Comparación entre variables antropométricas auto reportadas y mediciones reales

El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar el autoreporte de peso, estatura y perímetro de cintura, y comparar dicha percepción con los valores reales en estudiantes universitarios participantes de la Cohorte MESPYN, -Medellín, Salud Pública y Nutrición- de la Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA) - Colombia. Se realizó un estudio transversal a partir de la primera medición de la Cohorte MESPYN 2009-2010. La muestra incluyó estudiantes voluntarios de las diferentes áreas académicas. La autovaloración de peso, estatura y perímetro de cintura se registró antes de la toma de los datos reales. Se calcularon coeficientes de correlación intraclase (CCI) para todas las variables (α=0,05); la concordancia entre medidas reales y autoreferidas se valoró según el método de Bland y Altman. Se incluyeron 424 estudiantes voluntarios. El peso promedio real de hombres (kg) fue 67,4±10,4 y autoreportado: 67,0±11,0; en mujeres el valor real: 55,7±10,1 y autoreportado: 55,0±9,0. La estatura promedio real (m) en hombres fue 1,73±6,1 y autoreportada: 1,73±6,0; en mujeres el valor real: 1,60±5,9 y autoreportado: 1,61±6,0. En hombres el perímetro de cintura promedio real (cm) fue 76,6±8,0 y autoreportado: 75,0±14,0; en mujeres el valor real: 69,9±8,0 y autoreportado: 70,0±9,0. El CCI para peso: 0,956, IC95% (0,95; 0,97), (p<0,01); CCI para estatura: 0,953, IC95% (0,91; 0,97), (p<0,01) y CCI para perímetro de cintura: 0,593, IC95% (0,55; 0,65), (p<0,01). En conclusión, la evaluación nutricional antropométrica de estudiantes de la UdeA puede realizarse por datos autoreportados para peso y estatura, pero la evaluación de obesidad abdominal requiere la toma directa del perímetro de cintura.

Comparison of self-reported anthropometric variables and real measurement data . The objectives of this study were to evaluate self-reporting of weight, height, and waist circumference, and to compare that perception with the real measurements in college students of the MESPYN cohort -- Medellin, Salud Pública y Nutrición -- from the University of Antioquia (UdeA), Colombia. A cross-sectional study was conducted starting with the first measurement of the MESPYN Cohort 2009-2010. The sample included volunteer students from different academic areas. Self-perception of weight, height, and waist circumference were recorded before the real measurements were performed. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for all the variables, and an alpha of 0.05 was used. The concordance between real measurements and self-referred values was evaluated with the Bland and Altman method. 424 volunteer students were included. The average real weight (kg) in males was 67.4±10.4 and self-reported: 67.0±11.0; in females the real value was 55.7±10.1 and self-reported: 55.0±9.0. The average real height (m) in males was 1.73±6.1 and self-reported: 1.73±6.0; in females the real value was 1.60±5.9 and self-reported: 1.61±6.0. In males, the average real waist circumference (cm) was 76.6±8.0 and self-reported: 75.0±14.0; in females the real value was 69.9±8.0 and self-reported: 70.0±9.0. Weight ICC: 0.956, 95%CI (0.95; 0.97), (p<0.01); height ICC: 0.953, 95%IC (0.91; 0.97), (p<0.01), and waist circumference ICC: 0.593, 95%IC (0.55; 0.65), (p<0.01). In conclusion, anthropometric nutritional evaluation of UdeA students can be performed with self-reported data for weight and height, but the evaluation of abdominal obesity requires direct measurement of waist circumference.

[Comparison of self-reported anthropometric variables and real measurement data]. / Comparación entre variables antropométricas auto reportadas y mediciones reales.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate self-reporting of weight, height, and waist circumference, and to compare that perception with the real measurements in college students of the MESPYN cohort--Medellin, Salud Pública y Nutrición--from the University of Antioquia (UdeA), Colombia. A cross-sectional study was conducted starting with the first measurement of the MESPYN Cohort 2009-2010. The sample included volunteer students from different academic areas. Self-perception of weight, height, and waist circumference were recorded before the real measurements were performed. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for all the variables, and an alpha of 0.05 was used. The concordance between real measurements and self-referred values was evaluated with the Bland and Altman method. 424 volunteer students were included. The average real weight (kg) in males was 67.4 +/- 10.4 and self-reported: 67.0 +/- 11.0; in females the real value was 55.7 +/- 10.1 and self-reported: 55.0 +/- 9.0. The average real height (m) in males was 1.73 +/- 6.1 and self-reported: 1.73 +/- 6.0; in females the real value was 1.60 +/- 5.9 and self-reported: 1.61 +/- 6.0. In males, the average real waist circumference (cm) was 76.6 +/- 8.0 and self-reported: 75.0 +/- 14.0; in females the real value was 69.9 +/- 8.0 and self-reported: 70.0 +/- 9.0. Weight ICC: 0.956, 95% CI (0.95; 0.97), (p < 0.01); height ICC: 0.953, 95%IC (0.91; 0.97), (p < 0.01), and waist circumference ICC: 0.593, 95% IC (0.55; 0.65), (p < 0.01). In conclusion, anthropometric nutritional evaluation of UdeA students can be performed with self-reported data for weight and height, but the evaluation of abdominal obesity requires direct measurement of waist circumference.

Priority issues, study designs and geographical distribution in nutrition journals / Temas prioritarios, diseño de estudios y distribución geográfica de artículos publicados en revistas de nutrición

Introduction: The increased number of articles published in nutrition is a reflection of the relevance to scientific community. The characteristics and quality of nutritional studies determine whether readers can obtain valid conclusions from them, as well as their usefulness for evidence-based strategic policies. Objective: To determine the characteristics of papers published in nutrition journals. Method: Descriptive study design. We reviewed 330 original papers published between January-June 2007. From: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), Journal of Nutrition, European Journal Nutrition, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition. We classified them according to the subjects studied; risk factors, study design and country of origin. Results: Almost half the papers studied healthy people(53.3%). The most frequent illness was obesity (13.9%).Food consumption is the most frequent risk factor (63.3%).Social factors appear exclusively only in 3.6% of the papers. Clinical trials were the most common analytical design (31.8%), mainly in the AJCN (45.6%). Cross-sectional studies were the most frequent type of observational design (37.9%). Ten countries produced over half of the papers (51.3%). The US publishes the highest number of papers (20.6%), whilst developing countries make only scarce contributions to scientific literature on nutrition. Conclusions: Most of the papers had inferential power. They generally studied both healthy and sick subjects, coinciding with the aims of international scientific policies. However, the topics covered reflect a clear bias, prioritizing problems pertaining to developed countries. Social determinants of health should also be considered, along with behavioral and biological risk factors (AU)

Introducción: El crecimiento de la producción científica nutricional indica relevancia para la comunidad científica. Las características y calidad de los estudios determinan si sus lectores pueden obtener conclusiones válidas, y su utilidad en la orientación de estrategias políticas basadas en la evidencia. Objetivo: Determinar las características de las publicaciones en revistas de nutrición. Método: Estudio descriptivo. Se revisaron 330 artículos originales publicados entre enero-junio de 2007 en las revistas: American-Journal of Clinical-Nutrition (AJCN), Journalof Nutrition, European-Journal Nutrition, European-Journal of Clinical-Nutrition y Public-Health-Nutrition. Los artículos se clasificaron según los temas estudiados, factores de riesgo, diseño del estudio y país de origen. Resultados: Las personas saludables representan la mitad (53,3%) de la población estudiada. La obesidad fue la enfermedad más frecuente (13,9%). El consumo de alimentos fue el factor de riesgo más frecuente (63,3%). Un 3,6% de artículos consideraron factores sociales. Los ensayos-clínicos fueron los estudios analíticos más comunes(31,8%), principalmente en AJCN (45,6%). Los estudios-transversales más frecuentes fueron observacionales(37,9%). Diez países producen más de la mitad de los artículos(51,3%). Los EEUU publican el mayor número de artículos (20,6%); siendo escasa la contribución de los países en desarrollo. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los artículos presentan poder inferencial. La población estudiada se distribuye entre sana y enferma, coincidiendo con los objetivos de las políticas científicas internacionales. Sin embargo, los temas tratados reflejan un sesgo, dando prioridad a los problemas relativos a países desarrollados. Deberían considerarse determinantes sociales de la salud, junto con factores de riesgo de comportamiento y biológicos (AU)

Priority issues, study designs and geographical distribution in nutrition journals.

INTRODUCTION: The increased number of articles published in nutrition is a reflection of the relevance to scientific community. The characteristics and quality of nutritional studies determine whether readers can obtain valid conclusions from them, as well as their usefulness for evidence-based strategic policies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of papers published in nutrition journals. METHOD: Descriptive study design. We reviewed 330 original papers published between January-June 2007. From: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), Journal of Nutrition, European Journal Nutrition, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition. We classified them according to the subjects studied; risk factors, study design and country of origin. RESULTS: Almost half the papers studied healthy people (53.3%). The most frequent illness was obesity (13.9%). Food consumption is the most frequent risk factor (63.3%). Social factors appear exclusively only in 3.6% of the papers. Clinical trials were the most common analytical design (31.8%), mainly in the AJCN (45.6%). Cross-sectional studies were the most frequent type of observational design (37.9%). Ten countries produced over half of the papers (51.3%). The US publishes the highest number of papers (20.6%), whilst developing countries make only scarce contributions to scientific literature on nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the papers had inferential power. They generally studied both healthy and sick subjects, coinciding with the aims of international scientific policies. However, the topics covered reflect a clear bias, prioritizing problems pertaining to developed countries. Social determinants of health should also be considered, along with behavioral and biological risk factors.

[Development of questionnaire to assess food intake in the University of Antioquia, Colombia]. / Diseño de un cuestionario de frecuencia para evaluar ingesta alimentaria en la Universidad de Antioquía, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To design a self-reported semi-quantitative questionnaire of frequency of food intake (QFFI) to assess the usual intake of foods and macronutrients of the academic community from the University of Antioquia (UoA). METHODOLOGY: The design of the questionnaire was done by reviewing and analyzing previous studies on food intake and the established linings for the selling of dietary products at the UoA. For selecting the foods and defining the serving size, we applied the criterion of intake pattern and the weight or size of the most frequent serving for each food, according to what has been reported in previous studies. We undertook a descriptive exploratory study with the QFFI including 154 people of the UoA. The analysis included the comprehension, applicability and comprehensiveness of the instrument for the participants, as well as the calculation of the descriptive parameters in the exploratory component. RESULTS: A semi-quantitative QFFI compounded by 144 foods classified in 9 groups with serving sizes known by the population and 9 categories of frequencies of usual intake within the last year. The exploratory study showed differences in the pattern of intake in the population groups analyzed. CONCLUSION: The designed QFFI was adequate for the study population since it was easily understood and administered, and it allowed for assessing the usual intake in the community of the UoA.

Mapping public policy options responding to obesity: the case of Spain.

This study assesses the opinions of the main Spanish stakeholders from food and physical exercise policy networks on public policy options for responding to obesity. We followed the multi-criteria mapping methodology in the framework of the European project 'Policy options in responding to obesity' (PorGrow), through a structured interview to 21 stakeholders. A four-step approach was taken: options, criteria, scoring and weighting, obtaining in this way a measure of the performance of each option which integrates qualitative and quantitative information. In an overall analysis, the more popular policy options where those grouped as educational initiatives: include food and health in the school curriculum, improve health education to the general public, improve the training of health professionals in obesity care and prevention, incentives to caterers to provide healthier menus and improve community sports facilities. Fiscal measures as subsidies and taxes had the lowest support. The criteria assessed as priorities were grouped as efficacy and societal benefits. Obesity in Spain can be approached through public policies, although the process will not be easy or immediate. The feasibility of changes requires concerned public policymakers developing long-term actions taking into account the map of prioritized options by the stakeholders.