| Hello, *|NOME|* Nutritional inequality among young people in Brazil is a complex and multifaceted challenge. In a society where opportunities and resources are unevenly distributed, disparities in food quality reflect socioeconomic divisions that permeate the Brazilian population. While some young people enjoy a diet rich in nutrients and variety, others struggle to access staple foods. This discrepancy not only compromises individual health, but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality. Ensuring adequate nutrition is crucial for the full development of young people. Studies indicate that malnutrition and poor eating habits in childhood and adolescence have long-term impacts, compromising not only physical growth, but also cognitive development and school performance and, consequently, their working life. In addition, an inadequate diet during youth increases the risk of developing chronic diseases in the future, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, which poses additional challenges to the country's healthcare system and economy. In this context, the connection between family income and the nutritional quality of young people's diets emerges as a crucial issue. The analysis of the panel of indicators produced by IMDS based on the 2017/2018 Household Budget Survey (HBS), published here, offered an initial view on this relationship, triggering a Technical Note detailing the disparities in food consumption patterns between different income strata. The Technical Note, which can be found here, entitled "Nutritional inequality among young people aged 10 to 17 years: an analysis based on data from the Household Budget Survey (HBS)", reveals that young Brazilians are facing significant nutritional challenges. The study points to a marked disparity in food spending between different income strata. Families in the poorest 20 percent, who have a per capita budget nine times lower than the richest 20 percent, allocate a larger share of their income to food, with 27.6 percent versus 10.1 percent. This inequality puts low-income households in a vulnerable situation, where they often have to choose between buying basic food or meeting other essential needs such as housing, healthcare, and education. About 22% of young people belonging to the lowest socioeconomic strata consume an amount of calories inadequate to meet basic nutritional needs (less than 1200 calories daily). Notably, more than half of these young people reported facing food-related challenges or concerns due to insufficient financial resources. Factors such as living in rural areas or in households with only one adult responsible for the income, as well as a higher number of children in families, are associated with a higher risk of insufficient caloric intake, further aggravating the situation. The study further reveals that problems with food are not restricted to poverty, but are also associated with poor eating habits. Among the wealthiest households, 16% consume insufficient amounts of calories, without this necessarily being linked to financial difficulties. The study shows that as income increases, there is an increase in the consumption of calories from ultra-processed foods. The poorest tend to base their diet on food from the basic food basket, which is affordable, but with little variety. In contrast, wealthier people have access to a greater variety of higher value-added foods, including ultra-processed foods, which are convenient but nutritionally poor. Given this scenario, it is crucial to adopt comprehensive measures to address nutritional disparities and promote healthy and equitable eating among young Brazilians. This entails expanding access to nutritious, quality food and implementing public policies that address the underlying roots of food insecurity, such as poverty and lack of access to basic services. Prioritizing equity and ensuring universal access to nutritious food are key elements in building a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous society for future generations. In summary, nutritional inequality among young people in Brazil is an urgent problem that requires a coordinated and multifaceted response, in addition to the dissemination of quality information on eating habits. Only through the joint commitment of the government, civil society and the private sector will it be possible to overcome these challenges and ensure a better future for all young Brazilians. See you at the next “Letter from IMDS”! Paulo Tafner CEO |
