Ingestão de bebidas açucaradas e adição de açúcares até os dois anos de idade entre crianças brasileiras pertencentes a estudo longitudinal de antropometria infantil

Abstract

Observational longitudinal study with infants from Pelotas, Brazil, with the objective of describing the prevalence of sugary drinks consumption and the addition of honey or sugars to the liquids offered up to two years of age and their associated factors. The prevalence of sugary drinks consumption was evaluated at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of age by a 24-hour food recall and by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at 18 and 24 months. The prevalence of addition of honey or sugar to liquids was evaluated in the same follow-ups using the FFA. The following variables were considered as independent variables: maternal education, work, age and parity; the sex of the newborn and the duration of breastfeeding. A total of 168 newborns were included in the study. About 70% of the children consumed sugary drinks in the 24 hours preceding the interview in at least one of the follow-ups. About one-third of infants had daily addition of honey or sugar to liquids in at least one follow-up. Infants from less educated mothers had a higher occurrence of consumption of sugary drinks until the age of 24 months and also a higher addition of honey or sugars during the same period. It is concluded that the consumption of sugary beverages and the addition of honey or sugars to liquids was high in this sample. It is important to implement nutritional education policies and programs on eating habits in the first years of life, focusing on low-income mothers schooling.