The present study investigates the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and anthropometric indices of body composition in adults and seniors living in Teresina, the state capital of an area in northeastern Brazil. The article seeks to address two questions: Is UPF consumption linked to worsening body composition in different age groups? Do anthropometric indicators of body composition change with the increasing consumption of UPF? The study is a cross-sectional, household, population study, carried out with 490 adults and seniors. The food consumption was obtained with a 24 h food recall, and the foods were classified using NOVA. Anthropometric indicators evaluated were waist-to-height ratio, triceps skinfold thickness, arm circumference, corrected arm muscle area, subscapular skinfold thickness, and calf circumference. The association between energy contribution of UPF with anthropometric indicators was verified with a simple and multiple linear regression analysis. Individuals aged 20 to 35 years showed a significant association between UPF consumption and skinfold thickness (ß: 0.04; CI: 0.03/0.09), demonstrating an increase in this subcutaneous body fat marker with higher UPF consumption. Moreover, in participants aged 36 to 59 years, an inverse correlation between UPF intake and muscle mass markers, arm circumference (ß: −0.02; confidence interval: −0.03/−0.01), and corrected arm muscle area (ß: −0.07; confidence interval: −0.12/−0.02) were observed. Such results suggest there is decreased muscle mass with increasing UPF consumption. This is the first study that verified an association between UPF consumption and low-cost body composition indicators in different age groups.

Objective To characterize the consumption of Non-nutritive sweeteners and to verify the association between the intake of these additives and the prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension in adults and the elderly in a Brazilian capital. Methods This was a cross-sectional household and population-based study carried out with 489 individuals aged 20 years and older residents of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Complex probabilistic cluster sampling was used. Sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle and diseases diagnosis, such as SAH diagnosis, data were obtained by self-report. Weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Data on food consumption and Non-nutritive sweeteners consumption were obtained using 24-hour dietary recall. The association between the consumption of Non-nutritive sweeteners and the prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension was verified using Poisson regression. Results The most commonly consumed types of Non-nutritive sweeteners were cyclamate and saccharin and the main source of consumption was tabletop sweeteners. The consumption of Non-nutritive sweeteners was well below the Acceptable Daily Intake. Mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were higher in women and men who consumed Non-nutritive sweeteners (p=0.04), respectively. Individuals who consumed Non-nutritive sweeteners had a 36% higher prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension compared to non-consumers (p=0.04), after adjustments. Female consumers of Non-nutritive sweeteners had a 31% higher prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension (No-BreakpNo-Break=0.04). Conclusion The consumption of Non-nutritive sweeteners was positively associated with the prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension. It is therefore important to continue studies investigating the possible health consequences of consuming these substances.

Beverages consumption influences diet quality in general and has been associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCD). We aimed to verify the association between beverage consumption patterns and the prevalence of NCCD. A cross-sectional household and population-based study was conducted with 489 individuals aged 20 years and older. The presence of NCCD (arterial hypertension, diabetes, cancer and hypercholesterolemia) was obtained by self-report, while obesity was diagnosed by measuring body weight, height and waist circumference. Beverage consumption patterns were obtained by principal component analysis. The association between beverages patterns and the prevalence of NCCD was verified using Poisson regression, expressed as prevalence ratio (PR) and adjusted for potential confounding factors. Three beverage patterns were identified: ‘ultra-processed beverages’, ‘alcoholic beverages’ and ‘healthy beverages’. Individuals with greater adherence to the Ultra-processed Beverages Pattern had a 2·77 times higher prevalence of cancer (PR: 3·77; 95 % CI 1·57, 9·07). Higher adherence to the Alcoholic Beverages Pattern was associated with a higher prevalence of obesity (PR: 1·97; 95 % CI 1·13, 3·44). In contrast, individuals in the second tertile of adherence to the Healthy Beverages Pattern had a 39 % lower prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (PR: 0·61; 95 % CI 0·40, 0·92), and individuals in the third tertile had a 10 % lower prevalence of abdominal obesity estimated by the waist-to-height ratio (PR: 0·90; 95 % CI 0·83, 0·97). Beverage consumption patterns may be associated with a higher prevalence of NCCD, regardless of other risk factors. It is therefore important to conduct more studies investigating the impact of beverages patterns on health.