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Purpose of the Review: This review is intended to serve as guidance for care providers working with children who have dyslipidemia and exhibit picky eating behaviors. Recent Findings: Picky eating behaviors in children can be very stressful for caregivers and children alike, even if they may not reach clinical significance. In the setting of lipid disorder treatment, picky eating can present an even greater challenge, since many of the foods considered most heart-healthy are not often considered "kid-friendly". Summary: Care providers should validate caregivers' concerns, screen for picky eating and be prepared to provide guidance to parents and a referral to a specialist, if needed. This review contains an itemized list of points to focus on with families and additional resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The goal of the present study was to design an easily computable score, based on nutrient composition data instead of food groups, to evaluate the nutritional quality and balance of meals, adapted to the nutritional recommendations for Filipino adults. Method The score was defined as a weighted average of 9 nutrient scores. Protein, total fat, saturated fat, free sugars were scored as % of energy; calcium, fiber, sodium, vitamin C, magnesium were scored based on the local dietary reference intakes. The scoring algorithm was an adaption of a score previously developed by the authors based on US data. In the present study, the score was applied to 69,923 meals reported by 31,218 adult Filipinos aged 20 to 59 in the 2018 edition of the Philippine Expanded National Nutrition Survey to evaluate its validity and compare against exemplary meals designed as part of 24 h diet plans that meet local dietary guidelines. Results Meals from these exemplary menu plans, developed by local nutrition experts, scored on average 72.2 ± 13.9 (mean ± standard deviation) while those of survey participants scored 46.1 ± 12.9. Meal scores were significantly associated with the density of positive micronutrients (e.g., Vit A, Vit C) and favourable food groups (e.g. fruits, whole grains) not directly included in the algorithm. Conclusion The score, between 0 and 100, is a valid tool to assess the nutritional quality of meals consumed by the PH population, accounting for both shortfall and excess nutrients, adjusted for the energy content of the meal. If applied to consumer-facing applications, it could potentially help users to understand which meals are nutritionally balanced.

Nutritional needs evole with children and adolescents as they grow, making a balanced diet essential for their health and development. This study aims to assess weight status, nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, beliefs, and motivations regarding healthy eating campaigns among adolescents across Bulgarian cities. Findings will guide recommendations to improve their health and quality of life. Materials and metods. The study used a cross- sectional approach with an onlain survey from 2022 to spring 2023, targeting 14 to 19- year- olds in multiple Bulgarian cities. Data analysis utilized SPSS v.23.0 and Microsoft Excel, covering demogrsphics, dietary and motivations. Results. The study included 566 participants, diverse in age, gender, height and weight. Most were boys (55.8%) and girls (44.2%), averaging 16.09 years in age and 169.7 cm in height. Many fell within the 51- 70kg weight range. While 65% were familiar with healthy eating principles, interest in educational courses varied, and 45.1% had tried dieting.Social media was the primary information sourse for healthy eating among youth. Discussion. This study reveals good awareness of healthy eating among Bulgarian youth but identifies gaps, especially their heavy reliance on social media for nutritional guidance. Effective motivation is crucial for educational engagement, emphasizing both social and educational benefits. Targeted programs and strategic social media use are vital for promoting healthier lifestyles. Conclusions. Socialnetworks and online influencers significantly impact youth awareness of healthy eating, necessitating a critical approach to information. Education remains pivotal in fostering healthy dietary habits through tailored resources and campaigns.

Background: The goal of the present study was to design an easily computable score, based on nutrient composition data instead of food groups, to evaluate the nutritional quality and balance of meals, adapted to the nutritional recommendations for Filipino adults. Method: The score was defined as a weighted average of 9 nutrient scores. Protein, total fat, saturated fat, free sugars were scored as % of energy; calcium, fiber, sodium, vitamin C, magnesium were scored based on the local dietary reference intakes. The scoring algorithm was an adaption of a score previously developed by the authors based on US data. In the present study, the score was applied to 69,923 meals reported by 31,218 adult Filipinos aged 20 to 59 in the 2018 edition of the Philippine Expanded National Nutrition Survey to evaluate its validity and compare against exemplary meals designed as part of 24 h diet plans that meet local dietary guidelines. Results: Meals from these exemplary menu plans, developed by local nutrition experts, scored on average 72.2 ± 13.9 (mean ± standard deviation) while those of survey participants scored 46.1 ± 12.9. Meal scores were significantly associated with the density of positive micronutrients (e.g., Vit A, Vit C) and favourable food groups (e.g. fruits, whole grains) not directly included in the algorithm. Conclusion: The score, between 0 and 100, is a valid tool to assess the nutritional quality of meals consumed by the PH population, accounting for both shortfall and excess nutrients, adjusted for the energy content of the meal. If applied to consumer-facing applications, it could potentially help users to understand which meals are nutritionally balanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Nutrición Clínica y Dietética Hospitalaria is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Dietetica y Ciencias de la Alimentacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Nutrición Clínica y Dietética Hospitalaria is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Dietetica y Ciencias de la Alimentacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In daily life, nutrition is crucial in maintaining health in all parts of the world. Utilizing foods with medicinal characteristics simultaneously can change the body's pathological and physiological processes. Inflammation is a consequence of a pathophysiological process that leads to cellular damage with the release of inflammatory mediators. Several foods containing bioactive constituents such as phenolics, flavanoids, catechins, tannins, vitamins and non-sodium minerals were reported to possess pharmacological activity that improves the health status of an individual. A range of plant-derived foods such as turmeric (Curcuma longa), green tea (Camellia sinensis), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), chili pepper (Capsicum annum) and nuts such as almond (Prunus dulcis) and hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) showed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. In this review article, the knowledge regarding food-derived plants are compiled and systematically presented in terms of morphological characters, major active constituents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity because bioactive constituents show low bioavailability, emphasising nanotechnology in the administration has been made in the past to improve targeted drug delivery. These foods may be consumed in a routine balanced diet and also be a good choice that may lead to our healthiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition has led to growth retardation in many adolescents and health deterioration in adults all over the world. Recently, there has been increasing attention on balanced diets as a preventive measure. This study evaluates the daily diet of a student, aiming to optimize the amino acid score (AAS) across three meals per day. By using balanced diet criteria as constraints, we established a single-objective nonlinear programming model, maximizing AAS as the objective function. The model was solved by using a simulated annealing algorithm, and we obtained a diet that is both balanced and high in AAS. This study helps to raise awareness about individual nutritional needs and provides guidance for dietary structure improvements, thereby contributing to global public health enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Iberoamericana de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte is the property of Revista Iberoamericana de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The only treatment for celiac disease (CD) is a strict and lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD), which must be safe and nutritionally balanced. Avoiding gluten brings difficulties with following the diet and can affect the social life of people with CD. The Zeliakide Project is a nutrition education program aimed at increasing the knowledge of the general population about healthy diets, CD and GFD, and, therefore, to improve the social inclusion and quality of life of people with CD. It is a one-month intervention program, two-armed cluster, non-randomised and controlled trial, conducted among 10–12-year-old children. Pre- and post-intervention evaluation and 1 month follow-up will be carried out to assess the effectiveness of the program. It is based on competencies and their respective learning outcomes. The teaching methodology chosen is a STEAM methodology: inquiry-based learning (IBL). A teaching unit has been created to develop the project, which, in the future, will be useful for the self-application of the program. This study will provide a valid and useful tool to achieve changes in the diet at the school level and will help to promote the social inclusion of people with CD. Moreover, it will enforce the STEAM competences of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A balanced diet significantly impacts a dog's development with regards to energy, growth, immunity, and overall health. Customizing a dog's diet according to its age, size, and activity level is imperative for its welfare. Unbalanced diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This study assesses the key nutrient content of puppy diets that display information on EPA and DHA fatty acids. The diets fulfilled nutritional requirements for protein and fat according to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) but varied in terms of levels of essential fatty acids. The nutrient levels in certain diets did not correspond to the label claims. None of the diets fulfilled the EPA and DHA claims, indicating an inconsistent ratio of n−6 to n−3. Additionally, trans fat such as C18:1 elaidic acid was present in all diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore trends, in 3 periods, in the intake of energy and macronutrients among Taiwanese older adults. Methods Study subjects were those aged ≥65 years in the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 1999–2000 as well as the surveys in 2005–2008 and 2013–2016. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data were obtained. This study used the 3 nutrition survey datasets for 1999–2000, 2005–2008, and 2013–2016, including data on the questionnaire, physical examination, and dietary intakes. Each nutrition survey involved the face-to-face household interview, and individual’s dietary intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein (% of energy) was estimated. Subsequently, intake statuses of the three macronutrients were classified into below, meeting, and above intake categories. Results In the 2013–2016 survey, approximately 40% of the older adults had a low intake of energy. The prevalence of older adults with a meeting intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein have increased from the 1999–2000 to 2013–2016 periods. The prevalence of people having a low intake of carbohydrate declined from the 1999–2000 period to the 2013–2016 period. The prevalence of high fat intake in 2013–2016 was approximately 5% higher than that in 1999–2000. In the 2013–2016 period, the prevalence of low intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein were 25.9, 24.5, and 4.9%, respectively; moreover, the prevalence of high intake of the aforementioned macronutrients were 38.7, 36.2, and 17.6%, respectively. Conclusions Our study provides important evidence on the dietary patterns, as well as their changes over time among Taiwanese older adults. Such information would be useful for health policy makers about the burden of unbalanced diet and for nutrition educators on planning nutrition promotion interventions about well-balanced dietary for the older persons.

Consumer's perspective on the quality is a variable that makes preservation and processing of various meat products a difficult task. To overcome the issue of spoilage and shelf life extension, with the expanded interest in maintaining a good quality of raw meat items, innovations took a lead in preservation techniques. Many innovations, such as applying high hydrostatic pressure, super chilling process, natural bio preservatives, and dynamic packaging had been proposed and researched. While a portion of these advancements is effective at inactivating the small-scale biotic factors especially identified with food-borne ailments, they are not successful against spores. To expand their adequacy against vegetative cells, a blend of a few preservation methods under the supposed thought had been explored. Besides preservation, modern packaging techniques are adopted to increase their shelf life. Packaging mainly aids in preventing color changes and preserves the nutritive value of processed meat. This review throws light on preservation techniques, modern and traditional packaging trends that takes place in the meat industry. Technology driven innovations like nanomaterial based preservation and packing techniques and marine derivatives as potential alternatives in preservation are discussed. The effect of COVID 19 on processing industries is also discussed in this review.

Plant-based foods intended for feeding dogs and cats are available in Canada, though few studies have examined the suitability of plant-based foods for dogs and cats. All commercial plant-based extruded and wet pet food products available in Ontario, Canada, in 2018 (n = 26) were acquired and analysed for energy, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins A, B12, D2 and D3. Results were compared with recommendations of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). Thirteen products were labelled for adult canine maintenance, four for canine all life stages, one for puppy growth, two for adult feline maintenance, three for feline all life stages, one for adult maintenance of dogs and cats and two for all life stages of dogs and cats. Four products met AAFCO and one product met FEDIAF nutrient recommendations for canine maintenance. No diets met AAFCO or FEDIAF recommendations for feline maintenance or growth for either species. Nutrients most commonly found insufficient were: sulfur amino acids, taurine, arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA, calcium phosphorus and vitamin D. There were no nutrients unable to be provided from non-animal sources. Compliance with labelling guidelines was also poor, similar to other findings with commercial animal-based pet products. The results from this study indicate areas where producers of plant-based pet foods must improve to meet the industry recommended nutrient profiles and labelling requirements.

Abstract Background Orphan children living in orphanages are often neglected. These children's physical and mental health status is essential as they are highly prone to malnourishment and psychosocial distress. We aim to evaluate the orphan children's physical and psychosocial status living in orphanages. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional research design conducted with the children living in the orphanages using a pretested, predesigned schedule. A total of 83 children (aged 5 to 19 years) living in three different orphanages in the Sonitpur District of Assam were randomly selected for the study. Body Mass Index (BMI) for age and height were then determined using WHO standards. Thinness was defined as BMI for age below -2 SD (Standard Deviation) and thinness as height for age below -2 SD. The behavioural and mental status of children aged 10–19 years were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-21) with a cut-off value of SDQ score > 15 as the presence of emotional and behavioural distress. Results Almost 50% of orphans were in the age group of 10–14 years, 62.7% were females, and 42.2% had a primary level of education. 52.5% of orphans exhibited severe thinness for

Ahara is one of the three supporting factors of life and plays a key role in the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases. In Vedic literature, it has been equated with nectar. There is much talk about a well-balanced diet in the present era. Modern Science states that a balanced diet contains a variety of foods in such quantities and proportions that the need for energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and other nutrients is adequately met for maintaining health, vitality, and general well-being. According to Ayurveda a diet that nourishes both the mental and physical built is called a "balanced diet". The food articles which replenish the bodily dhatus(tissues) and help in eliminating the disturbance of their equilibrium are to be regarded as wholesome. Apart from the quantity of food, elemental constitution, mode of preparation, habitat, combination, time and season of intake, manner of intake, body constitution, and agnibala (Digestive fire)of consumers, etc. are also considered in the acceptability of wholesome diet. A man votary of a wholesome diet considering Ayurvedic dietetics survives for hundred years in a disease-free state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Dietary Guidelines propose a balanced diet for healthy living, but the affordability of this diet needs to be considered, especially for low-income households. To investigate the affordability of a healthy diet, this study analyzes the daily retail prices of 46 food items in 36 Chinese cities from 2016 to 2021. This study compares expenditure, diet composition, and nutritional status in two scenarios aligned with the guidelines. The results show that the mean minimum cost of a balanced diet exceeds the current per capita food expenditure for at least 182.85 million urban households. This suggests that low-income people would need to increase their expenditure by at least 20–121% to achieve the recommended diets. This study also identifies affordable and nutrient-dense foods such as standard flour, eggs, black beans, and cabbage, which policymakers should focus on when monitoring food prices. The findings recommend a combination of social and food system policies to reduce prices and make healthy diets accessible. This study identifies the gaps in the Chinese Dietary Guidelines for ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups and provides a template for policymakers and researchers to track diet affordability using available food price data in China, contributing to China's 2030 Health Plan and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A balanced diet is a blend of quantity and quality of foods eaten to support an individual's health and well-being. This narrative review aims to deliver a simplified version of the 2020 dietary guidelines by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN). The review comprehensively analyses the latest ICMR-NIN 2020 dietary guidelines for healthy adults. The approach to achieving a balanced diet is focused on the inclusion of a plant-based diet with special significance placed on dietary fibre and antioxidants. The review presents the updated macronutrient and micronutrient requirements, with the spotlight has been on the types of food to be taken or the food-based approach. This review also highlights food groups and gut nutrition and provides dietary tips on wholesome meals to promote optimal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore trends, in 3 periods, in the intake of energy and macronutrients among Taiwanese older adults. Methods: Study subjects were those aged ≥65 years in the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 1999–2000 as well as the surveys in 2005–2008 and 2013–2016. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data were obtained. This study used the 3 nutrition survey datasets for 1999–2000, 2005–2008, and 2013–2016, including data on the questionnaire, physical examination, and dietary intakes. Each nutrition survey involved the face-to-face household interview, and individual's dietary intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein (% of energy) was estimated. Subsequently, intake statuses of the three macronutrients were classified into below, meeting, and above intake categories. Results: In the 2013–2016 survey, approximately 40% of the older adults had a low intake of energy. The prevalence of older adults with a meeting intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein have increased from the 1999–2000 to 2013–2016 periods. The prevalence of people having a low intake of carbohydrate declined from the 1999–2000 period to the 2013–2016 period. The prevalence of high fat intake in 2013–2016 was approximately 5% higher than that in 1999–2000. In the 2013–2016 period, the prevalence of low intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein were 25.9, 24.5, and 4.9%, respectively; moreover, the prevalence of high intake of the aforementioned macronutrients were 38.7, 36.2, and 17.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Our study provides important evidence on the dietary patterns, as well as their changes over time among Taiwanese older adults. Such information would be useful for health policy makers about the burden of unbalanced diet and for nutrition educators on planning nutrition promotion interventions about well-balanced dietary for the older persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, feeding patterns, more specifically those of children, have worsened—affecting dietary habits and Mediterranean diet adherence. Here, we examine the post-pandemic feeding habits of Spanish toddlers. A total of 2465 parents of children aged between 12 and 36 months completed an online 25-item multiple-choice survey asking about dietary habits and Mediterranean diet adherence. Only 34 children (1.38%) had an adequate intake of all of the food groups included in the questionnaire. Adherence worsened as toddlers grew (p < 0.0001). Further, lower compliance was found in children with a higher intake of fast food (p < 0.001), those with siblings (p = 0.0045), and children who were the second or third child (p = 0.0005). The food group with the most commonly reported adequate intake was fish (88% of children), followed by pulses (80%), water (79%), and meat (78%). Cow's milk was the most commonly consumed dairy product among all age groups analyzed. Half of the children exhibited a low consumption of milk and dairy products. These results showed that a lack of adherence to a balanced diet is common among Spanish toddlers in the post-pandemic period and that greater parent education could improve the nutrition of toddlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warburg effect is a form of cellular metabolism commonly used by cancer cells, in which, consumption of glucose and production of acidic cell metabolic wastes take place at a considerably higher rate. The effect is well described in the literature, however, the applications for cancer prevention and treatment have not been resolved effectively yet. According to the Warburg effect, anaerobic cellular respiration and the resulting acidic cellular environment are linked to the development of cancerous tumors. But an oxygen-rich environment with optimum alkalinity at the cellular level can result in retaining healthy cells and inhibiting cancer cell growth. As an alternative or complementary solution for cancer treatment based on the Warburg effect, a healthy balanced diet with alkalizing (but not alkaline) properties helps maintain acid-base balance in the body and also provides optimum metabolic rate and sufficient hydration for more effective health improvement. This paper presents a review of the key concepts related to links between cancer and dietary and environmental factors, with the main focus on the Warburg effect and energy metabolisms in cancer cells. In addition, some practical diet-based solutions are summarized that may potentially control cancer by utilizing the reversed Warburg effect by which, optimum pH levels and sufficient oxygenation may be provided at the cellular level.

Early‐life conditions can have long‐term fitness consequences. However, it is still unclear what optimal rearing conditions are, especially for long‐lived carnivores. A more diverse diet ('balanced diet') might optimize nutrient availability and allow young to make experiences with a larger diversity of prey, whereas a narrow diet breadth ('specialized diet') might result in overall higher energy net gain. A diet that is dominated by a specific prey type (i.e. fish, 'prey type hypothesis') might be beneficial or detrimental, depending for example, on its toxicity or contaminant load.Generalist predators such as the white‐tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla provide an interesting possibility to examine the relationship between early life diet and long‐term offspring survival. In the Åland Islands, an archipelago in the Baltic Sea, white‐tailed eagles live in various coastal habitats and feed on highly variable proportions of birds and fish.We use data from 21,116 prey individuals that were collected from 120 territories during the annual surveys, to examine how early‐life diet is associated with apparent annual survival of 574 ringed and molecular‐sexed eaglets. We supplement this analysis by assessing the relationships between diet, reproductive performance and nestling physical condition, to consider whether they are confounding with possible long‐term associations.We find that early‐life diet is associated with long‐term fitness: Nestlings that are fed a diverse diet are in lower physical condition but have higher survival rates. Eagles that are fed more fish as nestlings have lower survival as breeding‐age adults, but territories associated with fish‐rich diets have higher breeding success.Our results show that young carnivores benefit from a high diversity of prey in their natal territory, either through a nutritional or learning benefit, explaining the higher survival rates. The strong relationship between early‐life diet and adult survival suggests that early life shapes adult foraging decisions and that eating fish is associated with high costs. This could be due to high levels of contaminants or high competition for fish‐rich territories. Long‐lasting consequences of early‐life diet are likely not only limited to individual‐level consequences but have the potential to drive eco‐evolutionary dynamics in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mobile applications such as personalized tracking tools and food choice aids may enhance weight loss programs. We developed and assessed client preferences for the content, user interface, graphics, and logic flow of a mobile application, and evaluated its validity for tracking compliance with weight control and making healthy and sustainable food choices. Methods Our four-stage study comprised formative research, application development, acceptance assessment, and validity. The formative research included literature reviews and six focus groups with 39 respondents aged 19–64 years at high risk for obesity. The development stage included programmer selection, defining application specifications, design, and user interface. Prototype acceptability was assessed with 53 respondents who graded 17 features of content, graphic design, and application flow (ranked as good, moderate, and poor). A feature was considered to have "good" acceptance if its mean response was higher than the mean of overall responses. The validity was assessed in 30 obese women using Bland–Altman plots to compare results from dietary intake assessment from the application to conventional paper-based methods. Results The application was named as EatsUp®. The focus group participants defined the key requirements of this app as being informative, easy, and exciting to use. The EatsUp® core features consisted of simple menu recommendations, health news, notifications, a food database, estimated portion sizes, and food pictures. The prototype had a "good" overall acceptance regarding content, graphics, and flow. Fourteen out of 17 parameters were graded as "good" from > 70% of respondents. There was no significant difference between the rated proportions for content, graphics, and app flow (Kolmogorov–Smirnov Z-test, p > .05). The agreement using the Bland–Altman plots between EatsUp® and the paper-based method of measuring food intake was good, with a mean difference of energy intake of only 2.63 ± 28.4 kcal/day (p > 0.05), well within the 95% confidence interval for agreement. Conclusions The EatsUp® mobile application had good acceptance for graphics and app flow. This application can support the monitoring of balanced and sustainable dietary practice by providing nutritional data, and is comparable with conventional dietary assessment tools, and performed well in tracking energy, macronutrient, and selected micronutrients intakes. Trial registration NCT03469869 . The registration date was March 19, 2018.

Copyright of Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences (OTJHS) / Online Türk Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Oguz KARABAY and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The main aim is to study the determinants of nutritional status among mothers and their children aged 6–59 months in Nepal’s Panauti municipality. Material and Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 mothers and their children 6–59 months residing in ward no. 1, 2, and 4 of Panauti Municipality. A combination of a semi-structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements was used to assess various determinants of nutritional status. A Chi-square test was used to check the association between variables. Results: The study found that the prevalence of maternal underweight was low (2.7%) whereas the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 36.7% and 13.7%, respectively. Around 27.9% of the children were severely stunted, 3.6% underweight, and 3.5% wasted, whereas 22.1% of the children were overweight. About 54% of the mothers and 57.52% of the children were malnourished. Ethnicity was significantly associated with mothers’ nutritional status and factors such as ethnicity, pre-lacteal feeding, and cultural practices of the mother were significantly associated with the nutritional status of children. Conclusion: The study concluded that more than half of the mothers and children were malnourished. Demographic factors-like ethnicity were significantly associated with the nutritional status of mothers and children, whereas factors like pre-lacteal feeding and cultural practices of the mother were significantly associated with the nutritional status of the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orphan children living in orphanages are often neglected. These children's physical and mental health status is essential as they are highly prone to malnourishment and psychosocial distress. We aim to evaluate the orphan children's physical and psychosocial status living in orphanages. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design conducted with the children living in the orphanages using a pretested, predesigned schedule. A total of 83 children (aged 5 to 19 years) living in three different orphanages in the Sonitpur District of Assam were randomly selected for the study. Body Mass Index (BMI) for age and height were then determined using WHO standards. Thinness was defined as BMI for age below -2 SD (Standard Deviation) and thinness as height for age below -2 SD. The behavioural and mental status of children aged 10–19 years were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-21) with a cut-off value of SDQ score > 15 as the presence of emotional and behavioural distress. Results: Almost 50% of orphans were in the age group of 10–14 years, 62.7% were females, and 42.2% had a primary level of education. 52.5% of orphans exhibited severe thinness for < -3 SD. Observed severe thinness more among the 5–9 years and 10–14 years (p-value < 0.05) group and among the male orphans (p-value < 0.05). Of 65 children aged 10–19, 18.5% had behavioural and mental distress. Emotional (32.3%) and poor conduct problems (23%) were observed significantly among male adolescents. Conclusions: Orphaned children, particularly those living in orphanages, are at risk of malnutrition and experience behavioural and psychosocial problems. Frequent assessments of their physical and mental health are advocated for early detection, prevention, and timely intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: In the last decade, we have observed an increasing interest in the Internet as source of information, especially social media has become a necessity in daily life. Healthcare professionals have found the potential of social media to provide accessible and enjoyable content for the audiences. Purpose of this study is evaluation of the challenges experienced by nutritionists in using Instagram as a popular medium for people education and development of nutritional guidelines in balanced diet. Materials and methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, three nutritionists which had Instagram account with more than twenty thousand followers were selected. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured online interviews. After recording the interviews and their transcribing, the concepts were extracted using a content analysis method. Results and conclusion: Instagram is an audiovisual medium that is accessible and easy to use for the followers. It provides a social network for people around the world. However, our investigation revealed that there are a lot of incorrect myths on Instagram which should be administered by the specialists by development of educational programs and guidelines in their personal Instagram accounts. Although, the role of influencers having a large number of followers is prominent in this regard. What is important is that they should motivate the followers to actively interact and provide them with updated information about balanced diet to attract the audiences and keep them away from incorrect information provided by fake and non-professional accounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To gain insight into the relationship between dieting and unhealthy eating habits with COVID-19 infections and complications. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan during the month of Jan 2021. Methodology: This study was carried out through a web-based survey. Google forms were used. It included questions exploring dietary habits, weight changes, weight loss methods, COVID-19 status and severity of symptoms, including ten Open-ended questions and seven closed-ended questions. Results: A total of 314 participants responded to the survey. They were divided into two groups, Group-A and Group-B. The mean age of the participants was 24.3±4.9 years. Group-A participants were doing dieting during last three years off and on as well as had more severe symptoms of COVID-19. On the other hand, Group-B had mild symptoms of COVID-19. Regarding COVID-19 status, 294(92%) participants in the study recovered from COVID-19, and 30(9.5%) participants suffered from COVID-19 at the time of the survey. The results concluded a positive correlation between the type and duration of dieting and severity of COVID-19 symptoms as well as in weight loss of more than 8kg with COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusion: Among various factors contributing to the extension and severity of COVID-19, dieting represents one of the possible causes of the severity of symptoms of COVID-19. Understanding its importance is of paramount significance and needs further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A balanced diet and protein source intake are reportedly good for health. However, many people skip breakfast or have a light breakfast. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of breakfast styles on eating habits among Japanese workers, including traditional Japanese-style breakfast (JB), a pattern in which Japanese foods are eaten; Japanese-Western-style breakfast (J–W B), a pattern in which Japanese and Western foods are eaten alternately; Western-style breakfast (WB), a pattern in which Western foods are eaten; and cereal-style breakfast (CB), a pattern in which cereal is eaten. We hypothesized that breakfast style may be related to good eating habits. Data from 4274 respondents (67.97% male, 33.03% female, age 48.12 ± 0.19 years), excluding night shift workers and breakfast absentees out of a total of 5535 respondents, were analyzed. The results suggest that Japanese food is linked to the intake of protein sources such as fish, eggs, and soy. Furthermore, it was suggested that Japanese food breakfast is effective for good eating habits, such as not eating irregular amounts of food, not eating snacks, not drinking sweet juices, and having a balanced diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the perception of sack gardening technology is important in order to better support the adoption of sack gardening in households, given the nutritional role vegetables play. This notwithstanding, research has not yet been carried out to understand the stakeholders' perception of sack gardening technology in the zones of Bougouni and Koutiala, where sack gardening technology was introduced under the Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa-RISING) project. This study assessed the perception of farm households on sack gardening technology and specifically to understand to what extent this innovation responds to household needs. Q-methodology was used to identify rural household's viewpoints and principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to compare stakeholders' opinion typologies to discourses retained by Q-method results. Focus group discussions were used to identify the statements used for the q-set in the individual surveys. Our findings showed three factors or discourses which reflected the stakeholders' viewpoints. A nutritional role, the role of making vegetables available for household consumption and the role of environment protection, specifically soil protection, were indicated in the stakeholders' opinions. The understanding of the different discourses retained provides insights that can be used to design public and private interventions to support the usage of the technology in households or the adoption of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to examine the difference between healthy lifestyle in terms of balanced diet, physical exercises, emotional and self management among special need students in rural and urban areas. This study is conducted quantitatively by using the questionnaires that are valid and reliable. These questionnaires were adapted from the Healthy Lifestyle Instrument. The sample size of 40 parents from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur were participated for the urban area, while another size of 40 parents from Sabak Bernam, Selangor were participated on behalf of the rural area. Google form was used as the platform of the questionnaires and were distributed accordingly online. Inference analysis was used to study the research questions by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPPS) version 23.0. The analysis showed there was no significance in the difference between special need students in urban area and rural area towards their healthy lifestyle based from the three aspects. As a result, the main party should be obligated in adding healthy lifestyle practices among special need students in both urban and rural areas.

Protein is one of the most important, foremost, and versatile nutrients in food. The quantity and quality of protein are determinants of its nutritional values. Therefore, adequate consumption of high-quality protein is essential for optimal growth, development, and health of humans. Based on short-term nitrogen balance studies, the Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein for the healthy adult with minimal physical activity is 0.8 g protein/kg body weight (BW) per day. Proteins are present in good quantities in not only animals but also in plants, especially in legumes. With the growing demand for protein, interest in plant proteins is also rising due to their comparative low cost as well as the increase in consumers’ demand originating from health and environmental concerns. Legumes are nutrient-dense foods, comprising components identified as “antinutritional factors” that can reduce the bioavailability of macro and micronutrients. Other than nutritive value, the physiochemical and behavioral properties of proteins during processing plays a significant role in determining the end quality of food. The term “complete protein” refers to when all nine essential amino acids are present in the correct proportion in our bodies. To have a balanced diet, the right percentage of protein is required for our body. The consumption of these high protein-containing foods will lead to protein sustainability and eradicate malnutrition. Here, we shed light on major opportunities to strengthen the contribution of diversity in legume crops products to sustainable diets. This review will boost awareness and knowledge on underutilized proteinous foods into national nutritional security programs.

A balanced diet significantly impacts a dog’s development with regards to energy, growth, immunity, and overall health. Customizing a dog’s diet according to its age, size, and activity level is imperative for its welfare. Unbalanced diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This study assesses the key nutrient content of puppy diets that display information on EPA and DHA fatty acids. The diets fulfilled nutritional requirements for protein and fat according to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) but varied in terms of levels of essential fatty acids. The nutrient levels in certain diets did not correspond to the label claims. None of the diets fulfilled the EPA and DHA claims, indicating an inconsistent ratio of n−6 to n−3. Additionally, trans fat such as C18:1 elaidic acid was present in all diets.

The government of Viet Nam promotes an integrated and diversified production system that focuses on the symbiotic relationship of livestock, aquaculture, and fruits and vegetables (F&V), locally known as Vuon Ao Chuong (VAC). The expectation is that this system can prevent soil degradation, while improving dietary quality and income. This study examines the correlation between VAC production systems and diets using cross-sectional data from the 2016 round of the Viet Nam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS). Using ordinary least squares, we model four continuous outcome variables related to quantity consumed of fruits and vegetables, fiber, animal protein, and dietary energy; while using logistical regression, we model three indicator variables related to whether diets are balanced in terms of intake of dietary energy derived from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. While individual components of VAC, such as aquaculture or F&V production, show a positive correlation with one or more dietary indicators, adoption of the full VAC system is found to be positively correlated only with dietary fiber consumption, making it challenging to establish a causal link between system adoption and improved dietary quality. However, we find that several socioeconomic variables, such as access to markets, household wealth, education of the household members, and household size are positively associated with one or more dietary indicators. Further research is needed to establish strong and causal relationships, or lack thereof, between VAC system and diets by exploiting the panel structure of VHLSS to examine the role of VAC in improving nutritional outcomes in Viet Nam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence, a crucial period for growth velocity including sexual maturation, is an important period of life and young adolescent girls need to have proper knowledge, positive attitudes and practice of balanced diet to achieve optimum growth and development. Considering its importance this study attempts to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of balanced diets among adolescent schoolgirls in Noakhali district, Bangladesh. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in three secondary schools in Noakhali district, Bangladesh. A multistage sampling techniques was used to select schools and study participants. A total of 485 adolescent school girls participated and a pre-designed, validated and structured questionnaire was used for data collection. In addition to descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression were employed for analysis. The results from the study revealed that more than half of the students did not have good knowledge about a balanced diet, 42.8% had a positive attitude, whereas the practice of consuming a balanced diet was rather low (only 4.5%). Students studying in government schools had better knowledge and attitudes than non-government school students. Moreover, 41.1% of students were underweight; more than 60% of respondent's mothers did not have an education higher than secondary school and were mostly unemployed housewives. Parent's education, mother's occupation, and types of school have a strong association with KAP; however, father's education and occupation showed an association of varying degrees. Being knowledgeable was related to positive attitudes, and students with good knowledge had (OR: 1.828; 95% CI: 1.270–2.631) more likely to have positive attitudes towards a balanced diet. Thus, proper knowledge about a balanced diet should be introduced with basic nutritional knowledge to all levels of public education. Interventions and programs can be designed to improve knowledge, attitude, and more specifically the practice at the household level so that adolescent girls can have a proper diet during their sexual maturation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of an adult’s life is based on balanced eating habits and on the adoption of a healthy lifestyle implemented since childhood, to which are added the environmental factors in which he lives day by day. It is now recognized that the habits of a child’s life influence its response to later exposures in adult life, with the appearance of changes that can later lead to imbalances and chronic diseases. Nutrition in the first years of life plays a primary role in the growth and development of the child, the acquisition of healthy habits and in the adoption of appropriate eating behavior, later in the development of the lifestyle as an adult. An inadequate lifestyle can predispose to the development of multiple chronic pathologies, therefore an adequate lifestyle with correct nutrition learned from childhood leads to the maintenance of long-term health, both in childhood and in adult life. Parents, relatives and teachers play an important role in adopting healthy habits from childhood. The processes of industrialization, modernization, as well as the fast pace of life specific to our days have determined a series of changes in eating habits as well as a sedentary lifestyle, thus favoring the spread of obesity among the population of all ages, this associating an increased risk for other specific ailments such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A common characteristic of these diseases is that they have a high potential for preventability, a process that is based, in primary prevention, on measures aimed at intervention on eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]