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Depression is a significant mental health concern, and the ubiquitous presence of fast-food in modern diets raises questions about its impact on mental well-being. Understanding the intricate relationship between fast-food consumption, obesity, and depression is essential for addressing the complex web of factors contributing to this public health issue. In this study, we analyzed data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) spanning from 2008 to 2018, involving 31,460 participants. Among the 31,460 subjects in the survey, 2871 exhibited signs of depression, with an average age of 48.2 years. Each additional weekly fast-food meal was linked to 4 % higher odds of depression, with consuming over two such meals increasing the odds by 24 %. Adjusted models exploring the relationship between body mass index (BMI), fast-food consumption, and depression indicated an increased risk with greater fast-food intake, especially within subgroups based on obesity status. Mediation analysis revealed that fast-food consumption and depression were largely independent of obesity, with obesity accounting for only 6.5 % of the total effect. No significant mediation effect was found in the overweight subgroup, but the mediated effect was increased with higher BMI in more obese patients, notably in those with BMI ≥ 30 or ≥40. Sensitivity analysis confirmed these findings with more conservative estimates across all subgroups. This study highlights a substantial connection between fast-food consumption and depression. While obesity plays a role, it does not fully mediate the relationship, suggesting the presence of other contributing factors. • Each fast-food meal raised depression odds by 5 %. • Fast-food consumption behavior increased depression odds by 24 %. • No significant mediation effect was found in the overweight subgroup. • The mediating effect significantly increased with higher BMI in more obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor dietary patterns pose a significant health challenge for children, hindering their ideal growth and development. Objective: We explored the adherence of secondary and high schoolchildren to healthy dietary guidelines in the Kurdistan Region. Subjects and Methods: We included a random sample of 554 students (13–18 years) from the available high schools in Duhok City in 2022. Results: Generally, students had a low level of healthy diet, which was not significantly influenced by sociodemographic and diet-related characteristics. A notable number of students skipped breakfast (32.31%). A majority of students consumed fruits 1–6 times/day (40.97%), whereas their vegetable intake was predominantly <1 serving/day (39.71%) or 1–2 servings/day (31.41%). The consumption of fish and seafood was relatively low among the students, with only 1–2 servings/week (36.28%). The students had a high rate of consuming sweets and soft drinks, with 1–2 servings/week being prevalent (25.99% for sweets and 36.10% for soft drinks). Media watching duration was notably high, with 1–2 h/day (23.10%) and over 4 h/day (35.38%). Only 19.86% of the students engaged in mild-to-moderate physical activity. The consumption of dairy products, both milk and dairy alternatives, was at 1–2 servings/day, with more than half opting for low- or no-fat options (25.09%). A considerable percentage of students consumed meat and meat products at varying frequencies. Close to half of the students consumed 3–7 servings of total grains/day and >50 whole grains. Conclusions: Schoolchildren have a low adherence to healthy dietary guidelines in Kurdistan Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Commercial advertising and sponsorship drive the consumption of harmful commodities. Local authorities (LAs) have considerable powers to reduce such exposures. This study aimed to characterize local commercial policies across all English LAs. Methods We conducted a census of all English LAs (n  = 333) to identify local commercial policies concerning advertising and sponsorship of tobacco, alcohol, less healthy foods and gambling, through online searches and Freedom of Information requests. We explored policy presence, commodity frequency and type, and associations with LA characteristics (region, urban/rural and deprivation). Results Only a third (106) of LAs in England had a relevant policy (32%). These included restrictions on tobacco (91%), gambling (79%), alcohol (74%) and/or less healthy foods (24%). Policy prevalence was lowest in the East of England (22%), North East (25%) and North West (27%), higher in urban areas (36%) than rural areas (28%) and lower in the least (27%) compared with the most (38%) deprived areas. Definitions in policies varied, particularly for alcohol and less healthy foods. Conclusions English LAs currently underutilize their levers to reduce the negative impacts of harmful commodity industry marketing, particularly concerning less healthy foods. Standardized guidance, including clarity on definitions and application, could inform local policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food delivery apps (FDAs) and smartphones in Saudi Arabia have become ubiquitous and increasingly popular methods for food ordering and consumption. Such app use during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a convenient and popular response to pandemic restrictions. However, the motivations and preferences behind FDA use are complex, as are the perceptions of FDA users regarding nutrition and healthy foods. To explore FDA usage, motivations, perceptions, and food behaviours in the unique cultural context of Saudi Arabia at the intersection of two epidemics, COVID-19 and obesity, a convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used with 566 Saudis in the quantitative phase and 17 continuing to the qualitative phase. Of the respondents, 71.9 % reported using FDA typically once a week. Frequent FDA usage was reported by 33.3 % of the participants aged 30–40 years (P = .049). Nearly two-thirds of the sample (62 %) reported that time and convenience were the driving factors in using FDAs. Qualitatively, six main themes were identified: ‘Perceived benefits and drawbacks’, ‘Effects of Promotions and Food Preferences’, ‘Nutritional information and dietary guidelines’, ‘Concepts of healthy food’, ‘Obstacles to healthy food consumption’, and ‘Maintaining Customs and Traditions’. Although convenience and taste were the primary drivers of FDA usage, the roles of tradition and culture in Saudi Arabia were also important FDA usage factors. Overall, understanding the determinants of how Saudis engage with FDAs, in concert with a deeper understanding of food preferences, perceptions, and nutritional knowledge, should help guide future efforts in nutrition education, app development, and public health policy.

Background: Understanding the factors that influence adolescent's perception of fast food and their fluid consumption is crucial for designing effective nutrition education programs tailored to this population. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of sex and the use of media and the internet with adolescents' perception of fast foods and the amount of fluid consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on school adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18 years in Kuwait, using a multistage stratified random sampling method (N = 706 adolescents; 343 boys and 363 girls). A pre-tested and specifically designed self-report questionnaire covering several measures such as: (a) types of foods that are considered fast foods; and (b) participant's fluid consumption. Body weight and height were measured using calibrated medical scales. Body mass index (BMI) was computed. The adolescents were stratified by sex into two groups: boys and girls, for the purpose of analysis. Results: Seven out of 14 food choices showed significant sex differences (p values ranged from 0.016 to < 0.001) in the adolescents' responses to whether they perceived such food choice as fast food or not. Although differences were found between sexes, the majority of the listed fast foods were correctly recognized as fast foods by the adolescents. In addition, there were significant differences between males and females in the amount of daily drinks (ml/week) consumed from full fat milk (males = l197.1 ± 27,652.1 and females = 1662.8 ± 2221, p = 0.013), sugar-sweetened beverage (males = 2350.8 ± 3324.3 and females = 3088.9 ± 3701.1, p = 0.004), and energy drinks (males = 429.5 ± 1117.2 and females = 267.6 ± 733.8, p = 0.037). Compared to adolescents who seldom or do not watch TV or use the internet, those who engage in these sedentary activities are less likely to classify pizza (aOR (95% CI) = 0.660 (0.440–0.990), p = 0.045), grilled meat (aOR (95% CI) = 0.674 (0.477–0.954), p = 0.026), fried egg sandwiches (aOR (95% CI) = 0.617 (0.425–0.894–0.189), p = 0.011), and rice (aOR (95% CI) = 0.598(0.409–0.875), p = 0.008) as fast foods. Conclusion: The influence of TV and internet use on adolescent's ability to accurately identify fast foods has been observed. Findings indicate the need for increased fast food nutrition education programs that are tailored towards adolescents. The study recommends further research to enhance consumer awareness of foods and drinks among adolescents in the State of Kuwait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumo Introdução O processamento de alimentos pode causar alterações que os transformam em fatores de risco para doenças crônicas. Um maior grau de processamento de alimentos está associado ao desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT), incluindo a síndrome metabólica (SM). O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a relação entre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados (AUP) e a prevalência de SM e seus fatores de risco, com foco em um grupo populacional especialmente submetido a precárias condições de vida e insegurança alimentar. Método Estudo transversal de base populacional com mulheres (19 a 59 anos) de comunidades Quilombolas de Alagoas. Foram analisadas as variáveis socioeconômicas, demográficas, antropométricas, estado de saúde, estilo de vida e ingestão alimentar (recordatório de 24 horas). A variável dependente foi a SM, definida a partir dos critérios de harmonização do Joint Interim Statement, e seus componentes. Os alimentos consumidos foram categorizados de acordo com a Classificação Nova, assumindo como exposição de risco o maior consumo de AUP. A medida de associação foi a razão de prevalência (RP) e respectivo IC 95%, calculado por regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. Também analisou-se a associação com o Escore Nova de consumo de AUP. Resultados Foram investigadas 895 mulheres (38,9 ± 11,0 anos), das quais 48,3% tinham SM. Em média, 15,9% da ingestão total de energia provinham de AUP. Escores Nova mais baixos foram associados a uma menor prevalência de diabetes e HDL baixo. O maior consumo de AUP se associou a uma prevalência 30% maior de hipertensão arterial (RP = 1,30; IC95%: 1,06-1,61). Conclusão O maior consumo de AUP se associou positivamente à prevalência de hipertensão, enquanto o menor escore Nova foi fator de proteção contra diabetes e baixo HDL. O consumo de AUP nas comunidades Quilombolas é relevante, mas inferior ao observado na população brasileira em geral. Sugere-se a implementação de programas de saúde pública que promovam a alimentação saudável, valorizando os hábitos e tradições alimentares existentes entre os remanescentes Quilombolas brasileiros.

The quality and the safety of the foods that are served at fast foods restaurants and their effect on the consumer health could become a matter of concern during COVID-19. Therefore, the objectives of this study were i) to evaluate the quality and safety of raw foods, suitability and availability of manufacturing places, physical facilities, drinking water and waste management system, and processing conditions, and ii) to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices regarding food safety and hygienic practices among food handlers at fast foods restaurants in the different universities in Jordan during COVID-19. The study was conducted in 12 fast foods restaurants of 3 different universities in Jordan which are located in different places in Jordan. A desirable practice was given a score of one while no score will be allotted for an undesirable practice through using a standard questionnaire for all the food establishments. This was used to compare with the maximum score obtainable for that relevant operation and the percentage scores was calculated for each operation. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the data was performed to study the significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 in all the evaluated properties among the food establishments in the different universities. The results showed that low percentage scores were obtained with 68%, 75%, 32% and 56% for the production area, waste management, product evaluation (chemical, microbial) and food safety program application, respectively. Also, it was found that there were insignificant differences at P ≤ 0.05 among different food serving establishments in different universities in all the safety properties. This means that all the food establishments in all the universities suffer from the same problems with the same degree. As a conclusion, more work should be done to produce safe food in the different food establishments that were studied in the different universities.

Abstract Background Evidence on the association between the presence of fast-food outlets and Body Mass Index (BMI) is inconsistent. Furthermore, mechanisms underlying the fast-food outlet presence-BMI association are understudied. We investigated the association between the number of fast-food outlets being present and objectively measured BMI. Moreover, we investigated to what extent this association was moderated by neighbourhood socio-economic status (NSES) and healthy food outlets. Additionally, we investigated mediation by frequency of fast-food consumption and amount of fat intake. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used baseline data of adults in Lifelines (N = 149,617). Geo-coded residential addresses were linked to fast-food and healthy food outlet locations. We computed the number of fast-food and healthy food outlets within 1 kilometre (km) of participants’ residential addresses (each categorised into null, one, or at least two). Participants underwent objective BMI measurements. We linked data to Statistics Netherlands to compute NSES. Frequency of fast-food consumption and amount of fat intake were measured through questionnaires in Lifelines. Multivariable multilevel linear regression analyses were performed to investigate associations between fast-food outlet presence and BMI, adjusting for individual and environmental potential confounders. When exposure-moderator interactions had p-value

Abstract Background Food prepared out-of-home is typically energy-dense and nutrient-poor. This food can be purchased from multiple types of retailer, including restaurants and takeaway food outlets. Using online food delivery services to purchase food prepared out-of-home is increasing in popularity. This may lead to more frequent unhealthy food consumption, which is positively associated with poor diet and living with obesity. Understanding possible reasons for using online food delivery services might contribute to the development of future public health interventions, if deemed necessary. This knowledge would be best obtained by engaging with individuals who use online food delivery services as part of established routines. Therefore, we aimed to investigate customer experiences of using online food delivery services to understand their reasons for using them, including any advantages and drawbacks. Methods and results In 2020, we conducted telephone interviews with 22 adults living in the UK who had used online food delivery services on at least a monthly basis over the previous year. Through codebook thematic analysis, we generated five themes: ‘The importance of takeaway food’, ‘Less effort for more convenience’, ‘Saving money and reallocating time’, ‘Online food delivery service normalisation’ and ‘Maintained home food practices’. Two concepts were overarching throughout: ‘Place. Time. Situation.’ and ‘Perceived advantages outweigh recognised drawbacks’. After considering each of the accessible food purchasing options within the context of their location and the time of day, participants typically selected online food delivery services. Participants reported that they did not use online food delivery services to purchase healthy food. Participants considered online food delivery service use to be a normal practice that involves little effort due to optimised purchasing processes. As a result, these services were seen to offer convenient access to food aligned with sociocultural expectations. Participants reported that this convenience was often an advantage but could be a drawback. Although participants were price-sensitive, they were willing to pay delivery fees for the opportunity to complete tasks whilst waiting for delivery. Furthermore, participants valued price-promotions and concluded that receiving them justified their online food delivery service use. Despite takeaway food consumption, participants considered home cooking to be irreplaceable. Conclusions Future public health interventions might seek to increase the healthiness of food available online whilst maintaining sociocultural values. Extending restrictions adopted in other food environments to online food delivery services could also be explored.

Introdução. Em 2009, foi proposta uma classificação de alimentos, denominada classificação NOVA. Países da América Latina tem se destacado em seu uso nas recomendações nutricionais e agenda regulatória. Objetivo. Avaliar como a produção científica em alimentação e nutrição na América Latina tem incorporado a classificação NOVA. Materiais e métodos. A análise da produção científica foi realizada a partir de trabalhos apresentados no Congresso Latinoamericano de Nutrição (SLAN) nos anos de 2012, 2015 e 2018. Os termos utilizados para a busca foram: NOVA, ultraprocessado, processado, processamento e guia alimentar, nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol. Após a busca, foram aplicados os critérios de exclusão e inclusão e os resumos selecionados foram descritos de acordo com variáveis analíticas previamente definidas. Resultados. Foram analisados 153, sendo 24 publicados em 2012, 20 em 2015 e 109 em 2018. A maioria dos estudos foram desenvolvidos no Brasil (56,2%) e no México (12,4%) e envolvia adolescentes (28,8%), adultos (21,6%) e alimentos (19,6%) como sujeito/unidade de análise. A maioria dos trabalhos foi classificada na área de Nutrição em Saúde Pública (88,9%), era de natureza observacional (82,3%) e empregava método quantitativo (76,5%). A venda e/ou consumo de alimentos (46,4%) e o ambiente alimentar (24,2%) foram os objetos de estudo mais frequentes. Conclusão. A produção científica que considera a classificação NOVA na América Latina aumentou em 2018, com Brasil e México liderando o desenvolvimento dos estudos. Estudos que explorem a relação da classificação NOVA com o preço dos alimentos, habilidades culinárias e políticas públicas são oportunidades de pesquisa.

Background: Street foods have gained popularity around the world in the past few decades. The current study was carried out in order to quantitative analysis of used cooking oils by Street Food Vendors (SFVs) of Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: Fifty samples of cooking oil used by SFVs were collected. Also, a questionnaire was designed for qualitative assessment that revealed maximum vendors used vegetable ghee because of its low cost and practiced addition of new oil into the used one instead of disposing it. The samples were also quantified for their Moisture Content (MC), Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Peroxide Value (PV), Iodine Value (IV), and Total Polar Compounds (TPC). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 21. Results: The survey data indicated poor knowledge regarding the safety and health aspects of cooking oils among SFVs. Moreover, mean values indicated that most of the samples were unhealthy as they exhibited higher MC (>0.10%), TPC (>25%), PV (>10 meq. O2/kg), and FFA (>0.20 mg KOH/g); and very low IV (

Background: The processing of food can cause changes that turn them into risk factors for chronic diseases. A higher degree of food processing is associated with the development of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the prevalence of MetS and its risk factors, focusing on a population group especially subjected to precarious living conditions and food insecurity. Method: Cross-sectional population-based study with women (19 to 59 years) from Quilombola communities of Alagoas. The socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric, health status, lifestyle, and food intake (24-h recall) variables were analyzed. The dependent variable was the MetS, defined using the harmonization criteria of the Joint Interim Statement, and its components. The foods consumed were categorized according to the Nova Classification, assuming the highest UPF consumption as risk exposure. The measure of association was the prevalence ratio (PR) and respective 95%CI, calculated by Poisson regression with robust variance. We also analyzed the association with the Nova score of UPF consumption. Results: We investigated 895 women (38.9 ± 11.0 years), of whom 48.3% had MetS. On average, 15.9% of the total energy intake came from UPF. Lower Nova scores were associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes and low HDL. Higher UPF consumption was associated with a 30% higher prevalence of hypertension (PR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.06–1.61). Conclusion: The highest UPF consumption was positively associated with the prevalence of hypertension, while a lower Nova score was a protective factor against diabetes and low HDL. UPF consumption in Quilombola communities is important but lower than that observed in the Brazilian population in general. It is suggested that public health programs be implemented to promote healthy eating while valuing the existing eating habits and traditions among the remaining Brazilian Quilombola people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schools can play an important role in promoting healthy child diet and body weight. However, this issue is understudied in Latin American and other populations undergoing nutrition and epidemiologic transition.Objectives: 2018 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey data were used to examine the association of school food sources with healthy and unhealthy food intake and body mass index (BMI) in primary (n = 12632) and secondary students (n = 6617).Methods: Data on school food environment characteristics were collected by questionnaire, intakes of fruits, vegetables, plain water, sweetened beverages, processed snacks, and fast foods by food frequency questionnaire, and BMI using measured weight and height. Data were analyzed using multivariable methods.Results: The major school food sources were competitive foods sold by commercial outlets (73%), School Breakfast Program (SBP; 52%), and home-packed items (37%). Most (69%) competitive food outlets sold fruits and vegetables but only 44% offered free clean drinking water and 60% sold prohibited "red traffic light" foods. Primary and secondary students who bought competitive foods consumed sweetened beverages, processed snacks, and fast food more frequently than nonpurchasers (P = .0001). Those who packed home foods had higher fruit and vegetable intakes (P = .0001). Plain water intakes were reduced among all SBP participants (P = .0001). However, primary students in the SBP consumed fast foods less frequently (P = .0001) and had lower average BMI and odds for being obese compared to nonparticipants (P = .0001).Conclusion: The findings from this nationally representative study underscore the important contribution of the school food environment to child nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High consumption of fatty acids is known as a dietary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of study was to survey of fatty acid profiles in the traditional/fast foods commonly consumed in Iran. Methods: Gas chromatography was used in the present study to determine the composition of fatty acids in 40 most popular traditional/fast foods consumed in Isfahan, Iran. The food samples were collected from 19 restaurants. Results: In all the tested samples, palmitic acid was at the highest level of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (P < 0.05). Although in both groups of foods, the levels of trans fatty acids (TFAs) were above 2% in 30% of examined foods, the higher amounts of TFAs were found in traditional foods (P < 0.05). The results show that traditional foods contain higher levels of SFAs and TFAs than fast foods. Conclusions: The alarming findings of the present study should compel the relevant authorities in Iran to adopt and implement appropriate policies that systematically and continually control the types of food prepared and served in restaurants in order to minimize the intake of SFAs and TFAs.

IntroductionSugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and fast-food consumption is significantly associated with adolescents' poor mental health. Furthermore, sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food consumption might form clustered diet patterns with significant positive associations in adolescent high school students. Thus, the combined consumption of SSBs and fast foods may have more negative effects on mental health with synergetic effects than the sum of their independent consumption.MethodsThis study aimed to identify the effects of combining the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast foods on mental health, including stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among Korean high school students. Secondary data from 24,006 high school students were analyzed from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2021. For statistical analysis, complex sampling analysis using the SPSS Statistics 26.0 software was applied for descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis.ResultsIn Korean adolescents, combining more than medium consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast foods was associated with more stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation than their independent consumption. In addition, combining high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and low to high consumption of fast foods might have dose-dependent negative effects on stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents.DiscussionBased on the results of this study, healthcare providers in schools and communities might develop various interventions including school/community-based feeding programs and policies targeting the restriction of SSB and fast-food consumption to improve adolescents' mental health.

The obesity epidemic appeared in the USA in 1976–1980 and then spread across Westernized countries. This paper examines the most likely causes of the epidemic in the USA. An explanation must be consistent with the emergence of the epidemic in both genders and in all age groups and ethnicities at about the same time, and with a steady rise in the prevalence of obesity until at least 2016. The cause is closely related to changes in the American diet. There is little association with changes in the intake of fat and carbohydrate. This paper presents the opinion that the factor most closely linked to the epidemic is ultra-processed foods (UPFs) (i.e., foods with a high content of calories, salt, sugar, and fat but with very little whole foods). Of particular importance is sugar intake, especially sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). There is strong evidence that consumption of SSBs leads to higher energy intake and more weight gain. A similar pattern is also seen with other UPFs. Factors that probably contributed to the increased intake of UPFs include their relatively low price and the increased popularity of fast-food restaurants. Other related topics discussed include: (1) the possible importance of Farm Bills implemented by the US Department of Agriculture; (2) areas where further research is needed; (3) health hazards linked to UPFs; and (4) the need for public health measures to reduce intake of UPFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neighborhoods may play an important role in shaping long-term weight trajectory and obesity risk. Studying the impact of moving to another neighborhood may be the most efficient way to determine the impact of the built environment on health. We explored whether residential moves were associated with changes in body weight.Methods: Kaiser Permanente Washington electronic health records were used to identify 21,502 members aged 18-64 who moved within King County, WA between 2005 and 2017. We linked body weight measures to environment measures, including population, residential, and street intersection densities (800 m and 1,600 m Euclidian buffers) and access to supermarkets and fast foods (1,600 m and 5,000 m network distances). We used linear mixed models to estimate associations between postmove changes in environment and changes in body weight.Results: In general, moving from high-density to moderate- or low-density neighborhoods was associated with greater weight gain postmove. For example, those moving from high to low residential density neighborhoods (within 1,600 m) gained an average of 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.0, 5.9) lbs 3 years after moving, whereas those moving from low to high-density neighborhoods gained an average of 1.3 (95% CI = -0.2, 2.9) lbs. Also, those moving from neighborhoods without fast-food access (within 1600m) to other neighborhoods without fast-food access gained less weight (average 1.6 lbs [95% CI = 0.9, 2.4]) than those moving from and to neighborhoods with fast-food access (average 2.8 lbs [95% CI = 2.5, 3.2]).Conclusions: Moving to higher-density neighborhoods may be associated with reductions in adult weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Education on the selection of low-sugar ultra-processed foods (UPF) plays a crucial role in promoting good oral health. This study aimed to assess the impact of a virtual educational strategy, developed in the field of dentistry, on improve Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs) related to oral health and the appropriate selection of sweet-tasting UPF. A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design was conducted, involving parents and caregivers of children and pre-adolescents. Thirteen virtual learning objects (VLO) were delivered via Facebook. To measure the impact of the strategy, a validated instrument was used before the intervention, immediately after, and again six months later to assess Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs) on the subject. The median scores before and after the intervention were compared using the Friedman test for related samples, followed by multiple comparisons with Dunn's test. Participants' KAP levels were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test and multiple comparisons of column proportions with Bonferroni correction. Finally, a satisfaction and applicability survey was conducted. A significant improvement (p < 0.01) was observed in the participants' median KAP scores both immediately after the intervention and six months later. A greater number of participants reached the highest level in knowledge (Before (B): 43.8%, Immediately After (IA): 86%, After six months (A6): 81.3%), attitudes (B: 34.2%, IA: 69.4%, A6: 65.2%), and practices (B: 22.5%, IA: 53.7%, A6: 47.3%). Most participants described the course as consistently dynamic, well-organized, and appropriate timing. They also expressed their intention to apply the knowledge in their daily lives. The implemented strategy improved participants' KAPs concerning oral health and the appropriate selection of sweet-tasting UPF. It also resulted in participants' children consuming fewer sweet bakery products, candies, and flavored milk. Additionally, more participants reported consistently reading food labels after the intervention, although this behavior was not adopted by the majority., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Angarita-Díaz et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: The Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy was introduced in 2014/15 in England and Scotland for schoolchildren aged 4-7 years, leading to an increase in school meal uptake. UK school meals are known to be healthier and less industrially processed than food brought from home (packed lunches). However, the impact of the UIFSM policy on the quantity of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumed at school during lunchtime is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the UIFSM policy on lunchtime intakes of UPF in English and Scottish schoolchildren., Methods: Data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008-2019) were used to conduct a difference-in-difference (DID) natural experiment. Outcomes included school meal uptake and the average intake of UPF (% of total lunch in grams (%g) and % total lunch in Kcal (%Kcal)) during school lunchtime. The change in the outcomes before and after the introduction of UIFSM (September 2014 in England, January 2015 in Scotland) in the intervention group (4-7 years, n = 835) was compared to the change in an unexposed control group (8-11 years, n = 783), using linear regression. Inverse probability weights were used to balance characteristics between intervention and control groups., Results: Before UIFSM, school meal uptake and consumption of UPFs were similar in the intervention and control groups. The DID model showed that after UIFSM, school meal uptake rose by 25%-points (pp) (95% CI 14.2, 35.9) and consumption of UPFs (%g) decreased by 6.8pp (95% CI -12.5,-1.0). Analyses indicated this was driven by increases in minimally processed dairy and eggs, and starchy foods, and decreases in ultra-processed salty snacks, bread and drinks. The differences were larger in the lowest-income children (-19.3 UPF(%g); 95% CI -30.4,-8.2) compared to middle- and high-income children. Analyses using UPF %Kcal had similar conclusions., Conclusions: This study builds on previous evidence suggesting that UIFSM had a positive impact on dietary patterns, showing that it reduced consumption of UPFs at school lunchtime, with the greatest impact for children from the lowest-income households. Universal free school meals could be an important policy for long term equitable improvements in children's diet., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: High consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) continues to draw significant public health interest because of the associated negative health outcomes. Metabolomics can contribute to the understanding of the biological mechanisms through which UPFs may influence health., Objectives: To investigate urine and plasma metabolomic biomarkers of UPF intake in adolescents and young adults., Methods: We used data from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed study to investigate cross-sectional associations of UPF intake with concentrations of urine metabolites in adolescents using 3d weighed dietary records (3d-WDR) and 24-h urine samples (n = 339), and associations of repeatedly assessed UPF intake with concentrations of circulating plasma metabolites in young adults with 3-6 3d-WDRs within 5 y preceding blood measurement (n = 195). Urine and plasma samples were analyzed using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Biosample-specific metabolite patterns (MPs) were determined using robust sparse principal components analysis. Multivariable linear regression models were applied to assess the associations of UPF consumption (as a percentage of total food intake in g/d) with concentrations of individual metabolites and MP scores., Results: The median proportion of UPF intake was 22.0% [interquartile range (IQR): 12.3, 32.9] in adolescents and 23.2% (IQR: 16.0, 31.6) in young adults. We identified 42 and 6 UPF intake-associated metabolites in urine and plasma samples, respectively. One urinary MP, "xenobiotics and amino acids" [β = 0.042, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.014, 0.070] and 1 plasma MP, "lipids, xenobiotics, and amino acids" (β = 0.074, 95% CI: 0.031, 0.117) showed positive association with UPF intake. Both patterns shared 29 metabolites, mostly of xenobiotic metabolism., Conclusions: We identified urine and plasma metabolites associated with UPF intake in adolescents and young adults, which may represent some of the biological mechanisms through which UPFs may influence metabolism and health., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest. Where authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer/WHO, the authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy, or views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer/WHO., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Patient Protection US Affordable Care Act (ACA) energy posting mandate requires restaurant chains to disclose information on the energy content of their food items. Assessments of the effect of menu energy labeling on dietary choices have reported inconsistent findings., Objectives: This study examined the impact of menu energy labeling on food items purchased by college students after the mandate was enacted nationally., Methods: Student food sales data from purchases made at 3 fast-food restaurants during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 academic years at a university campus were used for the analysis. The total sample included 1662 students on the university meal plan; these students generated 145,295 food transactions at the restaurants over the study period. We utilized a difference-in-differences (DiD) empirical strategy, comparing changes in transaction-level energy purchases at 2 fast-food restaurants B and C (FFRB and FFRC - treatment groups) that posted energy information in the summer of 2018 with another fast-food restaurant A (FFRA - control group) that began posting energy information before the study period., Results: We observed increases in the mean energy content per transaction after implementing the menu-labeling policy. The DiD estimates found an increase of 20.6 in the mean calories of energy purchased per transaction at the treatment restaurants relative to the control restaurant. In the subgroup analyses, the DiD estimates indicated calories of energy increased: 18.7 for female students, 20.5 for male students, 23.5 for non-Hispanic Black students, 30.2 for students eligible for federal financial aid, and 19.9 for students not eligible for federal financial aid., Conclusions: The results suggest that the ACA energy menu-labeling policy led to an increase in the energy content per transaction by students at a public university. This paper highlights the need for more research to better understand the determinants of food choice among college students., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Using a cross-sectional correlational study, the purpose was to quantitatively investigate factors associated to firefighters' food behaviors while on duty at the fire station., Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two (252) firefighters (males, 96%; age, 39 ± 11 years) completed an online questionnaire assessing diet and exploring factors that could be associated to firefighters' food behaviors at the fire station., Results: First regression analysis showed that level of education, years of experience, self-perceived nutrition knowledge, autonomous motivation, and accessibility to unhealthy foods were the best predictors of healthy food score. Second regression analysis revealed that body mass index, autonomous motivation, and meals interrupted by emergency calls were the best predictors of fast-food score., Conclusions: This study highlights the various factors associated with firefighters' food behaviors at the fire station., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Prior research on ultra-processed food addiction (FA) has utilized the self-report Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) measures to identify individuals who experience indicators of substance-use disorders with respect to their consumption of ultra-processed foods. Studies using the YFAS have provided insight into the clinical utility of FA as both a distinct construct and an indicator of more severe psychopathology among individuals with eating disorders. However, the absence of clinician-administered assessment tools for FA has been identified as a barrier to the evaluation of FA as a novel clinical syndrome. Thus, the present study reflects the development of the Food Addiction Symptom Inventory (FASI), a clinician-administered assessment of FA, adapted from the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth editon modules for diagnosing substance-use disorders. The psychometric properties of the FASI and its concordance with the YFAS 2.0 were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of adults ( n = 53) with binge-type eating disorders. The FASI performed appropriately on indices of reliability and validity. Concordance between the FASI and YFAS 2.0 was established for the symptom scores ( r = .53, p < .001), and > 70% agreement was achieved for FA categorization. Using the FASI, 80% of individuals with bulimia nervosa and 91.7% of those with binge eating disorder were identified as exhibiting FA. While the YFAS 2.0 and FASI both lead to similar assessments of FA symptoms, the FASI provides an essential approach for clinician-guided identification of this phenotype, which may be particularly important when participants have high levels of dietary restraint or limited insight into the impact of their eating behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Prepared dishes are popular convenience foods that meet the needs of consumers who pursue delicious tastes while saving time and effort. As a new technology, food 3D printing (also known as food additive manufacturing technology) has great advantage in the production of personalized food. Applying food 3D printing technology in the production of prepared dishes provides the solution to microbial contamination, poor nutritional quality and product standardization. This review summarizes the problems faced by the prepared dishes industry in traditional food processing, and introduces the characteristics of prepared dishes and 3D printing technology. Food additives are suitable for 3D prepared dishes and novel 3D printing technologies are also included in this review. In addition, the challenges and possible solutions of the application of food 3D printing technology in the field of prepared dishes are summarized and explored. Food additives with advantages in heat stability, low temperature protection and bacteriostasis help to accelerate the application of 3D printing in prepared dishes industry. The combination of 3D printing technology with heat-assisted sources (microwave, laser) and non-heat-assisted sources (electrolysis, ultrasound) provides the possibility for the development of customized prepared dishes in the future, and also promotes more 3D food printing technologies for commercial use. It is noteworthy that these technologies are still at research stage, and there are challenges for the formulation design, the stability of printed ink storage, as well as implementation of customized nutrition for the elderly and children.

Using food and drink disposable containers has heavy environmental and economic consequences. The widespread adoption of reusable containers is a challenge that requires understanding the psychological determinants and barriers of the behaviour. Two studies were conducted: one with a sample from the general public (study 1, N  = 302) and one with respondents having access to a reusable container system at work (study 2, N  = 737). Online surveys measured self-reported use of single-use and reusable containers for food and drinks takeaway (studies 1 and 2) and for food delivery (study 1). Stages of change and psychological determinants were also measured to provide behavioural levers. Results indicate that in study 1, most of the sample is aware of the issue associated with single-use containers but has not switched to reusable. In study 2, most respondents say they are already using few single-use and are willing to continue, particularly for drinks to go. Thus, accessibility at the workplace to a reusable container system is associated with higher stages of change. However, many respondents are also in the preactional phase for food takeaway, that is, willing to change but have not started yet. In both studies, perception of control on the behaviour and volitional variables are positively associated with stages of change. This suggests that making reusable containers easier to use and helping individuals plan how and when they can do it could encourage behaviour change., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background/objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life. FI affects over 30 million Americans and is associated with poor clinical outcomes and impaired quality of life and drives significant health inequities. Despite the rising prevalence of FI and the federal focus on improving access to healthy food, there is a paucity of research on FI in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the goal of this study was to define FI in a cohort of IBD patients and determine whether FI was associated with changes in dietary patterns, including specifically an increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in this high-risk patient population., Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients with a diagnosis of IBD who were 18 years of age or older and who were seen in a nutrition focused clinic. Patients were screened for FI using the Hunger Vital Sign™, a 2-question validated FI screening tool and underwent a 24-h dietary recall. The degree of food processing was assessed using the NOVA Food Classification System., Results: Among 128 patients with IBD, we observed that FI is increasingly prevalent, with 45% of patients reporting difficulty with sufficient grocery access at least "sometimes" in the last 12 months and 10% reporting decreased food access "often" in the prior year. In addition, the patients at high-risk for FI were significantly more likely to eat NOVA 4 UPFs (54% vs. 27%, p = 0.001) and were significantly less likely to eat NOVA 1 unprocessed foods (32% vs. 61%, p = 0.001) as compared to those not at risk for FI. Finally, only a small percentage of those at highest risk for FI were enrolled in a federal food assistance program for grocery support., Conclusions: The prevalence of FI is increasing in patients with IBD and is associated with reduced dietary quality.

Background/objectives: Depression, anxiety, and stress are highly prevalent mental disorders worldwide, and food consumption can change in individuals with these conditions. We aimed to assess the food consumption of women with depressive symptoms and compare it to a control without symptoms., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 96 women, aged 18-59, allocated into two groups: control (n = 62) or depressive symptoms ( n = 34). The participants underwent an anthropometric assessment, and food consumption was evaluated using a 24 h food recall and the NOVA classification. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress were measured using the DASS-21 questionnaire., Results: Anthropometric parameters did not differ between the groups. Women with depressive symptoms consumed fewer calories ( p = 0.006), carbohydrates ( p = 0.014), proteins ( p = 0.036), and lipids (0.011) from unprocessed and minimally processed foods (UMPF) compared to the control women. A negative correlation was found between the dietary consumption energy of UMPF and symptoms of depression (r = -0.337; p = 0.001), anxiety (r = -0.262; p = 0.014), and stress (r = -0.260; p = 0.014), as well as a positive correlation between energy intake from ultra-processed foods (UPF) and symptoms of depression (r = 0.218; p = 0.042) and stress (r = 0.227; p = 0.034). Regression analysis showed that depressive symptoms accounted for 7.6% of the lower energy consumption from UMPF., Conclusions: Women with depressive symptoms displayed lower UMPF consumption, and this was negatively correlated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Professional dietary advice can improve health status in these patients.

Background: The increase in serving sizes of energy-dense nutrient-poor discretionary foods over time, with attractively presented large servings and package sizes, has led to portion distortion and a new 'normal' for serving sizes. Little data exists on the variations of portion size norms of discretionary foods across settings. This study aimed to examine the differences in the range of normal portion sizes of commonly consumed foods between home and out-of-home settings (coffee shops, restaurants)., Methods: A repeated cross-sectional design was used, with nine selected discretionary foods and beverages included in a validated online image-series questionnaire. Participants completed the questionnaire at two time points to report their normal portion sizes in home and out-of-home settings. Quantile regression models were used to examine differences in the range of normal portion sizes (17th to 83rd percentile, representing the majority of the study population) between settings., Results: A final sample of 295 participants was included in the analysis (51% females, mean age 40 ± 14 years). The ranges of normal portion sizes did not differ by settings for all test foods except for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) tested in both containers and glassware. SSB showed smaller normal portion sizes at home compared to fast food restaurants (in a bottle/can and in a glass/cup; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: These findings suggest that the portion size norms of many discretionary foods are mostly consistent in home and out-of-home settings. As the typical serving sizes available to consumers in the out-of-home settings are large, it is essential to establish practical serving size guidelines directed at the food industry to increase the availability of smaller size options and empower consumers towards better portion control.

Introduction: Food marketing restrictions often apply nutrient profile models (NPM) to distinguish unhealthy products that should not be advertised, however brand-only marketing remains largely unaddressed. We sought to test a threshold method for classifying packaged food, beverage, or fast-food brands as (non)permitted for marketing, based on the nutrient profile of their product-lines., Methods: We retrieved nutrient information from the Nutritrack databases for all products sold by the top 51 packaged food, beverage and fast-food brands in New Zealand, selected by market share. All products under each brand were classified as permitted (or not) to be marketed to children, using the NPM for WHO Western Pacific. The 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% threshold of brands' products permitted to market were compared. The 50% and 75% thresholds were compared to the WHO CLICK method, which is based on assessment of the brand's leading product., Results: The 90% threshold permitted 13% of the brands to be marketed to children. The 25% threshold permitted the marketing of 62% of brands. The 50% and 75% thresholds remained highly sensitive in identifying brands that should not be marketed to children. Comparison to the WHO CLICK method identified that a threshold method is more comprehensive and less arbitrary., Conclusions: A threshold model based on product-line nutrient profiling provides a robust and option for brand classification. The 50% and 75% thresholds may be the most politically preferred options for use in regulation, while remaining highly effective., Practitioner Points: Brand marketing (e.g. sponsorship) remains largely unaddressed in existing restrictions on unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children.An established Nutrient Profile Model can be applied to a brand's entire product line, allowing calculation of the proportion of products that would not be permitted to be advertised to children.Restricting brand marketing for food and beverage brands with less than 50% or 75% of their products classified as 'permitted to be marketed to children' is a robust and evidence-based method that can be applied in regulation, with potential to mitigate industry challenges., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Jordan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background/objectives: We investigated the effects of ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption on metabolic disorders (e.g., adiposity, metabolic associated steatotic liver disease [MASLD], and insulin resistance) in children and adolescents with obesity to improve dietary guidelines and public health strategies., Methods: The dietary intake of 149 participants (aged 8-17 years) was assessed with food diaries. The NOVA classification system was used to classify food according to the degree of processing. Metabolic outcomes, including the fat mass index (FMI), hepatic fat percentage, and insulin resistance, were measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), and biochemical analysis, respectively., Results: Greater UPF consumption from baseline to the 6-month follow-up was significantly associated with increased insulin and decreased total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. UPF consumption was positively associated with the prevalence of MASLD (liver MRI-PDFF ≥ 5%; odds ratio T3 vs. T1 = 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 3.00), moderate-to-severe MASLD (liver MRI-PDFF ≥ 10%; OR T3 vs. T1 = 4.19; 95% CI 1.72, 10.22), and insulin resistance (OR T3 vs. T1 = 2.44; 95% CI 1.33, 4.48), after adjusting for covariates. A linear dose-response relationship was observed between UPF consumption and the odds of moderate-to-severe MASLD and insulin resistance., Conclusions: Greater UPF consumption was strongly associated with MASLD and insulin resistance in children and adolescents with obesity, underscoring the importance of reducing UPF consumption through dietary guidelines and public health interventions to mitigate the risk of obesity-related metabolic conditions in young populations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Online food delivery applications (OFDAs) have seen a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 Pandemic, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to assess the use of OFDAs and the perception of food healthiness and safety among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in the UAE via snowball sampling (n = 1096). Sociodemographic characteristics, OFDAs usage, and perceptions toward food healthiness and safety were investigated. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the association between categorical variables and healthy food choices. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used to determine differences between different groups and perception statements. Over half (52%) of the students were frequent users of OFDAs with fast food being the most popular choice (88.4%). Older participants, those living in the university dorms, and those with higher allowances used the OFDAs more frequently (P < 0.05). Price (78.0%) and food appearance (65.7%) had the highest impact on food selection. Most subjects (69.3%) reported looking for healthy food but were worried about affordability (43.1%) and taste (27.1%). Most participants (57.8%) agreed that OFDAs increased their appetite and food intake. Participants believed that having a hygiene rating system in OFDAs would give them the chance to make informed decisions (82.3%). Unhealthy food options were popular among university students. The study highlights the need to provide more affordable and appealing healthy food options and suggests that improved nutrition information and hygiene standards could help to promote healthy food choices among university students., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: Nutrient content and degree of processing are complementary but distinct concepts, and a growing body of evidence shows that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can have detrimental health effects independently from nutrient content. 10 + countries currently mandate front-of-package labels (FOPL) to inform consumers when products are high in added sugars, saturated fat, and/or sodium. Public health advocates have been calling for the addition of ultra-processed warning labels to these FOPLs, but the extent to which consumers would understand and be influenced by such labels remains unknown. We examined whether the addition of ultra-processed warning labels to existing nutrient warning labels could influence consumers' product perceptions and purchase intentions., Methods: In 2023, a sample of adults in Brazil (n = 1,004) answered an open-ended question about the meaning of the term "ultra-processed," followed by an online experiment where they saw four ultra-processed products carrying warning labels. Participants were randomly assigned to view either only nutrient warning labels or nutrient plus ultra-processed warning labels. Participants then answered questions about their intentions to purchase the products, product perceptions, and perceived label effectiveness., Results: Most participants (69%) exhibited a moderate understanding of the term "ultra-processed" prior to the experiment. The addition of an ultra-processed warning label led to a higher share of participants who correctly identified the products as UPFs compared to nutrient warning labels alone (Cohen's d = 0.16, p = 0.02). However, the addition of the ultra-processed warning label did not significantly influence purchase intentions, product healthfulness perceptions, or perceived label effectiveness compared to nutrient warning labels alone (all p > 0.05). In exploratory analyses, demographic characteristics and prior understanding of the concept of UPF did not moderate the effect of ultra-processed warning labels., Conclusions: Ultra-processed warning labels may help consumers better identify UPFs, although they do not seem to influence behavioral intentions and product perceptions beyond the influence already exerted by nutrient warning labels. Future research should examine how ultra-processed warning labels would work for products that do and do not require nutrient warnings, as well as examine the benefits of labeling approaches that signal the health effects of UPFs., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05842460. Prospectively registered March 15th, 2023., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Food environments are important determinants of healthy diets among young people. This study explored young people's perspectives on their food environment, their recommendations to policymakers and views on youth engagement in policy processes. There is limited research on young people's perspectives on their involvement in developing food environment policies. Youth engagement in policymaking processes can lead to greater policy integrity and inclusivity. Four focus group discussions were conducted with 39 young people (12-21 years) from a town in North West England and a metropolitan area in the English Midlands. Participants were recruited through youth organizations. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Young people reported concerns about the density of fast food outlets in their local area, the unaffordability of healthier food, and fast food advertisement. These issues were not believed to be prioritized in local and national policymaking. Accordingly, policy recommendations were mainly for structural food environment policies, including restrictions on fast food outlet density and incentives for menu reformulation. Young people did not feel involved in local decisions about the food environment. They expressed a need for more meaningful engagement beyond consultation. Young people have repeatedly shown to have a deep understanding of the social, commercial and political factors that influence diet and health. It is essential that policymakers aiming to improve young people's diets take their unique views and concerns into account to create effective policies that resonate with young people., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Sedentary lifestyles and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption contribute to a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents. Screen time may be associated with higher UPF consumption and affect eating behaviors substantially., Objective: The aim of this study was to explore adolescents' perceptions, attitudes, and motivations concerning the consumption of UPF when using screens; investigate their perceived educational needs regarding nutrition; and explore their knowledge about UPF., Design: This was a qualitative study using focus groups., Participants/setting: Four focus groups with 30 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years at a Spanish high school were recruited in May 2022. Participants were chosen using purposive sampling based on a theoretical saturation criterion., Analyses: Focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis., Results: Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis. Participants explained that most of their meals were eaten in front of screens. They confirmed more consumption of UPF at breakfast, as mid-afternoon snacks, on weekends, and during their main meals when alone. Participants reported that the high consumption of UPF during social gatherings was related to its easy availability, convenience, and palatability. Adolescents expressed that eating in front of screens and exposure to UPF advertising led to compulsive and impulsive consumption of these products. They described UPF as addictive and unhealthy. Although participants had little awareness of UPF health effects, they expressed interest in learning about healthy eating habits. Parental attitudes toward food were considered by the participants as relevant in establishing their eating behaviors., Conclusions: Loneliness, social gatherings, and parental attitudes toward UPF consumption emerged as important influences on adolescents' dietary behaviors in front of screens. In addition, availability, palatability, and exposure to advertising were key factors reported to influence adolescents' UPF consumption in front of screens. Addressing these influences through nutritional and educational interventions, as well as regulating the adolescent obesogenic environment and managing screen time could help modulate these effects., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We compared the performance of three food categorisation metrics in predicting palatability (taste pleasantness) using a dataset of 52 foods, each rated virtually (online) by 72-224 participants familiar with the foods in question, as described in Appetite 193 (2024) 107124. The metrics were nutrient clustering, NOVA, and nutrient profiling. The first two of these metrics were developed to identify, respectively: 'hyper-palatable' foods (HPFs); and ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are claimed to be 'made to be hyper-palatable'. The third metric categorises foods as high fat, sugar, salt (HFSS) foods versus non-HFSS foods. There were overlaps, but also significant differences, in categorisation of the foods by the three metrics: of the 52 foods, 35 (67%) were categorised as HPF, and/or UPF, and/or HFSS, and 17 (33%) were categorised as none of these. There was no significant difference in measured palatability between HPFs and non-HPFs, nor between UPFs and non-UPFs (p ≥ 0.412). HFSS foods were significantly more palatable than non-HFSS foods (p = 0.049). None of the metrics significantly predicted food reward (desire to eat). These results do not support the use of hypothetical combinations of food ingredients as proxies for palatability, as done explicitly by the nutrient clustering and NOVA metrics. To discover what aspects of food composition predict palatability requires measuring the palatability of a wide range of foods that differ in composition, as we do here., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest in relation to this research., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Reward responses to food are thought to play an important role in highly palatable food overconsumption. In animal models, food reward responses can be decoupled into unique "liking" (in the moment enjoyment) and "wanting" (motivation/craving) components. However, research on liking and wanting has been hampered by uncertainty regarding whether liking and wanting can be reliably separated in humans. We used factor analysis to test whether ratings of liking and wanting could be empirically separated in women assessed across 49 consecutive days. Female participants (N = 688; ages 15-30) from the Michigan State University Twin Registry reported liking and wanting of foods consumed that day, and wanting of foods not consumed that day, separately for sweets (e.g., cookies), fast food (e.g., French fries), carbohydrates (e.g., bread), and whole foods (fruit, plain chicken) each evening for 49 consecutive days. We examined both average levels and daily levels of liking/wanting across the 49-day period that captured individual differences in liking/wanting over time. Across both types of analyses, liking and wanting for foods that were eaten formed a single factor rather than separate, dissociable factors, while wanting of foods not eaten formed an independent factor. At the daily level, a liking/wanting factor emerged for each individual food category (e.g., liking/wanting sweets), whereas in average analyses, a single factor emerged that collapsed across all food types (i.e., liking/wanting of all foods). Results suggest individuals have difficulty distinguishing between liking and wanting of foods they have eaten on that day but may be able to more reliably separate wanting of foods they have not consumed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and leucocyte telomere length (LTL)., Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the UK Biobank, including a total of 64,690 participants. LTL was measured using Q-PCR with natural logarithmic conversion and Z-score normalization. Dietary data were collected through a 24-hour recall questionnaire from 2009 to 2010. UPFs were identified using the Nova food classification and analyzed as either a continuous or categorical variable respectively. Multiple linear regression models were employed to analyze the association between UPF consumption and LTL., Results: The included participants had an average age of 56.26 years, of whom 55.2% were female. After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle-related and anthropometric variables, LTL exhibited a decrease of 0.005 (95% CI: -0.007, -0.002) with one UPF serving/day increase. Compared to participants consuming ≤ 3.5 servings/day, those consuming 3.5 to < 6, 6 to ≤ 8 and > 8 servings/day showed a shortening of LTL by 0.025 (95% CI: -0.047, -0.004), 0.034 (95% CI: -0.055, -0.012) and 0.038 (95% CI: -0.062, -0.015), respectively (P for trend = 0.001). Subgroup analyses by UPF subclasses revealed that consumption of ready-to-eat/heated food (β = -0.008, 95% CI: -0.014, -0.002), beans and potatoes (β = -0.024, 95% CI: -0.039, -0.009), animal-based products (β = -0.011, 95% CI: -0.019, -0.004), artificial sugar (β = -0.014, 95% CI: -0.025, -0.004), and beverages (β = -0.005, 95% CI: -0.009, -0.001) showed negative associations with LTL. Conversely, breakfast cereals (β = 0.020, 95% CI: 0.004, 0.036) and vegetarian alternatives (β = 0.057, 95% CI: 0.027, 0.086) showed positive correlations with LTL., Conclusions: Our study found that a higher consumption of total UPFs was associated with a shorter LTL. However, some subclass UPFs may be associated with longer LTL, depending on their nutritional composition., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Considering the increasing prevalence of fast food consumption among teenagers, providing the necessary training and self-awareness is the best solution for institutionalizing the prevention of fast food consumption by this group. Therefore, this issue should be taken seriously, as should the implementation of educational interventions to prevent the consumption of fast food. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is one of the various health education styles and methods that works well. However, given that a number of local data points are crucial in establishing the efficacy of the model employed, this study looks into the impact of TPB-based education in preventing fast food intake among teenagers., Methods: A total of 180 male students, ages 15 to 18, participated in this quasi-experimental study in Shiraz, Iran. Cluster sampling was used in the study, and participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n = 90) and the control group (n = 90). A theory-based questionnaire was used to gather data, and both the control and experimental groups had to complete it before and three months after the intervention. The data were examined using paired t, independent t, and chi-square statistical tests after being entered into SPSS-24., Results: The results of the independent t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the two study groups before the intervention in terms of knowledge (P = 0.14), attitude (P = 0.57), subjective norms (P = 0.94), perceived behavioral control (P = 0.81), behavioral intention (P = 0.42), or behavior (P = 0.25). However, following the intervention, there was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to the noted variables (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the McNemar test results demonstrated that the experimental group's consumption of fast food varied significantly before and after the intervention (P = 0.001), but not in the control group (P = 0.07)., Conclusion: The study's findings demonstrated that TPB-based treatments are successful in helping male students change their habits of consuming fewer amounts of fast food. This study demonstrated that the instructional techniques employed improved the fast food consumption behavior of the intervention group as well as the TPB's structure (attitude, subjective norms, behavioral intention, and perceived behavioral intention)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aim of this study was to describe the dietary intake of British vegetarians according to the Nova classification and to evaluate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the nutritional quality of the diet. We used data from the UK national survey (2008/2019). Food collected through a 4-d record were classified according to the Nova system. In all tertiles of the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods, differences in the average nutrient intake, as well as in the prevalence of inadequate intake, were analysed, considering the values recommended by international authorities. Ultra-processed foods had the highest dietary contribution (56·3 % of energy intake), followed by fresh or minimally processed foods (29·2 %), processed foods (9·4 %) and culinary ingredients (5 %). A positive linear trend was found between the contribution tertiles of ultra-processed foods and the content of free sugars ( β 0·25, P < 0·001), while an inverse relationship was observed for dietary fibre ( β -0·26, P = 0·002), potassium ( β -0·38, P < 0·001), Mg ( β -0·31, P < 0·001), Cu ( β -0·22, P < 0·003), vitamin A ( β -0·37, P < 0·001) and vitamin C ( β -0·22, P < 0·001). As the contribution of ultra-processed foods to total energy intake increased (from the first to the last tertile of consumption), the prevalence of inadequate intake of free sugars increased (from 32·9 % to 60·7 %, respectively), as well as the prevalence of inadequate fibre intake (from 26·1 % to 47·5 %). The influence of ultra-processed foods on the vegetarian diet in the UK is of considerable magnitude, and the consumption of this food was associated with poorer diet quality.

Background: The use of corporate power to undermine public health policy processes is increasingly well understood; however, relatively little scholarship examines how advocates can leverage power to promote the successful adoption of public health policies. The objective of this paper is to explore how advocates leveraged three forms of power - structural, instrumental and discursive - to promote the passage of the Promotion of Healthy Eating Law (Ley 27,642) in Argentina, one of the most comprehensive policies to introduce mandatory front-of-package (FOP) warning labels and regulate the marketing and sales of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) adopted to date., Methods: We conducted seventeen semi-structured interviews with advocates from different sectors, including civil society, international agencies, and government. Both data collection and analysis were guided by Milsom's conceptual framework for analyzing power in public health policymaking, and the data was analyzed using hybrid deductive and inductive thematic analysis., Results: Advocates harnessed structural power through the leveraging of revolving doors, informal alliances, and formal coalitions, enabling them to convene discussion spaces with decision-makers, make strategic use of limited resources, and cultivate the diverse expertise (e.g., research, nutrition science, advocacy, law, political science, activism and communications) needed to support the law through different phases of the policy process. Advocates wielded instrumental power by amassing an armada of localized evidence to promote robust policy design, building technical literacy amongst themselves and decision-makers, and exposing conflicts of interest to harness public pressure. Advocates exercised discursive power by adopting a rights-based discourse, including of children and adolescents and of consumers to transparent information, which enabled advocates to foster a favorable perception of the law amongst both decision-makers and the public. Key contextual enablers include a political window of opportunity, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ability to learn from the regional precedent of similar policies., Conclusions: Public health policymaking, particularly when encroaching upon corporate interests, is characterized by stark imbalances of power that hinder policy decisions. The strategies identified in the case of Argentina provide important insights as to how advocates might harness and exercise structural, instrumental, and discursive power to counter corporate influence and promote the successful adoption of comprehensive UPF regulation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Dietary patterns contribute to overall health and diseases of ageing but are understudied in older adults. As such, we first aimed to develop dietary indices to quantify Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) utilisation and Ultra-processed Food (UPF) intake in a well-characterised cohort of relatively healthy community-dwelling older Australian adults. Second, we aimed to understand the relationship between these scores and the association of these scores with prevalent cardiometabolic disease and frailty. Our major findings are that in this population of older adults, (a) pre-frailty and frailty are associated with reduced MDS and increased UPF intake; (b) adherence to MDS eating patterns does not preclude relatively high intake of UPF (and vice versa); and (c) high utilisation of an MDS eating pattern does not prevent an increased risk of frailty with higher UPF intakes. As such, the Mediterranean Diet pattern should be encouraged in older adults to potentially reduce the risk of frailty, while the impact of UPF intake should be further explored given the convenience these foods provide to a population whose access to unprocessed food may be limited due to socioeconomic, health, and lifestyle factors.

Background and Aims: Studies have consistently demonstrated associations between ultra-processed food and drink (UPFD) consumption and non-communicable diseases. However, there is a lack of data investigating relationships between UPFD intake and intermediate cardiometabolic disease markers. In this study we explored UPFD associations with lipoprotein subclasses., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1986 middle-to older-aged men and women randomly selected from a large primary care centre. The percentage contribution of UPFDs to total energy intake was calculated for each participant using the NOVA classification. Lipoprotein particle subclass concentrations and size were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Correlation and multivariate-adjusted linear regression analyses were performed to examine UPFD intake relationships with lipoprotein subclasses., Results: In fully adjusted regression models, higher UPFD consumption was associated with reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations (β = -0.024, p = 0.001), large low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (β = -18.645, p = 0.002), total and medium HDL concentrations (β = -0.328, p = 0.012; β = -0.510, p < 0.001), smaller LDL and HDL size (β = -0.026, p = 0.023; β = -0.023, p = 0.024), and increased medium very low-density lipoprotein levels (β = 0.053, p = 0.022), small LDL and HDL concentrations (β = 20.358, p = 0.02; β = 0.336, p = 0.011), and higher lipoprotein insulin resistance scores (β = 0.048, p = 0.012), reflecting greater lipoprotein-related insulin resistance., Conclusions: Findings from this research suggest that increased intake of UPFDs is associated with a more pro-atherogenic, insulin-resistant metabolic profile in middle-to older-aged adults which may be a potential mechanism underlying reported associations between UPFD consumption and chronic disease risk and mortality., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest No competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies have shown that prolonged smartphone use is associated with dietary risk behaviors among adolescents. However, little is known about whether the exposure to food-related online media contents, such as mukbang (eating broadcast) and cookbang (cooking broadcast), is associated with unhealthy dietary behaviors, independent of overall duration of smartphone use., Objectives: This study investigated the associations between the frequency of mukbang/cookbang watching and dietary risk behaviors among Korean adolescents, using nationally representative survey data., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined the data from 50,044 middle and high school students in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey 2022. Participants reported their frequency of mukbang/cookbang watching, mean duration of smartphone use, frequency of breakfast eating, frequency of nighttime eating, and intakes of fast foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and high-caffeine drinks. We performed multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between mukbang/cookbang watching and dietary risk behaviors, accounting for complex survey sampling and adjusting for potential confounders., Results: Frequent mukbang/cookbang watching (≥5 times/wk compared with never) was positively associated with dietary risk behaviors, including frequent breakfast skipping (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.28), frequent nighttime eating (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.33, 1.54), and frequent intakes of fast foods (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.58, 1.80), SSBs (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.30, 1.66), and high-caffeine drinks (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.33, 1.50), adjusting for duration of smartphone use. All mukbang/cookbang viewers, including those who perceived that mukbang/cookbang videos had "no influence" on their dietary behavior, had higher prevalence of dietary risk behaviors than nonviewers (perceived "no influence" compared with nonviewers-OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.26, breakfast skipping; OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.24, nighttime eating; OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.30, 1.50, fast foods; OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.38, SSBs; OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.37, high-caffeine drinks)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that frequent mukbang/cookbang watching may be associated with unhealthy dietary behaviors among Korean adolescents., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We investigated whether food shape and its variety within a group affect visual appeal using a four-shaped fast-food chicken product known as Chicken McNuggets®. In Experiment 1, participants rated the visual appeal of each nugget shape both individually and when presented in groups of variously shaped nuggets. The results revealed that the rounder nugget was less visually appealing than those of other shapes. Additionally, assortments featuring various shapes were rated as more appealing than those of a single shape. In Experiment 2, the visual appeal of individual nuggets presented in groups and alone was assessed using a visual analog scale. The visual appeal of one specific nugget (target nugget) was higher when presented in a group than alone. Furthermore, a target nugget presented in a group with various shapes was more visually appealing than when presented in a group with the same shape, regardless of the shape of the target nugget. These results suggest that a food product with low visual appeal can be perceived as more appealing when it is presented alongside various food shapes. Indeed, the variety of food shapes presented in a group affected the perceived appeal both of the group and of the individual food item. These findings offer novel insights into the impact of food's visual variation on its appeal., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest One of the authors, Yui Tanaka, is an employee at McDonald's (Japan). McDonald's Japan provided the experimental stimuli., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)