Balanced Meal Research Articles

Nutritional Interventions in Gestational Diabetes: A Nursing Perspective in Obstetrics

The study assessed the effectiveness of individualized nutritional counseling conducted by nurses in managing gestational diabetes mellitus. The intervention emphasized self-management and dietary adherence by organizing balanced meals, selecting foods with low glycemic index, and counting carbohydrates. This cross-sectional study identified 140 pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus via convenient sampling. The research employed a systematic approach through structured questionnaires for data collection and hemoglobin A1c tests to assess glycemic regulation. The findings revealed substantial enhancements in glycemic control, as evidenced by the noteworthy reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels from 5.9% before the intervention to 5.4% following it (P < 0.05). In addition to the decreased glycemic index of consumer foods, dietary modifications increased fiber consumption and decreased carbohydrate intake (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the participants demonstrated a substantial adherence to the nutritional plan (84.7%) and conveyed contentment with the counseling they received (4.3 on a five-point scale). The research documented favorable changes in levels of physical activity and enhancements in health outcomes for both the mother and the newborn. These improvements encompassed reduced rates of preterm birth, fewer C-sections, and a decline in neonatal hypoglycemia instances.

The influence of sunflower oil in meals on the blood mineral profile of dairy cows

Minerals are essential substances with an important function in livestock, and their disbalance negatively affects the health and production, especially of ruminants. The addition of fat to the rations of dairy cows impacts the overall and mineral metabolism, and thus on health and production. The aim of the research was to examine the correlative relationships between balanced production meals and the mineral status of lactating cows with different ration compositions with or without the presence of vegetable oil. The research was conducted on 30 dairy cows of the Holstein breed at the Butmir farm, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Three groups of 10 animals were formed based on productivity (A, 13-15 kg of milk/day, B, 19-21 kg of milk/day and C, 25-27 kg of milk/day). Samples of feed, blood plasma and milk of animals were collected on three occasions a 3-week intervals. According to the feed analysis results, the rations were standardized for each group, given for three weeks without oil,and then for three weeks with the addition of sunflower oil in the amount of 2.5% of the ration dry matter. After determining the content of basic nutrients, dry matter and ash in the rations, the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na and K were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry,while the colorimetric method was used to analyse P according to Woy and Eggertz-Finkener. Analysis of blood mineral parameters was performed spectrophotometrically. The content of fat, proteins, lactose, and non-fat dry matter in milk samples was determined by infrared spectrometry using an automatic analyser. Based on the results, we observed a similarity in changes of values and the statistical significance of the differences in plasma Ca, P and Mg between the study groups and at sampling intervals. Milk production was positively correlated with the concentration of Mg and Ca with addition of the sunflower oil to the meal, while no correlation coefficient was established for P in any of the samplings. Balanced meals with and without the addition of oil did not significantly affect the content of Ca, P or Mg in the blood plasma of the tested animals, nor were significant differences found between the groups. However, by determining the correlations between milk parameters and blood biochemical parameters, a significant positive correlation was established between the amount of milk and Ca and Mg levels with a diet supplemented by oil. Given that the addition of sunflower oil in the amount of 2.5% of dry matter of the balanced rations for cows had no negative effects on the mineral profile and the parameters of the tested animals, we conclude that the introduction of this oil could be useful both from the economic point and improving nutritional composition of milk as an animal food present in the daily human diet.

INFLUENCE OF DIGITAL RESOURCES ON FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF CIVIL SERVANTS AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated the influence of digital resources on food consumption patterns of civil servants at the household level in sub urban Ekiti state. Three research questions guided the study and three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted the correlational descriptive research design. The population of the study comprised 4,500 households across 16 local Government Areas. A sample size of 202 members of households was selected for the study through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected with a structured, validated close-ended questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient of 0.76. The data was analyzed with mean and standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), independent samples t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The major findings were that the digital resources mostly used by civil servants in the study area are social media such as WhatsApp ( = 3.76), Facebook ( = 3.51) and Instagram ( = 3.25), and they mostly consume fat and oil food group (3.86), consume carbonated drinks and snacks between meal. However, the use of digital resources has improved quantity of balanced meal consumed, the quality of diet, and availability of nutritional information (2.70 ? ? 2.81), deteriorated the consumption of alcohol and non-food substances ( = 1.54). The study concludes that civil servants in Ekiti State tend to embrace digital resources as a means to increase their access to nutritional information and facilitate decision-making regarding their dietary choices. It was therefore recommended that the Nigerian government agency tasked with overseeing food and the food industry should take into account the impact of digital resources on eating habits and collaborate to encourage healthier food choices.

Properties of the Household Food Security Survey Module Scale in Young Adults with Diabetes

BackgroundThe Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) was not tailored to people with chronic diseases or young adults (YAs). ObjectivesWe aim to evaluate whether the 18-item HFSSM meets assumptions underlying the scale among YAs with diabetes. MethodsData from 1887 YAs with youth-onset type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes were used from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, 2016–2019, and on 925 who returned for the SEARCH Food Security Cohort Study, 2018–2021, all of whom had completed the HFSSM. Guttman scaling properties (affirmation of preceding less severe items) and Rasch model properties (probability to answer an item based on difficulty level) were assessed. ResultsItems 3 (balanced meals) and 6 (eating less than one should) were affirmed more frequently than expected (nonmonotonic response pattern). At 1.2%–3.5%, item nonresponse was rare among type 1 diabetes but higher among type 2 diabetes (range: 3.1%–10.6%). Items 9 (not eating the whole day) and 3 did not meet the Guttman scaling properties. Rasch modeling revealed that item 3 had the smallest difficulty parameter. INFIT indices suggested that some responses to item 3 did not match the pattern in the rest of the sample. Classifying household food insecurity (HFI) based on items 1 and 2 compared with other 2-item combinations, including item 3, revealed a substantial undercount of HFI ranging from 5% to 8% points. ConclusionsUse of the HFSSM among YAs with diabetes could potentially result in biased HFI reporting and affect estimates of HFI prevalence in this population.

Nutrition knowledge and attitudes of street food handlers in Mangaung Metro Municipality in free state, South Africa

Nutritious and safe food is essential for good health. However not all food handlers especially in the street food trade know how to or are willing to prepare nutritiously balanced meals. Many non-communicable diseases are associated with poor diets, this therefore implies that habitual consumers of street vended foods could be at risk. This study therefore aimed to analyze the nutrition knowledge and attitudes of street food handlers as well as the food types sold. The study followed a cross-sectional, quantitative design using a peer reviewed questionnaire to obtain street food handler demographics, nutrition knowledge, attitudes and food types sold. Questionnaires were administered to 100 food vendors (June–August 2022) with more females (57%) than males (43%) in the sample. The nutrition knowledge responses given by vendors are indicative of a satisfactory knowledge level. None of the participants scored below 33% (i.e., ≤5/15). The vendors had positive attitudes towards nutrition. However, the meals they sold such as fat cakes and processed meats, were mostly fat and energy dense, and these have a potential to cause health issues such obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Studies on nutrition knowledge especially among this demographic are significantly fewer, and no other study of this kind has been conducted in the Free State.

El huerto como herramienta de construcción alimentaria en la comunidad educativa

Abstract Contact with nature is becoming less and less important in a globalized, technological and consumerist society. This opinion article aims to address the school garden as a tool for food construction in the educational community, because the school environment has great potential to carry out constructive activities, especially in relation to nutrition and food education. The school garden is a strategy that promotes the sustainable use of natural resources in food production, allowing students to learn different ways to eat healthy and balanced meals. we can conclude that this type of situations are relevant because they allow students to develop a better understanding or relationship between healthy eating and contact with the environment.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HALODOC IN BUILDING HEALTH AWARENESS AT AL AZHAR 12 ISLAMIC HIGH SCHOOL

The objectives of this study are: (1) To determine the intensity of the use of online mass media (Halodoc website) among students of Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar; (2) To understand how students of Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar pay attention to a healthy lifestyle; (3) To assess the effectiveness of online mass media (Halodoc Health Website) in building Health Awareness among students of Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar. This research employs a quantitative research method with an associative correlational approach. Data collection techniques include questionnaires and literature studies. The population of this study comprises students from Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar. The research sample is determined through probability sampling. The total population of the study is 96 individuals, and using Taro Yamene's formula, the sample size is determined to be 77 individuals. The collected data are processed using IBM SPSS Version 28.0.1.1 (14). The results of this study indicate that (1) the level of intensity in the use of online mass media (Halodoc Health Website) among students of Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar falls under the category of "Very High." (2) The attention of students from Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar to a healthy lifestyle, including consuming nutritious and balanced meals, getting sufficient rest, managing stress effectively, and engaging in regular exercise, is categorized as "High." (3) The correlation analysis results show a significant effectiveness between the use of online mass media (Halodoc Health Website) in building Health Awareness among students of Al Azhar 12 Islamic High School in Makassar.
 Keywords: Halodoc Health Website, Health Awareness

어린이집 선택요인에 대한 요구도 조사

The purpose of this study is to understand the needs of parents based on their importance and satisfaction with childcare center selection factors. To this objective, a questionnaire was administered to parents enrolled in 20 childcare centers in B city. The final 191 data collected were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Excel. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, among parental background characteristics, there were differences in the importance of childcare center selection factors based on parental employment status and child age. Parents in their 20s and 30s were more satisfied than parents in their 40s. Second, the IPA results of the childcare center selection factors showed that health, safety, and staff were in the maintenance quadrant (quadrant 1), and childcare curriculum and interaction were in the focus quadrant (quadrant 2). However, in the results of each subfactor, there were differences in the IPA results of the selected factors and the selected subfactors, as health and safety, staff, and childcare curriculum and interaction were in the maintenance area (quadrant 1), and childcare curriculum and interaction, child care environment, and operation management were in the intensive effort area (quadrant 2). Third, the Borich needs analysis showed that the needs for balanced meals, respect for children by teachers, respect without discrimination, appropriate interactions, and health care for children were ranked high. Based on these results, implications for childcare center management and childcare policies were presented.

Exploratory analysis of medication adherence and social determinants of health among older adults with diabetes

BackgroundDiabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States (US), affecting approximately 27%, or 15.9 million adults 65 years of age and older. Diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the US and accounts for the second largest avoidable healthcare cost. Adherence to long-term medication treatment plans is crucial among patients with diabetes because it decreases risk of developing comorbid conditions and improves quality of life. Greater exposure to adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) over an individual's lifespan can result in worse health outcomes. Hence, it is important to obtain a better understanding of how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence patients' behaviors and affect medication adherence among older adults with diabetes. ObjectivesIdentify and prioritize SDOH associated with medication adherence among a nationally representative sample of older adults with diabetes. Secondary objectives were to characterize SDOH, estimate medication adherence, and explain implications for health disparity populations among older adults in the US who have been diagnosed with diabetes. MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional secondary data analysis to examine the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, identifying associations between SDOH and medication adherence among older adults with diabetes in the US. ResultsA total of 1807 respondents' data were included in the analyses. Nearly three-quarters (73.9%) of patients were considered adherent to their oral diabetes medications. Multivariable analysis revealed significant differences in medication adherence based on disability status (p = 0.016), household balanced meals (p = 0.033), and interview language (p = 0.008). ConclusionsResults revealed those with a disability, those who could not afford a balanced meal, and/or those who spoke English were associated with a higher likelihood of being nonadherent to their diabetes medications in comparison to individuals not in these groups. These findings can assist in developing SDOH-centered medication adherence strategies for pharmacists to implement with older patients with diabetes.

International programs to provide school-age children with nutrition

A short scientific report is devoted to the global experience of organizing meals for schoolchild­ren. The main priorities in the formation of rations and the form of organization of supply have been determined. Children's nutrition is the most important component of the formation of a child's health, it contributes to the preservation of health, resistance to physical factors of the environment, high physical and mental capacity. Before the COVID-19 crisis, at least one in every two primary school students received daily school meals in 161 countries (equivalent to 388 million children). For millions of vulnerable children in poor countries around the world, free school meals are a vital component of their daily diet. A balanced school meal program is the key to optimizing the nutrition of the entire population of the country. School feeding programs play an important political role and are increasingly implemented by governments as a priority in national development strategies. Over the past decade, low-income countries have significantly increased their financial and policy efforts for school feeding, resulting in an increase in the number of school children receiving school meals. While school feeding programs in high- and middle-income countries are largely financed through domestic resources such as taxes and other sources, programs in low-income countries rely heavily on international donor support. According to the leading domestic hygienists, despite the ongoing conflict, one of the important priorities of our country is the continuation of the reform of school nutrition in order to bring it into line with international quality standards. Adhering to the basic principles of a complete and rational diet, you can achieve success even in conditions of limited resources. Keywords: hygiene of children and adolescents, children's health, world experience in the organization of schoolchildren's meals, preventive medicine.

Food in the community daycare center: is it all about nutrition?

Abstract Background As the world's population continue to age, it's crucial to prioritize interventions that enhance quality of life, well-being, and health of older people. Sustainable environments that fulfill basic needs such as food and nutrition can aid in meeting the social needs of seniors, including belonging, autonomy, independence, and safety. The study aims to understand the experiences and meanings of eating and dining among seniors in community daycare centers, and how they support their social needs, with to goal of identifying effective strategies for promoting their health and well-being. Methods This qualitative study involved conducting seven focus groups of seniors (n = 23); interviews with settings managers (n = 7); and observations carried out between May to November 2022. Through content analysis, we identified key categories and themes that emerged from the data. Results The analysis revealed three main themes related to the experiences and perceptions of food and nutrition among seniors at the daycare center: (1) personal needs: seniors expressed a need for autonomy in selecting food, building menus, and choosing sitting arrangements. They also emphasized the importance of having access to hot and balanced meals (food security) that reflected their cultural and personal preferences. (2) Social needs: the need for companionship during mealtimes (comparing to eating alone at home), being cared for, and participation in social events such as dining out or attending picnics and parties. (3) Health-related needs: customized and healthy diets, education on healthy eating habits, and the use of reusable dishes and food waste reduction strategies to support environmental sustainability. Conclusions Meeting the personal, social, and health-related needs of seniors through better food planning and service can improve their well-being and quality of life, and contribute to public health. Key messages • Eating and dining in seniors’ settings is not only about nutrition but also about preserving health and well-being. • Interventions should focus on the opportunities that dining provides.

Planning engagement with web resources to improve health habits among home-working employees

Abstract Background and objectives The increasing popularity of remote work makes the implementation of health promotion initiatives at the workplace challenging, particularly in bridging the gap between employees’ intentions to adopt healthier habits and their actual actions. Previous evidence suggests that action planning can foster the adoption of healthier behaviors. Therefore, we investigated action planning in the context of reducing sedentary behaviour and improving dietary quality for remote workers. Methods A mixed-methods investigation of a web-based self-help intervention featured a randomized planning trial, quantitative engagement measurements, and follow-up qualitative interviews with a participant subset. For one work week, participants received access to 2-minute workout videos to reduce sedentary time and a balanced meal approach with recipe cards for weekly lunches and dinners. The intervention group was given a motion plan and a meal plan to execute these actions, while the control group only obtained access to the resources. Results Having a motion plan proved more effective in increasing engagement with online resources compared to the condition with no plan. In the follow-up interviews, participants noted that the plan served as a reminder to engage with the resources and simplified adherence to the exercise and meal recommendations. Ease of use and the ability to incorporate exercises and meals around work tasks were crucial factors in promoting resource adoption, while time constraints and concerns about colleagues’ perceptions of taking breaks to utilize the resources hindered adoption. Participants’ self-efficacy correlated with overall resource use but not with plan adherence. Conclusions Incorporating plans (motion and meals) into online self-help resources could boost their adoption and improve lifestyles among remote workers. Key messages • Incorporating plans (motion and meals) into online self-help resources could boost their adoption and improve lifestyles among remote workers. • Ease of use and the ability to incorporate exercises and meals around work tasks were found to be facilitators of adoption.

The Role of Plant-Based Diets in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes

A whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet is generally defined as a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices. Many define a WFPB diet as being exclusively plant-based with no animal products, excluding all red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Other sources define it as a plant-forward dietary pattern that may still include small amounts of meat, eggs or dairy. A WFPB dietary pattern focuses on unprocessed plant foods, while avoiding processed foods containing refined grains, refined oils and added sugars. Figure 1 depicts an example of a balanced WFPB meal.
 On a practical level, it is important to distinguish a WFPB diet from a vegan diet, which eliminates all animal products but may include processed vegan foods (e.g., plant-based meats, pastries and fried foods). However, in the scientific literature, the term “vegan” is often used, and at times it is difficult to assess the amount of processed food included in diets of vegans included in observational studies. This paper will focus primarily on the evidence for an exclusively WFPB dietary pattern in the prevention and management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. However, given certain limitations in the literature, some data on vegan diets and plant-rich but not exclusively plant-based diets will also be included.

Does Living near Public Transport Equate to Food (In)Security in the United States?—Evidence from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Food security is intrinsically related to health and well-being. This paper investigates the status quo of food insecurity among the population residing close to transit in various parts of the United States of America (USA). The data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the USA are analyzed in this research. Logistic regression is carried out by treating food insecurity as the dependent variable and socioeconomic variables such as age, income, education, and dependency on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as independent variables. Food insecurity is assessed with aggregated information on four aspects of inputs from those respondents who live near a transit: (1) worry food would run out; (2) food did not last; (3) could not afford to eat balanced meals; and (4) cut the size of meals or skipped meals. Findings suggest that respondents who live close to public transit in the USA and are from large central metro counties of the Northeastern, Southern, and Western states showed an increase in food insecurity if they were under 65 years of age, had income below the country’s median income, or their educational attainment was below bachelor’s degree. There was a significant association found in food insecurity of respondents living close to transit and subscribed to using food stamps or SNAP. Policies that could alleviate food insecurity by reducing the cost of living near transit are recommended.

Trends of Health and Dietary Disparities by Economic Status among Elderly Individuals in Japan from 2004 to 2014: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Survey

This study examines the changes in health and dietary disparities by economic status among elderly individuals in Japan from 2004 to 2014. The study design utilized a repeated cross-sectional approach, using data from the Survey of Attitudes among the Elderly toward Daily Life in 2004 and 2014. Logistic regression analysis was performed with subjective economic status, survey year, and their interactions as independent variables, and self-rated health, dietary satisfaction, and intake of balanced meals as dependent variables. The results revealed that disparities in self-rated health, dietary satisfaction, and intake of a balanced meal were present due to economic status. Furthermore, the disparities in self-rated health, dietary satisfaction, and balanced meal intake by economic status remained unchanged from 2004 to 2014 (P for interaction ≥ 0.05). The findings were consistent in sensitivity analyses conducted on those aged 75 and older, as well as on long-term care insurance recipients.

The Correlation Between Three-mile Runners' Intake of Macronutrients and Their Performance

This paper examines the correlation between the female high school runner’s nutrition intake and their performance in the three-mile race. In recent years, the rates of athletes experiencing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are increasing due to high pressure to keep a “fit body”, giving them a higher chance of getting injuries. Incorporating past experiments, graphs, and surveys, this study demonstrates that the runners are likely to run if their macronutrient intake reaches a certain balance, and runners with a balanced meal are capable of running longer distances with less injury than ones with an unbalanced meal. The research was done to identify the most effective and beneficial meal plan for athletes, specifically cross country runners. Its results are particularly evident in the quantitative-based graph created from survey responses, which compared the runners’ intake of macronutrients and their running time.

Effect of Balanced Nutrition Education using The Emodemo Method on Knowledge and Attitude of Obesity Adolescents at SMA Negeri 1 Krian Sidoarjo

Obesity is a condition of excessive accumulation of body fat tissue which will cause disease. Obesity can be defined as a result of overeating. This study aims to determine the effect of balanced nutrition education using the emodemo method on the knowledge and attitudes. This research is a quantitative Pre-Experimental with the type of pre-test and post-test One Group Design, data collection using questionnaires. The sample of this research is 34 respondents using Proportional Random Sampling technique. Statistical tests used the Wilcoxon Signed Runk Test to determine the effect before and after being given counseling using the emodemo method module game assembling donut rings on the level of knowledge and attitudes about balanced nutrition. The level of knowledge of obese adolescents by 8.8% increased to 85.3%. While the attitude level of obese adolescents was 82.4% increasing to 88.2%. There is an effect of balanced nutrition education using the emodemo method on the knowledge and attitudes of obese adolescents. Schools can provide healthy canteens that provide balanced nutritious meals for adolescents.

Planning engagement with web resources to improve diet quality and break up sedentary time for home-working employees: A mixed methods study.

As home working becomes more common, employers may struggle to provide health promotion interventions that can successfully bridge the gap between employees' intentions to engage in healthier behaviors and actual action. Based on past evidence that action planning can successfully encourage the adoption of healthier behaviors, this mixed-methods study of a web-based self-help intervention incorporated a randomized planning trial that included quantitative measures of engagement and follow-up qualitative interviews with a subsample of participants. Participants either (a) selected a movement plan for incorporating a series of 2-min exercise videos into their work week to break up sedentary time and a balanced meal plan with recipe cards for a week's lunches and dinners or (b) received access to these resources without a plan. Selecting a movement plan was more effective at increasing engagement with the web resources compared to the no-plan condition. In the follow-up interviews, participants indicated that the plan helped to remind participants to engage with the resources and made it simpler for them to follow the guidance for exercises and meals. Ease of use and being able to fit exercises and meals around work tasks were key factors that facilitated uptake of the resources, while lack of time and worries about how colleagues would perceive them taking breaks to use the resources were barriers to uptake. Participants' self-efficacy was associated with general resource use but not plan adherence. Overall, including plans with online self-help resources could enhance their uptake. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of comparative efficacy of Dietary supplement acquired from Kitchen Garden (Parasbag) and Gudharitaki Awaleha in Pandu Roga (Iron Deficiency Anemia)

Backround-Panduroga is a Raktapradoshaja vyadhi having pitta dominance. Due to similarity of symptoms it can be correlated with Iron deficiency Anemia. Iron deficiency anemia secondary to inadequate dietary iron intake is caused by consuming a diet low in iron-rich foods. The richest sources of minerals and vitamins are fruits and green leafy vegetables. Growing a variety of crops in the kitchen garden is one of the simplest methods to make sure that everyone has access to a balanced meal that contains enough micronutrients. Aim and objectives-The objective of this study, which is being conducted in association with Mission Samriddhi (MS), is to compare the effectiveness of dietary supplements from Kitchen Garden (Parasbag) and Gudaharitaki Awaleha. Methodology- Total 60 patients were selected and divided in two equal groups. Group A patients were treated with nutritional supplement obtained from (Parasbag) Kitchen Garden along with Gudaharitaki Awaleha whereas group B patients were treated with Gudaharitaki Awaleha for 90 days. Assessment of subjective and objective criteria was done before and after treatment. Result and Discussion- Significant improvement was observed in subjective and objective parameters in both groups. But improvement was observed in more number of patients in group A than group B. Conclusion- Nutritional supplement obtained from (Parasbag) Kitchen Garden and Gudharitaki Awaleha improve Haemoglobin percentage because organically grown vegetables and fruits are rich in nutrients which help in prevention of nutritional deficiencies.

Influence of education and subjective financial status on dietary habits among young, middle-aged, and older adults in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundResearch has suggested an association between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and unhealthy dietary habits. However, differences in the effects of different SES indicators and age remain unclear. The current study addressed this research gap by investigating the relationship between SES and unhealthy dietary habits, specifically focusing on educational attainment and subjective financial status (SFS) among varied age groups.MethodsData were derived from a mail survey of 8,464 people living in a suburb of Tokyo, Japan. Participants were classified into three age groups (20–39 years: young adults; 40–64 years: middle-aged adults; and 65–97 years: older adults). SES was assessed based on individual educational attainment and SFS. Unhealthy dietary habits were defined as skipping breakfast and a low frequency of balanced meal consumption. Participants were asked how often they ate breakfast, and those who did not respond “every day” were categorized as “breakfast skippers.” Low frequency of balanced meal consumption was defined as eating a meal that included a staple meal, main dish, and side dishes at least twice a day for less than five days per week. Poisson regression analyses with robust variance adjusted for potential covariates were used to determine the interactive effects of educational attainment and SFS on unhealthy dietary habits.ResultsIndividuals with lower educational attainment across all age groups skipped breakfast more frequently compared to those with higher educational attainment. For older adults, poor SFS was associated with skipping breakfast. Young adults with poor SFS and middle-aged adults with lower educational attainment tended to eat less balanced meals. In addition, an interaction effect was found in older adults, where those with lower education despite good SFS and those with poor SFS despite higher education were at a greater risk of falling into unhealthy diet.ConclusionsThe findings suggested that different SES indicators affect healthy dietary habits in different generations, and therefore, health policies should consider the potential influence of different SES on promoting healthier dietary habits.