Screen use and consumption of ultra-processed foods among Brazilian adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2026060007360Keywords:
Adolescent, Processed Foods, Screen Time, Food and Nutritional Surveillance, Health SurveysAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between screen time, including time spent watching television and using media (television, computer, and cell phone) during meals, and high consumption of ultra-processed foods among Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study using data from the 2019 Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (National School Health Survey), analyzing a sample of 123,761 adolescents (ages 13–17). Consumption of ultra-processed foods was assessed using a score based on the frequency of consumption of thirteen subgroups of ultra-processed foods on the previous day. High consumption was defined as a score of seven or higher, corresponding to the top quintile. The association was investigated using Poisson regression models, adjusted for sex, age, self-reported race/skin color, geographic region, location (urban/rural), school type (public/private), and wealth index. RESULTS: The prevalence of high consumption of ultra-processed foods (scores ≥ 7) was 16.15% (95% CI 15.46–16.86). A dose-response relationship was observed, with higher prevalences associated with increased screen time, both for time spent watching television and for media use during meals. Adolescents who watched television for > 6 h/day had a 90% higher prevalence of high consumption of ultra-processed foods (PRa = 1.90; 95% CI 1.72–2.11) compared with those who did not watch television. The association was significant even in the category with the lowest exposure time (up to 1 h/day). Similarly, adolescents who used media every day during meals had a 55% higher prevalence (PRa = 1.55; 95% CI 1.43–1.68). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate a direct and significant association between increased screen time and high consumption of ultra-processed foods among Brazilian adolescents. This study reinforces the need for public health interventions that address excessive screen time as a key behavioral factor in the consumption of ultra-processed foods in this population.
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