Dietary patterns of Brazilian adults in 2008–2009 and 2017–2018

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To identify dietary patterns among Brazilian adults based on the National Dietary Surveys (INA – Inquéritos Nacionais de Alimentação) in 2008–2009 and 2017–2018, and to verify in the second period the adherence to the patterns according to sociodemographic factors and Brazilian regions. METHODS We analyzed the first of two days of adults’ food consumption (19–59 years) in INA data from 2008–2009 (n = 21,630) and 2017–2018 (n = 28,901). Dietary patterns were derived by exploratory factor analysis from 19 food groups, considering the complexity of the sample design. We evaluated the factor scores according to sex, age group, region, per capita income, and education for the INA data in 2017–2018. RESULTS We identified three patterns in the two surveys: (1) “traditional”, characterized by rice, beans, and meat; (2) “breads and butter/margarine”, characterized by breads, oils, and fats (including margarine/butter) and, coffee and teas in 2008–2009; and (3) “western”, characterized by sodas, pizzas, snacks, flour, pasta, and sweets in 2017–2018. The “traditional” pattern had greater adherence among men, residents of the Midwest region and individuals with incomplete primary education. “Bread and butter/margarine” pattern had greater adherence among males, individuals aged between 40 and 59 years, from the Southeast region, and with income between 1 and 2 minimum wages per capita. Male individuals, aged between 19 and 39 years, from the South region, with per capita income greater than two minimum wages, and education level equal to or greater than primary education showed greater adherence to the “western” pattern. CONCLUSION The dietary patterns identified in 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 were similar, and we observed the maintenance of the “traditional” pattern, which includes rice, beans, and meat. Adherence to the dietary patterns varies according to sex, age group, region, per capita income, and education level.