Sammanfattning   Inledning: Barnfetman ökar i samhället, vilket innebär konsekvenser för folkhälsan. Socker finns tillsatt i både mat och dryck. Tidigare forskning har visat att en hög konsumtion av socker kan leda till en rad följdsjukdomar. Syftet med den här studien är att beskriva kopplingen mellan hög sockerkonsumtion och fetma hos barn i åldern 6–12 år.   Metod: Artikelsökningen genomfördes i PubMed, som är en sökmotor. 10 vetenskapliga originalartiklar valdes för denna litteraturöversikt. Artiklarna är etiskt granskade. Därefter gjordes en analys av artiklarna, som resulterade i fem olika teman.   Resultat: Resultatet visar att barns ökade sockerkonsumtion leder till fetma som i sin tur kan innebära följdsjukdomar. Det finns kopplingar mellan etnicitet och sockerkonsumtion. Det finns även samband mellan genus och hur sockerkonsumtionen ser ut.   Diskussion: Kostråden bör vara individanpassade och ta hänsyn till såväl etnicitet och genus. Mer information till föräldrar om sockrets negativa påverkan. Mer forskning behövs inom området. / Abstract   Background: Child obesity is on the increase in society, which could mean consequences for public health. Sugar is added to both food and drink. Earlier research has shown that a high consumption of sugar may lead to obesity related diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the association between high sugar consumption and child obesity in 6-12 years old.   Methods: The PubMed search engine was used to conduct the search. 10 ethically approved original articles were selected for this literature review and thereafter an analysis was made of these articles, which resulted in five different themes.   Results: The results show that the increased consumption of sugar in children may lead to obesity which in turn, may lead to other obesity related diseases. There is also an association between ethnicity and consumption of sugar and a connection between gender and how sugar is consumed.   Conclusions: Dietary advice should be personalized. Both ethnicity and gender should be taken into consideration and parents need to be constructively informed about the negative effects of sugar. More research needs to be done in this field.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O sobrepeso e a obesidade na adolescência atingiram proporções epidêmicas na maior parte dos países industrializados bem como as alterações no metabolismo da glicose e dos triglicérides. As alterações no perfil do estado nutricional têm sido acompanhadas no aumento do consumo de bebidas açucaradas por adolescentes nos últimos anos. Algumas revisões sistemáticas recentes identificaram que o consumo de bebidas açucaradas associa-se ao ganho de peso entre a população em geral, inclusive em adolescentes e o efeito de tais bebidas vem sendo demonstrado não só na ocorrência do sobrepeso e obesidade, como também em associação com alterações metabólicas, hipertensão, esteatose e a ocorrência de diabetes tipo 2. Um efeito plausível do aumento no consumo de bebidas açucaradas seria a alteração nos triglicérides e no controle glicêmico, mas somente dois estudos seccionais, em adolescentes americanos, foram encontrados e ambos concluíram pelo efeito deletério do consumo de tais bebidas nesses parâmetros metabólicos. A presente tese teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre consumo de bebidas açucaradas e alterações metabólicas em adolescentes. E avaliar essa associação em uma amostra probabilística de escolares da cidade de Niterói, RJ, com 610 adolescentes de 12 a 19 anos. Na revisão foram resgatados apenas dois artigos. No primeiro encontrou-se que para cada porção adicional de bebidas açucaradas consumidas por dia, houve aumento de 7% nos valores de HOMA-IR, aumento de 2,25mg/dL nas concentrações de triglicérides, diminuição de 0,73mg/dL de HDL-C nas meninas e redução de 0,35mg/dL de HDL-C nos meninos (p-valor<0,05). No segundo, foi observada uma tendência das bebidas açucaradas a explicar 2,4% da variância em AIR (&#946;=-0,219, p-valor=0,07), sem diferença entre os sexos. Com relação às analises apresentadas com os adolescentes da cidade de Niterói, as meninas apresentaram, em média, menor consumo de bebidas açucaradas do que os meninos (222 vs. 262mL), sendo a prevalência de consumo diário acima de 75% para ambos os sexos. A ingestão total de calorias e carboidratos entre os meninos que consomem bebidas açucaradas foi maior comparada aos que não consomem (2.183 vs. 2.787kcal e 286,3 vs. 376,6g; respectivamente). No modelo final de regressão, o consumo de bebidas açucaradas apresentou uma associação positiva, apenas para triglicérides, nos meninos após ajuste por idade, IMC, energia e carboidrato, (&#61538;=0,06; p=0,04). Em conclusão, tanto na revisão da literatura, quanto na análise dos dados, encontrou-se associação positiva entre o consumo de bebidas açucaradas e alterações metabólicas / Overweight and obesity among adolescents, as well as changes in the metabolism of glucose and triglycerides, have reached epidemic proportions in most industrialized countries. Changes in nutritional status have been followed by increased consumption of sugar beverages. Some systematic reviews have identified that the consumption of sugar beverages is associated with weight gain among general population, including adolescents. The effect of these beverages seems to influence not only the occurrence of overweight and obesity, but also in other diseases associated to obesity, as hypertension, hepatic steatosis and occurrence of type 2 diabetes. A reasonable effect of the increase in the sugar drink consumption would be the alteration in triglicérides and the glicêmico control, but two studies you only part, in American adolescents, had been found and both had concluded for the deleterious effect of the consumption of such drinks in these metabolic parameters.The present thesis had as objective to carry through a bibliographical revision on sugar drink consumption and metabolic alterations in adolescents. E to evaluate this association in pertaining to school a probabilist sample of the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, with 610 adolescents of 12 the 19 years. In the revision only two articles had been rescued. In the first one one met that for each additional portion of sugar drinks consumed per day, it had increase of 7% in the values of HOMA-IR, increase of 2,25mg/dL in the concentrations of triglicérides, reduction of 0,73mg/dL of HDL-C in the girls and reduction of 0,35mg/dL of HDL-C in the boys (p-valor<0,05). In as, insulin was observed a trend of sugar drinks to explain 2.4% of the variance in AIR - Acute response (&#946;=-0,219, p-valor=0,07), without difference between the sexos. With the adolescents of the city of Niterói, girls reported, on average, a lower sugar beverage consumption than boys (222 vs. 262mL), and the prevalence of daily consumption was grether than 75% for both sexes. Boys who drink sugar beverages presented higher energy and carbohydrates intakes than those who did not drink sweetened beverages (2.183 vs. 2.787kcal and 286.3 vs. 376.6 g, respectively). In the final regression model the consumption of sweetened beverages showed a positive association only for triglycerides in boys, after adjusting for age, BMI, energy and carbohydrate inatke, (&#61538;= 0.06, p = 0.04). In conclusion, both the literature reviewed and the data analysis from adolescents of Niterói revealed a positive association between sugar beverage consumption and metabolic changes

O leite condensado é um produto amplamente estudado, sendo que os problemas de cristalização ao longo do processo constituem um dos aspectos de interesse quando se considera a produção em escala industrial. No entanto, não foram encontrados estudos que padronizassem técnicas de medida de tamanho de cristais e determinação da cristalinidade total em leite condensado. Este trabalho visa adaptar/desenvolver uma técnica especifica para análise de tamanho de cristais de lactose em leite condensado utilizando de microscopia juntamente com processamento e análise de imagem (software ImageJ). Além disso, acredita-se que o grau de cristalinidade possa se tornar um parâmetro de controle de qualidade em leites condensados, de modo que se propõe o estudo da viabilidade do uso de calorimetria exploratória diferencial para a determinação deste parâmetro. A técnica de processamento e análise de imagem mostrou-se confiável e permitiu realizar comparativo eficiente entre três marcas comerciais de leite condensado. Foi possível, mediante análise estatística, otimizar a metologia existente de preparação de lâminas visando reduzir o tempo e esforço da aplicação da técnica de acompanhamento de tamanho de cristais em ambiente industrial. Para o estudo da viabilidade do uso de analises térmicas para a determinação do grau de cristalinidade em leite condensado foram realizados estudos em térmicos simultâneos (DSC-TGA) e estudos de calorimetria exploratória diferencial em DSC e TMDSC em lactose p.a., sacarose p.a., misturas dos dois açúcares e em leite condensado. Na comparação das técnicas, observou-se que as três apresentam mesmo nível de precisão, porém exatidão distintas. A técnica de DSC foi a que permitiu obter maior definição dos picos identificados ao longo do termograma. Por outro lado, na técnica de MDSC, utilizando porta-amostras com furo, foi possível obter boa repetibilidade também com relação aos processos reversíveis e irreversíveis. A análise quantitativa de cristalinidade a partir de dados de calorimetria para misturas de sacarose e lactose é dificultada pela sobreposição dos picos dos diferentes processos térmicos sofridos pelos dois açúcares e pelo fato que foram encontrados indicativos de efeito sinergético na resposta térmica dos dois carboidratos quando em mistura. Assim como para as misturas de açúcares estudadas, não foi possível determinar o grau de cristalinidade em amostras de leite condensado. / Condensed milk is a widely studied product, given that the crystallization problems throughout the production process constitute one of the aspects of interest as far as the industrial scale production is concerned. However, studies that might enable standardized crystal size measurement techniques and crystallinity determination in condensed milk have not been found yet. This work aims at adapting/developing a specific technique for the analysis of lactose crystals size in condensed milk by using microscopy along with image analysis and processing (ImageJ software). Besides, it is believed that degree of crystallinity may become a quality control parameter in condensed milks, in such a way that it is proposed a viability study of the use of differential exploratory calorimetry for its determination. Processing technique and image analysis have demonstrated to be reliable and allowed to carry out efficient comparison between the three commercially available brands of condensed milk. It was possible, by means of statistical analysis, to optimize the existing thin plate preparation methodology with the aim of reducing time and strain of crystal size monitoring in industrial environment. In view of studying thermal analyses aiming at determining degree of crystallinity in condensed milk, studies in simultaneous thermal instruments (DSC-TGA) along with differential exploratory calorimetry in DSC and TMDSC were carried out in analytical grade sucrose and lactose, mixtures of both sugars and condensed milk. When comparing the techniques, one can observe that all three presented the same level of precision, but different accuracies. DSC technique was the one that allowed higher definition of identified peaks along the thermogram. On the other hand, in MDSC technique, using pierced sample holder, it was possible to obtain good repeatability even in regard to reversible and irreversible processes. Cristallinity quantitative analysis from calorimetry data for sucrose and lactose mixtures is hindered by the superposition of peaks from different thermal processes undergone by both sugars and by the fact that indicatives of synergistic effect were found in the thermal response of the above mentioned carbohydrates when mixed together. As it had occurred for the sugar mixtures studied, it was not possible to determine the degree of crystallinity in condensed milk samples.

Introduction: The consumption of fast food and soft drinks is a risk factor for developing overweight and obesity. This study aimed at assessing if there is association between household socioeconomic level and the consumption of fast food and soft drinks among children. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional assessment of the data from the third round (2009-2010) of the youngest cohort of the Young Lives study in Peru was conducted. Sampling was conducted in three stages: In the first one, the country was divided into equal geographical regions, excluding the 5% of the richest district; in the second stage, 20 sentinel sites were chosen and an area within each sentinel site was selected. Finally, in the third stage, eligible children were selected. Outcomes were the self-reported consumption of fast food and soft drinks (never, sometimes, and always), whereas the exposure was household socioeconomic status (in quintiles). Crude and adjusted models were created between variables of interest using Poisson regression models, with robust variance, to report prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Data of 1901 children, of which 942 (49.6%) were girls, with a mean age of 7.5 (SD: 0.5) was analyzed. A total of 24.1% (95%CI: 22.2%-26.1%) reported always consuming fast food, whilst this number was 22.4% (20.5%-24.3%) for soft drinks. Compared to the lowest socioeconomic quintile, those who were in higher socioeconomic status had more probability of consuming fast food and soft drinks (Chi-squared for trends <0.001). The highest socioeconomic quintile had a greater probability to always consume fast food (PR=1.42; 95%CI: 1.08-1.88) and soft drinks (PR=1.71; 95%CI: 1.24-2.37). Conclusions: This study shows that there is a significant association between the household socioeconomic level and the consumption of soft drinks and fast food. / Revisión por pares

Background: Sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) comprise the largest source of added sugars in US adolescents’ diets. SSB consumption is pervasive in US culture and is a critical risk factor for weight gain and obesity in adolescents. This thesis evaluates multi-level factors that influence adolescent SSB consumption. Methods: The first two aims of this thesis utilized data from the cross sectional, internet based Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating (FLASHE) study to: 1) examine availability of SSBs in multiple settings (home, school, neighborhood) and adolescent SSB consumption, 2) examine the associations between perceptions of parenting practices and adolescent SSB consumption. The third aim used focus group discussions to understand adolescents’ perceptions about SSBs. Results: We found that SSB availability in the home was an important predictor of adolescent SSB consumption, regardless of SSB availability in other settings. Also, parenting practices that facilitate adolescent SSB consumption are associated with higher adolescent SSB consumption, but discussing/negotiating SSB behaviors is not associated with adolescent SSB consumption. Adolescents’ described their attitudes, reinforcements, knowledge, and sources of influence around SSBs which are multifactorial and complex. Conclusions: This thesis identified potential targets for addressing adolescent SSB consumption through availability of SSBs at home, parenting practices, and adolescent perceptions around SSBs. These are important modifiable factors in the adolescents’ sociocultural environment that should be targeted in future dietary interventions to influence adolescent SBB consumption.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Unhealthy eating habits are one of the main causes of deteriorating health and premature death among Sweden’s population. Foods containing added sugars are common today and they rarely contain the nutrients that are essential for our bodies to stay healthy. Overconsuming sugar can lead to several diseases, including obesity and caries. Obesity in turn increases the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, stroke, and diabetes type 2. The health effects of sugar are costly to society and a sugar tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is a possible financial instrument to improve public health and at the same time reduce healthcare costs. The cost savings and tax revenue can then be used to finance further implementations of strategies to improve the public health of the citizens of Sweden. The purpose of this essay is to investigate whether it is socio-economically viable to introduce an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Sweden. The drinks that would be affected by the tax are sodas, juices, energy drinks, sport drinks and ciders. A cost-benefit analysis is the economic method that will be used in this essay to investigate the issue. The possible costs and benefits from the implementation of a tax are identified and valued in monetary terms. In addition to this, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to test how sensitive the project is to differences in estimated costs and benefits. The calculations of costs and benefits are based on secondary data and statistics from previous studies as well as reports and statistics from Swedish authorities. The results of this essay show that the benefits of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages had exceeded the costs, which is also showed by the cost-benefit ratio which is 1,47 and thus exceeds 1. The sensitivity analysis shows that the results are stable and credible since alternative values of costs and benefits also would lead to cost-benefit ratios exceeding 1. Based on the results, a recommendation is made to introduce an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Sweden, since the introduction is estimated to be socio-economically viable. / I denna uppsats utförs en kostnads-nyttoanalys för att undersöka om det är samhällsekonomiskt lönsamt att införa en punktskatt på sötad dryck i Sverige. De drycker som skulle påverkas av skatten är läsk, juice, saft, energidryck, sportdryck, cider samt måltidsdryck som är sötade med socker eller naturligt innehåller en hög sockerhalt. Socker har endast negativ påverkan på vår hälsa och överkonsumtion av socker är en orsak till ett flertal sjukdomar som är vanligt förekommande idag, bland annat övervikt och karies. Övervikt ökar i sin tur risken för att drabbas av fetma, hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar, cancer, stroke och diabetes typ 2. Hälsoeffekterna av socker är kostsamma för samhället och en sockerskatt på dryck är ett möjligt styrmedel för att förbättra folkhälsan och samtidigt minska dessa kostnader. Kostnadsbesparingarna kan därefter distribueras till viktiga ändamål, exempelvis för att finansiera ytterligare strategier för en bättre hälsa hos befolkningen. Resultaten i uppsatsen visar att fördelarna av en skatt på sötade drycker hade överstigit kostnaderna, vilket går att se då nyttokostnadskvoten som beräknas uppgår till 1,47 och alltså överstiger 1. Utöver kostnads-nyttoanalysen utförs även en känslighetsanalys för att testa hur känsligt resultatet är för förändringar av värdet för olika parametrar som kommer påverkas av införandet av skatten. Känslighetsanalysen visar att resultatet är stabilt och trovärdigt då även alternativa värden leder till en nyttokostnadskvot som överstiger 1. Resultatet används som grund för en rekommendation om att införa en punktskatt på sötade drycker i Sverige, då införandet är samhällsekonomiskt lönsamt.

Bakgrund: Sockersötade drycker är drycker till vilka sockerarter tillsatts. Dessa drycker konsumeras globalt och många gånger överskrids rekommendationerna om intag av tillsatt socker, vilket kan leda till negativa hälsoeffekter. Sockersötade drycker kan öka risken att drabbas av övervikt, fetma och typ 2-diabetes som i sin tur är riskfaktorer för att utveckla bukspottkörtelcancer. Det finns därför ett ökat intresse att undersöka den potentiellt ökade cancerrisken vid konsumtion av sockersötade drycker. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka om intag av sockersötade drycker kan öka risken att drabbas av bukspottkörtelcancer. Metod: Arbetet är en litteraturstudie där vetenskapliga artiklar sökts med databasen PubMed. Sökorden var ”sugar-sweetened beverages” och ”pancreas cancer”. Av de artiklar som erhölls inkluderades observationsstudier och kliniska studier. Utifrån ytterligare inklusions- och exklusionskriterier valdes sju studier ut och granskades. Resultat: Resultat från tre av sju studier visar att det inte förekommer något samband mellan konsumtion av sockersötad dryck och risk för bukspottkörtelcancer medan resultat från tre studier påvisar samband. Resultat från en studie visar att det finns samband hos kvinnor men inte hos män. Slutsats: Hälften av studierna visar ett samband mellan konsumtion av sockersötad dryck och en ökad risk att drabbas av bukspottkörtelcancer. För att minska risken kan det således vara fördelaktigt att följa de rekommendationer som finns kring tillsatt socker. / Background: Sugar-sweetened beverages are beverages to which sugars are added. These beverages are consumed globally and many times the recommendations on added sugar are exceeded, which can lead to negative health effects. Sugar-sweetened beverages may increase the risk of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes which are risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer. Thus, there is an increased interest to study the potentially increased cancer risk associated with the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Aim: The aim was to examine whether consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Method: This work is a literature study using scientific articles searched with the database PubMed. The search terms were “sugar-sweetened beverages” and “pancreas cancer.” Of the articles obtained, observational studies and clinical studies were included. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies were selected and reviewed. Results: Results from three of seven studies show that there is no relationship between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of pancreatic cancer, while results from three other studies show that there is a relationship. Results from one study show that there is a relationship in women but not in men. Conclusion: Half of the studies shows that there is a relationship between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. To reduce the risk, it can be beneficial to follow the recommendations that exist regarding added sugar.

Objetivos: Estudar a influência que a renda das famílias e os preços dos alimentos exercem sobre a aquisição de alimentos mais saudáveis (frutas e hortaliças, F&H) e menos saudáveis (bebidas adoçadas, BA). Metodologia: Utilizaram-se dados sobre aquisição de alimentos coletados pela Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF), realizada entre julho de 2002 e junho de 2003 pelo IBGE em uma amostra probabilística de 48.470 domicílios do país. A influência da renda familiar e do preço de frutas e hortaliças e de bebidas adoçadas sobre seu consumo foi estudada empregando-se técnicas de análise de regressão múltipa para estimação de coeficientes de elasticidade, controlando-se variáveis sócio-demográficas e preço dos demais alimentos. Resultados: Com a diminuição do preço de F&H haveria aumento da participação desses alimentos no total de aquisições: 10 por cento de redução nos preços de F&H aumentaria em 7,9 por cento sua participação no total calórico. Com o aumento da renda familiar também haveria aumento na participação calórica de F&H: 10 por cento de aumento na renda aumentaria em 2,7 por cento a participação de F&H no total calórico. O efeito dos aumentos de renda tendeu a ser menor nos estratos de maior renda. Haveria significativa redução na aquisição de bebidas adoçadas frente a aumentos no seu preço: para cada 10 por cento de aumento nos preços de bebidas adoçadas haveria uma redução de 8,4 por cento no consumo desses produtos. Aumentos na renda familiar também influenciariam o consumo de bebidas adoçadas, mas com efeito oposto e de magnitude inferior à metade do observado com o aumento de preços: para cada 10 por cento de aumento na renda familiar haveria um aumento de 4,1 por cento no consumo de bebidas adoçadas. Conclusões: Políticas de ajuste de preços como a imposição ou isenção de uma taxa podem ser utilizadas como ferramentas na promoção da alimentação saudável no país, seja estimulando o consumo de alimentos saudáveis ou desestimulando o consumo de não saudáveis / Objectives: To study the influence of family income and food prices on the acquisition of items that act as indicators of a healthy (fruits and vegetables, F&V) or an unhealthy (sugar-sweetened beverages, SSB) food intake. Methods: We used data from the Household Budget Survey (HBS) carried out by IBGE between July 2002 and June 2003 in a probabilistic sample of 48,470 Brazilian households. The influence of family income and the price of fruit and vegetables and sugar-sweetened beverages on its consumption was studied employing techniques multiple regression analysis to estimate elasticity coefficients, controlling for demographic variables and price of other foods. Results: Reducing the price of F&V would increase its participation on total food purchases: 10 per cent reduction in prices of F&V would increase by 7.9 per cent its share of total calories. The increase in family income would also increase the proportion of calories from F&V: 10 per cent increase in income would increase by 2.7 per cent the participation of F&V on total calories. The effect of a raise in income tended to be lower in higher income groups. On the other hand, an increase in the price of SSB would result in considerable reduction in its consumption: for every 10 per cent increase in the prices of SSB a reduction of 8.4 per cent in the consumption would be expected. Increases in income also influence the consumption of SSB, but having the opposite effect, and magnitude less than half that observed for the increase in prices: each 10 per cent increase in family income would increase by 4.1 per cent the consumption of SSB. Conclusions: Public policies aiming the adjustment of prices - as the imposition or exemption of a tax - can be used as a tool in promoting healthy eating in Brazil, either encouraging the consumption of healthy foods or discouraging the consumption of unhealthy products

Objetivos: Estudar a influência que a renda das famílias e os preços dos alimentos exercem sobre a aquisição de alimentos mais saudáveis (frutas e hortaliças, F&H) e menos saudáveis (bebidas adoçadas, BA). Metodologia: Utilizaram-se dados sobre aquisição de alimentos coletados pela Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF), realizada entre julho de 2002 e junho de 2003 pelo IBGE em uma amostra probabilística de 48.470 domicílios do país. A influência da renda familiar e do preço de frutas e hortaliças e de bebidas adoçadas sobre seu consumo foi estudada empregando-se técnicas de análise de regressão múltipa para estimação de coeficientes de elasticidade, controlando-se variáveis sócio-demográficas e preço dos demais alimentos. Resultados: Com a diminuição do preço de F&H haveria aumento da participação desses alimentos no total de aquisições: 10 por cento de redução nos preços de F&H aumentaria em 7,9 por cento sua participação no total calórico. Com o aumento da renda familiar também haveria aumento na participação calórica de F&H: 10 por cento de aumento na renda aumentaria em 2,7 por cento a participação de F&H no total calórico. O efeito dos aumentos de renda tendeu a ser menor nos estratos de maior renda. Haveria significativa redução na aquisição de bebidas adoçadas frente a aumentos no seu preço: para cada 10 por cento de aumento nos preços de bebidas adoçadas haveria uma redução de 8,4 por cento no consumo desses produtos. Aumentos na renda familiar também influenciariam o consumo de bebidas adoçadas, mas com efeito oposto e de magnitude inferior à metade do observado com o aumento de preços: para cada 10 por cento de aumento na renda familiar haveria um aumento de 4,1 por cento no consumo de bebidas adoçadas. Conclusões: Políticas de ajuste de preços como a imposição ou isenção de uma taxa podem ser utilizadas como ferramentas na promoção da alimentação saudável no país, seja estimulando o consumo de alimentos saudáveis ou desestimulando o consumo de não saudáveis / Objectives: To study the influence of family income and food prices on the acquisition of items that act as indicators of a healthy (fruits and vegetables, F&V) or an unhealthy (sugar-sweetened beverages, SSB) food intake. Methods: We used data from the Household Budget Survey (HBS) carried out by IBGE between July 2002 and June 2003 in a probabilistic sample of 48,470 Brazilian households. The influence of family income and the price of fruit and vegetables and sugar-sweetened beverages on its consumption was studied employing techniques multiple regression analysis to estimate elasticity coefficients, controlling for demographic variables and price of other foods. Results: Reducing the price of F&V would increase its participation on total food purchases: 10 per cent reduction in prices of F&V would increase by 7.9 per cent its share of total calories. The increase in family income would also increase the proportion of calories from F&V: 10 per cent increase in income would increase by 2.7 per cent the participation of F&V on total calories. The effect of a raise in income tended to be lower in higher income groups. On the other hand, an increase in the price of SSB would result in considerable reduction in its consumption: for every 10 per cent increase in the prices of SSB a reduction of 8.4 per cent in the consumption would be expected. Increases in income also influence the consumption of SSB, but having the opposite effect, and magnitude less than half that observed for the increase in prices: each 10 per cent increase in family income would increase by 4.1 per cent the consumption of SSB. Conclusions: Public policies aiming the adjustment of prices - as the imposition or exemption of a tax - can be used as a tool in promoting healthy eating in Brazil, either encouraging the consumption of healthy foods or discouraging the consumption of unhealthy products