 26.4 ± 5.7; p < 0.001). It was concluded that a majority of the adolescents consumed more than 3 servings of sugar-rich and high-fat foods per day; the predominant stage of change was preparation. The barrier score was lower, as compared to the scores of benefits and self-efficacy, and there were no significant differences between the groups overweight or obesity.

Keywords : Eating behavior; Adolescent; Pediatric obesity.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )