Seafarers' attitudes and chances to improve the nutrition on merchant ships from the crews' and cooks' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Seafarers' diets are often high in fat, sugar and calories, thus contributing to an increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. The multitude of obstacles to healthy eating in the on-board environment on merchant ships makes it essential to find new approaches for health promotion. This study explored seafarers' attitudes, the status quo of support measures and chances to improve nutrition on merchant ships from the perspective of crews and cooks. METHODS: In the course of the EU-funded project "e-healthy ship", European and Southeast Asian seafarers (N = 810) and ship cooks (N = 62) were examined by using two questionnaires on 68 ships of two German shipping companies. RESULTS: Almost all seafarers (98.8%) considered a healthy diet important for their well-being and the majority of seafarers reported being open-minded about changing their eating habits (88.4%). However, European seafarers were less likely to respond that they are willing to eat less meat [OR 0.11; 95%CI (0.07-0.17); p < .001], more vegetables [OR 0.10; 95%CI (0.02-0.49); p = .005] and more fruits [OR 0.11; 95%CI (0.02-0.61); p = .011] than their Southeast Asian colleagues. On the one hand, 82.3% of the ship cooks reported having taken part in at least one cooking course organized by their employer (1: 33.9%, 2: 25.8%, 3: 14.5%, 4 or more: 8.1%), on the other hand, slightly above half stated that the last of these courses had taken place more than 2 years ago. Furthermore, the ship cooks showed a positive attitude towards the use of a tablet-based digital platform that supports the ship cooks in daily and complex tasks (> 85% agreement). CONCLUSIONS: To improve nutrition on board merchant ships, various parameters need to be adjusted, such as ensuring a demand-oriented food supply on board or supporting seafarers' healthy food choices through target group-specific nutrition education. Ship cooks would be able to play a crucial role if they receive support. The development of a tablet-based digital platform that supports the ship cooks in their daily tasks, offers training and empowers them to implement health-promoting measures themselves seems to be an accepted and promising approach.

The effects of pregnancy-related changes in eating attitudes and behaviours on nutritional status.

BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, the requirements of essential nutrients for the mother and foetus increase. The changes in pregnant women's eating behaviours may vary according to their sociodemographic characteristics. It is important to meet these increased requirements and understand the factors influencing eating habits during pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effects of changes in pregnant women's eating attitudes and behaviours and their sociodemographic characteristics on their meeting status for nutrient recommendations. METHODS: Sociodemographic information, eating behaviours, and attitudes of 656 pregnant women were obtained in face-to-face interviews between February and June 2020. Food consumption records were taken with a 24-hour recall method and evaluated according to the estimated average requirement value. RESULTS: The average age of pregnant women was 29.0 ±â€…5.2 years, 28.0% were high school graduates, and 69.2% were non-working. The frequency of intakes below the estimated mean requirement value were iron, folic acid, vitamin B6, niacin, and calcium. It was demonstrated that there was a significant difference in snack consumption based on the working status and nutrition information obtained (P < .05). Getting nutrition information, age, education level, working status, and pre-pregnancy body mass index significantly increased food consumption (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Inadequate nutrient intake is a common public health problem in pregnant women. It is necessary to identify the sociodemographic characteristics that negatively impact pregnant women's nutritional status and to develop nutrition and health education programs based on these features.

Dietary patterns - A scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

Background: A dietary pattern can be defined as the quantities, proportions, variety, or combination of foods and drinks typically consumed. The dietary pattern approach aims to place emphasis on the total diet as a long-term health determinant, instead of focussing on separate foods and nutrients, which may interact or confound each other. Aim: This scoping review describes the totality of evidence for the role of dietary patterns for health-related outcomes as a basis for setting and updating food-based dietary guidelines in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 (NNR2023). Methods: We used evidence from 10 qualified systematic reviews identified by the NNR2023 project. No additional literature search was conducted. Results: Strong or moderate evidence linked dietary patterns high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, low-fat dairy and legumes, and low in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sugary foods- and refined grains with beneficial health outcomes, such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, bone health, and premature death. We also found limited evidence suggesting a relationship with the described dietary patterns in childhood and decreased risk of obesity and hypertension later in life. Most studies have been conducted among adult populations, and thus, there is a need for studies in certain subgroups, such as children and adolescents as well as the elderly.

Nutritional knowledge, eating habits, factors affecting muscle damage, and antioxidant enzyme levels of Korean wrestlers.

PURPOSE: The aim in this study was to investigate the diet and nutritional knowledge of elite Korean wrestlers and verify the differences in their exercise performance , muscle damage indicators, and antioxidant enzyme levels according to wrestler level. METHODS: A 7-day dietary and nutrition knowledge survey was administered to 30 adult male elite wrestlers (national team: n=11; professional team: n=19). The Wingate test was conducted for 60 seconds to analyze muscle damage indicators and antioxidant levels. Blood and blood lactate concentration analyses were performed four times; the statistical significance level of all data was p<0.05. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in general nutrition knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ) scores (p=0.043), diet (p=0.001), anaerobic performance (p=0.001), muscle damage indicators (p=0.026), antioxidant levels, and blood lactic acid concentrations (30 min after exercise, p=0.007; 90 min after exercise, p=0.038) between the national and the professional groups. CONCLUSION: To the findings confirm the relationship between the differences in diet, nutrition, and motor function for wrestlers of different expertise levels. In a follow-up, a comprehensive study on nutrition knowledge, athlete training , and weight loss is needed that considers a wider scope of subjects and analyzes additional variables.

Deciphering the Interplay between Genetic Risk Scores and Lifestyle Factors on Individual Obesity Predisposition.

Obesity's variability is significantly influenced by the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. We aimed to integrate the combined impact of genetic risk score (GRSBMI) with physical activity (PA), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), wine intake, and eating habits score (EHS) on obesity predisposition risk. Adults' (n = 5824) data were analyzed for common obesity-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and lifestyle habits. The weighted GRSBMI was constructed and categorized into quartiles (Qs), and the adjusted multivariate logistic regression models examined the association of GRSBMI with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) and lifestyle factors. GRSBMI was significantly associated with obesity risk. Each GRSBMI unit was associated with an increase of 3.06 BMI units (p ≤ 0.0001). PA markedly reduced obesity risk across GRSBMI Qs. Inactive participants' (≥90 min/week) mean BMI was higher in GRSBMI Q3-Q4 compared to Q1 (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). Scoring EHS ≥ median, SSBs (≥1 cup/day), and non-wine drinking were associated with higher BMI within all GRSBMI Qs compared to EHS < median, non-SSBs, and non-wine drinkers. Mean BMI was higher in GRSBMI Q4 compared to other quartiles (p < 0.0001) in non-wine drinkers and compared to Q1 for SSB's consumers (p = 0.07). A higher GRSBMI augmented the impact of lifestyle factors on obesity. The interplay between GRSBMI and modifiable lifestyle factors provides a tailored personalized prevention and treatment for obesity management.

Exploring the Psychological Impact of Quarantine: An Investigation into Eating Patterns, Emotions, and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece.

PURPOSE: The implementation of quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges linked to adverse psychological effects, notably affecting individuals' eating patterns. This study aimed to investigate the eating patterns of individuals during lockdowns compared across sex, age, and income levels, and examine the influence of positive and negative emotions, as well as loneliness, on these patterns. METHODS: A cross-sectional online study was conducted with 450 participants (aged 18-74 years old). One questionnaire about demographics, the Demographic Questionnaire, and three validated self-report scales (Eating Attitudes Test, comprising the Dieting, Bulimia, and Food Preoccupation, and Oral Control subscales, the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale) were employed. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. The data were collected between April and May 2021, primarily through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The survey questionnaire was shared via these platforms and users could answer if they wanted. Also, they were asked to send the questionnaire to their close contacts. Additionally, the survey questionnaire was distributed face-to-face to 80 participants. The statistical analyses included linear regression and mediation analyses. RESULTS:  Abnormal eating patterns (e.g. eating behaviors that tend to have signs of diet such as constant avoidance of fattening foods, the individual's involvement with becoming leaner, extreme control or preoccupation with food, overeating and purging methods) were identified in 25% of the 450 participants participated in this survey, aged 18-74 years. Moderate levels of negative/positive emotions and loneliness were predominantly reported. Female sex was significantly associated with abnormal eating patterns (p=0.010), particularly dietary behaviors (p=0.029). Negative emotions (p=0.032) and loneliness (p=0.001) emerged as predictive factors for overall eating patterns and bulimic behaviors. Negative emotions exhibited a direct correlation with eating patterns, while loneliness played a significant mediating role (p=0.032). Furthermore, the association between negative emotions and bulimia was partially mediated by loneliness (p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the pivotal roles of negative emotions and loneliness in shaping eating patterns during quarantine. Multilevel public health interventions are needed to address the negative effects of quarantine and pandemics in general. Screening tests for mental health in the school and job environments could highlight the need for shaping interventions, such as counseling, group empowerment, and family support in order to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating behaviors and mental health in general.

Evaluation of Depression and Its Correlates in Terms of Demographics, Eating Habits, and Exercises Among University Students: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: University students are a vulnerable population prone to mental health challenges. This study aimed to investigate depression and its associated factors among university students in terms of demographics, eating habits, and exercises. Methods: A total of 2891 university students from three universities participated in this study between January 2024 and February 2024. An online survey questionnaire was distributed using a snow-ball strategy. The survey collected demographic, lifestyle, and psychological data, including depression and anxiety scores using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening tools. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to sport frequency and sport type using Chi-square test for qualitative data and t-test for quantitative data. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for depression. Results: A total of 44.2% and 39.5% of the participants reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Significant differences were observed in various characteristics across different sport frequency groups, with participants with higher sport frequency tending to have less depression (P<0.001) and anxiety (P<0.001) symptoms. As the frequency of weekly exercise increased, anxiety and depression scores gradually decreased. The mean PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were highest in the group with no sports and lowest in the group with a sport frequency of 3-4 times per week (P<0.001). Additionally, once exercise frequency reached 5 times per week or more, anxiety and depression scores no longer decreased. Subgroup analysis based on sport type revealed that participants engaging in specific sports, such as basketball, tennis, dance, and running, had lower depression (P<0.001) and anxiety (P<0.001) scores compared to the overall average. Based on multiple linear regression analysis, married status (P=0.036), enjoying barbecue food (P<0.001), prolonged sedentary time (P=0.001), experiencing stress events (P<0.001), and electronic device usage time (P<0.001) were positively associated with depression scores, while loving eating vegetables (P=0.007), a relatively longer sport time (P=0.005), a higher exercise frequency (P=0.064), and no chronic disease (P<0.001) were negatively associated with depression scores. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, limited exposure to electronic screens, and a balanced diet, in preventing and mitigating depression among university students. This study also suggests that exercising 3-4 times a week is associated with the lowest levels of anxiety and depression. Activities such as basketball, tennis, dance, and running are effective in alleviating these mental health issues through regular exercise.

Health-Related Lifestyles among University Students: Focusing on Eating Habits and Physical Activity.

The transition to higher education at University is a critical moment for young adults to acquire unhealthy habits regarding physical activity (PA) and adherence to a healthy diet. Negative behaviors might be maintained in the years to come with a major risk of suffering from a Non-Communicable Disease. This study aims to determine the relationship between diet and PA in the student community of University of Milano-Bicocca. Students between 18 and 30 years old completed an online survey (6949 students). Two analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), chi-square tests of independence, and a binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship between adequacy of food consumption and PA, in association also with sociodemographic characteristics. Data show a strong correlation between behaviors analyzed, with a proportional positive association between PA and healthy diet. Nevertheless, a third of the sample students incur in incorrect habits for both diet and PA. Further, students performing intensive PA have the healthiest food consumption in general but the worst red meat and pork intake. Accordingly, men practice more PA but have a less adequate diet, exactly contrary to women. In conclusion, policies promoting consciousness of well-being would transform Universities into healthy hubs for virtuous habits.

A comparative study on eating habits and mental health of Korean middle school students according to their bedtime across regions: using data from the 2020-2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare dietary habits and mental health among middle school students in urban and rural areas based on bedtime, and to provide evidence supporting appropriate bedtime for Korean middle school students in relation to their healthy dietary habits and mental well-being. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study population consisted of 25,681 second-year middle school students who participated in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2020-2022. Participants were asked about their bedtime and wake-up time during the past 7 days and were classified into five categories. The study compared the general characteristics, academic factors, dietary habits, and mental health of urban and rural students based on their bedtime. RESULTS: Bedtime was found to be later in the following order: urban female students, rural female students, urban male students, and rural male students. As bedtime got later, the rates of smoking and alcohol consumption increased. Students who went to bed before 11 p.m. had lower academic performance, while rural male students who went to bed after 2 a.m. had lower academic performance. Later bedtime was associated with increased smartphone usage, skipping breakfast, consuming fast food, and drinking carbonated beverages. Later bedtime was also associated with higher perceived stress levels, particularly among students who went to bed after 2 a.m., higher rates of suicidal ideation, experiencing sadness and despair, as well as the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that middle school students who go to bed too late have higher rates of smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as unhealthy eating habits, stress, suicidal ideation, sadness, and anxiety. Therefore, it is necessary to provide educational and social institutional support to promote adequate sleep for the health of adolescents.

Mechanism of muscle atrophy in a normal-weight rat model of type 2 diabetes established by using a soft-pellet diet.

Dietary factors such as food texture affect feeding behavior and energy metabolism, potentially causing obesity and type 2 diabetes. We previously found that rats fed soft pellets (SPs) were neither hyperphagic nor overweight but demonstrated glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and hyperplasia of pancreatic ß-cells. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of muscle atrophy in rats that had been fed SPs on a 3-h time-restricted feeding schedule for 24 weeks. As expected, the SP rats were normal weight; however, they developed insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and fat accumulation. In addition, skeletal muscles of SP rats were histologically atrophic and demonstrated disrupted insulin signaling. Furthermore, we learned that the muscle atrophy of the SP rats developed via the IL-6-STAT3-SOCS3 and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways. Our data show that the dietary habit of consuming soft foods can lead to not only glucose intolerance or insulin resistance but also muscle atrophy.

Family Meals and Social Eating Behavior and Their Association with Disordered Eating among Spanish Adolescents: The EHDLA Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the association of family meals and social eating behavior with disordered eating behavior in Spanish adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that included 706 adolescents (43.9% boys) from the Eating Habits and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) study (aged 12 to 17) from Valle de Ricote, Region of Murcia, Spain. The frequency of family meals was assessed by asking participants to report how often their family, or most household members, had shared meals in the past week. Social eating behavior was evaluated using three statements: "I enjoy sitting down with family or friends for a meal", "Having at least one meal a day with others (family or friends) is important to me", and "I usually have dinner with others". To evaluate disordered eating, two psychologists administered the Sick, Control, One, Fat and Food (SCOFF) questionnaire. RESULTS: After adjusting for several covariates, for each additional family meal, the likelihood of having disordered eating behavior was lower (odds ratio (OR) = 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93 to 0.9997, p = 0.049). On the other hand, a lower likelihood of having disordered eating behavior was observed for each additional point in the social eating behavior scale (OR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.93, p = 0.001). The likelihood of having disordered eating behavior was 0.7% lower for each additional family meal (95% CI 0.01% to 1.4%, p = 0.046). Furthermore, for each additional point in the social eating behavior scale, a lower probability of having disordered eating behavior was observed (3.2%; 95% CI 1.4% to 5.0%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While disordered eating behavior is complex and can be shaped by various factors, both family meals and social eating behavior emerge as significant factors inversely associated with this condition among adolescents. Promoting regular engagement in family meals and fostering positive social eating experiences could serve as effective strategies in public health initiatives aimed at mitigating the incidence of disordered eating behavior among the young population.

Changes in eating habits and lifestyle during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic across metropolitan regions in Brazil and Germany: A survey-based cross-sectional study.

COVID-19 caused profound societal changes to cope rapidly with the new circumstances. The food market changed its quantity, quality, form, and frequency dynamics. Consequently, food-eating habits and lifestyles like physical exercise likely experienced changes. An online-based survey was conducted between June 2020 and January 2021 in the metropolitan regions of Rhine Ruhr Metropolis (RRM), Greater São Paulo (GSP), other metropolitan regions in São Paulo state (oMRSP), other Brazilian metropolitan regions (oBRMR), and the remaining urban areas in both countries (oUA), representing different contexts of Brazil and Germany. We assessed self-reported changes in physical activity level, diet quality, self-reported eating habits, and buying groceries during the first year of the pandemic. In Germany, indoor and outdoor activities increased for 34% of the respondents, while in Brazil, there was a decrease in physical activity for 50% of the participants. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scored higher among Brazilians (16.8) than Germans (15.2) on a 0-29 HEI scale. Increased awareness of healthy and sustainable eating habits was observed in GSP (0.7), oMRSP (0.63), oBRMR (0.7), and oUA (0.68) on a scale from no change (0) to change (1). In RRM, an increase in convenience foods was noticed (0.86). Participants reported discomfort with food purchasing due to hygiene measures and avoided going to the supermarket (0.7 on average in Brazil and 0.58 for females using the same 0-1 scale). Also, food supply at the grocery shops was reported to be often unavailable and in lower quantities. A real-time assessment of self-reported changes in eating habits and lifestyle during the lockdown in 2020 in different contexts is insightful for rethinking strategies to improve conditions in the post-COVID-19 era and prepare for future pandemics.

Unhealthy diets increase the likelihood of being overweight or obese among African migrant students in China, but not among African non-migrant students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is disproportionately felt by immigrants from low- to medium-income countries (LMICs), partly due to their dietary habits. To thrive in their new environment, migrants either omit or consume certain food items, which could lead to nutritional deficits. As a result, most migrants experience more NCDs than their compatriots in their native countries. Therefore, we evaluated the difference in dietary habits, quality, and the influencing factors of overweight or obesity among African migrant students in Nanjing (China) and non-migrant students in Africa using cross-sectional data. Methods: The researchers used the food frequency questionnaire and the global diet quality score metrics to assess food intake and quality, respectively. Then, cross-tabulation was employed to explore the differences between the groups in meal skipping, eating habits, and diet quality. Finally, the factors associated with overweight or obesity were assessed with binary logistic regression stratified by African students in Nanjing and students in their native countries. Results: Approximately 678 responses were received, mainly between 18-25 years (46.7%) and 26-36 years (45.4 %). The majority of them (52.3%) were international students. The non-migrant African students' diets lacked citrus fruits (22.2%), deep orange fruits (15.4%), deep orange vegetables (18%), cruciferous vegetables (24.6%), and dark leafy vegetables (26.5%). While the African migrant students consumed more high-fat dairy (50.7%), processed meats (23.9%), sweets and ice creams (51.3%), sugar-sweetened beverages (40.5%), and juice (61.5%), p < 0.001. Furthermore, consuming late-night meals constantly [Exp (B) = 39.607, p = 0.049], eating twice a day [Exp (B) = 6.527, p = 0.036], consuming red meat [Exp (B) = 29.287, p = 0.001], processed meats [Exp (B) = 719.979, p = 0.0011], refined grains and baked foods [Exp (B) = 15.752, p = 0.013], and sweets and ice cream [Exp (B) = 193.633, p = 0.006] were factors inducing overweight or obesity among only African migrant students. Conclusion: Controlling the what (Western diet and nature of late-night meals) and the when of eating can drastically reduce their influence on obesogenic condition formation in African migrant students in China and elsewhere.

Knowledge and eating habits regarding functional food among adults.

Background: Functional food is a key element in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The ingredients it contains, such as phytosterols that lower cholesterol, also have a preventive effect on type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and heart attack. Phenolic compounds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Xylo-oligosaccharides control insulin levels, and fibre lowers blood pressure, potentially reducing insulin resistance. These beneficial properties mean that there is an increasing interest in this kind of food. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the state of knowledge and behaviour regarding functional food among adults and to answer the question whether there are differences between the state of knowledge and behaviour of women and men. Material and methods: The survey was conducted among 301 people, including 181 women and 120 men. The research tool was an original survey questionnaire. Results: The definition of functional food is known to 42.5% of people (47.5% of women and 35% of men), while the definition of prebiotic is known to 41.9% of people (43.1% of women and 40.0% of men). For 56.2% of respondents, the factor encouraging the consumption of functional food was a healthy lifestyle, and for 54.7% of them, the product composition was the main purchase criterion. Among functional products, cereals or muesli were most often consumed for breakfast by 35% of men and 55.8% of women, 42.5% of men and 33.7% of women were eaten oils for lunch. For dinner they most often consumed fruit teas, herbal teas, herbal mixtures, this answer was given by 25.8% of men and 29.8% of women. Conclusions: Knowledge of functional foods is unsatisfactory, and no differences in the knowledge of women and men have been observed. Consumption of functional food is generally low, and no differences in consumption have been observed between women and men.

Higher Numbers of Family Meals and Social Eating Behavior Are Associated with Greater Self-Esteem among Adolescents: The EHDLA.

BACKGROUND: the aim of this study was to assess the associations of family meals and social eating behavior with self-esteem levels among Spanish adolescents. METHODS: This was a secondary cross-sectional study including 706 participants (aged 12 to 17 years; 56.1% girls) from the Eating Habits and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) study. The evaluation of the frequency of family meals involved participants providing information in physical education classes on how frequently they, along with other members of their household, had shared meals in the previous week. Social eating behavior was assessed by three different statements: "I usually have dinner with others", "Having at least one meal a day with others (family or friends) is important to me", and "I enjoy sitting down with family or friends for a meal". To assess overall self-esteem, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used. RESULTS: In the adjusted models, a positive association was observed between the frequency of family meals and the self-esteem score (unstandardized beta coefficient [B] = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.003 to 0.12, p-adjusted = 0.040). Furthermore, the same positive association was also identified between social eating behavior and the self-esteem score (B = 0.23; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.40, p-adjusted = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Although self-esteem is complex and can be influenced by numerous factors, both family meals and social eating behavior may exert a relevant role in adolescents. Encouraging consistent participation in family meals and promoting positive eating practices could be valuable approaches in public health actions targeting the enhancement of self-esteem levels in adolescents.

Physical activity as a mediator of the association of body mass index change with anxiety/depression symptoms in Brazilian adults during COVID-19 / La actividad física como mediadora de la asociación de la alteración del índice de masa corporal con síntomas de ansiedad/depresión en adultos brasileños durante la COVID-19

Background: the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people’s behaviors and mental health around the world. Aim: to verify the mediating role of physical activity (PA) level in the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and anxiety and depression symptoms in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with Brazilian adults aged ≥ 18 years (N = 2000, 59.6 % women) selected by the nonprobabilistic snowball method through digital means of communication (WhatsApp®, Telegram®, Facebook®, Twitter®, e-mails). Linear regression models were fitted for PA level mediation analyses in the relationship between BMI and anxiety/depression symptoms. Results: significant differences were found between the active/not overweight group and the other three groups (active/overweight, insufficiently active/not overweight and insufficiently active/overweight [p < 0.001]) for anxiety/depression after adjusting for age, sex, chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, and smoking. When testing the mediating role of daily PA in the association between BMI and anxiety/depression symptoms, BMI was negatively associated with daily PA in the first regression equation (p < 0.001); in the second, BMI was positively related to anxiety/depression symptoms (p < 0.001); and in the third, daily PA showed an inverse relationship with anxiety/depression symptoms (p < 0.001), and although BMI remained negatively associated with anxiety/depression symptoms, these associations maintained their statistical significance. Conclusions: the results suggest that the effect of BMI on anxiety and depression was partially mediated by daily PA.(AU)

Introducción: la pandemia de covid-19 ha afectado el comportamiento y la salud mental de las personas en todo el mundo. Objetivo: verificar la mediación del nivel de actividad física (af) en la relación entre el índice de masa corporal (imc) y los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en adultos durante la pandemia covid-19. Métodos: estudio transversal, con adultos brasileños con edad ≥ 18 años (n = 2.000, 59,6 % mujeres), seleccionados por el método no probabilístico de bola de nieve, a través de medios de comunicación digitales (whatsapp®, telegram®, facebook®, twitter®, correos electrónicos).se ajustaron modelos de regresión lineal para los análisis de la mediación del nivel de actividad física en la relación entre el imc y los síntomas de ansiedad/depresión. Resultados: se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el grupo activo/sin exceso de peso y los otros tres grupos (activo/con exceso de peso, insuficientemente activo/sin exceso de peso e insuficientemente activo/con exceso de peso [p < 0,001]) para ansiedad/depresión después de ajustar por edad, sexo, enfermedades, consumo de alcohol y tabaquismo. al probar el papel mediador de la af diaria en la asociación entre el imc y los síntomas de ansiedad/depresión, en la primera ecuación de regresión, el imc se asoció negativamente con la af diaria (p < 0,001); en la segunda, el imc se relacionó positivamente con los síntomas de ansiedad/depresión (p < 0,001); y en la tercera, la af diaria mostró una relación inversa con los síntomas de ansiedad/depresión (p < 0,001), y aunque el imc mantuvo una asociación negativa con dichos síntomas, estas asociaciones conservaron su significación estadística. Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren que el efecto del imc sobre la ansiedad y la depresión estuvo parcialmente mediado por la actividad física diaria.

Health habits during lockdown for CoViD-19 in Spain and its effect on weight / Hábitos de salud en España durante el confinamiento por COVID-19 y sus efectos sobre el peso

Background and objectives: a deterioration of health habits has been found in various studies caused by stressful situations such as mandatory and maintained confinement over time. This study aims to analyze the health habits of the Spanish adult population during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the possible impact on their body weight. Method: two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four volunteer subjects participated in the study (69.3 % women). They completed an on-line questionnaire that evaluated their health habits, as well as various sociodemographic variables. Results: the results show a statistically significant link between the subjects’ body mass index (BMI) and the change in their weight during lockdown (2: 79.303; p: < 0.001). Besides, a statisti-cally significant relationship between the different health habits under analysis was also found, being moderate with respect to the link between eating habits and physical activity (Cramer’s V: .226). A statistically significant relationship was also found between the participants’ weight and the different health habits during lockdown. The effect size of the associations was moderate in relation to the participants’ eating habits (Cramer’s V: .409) and physical activity (Cramer’s V: .292). Conclusions: it is suggested the development of prevention programs for long lockdown periods associated with high levels of stress so as to promote a healthy diet, as well as exercise using new technologies and a proper rest, especially in overweight or obese subjects.(AU)

Antecedentes y objetivos: varios estudios han constatado cómo los hábitos relacionados con la salud pueden verse afectados ante situaciones estresantes, como un confi namiento forzoso y mantenido en el tiempo. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo examinar el impacto que el confinamiento debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 tuvo sobre los hábitos de salud de la población española adulta, así como sobre su peso corporal. Método: en el estudio participaron 2.834 voluntarios (69,3 % mujeres), los cuales cumplimentaron un cuestionario on-line que evaluó sus hábitos de salud, así como diversas variables sociodemográficas. Resultados: los resultados muestran una relación estadísticamente significativa entre el índice de masa corporal (IMC) de los sujetos y el cambio en su peso corporal durante el confinamiento (χ2 : 79,303; p: < 0,001). Una alta proporción de sujetos con sobrepeso (47 %) y obesidad (50,6 %) informaron de un aumento en su peso que podría deberse a un incremento en la ingesta de ali-mentos como resultado de la ansiedad experimentada, cambios en los horarios de las comidas, una disminución del tiempo dedicado al ejercicio físico y un empeoramiento de la cantidad y la calidad del sueño. Asimismo, se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre los diferentes hábitos de salud objeto de estudio, siendo esta moderada entre los hábitos alimentarios y la actividad física (V de Cramer: 0,226). También se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre el peso de los participantes y sus diferentes hábitos de salud durante el confinamiento, siendo esta moderada en relación con los hábitos de alimentación de los participantes (V de Cramer: 0,409) y su actividad física (V de Cramer: 0,292). Conclusiones: se sugiere elaborar planes de prevención para confinamientos prolongados asociados a altos niveles de estrés, dirigidos especialmente a personas con sobrepeso y obesidad, los cuales promuevan una alimentación saludable junto...(AU)

Changes in eating behaviours and physical activity among primary schoolchildren aged 7-12 during the pandemic in the light of qualitative and quantitative research - Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic had many direct and indirect effects, including lifestyle changes in all subpopulations, including children and adolescents. The aim of the study was to identify: 1) attitudes of students aged 7-12 years and their parents towards food, nutrition, and physical activity; 2) changes in the consumption of basic food products during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative survey was conducted among students and their parents using the Focus Group Interview method, as well as quantitative research among parents and schoolchildren aged 10-12 years. RESULTS: During the pandemic, changes were demonstrated in the eating habits of primary schoolchildren which were both positive and negative. Positive changes include a greater number of meals and their regularity, especially in relation to meals prepared at home, and a greater consumption of mainly fruit, and to a lesser extent vegetables and whole grain products. Among the negative changes observed were an increased consumption of salty snacks and sweets, including those prepared at home. Moreover, limiting physical activity during isolation may have resulted, as a long-term effect, in excessive body weight and obesity-related non-communicable diseases in children and adolescence, and later in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to develop post-pandemic support strategies addressed to both schoolchildren and their parents regarding adequate eating behaviours and physical activity.

Associations between Social Contact, Sleep and Dietary Patterns among Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Social isolation in adults can be associated with altered sleep and eating behavior. This study aimed to investigate the interactions between the extent of social contact, eating behavior and sleep in infants and preschool children. In an observational study, 439 caregivers of 562 children aged 0-6 years provided information on sleep (i.e., duration, latency, bedtimes and nighttime awakenings), eating behaviors (i.e., meal size, consumption of sweet snacks, salty snacks, fruits and vegetables) and social contact (i.e., quarantine status, household size, social activities) during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020). In infants (0-3 years), the change in meal size and consumption of snacks, fruits, and vegetables did not significantly relate to the extent of social contact. For preschool children (3-6 years), a trend was observed, suggesting that quarantine status was associated with increased meal size. Changes in sleep duration, sleep latency, bedtimes and nighttime awakenings from before to during the pandemic were not significantly linked to the three variables quantifying social contact in both age groups. This study highlights that, contrary to expectations, the extent of social contact has negligible associations with infants' and preschool children's sleep and eating behaviors. These findings indicate that other factors beyond social isolation play a role in shaping children's eating habits and sleep patterns.

Children's perception of food parenting practices: adaptation and validation of the comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire in Chilean adolescents.

Introduction: Assessment of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire in adolescents (CFPQ-Teen) is still limited, with no evaluation of the measurement invariance. The participants comprised 473 Chilean adolescents of both sexes from dual-income nuclear families. The aims of this study were: (1) to adapt to Spanish and validate a model of five-factor version the CFPQ-Teen; (2) to examine the psychometric properties, (3) to evaluate the measurement invariance according to the adolescents' gender; and (4) to compare the scores of each factor between female and male adolescents. Methods: The instrument was translated, back-translated, and adapted from the CFPQ-Teen, confirming the equivalence, conceptual, and face validity in a pilot sample of 40 adolescents. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on the five-factor model of the CFPQ-Teen: Monitoring, Adolescent Control, Restriction for weight control, Parental Modeling, and Environment. The Environment factor was eliminated as a result. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis presented good reliability, convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity values. In addition, medium to high goodness-of-fit levels were obtained by eliminating an item from the Adolescent Control factor. These results confirm a final 20-item model representing four factors. The multigroup invariance analysis of the measurement model verified configural, metric, scalar, and partial strict invariance. No significant differences were found between females and males in the scores on the four factors. Discussion: These results enable comparisons by sex on the perceptions of Food Parenting Practices from the analyzed factors, primarily within the context of the Chilean sample.