OBJECTIVE: The present study identified and quantified the influence of socioeconomic factors on dietary patterns. METHODS: This cross-sectional, population-based study investigated the food habits of 1136 children and adolescents of both genders, aged 7 to 14 years, enrolled in public schools of Salvador (BA), Brazil, using the qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Intake patterns were identified by principal component analysis. Quantile regression models were used to study the influence of socioeconomic indicators on dietary patterns. RESULTS: The sample’s eating patterns were classified into obesogenic or traditional. Quantile regression models adjusted for age and gender showed that, for most percentiles, low maternal education level was significantly negatively associated with consumption of foods included in the obesogenic pattern. Low income was negatively associated with the highest percentiles (p>95). The data showed that socioeconomic indicators do not influence the consumption of foods included in the traditional pattern. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors promote adherence to obesogenic eating patterns. These results indicate that public authorities need to identify the Western consumption pattern, commonly observed in studies that assess the current consumption patterns of the Brazilian population, especially of children and adolescents, characterized by foods that promote non-communicable chronic diseases.
Adolescent; Consumption; Child; Socioeconomic factors; Quantile regression
