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Association between ultra-processed food and snacking behavior in Brazil

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Abstract

Purpose

Ultra-processed food may play a role in facilitating snacking behavior because of their convenience and low satiety potential. This study aimed to describe the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and frequency of snacking.

Methods

We analyzed data from 46,164 participants (≥ 10 years old) in the 2017–2018 Brazilian Household Budget Survey. Dietary data were collected by 24-h dietary recalls over one or two days for each participant. We estimated energy intake, ultra-processed food consumption, and level of snacking. We measured the association between ultra-processed food consumption and level of snacking using multinomial logistic regression, stratified by age group (adolescents, 10–19 years old; adults, 20–64 years old; elders, 65 or older).

Results

We found a statistically significant tendency of increased daily energy intake and consumption of snacks and that ultra-processed food consumption was positively associated with the level of snacking for all age groups. For adolescents, adults, and elders in the highest quintile of ultra-processed food consumption as a share of their entire diet, the relative risk ratio (95% CI) of having more than two snacks per day compared to no snacks was 14.21 (9.09–22.21), 4.44 (3.54–5.57), and 4.21 (2.67–6.64), respectively, when compared to the lowest quintile.

Conclusion

Higher consumption of ultra-processed food was associated with snacking behavior, and the strength of this association was stronger among adolescents. Efforts to mitigate ultra-processed food attributes that facilitate snacking should be incorporated into strategies to promote healthier food choices, especially among adolescents.

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Data availability

The 2017-2018 Brazilian Household Budget Survey data that support the findings of this study are publicly available from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) website (“POF - Consumer Expenditure Survey, Microdata”, https://www.ibge.gov.br/en/statistics/social/population/25610-pof-2017-2018-pof-en.html?=&t=microdados).

Abbreviations

UPF:

Ultra-processed foods

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Acknowledgements

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001 (stipend received by M.F.G.-V.). E.M.S. received a post-doctoral stipend, grant 2018/17972-9, from São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). CAPES and FAPESP had no role in the design, analysis, or writing of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine (FMUSP), University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, SP, 01246, Brazil

    Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca & Renata Bertazzi Levy

  2. Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP, 01246, Brazil

    Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca, Euridice Martinez-Steele, Giovanna Calixto Andrade, Maria Laura da Costa Louzada & Renata Bertazzi Levy

  3. Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, One Constitution Plaza, Suite 600, Hartford, CT, 06103, USA

    Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca

  4. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP, 01246, Brazil

    Euridice Martinez-Steele & Maria Laura da Costa Louzada

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  1. Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca
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Contributions

MFG-V, the first author, participated in the design and planning of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript. EMS and GCA participated in the design and planning of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, the critical review of the content, and approval of the final version of the manuscript. MLCL and RBL participated in the design and planning of the study, interpretation of data, the critical review of the content, and approval of the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

This study analyzed secondary survey data that is de-identifiable and publicly available. Therefore, this study did not require review by the Institutional Review Board. Verbally informed consent was obtained from all participants of the 2017–2018 Brazilian Household Budget Survey.

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Gombi-Vaca, M.F., Martinez-Steele, E., Andrade, G.C. et al. Association between ultra-processed food and snacking behavior in Brazil. Eur J Nutr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03340-y

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