Ultra-processed food consumption and dietary, lifestyle and social determinants : a path analysis in Brazilian graduates - CUME project.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPF) con- sumption and dietary, lifestyle and social determinants using pathway analysis in

the baseline of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project). Design: Cross-sectional study, in which path analysis was used to estimate direct

and indirect effects of dietary practices, sleep, time on the computer and profes- sional status on UPF consumption.

Setting: Data were collected in 2016, through an online questionnaire composed of sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle and dietary practices questions, and a FFQ. Participants: Baseline participants from the CUME Project (n 2826), adults who graduated from Universidade Federal de Viçosa or Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Results: Being employed (P = 0·024), the time spent on the computer (P = 0·031) and the frequency of fried food intake (P < 0·001) were positively and directly associated with UPF consumption, whereas the sleep duration (P = 0·007) and the number of meals per d (P < 0·001) were negatively and directly associated with

UPF consumption. Indirect effects were observed between being employed, medi- ated by the sleep duration (P = 0·032) and fried food intake (P = 0·005), whereas

being a student is mediated by the time on the computer (P = 0·048).

Conclusion: The time spent on the computer, sleep duration and fried food con- sumption showed direct effects on UPF consumption. They also acted as mediators

on the relationship between professional status and UPF consumption. Besides, the number of meals eaten each day also was directly associated with UPF consumption.