OBJECTIVE: This study identified the dietary patterns of normal weight and overweight adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 239 adolescents from a public school in São Paulo, Brazil; of both sexes, aged 14 to 19 years. Anthropometric data and 4-day dietary records were collected. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index, according to the criteria established by Must et al. Factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. RESULTS: This assessment resulted in the identification of four dietary patterns: Traditional, Urban, Healthy, and Junk Food. Normal weight was positively associated with the Traditional and Urban patterns, and overweight was positively associated with the Healthy and Junk Food patterns. Lastly, obesity was negatively associated with the Urban, Healthy and Junk Food patterns. CONCLUSION: The Healthy pattern was found among overweight adolescents who were concerned with weight control and trying to change eating habits. Among the obese, the occurrence of underreporting probably influenced the outcome of the associations.
Adolescent; Factor analysis; statistical; Feeding behavior; Nutritional status