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Introduction Consumption of unhealthy foods in children contributes to high levels of childhood obesity globally. In developing countries there is paucity of empirical studies on the association. This study employed propensity-score methods to evaluate the effect of unhealthy foods on overweight among children in Malawi using observational data. Methods Data on 4625 children aged 6 to 59 months from the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) were analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression model of unhealthy foods (yes or no) on purported confounders of childhood overweight was used to obtain a child's unhealthy food propensity score. The propensity scores were then used to form matched sets of healthy and unhealthy fed children. The association between unhealthy foods and childhood overweight was assessed using the conditional logistic regression model. Results The prevalence of overweight (body mass index (BMI) z-score > 2 standard deviations) was estimated at 4.5% (3.8%, 5.3%). The proportion of children who consumed unhealthy foods was estimated at 14.6% (95% CI: 13.1%, 16.2%). Our propensity score matching achieved a balance in the distribution of the confounders between children in the healthy and unhealthy food groups. Children fed unhealthy foods were significantly more likely to be overweight than those fed healthy foods (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: (1.2, 5.2)). Conclusion The findings suggest the adverse effects of unhealthy foods on childhood overweight in Malawi. Thus, efforts to reduce unhealthy food consumption among children should be implemented and supported to address the problem of childhood overweight in Malawi and the sub-Saharan African region., Author(s): Halima S. Twabi [sup.1] , Samuel O. M Manda [sup.2] , Dylan S. Small [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.10595.38, 0000 0001 2113 2211, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of [...]

Background Diet plays a key role in the ageing process. Despite this, little is known about the effect of dietary patterns on older adults' nutritional status. The main aim of this study was to analyse the association between a posteriori derived dietary patterns (DPs) and nutritional status among community dwellers aged [greater than or equal to]65. Methods Cross-sectional study including a representative sample of the community-dwelling Portuguese population aged [greater than or equal to]65 (n = 849, mean age 74.1 years old). Data were collected through computer-assisted, face-to-face interviews. Dietary patterns were derived a posteriori based on two 24-h recalls by a latent class transition model. Nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA.sup.®) and measured body mass index (BMI). Associations were estimated by regression models. MNA score was reversed and log-transformed considering its skewed distribution. Results Two DPs were identified: 22.0% of the studied population followed a 'Protein-based foods' DP (highest consumption of legumes, meats and sweets), and 59.1% followed a 'Mediterranean' DP (highest consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy, cereals/tubers, bread, fishery and olive oil). Moreover, 18.9% switched between those patterns ('In-between' DP). After adjustment, the 'Protein-based foods' DP was associated with better MNA score (EXP([beta]) = 0.716, 95% CI 0.533, 0.962), compared to the 'Mediterranean' DP, particularly for total energy intake up to 2200 kcal/day. No significant associations were found between DPs and BMI. Conclusions A protein-based pattern is associated with lower malnutrition risk in older adults, when considering an adequate energy intake. This should be taken into account when designing and disseminating food-based guidelines for healthy ageing., Author(s): Teresa Madeira [sup.1] [sup.2] , Milton Severo [sup.3] [sup.4] , Andreia Oliveira [sup.3] [sup.4] , João Gorjão Clara [sup.1] [sup.2] , Carla Lopes [sup.3] [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) Instituto [...]

Purpose Healthy dietary change proves challenging for all families navigating the variable food preferences of children but can be especially burdensome for low-income families with limited resources. Encouragingly, programs that engage children in hands-on nutrition education appear to promote changes that positively impact the entire family. From these observations, we designed a dedicated pediatric cooking and nutrition class concurrent with a community-based culinary medicine class for adult clients of a food pantry. Description Through the Food As Medicine (FAME) nutrition education initiative at community pantry sites, we launched culinary medicine classes for pantry clients and offered concurrent culinary medicine classes for their children. Each pediatric class included an interactive lesson, hands-on cooking, and crafts or games to reinforce concepts prior to sharing a meal with parents. Assessment The pilot classes launched at two pantry sites, and the team leading the pediatric classes solicited feedback from participants and stakeholders to enable thematic analysis of the impact. Observations included the ability of children to identify new foods and to report enthusiasm for assisting with food preparation at home. Child participants engaged in the class demonstrated willingness to try new foods when joining their parents for a meal. Conclusion This pilot intervention details an educational, hands-on nutrition and cooking curriculum for children of low-income families. Through age-appropriate experiential learning, we observed a positive impact of this class in its ability to encourage family participation, to augment nutrition lessons taught to parent participants, and to empower young learners to advocate for healthy dietary change., Author(s): Haley Marshall [sup.1] , Jaclyn Albin [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.266539.d, 0000 0004 1936 8438, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, , 800 Rose Street, 10140536, Lexington, KY, USA [...]

The environmental affordances (EA) model posits that maladaptive self-regulatory strategies (e.g., emotional eating) directly and indirectly heighten African Americans' risk for downstream medical morbidities while also potentially mitigating the psychological impact of stressors. We empirically tested the full EA model. In doing so, we investigated the associations among racial discrimination, depressive symptomatology, and physical health proxies as well as the intervening role of emotional eating in these associations among 150 African Americans aged 18-27. The increased frequency of experiencing racial discrimination was significantly associated with poorer self-reported health, greater depressive symptomatology, and more emotional eating. There was no significant association between emotional eating and physical health and emotional eating did not mediate the relation between racial discrimination and physical health. Finally, racial discrimination was associated with depressive symptomatology, but only among African Americans with mean or high levels of emotional eating., Author(s): Lori S. Hoggard [sup.1] , Vanessa Volpe [sup.2] , Alvin Thomas [sup.3] , Ellie Wallace [sup.4] , Katrina Ellis [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.430387.b, 0000 0004 1936 8796, Department [...]

Background/Objectives: Dietary patterns are linked to risk and outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dietary intake varies by race, region and age. The relationship between a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and CKD in elderly Koreans is unclear. Subjects/Methods: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 2408 community-dwelling elderly participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2012). DASH dietary patterns for six nutrients (protein, fiber, calcium, potassium, total fat and sodium) were collected by 24 h recall. DASH-US (based on the US recommendations) and DASH-KQ (Korean quartile) scores were generated by summing the scores for the six nutrients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) for the association between a DASH diet and CKD. Results: Mean subject age was 72.4[plus or minus]5.1 years, 13.9% had CKD and 23.8% had diabetes. Protein, fiber, calcium and potassium intake was lower in CKD than non-CKD participants. In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, comorbid conditions and other factors, a high DASH score was associated with a low odds for CKD based on DASH-US (OR=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65-0.94, P=0.009) and DASH-KQ (OR=0.95, 95% CI, 0.91-0.99, P=0.022). In six nutrients of DASH diet, high fiber intake showed a low odds for CKD in the DASH-KQ model (P for trend=0.010). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that higher adherence to a DASH diet and higher fiber intake are associated with lower odds of CKD in elderly Koreans. These results should be corroborated through longitudinal studies of the association between a DASH diet and high-fiber diet on the risk of developing CKD., Author(s): H S Lee [sup.1] , K B Lee [sup.1] , Y Y Hyun [sup.1] , Y Chang [sup.2] [sup.3] , S Ryu [sup.2] [sup.3] , Y Choi [sup.3] Author [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The determination of dietary patterns in children examines the effects of the overall diet at early ages, instead of looking at individual foods or energy providing nutrients. The present analysis aims to identify the dietary patterns of preschool children and to examine their associations with multiple socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Dietary data were collected for 1081 children participating in the Rhea mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece. Diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified with principal component analysis. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine factors associated with each dietary pattern. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were identified explaining 45.8% of the total diet variation. The 'Mediterranean' pattern was based on pulses, olive oil, vegetables, fish and fruits; the 'Snacky' pattern included potatoes and other starchy roots, salty snacks, sugar products and eggs; the 'Western' pattern contained cereals, cheese, added lipids, beverages and meat. Preschool attendance and increased time spent with the mother ([greater than or equal to] 2 h/day) were positively associated with the 'Mediterranean' pattern, whereas watching TV was inversely associated with this pattern. Lower parental education, maternal age and earlier introduction to solid foods were positively associated with the 'Snacky' pattern. Higher scores on the 'Western' type diet were associated with exposure to passive smoking and watching TV. No variation in energy providing nutrient intake was observed across tertiles of the identified dietary patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this analysis indicate the important role of socio-demographic factors on children's dietary preferences in early age. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.93; published online 17 June 2015, INTRODUCTION Dietary food preferences that are first established at preschool age encourage children to adopt healthy eating in adult life. (1,2) Dietary patterns in the first years of life have [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Daily practices related to eating are embedded in the social and cultural contexts of everyday life. How are such factors associated with diet quality relative to motivational factors? And, are associations universal or context-specific? We analyze the relationship between diet quality and the following practices: social company while eating, the regularity and duration of eating and the activity of watching TV while eating. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based internet survey was conducted in April 2012 with stratified random samples of the populations (aged 15-80 years) in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden (N = 7531, completion rate 9-13%). The questionnaire elicited detailed accounts of one day of eating focusing on social and practical aspects of eating events. The validated Dietary Quality Score was the dependent variable. This measure is based on eight food frequency questions focusing on fats, vegetables, fruits and fish in the diet. RESULTS: Eating activities were associated with diet quality even when motivation to eat healthily and sociodemographic factors were controlled for. The number of daily eating events and eating main meals was positively correlated with diet quality in all countries. Beyond that, activities that were significantly associated with diet quality varied with country. When measured separately, the association between each activity and diet quality was weaker than motivation to eat healthily, but in combinations that are found in parts of the populations, the association was substantial. CONCLUSIONS: Daily practices related to eating are correlated with diet quality. Practices that are important are in part universal but also country-specific. Efforts to promote healthy eating should address not only cognitive factors but also everyday contexts of eating that facilitate or hamper healthy practices. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 791-798; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2015.61; published online 29 April 2015, INTRODUCTION What makes individuals eat healthily? The answer to this question is central for interventions and policies aiming to promote healthy diets in populations. Social psychological approaches have shown that [...]