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Low fluid intake and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are among the risk behaviours in children that promote the development of non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the beverage consumption of school)aged children and its contribution to daily energy and added sugars intake. Dietary intake was observed from dietary records, on three non-consecutive days, of 195 primary school children (52% boys; median 8.8 years) from the city of Zagreb. Total fluid intake included fluid from foods and beverages and was compared with Dietary Reference Values for the EU. The average daily fluid intake of children was 1168 mL (859 - 1563), of which 59.6% was from beverages. Only 14.4% of children reached the reference value for total daily fluid intake. Of the beverages, water (34.7%) contributes the most to daily fluid intake, followed by soft drinks (6.3%) and milk (6.1%). Milk and soft drinks contribute the most to the daily energy intake from beverages. Added sugars account for about 7.7% (5.5% – 10.4%) of children's daily energy intake. Beverage consumption contributes to 26.5% of daily intake of added sugars, mainly soft drinks. In conclusion, children do not consume enough fluids, especially water. Although food is the main source of energy and added sugars in children's diets, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of soft drinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In countries around the world, a dietary shift is observed in which the consumption of highly processed foods increases over unprocessed or minimally processed foods. The objective of this study was to observe the proportion of processed foods in the diet of school-aged children and to assess how this relates to sex, weight status and school meal consumption. The aim was to assess the impact of processed foods on overall diet quality in terms of ultra-processed foods contribution to total daily energy intake. Dietary intake was observed from dietary records for three non-consecutive days of 168 children (50.6% boys) aged 8.3 ± 0.5 years. All foods and beverages were classified into four groups according to NOVA food classification system. The contribution of each NOVA food group to total daily energy intake was calculated and the mean nutrient intake of children divided into terciles according to total daily energy intake from ultraprocessed foods was compared. Anthropometric measurements were performed according to standard protocols, while sex and age z-scores were obtained using AnthroPlus software. Results show that unprocessed or minimally processed foods (38.1% kcal) and ultra-processed foods (38.1% kcal) had the highest proportion of dietary intake. There was no difference in NOVA food groups intake by sex or weight status, while number of school meals may contribute to the intake of processed culinary ingredients. Children who had higher energy intake from ultra-processed foods had lower intake of animal proteins (p=0.009), polyunsaturated fatty acids (p=0.014), vitamin A (p=0.027) and most minerals, but higher intake of carbohydrates (p=0.014) and copper (p=0.014) compared to children with lower energy intake from ultra-processed foods. In conclusion, school-aged children had equal share of energy from unprocessed or minimally processed foods and from ultra-processed foods. Higher share of energy from ultra-process foods may contribute to poor overall nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School meals should encourage a varied and diverse diet, since children may eat up to three meals at school per day. The aim of this study was to assess food variety and dietary diversity among primary school children regarding the number and type of school meals. Dietary records for three non-consecutive days were used to estimate the food variety score (FVS) and dietary diversity score (DDS) of 195 children (52.3% boys) aged 8-9 years from schools in the city of Zagreb. For analysis, children were divided into 5 groups according to the number and type of school meals consumed: non-consumers (23.1%), breakfast consumers (30.3%), lunch consumers (5.6%), breakfast and lunch consumers (13.3%), and breakfast, lunch and snack consumers (27.7%). The children had an average FVS of 14.3 (12.6 - 16.7) and DDS of 5.7 (5.0 - 6.0). The food group with the highest frequency of consumption was starchy staple (99.9% of children), while legumes, seeds, and nuts were consumed least frequently (15.4%). The number and type of school meals were moderately correlated (r = 0.313, p < 0.001) with FVS and weakly (r = 0.230, p = 0.02) with DDS. In addition, children who ate breakfast and lunch or breakfast, lunch, and snack from school meals had significantly higher FVS (p < 0.001) and DDS (p = 0.027) compared to children who ate fewer school meals or ate no school meal. Children (50%) who ate breakfast, lunch, and snacks from school meals were more likely (p = 0.022) to consume dark green leafy vegetables. The number of school meals may affect the food variety and dietary diversity, with children who eat more school meals having better quality. However, the values obtained by the index suggest that both parents and school food services should provide more varied meals in terms of different foods and food groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining children's food consumption is challenging and requires dietetic methods that provide adequate specificity for describing, but also for quantifying food intake. To help survey respondents indicate food portion sizes, photograph series can be used, but these must be validated in a nationally representative sample of the population. The aim of the present study was to validate photograph series as a portion size measurement aid during dietary assessment of children in Croatia. This study involved 28 mothers of children aged 3 months to 10 years, who were asked to select one of four photographs in a series that best represented the quantity of food served to them. Of the 21 series tested, 17 were found to be appropriate for assessing food portion sizes. Participants were worst at assessing portion sizes of banana (29.3%), porridge (22.8%), hot dogs (20,3%) and plain yoghurt (19.1%). Further studies are needed to determine why these foods are poorly recognized so that photographs can be modified accordingly and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In children a number of dietary habits have been associated with overweight or obesity, and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption seems to be one of them for a while. The majority of studies with strong methodology have indicated a positive association between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and risk of obesity. The aim of the study was to identify beverages intake and their share in daily energy intake in toddlers, with special focus on the sugar-sweetened beverages. Data from three non-consecutive dietary records were used to assess average beverages intake pattern among 96 toddlers (12 - 36 months old, 46 females and 50 males). Dietary records were recorded by mothers as a surrogate respondents. Milk was most consumed beverage in toddler's diet (24 % volume of total beverages intake). Also, milk was the leading source of calories from beverages. The second and the third most consumed beverage groups were water (19 % volume of total beverages intake) and carbonated soft drinks & fruit-drinks (14 % volume of total beverages intake), while fruit juice (100%) was the least consumed beverage (10% volume of total beverages intake). The proportion of total energy intake from sugar sweetened beverages was 5 %. Based on identified beverage intake pattern in the study sample of Croatian toddlers, it can be concluded that substantial amount of energy is coming from SSB, but also that the water intake should be encouraged because total water intake was inadequate in 23% of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of table salt has been reported to enable better acceptance when consuming the least preferred vegetables belonging to the Cruciferae family. Considering the adverse effect of excessive table salt intake on incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, it is essential to explore an alternative healthier option for better acceptance and to encourage consumption of these vegetables. In this study, 261 adult participants were evaluated for their preferences toward basic tastes and food as well as sensory evaluation of a meal prepared from cruciferous vegetables with the addition of two different salts, sodium chloride and salt substitute containing a blend of potassium and sodium salts. A general questionnaire was used to assess taste and food preferences, while the Cruciferous Vegetable Food Frequency Questionnaire (CVFFQ) was used for vegetable intake assessment. The Labeled Magnitude Scale (LMS), Just About Right (JAR) scale, and several hedonic scales were used to determine taster status and sensory evaluation. The results show that a low concentration of the salt substitute did not impact bitterness suppression but did result in higher preference of the cruciferous vegetable meal. Although, subjects self-reported to have salty taste preferences were more sensitive to bitter taste, they did not perceive samples as less salty and less acceptable than subjects with lower sensitivity. The results show the necessity for further examination of the effectiveness of different concentrations of the assessed salt substitute in suppressing perceived bitterness of cruciferous vegetables and regarding their overall acceptance for inclusion in diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The relationship of homocysteine (Hcy), folate and vitamin B with bone mineral density (BMD) has been studied in various populations but still remains inconsistent. The aim of this study was to test whether the levels of plasma Hcy, serum and red blood cell folate, and vitamin B are related to BMD in the group of adult Croatian women regardless of menopausal status. Some other lifestyle and dietary habits like smoking, physical activity and alcohol consumption were also observed in relation to BMD. Methods: One-hundred and thirty-one women, aged 45-65 years participated in the study. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Measurements were made at the lumbar spine (L1-L4), left femoral neck, total femur and distal third of the radius. Plasma total Hcy, serum folate, red blood cell folate and serum vitamin B were also determined. Results: No significant correlations were found between Hcy, folate and/or vitamin B and BMD of measured skeletal sites. Body mass index (BMI), age, as well as alcohol consumption were significantly correlated with BMD at the lumbar spine. Positive significant correlation was found between BMI and BMD at the femoral neck and total femur while BMI and age were significant predictors of BMD at the radius (multiple regression analysis). When only postmenopausal women were included, significant predictors of BMD at the lumbar spine were age, BMI, alcohol consumption and intake of hormone replacement therapy. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that Hcy, folate or vitamin B levels were not related to BMD in population of healthy Croatian women aged 45-65. In the group of postmenopausal Croatian women, beside BMI and age, alcohol consumption was significant positive predictor of BMD at the lumbar spine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educating adolescents about nutrition is necessary for the adoption of healthy eating habits and their possible retention in adulthood. Designing and implementing educational programs requires financial and human resources, and time. Therefore, educators are constantly searching for systematic procedures and methods that would increase the effectiveness of educational programs. One of them is the six-step nutrition education DESIGN procedure. According to this procedure, it is important to identify problems of the target group and specific behaviour change goals, explore determinants that affect specific behaviour, choose and adequately apply behavioural conceptual theories, define general educational goals, write detailed educational plans and design an evaluation plan. The aim of this study was to show the application of the DESIGN procedure on the example of the development of the educational program “Užina za 5!” designed for adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National food consumption survey on adolescents and adults from 10 to 99 years of age was conducted in the period from January 2018 to June 2023. Following the EU Menu methodology developed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), this survey aimed to facilitate cross‐country comparisons on dietary habits. The survey encompassed all seasons and days of the week to provide insight into the diverse patterns of food consumption. Alongside dietary data, information concerning socioeconomic factors, health status, physical activity, and food supplement usage was collected. Trained interviewers conducted the fieldwork using 24–hour recall and food diaries to record dietary intake. Data gathering and analysis were conducted using NutriCro® software. Before the main data collection, a pilot study conducted from October to November 2021 confirmed the feasibility of the data collection methodology. The study involved a nationally representative sample of 1913 participants (261 adolescents, 783 adults up to 65 years of age, and 522 individuals from 65 to 74 years of age (elderly) and 260 individuals aged 75 to 99 years (very elderly). The overall participation rate was 24.8%. The collected data offer valuable insights into the dietary habits of the studied population groups, serving as a crucial resource in various analyses, especially contributing to national food safety initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance recovery, athletes often consume ready-to-eat foods, specialized sports foods and/or supplements that belong to the group of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which may affect their health. The aim of this study was to estimate consumption of UPFs in basketball players and to determine whether there is a difference in anthropometric characteristics, neuromuscular and cardiovascular fitness and microbiota composition between players in relation to the proportion of daily energy from processed foods. The study involved 17 elite male basketball players (>18 years) from Croatia during the competitive season. After cluster analysis of daily energy contribution from NOVA food groups, 35% of players were clustered into higher UPFs consumption group. No differences in anthropometric characteristics, neuromuscular and cardiovascular fitness were observed between players who consumed more UPFs and those who consumed less UPFs. Players with higher consumption of UPFs had lower abundance of the order Veillonellales-Selenomonadales in their respective microbiotas, more precisely, of family Veillonellaceae (p = 0.040) and the genus Agathobacter (p = 0.025). These results suggest that the consumption of UPFs did not affect athletes' performance but does impact their gut microbiota. Further studies on this issue are warranted to establish nutritional guidelines for athletes regarding the consumption of UPFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National food consumption survey on children aged from three months to nine years of age in Croatia was implemented from 2017 to 2022. It is the first harmonized food consumption survey among children in Croatia following the EU Menu methodology designed by EFSA to collect comparable among countries data. Data were collected in all seasons and days of the week in order to cover seasonal and day‐to‐day variation in food consumption. In addition to food consumption, data on socio‐economic factors, anthropometry, health status, physical activity and food supplement consumption were also collected. Fieldwork was carried out by trained interviewers. Dietary intake was recorded through food diaries collected by participants and checked by the interviewers before being integrated in the specially designed NutriCro® software. During the first interview, data reported through other questionnaires were also entered by the interviewers in the database through the software. Prior to the main fieldwork, a pilot study was conducted from February to March 2019, which resulted in several adaptations of the tools used for data collection. Ultimately, 1820 children were included in the study with an overall response rate of 22.76%. Collected data provide insight into the nutrition of this most vulnerable population group, which is of paramount importance for national programs on food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development and evaluation of the educational intervention "Užina za 5!" using social media to influence healthier choices of beverages and snacks. In adolescence, autonomy in snack choices increases. It is necessary to create educational interventions that promote healthier choices which could be via social media, as they have become an indispensable part of adolescents' lives. The DESIGN procedure is a scientific-based framework that was used to create the educational intervention based on the knowledge-attitude-behavior model and social cognitive theory. High school students (15-19 years old). At one high school in Osijek, 3 classes (n = 49) were randomly selected to participate in an intervention designed as a 2-week challenge (20 posts) in private Facebook groups. The other 3 classes (n = 44) participated in a school-based intervention consisting of two lectures (45 minutes) two weeks apart. Both types of educational interventions in which adolescents learned about the principles of healthy eating and food traffic light label were designed and delivered by a nutritionist. To evaluate the effectiveness of the digital intervention, the results of the pre/post online nutrition knowledge questionnaire and the results of the quantitative beverage and snack food frequency questionnaire for adolescents were compared with the results of the school-based intervention using two-way ANOVA with replication. s: Although both interventions increased nutrition knowledge, the school-based intervention had the greater effect (Δ1.5 vs. Δ0.8; P = 0.014). The ratio of healthy beverages (Δ1% and Δ3%; P = 0.08) and food (Δ-4% and Δ-2%; P = 0.57) did not differ after the interventions, but both interventions significantly reduced frequency and quantity of adolescents' healthier and unhealthier food and beverages consumed as snacks. Social media showed potential in nutrition education for adolescents. Future research should focus on other social media and longer intervention duration to assess whether they can supplement or replace school-based interventions. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007, the new dietary recommendations for the organization of nutrition in kindergartens were published in Croatia, and one of the most important goals in them was to regulate the intake of fats and fatty acids. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the energy value and the amount of fats and fatty acids in 5 kindergartens in the city of Zadar at an interval of 10 years after the implementation of the new dietary recommendations. A total of 45 daily menus (4 meals) were collected in 2007/2008 and 2018/2019, from which the amount of food was weighed to determine the portion size of the meals and their composition. The energy value and the amount of fats and fatty acids from the daily menus were calculated using the American and Danish food and beverage nutrient databases. The results show that in both periods of menu collection, the energy value was reduced (80-84% of recommendations) and the amounts of total fats and fatty acids were below recommendations. An increase in the amount of ω-6 fatty acids was observed in 2018/2019 compared to 2007/2008 (3.4 g / day vs. 4.5 g / day; p = 0.015). In addition, there were large differences in the amount of fats and fatty acids within the menus. The meat, poultry, fish and eggs group (about 18%) contributes to the highest intake of total fats, followed by milk and dairy products (about 14%) and grains, grains products, potatoes and rice (11%). No systematic improvement of the menus in the kindergartens was observed and it is necessary to identify the critical elements in the system due to which there has been no improvement in nutrition despite the existence of recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to determine the intake and sources of total, animal and plant protein in toddlers, as well as difference in protein intake in terms of demographic and anthropometric characteristics and socioeconomic status. The study was conducted on 130 toddlers (49.2% girls and 50.8% boys), mean age 23.5±0.7 months. The parents fulfilled the general questionnaire and 2-day food record. On average, toddlers' intake was 3.5±0.1 g kg-1 of protein daily, and the overall population exceeded the recommended protein intake. The mean intake of animal and plant proteins was 2.3±0.1 g kg-1 per day and 1.2±0.05 g kg-1 per day, respectively. The group of meat, chicken, fish and eggs (32.1%) was the main contributor to total protein intake, followed by milk and dairy products (28.1%) and potatoes and cereals (15.7%). Differences in protein intake and the animal to plant protein ratio according to sex, infant body mass index, length of exclusive breastfeeding, and age at the time of introduction of solid foods were not statistically significant. A significantly (p=0.012) higher intake of plant protein was observed with increasing socioeconomic status (1.1±0.1 g kg-1, 1.2±0.1 g kg-1 and 1.6±0.1 g kg-1, respectively). Protein intake in this sample of toddlers exceeded the recommendation for daily protein intake. Animal protein intake was twice as high as plant protein intake, especially in families of lower socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor diets have proven very detrimental for the maintenance of good health and eating an excessive amount of fast food and highly processed meals can harm the general health status of the population. Hence, this work investigates the habits related to eating outside the home and frequency of eating fast food meals in participants from six different countries. A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken on a sample of 4,904 adult participants. For the data treatment, basic statistics were complemented with tree classification analysis, using the CRT algorithm. This study concluded that in the sample under study the frequency of eating out of home was in general low, corresponding to four or fewer times per week for 71.9% of the participants, and the consumption of fast food meals was also acceptable, i.e., with a low frequency of up to two times per week in 88.6% of the respondents. The biggest differences were encountered when comparing participants from different age groups, countries or sexes, and not so much for living environment or education level. Tree classification analysis highlighted the relative importance of the considered factors for eating out and fast food meals, being country and age confirmed as the most influential factors. In the evaluated sample the incidence of eating out and fast food meals were low, which is a good indicator to contribute globally for the good health status of the participants involved in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods such as fruit, vegetables, and cereals, and particularly whole grain, are rich in dietary fibre and have been proved to have multiple beneficial effects for the human health. The present research was designed to assess some eating practices related to fibre-rich foods in different countries, namely Argentina, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, and Romania. A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken on a sample of 4905 adult participants, obeying all ethical guidelines for this type of research. Regarding the data treatment, basic statistics was complemented with the tree classification analysis. Generally, the results show a low consumption of salads and vegetables, i.e., up to 11 servings/week (for 78.2% of participants), with Croatia in the lead (86.6%). Regarding fruit, a great majority of data also indicated low consumption (92.3%), most especially for Latvia (98.3%). The level of consumption of whole cereals was also low (72.6%), particularly for Latvia (90.0%). The tree classification analysis showed that while the first discriminant variable for the consumption of salads and vegetables was country, followed by education, for the consumption of fruit, it was country and then sex, and finally, for the consumption of whole cereals, it was sex and followed by country. The results allowed the conclusion that the consumption of foods rich in dietary fibre was very low for these countries, highlighting the necessity to implement strategies that incentivise the consumption of such foods, which are very important for a healthy diet [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study to investigate several issues related to food choice and consumption patterns in different countries, including health-related factors; economic and availability aspects; emotional determinants; social, cultural and religious influences; marketing and advertising campaigns; and finally environmental concerns. Design/methodology/approach: The present study was based on a questionnaire that was exclusively prepared for the project, and which was applied to collect data in different countries, in particular Croatia, Egypt, Italy, Greece and Portugal, which are typically associated with the Mediterranean diet (MD). Findings: The results obtained allowed, in general, to conclude that in all five countries the motivations related to health as well as environment and politics were the more relevant to determine people's eating habits (scores varying from 0.3 to 0.7). Women were more influenced by eating motivations than men, and people with moderate exercise were more susceptible to health and environmental motivations and less to emotional, social or marketing motivations (p < 0.001 in all cases). It was also observed that people who adopted a special diet were more prone to eating motivations and that the emotional motivations were more pronounced in people with eating disorders (p < 0.001). Finally, people without chronic diseases or allergies were even more influenced by health motivations than those who actually suffered from these health problems (p < 0.001 in both cases). Originality/value: This work is important because of the multinational coverage, thus allowing to evaluate the most relevant factors that influenced the food choices of the populations around the Mediterranean Sea, sharing the common link to the MD. The study allowed concluding that, in general, the food choices were primarily determined by health factors and also by concerns related to the environment and sustainability as well as by political influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike fast and restaurant food, diet rich in fibre is known to contribute significantly to health. The aim of our study was to assess eating habits such as consumption of fibre-rich, fast, and restaurant food of the general population in Croatia. For this purpose we used a validated survey designed by the Polytechnic Institute Viseu in Portugal, which includes questions about demographics, good eating habits related to the consumption of the main sources of dietary fibre (fruit, vegetables, and whole grains), and unhealthy eating habits related to the consumption of fast food and restaurant meals. Between October 2014 and March 2015 we received answers from 2,536 respondents aged between 18-70 years, of whom 67.4 % were women and 32.6 % were men. Most respondents reported consuming one serving of vegetables and one piece of fruit a day, and whole grains every other day. Women and urban residents reported consuming larger amounts of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains than men (p<0.001). Men, in turn, reported eating out and eating fast food more often than women (p<0.001). Eating out highly correlated with eating fast food, which translates to lower consumption of dietary fibre (p<0.001). Higher education correlated positively with the consumption of fibre-rich food, but it also correlated positively with the consumption of fast and restaurant food (p<0.001). While eating fast food is not the predominant dietary practice in Croatia, over 50 % of respondents have reported eating fast food at least once a week. Our data also indicate that consumption of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains falls below the national and international dietary recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Because dietary fibre has been recognized as a major ally to the maintenance of a healthy body as well as to help against the development of some chronic diseases, this paper aims to study the level of knowledge of a relatively wide range of people about the health effects related to the ingestion of dietary fibre in appropriate dosages.Design/methodology/approach A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken on a non-probabilistic sample of 6,010 participants. The data were collected from 10 countries in three different continents (Europe, Africa and America) and measured the level of knowledge regarding different health benefits from dietary fibre. The questionnaires were applied by direct interview after verbal informed consent.Findings The results obtained considering the general level of knowledge revealed a considerable degree of information about the benefits of fibre (average score of 3.54 ± 0.5, on a scale from 1 to 5). There were significant differences between genders (p < 0.001), with higher average score for women, and also for level of education (p < 0.001), with higher score for university level. The living environment also showed significant differences (p < 0.001), with people living in urban areas showing a higher degree of knowledge. Also for countries the differences were significant (p < 0.001), with the highest score obtained for Portugal (3.7), and the lowest for Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia and Romania (3.5). However, despite these differences, the results showed that for all the countries the degree of knowledge was good (above 3.5), corresponding to a minimum level of knowledge of 70 per cent.Originality/value This work is considered important due to the wide coverage, including so many countries inclusive with different social and cultural settings. The study allowed concluding that, in general, the participants in the study were quite well informed about the benefits of dietary fibre for the improvement of human health, regardless of gender, level of education, living environment or country. This finding is very relevant considering the diversity of people that composed the sample and reinforces the necessity of continuing with educational policies aimed at providing the general population with the knowledge that might help them make appropriate food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike fast and restaurant food, diet rich in fibre is known to contribute significantly to health. The aim of our study was to assess eating habits such as consumption of fibre-rich, fast, and restaurant food of the general population in Croatia. For this purpose we used a validated survey designed by the Polytechnic Institute Viseu in Portugal, which includes questions about demographics, good eating habits related to the consumption of the main sources of dietary fibre (fruit, vegetables, and whole grains), and unhealthy eating habits related to the consumption of fast food and restaurant meals. Between October 2014 and March 2015 we received answers from 2,536 respondents aged between 18-70 years, of whom 67.4 % were women and 32.6 % were men. Most respondents reported consuming one serving of vegetables and one piece of fruit a day, and whole grains every other day. Women and urban residents reported consuming larger amounts of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains than men (p<0.001). Men, in turn, reported eating out and eating fast food more often than women (p<0.001). Eating out highly correlated with eating fast food, which translates to lower consumption of dietary fibre (p<0.001). Higher education correlated positively with the consumption of fibre-rich food, but it also correlated positively with the consumption of fast and restaurant food (p<0.001). While eating fast food is not the predominant dietary practice in Croatia, over 50 % of respondents have reported eating fast food at least once a week. Our data also indicate that consumption of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains falls below the national and international dietary recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to study the degree of knowledge about dietary fibre (DF), as influenced by factors such as gender, level of education, living environment or country. For this, a descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken on a non-probabilistic sample of 6010 participants from 10 countries in different continents (Europe, Africa and America). The results showed that the participants revealed on average a positive but still low global level of knowledge, which alerts for the need to take some actions to further inform the population about DF and its role as a component of a healthy diet. The results also indicated differences between genders, levels of education, living environments and countries. The highest level of knowledge was revealed by the participants from female gender, with higher education and living in urban areas. Concerning the country, the best informed were the participants from Romania, followed by those from Portugal and Turkey while the least informed were from Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]