Monitoring Food Consumption Research Articles

Changes in ‘extra’ food intake among Australian children between 1995 and 2007

To examine the consumption patterns of energy-dense, nutrient-poor 'extra' foods among Australian children and to determine any changes in consumption since the 1995 National Nutrition Survey (1995 NNS). 'Extra' food consumption was analysed by age group and gender using 24-h recall data from the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2007 Survey; n = 4380) and the 1995 NNS (n = 2435). Differences in percent consuming, amounts consumed and percent energy contribution were assessed. 'Extra' foods contributed 35% to daily energy intake in the 2007 survey, ranging from 24% in the 2-3 year olds to 38% in the 9-13 and 14-16 year olds. The foods contributing most to energy intake included 'fried potatoes' (2.9%), 'cakes, muffins, slices' (2.9%) and 'potato crisps and similar snacks' (2.6%). Compared to the 1995 NNS, total energy intake was significantly lower in the 2007 Survey (8621 kJ in 1995 versus 8330 kJ in 2007), as was the consumption of 'extra' foods (both in terms of weight and energy) (3645 kJ in 1995 versus 3049 kJ in 2007). All age groups reported a decline in energy intake from 'extra' foods of approximately 600 kJ. The overall consumption of 'extra' foods seems to have decreased from 1995 to 2007. However, 'extra' foods continue to be over-consumed by Australian children and continuous monitoring of 'extra' foods consumption is highly warranted.

Weight Control Program through the Fortification of Food Consumption Monitoring on Obese Female College Students - Using Smart-Phone with Real Time Communication Application -

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of real time communication digital photography method using Kakao Talk application in smart-phone for the fortification of food consumption monitoring and weight reduction. Thirty-four female college students were randomly assigned to the camera-phone (CP) group or smart-phone (SP) group. Each group participated in the weight control program for 8 weeks. The mean energy intake of CP group during program was 1353.5 kcal and the SP group consumed 1289.2 kcal. The total energy intake of both groups was significantly decreased during the program. The CP group lost 1.9 kg of body weight and 1.9% of body fat and the SP group lost 4.3 kg of body weight and 3.0% of body fat. The body weight was significantly decreased in the SP group compared to the CP group. The triglyceride and total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol level of SP group were significantly decreased during the program. However, there were no significant changes in CP group during the program. Also there were no significant changes in lipid profile between two groups. In this study, it is considered that real time communication digital photography method using Kakao Talk application in smart-phone might influence weight control through a trained consumption monitoring. Therefore, smart-phone can lead individuals to rely more heavily on easy-to-monitor visual cues. (Korean J Community Nutr 16(6) : 697~705, 2011)

A Monitoring and Advisory System for Diabetes Patient Management Using a Rule-Based Method and KNN

Diabetes is difficult to control and it is important to manage the diabetic’s blood sugar level and prevent the associated complications by appropriate diabetic treatment. This paper proposes a system that can provide appropriate management for diabetes patients, according to their blood sugar level. The system is designed to send the information about the blood sugar levels, blood pressure, food consumption, exercise, etc., of diabetes patients, and manage the treatment by recommending and monitoring food consumption, physical activity, insulin dosage, etc., so that the patient can better manage their condition. The system is based on rules and the K Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifier algorithm, to obtain the optimum treatment recommendation. Also, a monitoring system for diabetes patients is implemented using Web Services and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) programming.

Targeting ACC to Stay Lean

STKE Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) regulates the synthesis and degradation of fatty acids, and mice lacking the ACC2 isoform are leaner than wild-type animals. Choi et al. have characterized the whole-body energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity of ACC2 −/− mice. By monitoring activity, food consumption, and energy expenditure, they showed that ACC2 −/− animals ate more food than did wild-type animals but remained smaller. The ACC2 −/− animals were also resistant to obesity induced by giving them a high-fat diet. These results could be explained by the increase in energy expenditure observed in the knockout animals, which is consistent with the increase in oxidation of both fats and carbohydrates in ACC2 −/− animals. The resistance to insulin that occurs with fat accumulation is thought to result from the accumulation of diacylglycerol in muscle and liver and the consequent activation of protein kinase C (PKC) q and PKCe in muscle and liver, respectively. ACC2 −/− mice displayed an enhanced sensitivity to insulin that was associated with decreased activity of the PKC enzymes. Although ACC2 is not a particularly easy target for small-molecule drugs, the development of a specific inhibitor could improve the treatment of diabetes and obesity.— LBR Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104 16480 (2007).

Assessment of nutritional status of older people in homes for the aged in the Somerset West area

Owing to the paucity of data in South Africa regarding older people (>60 years) living in homes for the aged, the aim of this study was to evaluate their nutritional status in a convenient sample of homes for the aged (N=4) in the Somerset West area. In the descriptive, cross-sectional study, nutritional status was evaluated by using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) as well as traditional anthropometric measurements independently. Nutrient intake was determined using menu, plate wastage and food acceptability data. The study population consisted of 53 male and 157 female older people with a mean age of 76.8 years (SD 10.6). The mean body mass index BMI was 25.6 (SD 5.17). According to the MNA, 6% of the older people were malnourished, and 47% were at risk for malnutrition. Had the independent anthropometric measurements been used, fewer older people would have been identified as at risk of malnutrition. After correcting for plate wastage, the average energy consumption was 6 963 kJ. Nutrient values 50%) were the starchy menu items, cooked vegetables and lunch protein dishes. The MNA is a valuable instrument in identifying older people at risk of malnutrition, thus allowing for early intervention. There was a relationship between malnutrition and lower energy intake, emphasising the need for meticulous menu planning and monitoring of food consumption, and the need for addressing specific micronutrients.

Home gardening in urban poor communities of the Philippines

The deficiencies of micronutrients, in particular iron and vitamin A, are common in the Philippines, but their control measures through supplementation and fortification have shown several weaknesses. The present study examines the outcomes of a community-based approach including promotion of home gardening and a diversified dietary practice. A total of 152 mothers in two poor urban communities in Davao City, the Philippines were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Participants were also asked to keep a brief 7-day self-administered household food record. Focus group discussions were conducted to obtain in-depth information on their attitudes toward home gardening and vegetable consumption. Home garden produce contributed to the diversification of carbohydrate consumed among participants. However, home garden produce reduced the consumption of protein-rich food. There was therefore no discernible improvement in the diets of participants from the consumption of home garden produce. In communities where there was no greengrocer, respondents shared the produce from home gardens. The community-based diet improvement program facilitated home gardening practices, which influenced the dietary practices of the urban poor. The monitoring of food consumption together with community-based programs needs to be expanded in urban poor communities. Our focus group discussion revealed that there was a cognition linking home gardening and vegetable consumption to poverty among some of the participants. More study is necessary on this finding.

Home gardening in urban poor communities of the Philippines.

The deficiencies of micronutrients, in particular iron and vitamin A, are common in the Philippines, but their control measures through supplementation and fortification have shown several weaknesses. The present study examines the outcomes of a community-based approach including promotion of home gardening and a diversified dietary practice. A total of 152 mothers in two poor urban communities in Davao City, the Philippines were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Participants were also asked to keep a brief 7-day self-administered household food record. Focus group discussions were conducted to obtain in-depth information on their attitudes toward home gardening and vegetable consumption. Home garden produce contributed to the diversification of carbohydrate consumed among participants. However, home garden produce reduced the consumption of protein-rich food. There was therefore no discernible improvement in the diets of participants from the consumption of home garden produce. In communities where there was no greengrocer, respondents shared the produce from home gardens. The community-based diet improvement program facilitated home gardening practices, which influenced the dietary practices of the urban poor. The monitoring of food consumption together with community-based programs needs to be expanded in urban poor communities. Our focus group discussion revealed that there was a cognition linking home gardening and vegetable consumption to poverty among some of the participants. More study is necessary on this finding.

Rationale and methods of the EFCOSUM project.

To describe the rationale and methods for a European project (EFCOSUM) to develop a method for a European food consumption survey that delivers internationally comparable data on a set of policy-relevant nutritional indicators. Currently Member States are collecting data and information for use at national level. At an international level, such data are often of limited comparability and of varying quality. To promote the development and exchange of adequate, reliable and comparable indicators of public health, and the structures needed to exchange the relevant data, a programme of Community action on health monitoring was set up for the EU. The objective of the action programme is to contribute to the establishment of a Community Health Monitoring System. Data will be made available to all Member States via a telematic network, which is currently being developed for the Health Monitoring Programme. With regard to nutrition, there is a need for a limited set of policy-relevant dietary indicators that are comparable among EU Member States. In the field of nutrition, however, there is a regrettable lack of internationally comparable data. The project 'European Food Consumption Survey Method' (EFCOSUM) therefore aimed to define a (minimum) set of dietary components which are relevant determinants of health and to define a method for the monitoring of food consumption in nationally representative samples of all age-sex categories in Europe in a comparable way. The project was carried out by 14 Member States as well as nine other European countries. Activities of the project included plenary sessions, desk research, and working group activities, building on existing experience from such projects as DAFNE, EPIC, FLAIR Eurofoods-Enfant project, COST Action 99 and others. The proposed method may be used alone, or as a calibration method to accompany existing ongoing studies.

Enhancement of Fish Feeding and Growth after an Increase in Minimum Flow below the Conowingo Dam

Abstract A summer minimum flow requirement was instituted in 1982 for the Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam, Maryland, where no such requirement existed previously. The response of fish to this minimum flow was assessed by monitoring food consumption and condition factor of three abundant, downstream species (white perch Morone americana, yellow perch Perca flavescens, and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus), and by comparing the values from before and after the minimum flow was established. We also compared growth rates of white perch before and after the minimum flow was established by back-calculating length from otoliths. We found that fish condition (weight at length) was significantly greater for all species in years when the minimum flow was maintained. Similarly, growth rate (length at age) was significantly higher after the minimum flow requirement was instituted. Changes in food consumption appear to explain the differences in growth, as fewer empty stomachs and greater food consumption occurred afte...