Association between body mass index, consumption of healthy, ultra-processed foods and physical fitness in adolescents

Introduction: Currently obesity is being considered an epidemic according to the World Health Organization and its etiology is related to modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Objective: To analyze the association of the Body Mass Index with the consumption of healthy, ultra-processed foods and the level of physical fitness of adolescents. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional and analytical study, carried out with adolescents from municipal schools in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. Data collection took place through anthropometric and physical fitness assessment, in addition to the application of questionnaires related to sociodemographic factors, behavioral habits and sedentary lifestyle. The analyzes were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 21.0 software. Descriptive analyzes were performed using frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analyzes were performed using the chi-square test to verify associations between BMI and independent variables, considering the level of significance (p<0.05). Results: Of the 880 school adolescents evaluated, aged 12.95 +/- 1.2, 21.9% had a BMI in the risk zone. The associations were significant for the consumption of fried foods (p=0.023), as well as physical fitness levels in the risk zone (p=0.036). Conclusion: A high prevalence of body mass index in the risk zone was observed in adolescents enrolled in municipal schools in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais and the predictive factors that remained associated refer to the deficiency in the level of physical fitness, in addition to significant intake of foods of low nutritional value, such as fried foods.