Factors affecting emotional eating and eating palatable food in adults

Evaluation of dietary quality of adolescents using Healthy Eating Index

The aim of this study was to use the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) to assess diet quality and determine the relationship between the HEI-2005 and the energy and nutrient intakes of adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,104 healthy adolescents, mean age of 15.8 +/- 1.24 years. Dietary intake was measured with the 24-hour dietary recall method, and dietary quality was assessed by means of the HEI-2005. Diet quality scores ranged from 23.7 to 77.5. The mean score was found to be 51.5 +/- 9.07 according to the HEI-2005. There were no differences according to gender; 42.8% had a poor diet and 57.2% had a diet that needs improvement. No subjects had a "good diet". Lower mean subgroup scores were found for whole grains, total vegetables, total fruits, dairy products, and meat and beans. Fruits and vegetables scores were significantly high in girls, whereas sodium, oil, and meat and beans scores were significantly high in boys. Total HEI-2005 scores were increasingly associated with parental education level when age and gender were adjusted. There was a negative correlation between HEI-2005 scores and age, total energy intake, and fat intake. Positive correlation was only observed in the HEI-2005 scores for protein and dietary fibre intakes. Consequently, the overall diet quality and nutritional habits of Turkish adolescents need modification and improvement. In the family, measures should be initiated by the government, including advertisements and campaigns.

Comparison of nutritional, biochemical and anthropometric measures as comparative risk factors between young and postmenopausal women

To determine the differences between young women and postmenopausal women in terms of bone mineral density, body composition, physical activity, nutrition; and levels of serum leptin, homocysteine, folate and blood lipids. This descriptive study was carried out on 60 young women and 45 postmenopausal women. It was designed to include anthropometric measurements, biochemical analyses, bone mineral density, nutritional assessment and calculation of energy expenditure. Cholesterol, triglyceride, homocysteine, leptin and folate levels of postmenopausal women were found to be significantly higher than those of young women [p<0.05]. The daily energy intake from foods and daily energy consumption levels of the postmenopausal women were higher than those of young women [p<0.05]. Daily amounts of protein, thiamine and riboflavin consumed by the postmenopausal women were also higher than those of the women [p<0.05]. Age is an important parameter affecting body composition, energy and nutrient intakes. Young women and postmenopausal women are significant risk groups in terms of nutrition and health. It is suggested that some nutritional recommendations specific to young women and postmenopausal women should be formulated

Assessment of body composition and serum lipid profile in school children

To determine the relationship between body composition and blood lipid concentrations in school aged children In this cross-sectional study, 159 children between the ages of 6 to 11 years were included Anthropometric measurements and serum total lipids profile were assessed. Overweight was 6% for boys and 5% for girls. A positive correlations were observed between Total Cholestrol [TC], and BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, percentage of fat mass, arm fat area [AFA] and between triglyceride [TG], and AFA; while a negative correlation was determined between HDL-C, and fat mass, AFA for boys. No correlation was observed for these values obtained from girls. This study has shown that in comparison to girls, the overweight and the correlation of body composition and lipid profiles were higher in boys with a tendency to develop the higher risk level of cardio vascular disease

Assessment and evaluation of the nutritional status of the elderly using 2 different instruments

The elderly population continues to increase in most countries and inadequate nutrition is a common problem affecting their functional and physical status. Therefore, we should periodically assess the nutritional status of the elderly using practical methods. Our study objectives are to assess the nutritional status of the elderly using 2 different methods: Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] and Nutritional Screening Initiative Checklist [NSIC], and to evaluate the consistency of the methods. We carried out a cross-sectional study between February 2003 and March 2004. We included a total of 1,564 elderly volunteers living in Ankara, Turkey, with median [ +/- inter quartile range [IQR]] age of 70 +/- 8 [Male: 71 +/- 9; Female: 70 +/- 9] years. We utilized 2 frequently used instruments; MNA and NSIC in this study. The MNA results [<17 points] indicated that 6.5% of the male and 8.8% of the female participants had inadequate nutrition. According to NSIC, 34.3% of males and 36.9% of females were classified as having a high risk of nutritional deficiency. We observed a decrease in MNA and an increase in NSIC scores with the increase of age [p<0.01]. We determined a negative correlation of MNA and positive correlation of NSIC with body weight, body mass index [BMI], mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC], and calf circumference [CC] [p<0.01]. We did not find correlations between MNA and NSIC score to be statistically significant [r:-0.318; p>0.05]. We analyzed agreements between MNA and NSIC score by Kappa statistical method [kappa: 0.13, p: 0.285] and determined that neither of these 2 methods can be used in lieu of the other. For the assessment of the nutritional status of the elderly, we could use both MNA and NSIC instruments but depending on the facilities and preferences, we cannot use one to replace the other. The MNA includes both anthropometric measurements and various nutritional parameters, and is a practical and most valid method