Associação entre consumo de alimentos segundo o grau de processamento e dificuldades comportamentais em adolescentes de 10 a 13 anos da coorte brisa

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period for the consolidation of dietary habits and mental health development. Growing evidence suggests that diet quality, particularly the high consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF), can negatively influence behavior and mental health, given their low nutrient density and pro-inflammatory potential. Studying this relationship, while controlling for socioeconomic and behavioral factors, is essential for formulating specific interventions. Objective: To investigate the association between the degree of food processing and behavioral difficulties in adolescents (10 to 13 years old) participating in the BRISA cohort. Methods: This was a cross-sectional cohort study conducted with adolescents aged 10-12 years from the BRISA Cohort, São Luís, Maranhão (N=2293). The exposure variable was food consumption, categorized according to the NOVA classification and measured in energy percentage (%Kcal) using a 24-Hour Dietary Recall (24hDR). The primary outcome was the Total Difficulties Score, assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables (Sex, Age, Brazilian Economic Class, Physical Activity, Screen Time, Sleep Duration) were used as confounding factors, as directed by a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG). The association was tested through bivariate analyses and adjusted Multiple Linear Regression. A significance level of 5% was adopted. Results: The average consumption of UPF corresponded to 30.3% of the Total Energy Value of the diet. The SDQ analysis revealed that 26% of adolescents were classified as at risk (borderline + clinical) in the total score. Bivariate analysis indicated a significant association between UPF consumption and sex, with female adolescents being more prevalent in the higher consumption tertiles (p=0.002). Multiple Linear Regression demonstrated that, even after adjustment for all confounders, a higher consumption of UPF was independently associated with higher behavioral difficulties scores (β=0.300; 95% CI: 0.05; 0.55). Complementarily, an increase in the consumption of Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods (UMPF) was associated with a reduction in the Total Difficulties Score (β = - 0.410; 95% CI: -0.70; -0.12). Other risk factors included sedentary behavior/inactivity and high screen time. Conclusion: The consumption of ultra-processed foods acts as a fundamental determinant of increased behavioral difficulties in adolescence. The findings reinforce the

urgent need for comprehensive public policies that promote the substitution of ultra-processed foods with diets based on unprocessed and minimally processed foods, aiming to protect the mental health of Brazilian adolescents.