Consumption of ultraprocessed foods, nutritional status, and dyslipidemia in schoolchildren: a cohort study

This study evaluates the relation between consumption of ultraprocessed foods, nutritional status, and dyslipidemia in schoolchildren from Recife/PE, Brazil. This is a cohort study conducted in 2008–2009 and 2012–2013, with 238 students recruited from the public school system of the city of Recife, Northeast Brazil. Demographic data, stage of sexual maturation, socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and lipid profiles were collected. There was a high prevalence of overweight, abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia in both the time periods. The number of teenagers sufficiently active was higher in 2012–2013. There was a positive correlation between the consumption of ultraprocessed foods and age in 2008–2009. In 2008–2009, high consumption of ultraprocessed foods occurred in the majority of adolescents with normal total serum cholesterol values. In 2012–2013, low maternal schooling proved to be an important factor for a lower consumption of ultraprocessed foods. The consumption of ultraprocessed foods showed no direct relationship with overweight, abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia in adolescents.