The Double Burden of Malnutrition is Associated with Continued Breastfeeding and Early Consumption of Ultra-Processed Drinks in Socially Vulnerable Brazilian Children

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the association between the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) with continued breastfeeding and the early introduction of ultra-processed drinks in children living in situations of social vulnerability. This cross-sectional population-based study was carried out in a capital city in the Northeast of Brazil, which included 561 children. It was observed that introducing soft drinks into the child’s diet during the first year of life was directly associated with DBM but indirectly with continuous breastfeeding for 12 or more months. These results indicate paths that can be followed to reverse the current scenario.

KEYWORDS:

• Breastfeeding
• overweight
• short stature
• soft drinks

Acknowledgments

To all the women and children who participated in this study. To the research team who worked hard to make this study possible. To the Nutritional Recovery and Education Center (Centro de Recuperação e Educação Nutricional - CREN) of Alagoas for all logistical support. To Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERH) for allowing João Eudes dos Santos Neto to take part in this study.

The double burden of malnutrition is associated with continued breastfeeding and early consumption of ultra-processed drinks in socially vulnerable Brazilian children.

Author contributions

Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto: study design, data collection, tabulation, analysis and interpretation of results, article writing, approval of the final version; Ana Paula Grotti Clemente, Nassib Bezerra Bueno and João Eudes dos Santos Neto: study design, analysis and interpretation of results, article writing, approval of the final version; Thays Lane Ferreira dos Santos: data collection, tabulation, and article writing; approval of the final version; Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo Florêncio: study design, analysis and interpretation of results, article writing, approval of the final version.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brazil [CAPES] research fellowships [grant number: 88882.330651/2019-01]. Nassib Bezerra Bueno is supported by a research grant from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq [grant number: 311401/2022-8].