Changes in food consumption and physical activity in schoolchildren of Florianópolis, Southern Brazil, 2002 - 2007

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in food consumption and physical activity levels in schoolchildren. METHODS: A study was conducted with a representative sample (n = 4,168) of schoolchildren aged between seven and ten years living in the city of Florianópolis, Southern Brazil. Food consumption and physical activity were assessed in two school-based studies in 2002 (n = 2,936; 51% boys; mean age = 8.5 years) and 2007 (n = 1,232; 50.7% boys; mean age = 8.6 years), using illustrated questionnaires. The chi-square test was used to assess changes in the consumption of eight foods/food groups, in terms of the recommendations of the Brazilian Food Guidelines and physical activity levels (assessed according to tertiles of distribution of score and type of transportation to school). Analyses were performed according to the type of school attended (private or public). RESULTS: There was a reduction in the proportion of schoolchildren who reported eating fruits, vegetables, beans, meat, snack foods, pizza, French fries and sodas. A higher proportion of private school children met the recommendations that restricted the consumption of sodas, pizza and French fries and promoted the consumption of fruits and vegetables, in both studies. On the other hand, a higher proportion of public school children met the recommendations of meat consumption in 2007. Median values of scores of physical activity decreased in 2007. In both years, private school children were more active. The proportion of schoolchildren who actively commuted to school decreased from 49% to 41% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was a reduction in the consumption of markers of a healthy diet (beans, meat/fish, fruits and vegetables) and high-energy and low-nutrient foods (sodas, snack foods and pizza/French fries). In addition, there was a decrease in the proportion of schoolchildren who reported actively commuting to school.