Snacking Frequency Research Articles

Exposure to screen time and dental neglect.

Dental neglect is the failure of parents to meet a child's basic oral health needs and causes complications. Long screen time, and its health impact, is an important public health issue. This study is aimed at determining whether there is a relationship between screen time of children and parents and dental neglect. Two hundred and fifteen patients were included in this cross-sectional observational study. A questionnaire including questions exploring demographic data, children's life-styles and, screen time of both parents and children. A dental neglect scale was administered to the parents. The children's intraoral examinations were evaluated using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) and pulp, ulcers, fistula, abscess (pufa) indices. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that dental neglect was statistically significantly associated with brushing teeth unsupervised and infrequently, frequent snacking, rarely doing exercise, screen exposure at an early age and presence of dental plaque (P < 0.05). Long screen time was statistically significantly associated with high dmft scores, reflecting poor oral health. It was found that children who did not attend daycare, had statistically significantly longer exposure to screens, compared to those who attended daycare. Early exposure to screens and long-term screen use are associated with adverse outcomes pertaining to children's oral health.

Subclinical Reactive Hypoglycemia Is Associated with Higher Eating and Snacking Frequencies in Obese or Overweight Men without Diabetes

Impacts of subclinical reactive hypoglycemia on food ingestion are not well studied. In the present study, in obese/overweight males without diabetes (n = 34), continuous glucose monitoring and eating behavior were recorded for 6 days after the 75 g glucose challenge. In 50% of subjects, the minimal sensor glucose levels within 24 h post-challenge (CGMmin) were &lt;70 mg/dL, while symptoms, if any, were subtle. Median eating and snacking frequencies were 3.45 and 0.45 times/day, respectively. In subjects with eating frequency &gt; 3 times/day, CGMmin was significantly lower than CGMmin in those without. The receiver operating characteristic curve of CGMmin for detecting eating frequency &gt; 3 times/day showed the area under the curve of 0.74 with the cutoff point of 65 mg/dL (p = 0.027). Eating frequency of subjects with CGMmin &lt; 65 mg/dL was significantly higher than that of subjects with CGMmin ≥ 65 mg/dL (3.68 vs. 3.3 times/day, p = 0.047). When it was defined as reactive hypoglycemia that either the 2 h post-load blood glucose level, the minimal self-monitored blood glucose level within the 1st day, or CGMmin, was below their respective cutoff for detecting eating frequency &gt; 3 times/day, eating frequency of subjects with the reactive hypoglycemia was significantly higher than that of the subjects without the reactive hypoglycemia (3.75 times/day vs. 3.15 times/day, p = 0.001). In addition, the median snacking frequency was 6 times higher in subjects with reactive hypoglycemia compared to those without it (0.9 times/day vs. 0.15 times/day, p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, in obese/overweight males without diabetes, subclinical reactive hypoglycemia is significantly associated with higher eating/snacking frequencies.

Effect of COVID-19 outbreak on the diet, body weight and food security status of students of higher education: a systematic review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted college students' lifestyles and placed them at a greater risk of obesity and food insecurity. The purpose of the systematic review was to consolidate evidence for the effect of Covid-19 on students' dietary quality, dietary habits, body weight and food security status. A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilising various databases including Google Scholar, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Embase and Scopus to identify relevant studies. To be incorporated in this review, studies had to include higher education students, measure the prevalence of food insecurity and assess the dietary and body weight changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies showed that the diet quality of college students was compromised during the pandemic in many nations due to the decrease in the intake of whole grains, dairy products, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables and the increase in consumption of alcohol, confectionery products and refined grains. There was an increase in the frequency of cooking, binge eating, breakfast skipping and unhealthy snacking. These modifications, in return, were associated with body weight changes, with no less than 20 to 30 % of students gaining weight during the pandemic. The pandemic also impacted food security status of students, with over 30% being food insecure worldwide. The COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated the students' diet quality and dietary habits and placed them under high risk of weight gain and food insecurity. Higher education institutions and governments should improve students' access to nutritious foods and incorporate nutrition education interventions in the curricula.

Associations of diet quality, food consumption, eating frequency and eating behaviour with dental caries experience in Finnish children: a 2-year longitudinal study.

We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of dietary factors with caries experience in a population sample of 487 children aged 6-9 years at baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study. Altogether, 406 of these children attended 2-year follow-up examinations. Food consumption and eating frequency were assessed using 4-day food records, diet quality using the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) and eating behaviour using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Caries experience was examined clinically. The cross-sectional associations of dietary factors with caries experience at baseline were analysed using linear regression and the longitudinal associations of dietary factors with a change in caries experience over follow-up using generalised mixed-effects regression adjusted for other risk factors. A higher consumption of high-fibre grain products (standardised regression coefficient β = -0·16, P = 0·003) and milk (β = -0·11, P = 0·025) and higher BSDS (β = -0·15, P = 0·007) were associated with lower caries experience, whereas a higher consumption of potatoes (β = 0·11, P = 0·048) and emotional overeating (β = 0·12, P = 0·025) were associated with higher caries experience. Higher snacking frequency (fixed coefficient β = 0·07, P = 0·033), desire to drink (β = 0·10, P = 0·046), slowness in eating (β = 0·12, P = 0·027) and food fussiness (β = 0·12, P = 0·018) were associated with higher caries experience, whereas enjoyment of food (β = -0·12, P = 0·034) and higher BSDS (β = -0·02, P = 0·051) were associated with lower caries experience.

Not only diet quality and physical activity but also snacking and skipping meals could be related with menstrual disorders in PCOS

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to clarify the associations between menstrual cycle disorders, food frequency intake, dietary habits, and physical activity levels in women with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). 114 women with PCOS and 341 without PCOS (CONTROL) participated in the study. They were also divided into women with menstrual disorders(MD), and those with regular cycle (RC). Each of them completed a medical and Kompan questionnaires. In women with PCOS and menstrual disorders (PCOS-MD), intake of wholemeal products, meat and meat products, fats and alcoholic beverages was higher in comparison to those in the control group with menstrual disorders (CONTROL-MD). Women in the PCOS-MD group also reported significantly more frequent snacking between meals, higher Pro-Healthy Diet Index (pHDI-14), and a lower level of physical activity at leisure time than CONTROL-MD. Women with PCOS differed from those in CONTROL due to a higher consumption of meat and meat products, fats, fruits and vegetables, juices and alcoholic beverages, and a lower intake of whitemeal products, sweets, and fruits. Women with PCOS more frequently snacked, but the number of their meals was also lower. In women with PCOS, menstrual disorders may be related not only with diet quality and physical activity but also with snacking and skipping meals.

Contribution of Frequent Snacking to the Energy, Sugar, and Sodium Intakes of Adolescents Aged 13- 18 During the COVID-19 Pandemic Under Alert Level 1 Restrictions

Contribution of Frequent Snacking to the Energy, Sugar, and Sodium Intakes of Adolescents Aged 13- 18 During the COVID-19 Pandemic Under Alert Level 1 Restrictions

Impact of the Pandemic on Selected Aspects of Health-Promoting Attitudes in 2020-2021: A Cross-Sectional Study.

IntroductionIn the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, people began to change both their health-promoting and anti-health behaviors.Aim of the PaperTo assess the impact of the pandemic on selected health-promoting attitudes.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to September 2021. We have used the author's survey questionnaire and the standardized Wellness Behaviors Inventory (WBI). The questionnaires were given to respondents in paper versions to fill it.ResultsThe study group included 600 urban residents aged 32–73. Based on the opinions of the respondents, during the pandemic, the following activities increased the most: hand washing (93.3%), eating sweets and snacks (80%), and surfing the Internet (60%). An increase in drug/legal use was reported by 13.3%, with no indication of a decrease or no change in consumption of the above. The overall WBI index for all subjects before the pandemic was 81.3 ± 20.2 points, and the increase significantly (p < 0.001) during the pandemic was 87.7 ± 16.7 points. In addition, an increase in preferred eating habits was found (from 19.5 ± 6.4 to 21.1 ± 6.9 points; p < 0.001), preferred prophylactic behaviors (from 21.1 ± 6.0 to 22.7 ± 5.2 points; p < 0.001) and level of presented health practices during the pandemic (from 20.3 ± 5.1 to 24.7 ± 2.7 points; p < 0.001), and a decrease significantly (p < 0.001) in the degree of positive mental attitude (from 20.3 ± 5.4 points to 19.3 ± 4.9 points).ConclusionsRespondents generally rated their own and their family's health as worse during the pandemic period, and this trend continued when broken down by gender, cohabitant, place of residence, and education. According to the largest group of respondents, the frequency of handwashing, eating sweets and snacks, surfing the Internet, and using drugs/legal highs increased the most during the pandemic. The overall WBI index for all respondents before and during the pandemic was slightly higher during the pandemic period. Monitoring health behavior during a pandemic is essential for prevention and health care institutions. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of the pandemic on pro-and anti-health behavior of people.

Clinical Application of the Food Compass Score: Positive Association to Mediterranean Diet Score, Health Star Rating System and an Early Eating Pattern in University Students.

Nutrient profiling systems (NPS) assist consumers in food choices. Several scores based on NPS have been proposed, but data on their clinical application are lacking. The food compass score (FCS) is a newly developed NPS per 100 kcal (from 1 “least healthy” to 100 “most healthy”). We examined the correlations of FCS with other indices, food groups, and meal patterns. A total of 346 students of the University of the Peloponnese (269 women and 77 men) participated. Dietary habits were evaluated with a food frequency questionnaire, and FCS, health star rating score (HSR), and MedDietScore were computed. Meal and snack frequency consumption was reported. Principal component analysis revealed three meal patterns: “early eater” (breakfast, morning snack and afternoon snack), “medium eater” (lunch and dinner), and “late eater” (bedtime snack). Pearson partial correlations between ranked variables were used to test the correlation coefficients between FCS, other scores, and meal patterns, after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and underreporting. FCS was positively correlated to HSR (rho = 0.761, p ≤ 0.001) in a multi-adjusted analysis. In the highest tertile of MedDietScore FCS was also positively correlated to MedDietScore (rho = 0.379, p < 0.001). The FCS was positively correlated with juices, high-fat dairy, vegetables, legumes, fruits, and olive oil and negatively correlated with sodas, alcoholic drinks, red meat, refined grains, sweets, fats other than olive oil, fast foods, and coffee. In addition, it related positively to the “early eater” pattern (rho = 0.207, p < 0.001). The FCS was associated with other quality indices and better nutritional habits, such as being an early eater.

P071 COVID-Related Diet Changes in a Multiethnic Sample of College Students

BackgroundResearch suggests varied dietary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increase in meal and snack frequency. While some studies report an increase in home cooking and fresh produce consumption, others report less favorable changes in diet patterns. Limited research examines these patterns in college students.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study explored self-reported changes in food intake patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in a multiethnic sample of college students.Study Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA web-based survey was administered to students enrolled in a general education introductory nutrition course during the 2020-2021 academic year. Two open-ended items were used to capture self-reported changes in food intake and drivers of those changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity was assessed using the USDA six-item food security module.Measurable Outcome/AnalysisTwo researchers collaborated to develop a codebook and then assign codes independently to open-ended responses. Chi-square tests were used to investigate relationships between food security status and reported diet changes.ResultsParticipants (n = 436) were predominantly (77%) female; 39% identified as Hispanic/Latino, 33% identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, and 19% identified as Caucasian. A majority of participants (n = 295, 67.7%) reported diet changes as a result of the pandemic. Participants indicated mixed impacts on food intake, such as an increase or decrease in food intake, snacking more, eating less healthy, or eating healthier. Participants attributed diet changes to increased health consciousness, increased time at home, eating more home-prepared foods, changes in activity level, and increased feelings of boredom. Among respondents who reported a COVID-related diet impact, those experiencing food insecurity were more likely to report eating less healthy because of the pandemic (P = 0.01).ConclusionsA majority of students reported a change in food intake; while the type of change varied, food insecurity emerged as a factor significantly associated with self-reported dietary changes considered less healthy.FundingNone

P078 Effects of Shokuiku and Current Eating and Lifestyle Behaviors on Well-Balanced Dietary Habits in Japanese University Students

<h3>Background</h3> School-aged Japanese children receive shokuiku (food and nutrition education) to encourage them to eat well-balanced diets [cereal grains (shushoku), proteins (shusai), vegetables (fukusai)]. However, few young adults regularly eat well-balanced diets. <h3>Objective</h3> To examine the causal structure of the effects of school shokuiku on young adults' dietary habits and the association of current eating and lifestyle behaviors. <h3>Study Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> The subjects were 148 female university students (48.6% living alone) among 161 who completed a 2020 self-administered questionnaire (99.4% response rate) in a cross-sectional study of first- to fourth-year nutrition course students in Hyogo Prefecture. <h3>Outcome Measures and Analysis</h3> A hypothetical model was developed using factors potentially associated with well-balanced dietary habits (twice daily or more), including school shokuiku (three variables: past conversation about dietary balance consisting of the "three food groups"; major nutrients; and importance of breakfast) and current eating and lifestyle behaviors as limiting factors. A covariance structure analysis was performed by living arrangement (living alone or with family). <h3>Results</h3> Simultaneous multi-population analysis by living arrangement showed acceptable goodness of fit (GFI = 0.918, AGFI = 0.852, CFI = 0.966, RMSEA = 0.040, AIC = 113.168) and a significant positive path from school shokuiku (living alone: standardized estimate 0.29, <i>P</i> = 0.004; with family: 0.32, <i>P</i> = 0.006) and a negative path from eating-out frequency (–0.19, <i>P</i> = 0.039; –0.24, <i>P</i> = 0.017) toward well-balanced dietary habits. A significant negative path was identified from bedtime (–0.45, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and home-meal replacement (ready-to-eat foods) frequency (–0.24, <i>P</i> = 0.010) in those living alone, and from late-night snacking frequency (–0.27, <i>P</i> = 0.007) if living with family. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Well-balanced dietary habits in female university students may be positively affected by school shokuiku and limited by late bedtime and home-meal replacement use if living alone and late-night snacking if living with family, plus by eating out. <h3>Funding</h3> None

Can motivational interviewing help prevent dental caries in secondary school children?

Design This study was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of three school-based interventions to improve the oral health behaviours of adolescents and prevent dental caries. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: Group I - oral health education (which was considered as usual care); Group II - motivational interviewing (MI); and Group III - MI aided by the interactive patient communication tool, the Cariogram. Cluster randomisation was applied and schools were stratified by district. The interventions were delivered at school by trained hygienists. The main outcome measures were psychological (self-efficacy) and behavioural measures about snacking and toothbrushing with clinical measures of plaque and caries.Case selection Participants were selected from 15 secondary schools located in three main districts in Hong Kong in 2015-16. Inclusion criteria were: full-time students enrolled in participating schools; 12 or 13 years old; and having unfavourable oral health behaviour, defined as 'toothbrushing less often than twice a day' and/or 'snacking three times or more a day'. Eligible participants were identified through a screening questionnaire.Results In total, 512 participants were recruited (161, 162 and 188 in Groups I-III, respectively) and of those, 460 (89.9%) were followed-up 24 months post intervention. When compared with Group I, restriction of frequent snacking was more likely in Group II (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 3.91 [1.48-10.33]) and Group III (OR [95% CI]: 6.33 [2.46-16.27]). Participants in Group III had a higher likelihood to start performing adequate toothbrushing (OR [95% CI]: 4.80 [1.79-12.85]). No significant reduction in plaque score reduction was found among the three groups (p >0.05). Groups II and III developed fewer teeth with caries into dentine (β [95% CI]: -0.19 [-0.37, -0.01] and -0.20 [-0.38, -0.02], respectively), whereas the increment of total carious lesions (enamel and dentine) was lower in Group III (β [95% CI]: -0.63 [-1.24, -0.02]).Conclusions The findings of this RCT suggest school-based MI interventions were more effective than traditional oral health education in improving adolescents' oral health self-efficacy, behaviours and preventing dental caries. The authors suggest the benefits of this intervention may potentially extend beyond caries prevention to other oral and systemic diseases.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for ECC Among Preschool Children from India along with the Need of its Own CRA Tool- A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Caries in the deciduous dentition of children under six years of age is termed as early childhood caries (ECC). ECC is prevalent among Indian children and identifying modifiable risk factors is important for prevention. This systematic review was undertaken to describe the burden of ECC in India, its prevalence, associated risk factors along with its repercussions on childhood health.Materials and Methods:A search was conducted for published Indian studies on ECC through electronic databases and complemented with hand search. The protocol for the present systematic review was registered at PROSPERO (Ref No.CRD42022306234)Care was taken to include studies which could represent all parts of India- Central, North, South, East and West. Included papers were reviewed for prevalence of ECC and reported risk factors.Results:Overall 37 studies on ECC in India were identified relating to prevalence, 11 reported risk factors and two reported on the association between severe ECC and nutritional health and well-being. The prevalence of ECC in India in these studies varied from16% to 92.2%. This systematic review revealed that ECC is prevalent among Indian children and highlights the need of preventive intervention and early risk assessment by its own caries risk assessment (CRA) tool. Occurrence seems to be firmly connected with age, snacking frequency, feeding and oral hygiene habits and with social determinants of health including parental education level, low socioeconomic status and number of siblings.

Adolescents’ School Travel and Unhealthy Snacking: Associations with School Transport Modes, Neighbourhood Deprivation, and Body Weight

Active transport to and/or from school (ATS), alone or combined with motorised transport, provides an opportunity to increase adolescents’ physical activity levels to prevent obesity. However, travel through and exposure to an unhealthy food environment en route to school may have unintended consequences, specifically unhealthy snacking. This study examined the association between adolescents’ unhealthy snack food/soft drink purchases/consumption during the journey to and from school and their school transport modes, neighbourhood deprivation, and body weight. Adolescents (n = 660, age: 15.3 ± 1.3 years, 51.7% female) from 11 schools in the Otago region, New Zealand, completed an online survey and anthropometry. Data were analysed using χ2 test and logistic regression. Overall, 36.7% of adolescents purchased/consumed unhealthy snack foods and 25.9% purchased/consumed soft drinks at least once during their weekly school trips. ATS and mixed transport users reported more frequent unhealthy snack food/soft drinks purchases/consumption on the way to school than motorised transport users. Neighbourhood deprivation, but not body weight, was positively associated with unhealthy snack food/soft drink purchases/consumption during the school journey. Our findings highlight the importance of considering not only travel mode shift but also the obesogenic environment and unhealthy food/drinks purchases/consumption during adolescents’ school journeys, particularly in lower socio-economic areas, to prevent obesity.

Snacking Behaviors and Quality of Snack Intake in US Overweight College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

ObjectivesTo assess snacking behaviors and their associations with quality of snack intake in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of the baseline data from the Snackability app Trial. The Snackability app scores the snacks based on the USDA snacking guideline. Socio-demographics (age, gender, income), food security, stress levels, and snacking behaviors (type of snacks more accessible, knowledge of how to choose healthy snacks, snacking frequency, and snacking time) were assessed through online questionnaires and dietary recalls via the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour, version 2020. Snacks were identified from the recalls, scored using the Snackability app scoring system, and categorized into unhealthy (≤5.750), somewhat healthy (5.751–7.000), healthy (7.001–8.000), and very healthy (8.001–11.000). Logistic regressions were used to associate snacking behaviors and snack scores. Snack scores were also compared by socio-demographics and snacking time (5:00–11:59 AM, 12:00–2:59 PM, 3:00–5:59 PM, and 6:00 PM-4:59 AM) using Kruskal–Wallis. ResultsA total of 140 college students (18–24 years) were included in this analysis; 125/140 reported consuming snacks. Median age was 21 years and BMI was 28.5 kg/m2. Most were female (85.7%), with a household income < $50,000 (51.4%), high food security (71.4%), and medium stress level (49.3%). Most consumed somewhat healthy snacks (29.6%). Knowledge, income, food security, and stress level were not significantly associated with snack scores. Those who consumed snacks more frequently (≥2 times per day) had higher odds of consuming healthy snacks (OR 4.00; 95% CI 1.26, 12.72; P < 0.05) compared to snacking 1 time per day and those with more accessibility/availability of unhealthy snacks had higher odds of consuming unhealthy snacks (OR 4.76; 95% CI 1.52, 14.95; P < 0.05) compared to accessibility/availability of healthy snacks. Evening snack scores were significantly lower than morning snacks (5:00 am–11:59 am) and afternoon snacks (3:00–5:59 pm) (P < 0.05). ConclusionsSnacking frequency, accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks, and snacking time were significantly associated with snack scores. Funding SourcesInternal funds from Florida International University.

Factors associated with dental caries experience of Thai preschool children with cerebral palsy.

To investigate the factors association with dental caries experience in the primary dentition of Thai preschool children with cerebral palsy. A cross-sectional study was conducted among sixty Thai preschool children with cerebral palsy, aged 3-6 years old. Caries experience was determined by identifying decayednon-cavitated and cavitated lesion, missing, and filled surfaces of deciduous teeth(dmfs). Sociodemographic data, CP motor types, dietary habits, oral health behaviors and dental plaque index were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to identify the strength of the association between factors and dental caries experience. The prevalence of dental caries was 91.66%. The average dmfs was 20.30 ± 21.63 surfaces/individual. The multiple linear regression indicated that dmfs was significantly associated with snacking carbohydrate between meals more than two times/day (β ± SE = 0.372 ± 0.125; p = 0.004), spastic type of cerebral palsy (β ± SE = 0.309 ± 0.124; p = 0.015) and one-time daily tooth brushing (β ± SE = 0.306 ± 0.124; p = 0.017). Nine out of 10 preschool children with CP experienced dental caries. Spastic type of CP had more risk to develop dental decay. Caries prevention for preschool children with CP should emphasis on controlling the frequency of carbohydrate snack no more than two times/day and reinforcing tooth brushing at least twice daily.

Frequency of fruit consumption and savoury snacking predict psychological health; selective mediation via cognitive failures.

While there is growing interest in the link between diet and psychological health, there is a surprising lack of studies investigating the precise associations between nutrient-rich foods (such as fruit and vegetables) versus nutrient-poor foods (such as energy-dense savoury and sweet snacks), and psychological health. Similarly, the psychological processes underpinning the relationship between dietary intake and psychological health remain unclear. Hence, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between dietary consumption and psychological health, with cognitive processes as a theoretical mediator. This cross-sectional online study included 428 healthy adults (53% female; mean age= 39.7, SD= 13.0), with participants completing a range of validated questionnaires measuring dietary habits and psychological health. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that more frequent consumption of fruit was associated with reduced symptoms of depression (β = -.109, p = 0.025) and greater positive psychological wellbeing (β = .187, p < 0.001). Conversely, more frequent savoury snacking was associated with increased anxiety (β = .127, p = 0.005). Further, mediation analyses revealed that more frequent consumption of savoury snacks was associated with increased symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, and reduced psychological wellbeing, via an increase in cognitive failures (ps < 0.001). These results provide new insights on the independent associations between certain types of food and psychological health, and the psychological mechanisms that may mediate these. Further work is now required to establish causality and determine whether these may represent modifiable dietary targets that can directly (and indirectly) influence our psychological health.

Mastery Is Associated With Weight Status, Food Intake, Snacking, and Eating Disorder Symptoms in the NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study.

Mastery is a psychological resource that is defined as the extent to which individuals perceive having control over important circumstances of their lives. Although mastery has been associated with various physical and psychological health outcomes, studies assessing its relationship with weight status and dietary behavior are lacking. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between mastery and weight status, food intake, snacking, and eating disorder (ED) symptoms in the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. Mastery was measured with the Pearlin Mastery Scale (PMS) in 32,588 adults (77.45% female), the mean age was 50.04 (14.53) years. Height and weight were self-reported. Overall diet quality and food group consumption were evaluated with ≥3 self-reported 24-h dietary records (range: 3–27). Snacking was assessed with an ad-hoc question. ED symptoms were assessed with the Sick-Control-One-Fat-Food Questionnaire (SCOFF). Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between mastery and weight status, food intake, snacking, and ED symptoms, controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Females with a higher level of mastery were less likely to be underweight (OR: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.84, 0.93), overweight [OR: 0.94 (0.91, 0.97)], or obese [class I: OR: 0.86 (0.82, 0.90); class II: OR: 0.76 (0.71, 0.82); class III: OR: 0.77 (0.69, 0.86)]. Males with a higher level of mastery were less likely to be obese [class III: OR: 0.75 (0.57, 0.99)]. Mastery was associated with better diet quality overall, a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, seafood, wholegrain foods, legumes, non-salted oleaginous fruits, and alcoholic beverages and with a lower consumption of meat and poultry, dairy products, sugary and fatty products, milk-based desserts, and sweetened beverages. Mastery was also associated with lower snacking frequency [OR: 0.89 (0.86, 0.91)] and less ED symptoms [OR: 0.73 (0.71, 0.75)]. As mastery was associated with favorable dietary behavior and weight status, targeting mastery might be a promising approach in promoting healthy behaviors.Clinical Trial Registry NumberNCT03335644 at Clinicaltrials.gov.

Multimodal Data Integration Reveals Mode of Delivery and Snack Consumption Outrank Salivary Microbiome in Association With Caries Outcome in Thai Children.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is not only the most common chronic childhood disease but also disproportionately affects underserved populations. Of those, children living in Thailand have been found to have high rates of ECC and severe ECC. Frequently, the cause of ECC is blamed on a handful of cariogenic organisms, such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. However, ECC is a multifactorial disease that results from an ecological shift in the oral cavity from a neutral pH (~7.5) to an acidic pH (<5.5) environment influenced by the host individual’s biological, socio-behavioral, and lifestyle factors. Currently, there is a lack of understanding of how risk factors at various levels influence the oral health of children at risk. We applied a statistical machine learning approach for multimodal data integration (parallel and hierarchical) to identify caries-related multiplatform factors in a large cohort of mother-child dyads living in Chiang Mai, Thailand (N=177). Whole saliva (1 mL) was collected from each individual for DNA extraction and 16S rRNA sequencing. A set of maternal and early childhood factors were included in the data analysis. Significantly, vaginal delivery, preterm birth, and frequent sugary snacking were found to increase the risk for ECC. The salivary microbial diversity was significantly different in children with ECC or without ECC. Results of linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis of the microbial community demonstrated that S. mutans, Prevotella histicola, and Leptotrichia hongkongensis were significantly enriched in ECC children. Whereas Fusobacterium periodonticum was less abundant among caries-free children, suggesting its potential to be a candidate biomarker for good oral health. Based on the multimodal data integration and statistical machine learning models, the study revealed that the mode of delivery and snack consumption outrank salivary microbiome in predicting ECC in Thai children. The biological and behavioral factors may play significant roles in the microbial pathobiology of ECC and warrant further investigation.

Too Many Treats or Not Enough to Eat? The Impact of Caregiving Grandparents on Child Food Security and Nutrition.

With the number of grandparent-headed households on the rise, the influence of grandparents needs to be considered in the fight to reduce child obesity. The current study investigated the influence of caregiver type (i.e., grandparents only, parents only, or multi-generational households) on children’s nutrition, food security, and BMI. This was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis based on the 2009–2010 wave of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in collaboration with the World Health Organization. This sample included 12,181 students from 10,837 families with only parents present in the household, 238 with only grandparents present, and 1106 multi-generational families. One-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted using caregiver type as the independent variable, controlling for SES, on items assessing frequency of breakfast consumption, nutrition intake, hunger, snacking frequency and location, and BMI. Children reported more unhealthy snacking in households with only grandparents. Hunger was reported more often in multi-generational households. These results support that caregiver type, especially caregiving grandparents, is a significant predictor of children’s BMI, nutrition, and food security. Tailoring nutrition education to the needs of grandparents could help both the health of grandparents and the reduction of child obesity.

The impact of COVID-19 on the daily lives and study habits of the MBBS students

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the academic and personal life of all college students.However, it has had a more profound impact on medical undergraduates. Objectives: 1) Survey of changes in the daily routine,views about their career and study habits of the MBBS students 2) To document changes in eating habits, other health-related habits, and self-perception of body image Methods: Permission of Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) was obtained. An online observational cross-sectional study was conducted, using an online Google Docs-based questionnaire; circulated among MBBS students of all years, studying in 12 medical colleges both government and private medical institutions of India via WhatsApp. Results: We observed an increase in sleeping hours in 75.1% of students, an increase in sleep onset latency (62.6%),and difficulty maintaining sleep (38.3%). About 67.1% of students reported dedicating more hours to their hobbies, and 71.1% reported a decrease in time spent studying throughout the lockdown. We even observed contrasting responses towards the pandemic wherein 50.3% of the students wanted to volunteer and join the workforce while 37% were worried about the situation becoming worse. The frequency of meals and snacking in between meals had increased. Binge eating habits were noticed in around 13% on a daily basis. As a means to cope with this overeating, around 11% of students used laxatives and induced vomiting. Students also reported medical problems like fluctuations in weight, stomach cramps, syncope, and fatigue. Conclusion: Significant disturbances were observed in the daily routine, eating habits, and study habits of medical students, which had perhaps led to bigger perplexities of career-related uncertainty and improper coping techniques of varying degrees.These can have a nationwide impact on our health care system, stressing the need to strengthen its budding doctors to make them healthier and more resilient for the future