Influência dos ambientes alimentares não saudáveis no risco para o desenvolvimento de obesidade infantil no Brasil: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

The current scenario regarding diseases in various countries shows an increase in noncommunicable chronic diseases, which represent significant health costs and impact the quality of life of those diagnosed. An example of a chronic disease is obesity, including in children. Among the factors influencing the risk of developing childhood obesity is diet. There has been an observed increase in the consumption of unhealthy foods, which contributes to this risk. This trend aligns with changes in the food system, one of its components being the food environment, which can influence the dietary choices and/or preferences of groups or individuals, potentially affecting the development of childhood obesity. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the influence of unhealthy food environments on the risk of a child developing obesity. For this analysis, a scoping review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, following the PRISMA-ScR recommendations. The selection criteria included articles published in Portuguese, Spanish, or English; full-text articles available for free access; and no temporal limitation. To organize the selected studies, the reference managers Rayyan QCRI and Mendeley were used. A total of 14 articles were included in this study.The results of this review show that children exposed to food environments with a significant availability of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop obesity. The school and home environments play a critical role in the nutritional status of children