Hunger Level Research Articles

Food Insecurity and Malnutrition of Africa: A Combined Attempt Can Reduce Them

In the 21st century Africa is at the top levels of hunger and malnutrition in the world that is unharmonious with the vision of the African Union. Hunger and malnutrition are a common matters in almost all African countries and recently it is appeared to be increasing in most of the countries of the continent. The security of food and nutrition is a fundamental right of every people. But many people of Africa are deprived of this right. About one-third of African children are undersized in their growth and suffer from various physical and mental complexities. The UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) no.2 aims to end all forms of hun¬ger and malnutrition globally by 2030, but Africa is off track. It is estimated that about 200 million people in Africa are undernourished. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the African food and nutrition security system in the long term. The pandemic has thrown the continent into serious uncertainty about the implementation of SDG 2. Food production in this continent should be increased proportionally to the increased population. This study tries to discuss the food and nutrition situation of Africa and provides a constructive guideline to overcome it.

Consumer Preference for Food Bundles under Cognitive Load: A Grocery Shopping Experiment.

Product bundling is a common retail marketing strategy. The bundling of food items has the potential to increase profits in the grocery sector, particularly for fresh produce, which often has lower profit margins. Although prior work suggests consumers prefer bundles because they require less cognitive effort to select, no study has yet experimentally manipulated cognitive load when food bundles are included in the choice set. To test whether bundle preference differs when cognitive resources are constrained, a grocery shopping experiment was conducted with 250 consumers in the midwestern U.S., in a laboratory that featured a grocery store display. Consumers who grocery shopped under cognitive load had a higher odds of selecting a food bundle even when the bundle did not offer a price discount. Results suggest food bundles may be preferred because they require less cognitive effort to process, which could benefit consumers by simplifying the grocery shopping experience. Additional factors found to influence food bundle selection included whether the bundled items were perceived as being complementary and hunger levels. Food bundles could help lessen cognitive effort associated with grocery shopping and may especially appeal to those who do not enjoy food shopping.

Beyond spatial overlap: harnessing new technologies to resolve the complexities of predator–prey interactions

Predation risk, the probability that a prey animal will be killed by a predator, is fundamental to theoretical and applied ecology. Predation risk varies with animal behavior and environmental conditions, yet attempts to understand predation risk in natural systems often ignore important ecological and environmental complexities, relying instead on proxies for actual risk such as predator–prey spatial overlap. Here we detail the ecological and environmental complexities driving disconnects between three stages of the predation sequence that are often assumed to be tightly linked: spatial overlap, encounters and prey capture. Our review highlights several major sources of variability in natural predator–prey systems that lead to the decoupling of spatial overlap estimates from actual encounter rates (e.g. temporal activity patterns, predator and prey movement capacity, resource limitations) and that affect the probability of prey capture given encounter (e.g. predator hunger levels, temporal, topographic and other environmental influences on capture success). Emerging technologies and statistical methods are facilitating a transition to a more spatiotemporally detailed, mechanistic understanding of predator–prey interactions, allowing for the concurrent examination of multiple stages of the predation sequence in mobile, free‐ranging animals. We describe crucial applications of this new understanding to fundamental and applied ecology, highlighting opportunities to better integrate ecological contingencies into dynamic predator–prey models and to harness a mechanistic understanding of predator–prey interactions to improve targeting and effectiveness of conservation interventions.

Kin recognition by cannibals is modulated by hunger level in a generalist predatory mite Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

AbstractCannibalism is a commonly found behaviour in the animal kingdom. The biggest concern of cannibalism is that it reduces the inclusive fitness of the cannibals by eliminating close relatives. Kin recognition is a strategy used by many cannibals to benefit from cannibalism without the cost of reducing their inclusive fitness by eating close relatives. Most members of the family Phytoseiidae are cannibalistic. Previous studies suggest that specialist phytoseiids practice kin recognition, while generalists use species recognition or discrimination due to the diet specification and frequent intraspecific interactions. We examined whether kin recognition is used by a type‐III generalist phytoseiid, Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The cannibalistic adults with different hunger levels (0‐, 24‐ and 48‐hr starvation) were given a choice of kin and a non‐kin larva. Kin recognition of A. herbicolus was affected by the hunger level. Adults not starved before the test significantly preferred cannibalizing non‐kin larva. Conversely, adults starved for 24 and 48 hr showed no statistically significant preference between kin and non‐kin larvae. Furthermore, the latency reflected hunger level, where not starved adults had the most prolonged latency, while adults starved for 24 and 48 hr had intermediate and shortest latency. This study suggests A. herbicolus use innate recognition mechanisms to avoid kin cannibalism since the adults and larvae had no prior association before the experiment. The effect of familiarization on kin recognition in A. herbicolus should be further investigated.

Begging and feeding responses vary with relatedness and sex of provisioners in a cooperative breeder

Begging behaviour can provide information on offspring hunger levels and be used by parents to adjust food provisioning efforts. In cooperative breeders, helpers also provide care by feeding the young. However, how helpers of different sex and relatedness to the offspring respond to begging behaviour has rarely been studied in cooperatively breeding species, which limits our understanding of the indirect and/or direct benefits that helpers may obtain by responding to offspring demand. Here, we used a cooperatively breeding bird, the sociable weaver, Philetairus socius , to investigate how nest intervisit intervals of breeders and different types of helpers, distinguished by sex and relatedness, varied with acoustic begging. Moreover, we tested whether these different classes of provisioners experienced distinct levels of begging. Our results show that only breeding males, but not breeding females or helpers of any sex and relatedness to the nestlings, returned faster to the nest to feed after experiencing more begging calls. When contrasted directly, we confirmed a statistically supported difference in responses to begging between male and female breeders. Surprisingly, second-order relatives experienced more begging calls than the other classes of more related helpers and breeders. These results show that we might find differences in how provisioners respond to begging levels when classifying group members according to their potential fitness gains. In sociable weavers, the benefits and costs of adjusting feeding efforts to begging seem to differ with sex and life history stage. Experimental and more detailed investigations on begging–feeding interactions are necessary to understand the origin and prevalence of these differences across cooperatively breeding systems. • We investigated breeders and helpers' feeding responses to offspring begging. • Breeding males, but not females, fed faster after experiencing more begging calls. • Feeding by helpers of different sex and relatedness did not vary with begging. • Second-order related helpers experienced more begging calls than other provisioners.

Tolerance and functional response of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregaor) to starvation stress

The ability to endure starvation is important for predatory mite survival and its effectiveness as biological control agent. We studied the longevity and functional response of the prodator mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregaor) under starvation stress. N. californicus individuals were treated as three groups: the mites were provided with nothing (group I), with fresh bean leaves (group II), and with water (group III) to the larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs, adult males and females. Functional response of N. californicus to Tetranychus urticae Koch eggs was evaluated after starvation for 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Results showed that all life stages of N. californicus in group III had the longest survival time among the three groups. Adult females had the strongest ability to endure starvation with a mean survival time of 8.16 d. Females had the ability to lay eggs, but the number of eggs laid was less than a mean of 1.2 eggs per female in the three starvation groups. N. californicus exhibited a Holling’s Type II functional response at all hunger levels. The handling time (Th) and attack rate (α) of the predator were not significantly different in all hunger levels. Predation rate of starved 0 h to 72 h initially increased and then decreased. The highest predation rate was recorded when the predators were starved for 24 h.

Determinantes sociais em saúde associados à vivência da fome entre adolescentes do Brasil

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify social determinants of health associated with the experience of hunger among school-age adolescents in Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 16,526 adolescents using data from the 2015 National School-based Student Health Survey. Experience of hunger was determined based on the answer to the question “In the last 30 days, how often have you been hungry because there wasn’t enough food at home?” The social determinants of health were analyzed using Poisson regression with robust variance. The prevalence of the experience of hunger was 22.8% (95%CI: 21.9-23.7). The experience of hunger was directly associated with being male (PR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.07-1.16); not being overweight (PR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.04-1.13 ); irregular consumption of beans (PR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.13-1.26), vegetables (PR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.09-1.22) and fruit (PR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.13-1.24); body dissatisfaction (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.18-1.35); and not regularly eating lunch or dinner with parents or guardians (PR = 1.41; 95%CI: 1.32-1.52). An inverse association was found between the experience of hunger and maternal education level and living in the Mid-West, Southeast and South. The findings show that the experience of hunger among Brazilian adolescents coexists with risky eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and social inequality.

Nutritional stress and population density influence risk/reward decisions by elk

Context Optimal foraging strategies can be influenced at the group level by population density, which can increase competition, hunger, and activity levels. Optimal foraging can also be influenced at the individual level by personality, which in part governs how individuals assess risk versus reward. Aims The purpose of this study was to quantify the influence of population density on risk-taking. I focused on captive elk that had previously been studied in tandem with wild elk in order to quantify personality trait characteristics. I hypothesised that risk-taking would be shown to be a density-dependent affect, in addition to varying individually. Methods Automated cameras recorded visitation to four rotating treatments sites in each of high and low density pens, and which had either: forage, a novel object, forage + novel object, or a control site. Novel objects were regularly changed to elicit a spectrum of responses ranging from neofilia to neophobia. Selection or avoidance of sites was determined by comparing elk visitation to visits to control sites. The experiment was done in summer when natural forage was most abundance, and in again in autumn when natural forage was limited. Key results High density elk showed year-round selection for all treatment sites. In summer low density elk showed weak selection for forage and forage + novel and no selection for novel objects, and no selection for any site in autumn. These patterns showed that elk in the high density pen, which were in poorer condition, had to increase their levels of both activity and risk taking. Neither elk pen exhibited any group-wide avoidance of novel objects, indicating a group-wide gradient of neophobia to neofilia, known personality traits in elk. Conclusions These results show that risk-taking behaviour can be a density dependent effect. This increase in neofilia may be driven by hunger stress, but also through increases in competition that may favour elk of certain personalities. Implications Increasing density may increase the prevalence of both neofilia and other personality traits correlated with neofilia, which include aggression, and so may contribute to increasing human–wildlife conflicts in areas where human disturbance has resulted in ungulate hyperabundance.

Typology of eating episodes in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity

BackgroundResearch suggests that youth with overweight/obesity can be subtyped according to disinhibited eating tendencies. No research has attempted to subtype classes of eating episodes along sensational, psychological, and hedonic dimensions. MethodsYouth (N = 39; 55% female) aged 8–14 y with overweight/obesity completed a 2-week ecological momentary assessment protocol in which they reported on all eating episodes and their sensational, environmental, affective, and interpersonal contexts. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to classify episodes based on loss of control (LOC) while eating, self-reported overeating, food palatability, hunger, and cravings. Classes were compared on affective, interpersonal, appearance-related, and environmental correlates using Wald chi-square tests. ResultsLPA identified three classes of eating episodes involving high levels of LOC/self-reported overeating (“binge-like” class), low levels of hunger (“eating-in-the-absence-of-hunger” class), and high hunger and cravings (“appetitive eating” class). Binge-like eating was associated with the highest levels of body dissatisfaction, interpersonal distress, and positive affect, and was most likely to occur in the after-school hours. ConclusionsBinge-like eating tends to occur in a psychological context relative to other types of eating episodes in youth with overweight/obesity. Future research should explore whether certain classes of eating episodes are associated with distinct weight trajectories over time.

Квашиоркор: патофизиологические аспекты и пути решения проблемы

Kwashiorkor is a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition known since 1995. It is observed worldwide in regions with high levels of hunger and poverty, especially where the diet consists primarily of carbohydrate-rich foods. This pathology has been reported among hundreds of thousands of children in the world. The clinical presentation of kwashiorkor resembles the symptoms of essential amino acid deficiency, which suggests that not only protein malnutrition, but also disorders of the methionine cycle take part in the pathogenesis of the disease. The study of capillary ultrastructure has shown that edema is the result of increased permeability of microvessels to protein macromolecules, including albumin. Plasma proteins are usually retained in the intravascular space by the endothelial glycocalyx, damage to which leads to edema. Oxidative stress contributes to lower levels of vitamin E and glutathione. An imbalance between the levels of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants leads to mitochondrial damage, which reduces ATP production and impairs liver function. Mitochondrial dysfunction and ATP depletion together with nutrient deficiency may contribute to the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Three clinical parameters are used to assess the severity of kwashiorkor: mid-arm muscle circumference, body mass index, and the presence of localized symmetric edema. In the absence of timely treatment in the early stages, children may have serious complications, including shock, coma, physical and mental disorders. Normalization of physiological and metabolic functions in patients with kwashiorkor is a complex task. The three-step approach to treating children with severe protein-energy malnutrition recommended by the World Health Organization includes stabilization, rehabilitation, and recurrence prevention. The prognosis in the absence of treatment is unfavorable. Key words: protein-energy malnutrition, kwashiorkor, children

Sağlık Bilimleri Öğrencilerinin Hedonik Açlık Düzeyi: Kesitsel Araştırma

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the hedonic hunger level of health science students. Material and Methods: A face-to-face survey with voluntary students (n=374) was conducted to collect the data including their demographic profile, anthropometric characteristics, hedonic hunger level, and desire for foods. The Power of Food Scale (PFS) was used to determine the hedonic hunger level whereas the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was utilized to check the students' desire for the consumption of palatable foods. Chi-square test and Pearson correlation analysis were performed to analyze the data. Results: The female students felt more hedonic hunger than the male students. However, gender showed no significant difference with respect to the total PFS score (p>0.05). Pearson analysis indicated no correlation between the PFS scores and anthropometric measurements (p>0.05). Ice-cream was found to be the most desired food by students followed by fruits and nuts. Positive significant correlations between the PFS scores and the desire for the consumption of desserts, chocolate, cake, patisserie foods, ice-cream, fast food, fried potato, and snack were determined according to the VAS scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: Students felt hedonic hunger and desired mostly the consumption of calorie-dense foods such as desserts, chocolate, cake, patisserie foods, ice-cream, and fried potato. The consumption of calorie-dense foods can lead to the weight gain which is associated with obesity. Therefore, the awareness of the students on the hedonic hunger should be increased to prevent the risk of obesity in their later life.

A generational catastrophe: COVID-19 and children’s access to education and food in South Africa

ABSTRACT Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, children have been put at greater risk of school drop-out, as well as food insecurity and emotional health deterioration. This paper considers these issues as they have occurred in South Africa. We use all waves of the National Income Dynamics Study–Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey to estimate non-return to school, access to school meals, and household well-being. The number of learners not attending school in 2021 is estimated to be close to quadruple pre-pandemic levels. Combined with estimates of learning lost, we can conclude that the pandemic has worn away at two decades of progress made in basic education. Evidence also indicates that school feeding has been slow to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Deepened levels of household hunger combined with a lack of access to free school meals is indicated to contribute to significantly greater levels of caregiver anxiety and psychological distress.

Prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia and its risk factors among patients with type 1 diabetes in Saudi Arabia

Background and aimsTo determine the prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IHA) and self-identification of symptoms in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 242 patients with T1D at the Diabetes Treatment Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 2021 to September 2021. In addition to the demographic data, patients' HbA1c level was also collected. Awareness and symptoms of hypoglycemia were assessed using two validated questionnaire-based methods, namely the Gold and Edinburgh methods. ResultsThe prevalence of IAH among patients with T1D was 62.8% and the presence of IAH was significantly associated with the duration of T1D (p = 0.019). Compared to males, females had significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of warmth, pounding heart, and inability to concentrate. Compared to unmarried, married patients had significantly higher levels of (p < 0.05) drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision. Similarly, compared to school educated, college-educated showed a higher hunger level (p < 0.05). Patients with HbA1c ≥ 7% possess a significantly higher level of drowsiness, dizziness, and hunger. Dizziness, warmth, difficulty speaking, pounding heart, and blurred vision were significantly higher among patients with diabetes duration ≥10 yrs. Nausea was significantly higher among smokers than non-smokers (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe prevalence of IAH is high among patients with T1D in Saudi Arabia. Focused and evidence-based interventions are essential to minimize the hypoglycemia risk among patients with T1D.

Wanting More, Seeing Less: Hunger Reduces Calorie Evaluations.

Calorie estimates play an important role in the regulation of food consumption. Lower calorie estimates contribute to increased consumption, and consequently increase the risk of obesity. The current work presents a novel contribution demonstrating the biasing effect of hunger on calorie evaluations. Study 1 (N = 70) was a field study, where participants visiting a cafeteria estimated calories in four baked goods, with measures taken of their hunger level and their having had lunch. Study 2 was a lab study, where half of the participants (N = 65) fasted for five hours prior to the study, and then estimated calories in three baked goods. Study 1 found lower calorie estimations by hungry participants (M = 255.52, SD = 112.55) relative to lower hunger participants (M = 311.94, SD = 135.85): F(1, 67) = 6.07, p = 0.02. In study 2, the average estimated calories was lower for fasting participants (M = 253.11, SD = 126.13) than for non-fasting participants (M = 301.75, SD = 145.26). The studies demonstrate that motivations generated by physical state (hunger) alter calorie evaluations. This finding is surprising given that motivation generally leads to estimating more of a desired quantity. The study also presents a novel domain of biases in calorie estimation. This reduction in calorie estimates due to hunger may occur if calories are assessed relative to needs, or serve to allow people to justify increased food consumption. Accounting for such biases, particularly in cases of low nutrition literacy, is important in order to reduce the overeating that may be generated by calorie estimation biases.

Hedonic hunger: eating for desire and not calories

Hedonic hunger can be described as a state where an individualexperiences recurrent feelings, thoughts, and desires about foodin the absence of energy deprivation. Living in an obesogenicenvironment where cheap, tasty foods are available in plentifulamounts is one of the major causes of hedonic hunger development.Hedonic hunger can be analyzed using a power of foodscale (PFS) which estimates appetite and not palatable food consumption.The current epidemic of obesity globally (termed as“globesity” by WHO) is seen to be majorly driven by the hedoniceating system and an imbalance in the energy homeostasis system.Previous studies indicate that hedonic hunger and obesityare associated, and a weak but no significant correlation existsbetween BMI and PFS score. It can lead to the development ofvarious lifestyle disorders in the longer run. High levels of pleasure-driven hunger can even lead to detrimental health outcomeslike poor glycaemic control, unhealthy dietary behavior,and increased lipid profile levels which are aggravated explicitlyin cardiovascular diseases. With the adaptation to western dietarylifestyle, people are keener to opt for food options that canbe damaging and harmful when low levels of self-control, dietarymotivation, and healthy dietary habits are absent. Apart from thereward regulation system, which has a direct effect on hedonichunger, certain external factors like emotional eating, meals andmeal preparation, food cravings, sleep, physical activity, stress,social media, portion size, peer influence, an atmosphere of arestaurant can also promote more than required intake of food.This review article summarizes the above findings taking into accountthe plethora of research studies conducted so far.

Household food security access, and amidst Covid-19: a study case in Equatorial Guinea

Food is of primary importance for households. Equatorial Guinea (EG) has progressed much in income growth but less in living standard, which includes food security. To situating food–insecurity prevalence in EG, this paper researches household food security-access, and its link-cause to agriculture–considering the Covid-19– using the Household Hunger Scale (HHS). On the data, we surveyed 400 households, imparted in EG rural and urban areas of Bioko Island and the mainland. The results reveal a 2.4 mean for both rural and urban Bioko, placing households at moderate hunger level. On the mainland, rural scores 3.21 (the area most affected), yet falling in moderate hunger level; while the urban scores best 0.64 and stands in the food-safe zone. It derives that diet is rather monotonous and embrace–mainly– carbohydrates rice, bread, cassava, and plantain. A focus on boosting the productivity of staples is paramount for Food security and even national security.

Hedonic Eating among Female Students: A Descriptive Study

Obesogenic environment which characterized by a large number of cheap, easily accessible, delicious, and energy-dense foods has switch eating from energy need to pleasure. It raises the term hedonic hunger, or eats outside hunger and for pleasure. The aim of the study is to explore hedonic hunger in female students. Female students have been found as the more vulnerable when it comes about eating behaviour. N=211 in this study reported their hedonic hunger level using the Power of Food scale. The design of this study was quantitative descriptive. Data was analysed using descriptive technique. The result show that 37% participants were categorized as low in hedonic hunger, 37 % moderate, and 31.3% high. We conclude that this finding can be used as basis for healthy eating intervention that emphasizing the psychological aspect of eating.

Eating expectancies and hedonic hunger among individuals with bulimia-spectrum eating disorders who plan binge-eating episodes.

Binge planning (BP; i.e., preparatory thoughts and actions to facilitate future binge-eating episodes) is hypothesized to distract individuals from negative affect and increase the salience of food. Thus, individuals who engage in BP may report greater positive eating expectancies (i.e., beliefs about the outcomes of eating) and hedonic hunger (i.e., desire to eat for pleasure), as BP may increase the likelihood of obtaining these expected outcomes; but empirical tests of this possibility are needed. Prior to starting treatment, adults (N=86) with bulimia-spectrum eating disorders were assessed for engagement in BP and self-reported on eating expectancies and hedonic hunger. Twenty-nine participants (33.7%) reported planning at least one binge-eating episode in the previous 28 days. Compared to individuals who did not report BP, individuals who reported BP had greater expectancies that eating would alleviate negative affect (t=-2.54, p=.013) and boredom (U=503.50, p=.006). Groups did not differ on levels of hedonic hunger (t=-1.68, p=.096). These findings suggest that BP status is linked to expectancies that eating will reduce negative affect. However, more data are needed to determine the temporal relationships among eating expectancies, hedonic hunger and BP. NCT02716831, NCT03673540.

Millets as Nutre Cereals

Among the growing population (136.64 crs as per2019) many people experience scarcity of food and all. In the 2020 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 94th out of the 107 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2020 GHI scores. With a score of 27.2, India has a level of hunger that is serious (www.un.org/). The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that the on-going COVID-19 pandemic will increase this number as developing countries are double-hit by disease and hunger (www.fao.org/2019-ncov/q-and-a/) Disruptions in global supply chains, economic consequences (i.e., loss of jobs and incomes), the ban on the export of agricultural commodities, and price increases are the major reasons for this crisis. Although much attention is being given to the development of vaccines, therapeutic molecules, and preventive measures to combat COVID-19, the invisible threat to the lives and livelihoods of marginal populations through hunger and malnutrition remains largely unaddressed. The focus of the 2019 Global hunger index on ‘The Challenge of Hunger and Climate Change’ underlines the impacts of changing climates on agriculture that include crop failures owing to problems such as seasonal fluctuations, increased insect and pest attacks, and broad-spectrum infection by potential pathogens (www.globalhungerindex.org/).Supplying food grains is an immediate measure to aid the affected population, whereas devising long-term plans to prevent such challenges is the need of the hour. That said, the possibility of a second and third wave of COVID-19 in the near future should not be ignored. In such a case, the UN World Food Programme predicts (UN-WFP; https://insight.wfp.org/) that death due to lack of food would outnumber deaths caused by disease infection. The importance of crop diversity and of mainstreaming underutilized crops that could serve as functional foods has been pointed out before; however, identifying the best candidates of underutilized crops and deploying crop improvement strategies to release better varieties is still in a nascent stage. Mayes et al. Other plant species, including tubers, legumes, and leafy vegetables, also fall within the criteria of underutilized species; however, emphasis is given to small millets because they are capable of reducing the overdependence on major cereals. Three major cereals, namely rice, wheat, and maize, cater for up to 60% of the global food requirements, and this is one of the plausible causes of food and nutritional inadequacies in the hunger hotspots where these crops are largely imported for consumption. Millets, although cultivated marginally in those regions, have the potential to address these inadequacies if their area of cultivation is increased and crop improvement strategies are devised and deployed.

Dysfunctional eating behavior in fibromyalgia and its association with serum biomarkers of brain plasticity (BDNF and S100B): an exploratory study.

To assess disordered eating, hunger and satiety perceptions in women with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to healthy controls (HC) and their association with biomarkers of brain plasticity (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B)). Cross-sectional exploratory study. The sample included FM (n = 20) and HC (n = 19), matched to age and waist perimeter. Dysfunctional eating was assessed through the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Eating Disorders Examination with a questionnaire. Hunger and satiety levels were rated by a Numerical Scale. Serum leptin, S100B and BDNF were analyzed. The MANCOVA analysis showed that the mean of Emotional Eating rates was 30.65% higher in FM compared to HC (p = 0.015). Eating, shape and weight concerns were 77.77%, 57.14% and 52.22% higher in FM (p = <0.001) compared to HC, respectively. Moreover, the FM group reported higher scores for feeling of hunger "[5.2 (±2.9) vs. 4.8 (±2.0); p = 0.042] and lower scores for satiety [7.0 (±1.7) vs. 8.3 (±1.0); p = 0.038]. In the FM group, serum BDNF was negatively associated with hunger (r = - 0.52; p = 0.02), while S100B was positively associated with hunger scores (r = 0.463; p = 0.004). The present findings support the hypothesis that the association between FM and obesity can be mediated by a hedonistic pathway. Further research is needed.