Risky Habits, Such as Alcohol Consumption, Increase the Chances of Brazilian Adolescents Developing Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases

A study conducted by researchers from UFMG and Unifesp indicates that the majority of Brazilian adolescents have two or more risk factors for developing non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs), with alcohol consumption being among them.

Health risk behaviors may emerge or intensify during adolescence, exposing individuals to an even greater risk of developing NCCDs. The likelihood of presenting multiple health risk factors also increases over a lifetime, being associated with sociodemographic characteristics that contribute to their escalation and severity.

This is revealed by a study conducted by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), published in BMC Pediatrics, which analyzed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and multiple behavioral risk factors for NCCDs in Brazilian adolescents.

The analysis used data from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE, 2019), with a sample of over 121,000 adolescents. The survey included students aged 13 to 17 who were enrolled and regularly attending from 7th to 9th grade of elementary school and from 1st to 3rd year of high school.

The study results showed that over 80% of adolescents presented two or three behavioral risk factors for NCCDs, with only 3.9% of adolescents having no risk factors. Furthermore, older adolescents, particularly those residing in the Southeast region of Brazil and those with self-perceived health issues, were found to be more likely to have risk factors for NCCDs.

The most prevalent behavioral risk factors among adolescents were:

- Lack of physical activity (71.5%)

- Irregular intake of fruits and vegetables (58.4%)

- Sedentary lifestyle (54.1%)

- Regular consumption of sweets (32.9%)

- Alcohol consumption (28.1%)

- Regular consumption of soft drinks (17.2%)

- Smoking (6.8%)

According to the study, a comparative analysis between the 2015 and 2019 editions of PeNSE indicated a reduction in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, a decrease in physical activity, and an increase in episodes of drunkenness among adolescents. The rising use of alternative tobacco products, such as hookah and electronic cigarettes, and the high consumption of ultra-processed foods among youth were also cited as concerns nationwide.

Brazil faces significant challenges in promoting health among its adolescent population. There is an urgent need for dynamic and proactive approaches that empower young people to take responsibility for their health. At the same time, the implementation of public and educational policies is crucial for adopting better lifestyle and health practices.

References:

1. da Silva, A. G., Souza, J. B., Gomes, C. S., da Silva, T. P. R., Gomide Nogueira de Sá, A. C. M., & Malta, D. C. (2024). Multiple behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among the adolescent population in Brazil: the analysis derived from the Brazilian national survey of school health 2019. BMC pediatrics, 24(1), 122.