Effectiveness of school-based nutrition interventions promoted in the League of Arab States: a systematic review.

Arab countries are doubly burdened with undernutrition as well as overweight and obesity. To provide guidance to those looking to address concerns of obesity and overweight among children in this region, the current review bridges an existing knowledge gap and systematically characterizes and evaluates the available scientific evidence pertaining to school-based nutrition interventions completed to date across the Arab world. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and relevant keywords, terms and phrases, a search of the literature across 14 databases for school-based nutrition interventions implemented in this region was conducted. Out of 1568 articles from 14 databases, 38 full-text articles meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved. Further assessment for eligibility excluded 23 articles and included one article from hand-searching references, leaving 16 articles in the final analysis. Most articles (n = 7) with the implementation of 5 months or longer found strong positive and significant impacts on limiting sweets consumption, increased dietary knowledge, self-efficacy, breakfast and fruit and vegetable consumption, among others. We also found evidence (n = 5) that teachers trained by experts such as dietitians and pediatricians can effectively implement nutrition interventions that achieve the intended outcomes. Training teachers to implement theory-based nutrition and health promotion curricula serves as a potential solution to improving nutrition knowledge, health behaviors and dietary practices among children living in Arab countries. Appropriately designed and implemented nutrition interventions can positively impact nutrition knowledge, health and diet-related behaviors in children and adolescents in this region.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices of University Students Toward the Role of Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors in Colorectal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study from Sharjah/UAE.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has risen worldwide, with increasing prevalence in the UAE and GCC during the last few decades. Dietary and lifestyle behaviors play a pivotal role in the development and prevention of sporadic, with knowledge and awareness considered the first line of defence. Knowledge, awareness, and practices have been examined in different parts of the world, with scarce research have been conducted in the GCC countries and the UAE in particular. This study explored the UAE university student's knowledge and awareness toward the role of dietary and lifestyle behaviors in CRC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using an online multi-component self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used. RESULTS: A total of 1213 students participated in the study, with the vast majority (92.7%) of the surveyed students reported good knowledge scores toward CRC risk factors. Significant differences (P<0.05) were found between the two sexes regarding dietary and lifestyle factors associated with CRC. Females consumed more vegetables compared to males, had lower intakes of red and processed meats, and were found to be fewer smokers. Being single (P= 0.0001), undergraduate (P=0.005), with medium to low income (P=0.026) all were significantly associated with increased risk of having poor knowledge about CRC, while being a medical student was significantly associated (P= 0.0001) with a 55% lower risk of having poor knowledge. CONCLUSION: Despite the good knowledge, university students' dietary and lifestyle behaviors necessities improvement, with barriers that require to be addressed.

Effect of Essential Oils and Vacuum Packaging on Spoilage-Causing Microorganisms of Marinated Camel Meat during Storage.

The use of essential oils (EOs) and/or vacuum packaging (VP) with meats could increase product shelf-life. However, no studies investigating the effect of EOs and VP on camel meat background microbiota have been conducted previously. The study aimed to analyze the antimicrobial effect of essential oils (EOs) carvacrol (CA), cinnamaldehyde (CI), and thymol (TH) at 1 or 2% plus vacuum packaging (VP) on the growth of spoilage-causing microorganisms in marinated camel meat chunks during storage at 4 and 10 °C. VP is an effective means to control spoilage in unmarinated camel meat (CM) and marinated camel meat (MCM) compared to aerobic packaging (AP). However, after EO addition to MCM, maximum decreases in spoilage-causing microorganisms were observed under AP on day 7. Increasing the temperature from 4 to 10 °C under AP increased the rate of spoilage-causing bacterial growth in CM and MCM; however, EOs were more effective at 10 °C. At 10 °C the maximum reductions in total mesophilic plate counts, yeast and molds, mesophilic lactic Acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas spp. were 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 3.1, and 4.8 log CFU/g, respectively. Incorporating EOs at 2% in MCM, held aerobically under temperature abuse conditions, delayed spoilage.

Prevalence and multivariable predictors of breastfeeding outcomes in the United Arab Emirates: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Despite considerable policy actions at the national and hospital levels, rates of breastfeeding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain below the global average. There is a need to explore the modifiable factors of breastfeeding such as maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE), support, and mental health among women in this region to guide interventions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aim of this study was to examine the maternal predictors of any and exclusive breastfeeding in a cohort of Emirati and expatriate women residing in the UAE with a specific focus on modifiable factors. METHODS: Using a prospective cohort design, Emirati and expatriate women were recruited in the immediate postpartum period (N = 374) and followed at three and 6 months postpartum between February 2018 and July 2019. Questionnaires with validated tools were used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, breastfeeding practices, BSE, postnatal depression, and anxiety. The main outcomes in the study were Any Breastfeeding and exclusivity practices, which were assessed at three and 6 months postpartum by asking the mother about her breastfeeding behaviour during the past 7 days. Multilevel, multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association of different variables with breastfeeding outcomes. RESULTS: Almost all women reported initiating breastfeeding during their stay at the hospital (n = 357), while only 263 (70.3%) initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of delivery. At 6 months postpartum, 301 (81.5%) women continued to breastfeed of whom 100 (26.7%) were doing so exclusively. Older mothers who initiated breastfeeding within 1 h of birth and were satisfied with the breastfeeding support they received from family and friends had significantly greater odds of any breastfeeding at 6 months. Whereas a clinically significant Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score, low BSE score as well as employment outside the home were associated with significantly lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need to develop effective education strategies and support programs targeting these modifiable variables to improve breastfeeding outcomes among women in the UAE.

Consumption, Attitudes, and Trends of Vending Machine Foods at a University Campus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Vending machines (VMs) have been identified as an obesogenic factor, offering mainly energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods, with limited healthy options available. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess consumption trends and attitude toward vending machine (VM) foods in a university setting. A web-based survey was conducted among 1250 students and staff. Most participants reported weight gain (43.4%) and poorer food choices (53.4%) since joining the university. Participants described VM foods as expensive (53.7%) and lacking variety (34.3%). Over 81% demanded the availability of healthier options. About 75% of participants were VMs users. The most frequently purchased VM items were water, chocolate, and chips. Males reported consuming nuts, soda, iced tea, and energy drinks more frequently than females (p < 0.005). The main reasons for using the VM were hunger and lack of time. Over 40% nominated fresh fruits, baked chips, sandwiches, and dry roasted nuts to be provided in the VMs as healthier food options. Males and those responsible for buying their own food were more likely to select healthier options (p = 0.001). Findings can be used to inform stakeholders of current vending behaviors and to plan tailored interventions to improve the nutritional quality of vended items and promote healthier food choices.

Assessing visceral and subcutaneous adiposity using segmented T2-MRI and multi-frequency segmental bioelectrical impedance: A sex-based comparative study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study aims to quantify abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and assess the extent of its concordance with VAT surface-area measured by a state-of-the-art segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device. A comparison between manual and semi-automated segmentation was conducted. Further, abdominal VAT and SAT sex-based comparison in healthy Arab adults was piloted. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was followed to recruit subjects. Abdominal VAT and SAT were determined on T2-weighted MRI manually and semi-automatically. Body composition was assessed using a BIA machine. Statistical differences between the abdominal VAT areas defined by BIA, manual, and semi-automated MRI were compared. Correlation between all methods was assessed, and statistical differences between sex abdominal VAT/SAT defined areas were compared. RESULTS: A total of 165 abdominal T2-weighted MR images taken for 55 overweight/obese adult subjects were analyzed Differences between manual and semi-automated MRI-obtained abdominal VAT and SAT were found statistically significant (P<0.001) for all subjects. Mean abdominal VAT using the BIA technique was found to correlate significantly with manually and semi-automated T2-weighted MRI defined VAT (r=0.7436; P<0.001 and r=0.8275; P<0.001, respectively). Abdominal VAT was significantly (P<0.001) different between male and female subjects accumulating at different abdominal levels. CONCLUSION: Semi-automatic segmentation showed a stronger significant correlation with BIA compared to manual segmentation, implying a more reliable quantification of abdominal VAT/SAT. Segmental BIA technique may serve as a feasible and convenient assessment tool for the visceral adiposity in obese subjects.