Preferences for dietary oils and fats in cooking and food preparation methods: a cross-sectional analysis of Australian adults.

Dietary oils and fats contain different fatty acid compositions that are associated with cardiometabolic disease risk. Despite their influence on disease outcomes, the types of dietary oils and fats predominately used in Australian households remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of dietary oils and fats in cooking and food preparation in Australia. Adults living in Australia completed a cross-sectional online survey outlining their current household oil and fat use from July to December 2021. The survey was disseminated via social media platforms and included questions about the types of dietary oils and fats used for different cooking methods and the perceived motivators for choosing the main household oil. A total of 1248 participants responded to the survey. Participants were mostly female (91·6 %) aged between 25 and 44 years (56·7 %). The majority of participants (84·5 %) reported using some form of olive oil as their main source of oil for cooking and food preparation. Almost two-thirds of the sample (65·4 %) reported using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), mainly in raw food preparation (71·5 %) or savoury baking and roasting (58 %). Fewer households reported using rice bran oil (4·6 %), canola oil (4·3 %) and vegetable oil (1·8 %). Almost half of all participants (49·6 %) identified perceived health benefits as the primary motivating factor for their main choice of oil, followed by sensory preference (46·7 %), versatility (10·2 %) and convenience (8·8 %). Australian adults frequently use olive oil, specifically EVOO, as the main oil for cooking and food preparation in the household.

UniStArt: A 12-Month Prospective Observational Study of Body Weight, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity Levels in Australian First-Year University Students.

Background: Students in the United States gain weight significantly during their first year of university, however limited data are available for Australian students. Methods: This 12-month observational study was conducted to monitor monthly body weight and composition, as well as quarterly eating behaviours, dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and basal metabolic rate changes amongst first-year Australian university students. Participants were first-year university students over 18 years. Results: Twenty-two first-year university students (5 males and 17 females) completed the study. Female students gained weight significantly at two, three, and four-months (+0.9 kg; +1.5 kg; +1.1 kg, p < 0.05). Female waist circumference (2.5 cm increase at three-months, p = 0.012), and body fat also increased (+0.9%, p = 0.026 at three-months). Intakes of sugar, saturated fat (both >10% of total energy), and sodium exceeded recommended levels (>2000 mg) at 12-months. Greater sedentary behaviours were observed amongst male students throughout the study (p <0.05). Conclusions: Female students are at risk of unfavourable changes in body composition during the first year of university, while males are at risk of increased sedentary behaviours. High intakes of saturated fat, sugars, and sodium warrant future interventions in such a vulnerable group.

Role of meditation to improve children's health: Time to look at other strategies.

In the United States, it is reported that up to 7 million of the population practice some form of meditation with the main purpose of improving emotional wellbeing and reducing stress. As the prevalence of mental health conditions continues to climb, other forms of health management strategies, including meditation practices, are increasingly used in adults. The evidence continues to emerge for the use of meditation as a way of managing health conditions in adults as demonstrated in systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials. There is also growing evidence evaluating the use of meditation practices and their potential benefits for child and adolescent health. Studies have identified improvements in mood and mental health conditions, school attendance and attention in the classroom in children and adolescents. This article aims to provide a perspective on commonly evaluated meditation types, such as Transcendental Meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The article also aims to discuss the available evidence for the use of meditation to improve health and general wellbeing of children, including the use of meditation programs in schools, the current downfalls and limitations to the existing literature around meditation, and important points that healthcare practitioners need to consider when discussing the use of meditation as an additional strategy to manage and improve health and wellbeing in children and adolescents.

Quality of life in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Quality of life (QoL) is an important aspect of health and well-being. QoL is reduced in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but there is limited data in adolescents. This review aimed to assess studies regarding the QoL of adolescent girls with PCOS. Five databases were searched for relevant studies. Studies were included if they were conducted in adolescent girls with PCOS, aged 12-22 years old, and used a questionnaire to measure QoL. The search identified a total of 254 studies, and after exclusions, 11 relevant studies were included in the review. Most studies had a relatively small sample size, but overall included a total of 512 adolescents with PCOS. In most cases, adolescent girls with PCOS have reduced QoL when compared to healthy girls, and PCOS symptoms/excess weight impact on their QoL. Further research is required due to limited data on QoL in adolescents with PCOS of normal weight.

Gestational age and maternal status of DHA and other polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal diet is important in determining omega-3 DHA status however there is limited knowledge of other factors influencing maternal omega-3 concentrations during pregnancy. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate whether maternal DHA status changed across gestation. Changes in levels of other key polyunsaturated fatty acids were also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Medline, Embase, Amed, and CINAHL databases were searched. Included studies reported measures of maternal omega-3 status in at least two pregnancy trimesters. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included in the final analyses. Absolute omega-3 DHA concentrations increased across gestation, but decreased as a proportion of total lipids. DISCUSSION: Our findings are consistent with previous observations of increases in lipid mobilisation, coupled with preferential transfer of DHA to the fetus, with advancing gestation. However the number of eligible studies was small and further investigations are required.