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The objective of this commentary is to describe the characteristics, development and functionalities of the food intake data collection platform QuestNova. The platform was developed by two information technology specialists, with the support of a team from Nupens/USP. The development process took place in stages, with all the functionalities of each step being thoroughly tested by multiple team members before moving on to the next. QuestNova is a free online platform that offers three self-administered instruments for assessing food intake, based on the Nova classification: Screener-Nova, QFA-Nova and R24h-Nova. On the platform, the researcher can select the instrument of interest and send it via a link to the participants in their study, who will answer it autonomously, without the presence of an interviewer. Databases containing relevant indicators for evaluating food according to the level of processing are automatically generated from the responses. A crucial aspect of QuestNova is its commitment to the confidentiality and safety of participant data. No information is stored internally on the platform; on the contrary, data is transmitted directly to a Google Drive account provided by the researcher themselves. QuestNova democratizes access to innovative research tools, boosting studies on the impact of food processing on Brazilian health. Future updates may extend its usefulness.

Objective: To assess the prospective association of two diet quality scores based on the Nova food classification with BMI gain., Design: The NutriNet-Brasil cohort is an ongoing web-based prospective study with continuous recruitment of participants aged ≥ 18 years since January 2020. A short 24-h dietary recall screener including 'yes/no' questions about the consumption of whole plant foods (WPF) and ultra-processed foods (UPF) was completed by participants at baseline. The Nova-WPF and the Nova-UPF scores were computed by adding up positive responses regarding the consumption of thirty-three varieties of WPF and twenty-three varieties of UPF, respectively. Participants reported their height at baseline and their weight at both baseline and after approximately 15 months of follow-up. A 15-month BMI (kg/m 2 ) increase of ≥5 % was coded as BMI gain., Setting: Brazil., Participants: 9551 participants from the NutriNet-Brasil cohort., Results: Increasing quintiles of the Nova-UPF score were linearly associated with higher risk of BMI gain (relative risk Q5/Q1 = 1·34; 95 % CI 1·15, 1·56), whereas increasing quintiles of the Nova-WPF score were linearly associated with lower risk (relative risk Q5/Q1 = 0·80; 95 % CI 0·69, 0·94). We identified a moderate inverse correlation between the two scores (-0·33) and a partial mediating effect of the alternative score: 15 % for the total effect of the Nova-UPF score and 25 % for the total effect of the Nova-WPF score., Conclusions: The Nova-UPF and Nova-WPF scores are independently associated with mid-term BMI gain further justifying their use in diet quality monitoring systems.

Objective: To describe the Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and evaluate its potential in reflecting the dietary share of UPF in Brazil., Methods: This study was conducted in São Paulo with a convenience sample of 300 adults. Using a tablet, participants answered a 3-minute electronic self-report questionnaire on the consumption of 23 subgroups of UPF commonly consumed in Brazil, regarding the day prior the survey. Each participant score corresponded to the number of subgroups reported. The dietary share of UPF on the day prior to the survey, expressed as a percentage of total energy intake, was calculated based on data collected on a 30-minute complete 24-hour dietary recall administered by trained nutritionists. The association between the score and the dietary share of UPF was evaluated using linear regression models. The Pabak index was used to assess the agreement in participants' classification according to the fifths of Nova score and the fifths of dietary share of UPF., Results: The average dietary share of UPF increased linearly and significantly with the increase of the Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods. We found a substantial agreement in participants' classification according to the fifths of the distribution of scores and the fifths of the dietary share of UPF (Pabak index = 0.67). Age was inversely associated with a relatively high frequency of UPF consumption (upper fifth of the distribution) for both score and dietary share of UPF., Conclusion: The Nova score for the consumption of ultra-processed foods, obtained in a quick and practical manner, shows a good potential in reflecting the dietary share of UPF in Brazil.