Stages of change in feeding behavior are associated with the consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets and fats by adolescents.

Abstract

The study verified the stages of change in adolescents' eating behavior regarding the regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, and fatty foods. This is a cross-sectional study with adolescents from public schools in Montes Claros-MG, Brazil, who were identified through a sample selected by probabilistic cluster sampling. The adolescents answered a questionnaire covering food consumption, stage of change in eating behavior, and sociodemographic conditions. Their weight and height were assessed. Food consumption was assessed according to Vigitel, which considered regular consumption when the food group was consumed ≥5 times per week. The factors that influence the probability of the stage of change in eating behavior influencing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, and fats were analyzed by Poisson regression. A total of 880 adolescents participated in the study; the majority reported being in the "maintenance" (25.6%) and "action" (13.6%) stages for all markers of food consumption. Adolescents in the "pre-contemplation" stage were more likely not to consume fruits and vegetables daily when compared to those in the "maintenance" phase. The less advanced they were in the change stage, the lower the frequency of vegetable consumption.