Factors/Variables associated with poorer quality of diet among socially vulnerable women of reproductive age: Influence on consumption of ultra-processed foods, obesity, and anemia
Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto, Ana Paula Grotti Clemente, Thays Lane Ferreira dos Santos, Jonatan Christian de Lima Santos Queiroz, Lucas Almeida das Chagas, Edward Araujo Júnior, Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo FlorêncioAbstract
Background:
This study aimed to assess the factors/variables associated with the diet quality of socially vulnerable women of reproductive age in Brazil.
Methods:
This is a population-based cross-sectional study. Home visits were conducted, food intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall, and diet quality was assessed using the adapted Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also assessed. Included 1702 adult women of reproductive age (20–44 years) living in 40 subnormal settlements in a capital city in Northeastern Brazil. The association analysis was performed using linear regressions, adjusted for the variables age, education level, and monthly per capita family income. A significance level of 0.05 was adopted for all analyses.
Results:
Among the women evaluated, 36.6% were obese, and 62.6% had anemia. It was also found that ultra-processed foods (UPF) accounted for an average of 33.77% of the total energy intake. The adapted HEI-2015 average score was 27.15 (26.60–27.71) points. It is noteworthy that no participant (0.0%) achieved the maximum score in any of the whole fruits, total vegetables, whole grains, or sodium components, reinforcing the poor dietary quality observed in the study population. In the analysis adjusted for age, education level, and per capita income, it was observed that a higher proportion of UPF in the total energy intake of the diet (β: −0.10; 95% CI: −0.15 to −0.04;
Conclusion:
Low diet quality was observed, and a higher caloric intake from UPF in the diet, as well as obesity and anemia, were identified as predictive factors for this situation, raising concern, as these conditions are often found in the same woman and may further exacerbate her condition.