Within a non-random biochemical subsample of morning-shift schoolchildren aged 7-10 years in the Federal District, Brazil, a high burden of cardiometabolic risk factors was observed, and eating with distractions was associated with greater cardiometabolic risk burden.
Most children in the biochemical subsample had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor.
Dyslipidaemia was highly prevalent among children in the biochemical subsample.
Nearly one-third of all schoolchildren in the full sample were overweight.
Eating with distractions was associated with higher odds of having one to two cardiometabolic risk factors.
Eating with distractions was associated with higher odds of having three or more cardiometabolic risk factors.
Consuming snacks or treats instead of a homemade meal was associated with lower odds of one to two risk factors but not three or more.
The study was a population-based cross-sectional assessment of diet, behaviours, anthropometry, blood pressure and biochemistry in schoolchildren aged 7-10 years.
The authors conclude that early preventive strategies targeting modifiable behaviours are needed.
This study looked at nearly 1,000 children aged 7 to 10 in public urban schools in Brazil's Federal District. It measured their eating habits, physical activity, screen and sitting time, body size, blood pressure, and, in a smaller group of 315 children, blood tests. About 3 in 10 of all children were overweight. In the group with blood tests, about 9 in 10 had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, and about 7 in 10 had abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia). Children who ate while distracted (for example, while watching TV or using a screen) had roughly two and a half to three times higher odds of having one or more risk factors. Eating snacks or treats instead of a homemade meal was linked to lower odds of having one to two risk factors, but not three or more. This was an unexpected result that the authors did not tie to a clear explanation in the abstract. This research suggests that cardiometabolic risk is already common in primary-school children and that everyday eating behaviours may be linked to it. The blood-test group was not randomly chosen and only included morning-shift students, and the study design cannot show cause and effect. The results therefore should not be taken to represent all children, but they support the authors' call for early prevention efforts focused on modifiable behaviours.
Diogo S, Gubert M, Gonçalves V, do Carmo A, Melo G, Oliveira G, et al.. (2026). Cardiometabolic risk burden and associated behaviours in schoolchildren aged 7-10 years from public urban schools in the Federal District, Brazil.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361898