Vegetable and Fruit Consumption and Its Relationship with Body Mass Index in Adults: A Cross-Sectional and Seasonal Research from Türkiye.

This study examines the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the BMI in Türkiye. In this cross-sectional study, which 6332 adults were included, fruit and vegetable consumption, and preferences were collected. The quantities of vegetables and fruits were classified based on the WHO and the national recommendations. Of the adults (33.39 ± 12.59 years), 52.9% of men and 39.7% of women had an above-normal BMI. Based on WHO recommendations, overweight and obese people consumed less vegetables and fruits compared to their counterparts (ORs for women, overweight: 1.2, obese: 1.3; ORs for men, overweight: 1.3, obese: 1.5; 95% CI). The regression analysis revealed that the quantities of vegetable and fruit intake were higher in young individuals, men, and married people. Although the majority consume more than 400 g/day of vegetables and fruits, the intake is inadequate in people with obesity.

Fructose consumption correlates with triglyceride-glucose index and glycemic status in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the glycemic parameters, lipid profiles, uric acid levels, and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index of individuals who consume different amounts of fructose. Additionally, the relationship between the TyG index and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values was investigated. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on healthy adults aged between 18 and 55 who applied to a university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Demographic characteristics and food consumption were recorded using the face-to-face interview method. Participants were divided into two groups according to their fructose consumption (≤50 g/day: moderate; >50 g/day: high). The glycemic parameters, lipid profiles, and uric acid levels were measured and TyG index was calculated. RESULTS: Fructose consumption of >50 g/day was reported by 25% of the participants. There was no relationship between lipid profile, uric acid, and fructose consumption. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and TyG index values in the moderate fructose consumption group were significantly lower than those for the high fructose consumption group (P < 0.05). The TyG index was associated with fructose consumption and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). High fructose consumers exhibited FBG and HOMA-IR levels 1.18 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.01-1.37) and 1.42 (95% CI = 1.09-1.84) times higher than those for the moderate fructose consumers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirmed that high fructose consumption negatively affects glycemic status in healthy adults. Additionally, this study revealed that there is a significant association between daily fructose consumption and TyG index.

Nutritional behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: the association of fear and sleep quality with emotional eating.

PURPOSE: Even though it is known that fear and poor sleep quality trigger emotional eating, whether fear and poor sleep quality are associated with emotional eating during the COVID-19 pandemic is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of fear of COVID-19, sleep quality, and some sociodemographic characteristics with emotional eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This cross-sectional descriptive study was completed with 495 participants in Turkey. The participants filled out a questionnaire that asked about sociodemographic characteristics, fear of COVID-19, nutritional behaviors, sleep quality, and self-reported weight and height through email or social media. RESULTS: The fear of COVID-19 score (ß: 0.090, p < 0.05) and sleep quality score (ß: 0.289, p < 0.001) were associated with the emotional eating score at the rate of 0.8% and 8.3%, respectively. The association of fear of COVID-19 with emotional eating disappeared when combined with various factors. The collective association of all factors, fear of COVID-19 (ß: 0.042, p > 0.05), sleep quality (ß: 0.246, p < 0.001), BMI (ß: 0.275, p < 0.001), age (ß: - 0.259, p < 0.001) and gender (ß: - 0.169, p < 0.001) were associated with the emotional eating score at the rate of 18.3%. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that fear of COVID-19, sleep quality, BMI, age, and gender were associated with emotional eating during the pandemic. We hope that this study will help in the development of guidelines and strategies through understanding the factors associated with nutritional behavior during the pandemic period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.