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Factors associated with meal quality among schoolchildren in three Brazilian cities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2025

Stella Lemke Open the ORCID record for Stella Lemke [Opens in a new window] ,
Dalton Francisco de Andrade ,
Patrícia de Fragas Hinnig ,
Silvio Aparecido da Silva ,
Francilene Gracieli Kunradi Vieira ,
Gilmar Mercês de Jesus ,
Iris Emanueli Segura ,
Betzabeth Slater ,
Maria Alice Altenburg de Assis Open the ORCID record for Maria Alice Altenburg de Assis [Opens in a new window]  and
Patricia Faria Di Pietro Open the ORCID record for Patricia Faria Di Pietro [Opens in a new window]
Stella Lemke
Affiliation:
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Health Sciences Center, Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Florianópolis, Brazil
Dalton Francisco de Andrade
Affiliation:
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Informatics and Statistics Department, Florianópolis, Brazil
Patrícia de Fragas Hinnig
Affiliation:
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Health Sciences Center, Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Florianópolis, Brazil
Silvio Aparecido da Silva
Affiliation:
Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
Francilene Gracieli Kunradi Vieira
Affiliation:
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Health Sciences Center, Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Florianópolis, Brazil
Gilmar Mercês de Jesus
Affiliation:
State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
Iris Emanueli Segura
Affiliation:
Public Health Faculty, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Betzabeth Slater
Affiliation:
Public Health Faculty, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Maria Alice Altenburg de Assis
Affiliation:
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Health Sciences Center, Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Florianópolis, Brazil
Patricia Faria Di Pietro*
Affiliation:
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Health Sciences Center, Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Florianópolis, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Patricia Faria Di Pietro; Email: patricia.di.pietro@ufsc.br
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure meal quality in representative samples of schoolchildren in three cities located in different Brazilian regions using the Meal and Snack Assessment Quality (MESA) scale and examine association with weight status, socio-demographic characteristics and behavioural variables. This cross-sectional study analysed data on 5612 schoolchildren aged 7–12 years who resided in cities in Southern, Southeastern and Northeastern Brazil. Dietary intake was evaluated using the WebCAAFE questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured to calculate the BMI. Weight status was classified based on age- and sex-specific Z-scores. Meal quality was measured using the MESA scale. Associations of meal quality with weight status and socio-demographic and behavioural variables were investigated using multinomial regression analysis. Schoolchildren in Feira de Santana, São Paulo and Florianópolis had a predominance of healthy (41·8 %), mixed (44·4 %) and unhealthy (42·7 %) meal quality, respectively. There was no association with weight status. Schoolchildren living in Feira de Santana, those who reported weekday dietary intakes, and those with lower physical activity and screen activity scores showed higher meal quality. Schoolchildren aged 10–12 years, those who reported dietary intakes relative to weekend days, and those with higher screen activity scores exhibited lower meal quality.

Keywords

PsychometricsDiet qualityMealsProcessed foods
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , First View , pp. 1 - 11
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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