The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between food consumption by the degree of processing and sleep quality in adolescents from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. A cross-sectional study with 2499 adolescents (aged 18 to 19 years) was developed. Exposure variables included energy contributions of food groups stratified by the NOVA classification: fresh or minimally processed foods (FMPF), processed foods (PF), and ultra-processed foods (UPF), categorized into quartiles. The outcome variable was sleep quality assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Associations between these variables were estimated by Poisson regression, with robust estimation of variance. Most of the adolescents had poor sleep quality (57.1%). There were associations between FMPF in the third (57.1%–66.0% of total calories; prevalence ratio PR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.97) and fourth quartile (66.1%–95.8% of total calories; PR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.96) and lower prevalence of poor sleep quality. The fourth quartile of UPF (44.3%–81.8% of total calories; PR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.27) was associated with a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality. Higher intake of FMPF is a protective factor for poor sleep quality, whereas higher UPF consumption is a risk factor for poor sleep quality.

Obesity is a recognized risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate anthropometric and body composition indicators used for its diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass index (FMI) and body mass index (BMI) for detecting cardiometabolic outcomes in adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving adults at 30 years of age from Pelotas, RS (n = 3517) and at 37–39 years from Ribeirão Preto, SP (n = 1696). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the cut-off points for predicting cardiometabolic risk factors, including altered blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDDL-c), C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin. The cut-off points of BF% ranged from 25.2 to 27.8 in men and from 37.4 to 39.7 in women at 30 years, and from 26.1 to 27.8 in men and from 38.5 to 42.2 in women at 37–39 years. For FMI (kg/m²), the cut-off points ranged from 6.3 to 7.5 in men and from 9.5 to 10.8 in women at 30 years, and from 7.3 to 7.8 in men and from 10.2 to 12.2 in women at 37–39 years. The BMI cut-off points (kg/m²) ranged from 26.3 to 27.3 in men and from 25.4 to 27.2 in women at 30 years, and from 28.3 to 29.0 in men and from 27.2 to 29.6 in women at 37–39 years. The areas under the curve were similar for the three indicators, ranging from 0.523 to 0.746. BMI showed a performance similar to that of the body fat-based indicators in identifying cardiometabolic outcomes. The cut-off points of the three indicators showed acceptable discriminatory power in subjects with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Longitudinal studies evaluating the relationship between UPF consumption and the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its components are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of UPF consumption on the incidence of MetS and its components in adults. A prospective study was conducted with 896 participants from the 1978/79 Ribeirão Preto cohort, São Paulo, Brazil. UPF consumption was evaluated in %kcal and %g at ages 23–25 years. Incidence of MetS and its components were estimated at ages 37–39 years, according to the Joint Interim Statement criteria. Poisson regression was used to assess associations, and interactions with sex were investigated. UPF consumption had no association with MetS (%kcal Adjusted PR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99–1.01; %g Adjusted PR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99–1.01). However, women with higher UPF consumption, in %kcal and %g, had a higher risk of abdominal obesity (%kcal: p = 0.030; %g: p = 0.003); and women with higher UPF consumption, in %g, had a higher risk of low HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.041). For the other components of MetS, no significant associations were observed in either sex. These findings suggest evidence of no association between UPF consumption and MetS; however, consumption of UPF was associated with increased WC and low HDL-c, but only in women.

Resumo: O objetivo do trabalho foi comparar biomarcadores em grupos de adolescentes classificados simultaneamente pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC) e percentual de gordura corporal, mensurados por meio da pletismografia por deslocamento de ar. Estudo transversal com 533 adolescentes de 18 e 19 anos de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. O IMC foi classificado em adequado (< 25kg/m2) e excesso de peso (≥ 25kg/m2). Definiu-se percentual de gordura corporal elevado ≥ 25% para o sexo masculino e ≥ o feminino. Os adolescentes foram classificados em quatro grupos: “eutrófico” (IMC e percentual de gordura corporal adequados), “obeso de peso normal” (IMC adequado com percentual de gordura corporal elevado), “excesso de peso com percentual de gordura corporal adequado” e “excesso de peso com percentual de gordura corporal elevado”. As meninas registraram maiores valores de “obesidade de peso normal” (15,6%) e “excesso de peso com percentual de gordura corporal elevado” (17,1%). Os adolescentes “obesos de peso normal” apesentaram maiores médias para colesterol total (172,5mg/dL) e LDL-colesterol (103,5mg/dL). Aqueles com “excesso de peso e percentual de gordura corporal elevado” registraram a menor média para HDL-colesterol (43,2mg/dL) em relação aos outros grupos; maior média para interleucina-6 (2,7pg/mL) em relação aos “eutróficos” e “excesso de peso e percentual de gordura corporal adequado”; e maiores medianas para triglicerídeos (114,0mg/dL) e proteína C reativa (0,14ng/mL) em relação aos “eutróficos” e “obesos de peso normal”. Os com “excesso de peso e percentual de gordura corporal adequado” apresentaram proteína C reativa igual aos com “excesso de peso e percentual de gordura corporal elevado”. A avaliação do estado nutricional pelo IMC é limitada, pois 6,8% dos adolescentes registraram percentual de gordura corporal elevado apesar do IMC normal, além disto, os “obesos de peso normal” apresentaram dois biomarcadores piores que os adolescentes com “excesso de peso e percentual de gordura corporal elevado”.

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has increased in recent years and has become a cause of concern because these beverages pose a risk to human health. Thus, we evaluated the association between SSBs consumption and muscle mass index (MMI) in adolescents. This cross-sectional study evaluated 2393 adolescents (18/19-years-old). Consumption of SSBs was analyzed based on the frequency of daily consumption and energy contribution categorized into tertiles. MMI was examined using the ratio of muscle mass (kilograms) to height (meters squared). The highest tertile of the frequency of daily SSB intake was associated with a reduced MMI in men (β = −0.31; 95%CI: −0.60, −0.01) and women (β = −0.24; 95%CI: −0.45, −0.02). However, these associations were not observed after adjusting for sugar contained in SSBs in men (β = −0.26; 95%CI: −0.69, 0.17) and for carbohydrate, lipid, and protein intake in women (β = −0.19; 95%CI: −0.42, 0.04). The highest energy contribution tertile of SSBs was associated with a reduced MMI in male adolescents (β = −0.34; 95%CI: −0.64, −0.04). This association was not observed after adjusting for intake of sugar in SSBs (β = −0.38; 95%CI: −0.75, 0.01). The frequency of daily consumption of SSBs was considered a risk factor for decreased MMI in both sexes, and the energy contribution of these drinks was a risk factor for MMI reduced only in male adolescents.