Hunger Level Research Articles

Under-Two Children Hunger Levels in Indonesia

Objective: To analyze the hunger level of toddlers under 2 years old using the Under-two Children Hunger Index (CHI). Methods: This study used secondary data from the Indonesian Basic Health Survey 2018. This study focused on the development of measurement for under-two children hunger index (CHI) using six indicators of the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency in pregnant women; the prevalence of risk height of pregnant women; the prevalence of under-two children who never being breastfeed; the prevalence of malnutrition for under-two children; the prevalence of wasting for under-two children; and the prevalence of stunting for under-two children. These six indicators were weighted differently and were calculated using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method.Results: The calculation of CHI using loading factors as weighted indicators has a higher precision with the percentage of 94.12 percent. With a 2018 CHI score of 46.40, Indonesia is at a serious CHI level. From the 34 provinces in Indonesia, 47.06% of provinces are at an extremely alarming level, 8.82% are at an alarming level, 17.65% are at a serious level, 17.65% are at a moderate level, and 8.82% are at a low level. Efforts can be performed by the government to increase the CHI based on the 6 indicators mentioned above.Conclusion: Based on this analysis, 25 provinces need attention in terms of the CHI level with six, three, and sixteen provinces suffered from a serious, alarming, and extremely alarming levels of CHI, respectively. Nevertheless, CHI is dynamic and should be updated annually to assess the province’s achievement in eradicating hunger. This time-series data is very important to evaluate government programs and programs to accelerate the eradication of under-two children's hunger should focus on the six indicators in this study.

How to Combine Hunger Solutions to Improve their Effectiveness: Building the Framework for a Country Profile Approach

Hunger continues to be a major problem in developing countries despite various efforts. Countries with differing socioeconomic profiles, as reflected in their level of development, seem to respond differently to identical programs. The aim of this paper is to therefore propose a new conceptual tool, namely our hunger-management model, which takes into account a country’s developmental level. To investigate the role of a country’s developmental level in making progress in its GHI score over time, data for 124 developing countries were gathered. These countries were divided into two groups according to whether they used a high or low number of “criteria” (i.e., approaches such as school meals and direct food aid) to fight hunger. To assess the effect of this distinction, repeated measures ANOVAs were applied for the various GHI scores and outcomes for a selection of representative years. To reveal any differences between the years, a post hoc analysis was conducted using Bonferroni correction. The findings suggest that (i) the rate of change for a country’s GHI score and other examined indicators depends upon its developmental level, and (ii) there is a direct relationship between the hunger-management model and the level of hunger in developing countries.

Neophobic behavioural responses of parasitised fish to a potential predator and baited hook

Many juvenile fish show essential avoidance of predators but are also faced with the need to show risky asset-acquiring behaviour, such as trying new food sources, many of which are known to be influenced by parasite infection. Here, we investigated the links between parasite infection, anti-predator behaviour and neophobia towards a novel food presented on a baited hook in fish. Juvenile Spangled perch (Leipotherapon unicolor) undertook two behavioural tests in our laboratory, before being dissected and examined for external and internal parasites. We used an adapted conditioned place avoidance (CPA) paradigm to examine responses to a predator fish and in a separate test, we examined neophobia of a baited hook. Of the 69 Spangled perch studied, 27% of fish were uninfected and at least one of nematodes, Protozoa/Myxozoa or Monogenea were found in the remaining fish. Fish spent less time in the side of the tank where the predator was previously encountered, than before encounters, indicating that fish can learn to avoid locations where predators were previously observed. We found that fish spent longer in the side of the tank where the predator was visible than in the same side of the tank in earlier trials without the predator, supporting previous studies showing that fish actively approach and engage in predator inspection. Fish infected with Protozoa/Myxozoa and camallanid nematodes were less likely to enter the side of the tank with the predator than uninfected fish, suggesting a reluctance to approach a predator in these infected fish. However, Protozoa/Myxozoa and camallanid infected fish bit the baited hook sooner than uninfected fish, possibly indicating less neophobia of the baited hook in fish with these infections. Avoiding to approach a predator yet reduced neophobia to novel foods in some infected fish suggest that parasites do not exert a general, overall, effect on risk aversiveness. Instead, changes in neophobic behaviour appear complex and we discuss the possibility that parasite-induced changes in fish behaviour may be modulated by altered hunger levels and reduced locomotion brought about by illness.

Food security and nutrition in the world

July 6, 2022, saw the launch of the latest edition of the “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report. Jointly authored by several UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, WHO, and the World Food Programme, the report outlined the disastrous effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on global levels of hunger and malnutrition. It noted that an estimated 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021, an increase of 150 million since 2019. Almost 924 million people faced severe levels of food insecurity in 2021, 207 million more than in 2019.

Food insecurity, hunger, stress, and homelessness among young adults.

Compared to the effects of stress on hunger, the temporal effect of hunger on stress levels is less understood, especially in the context of everyday lives of vulnerable populations with unstable access to food. Our objective was to examine the effects of food insecurity and momentary hunger on momentary stress and stress variability in a sample of currently and formerly homeless young adults. We used a 7-day ecological momentary assessment study querying affect, hunger, and risky behaviors. A mixed-effects location scale model was used to examine the effects of hunger on mean levels and within- and between-subjects variability of stress with 100 currently homeless and 69 formerly homeless young adults ages 18-29 in Los Angeles County, California. When individuals experienced greater-than-average hunger, they then experienced greater stress variability at the next prompt, showing the impact of hunger on stress at the momentary level. Those with higher average levels of stress, regardless of hunger, became substantially more stressed when becoming hungry compared to their generally less stressed counterparts. The study shows the extent to which food insecurity results in erratic stress among vulnerable populations and how high levels of hunger may lead to a more inconsistent stress response. Findings reinforce the need for more mental health services and food programs for young adults who have experienced homelessness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Food waste study to improve family economy

Indonesia is the second largest contributor to food waste in the world. The Global Hunger Index said that the level of hunger in Indonesia is at a serious level but processing food waste can have a positive impact on the family economy. This study first aims to determine the factors that influence the behavior of preparing food, secondly to determine the factors that influence the behavior of wasting food, and thirdly to find out that food waste can improve the family's economy. This type of qualitative descriptive research was carried out in Jiken Village, Tulangan District, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java purposively using primary and secondary data. Data were taken by sampling with household interviews and analyzed to obtain answers to the research objectives. The results showed that the behavioral factors of the household preparing food include the number of family members, planning to prepare food, the amount of food preparation costs, the intensity of cooking a day, and whether or not they have ever learned to cook. Factors that influence household behavior in disposing of food include inappropriate menus, number of menus, schedule of eating more than twice a day, appearance of ordinary food, and inappropriate taste of food. Food waste can improve the family's economy, namely 60% food waste can be used to animal feed. It is hoped that this research method will produce patterns of household behavior in preparing food and reducing the amount of food waste and the family economy will increase from food waste processing.

Hunger effects on option quality for hedonic and utilitarian food products

Multiple studies have examined the extent to which consumers’ hunger levels predict their food choices and preference patterns. These investigations often involve making binary choices between hedonic foods (e.g., ice cream) that primarily serve to provide sensory pleasure, and utilitarian foods (e.g., bread) that mainly fulfill functional purposes. However, most consumers entering a grocery store are not restricted to solely selecting either hedonic or utilitarian foods. Rather, they typically choose both hedonic and utilitarian food options. Moreover, little is known about the effects of hunger on consumers’ option quality (i.e., the degree of match between actual food choices and stated preferences) or their cognitive performance in food contexts. To address these gaps, the current study explored (1) whether experimentally induced hunger (vs. satiation) influences the option quality of consumers’ chosen food items; (2) whether this potential interplay is contingent on the food category (hedonic vs. utilitarian); and (3) whether hungry (vs. satiated) consumers’ performance may differ on cognitively challenging tasks. The results revealed that hunger did not lead to a generalized decrease in consumers’ option quality. However, option quality was inferior for utilitarian—but not hedonic—foods among hungry consumers, whereas no such differences were found for satiated consumers. Hungry (vs. satiated) consumers also performed significantly worse on cognitively demanding tasks, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of hunger on consumers’ decision-making. Further research should test the generalizability of these results in ecologically valid settings, such as in actual supermarkets.

The Effects of Intermittent Fasting and Continuous Energy Restriction with Exercise on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers, Dietary Compliance, and Perceived Hunger and Mood: Secondary Outcomes of a Randomised, Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: Excess weight in the form of adiposity plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases. Lifestyle modifications that incorporate continuous energy restriction (CER) are effective at inducing weight loss and reductions in adiposity; however, prescribing daily CER results in poor long-term adherence. Over the past decade, intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a promising alternative to CER that may promote increased compliance and/or improvements in cardiometabolic health parameters independent of weight loss. (2) Methods: This paper presents a secondary analysis of data from a 12-week intervention investigating the effects of a twice-weekly fast (5:2 IF; IFT group) and CER (CERT group) when combined with resistance exercise in 34 healthy participants (17 males and 17 females, mean BMI: 27.0 kg/m2, mean age: 23.9 years). Specifically, changes in cardiometabolic blood markers and ratings of hunger, mood, energy and compliance within and between groups were analysed. Dietary prescriptions were hypoenergetic and matched for energy and protein intake. (3) Results: Both dietary groups experienced reductions in total cholesterol (TC; mean reduction, 7.8%; p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; mean reduction, 11.1%; p < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean reduction 2.6%, p = 0.049) over the 12 weeks. Reductions in TC and LDL-C were greater in the IFT group after adjustment for baseline levels and change in weight. No significant changes in markers of glucose regulation were observed. Both groups maintained high levels of dietary compliance (~80%) and reported low levels of hunger over the course of the intervention period. (4) Conclusions: Secondary data analysis revealed that when combined with resistance training, both dietary patterns improved blood lipids, with greater reductions observed in the IFT group. High levels of compliance and low reported levels of hunger throughout the intervention period suggest both diets are well tolerated in the short-to-medium term.

Effects of semaglutide on cardiovascular risk factors and eating behaviors in type 2 diabetes

AimsAim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of once-weekly semaglutide on different end-points indicative of metabolic control, cardiovascular risk, dietary behavior, and treatment satisfaction in T2DM.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study conducted in a diabetes clinic. Changes in HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, and number of antihypertensive drugs at 32 weeks (T1) after the first prescription of semaglutide (T0) were analyzed. Furthermore, at T1 patients were asked to fill-in the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) and the Control of Eating Questionnaire (COEQ).ResultsOverall, 104 patients were identified (mean age 63.6 ± 10.4 years, 58.7% men, diabetes duration 12.7 ± 8.7 years). After 32 weeks of treatment with semaglutide, HbA1c levels were reduced by 1.38%, FBG by − 56.53 mg/dl, weight by 6.03 kg. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total, HDL-, LDL-, and non –HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides significantly improved. The number of glucose-lowering and antihypertensive drugs also decreased. At T1, DTSQ score was 32.23 ± 1.44, whereas COEQ indicated low levels of hunger and good control of eating.ConclusionsThe study documented benefits of semaglutide on metabolic control and multiple CV risk factors, simplification of therapeutic schemes and high satisfaction with diabetes treatment, and eating behaviors indicative of healthy diet and reduced food intake.

Hangry in the field: An experience sampling study on the impact of hunger on anger, irritability, and affect.

The colloquial term “hangry” refers to the notion that people become angry when hungry, but very little research has directly determined the extent to which the relationship between hunger and negative emotions is robust. Here, we examined associations between everyday experiences of hunger and negative emotions using an experience sampling method. Sixty-four participants from Central Europe completed a 21-day experience sampling phase in which they reported their hunger, anger, irritability, pleasure, and arousal at five time-points each day (total = 9,142 responses). Results indicated that greater levels of self-reported hunger were associated with greater feelings of anger and irritability, and with lower pleasure. These findings remained significant after accounting for participant sex, age, body mass index, dietary behaviours, and trait anger. In contrast, associations with arousal were not significant. These results provide evidence that everyday levels of hunger are associated with negative emotionality and supports the notion of being “hangry”.

Do Village Allocation Funds Contribute towards Alleviating Hunger among the Local Community (SDG#2)? An Insight from Indonesia

Using an exclusive data set from Indonesia in 2018–2020, this study aims to prove whether there is a relationship between the allocation of village funds and the level of hunger in the community. In particular, this study tries to find out whether the Village Fund allocation policy has an effect on the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG#2). Using a quantitative method with regression analysis, this study found that the allocation of village funds by the Indonesian government supported hunger and poverty alleviation in all areas of Indonesia’s villages. This research result has implications for policymaking on sustainable food inclusion, especially in Indonesian villages.

Nexus of energy and food nutrition prices in oil importing and exporting countries: A panel VAR model

This study explores the relationship between energy and food nutrition prices through food calorie, fat, protein, and crude oil price links in the case of eight net oil importing (U.S., Korea, China, and Japan) and exporting (Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate, and Iran) countries. For this purpose, we use a Panel-VAR model with data for the 1974–2018 period. The results show that the effects of oil prices shocks on food nutrition prices are different in the two groups of countries. These effects, in oil importing countries, are initially declining and then adjusts over several periods while they are incremental and meaningful for oil exporting countries. In addition, the effects of real gross domestic product (GDP) and exchange rates on food nutrition prices are statistically significant in the oil exporting countries, while they have no direct effect on the food calorie and fat prices in the net oil importing countries. These results suggest that crude oil price, income, and exchange rate policies play an effective role in controlling hunger levels and improving food security in oil-exporting countries.

Intermittent fasting two days versus one day per week, matched for total energy intake and expenditure, increases weight loss in overweight/obese men and women

BackgroundIntermittent fasting (IF), consisting of either a one-day (IF1) or two consecutive days (IF2) per week, is commonly used for optimal body weight loss. Our laboratory has previously shown an IF1 diet combined with 6d/week of protein pacing (P; 4–5 meals/day evenly spaced, ~ 30% protein/day) significantly enhances weight loss, body composition, and cardiometabolic health in obese men and women. Whether an IF1-P or IF2-P, matched for weekly energy intake (EI) and expenditure (EE), is superior for weight loss, body composition, and cardiometabolic health is unknown.MethodsThis randomized control study directly compared an IF1-P (n = 10) versus an IF2-P (n = 10) diet on weight loss and body composition, cardiovascular (blood pressure and lipids), hormone, and hunger responses in 20 overweight men and women during a 4-week weight loss period. Participants received weekly dietary counseling and monitoring of compliance from a registered dietitian. All outcome variables were assessed pre (week 0) and post (week 5).ResultsBoth groups significantly reduced body weight, waist circumference, percent body fat, fat mass, hunger, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and increased percent fat-free mass (p < 0.05). However, IF2-P resulted in significantly greater reductions in body weight (-29%) and waist circumference (-38%) compared to IF1-P (p < 0.05), and showed a strong tendency for greater reductions in fat mass, glucose, and hunger levels (p < 0.10) despite similar weekly total EI (IF1-P, 9058 ± 692 vs. IF2-P, 8389 ± 438 kcals/week; p = 0.90), EE (~ 300 kcals/day; p = 0.79), and hormone responses (p > 0.10).ConclusionsThese findings support short-term IF1-P and IF2-P to optimize weight loss and improve body composition, cardiometabolic health, and hunger management, with IF2-P providing enhanced benefits in overweight women and men.Trial registrationThis trial was registered March 03, 2020 at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04327141.

Hunger Associations With Meal Timing and Adherence to Potential Meal Timing Recommendations for Weight Loss

ObjectivesPoor meal timing (MT) habits, such as irregular day-to-day eating and eating late at night, increase the risk for weight gain and developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We examined two potential barriers to improving MT habits, overall hunger level and time of day of greatest hunger, in relation to MT habits. We hypothesized that a greater overall hunger level and later onset of greatest hunger would associate with unhealthier MT habits and lower adherence to MT recommendations. MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional study on diet and energy regulation in 116 healthy, nonsmoking adults (63% F; aged 29.4 ± 11.9 y; BMI 24.3 ± 3.8 kg/m2; race/ethnicity distribution: 76% white, 15% Asian American, 9% Black/African American/other). Three poor MT habits were examined: eating later in the day (later midpoint of ingestive period), eating late at night (2000–2259) and overnight (2300–0459); and having a shorter overnight fast. Hunger, assessed by the Eating Inventory, and self-reported time of day of greatest hunger, were examined in relation to MT patterns and categorical MT outcomes which, based on the literature, could represent desirable target cutoffs for improvements of MT habits (i.e., potential MT recommendations). MT was determined using the Meal Pattern Grid modified to assess MT on both weekdays and weekend days. ResultsAfter inclusion of all covariates (age, sex, race, physical activity, bed time, dietary restraint and disinhibition scores, sleep duration, and sleep quality), a higher hunger score was associated with a ≥ 13 h overnight fast (p < 0.05), suggesting that participants were able to achieve a longer overnight fast despite being hungrier. Additionally, higher hunger was marginally associated with eating less often late at night (8:00–10:59 pm) (p = 0.08). Time of day of greatest hunger was not associated with any MT variables examined. ConclusionsOur findings did not support the hypothesis that greater hunger prevents healthier MT patterns that have a longer interval of overnight fasting. Future studies are needed to determine if dietary approaches to reducing hunger promote adherence to healthy MT patterns. Funding SourcesNIDDK.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hunger and Food Security

This article analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hunger and food security. The rapid spread of the coronavirus has disrupted an already fragile global food system. Prior to the pandemic, global hunger was on the rise due to socio-economic factors, natural disasters, military conflicts and climate change. Food security problems have taken on alarming proportions due to the introduced restrictive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The article examines the vulnerabilities of modern food systems and the reasons for the rapid rise in the level of world hunger. The article considers modern indicators of hunger, which are not able to fully give an adequate assessment of the state of the level of world hunger. An overview of financial support and measures to stimulate the economy from the government and world financial institutions is given. In the context of COVID-19, there is a need to improve the technology of tillage, harvesting and supplying them to wholesale and retail markets. Within the framework of this article, the need to introduce green energy is considered, which is dictated by the current state of the planet and the improvement of hunger assessment systems. Key words: food security, COVID-19, pandemic, hunger, food systems, economy, hunger indicators.

Satiety of Edible Insect-Based Food Products as a Component of Body Weight Control.

Among the many aspects determining the nutritional potential of insect-based foods, research into the satiating potential of foods is an important starting point in the design of new functional foods, including those based on edible insects. The aim of this study was to assess the satiating value of products with the addition of freeze-dried insect flour. The test material included wheat pancakes in which corresponding proportions of wheat flour were substituted with 10% Mw, 0% Mw, and 30% Mw of flour from freeze-dried Tenebrio molitor, 10% Bw, 20% Bw, and 30% Bw of flour from Alphitobius diaperinus, and 10% Cr, 20% Cr, and 30% Cr of flour from Acheta domesticus. The study included the characterisation of physico-chemical properties and their effect on the satiating potential of the analysed pancakes. A total of 71 healthy volunteers (n = 39 women, n = 32 men) with no food phobias were qualified for the study. Each subject rated the level of hunger and satiety before and after ingestion at 30 min intervals over the subsequent 180 min on two separate graphical scales. The rating was done on an unstructured 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). A portion intended for testing had a value of 240 kcal. The highest average satiety values were noted for the pancakes with an addition of 30% Alphitobius diaperinus (Bw) and with the addition of 20% and 30% addition of Acheta domesticus flour (Cr). The Tenebrio molitor-based products were the least satiating. However, the largest addition of 30% of an insect flour for each variant considerably increased the satiating potential as compared to the control sample. Satiety was influenced the most by the protein content in the test wheat pancakes. The results support the idea of a possible usage of insect-based food products in the composition of obesity treatment diets, carbohydrate-limiting diets, and as alternative sources of protein.

About TREPSEA 2021

In the last half century, Asia has experienced the fastest economic growth and rapid increase of human prosperity, compared to other continents. However, ecological risks due to significant land use changes, global environmental change and climate change-related disasters have also occurred rapidly in Asia. The global deterioration of soils and landscape poses a significant threat to poverty reduction, sustainable food production, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. A recent study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has estimated that the annual cost of land degradation due to “land use and cover change” (LUCC) and the use of land-degrading management practices on static crop and grazing land is about $300 billion. This does not include the costs related to deterioration of ecosystem services, which may increase the estimates significantly. However, global hunger also increases, reaching 815 million people in 2017, where about 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient-deficiencies.In Indonesia, agriculture grows at 3.87 percent per year, which is not very low, although it does not contribute much to poverty reduction and job creation in the country. The poverty level in September 2019 was 24.79 (9.22 percent of total population), where the majority (14.93 million or 12.60 percent) of them are living in rural area, and the rest 9.86 million (6.56 percent) are living in urban area. Income inequality in Indonesia is considered high, where the Gini coefficient generally has increased in the past decade or so, from 0.32 in 1998 to 0.38 in 2007, increasing to 0.41 in 2012 and started to decrease in recent years to 0.382 in September of 2019 (BPS, 15 January 2020). The hunger level in Indonesia has also decreased significantly from 44.1 million in 2004-2006 to 22.0 million in 2016-2018. Interestingly, the hunger level in urban area is 8.2 percent of total population, whereas that in rural area is 7.57 percent. The level of stunting among children has also decreased from 32.9 percent in 2013 to 29.9 percent in 2018, whereas the level of anemia among pregnant women has increased from 37.1 percent in 2013 to 48.9 percent in 2018.Higher ecological risks and more severe climate change-related disasters have more serious consequences on food and nutritional security in Indonesia and other parts of Asia. Hunger and malnutrition have multiple causes, and in facts many of these challenges transcend national borders. Thus, sustainable, integrated and trans-disciplinary innovative solutions to such problems require a more holistic approach in formulating the development strategies to diversify agricultural and food production, increase productivity, hence generating income and employment. Tran-disciplinary approach in mitigating and adapting the climate change related disaster are also required for more sustainable development strategies, coupled with better strategies for disaster risk reduction and management, workable and effective programs to sustainable development and environmental conservation, and better access to food and improved nutritional security.List of Objectives, Topics of TREPSEA 2021, TREPSEA 2021 Organizers, Supporting Organization / Institution, General Committee, Scientific Committee, Local Committee, Conference Secretariat are available in this pdf.

Assessment of oral health problems, dietary, and lifestyle changes among pediatric dental patients during the COVID 19 pandemic - A cross sectional pilot study

Abstract Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the routine lives of people worldwide because of lockdowns/restrictions. Children have been largely confined to home due to the suspension of schools, which may lead to potential behavioral changes. Routine dental services have been nonfunctional, and oral health problems have been frequently neglected. Aims: The present study aimed to assess oral health problems, dietary, and lifestyle changes among pediatric dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that employed a structured 38-item questionnaire through teledentistry to 121 children who previously visited the dental department of a tertiary hospital in Delhi. The Dental Problems and Treatment Needs (DPTN-COVID-19) Questionnaire and Dietary Habits Lifestyle Changes (DHLC-COVID19) Questionnaire, customized and validated for the study, were administered for the assessment of oral needs of children and how they were managed during the pandemic. We also evaluated their dietary/lifestyle changes. Results and Discussion: Participants were interviewed telephonically; as a general trend, oral health was observed to be significantly affected among children. A majority of the children (83.47%) suffered from toothache, 34.71% had tooth-related swelling, and 18.1% experienced dental trauma. More than half of the parents of the participants (54.5%) preferred the management of dental problems with self-medication. Oral hygiene of the children was affected primarily due to decreased brushing frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic (43.8%). A considerable proportion of parents (44.6%) believed that the COVID-19 infection could spread by dental treatment and perceived the dental environment to be more dangerous than other places. A significant number of parents (59.5%) observed the changes in their children's dietary habits, with a drastic reduction in the consumption of high-carbohydrate snacks in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents (67.8%) observed a change in their children's hunger and satiety levels during the COVID-19 lockdown, with decreased appetite in 38.8% of the children. Moreover, a significant increase in screen time and changes in sleeping patterns was also observed during the pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was found to be significant predictors for brushing frequency, carbohydrates intake, and lifestyle changes before and during COVID-19. It was a good fit as analyzed on Pearson goodness-of-fit Chi-square test. The likelihood ratio of during COVID-19 model was statistically significant. The model was able to explain variance in the outcome measure before and during COVID-19, respectively, as analyzed on Nagelkerke pseudo R 2. Conclusion: In the present pandemic situation, amid the burden of increased biological and financial needs, oral health needs of children may have been neglected. This has been accompanied by associated dietary and lifestyle changes, leading to a vicious cycle demonstrating a need for appropriate strategies to address the issue.

Food insecurity in South Africa: Evidence from NIDS-CRAM wave 5

ABSTRACT This article presents the results of the five waves of the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) on food security between May 2020 and May 2021. Despite significant investments in social protection, food insecurity and household and child hunger remained stubbornly high. We conclude that given the protracted nature of the pandemic, slow economic recovery, household and child hunger have stabilised at higher levels than before the pandemic. The phasing out of emergency relief coupled with the constrained economic situation, are some of the reasons why levels of food insecurity and hunger are likely to remain high in the near future. Strict lockdown regulations also reduced employment and income from informal economic activities. Social support for vulnerable individuals and households remain an urgent priority. Continuing support targeted at households with children is particularly important given the dire consequences of enduring hunger for stunting, and on children’s long-term development.

The dark side of convenience: how to reduce food waste induced by food delivery apps

PurposeFood delivery apps (FDAs) have altered people's eating behaviour. The convenience of FDAs may cause consumers to order more food than people's level of hunger warrants, leading to food waste. Food waste is a grave societal problem, which, the authors argue, represents the dark side of FDAs. However, the tendency of consumers to order more food than required, or to engage in food over-ordering behaviour, has remained under-explored in the context of FDAs.Design/methodology/approachThis study addresses the gap by examining the antecedents of over-ordering behaviour on FDAs through the theoretical lens of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), which past studies on food waste have also used.FindingsThe authors' results confirm the positive association of attitude, subjective norms and leftover reuse intentions with over-ordering behaviour. The moderation effect of age and gender on the relationship between subjective norms with over-ordering is also confirmed.Originality/valueThe study extends classic TPB propositions by incorporating trust and leftover reuse intentions as antecedents and age and gender as moderation variables. The study thus offers useful inferences for theory and practice.