Snacking patterns among Chilean children and adolescents: Is there potential for improvement?

Objective: To examine snacking patterns, food sources and nutrient profiles of snacks in low- and middle-income Chilean children and adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional. Dietary data were collected via 24 h food recalls. We determined the proportion of snackers, snacks per day and energy from top food and beverage groups consumed. We compared the nutrient profile (energy, sodium, total sugars and saturated fat) of snacks v. meals. Setting: South-east region of Chile. Participants: Children and adolescents from two cohorts: the Food Environment Chilean Cohort (n 958, 4-6 years old) and the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study (n 752, 12-14 years old). Results: With a mean of 2·30 (se 0·03) snacks consumed daily, 95·2 % of children and 89·9 % of adolescents reported at least one snacking event. Snacks contributed on average 1506 kJ/d (360 kcal/d) in snacking children and 2218 kJ/d (530 kcal/d) in snacking adolescents (29·0 and 27·4 % daily energy contribution, respectively). Grain-based desserts, salty snacks, other sweets and desserts, dairy foods and cereal-based foods contributed the most energy from snacks in the overall sample. For meals, cereal-based foods, dairy beverages, meat and meat substitutes, oils and fats, and fruits and vegetables were the top energy contributors. Conclusions: Widespread snacking among Chilean youth provides over a quarter of their daily energy and includes foods generally considered high in energy, saturated fat, sodium and/or total sugars. Future research should explore whether snacking behaviours change as the result of Chile's national regulations on food marketing, labelling and school environments

Examining Chile's unique food marketing policy: TV advertising and dietary intake in preschool children, a pre- and post- policy study

Background: The Chilean government implemented the first phase of a comprehensive marketing policy in 2016, restricting child-directed marketing of products high in energy, total sugars, sodium or saturated fat (hereafter “high-in”). Objectives: To examine the role that high-in TV food advertising had in the effect of the policy on consumption of high-in products between 2016 and 2017. Methods: Dietary data were obtained from 24-hour diet recall measured in 2016 (n = 940) and 2017 (n = 853), pre- and post-policy, from a cohort of 4 to 6 years children. Television use was linked to analyses of food advertisements to derive individual-level estimates of exposure to advertising. A multilevel mediation analysis examined direct and indirect effects of the policy through advertising exposure. Results: Children's high-in food consumption and advertising exposure declined significantly from 2016 to 2017 (P <.01). Consumption changes were not significantly mediated by changes in advertising exposure, which might suggest other elements of the Chilean Law potentially driving decreases in consumption to a greater extent than TV ads. Conclusions: Preschoolers' exposure to high-in advertising and consumption of high-in products decreased post-policy. Further research is needed to understand how marketing changes will relate to dietary changes after full implementation of the law and in the long term

TV advertising and dietary intake in adolescents: a pre- and post- study of Chile’s Food Marketing Policy

Background: The first phase of a comprehensive marketing policy was implemented in Chile in 2016. The policy restricted child-directed marketing of foods and beverages considered high in energy, total sugars, sodium or saturated fat (“high-in”). The objective of this study was to examine the role of high-in TV food advertising as a mediator in the association between policy implementation and consumption of high-in foods and beverages between 2016 and 2017. Methods: Dietary data were from 24-hour diet recalls collected in 2016 and 2017 in a cohort of 12–14 y children (n = 721). Television use was assessed concurrently and linked to analyses of food advertisements on broadcast and paid television to derive individual-level estimates of exposure to high-in food advertising. A multilevel mediation analysis examined direct and indirect effects of the policy through advertising exposure. Results: Following the policy implementation, high-in advertising exposure was significantly reduced (p < 0.01). High-in food intake decreased in adolescents with lower levels, but not higher levels, of high-in advertising at baseline. We did not find evidence of mediation by changes in high-in ad exposure. Conclusions: Adolescents’ exposure to high-in TV advertising decreased after the 2016 implementation of the Chilean Food Labeling and Marketing Law. However, evidence that changes in advertisement mediated dietary changes was not found. Further research is needed to understand how marketing changes will relate to dietary changes after full implementation of the law and in the long term

Mudanças no padrão de alimentação da população urbana brasileira (1962-1988) Changing diet patterns in Brazil (1962-1988)

Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento do padrão alimentar da população urbana brasileira ao longo das três últimas décadas. As fontes de dados foram duas pesquisas nacionais de orçamentos familiares realizadas no início da década de 60 (1961-63) e no final da década de 80 (1987-88) e um inquérito nacional sobre consumo alimentar realizado em meados da década de 70 (1974-75), restringindo-se a análise a sete áreas metropolitanas estudadas em comum pelas três pesquisas. O padrão alimentar foi caracterizado a partir da participação relativa de diferentes alimentos na dieta e do consumo relativo de nutrientes específicos. As mudanças principais mostraram-se semelhantes nas regiões Nordeste e Sudeste e envolveram: 1) redução no consumo relativo de cereais, feijão, raízes e tubérculos; 2) substituição de banha, toucinho e manteiga por óleos e margarinas; e 3) aumento no consumo relativo de leite e derivados e ovos. Essas mudanças deterninaram diminuição na participação relativa de carboidratos na dieta e aumento na participação de lipídios. A proporção total de proteínas manteve-se estável entre as pesquisas (ao redor de 12%), crescendo, entretanto, a participação específica de proteínas de origem animal na dieta. Situação inversa foi observada com os lipídios, registrando-se aumento da fração correspondente aos lipídios de origem vegetal, o que levou ao predomínio dos ácidos graxos poli-insaturados sobre os saturados e à redução do consumo relativo de colesterol. As implicações das mudanças no padrão alimentar da população urbana do país são discutidas à luz de recomendações dietéticas enunciadas pela Organização Mundial de Saúde.<br>Contemporary changes in food consumption patterns in urban areas of Brazil are described. The main data sources are two national food expenditure surveys undertaken in the early 60's and late 80's (1961-62 and 1987-88) and one national food intake survey undertaken in the mid-70' s (1974-75). The analysis is restricted to the seven metropolitan areas represented in the three surveys. Food patterns are described on the basis of the relative consumption of different food groups, proportion of energy from carbohydrates, protein and lipids, proportion of animal and vegetable protein and fats, proportion of complex and simple carbohydrates, ratio between poly-unsaturated and saturated fatty acids and relative consumption of cholesterol. Main food changes were similar in the Northeastern and Southeastern cities and involved: 1) reduction in the relative consumption of cereals, beans, roots and tubercles; 2) replacement of lard, bacon and butter by vegetable oils and margarine: and 3) increase in the relative consumption of eggs, milk and dairy products. As a net result of these changes there was, simultaneously, a decrease in the carbohydrate content of the Brazilian diet and an increase in its fat content. Total protein content of the diet remained at around 12% in the three surveys but animal protein increased. Changes in the fat content of the diet involved an increased proportion of vegetable fat, an increased ratio of poly-unsaturated/saturated fatty acids and a reduction in cholesterol intake. Health implications of dietary changes are discussed based on the World Health Organization's dietary guidelines