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The current cost‐of‐living crisis is disproportionately affecting families experiencing poverty and is likely to be amplifying existing dietary inequalities and challenges, such as food insecurity (FI). Government policies designed to address diet inequality in the UK have historically had minimal impact on population diet and health and may have even widened existing inequalities. Therefore, the effect of nutrition policies on those experiencing FI in the context of the current cost‐of‐living crisis needs to be better understood. The aim of the Diet and Health Inequalities (DIO Food) project is to work with early years, people living on a low income and retailers to generate opportune evidence‐based research and commentary that will inform diet‐related health inequalities policy and practice. DIO Food is related to the existing Food Insecurity in people living with Obesity (FIO Food) project, which consists of four interlinked work packages (WPs1‐4). DIO Food consists of three interlinked work packages (WPs5‐7), which enhance the scope of FIO Food, and are described in this article. WP5 addresses a paucity of research on maternal and infant food insecurity in the UK, by applying a qualitative research approach to capture parents' and carers' perceptions of the relationship between the food system and other influences impacting infant feeding practice, associated with the cost‐of‐living crisis. WP6 will conduct the first‐ever cross‐retailer independent evaluation of England's high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) product placement legislation. Researchers will analyse store‐level supermarket sales data provided by large UK retailers to produce sector‐level insights into whether HFSS legislation reduced HFSS purchasing, improved the healthiness of retailer product portfolios, and was equitable across areas with different characteristics. WP7 will support WP5 and 6, by strengthening engagement with key stakeholders, including at‐risk consumers and representatives of major supermarkets, and effectively translating research outcomes and stakeholder perspectives for policy and industry decision‐makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious beliefs profoundly influence dietary practices across diverse cultures and communities, guiding what foods are acceptable, how they are prepared, and the timing of consumption. This narrative review examines the intricate relationship between religious dietary practices and their health and psychological well-being implications. Religious dietary practices, deeply rooted in various cultural and historical contexts, significantly influence followers' food consumption patterns. This narrative review aims to discuss how religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism prescribe specific dietary laws and guidelines, impacting nutritional intake and health outcomes. Furthermore, it delves into the psychological mechanisms, such as cognitive dissonance and social identity theories, that underpin adherence to these dietary practices. The review also highlights the role of community and social support in reinforcing dietary habits within religious contexts, contributing to mental health and social cohesion. By synthesizing insights from nutrition, psychology, and religious studies, this narrative review aims to provide healthcare providers with culturally sensitive dietary advice, ultimately improving patient care and promoting holistic health. Religious dietary practices provide numerous health benefits, including reduced risks of chronic diseases and enhanced mental well-being, achieved through disciplined and conscientious eating habits. Nevertheless, these practices also pose nutritional challenges that necessitate meticulous management and dietary planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the psychosocial experiences during dietary management among Chinese adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Design: Qualitative phenomenological design. Methods: Eighteen adults diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease for more than 6 months were recruited using purposive sampling from June to December 2023. Two trained researchers used van Manen's approach to analyse the data. Results: The three themes with multiple subthemes emerged: facing the unknown: at a loss and aggrieved, trying to cope: uncertain and distressed, and growing in adaptation: relieved and transcendent. The first theme included unknown relapses, overlooking diet management and the absence of dietary rules. The second theme showed different coping situations, like complex dietary information and ever‐closing worlds. The third theme explores how participants adapted to disease and their eating patterns. Conclusion: The psychosocial experiences during dietary management are complex. The accumulation of diet‐related experience, acceptance of illness and social support facilitate patients in overcoming negative emotions and adhering to dietary management. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care: Nurses should provide tailored dietary guidance and appropriate psychological interventions to promote healthy eating in patients. Impact: This study may enhance healthcare professionals' understanding, particularly those in China, of the diet‐related experiences among patients. Reporting Method: The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Patient or Public Contribution: Participants contributed by sharing their first hand experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a new and emerging psychological perspective on hunger, together with the implications of that perspective, which is based upon learning and memory. Hunger is a psychological state characterized by a desire to eat. Historically, conceptions of hunger have largely been expressed in terms of physiology (eg, biological process X causes hunger). However, physiology neither offers a psychological account of hunger nor explains why memory impairment can eliminate hunger. Two forms of hunger are identified – specific and general. Specific hunger is for particular palatable foods. It involves recollecting episodic memories of eating that food, when an associated cue is encountered (eg, an advert). General hunger is a desire to eat triggered by temporal (eg, it is lunchtime) or interoceptive (eg, tummy rumble) cues. It involves semantic memory retrieval, which then augments the expected – remembered – pleasure for any food. Both hungers are supported by the medial temporal lobe memory system. Damage to this system can occur from eating a Western-style diet and, longer-term, from obesity and its consequences. Medial temporal lobe memory damage may cause deficits in specific hunger, but most especially in general hunger, resulting in little motivation to eat foods that the individual considers to be of low-to-moderate palatability, such as fruit and vegetables. The implications of this account for teaching people hunger, for how hunger is affected by diet, for public education, and pharmaceutical intervention, are discussed. Psychological concepts of hunger are widely used in nutritional practice. This article provides a new and emerging perspective on the psychological basis of hunger and its implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inequalities in diets contribute to overall inequalities in health. Economic inequality and inequalities in access to healthy food are key drivers of poor diet and ill health among young people (YP). Despite mounting evidence of structural barriers to healthy eating, less is known about how YP view and experience these inequalities where they live, and how to address them. To explore YP's perspectives on the drivers of diet-related health inequalities, we conducted three interlinked focus groups with YP aged 13–21 years from six youth groups across three geographical areas in England. We analysed the data inductively and deductively using reflexive thematic analysis and generated themes by examining how social structure, context and agency interact and impact YP's diet. YP were aware of how inequalities in employment conditions impact their families' income and ability to eat a healthy diet. They cited the high availability of hot food takeaways in their local areas as a significant barrier to healthy eating but did not support closing or restricting these outlets. They held strong views on policies to tackle diet inequality and showed a nuanced understanding of the strengths and limitations of universal and targeted approaches. Our study showed that YP have an awareness and understanding of food as important in relation to health, and of diet-related inequalities. However, further efforts are needed to shape and promote policies that resonate with YP and address both their health and wider social concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to describe the impact of the research program entitled "Adherence to healthy eating recommendations: identification of measures, determinants and interventions". Beyond the main results described in this article, this program had a major impact on the training of graduate students. It was also a unique opportunity to develop and validate measurement tools relevant to nutrition research, and to make them available to the scientific community. Lastly, this program was a catalyst for establishing new collaborations and setting up larger-scale studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate a Social Cognitive Theory-based instrument to identify psychosocial factors that influence diet and physical activity among Chinese children aged 10–12 years. This is a cross-sectional study, with data collected from questionnaires. Two elementary schools in Beijing, China. Fourth to sixth-grade students (N = 1,486) aged 10–12 years were recruited. Gender, height, weight, nation, and grade were collected. Energy-balanced eating behaviors and their related sociopsychological factors were surveyed. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlations, Cronbach α index, and mediation analysis were used. (1) Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 6-factor solution (51 items) and all factor loadings > 0.32, indicating that the model fitness was acceptable. (2) All correlation coefficients are statistically significant. All of the Cronbach α indexes were > 0.65, indicating acceptable reliability. (3) The mediating effect of goal intention and outcome expectations between self-efficacy and habit strength was statistically significant (P < 0.01), verifying the theory structure. This questionnaire exhibits good internal consistency, reliability, and structural validity. It can be effectively employed to investigate energy-balanced eating behaviors related to the Social Cognitive Theory in Chinese children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated meat‐reducers' (vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian) dietary identities using an identity process approach. Drawing on identity development theories, we aimed to (i) classify meat‐reducers from the United Kingdom and United States (N = 375) based on their level of identity exploration and commitment, and (ii) examine the effect of dietary identity status on diet and group‐based behaviours. Findings demonstrated evidence for three identity clusters: achieved (high exploration and high commitment), foreclosed (lower exploration and higher commitment), and diffused (low exploration and low commitment) meat‐reducers. Vegans were more likely to display an achieved dietary identity, whereas the majority of flexitarians indicated a diffused identity. More importantly, identity status had significant effects on all outcome measures, with achieved meat‐reducers reporting greatest dietary strictness, greatest centrality and private regard, but lowest public regard, as well as most negative attitudes towards meat‐eaters and greatest activism. We discuss how investigating dietary identities with a 'process framework' may point to a more inclusive view of social identities among people who follow a plant‐based diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living with mesothelioma have a high symptom burden that can affect dietary intake and the development of malnutrition, subsequently impacting on patient‐related and treatment outcomes. The present study aimed to develop a better understanding of the experiences of diet and appetite in people living with mesothelioma and their informal carers. Methods: Twenty‐three participants took part in semistructured interviews including 12 people living with mesothelioma (10 pleural and 2 peritoneal) aged 56–83 years and 12 informal carers, predominantly their spouses. Open ended questions focussed on experiences of appetite and diet, as well as approaches to maintain adequate food intake. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: Four themes were generated that included unintentional weight loss and poor appetite during diagnosis and when undergoing medical intervention. Participants managed their appetite and diet by taking each day at a time and this was influenced by the physical and emotional experiences of mesothelioma. The informal carer took on the lead role of managing their relatives' diet and implemented their own nutritional strategies and there were challenges with dietary advice. Conclusions: Appetite was viewed as a multidimensional experience and was grounded within the biopsychosocial model. The findings offer important insights into opportunities informing the development of effective interventions that provide meaningful benefits for individuals living with mesothelioma and their family. Key points: Weight loss and appetite problems are common in mesothelioma and comprise a multidimensional experience.Better management of patient's symptoms may improve appetite.There is scope to develop effective interventions that provide meaningful benefits for people living with mesothelioma and their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: A significant body of research has found a positive association between a healthy diet and good mental health, and between an unhealthy diet and poorer mental health. Despite this, nutritional education and methods of intervention remain largely absent from psychotherapy training and practice, and mental health professionals worldwide report poor nutritional literacy. This study aims to explore how therapists understand and view diet and nutrition in the context of mental health, and whether, and how, they use this knowledge with clients. Methodology and Methods: This qualitative study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach when collecting and analysing the data. Participants were from throughout Ireland, with recruitment taking place via an email call for participants. A brief pre‐interview conversation ensured respondents fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Six integrative/pluralistic psychotherapists were interviewed about their views and understanding of nutrition in relation to mental health and psychotherapy, as well as about their training, supervision and their use of diet‐related interventions with clients. Findings: Four master themes were identified: "therapist experiences and beliefs," which relates to how participants experienced and viewed nutrition on personal and professional levels; "meanings associated with food and nutrition" by therapists, and their perception of the meanings their clients placed upon food; "boundaries and barriers" that therapists experienced or perceived when it came to discussing nutrition with clients; and "the silence around nutrition in psychotherapy," in terms of its absence from training, supervision and peer discussions. Discussion and Conclusions: The study highlights the importance and meaning that individuals place on nutrition for mental well‐being, while also highlighting its absence from training programmes, supervision sessions and discussions with peers and within the wider profession. The study further indicates potential boundary issues and ethical concerns as a result of the disparity between training/supervision and client needs/therapist practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the influence of grit on physical activity, sleep and diet in undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: 125 undergraduate students participated in the study. Participants completed an online survey while enrolled in an online class during June, 2020. Methods: The online questionairre featured the following validated survey instruments: International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants Short Form and the grit short form. Effects of grit on lifestyle behaviors were explored using several statistical approaches. Results: We found that individuals with more grit reported better eating and sleeping behaviors compared to those with less grit. However, we did not find an influence of grit on physical activity or sitting time. Conclusion: Our findings support that personality traits encompassed in grit contribute to college students reporting healthier dietary habits and better sleep quality during a global pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intuitive Eating (IE) theory posits eating in response to internal hunger, and satiety cues minimize impulses to over-consume foods. To assess this relationship, 758 university students (55% male) completed the Intuitive Eating Scale 2 (IES-2) and the Diet History Questionnaire II (DHQ). The IES-2 includes a total score and four subscale scores; unconditional permission to eat (UPE), reliance on hunger and satiety cues (RHSC), eating for physical rather than emotional reasons (EPR), and body food choice congruence (BFCC). Using multiple regression analysis, IE total was not related to diet quality. EPR (ß =0.10, p≤.01) and BFCC (ß =0.29, p≤.001) were positively related to diet quality. UPE (ß=-0.15, p≤.001) and RHSC (ß =-0.08, p≤.05) were negatively related to diet quality. This study found an antipodal relationship between the subscales of IE and diet quality among university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In light of the global commitment to promoting sustainable dietary choices and the pivotal role of young adults in the adoption of these choices, it is paramount to understand their perspectives of healthy and sustainable diets. The present study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of a questionnaire examining the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and willingness to change regarding sustainable diets among young adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: Male and female students attending University of Sharjah, UAE (n = 436), completed an online questionnaire consisting of four sections: knowledge, attitudes, practices, and willingness to change with regard to sustainable diets. Of the participants, 106 completed the questionnaire a second time, 1 month later. Factor analysis (FA) (both exploratory and confirmatory), Cronbach‐α, interitem correlations, and intra class correlation (ICC) coefficients were used in the data analysis. Results: Exploratory FA revealed four factors corresponding to the components of the questionnaire. Results of the confirmatory FA indicated a good fit: the χ2df ratio was < 5 (2.3), root mean squared error of approximation was < 0.08 (0.048) and the comparative fit index was above 0.9 (0.901). Cronbach α and interitem correlations were: knowledge: 0.57 and 0.21; attitude: 0.70 and 0.28; practices: 0.76 and 0.39; willingness to change: 0.69 and 0.27. The ICC coefficients, assessing the reliability of the questionnaire, ranged between 0.48 and 0.92 for the various items. Conclusions: The developed questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool that could be used to identify the gaps and opportunities for the development of evidence‐based interventions aiming to enhance the uptake of sustainable diets among young adults. Key points/highlights: Dietary choices play a pivotal role in affecting human as well as environmental health.Of population groups, young adults are particularly important to study in the context of sustainable dietary intake.The questionnaire developed in the present study is a tool that could be used to examine knowledge, attitude, and practices, as well as willingness to change, regarding sustainable diets among young adults.The developed questionnaire was found to have acceptable validity and reproducibility.Public health programs could use this questionnaire to identify evidence‐based targets for interventions aiming to promote sustainable diets among young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This retrospective study explored the experiences of women with overweight or obesity regarding physical activity, diet and quality of life leading up to, during, and following pregnancy. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was adopted, whereby data collected through semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Throughout the interviews, individuals were asked to describe their barriers to a healthy lifestyle during and following pregnancy. Results: Ten women (34.5 ± 5.2 years old, BMI 30.4 ± 3.5 kg·m− 2) who were between 12 and 52 weeks postpartum participated. A range of themes were identified when discussing barriers to physical activity and healthy eating during and following pregnancy. For example, tiredness, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, and a lack of support at home, was often cited as preventing engagement in exercise and healthy eating practices. A lack of convenience when attending exercise classes, medical complications following the birth and the cost of attending pregnancy-specific classes were identified as barriers to exercise engagement. Cravings and nausea were identified as barriers to healthy eating during pregnancy. Quality of life was positively associated with exercise and healthy eating, whilst a lack of sleep, loneliness and a loss of freedom since the baby had arrived negatively influenced quality of life. Discussion: Postpartum women with overweight and obesity experience many barriers when attempting to engage in a healthy lifestyle during and following pregnancy. These findings can be used to inform the design and delivery of future lifestyle interventions in this population. Significance: What is Already Known on this Subject? Pregnant and postpartum women experience a multitude of barriers when attempting to engage in a healthy lifestyle. What this Study adds? Until now, investigations into barriers to participation in a healthy lifestyle in overweight and obese pregnant and postpartum women have been lacking. Akin to normal weight women, women with a BMI > 25 kg/m2 experience many barriers to a healthy lifestyle during and following pregnancy. In this exclusive overweight and obese population, medical complications was the most cited barrier to postpartum exercise engagement. These results will be considered when designing future postpartum lifestyle interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many exercise-based weight-loss interventions result in considerably less weight loss than predicted. One possible explanation could be that people have certain beliefs about the interplay of exercise and food that also influence their eating behavior, such as the belief that food is a reward for exercise. The current research outlines a systematic multiphase process to develop a psychometrically sound scale to assess these beliefs. In Study 1, regular exercisers (N = 520) completed an exploratory questionnaire on their beliefs related to diet and exercise. In Study 2 (N = 380), the factor structure of the newly developed scale was corroborated by confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, a test-retest (N = 166) was used to confirm reliability and stability. In sum, the Diet-Related Beliefs of Exercisers Scale with its four subscales ("Refrain from Eating," "Food as Reward," "Healthy Eating," and "Nutritional Replenishment") represents a valid and reliable measure of exercisers' diet-related beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Food anxiety and limited dietary variety often persist after intensive treatment for eating disorders (EDs) and may contribute to relapse. Prior studies demonstrate decreased meal‐related anxiety with residential or inpatient treatment, but less is known about changes in dietary variety and anxiety associated with specific foods. The current study assessed change in food anxiety and dietary variety in inpatients with EDs (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) in relation to discharge outcomes from meal‐based behavioral treatment. Method: Patients (N = 128) admitted to a specialized, hospital‐based behavioral treatment program completed measures of food anxiety, dietary variety, and ED symptoms at admission and discharge. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from electronic medical records. A novel network community analysis identified three food anxiety groups: fruit‐veg, animal‐based, and carb‐based foods. Results: High‐energy density combination foods were most anxiety‐provoking and most avoided. Food anxiety decreased, and dietary variety increased from admission to discharge. Reduction in food anxiety was associated with lower ED symptom scores and higher normative eating self‐efficacy at discharge. For animal‐based foods, increased dietary variety was associated with lower food anxiety at discharge. Neither variety nor anxiety was associated with weight restoration. Discussion: Findings highlight the importance of broadening dietary variety and targeting food anxiety during the nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration phase of ED treatment. Increasing dietary variety may contribute to reduced food anxiety, which, in turn, may increase normative eating self‐efficacy. These results may help inform nutritional guidelines for meal‐based treatment programs. Public significance: Consuming a greater variety of foods during meal‐based intensive treatment may help alleviate food anxiety in patients with eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine the correlation between caregivers' perceived stress and depression and the mediating role of diet in this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed from January to August 2022 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Utilizing the Stress Scale, the Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II questionnaire, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, researchers assessed levels of perceived stress, diet quality, and depression. A bootstrap approach and the SPSS PROCESS macro were used to assess the importance of the mediation effect. The target population was family caregivers of patients with chronic illness at Medical City in Saudi Arabia. Researchers surveyed a convenience sample of 127 patients, with 119 providing complete data for a response rate of 93.7%. A significant correlation was found between depression and perceived stress (β = 0.438, p < 0.001). Diet quality mediated the relationship between depression and perceived stress (β = 0.187, p = 0.018). The importance of the indirect effect of perceived stress through diet quality was supported by the nonparametric bootstrapping method (95% bootstrap CI = 0.010, 0.080). The indirect effect of diet quality explained 15.8% of the overall variation in depression. Conclusions: These findings help to clarify the mediating effects of diet quality on the relationship between perceived stress and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Practical Oncology Journal is the property of Journal of Practical Oncology Editorial Office 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 Enfermería Comunitaria (RIdEC) is the property of Revista Iberoamericana de Enfermeria Comunitaria de la Asociacion de Enfermeria Comunitaria 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 COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on overall health and well-being. Therefore, certain preventive measures may affect many lifestyle habits. This study aimed to explore the eating habits, food variety score (FVS), and diet diversity score (DDS) of adults residing in Saudi Arabia during the mandatory stay-at-home advisory for COVID-19. A cross sectional study was targeted adults living in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 lockdown (May - June 2020). An electronic self-reported survey was conducted through Research Electronic Data Capture (Redcap) distributed on social media platforms. The Arabic version of the questionnaire was previously evaluated for its reliability and validity. A total of 359 individuals who completed the food frequency questionnaire were included in the study. Diet diversity score (DDS) and food variety score (FVS) was calculated. The study found that the distribution of FVS ranged between 4-27 food items. The distribution of DDS ranged between 3-14 food items. Income, working status, and living status were factors associated with the FVS and/or DDS. The majority of the cohort (>67%) had at least one snack/day and < 3 meals/day. Diet diversity was acceptable among Saudi adults during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Age, sex, having children, marital status, education level, and income were factors associated with diet diversity and eating habits (having breakfast, skipping meals, and number of snacks). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present review indicates that changes in food perception among head and neck cancer patients constitute more than changes in taste perception, but also changes in texture, temperature, and other oral sensations (e.g., spiciness, cooling sensation, carbonation). Food does not only carry physiological importance, but also conveys psychological and psychosocial values. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of cancer patients' food perception will allow the development of personalised dietary interventions to provide a more pleasant eating experience and improve their quality of life. Food-related sensory alterations are prevalent among cancer patients and negatively impact their relationship with food, quality of life, and overall health outcome. In addition to taste and smell, food perception is also influenced by somatosensation comprising tactile, thermal, and chemesthetic sensations; yet studies on oral somatosensory perception of cancer patients are lacking to provide patients with tailored nutritional solutions. The present review aimed to summarise findings on the oral somatosensory perception of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and the potential aetiologies of somatosensory alterations among this population. Subjective assessments demonstrated alterations in oral somatosensory perception such as sensitivity to certain textures, spices, and temperatures. Physiological changes in oral somatosensation have been observed through objective assessments of sensory function, showing reduced localised tactile function and thermal sensitivity. Changes in whole-mouth tactile sensation assessed using texture discrimination and stereognosis ability seem to be less evident. Available evidence indicated oral somatosensory alterations among HNC patients, which may affect their eating behaviour, but more studies with larger sample sizes and standardised assessment methods are needed. Unlike other types of cancers, sensory alterations in HNC patients are not only caused by the treatments, but also by the cancer itself, although the exact mechanism is not fully understood. Prevalent oral complications, such as xerostomia, dysphagia, mucositis, and chemosensory alterations, further modify their oral condition and food perception. Oral somatosensory perception of cancer patients is an under-investigated topic, which constitutes an important avenue for future research due to its potential significance on eating behaviour and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of a nationwide maternal health programme that targets both demand- and supply-side factors on the nutritional status of children under five years old whose mothers were potentially exposed to the programme. We employed a difference-in-differences approach by matching programme beneficiary facilities to the districts and communities where households reside. The data are drawn from the 2008, 2013, and 2018 rounds of Nigeria's Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), comprising responses for approximately 120,000 children. Our findings reveal a significant increase in child dietary diversity, particularly in districts with two beneficiary facilities, suggesting stronger effects with expansive programme implementation. Additionally, we observed positive effects on children's consumption of various nutritious foods for those children in districts with two beneficiary facilities. This study investigates a potential mechanism by which expanding access to healthcare facilities, through funding two clinics per district, may contribute to improved child dietary diversity. Our findings suggest that, unlike districts with one beneficiary facility, those with two funded clinics have a higher likelihood of women engaging in work outside the home and earning cash for it. As shown in the analysis, this mechanism is likely due to easier access to health facilities and better contact with health officers, which facilitate quicker reintegration into the labour market for mothers after childbirth and, in turn, could lead to better maternal earnings and potentially enable a more diverse diet for children. The findings suggest that SURE-P's expansive implementation strengthens child nutrition outcomes and supports maternal economic empowerment. In areas with multiple SURE-P facilities, increased access to healthcare enables mothers to reintegrate into the labor market more quickly, facilitating cash income and fostering a reinforcing cycle of improved child dietary diversity and economic benefits for families. This highlights the potential of scaling such programs to maximize both health and economic outcomes in similar contexts. • Investments in demand- and supply-side factors for maternal health improve child nutrition. • These investments also enhance maternal labor market outcomes, potentially increasing earnings. • Higher maternal earnings may enable a more diverse diet for children. • Better access to health services likely drives improved maternal labor market outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to validate previous structural models of factors influencing dietary behavior changes and construct the knowledge, attitude, and behavioral models of youth school football players. Methods: 279 school football players aged 12–17 years in Grades 7–12 in Hunan Province, China, completed a questionnaire to collect data on sports nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. A structural equation model (SEM) was built based on the knowledge-attitude-behavior (KAB) model and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to introduce nutritional knowledge directly or by altering attitudes into the dietary behavior path of players. Four factors affecting dietary behaviors were involved in the hypothetical structure, which consists of the following hypotheses: (1) nutrition knowledge affects the attitude towards sports nutrition (H1); (2) nutrition knowledge affects dietary behaviors (H2); (3) nutrition knowledge affects subjective norms (H3); (4) nutrition knowledge affects perceived behavioral control (H4); (5) subjective norms affect dietary behaviors (H5); and 6) perceived behavioral control affects dietary behaviors (H6). Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the built SEM conformed to the measured relationships in each dimension. In the final structural model, it was found that nutrition knowledge had a direct impact on the attitudes of players and affected their dietary behaviors in a direct manner or through their subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Conclusions: The results are in agreement with the TPB-based KAB chain and support the KAB theory for youth school football players in Hunan Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zentralblatt fuer Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Good diet quality during pregnancy provides adequate nutrition to support both the mothers and the fetus. The objective of this study is to describe the distribution of diet quality during pregnancy and to study the association between social factors and diet quality during pregnancy in a Canadian population. This study was based on 1535 pregnant women who provided dietary information in the 3D Cohort Study in Quebec, Canada. A 3‐day food record was used to collect dietary intake in the second trimester of pregnancy. A Canadian adaption of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI‐C) 2010 was used to quantify diet quality. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted effect estimates and confidence intervals for the association between social factors and HEI‐C. The mean HEI‐C 2010 score in this study was 62.9 (SD: 11.2). Only 4.5% and 8.3% of the pregnant women consumed the recommended amounts of whole grains and 'greens and beans', respectively. Diet quality was lower in some subgroups of pregnant women. After multivariable adjustment, lower diet quality was observed in participants who were less educated, younger, overweight or obese before pregnancy, or parous. There was an interaction between ethnicity and immigration status on diet quality in pregnancy. These findings could be useful for health practitioners and policymakers in developing strategies to improve the diet quality of pregnant women. Key message: The diet of the women in Canada still needs improvement, especially regarding whole grains and 'greens and beans', where the majority of the women did not meet the recommendations.Pregnant women who were less educated, younger, overweight or obese before pregnancy, or parous should be targeted for improving diet quality in Canada.There was an interaction between ethnicity and immigration status on diet quality during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes lay people's use of nutritionistic discourse in written correspondence with the Swedish Food Agency, an authority responsible for dietary advice. Examining 60 food related written digital messages, we apply a critical discourse analysis to parse the lexical items and grammar people use when constructing "food" in scientific terms. The findings show how message writers place nutrients at the discursive center. Message writers' grammatical constructions instrumentalize food and eating. This is reinforced by the message writers' frequent use of terms that indicate preciseness, such as numbers and amounts. Messages therefore emphasize the what, but not the how, of eating, implying a focus on food as subject to regulation and control. As such, eating is discursively reduced to an act of ingesting nutrients that can be decontextualized and managed in isolation--as entities to increase or avoid separately. These discursive features preclude the conceptualization of food choice and eating as subjective experiences of feelings, taste, and tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregivers are key to children's dietary intake. Conducting research in American Samoa requires a culturally sensitive protocol. To describe the recruitment process for a study on caregiver perceptions of child diet quality in American Samoa. The recruitment was for a qualitative study conducted with caregivers who were selected from 6 communities studied in the Children's Healthy Living Study (CHL) data collection in American Samoa in 2019. Recruitment for the present study was conducted during Fall 2023 in American Samoa. A partnership was arranged with the American Samoa Community College for planning, space, and logistic support. Prior to recruitment or going to the community, cultural protocol was followed including an official meeting and an orientation/on boarding session with the Land Grant College Director and professional staff. Twenty mothers (10 urban, 10 rural) were selected based on recruitment criteria and who had children who were 2-4 years of age during CHL data collection. Each participant completed a consent form as well as a demographics survey of descriptive characteristics. Samoan versions of each form were provided for participants based on their preference. IRB approval was obtained from the University of Hawaii IRB. Twenty mothers were recruited, described and cultural protocols explained. Eighteen of the 20 mothers were recruited and interviewed completely in the Samoan language, while 2 were conducted in Samoan and English. Interviews were conducted in person at various locations including residence, place of work, and at the Land Grant College office. Descriptive characteristics of the participants included mothers ranging from 18 to over 51. All the participants were of Samoan descent and were from villages representing all 6 CHL communities. Key aspects of cultural protocols that were followed included local researchers fluent in Samoan language and customs, and approval of the study by local community leader(s). Following Samoan cultural protocol was essential for successful recruitment of participants in this study. NIFA [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant-based dietary pattern, a new scoring system, has had a favorable relationship with the risk of chronic diseases, however, the associations with mental health are long disputed. Thus, we examined the association between an overall plant-based diet (PDI), healthy plant-based diet (hPDI), and unhealthy plant-based diet (uPDI) and psychological disorders in adult Iranian patients.Methods: In this large cross-sectional study, 3,362 Iranian men and women were recruited. Dietary data were gathered using a validated and reliable Willett format food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Plant-based dietary pattern scores were calculated based on the method of Satija et al. Psychological profile assessment was done using the validated hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ).Results: A total number of 943, 448, and 760 participants who suffered from depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, respectively, were identified. In the multivariable-adjusted analysis, participants in the highest category of PDI and hPDI scores had lower odds of having depression and anxiety than those in the lowest category. This association was also found between hPDI and psychological distress (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.38-0.68). In contrast, higher scores of uPDI was associated with increased odds of anxiety (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.06-2.42) and psychological distress (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.01-1.90).Limitation: The cross-sectional study design.Conclusion: Our results indicated that greater adherence to the overall plant-based diet and healthy plant-based diet was inversely associated with psychological disorders, while following unhealthy plant-based diet increased the risk of anxiety and psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2019, Health Canada released a revised Canada's Food Guide (CFG). This study aimed to understand the perceptions of the 2019 CFG among Canadian parents with children aged 2–12 years. From October 2019–January 2020, 8 focus groups with parents from Southwestern Ontario were conducted using a semi-structured interview script focused on understanding perceptions of the 2019 CFG. A hybrid thematic approach with inductive and deductive analyses was used. Forty parents (72.5% mothers, 77.5% white) with diverse levels of education and income participated. Most parents were aware of the 2019 CFG. Positive perceptions of the 2019 CFG were that the guide was visually appealing and less biased from the food industry compared with previous guides. Parents also reported that the focus on eating behaviours could support healthy eating among their families. Negative perceptions included insufficient information about plant-based proteins, removal of milk and alternatives food group, and lack of representation of various cultures in the guide. Challenges to following the CFG recommendations, including time constraints and limited knowledge regarding how to identify and prepare plant-based proteins, were discussed. Parent perceptions of the CFG can help inform public health policies and behavioural-change strategies designed to support adherence to the 2019 CFG recommendations. Novelty: Awareness of the 2019 Canada's Food Guide (CFG) was high. Parents identified that the 2019 CFG was visually appealing and less biased from the food industry. Concerns about the recommendations of plant-based proteins, "exclusion" of dairies, and lack of cultural representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid dysfunction is well known to be related to nutritional factors such as iodine, zinc and selenium, but the relationship between other dietary factors is fraught with confusion and controversy. Unravelling possible connections between the adverse effects of foods and food components on thyroid health is however no less important. Gluten, pesticides, plasticisers and dietary 'goitrogens' as well as risk of excess iodine exposure from seaweed are important considerations but with varying levels of risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children from Black and South Asian ethnic groups are at risk for childhood obesity in the United Kingdom. To inform local action for childhood obesity prevention, it is crucial to explore the basis of ethnic disparities and consider the perspectives of children. This study aimed to understand cultural and contextual factors influencing childhood obesity in an ethnically diverse population using child‐centred methodology. Methods: 'Draw, write and tell' interviews were held with children aged 9–10 years in Coventry, an urban, multi‐ethnic city in the United Kingdom. Data were analysed thematically using framework analysis. Results: Twenty‐six children participated (85% from Black or minority ethnic groups). Children's perspectives revealed universal themes around health, diet, physical activity and weight and highlighted issues specific to ethnic groups and those living in deprived areas. An underlying feature was weight‐based stigmatization and group stereotyping, and an emphasis on internal factors as the cause of obesity. Children described some experiences of social disadvantage but did not regard these as a barrier to being physically active. Children identified cultural or religious practices or experiences of migration that influenced diet and physical activity. Conclusions: These findings allow a broad range of children's perspectives to inform future intervention design. In addition, the study was able to identify the many similarities and small amount of diversity in children's perspectives across ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Extensive prior research has shown that sexual minority women are more likely to have a number of cancer risk factors, thereby putting them at higher risk for cancer than heterosexual women. However, there has been little research evaluating the association between sexual orientation and diet quality.Method: Data come from participants (aged 24-54 years) enrolled in Nurses' Health Study 3, an ongoing, U.S.-based cohort study (N = 15,941). We measured diet using recommendations from the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and American Health Association (AHA) 2020 Strategic Impact Goals.Results: We found limited evidence of differences across diet quality by sexual orientation. When examining predicted DASH scores, mostly heterosexual [predicted mean score (95% confidence interval), 24.0 (23.8, 24.3)] and lesbian [24.3 (23.8, 24.9)] women had healthier predicted DASH scores than the reference group of completely heterosexual women with no same-sex partners [23.6 (23.5, 23.7)]. Even though certain sexual minority women had overall healthier predict DASH scores, their consumption of certain food groups-low-fat dairy and fruit-was lower than completely heterosexual women with no same-sex partners. When measuring AHA scores, most sexual minority groups (completely heterosexual women with same-sex partners, mostly heterosexual women, and lesbian women) had higher diet quality compared to the reference group of completely heterosexual women with no same-sex partners.Conclusion: Sexual minority women, particularly mostly heterosexual women and lesbian women, had healthier diet quality than completely heterosexual women with no same-sex partners. These data suggest that cancer risk factors (e.g., smoking, drinking, and inactivity) other than diet would drive higher cancer rates among sexual minority compared to heterosexual women. Nonetheless, it is critical for all women to improve their diet quality since diet quality was poor among participants of all sexual orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social isolation is a growing public health concern for older adults, as it has been associated with poor health and premature mortality. On the other hand, physical inactivity and an inadequate diet are important health risk behaviours associated with physical and mental health problems. Considering that there is no research examining the possible relationship between social isolation and the above mentioned health risk behaviours of European middle-aged and older adults, this cross-sectional study aims to contribute to filling this gap.Methods: We used data from the SHARE project (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), wave 6 (2015), release 7.0.0 (N = 67,173 individuals from 17 European countries plus Israel). Statistical tests for a two-group comparison were carried out to assess the differences between highly socially isolated individuals and low/intermediate socially isolated ones. Logistic regressions by country were performed to examine whether social isolation is associated with physical inactivity and an inadequate diet in the population aged 50 + .Results: Our results point out that, for the majority of the countries analysed, highly socially isolated individuals are more likely than low/intermediate isolated ones to be physically inactive and to consume less fruit or vegetables on a daily basis. In 9 European countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg and Estonia) highly socially isolated individuals are more likely to be physically inactive. On the other hand, in 14 European countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Estonia and Croatia), high social isolation increases the likelihood of having an inadequate diet.Conclusion: Highly socially isolated European middle-aged and older adults are more prone to be physically inactive and to have an inadequate diet in terms of daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. The reduced social integration, social support and companionship of the highly socially isolated individuals may explain this association. Our results reinforce the importance of social and health policies targeting highly socially isolated European individuals aged 50 + . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypercholesterolemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modification including dietary changes is the first step for the treatment. Low adherence to dietary recommendations has reported earlier. This study purposed to identify barriers to the American Heart Association dietary recommendations in hypercholesterolemic patients. A 30-item structured questionnaire was designed and the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were evaluated. The exploratory factor analysis was performed on 160 hypercholesterolemic patients and extracted seven interpretable underlying factors of diet non-adherence (52.35% of total variance). These factors included "situational barriers and gathering," "takeaways and eating out," "psychological factors," "false beliefs and food habits," "lack of motivation," "enjoy eating and difficulty resisting the temptation" and "satisfaction with previous food habits". From the practical point of view, considering these perceived barriers, patient's culture, traditions, and dietary preferences can be beneficial in improving dietary adherence among hypercholesterolemic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Assessing the behavioral characteristics and family attitudes of children and adolescents in diabetes is linked to determining the reasons for difficulties in dietary adherence. Our aim was to assess the relationship between behavioral characteristics, family attitudes in children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and the dietary adherence and glycemic control. Method: Fifty-four patients T1DM patients and 47 controls aged 7-18 years were included in the study together with their parents. Among the patients diagnosed with T1DM followed in the Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic, those with high HbA1c levels (with poor dietary compliance) and those with a HbA1c level below 7.5 (with good dietary compliance) were included in the study as the patient and control group, respectively. A psychiatric assessment interview was conducted with both groups. Sociodemographic data and information on diabetes-related variables, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Parental Attitude Scale scores were recorded. Results: We have found higher standard diet application rates in patients compared to regular carbohydrate count. The patient group had higher odds of neglecting blood glucose measurement, insulin doses, and a history of stress before decompensation. The rate of psychiatric diagnosis was 26.2%, similar to the general literature, and combined diagnoses were less frequent. Hospital admissions and hypoglycemic episodes were observed at a higher rate in the group that had problems in dietary adherence. Compared to those with good dietary compliance, patients in the dietary non-adherence group had a higher level of parental control and poorer parental perception of their children's peer relationships. Conclusion: To reduce the risk of acute complications of the disease and to prevent long-term chronic sequelae, it is important to identify positive and some negative behavioral characteristics of child and parental attitudes. Parental role is among the key factors in supporting the autonomy of the child in ensuring dietary compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this paper, we assessed interdependent associations between food-related psychosocial traits and diet quality (ie, healthy and ultra-processed food consumption) among parent- adolescent dyads. Methods: This secondary analysis used data from the Family, Life, Activity, Sun and Health (FLASHE) study, which measured diet and other health behaviors in American parent-adolescent dyads (N = 1646). Actor-Partner Interdependence Models were used to apply a dyadic extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Determination Theory constructs (motivation, attitudes and self-efficacy) in relation to healthy and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. Results: Parent (b = 0.46, p < .01) and adolescent motivation (b = 0.42, p < .01) had positive actor effects on healthy food consumption. Parental attitudes had a negative actor effect (b = -0.20, p < .01) and adolescent attitudes had a positive actor effect (b = 0.34, p < .01) on healthy food consumption. Parent (b = -0.18, p < .01) and adolescent motivation (b = -0.14, p < .01) had negative actor effects on UPF consumption. No significant partner effects were found. Conclusions: Food-related psychosocial traits are associated with parent and adolescent diet quality. Interventions and guidelines that aim to strengthen an individual's ability to make healthful dietary choices, particularly those focused on reducing UPF consumption, are warranted, and may benefit from drawing on behavioral theories, especially those focused on motivational traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although adolescent dietary patterns tend to be of poor quality, it is unclear whether dietary patterns established in adolescence persist into adulthood. Objectives We examined trajectories across adolescence and early adulthood for 2 major dietary patterns and their associations with childhood and parental factors. Methods Using data from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine Study), intakes of 38 food groups were estimated at ages 14, 17, 20 and 22 y in 1414 participants using evaluated FFQs. Using factor analysis, 2 major dietary patterns (healthy and Western) were consistently identified across follow-ups. Sex-specific group-based modeling assessed the variation in individual dietary pattern z scores to identify group trajectories for each pattern between ages 14 and 22 y and to assess their associations with childhood and parental factors. Results Two major trajectory groups were identified for each pattern. Between ages 14 and 22 y, a majority of the cohort (70% males, 73% females) formed a trajectory group with consistently low z scores for the healthy dietary pattern. The remainder had trajectories showing either declining (27% females) or reasonably consistent healthy dietary pattern z scores (30% males). For the Western dietary pattern, the majority formed trajectories with reasonably consistent average scores (79% males, 81% females) or low scores that declined over time. However, 21% of males had a trajectory of steady, marked increases in Western dietary pattern scores over time. A lower maternal education and higher BMI (in kg/m2) were positively associated with consistently lower scores of the healthy dietary pattern. Lower family income, family functioning score, maternal age, and being in a single-parent family were positively related to higher scores of the Western dietary pattern. Conclusions Poor dietary patterns established in adolescence are likely to track into early adulthood, particularly in males. This study highlights the transition between adolescence and early adulthood as a critical period and the populations that could benefit from dietary interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's lives are negatively impacted by chronic psychological stress. Dietary supplement use to manage stress is prolific despite inadequate evidence to support supplementation. The researchers used participatory action research to examine the experience of living with stress and the role that diet and/or dietary supplements played in the self‐reported ability to manage stress among community dwelling women. Convenience sampling was used to recruit eight women. Focus group sessions were held across eight consecutive weeks wherein personal experiences of stress and dietary strategies to manage stress were audio‐recorded. Verbatim transcripts of the sessions, journal notes, and email correspondence were analyzed, identifying codes, categories, and six themes: "causes and effects of stress," "thinking patterns and stress," "confusion and skepticism about using dietary strategies to manage stress," "the role of relationships in experiencing stress," "the role of relationships in managing physical health and stress," and "stress‐management strategies." Participants experienced habitual stress responses, skepticism about dietary stress management strategies, and long‐reaching physical and psychological effects on key relationships. Health professionals may find similar perspectives influencing the choices of chronically stressed women they support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Overweight and obesity are universal health challenges. Recent evidence emphasises the potential benefits of addressing psychological factors associated with obesity in dietary programmes. This pilot study investigated the efficacy and acceptability of a combined online and face-to-face dietary intervention that used self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring to improve dietary behaviour, as well as psychological factors associated with dietary behaviour.Design: Embedded mixed methods including a 4-week before-after trial and a one-on-one interview. Quantitative outcomes of the study were the levels of self-compassion; eating pathology; depression, anxiety and stress; and dietary intake. Qualitative outcomes were participants' perceptions about the acceptability of the intervention.Setting: UNSW Kensington campus.Participants: Fourteen participants with overweight and obesity aged between 18 and 55 years old.Results: Results showed that the intervention significantly improved self-compassion and some aspects of dietary intake (e.g. decrease in energy intake) at Week Four compared with Week Zero. Some aspects of eating pathology also significantly decreased (e.g. Eating Concern). However, changes in self-compassion over the 4 weeks did not significantly predict Week Four study outcomes, except for level of stress. Most participants found self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring to be essential for dietary behaviour change. However, participants also indicated that an online programme needed to be efficient, simple and interactive.Conclusions: In conclusion, the current study provides preliminary but promising findings of an effective and acceptable combined online and face-to-face intervention that used self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring to improve dietary habits. However, the results need to be examined in future long-term randomised controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present study, we aimed to (i) examine perceptions of achieving calcium and vitamin D recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and (ii) determine how participants talked about food in relation to RDA recommendations. Methods: Participants aged ≥50 years who were prescribed osteoporosis medication and received two modes of bone health education were eligible. Relying on a qualitative description design, we interviewed participants 1 month after they had attended an education session and received a self‐management booklet. Calcium and vitamin D intakes were estimated by in‐depth questions about diet and supplements and compared with perceptions of achieved RDA levels. Interview transcripts were analysed based on an analytic hierarchical process. Results: Forty‐five participants (29 reporting previous fragility fractures) were included. Calcium and vitamin D RDA appeared to be potentially achieved by 64% and 93% of participants, respectively, primarily because of reliance on supplements. Few participants talked about vitamin D in relation to food intake and 49% of participants were unclear about the calcium content of food. Most considered that a healthy diet was equivalent to a calcium‐rich diet. We noted no differences in our findings in the subset of individuals with fragility fractures. Conclusions: Despite reporting a prescription for osteoporosis medication and receiving bone health education, a substantial number of individuals appeared to have sub‐optimal calcium levels. This may be attributed to the challenge of achieving RDA with diet alone and the misconception of a healthy diet as a calcium‐rich diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating the influence of some sociodemographic factors on the eating motivations. A longitudinal study was carried conducted with 11960 participants from 16 countries. Data analysis included t-test for independent samples or ANOVA, and neural network models were also created, to relate the input and output variables. Results showed that factors like age, marital status, country, living environment, level of education or professional area significantly influenced all of the studied types of eating motivations. Neural networks modelling indicated variability in the food choices, but identifying some trends, for example the strongest positive factor determining health motivations was age, while for emotional motivations was living environment, and for economic and availability motivations was gender. On the other hand, country revealed a high positive influence for the social and cultural as well as for environmental and political and also for marketing and commercial motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective was to examine the association between symptoms of maternal mental health problems and child diet and nutritional status in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.Design: Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), and post-traumatic stress was measured by the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Participants were classified as having high psychological distress if their mean item score was in the upper quartile of both measures. Dependent variables included child dietary diversity, meal frequency, height-for-age z score (HAZ), weight-for-age z score (WAZ), weight-for-height z score (WHZ), stunting and underweight. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted.Setting: The study was nested in a larger quasi-experimental study evaluating Jenga Jamaa II, a food and nutrition assistance project in Uvira and Fizi territories.Participants: In total, 812 mother-child pairs participated. Children ranged from 2·6 to 5·6 years of age.Results: HSCL-25 (ß: 0·18, P < 0·05) and HTQ (ß: 0·19, P < 0·05) were statistically significantly associated with higher dietary diversity scores, and all maternal mental health measures were associated with higher meal frequency (HSCL-25: ß: 0·13, P = 0·001; HTQ: ß: 0·12, P = 0·001; high distress: ß: 0·15, P < 0·05) and consumption of at least three meals/snacks per day (HSCL-25: OR: 2·06, HTQ: OR: 1·93, high distress: OR: 2·68, P < 0·001 for all). No significant associations were found with HAZ, WAZ, WHZ, stunting or underweight indicators.Conclusions: More severe symptoms of maternal mental health problems were positively associated with child diet, but not anthropometry indicators. More research is needed to understand the role of maternal mental health in child feeding practices in food insecure and resource-poor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the key features of a nutrition resource that are important to adolescents of a low socioeconomic status (SES).Design: Structured interviews were conducted to explore participants' preferences relating to the features of a nutrition resource. Thematic framework analysis was used to determine key themes, subthemes and concepts from the data.Setting: Streetsport activity sessions, north-east of Scotland.Participants: Eighteen adolescents aged 12-17 years from a low socioeconomic background.Results: The overarching themes identified were barriers and facilitators to engagement with a nutrition resource. Adolescents expressed a preference for an app, and this was mainly attributed to convenience and low cost. There was also an emphasis on the integral role social media has in their lives. Aesthetics was a facilitator for both male and female participants, with a particular focus on weight loss. Behaviour change support, including reminders, access to simple recipes and adopting a 'small change approach', were identified as possible facilitators, whereas cost, environmental influences, and existing eating habits were identified as possible barriers to engaging with a nutrition resource.Conclusions: A number of subthemes, including aesthetics, cost and convenience, which have previously been reported in adolescents with a higher SES, were prominent in our research. The present study contributes to insights relating to behaviour change tools that should be considered when developing a nutrition resource targeting disadvantaged adolescents. Further research focusing on how mobile phone technology and social media can be utilised to support dietary behaviour change in low SES adolescents is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: We gathered baseline data about student need of healthy, free school food, and if current school meal programming serves students in need of healthy free school food, in anticipation of the completion of a district‐wide kitchen infrastructure and educational farm project in a high‐poverty urban school district. METHODS: We used mixed methods to assess student hunger, whether the school meal program met student needs, and to determine associations between presence of a cooking kitchen and perceptions of healthy food. Participants included 72 staff, 143 parents, and 6437 K‐5 students in the qualitative component, and 9078 parents and 1693 staff in the quantitative component. RESULTS: Staff participants stated packaging and reheating food influenced student consumption. During observations, students at seven of nine high poverty sites with packaged reheated food did not eat school meals, but this was not true at four out of four high‐poverty sites with unpackaged fresh food. Parents (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.00‐1.39) and staff (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.15‐2.17) from schools with a cooking kitchen were more likely to perceive school lunch as healthy in adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: Food preparation and presentation appears to influence student consumption of school food and adult perception of school meal quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary diversity before and during pregnancy is crucial to ensure optimal foetal health and development. We carried out a cohort study of women of reproductive age living in the Sô‐Ava and Abomey‐Calavi districts (Southern Benin) to investigate women's changes in dietary diversity and identify their determinants both before and during pregnancy. Nonpregnant women were enrolled (n = 1214) and followed up monthly until they became pregnant (n = 316), then every 3 months during pregnancy. One 24‐hr dietary recall was administered before conception and during each trimester of pregnancy. Women's dietary diversity scores (WDDS) were computed, defined as the number of food groups out of a list of 10 consumed by the women during the past 24 hr. The analysis included 234 women who had complete data. Mixed‐effects linear regression models were used to examine changes in the WDDS over the entire follow‐up, while controlling for the season, subdistrict, socio‐demographic, and economic factors. At preconception, the mean WDDS was low (4.3 ± 1.1 food groups), and the diet was mainly composed of cereals, oils, vegetables, and fish. The mean WDDS did not change during pregnancy and was equally low at all trimesters. Parity and household wealth index were positively associated with the WDDS before and during pregnancy in the multivariate analysis. Additional research is needed to better understand perceptions of food consumption among populations, and more importantly, efforts must be made to encourage women and communities in Benin to improve the diversity of their diets before and during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate energy intake misreporting prevalence, its associated factors and its effects on nutrient intake, in the Portuguese population aged from 18 to 84 years.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Portugal.Subjects: Adults participants from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, IAN-AF, 2015-2016, who provided two complete 24 h dietary recall and complete covariate information.Results: Under, plausible and over-reporters were identified according to the Goldberg method. Total misreporting prevalence was 29·9 %, being 28·5 % of under-reporting and 1·4 % of over-reporting. The current study found higher odds of being classified as an under-reporter especially in participants with higher BMI and in those who self-reported health perception status as non-favourable. Energy intake estimation increases by 853.5 kJ/d (204 kcal/d) when misreporters are excluded, and the same tendency is observed for macro and micronutrients. It is worth mentioning that the prevalence of inadequacy for protein intake decreases by about 5 % when considering plausible reporters.Conclusions: The exclusion of misreporters has a small impact on the crude energy and nutrient estimates as well as on assessing the contribution of nutrients to total energy intake. However, a moderate impact was observed in the estimation of nutrient inadequacy prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and other energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods in two Southern low-income communities targeted by the Balance Calories Initiative, a campaign by the top-three American beverage companies intended to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages by 20 % over 10 years.Design: We conducted self-administered intercept surveys in front of food retail outlets between August and November 2016. We recruited adults with children <18 years living at home and adolescents aged 10-17 years with parental consent.Setting: Retail food outlets in Mississippi and Alabama, USA.Participants: Adults (n 11 311) and adolescents (n 3460).Results: The percentage of high SSB consumers (≥4 servings/d) was 40·9 % among adult males, 32·3 % among adult females, 43·0 % among adolescent males and 34·4 % among adolescent females (male - female difference, P < 0·0001). In aggregate, respondents also reported consuming a mean of 3 servings of salty snacks, cookies and/or candy in the past 24 h, with adolescent males reporting 4 servings.Conclusions: SSB should be a primary target of future interventions to improve dietary intake, but EDNP foods likely contribute as many daily kilojoules as SSB among this population. Future campaigns should aim to limit the consumption of all EDNP foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the association between green tea and coffee intake and cognitive decline in older adults.Design: A prospective cohort study. The average intake of green tea and coffee in the previous year was assessed through a dietitian interview using a dietary questionnaire. A Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was conducted up to six times biennially. Cognitive decline was screened using the MMSE; its incidence was defined as the first time a score of <27 points was obtained in a biennial test from the baseline. Hazard ratios for incidence of cognitive decline were estimated according to the intake of the two beverages using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression, controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.Setting: The National Institute for Longevity Sciences, Longitudinal Study of Aging (NILS-LSA) in Japan.Participants: Men (n 620) and women (n 685), aged 60-85 years, from the NILS-LSA.Results: During a mean of 5·3 (sd 2·9) years of follow-up, 432 incident cases of cognitive decline were observed. Compared with participants who consumed green tea Conclusions: The intake of green tea, but not coffee, was shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex, heterogeneous, and severe psychiatric syndromes. They are highly comorbid with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) which exacerbates the course of illness and impedes treatment. However, the direct functional relations between EDs and OCD symptoms remain largely unexplored. Hence, using network analysis, we investigated the relationship between ED and OCD at the level of symptoms in a heterogeneous clinical sample. Method: We used cross sectional data of 303 treatment‐seeking patients with clinically relevant ED and OCD pathology. We constructed a regularized partial correlation network that featured both ED and OCD symptoms as nodes. To determine each symptom's influence, we calculated expected influence (EI) as an index of symptom centrality (i.e., "importance"). Bridge symptoms (i.e., symptoms from one syndromic cluster that have strong connections to symptoms of another syndromic cluster) were identified by computing bridge expected influence metrics. Results: Fear of weight gain and dietary restraint were especially important among the ED symptoms. Interference due to obsessions was the key feature of OCD. ED and OCD clustered distinctly with few potential bridges between clusters. Discussion: This study underscores the importance of cognitive symptoms for both ED and OCD although direct functional links between the two clusters are missing. Potentially, a network incorporating nodes capturing features of personality may account for diagnostic comorbidity better than specific symptoms of EDs or features of OCD do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]