Food Selection Research Articles

The Relationship Between Adolescent Social Determinants Factors at the Various Parental Activities on Self-Efficacy for Choosing Healthy Foods

Background:Adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods is closely related to the incidence of obesity. According to WHO data, the obesity rate among children and adolescents increased from 18% to 19.3% between 2016 and 2021, and this rising trend is also observed in Indonesia. Understanding the factors that influence adolescents' eating habits is essential for comprehending their behavior in selecting healthy foods and designing effective interventions to promote healthier eating habits among this age group. Objective:This study aimed to determine the level of adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods and to examine the relationship between various social determinants such as gender, class, age, and parental activities and adolescent self-efficacy in selecting healthy foods. Additionally, this study tested parental activities as a moderating variable for factors significantly influencing adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods. Methods:A quantitative descriptive design was employed for this study. The population consisted of high school students, with a total of 408 respondents selected through non-probability cluster sampling. Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate regression statistical tests. Results:The findings revealed that 57.8% of respondents exhibited a moderate level of self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods, 35.5% showed a strong level of self-efficacy, and 6.6% demonstrated a low level of self-efficacy. Age was the only variable significantly influencing adolescents' ability to choose healthy foods, with a significance level of 0.039 (P < 0.05). Parental activities were not found to significantly moderate the relationship between age and the level of self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods. Conclusion:Age is a significant factor influencing adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods. However, parental activities do not significantly moderate the relationship between age and adolescent self-efficacy in food selection. Keywords:Adolescent, Feeding Behavior, Meals, Parents, Social Determinants of Health.

Exploring Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves social communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors, and it has a growing prevalence worldwide. Symptoms include cognitive impairments, gastrointestinal (GI) issues, feeding difficulties, and psychological problems. A significant concern in ASD is food selectivity, leading to nutrient deficiencies. Common GI issues in ASD, such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, stem from abnormal gut flora and immune system dysregulation. Sensory sensitivities and behavioral challenges exacerbate these problems, correlating with neurological symptom severity. Children with ASD also exhibit higher oxidative stress due to low antioxidant levels like glutathione. Therapeutic diets, including ketogenic, high-antioxidant, gluten-free and casein-free, and probiotic-rich diets, show potential in managing ASD symptoms like behavior, communication, GI issues, and oxidative stress, though the evidence is limited. Various studies have focused on different populations, but there is increasing concern about the impact among children. This review aims to highlight the food preferences of the ASD population, analyze the effect of the physicochemical and nutritional properties of foods on the selectivity in its consumption, GI problems, and antioxidant deficiencies in individuals with ASD, and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic diets, including diets rich in antioxidants, gluten-free and casein-free, ketogenic and essential fatty acids, and probiotic-rich diets in managing these challenges.

Orthorexia Nervosa and Physical Activity: Impact on Food Choices and Quality of Life In Healthcare Workers

Objective: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) which is formed by the combination of many factors such as biological, psychological and social factors, reduce the quality of life by affecting food choices. To evaluate the relationship between ON and physical activity status with food selection and quality of life among healthcare personnel at Balıkesir State Hospital in Türkiye. Methods: Sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status, “ Orthorexia Nervosa Rating Scale (ORTO-15 Scale),” “International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)”, “Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-27)”, “Food Consumption Frequency (FFQ)”, and “3-Day Food Consumption Record Form (2 weekdays-1 weekend day)” administered in person to 400 participants. Results: The participants exhibited signs of orthorexia in 80.2% of cases. Other healthcare professionals were most active group (22.5%), while doctors were most inactive (29.7%). Healthcare workers with orthorexic tendencies frequently consumed water, beverages, and dairy products, whereas individuals with typical eating habits commonly consumed fats. Very active health workers most frequently consume fats, inactive nurses and doctors consume water and beverages, and inactive health workers consume milk. Physical activity status affects quality of life, and as “IPAQ Total” scores increased, “General Health Status”, “Physical Health” and “Environment” sub-factor scores of WHOQOL-27 increased (p

REPURCHASE INTENTION IN MID-SIZED CITY CAFES: A CASE STUDY OF CAFE BRUGE

This research is motivated by technological developments as a result of globalization, making entrepreneurs required to be able to innovate in creating interesting and creative ideas and set strategies so that companies can attract consumers and meet increasingly varied consumer needs. One of them is Cafe. Cafe has quite an important role in the culinary world. The culinary world is something that cannot be separated from the basic needs of every human being. Cafes also have a wide selection of food and beverage products to attract the attention of consumers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of perceived enjoyment, food quality, and hospitality on repurchase intention (Study on Cafe Bruge Consumers in Jepara, Indonesia) by taking a sample of respondents from cafe bruge consumers, as many as 96 consumers. The number of samples was taken using the non-probability sampling technique with the accidental sampling method. The results of this study indicate that perceived enjoyment, food quality, and hospitality have a positive and significant effect on repurchase intention. The coefficient of determination (adjusted R square) is 0.399, which means that perceived enjoyment, food quality, and hospitality can explain repurchase intention at Cafe Bruge Jepara by 39%. While the remaining 61% is explained by other factors not examined in this study.

The Effectiveness of a Self-Management and Multifactorial Program for Blood Pressure Control Among Older Home-Based Workers in Urban Bangkok, Thailand

Older adults aged between 50-65 years old have a high risk of hypertension. With the growing numbers of home-based workers among adults and older adults in Thailand, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-management with a multifactorial program to control blood pressure among older adults. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants who worked as home-based workers aged between 50-65 years old were recruited from a community in the western area of Bangkok. Approximately 70 participants were randomly and equally assigned to the intervention and control groups (35 participants in each group). Participants in the intervention group received the program that consisted of education regarding food selection, work time management and arm swinging; a practical protocol, an exercise program, a heart rate monitor, a recorded book for facilitating participants’ progress to ensure their safety and efficiency in a health professional manner for a week/month. While those in the control group received usual care. A Knowledge Attitude Practice questionnaire was utilized to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice, which demonstrated a content validity index and Cronbach alpha of 0.80, respectively. The Citizen CH-403C was utilized to measure blood pressure and heart rate. Two-way Repeated Measures ANOVA was employed to analyze the differences in outcome scores at baseline, 3-month after program, and 6-month follow up. The results showed a significant increase in participant’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward hypertension and a decrease in blood pressure to nearly normal after 3months following the completion of the program and 6-month follow-up. Therefore, the self-management and multifactorial program could be an effective preventive intervention for older adults with pre-hypertension conditions to offer them valuable knowledge on work-life balance as well as to help prevent hypertension, and related stroke complications.

Graspable foods and tools elicit similar responses in visual cortex.

The extrastriatal visual cortex is known to exhibit distinct response profiles to complex stimuli of varying ecological importance (e.g. faces, scenes, and tools). Although food is primarily distinguished from other objects by its edibility, not its appearance, recent evidence suggests that there is also food selectivity in human visual cortex. Food is also associated with a common behavior, eating, and food consumption typically also involves the manipulation of food, often with hands. In this context, food items share many properties with tools: they are graspable objects that we manipulate in self-directed and stereotyped forms of action. Thus, food items may be preferentially represented in extrastriatal visual cortex in part because of these shared affordance properties, rather than because they reflect a wholly distinct kind of category. We conducted functional MRI and behavioral experiments to test this hypothesis. We found that graspable food items and tools were judged to be similar in their action-related properties and that the location, magnitude, and patterns of neural responses for images of graspable food items were similar in profile to the responses for tool stimuli. Our findings suggest that food selectivity may reflect the behavioral affordances of food items rather than a distinct form of category selectivity.

Food Neophobia and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake among Adults and Related Factors.

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) includes age-inappropriate feeding behaviors in eating patterns, including food neophobia, defined as refusal or reluctance to eat new or unknown foods. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of ARFID and food neophobia among adults and determine the related characteristics of these risks. The study used an anonymous survey questionnaire consisting of three parts as the research tool. The first part of the questionnaire was a metric and concerned socio-demographic data. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) and the Nine-Item Avoidance/Restrictive Food Disorder Screen Questionnaire (NIAS) were used to evaluate the eating disorders. The survey included 309 people (60.2% women, 39.8% men) aged 18-77 years. NIAS results indicated that 15.2% of the subjects showed food selectivity, and 11.0% had food anxiety. In the FNS assessment, 42.4% had a low risk of food neophobia, 38.2% a medium risk, and 19.4% a high risk. A higher risk of food neophobia correlated with higher NIAS scores, indicating a higher risk of ARFID (p = 0.00231). The NIAS score increased with the risk of food neophobia (p = 0.000). Respondents at low risk of neophobia were most likely to avoid several products (83.97%), while in the high-risk group, 56.67% did not want to eat a favorite food enriched with a new ingredient. A higher risk of neophobia was correlated with more food avoidance and adverse reactions to new foods (p = 0.000). A higher risk of food neophobia is strongly correlated with a higher risk of ARFID. Although demographics did not significantly impact NIAS results, some trends were noted, such as higher scores among older and underweight people. Those with a higher risk of food neophobia show more food avoidance and a greater reluctance to experiment with new ingredients. Public education should emphasize that eating disorders affect both sexes equally, with tailored interventions for high-risk groups such as the elderly, rural populations, and those with lower education. Health policies should promote access to nutrition education, psychological support, and diverse food options, while further research is needed to improve targeted interventions.

Relation Between Energy Intake and Obesity or Overweight in Childbearing Age Woman: A Scoping Review

Background: Obesity is a problem that affects public health all over the world, and the prevalence of obesity among women is twice as high as it is among males. The objective is to discuss the prevalence of obesity or overweight among women of reproductive age. Methods: We use a scoping review method using academic journals published from 2018 to 2023. The literature was searched using electronic databases Google Scholar and PubMed. We make use of the following search terms: overweight or obesity, prevalence or incidence, childbearing age or early adulthood, and either Indonesia or Asian. A total of 173 research was identified and 9 research was included in this review. Results: The study highlights the link between dietary patterns, particularly fast food, and obesity among childbearing age women. It emphasizes the importance of maternal dietary choices in young adulthood to reduce maternal obesity, hypertension, and CVD. Combining these parameters can provide a more comprehensive assessment. Conclusions: Food selection is crucial for women and young adults to prevent obesity and NCDs, requiring education, awareness campaigns, maternal health support, and early intervention, especially in low-income countries.

Factors Affecting Food Choice Among University Students in Malaysia

This study investigates the variables affecting university students' food Choices. A total of 361 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, data gathered. The Food Frequency and the Food Choice Questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake and food choice characteristics adapted from Steptoe, Pollard, and Wardle (1995). The study examined various food selection criteria including health, price, convenience, familiarity, and sensory appeal. The results indicated that sensory appeal was the most important factor influencing food choices among university students, while price was the least important. A significant relationship between food choice factors and their food intake. Students showed a strong concern forboth sensory appeal and convenience. Due to limited resources, students prioritized the sensory appeal of food over other factors, with sensory appeal sometimes acting as a barrier to healthy eating. Future research should explore these factors in different geographical areas and educational institutions.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students Towards Nutrition and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Students' health and well-being generally depend on their nutritional intake. Medical students, in particular, must be physically and mentally fit to perform better academically and to treat their patients holistically. Consuming a nutritious diet and maintaining good health requires an adequate understanding of nutrition and related diseases. Thus, this study used a validated general nutrition knowledge questionnaire to evaluate nutritional knowledge and aimed to assess medical students' knowledge and attitudes about health and nutrition-related diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 123 medical students between July 2023 and June 2024. A general nutrition knowledge questionnaire was used for the online survey, which consisted of questions on nutrition knowledge, individual dietary choices, thoughts about expert advice and awareness about health problems and diseases related to weight management and diet. The responses obtained were put in an Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) spreadsheet, and the data obtained was transformed into bar graphs and pie charts by using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). For the statistical analysis of data, percentages were calculated. The mean age of the study participants was 18.56 ± 1.16 years. The gender-wise distribution of participants shows around 47.7% (50) male and 57.3% (66) female. 39.8% of students answered correctly the precise requirement of macronutrients. 21.1%of students were unsure about the content of added sugar, salt and fibre requirements. The majority of students made healthy dietary choices, while many students were unaware of the expert's advice and diet-related diseases. It was discovered in the current study that students' general understanding of a nutritious diet was good, but they lacked knowledge regarding the nutrient content. Students showed a sufficient level of understanding of the healthy food selections, but they were not aware of the healthy cooking methods. Students were unaware of the advice given to the patients, while awareness of nutrition-related diseases was acceptable. Inadequate understanding and lack of awareness are attributed to the limited nutrition-related curriculum in medical schools.

Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Influence of Awareness about Halal and Toyyib Food on Interest Consuming Korean Food Among Adolescent and Adult

The selection of halal and thoyyib foods is an obligation and a part of Muslim identity. The influence of foreign culture like the Korean Wave has impacted people's interest in Korean foods. Unfortunately, not all Korean foods are made with halal and thoyyib ingredients suitable for consumption by Muslims. The aim of this research is to understand how awareness of consuming halal and thoyyib foods affects the desire to purchase Korean cuisine among teenagers and adults. This quantitative study was conducted in East Java, focusing on 189 participants aged 12-30, both male and female, who are Muslims. Data was collected through Google Form questionnaires and analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results showed a positive significant influence of halal and thoyyib awareness on the interest in consuming Korean cuisine, with a regression coefficient significance value of 0.000 < 0.05. In conclusion, it was found that halal and thoyyib foods have a significant impact both individually and collectively on the interest in consuming Korean foods.

Oral health-related patterns of food selectivity among French adults

Oral health-related patterns of food selectivity among French adults

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Associated with the Selection of Sweetened Ultra-Processed Foods and Their Importance in Oral Health.

Reading nutritional labelling helps consumers select healthier food, thereby benefitting their oral health. The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of parents and carers of children and preteens, associated with reading nutritional labelling, selecting sweetened ultra-processed foods, and their impact on oral health. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a validated questionnaire was administered to 298 parents and caregivers of children aged 1-12 years from different districts in Villavicencio, Colombia. Participants' scores, based on the number of correct answers, were used to classify their level of KAP as low, medium, or high. In addition, the frequency of responses, the KAP levels, and the median scores were analysed. Finally, associations were determined using the chi-square test. Most participants reached a medium level in terms of knowledge (41.6%) and attitudes (49.3%) and a low level in terms of practices (43.3%). An association was found between participants' level of KAPs and their socioeconomic and educational level (p < 0.05). The study findings reveal inadequate KAPs associated with nutritional labelling, adequate food selection, and the importance of oral health.

Characterization of Digestive Manifestations in Patients with Impaired PTH/PTHrP Signaling Disorder/Pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism, newly classified as inactivating PTH/PTHrP signaling disorder (iPPSD) type 2 or type 3, is a rare disease caused by defects in the GNAS imprinted gene that encodes Gsα. The most common phenotype comprises resistance to hormones binding to G protein-coupled receptors such as PTH, PTHrP, or TSH, subcutaneous ossifications, short stature, brachydactyly, and early onset obesity. Uncommon features have been described including sleep apnea, asthma, and resistance to calcitonin. At the national French reference center for rare calcium and phosphate metabolism diseases, a large cohort of patients with iPPSD type 2 and type 3 is followed. Interestingly, digestive manifestations and in particular intractable constipation were regularly reported by families of children with iPPSD type 2 or type 3. The aim of our study was therefore to specify the frequency and characteristics of digestive manifestations in children followed up for iPPSD2 or iPPSD3 in our reference center. Thirty-six patients aged between 2 and 18 years (32 followed up for iPPSD2 and 4 for iPPSD3) were included. Parents completed a specific questionnaire to assess any digestive disorders in their child. The diagnosis of constipation was established using the Bristol visual scale in the event of a score of less than 2 according to stool appearance. Parents reported constipation through the questionnaires in 22/36 (over 60%) of the children. It was the most frequently reported digestive disorder. Among these 22 children, 19 (87%) had a Bristol score for stool shape and texture between 1 and 2 on a scale of 7, confirming constipation. Dedicated treatment had been initiated for 10 (55%) of them, yet only 3 families (16%) considered this treatment effective. Neonatal vomiting and eating disorders, such as lack of satiety or food selectivity, were also noted in 18 (50%) of patients, as was gastroesophageal reflux present in the neonatal period in 14 (40%) of children. There were no significant differences according to the type of iPPSD or patient age. Our work shows for the first time that digestive manifestations, including constipation, occur frequently in children followed for iPPSD, suggesting a potential role of Gsα and G protein receptors in the digestive tract. It is well known that constipation and digestive symptoms alter quality of life. Early management is therefore essential to improve the quality of life of children followed for iPPSD. Our data need to be confirmed on a larger cohort.

Infantile anorexia: how to avoid diagnostic errors?

Food whims, some food refusals, food selectivity are issues for which parents often seek advice from a paediatrician. It is difficult to identify the reasons of the issues for just a few minutes of a visit. But the greatest challenges in the diagnosis arise when parents complain that they fail to feed both breastfed and non-breastfed young infants. Anorexia in young infants may be of a psychological and/or organic origin. The most complex and early forms often have a mixed etiology. A detailed history taking reveals cases of forced feeding, frequent changes of formula, and mother’s emotional instability. The article presents several clinical cases with different reasons for food refusals in children for which parents sought advice from a doctor. The first clinical case: a 11-year-old boy with complaints about lack of weight gain, as his weight did not exceed 6.8 kg, extremely slow growth rates. The child was diagnosed with moderate eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus with eosinophils up to 10–12 per high-power field (hpf). Second clinical case: a 7-month-old girl M. with complaints about decreased appetite, food refusal, lack of interest in food and thirst, regurgitation during feeding. The examination showed eosinophilic infiltration of the duodenum up to 50 eosinophils per hpf. In the stomach there were up to 5 eosinophils per hpf. Third case: a boy Ya. with complaints about restlessness, more in the evening and at night, waking up frequently at night, regurgitation, hiccups, and periods of bloating. The article presents modern options for using specialized food products for this category of children according to the cause of anorexia.

Nutrition Approaches in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental problem of unknown etiology with an increasing prevalence. Genetic and environmental factors are known to be effective in ASD. Gastrointestinal system (GIS) problems are frequently observed. It is stated that GI problems may be a triggering factor for the abnormal behaviors seen in ASD. There are various nutritional approaches such as gluten-free-casein-free diet, ketogenic diet, Feingold diet to alleviate behavioral symptoms and GI problems seen in ASD. This review aimed to assess the effects of scientific evidence-based nutritional approaches on autism symptoms. Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; ASD; eating patterns; food selectivity; nutrient intake.

Satiety insecurity: A potential mediator between food insecurity and selection of larger portion sizes

Satiety insecurity: A potential mediator between food insecurity and selection of larger portion sizes

Nutritional Partitioning among Sympatric Ungulates in Eastern Tibet.

Wild ungulates play crucial roles in maintaining the structure and function of local ecosystems. The alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaste), white-lipped deer (Przewalskium albirostris), and red serow (Capricornis rubidus) are widely distributed throughout the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains of Tibet. However, research on the mechanisms underlying their coexistence in the same habitat remains lacking. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the coexistence of these species based on their dietary preferences through DNA barcoding using the fecal samples of these animals collected from the study area. These species consume a wide variety of food types. Alpine musk deer, white-lipped deer, and red serow consume plants belonging to 74 families and 114 genera, 62 families and 122 genera, and 63 families and 113 genera, respectively. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the nutritional ecological niche among these species, primarily manifested in the differentiation of food types and selection of food at the genus level. Owing to differences in social behavior, body size, and habitat selection, these three species further expand their differentiation in resource selection, thereby making more efficient use of environmental resources. Our findings indicate these factors are the primary reasons for the stable coexistence of these species.

Autistic Children/Adolescents Have Lower Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Higher Salivary IL-6 Concentration: Potential Diet-Inflammation Links?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. Many patients with ASD often show behavioral problems at mealtimes, including food selectivity and atypical feeding behaviors. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has a beneficial effect on mental health for the general population across different ages. There is evidence that good adherence to the MD is effective in reducing peripheral inflammatory markers, such as the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). The present study was designed to evaluate adherence to the MD in children with ASD using age- and sex-matched, typically developing individuals (TDs) as a control group and to determine whether differences in adherence to the MD are associated with salivary IL-6 and IL-6 receptor concentration. Twenty children and adolescents with ASD (mean age 9.95 ± 0.65 years) and twenty TDs (mean age: 9.85 ± 0.59 years) participated in this study (N = 16 males and N = 4 females in each group). Participants with ASD were enrolled in a psychiatric consultation in Valencia (Spain), and TDs were recruited from two public schools in Valencia. The parents of both ASD and TD groups answered the items in a validated Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED) questionnaire on their children's adherence to the MD. The mean adherence to MD score was significantly lower in the ASD group (9.10 ± 0.42) (range 6-12) than in the TD group (10.35 ± 0.31) (range 8-12) (p = 0.02, Mann-Whitney U test). There was no statistically significant association between adherence to the MD and age or sex in both groups, but there was a significant correlation between the total KIDMED score and body mass index (BMI) in the ASD group. Regarding the concentration of Il-6 and the Il-6 receptor in saliva samples, there were no significant differences between the two groups; however, linear regression analysis by group revealed significant associations between the adherence to MD score and the concentration of IL-6 and its receptor in saliva in the ASD group (p = 0.003, OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.007 to -0.02; p = 0.009, OR = -0.64, 95% CI -0.01 to -0.00). In contrast, no significant associations were observed between the adherence to MD score and the concentration of IL-6 and its receptor in saliva in the TD group. Children and adolescents with ASD showed significantly lower adherence to the MD, which can contribute to nutritional deficits described in ASD, and the role of BMI composition (fat versus lean mass) needs to be further investigated in this group. The concentration of IL-6 and its receptor in saliva is associated with adherence to the MD, suggesting a possible link between IL-6 and diet in ASD. Further studies to clarify the associations between IL-6, psychiatric alterations, and diet in ASD are needed.