Although no significant association between DBM and CVH was found, this study showed that most Brazilian children present moderate to high cardiovascular health, while the presence of DBM highlights the complexity of the nutritional transition in Brazil.
The prevalence of Double Burden of Malnutrition (DBM) among Brazilian children aged 3-10 years was 4.45%.
35.96% of Brazilian children in the sample had low cardiovascular health (CVH).
Children with overweight had a 43.06% prevalence of low CVH, while those with obesity had a 49.06% prevalence of low CVH.
No statistically significant association was found between DBM and cardiovascular health (CVH) in Brazilian children.
Maternal education and family income positively influenced cardiovascular health in Brazilian children.
Most Brazilian children in the sample presented moderate to high cardiovascular health, though a significant proportion remained at risk.
This research studied a group of 611 Brazilian children between the ages of 3 and 10 to understand how common a condition called the 'Double Burden of Malnutrition' (DBM) is and whether it affects heart health. DBM occurs when a child is overweight or obese at the same time as being deficient in key nutrients like iron. The researchers found that about 4.5% of children had DBM, and about 36% of all children had poor cardiovascular (heart) health scores based on measures like diet, physical activity, blood pressure, and body weight. Children who were overweight or obese were more likely to have poor heart health scores (43-49%) compared to the group overall. Despite finding that DBM was present in some children, the statistical analysis did not find a direct significant link between having DBM and having poor heart health. However, family income and the mother's level of education were positively associated with better cardiovascular health in children, suggesting that social and economic factors play an important role. Poor diet, sedentary behavior, and excess weight were identified as key risk factors for low cardiovascular health in this age group. This research suggests that the nutritional situation in Brazil is complex, with some children facing both excess weight and nutrient deficiencies at the same time. While most children in this study had moderate to high heart health scores, a meaningful share remain at risk. Addressing child cardiovascular health may require broad interventions that consider not just diet and physical activity, but also social and economic conditions like family income and parental education.
Viana R, Nascimento-Ferreira M, De Moraes A. (2026). Prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition and its association with ideal cardiovascular health in Brazilian children.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349440