Nutrition Awareness Research Articles

Assessing the Likelihood of Buying Thai Local Snacks

The snack market in Thailand is growing fast, and yet it faces challenges from the growth in health-conscious consumption. Under these circumstances, it can be quite complicated for people involved in the snack-value chain to respond adequately to more sophisticated demands for snacks. Therefore, this study investigates Thai consumers’ behavior with regard to snacks and its determinants. For the data used in this study, we surveyed 1077 respondents using a questionnaire. Based on a five-point scale, the questions covered respondents’ snack consumption behavior and revealed their preference for additional payment regarding three aspects of snacks: safety and standards, quality, and carcinogen-free snacks. According to an ordered logistic regression, the results show that people’s awareness of food safety and nutrition, and their health consciousness, increase their willingness to pay extra for better-quality snacks. Advertisements and people’s recognition of input sources could also play an essential role in influencing consumers’ preferences. These findings should provide insights for policymakers and producers to catch up with the new demand trend in the Thai snack market.

IMPACT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON BREAD WHEAT: SCREENING FOR CHANGES IN QUALITY, ANTIOXIDANT AND ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID CONTENT

Wheat grain has a unique nutritional value and contains health-promoting and essential components in the daily human diet. Increasing consumer awareness of health and nutrition has led to a greater focus on sustainable and healthy wheat production in the face of climate change. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen on yield and protein characteristics as well as antioxidant capacity and essential amino acid profile of bread wheat genotypes adapted to different ecological conditions. Different nitrogen doses (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1) were applied to 15 genotypes (3 lines, 1 hybrid and cultivars) with different growth habit to determine yield, quality, antioxidant and amino acid composition parameters. As a result of this study, total phenol content, antioxidant activity and gluten index of wheat decreased although grain yield potential increased in genotypes. In the results where the genetic factor is the primary focus, it was established that the responses to nitrogen fertilizer doses exhibited variability across different years particularly the case during the dry season. With regard to the YearxNitrogenxGenotype interaction, a notable increase was observed in total phenol content and antioxidant activity, while a decline was evident in yield, protein, and wet gluten parameters, particularly in the nitrogen dose applied during the dry season. The increase in protein content contributed significantly and positively to the essential amino acid composition. However, increasing the amount of some amino acids negatively affects others. The objective of this study is to identify and contribute insights into the impact of nitrogen factor on product quality, health and nutrition issues, grain yield potential of genotypes, plant breeding and agronomic studies.

Preventing Stunting Through Mujaer Fish Nuggets in Early Childhood Education

Background: Stunting significantly affects early childhood development, highlighting the need for effective nutritional interventions. Specific Background: The development of fish nugget products offers a novel strategy to enhance dietary diversity among young children through parental engagement. Knowledge Gap: However, there is limited understanding of how parental participation influences nutritional programs and stunting prevention in early childhood settings. Aims: This study investigates fish nugget production as a nutritional strategy and the role of parental involvement in a preschool context. Results: Through qualitative methods, including interviews and observations, the study reveals that 90.48% of parents expressed interest in preparing fish nuggets at home, leading to increased nutritional awareness and strengthened community ties. Novelty: This research presents a community-based model that utilizes local resources to address stunting while promoting parental engagement. Implications: The findings underscore the importance of collaborative efforts in nutritional education, suggesting that similar initiatives could be adopted in other communities to effectively combat stunting. Highlights : Emphasizes the role of parental involvement in improving children's nutrition. Highlights the effectiveness of community-based interventions in combating stunting. Demonstrates increased interest in healthy food preparation among parents. Keywords: Stunting, Nutritional Education, Parental Engagement, Fish Nuggets, Early Childhood

Antecedents of Consumer Purchase Intention Towards Organic Food

This study analyzes the factors that influence consumer intention to buy organic food in Indonesia. Against the backdrop of increasing health and nutrition awareness, this study examines the role of functional value, consumer innovation, eco-friendly beliefs, health benefits, and knowledge of organic food. Data was collected through a consumer survey which showed that demand for organic food grew by 21% in 2018. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were used as data analysis methods. The results showed that all variables studied had a significant positive effect on consumer purchase intention. The main purchase intention is the functional value and quality of organic products, as well as consumer knowledge of health benefits and trust in environmentally friendly products. This study provides practical insights for organic food industry players to develop relevant and effective marketing strategies to increase consumer interest. In addition, the findings make an academic contribution to the understanding of the factors that influence consumer purchasing behavior towards organic products. This study also identifies existing limitations and offers recommendations for further research to deepen the understanding of consumer behavior towards organic food.

The Role of Nutrition in Maintaining the Health and Physical Condition of Sports Volunteers.

Nutrition plays a key role in maintaining health and physical condition, particularly for active individuals, including athletes. It can therefore be assumed that individuals performing physically demanding tasks during the organization of sporting events, such as volunteers, should also pay attention to their nutrition. While the importance of diet for athletes has been widely studied, the impact of nutrition on sports volunteers remains under-researched. Volunteers often have to cope with varying degrees of physical and mental exertion, which may affect their nutritional needs. A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth individual interviews (IDIs) with 17 sports volunteers who had experience in organizing various sporting events. Participants were purposefully selected based on specific inclusion criteria, which included active involvement in sports volunteering (with a minimum of two years of experience in volunteer activities) as well as volunteering experience at sports events of various scales. The interviews aimed to understand the eating habits, dietary awareness, and impact of nutrition on health and physical fitness. The data were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis, focusing on coding responses and identifying recurring themes. Most participants did not place much importance on their diet, making random food choices due to a busy lifestyle and lack of time. Only a few volunteers consciously adjusted their diet when they had knowledge of the physically demanding tasks they were expected to perform during their volunteer work. The majority of volunteers relied on less reliable sources of nutritional information, such as blogs or social media, rather than credible sources of knowledge. This study revealed that many individuals involved in sports volunteering are unaware of the impact of diet on their fitness and health. There is a need for nutritional education for this group to improve their awareness of the importance of a balanced diet in the context of increased physical activity. It is also advisable to provide better nutritional conditions during sporting events and to promote the use of professional sources of information about healthy eating.

Socialization of Education on the Importance of Balanced Nutrition for the Young Generation in the Millennial Farmers Group of Kabul Village

The millennial generation, a growing segment of Indonesia's youth, is expected to play a crucial role in the nation's future development. Thus, it is imperative to adequately prepare this resource, particularly by enhancing the quality of their education and health. Knowledge and understanding of health, especially nutrition, are critical for this group as it directly impacts their cognitive abilities. However, many young people still lack awareness of balanced nutrition, leading to various health. To address this, an educational outreach on the importance of balanced nutrition was conducted for the millennial farmer group in Kabul Village. The goal was to equip the youth with knowledge about balanced nutrition, influencing their eating habits and dietary patterns in the target village. The outreach employed educational methods, including material presentations by the team, interactive discussions, and summarizing the discussion outcomes. Monitoring results during the outreach indicated high participant interest, evidenced by numerous questions, particularly regarding parental roles in ensuring balanced nutrition for adolescent family members. Young participants highlighted the challenge of avoiding unhealthy snacks due to the proliferation of culinary trends and social media influences, often leading them to try foods without considering their nutritional value. The balanced nutrition education initiative aims to benefit both millennials and the older generation. Consequently, it is hoped that parents will emphasize balanced nutrition messages to their children within their families.

Awareness and adoption of climate-resilient practices by smallholder farmers in central and upper Eastern Kenya

Climate change and soil fertility decline are major hurdles to agricultural ecosystems. Despite the importance of climate-resilient practices (CRPs) in enhancing food security, poverty alleviation and nutritional security, awareness and adoption remain low in most developing countries, including Kenya. We assessed the determinants of simultaneous awareness and adoption of CRPs and their intensity in Central Highlands of Kenya. The CRPs considered in this study were inorganic fertilizer and manure integration, manure, mulching, crop residues, cover crop, crop rotation and intercrop. The study used a cross-sectional survey design and collected data from 400 smallholders in Central Highlands of Kenya. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariate probit and Poisson regression. Our findings showed that awareness and adoption of specific CRPs and their intensity were determined by occupation, age, farming experience, household size, soil fertility management, climate change adaptation, agricultural training, and geographical location. Smallholders’ agricultural training was an important determinant of awareness, adoption level, and intensity. Our findings underscored the need for agricultural policymakers and extension systems to design farmer-driven training programs for enhanced awareness and adoption of CRPs.

Development of a structured, digital nutrition awareness tool, the Pedi R-MAPP

Development of a structured, digital nutrition awareness tool, the Pedi R-MAPP

Prepackaged foods healthiness ranking index: developing front-of-pack labeling to facilitate the assessment and validation of healthiness rankings of prepackaged foods in China

BackgroundThe Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases (2017–2025) in China has highlighted the importance of reducing fat, sodium, and sugar in foods. However, front-of-pack labeling, which enables consumers to assess the health levels of prepackaged foods, is lacking in China. In response to the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission’s request, we sought to develop a method for efficiently evaluating the health level of prepackaged foods.MethodsThrough a comprehensive literature review, we established a systematic framework: the Prepackaged Foods Healthiness Ranking Index (PHRI). We determined specific threshold values and grading criteria and conducted two rounds of Delphi survey to refine the index. Using a measurement dataset, we aimed to determine the optimal limit values for assessing the health level of prepackaged foods in real-world settings.ResultsAfter two rounds of Delphi surveys, the PHRI underwent multiple revisions until consensus among experts was reached. The final decision regarding the upper limit values set 30% Nutrient Reference Values as the limit for solid foods and 15% Nutrient Reference Values for liquid foods. The calculation of PHRI values was successfully implemented with the dataset, in accord with current nutrition awareness and real-world conditions.ConclusionsThe PHRI provides a valuable tool for assessing the healthiness of prepackaged foods. This front-of-pack labeling system provides a convenient method for evaluating the nutritional quality of prepackaged foods. Ultimately, the PHRI has the potential to contribute to advancements in health policy, practice, and education in China.

DEVELOPING MENU PLANNING SOFTWARE USING OPTIMIZATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ALGORITHM

In today's world, awareness of health and nutrition is growing, emphasizing the need for personalized nutrition recommendations and reducing food waste. This study collected demographic data and food preferences from users and analyzed them using artificial intelligence models. A model developed with the Random Forest algorithm was trained to predict users' future preferences and guide menu planning. Tests showed that combining AI with optimization techniques successfully creates user-focused menus, enhancing satisfaction and reducing food waste. The study also highlighted challenges related to the dataset's size, pointing to a need for more qualitative data. The developed model provides innovative solutions for catering companies and institutions offering mass dining, improving employee satisfaction while minimizing waste. Future research aims to refine the model for broader applications.

Homemade Diet as a Paramount for Dogs' Health: A Descriptive Analysis.

Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet's long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical sign changes or symptom modifications. A total of 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet's health, with an almost complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.

Exploring childhood malnutrition and household food security in Gauteng and Limpopo: Implications for social development processes

This paper provides insight into the relationship between child malnutrition and food security in two South African communities facing economic hardships. The research focused on Thulani, a township in Gauteng province, and Ga Masemola, a rural village in Limpopo province. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with mothers of children under five years. A key theme distilled from the data was the negative effects of unemployment, limited access to nutritious foods and coping strategies to alleviate food insecurity. The paper emphasises that suspending health and nutrition programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health inequalities and reversed progress in achieving SDGs 1-3. The paper emphasises the importance of social development processes in addressing childhood malnutrition's root causes. This includes providing services, working collaboratively with communities and development agencies to promote sustainable food systems and nutrition awareness, and connecting families with needed psychosocial support and financial assistance.

Nutrient Status of Some Food Fishes with Respect to Their Proximate Composition: A Review

The nutritional awareness is a vital issue in most of the developing countries. Consumption of imbalance nutrients is globally responsible for the malnutrition, a curse for the people who belongs to below poverty line. Fish is a vital source of protein and many other essential nutrients for the human health. More than one billion of people around the world include fish food in their regular diet. Many of the developing countries like India are resided by poor villagers who gladly consume the small fish species which are of low cost and easily available in the water lands. The nutrient status the small food fishes are of greater interest to the researchers in the field of biochemistry in terms of their socio-economic impact and sustainable human food chain. Advanced researches on the biochemical constituents of different fishes are signified and essential to the human health as well as medicinal practitioners to formulate newer medicines for the prevention of many life risk diseases of the community. This review article is an attempt to review the current scientific literatures on the nutrient status with respect to their proximate composition of different fish species across the globe. The significance of such study on Food-to-food fortification (FtFF) on the basis of proximate composition of fish along with challenges and future perspectives are also highlighted.

Assessment of Nutritional Status and Food Awareness for Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid Patients

Assessment of Nutritional Status and Food Awareness for Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid Patients

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Healthy Nutrition and Obesity Awareness Education for Middle School Students Using Drama-Based Learning Activities

Aim: The prevalence of childhood obesity is rapidly increasing, making it one of the most common nutritional problems globally. This study aimed to investigate the impact of education using the creative drama technique on obesity awareness and healthy nutrition-exercise behavior among middle school students. Material and Methods: This single-group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted in a state middle school in a Western Black Sea Region province between October 2023 and January 2024, involving 156 middle school students selected through random sampling. A six-session face-to-face education program on obesity prevention and healthy nutrition was implemented. Data collection forms included a Demographic Information Form, an Obesity Awareness Scale, and a Nutrition-Exercise Behavior Scale. Data collection forms were administered to students before (t1) and one month after the education (t2). Results: The mean age of the participating students was 12.33±0.92. Only 3.8% of students had previously received education on combating obesity through healthy nutrition. There was a significant increase in students’ obesity awareness (t1=2.99±0.17, t2=3.54±0.20) and nutrition-exercise behavior scores (t1=153.76±13.07, t2=165.1±11.57) after the education. Conclusion: Interactive and participatory learning through the creative drama technique effectively increased students’ obesity awareness and promoted healthy nutrition-exercise behaviors. Education focusing on hands-on experiences and active engagement was found to be successful in enhancing students’ awareness of obesity and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices.

Assessment of Nutritional Status among the Adolescents - A Case Study

In India, the prevalence of under nutrition among adolescents is most common. Assessments of nutritional status play significant role in formulating developmental strategies of a country. The objectives of the present study is to assess the impact of nutritional supplementation in terms of nutritional grading and health status among student of age group of 19 to 21 years by the survey at University College Mangalore, Karnataka State. The survey carried out among students having lunch under Mid-day meal scheme, college canteen and food from their home. Anthropometric measurements were used to assess nutritional status and BMI of each student were calculated. Among these students, getting lunch box from home are healthier than the student having lunch at college canteen and mid-day meal scheme. This may be due to, these students get more nutrient food prepared at their home. Therefore there should be nutrition education and awareness sessions for students to increase their knowledge and benefit regarding proper diet and its effect on their health.

Health Literacy in the Short Film Stunting “Konsumsi Bergizi Bikin Glowing”

Indonesia is a developing country with a low health index, one of which is indicated by the high prevalence of stunting. Stunting is a growth disorder in children due to chronic malnutrition that has an impact on long-term physical and cognitive health. This study aims to explore the messages in the short film "Nutritious Consumption Makes You Glowing" produced by the DIY Health Service in improving adolescent health literacy related to preventing stunting through the consumption of nutritious food and blood-boosting supplements. Using a qualitative approach, this study analyzed the content of the film and relevant literature. The results showed that this film succeeded in conveying health literacy effectively through direct socialization carried out by Bu Bidan. Messages about the importance of balanced nutrition and blood supplementation are conveyed in a way that is easy for adolescents to understand and accept. Scenes in the film depict changes in healthy lifestyles that are starting to be adopted by adolescents, showing that education through audiovisual media can influence people's nutritional behavior and awareness. Thus, this short film is an effective educational tool in improving health literacy and preventing stunting among adolescents.

Study on Nutritional Status of the Adolescent Relationship with their Socio-Economic Status in Bagha, Rajshahi

Background: Adolescents' nutritional status is crucial to their overall health and development. Various socio-economic factors play significant roles in influencing this status, especially in rural areas. Objective: The study aimed to identify the factors contributing to adolescents' nutritional status and to examine the relationship between these factors and the adolescents' socio-economic characteristics in Bagha, Rajshahi. Method: Data were collected from 250 adolescents using structured interview schedules. Key variables studied included the adolescents' education, mothers' education, family income, food intake, and nutritional knowledge. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between these variables and the adolescents' BMI and nutritional status. Result: The study revealed that adolescents' BMI had significant positive correlations with their education, mothers' education, family income, food intake, and nutritional knowledge. An inverse correlation was found between nutritional status and disease information. Other factors, such as gender, religion, family size, fathers' education, and hygiene practices, showed positive but non-significant associations. Negative, non-significant correlations were observed with age, physical activity, transportation, leisure activities, and participation in nutrition programs. A substantial majority (89.6%) of respondents were inactive in calorie intake, with only 2.4% being active. Most adolescents (79.6%) were underweight, while 20% had normal weight. Most mothers (63.3%) and fathers (55%) had primary-level education. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that annual family income, food intake, and nutritional awareness were positively correlated with nutritional status, whereas disease information had a significant negative correlation. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical impact of socio-economic factors on adolescents' nutritional status. .......

A STUDY REGARDING NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND AWARENESS DURING 1000 DAYS OF MOTHERHOOD

Pregnancy and lactation are among the most stressful periods in the life of a woman, particularly under conditions of poverty and mal nutrition, since the mother has to provide nutrition for her and the rapidly growing fetus. Pregnancy period is crucial for baby if proper care should not taken. Health of mothers directly depends on diet and nutrition which they consume. Knowledge of nutrition and nutrients must help to maintain good health during 1000 days. Present study was aimed to study about nutritional status and awareness during 1000 days of motherhood and nutritional status. For the study, total 152 urban area’s pregnant women were randomly selected from Mehsana city. The present study was conducted with a descriptive, and survey method research design for the assessment of the nutritional status of mothers. An ideal pre structured questionnaire was prepared with suggestions of experts and used for the data collection. The blood haemoglobin data was obtained from secondary data which mentioned in Mamata card of selected mothers. Suitable statistical test was applied. 61.18 % mothers were home makers. 57.14 % mothers consumed vegetarian diet.78 % had 11-12 g/dl i.e. normal level of haemoglobin. Majority of mothers were aware and had a knowledge regarding health and nutrition for pregnancy but less aware about good weaning practices.

A STUDY REGARDING NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND AWARENESS DURING 1000 DAYS OF MOTHERHOOD

Pregnancy and lactation are among the most stressful periods in the life of a woman, particularly under conditions of poverty and mal nutrition, since the mother has to provide nutrition for her and the rapidly growing fetus. Pregnancy period is crucial for baby if proper care should not taken. Health of mothers directly depends on diet and nutrition which they consume. Knowledge of nutrition and nutrients must help to maintain good health during 1000 days. Present study was aimed to study about nutritional status and awareness during 1000 days of motherhood and nutritional status. For the study, total 152 urban area’s pregnant women were randomly selected from Mehsana city. The present study was conducted with a descriptive, and survey method research design for the assessment of the nutritional status of mothers. An ideal pre structured questionnaire was prepared with suggestions of experts and used for the data collection. The blood haemoglobin data was obtained from secondary data which mentioned in Mamata card of selected mothers. Suitable statistical test was applied. 61.18 % mothers were home makers. 57.14 % mothers consumed vegetarian diet.78 % had 11-12 g/dl i.e. normal level of haemoglobin. Majority of mothers were aware and had a knowledge regarding health and nutrition for pregnancy but less aware about good weaning practices.