Evaluation of Knowledge and Consumption of diet and Light/Zero Foods in Adolescents

In recent years has increased consumption of diet and light /zero foods by adolescents due to concern about body image. But adolescents are unaware of the indications and differences of these products, consuming them without medical and/or nutritional guidance. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and consumption of diet and light /zero foods in adolescents enrolled at  public and private schools in Tupaciguara, MG, Brazil. Cross-sectional study which weight and height of the adolescents were used for assessing the nutritional status. Dietary intake and knowledge about diet and light/zero foods were evaluated by a questionnaire. Statistical analysis comprised a descriptive analysis, Qui-square test and Fisher´s exact test. The consumption of diet and light /zero foods was higher in female adolescents (50.9%), in the private school (67.4%), with a family income corresponding to or higher than five minimum wages (50.9%) and weight excess (54.3%). The knowledge of the diet foods was higher in female adolescents (57.4%) and the knowledge of the light /zero foods was the same in both genders (56.0%). The knowledge of the diet and light /zero foods was higher in the private school (76.1%), with family income corresponding to or higher than five minimum wages (60.0%) and 81.0% of normal weight female adolescents had knowledge of diet food and 80.1% of the light /zero foods. In conclusion, the adolescents usually consumed indiscriminately and incorrectly the diet and light /zero foods because of the lack of knowledge about their differences and recommendations. Keywords: Adolescent. Diet Fads. Food Consumption. Nutritional Status. Resumo Nos ultimos anos tem aumentado o consumo de alimentos diet e light/ zero pelos adolescentes devido a preocupacao com a imagem corporal. Porem os adolescentes desconhecem as indicacoes e diferencas desses produtos, consumindo-os sem orientacao medica e/ou nutricional. O estudo objetivou avaliar o conhecimento e o consumo de alimentos diet e light /zero por adolescentes matriculados em escolas publicas e particular de ensino de Tupaciguara, MG, Brasil. Estudo transversal, com 316 adolescentes de ambas as escolas. O peso e estatura foram utilizados para avaliar o estado nutricional. O consumo alimentar e o conhecimento sobre os alimentos diet e light /zero foram avaliados por um questionario. A estatistica consistiu em analise descritiva, teste Qui-quadrado e Exato de Fisher. O consumo de alimentos diet e light /zero foi maior entre alunos do sexo feminino (50,9%), da escola particular (67,4%), com renda familiar igual ou maior a cinco salarios minimos (50,9%) e com excesso de peso (54,3%). O conhecimento sobre os alimentos diet foi maior no sexo feminino (57,4%) e o conhecimento sobre os alimentos light /zero foi igual em ambos os sexos (56,0%). O conhecimento sobre os produtos diet e light /zero foi maior na escola particular (76,1%), com renda familiar igual ou maior a 5 salarios minimos (60,0%); 81,0% dos eutroficos tinham conhecimento sobre os alimentos diet e 80,1% sobre os alimentos light /zero. Contatou-se que os adolescentes faziam uso indiscriminado e incorreto dos alimentos diet e light /zero, pois desconheciam as suas diferencas e indicacoes. Palavras-chave: Adolescente, Dietas da Moda. Consumo de Alimentos. Estado Nutricional.