Soziale Ungleichheit im Ernährungsverhalten

Exploring food poverty experiences in the German Twitter-Sphere

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the subjective perceptions of food poverty in Germany by analysing Twitter discourse using the German-language hashtag #IchBinArmutsbetroffen (#IamPovertyAffected) and examines the extent to which various dimensions of a multidimensional theoretical model of food poverty are represented in the discourse.

METHODS

Employing a combination of computational social science and qualitative social research methods, the research identifies, and analyses tweets related to nutrition by applying a hierarchical dictionary search and qualitative content analysis. By examining the narratives and statements of individuals affected by food poverty, the study also investigates the interplay among different subdimensions of this phenomenon.

RESULTS

The analysis of 1,112 tweets revealed that 57.96% focused on the material dimension and 42.04% on the social dimension of food poverty, suggesting a relatively balanced emphasis on material and social aspects of food poverty in the narratives of those affected. The findings reveal that tweets on material food poverty underscore economic challenges and resource scarcity for food. Social food poverty tweets demonstrate widespread deprivation in social participation, leading to isolation, exclusion, and social network loss. Overall, the results elucidate intricate interconnections among subdimensions and multidimensional manifestations of food poverty.

CONCLUSIONS

This study contributes methodologically by presenting an approach for extracting food-related textual social media data and empirically by providing novel insights into the perceptions and multifaceted manifestations of food poverty in Germany. The results can aid in a better understanding of the phenomenon of food poverty as it currently manifests in Germany, and in developing targeted social, health-promoting, and political measures that address more effectively the empirically evident multidimensionality of the phenomenon.

Socioeconomic differences in animal food consumption: Education rather than income makes a difference

Background/aims

Evidence points toward more sustainable and health-conscious dietary behaviors among individuals with higher socioeconomic status. However, these differences vary considerably depending on which indicator of socioeconomic status is examined. Here, we present a systematic parallel investigation of multiple indicators of socioeconomic status as predictors of animal food consumption frequency and selected food-related behaviors in Germany.

Methods

Data from the German subsample of two large representative European consumer studies (Study 1 n = 1,954; Study 2 n = 2,045) was used. We assessed the associations between the socioeconomic indicators income, current occupation as well as education and consumption frequency of animal foods and selected food-related behaviors in separate ordinal logistic regressions.

Results

Individuals with higher educational attainment engaged in more sustainable and health-conscious dietary behaviors, indicated by significant associations between educational attainment and the consumption frequency of animal foods. Low- and middle-income participants consumed processed meat more frequently (Study 1 only; medium income: OR 1.5, CI 1.09-2.05, p = 0.012; low income: OR 1.43, CI 1.01-2.05, p = 0.047) and fish less frequently (Study 2 only; medium income: OR 0.76, CI 0.59-0.97, p = 0.026; low income: OR 0.061, CI 0.46-0.82, p < 0.001) than participants with high income. Current occupation did not predict the consumption of animal foods or food-related behaviors. Intake frequency of animal-based foods indicates that most participants exceeded national dietary recommendations for meat and processed meat and remained below recommendations for fish and dairy/eggs intake.

Conclusion

Educational attainment appears to be the strongest and most consistent socioeconomic indicator of sustainable dietary choices in Germany based on current large, representative studies. Future efforts should be directed toward education interventions about nutrition and interpretation of food labels to compensate for differences in dietary behavior among groups with different levels of education.

Income in relation to obesity measures in an East German adult population: findings from the LIFE-Adult-Study

Background

Obesity has been postulated to be a consequence of economic disadvantage. However, epidemiological studies failed to demonstrate a consistent link between income and body fat indicators. We examined income as a possible cause of obesity in an East German general population, focusing on appropriate representation of study variables, as well as on confounding and modification of the income-obesity association.

Methods

We used data of 9599 participants in the baseline examination of the LIFE-Adult-Study, conducted in the city of Leipzig from 2011 to 2014. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) as obesity measures were based on standardised measurements, net equivalised income (NEI) on self-reports. We estimated adjusted means of BMI and WC within NEI categories representing the range from risk of poverty to affluence. We stratified the analyses by gender, age, and education.

Results

A substantial part of the age-adjusted associations of income with obesity measures was attributable to other SES indicators. Adjusted for these variables, NEI was comparably associated with BMI and WC. Among women, BMI and WC decreased across NEI categories. The inverse associations tended to be stronger at non-working age (≥ 65 years) than at working age (< 65 years). Conversely, among working-age men, BMI and WC increased with increasing NEI. Among older men, risk of poverty was related to higher values of the obesity measures. The aforementioned associations were predominantly stronger in highly educated participants compared to those with medium/low education. The differences in mean BMI and WC between persons at risk of poverty and higher income groups were rather small, ranging from 1 to 2 kg/m² for BMI and 2 to 4 cm for WC.

Conclusions

Our investigation indicates an association between income and body fatness in an East German adult population that depends on the sociodemographic context of the people. However, it does not suggest that income disparities are a major driver of body fat accumulation in this population. Differential selection of study participants, error in the measurement of long-term income, and possibly reverse causality may have affected our conclusions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11302-w.

Sex-Specific Association between Social Frailty and Diet Quality, Diet Quantity, and Nutrition in Community-Dwelling Elderly

The effects of social frailty on diet and nutrition are under-investigated. Our study aimed to assess the association between social frailty and diet quality, diet quantity, and nutrition over a 3-year period in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. This prospective cohort study recruited individuals aged ≥60 years from a community college and followed up 666 participants annually. Social frailty was determined using a 4-item questionnaire. Diet quantity (energy and macronutrient intake) and diet quality (dietary diversity score and Diet Quality Index-International) were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Nutrition was evaluated using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Out of the 666 participants (56.5% women), 250 (37.5%) were categorized as having social prefrailty or frailty. Regarding diet quantity, energy intake (β = −1.59kcal/kg/day, p < 0.01) and nutrient intake (protein intake, β = −0.08g/kg/day; fat intake, β = −0.06g/kg/day; carbohydrate intake, β = −0.18g/kg/day; fiber intake, β = −0.01g/kg/day; all p < 0.05) were lower in men with social prefrailty or frailty than in men with social robustness. Dietary diversity score (β = −0.25, p = 0.01) and MNA score (β = −0.32, p = 0.04) decreased in men with social prefrailty or frailty. However, these associations were not observed in women. Social frailty is associated with lower dietary intake, poor diet quality, and poor nutrition among community-dwelling older men. Future studies are required to determine the benefits of sex-specific interventions targeting social frailty on nutritional outcomes.

Healthy nutrition in Germany: a survey analysis of social causes, obesity and socioeconomic status

OBJECTIVE

The obesity pandemic is an increasing burden for society. Information on key drivers of the nutrition cycle of (a) social causation, (b) biological causation and (c) health selection is vital for effective policies targeted at the reduction of obesity prevalence. However, empirical causal knowledge on (a) the social predictors of diet quality, (b) its impact on corpulence and (c) the socioeconomic consequences of obesity is sparse. We overcome the limitations of previous research and acquire comprehensive causal insight into this cycle.

DESIGN

Therefore, we analyse two German socio-epidemiological panel surveys exploiting their longitudinal panel structure utilising hybrid panel regression models.

SETTING

General population of Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS, n 17 640; age 0-24 years) and the German National Nutrition Monitoring (NEMONIT, n 2610; age 15-82 years).

RESULTS

The results indicate that (a) interestingly only sex, education and age explain healthy diets; (b) increases in a newly developed Optimised Healthy Eating Index (O-HEI-NVSII) and in nuts intake reduce BMI, while growing overall energy intake, lemonade, beer and meat (products) intake drive corpulence; (c) in turn, developing obesity decreases socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that policies targeted at the reduction of obesity prevalence may be well advised to focus on boys and men, people with low education, the promotion of a healthy diet and nuts intake, and the limitation of lemonade, beer and meat (products) intake. Therefore, future research may focus on the replication of our findings utilising longer panels and experimental approaches.

Socio-economic and cultural disparities in diet among adolescents and young adults: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To explore dietary differences according to socio-economic and sociocultural characteristics of adolescents and young adults.

DESIGN

A systematic review was conducted.

SETTING

The main search source was MEDLINE, consulted between January 2012 and March 2017. Quality of selected studies was assessed based on dietary measurement method, sample selection, socio-economic indicator choice and statistical modelling.

PARTICIPANTS

Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, assessing relationships between socio-economic status and dietary intake (patterns, scores and food groups) in the 10- to 40-year-old general population of high-income countries, were selected.

RESULTS

Among the 7250 reports identified, forty were selected, seventeen of which were of high quality; their conclusions, related only to adolescents, were combined and presented. The most favourable dietary patterns, higher dietary scores, greater consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products, and lower consumption of sugary sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods, were associated with better parental socio-economic status, particularly in terms of higher education. Migrant status was associated with plant-based patterns, greater consumption of fruits and vegetables and of sugary sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods. For the other food groups, and for young adults, very few high-quality studies were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The socio-economic gradient in adolescent diets requires confirmation by higher-grade studies of a wider set of food groups and must be extended to young adult populations. Future nutritional interventions should involve the most vulnerable adolescent populations, taking account of socio-economic status and migration.

Diet quality and nutrient density in subjects with metabolic syndrome: Influence of socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors. A cross-sectional assessment in the PREDIMED-Plus study

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic disparities and lifestyle factors are likely to determine the overall quality of the diet. In addition, overeating is compatible with inadequate micronutrient intake and it can lead to adverse health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess adequacy of dietary nutrient intake and to investigate the influence of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on nutrient density in a large primary cardiovascular prevention trial conducted in healthy participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS) to assess the cardiovascular effects of an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED-Plus).

METHODS

Baseline cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIMED-Plus trial with 6646 Spanish participants (aged 55-75 years in men and 60-75 years in women) with overweight/obesity and MetS. Energy and nutrient intake (for 10 nutrients) were calculated using a validated 143-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and nutrient density was estimated dividing the absolute nutrient intake by total energy intake. The prevalence of inadequate intake was estimated according to dietary reference intakes. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to examine associations between socioeconomic status or lifestyle factors and nutrient density.

RESULTS

A considerable proportion of the screened participants showed a deficient intake of vitamins A, D, E, B₉, calcium, magnesium and dietary fibre. Inadequate intake of four or more of the ten nutrients considered was present in 17% of participants. A higher nutrient density was directly and significantly associated with female sex, higher educational level and a better adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Lifestyle factors such as non-smoking and avoidance of sedentary lifestyles were also independently associated with better nutrient density.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with MetS, despite being overweight, exhibited suboptimal nutrient intake, especially among men. Low nutrient density diet can be largely explained by differences in socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. These results highlight the importance of focussing on nutritional education in vulnerable populations, taking into account nutrient requirements.

Trends in Socioeconomic Inequalities and Prevalence of Anemia Among Children and Nonpregnant Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

IMPORTANCE

Anemia remains a major challenge for women's and children's health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the socioeconomic inequalities and prevalence of anemia among children and nonpregnant girls and women in LMICs over time.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional and repeated cross-sectional analysis used data from the Demographic and Health Surveys collected from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2014. Initial cross-sectional data sets constructed from the most recent surveys included 163 419 children aged 6 to 59 months and 304 202 nonpregnant girls and women aged 15 to 49 years (hereinafter referred to as nonpregnant women) from 45 LMICs. Repeated cross-sectional data sets from the most recent and the earliest surveys consisted of 322 088 nonpregnant women from 25 LMICs and 182 273 children from 24 LMICs. Analyses were conducted from June 1, 2016, through July 3, 2018.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Total and severe anemia for children aged 6 to 59 months (hemoglobin level, <11 and <7 g/dL, respectively) and nonpregnant women aged 15 to 49 years (<12 and <8 g/dL, respectively) were defined according to the World Health Organization hemoglobin cutoff levels. The slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated to determine anemia inequalities.

RESULTS

Among the 163 419 children aged 6 to 59 months and the 304 202 nonpregnant women aged 15 to 49 years in the initial cross-sectional data sets, 34 of 45 countries had anemia prevalence levels for children greater than 40% and 37 of 45 had anemia prevalence levels greater than 20% for nonpregnant women. Among the 182 273 children from 24 LMICs and 322 088 nonpregnant women from 25 LMICs in the repeated cross-sectional data sets, the annualized absolute decreases in the prevalence of anemia ranged from 0.67 to 3.98 percentage points in 16 of the 24 LMICs; for cases of severe anemia, the decrease was 0.03 to 0.82 percentage points in 15 LMICs. Among 322 088 nonpregnant women from 25 LMICs in the repeated cross-sectional data sets, the annualized absolute decreases in the prevalence of anemia ranged from 0.49 to 2.59 percentage points in 17 of 25 LMICs; for severe anemia, the decrease was 0.03 to 0.29 percentage points in 15 LMICs. The SII was significantly negative and the RII was significantly less than 1 in 37 of the 45 LMICs among children and in 26 of the 45 LMICs for nonpregnant women. The annualized changes in the SII approached 0 in 16 of the 24 LMICs among children and in 11 of 25 LMICs among nonpregnant women.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Most LMICs continue to exhibit a high prevalence of anemia among children and nonpregnant women, although the prevalence of total and severe anemia have decreased in many LMICs. Anemia inequalities among children and nonpregnant women persist in most LMICs.