Household food availability in Pelotas, Brazil: An approach to assess the obesogenic environment

Objective To identify household food availability according to socioeconomic and demographic factors. Methods A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out in the city of Pelotas,Southern Brazil to determine household food availability in the 30 days that preceded the interview. Availability was considered high when food was always or usually available at home. The independent variables were: age and education level of the household head, number of household members, presence of children or adolescents, National Wealth Score, and family income. Results Data were collected from 1,555 households. A high availability of fruits and vegetables (80%) was more prevalent than that of soft drinks, processed meats, and sweets (40%). Whole grains and frozen foods were never available in half of the households. High-sugar and high-fat foods were positively related and fruits and whole grains were negatively related to the presence of children or adolescents in the household. National Wealth Score, family income, and age and education level of the household head were associated with household food availability. Conclusion Socioeconomic factors and demographic characteristics were associated with household food availability. High household availability of fruits and vegetables, together with sweets, processed meats, and soft drinks suggests the complex eating practices of a household, impairing classifying the environment as obesogenic.