RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e associá-lo a indicadores antropométricos em adolescentes, adultos e idosos Métodos Estudo transversal, domiciliar, de base populacional, compreendendo adolescentes de 10-19 anos, adultos de 2059 anos e idosos de 60 anos ou mais, residentes na zona urbana da cidade de Teresina, Piauí. Foram coletados dados demográficos, socioeconômicos, de estilo de vida, consumo alimentar e antropométrico. O teste de análise de variância foi utilizado juntamente com o teste post-hoc de Bonferroni e regressão linear bruta e ajustada com intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%). O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados Não houve associação significativa entre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e indicadores antropométricos em adultos e idosos, entretanto, entre os adolescentes, os resultados demonstraram uma associação inversa, sinalizando redução dos indicadores antropométricos à medida que se aumenta o consumo de ultraprocessados. Conclusão Não houve associação entre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e indicadores antropométricos em adultos e idosos, entretanto, entre os adolescentes, os resultados demonstraram uma associação inversa, o que incentiva o desenvolvimento de novos estudos, especialmente, longitudinais.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods and associate it with anthropometric indicators in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Methods Cross-sectional, domiciliary, population-based study, comprising adolescents aged 10-19 years, adults aged 20-59 years, and elderly people aged 60 or older, residents of the urban area of the city of Teresina, Piauí. Demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, food consumption, and anthropometric data were collected. The analysis of variance test was used along with the Bonferroni post-hoc test and crude and adjusted linear regression with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The level of significance adopted was 5%. Results There was no significant association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and anthropometric variables in adults and the elderly. However, among adolescents, the results showed an inverse association, thus signaling a reduction in anthropometric indicators as the consumption of ultra-processed foods increases. Conclusion There was no association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and anthropometric indicators in adults and the elderly; however, among adolescents, the results showed an inverse association, which encourages the development of new studies, especially longitudinal ones.

RESUMEN Los alimentos ultraprocesados son productos industriales que contienen una composición nutricional desbalanceada, contribuyendo a un elevado de calorías, azúcares, grasas y sodio. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados de adolescentes, adultos y ancianos. En la ciudad de Teresina, Piauí, se entrevistó a adolescentes (10 a 19 años), adultos (20 a 59 años) y ancianos (≥60 años). Una encuesta recordatoria de 24 h se utilizó para evaluar el consumo de alimentos con una repetición posterior en el 40% de la muestra. Se utilizó el análisis de varianza (ANOVA) con la prueba post-hoc de Bonferroni para comparar los datos y se aceptó como significativo el valor de p<0.05. Se observó que los adolescentes que consumían una mayor cantidad de alimentos ultraprocesados (2º y 3º tercil) consumían significativamente menos cereales y legumbres. Entre los adultos, se observó que los terciles con mayor consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados tenían significativamente menor consumo de cereales, carne, frutas, verduras, legumbres y huevos. Entre los ancianos, en los terciles con mayor consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados, hubo un consumo significativamente menor de granos y carne. Se concluye que el mayor consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados contribuyó al menor consumo de alimentos no procesados o mínimamente procesados.

ABSTRACT Ultra-processed foods are industrial products that contain an unbalanced nutritional composition, contributing to a high intake of calories, sugars, fats and sodium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods among adolescents, adults and the elderly. In the city of Teresina, Piauí, adolescents (10 to 19 years old), adults (20 to 59 years old) and elderly persons (≥60 years old) were interviewed. The 24-hour food recall was used to assess food consumption with subsequent replication in 40% of the sample. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni’s post-hoc test was used to verify the data, and the value of p<0.05 was adopted as significant. It was observed that adolescents who consumed a greater amount of ultra-processed foods (2nd and 3rd tertile) consumed significantly less grains and legumes. Among adults, it was observed that the tertiles with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods had significantly lower consumption of grains, meat, fruits, vegetables, legumes and eggs. Among the elderly, in the tertiles with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, there was significantly lower consumption of grains and meat. We conclude that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods contributed to a lower consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods.