Consumption of ultra-processed foods and nutritional profile in a health promotion service of primary care

Objective: Describing the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and their association with the nutritional profiles among users of a health promotion service in a Brazilian city. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Public health promotion service of Primary Health Care in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants: Totally, 3372 participants. Results: UPF were found to contribute to 27 center dot 7 % of the diet's total energy. The highest consumption was associated with higher values for energy intake (1561 center dot 8 v. 1331 center dot 8 kcal/d; P < 0 center dot 01), energy density (1 center dot 7 v. 1 center dot 4 kcal/g; P < 0 center dot 01), total (32 center dot 5 v. 27 center dot 3 %; P < 0 center dot 01) and trans-fats (2 center dot 1 v. 1 center dot 2 %; P < 0 center dot 01) and Na (1001 center dot 6 v. 758 center dot 9 mg/1000 kcal; P < 0 center dot 01) and with lower values for proteins (14 center dot 9 v. 19 center dot 6 %; P < 0 center dot 01), mono-unsaturated fats (16 center dot 1 v. 20 center dot 1 %; P = 0 center dot 02), n-3 (0 center dot 9 v. 1 center dot 1 %; P < 0 center dot 01) and some vitamins and minerals when comparing individuals in the last quintile of energy contribution from UPF in relation to the first one. The prevalence rate of nutrient inadequacy aimed at preventing non-communicable diseases increased between 30 % and 100 % when compared with the values of the fifth to the first quintile of UPF consumption (P < 0 center dot 001). However, the participants had lower energy intake, energy density and Na and higher fibre consumption when compared to Brazilian population. Conclusions: Participants showed a high consumption of UPF, but also positive diet characteristics when compared with the national data. The results suggest the importance of health promotion services to promote healthy food and the need to include approaches to reduce UPF consumption.