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Background and aims Food processing has been indicated as a factor capable of negatively affecting the global food system, including the profile of consumers’ diets. The objectives of the present study were to provide a description of the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in the large population of children, adolescents and adults from eight European countries participating to the I.Family study, and to investigate the association between UPFs intake and nutritional quality of the diet. Methods and results Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. The quality of the diet was evaluated by the Healthy Dietary Adherence Score (HDAS) using an FFQ. UPFs were classified according to the NOVA classification. Almost half of the daily energy intake of the 7073 participants came from UPFs, and this trend decreased progressively with age. UPFs contributed more than 50 % of the daily intake of total and saturated fat, carbohydrates and about 70 % of sugars intake in children and adolescents. No differences in UPFs consumption were found according to the educational and socio-economic status of the population. Energy intake increased across the quintiles of UPFs intake, while HDAS decreased. The frequency of consumption of fruit and vegetable, fish, and fibre rich foods was low in the fifth quintile of UPFs intake, both in adolescents and in adults. The consumption of foods rich in calories and low in nutritional content, operationally defined as “junk food”, was significantly higher in the fifth quintile. Conclusions In the population of the European I.Family study, UPFs contributed a large proportion of the daily energy intake, especially in children and adolescents. Higher consumption of UPFs was associated with a lower quality of the diet. Registration number for clinical trials ISRCTN62310987.

Background: Recently, adolescence has been identified as a second window of opportunity for the correction of nutritional inadequacies. However, there is a lack of knowledge on evidence-based integrated nutrition strategies for adolescents in Indonesia. Objective: To provide a research agenda and the prioritization of research actions to tackle outstanding knowledge gaps on adolescent nutrition in Indonesia. Methods: A preliminary set of research topics was listed based on a desk study of the academic literature and policy documents. Second, a stakeholder meeting was held to further identify and discuss research topics related to adolescent nutrition in Indonesia. Third, an online survey was conducted in which respondents were asked to indicate priority research themes for the next 3 to 5 years and to rank a total of 23 research questions. Results: Most (52%) of the respondents who returned the survey (n = 27) prioritize research on implementation and program evaluation, while 30% prefer descriptive and explanatory research, and 19% place priority with intervention and discovery research. However, when we followed up with specific topics for each of these broad research areas, a more nuanced picture emerged, with intervention and discovery research taking a more prominent standing. Conclusions: In order to support the design, implementation, and effectiveness of integrated nutrition programs for Indonesian adolescents, in-depth studies should question the best intervention strategies, modes of delivery, and long-term outcomes, while nationwide and disaggregated data should investigate associations and trends over time and identify vulnerable groups.

Background: Despite the rising double burden of malnutrition, adolescent nutrition has received little attention in Indonesia. Eating and physical activity behaviors established in adolescence are known to track into adulthood and may contribute to chronic diseases in later life. This study aimed to explore the eating behaviors and physical activity of Indonesian adolescents, and their influencing factors. Methods: The study, designed as a qualitative study, was conducted in 2 selected districts in Indonesia: Klaten and Lombok Barat. Data were collected through immersion, open and informal discussions, and participant observations with 302 adolescent girls and boys. Results: The eating and physical activity behaviors of adolescent boys and girls are influenced by contextual changes in their family lifestyles and environment. The adolescents in this study only conflate physical activity with participation in sport. Even when a wider view of physical activity is cast, their level of physical activity remains low, especially for adolescent girls. Adolescents and their families generally eat 3 meals a day, with schools an important source of food for adolescents. Adolescents skip breakfast at home, and breakfast and lunch are usually purchased and eaten at school. Fewer families cook and families rarely eat together due to increasingly busy lives, increased mobility, and digital connectivity. Conclusions: The rapid contextual shifts taking place in Indonesia influence the home, school, and peer environment to shape eating behaviors and physical activity among adolescent boys and girls. Gender-responsive multicomponent school-based interventions have the potential to serve as an important entry point for influencing adolescent nutrition.

Summary Background & aims Children on long-term tube-feeding often need special treatment for oral feeding transitioning. Rapid tube-weaning programs usually result in short-term reductions in food intake and weight loss. This study examined the long-term effects of a “Graz-model” based weaning program on nutritional status and growth. Methods Children aged 0.5–13.0 years on long-term enteral nutritional support (ENS) participated in a three-week multidisciplinary weaning treatment. Data were collected at baseline, after completing the program, and at six and 12 months. Height/length, weight and BMI z-scores were determined according to the WHO growth standards. Energy and protein intake were assessed and presented as % of recommended daily allowance (RDA) values. Results Study participants (n = 58) were 64% male. Four children did not complete the three-week program due to acute illnesses. Complete weaning (from 100% ENS to 100% oral) was achieved in 22 children and partial weaning (at least 80% reduction of ENS) in 23 children. No demographic or clinical success predictors were identified. Thirty of the 45 weaned children completed the 12-month follow-up. A significant reduction in energy intake was observed at the three-week time-point [mean (SE): 56 (5.8)% versus 80 (4.7)%, p = 0.001]. This was followed by improvements in eating skills leading to energy intake at 12 months which did not significantly differ from baseline (p = 0.392). Mean (SE) baseline protein intake was 187 (13.0) %RDA. No significant difference from baseline were noted at 12 months (p = 0.301). Estimated mean (SD) height-, weight- and BMI z-scores at baseline were −2.11(0.28), −1.48(0.25), −0.13(0.31), respectively. No significant differences in growth data were observed over time. Conclusions Short-term reductions in nutritional intake and body weight observed after an intensive weaning program were reversible, and growth patterns were stable over 12 months. Further follow-up is recommended to ensure continued positive development in these children.

The aim of this review is to summarise the common barriers and motivations for healthy food choice among adolescents, with a specific focus on the Irish context where available. It will also discuss other concerns adolescents have, which may influence their food choices and eating habits. Adolescence represents a period of rapid physical, mental and social development, and many health-related habits developed during adolescence tend to persist into adulthood, making the teenage years an optimal time to encourage healthy eating and health-promoting behaviours. Adolescents are concerned about the health impact of their diet, but their understanding of health is often seen in the context of their physical appearance or body image. Body image concerns are prevalent in adolescents, and this can affect their food choices. Taste, price and convenience are commonly noted factors influencing adolescents' food choices, and as they grow, their level of independence increases and spending more time with their peers means that social desirability and social norms about food become increasingly important factors in adolescent food choice. However, their limited autonomy means their supporting food environment also plays an important role. When developing more targeted interventions in adolescent populations, information on adolescent nutrition needs, their concerns for health and body image, and the barriers and motivations for healthy eating and food choice should be considered. Such a holistic approach should help support healthy eating and the prevention of overweight and obesity in the population, whilst also supporting a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.

This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary and Nutritional Status Assessment in Children and Adolescents in European Countries., Adolescence is recognized as a time of rapid physiological and behavioral change. In this transition, eating behavior is still being formed and remains an integral part of a person’s lifestyle throughout his or her life. This study aims to assess eating behavior and associations with food intake in European adolescents. We included 2194 adolescents (45.9% boys), aged 12.5 to 17.5 years, from the cross-sectional HELENA study, with two completed 24 h recalls and complete questionnaire data on their eating behavior (Eating Behavior and Weight Problems Inventory for Children- EWI-C). Three subscales of the EWI were evaluated; they measured Strength and motivation to eat (EWI 1), Importance and impact of eating (EWI 2), and Eating as a means of coping with emotional stress (EWI 3). Since these subscales were specially focused on eating behavior, participants were classified as either Low (≤P75) or High (>P75) on each of the subscales. Our results showed a higher consumption of different types of food, in the EWI 1 scales, linked to the hunger and interest in eating, and we observed a relationship with the consumption of energy-dense products. This result was repeated in EWI 3, the subscale linked to emotional eating, where we also found higher consumption of energy-dense products. This study suggests that special features of eating behavior are associated with food intake in adolescents., This HELENA Study was carried out with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT-2005-007034).

Psychosocial factors may influence consumption patterns of sweet snacks and sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), which are potential risk factors for obesity among African American (AA) adolescents. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to examine cross-sectional associations among psychosocial factors, sweet snacks and SSB consumption, and BMI z-scores in 437 AA adolescents aged 9–14 years living in low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore City, U.S.A. Mean caloric intake from sugar was 130.64 ± 88.37 kcal. Higher sweet snacks consumption was significantly associated with lower self-efficacy (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.71 to 0.93) and lower food intentions scores (0.43; 0.30 to 0.61). Higher SSB consumption was associated with lower outcome expectancies (aOR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.96–0.99), lower self-efficacy (0.98; 0.96 to 0.99), and lower food intentions (0.91; 0.87 to 0.95). No significant association was found between SSB and sweet snacks consumption and weight status. Psychosocial factors may play a role in sugar consumption behaviors among AA adolescents in low-income neighborhoods. Further studies are needed to improve our understanding of causal mechanisms of this association.

Avocado is a nutrient-rich food that has been shown to benefit the health and diet quality of adults. In this paper, we examined if habitual intake of avocado among adolescents is associated with their diet quality, food and nutrient intake, and measures of obesity and body composition. Participants aged 12–18 years old (n = 534) from selected public and Adventist middle-high schools reported their dietary intake in a web-based food frequency questionnaire (FFQ); anthropometrics were measured during school visits. Diet quality (DQI-I) and avocado intake were calculated from the FFQ; BMI z-scores (BMIz), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and %body fat (%BF) were determined from the anthropometric data. Compared to non-consumers, avocado consumers had significantly higher covariate-adjusted mean scores on total DQI-I (68.3 vs. 64.6) and energy-adjusted mean scores on variety (18.8 vs. 18.0) and adequacy (36.4 vs. 33.4). Avocado consumption was significantly associated with DQI-I components adequacy (β [SE] = 0.11 [0.03]) and moderation (β [SE] = 0.06 [0.03]) but not with BMIz, WHtR, FM, FFM, and %BF. Mean intakes of fruits, vegetables, and plant protein foods, total and vegetable proteins, dietary fiber, retinol, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium were significantly higher for avocado consumers; saturated and trans fats intakes were significantly higher for non-consumers. In our adolescent population, avocado consumption was associated with higher diet quality and intake of plant-based foods and shortfall nutrients, but not with measures of obesity and body composition. Studies are needed to determine the optimal amount of avocado that would confer health benefits during adolescence.

The unyielding obesity epidemic in adolescents from Middle Eastern (ME) backgrounds warrants culturally-responsive and co-designed prevention measures. This study aimed to capture the opinions of ME parents residing in Australia on the crisis and their enablers and barriers to healthy eating interventions given their influence on adolescent eating behaviors. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted with ME mothers, aged 35–59 years, and most residing in low socioeconomic areas (n = 19). A reflexive thematic analysis using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour model and Theoretical Domain Framework was conducted. Parents expressed confidence in knowledge of importance of healthy eating, but were reluctant to believe behaviours were engaged in outside of parental influence. Time management skills are needed to support working mothers and to minimize reliance on nearby fast-food outlets, which was heightened during COVID-19 with home-delivery. Time constraints also meant breakfast skipping was common. A culture of feeding in light of diet acculturation and intergenerational trauma in this diaspora was also acknowledged. Parents pleaded for upstream policy changes across government and school bodies to support parental efforts in the form of increased regulation of fast-food and subsidization of healthy products. Opportunities for weight-inclusive programs including parenting workshops underpinned by culturally-responsive pedagogy were recommended.

Adolescent obesity rates are increasing on an epidemic level and food intake is one of the most important causes of this condition. From an ecological perspective, food intake is, in turn, influenced by many factors that need to be considered. This study aims to evaluate the associations between socio-demographic factors (gender, family origin, socio-economic status, parent’s education level), which consist of social stratifiers, health literacy and family context, as independent variables, and food intake (consumption of fruits, vegetables, soft drinks and sweets and breakfast frequency) and outcomes (Body Mass Index category), as dependent variables. Data were retrieved from 2145 students (13 and 15 years old) from the Lombardy region (Italy) who participated in the 2018 edition of Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC). Six multiple binary logistic regression models were used in this study. Fruit, vegetable and soft drinks consumption models were related to all three-factor levels. Breakfast consumption frequency was associated with socio-demographic variables. BMI category was associated with socio-demographic and family variables. The results confirmed the existence of social inequalities, the importance of health literacy in predicting healthy behaviours and the relevance of the family context. The study confirms the importance of the ecological approach to understanding food intake and overweight/obesity status in adolescents.

The health and nutrition of the global adolescent population have been under-researched, in spite of its significant size (1.2 billion). This study investigates the prevalence and associated factors of malnutrition (stunting, thinness and overweight) among adolescents living in South Asia. The sample analysed was 24,053 South Asian schooled adolescents aged 12–15 years that participated in the cross-sectional Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) between 2009 and 2016. The prevalence of stunting, thinness and overweight was calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Reference 2007. Associations between the three forms of malnutrition and their possible associated factors were assessed with binary logistic regression analysis using bootstrapping as a resampling method. The overall prevalence of stunting in South Asia was 13%, thinness was 10.8% and overweight was 10.8%. In the logistic regression model of the overall pooled sample, the factors associated with adolescent malnutrition were: age, hygiene behaviours, social support, sedentary behaviour, and tobacco use. A substantial proportion of stunting, thinness and overweight was found among school-going South Asian adolescents, indicating that the double burden of malnutrition is present in this population. Future research should seek to further understand the relationship between all forms of malnutrition and its associated factors in the adolescent population.

Background: Indonesia is a prime example of the triple burden of malnutrition. Indonesian adolescents are among the hardest hit, with approximately one in four adolescent girls suffering from anemia, while nearly one in seven adolescents is overweight or obese. Objectives: The present editorial provides a snapshot of the various research papers included in this Supplement, which calls for increased attention to adolescent nutrition in Indonesia and beyond. Results: Despite major steps to reduce undernutrition and overweight, including a renewed focus on anemia among adolescent girls, major gaps remain in our understanding of various nutrition issues concerning adolescents. These include various drivers and determinants of the triple burden of malnutrition, evidence-based interventions that are supported by large-scale implementation research and evaluation, and effective delivery platforms to reach the most vulnerable groups of adolescents. Conclusion: The time has come to position adolescent nutrition as central to development, and mainstream it into health sector plans, strategies, and policies. It is our hope that this issue will stimulate the urgently needed interventions, implementation research and required programs that will safeguard the nutritional wellbeing of today's forgotten generation.

Background: Special needs schools (SNS) educate children and young people with major neurological disabilities who are at high risk of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) and malnutrition (MN). We aimed to assess the prevalence of OD, MN, dehydration (DH), and oral health (OH) in students at an SNS. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at SNS L’Arboç, Catalonia, Spain. We assessed (a) demographics, health status, comorbidities, and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), (b) swallowing function, oral-motor evaluation, masticatory capacity, and EDACS classification for eating and drinking abilities, (c) nutritional and DH status (anthropometry, bioimpedance and dietary records), and (d) OH (Oral Hygiene Index Simplified). Results: A total of 33 students (mean age 13.3 years, 39.4% level V of GMFCS) were included. Main diagnosis was cerebral palsy at 57.6%. All students presented OD, 90.6% had impaired safety, 68.7% were at levels II–III of EDACS, and 31.3% required PEG, furthermore, 89.3% had chronic MN, 21.4% had acute MN, 70% presented intracellular DH, and 83.9% presented impaired OH. Conclusion: MN, DH, OD, and poor OH are highly prevalent conditions in students with cerebral palsy and other neurological disabilities and must be specifically managed through nutritional and educational strategies. The multidisciplinary team at SNS should include healthcare professionals specifically trained in these conditions.

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional and physical activity statuses of adolescents and to examine the relationship between their nutritional and physical activity levels and anthropometric measurements. the sample of this study was composed of 2.000 students from 20 secondary schools in Istanbul, Turkey. the physical activity levels were also examined using the survey, food consumption levels were determined by applying the 24-h Dietary Recall. the height and weight were measured and evaluated by World Health Organization (WHO) growth references. Among the male students (n = 888), 50.9% were normal weighted, 25.8% were overweight, 19.2% were obese, and 2.2% were severely obese. the percentage of those who were normal weight was higher (65.5%) among the female adolescents (n = 852), and 21.8% of the females were overweight, 10.2% were obese, and 0.9% were severely obese. the differences in terms of intake values of all food items were found to be statistically significant (p < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the food consumption of male and female adolescents in terms of the level of intake of macronutrients. Children and adolescents need to be provided an adequate, balanced nutrition and physical activity to help them grow and develop healthily., Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma KurumuTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [113K796], This work was supported by the Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu [113K796].

Objective:To compare the dietary habits of children living in northern villages and in the capital of Greenland, given the reported transition from traditional to westernised diet in adults over recent decades, and to explore the association between consumption of marine mammals and fish (MMF) and the children’s metabolic profile and vitamin D status.Design:Children answered an FFQ encompassing sixty-four individual food types pooled into six food categories. Their pubertal stage, body fat, fitness level, metabolic profile (non-HDL-cholesterol, glycated Hb, insulin, glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) as well as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration were evaluated.Setting:Siorapaluk and Qaanaaq (north of Greenland) and Nuuk (west).Participants:Children aged 6–18 years (n 177).Results:MMF were most frequently eaten by children from Siorapaluk (mean (sd): 73·4 (14·1) times/month), followed by children from Qaanaaq (37·0 (25·0) times/month), and least often eaten by children from Nuuk (23·7 (24·6) times/month; P < 0·001). Children from Qaanaaq consumed ‘junk food’ more frequently (P < 0·001) and fruits and vegetables less frequently (P < 0·01) than children from Nuuk. MMF consumption was positively associated with serum 25(OH)D concentration (P < 0·05), but the overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high (18 %). No association was found between MMF consumption and metabolic parameters.Conclusions:The dietary transition and influence of western diets have spread to the north of Greenland and only the most remote place consumed a traditional diet highly based on MMF. We found no strong associations of MMF consumption with metabolic health, but a positive association with vitamin D status.

Objective To assess the feasibility of a family meal intervention to address indicators of parent and adolescent nutrition and well-being and household food security. Methods Nine adolescents and a parent/caregiver were recruited from a youth health clinic. Families were provided with meal plans, recipes, and ingredients for 5 meals weekly for 4 weeks. Participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys and open-ended interviews. Results Overall, fidelity to the intervention was high among families; the frequency of family meals increased by approximately 2 meals/wk. Both parent/caregivers and adolescents reported improvements to nutrition (4 of 9 increased vegetable consumption for both) and most reported improvements to mental well-being. Household food insecurity also reduced during the intervention (means of 8.2 and 0.2 at baseline and follow-up, respectively). Conclusions and Implications Providing families with meal plans, recipes, and ingredients is an acceptable way to increase weekly frequency of family meals. Future research may consider the family meal as a way to engage with families about broader concerns.

AIM Childhood underweight is a problem being faced by rural black South African populations but little is known about its risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors related to childhood underweight in rural black South African children within the area known as Ellisras. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the ongoing Ellisras Longitudinal Study. The current study comprised a total of 1 811 pre-primary and primary school children (934 males and 877 females) aged between five and 16 years. The chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree model was used to identify factors and determine their relationships with childhood underweight. RESULTS A total of 1 811 children were involved in the study, of whom about 81% were severely underweight. The CHAID model showed that the variables: nutrition, age group, gender and school level were the four main predicting variables affecting childhood underweight. Hypertension was not significantly associated with childhood underweight. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of childhood underweight was found to be high in children aged between five and 16 years. To address this problem, well-thought-out intervention systems are need.

Nutritional geometry (NG) is a novel dietary analysis approach that considers nutrient balance, rather than single nutrient effects, on health and behaviour. Through NG, recent animal experiments have found that lifespan and reproduction are differentially altered by dietary macronutrient distribution. Epidemiological research using NG reports similar findings for human ageing. Yet, the relation of macronutrient balance to human reproduction, especially reproductive maturation, remains undefined. We studied the impact of childhood macronutrient intake on pubertal maturation, by applying NG to an Australian longitudinal adolescent dataset. Food records, collected at age 8 years from 142 pre-pubertal children (females, 92; males, 50), were analysed for absolute energy, percentage energy and energy-adjusted residuals from protein, carbohydrate and fat. Pubertal stage change (assessed at 8, 13 and 15 years) was modelled to obtain individual mathematical estimates of pubertal timing and tempo. Timing of menarche was recorded. The association of macronutrients to pubertal timing/tempo was assessed via NG, involving generalised additive models and heat maps to aid interpretation. Results showed lower dietary protein (relative to carbohydrate and fat) in girls consistently predicted earlier pubertal timing and menarche, and was related to faster pubertal tempo (allP< 0·05). No significant associations were identified in boys for both timing and tempo. Results suggest a role of non-protein macronutrients in facilitating female maturation; corroborating feeding and reproductive behaviour patterns observed in earlier NG studies of primates. Application of NG to other adolescent datasets is required to confirm the present findings. Such work would advance understanding of how nutrient balance shapes human development and health.

Aims This review aimed at investigating fruit, vegetable and legume consumption, salt/sodium intake, and the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern in adolescents, three key aspects towards the adoption of a healthy diet. Data synthesis Three separate searches were carried out on PubMed and Scopus, using the same procedure, searching for studies published in the previous decade with data on fruit and/or vegetable or legume consumption, salt or sodium intake, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire. The review included a total of 58 papers, which describe original investigations on healthy adolescents (10–19 years old) living in North America, Europe or Oceania, with a sample size >150 participants. The average fruit and vegetable consumption has been found strongly below the recommended values of 400 grams or 5 portions per day in almost all the examined populations. Very little is known about adolescents' legume consumption. Few available data have been found also for sodium intake and, for the majority of the screened populations, levels were far above the recommended 5 grams per day. Lastly, a medium–low adherence to the Mediterranean Diet has been found for adolescents living in Mediterranean Countries. Conclusions Adolescents living in North America, Europe or Oceania are far from being compliant with the nutritional recommendations for fruit, vegetables, legumes, and sodium, and they do not follow the principles of the Mediterranean Diet. Educational and behavioural interventions are required to improve adolescents' dietary patterns.

Dairy is important for children and adolescents' bone development and nutritional needs, and it is not known how the type of milk consumed relates to overall dietary intakes. This study assessed the hypothesis that Australian children and adolescents who drink milk have greater milk, dairy, and micronutrient intakes compared to those who consume milk in other ways or avoid milk. A secondary analysis using day 1 data from the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey was performed (n = 2812, 2-18 years). Children were classified as plain or flavored milk drinkers, other milk drinkers (eg, smoothies, milkshakes), nondrinkers of milk (eg. on cereal), or milk avoiders. Intakes of total dairy, milk, calcium, free sugars, and sugar-sweetened beverages were determined and adjusted for confounders. Milk consumption was popular (81%), and the majority (63%) of milk consumers were drinkers, and of those, 46% were plain, 32% were flavored, and 21% were other milk drinkers. Flavored and plain milk drinkers had higher total daily milk (480, 95% confidence interval [CI] 459-501 and 445, 95% CI 427-462 g, respectively), dairy (2.8, 95% CI 2.7-2.9 and 2.6, 95% CI 2.5-2.7 servings, respectively), and calcium (1049 ± 18 and 980 ± 15 mg, respectively) intakes than all other groups. Plain milk drinkers (10.7%, SD 6.2%) had a lower proportion of daily energy from free sugars than all other groups, but there was no difference in free sugars intake between plain and flavored milk drinkers, and there were no differences in anthropometric measures across groups. Plain and flavored milk drinkers and nondrinkers of milk had the lowest prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverages intake (P

Diet is thought to modulate inflammation. This study shows no relationships between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and biomarkers of inflammation or bone after adjusting for covariates. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 was inversely associated with peripheral tibia cortical thickness and prospective childhood studies should be conducted to better understand this relationship and to determine if there are long-term consequences in adulthood.Examine the relationships between the DII-scores and bone and biomarkers of inflammation in 290 adolescents, ages 9-13 years.DII-scores were calculated from 3-day diet records and categorized into tertiles, low ( - 1.34), medium (- 1.34 to 1.41), and high ( 1.41) inflammation. Radius and tibia bone were assessed via peripheral quantitative computed tomography (Stratec XCT 2000) at the 66% site relative to the distal growth plate. Fasting serum was measured for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). The relationships between DII-scores and bone and biomarkers of inflammation were assessed using bivariate and partial correlations adjusting for sexual maturation, sex, race, muscle cross-sectional area, and height. ANOVA/ANCOVA models were used to compare DII-tertiles with dependent variables.DII-scores were negatively associated with tibia trabecular area (TtAr; r = - .141, P = .019), periosteal perimeter (PsPM; r = - .145, P = .016), endosteal perimeter (r = - .145, P = .016), strength strain index (SSI; r = - .129, P = .032), and radius TtAr (r = - .140, P = .020), PsPM (r = -.138, P = .027) and SSI (r = -.131, P = .036) but nullified when adjusting for covariates. Tibia PsPM was higher in the low DII group compared to the medium (P = .050) and high (P = .046) groups but nullified after controlling for covariates. DII-scores were not associated with TNF-α, VEGF, or IL-6, but were associated with MCP-1 only in the unadjusted model (r = .125, P = .042). In the adjusted model, MCP-1 was inversely associated with tibia cortical thickness (r = -.150 P = .030).The DII-scores were not related to biomarkers of inflammation or bone; however, the biomarker of inflammation, MCP-1 was negatively associated with tibia CtTh. Future prospective pediatric studies should be conducted to better understand this relationship and determine if there are long-term implications in adulthood.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) program on weight reduction among Iranian adolescents who are overweight. Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial design, 55 adolescents who were overweight (mean [SD] age = 14.64 [1.69] years; zBMI = 2.18 [0.65]) were recruited in the CBT program and 55 in the treatment as usual (TAU; mean age = 14.88 [1.50]; zBMI = 2.09 [0.57]) group. All the participants completed several questionnaires (Child Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale; Weight Efficacy Lifestyle questionnaire; Physical Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; and self-reported physical activity and diet) and had their anthropometrics measured (height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat). Results: The CBT group consumed significantly more fruits and juice, vegetables, and dairy in the 6-month follow-up as compared with the TAU group (p-values

Objective Prior research has documented the influence of social norms on health-related behaviors, though social norms may affect behaviors in more complex ways than have conventionally been modeled. The present research evaluates parent norms and teens' own attitudes as moderators of associations between perceived peer norms and diet and physical activity behaviors (both health-promoting and health-impairing) in a national sample of U.S. adolescents. Methods Adolescent participants (N = 1,859; ages 12-17) from the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating study reported on the extent to which their friends eat fruits and vegetables; eat junk food or drink sugary drinks; exercise; and watch TV, play on the computer, or play electronic games most days of the week. They also reported on their own attitudes and behaviors as well as their parents' corresponding behaviors and rules. Results Perceived peer norms were associated with teens' own health-promoting behaviors such as fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity as well as health-impairing behaviors such as junk food consumption and sedentary habits. Teens who reported liking fruits and vegetables or physical activity or perceiving congruent descriptive parental norms demonstrated the strongest positive associations between peer norms and their own behavior. Conclusions Perceived social norms may play a significant role in both health-impairing and health-promoting behaviors, particularly when congruent with attitudes or descriptive parental norms about those behaviors. The findings may inform interventions such as social norms marketing campaigns that aim to change perceptions of peer norms for health-promoting behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Nutrition is essential for children with end-stage renal disease, especially for those suffering from peritoneal dialysis (PD). Although the number of PD children has increased annually at the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, studies about the diet and nutritional deficiencies status of PD children is still limited. The aim of this study was to describe the actual diet and status of nutritional deficiencies of PD patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 31 PD children aged 2-15 years old using the 24-h dietary recall and biochemical parameters in blood (albumin, hemoglobin, calcium, sodium, potassium, and chloride). The energy intake was lowest in children over 13-year-old with only 32.9% of dietary reference intakes (DRIs). Carbohydrate intake among 10-15-year-old children was 38.1% of DRIs. Daily consumption of sodium was 65.6% and 33%-35% of DRIs for children under and over three-year-old, respectively. In comparison with DRIs, daily consumption of magnesium, iron, and calcium of over 10-year-old children was lower than that of younger children. In terms of vitamins, B-group vitamins, Vitamin C achieved the recommended levels except Vitamin A (63.0%) and Vitamin D (20.0%). The prevalence of children with serum albumin concentration lower than the normal range was 45.2% and prevalence of anemia was 51.6%. The proportion of children with decreased plasma calcium, sodium, and potassium levels was 83.8%, 77.4%, and 12.9%, respectively. PD children's diet lacks energy, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, as well as micronutrients. The prevalence of nutritional deficiencies is remarkably high in PD children.

The verification of factors associated with growth, body composition and nutritional and nutritional aspects after HIV infection in children or adolescents in Brazil is fundamental for progress in this area. We selected articles published until 2018, available on the platforms PubMed and Lilacs, using the keywords The following descriptors and their associations were used, extracted from MeSH: “Children”, “Adolescent”, “Anthropometry”, “Nutritional Assessment”, “HIV”, “Brazil” adding the filter “and” for advanced searches. A total of 1,450 articles were found, and after selection and full reading, 19 were selected. The studies agreed that children and adolescents living with HIV present or may present alterations in bone metabolism, lipid metabolism and body composition due to infection or associated with therapy. Significant differences were observed in weight and height in infected infants compared to uninfected infants. The evaluation and monitoring of diet quality, as well as serum micronutrient monitoring, are fundamental to guarantee the clinical and treatment conditions of these patients, as well as to prevent disorders due to low nutrient intakes. Resumo A verificação de fatores associados ao crescimento, composição corporal e aspectos alimentares e nutricionais, após a infecção pelo HIV em crianças ou adolescentes no Brasil é fundamental para avanços nesta área. Foram selecionados artigos publicados até 2018, disponibilizados nas plataformas PubMed e Lilacs, extraídas do MeSH: “Children”, “Adolescent”, “Anthropometry”, “Nutritional Assessment”, “HIV”, “Brazil” adicionadas do filtro “and” para as pesquisas. Foram encontrados 1.450 artigos e após seleção e leitura integral foram selecionados 19. Os estudos concordaram que crianças e adolescentes vivendo com HIV apresentam ou podem apresentar alterações no metabolismo ósseo, de lipídeos e na composição corporal devido à infecção ou associadas à terapia. Observou-se diferença significativa do peso e estatura em crianças infectadas em relação às não infectadas. Percebe-se que a avaliação e o monitoramento da qualidade da dieta, bem como o acompanhamento sérico de micronutrientes, são fundamentais para garantir as condições clínicas e de tratamento destes pacientes, bem como para prevenir desordens por baixo consumo de nutrientes.

The verification of factors associated with growth, body composition and nutritional and nutritional aspects after HIV infection in children or adolescents in Brazil is fundamental for progress in this area. We selected articles published until 2018, available on the platforms PubMed and Lilacs, using the keywords The following descriptors and their associations were used, extracted from MeSH: “Children”, “Adolescent”, “Anthropometry”, “Nutritional Assessment”, “HIV”, “Brazil” adding the filter “and” for advanced searches. A total of 1,450 articles were found, and after selection and full reading, 19 were selected. The studies agreed that children and adolescents living with HIV present or may present alterations in bone metabolism, lipid metabolism and body composition due to infection or associated with therapy. Significant differences were observed in weight and height in infected infants compared to uninfected infants. The evaluation and monitoring of diet quality, as well as serum micronutrient monitoring, are fundamental to guarantee the clinical and treatment conditions of these patients, as well as to prevent disorders due to low nutrient intakes.

Creatine is a popular ergogenic aid among athletic populations with consistent evidence indicating that creatine supplementation also continues to be commonly used among adolescent populations. In addition, the evidence base supporting the therapeutic benefits of creatine supplementation for a plethora of clinical applications in both adults and children continues to grow. Among pediatric populations, a strong rationale exists for creatine to afford therapeutic benefits pertaining to multiple neuromuscular and metabolic disorders, with preliminary evidence for other subsets of clinical populations as well. Despite the strong evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation among adult populations, less is known as to whether similar physiological benefits extend to children and adolescent populations, and in particular those adolescent populations who are regularly participating in high-intensity exercise training. While limited in scope, studies involving creatine supplementation and exercise performance in adolescent athletes generally report improvements in a number of ergogenic outcomes with limited evidence of ergolytic properties and consistent reports indicating no adverse events associated with supplementation. The purpose of this article is to summarize the rationale, prevalence of use, performance benefits, clinical applications, and safety of creatine use in children and adolescents.

This study proposes age- and sex-specific percentiles for serum cobalamin and folate, and analyzes the effects of sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and socioeconomic status (SES) on cobalamin and folate concentrations in healthy children and adolescents. In total, 4478 serum samples provided by healthy participants (2 months-18.0 years) in the LIFE (Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases) Child population-based cohort study between 2011 and 2015 were analyzed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Continuous age-and sex-related percentiles (2.5th, 10th, 50th, 90th, 97.5th) were estimated, applying Cole's LMS method. In both sexes, folate concentrations decreased continuously with age, whereas cobalamin concentration peaked between three and seven years of age and declined thereafter. Female sex was associated with higher concentrations of both vitamins in 13- to 18-year-olds and with higher folate levels in one- to five-year-olds. BMI was inversely correlated with concentrations of both vitamins, whilst SES positively affected folate but not cobalamin concentrations. To conclude, in the assessment of cobalamin and folate status, the age- and sex-dependent dynamic of the respective serum concentrations must be considered. While BMI is a determinant of both vitamin concentrations, SES is only associated with folate concentrations.

Low-carbon diets can counteract climate change and promote health if they are nutritionally adequate, affordable and culturally acceptable. This study aimed at developing sustainable diets and to compare these with the EAT-Lancet diet. The Swedish national dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents 2016–17 was used as the baseline. Diets were optimized using linear programming for four dietary patterns: omnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans. The deviation from the baseline Riksmaten diet was minimized for all optimized diets while fulfilling nutrient and climate footprint constraints. Constraining the diet-related carbon dioxide equivalents of omnivores to 1.57 kg/day resulted in a diet associated with a reduction of meat, dairy products, and processed foods and an increase in potatoes, pulses, eggs and seafood. Climate-friendly, nutritionally adequate diets for pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans contained fewer foods and included considerable amounts of fortified dairy and meat substitutes. The optimized diets did not align very well with the foodgroup pattern of the EAT-Lancet diet. These findings suggest how to design future diets that are climate-friendly, nutritionally adequate, affordable, and culturally acceptable for Swedish adolescents with different dietary patterns. The discrepancies with the EAT diet indicate that the cultural dietary context is likely to play an important role in characterizing sustainable diets for specific populations.

Two aspects that characterize the Mediterranean diet (MD) are “what” and “how” we eat. Conviviality relates to “how” we eat and to the pleasure of sharing meals with significant people. The most studied concept is “family meals”, which includes conviviality, which involves “enjoying” family meals. Given the lack of research on convivial family meals in Mediterranean countries, the purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the family meal representations and practices of families with 12- to 16-year-old adolescents to assess whether they responded to a pattern of conviviality, and to examine their association with MD adherence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted and food frequency and family meal questionnaires were administered. A food pattern analysis was carried out and digital photos of meals were analyzed to examine eating habits and meal composition, respectively. The findings showed that parents believed family meals are a space for socialization and communication. Items relating to the conviviality of family meals identified in the study were meal frequency, meals at the table, lack of digital distractions, pleasant conversations, and time spent on family meals. Attention should be paid to conviviality in Mediterranean families when designing multi-approach strategies to promote healthy eating among adolescents.

High intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contributes to detrimental cardio-metabolic indicators in youth. Monitoring of SSB consumption is lacking in Eastern Europe., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Adolescence is a nutritionally vulnerable and critical life stage. However, few programs and policies focus on improving adolescent nutrition in Indonesia. To address this gap, we implemented a gender-responsive package of interventions: (1) breakfast and weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFS), (2) a school-based nutrition education program, and (3) a social behavior change communication strategy. We surveyed 514 adolescents at baseline (2019) and endline (2020) in Klaten and Lombok Barat districts in Indonesia. The survey included a knowledge assessment on nutrition, as well as indicators of attitudes and behaviors on diet, physical activity, and WIFS. We employed multivariable linear and logistic regression to test for pre–post intervention differences. Overall knowledge was significantly higher post-intervention (β: 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6, 3.9). Diet diversity was high at both timepoints, however, at post-intervention there was significantly higher odds of consuming vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.0) and lower odds of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.5). Post-intervention, there was higher odds of reporting 60 min of daily physical activity (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.2) and WIFS among girls (OR: 6.7; 95% CI: 1.5, 30.9). The package of interventions may be a promising first step to improving adolescent nutrition in Indonesia.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2015-2020 (1), recommends consuming different types of vegetables, including dark green, red or orange, starchy, and other vegetables, and fruit, especially whole fruit. Fruits and vegetables are part of healthy eating patterns; they are sources of many essential nutrients, fiber and phytochemicals, and are associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases (1-3). This report examines the percentage of children and adolescents aged 2-19 who consumed fruits and vegetables on a given day in 2015-2018.

This study aimed to investigate the association between the frequency of home cooking and cardiovascular disease risk among Japanese adolescents. We used cross-sectional data on adolescents from the 2018 Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty study, which targeted junior high school students aged 13&ndash, 14 years in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan. Frequency of home cooking by 553 caregivers was assessed via questionnaire and classified as high (almost daily), medium (4&ndash, 5 days/week), or low (&le, 3 days/week). Cardiovascular disease risk factors included blood pressure, serum cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL), hemoglobin A1c, and body mass index. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that adolescents exposed to a low frequency of home cooking showed higher diastolic blood pressure (&beta, = 3.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42 to 6.75) and lower HDL cholesterol (&beta, = &minus, 6.15, 95% CI: &minus, 11.2 to &minus, 1.07) than those exposed to a high frequency of home cooking, adjusting for adolescents&rsquo, sex, household income, and parental comorbidity. Future studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship and mechanisms through which home cooking influences adolescents&rsquo, cardiovascular health.

Objective:To investigate whether adherence to the adapted Mediterranean Diet Score for Adolescents (MDS_A) and the adapted Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (KIDMED_A) is associated with better food/nutrient intakes and nutritional biomarkers.Design:The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study is a cross-sectional study aiming to obtain comparable data on a variety of nutritional and health-related parameters in European adolescents aged 12·5–17·5 years.Setting:Nine European countries.Participants:European adolescents (n 2330) recruited to the HELENA study. Dietary intake was obtained with 24 h dietary recalls, an FFQ and a Food Choices and Preferences questionnaire. MDS_A was calculated as a categorical variable using cut-offs (MDS_A), as a continuous variable (zMDS_A) and with energy adjustments (zEnMDS_A). The KIDMED_A score was also calculated.Results:Multilevel linear regression analysis showed positive associations for zMDS_A and KIDMED_A with serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin C, plasma folate, holo-transcobalamin, β-carotene and n-3 fatty acids, while negative associations were observed with trans-fatty acid serum levels. For categorical indices, blood biomarkers showed few significant results. zMDS_A and KIDMED_A showed positive associations with vegetables and fruits intake, and negative associations with energy-dense and low-nutritious foods. zMDS_A and KIDMED_A were positively associated with all macronutrients, vitamins and minerals (all P < 0·0001), except with monosaccharides and PUFA for KIDMED_A and cholesterol for both indices (P < 0·05).Conclusions:zMDS_A and KIDMED_A have shown the strongest associations with the dietary indicators and biomarkers that have been associated with the Mediterranean diet before, and are therefore considered the most appropriate and valid Mediterranean diet scores for European adolescents.

An effective behavior change program is the first line of prevention for youth obesity. However, effectiveness in prevention of adolescent obesity requires several approaches, with special attention paid to disordered eating behaviors and psychological support, among other environmental factors. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the impact of two types of obesity prevention programs, inclusive of behavior change components, on weight outcomes. “Energy-balance” studies are aimed at reducing calories from high-energy sources and increasing physical activity (PA) levels, while “shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders” focus on reducing disordered eating behaviors to promote a positive food and eating relationship. A systematic search of ProQuest, PubMed, PsycInfo, SciELO, and Web of Science identified 8825 articles. Thirty-five studies were included in the review, of which 20 regarded “energy-balance” and 15 “shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders”. “Energy-balance” studies were unable to support maintenance weight status, diet, and PA. “Shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders” programs also did not result in significant differences in weight status over time. However, the majority of “shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders” studies demonstrated reduced body dissatisfaction, dieting, and weight-control behaviors. Research is needed to examine how a shared risk factor approach can address both obesity and eating disorders.