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Background: People with depression are at increased risk for comorbidities; however, the clustering of comorbidity patterns in these patients is still unclear., Objective: The aim of the study was to identify latent comorbidity patterns and explore the comorbidity network structure that included 12 chronic conditions in adults diagnosed with depressive disorder., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on secondary data from the 2017 behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) covering all 50 American states. A sample of 89,209 U.S. participants, 29,079 men and 60,063 women aged 18 years or older, was considered using exploratory graphical analysis (EGA), a statistical graphical model that includes algorithms for grouping and factoring variables in a multivariate system of network relationships., Results: The EGA findings show that the network presents 3 latent comorbidity patterns, i.e., that comorbidities are grouped into 3 factors. The first group was composed of 7 comorbidities (obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, arthritis, kidney disease, and diabetes). The second pattern of latent comorbidity included the diagnosis of asthma and respiratory diseases. The last factor grouped 3 conditions (heart attack, coronary heart disease, and stroke). Hypertension reported higher measures of network centrality., Conclusion: Associations between chronic conditions were reported; furthermore, they were grouped into 3 latent dimensions of comorbidity and reported network factor loadings. The implementation of care and treatment guidelines and protocols for patients with depressive symptomatology and multimorbidity is suggested., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Cristian Ramos-Vera et al.)

Background: Choosing a healthy diet is an increasingly a challenge for university students. The objective of this study was to compare diet and overweight/obesity in human nutrition students (HNS) and students of other careers (SOC) from a university located in Lima, Peru., Methods: It was a cross-sectional study consisting of 158 students out of an initial sample of 170. Information was collected on the sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics of the participants and a validated questionnaire was applied to evaluate the frequency of food consumption., Results: There was no significant difference in diet between HNS and SOC ( p  > 0.05). HNS most frequently consumed yellow/orange vegetables ( p  = 0.020), purple vegetables ( p  = 0.049), citrus fruits ( p  = 0.029), eggs ( p  = 0.002), whole milk ( p  = 0.013), yogurt ( p  = 0.017), tofu ( p  = 0.003), olive oil ( p  = 0.003), other vegetable oils ( p  < 0.001), and alcoholic beverages ( p  = 0.037) than SOC. In contrast, HNS had a lower frequency of nonfried tuber intake ( p  = 0.039), fried tubers ( p  < 0.001), milk desserts ( p  = 0.048), flour fritters ( p  = 0.027), cookies with chocolate ( p  = 0.050), croissants ( p  = 0.030), cookies with filling ( p  = 0.024), candies ( p  = 0.006), and soda ( p  = 0.016) than SOC. Overweight/obesity was not different between HNS and SOC ( p  > 0.05)., Conclusions: This study found significant differences in the consumption of some foods between HNS and SOC. However, it found no significant difference in diet and overweight/obesity between HNS and SOC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest in the research., (Copyright © 2022 Fernando D. Solís-Guevara et al.)

Background: Obesity is one of the most important public health problems for university students. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF) with waist circumference (WC) as a cardiometabolic risk factor (CMR) among university students., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2,048 students from a private university located in Lima, Peru. Anthropometric data (weight, height, %BF, and WC) were collected. Chi-square test was used. Association analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression., Results: The findings indicated that 36.9% and 61.1% of men were overweight and had higher %BF, respectively, compared to women. Women (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.17, 0.29), Peruvian students (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.90), and students enrolled in the faculty of health sciences (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62, 0.94) are less likely to manifest CMR. Also, excess body weight (OR, 17.28; 95% CI, 13.21, 22.59) and a high %BF (OR, 4.55; 95% CI, 3.55, 5.84) were strongly associated with CMR., Conclusion: CMRs are a public health problem among university students. Therefore, it is important to carry out healthy lifestyle programs to promote better control and prevention, particularly among male students and those who have excess weight and body fat., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Roberto E. Nuñez-Leyva et al.)

The university represents a critical space for students in terms of prevalence of malnutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (% BF), waist circumference (WC), and anemia in university students. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2,285 university students from Lima, Peru. The sample was selected by nonprobability convenience sampling. Anthropometric data and hemoglobin levels were measured. The Chi-square test was used. The analysis of the associated factors was done using binary logistic regression. A significance level of 5% was considered. There were no significant differences between men and women in BMI ( p > 0.05). The men presented significantly high and very high levels of % BF ( p < 0.001). The proportion of women who presented anemia and high and very high WC was significantly higher compared to men ( p < 0.001). Being older than 27 years (OR B  = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.19-3.6), being male (OR B  = 2.68; 95% CI = 2.02-3.55), studying at the engineering faculty (OR B  = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.09-1.79), having excess body fat (OR B  = 8.17; 95% CI = 6.13-10.87), and having an elevated WC (OR B  = 35.51; 95% CI = 25.06-50.33) significantly predicted overweight/obesity. The findings of this study suggest that college students, especially males and those who are not enrolled in health sciences colleges, should be a priority in healthy lifestyle interventions, particularly nutritional education programs, to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Ruth B. Quiliche Castañeda et al.)

Background: Peru has one of the highest infection and death rates in the world for the COVID-19 pandemic. The government implemented house confinement measures with probable consequences on lifestyle, particularly affecting eating habits, physical activity, sleep quality, and mental health., Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the lifestyles, physical activity, and sleep characteristics, as well as changes in eating habits in a Peruvian population during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. We analyzed Peruvian adults based on an online self-administered questionnaire divided into sociodemographic, anthropometrics, COVID-19 diagnosis reported, lifestyle habits, and frequency of consumption of foods., Results: During confinement for COVID-19, 1176 participants were studied. Of these, most reported weight gain (1 to 3 kg) and 35.7% were overweight. The lifestyles habits showed that 54.8% reported doing physical activity and 37.2% sleep less. The Peruvian sample presented a main meal pattern of breakfast (95.7%), lunch (97.5%), and dinner (89.1%). Likewise, eating habits before and during COVID-19 pandemic showed that vegetables (OR:1.56, CI95% 1.21-200), fruit (OR: 1.42, CI95% 1.10-1.81), legumes (OR:1.67, CI95% 1.23-2.28), and eggs (OR: 2.00, CI95% 1.52-2.65) presented significant consumption increase during social isolation, while bakery products (OR: 0.74, CI95% 0.56-0.97), meat, snack, refreshment, and fast food decreased in consumption. Other foods showed no significant differences., Conclusion: This study showed an important frequency of overweight and sleep changes. There was a slight increase in physical activity despite the social isolation measures and an increase in healthy eating habits; nevertheless, the majority reported gaining weight., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Salomón Huancahuire-Vega et al.)

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) constitute one of the main public health problems and represent a greater risk of mortality and morbidity for the world population. The objective of the study was to determine food addiction, saturated fat intake, and body mass index (BMI) in Peruvian adults., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was applied to 394 Peruvian adults over 18 years old residing in the three regions of the country. Participant data was collected through a prestructured online electronic survey. Food addiction was assessed using the Yale Food Addiction Scale self-administered questionnaire. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to measure saturated fat intake. Finally, the sociodemographic and anthropometric variables were collected through a registration form., Results: There were no significant differences in food addiction between men and women ( p < 0.05). More than half of the participants who presented food addiction are overweight (54.1%, p < 0.001). The highest proportion of those who had a high intake of saturated fat had a food addiction (62.6%, p < 0.001). The highest percentage of men who were overweight was higher compared to women (49.7% vs. 38.4%, p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that addictive eating behaviors and high saturated fat intake should be considered as part of efforts to prevent problems related to eating, obesity, and CVD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Dulce E. Lopez-Lopez et al.)

Several studies have been carried out which mainly focus on the analysis of the lipid profile in vegetarians and nonvegetarians. However, few studies have been undertaken in this population oriented to quality of life and health. This study aimed to compare health-related quality of life, blood pressure, and biochemical and anthropometric profile in vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The study included 149 participants out of an initial sample of 162: 62 vegetarians and 87 nonvegetarians. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the SF-12 Health Questionnaire version 2 and was related with the lipid profile, glucose, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, and sociodemographic characteristics. Vegetarians presented better Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), as well as higher LDL levels. No significant differences in HDL and TG concentrations were found. Serum glucose concentrations were significantly lower among vegetarians. Nonvegetarian males had higher diastolic pressure levels. Vegetarian women had significantly higher levels of systolic pressure. As for the physical health and mental health components of quality of life, no significant differences were found in vegetarian and nonvegetarian women and men. In conclusion, vegetarians presented a better anthropometric profile, lower glycaemia, and higher LDL levels but no significant differences in health-related quality of life compared with nonvegetarians., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Jacksaint Saintila et al.)