Meal Frequency Research Articles

P0674 Development of a screening tool to address dietary habits in persons with IBD in Germany

Abstract Background Nutrition plays a crucial role in the development and course of disease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, standardized nutritional assessments are often lengthy and require the expertise of professional nutritionists, leading to a significant gap in the ability to screen for important dietary factors. As a result, these aspects are frequently overlooked in both clinical practice and scientific research. To address this issue, we aim to develop a short screening instrument that can effectively assess dietary and nutritional aspects in patients with IBD. This tool is not intended to replace, but complement standardized assessments, and to enable clinicians and researchers to address dietary and nutritional aspects in situations where these are otherwise disregarded. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify nutritional factors with regard to their pro- and antiinflammatory characteristics in the context of IBD. Based on this research, a prototype screening tool was developed in collaboration with nutritional experts from 3 German University Hospitals (Mannheim, Munich, and Hannover). The first phase of validation involved an evaluation of the prototype screener by consecutive outpatients at the University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) to assess its feasibility and acceptance. Results Our screening tool contains 28 questions and asks about the frequency of consumption of certain food groups as well as the type of preparation and eating habits with regard to vegetarian or vegan diet, the frequency of meals and the balance and variety of the diet. In the patient evaluation phase, we received feedback from 52 patients (n=37 female, n=36 with Crohn’s Disease, n=51 with remitted or mild disease (1 moderate, none severe). Mean time to complete the screening tool was 9.3 min (SD 7.8). The vast majority of patients stated that they found the screener somewhat or very important (n=47) and somewhat or very easy to understand (n=48), see fig. 1. Seven patients reported that they found at least one question difficult to understand. Ten patients stated that the screener was missing at least one aspect of their dietary habits. No patients reported any unpleasant questions. A global evaluation of the screener according to the German school grading system (from 1 = very good, 6 = very bad) was rated with a mean grade of 1.6. Conclusion This newly developed screening tool to semi-quantitatively assess dietary habits and relevant nutritional aspects in IBD was well-accepted and positively evaluated by patients. In the next step, we will adapt the questionnaire according to patient feedback and then initiate the next phase of the validation process in a multicentric setting.

Infant and young child feeding practice status and its determinants in UAE: results from the MISC cohort

BackgroundTo evaluate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and their determinants among infants and young children in the United Arab Emirates using the 2021 WHO/UNICEF IYCF guidelines.MethodsThe Mother and Infant Study Cohort (MISC), is a prospective study of mothers recruited in their third gestational trimester and followed with their infants up to 18 months of age (n = 167). Data were collected at 3rd trimester, delivery, 2, 6, 12, and 18 months postpartum via questionnaires, review of medical records, anthropometric measurements, and 24-hour dietary recalls of the child’s intake at 6, 12, and 18 months. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regressions were used to report on feeding practices and their determinants.ResultsEver breastfeeding, Early initiation of breastfeeding, and exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months were reported by 84.3%, 99.4%, and 32.9% of participants, respectively. Of children, 96.4% consumed solid foods at 6–8 months; 68.7% and 44.7% continued to be breastfed at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Despite improvement with age; several complementary feeding indicators remained suboptimal at 18 months: Minimum Dietary Diversity: 40.4%, Minimum Meal Frequency: 56.7%, Minimum Acceptable Diet: 23.1%, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, 26.9%, Zero Vegetables and Fruits: 28.8%, Unhealthy Food Consumption: 65.4%. After adjustment, multiparous mothers had higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding, whereas pregnancy complications were associated with lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding. Continued breastfeeding at 18 months was associated with older age among mothers and lower income. Among the factors associated with complementary feeding indicators were higher physical activity and Minimum Dietary Diversity. While Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, and higher education were associated with lower odds of Zero Vegetables and Fruits, and a higher income was associated with lower Unhealthy Food Consumption.ConclusionsThis study reported good rates of Early initiation of breastfeeding and ever-breastfeeding, yet suboptimal exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. The identified risk factors for inappropriate practices could be used to guide nutrition interventions and public health programs in the United Arab Emirates.

Predictors of glycaemic improvement in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes and very elevated HbA1c using the MiniMed 780G system.

This study aimed to identify key factors with the greatest influence on glycaemic outcomes in young individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and very elevated glycaemia after 3 months of automated insulin delivery (AID). Data were combined and analysed from two separate and previously published studies with similar inclusion criteria assessing AID (MiniMed 780G) efficacy among young individuals naïve to AID (aged 7-25 years) with glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥69 mmol/mol (≥8.5%). Univariate and multivariate linear models were performed to explore factors leading to the greatest improvements in HbA1c and time in range 3.9-10.0 mmol/L (70-180 mg/dL; TIR). A total of 99 young individuals (aged 17.3 ± 4.2 years; baseline HbA1c 92 ± 21 mmol/mol [10.6% ± 1.9%]) were included. After 3 months of AID use, HbA1c improved to 65 ± 16 mmol/mol (8.1% ± 1.5%) (-27 ± 23 mmol/mol; -2.5% ± 2.1% change), and TIR improved from 24.2% ± 13.5% to 58.4% ± 15.4% (p both <0.001). In the multivariate analysis, two key factors for both HbA1c and TIR improvement were identified: high baseline HbA1c (>100 mmol/mol [>11.0%]) and high time in automation mode (>80%), which led to decreased HbA1c by 27.0 mmol/mol (2.4%) and 14.2 mmol/mol (1.3%) and increased TIR by 6.1% and 11.1% (p all <0.05) respectively. Meal announcement frequency >3 times/day and glucose target of 5.5 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) also led to significant increases in TIR. No other factors, including age, prior use of multiple daily injection, ethnicity, gender and optimal active insulin time 2 h, contributed to statistically significant HbA1c or TIR improvement. In young individuals naive to AID, those with the highest baseline HbA1c and high percentage time in automation experience the greatest benefits after initiation of AID. Sociodemographic background and carbohydrate counting adherence/knowledge should not prevent or delay access to AID technology (ACTRN12621000556842 and ACTRN12622001454763).

Role of neuropeptide Y in development of valproate-induced eating behaviour disorder

Background. Eating behaviour disorder (EBD) induced by valproic acid (VPA) is one of the components of the pathogenesis of a serious complication of therapy with VPA and its salts such as VPA-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS). About 20% of patients receiving VPA have weight gain, which is also a consequence of altered eating behaviour in such patients. Substances such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), leptin, orexin and ghrelin are involved in the regulation of eating behaviour. NPY has received special attention in recent years because it is one of the most potent brain orexigenic peptides and its expression level directly affects the quantity and quality of food intake. NPY overexpression is associated with EBD, food preferences, obesity, and MetS.Objective: to review preclinical and clinical studies of NPY role as a potential sensitive and specific serum biomarker of VPA-EBD, secondary weight gain and VPA-MetS development in children and adults with epilepsy.Material and methods. We analyzed Russian and foreign publications submitted to eLibrary, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between 2014 and 2024. The full-text articles in Russian and English (original studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, Cochrane reviews, and clinical cases) were analyzed. After the selection procedure, 53 out of 1105 publications retrieved by query keywords were included in the analysis.Results. VPA-EDB refers to multifactorial diseases, requiring to take into account the additive contribution of external (food education, eating habits of the patient and family members) and internal (key hormones and neuropeptides regulating appetite and food preferences, the dose and duration of VPA intake, the metabolic rate of VPA) factors while assessing a risk of its development. NPY-associated VPA-EDB affects dietary preferences in favor of high-calorie food and beverages, increases the frequency of meals, the risks of insulin resistance, hyperglycemia as one of the major domains in MetS pathogenesis.Conclusion. VPA-EBD requires timely diagnosis, as it can cause VPA-MetS. NPY is an important biomarker of VPA-EBD, because recent studies have convincingly demonstrated that this neuropeptide is involved in the regulation of eating behavior in patients with epilepsy.

Intranasal delivery of a ghrelin mimetic engages the brain ghrelin signalling system in mice.

Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), promotes food intake, other feeding behaviours and stimulates growth hormone (GH) release from the pituitary. Growth hormone secretagogues (GHS), such as GHRP-6 and MK-0677, are synthetic GHSR ligands that activate orexigenic Neuropeptide Y neurons that co-express Agouti-Related Peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus when administered systemically. Systemic GHRP-6 also stimulates GH release in humans and rats. Thus, GHS and ghrelin have therapeutic relevance in patients who could benefit from its orexigenic and/or GH-releasing effects. This study examined whether intranasal delivery of ghrelin, GHRP-6, or MK-0677 engages the brain ghrelin signalling system. Effective compounds and doses were selected based on increased food intake after intranasal application in mice. Only GHRP-6 (5 mg/kg) increased food intake without adverse effects, prompting detailed analysis of meal patterns, neuronal activation in the arcuate nucleus (via Fos mapping) and neurochemical identification of c-fos mRNA-expressing neurons using RNAscope. We also assessed the impact of intranasal GHRP-6 on serum GH levels. Intranasal GHRP-6 increased food intake by increasing meal frequency and size. Fos expression in the arcuate nucleus was higher in GHRP-6-treated mice than saline controls. When examining the neurochemical identity of c-fos-mRNA-expressing neurons, we found co-expression with 63.5±1.9% Ghsr-mRNA, 79±6.8% Agrp-mRNA and 11.4±2.5% Ghrh-mRNA, demonstrating GHRP-6's ability to engage arcuate nucleus neurons involved in food intake and GH release. Additionally, intranasal GHRP-6 elevated GH serum levels. These findings suggest that intranasal GHRP-6, but not ghrelin or MK-0677, can engage the brain ghrelin signalling system.

We are a family! Exploring flexitarian households' meat reduction practices.

It is widely accepted that the (over)consumption of meat is negatively linked to environmental problems and public health issues, yet research shows that actual meat consumption remains (too) high. While most research related to the protein transition focuses on consumers' motivations, perceptions and acceptance towards plant-based meat alternatives, a clear need arises to extensively study the context in which (plant-based) meals are consumed. In this research, a generative research approach was applied to extend knowledge on flexitarian households' meat reduction practices. Participants (n=30) from different household types completed assignments with their household members to reflect on their households' meat consumption and reduction practices over the course of a full week. After this sensitizing week, participants were interviewed about their meat reduction practices. Results show that participants high in cooking skills and interest are searching for, or have developed, a practice of reformulating their meals into 'complete' or 'authentic' vegetarian meals which entails a different culinary experience compared to meat-based meals. They usually avoided meat analogues, and used products such as pulses, cheeses, nuts and herbs to create tasty and satiating 'complete' vegetarian meals. However, participants with less available resources like time and skills used meat analogues as convenient replacers of meat. Partners and children had a strong influence on the households' formation of meat reduction practices, as their preferences resulted in compromises regarding the households' meat consumption frequency and types of meals consumed. In conclusion, this research provides unique insights into flexitarian households' meat reduction practices, and fuels the discussion on the role of meat analogues and the consumers' need for 'complete' and 'authentic' vegetarian meal experiences.

Changes in Lifestyle Behaviors, Shopping Habits and Body Weight Among Adults in Cyprus and Greece During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were asked to stay at home. Places where people interacted such as schools, universities, and cafes were closed, and all gatherings were forbidden. Only stores offering fast-moving consumer goods were open, so citizens could purchase all food categories. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the eating and buying habits of consumers in Cyprus and Greece, and any changes in their lifestyles. Methods: An online survey including 1011 participants took place using an electronic questionnaire. Results: The results showed that lockdown significantly affected individuals by increasing weight gain (p < 0.01). The explanatory investigation of related lifestyle habits and nutrition traits showed that the dietary patterns behind these changes included increased meal frequency (p < 0.05)-even without an increased appetite-and subsequent increases in both purchases (p < 0.05) and consumption of several food groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, even though exercise per se was not discontinued due to COVID-19, it was apparent that exercise type was altered to adapt to the relevant restrictions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the COVID-19 lockdown significantly affected Cypriots and Greeks in many aspects like their eating behavior, food purchasing habits, and lifestyle, all resulting in increased weight and potentially adverse health outcomes.

Impact of maternal nutritional literacy and feeding practices on the growth outcomes of children (6-23 months) in Gujranwala: a cross-sectional study.

Malnutrition contributes to approximately 45% of deaths among under 5 years children in low and middle-income countries. Poor maternal knowledge and failure to comply with recommended Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are known risk factors for malnutrition but there are inconsistencies in the literature. Therefore, this cross-sectional study of 100 mother-child pairs in district Gujranwala aimed to assess maternal nutritional literacy (MNL) and maternal feeding practices (MFP) and their ultimate impacts on child growth. A researcher administered questionnaire that was the combination of WHO model questionnaires and FAO Nutrition-related KAP model questionnaires was used to collect the data from mothers while and anthropometric measurements of children were taken by following the standard methods. Results showed that 57% of mothers had average nutritional knowledge and feeding practices were not satisfactory. Only 12% of mothers-initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, 7% of infants were exclusively breastfed, while 27.27% continued to be breastfed beyond 1 year. Complementary foods were timely introduced to 53% of infants, 47% received minimum meal frequency and 34% met the minimum dietary diversity criteria. Additionally, the consumption of unhealthy foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and zero consumption of fruits and vegetables was practiced by 71, 23, and 27% of infants and young children, respectively. Prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight was 19, 9, 12, and 12%, respectively. A non-significant association was observed between MNL and MFP with growth outcomes with a few exceptions. The odds of being wasted (β = 1.903, OR = 6.706, p < 0.05) and underweight (β = 1.732, OR = 5.654, p < 0.05) are higher among children who had vaginal birth. Higher odds of being stunted (β = 2.173, OR = 8.788, p < 0.05) were observed among those whose mothers had middle school education compared to those having higher education. Overall results indicated a dire need not only to create nutritional awareness among mothers in Gujranwala but also to provide a support system for mothers to help them implement standard feeding practices.

Pasteurized waste milk vs. milk replacer at the same crude protein:metabolizable energy ratio with different energy sources (fat vs. lactose) to pre-weaning Holstein calves: Effects on growth performance, feeding behavior, and health.

The improved growth performance of calves at weaning results from an effective pre-weaning feeding strategy. The type and pasteurization process of liquid feed are among the most variable feeding practices affecting calves' growth and health. In previous studies that compared waste milk (WM) vs. milk replacer (MR), little consideration has been given to the variations in chemical composition and feeding behavior between them, and there has been a lack of justification for the crude protein: metabolizable energy (CP:ME) ratio adopted. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding pasteurized WM or MR differing in energy source (fat vs. lactose, respectively) with similar CP:ME ratio on intake, growth, feeding behavior, and health of newborn Holstein calves. Thirty-two male calves (4-d-old; 40.0 ± 0.58 kg BW) were assigned to the trial and randomly allocated to each liquid feed diet (WM or MR). Calves were housed in individual pens with free access to starter feed and fresh water. Calves were weaned on d 61 and assessed until d 101 as the postweaning period. WM-fed calves had greater total nutrient intake (DM, CP, EE, and ME), weight gain, final BW, skeletal growth parameters, and feed efficiency (d 30). Calves WM-fed sorted less against particles retained on the 2.36-mm sieve but more against particles retained on the sieve of 0.6 mm. In WM-fed calves, the sorting index decreased for feedstuff retaining on the bottom pan compared with MR-fed calves. Irrespective of the type of the liquid feed, all calves sorted for particles retaining on the sieve of 4.75 mm and the bottom pan, and against the particles that were retained on the sieves of 2.36- (MR-fed calves only), 1.18- and 0.6-mm. Starter feed nutrient intake and particle size intake from the sieves of 4.75-, 2.36-, and 1.18-mm increased in WM- vs. MR-fed calves. Eating rate and meal size but not meal frequency and length were greater in WM-fed calves, leading to higher pre- and post-weaning starter feed intake. Calves WM-fed spent less time eating and standing but more time ruminating and lying than MR-fed calves. Calves WM-fed had a lower likelihood of having elevated general appearance (score ≥2; hazard ratio = 2.79), diarrhea (score ≥3; hazard ratio = 1.35), and pneumonia (hazard ratio = 4.77). Calves WM-fed experienced shorter days with elevated general appearance, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Overall, feeding WM led to increased starter feed intake by boosting the eating rate and meal size, promoting greater growth than MR. Additionally, compared with MR, WM feeding increased time spent ruminating and lying and reduced susceptibility to diarrhea and pneumonia.

Understanding the longitudinal trends (2005-2018) and multilevel risk factors of complementary feeding in Guinea.

This study aimed to define complementary feeding trends in Guinea from 2005 to 2018 and complementary feeding risk factors at the individual, household, and community levels. Data from 2005 to 2018 demographic health surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys were used to describe complementary feeding trends in Guinea. The most recent DHS was used to examine complementary feeding risk factors at the individual, household, and community levels. Complementary feeding indicators including introduction to complementary foods (INTRO), minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were calculated based on the 2010 World Health Organisation guidance. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify significant risk factors (p < 0.05). Since 2005, there has been a marginal increase in MDD and MAD, but a decrease in INTRO and MMF. The 2018 DHS survey revealed various complementary feeding risk factors. At the individual level, travelling 1-60 min to get water was associated with decreased odds of meeting INTRO, while iron supplementation and maternal education were associated with increased odds of meeting MMF and MDD, respectively. Routine vitamin A supplementation, fever in the past 2 weeks, and low birth weight were associated with increased odds of meeting MAD. At the household level, being in a lower wealth quintile was associated with decreased odds of meeting MDD and MAD. National and subnational programmes and policies designed to improve infant and young child diets may consider tailored approaches that address the specific indicators and risk factors associated with poorer diets in this Guinean context.

The influence of meal frequency and meal timing on cardiometabolic health

The influence of meal frequency and meal timing on cardiometabolic health

Status of Inappropriate Complementary Feeding and Its Associated Factors Among Infants of 9-23 Months.

Background: Inappropriate complementary feeding during the first two years of life significantly impacts children's health, increasing risks of malnutrition and illness. Methods: This study investigates factors influencing early feeding patterns among 600 mothers of children aged 9-23 months in selected hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected and analyzed, with associations measured by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The results showed the key indicators of inappropriate complementary feeding among young children, including timely complementary feeding, minimum meal frequency, dietary diversity, and acceptable diet. The rates for these factors were found to be 60.3%, 32.7%, 24.6%, and 48.5%, respectively. The study identified several significant factors influencing these practices. Key predictors of inappropriate feeding included the order of birth, the mother's employment status, parental education, the number of children, household income, maternal knowledge, and maternal health. Conclusion: The findings underscore that maternal education, employment, and health significantly influence complementary feeding. Targeted interventions and education programs are essential to support healthy feeding behaviors, especially for mothers facing challenges related to education, work, or health conditions. Addressing these practices can improve child health outcomes, contributing to economic growth and a healthier future for Pakistan's youngest population.

Factors Associated With Minimum Acceptable Diet among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Rwanda

BackgroundGlobally, one in two children aged 6 to 23 months fails to meet recommended dietary practices, with 70% fail to meet dietary diversity or meal frequency. This study assessed factors associated with the minimum acceptable diet (MAD) among children aged 6 to 23 months in Rwanda.MethodsThis cross–sectional study utilized secondary data from the 2019–2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS), analyzing 1,203 children. Weighted data were analyzed using STATA version 17, employing bivariate and multivariable logistic regression at a 5% significance level.ResultsThe prevalence of MAD was 23.9%. Among breastfed children aged 6–8 months, 27.09% achieved the minimum meal frequency (MMF), while only 11.9% of children aged 9–23 months met the MMF. Significant factors associated with MAD included residence in the Eastern Province (AOR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.02–2.27), access to nutrition–related information (AOR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.03–2.41), and household wealth, with the richest households showing the highest odds (AOR: 5.93; 95% CI: 3.08–11.42). Delivery in health facilities also increased odds (AOR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.20–9.77).ConclusionThe low prevalence of MAD highlights the need for promoting dietary diversity and meal frequency, support low–income households to improve child feeding practices.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2024;7(3):445-453

Dietary diversity and its associated factors among adolescent girls in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEven though fragmented and inconsistent findings have been reported in Ethiopia, adolescence is a period of rapid growth following infancy and is severely affected by micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, and poor-quality diets. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of dietary diversity and its associated factors among adolescent girls in Ethiopia.MethodsInternational databases such as EMBASE, Hinari, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and direct Google searches were systematically used to search for articles and reports. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, modified as appropriate, was used for cross-sectional studies to assess the quality of the included articles and reports. A Microsoft Excel sheet was used for data extraction and then exported into STATA version 17 for further analysis. The pooled prevalence of dietary diversity was estimated using a random effects meta-analysis approach. Egger’s and Begg’s tests were employed to evaluate publication bias.ResultsThe pooled prevalence of minimum dietary diversity among adolescent girls in Ethiopia was 43% (95% CI: 30, 56) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.2%, p = 0.00). Urban residence (OR: 2.46), mother being a government employee (OR: 2.31), attending a private school (OR: 6.24), adolescent having formal maternal education (OR: 4.49), adolescent having formal paternal education (OR: 3.26), father being a government employee (OR: 3.50), father being a merchant employee (OR: 2.51), middle family wealth index (OR: 1.76), household food security (OR: 3.96), receiving nutrition counseling (OR: 2.46), and higher meal frequency (OR: 7.35) were significantly associated with minimum dietary diversity.ConclusionThe pooled prevalence of dietary diversity among adolescent girls was low. Factors significantly associated with achieving minimum dietary diversity included urban residence, higher parental education and employment in government, private school attendance, household wealth, food security, receiving nutrition counseling, and higher meal frequency. These findings emphasize the need to improve dietary diversity among rural adolescent girls and food insecure households. Establishing nutrition counseling services could enhance understanding and skills related to a varied diet.

Changes in food behaviours during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Australia.

The objective of this study was to explore changes in Australian consumer food behaviours during COVID-19 public health restrictions (lockdown), to provide insights into how this unforeseen crisis event affected dietary behaviour patterns. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2020 with a nationally representative sample of the Australian adult population. Participants were asked to complete questions about (1) meal planning and food purchasing and (2) barriers to cooking, before and during a national-wide COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. A survey-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to identify food behaviour changes resulting from the lockdown. A total of 4022 respondents completed the survey. Overall, food behaviour changes were found to be small and mostly positive. Eight of the 14 meal planning and purchasing related behaviours improved. This included more frequent meal planning and more time to be able to cook. However, not all changes were healthier, with more respondents reporting that they cooked meals at home using healthy ingredients less frequently during the lockdown. These findings demonstrate that people are willing and able to make some positive changes when they have time but that more work needs to be done to ensure that the improvements in food literacy result in healthier meals. Further consideration also needs to be given to how we can embed and amplify these positive changes into everyday habits now that public health restrictions have lifted and Australia is inpost-lockdown reality.

Blood meal source of field-caught &lt;em&gt;Anopheles &lt;/em&gt;vector mosquitoes of malaria from Northern Sri Lanka

Host preference in blood-feeding anopheline mosquitoes is crucial in determining malaria vectors. Using a PCR assay that targeted a portion of the Cytochrome b gene of five vertebrates, this study sought to investigate the blood meals of 30 field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes from two Northern Districts of Sri Lanka. Study revealed that blood meals of Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles subpictus mosquitoes were exclusively from humans (23.3%) and goats (50%), and the remaining 26.6% were mixed blood meals. An. culicifacies (0.65) was more anthropophilic than An. subpictus (0.31), based on the Human Blood Index. Single-host blood meals were more common in both An. culicifacies (70.6%) and An. subpictus (76.92%) than multiple-host blood meals. A significant association (p&lt;0.05) was observed between the vertebrate source of the blood meal of the mosquito and the frequency of single and multiple-host blood meals taken. While the conventional multiplex PCR assay was more successful in identifying the source of multiple-host blood meals, the nested PCR technique effectively amplified the DNA of single-host blood meals. The mean DNA concentration of mixed-host blood meal extractions amplified by conventional PCR assay (121.8±37.3 ng/µL) was substantially greater (p&lt;0.05) than that of the nested PCR (39.5±29.7 ng/µL). This study reveals important findings which are significant for further exploration into the vectorial capacity of An. culicifacies and An. subpictus, and consequently their transmission potential as malaria vectors in the area. This understanding of the feeding patterns of Anopheles vectors will be helpful for long-term planning and development of suitable, situation-specific malaria control measures in a country.

An investigation of the effects of COVID-19 fear on the nutrition habits and emotional appetites of healthcare professionals

Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in daily routines and lifestyles, potentially affecting eating behavior and psychological well-being. Objectives This study aims to determine the level of fear caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare professionals and to investigate the effect of fear of coronavirus on individuals’ eating habits. Methods 108 male and 388 female healthcare professionals working in any healthcare facility in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic filled out an online survey that included socio-demographic characteristics, nutrition and food purchasing habits, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ). Results We found that fear of COVID-19 is higher in female healthcare professionals than in males. Higher COVID-19 fear predicted a greater risk of positive emotional appetite (OR:2.2; 95%CI:1.4–3.2). In addition, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale total score positively correlated with negative EAQ scores in females (p &lt; 0.05). Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores of healthcare professionals who reported that they experienced a decrease in appetite levels and meal frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic were higher than those who declared that their appetite level and meal frequency did not change (p &lt; 0.05). Finally, we found that the odds of positive emotional eating were 2.3 times higher in overweight and obese people compared to underweight and normal weight people. Conclusions These findings highlight the significant impact of COVID-19-related fear on the emotional eating behaviors and overall dietary habits of healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address psychological and nutritional challenges in this vulnerable population during and after pandemics.

Can Wearable Technology Help Guide Dieting Safety?

Background : The safety of dietary interventions is often unmonitored. Wearable technology can track elevations in resting heart rate (RHR), a marker of physiologic stress, which may provide safety information that is incremental to self-reported data. Methods : A single subject was placed on an isocaloric diet for four weeks. In weeks # 1 and 4, timing of food consumption was unregulated. In week #2, food was consumed during a three-hour feeding window (one-meal-a-day, OMAD). During week #3, food was consumed at six intervals, spaced three hours apart (6-meal diet). A Fitbit Versa™ was worn continuously, and questionnaires were administered twice daily. Results : Meal frequency did not affect the subject's weight. Hunger scores from morning and night were widely split on OMAD and relatively constant on the 6-meal diet. Energy, happiness, irritability, and sleep scores were more favorable on the 6-meal diet than on OMAD. RHR extracted from the wearable device was lower during the 6-meal diet than during OMAD, especially in the late afternoon, evening, and nighttime (p<0.05). Lower RHR during the 6-meal diet corresponded to more favorable questionnaire scores. Conclusions : Changes in RHR patterns acquired by wearable technology are promising indicators of physiologic stress during dietary interventions. Wearable technology can provide physiologic data that are complementary to questionnaire scores or timed manual measurements.

Chrononutrition behaviors and cardiometabolic risk in adolescence: an ecological momentary assessment study.

To investigate the potential associations between unhealthy chrononutrition behaviors (meal timing, frequency, and regularity) and their combined impact on cardiometabolic risk in adolescence. Chrononutrition behaviors were assessed using a 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA). The unhealthy chrononutrition score (ranging from 0 to 8) was determined based on late meal timing, low meal frequency, and meal irregularity. The cardiometabolic (CM)-risk z score was calculated utilizing age- and sex-specific reference values for waist circumference (WC), mean arterial pressure (MAP), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Restricted cubic splines were employed to estimate the dose-response relationships between the unhealthy chrononutrition score and outcomes. Among 458 participants [mean (SD) age, 17.9 (0.7) years; 340 (74.2%) Female], 14.3% had an unhealthy chrononutrition score ≥ 6, who exhibited higher MAP (β = 3.86; 95% CI 1.24, 6.47), higher CM-risk scores (β = 1.80; 95% CI 0.70, 2.90), and lower HDL-C (β = 0.18; 95% CI - 0.30, - 0.06), as opposed to those with a healthy score ≤ 2 (n = 136, 31.4%). Moreover, late breakfast (later than 9AM compared to earlier than 8AM), low meal frequency (eating two or fewer meals versus three meals a day), and meal irregularity (score of 3-5 compared to a good score of 6-9) were associated with an increased risk of CM-risk outcomes. The findings suggest a clustering of unhealthy chrononutrition behaviors that collectively impact cardiometabolic health in adolescence. Further prospective and interventional investigations is necessary to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Regular Family Meals Associated with Nutritional Status, Food Consumption, and Sedentary and Eating Behaviors of Brazilian Schoolchildren and Their Caregivers.

The influence of family meals on nutrition and health for families has been understudied, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to analyze associations between regular family meals and body mass index (BMI), food consumption, eating, and sedentary behaviors among Brazilian schoolchildren and their caregivers. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1887 Brazilian schoolchildren aged 6-11 years and their caregivers. Caregivers provided sociodemographic data, their child's weight and height, and the frequency of family meals. Schoolchildren provided data on gender and silhouette scale. Both provided their food consumption, eating, and sedentary behavior data. Associations between regular family meals and BMI, ultra-processed food consumption, and dietary diversity were assessed through multivariate logistic regression models. Correlations of regular family meals with eating and sedentary behaviors were assessed using Pearson chi-square. Regular family meals were frequent (86.6%), and they were associated with less unhealthy BMI in caregivers (AOR: 0.74; 95%CI: 0.5-0.9), as well as higher dietary diversity in caregivers (AOR: 1.66; 95%CI: 1.0-2.7) and in schoolchildren (AOR: 1.78; 95%CI: 1.4-2.3). The coexistence of high dietary diversity and both low ultra-processed food consumption (AOR: 1.45; 95%CI: 1.0-2.1) and healthy BMI (AOR: 1.41; 95%CI: 1.0-1.9) in children was associated with regular family meals. Regular family meals were correlated with healthy eating behaviors in child-caregiver dyads (p < 0.002) and with sedentary behavior in caregivers (p = 0.019). Our findings underscore regular family meals as a protective factor against malnutrition among Brazilian families.