Public Health Nutrition

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status, growth parameters and lifestyle behaviours of children between 0.5-12 years in nationally representative samples in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the four countries, between May 2019 and April 2021. Data collected can be categorized into four categories: (1) Growth - anthropometry, body composition, development disorder, (2) Nutrient intake and dietary habits - 24-hour dietary recall, child food habits, breast feeding and complementary feeding, (3) Socio-economic status - food insecurity and child health status/environmental, and (4) Lifestyle behaviours - physical activity patterns, fitness, sunlight exposure, sleep patterns, body image and behavioural problems...

OBJECTIVE: Most evidence supporting screening for undernutrition is for children aged 6-59 months. However, the highest risk of mortality and highest incidence of wasting occurs in the first 6 months of life. We evaluated relationships between neonatal anthropometric indicators, including birthweight, weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ), length-for-age Z-score (LAZ), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and mortality and growth at 6 months of age among infants in Burkina Faso...

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the impact of 20% flat-rate and tiered sugary drink tax structures on the consumption of sugary drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, and 100% juice by age, sex, and socioeconomic position. DESIGN: We modelled the impact of price changes -for each tax structure- on the demand for sugary drinks by applying own- and cross-price elasticities to self-report sugary drink consumption measured using single day 24-hour dietary recalls from the cross-sectional, nationally-representative 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition...

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal obesity (AO) is characterized by excess adipose tissue. It is a metabolic risk that affects the physical and mental health, particularly in women since they are more prone to mental health problems like depression. This study investigated the association between AO and depressive symptoms in Peruvian women of reproductive age (18-49 years). DESIGN: In this cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Peruvian women population of reproductive age...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of food insecurity on perinatal depression in rural Ethiopia. DESIGN: We used a prospective cohort in which food insecurity was considered as primary exposure and perinatal depression as an outcome. Food insecurity at baseline (in the period of 8 - 24 weeks of pregnancy) was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and perinatal depression at follow-up (in 32-36 weeks of pregnancy) was measured using a patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9)...

OBJECTIVE: Monitoring time trends in salt consumption is important for evaluating the impact of salt reduction initiatives on public health outcomes. There has so far not been available data to indicate if salt consumption in Norway has changed during the previous decade. We aimed to assess whether average 24-hour salt intake estimated from spot urine samples in the adult population of mid-Norway changed from 2006-08 to 2017-19, and to describe variations by sex, age, and educational level...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the trends in the healthiness of packaged food purchases of Australian consumers before and after the introduction of the Health Star Rating (HSR) nutrition labels. DESIGN: Panel data analysis and difference-in-differences analysis. SETTING: The Australian Government endorsed HSR nutrition labels for voluntary implementation on packaged foods in June 2014. We analyse the packaged food purchases of households across all major supermarkets before (January 2014 to June 2014) and after (June 2014 - Dec 2018) the introduction of HSR...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the methodological quality of existing meta-analyses (MAs) and the quality of evidence for outcome indicators to in order to provide an updated overview of the evidence concerning the therapeutic efficacy of the Mediterranean diet (MD) for various types of Cardiovascular diseases (CVD). DESIGN: We conducted comprehensive searches of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. The quality of the MAs was assessed using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2) checklist, while the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence evaluation system was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence for significant outcomes...

OBJECTIVE: To test whether traffic light labels and an increased range of healthy beverages, individually and in combination, can increase healthy beverage choices from vending machines. DESIGN: Two studies ( n = 558, 420) tested whether the provision of traffic light labels (green, amber and red) and an increased range of healthy beverages (from 20% to 50% green options), individually and in combination, could increase healthy beverage choices from a digital vending machine display...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in social norms around parents' food provision in different provision contexts and by demographics. DESIGN: Qualitative study using story completion methodology via an online survey in September 2021. Adults 18+ with or without children were randomised to one of three story stems focusing on food provision in different contexts; food provision at home (non-visitor), with visitors present, and with the involvement of sport. Stories were coded and themed using thematic analysis...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate food insecurity and related coping strategies, and their associations with the risk of anxiety and depression, among South African households with children. DESIGN: Nationally representative cross-sectional study. Tools for assessing food insecurity, coping strategies, risk of anxiety and depression were assessed from the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project, Coping Strategies Index, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the selection of foods and beverages in children's sports arenas in Norway. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design with a digital questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results. Moreover, Pearson's chi-square tests examined the factors that could aid in distinguishing clubs with healthy or unhealthy consumables. SETTING: Children's sports clubs in Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Representatives from 301 children's sports clubs in Norway answered the questionnaire between September and November 2021...

OBJECTIVE: To better understand how the public defines "healthy" foods and to determine whether the public considers sustainability, implicitly and explicitly, in the context of healthy eating. DESIGN: We conducted a content analysis of public comments submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016 and 2017 in response to an invitation for feedback on use of the term "healthy" on food labels. The analysis explored the ways in which commenters' definitions of "healthy" aligned with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and whether their definitions considered sustainability...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are being discussed in news media in Australia, and whether this terminology, as described in the NOVA system, is being applied accurately. DESIGN: Interpretive content analysis of online and print media articles that mentioned UPFs from 2009 to 2023 in Australia. SETTING: Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Online and print media articles. RESULTS: A total of 298 Australian media articles were captured...

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown how well menu-labelling schemes that enforce the display of kilojoule (kJ) labelling at point-of-sale, has been implemented on Online Food Delivery services (OFDs) in Australia. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of kJ labelling on the online menus of large food outlets with more than 20 locations in the state or 50 locations nationally. A secondary aim was to evaluate the nutritional quality of menu items on OFDs from mid-sized outlets that have fewer locations than what is specified in the current scheme...

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the association between dietary selenium (Se) intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Chinese adults. DESIGN: This prospective cohort study included adults above 20 years old in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), and they were followed up from 1997 to 2015 (N = 16,030). Dietary data were retrieved from CHNS, and a 3-day, 24-hour recall of food intake was used to assess the cumulative average intake of dietary Se, which was divided into quartiles...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between the risk of malnutrition, as estimated by the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) numerical scores, and adverse outcomes in oncology patients. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTINGS: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CKNI, VIP, Sinomed, and Wanfang database. Studies that examined the association between the risk of malnutrition, as estimated by the PG-SGA numerical scores, and overall survival or postoperative complications in oncology patients were included...

OBJECTIVE: Food Insecurity (FI) is the lack of daily access for everyone to quality food in sufficient quantity. In many populations, it presents as a chronic and persistent condition. This study analyzed the association between the length of time living with FI and sociodemographic conditions in households in a semi-arid municipality in the Brazilian Northeast between 2011 and 2019. DESIGN: This is a population-based cohort study among families in the municipality in Northeast Brazil (2011, 2014, and 2019)...

OBJECTIVE: To synthesise current evidence on knowledge, perceptions, and practices towards type 2 diabetes risk in sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN: Mixed-methods scoping review, which included 101 studies (73 quantitative, 20 qualitative, eight mixed methods) from seven electronic databases. SETTING: Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2023. PARTICIPANTS: Men and women without diabetes with mean ages ranging from 20-63 years. RESULTS: The majority of participants in most studies knew the three main diabetes modifiable risk factors - excess weight, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity...

OBJECTIVE: The recommended level of 5 fruits and vegetables per day is reached by a minority of French children. No-added sugars fruit puree (NASFP) can be consumed as a complement of fresh fruit to meet the recommendation for fruits and vegetables. The objective was to simulate the nutritional impact of an increase in consumption of NAFP among French children, together with a reduction in sweetened foods. DESIGN: The study was conducted on French children aged 1 to 17...