Social networks and risk of eating disorders in Chilean young adults / Redes sociales y riesgo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en adultos jóvenes chilenos

Introduction: in Western societies, social networks are prominent sources of information and entertainment, widely accessed due to internet availability. While social networks offer health benefits, their impact varies across generations and populations. Concerns arise about their influence on mental health, with potential hindrance to social relationships. Social networks are recognized as contributors to eating disorders, influencing nutritional behaviors and impacting self-perception negatively. For this, the objective of present study was determining the association between the risk of eating disorders (ED) and the use of social networks in young adults in the Araucanía Region of Chile. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the young adult population. The subjects were recruited online through crucial social networks between November and December 2021. A self-reported online form was administered, asking for sociodemographic variables, social network use, and risk of eating disorders. The EAT-26 was applied for the latter variable. To determine the association between variables, each condition was dichotomized against the presence or absence of ED risk. Results: a total of 370 responses were collected, representing females (62.7 %) primarily from the 20-28 age group (79.5 %) and from the university student group (54.9 %); 12.9 % of the sample were at risk of ED. The variables associated with a higher risk of an eating disorder were being female (p = 0.001), preference for Twitter (p = 0.017), interest in food influencers (p = 0.008), and perceived frequency of advertising (p = 0.007). Conclusion: in this sample, there is an association between the use of social networks and the risk of ED, but this depends mainly on the social network used and exposure/preference of food-related content.(AU)

Introducción: en las sociedades occidentales, las redes sociales son fuentes destacadas de información y entretenimiento, ampliamente accesibles gracias a la disponibilidad de internet. Aunque ofrecen beneficios para la salud, su impacto varía entre generaciones y poblaciones. Surgen preocupaciones sobre su influencia en la salud mental, con un posible obstáculo para las relaciones sociales. Se reconoce que las redes sociales contribuyen a los trastornos alimentarios, influyendo en los comportamientos nutricionales y afectando negativamente la autopercepción. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la asociación entre el riesgo de trastornos alimentarios (ED) y el uso de redes sociales en adultos jóvenes en la Región de la Araucanía, Chile. Métodos: se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal en la población de adultos jóvenes. Los sujetos fueron reclutados en línea a través de redes sociales clave entre noviembre y diciembre de 2021. Se administró un formulario en línea autoinformado, solicitando variables sociodemográficas, uso de redes sociales y riesgo de trastornos alimentarios. Se aplicó el EAT-26 para esta última variable. Para determinar la asociación entre variables, se dicotomizó cada condición frente a la presencia o ausencia de riesgo de ED.Resultados: se recopilaron un total de 370 respuestas, principalmente de mujeres (62,7 %) en el grupo de edad de 20-28 años (79,5 %) y de estudiantes universitarios (54,9 %). El 12,9 % de la muestra estaba en riesgo de ED. Las variables asociadas con un mayor riesgo de trastorno alimentario fueron el género femenino (p = 0,001), preferencia por Twitter (p = 0,017), interés en influencers de alimentos (p = 0,008) y percepción de la frecuencia de la publicidad (p = 0,007).Conclusión: en esta muestra, existe una asociación entre el uso de redes sociales y el riesgo de ED, pero esto depende principalmente de la red social utilizada y la exposición...(AU)

Social networks and risk of eating disorders in Chilean young adults.

Introduction: Introduction: in Western societies, social networks are prominent sources of information and entertainment, widely accessed due to internet availability. While social networks offer health benefits, their impact varies across generations and populations. Concerns arise about their influence on mental health, with potential hindrance to social relationships. Social networks are recognized as contributors to eating disorders, influencing nutritional behaviors and impacting self-perception negatively. For this, the objective of present study was determining the association between the risk of eating disorders (ED) and the use of social networks in young adults in the Araucanía Region of Chile. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the young adult population. The subjects were recruited online through crucial social networks between November and December 2021. A self-reported online form was administered, asking for sociodemographic variables, social network use, and risk of eating disorders. The EAT-26 was applied for the latter variable. To determine the association between variables, each condition was dichotomized against the presence or absence of ED risk. Results: a total of 370 responses were collected, representing females (62.7 %) primarily from the 20-28 age group (79.5 %) and from the university student group (54.9 %); 12.9 % of the sample were at risk of ED. The variables associated with a higher risk of an eating disorder were being female (p = 0.001), preference for Twitter (p = 0.017), interest in food influencers (p = 0.008), and perceived frequency of advertising (p = 0.007). Conclusion: in this sample, there is an association between the use of social networks and the risk of ED, but this depends mainly on the social network used and exposure/preference of food-related content.

Introducción: Introduction: en las sociedades occidentales, las redes sociales son fuentes destacadas de información y entretenimiento, ampliamente accesibles gracias a la disponibilidad de internet. Aunque ofrecen beneficios para la salud, su impacto varía entre generaciones y poblaciones. Surgen preocupaciones sobre su influencia en la salud mental, con un posible obstáculo para las relaciones sociales. Se reconoce que las redes sociales contribuyen a los trastornos alimentarios, influyendo en los comportamientos nutricionales y afectando negativamente la autopercepción. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la asociación entre el riesgo de trastornos alimentarios (ED) y el uso de redes sociales en adultos jóvenes en la Región de la Araucanía, Chile. Methods: se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal en la población de adultos jóvenes. Los sujetos fueron reclutados en línea a través de redes sociales clave entre noviembre y diciembre de 2021. Se administró un formulario en línea autoinformado, solicitando variables sociodemográficas, uso de redes sociales y riesgo de trastornos alimentarios. Se aplicó el EAT-26 para esta última variable. Para determinar la asociación entre variables, se dicotomizó cada condición frente a la presencia o ausencia de riesgo de ED. Results: se recopilaron un total de 370 respuestas, principalmente de mujeres (62,7 %) en el grupo de edad de 20-28 años (79,5 %) y de estudiantes universitarios (54,9 %). El 12,9 % de la muestra estaba en riesgo de ED. Las variables asociadas con un mayor riesgo de trastorno alimentario fueron el género femenino (p = 0,001), preferencia por Twitter (p = 0,017), interés en influencers de alimentos (p = 0,008) y percepción de la frecuencia de la publicidad (p = 0,007). Conclusion: en esta muestra, existe una asociación entre el uso de redes sociales y el riesgo de ED, pero esto depende principalmente de la red social utilizada y la exposición/preferencia de contenido relacionado con la alimentación.

Attitudinal factors associated with protein sufficiency in Chilean vegan university students - A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: vegan diets are currently an essential topic of discussion because they are recognized as a prototype of a healthy diet but are also associated with deficits in the intake of critical nutrients such as protein. Evaluating the factors that influence the deficit in their intake in vulnerable populations such as university students represents an important topic of interest, considering that this is one of the groups where veganism is most popular. Given this, the present study aimed to determine the degree of protein sufficiency and its associated factors in a sample of Chilean vegan university students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: an exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on 114 vegan university students who responded to an online survey on academic, attitudinal, clinical, dietary, and sociodemographic variables. Protein intake was calculated, and based on self-reported weight, daily protein adequacy was calculated according to the recommendation of 0.9 g/kg/day. Finally, the association between protein adequacy and previously consulted variables was calculated by determining the odds ratios. RESULTS: only 53.5 % had adequate daily protein intake, which was associated with the length of time respondents had been vegan (OR, 2.86; 95 % CI, 1.07 to 7.34; p < 0.05), use of supplements (OR, 5.24; 95 % CI, 1.17 to 25.2; p < 0.05), and the frequency with which they ate lunch at home (OR, 87.7; 95 % CI, 24.1 to 304; p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: there needs to be more protein adequacy in the assessed sample. Protein adequacy is associated with the length of time on the vegan diet, frequency of eating lunch away from home, and use of supplements regularly.

Effectiveness of nutritional interventions on behavioral symptomatology of autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.

Introduction: Introduction: the main treatment for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) corresponds to cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. Together they seek to attenuate the behavioral symptoms of these patients, as well as to increase their social functionality. However, other strategies have become popular to achieve the same goal of classical treatment. Particularly, nutritional interventions are positioned above others, and it is necessary to investigate their effectiveness, considering that children with ASD present a marked food selectivity, as well as gastrointestinal alterations. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in the behavioral symptomatology of infants with ASD. Methods: a systematic search was carried out in the Scopus and PubMed databases, in Spanish and English. The filters of clinical studies and original articles were used, choosing only nutritional interventions in children under 19 years of age and who had had at least 4 weeks of intervention. Results: evidence was found on gluten- and casein-free diets, ketogenic diet, omega-3 supplementation, prebiotics/probiotics, and vitamins/minerals presenting positive results in most of the articles analyzed; however, the heterogeneity presented requires a greater body of evidence to promote its use. Conclusion: the five types of nutritional interventions evaluated show varied evidence that does not allow defining the degree of effectiveness between one or the other in terms of behavioral improvements in the population with ASD.

Introducción: Introducción: el principal tratamiento para las personas con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) corresponde a la terapia cognitivo conductual en conjunto con farmacoterapia. En conjunto buscan atenuar la sintomatología conductual de estos pacientes, así como aumentar su funcionalidad social. Sin embargo, otras estrategias se han tornado populares para conseguir el mismo objetivo del tratamiento clásico. Particularmente, las intervenciones nutricionales se posicionan por sobre otras y es necesario investigar su efectividad, considerando que los infantes con TEA presentan una marcada selectividad alimentaria, así como alteraciones gastrointestinales. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad de las intervenciones nutricionales en la sintomatología conductual de infantes con TEA. Método: se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos de Scopus y PubMed, en español e inglés. Se utilizaron los filtros de estudios clínicos y artículos originales, eligiendo solo intervenciones nutricionales en menores de 19 años y que tuvieran al menos 4 semanas de intervención. Resultados: se encontró evidencia sobre las dietas libres de gluten y caseína, la dieta cetogénica, la suplementación de omega-3, los prebióticos/probióticos y las vitaminas/minerales, presentando resultados positivos en la mayoría de los artículos analizados; sin embargo, la heterogeneidad presentada exige un mayor cuerpo de evidencia para promover su utilización. Conclusión: los cinco tipos de intervenciones nutricionales evaluadas muestran evidencia variada que no permite definir el grado de efectividad entre una u otra en términos de mejoras conductuales en la población con TEA.

Discrepancy between Food Classification Systems: Evaluation of Nutri-Score, NOVA Classification and Chilean Front-of-Package Food Warning Labels.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are different food classification systems in order to inform the population of the best alternatives for consumption, considering all the diseases associated with the consumption of products of low nutritional quality. Reports indicate that these forms of labelling warnings correspond to a laudable strategy for populations that do not have the knowledge to discriminate between the wide range of products offered by the food industry. However, recent publications indicate that there may be inconsistencies between the different classification guidelines, and the guidelines that nations should adopt in their food guides are still a matter of debate. In view of this, the present study aimed to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative differences that exist between the NOVA, Nutri-Score and Chilean Front-of-package (FoP) food warning label according to the Chilean basic food basket list. METHOD: An analytical study was carried out to classify a list of 736 foods according to three different systems, evaluating the distributions according to their methods of classifying the products. Quantitative differences were contrasted for each system, as well as between them, together with an analysis of the dimensions of each system. RESULTS: According to the Nutri-Score classification, the most frequent category was A with 27% (high nutritional quality), followed by D with 22% (low nutritional quality) of the total. On the other hand, the NOVA classification showed that the most frequent categorization was ultra-processed food (NOVA 4) with 54%, followed by unprocessed (NOVA 1) with 19%. Regarding the FoP warning labels, 57% of the foods were categorized as free warning labels, followed by the category of foods with 3 warning labels (23%). Regarding the results of the principal component analysis, the Nutri-Score and FoP warning labels present a degree of similarity in their classification guidelines, being different than the dimension pointed out by NOVA. CONCLUSION: The present work managed to demonstrate that there are quantitative and qualitative differences between the classification and recommendation guidelines of the Nutri-Score, NOVA and FoP warning labels, finding concrete discrepancies between them.

Effectiveness of Nutritional interventions on behavioral symptomatology of autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review / Efectividad de las intervenciones nutricionales en la sintomatología conductual del trastorno del espectro autista: revisión sistemática

Introduction: the main treatment for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) corresponds to cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. Together they seek to attenuate the behavioral symptoms of these patients, as well as to increase their social functionality. However, other strategies have become popular to achieve the same goal of classical treatment. Particularly, Nutritional interventions are positioned above others, and it is necessary to investigate their effectiveness, considering that children with ASD present a marked food selectivity, as well as gastrointestinal alterations. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of Nutritional interventions in the behavioral symptomatology of infants with ASD. Methods: a systematic search was carried out in the Scopus and PubMed databases, in Spanish and English. The filters of clinical studies and original articles were used, choosing only Nutritional interventions in children under 19 years of age and who had at least 4 weeks of intervention. Results: evidence was found on gluten- and casein-free diets, ketogenic diet, omega-3 supplementation, prebiotics/probiotics, and vitamins/minerals presenting positive RESULTS in most of the articles analyzed; however, the heterogeneity presented requires a greater body of evidence to promote its use. Conclusion: the five types of Nutritional interventions evaluated show varied evidence that does not allow defining the degree of effectiveness between one or the other in terms of behavioral improvements in the population with ASD. (AU)

Introducción: el principal tratamiento para las personas con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) corresponde a la terapia cognitivo conductual en conjunto con farmacoterapia. En conjunto buscan atenuar la sintomatología conductual de estos pacientes, así como aumentar su funcionalidad social. Sin embargo, otras estrategias se han tornado populares para conseguir el mismo objetivo del tratamiento clásico. Particularmente, las intervenciones nutricionales se posicionan por sobre otras y es necesario investigar su efectividad, considerando que los infantes con TEA presentan una marcada selectividad alimentaria, así como alteraciones gastrointestinales. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad de las intervenciones nutricionales en la sintomatología conductual de infantes con TEA. Método: se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos de Scopus y PubMed, en español e inglés. Se utilizaron los filtros de estudios clínicos y artículos originales, eligiendo solo intervenciones nutricionales en menores de 19 años y que tuvieran al menos 4 semanas de intervención. Resultados: se encontró evidencia sobre las dietas libres de gluten y caseína, la dieta cetogénica, la suplementación de omega-3, los prebióticos/probióticos y las vitaminas/minerales, presentando resultados positivos en la mayoría de los artículos analizados; sin embargo, la heterogeneidad presentada exige un mayor cuerpo de evidencia para promover su utilización. Conclusión: los cinco tipos de intervenciones nutricionales evaluadas muestran evidencia variada que no permite definir el grado de efectividad entre una u otra en términos de mejoras conductuales en la población con TEA. (AU)

Microbiota intestinal y modulación del tejido adiposo en la patogénesis de la obesidad / Gut microbiota and modulation of adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of obesity

Las investigaciones realizadas durante el último siglo relacionadas con la descripción de la Microbiota Intestinal (MI) sugieren una relación concreta entre su composición y la salud del huésped. Su desregulación denominada disbiosis intestinal ha sido asociada a distintos tipos de enfermedades gastrointestinales, metabólicas, oncológicas e incluso psiquiátricas. Destacan numerosos reportes que han informado la condición de disbiosis en la obesidad, tanto en modelos animales como humanos de distintos grupos etarios y regiones del mundo. A su vez, la composición del microbioma también ha logrado asociarse a las diferentes comorbilidades de la obesidad, postulando que la MI posee influencia en la disfunción del tejido adiposo (TA), entendiendo que corresponde al principal modulador de la patogénesis de la obesidad. Sin embargo, aún no es posible establecer una explicación mecanicista plausible. Actualmente, la utilización de tecnologías multiómicas, junto con la evaluación de variables fisiológicas, nos podrían proporcionar una mejor comprensión a la incógnita planteada. Frente a esto, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo revisar los últimos avances en la comprensión de la influencia de la microbiota intestinal en el TA y su contribución a los mecanismos relacionados con la patogénesis de la obesidad. Entre los principales mecanismos identificados, la evidencia reporta nexos fisiológicos entre la composición de la MI y la modulación de inflamación, permeabilidad intestinal y adipogénesis. Las vías implicadas derivan de la influencia de la disbiosis intestinal en el accionar de ácidos grasos de cadena corta, claudinas, macrófagos, oligosacáridos, entre otros. Los mecanismos implicados, principalmente estudiados en modelos animales, deberían ser considerados para su evaluación en próximos estudios longitudinales y experimentales en humanos con el fin de obtener una mayor comprensión sobre la implicancia de cada mecanismo en la patogenia global de la obesidad(AU)

The investigations carried out during the last century related to the description of the Gut Microbiota (GM) suggest a concrete relationship between its composition and the health of the host. Its deregulation called intestinal dysbiosis has been associated with different types of gastrointestinal, metabolic, oncological and even psychiatric diseases. Numerous reports that have described the condition of dysbiosis in obesity stand out, both in animal and human models of different age groups and regions of the world. In turn, the composition of the microbiome has also been associated with the different comorbidities of obesity, postulating that MI has an influence on adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, understanding that it corresponds to the main modulator of the pathogenesis of obesity. However, it is not yet possible to establish a plausible mechanistic explanation. Currently, the use of multi-omics technologies, together with the evaluation of physiological variables, could provide us with a better understanding of the question raised. In view of this, this review aims to review the latest advances in understanding the influence of the intestinal microbiota on AT and its contribution to the mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of obesity. Among the main mechanisms identified, the evidence reports physiological links between the composition of GM and the modulation of inflammation, intestinal permeability and adipogenesis. The pathways involved derive from the influence of intestinal dysbiosis on the action of short-chain fatty acids, claudins, macrophages, oligosaccharides, among others. The mechanisms involved, mainly studied in animal models, should be considered for evaluation in future longitudinal and experimental studies in humans in order to obtain a better understanding of the implication of each mechanism in the global pathogenesis of obesity(AU)

Orthorexia nervosa risk and associated factors among Chilean nutrition students: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by an excessive, obsessive concern with healthy eating generating psychological complications and even malnutrition at a caloric and protein level. Current evidence suggests that people with greater food knowledge are the most likely to be affected, placing nutrition students as a populational risk group. Since there are no nationwide studies dealing with orthorexia nervosa in this risk group, the present pilot study intends to identify risk factors for orthorexia nervosa in a sample of Nutrition and Dietetics students in Chile. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional pilot study was done on 90 Nutrition and Dietetics students from a Chilean university, representing 70% of its population. The ORTHO-11-ES instrument was applied to determine ON risk, along with consulting about attitudinal, physical-clinical and social variables. Statistical tests were performed in GraphPad PRISM 8.0®, applying probability ratios and personal correlation, between the sociodemographic variables and the risk of orthorexia nervosa. This study was approved by the university Ethics Committee based on the Helsinki Declaration. RESULTS: 23.3% of the studied population was at risk of suffering ON. Associated variables were being in the second year of their major (OR 2.22), coming from a charter school (OR 3.00) and cohabitation being limited to ≤ 1 person (OR 2.47). Particularly, declared physical activity limits are associated to the risk of suffering ON (Sedentary OR 2.42, Heavy OR 3.53), as well as time spent on the social network Instagram (< 1 h OR 2.77, > 3 h OR 1.80). CONCLUSIONS: There is an ON risk prevalence of 23.3% in the present pilot sample under study, indicating that years of study, cohabitation, secondary educational establishment, physical activity and Instagram use constitute associated factors for the studied condition. Some results vary from international evidence, describing a dual nature in the variables for Instagram time and declared physical activity for ON risk. This study needs replication in more representative samples and longitudinal character with control groups which can confirm the studied elements as ON risk factors. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is an expression created to indicate a possible new eating disorder characterized by excessive and obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating. Some of its most distinctive traits include marked anxiety over food, exaggerated fear over the appearance of some diseases and shame about physical appearance. This ultimately impacts food choice, planning, acquisition, preparation and consumption, creating psychological complications along with some associated with malnutrition. Considering that Nutrition students are an at-risk group, the present pilot study evaluated its prevalence and associated factors in a specific sample in Chile. Conditions associated with the risk of orthorexia nervosa identified in the present study include: number of hours spent using Instagram, limited cohabitation, extreme physical activity, and number of years in the major. These results should be taken cautiously, with their association confirmed in follow-up studies.