Meal habits and anthropometric indicators in adolescents from public and private schools of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT Objective To describe meal consumption habits and assess their associations with anthropometric indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,749 elementary and high school students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (mean age=15.3 years), who were selected for the baseline of the Longitudinal Study for Nutritional Assessment of Adolescents. Meal habits and meals consumed in the company of parents were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The consumption of the main meals was categorized as regular (daily) or irregular (≤6 times a week). The meal consumption profile was considered either satisfactory (breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumed on a daily basis) or unsatisfactory. Body Mass Index, waist-to-height ratio, and body fat percentage were calculated. The association between meal consumption habits and anthropometric indicators was estimated using multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for age and sex and stratified according to the type of school. Results Regular lunch consumption was more frequent among private schools students, who also had higher frequency of eating dinner irregularly. Among students from private schools, the unsatisfactory meal consumption profile and irregular meal habits were associated with being overweight, having a high waist-to-height ratio, and increased body fat percentage. Among students from public schools, it was observed association between being overweight with irregular breakfast habits. Conclusion In adolescents, the association between meal habits and weight status may be modulated by socioeconomic condition.

摘要
研究目的：描述膳食消费习惯，并评估其与人体测量学指标的关联。
研究方法：针对巴西里约热内卢市公立及私立学校的1749名中小学生（平均年龄15.3岁）开展横断面研究（cross-sectional study），上述学生被纳入《青少年营养评估纵向研究（Longitudinal Study for Nutritional Assessment of Adolescents）》的基线队列。采用自填式问卷（self-administered questionnaire）评估膳食习惯及与父母共同进餐的情况。将正餐摄入情况划分为规律（每日进食）与不规律（每周进食≤6次）两类；膳食消费模式分为良好（每日进食早餐、午餐及晚餐）与不良两类。计算研究对象的体重指数（Body Mass Index, BMI）、腰围身高比（waist-to-height ratio）及体脂百分比（body fat percentage）。采用多因素logistic回归模型（multivariate logistic regression models）估算膳食消费习惯与人体测量学指标间的关联，模型校正了年龄与性别因素，并按学校类型进行分层分析。
研究结果：私立学校学生的规律午餐进食率更高，但其晚餐不规律进食的频率也更高。在私立学校学生中，不良膳食消费模式与不规律膳食习惯均与超重、高腰围身高比及体脂百分比升高显著相关。在公立学校学生中，仅观察到不规律早餐习惯与超重存在关联。
研究结论：青少年的膳食习惯与体重状态之间的关联可能受社会经济状况的调控。