Rosana Salles-Costa

Gender and leisure-time physical activity.

This article discusses the relationship between gender and the social construction of the body, specifically focusing on physical exercise during leisure time. The Pró-Saúde Project is a prospective study consisting of 4,030 employees of a university in Rio de Janeiro, in which we analyzed the answers on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) by 3,740 participants. The results show a prevalence of males in LTPA. Age, schooling, and per capita family income were directly associated with exercise among women, as compared to per capita family among men. Men were more frequently involved in group sports and physical activities that required more strength than women, including football, tennis, volleyball, martial arts, jogging, and weight lifting. Women performed more individual physical activities and those demanding less strength, like walking, dance, gymnastics, and hydrogym. The results suggest that LTPA is a domain of daily life that is organized according to certain conventions, amongst which gender-related conceptions concerning the ideal body, where men and women display distinct behaviors in relation to physical exercise.

Associação entre fatores socioeconômicos e insegurança alimentar: estudo de base populacional na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: This work aims to evaluate the prevalence of food insecurity among families from Duque de Caxias, in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area and the association between socioeconomic indicators and food insecurity. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study investigated a probabilistic sample composed of 1,085 households from the district of Campos Eliseos, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Information on socioeconomic condition was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Food insecurity was assessed by the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, which allows classifying the families into food security, or mild, moderate or severe food insecurity. The analyses took into account the sampling design effect. The food insecurity prevalence was estimated and its association with socioeconomic variables was assessed using the chi-square test (p<0.05). RESULTS: Food insecurity prevalence was 53.8%. The following variables were inversely and significantly associated with food insecurity: family monthly per capita income, head of family educational level, socioeconomic level (classified according to the Brazilian Association of Market Research criteria), number of family members, and having a water filter in the household. CONCLUSION: Family income was the variable that discriminated both food security and insecurity.

Changes in food consumption among the Programa Bolsa Família participant families in Brazil

OBJECTIVE To analyse changes and predictors of change in self-reported food intake among Brazilian families that benefitted from conditional cash transfer (CCT) implemented in the Programa Bolsa Família of the Brazilian Federal Government. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey. SETTING The study was conducted from September to October 2007 in a nationwide representative household sample of families included in the CCT. Socio-economic variables, perception of food consumption and food insecurity were evaluated via questionnaire, which was completed during face-to-face interviews. SUBJECTS Five thousand households were selected from the CCT registry. RESULTS Families reported increased consumption of all food groups analysed, mainly cereals, processed foods, meat, milk and dairy, beans and sugar. The degree of dependence on income from the CCT was positively associated with increased self-reported intake of food items such as sugar and soft drinks. A Poisson regression revealed that the fourth quartile of CCT dependence demonstrated a twofold increase in the self-reported intake of soft drinks (relative risk (RR) = 2·3, 95% CI 1·8, 2·9) and sugar (RR = 2·5, 95% CI 2·1, 3·1) compared with the first quartile of CCT dependence. CONCLUSIONS Greater purchasing power of poor families increases unhealthy food choices; thus public policies should emphasise the availability of healthy food.

The association between socio-demographic factors and leisure-time physical activity in the Pró-Saúde Study

This study evaluated the relationship between socio-demographic variables and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). A baseline survey questionnaire was completed by 4,030 employees. LPTA was assessed as engagement in physical activities during the previous two weeks. The metabolic cost of LTPA was calculated based on frequency and amount of time participating in physical activities, assigning weekly metabolic equivalents (METs) to each activity. Odds ratios (OR) to express the relationship between socio-demographic factors and LTPA were estimated from multinomial regression models. The questions used to evaluate LTPA presented moderate reproducibility, with kappa correlation coefficients ranging from 0.45 to 0.88. Prevalence of LTPA was higher among men (52.2% men; 40.8% women). For both men and women, higher educational level and higher income were both associated with engaging in LPTA, this relationship being stronger for the highest tercile of METs as compared to physical inactivity. Men were more engaged in LTPA, and there was a strong association between LTPA and socio-demographic variables for both genders.

Food intake among children under three years of age in an area with high food insecurity

This study focused on the association between food insecurity and childrens dietary intake in a representative sample of children in an area with high food insecurity in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional, population-based study with a probabilistic cluster sample of 402 families with children ranging from six to 30 months of age. Food insecurity was assessed based on the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA), and childrens dietary intake was evaluated with two 24-hour recalls. Intake levels for food groups, energy, and nutrients were compared according to food insecurity status. Intake of sugar/sweets and fat was high, regardless of food insecurity status, and coffee intake was significantly higher among children with food insecurity. In the energy-adjusted linear regression model, protein intake was inversely associated with the EBIA (p = 0.005). The results suggest that family food insecurity jeopardizes the quality of childrens diet, reducing the consumption of protein and increasing the consumption of coffee and high energy density foods.

Associação entre concentrações séricas de minerais, índices antropométricos e ocorrência de diarréia entre crianças de baixa renda da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association among blood serum concentrations of iron, zinc, copper, nutritional status and occurrence of diarrhea in children from a low-income community in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 104 children aging from 1 to 5 years, selected in the months of April and December 2004, by the project Vila Rosario. The socioeconomic profile of the families and health of the children were assessed, including the occurrence of diarrhea. Nutritional assessment included weight, height/length, weight-for-age and height-for-age indices expressed in Z-scores and classification of the nutritional status based on these indices. Serum concentrations of zinc, iron and copper were determined in a sub-sample (n=59) by synchrotron total reflection x-ray fluorescence. RESULTS: The children lived in crowded households with unsatisfactory sanitary conditions and were from low-income families. The prevalence of diarrhea in the last moth was 55.7%; 28.4% of the children were underweight and 4.9% were stunted. Iron, zinc and copper deficiencies in the sample were 13.0%, 7.5% and 8.9% respectively. There was no significant association between nutritional indicators and serum concentration of the minerals. Blood serum levels of zinc in children without diarrhea were significantly higher than among those with diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Episodes of diarrhea can compromise blood serum levels of zinc in children.

Insegurança alimentar, condições socioeconômicas e indicadores antropométricos em crianças da Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro/Brasi

The Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale has been valuable in demographic studies in Brazil for evaluating the situation of food insecurity and its association with social and nutritional indicators in the country’s population. This present study was carried to evaluate the association of food insecurity with anthropometric indicators of children under 30 months of age in the Campos Eliseos neighborhood of the city of Duque de Caxias, in the greater Rio de Janeiro region. It was a demographically based cross-section study on a sample of 1,085 households, 402 of which consisted of families with children. The data was gathered between May and December of 2005. Socioeconomic indicators were studied and anthropometric indicators (age-weight and age-height) were used to appraise the subjects’ nutritional state. The association between the independent and dependent variables was determined by applying the Q-square test and the multinomial-univariate logistics regression model. The association between the anthropometric data and food insecurity was determined by a linear univariate regression model. Food insecurity was found in 72% of the households, and approximately 80% of the families showed monthly family per capita income lower than two thirds of the already low minimum wage. In the analysis by multinomial logistics regression, the lack of basic water supply and sanitation and the low socioeconomic level were associated with moderate and serious food insecurity, whereas the presence of agglomerated families was related to serious food insecurity. Monthly per capita family income and the educational level of the reference person in the family were inversely associated with all levels of food insecurity. Food insecurity presented a linear and negative association with score-z for age-weight (p = 0.012) and for height-weight (p = 0.05). This study concludes that food insecurity as measured by the Ebia is associated with both socioeconomic factors and child malnutrition. The findings suggest the importance of establishing public policies aimed at minimizing social differences and the situation of food insecurity and hunger in the population studied.

Fatores associados ao déficit nutricional em crianças residentes em uma área de prevalência elevada de insegurança alimentar

OBJETIVO: Avaliou-se a influencia dos indicadores socioeconomicos e do perfil de saude no estado nutricional de uma amostra representativa de criancas, na faixa etaria de seis a trinta meses, do 2o distrito do municipio de Duque de Caxias, no Rio de Janeiro. METODOS: Estudo transversal, conduzido por visita domiciliar e com amostragem probabilistica de 1.085 domicilios. A amostra foi composta por 402 domicilios com criancas. A avaliacao do estado nutricional incluiu peso e comprimento/estatura. Os indices antropometricos peso-para-idade (P/I), comprimento/estatura-para-idade (E/I) e peso-para-comprimento/estatura (P/E), expressos em escores-z, foram utilizados para a classificacao nutricional. Utilizou-se a regressao logistica com modelo hierarquico para identificar os fatores socioeconomicos (determinantes basicos e intermediarios) e de saude das criancas (determinantes imediatos) associados ao estado nutricional infantil. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de deficit nutricional foi de 2,8%, 8,6% e 3,3%, considerando-se os respectivos indices P/I, E/I e P/E. A renda familiar mensal per capita associou-se ao deficit de P/E. O baixo peso ao nascer foi fortemente associado a deficits dos indices E/I e P/E, independentemente da renda e de outros determinantes basicos e intermediarios. CONCLUSAO: O baixo peso ao nascer foi o principal fator associado ao deficit nutricional infantil e acoes visando a reducao desse determinante podem contribuir na reversao do quadro de desnutricao em populacoes onde persiste a desigualdade social.

Guias alimentares para crianças: aspectos históricos e evolução

Os guias alimentares possuem duas propostas: a primeira, ser um guia de saude publica, e a segunda, uma ferramenta de educacao nutricional. Este trabalho objetiva apresentar um historico dos guias alimentares e suas caracteristicas, bem como abordar os guias dieteticos desenvolvidos especificamente para criancas. Foi realizado um levantamento bibliografico dos ultimos dez anos, em base de dados Medline utilizando as palavras-chave guia alimentar, guia dietetico infantil e pirâmide alimentar infantil. Desde 1916, os guias alimentares vem sendo desenvolvidos a fim de traduzir as recomendacoes de uma dieta saudavel para populacao, porem somente a partir de 1999 foi desenvolvido pelo United States Departament of Agriculture um guia alimentar para criancas. Observou-se que os guias alimentares infantis, de modo geral, foram elaborados recentemente. Poucos paises os desenvolveram de acordo com o habito alimentar das criancas, utilizando alimentos tipicos da idade e tamanho das porcoes especificas para essa faixa etaria, considerando a limitada capacidade gastrica das criancas. Conclui-se que e muito importante desenvolver, implementar e validar os guias alimentares infantis, pois sao uma ferramenta de educacao nutricional para a formacao de habitos saudaveis e para a prevencao de doencas cronicas.

Fatores sociodemográficos e atividade física de lazer entre homens e mulheres de Duque de Caxias/RJ

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the prevalence and associated variables in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), by gender, in Duque de Caxias/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS This is a population-based cross-sectional study with 1,246 adults. During home visits, questionnaires were applied on LTPA, socio-demographic factors and anthropometric examinations were performed. RESULTS Physical inactivity was high (70%) (p-value <0001) and men were more active (43.3%) than women (20%) (p-value <0.0001). Men practiced significantly more competitive and male-associated LTPA. Taking care of children was a factor that increased the likelihood of men engaging in LTPA (OR = 2.75, p-value = 0.034), whereas among women, those who spent less time on domestic activities (OR = 0.99, p-value = 0.016), did not smoke (OR = 2.63, p-value = 0.039) and had greater accumulation of abdominal fat (OR = 2.72, p -value = 0.023), practiced LTPA. CONCLUSION Men chose LTPAs considered masculine. Socio-demographic and anthropometric measures had different associations with LTPA between the genders.