Search Results (79)

Background: Undernutrition among infants and young children in South Asia remains a major public health concern, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality. While quantitative systematic reviews have identified various risk factors for undernutrition, no review has focused on qualitative studies. This study aims to review published literature on family member and healthcare provider perceptions about influences on undernutrition among infants and young children in South Asia. Methods: We searched for qualitative research articles published from 2000 to 2026 in the PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL databases, and used the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool to assess the quality of selected articles. Selected articles were analyzed thematically. The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42022385382. Results: After screening 201 research articles, 19 articles were selected for inclusion in this review. Perceived influences of undernutrition among children were categorized into individual, socio-cultural, economic, environmental and system factors. Interconnected influences included maternal illness, single motherhood, mothers’ knowledge and awareness, convenience of providing low-quality ready-made and junk food, spiritual beliefs and superstition, violence against women, financial constraints in a context of rising food prices and seasonal impacts on food production, and physical accessibility of healthcare services. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the complex interplay of influences on undernutrition among young children in South Asia. Potential interventions must be culturally tailored and gender-sensitive, with key strategies including nutrition education, community-based support, maternal health improvements, and policies addressing food insecurity and healthcare accessibility. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Lancet Commission proposes a new obesity definition that combines body mass index (BMI) with anthropometric measurements to distinguish adipose tissue excess more effectively. This study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity based on the new definition and to examine cardiometabolic risk factors and lifestyle habits across different obesity phenotypes in the urban population of Lithuania. Methods: This study was conducted among residents of Kaunas city from 2020 to 2024. A total of 3426 adults aged 25–69 years (57.1% of the random sample) were participated. Three individuals were excluded due to missing anthropometric data. Participants were categorized into three phenotypes: (1) no obesity (BMI < 30 kg/m² and no or one elevated anthropometric measure, (2) anthropometric-only obesity (BMI < 30 kg/m² and at least 2 elevated anthropometric measures), and (3) BMI-plus-anthropometric obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² plus at least one elevated anthropometric measure or BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²). Standardized anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical measurements were collected, along with self-reported dietary habits and leisure-time physical activity. Results: Anthropometric-only obesity was highly prevalent, affecting 36.1% of males and 22.7% of females (p < 0.05). The prevalence of BMI-plus-anthropometric obesity was 24.1% among males and 21.4% among females. Individuals with anthropometric-only obesity had significantly higher odds of metabolic syndrome (OR 8.64; 95% CI 6.97–10.71), diabetes (OR 3.01; 95% CI 1.72–5.25), coronary heart disease (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.12–1.97), and several lipid abnormalities compared with those without obesity. The highest cardiometabolic risk was observed in the BMI-plus-anthropometric obesity group. Greater adiposity was associated with higher intake of red meat, junk foods, and sugary drinks, while physical activity levels declined across obesity categories. Conclusions: Anthropometric-only obesity is a common and metabolically adverse phenotype that cannot be detected using BMI alone. A new obesity definition enhances identification of high-risk individuals and supports targeted prevention strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alternative Tobacco and Nicotine Products (ATNPs) have gained widespread popularity. Although they are often promoted as lower-risk alternatives to traditional tobacco products, concerns remain regarding their association with risky behaviors among adolescents and young adults. This study examines the relationship between dietary and lifestyle habits and both ATNP use and intention to use ATNP among Italian participants in the MINERVA (My changINg lifEstyles our Research and eVeryone heAlth) international project. Methods: MINERVA is an observational, international, prospective cohort study. A study-specific questionnaire was administered to participants, who were recruited through informal snowball sampling. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, dietary habits, and the use of both traditional tobacco products and ATNPs. Predictors of ATNP use and intention to use were assessed using logistic regression models. Results: Data from 7535 Italian participants were analyzed. Overall, 48% reported having ever used ATNP, and 14% of non-smokers and non-users expressed an intention to try these products. Significant predictors of ATNP use and intention to use included prior smoking, lower age, and having family members who smoke. Lifestyle factors such as frequent consumption of fast food, junk food, and alcoholic beverages were positively associated with both ATNP use and intention to use. Conversely, daily fruit and vegetable consumption was inversely associated with these outcomes. Conclusions: ATNP use and intention to use were associated with unhealthy dietary and lifestyle patterns. These findings highlight the importance of integrated public health strategies addressing substance use alongside broader lifestyle behaviors among adolescents and young adults. Full article

Background: Sugars, also known as saccharides or carbohydrates, are essential organic compounds that ensure the human body functions properly. They are used as sources of energy, as structural elements and reserve materials. Excessive sugar consumption is prevalent in many countries and has negative health consequences. Methods: A total of 283 people living in Poland took part in the study. An interview and olfactory tests (dynamic olfactometry method) were conducted together with assessments of food preferences from 25 types of food products. Aim: To assess the impact of olfactory efficiency and individual characteristics, such as sex, age, body weight and tobacco addiction, on preferences for various sweet products. Another important objective of this study was to examine the patterns in preferences for different sweet foods. Result and Conclusions: Of all the types of sweet products analysed in the study, desserts and fruit were the most popular. Preferences varied depending on the type of sweet food or drink as well as on other factors. In terms of declared enjoyment, desserts, chocolate and sweets, including jellies and bread, formed a common group (Factor Three: ‘sweet products’); while sweet, carbonated drinks formed the group—Factor One (‘junk food’); and fruit, together with vegetables, salads, cheese and spicy dishes, formed the group—Factor Four. The most important factors influencing the preference for sweet foods and drinks were the severity of tobacco addiction, age and sex. There was no significant influence from olfactory efficiency or body mass index on the preference for any of the sweet products in the study. Full article

Media food marketing (MFM) may greatly influence adolescents’ and parents’ dietary behaviors through direct and mutual influences, yet the interplay of these dynamics is unexplored. This study investigated the impact of parents’ and adolescents’ trust in MFM on their own and each other’s unhealthy food consumption (actor and partner effects). Parent–adolescent dyadic data (n = 1656 dyads) collected from the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating study were analyzed. Actor–Partner Interdependence Models were estimated to assess for actor and partner effects of MFM trust/influence on unhealthy food intake (i.e., detrimental food, junk food, sugar-sweetened beverages, fast and convenience foods) while accounting for dyadic interdependence. Covariates included parents’ and adolescents’ age and sex, and parents’ health literacy, food insecurity, and food label reading habits. Parents’ and adolescents’ higher MFM trust/influence were related to their higher unhealthy food intake (actor effects). Parents’ higher MFM trust/influence was also associated with unhealthy food intake in adolescents (partner effect). Partner effects from adolescents to parents were found for sugar-sweetened beverages only. Parents’ and adolescents’ MFM trust/influence was related to adolescents’ unhealthy food intake, highlighting the need to address it in both parents and adolescents to reduce adolescents’ unhealthy dietary intake. Full article

Background: Research shows that media-based dietary and behavioral strategies can aid weight loss, but limited studies have been conducted among Black/African American adults. Objective: This review examines the literature on dietary and behavioral strategies for weight loss and maintenance among Black/African American adults, identifying the types of media used alongside these strategies. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Communication & Mass Media databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles with no restrictions on the publication date. Two reviewers conducted the screening. Studies were included if they had >75% Black/African American adult participants (18 years and older), included behavioral or dietary strategies, had a media component, weight loss or maintenance as an outcome, and published in English language. Results: Nine studies (randomized control trials (n = 5), mixed-method studies (n = 2) and qualitative studies (n = 2)) were included. Behavioral strategies used to lose and maintain weight included goal setting (n = 4), self-monitoring (n = 5), and weekly self-weighing (n = 2). Limiting sugary drinks (n = 3), limiting junk and high fat foods (n = 5), aiming for a set number of calories per day (n = 3), portion control (n = 4), and increasing fruits and vegetable intake (n = 3) were the most common dietary strategies used to lose and maintain weight. Media used in the intervention studies included mHealth text messaging (n = 2), Facebook (n = 2), a website (n = 1), television (n = 1) and a mobile app (n = 1). Conclusions: The findings highlight the limited research on the utilization of media for behavioral and dietary weight loss strategies among Black/African American adults, indicating a need for future studies to explore and optimize media-based strategies for this population. Full article

This study used Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to examine dietary and lifestyle habits in the Spanish population and identify key diet predictors. A cross-sectional design was used, employing the validated NutSo-HH scale to gather data on nutrition, lifestyle, and socio-demographic factors. The CatBoost method combined with SHAP was applied. The sample included 22,181 Spanish adults: 17,573 followed the Mediterranean diet, 1425 were vegetarians, 365 were vegans, and 1018 practiced intermittent fasting. Fish consumption was the strongest dietary indicator, with vegans abstaining and some vegetarians consuming it occasionally. Age influenced diet: younger individuals preferred vegan/vegetarian diets, while older adults adhered to the Mediterranean diet. Vegans and vegetarians consumed less junk food, and intermittent fasters were more physically active. The model effectively predicts the Mediterranean diet but struggles with others due to sample imbalance, highlighting the need for larger studies on plant-based and intermittent fasting diets. Full article

Background and Objectives: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease primarily affecting hair follicles, characterized by painful nodules, abscesses, and sinus tract formation. Recent evidence suggests that weight management and nutritional factors may influence HS symptoms. This cross-sectional case–control study aimed to assess the impact of body composition and nutritional factors on HS severity. Materials and Methods: We included 50 patients with HS and 50 matched controls comparable in body mass index (BMI), sex, and age. The data collected included 3-day food records, a food frequency questionnaire, 24 h physical activity records, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) scores, body composition, and anthropometric measurements. The macronutrient and micronutrient intake, as well as dietary glycemic index (GI), were analyzed. HS severity was assessed using the Hurley staging system and the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4). Results: HS patients exhibited significantly lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a higher dietary GI compared to controls. Their micronutrient intake was also reduced, while the consumption of junk food, dairy products, and nightshade vegetables was more frequent. The MEDAS scores and physical activity levels were negatively correlated with the IHS4 scores, while higher anthropometric measurements, dietary energy, protein, total fat, and GI showed positive correlations. The Hurley stage was negatively correlated with the MEDAS scores and positively correlated with the GI and visceral fat. In multiple regression analysis, the MEDAS score emerged as the primary variable associated with disease severity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that an increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet, intake of food with a lower GI, and maintaining an ideal body weight may positively affect HS management. Long-term studies are warranted to corroborate our findings. Full article

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in the form of agricultural, forestry, and agro-industrial wastes is globally generated in large volumes every year. The chemical components of LCB render them a substrate valuable for biofuel production. It is hard to dissolve LCB resources for biofuel production because the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose parts stick together rigidly. This makes the structure complex, hierarchical, and resistant. Owing to these restrictions, the junk production of LCB waste has recently become a significant worldwide environmental problem resulting from inefficient disposal techniques and increased persistence. In addition, burning LCB waste, such as paddy straws, is a widespread practice that causes considerable air pollution and endangers the environment and human existence. Besides environmental pollution from LCB waste, increasing industrialization has resulted in the production of billions of tons of dyeing wastewater from several industries, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, tanneries, and food processing units. The massive use of synthetic dyes in various industries can be detrimental to the environment due to the recalcitrant aromatic structure of synthetic dyes, similar to the polymeric phenol lignin in LCB structure, and their persistent color. Synthetic dyes have been described as possessing carcinogenic and toxic properties that could be harmful to public health. Environmental pollution emanating from LCB wastes and dyeing wastewater is of great concern and should be carefully handled to mitigate its catastrophic effects. An effective strategy to curtail these problems is to learn from analogous systems in nature, such as termites, where woody lignocellulose is digested by wood-feeding termites and humus-recalcitrant aromatic compounds are decomposed by soil-feeding termites. The termite gut system acts as a unique bioresource consisting of distinct bacterial species valued for the processing of lignocellulosic materials and the degradation of synthetic dyes, which can be integrated into modern biorefineries for processing LCB waste and bioremediation applications for the treatment of dyeing wastewaters to help resolve environmental issues arising from LCB waste and dyeing wastewaters. This review paper provides a new strategy for efficient management of recalcitrant pollutants by exploring the potential application of termite gut bacteria in biorefinery and bioremediation processing. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess diet quality and its association with obesity and dental caries. It also assessed adolescents’ physical activity (PA) level and its relationship with obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 300 high school adolescents. Body mass indices (BMI) were calculated after taking participants’ heights and weights. Caries activity was recorded as decayed, missed, and filled scores (DMFT). Diet quality was assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire, and four additional questions were added to assess junk food consumption. PA was assessed using PAQ-A. KIDMED, junk food, and PA scores were calculated. Statistical analyses included Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests for group comparisons. A Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was utilized to assess predictors of BMI percentile. Results: The KIDMED score was 3.0 ± 2.5, with 57.7% of participants classified as having very poor diet quality and 39% categorized as needing improvement. The majority of the participants had low PA levels (81.3%), with only 18% reporting moderate PA. No associations were observed between KIDMED scores, junk food consumption with BMI percentile, DMFT, or number of decayed teeth. Children with “very poor” KIDMED scores had a BMI percentile of 58.7 ± 33.9, while those with “needs improvement” and “optimal” diets had percentiles of 60.0 ± 30.0 and 65.1 ± 35.7, respectively. Higher PA levels were associated with better diet quality (p-value <0.001). The regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, DMFT, KIDMED, junk food consumption, and PA score did not identify any predictors of BMI percentile. Conclusions: Participants consumed poor quality diets and engaged in minimal PA. No associations could be concluded between diet and PA with either BMI or dental caries. Further research is needed to better understand these relationships. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity and dental caries are multifactorial diseases with high prevalence amongst Saudi children. The aim of the study was to determine their association with common risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 300 children attending elementary schools. After taking their height and weight, their body mass indices (BMIs) were calculated. Oral examination was performed to record the decayed, missed, and filled scores (dmft/DMFT). A thorough questionnaire was compiled and validated to gather information on diet and physical activity (PA). The KIDMED score was calculated from a 16-item questionnaire to assess diet. Junk food and PA scores were also calculated based on relevant questions. Nonparametric tests were used to assess the associations between the scores and health outcomes (dmft/DMFT and BMI). Results: Fifty-eight of the children had poor diets, which was associated with higher dmft/DMFT (p = 0.012). PA levels were very low, and the average PA score was 2.12 ± 0.61. No association was found between BMI percentiles and PA level, nor between BMI percentiles and diet quality. Older children had lower BMI percentiles compared with younger children (coefficient = −9.35, 95% CI: −17.05, −1.65), and a borderline significant negative association was observed between dmft/DMFT and BMI percentile. Conclusions: Poor diets and chips consumption were related to dental caries. Obesity was not related to diet quality nor PA level. Full article

We conducted an epidemiological non-interventional cross-sectional and case-control study from 1 January 2023 until 26 May 2023 in Oltenia region, southwestern Romania. Throughout the research, 160 consecutive patients were included from two different clinical departments (1—Pneumology; 2—Diabetes and Nutritional Diseases). Subjects were voluntary adult individuals of any gender who expressed their written consent. The clinical data of the patients were correlated with the exposure to behavioral risk factors (diet, lifestyle, exposure to pollutants) to identify some negative implications that could be corrected to improve the quality of life of patients with simple chronic obstructive airway diseases of the lung or associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). In the first group of patients with respiratory diseases, there was a higher degree of exposure to toxic substances (43.75%) compared to the second group of patients with diabetes (18.75%); it is also noticeable that in the first group, there were noticeably fewer individuals who have never smoked (25%) compared to the second group (50%). Respiratory function impairment was observed to be more severe in overweight individuals. In the group of patients with known lung diseases, a positive correlation was noted between the presence of MS and respiratory dysfunctions of greater severity. Additionally, potential exacerbating factors affecting lung function, such as direct exposure to toxins and smoking, were considered. Potential secondary factors exacerbating respiratory dysfunction were considered by correlating biochemical parameters with dietary habits. These included reduced consumption of vegetables, inadequate hydration, and increased intake of sweets and products high in saturated or trans fats (commonly found in junk food), primarily due to their potential contribution to excess weight. Compared to patients without MS, the severity of the pulmonary function impairment correlated with the number of criteria met for MS and, independently, with an increase in weight. Full article

Background: The long-term consumption of junk food products can lead to nutritional and metabolic imbalances, especially when it is associated with a lack of physical activity and the consumption of alcohol or other high-calorie products. Methods: The evaluation of junk food consumption among teenagers and young people in Romania was carried out with the help of a cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire. Results: A total number of 1017 respondents participated in this study, comprising 470 males and 547 females aged between 16 and 25 years. Although the majority of young people fell into the normal-weight category (607 of them, p < 0.0001), some aspects can be noted that in the long term can produce a series of nutritional imbalances: an increased tendency toward sedentarism, with 553 (p = 0.613) of the respondents declaring that they performed sports rarely or not at all, and a tendency toward relatively high consumption of foods high in calories (fast food products and especially fried potatoes, hamburgers, shawarma, pastries, and snacks, along with sweetened drinks and even alcoholic beverages). The respondents participating in this study even indicated a perceived addiction to the consumption of certain products: coffee (50.48%), fried potatoes (38.9%), hamburgers (37.05%), shawarma (31.65%), and snacks (30.08%). Many of these products are rich in calories, saturated fat, and even trans fat. Conclusions: This study highlights a series of aspects that can have long-term negative effects related to the excess weight associated with other imbalances: consumption preferences among young people for hypercaloric fast food products, sweetened drinks associated with reduced physical activity, and even the development of some forms of food addictions for a series of hypercaloric foods. Full article

Background: Diet and lifestyle play important roles in preventing and improving chronic diseases, and evaluating behavioral risk factors in these pathologies allows for efficient management. Methods: A clinical study by screening biochemical parameters and pulmonary function was carried out to evaluate behavioral risk factors in obstructive pulmonary disease associated with metabolic syndrome. Results: Of the total of 70 patients included in the clinical study, 46 were men and 24 were women (χ² = 3.9, p = 0.168). Forty-eight patients presented at least three met risk criteria associated with the metabolic syndrome (19 women and 29 men). Regarding the assessment of lung function, only 7 of the patients presented normal spirometry values (χ² = 75.28, p < 0.001), and the other 63 patients presented with ventilatory dysfunction; most (over 80%) declared that they were smokers or had smoked in the past (χ² = 5.185, p = 0.075). In terms of body weight, 45 of the patients are overweight or obese, most of them declaring that they do not consume enough vegetable products, they consume large amounts of foods of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs) but also super processed foods (food products type of junk food), do not hydrate properly, and are predominantly sedentary people (54 of the patients do no physical activity at all; χ² = 2.12, p = 0.713). Conclusion: From the statistical processing of the data, it is noted that insufficient hydration, low consumption of vegetables, increased consumption of hyper-caloric food products rich in additives, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are the main disruptive behavioral factors that worsen the health status in lung disease associated with the metabolic syndrome. An important conclusion emerging from the study is that the imbalances that aggravate obstructive lung diseases are generated by unhealthy food and an unbalanced lifestyle. Full article

Background: A dietary shift from animal-based protein foods towards plant and/or alternative protein foods (i.e., protein transition) has gained increasing interest in Europe as a solution to reduce environmental impacts and improve human health. However, to shape this protein transition, it is first needed to gain more insights into current protein-rich food consumption habits across European countries and related nutritional and environmental impacts. Objectives: This research aimed to (1) identify distinctive dietary protein patterns in Europe and (2) assess their associations with nutritional quality and environmental sustainability. Methods: Individual-level food consumption data collected from multiple 24 h dietary recalls or food records were obtained from nationally representative dietary surveys of 25 European countries (40,101 participants, 18–64 years), available from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive Food Consumption Database. We applied statistical clustering to classify individuals according to consumption of 24 protein-rich food groups. The obtained patterns were evaluated for nutritional adequacy, nutritional quality, and environmental impacts using the Dutch Food Composition (NEVO) and a European environmental sustainability indicator (SHARP-ID) databases. Results: Six dietary protein patterns were identified: “Common” (42%), “Junk” (20%), “Traditional” (15%), “Health-conscious” (12%), “Dairy-rich” (10%), and “Plant-forward” (2%). Protein intake ranged from 0.89 g/kg body weight in the “Common” pattern to 1.27 g/kg body weight in the “Traditional” pattern. The “Plant-forward” and “Health-conscious” patterns achieved the highest nutritional quality, whereas that of the “Common” pattern was lowest. Greenhouse gas emissions and land use were comparable between patterns, except for the “Plant-forward” and “Traditional” patterns where impacts were, respectively, lower and higher. Discussion: Dietary protein patterns are linked to unique nutritional profiles and vary to some extent in environmental impacts, indicating that distinct approaches are needed for closing nutritional gaps and overcoming environmental challenges. This also stresses the need for considering cultural differences in eating habits for successfully shifting towards plant- and/or alternative protein foods. Full article