Consumption of ultra-processed foods and associated factors in children from Barbacena (MG), Brazil

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Associated with the Selection of Sweetened Ultra-Processed Foods and Their Importance in Oral Health

BACKGROUND

Reading nutritional labelling helps consumers select healthier food, thereby benefitting their oral health. The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of parents and carers of children and preteens, associated with reading nutritional labelling, selecting sweetened ultra-processed foods, and their impact on oral health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a validated questionnaire was administered to 298 parents and caregivers of children aged 1-12 years from different districts in Villavicencio, Colombia. Participants' scores, based on the number of correct answers, were used to classify their level of KAP as low, medium, or high. In addition, the frequency of responses, the KAP levels, and the median scores were analysed. Finally, associations were determined using the chi-square test.

RESULTS

Most participants reached a medium level in terms of knowledge (41.6%) and attitudes (49.3%) and a low level in terms of practices (43.3%). An association was found between participants' level of KAPs and their socioeconomic and educational level (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings reveal inadequate KAPs associated with nutritional labelling, adequate food selection, and the importance of oral health.

Lipid Profile and the Frequency of Dyslipidemia in Iranian Adolescents with Severe Obesity, Who Were Candidates for Bariatric Surgery

PURPOSE

Although several studies have investigated the prevalence of dyslipidemia in adults undergoing bariatric surgery, the experience is limited in adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the serum lipid profile and prevalence of dyslipidemia in Iranian adolescents with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 92 adolescents, aged < 20 years, with severe obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 99th percentile), who were candidates for bariatric surgery were enrolled during 2016-2018. The fasting serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured in this study. Dyslipidemia was defined as TC, LDL-C, and TG ≥ 95th percentile or HDL-C < 10th percentile for age and sex.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 17.32 ± 1.88 years (age range, 11-19 years). Overall, 60.9% of the participants were female. Based on the results, 68.48% of the adolescents had dyslipidemia. The most frequent lipid disorder was hypertriglyceridemia (48.9%), followed by low HDL-C (39.6%), hypercholesterolemia (18.5%), and high LDL-C (16.5%). The serum concentrations of lipid components were not significantly different according to sex and age.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of dyslipidemia was found to be high among Iranian adolescents with severe obesity. Hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C were the most common types of dyslipidemia in this population. Therefore, screening for dyslipidemia may be clinically useful in adolescents with severe obesity; timely diagnosis and treatment may prevent the occurrence of coronary events in the future.