THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDHOOD NUTRITION ON OBESITY PREVENTION AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM (PNAE) TO THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY EATING

Abstract

Healthy eating is essential for child growth and development, having a significant impact on health and quality of life. However, the excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods has become one of the main risk factors for childhood obesity, a growing problem in Brazil and worldwide. The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) aims to address this issue by providing balanced and nutritious meals in public schools. This study aims to analyze the PNAE guidelines in preventing childhood obesity. Based on SISVAN data, which indicate an increase in childhood obesity in Brazil, the study explores PNAE strategies that prioritize fresh and minimally processed foods and set limits on the presence of ultra-processed foods in schools. The methodological approach involved a review of scientific articles published between 2017 and 2024 in the Scielo, Capes, and BVS databases, using the keywords “school meals,” “PNAE,” “childhood obesity,” and “school feeding.” Content analysis was carried out using Laurence Bardin’s (2011) methodology, with the support of IRAMUTEQ software, which generated a word cloud with the main themes addressed in the selected articles. The research identified three main categories: “food quality,” “healthy eating habits,” and “PNAE,” and discussed the implications of these guidelines for promoting healthy eating in schools. This study contributes to the understanding of the impacts of PNAE on reducing childhood obesity and improving school feeding, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for enhancing the implementation of these public policies.