Healthy Dietary Intake Research Articles

Gender differences in fresh vegetable intake from 1979 to 2017 in Finland

PurposePrevious research has shown that in contemporary societies, women have a healthier dietary intake than men. However, no research has examined how this gender gap develops over the long term. The present study examined how gender differences in fresh vegetable intake frequency have evolved from 1979 to 2017 in Finland and whether differences are affected by age or educational level.Design/methodology/approachThe data were derived from annually repeated, nationally representative “Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population” and “Regional Health and Well-being (RHW)” surveys on the health habits of the Finnish population. The dataset is a time series of repeated cross-sectional surveys. In total, the data sample comprised 161,996 Finns aged 20–64 years. Descriptive methods and logistic regression were used for the analysis.FindingsDuring 1979–2017, the prevalence of daily vegetable intake increased from 12 to 35% among men and from 18 to 56% among women. Thus, the magnitude of the gap between genders doubled across the study period. The increased vegetable intake was partly explained by the changing education and age structures of society. Potential explanations and avenues for future research are also discussed. Policy implications depend on whether the findings are interpreted as a case of health differences or health inequality.Originality/valueThis study used a long time series to analyse how gender differences in vegetable intake have evolved in a Nordic welfare state context. It showed that the gap in fresh vegetable intake between men and women has widened.

Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and Dietary Intake in Children: Associations With Race and Ethnicity

Establishing healthy dietary intake in pediatric populations is important for prevention of chronic disease across the lifespan. Federal nutrition assistance programs can support the dietary intake of U.S. children. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participation status and dietary intake within racial and ethnic groups. Dietary intake of children aged 2-4 years in the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016 was analyzed in 2021. Multivariable linear regression was used to compare stratum-specific mean estimates for nutrient and food group intake of children participating in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (reference group) with those of nonparticipants who were income eligible and income ineligible (i.e., above income limits) for the WIC program. Significance was set to Bonferroni-corrected p-values. Hispanic WIC participants consumed less added sugar (8.9 [SE=0.5] teaspoons) than their higher-income counterparts (14.6 [SE=1.5] teaspoons, p<0.001). Hispanic WIC participants also consumed more fiber (13.0 [SE=0.6] grams) than income-eligible (11.4 [SE=0.7] grams, p=0.032) and income-ineligible (i.e., higher-income, 9.4 [SE=1.3] grams, p=0.019) nonparticipants, but this was not significant at the Bonferroni-adjusted p-value of 0.01. No differences in dietary intake were observed by WIC participation status for non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black children. Participation in WIC was associated with healthier dietary outcomes among Hispanic children; however, dietary intake of White and Black children was comparable by WIC participation status. Federal nutrition assistance programs should support sound nutrition, an important factor in reducing the risk of chronic disease, in all groups.

Selection and use of vegetable parenting practices did not vary by parent feeding styles: Mixed methods investigation

Parents influence their child's vegetable intake through their feeding style, i.e. the emotional tone established around feeding, and vegetable parenting practices (VPPs), i.e. the specific behaviors employed to influence their child's vegetable intake. A model of precision food parenting proposes that child healthy dietary intake could be optimized by the selection and implementation of effective food parenting practices. Parents use and learn from these complex interactions with their child, which are reflective of feeding style. Intervention research has targeted VPPs in general without a delineation of which practices were selected, which were used, or why they were selected. It is not clear how these users were influenced by feeding style, nor what the parent learned from the interaction. The current study used mixed methods wherein middle socioeconomic status parents of 3–5 year old children were categorized within feeding style groups (n = 122), asked to select two VPPs, implemented them for a week (n = 63), and qualitatively interviewed about their experience. Responsiveness VPPs were most commonly selected, primarily due to their perceived ease of implementation. Parents believed there would be long term positive outcomes, e.g. more vegetable intake from using the practices selected. Frequency of use depended in part on opportunity, e.g. food purchase parenting practices could only be employed during intermittent shopping events. Few differences were detected by parent feeding styles in the types of VPPs selected, frequency of use, or effectiveness. Food parenting interventions can encourage selection of specific VPPs to employ and do not appear to have to tailor the types of VPPs offered to parent feeding style. Research is needed with larger, socioeconomically diverse samples to assess optimal categorization into feeding styles and confirm the present results.

Is Dietary Iodine Intake Excessive According to the Theoretical Model of Healthy Dietary Intake Pattern in Pregnant Women and Schoolchildren: Water, Salt, or Food?

Introduction: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy can cause hypothyroidism and goiter; in schoolchildren, it can cause reduced intelligence quotient. In excess, iodine can cause thyroiditis, goiter, and Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. Currently, schoolchildren and pregnant women are classified as risk groups for excessive iodine intake and iodine deficiency, respectively. Thus, determining iodine from all sources of consumption is important for intervention planning.Objective: To construct a theoretical model for the iodine intake of schoolchildren and pregnant women of a city in the Zona da Mata Mineira region, considering a healthy diet, salt consumption and water intake.Methodology: The dietary iodine intake of pregnant women was analyzed based on a dietary iodine table compiled from an international database. A dietary plan was prepared following the Brazilian Food Guide. Iodine concentration of different salt brands sold in local establishments was checked, and drinking water samples from healthcare facilities were analyzed. A descriptive and exploratory statistical analysis was performed and the results were presented in absolute and relative frequencies, and measures of central tendency and dispersion.Results: According to the proposed diet, pregnant women and schoolchildren would have a daily intake of 71.6 μg and 71 μg, respectively. Thirteen salt brands were evaluated, 69.2% complied with the legislation and the mean iodine content was 29.88 mg. The mean concentration of iodine in water was 25 μg iodine/liter and 14 μg iodine/liter, respectively, in summer and autumn. Considering the intake of food, salt, and drinking water according to the proposed dietary plan, the daily intake for pregnant women would be 279.5 and 253.5 μg for schoolchildren.Conclusion: The daily iodine intake of schoolchildren and pregnant women according to this theoretical model was excessive, considering a healthy dietary pattern. This theoretical model can guide actions and public policies aimed at targeting all forms of iodine intake.

A Change of Scenery: Does Exposure to Images of Nature Affect Delay Discounting and Food Desirability?

Previous research suggests that exposure to nature may reduce delay discounting (the tendency to discount larger future gains in favor of smaller immediate rewards) and thereby facilitate healthier dietary intake. This pre-registered study examined the impact of online exposure to images of natural scenes on delay discounting and food preferences. It was predicted that exposure to images of natural scenes (vs. images of urban scenes) would be associated with: (i) lower delay discounting; (ii) higher desirability for fruits and vegetables (and lower desirability for more energy-dense foods); and (iii) delay discounting would mediate the effect of nature-image exposure on food desirability. Adult participants (N = 109) were recruited to an online between-subjects experiment in which they viewed a timed sequence of six images either showing natural landscape scenes or urban scenes. They then completed measures of mood, delay discounting (using a five-trial hypothetical monetary discounting task) and rated their momentary desire to eat four fruits and vegetables (F&V), and four energy-dense foods. There was no statistically significant effect of experimental condition (natural vs. urban image exposure) on delay discounting or food desirability. Bayes factors supported the null hypothesis for discounting (BF01 = 4.89), and energy-dense food desirability (BF01 = 7.21), but provided no strong evidence for either hypothesis for F&V desirability (BF01 = 0.78). These findings indicate that brief online exposure to images of nature does not affect momentary impulsivity or energy-dense food preference, whereas for preference for less-energy dense foods, the evidence was inconclusive.

CHAOS in the Home Environment and Child Weight-Related Outcomes

Biopsychosocial approaches to health care are critical to addressing childhood obesity. This study aimed to examine how multiple indicators of the home environment related to child weight-related outcomes. We hypothesized that families with home environments of higher chaos and stress, and lower quality parent-child interactions, would have children with a higher body mass index (BMI), less healthy dietary intake, and less healthy eating behaviors. Data were drawn from the cross-sectional Phase I of the Family Matters study. Participants were 150 racially/ethnically diverse families with a child between 5 to 7 (mean, 6.4) years old. We used a latent profile analysis approach. A 4-class solution fit the data well, and we used predicted class posterior probabilities to assign families to classes. We then regressed the results onto the distal outcomes of child BMI, healthy dietary intake, and healthy eating behaviors. Families were classified as Collaborative-Chill (n = 38), Busy Bees (n = 37), Engaged (n = 61), and Inconsistent-Distant (n = 14). Collaborative-Chill was used as the reference class. Inconsistent-Distant families had children with higher BMI (P < .001) that were more food responsive (P < .001). Busy Bees families had children who were more food responsive (P = .04) and more satiety responsive (P = .02). Engaged families had children who were marginally more food responsive (P = .06). Household chaos, parent stress, and parent-child interactions are important components of the home environment implicated in children's weight-related outcomes. Health care providers should consider these indicators with child patients who struggle with obesity.

Parenting Styles, Food Parenting Practices and Dietary Intakes of Preschoolers.

Previous evidence suggests that children’s eating behaviors were largely influenced by the parent and home eating structure. This study examined the relationship between parenting styles (including authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and uninvolved), food parenting practices (within Structure, Coercive Control, and Autonomy Support constructs) and dietary intakes of preschoolers. Children aged 3–5 years and their parents were recruited from preschools/daycare centers and parents completed the surveys (n = 166). Dietary intakes were collected using the Harvard Service Food Frequency Questionnaire (HSFFQ), parenting style was assessed using the Parenting Dimensions Inventory-Short Version (PDI-S), and food parenting practices were measured using Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES). The results showed that food parenting practices had a higher number of specific significant findings on children’s nutrient and food group intakes than parenting styles. Correlation analyses showed positive parenting practices within Structure were significantly related to healthier children’s intakes (e.g., vegetables, iron, and folate) and less unhealthy dietary intakes (e.g., sweets and total fats). Regression models show that children with authoritative parents consumed more fruits compared to children with authoritarian parents and indulgent parents. The results addressed the importance of parental influences for preschoolers’ healthy dietary intakes, which suggested that future interventions and educational programs could enhance parenting practices to impact child diet.

Dietary approaches in management of noncommunicable diseases

The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has increased drastically over recent decades, with 41 million deaths each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Unhealthy food choices and food habits, excessive calories, and inactivity are apparent factors to NCDs, namely obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Healthy dietary intake and calorie restrictions have a promising effect on longevity. Eventually, adopting these strategies may delay the onset and decrease the burden of NCDs. Recent findings proved that nutrition has a strong association with the prevalence of NCDs. American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund says 30%–40% of cancers are preventable by adopting healthy food choices, dietary restrictions, engaging in physical activity, and maintaining body mass index. This review focuses on dietary intake and dietary restrictions and finally leads to understand the vital role of gut microbiome in managing NCDs.

Promoting healthy dietary intakes through sustainable procurement

Promoting healthy dietary intakes through sustainable procurement

Caregiver Feeding Practices as Predictors for Child Dietary Intake in Low-Income, Appalachian Communities.

The Appalachian region of the U.S. is disproportionately impacted by poverty, obesity, and nutrition-related chronic diseases. Evidence suggests that caregiver feeding practices may promote healthful eating behaviors among children; however, this has not been examined in low-income, rural, Appalachian populations. This study examines caregiver feeding practices as predictors for child diet in low-income Appalachian families, using a cross-sectional analysis of 178 caregivers of young children (ages 2–10 years old), that were recruited from low-income, rural communities in East Tennessee, from November 2017 to June 2018. Caregivers self-reported measures of demographics, feeding practices, and child dietary intake. Multiple linear regression analyses were run, and found that higher use of caregiver modeling positively predicted child vegetable consumption (Beta = 1.02; p = 0.04). Higher caregiver intake of fruits and vegetables positively predicted child fruit consumption (Beta = 0.29; p = 0.02) and vegetable consumption (Beta = 1.56; p < 0.001), respectively. Higher home availability of healthier foods positively predicted child fruit consumption (Beta = 0.06; p = 0.002) and vegetable consumption (Beta = 0.09; p = 0.05). Higher home availability of less healthy foods positively predicted child consumption of high-sugar/high-fat snack foods (Beta = 0.59; p = 0.003). The findings of this study indicate that caregiver modeling, healthy caregiver dietary intake, and healthful home food availability are associated with healthier child dietary intake among young children in low-income, rural, Appalachian areas. Promoting these practices among caregivers may be an important strategy to enhancing dietary intake of children in this hard-to-reach, underserved population.

Opportunities for dietitians to promote a healthy dietary intake in pregnant women with a low socio-economic status within antenatal care practices in the Netherlands: a qualitative study

BackgroundA healthy dietary intake during pregnancy is important for maternal and child health. However, pregnant women with a low socio-economic status often fail to meet dietary guidelines and requirements for healthy nutrition. Dietitians may play an important role in providing nutritional advice during pregnancy because midwives often experience a lack of nutritional knowledge, time and skills to provide adequate advice. However, there is limited research on the support that dietitians can offer in antenatal care practices for pregnant women. Therefore, this study aims to explore the opportunities for dietitians to support pregnant women with a low socio-economic status in concurrent antenatal care practices in the Netherlands.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 14 pregnant women with a low socio-economic status and 13 dietitians to identify barriers for healthy eating for pregnant women and the associated opportunities for dietitians to support these women in making healthy dietary changes.ResultsFour opportunities for dietitians to support pregnant women in making dietary changes could be discerned: (1) creating awareness of healthy and unhealthy eating patterns, (2) providing reliable and personally relevant information, (3) help identifying barriers and solutions for healthy eating and (4) making healthy eating manageable. Dietitians indicated that supporting pregnant women with a low socio-economic status in consuming a healthy diet requires the investment of sufficient time, effort and money.ConclusionsDietitians are trained and well-equipped to provide extensive support to pregnant women to promote a healthy dietary intake, especially when the complex interplay of barriers that pregnant women with a low socio-economic status experience for healthy eating needs to be addressed. In addition, there is a strong need for strengthening the collaboration between dietitians and midwives because midwives are the primary care provider for pregnant women in the Netherlands, but they often lack sufficient opportunities to provide adequate nutrition support. Strengthening this collaboration could promote that nutrition becomes a recurring and standard topic in antenatal care.

Dietary patterns and internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis.

Context:Studies of child and adolescent internalizing symptoms and dietary pattern have produced mixed results.Objectives:To quantify the association between dietary patterns and internalizing symptoms, including depression, in children and adolescents.Data sources:Embase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science and Cochrane up to March 2021.Study selection:Observational studies and randomized controlled trials with mean age ⩽ 18 years, reporting associations between diet patterns and internalizing symptoms.Data extraction:Mean effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were determined under a random-effects model.Results:Twenty-six studies were cross-sectional, 12 were prospective, and 1 used a case-control design. The total number of participants enrolled ranged from 73,726 to 116,546. Healthy dietary patterns were negatively associated with internalizing (r = –0.07, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [–0.12, 0.06]) and depressive symptoms (r = –0.10, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [–0.18, –0.08]). Effect sizes were larger for studies of healthy dietary patterns and internalizing and depressive symptoms using self-report versus parent-report measures, as well as in cross-sectional studies of healthy dietary patterns and depression compared to prospective studies. Unhealthy dietary patterns were positively associated with internalizing (r = 0.09, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [0.06, 0.14]) and depressive symptoms (r = 0.10, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.05, 0.17]). Larger effect sizes were observed for studies of unhealthy dietary patterns and internalizing and depressive symptoms using self-report versus parent-report measures.Limitations:A lack of studies including clinical samples and/or physician diagnosis, and a paucity of studies in which anxiety symptoms were the primary mental health outcome.Conclusion:Greater depression and internalizing symptoms are associated with greater unhealthy dietary patterns and with lower healthy dietary intake among children and adolescents.

P56 Home Food Access and Children's Heart Healthy Dietary Intake at Home and Child Care

<h3>Background</h3> One-fifth of children and adolescents have an abnormal serum cholesterol measure. Diets higher in plant-based foods and lower in sodium, sugar, cholesterol, and saturated fat reduce cardiovascular disease risk. <h3>Objective</h3> The purpose of this study is to determine if greater home access to fruits, vegetables, and snacks is associated with cardiac dietary heath at home and Early Care and Education (ECE) centers in preschool-age children and also to determine if there is a difference in children's cardiac dietary health between home and ECE. <h3>Study Design, Settings, Participants</h3> This cross-sectional study involved children (3-5 years old, n=88) and their primary caregivers from 15 licensed ECEs across Oklahoma. Parents reported home food access using the Healthy Home Survey and child's home dinner intake using the 3-Dinner Dietary Recall. Child ECE lunch consumption was recorded using the Dietary Observation for Child Care. The cardiac dietary score was composed of 6 variables, each with a single point to be summed: consumption of fish, fruits, vegetables, fiber, and limited sodium and sugary drinks. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Outcome variables were analyzed by using means, standard deviations, median, and frequencies. Adjusted linear regression analyses examined the relationship between home food access and cardiac dietary scores at home and ECE. <h3>Results</h3> At home, total fruit and vegetable (16.2 ± 6.3) outnumbered snacks (5.5 ± 3.0) with mean ratio of total home fruits and vegetables to snacks at 3.8 ± 2.7. There was no difference in cardiac dietary score between ECE (1.50 ± 0.8) and home (1.27 ± 0.9, <i>P</i> = 0.0851). Children within both environments did not meet intake recommendations for most variables (vegetables [18.2-23.9%], fruit [5.7-10.2%], fish [4.5-10.2%], fiber [1.1%], sodium [21.6-38.6%]). There was no relationship between home food access variables and cardiac dietary scores at home or ECE. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The cardiac dietary health of children at home and ECE does not meet recommendations. Interventions might consider the ECE setting to promote healthy eating among children and educate families on healthy eating at home.

Healthy dietary intake moderates the effects of age on brain iron concentration and working memory performance

Age-related brain iron accumulation is linked with oxidative stress, neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Certain nutrients can reduce brain iron concentration in animal models, however, this association is not well established in humans. Moreover, it remains unknown if nutrition can moderate the effects of age on brain iron concentration and/or cognition. Here, we explored these issues in a sample of 73 healthy older adults (61-86 years old), while controlling for several factors such as age, gender, years of education, physical fitness and alcohol-intake. Quantitative susceptibility mapping was used for assessment of brain iron concentration and participants performed an N-Back paradigm to evaluate working memory performance. Nutritional-intake was assessed via a validated questionnaire. Nutrients were grouped into nutrition factors based on previous literature and factor analysis. One factor, comprised of vitamin E, lysine, DHA omega-3 and LA omega-6 PUFA, representing food groups such as nuts, healthy oils and fish, moderated the effects of age on both brain iron concentration and working memory performance, suggesting that these nutrients may slow the rate of brain iron accumulation and working memory declines in aging.

An App-Based Parenting Program to Promote Healthy Energy Balance-Related Parenting Practices to Prevent Childhood Obesity: Protocol Using the Intervention Mapping Framework.

BackgroundThe family environment plays an important role in the development of children’s energy balance–related behaviors. As a result, parents’ energy balance–related parenting practices are important targets of preventive childhood obesity programs. Families with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP) may benefit from participating in such programs but are generally less well reached than families with a higher SEP.ObjectiveThis paper describes the application of the Intervention Mapping Protocol (IMP) for the development of an app-based preventive intervention program to promote healthy energy balance–related parenting practices among parents of children (aged 0-4 years) with a lower SEP.MethodsThe 6 steps of the IMP were used as a theory- and evidence-based framework to guide the development of an app-based preventive intervention program.ResultsIn step 1, behavioral outcomes for the app-based program (ie, children have a healthy dietary intake, sufficient sleep, and restricted screen time and sufficient physical activity) and sociocognitive (ie, knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy) and automatic (ie, habitual behaviors) determinants of energy balance–related parenting were identified through a needs assessment. In step 2, the behavioral outcomes were translated into performance objectives. To influence these objectives, in step 3, theory-based intervention methods were selected for each of the determinants. In step 4, the knowledge derived from the previous steps allowed for the development of the app-based program Samen Happie! through a process of continuous cocreation with parents and health professionals. In step 5, community health services were identified as potential adopters for the app. Finally, in step 6, 2 randomized controlled trials were designed to evaluate the process and effects of the app among Dutch parents of infants (trial 1) and preschoolers (trial 2). These trials were completed in November 2019 (trial 1) and February 2020 (trial 2).ConclusionsThe IMP allowed for the effective development of the app-based parenting program Samen Happie! to promote healthy energy balance–related parenting practices among parents of infants and preschoolers. Through the integration of theory, empirical evidence, and data from the target population, as well as the process of continued cocreation, the program specifically addresses parents with a lower SEP. This increases the potential of the program to prevent the development of obesity in early childhood among families with a lower SEP.Trial RegistrationNetherlands Trial Register NL6727, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6727; Netherlands Trial Register NL7371, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7371.

185 Associations between Diet and Sleep Health in the UK Biobank Study

Abstract Introduction It is well known that the prevalence of clinical and subclinical sleep issues is quite high, with a great economic and social burden on the society. As it is expected that the numbers of people suffering from clinical and subclinical sleep problems will increase in the coming years, new primary and/or complementary methods to improve and prevent poor sleep health across the population are urgently needed. In the current study, we aimed to conduct the largest investigation of diet and sleep health to date, through systematically examining the UK Biobank (UKB) data to find out whether diet quality and food groups play a role on sleep health. Methods This cross-sectional population-based study involved 502,494 participants. UKB food frequency and sleep questionnaires at baseline were used. Also, healthy diet, healthy sleep, and partial fibre intake scores were created. ANCOVA and regression models were used to examine the associations of healthy diet and dietary fibre intake scores with sleep health. Adjusted models included age, sex, BMI, and mental health symptomatology. Results We showed that both healthy diet and high partial fibre intake scores were associated with increased healthy sleep scores. Also, higher intakes of vegetables, fruits, fish, and unprocessed red meat were found to be associated with increased healthy sleep scores. On the other hand, processed meat intake was inversely associated with sleep health. Conclusion A healthy dietary pattern, and food groups (vegetables, fruits, fish, water) and nutrients (fibre) that are consumed as a part of a healthy dietary pattern were associated with better sleep health. Further work is needed to identify underlying mechanisms behind the impact of diet on sleep health. Support (if any) Acknowledgements: This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number ‘61818’. Funding: Funds received from Unilever UK Central Resources Limited to cover application fees.

Relationships Between Dietary Intake and Weight-Related Experiential Avoidance Following Behavioral Weight-Loss Treatment.

Interventions targeting weight-related experiential avoidance (EA) and disinhibited eating (DE) may also improve diet quality. Participants with overweight/obesity and DE who recently completed a behavioral weight-loss program were randomized to receive acceptance and commitment therapy or continued behavioral weight-loss treatment. In this secondary analysis, we explored (1) change in diet quality from baseline to 6-month follow-up (FU) and (2) whether weight-related EA at baseline and (3) change in weight-related EA during treatment were related to change in diet quality from baseline to FU. Veterans (N = 68) completed food frequency questionnaires at baseline and FU, which were used to generate diet quality scores on the healthy eating index-15 (HEI-15). Weight-related EA was assessed using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties-Revised (AAQW-R) at baseline, post-treatment, and FU. Aims were examined with mixed ANOVA analyses. Across both treatment groups, HEI-15 scores declined from baseline to FU. Women's HEI-15 decreased by about 5 times that of men. Baseline AAWQ-R was negatively associated with change in HEI-15. Neither AAWQ-R at post-treatment nor change in AAQW-R from baseline to post-treatment was significantly associated with change in HEI-15 at FU. Greater weight-related EA at baseline was associated with lower diet quality at FU, but change in weight-related EA during treatment did not predict change in diet quality at FU. Interventions targeting DE and weight-loss may require specific components to improve and sustain healthy dietary intake in Veterans with obesity and DE.

Generation Pep Study: A population-based survey on diet and physical activity in 12,000 Swedish children and adolescents.

This study presents dietary intake and physical activity in a large nationally representative sample of children and adolescents in Sweden. It also reports the study protocol for the Generation Pep Study that will be used for yearly repeated measurements. A random sample of children and adolescents aged 4-17years living in Sweden was invited to fill in a Web-based questionnaire on dietary intake and physical activity. For participants aged <12years, the parents were asked to fill in the questionnaire together with their child. Information on socio-economic background was collected from the parents. A total number of 12,441 children and adolescents participated in the study (participation rate 43%). The results indicate that 13- to 17-year-olds have notably less healthy dietary intake and lower physical activity compared with younger age groups. In general, the dietary intake was most healthy among 4- to 6-year-olds. A socio-economic gradient was seen for many of the studied variables. Participants of a high socio-economic status and younger age generally had healthier dietary intake and higher physical activity. The study provides novel national data as it includes a wide age of children and adolescents (4-17years).

Going with the grain: Fiber, cognition, and the microbiota-gut-brain-axis.

Healthy dietary intake has been acknowledged for decades as one of the main contributors to health. More recently, the field of nutritional psychiatry has progressed our understanding regarding the importance of nutrition in supporting mental health and cognitive function. Thereby, individual nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols, have been recognized to be key drivers in this relationship. With the progress in appreciating the influence of dietary fiber on health, increasingly research is focusing on deciphering its role in brain processes. However, while the importance of dietary fiber in gastrointestinal and metabolic health is well established, leading to the development of associated health claims, the evidence is not conclusive enough to support similar claims regarding cognitive function. Albeit the increasing knowledge of the impact of dietary fiber on mental health, only a few human studies have begun to shed light onto the underexplored connection between dietary fiber and cognition. Moreover, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a key conduit for the effects of nutrition on the brain, especially fibers, that are acted on by specific bacteria to produce a variety of health-promoting metabolites. These metabolites (including short chain fatty acids) as well as the vagus nerve, the immune system, gut hormones, or the kynurenine pathway have been proposed as underlying mechanisms of the microbiota-brain crosstalk. In this minireview, we summarize the evidence available from human studies on the association between dietary fiber intake and cognitive function. We provide an overview of potential underlying mechanisms and discuss remaining questions that need to be answered in future studies. While this field is moving at a fast pace and holds promise for future important discoveries, especially data from human cohorts are required to further our understanding and drive the development of public health recommendations regarding dietary fiber in brain health.

O impacto da nutrição na suscetibilidade à CoViD-19 e as consequências em longo prazo: resenha do Comentário de Butler e Barrientos

Introdução: Como parte da Edição Especial de 2020 I, a Revista de Educação Física / Journal of Physical Education (REF/JPE) está trazendo aspectos científicos da prática de atividade física relacionados à pandemia de CoViD-19.&#x0D; Objetivo: Apresentar e indicar aos leitores da REF/JPE, a leitura do comentário de Butler e Barrientos, publicado em um periódico internacional sobre os efeitos de uma dieta inadequada sobre o sistema imunológico e implicações em relação à CoViD-19.&#x0D; Conclusão: A adoção de dietas mais saudáveis é de fundamental importância para favorecer a resposta imunológica. Em obesos, a adoção de dietas adequadas apresenta um rápido efeito anti-inflamatório. Assim, ressalta-se a relevância dos aspectos nutricionais sobretudo em indivíduos com risco aumentado para quadros mais graves de CoViD-19. Recomenda-se a leitura do artigo.