Effects Of Healthy Diet Research Articles

Effect of healthy diet and exercise on chemotherapy completion rate in women with breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise and Nutrition Early after Diagnosis (LEANer) study: Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundThe World Cancer Research Fund and the American Cancer Society provide nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. Many women with breast cancer do not follow these guidelines and delay efforts toward following them until active treatment is complete. However, adoption of these recommended lifestyle behaviors soon after diagnosis may prevent adverse treatment-related side effects and may improve adherence to treatment, resulting in improved breast cancer prognosis. The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early after Diagnosis (LEANer) study is testing the effect of a nutrition and physical activity intervention on chemotherapy completion rates. Methods172 women with stage I-III breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy will be randomized 1:1 to a yearlong, 16 session, nutrition and exercise intervention or usual care control group. The intervention is delivered by registered dietitians specializing in oncology nutrition and exercise training. The intervention includes goal setting to meet nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. After each chemotherapy session, date and dose of each drug administered, and reason for dose-adjustments and/or dose-delays are abstracted from the electronic medical record or obtained from the treating oncologist. Chemotherapy completion rate is assessed as the average relative dose-intensity (RDI) for the originally planned regimen based on standard formulas. Secondary endpoints of endocrine therapy adherence, treatment-related side effects, and changes in inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, body composition, and patient reported outcomes are assessed at four timepoints. DiscussionIf successful, this study has the potential to make healthy lifestyle interventions a standard component of breast cancer treatment.

Facilitators and Barriers to Healthy Eating in Aged Chinese Canadians with Hypertension: A Qualitative Exploration.

Objectives: To determine the facilitators and barriers influencing healthy eating behaviours among aged Chinese-Canadians with hypertension. Methods: After attending five weeks of dietary educational training (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension with Sodium (Na) Reduction for Chinese Canadians; DASHNa-CC), 30 aged Chinese-Canadian participants partook in a telephone interview. Participants were asked to name three facilitators and three barriers that influenced their ability to follow the DASHNa-CC intervention. Telephone transcripts were then analyzed and coded using computer software and categorized into personal, familial, community, and societal facilitators or barriers. Results: Personal factors included health problems, motivation, effects of healthy diet, health-related careers, and dietary habits. Family factors included family structure, support from family members, and critical health events involving family members or relatives. Community factors consisted of educational materials, friends, primary care physicians, and online social networks. Societal factors included accessibility to grocery stores and restaurants. Conclusions: Aged Chinese-Canadian immigrants experience unique facilitators of and barriers to healthy eating, which may warrant further attention from healthcare professionals when educating patients in a culturally-sensitive manner.

Factors associated with clustering of multiple health-risk behaviours in young people in England

Background: Most chronic diseases are strongly associated with four modifiable behaviours: smoking, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable consumption and physical inactivity. When established early in life, these lifestyle factors could persist in adulthood and predict the incidence of chronic diseases. Little is known about how these behaviours cluster together, and what factors are associated with their prevalence and clustering in individuals. The objective of this study was to ascertain the association between sociodemographic and personal factors and clustering of multiple health-risk behaviours in young people in the city of Brighton and Hove (population, 274,000) in Southeast England. Methods: Data from the Brighton and Hove Safe and Well at School Surveys (2011-2014) were analysed to examine the clustering of these behaviours in Year 10 and 11 pupils (n=10,099; aged 14-16 year). The results were weighted and studied in the context of sociodemographic/personal characteristics: gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, deprivation, school year, feeling safe at school, enjoying school, been bullied at school, health problems, family problems, feeling happy, feeling anxious and feeling lonely. Results: The majority (97%) of pupils were engaged in either one or more unhealthy behaviours: about 58% were engaged in 1-2 and 39% were engaged in 3-4 unhealthy behaviours, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that a number of factors were significantly associated with the clustering of 3-4 health-risk behaviours in young people. These included: being in Year 11 (OR=2.0, 95% CI, 1.8-2.2), family problems (1.8, 1.6-2.0), being female (1.7, 1.5-1.9), not enjoying school (1.6, 1.4-1.8), and rarely/never feeling happy (1.3, 1.0-1.6). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for modifications in community-based and in-school health and wellbeing programmes to decrease the prevalence and clustering of multiple health-risk behaviours in young people. Main messages: There is a need for effective programmes for young people to increase their awareness about health impacts of smoking and alcohol consumption, and beneficial effects of healthy diet and exercise. The study also highlights areas which require particular considerations while designing these programmes for young people.