Unhealthy Food Intake Research Articles

The relationship between parent's self-reported exposure to food marketing and child and parental purchasing and consumption outcomes in five countries: findings from the International Food Policy Study.

Food and beverage marketing influences children's food preferences and dietary intake. Children's diets are also heavily influenced by their family environment. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between parent's self-reported exposure to unhealthy food marketing and a range of outcomes related to children's desire for and intake of unhealthy foods and beverages. The study also sought to examine whether these outcomes varied across different countries. The analysed data are from the International Food Policy Study and were collected in 2018 using an online survey. The sample included 5764 parents of children under 18, living in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Binary logistic regressions assessed the link between the number of parental exposure locations and children's requests for and parental purchases of unhealthy foods. Generalized ordinal regression gauged the relationship between the number of exposure locations and children's consumption of such items. Interaction terms tested if these associations varied by country. Parental exposure to unhealthy food marketing was positively associated with parents reporting child purchase requests and purchase outcomes; and differed by country. Increased parental exposure to unhealthy food marketing was associated with slightly lower odds of children's weekly consumption of unhealthy foods, and this association varied by country. In conclusion, parental report of a greater range of food marketing exposure was associated with a range of outcomes that would increase children's exposure to unhealthy food products or their marketing. Governments should consider developing more comprehensive restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods.

Burnout, Fat Intake, and Body Mass Index in Health Professionals Working in a Public Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Burnout can have a negative influence on dietary intake, promoting unhealthy eating behaviors in health care workers. This study determined the association between burnout, saturated fat intake, and body mass index (BMI) in a group of health care workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 300 health professionals residing in Rioja, Department of San Martin, Peru. Data were collected through an online and face-to-face survey. Burnout was assessed using a scale adapted and validated in the Peruvian population. Additionally, a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess habitual fat intake. Both instruments were validated and adapted to the Peruvian population. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and multivariate logistic regression. Values of P < .05 were considered statistically significant. In the adjusted model, it was found that, for each extra point on intake scale, an average of 1.10 (95% CI, 0.57-1.62, P < .001) points increased burnout scale; these results persisted when compared by gender, 1.17 0.49 1.85, and 1.08 0.16 2.00, respectively female male genders. there no association between bmi (P > .05). Future programs and interventions should be considered to minimize the effects of burnout on unhealthy food intake in health care workers in Peru to ensure better medical care by health care professionals on behalf of patients.

Effect of body mass index on ulnar nerve conduction velocity among medical students

Background: Obesity and overweight incidence is increasing among the medical students. The main reason for obesity among medical students is sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy food intake and stress. Increase in subcutaneous fat impairs the conduction in nerve fibers. Body mass index (BMI) is an easy tool to assess the obesity as it is noninvasive and non-expensive. Nerve conduction studies are the tools for assessing the performance of the nervous system. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of obesity on the ulnar nerve conduction velocity among medical students. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 medical students were recruited for the study and the study was done in the Department of Physiology, ESIC Medical College, Hyderabad. Two groups were made Group A (n = 25 with BMI 18.5–24.9) and Group B (n = 25 with BMI &gt;25). AD instrument was used for data acquisition for right ulnar nerve conduction velocity in both the groups. Results from both the groups were compared. Results: Nerve conduction velocity among the Group B students (50.95 ± 15.91) was decreased compared to Group A students (57.56 ± 14.79) but the decrease in nerve conduction velocity was not significant (P = 0.28). Conclusions: Nerve conduction velocity gets impaired with obesity among medical students, but further studies need to be done with more sample size.

Economic Impact on Health and Well-Being: Comparative Study of Israeli and Japanese University “Help” Profession Students

Background: Deteriorating economic conditions caused by rising inflation and living expenses can have negative consequences for university students. This comparative study examined Israeli and Japanese “help” profession (e.g., medicine, nursing, social work, and psychology) students’ fear of such conditions and its impact on their health and well-being. Methods: Data were collected from a cross-sectional sample of 848 university students from Israel and Japan (78.9% female, 20.4% male, and 0.7% other) during a 3-month period of economic decline in 2022. Reliable data-collection instruments and SPSS (version 25) were used for the study. Results: Overall, Japanese students evidenced a higher level of economic well-being than their Israeli counterparts. This finding may have been a result of the lower inflation and living costs in Japan. However, most survey respondents evidenced a fear of deteriorating economic conditions that was significantly associated with psycho-emotional behavior, including increased burnout, substance use, unhealthy food intake, weight gain, and resilience regardless of gender and religiosity. Conclusions: The study findings showed the impact of deteriorating economic conditions on the health and well-being of “help” profession students. These results are preliminary; however, they do serve as an early warning of the key challenges that may need to be considered and addressed for prevention and intervention purposes. Further research should be conducted in other countries and over different time periods to substantiate present findings.

The effect of nutrients on oral dental health

Introduction: The oral health of each individual is related to and dependent on the nutrients they take. They determine the duration and quality of life of each person. Nutritional prevention of oral diseases is the proper balancing of nutrition during different periods of development of oral structures. Aim: The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between nutrition and dental disease and to present nutritional recommendations for their prevention. Materials and Methods: For the period January 2022–February 2022, in the available database (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus), a systematic analysis of scientific publications examining the impact of nutrients on oral health was conducted. Discussion: Nowadays, principles for rational nutrition are constantly being created and updated. A food pyramid has been set up at the US Department of Agriculture. It presents the intake of various foods and seeks to reduce oral diseases. The essential nutrients that are protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins are extremely important for oral health. Proper nutrition in the period of growth and development determines the construction and maintenance of oral structures. The links between oral health, diet and nutrition status, and general health are complex with many interrelated factors. Inaccurate nutrition can affect oral health, including dental caries, periodontal disease, oral disease, and anemia. Impaired oral health can change food choices and negatively affect food intake, leading to suboptimal nutritional status, which in turn can lead to chronic systemic diseases. One of the causes of dental diseases is the intake of unhealthy and incomplete food. Conclusion: Achieving and maintaining oral health is done through nutritional prophylaxis. Recognizing and treating oral health and nutrition problems are important for improving health and quality of life.

Availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in modern retail outlets located in selected districts of Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Intake of unhealthy foods is linked to the onset of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Availability of unhealthy (nutritionally poor) foods can influence preference, purchasing and consumption of such foods. This study determined the healthiness of foods sold at modern retail outlets- supermarkets and mini-marts in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. All modern retail outlets located in six districts of Greater Accra were eligible. Those < 200 m2 of floor area and with permanent structures were categorized as mini-marts; and those ≥200 m2 as supermarkets. Shelf length of all available foods were measured. Healthiness of food was determined using two criteria - the NOVA classification and energy density of foods. Thus, ultra-processed foods or food items with >225 kcal/100 g were classified as unhealthy. The ratio of the area occupied by unhealthy to healthy foods was used to determine the healthiness of modern retail outlets. Of 67 retail outlets assessed, 86.6% were mini-marts. 85.0% of the total SHELF area was occupied by foods categorized as unhealthy (ranging from 9,262 m2 in Ashiaman Municipality to 41,892 m2 in Accra Metropolis). Refined grains/grain products were the most available, occupying 30.0% of the total food shelf space, followed by sugar-sweetened beverages (20.1% of total shelf space). The least available food group-unprocessed staples, was found in only one high income district, and occupied 0.1% of the total food shelf space. Retail outlets in two districts did not sell fresh fruits or fresh/unsalted canned vegetables. About two-thirds of food products available (n = 3,952) were ultra-processed. Overall, the ratio of ultra-processed-to-unprocessed foods ranged from 3 to 7 with an average (SD) of 5(2). Thus, for every healthy food, there were five ultra-processed ones in the studied retail outlets. This study reveals widespread availability of ultra-processed foods in modern retail outlets within the selected districts. Toward a healthier food retail environment, public health and food regulators, in partnership with other stakeholders need to institute measures that improve availability of healthy foods within supermarkets and mini-marts.

Unhealthy Diets Induce Distinct and Regional Effects on Intestinal Inflammatory Signalling Pathways and Long-Lasting Metabolic Dysfunction in Rats.

The intestinal epithelium is a principal site for environmental agents’ detection. Several inflammation- and stress-related signalling pathways have been identified as key players in these processes. However, it is still unclear how the chronic intake of inadequate nutrients triggers inflammatory signalling pathways in different intestinal regions. We aimed to evaluate the impact of unhealthy dietary patterns, starting at a younger age, and the association with metabolic dysfunction, intestinal inflammatory response, and obesity in adulthood. A rat model was used to evaluate the effects of the consumption of sugary beverages (HSD) and a Western diet (WD), composed of ultra-processed foods. Both diets showed a positive correlation with adiposity index, but a positive correlation was found between the HSD diet and the levels of blood glucose and triglycerides, whereas the WD diet correlated positively with triglyceride levels. Moreover, a distinct inflammatory response was associated with either the WD or HSD diets. The WD induced an increase in TLR2, TLR4, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) intestinal gene expression, with higher levels in the colon and overexpression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase. In turn, the HSD diet induced activation of the TLR2-mediated NF-κB signalling pathway in the small intestine. Altogether, these findings support the concept that early intake of unhealthy foods and nutrients are a main exogenous signal for disturbances of intestinal immune mechanisms and in a region-specific manner, ultimately leading to obesity-related disorders in later life.

Adolescents’ food intake changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of pre-pandemic susceptibility, COVID-19 related stressors, and the social food context

ABSTRACT Although insight in how adolescents’ food intake is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is critical, knowledge is limited. Hence, this longitudinal study (N = 691, M age = 14.30, SD age = 0.62; 52.5% female) investigated changes in adolescents’ unhealthy (sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet snacks, savoury snacks) and healthy (fruit and vegetables) food intake (in total, obtained from home, and from outside the home) from pre-pandemic (Spring 2019) to the first lockdown (Spring 2020) and to six months later (Fall 2020). Moreover, several moderating factors were assessed. Results showed that the intake of unhealthy and healthy food in total and obtained from outside the home decreased during the lockdown. Six months later, unhealthy food intake returned to pre-pandemic levels, while healthy food intake remained lower. COVID-19 stressful life events and maternal food intake further qualified these longer-term changes in intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit and vegetables, respectively. Future work is warranted to elucidate longer-term COVID-19 effects on adolescents’ food intake.

Stress, eating and weight change in first year students: the moderating role of self-compassion

Objective The current study sought to examine the drivers of weight change in first-year university students. The study examined the moderating role of self-compassion in the relationship between stress, eating and weight change. Specifically, we expected that students low in self-compassion would respond to stress with unhealthy eating resulting in weight gain. We expected students high in self-compassion to be buffered from the negative effects of stress (moderated mediation model). Methods First-year university students in New Zealand (N = 136) completed measures of healthy and unhealthy food intake and BMI at the beginning and end of the academic year. Self-compassion was measured at baseline only, and perceived stress was averaged over four time points across the year. Results Students gained a significant 1.45 kg (SD 3.67 kg) of body weight. Self-compassion moderated the relationship between stress and changes in: (a) unhealthy (but not healthy) food intake, and (b) body weight. For those with low self-compassion, perceived stress was significantly related to an increase in BMI and, unexpectedly, to a decrease in unhealthy food intake. Changes in food intake did not explain changes in BMI. Conclusion Wellbeing interventions for university students to reduce negative effects of stress should incorporate concurrent training in self-compassion.

How Do Nutritional Warning Labels Affect Prices?

Obesity is increasing worldwide, and in many countries, the problem is particularly serious among lower-income groups. Front-of-pack nutritional warning labels are a prominent regulatory tool to fight obesity and have been implemented or are currently being debated in many countries. Existing studies document that warning labels incentivize consumers to substitute away from unhealthy products. However, not much is known about equilibrium price changes in response to consumers’ utility for warning labels. Using household purchase data in the cereal category, this article studies the adjustments of prices after the mandatory introduction of warning labels in Chile. The authors develop a model showing that warning labels lead to higher prices of labeled cereals, as is also observed in data. In contrast, prices of unlabeled products tend to drop or at least increase less, incentivizing price-sensitive consumers to remain in the category. The authors decompose postlabeling market share adjustments into a pure label effect that fixes prices at initial levels after regulation and a total effect that accounts for price reoptimizations. Their findings point to self-enforcing effects of a warning label regulation as the price adjustments amplify policy makers' goal of reducing unhealthy food intake, especially because market forces incentivize low-income segments to choose healthier alternatives.

A novel approach to nutrition in prevention and treatment of cancer: a provocative call

To the Editor, in the oncologic setting, the primary goal of nutritional interventions is the avoidance of malnutrition as nutrition care is not only important in the prevention of cancer but also plays a role in cancer treatment compatibility (1). This assumption isbased on a bulk of scientific literature. Unfortunately, every day a new diet is proposed to make weight loss easier while simultaneously reducing the intake of unhealthy foods.

The Ecuadorian School Food Environment: Association With Healthy and Unhealthy Food and Beverage Consumption and BMI.

Schools can play an important role in promoting healthy child diet and body weight. However, this issue is understudied in Latin American and other populations undergoing nutrition and epidemiologic transition. 2018 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey data were used to examine the association of school food sources with healthy and unhealthy food intake and body mass index (BMI) in primary (n = 12632) and secondary students (n = 6617). Data on school food environment characteristics were collected by questionnaire, intakes of fruits, vegetables, plain water, sweetened beverages, processed snacks, and fast foods by food frequency questionnaire, and BMI using measured weight and height. Data were analyzed using multivariable methods. The major school food sources were competitive foods sold by commercial outlets (73%), School Breakfast Program (SBP; 52%), and home-packed items (37%). Most (69%) competitive food outlets sold fruits and vegetables but only 44% offered free clean drinking water and 60% sold prohibited "red traffic light" foods. Primary and secondary students who bought competitive foods consumed sweetened beverages, processed snacks, and fast food more frequently than nonpurchasers (P = .0001). Those who packed home foods had higher fruit and vegetable intakes (P = .0001). Plain water intakes were reduced among all SBP participants (P = .0001). However, primary students in the SBP consumed fast foods less frequently (P = .0001) and had lower average BMI and odds for being obese compared to nonparticipants (P = .0001). The findings from this nationally representative study underscore the important contribution of the school food environment to child nutrition.

Determinants of Adolescent Nutrition Status and Practices in Burkina Faso Using a Pooled Secondary Analysis

ObjectivesAn increasing trend in consumption of fast food and high amounts of added sugars among adolescents has left most lower- and middle-income countries facing a double burden of malnutrition. Since behaviors around food and physical activity are established during adolescence, the aim of the study was to document and disseminate the nutrition practices and status among adolescents in Burkina Faso who represent 23.1% of the nation's population.MethodsThe study used pooled data, of 2,432 non-pregnant adolescent girls, from the Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA 2020) nutrition surveys conducted in Burkina Faso in 2017 and 2018. We looked at three nutritional outcomes: dietary diversity, consumption of added sugars on the previous day, and the mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) < 16cm (a proxy indicator for severe malnutrition among adolescents). Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted.ResultsMinimum dietary diversity of 24.9%; consumption of added sugars of 36.7%; and prevalence of MUAC < 16 cm of 15.7% were observed among adolescents. Dietary diversity amongst adolescents was highest in the Centre region (43.5%) and lowest in the regional cluster of Sahel/Centre Nord/Nord (10.8%) and region remained an important predictor in multivariate analysis too. Added sugar consumption was 65% more likely for adolescents from the wealthiest households and almost three times higher for adolescents who had achieved minimum dietary diversity. MUAC < 16cm was lower among the 15–19 age group and 1.7 times more likely among adolescents who consumed an unhealthy food or drink the previous day, but half as likely among adolescents with dietary diversity.ConclusionsOur findings showed a strong association between high dietary diversity and unhealthy food intake namely added sugar consumption. This is an important consideration for policy makers as they design adolescent nutrition programs to reduce malnutrition. Given that nutrition behaviors and habits are developed by early adolescence, designing nutrition interventions for school-age children should be promoted as a public health strategy. Tailored strategies with regional targeting, particularly for urban areas, are recommended.Funding SourcesBill & Melinda Gates Foundation through Alive & Thrive, managed by FHI Solutions.

Navigating Globalized Food Environments: Market Access, Consumer Behavior, and Dietary Diversity in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador

ObjectivesThis study has two objects: (1) determine whether different types of food environment measures shape diet outcomes; (2) determine whether consumer behavior modifies the association between geographic food environments and diet outcomes. MethodsHousehold sociodemographic data and individual data including diet recalls are from 429 participants in the Healthy Family Study conducted in San Cristóbal island Galápagos in 2018. Geocoded market inventory and price data were obtained at the same time using the Nutritional Measurement Survey for stores (NEMS-S). Geographic food environment measures were based on market access and market survey stores. Experience-based food environment measures were based on factor analyzed consumer behavior strategies for each household. Diet quality and diversity scores were based on Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) scoring schema. Linear regressions tested the relationships between diet outcomes and food environment measures and included key sociodemographic covariates. Interactions terms between geographic and experience-based food environment measures were included. ResultsObjective 1: Increasing nearest market score was associated with lower healthy food intake (β = –0.14) and higher unhealthy food intake (β = 0.14). Increasing preferred market price index was associated with lower unhealthy food intake (β = –0.31). Higher prioritization of convenience when food shopping was associated with lower of healthy food intake (β = –0.47). Objective 2: the relationship between food environment measures and diet outcomes is strongly modified by consumer behavior. For households that prioritize convenience when food shopping, price and inventory at the nearest market was most associated with diet. For households that prioritize quality when food shopping, price and inventory at the preferred market was most associated with diet. ConclusionsMarket inventory can be healthful to some and deleterious to diets of others, depending how they navigate their food environments. “Objective” measures of quality and access that fail to consider consumer behavior may fail to capture realistic representations of food environment and diet relationships. Funding SourcesThis research is funded by an NIH/FIC R21 and the Carolina Population Center for training support and general support.

Impact of COVID pandemic on lifestyle changes among college students of a tertiary care institution in Puducherry: an explanatory mixed method study

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed our lifestyle-related habits mainly physical activity, sedentariness, sleep, dependence on social media and dietary habits. To study the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle changes before and during the Pandemic in terms of physical activity, sleep, diet, screen time and to explore the barriers and facilitating factors to it.Methods: The study is an explanatory mixed method study which involved quantitative data collection among 453 young adults followed by qualitative data exploration of their views and experiences through focus group discussions among 12 young adults selected using maximum variation sampling. Integration of findings were done using joint displays to provide more insights.Results: During COVID-19, the quantitative results revealed a drop in physical activity levels by one fifth. There was decrease in consumption of unhealthy food and number of main meals, while duration of sleep and screen time increased significantly. Qualitative findings revealed lack of motivation, poor access to healthy environment, threat of COVID-19 infection and dependence on social media as barriers while cues to action, shift towards healthy habits, local adaptations, supportive environment as facilitators for the healthy lifestyle behavior.Conclusions: Three-fourth of the students were in moderate to high physical activity but there was an overall decrease in levels during the pandemic. There was reduction in the intake of unhealthy foods and increase in sleep during the pandemic. However, the use of social media and digital aids was found to have increased, resulting in more screen time.

Sustainability of Diets in Mexico: Diet Quality, Environmental Footprint, Diet Cost, and Sociodemographic Factors.

BackgroundLittle is known about the current intake of sustainable diets globally and specifically in middle-income countries, considering nutritional, environmental and economic factors.ObjectiveTo assess and characterize the sustainability of Mexican diets and their association with sociodemographic factors.DesignDietary data of 2,438 adults within the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 by integrating diet quality measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), diet cost, and four environmental indicators were analyzed: land use (LU), biodiversity loss (BDL), carbon footprint (CFP), and blue water footprint (BWFP). We defined healthier more sustainable diets (MSD) as those with HEI-2015 above the overall median, and diet cost and environmental indicators below the median. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with MSD.ResultsMSD were consumed by 10.2% of adults (4% of urban and 22% of rural), who had lower intake of animal-source foods, unhealthy foods (refined grains, added sugar and fats, mixed processed dishes and sweetened beverages), fruits, and vegetables, and higher intake of whole grains than non-MSD subjects. Characteristics of MSD vs. non-MSD (urban; rural) were: HEI-2015 (62.6 vs. 51.9; 66.8 vs. 57.6), diet-cost (1.9 vs. 2.8; 1.9 vs. 2.5 USD), LU (3.3 vs. 6.6; 3.2 vs. 5.9 m2), BDL (105 vs. 780; 87 vs. 586 species × 10−10), BWFP (244 vs. 403; 244 vs. 391 L), and CFP (1.6 vs. 4.4; 1.6 vs. 3.7 kg CO2eq). Adults from rural vs. urban (OR 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7, 4.1), or from the South (OR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.9), Center (OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 4.4) vs. the North were more likely to consume MSD, while adults with high vs. low socioeconomic status were less likely (OR 0.17; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.3).ConclusionsThe MSD is a realistic diet pattern mainly found in disadvantaged populations, but diet quality is still sub-optimal. Increased consumption of legumes, fruits, and vegetables, and a reduction in unhealthy foods, is required to improve nutritional quality of diets while ensuring their environmental sustainability.

Compared with fresh injera, stale injera increases satiety in healthy subjects, but does not decrease the glycemic index

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe impact of food structure on postprandial physiological responses has received sustained attention in recent years. Changes in the glycemic response and satiety score to commonly consumed starchy foods may have a positive impact on health. However, no data on Ethiopian staple foods has been reported. This study aimed at investigating the effects of structural changes in injera (stale and fresh with similar macronutrient content) on glycemic and satiety responses in 10 healthy subjects during 2 h in a randomized cross‐over design.FindingsWith increasing hardness, stale injera had a marked higher satiety index (iAUC = 407 ± 14; p = .001) than fresh injera (iAUC = 333 ± 18). Besides, stale injera had a slightly, but not significant, lower glycemic index (GI) than fresh injera (stale, 35.9 ± 3.6; fresh, 40.2 ± 3.0).ConclusionsInjera staling increased satiety but not glycemic response, and may provide a simple means for improving its health potential.Significance and NoveltyThe effect of injera staling on satiety/glycemic responses has never been studied before. Injera is a staple food in Ethiopia, eaten several times a day. Therefore, stale injera may help reducing food intake of subsequent unhealthy foods through increased satiety.

Chronic Inflammation-A Link between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Dysfunctional Adipose Tissue.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a new challenge in modern medicine, due to its high prevalence in the world. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is a complex dysmetabolic process, following the “multiple-hit” hypothesis that involves hepatocytes excessive accumulation of triglycerides, insulin resistance (IR), increased oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammatory response and lipotoxicity. In this review, we provide an overview of the interrelation of these processes, the link between systemic and local inflammation and the role of dysfunctional adipose tissue (AT) in the NAFLD development. Multiple extrahepatic triggers of the pathophysiological mechanisms of NAFLD are described: nutritional deficiency or malnutrition, unhealthy food intake, the dysfunction of the liver–gut axis, the involvement of the mesenteric adipose tissue, the role of adipokines such as adiponectin, of food intake hormone, the leptin and leptin resistance (LR) and adipose tissue’s hormone, the resistin. In addition, a wide range of intrahepatic players are involved: oxidative stress, fatty acid oxidation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, resident macrophages (Kupffer cells), neutrophils, dendritic cells (DCs), B and T lymphocytes contributing to the potential evolution of NAFLD to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This interdependent approach to complex dysmetabolic imbalance in NAFLD, integrating relevant studies, could contribute to a better clarification of pathogenesis and consequently the development of new personalized treatments, targeting de novo lipogenesis, chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Further studies are needed to focus not only on treatment, but also on prevention strategy in NAFLD.

Trends in Obesity and Obesity-Related Risk Factors among Adolescents in Korea from 2009 to 2019.

This study was conducted to identify the trends in obesity prevalence among adolescents and changes in the risk factors related to obesity. The study analyzed secondary data obtained from Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys conducted from 2009 to 2019. The Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey is an annual survey of a nationwide representative sample of enrolled students aged 13–18 years in middle and high schools in Korea. Linear and trend analyses showed that the prevalence of obesity increased by 0.47% on average annually; this increase was statistically significant. Healthy food intake decreased significantly, but the prevalence of unhealthy food intake and the prevalence of skipping breakfast increased significantly. Vigorous-intensity physical activity, physical activity for over 60 min a day, and muscle-strengthening exercise for more than 3 days a week increased significantly, but so did the adolescents’ sedentary time. Therefore, health care providers and public policymakers need to actively manage adolescent obesity, which has been continuously increasing since 2009. In addition, long-term trends in obesity-related risk factors such as physical activity and dietary behaviors need to be considered in the development of obesity management strategies.

Fast food and obesity: risks to children and adolescents?

In the modern world, fast food is becoming part of the food culture; herewith, children and teenagers are no exception. A fairly busy lifestyle and lack of time contribute to an increasingly frequent appeal to fast food outlets. Given the national health policies of many countries, including those aimed at keeping up and supporting healthy lifestyles among children and adolescents, the researchers are increasingly focusing on the dependence of obesity on the younger generation’s fascination with fast food. In the proposed review, the authors have analyzed the published data represented in the studies at various levels and regarding a few problems. They are: the establishment of the relationship between a systematic intake of fast food and obesity among children and adolescents; the influence of the distance of fast food outlets from educational institutions on the occurrence and development of metabolic pathologies. Taking into consideration the relationship between fast food consumption by children and adolescents, parents and schools should strictly control their intake of unhealthy foods that leads to the weight gain and obesity-related diseases. Stopping marketing of junk food targeted at kids with eye-catching advertising personalities and gifts, could be one of the ways of childhood’s nutrition revitalizing.