Source Of Dietary Information Research Articles

The appeal of alternative diets – stories of carbohydrate-conscious eaters regarding motives, credibility of dietary advice and the authority of experiences

ABSTRACT Low-carbohydrate diets promote the idea that reducing carbohydrate intake is a key to a healthier life and more natural way to eat. The proponents of these diets form food communities, which share common ideas about food, put forward their own ‘alternative’ expertise and challenge mainstream dietary advice. This study focuses on the perspectives of self-identified followers of low-carbohydrate diets. We explore their rationales for choosing the diet and how they navigate between different sources of dietary information. The data consists of open-ended responses (n=996) to a food survey published in a leading national Finnish newspaper. The responses have been analyzed using thematic narrative analysis. Our results highlight how uncertainties and disappointments can increase the appeal of ‘alternative’ diets and expertise. Low-carbohydrate diets are used as a form of self-care, illness prevention, risk management and weight loss by people with chronic conditions and lingering symptoms. They offer a sense of control, an alternative to medications and bring together communities of like minded people. The stories intertwine with health populist discourses, casting doubt on traditional experts. In a world of complex food systems and conflicting information the diets offer clear explanations. Additionally, the results emphasise the credibility and authority of lived experiences.

No news from old drawings? Stomach anatomy in muroid rodents in relation to body size and ecology.

Muroid rodents mostly have a complex stomach: one part is lined with a cornified (nonglandular) epithelium, referred to as a “forestomach”, whereas the rest is lined with glandular epithelium. Numerous functions for the forestomach have been proposed. We collated a catalog of anatomical depictions of the stomach of 174 muroid species from which the respective nonglandular and glandular areas could be digitally measured, yielding a “stomach ratio” (nonglandular:glandular area) as a scale‐independent variable. Stomach ratios ranged from 0.13 to 20.15, and the coefficient of intraspecific variation if more than one picture was available for a species averaged at 29.7% (±21.5). We tested relationships of the ratio with body mass and various anatomical and ecological variables, including diet. There was a consistent phylogenetic signal, suggesting that closely related species share a similar anatomy. Apart from classifying stomachs into hemiglandular and discoglandular, no anatomical or ecological measure showed a consistent relationship to the stomach ratio. In particular, irrespective of statistical method or the source of dietary information, dietary proxies did not significantly correlate with the stomach ratio, except for a trend towards significance for invertivory (insectivory). Yet, even this relationship was not convincing: whereas highly insectivorous species had high but no low stomach ratios, herbivorous species had both low and high stomach ratios. Thus, the statistical effect is not due to a systematic increase in the relative forestomach size with invertivory. The most plausible hypotheses so far associate the muroid forestomach and its microbiome with a generic protective role against microbial or fungal toxins and diseases, without evident correlates of a peculiar need for this function under specific ecological conditions. Yet, this function remains to be confirmed. While providing a catalog of published depictions and hypotheses, this study highlights that the function of the muroid rodent forestomach remains enigmatic to date.

Food Media and Dietary Behavior in a Belgian Adult Sample: How Obtaining Information From Food Media Sources Associates With Dietary Behavior.

Objective: We aim to relate Flemish adults’ main food information sources (e.g., celebrity chefs, experts) with their dietary behavior. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey among 1115 Flemish adults who regularly cook, measured the food information sources the respondents used to obtain recipes, their dietary intake and dietary restrictions. Ordinal and logistic regression were used to investigate the relation between food media, dietary intake and dietary restrictions. Results: Celebrity chefs were mentioned most often (37%) as main food information source, followed by family and acquaintances (21%) and lifestyle gurus (12%). Using lifestyle gurus as a source of dietary information is associated with more dietary restrictions and a higher intake frequency of plant-based food groups, whereas using celebrity chefs or experts is associated with a different (but less unequivocal vegetarian or healthy) dietary intake. Conclusion: Media icons like lifestyle gurus and celebrity chefs appear to be among people’s main sources of food information. There is a significant association between using them as a source of food information and dietary behavior. Further research on the influence of media on diet is required.

Patient Perceptions About Acne, Nutrition, and a Dietary Information Gap

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence that certain dietary factors affect the course of acne vulgaris.ObjectivesThe primary aim of this exploratory survey was to reveal patients' perceptions of a possible link between acne and diet. Secondary, patients' perceptions of the quality of nutritional communication, sources of dietary information, and a dietary information gap, have been investigated.MethodsAn online survey is conducted on Instagram using a structured questionnaire in German. Data is analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, and chi-square tests are performed.ResultsMost of the 1,040 participants believe that there is a connection between acne and diet (75%). However, due to a frequent lack of nutritional consultation by dermatologists (87%), participants' nutritional information needs are not met. Therefore, they seek additional sources of information, mainly Instagram(63%), online forums(54%), and textbooks (46%). However, the participants feel that their nutritional interventions are unsuccessful and believe that an information gap exists.ConclusionThis study draws attention to the existence of an information gap regarding the topic of acne and nutrition. Adequate patient education on currently available data and its limitations is urgently needed to counteract patients' long-held beliefs in diet and acne myths.

Nutrition-related knowledge, practice, and weight status of patients with chronic diseases attending a district hospital in Nigeria.

Background:Africa is experiencing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the projected mortality from NCDs by 2030 will overtake the combined mortality from communicable diseases. Nutrition is a key modality for preventing and treating NCDs, and optimal nutrition knowledge is essential for self-care.Aim:This study assessed the nutritional-related knowledge, dietary practice, and weight status of patients with non-communicable diseases attending State Specialist Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods:This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 adult patients with chronic diseases attending a district hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were obtained using a semi-structured interviewer’s administered questionnaire on sociodemographic, diet-related knowledge and dietary practices, sources of dietary information and body mass index. The knowledge and practice score was calculated, and Chi-squared test was used to evaluate associations between socio-demographics, nutrition-related knowledge and practices; statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.Results:The mean age of respondents was 61.94 ± 10.60, and 74.4% were women. Overall, 61.3% of the respondents had good nutrition knowledge, with a higher proportion among women (61.8%) than men (59.5%). However, more women were overweight (33.2%) or obese (21.7%). There was a significant difference in the knowledge of respondents based on income (P < 0.034), duration of illness (P < 0.012), as well as nutrition practice (P < 0.000).Conclusion:There was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the participants despite the overall satisfactory nutritional knowledge. Hence, primary care physicians as frontline doctors coordinating care need to advocate for holistic weight reduction strategies in managing chronic diseases.

Korean adolescents' perceptions of nutrition and health towards fast foods in Busan area

Adolescents in Busan area were asked in a survey about their perception and attitudes towards fast food. Most respondents answered that they consume fast food once a month because it is fast, easily accessible and tasty. Although they perceived fast food as unhealthy and less nutritious, they were less aware of its effect on their health and nutritional status. The more knowledgeable respondents were about nutrition and health the less likely they were to choose fast food over other meals. However, respondents who had little or no knowledge about the nutritional factors of fast food accounted for 43.1%. As to their source of dietary information, students relied on themselves (31.0%), parents (20.5%) and friends (19.9%). The medium through which students got the most nutrition and health information was television (66.8%), followed by the Internet (36.7%) and magazines (29.7%). This study will enable educators to plan more effective strategies for improving the dietary knowledge of the adolescent population.

Surveillance of dietary habits and lifestyles among 5–6 year-old children and their families living in Central-North Italy

To study dietary habits and behaviours of a representative sample of 5-6-year-old children and their families. A stratified population sample of the general population (5508 children out of 5551 residents) born in 1997 and attending a nursery school was analysed. Weight and height were measured. Information was collected via questionnaire. A "normal" body mass index (BMI) ranged between 13.61-18.09 and 13.31-19.79 kg/m2 for boys and girls respectively. The response rate was 89%. 79% of the boys had a normal BMI, 0.9% had a low BMI, 18% were overweight, and 1.8% was obese; 87% of the girls had a normal BMI, 2.6% had a low BMI, 10% were overweight, and 0.7% were obese. The main sources of dietary information were professionals of the national health system and mass-media. The main barriers to healthy dietary habits were busy daily activities, working timetable, time needed to cook and tasty and healthy food cost. The main changes in dietary habits occurred in the family habits after a child's birth. Our findings showed a crucial role played by professionals of the national health system and by mass-media on eating behaviours among children and their parents. Birth of a child is a receptive context to promote healthy habits.

Use of Qualitative Methods to Study Diet, Acculturation, and Health in Chinese-American Women

Improving the health status of minority populations in the United States is a major public health challenge. This report describes an anthropological approach to obtaining information needed for designing and evaluating a culturally appropriate dietary intervention for Chinese-Americans. Ninety-minute qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 less-acculturated Chinese-American women in their native language (Cantonese or Mandarin), soliciting information from participants regarding usual food consumption; knowledge, attitude, and beliefs about diet and disease; and factors that influence food choices. Interviews were recorded, translated, transcribed, and coded for themes. Two focus groups with 6 participants each were conducted to cross-validate the interview findings. Among our participants, breakfast was usually the first meal to be “Westernized,” largely for reasons of convenience. Food quality, cost, and availability were some of the most important predictors of dietary change after immigration to the United States. Respondents said that there was a strong connection between diet and disease. However, they were not familiar with US dietary guidelines, food labels, or other sources of dietary information, but reported that friends and Chinese newspapers were their primary source of nutrition information. We used these findings to develop quantitative dietary survey instruments adapted for Chinese-Americans. This type of qualitative groundwork is an important precursor to the design, implementation, and evaluation of dietary interventions for minorities. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000; 100: 934-940.

Infant/Toddler Feeding Practices of Adolescent Mothers: Ethnic Differences and Intergenerational Involvement

Approximately 500,000 teens become mothers every year, and 90% keep their babies. Problems are associated with adolescent parenting, including poor parenting skills and inappropriate infant/child feeding practices, which have developmental and health implications for the children. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the range of infant/toddler feeding practices among 20 pairs of Anglo and Mexican‐American adolescent mothers and their mothers. Grandmothers were included to assess their involvement in child care. Teens often cited recommended practices but failed to follow through. Early weaning, cereal in the bottle, and providing high‐fat foods and sweets were common practices. Few understood the importance of modeling appropriate eating behavior. More Anglos had conflict with their mothers, whereas Mexican Americans had more cooperative relationships. As grandmothers were sources of dietary information, conflicts were common over this issue. Including grandmothers in nutrition education efforts may benefit adolescent mothers and their children.