Dietary Patterns in Brazilian Children

Feeding Trends Unveiled: How Brazilian Kids' Diets Changed (1996-2006)

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into how dietary patterns evolved in young Brazilian children, revealing key shifts and their socio-economic roots."

What our children eat in their early years lays the foundation for their health and development throughout life. Inadequate feeding practices can hinder economic progress and exacerbate poverty, making it essential to understand and improve these practices.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of tracking various feeding indicators, including breastfeeding, food groups, and meal frequency. Analyzing these indicators provides a detailed view of a child's dietary intake; however, examining the complete picture of food consumption, including all foods consumed together, presents a more comprehensive challenge.

To tackle this challenge, researchers have turned to multivariate analysis, a powerful tool that simplifies complex dietary data into manageable patterns. A recent study published in Public Health Nutrition examined how these dietary patterns evolved in young Brazilian children between 1996 and 2006, and the factors driving these changes. This article delves into the study's findings, revealing key insights into the shifting landscape of childhood nutrition in Brazil.

Decoding Brazil's Evolving Dietary Patterns: 1996 to 2006

The study, drawing data from two Brazilian Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) conducted in 1996 and 2006, focused on children under 5 years old. Researchers identified four distinct dietary patterns (DPs):

DP1: The 'Healthy' Pattern. This pattern included yogurt, vegetables, fruits, tubers, and red meat, representing a diverse intake of solid foods.
DP2: The 'Mixed' Pattern. A combination of liquids, milk, fruits, egg/chicken/fish, and red meat, with breast milk showing a negative association.
DP3: The 'Semi-Solid' Pattern. Characterized by fruit juices, 'papilla' (a mashed food for infants), and yogurt, with red meat negatively associated.
DP4: The 'Liquid' Pattern. This pattern consisted of formulas, milk, enriched 'papilla', and egg/chicken/fish, with a negative loading for these last two.

The study revealed significant shifts in these patterns over the decade. The prevalence of DP1 remained relatively constant, while DP2 and DP3 increased after 12 and 6 months, respectively. In contrast, DP4 decreased. These trends suggest a move towards more solid foods and a reduction in liquid-based diets as children aged.

Socio-Economic Factors: The Key to Understanding Dietary Shifts

The researchers found that socio-economic factors played a crucial role in shaping these dietary patterns. Higher maternal education and wealth were associated with DP1, the 'healthy' pattern, while living in rural areas and younger mothers were linked to DP2, the 'mixed' pattern. Lower maternal education and wealth were associated with DP4, the 'liquid' pattern.

Interestingly, geographic region also played a significant role, particularly for DP2, DP3, and DP4. This suggests that contextual factors, such as regional food availability and cultural practices, influence children's diets.

These findings highlight the complex interplay of individual and contextual factors in shaping dietary patterns. While the study reveals positive trends towards more diverse and solid food consumption, it also underscores the need for targeted interventions to address socio-economic disparities and promote healthy eating habits across all regions of Brazil.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1017/s1368980017001938, Alternate LINK

Title: Secular Trends In Dietary Patterns Of Young Children In Brazil From 1996 To 2006

Subject: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Journal: Public Health Nutrition

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Authors: Ana Elisa Madalena Rinaldi, Wolney Lisboa Conde

Published: 2017-08-15

Everything You Need To Know

What foods were included in the 'Healthy' Pattern, and why is it important?

The 'Healthy' Pattern (DP1) consisted of yogurt, vegetables, fruits, tubers, and red meat, representing a diverse intake of solid foods. This pattern remained relatively constant between 1996 and 2006. Its significance lies in its association with higher maternal education and wealth, suggesting that socio-economic factors play a role in the adoption of this pattern. Promoting this pattern could improve children's health and development by providing a balanced intake of essential nutrients.

What was the 'Mixed' Pattern and what are the implications of its prevalence?

The 'Mixed' Pattern (DP2) included liquids, milk, fruits, egg/chicken/fish, and red meat, with breast milk showing a negative association. The prevalence of DP2 increased over the decade. It's important because it shows how dietary choices changed, often influenced by location and maternal age. The implications involve recognizing how different groups adopted this pattern and the need to understand any potential nutritional impacts of combining these food groups. This pattern was linked to living in rural areas and younger mothers.

What is the 'Semi-Solid' Pattern and how is it significant in the context?

The 'Semi-Solid' Pattern (DP3) was characterized by fruit juices, 'papilla', and yogurt, with red meat negatively associated. The prevalence of DP3 increased between 1996 and 2006. 'Papilla' is a mashed food for infants. It's important because it signifies a shift in feeding practices. Understanding this pattern involves considering the nutritional value of these food combinations. The rise of this pattern could reflect changing feeding habits or the introduction of specific food items at different ages.

What foods were included in the 'Liquid' Pattern, and what are the implications of its decrease?

The 'Liquid' Pattern (DP4) consisted of formulas, milk, enriched 'papilla', and egg/chicken/fish, with a negative loading for these last two. This pattern decreased over the decade. The implications of this decline include understanding if this shift had any impact on nutritional intake. It was negatively associated with lower maternal education and wealth. The changes in these patterns reflect broader trends in Brazilian childhood nutrition, indicating evolving dietary habits and potential shifts in health outcomes.

What data source was used to study the dietary changes, and why is this important?

The research utilized data from two Brazilian Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) conducted in 1996 and 2006, focusing on children under 5 years old. It's important because it provides a historical view of dietary changes and their socio-economic correlations. The BDHS data allowed researchers to explore the diets of young Brazilian children, uncovering the socio-economic factors influencing these crucial changes. This study reveals how food consumption patterns changed over time and how they related to maternal education, wealth, and location.