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de Moraes Prata Gaspar MC, Soar C, Aguilera M, Gomez MC, Celorio-Sardà R, Comas-Basté O, Vidal-Carou MC. What Is Considered Healthy Eating? An Exploratory Study among College Students of Nutrition and Food Science. Nutrients 2024; 16:1365. [PMID: 38732611 PMCID: PMC11085627 DOI: 10.3390/nu16091365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In modern industrialized societies, the focus on healthy eating has increased significantly across multiple sectors, including the media, public policy, expert opinion, and public awareness. The aim of this research was to explore the perceptions of healthy eating and the barriers to adopting a healthy diet among undergraduate students in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (HND) and Food Science and Technology (FST) degrees in Spain. An exploratory and descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a qualitative and quantitative methodology and convenience sampling. Two focus groups and a questionnaire were utilized (300 participants from all academic years completed the survey). Differences in definitions of healthy eating and perceived barriers were found between genders and students at different stages of training (p < 0.05). In their understanding of healthy eating, the students placed importance on balance, variety, moderation, and individual factors. Although students considered it easy to follow a healthy diet, family's eating habits, time availability, and emotional states were found to be the main barriers to the implementation of healthy practices. The obtained data supports the need to critically address perceptions of healthy eating throughout the training of nutrition and food science professionals. The insights obtained on the perceived barriers highlight the importance of considering both individual and environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Clara de Moraes Prata Gaspar
- Departament d’Antropologia Social, Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Carrer de Montalegre 6, 08001 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.d.M.P.G.); (M.C.G.)
- Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain;
| | - Claudia Soar
- Nutrition Post-Graduate Program, Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88040-900, Brazil;
| | - Mari Aguilera
- Departament de Cognició, Desenvolupament i Psicologia de l’Educació, Secció Cognició, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institut de Neurociències (UBNeuro), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- NeuroDevelop eHealth Lab, eHealth Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Rambla de Poble Nou 156, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Clara Gomez
- Departament d’Antropologia Social, Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Carrer de Montalegre 6, 08001 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.d.M.P.G.); (M.C.G.)
| | - Ricard Celorio-Sardà
- Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain;
- Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l’Alimentació i Gastronomia, Campus de l’Alimentació de Torribera, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Oriol Comas-Basté
- Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain;
- Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l’Alimentació i Gastronomia, Campus de l’Alimentació de Torribera, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - M. Carmen Vidal-Carou
- Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain;
- Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l’Alimentació i Gastronomia, Campus de l’Alimentació de Torribera, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av. Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
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de Oliveira J. Cognitive carbohydrate restriction: a new proposal for the diet mentality in the era of low-carb diets. REVISTA DA ASSOCIACAO MEDICA BRASILEIRA (1992) 2023; 69:e20230601. [PMID: 37586002 PMCID: PMC10427171 DOI: 10.1590/1806-9282.20230601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
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Colombarolli MS, de Oliveira J, Cordás TA. Craving for carbs: food craving and disordered eating in low-carb dieters and its association with intermittent fasting. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:3109-3117. [PMID: 35999438 PMCID: PMC9398050 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-022-01437-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies point to positive outcomes in a diet with reduction of carbohydrates and that the associated practice of intermittent fasting (IF) might increase weight loss. Although dieting might be related to disordered eating, little evidence is available about the role of restrictive carbohydrates diets on disordered eating. This study aimed to explore if doing low-carb (LC) diets was related to disordered eating and if IF would increase these symptoms. The sample comprised university students (n = 682), with a mean age of 22 years old and average BMI of 23.6 kg/m2 (SD = 4.3). Twenty-seven percent (n = 188) of respondents reported doing LC diet in the last three months. Of those, 31% (n = 58) reported doing LC diet combined with periods of IF. Mean scores were compared using parametric tests, and effects size and correlations between variables were calculated. Dieters showed higher levels of binge eating, food cravings, cognitive restraint, cognitive restraint toward carbohydrates when compared to non-dieters. The association of LC and IF was related to an increase in disordered eating, especially binge eating and food cravings, specifically 'Lack of control', 'Thoughts or preoccupation with food,' and 'Guilt from cravings and/or for giving in to them'. These results provide evidence that restrictive carbohydrate diets and IF may increase cognitive restraint and, consequently, food cravings.Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maíra Stivaleti Colombarolli
- Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jônatas de Oliveira
- School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Eating Behavior and Trauma Project (AMBULIM), São Paulo, Brazil.
- Eating Disorders Program (AMBULIM/PROTAD), Institute of Psychiatry of the School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, R. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785-Cerqueira César, São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.
| | - Táki Athanássios Cordás
- School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Eating Behavior and Trauma Project (AMBULIM), São Paulo, Brazil
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Spivak-Lavi Z, Peleg O, Tzischinsky O, Stein D, Latzer Y. Differences in the Factor Structure of the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) in Different Cultures in Israel: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13061899. [PMID: 34073005 PMCID: PMC8226938 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been a shift in the clinical presentation and, hence, diagnostic definitions of eating disorders (EDs), reflected in a dramatic change in the diagnostic criteria of EDs in the DSM-5. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) is currently considered an accepted instrument for community studies of EDs, although it features an inconsistent factorial structure in different cultures. Therefore, it is essential to investigate whether the EAT-26 can still be considered an adequate instrument for identifying the risk of developing EDs in different cultures. The aim of the present study was to examine the construct validity and internal consistency of the EAT-26. METHOD The study used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) among different cultural populations in Israel. RESULTS Findings indicated different factors in different ethnic groups, most of which do not correspond with the original EAT-26 three-factor structure. RESULTS The analysis yielded two main factors among Israeli Jews, four main factors among Israeli Muslim Arabs, and three main factors among Israeli Christian Arabs. CONCLUSION These findings shed light on cultural factors affecting perceptions of the EAT-26 items. This calls for a reconsideration of the generalization of the original three-factor structure of the questionnaire in different cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Spivak-Lavi
- Department of Social Work, Max Stern, Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
- Correspondence:
| | - Ora Peleg
- Education and School Counseling Departments, Max Stern, Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel; (O.P.); (O.T.)
| | - Orna Tzischinsky
- Education and School Counseling Departments, Max Stern, Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel; (O.P.); (O.T.)
- Department of Behavioral Science, Max Stern, Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
| | - Daniel Stein
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel;
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Medical School, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel
| | - Yael Latzer
- School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
- Rambam Medical Center, Eating Disorders Institution, Haifa 3109601, Israel
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