Search

School-based body mass index (BMI) notification programs are often used to raise parental awareness of childhood overweight and obesity, but how BMI results are associated with physical fitness and diet is less clear. This study examined the relationship between BMI, fitness, and diet quality in a diverse sample of urban schoolchildren ("n" = 122) utilizing a school-based cardiorespiratory fitness test and a food frequency questionnaire. Fifty-two percent of children were overweight/obese. Fit children were more likely to be normal weight than unfit children ("p" < .001). Weight status was not associated with adherence to any specific dietary guidelines; however, greater overall adherence to the recommendations was associated with normal weight ("p" < .05). These findings suggest a potential benefit may be gained by combining BMI reports with results of in-school fitness testing and basic information on how children's diets compare to recommendations.

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. One barrier to achieving healthier eating patterns is the perceived higher cost of healthier food. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the potential association between cost and the nutrition quality among entrées from casual dining restaurants. Nutrition and price information were collected from 11 restaurants in Boston metropolitan area. A nutrition quality metric (Estimated Nutrition Score [ENS]) was developed based on the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to allow comparisons between more healthy and less healthy entrées. Associations between entrée price and ENS were assessed as continuous variables and dichotomized based on median ENS, availability of “small,” “half,” and “light” options, and with or without calories as a component of the score. Of the 11 restaurant chains meeting the inclusion criteria, the association between ENS and price was significant for 6. Of those 6, more healthy options were less expensive at 4 restaurants, and more healthy options were more expensive at 2 restaurants. Eliminating small, half, and light options from the analyses resulted in a null association for 1 restaurant in the former category. Eliminating calories from the score resulted in loss of a significant association between price and ENS for all 6 restaurants, whereas for 2 additional restaurants, significant negative relationships were detected. There was no consistent association between ENS and entrée price in the sample assessed. Hence, within the category of restaurants evaluated, customers can often choose healthier entrées that are priced less than or equal to less healthy entrées. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an assessment of local definitions and perceptions concerning healthy eating through a study in four resource-poor border communities in El Salvador. The study included focus groups, key-informant interviews, and observations of the food environment. Local definitions of healthy eating elicited through focus groups were compared to the national Salvadoran dietary guidelines recommendations. The comparison revealed several areas of overlap (including the importance of dietary variety, fruits, and vegetables, among others) and omissions (mention of limiting sweets/candy, salt, sugar, and alcohol). Focus group participants expressed concerns over the origin of their foods and whether food contained harmful chemicals. These conversations also revealed the contradictions between nutrition knowledge and preferences for foods classified as unhealthy. This article concludes with a discussion about barriers to healthy eating identified in the focus groups and through the food environment assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify nutritional factors and households characteristics associated with child stunting, maternal overweight and the familial coexistence of both types of malnutrition. In Guatemala, 2000, with nationally representative data, we selected 2261 households with at least one child aged 12–60 months and his/her mother. Nutritional status was assessed in children (e.g., stunting as height-for-age Z-score<−2) and mothers (e.g., overweight as body mass index≥25kg/m2) and identified the presence of both, child stunting and maternal overweight in the same household (SCOM). With logistic regression models we assessed the association of the malnutrition indicators with individual and household socio-economic and health characteristics. SCOM was identified in 18% of households. Socio-economic status (SES) of SCOM households was significantly lower than SES of households with non-stunted children. SCOM households, compared to those with normal-stature children and normal weight mothers, were more likely to have mothers of short stature (adjusted odds ratio-OR±95% CI=3.1 (2.1–4.7)), higher parity (1.2 (1.1–1.3)), currently working (1.7 (1.1–2.6), and self-identified as indigenous (2.0 (1.3–3.1)). Factors associated with stunting in children such as poverty, maternal short stature and indigenousness, were predictors of SCOM. These findings support the notion that SCOM is an extension of the malnutrition spectrum in the most disadvantaged population groups in countries that are in the middle of their nutrition transitions such as Guatemala. At the same time it revealed that these populations are already in the stage of chronic, nutrition related diseases associated with less physical activity and more access to highly processed foods of low cost, high dietary energy and low nutrient density in important population groups. The challenge for the decision makers and service deliverers is to guide SCOM households to deal equally with both extremes of the malnutrition continuum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study assessed the views of 153 national experts in nutrition, health, and aging services in assisted-living facilities; including gerontological nutrition (39%), foodservice (14%), aging and disability (22%), geriatric medicine (9%), and assisted living (16%); on the practices that serve as indicators of the quality of food and nutrition services provided in assisted-living facilities and ascertained the most favored style of service delivery: health, amenities, or both. An 88-item Food and Nutrition Care Indicators survey was developed from assisted-living facility regulations in 50 states and other quality indicators of nutrition services. Respondents rated each item on a scale from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important). Results show that at least 80% of experts rated the majority of indicators in each domain as highly important (57% of dining room, 67% of foodservice indicators, 65% of general nutrition, and 70% of therapeutic nutrition indicators). Most experts (89%) rated a combination of indicators that included both health (general and therapeutic) and amenities service styles as being highly important. The 57 items rated most important were consolidated into a checklist. A service model that incorporates all of these elements appears to be most appropriate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which assesses the use of dietary supplement in 368 HIV-infected patients enrolled in the Nutrition for Healthy Living cohort. According to the authors, they intend to describe the dietary, demographic, and health characteristics of the HIV-infected individuals who use different types of dietary supplements. They state that the study shows that extremes in micronutrient intake are common in HIV-infected subjects.

Abstract: Education level, more than any other socioeconomic factor, can predict disease risk, health behavior patterns, and diet quality. It has been suggested that one reason higher education promotes more healthful diets is that better-educated people may get better nutrition information. We present data from a survey examining specific sources of nutrition information among an older adult population (age >50 years, n=176), and compare the difference in sources associated with extent of education. Reliance on doctors, television, and neighbors was significantly higher among those with less education (P<0.05). Our results also show that less-educated older adults rely more upon different specific sources for their nutrition information than those who have attained a higher level of education. Strategies to improve and/or ensure the quality of the specific nutrition information sources this vulnerable group relies on may be needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: There has been no consensus on best practices in food and nutrition services in assisted living facilities for older adults. We documented experts'' views on optimal food and nutrition services emphases in assisted living facilities, and factors affecting their views. Methods: One hundred thirty-five national experts specializing in health, aging, nutrition and assisted living facilities completed a survey consisting four scenarios (ie, home-style, restaurant/hotel, and health/medical, and a combination of these three) in six food and nutrition services areas: dining room environment, meal services, meal quality, nutrition services, employees'' qualifications, and therapeutic nutrition services. Results: Sixty-three percent of experts favored the combination scenario. Dietetics education and experts'' beliefs that assisted living facilities should be health promotion and maintenance facilities were significant predictors of emphases, including wellness considerations. Experts'' personal views exerted a powerful influence. Conclusions: Experts chose food and nutrition service quality indicators that emphasized a focus on both wellness and amenities as their ideal scenarios for optimal food and nutrition services in assisted living facilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]