FEEDING MARKERS, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF CHILDREN IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity represents one of the greatest public health challenges, resulting from the interaction between genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors that contribute to the formation of an obesogenic environment. Factors such as increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), limited access to fresh foods, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy food advertising, and high screen exposure contribute to inadequate diets and a higher risk of obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases. In this context, the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System and Primary Health Care play an essential role in the early identification of inadequate eating habits and in the promotion of child health.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the prevalence of dietary markers and nutritional status, considering the social and territorial context of children assisted in Primary Health Care.

Methods: Cross-sectional study based on secondary data from 1,030 children aged 2 to 9 years assisted in Primary Health Care in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, in 2023. Information was obtained from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System and the electronic medical record “Vivver Sistemas,” analyzing the following data: food consumption and screen exposure, through the Food Consumption Markers questionnaire; and nutritional status, determined by weight and height.

Results: Most participants were preschool-aged, female, brown-skinned, and residents of urban areas. The consumption of healthy food markers, such as beans, fruits, and vegetables, was more frequent among children living in rural areas, while the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the habit of eating meals in front of screens were more common among those living in urban areas. Obesity was more prevalent among urban and brown-skinned children and more frequent among school-aged than preschool children. In addition, both preschool and school-aged children with excess weight showed lower vegetable intake and higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, highlighting the relationship between inadequate dietary patterns and overweight.

Conclusion: Nutritional status and dietary markers among children were associated with social and territorial context, with higher consumption of healthy foods in rural areas and ultra-processed foods in urban areas. These findings reinforce the influence of social determinants of health on children’s eating and nutrition.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/edimpacto2025.048-004