Dietary habits, physical activity and sleep pattern among in-school adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Overnutrition has been documented at epidemic levels in children and adults. The associated risk factors may include poor dietary habits, sedentary behaviour, inadequate sleep and low parental education. Objective: To describe dietary habits, physical activity and sleep patterns among secondary school adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,120 adolescents recruited from public and private secondary schools in Lagos, Nigeria, was carried out to study the dietary habits, sleep patterns and physical activity in relation to nutritional status. Results: Ten per cent of the adolescents skipped breakfast, while 28% had fruits on up to five days of the week. Eleven per cent had a sweetened drink every day, while 20 % had a sweetened drink on most days of the week. One out of four (26%) adolescents had more than two hours of screen time daily, and only 5% engaged in sporting activities up to five times weekly. One-third of the students slept for less than six hours daily and experienced sleeping difficulties. Multivariate analysis showed that females were twice as likely not to participate in sports (OR = 2.38, CI = 1.3-4.37, p = 0.002 and to have a higher intake of confectionaries (OR = 1.47, CI = 1.07-2.04, p = 0.01. Conclusion: Poor dietary habits, inadequate physical activity and insufficient sleep were observed among secondary school adolescents. A multi-pronged approach to improve these behaviours is recommended

Saffron Extract and Crocin Reduced Biomarkers Associated with Obesity in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

This study aimed to investigate the effect of saffron extract and crocin on blood biomarkers associated with obesity using the rat model. Methods: Obesity was induced by feeding a high-fat diet to 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats for 12 weeks, after which they were equally distributed into seven groups. Three groups served as controls namely, normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet plus orlistat (HFD + ORL), while the remaining four treatment groups consisted of HFD added low or high dose (40 and 80 mg/kg/day) of either saffron extract or crocin in the food. At the end of 8 weeks, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. Results: Obese rats treated with a high dose of saffron extract and crocin showed significantly lower plasma glucose levels (5.26 and 5.67 mmol/L respectively) than the HFD rats (6.92 mmol/L). Saffron extract and crocin at a high dose showed significantly lower levels of plasma insulin (3.97 and 3.88 ng/mL respctively) compared to HFD control (5.41 ng/mL). Adiponectin levels significantly increased in obese rats fed saffron extract and crocin at high doses (7.44 and 7.92 µg/mL respectively) compared to HFD control (5.34 µg/mL). Ghrelin level significantly increased from 419.10 to 284.10 pg/mL,while leptin level significantly decreased from 8.08 to 5.68 ng/mL for the high dose crocin groups compared to HFD control. No significant differences in plasma serotonin levels were found among the groups. Conclusion: Saffron extract and crocin show potential in reducing blood biomarkers associated with obesity as well as anti-inflammatory and regulatory potential of adipocytokines in an animal model.

Qualidade da dieta entre mulheres com excesso de peso atendidas em uma Academia da Cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais / Dietary quality among overweight women attended in an ‘Academia da Cidade’ in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state

ResumoObjetivoCaracterizar a qualidade e os fatores associados à dieta entre mulheres com excesso de peso atendidas em uma Academia da Cidade de Belo Horizonte, no Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil.MétodosTratou-se de estudo transversal, que investigou a condição socioeconômica, perfil de saúde e qualidade da dieta. Para este último item, foi utilizado o índice de qualidade da dieta revisado (IQDR). Verificou-se a influência de fatores socioeconômicos e do perfil de saúde na qualidade da dieta.ResultadosForam entrevistadas 140 usuárias, com média de 53,7±11,4 anos de idade. A avaliação da qualidade da dieta evidenciou escore para o IQDR de 57,2 (P25: 48,8; P75: 66,1) pontos. Apenas 2 mulheres (1,4%) apresentaram qualidade da dieta adequada, e 30,7% e 67,9% da amostra, dieta inadequada e dieta que necessita de modificação, respectivamente. A presença referida de hipertensão arterial e o uso de medicamentos se associaram inversamente à qualidade da dieta.ConclusãoAs mulheres em estudo apresentam baixa qualidade da dieta e esse perfil identificado pode auxiliar na definição de ações de intervenção nesse e em outros serviços públicos de promoção de saúde, a exemplo das recentes propostas Academias da Saúde.

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize dietary quality and its associated factors among overweight women attended in an ‘Academia da Cidade’ in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil.MethodsIt is a cross-sectional study in which the socioeconomic condition, health profile and dietary quality were evaluated; the latter was obtained through the Brazilian healthy eating index revised (BHEI-R). The influence of socioeconomic information and health profile on dietary quality was investigated.ResultsOne hundred forty women aged 53.7±11.4 years were interviewed. Dietary quality evaluation reached 57.2 (P25: 48.8; P75: 66.1) points at the BHEI-R score. Only two women (1.4%) presented adequacy on dietary quality, and 30.7% and 67.9% presented inadequate dietary quality and diet that needs improvement, respectively. The referred presence of hypertension and the use of medicine were inversely correlated with dietary quality.ConclusionThe women under study presented low dietary quality, and the identification of this profile can help define intervention actions in this and other health promotion services, as the recently proposed ‘Academia da Cidade’ health clubs.