Navigation
Association between body weight misperception and dietary patterns in Brazilian adolescents: Cross-sectional study using ERICA data
Several studies examined the relationship between body image, dietary behaviors, and weight control measures, however, the evidence regarding the links between weight misperception and dietary intake indicators in adolescents remains insufficient. In this study by Silva et al. (2021), the authors investigated the links between dietary patterns (DPs) and weight misperception in a sample of 52038 adolescents of normal weight, using data from the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a school-based cross-sectional study investigating school students 12-17 years of age. Study participants submitted anthropometric data, 24-hr dietary recalls, and self-answered questionnaires. In addition, data analysis accounted for individual and demographic variables, dietary patterns, weight underestimation, and overestimation in terms of the potential mismatch between self-perceived weight and current nutritional status. Initial analysis revealed that 34% of the participants misperceived their weight and that three main DPs were recognized: a “Traditional Brazilian” diet (composed of rice, beans, meat, and vegetables, a “Processed meat sandwiches and coffee” diet, and an “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” diet. Further analysis revealed that girls adopting the “Traditional Brazilian” and “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” DPs tended to underestimate their weight, while the rest of the study population tended to overestimate their weight. Moreover, boys who adopted the “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” DP were found to underestimate their weight. From a dietary pattern perspective, the “Traditional Brazilian” and “Ultra-processed and sweet foods” DPs were negatively related to weight underestimation. Thus, the authors conclude that these aforementioned DPs demonstrate the relationship between DPs and unhealthy eating habits in Brazilian adolescents. [NPID: Dietary patterns, unhealthy eating, Brazil, adolescents, ultra-processed food]
Year: 2021
