The Associations between Dietary Patterns and Sedentary Behaviors in Polish Adults (LifeStyle Study)

Association between Physical Activity, Diet Quality and Leisure Activities of Young Poles

The aim of this study was to determine the association between eating behaviours, sedentary behaviours and physical activity based on a self-reported survey conducted on a sample of the Polish population of adolescents aged 13-16. The field survey was conducted on a nationwide group of 6818 respondents. The object of the statistical analysis was to develop a model regarding the influence of selected socio-demographic characteristics on engaging in physical activity and selected dietary behaviours. Due to the dichotomous nature of the dependent variable, logistic regression models were used in the model. It was found that the higher the level of physical activity, the more well-balanced the diet, including higher levels of fruit consumption, water consumption and protein-containing products, as well as the relatively less frequent occurrence of sedentary behaviour as a form of leisure activity. However, there is a constant need to develop, in cooperation with scientific and research institutions and educational establishments, mechanisms for influencing a change in the behaviour of young people towards a more pro-healthy lifestyle so that the effects of these educational activities are not only reflected in an increase in the level of knowledge in this area but also contribute to real changes in dietary behaviour.

Factors associated with diet quality among Brazilian individuals with cardiovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

An individual's dietary pattern contributes in different ways to the prevention and control of recurrent cardiovascular events. However, the quality of the diet is influenced by several factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of the diet of individuals with cardiovascular diseases and determine whether there is an association between sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study carried out with individuals with atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease or peripheral arterial disease) recruited from 35 reference centres for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in Brazil. Diet quality was assessed according to the Modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (mAHEI) and stratified into tertiles. For comparing two groups, the Mann-Whitney or Pearson's chi-squared tests were used. However, for comparing three or more groups, analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis was used. For the confounding analysis, a multinomial regression model was used. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

In total, 2360 individuals were evaluated: 58.5% male and 64.2% elderly. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) of the mAHEI was 24.0 (20.0-30.0), ranging from 0.4 to 56.0 points. When comparing the odds ratios (ORs) for the low (first tertile) and medium (second tertile) diet quality groups with the high-quality group (third tertile), it was observed that there was an association between diet quality with a family income of 1.885 (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.302-2.729) and 1.566 (95% CI = 1.097-2.235), as well as physical activity of 1.391 (95% CI = 1.107-1.749) and 1.346 (95% CI = 1.086-1.667), respectively. In addition, associations were observed between diet quality and region of residence.

CONCLUSIONS

A low-quality diet was associated with family income, sedentarism and geographical area. These data are extremely relevant to assist in coping with cardiovascular disease because they enable an assessment of the distribution of these factors in different regions of the country.

Gut microbial composition and functionality of school-age Mexican population with metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes mellitus using shotgun metagenomic sequencing

Gut metagenome in pediatric subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been poorly studied, despite an alarming worldwide increase in the prevalence and incidence of obesity and MetS within this population. The objective of this study was to characterize the gut microbiome taxonomic composition of Mexican pediatric subjects with MetS and T2DM using shotgun metagenomics and analyze the potential relationship with metabolic changes and proinflammatory effects. Paired-end reads of fecal DNA samples were obtained through the Illumina HiSeq X Platform. Statistical analyses and correlational studies were conducted using gut microbiome data and metadata from all individuals. Gut microbial dysbiosis was observed in MetS and T2DM children compared to healthy subjects, which was characterized by an increase in facultative anaerobes (i.e., enteric and lactic acid bacteria) and a decrease in strict anaerobes (i.e., Erysipelatoclostridium, Shaalia, and Actinomyces genera). This may cause a loss of gut hypoxic environment, increased gut microbial nitrogen metabolism, and higher production of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. These metabolic changes may trigger the activation of proinflammatory activity and impair the host's intermediate metabolism, leading to a possible progression of the characteristic risk factors of MetS and T2DM, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and an increased abdominal circumference. Furthermore, specific viruses (Jiaodavirus genus and Inoviridae family) showed positive correlations with proinflammatory cytokines involved in these metabolic diseases. This study provides novel evidence for the characterization of MetS and T2DM pediatric subjects in which the whole gut microbial composition has been characterized. Additionally, it describes specific gut microorganisms with functional changes that may influence the onset of relevant health risk factors.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence Is Associated with Favorable Health-Related Quality of Life, Physical Activity, and Sleep Quality in a Community-Dwelling Greek Older Population

BACKGROUND

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a beneficial dietary pattern with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can promote mental and physical human health. This study aims to assess the impact of MD adherence on health-related quality of life, physical activity levels, and sleep quality in a representative Greek elderly population.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 3254 persons ≥65 years from 14 different Greek regions, urban, rural and islands participated in this study, of which 48.4% were female and 51.6% were male. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) was evaluated utilizing a short form healthy survey, physical activity was determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), sleep quality was assessed utilizing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and MD adherence was assessed via the Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore).

RESULTS

Moderate adherence to the MD and an increased prevalence of poor quality of life, low physical activity levels and inadequate sleep quality among the elderly population were recorded. High MD adherence was independently associated with better quality of life (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 2.06-2.68, p = 0.0008), higher physical activity (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.47-2.35, p = 0.0141) and adequate sleep quality (OR: 2.11, 95%: 1.79-2.44, p = 0.0018), female sex (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02-1.68, p = 0.0032) and living with others (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.81-1.76, p = 0.0375), after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In unadjusted analysis, participants' age (p < 0.0001), anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.005), educational (p = 0.0026) and financial status (p = 0.0005) and smoking habits (p = 0.0031) were also identified as indicators of MD adherence; however, their impact on MD adherence was considerably attenuated after adjusting for confounding factors (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

High MD adherence was correlated with favorable quality of life, higher levels of physical activity, and a more adequate sleep quality score. Strategies and public health policies that facilitate MD adherence and physical activity in older adults may improve sleep and quality of life, impacting overall wellbeing in this age group.

Association between Diet and Adiposity in Adults: Influence of Sedentary Behavior Patterns

This study analyzed the influence of sedentary behavior (SB) on the association between dietary patterns and adiposity in community-dwelling adults. Eight hundred and forty-three adults (age: 56.5 ± 18.3 years) participated in this cross-sectional epidemiological study. Dietary patterns were evaluated using self-report questions regarding the weekly frequency of consumption of certain foods. Adiposity was determined using anthropometric measurements of weight, waist circumference, and height. SB was evaluated according to the time spent on screen devices. The usual physical activity level and socioeconomic status were considered confounding factors. Associations were determined using multivariate linear models with simultaneous adjustments for confounding variables. A statistical analysis indicated that fruit consumption was negatively related to the body mass index, regardless of the adjustment for SB domains. Red meat consumption was positively related to the body mass index, and fried food consumption was positively related to the waist-to-height ratio, regardless of the adjustment for SB domains. The consumption of fried food was positively associated with global and central adiposity after the adjustments for confounding factors and time spent on screen devices. We concluded that dietary habits are related to adiposity in adults. However, SB domains seem to influence the relationship between body adiposity and dietary habits, mainly regarding the consumption of fried foods.

Congruence between Physical Activity Patterns and Dietary Patterns Inferred from Analysis of Sex Differences in Lifestyle Behaviors of Late Adolescents from Poland: Cophylogenetic Approach

Global trends toward physical inactivity and the replacement of healthy dietary behaviors with unhealthy food consumption, particularly in late adolescence, were commonly observed. Thus, the aim of this work was twofold: (1) to examine congruence between PAPs and DPs by identifying sex differences in healthy and unhealthy behaviors and (2) to assess the explanation behind why certain participants were classified into clusters using BMI and fat mass covariates. Late adolescents (19-21 years of age, n = 107) were selected to study. PAPs and DPs were assessed with questionnaires (IPAQ, QEB) and body height, weight, and fat mass percentage were self-reported (the accuracy and reliability of self-reported data were empirically verified). A cophylogenetic approach with several clustering procedures (heatmaps and tanglegrams) was the way to solve the stated problems. Results showed that students achieved the minimal level of physical activity, lower than students from other regions in Poland, Czech Republic, or Germany. There was congruence between PAPs and DPs in some males' and females' behaviors. Significant similarities in sex patterns of behaviors were revealed (Mantel tests-PAPs: r = 0.70, p < 0.001; DPs: r = 0.84, p < 0.001). Similarities in PAPs were related to transportation cycling and school/work activities behaviors. Non-healthy triads in dietary behaviors were found: fast-food, sweetened beverages, and alcoholic drinks in the first, and sweets, fried meals, and yellow cheese in the second. One healthy diad was revealed: vegetables and fruits. Only females' dietary behaviors were reflected in body mass index (F = 3.19, p = 0.049), percentage of body fat (F = 3.87, p = 0.027), and fat mass index (F = 3.83, p = 0.028). The usefulness of the cophenetic approach in patterns study was verified. Sex similarities and specific disparities could help preparing targeted tailored intervention programs that improve healthy habits in late adolescents. This is especially important in relation to females, who more strongly reflected dietary behaviors in body composition.

Associations between dietary intake, physical activity, and obesity among public school teachers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Objective

We aimed to assess the dietary intake of certain food groups in a representative sample of public-school teachers living in Jeddah city. We also, examined the association of dietary intake with physical activity and obesity among schoolteachers.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional online survey, conducted among 640 (177 male, 463 female) schoolteachers aged between 20 and 62 years old and working in public primary, intermediate, and high schools in Jeddah. Measurements included gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), health problems, and lifestyle behaviours, including physical activity levels, smoking status, and dietary intake.

Results

Based on gender, number of non-smoking women (94%) was higher than number of non-smoking men (57.1%) (P < 0.001). However, men were more active than women (P = 0.03). Regarding BMI, there were more overweight men than women, while obese women numbered more than men (P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in dietary intake between men and women except that men consumed more soft drinks than women (P = 0.002). Lower physically active schoolteachers were less likely to consume salad (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9; P = 0.02), vegetables (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-0.9; P = 0.01), beans and legumes (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.7; P = 0.005), wholegrain bread (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9; P = 0.03), dairy products (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9; P = 0.01), snacks (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.8; P = 0.01), and fish (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9; P = 0.04) compared to those with high levels of physical activity. Only fruit intake was considered statistically significant (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.7; P = 0.003). The study found a relationship between the BMI of schoolteachers and food intake. Obese schoolteachers had lower consumption of fruits (OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.7; P = 0.007) and white meat (OR = 0.5, 95%CI 0.3-0.9; P = 0.03) than schoolteachers in the normal weight group.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of physical activity, dietary intake and body weight among Saudi teachers is a major public health concern. The present study identified several lifestyle factors associated with body weight that may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi school teachers. Promoting active lifestyles and healthy diets would be primary targets for obesity prevention.

Regional Living Conditions and Individual Dietary Characteristics of the Russian Population

The goal of our study was to examine the effects of the regional characteristics of the living environment on individual a priori and a posteriori dietary patterns of the Russian population. For the analysis, we used cross-sectional data from the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Regions of the Russian Federation study from 2013-2014. The sample included 18,054 men and women 25-64 years of age from 12 regions. Based on the frequency of consumption of basic foods, four a posteriori empirical dietary patterns (EDPs), along with an a priori cardioprotective dietary pattern (CPDP), were identified. To describe the regional living environment, five regional indices were used. Adherence to the meat-based EDP was directly associated with deterioration of social living conditions and a more northerly location for the region of residence. The probability of a CPDP increased with greater deterioration of social living conditions, aggravation of demographic crises, and higher industrial development in the region, as well as with declines in the economic development of the region, income, and economic inequality among the population. We detected several gender-dependent differences in the associations established. The patterns revealed reflect the national dietary preferences of Russians, and the regional indices characterize the effect of the living environment.

Effects of a Modern Virtual Reality 3D Head-Mounted Display Exergame on Simulator Sickness and Immersion Under Specific Conditions in Young Women and Men: Experimental Study

Background

Many young adults do not reach the World Health Organization’s minimum recommendations for the amount of weekly physical activity. The virtual reality 3D head-mounted display (VR 3D HMD) exergame is a technology that is more immersive than a typical exercise session. Our study considers gender differences in the experience of using VR games for increasing physical activity.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the effects of VR 3D HMD gaming in terms of immersion, simulator sickness, heart rate, breathing rate, and energy expenditure during two 30-minute sessions of playing an exergame of increasing intensity on males and females.

Methods

To examine the effects of the VR 3D HMD exergame, we experimented with 45 participants (23 males and 22 females) exercising with VR 3D HMD Oculus Quest 1, hand controllers, and Zephyr BioHarness 3.0. Players exercised according to the Audio Trip exergame. We evaluated the immersion levels and monitored the average heart rate, maximum heart rate, average breathing rate, maximum breathing rate, and energy expenditure in addition to simulator sickness during two 30-minute exergame sessions of increasing intensity.

Results

Audio Trip was well-tolerated, as there were no dropouts due to simulator sickness. Significant differences between genders were observed in the simulator sickness questionnaire for nausea (F2,86=0.80; P=.046), oculomotor disorders (F2,86=2.37; P=.010), disorientation (F2,86=0.92; P=.040), and total of all these symptoms (F2,86=3.33; P=.04). The measurements after the first 30-minute VR 3D HMD exergame session for all the participants showed no significant change compared to the measurements before the first 30-minute exergame session according to the total score. There were no gender differences in the immersion (F1,43=0.02; P=.90), but the measurements after the second 30-minute exergame session showed an increase in the average points for immersion in women and men. The increase in the level of immersion in the female group was higher than that in the male group. A significant difference between genders was observed in the average breathing rate (F2,86=1.44; P=.04), maximum breathing rate (F2,86=1.15; P=.047), and energy expenditure (F2,86=10.51; P=.001) measurements. No gender differences were observed in the average heart rate and maximum heart rate measurements in the two 30-minute sessions.

Conclusions

Our 30-minute VR 3D HMD exergame session does not cause simulator sickness and is a very immersive type of exercise for men and women users. This exergame allows reaching the minimum recommendations for the amount of weekly physical activity for adults. The second exergame session resulted in simulator sickness in both groups, more noticeably in women, as reflected in the responses in the simulator sickness questionnaire. The gender differences observed in the breathing rates and energy expenditure measurements can be helpful when programming VR exergame intensity in future research.

Reproducibility of the German and Slovakian Versions of the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN)

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the KomPAN questionnaire among two groups of university students from Germany and Slovakia.

METHODS

A total of 422 individuals (mean age 21.4 years, SD 4.0), including 197 from Slovakia (men 26.2%) and 225 from Germany (men 22.3%), were tested using the self-administered (SA-Q) version of the KomPAN questionnaire and then retested two weeks later. A cross-classification analysis, kappa coefficients, Cronbach's ɑ coefficients, and a test-retest result comparison were conducted separately for each group of students to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the questionnaire.

RESULTS

The cross-classification values were higher than 46.2% among the German students and higher than 55.8% among the Slovakian students. The kappa coefficients ranged from 0.21 to 0.90 in the German students and from 0.38 to 0.94 in the Slovakian students. Cronbach's ɑ ranged from 0.58 to 0.78.

CONCLUSION

The questionnaire displayed a moderate to very good reproducibility, which was slightly higher in the Slovakian group than in the German group. Therefore, the questionnaire can be recommended for further analysis and comparison of the dietary habits among Germans and Slovakians on a larger scale.

Association between modes of delivery and postpartum dietary patterns: A cross-sectional study in Northwest China

Objective

Puerperae’ dietary patterns (DPs) during the puerperium may be influenced by the mode of delivery, but population studies on this topic are scarce. This study aims to explore the relationship between DPs and different modes of delivery among puerperae.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,345 parturients in Lanzhou, China. The postpartum food intake was measured by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Factor analysis was used to determine the DPs. Multiple linear regression was employed to examine the association between the mode of delivery and DP.

Results

In this study, two DPs, i.e., traditional and modern DPs, were identified. Traditional DP was characterized by high energy-adjusted intake of tubers, coarse cereals, rice, whole grains, fishery products, and eggs. Modern DP included a high intake of coffee, non-sugary drinks, wine, tea, and fishery products. Compared with participants with vaginal delivery (reference category), cesarean section had an inverse association with modern DP (β: −0.11, 95% CI: −0.36, −0.09). A significant interaction was found between education level, monthly household income, alcohol drinking, and modes of delivery. The inverse association between cesarean section and modern DP or the intake of coffee was significant among puerperae with higher or lower monthly household income. However, the inverse association between cesarean section and traditional DP was only found among puerperae with higher monthly household income. Moreover, among the participants with high education, cesarean section was positively associated with intake of vegetables.

Conclusion

Cesarean puerperae with higher levels of education and those with lower and higher monthly household income had less unhealthy foods intake than those who had vaginal delivery. They need to be accounted for in educational programs and interventions focused on healthy diet recommendations in puerperium.

Association of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with dietary patterns among men and women living in Mexico City: A cross-sectional study

Background

Diet is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases and is related to sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including sex. These associations vary across populations. We aimed to investigate which factors are associated with dietary patterns among adults living in Mexico City by sex.

Methods

We used data from the Mexico City Diabetes Representative Study, a cross-sectional, multistage, stratified, and cluster-sampled survey in Mexico City (n = 1,142; 413 men and 729 women). Dietary information was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Foods and beverages were categorized into 23 food groups to identify dietary patterns by cluster analysis. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables included were self-reported through standardized questionnaires. We assessed the association of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with dietary patterns through a multinomial logistic model stratified by sex.

Results

We identified three dietary patterns: basic, prudent, and fast food. Among men and women, higher school attainment was associated with a lower relative probability of having a basic rather than prudent dietary pattern (women: RRR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.8, 0.9; men: RRR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.7, 0.9). Divorced or separated men (RRR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 11.2) and those living with a partner (RRR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.1) had a higher relative probability of consuming a fast food dietary pattern than the prudent one, compared to single men. Men living with a partner (RRR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 8.6) or working long shifts (RRR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 11.1) had a higher probability of consuming a basic pattern rather than a prudent one compared to peers. Among women, those with high SES had a lower probability of consuming the "basic" pattern rather than the "prudent" pattern compared to those with low SES. No lifestyle factors were associated to dietary patterns.

Conclusions

Men living in Mexico City with lower education, age, non-single, and working long hours (i.e., more than the established by the law), and women with lower age, education, and socioeconomic level are prone to adhere to unhealthy diets. These associations are likely to be driven by gender roles.

Evaluation of Food Labelling the Products with Information Regarding the Level of Sugar: A Preliminary Study

The aim of this article is to explore the reasons for seeking selected information on a food label, with particular emphasis on certain information about sugar. In order to meet the aim, in 2020, a survey was conducted among consumers aged 18–45. Predictive models (Logistic Regression) were developed for noticing “light” products and reading food labels. The results of our study indicate that consumers are mainly discouraged from reading label information by a large amount of information, the lack of time, and a general reluctance to be interested in label information. When it comes to the factors that lead people to read label information, the naturalness of the product, its organic origin, and physical activity are important. Moreover, respondents who declared that they noticed products on the market defined as “light” were those who were interested in the naturalness of the product, but also consumers declaring that they have nutritional knowledge. The results of the study indicate the need to intensify information campaigns in order to emphasize how important it is for consumers to read the information on food labels. The amount and complexity of information currently appearing on the food label may unfortunately discourage consumers from reading it, so it is important to continuously improve this form of communication with the consumer.

Lessons From COVID-19: Physical Exercise Can Improve and Optimize Health Status

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused increasing challenges for healthcare systems globally. The disease spread rapidly from Wuhan to the rest of the world, involving more than 400 million individuals and including more than 5 million deaths. In dealing with the pandemic, China and other countries took protective measures such as promoting social distancing, canceling public gatherings, closing schools, quarantining, and imposing lockdowns. All these measures lead to physical inactivity. Being physically inactive has significant repercussions on the status of physical and mental wellbeing, and it is associated with anxiety, stress, increased chronic disease risk, and worsening of chronic conditions. In this sense, the relevance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through physical exercise has been outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of this mini review is to discuss the importance of physical activity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the benefits of physical activity and exercise that could be potentially effective treatment strategies for comorbid chronic conditions, long covid syndrome (LCS), and symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

Cognitive determinants of weight control by dietary patterns among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: An application of theory of planned behavior

Background: In this study, we aimed to assess the cognitive determinants of weight control behaviors by dietary patterns among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) was conducted from July to December 2017 among 240 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Tabriz, Iran. A validated and reliable TPB-based instrument, namely Weight-CuRB, and the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were used.

Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) indicated three dietary patterns (total variance explained=24.44%); healthy (n=71), mixed (n=78), and western (n=91). In addition, food items consumed by participants were classified into twenty-two food groups for dietary pattern analysis. In the healthy and western dietary patterns, attitude (β: 0.140, P <0.001) and subjective norms (SNs) (β: 0.498, P <0.01) were the only predictors of weight control behavior, respectively. In the women with healthy and western patterns, the TPB-based variables altogether explained 11% and 16% of variations in the behavior, respectively. Among all patients, the TPB-based variables explained 12.2% of variations in weight control behavior, within which SNs were the only significant predictor of the behavior (β=-0.199, P <0.01).

Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the remarkable role of dietary patterns in the associations between weight control and its cognitive determinants. Dietary patterns should be considered while designing weight control educational interventions among women with osteoporosis. In such interventions, promoting SNs and perceived behavioral control (PBC) should be considered as the core strategies to promote the behaviors among the patients who follow an unhealthy diet.

Age, skin color, self-rated health, and depression associated with co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors in university students: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The university context plays an important role in the health-disease process since students are potentially vulnerable to obesogenic behaviors that can influence long-term health.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with the co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors among university students.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was a cross-sectional study at a Brazilian public university.

METHODS

This study was conducted with all university students in the first and second semesters of 2019 at Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected between April and September 2019, using a self-administered questionnaire. The outcome was the co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors, measured as the sum of three risk behaviors: inadequate eating practices, leisure-time physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior. A Venn diagram was used to evaluate the simultaneous occurrence of risk behaviors. Pearson's chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 351 students participated in the study. Inadequate eating practices constituted the most prevalent isolated risk behavior (80.6%), which was also the most prevalent when combined with sedentary behavior (23.6%). University students aged 20 years or younger, with non-white skin color, poor self-rated health, and symptoms of depression had increased chances of simultaneous occurrence of obesogenic behaviors.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the importance of developing and implementing actions to reduce combined obesogenic behaviors in the university environment. Institutions should focus on creating an environment that promotes health-protective behaviors such as physical activity and healthy eating.

Prevalence of Prediabetes and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Cricket Players: Multi-Cricket Clubs Cross Sectional Study

Background & Objectives:

Sports activities are highly beneficial for improving the human health and reducing the risk of diseases. This cross sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of prediabetes and Type-2 diabetes mellitus in cricket players compared to population based non-elite athlete control subjects.

Methods:

The present matched cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the period October 2019 to February 2020. Initially, 700 volunteer males, (300) cricket players and (400) population based non-elite athlete control subjects were interviewed. After socio-demographic and medical history, (200) nonsmoker cricket players and (300) nonsmoker control subjects were recruited. The age of cricket players was 34 (32-37) years, weight 81 (76-84) kg, height 1.79 (1.74-1.84) meters, and body mass index (BMI) was 25.09 (23.66-26.76) kg/m². The cricket players have been playing cricket for 4 (3-4) hours per day; 3.50 (3-4) days per week; for the total period of 24 (12-36) months. American Diabetes Association (ADA) based criteria on Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) was used to investigate the prediabetes and Type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Results:

In cricket players, the prevalence of prediabetes was 23 (11.5%) and Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was 7 (3.5%) compared to population based matched non-elite athlete control subjects the prediabetes was 73 (24.34%) and T2DM was 63 (21.1%) (p=0.001). Among cricket players, there was a 6-folds decrease in T2DM compared to control subjects.

Conclusions:

The cricket sports activities decrease the prevalence of prediabetes and Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among the cricket players compared to population based matched non-elite athlete control subjects. The study findings demonstrate the urgent need for promoting sports activities, more cricket grounds as a physiological preventive strategy against the global growing diabetes epidemic.

Trends in sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with sedentary behavior among Brazilian adults

OBJECTIVE

To analyze sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with screen-based sedentary behavior (watching television ≥ 3 hours/day) among adult individuals in Brazil.

METHODS

Quantitative analysis of ten editions of the cross-sectional health survey VIGITEL, representative at the population level. Individuals from states' capitals living in households with land-line telephone were randomly selected and interviewed with a structured questionnaire, through the telephone. A multivariate logistic regression model was estimated for identification of factors associated with screen-based sedentary behavior.

RESULTS

There was stability in trends referring to prevalence of sedentary behavior from 2008 to 2017. Prevalence of sedentary behavior was higher between individuals with unhealthier lifestyles: consumption of < two in natura food items (vegetables, fruits, and beans) per day (26.73% [95%CI 25.2 - 28.31]) in comparison with ≥ two items per day (23.79% [95%CI 21.92 - 25.77]); consumption of soft drinks ≥ five days per week (31.24% [95%CI 29.58 - 32.95]) than < five days per week (23.82% [95%CI 22.2 - 25.52]); and practice of < 150 minutes of physical activity per week (28.2% [95%CI 26.17 - 30.33]) than ≥ 150 minutes per week (22.54% [95%CI 21.27 - 23.86]). Regular consumption of in natura food items (OR = 0.984), practice of physical activity (OR = 0.798), and living in richer municipality (OR = 0.826) represented protective factors in relation to screen-based sedentary behavior, whilst regular consumption of soft drinks (OR = 1.440), smoking (OR = 1.375) and alcohol abuse (OR = 1.334) represented risk factors.

CONCLUSION

The adoption of screen-based sedentary behavior among adult individuals in Brazil presented significant association with modifiable behavioral factors in the period 2008-2017.

Clustering of South Korean Adolescents' Health-Related Behaviors by Gender: Using a Latent Class Analysis

Background: Health-related behaviors during adolescence could influence adolescents’ health outcomes, leading to either advantageous or deteriorative conditions. Clustering of adolescents’ health-related behaviors by gender identifies the target groups for intervention and informs the strategies to be implemented for behavioral changes. Methods: Data from 1807 adolescents in grades 7 and 10 in a city in South Korea were used. Health-related behaviors including eating habits, physical activity, hand washing, brushing teeth, drinking alcohol, smoking, and Internet use were examined. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify subgroups of adolescents with regard to their health-related behaviors. Results: A four-class model was the most adequate grouping classification across genders: adolescents with (1) healthy behaviors, (2) neither health-promoting nor health-risk behaviors, (3) good hygiene behaviors, and (4) unhealthy behaviors. The majority of both male and female adolescents were classified into the healthy group. Male adolescents belonging to the healthy group were more likely to engage in vigorous physical activities, while vigorous physical activity was not important for female adolescents. The smallest group was the unhealthy group, regardless of gender; however, the proportion of boys in the unhealthy group was almost twice that of girls. Only female adolescents engaged in excessive Internet use, especially the group with neither health-promoting nor health-risk behaviors. Conclusion: To improve adolescents’ health-related behaviors, it would be more effective to develop tailored interventions considering the behavioral profiles of the target groups.

Associations of lifestyle risk factors with overweight or obesity among adolescents: a multicountry analysis

BACKGROUND

About 35% of the global burden of disease has roots in adolescence. Health in adolescence is an important determinant of health in adulthood.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to generate risk scores for lifestyle behaviors among adolescents and to estimate the country-specific prevalence of these risk scores. The study also examined the relations of lifestyle risk scores with overweight or obesity among adolescents.

METHODS

We used the most recent data available from 20 nationally representative Global School-based Student Health Surveys. Our analytical sample size was 51,597. The outcome of interest was overweight or obesity. We developed 4 lifestyle risk scores (dietary habits, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and tobacco use), which were used as the exposure variables in this study. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted ORs with 95% CIs.

RESULTS

In total, 18.2% of the participants were overweight or obese. Across countries, the percentage of adolescents with unhealthy dietary habits ranged from 76.7% (the Cook Islands) to 94.2% (Timor-Leste), physical inactivity ranged from 47.5% (Bangladesh) to 90.1% (the Philippines), and sedentary behavior ranged from 34.5% (Nepal) to 88.2% (Kuwait). Girls engaged in less physical activity than did boys. Increased odds of overweight or obesity were found among participants with high risk scores for physical inactivity (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.27) and for unhealthy sedentary behavior (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.35) compared with participants with low risk scores. Girls with high tobacco risk scores had higher odds (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.65) of overweight or obesity than did girls with low risk scores for tobacco use, whereas there were no significant differences in risk in boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were quite prevalent among adolescents, and higher lifestyle risk scores increased the risk of overweight or obesity.

Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire for Ecuadorian University Students (EVS-EUE)

University students are considered a key population in promoting and establishing healthy lifestyles that will ensure a full life for the next generations. The purpose of this study was to do a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the healthy lifestyle questionnaire for Ecuadorian university students (EVS-EUE). Two thousand, one hundred and eight (2108) students from 17 to 19 years old (27%), 20 to 24 years old (57%), and over 24 years old (16%) participated (M = 21.81 years; SD = 3.04). A confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency analysis, and concurrent validity were conducted. The results of the EVS-EUE Questionnaire presented adequate values (χ2/d.f = 9.02, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.96, Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.96, McDonald Fit Index (MFI) = 0.91, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) = 0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.03). The internal consistency showed values above 0.70, and analyzed its concurrent validity, reaching adequate values. This study has provided a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate healthy lifestyles in the Ecuadorian population.

Higher Levels of Physical Activity Are Associated with Greater Fruit and Vegetable intake in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

High levels of physical activity (PA) and optimal nutrition independently improve healthy aging, but few data are available about how PA may influence food preferences in older populations. Therefore, the aim of our study was to establish if there is an association between habitual PA and intake of nutrient-dense foods (i.e. fruits and vegetables).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was conducted.

SETTING

The Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS

2466 older adults (56% male, age 62±9 yr).

MEASUREMENTS

PA was assessed using the short questionnaire to assess health (SQUASH) and participants were classified into quintiles of weekly PA (MET-h/wk). Total fruit and vegetable intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and were corrected for energy intake (g/kcal/d) in the analyses. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the association between PA and fruit and vegetable intake, including covariates.

RESULTS

Being in the higher quintiles of PA (Q3, Q4 and Q5) was positively associated with more daily fruit and vegetable consumption, even after correction for total energy intake (Q3; β=0.089, P<0.001, Q4; β=0.047, P=0.024, Q5; β=0.098, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults who are moderately to highly physically active tend to consume more fruit and vegetable compared to less active peers, when corrected for total energy intake. Female gender, under- and overreporting dietary intake (Goldberg score), non-smoking, high level of education, less alcohol consumption and a lower body mass index positivity affected this relationship. Our data will help health-care professionals to accelerate their efforts to treat and prevent chronic diseases.

Using wearable cameras to monitor eating and drinking behaviours during transport journeys

PURPOSE

Young adults are vulnerable to weight gain and dietary behaviours such as 'eating on the run' are likely contributors. The objective of this study was to examine eating and drinking behaviours during transport journeys in a sample of young adults using wearable cameras that take continuous images every 30 s.

METHODS

Seventy-eight 18-30 year olds wore an Autographer wearable camera for three consecutive days. Image coding schedules were designed to assess physical activity (included transportation) and diet. For the general description of data, frequency analysis was calculated as image number (percentage) and mean (± SD) or median (IQR) when appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 281,041 images were coded and 32,529 (14%) of images involved transport. The median (IQR) camera wear time was 8 h per day (7-9 h). The camera images identified 52 participants (67%) either eating or drinking during transport (excluding water). A total of 143 eating and drinking occasions were identified, averaging 3 occasions per person over the three study days. Fifty five (38%) eating episodes were identified by the camera images of which 27 (49%) were discretionary and 88 (62%) drinking episodes were identified of which (45%) were discretionary.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that transport is a potential setting for intervention. Young adults are consuming discretionary food and beverages during transport which may contribute to energy-dense diets and compromise diet quality. Substituting unhealthy with healthy food advertising and potentially prohibiting eating and drinking whilst on public transport is suggested.

Bidirectional Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns on Health Behaviors and Quality of Life among Chinese Adults

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created challenges that have caused profound changes in health behaviors. This study aimed to explore how COVID-19 is affecting the health-related quality of life (QoL) among Chinese adults. Methods: The data of health-related behaviors and QoL were collected via online surveys from 2289 adults (mean age = 27.8 ± 12 years) who had been isolated at home for an average of 77 days. Results: More than 50% of the respondents reported that their time engaged in daily physical activity (PA) decreased, while sedentary behavior (SB) time increased compared with that before the lockdown. Only 20% of the respondents reported engaging in moderate-to-vigorous PA, 23% of adults reported changed their diets to be healthier, and 30% reported consuming more vegetables, fruits, and milk products than before home-isolation. During home-isolation, 75.2% of the adults rated their sleep quality as very good, and 65% reported that they were satisfied with their QoL. Sleep quality mediated the relationship between PA and QoL. Conclusion: The two-to-three-month home-isolation has had mixed effects on adult health behaviors in China. The participants were found to have focused more on their eating quality and patterns, which had a positive influence on their QoL. However, people should be encouraged to exercise at home with limited space to maintain a generally healthy lifestyle during a prolonged quarantine.

Food Involvement, Eating Restrictions and Dietary Patterns in Polish Adults: Expected Effects of Their Relationships (LifeStyle Study)

Understanding the factors that coexist with healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors is prevalent and important for public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between food involvement, eating restrictions, and dietary patterns in a representative sample of Polish adults. The study was conducted among a group of 1007 adults. Questions with the answers yes or no were used to obtain the data regarding eating restrictions. Data relating to food involvement were obtained with the Food Involvement Scale (FIS). Questions from the Beliefs and Eating Habits questionnaire were used to measure the frequency of consumption of different food groups. Five dietary patterns (DPs) were derived using principal component analysis (PCA), i.e., 'Fruit and vegetables', 'Wholemeal food', 'Fast foods and sweets', 'Fruit and vegetable juices' and "Meat and meat products'. In each of the DPs, three groups of participants were identified based on tertile distribution with the upper tertile denoting the most frequent consumption. Nearly two-thirds of the study sample declared some restrictions in food consumption. The probability of implementing restrictions in consumption of foods high in sugar, fat and high-fat foods increased in the upper tertile of 'Fruit and vegetables' and 'Wholemeal' DPs. Moreover, the probability of implementing restrictions in consumption of meat and high-starch products increased in 'Wholemeal' DP. The probability of using eating restrictions decreased in the upper tertile of 'Fast foods and sweets' and Meat and meat products' DPs. In conclusion, individuals characterized by high food involvement were more inclined to use eating restrictions than individuals with lower food involvement. Their DPs were also healthier compared to those of individuals manifesting low food involvement. Therefore, promoting personal commitment to learning about and experiencing food may be an effective way of inducing a change of eating habits, and therefore a healthier diet.

Sociodemographic and Regional Determinants of Dietary Patterns in Russia

An empirical assessment of diets using a posteriori analysis allows us to define actual dietary patterns (DPs) in the food consumption structure of a population. This study represents an a posteriori assessment of DPs for the Russian population in general as well as their dependence on socio-demographic and regional parameters. The data were obtained from 21,923 individuals aged 25-64 years old from a Russian multicenter study of "Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Regions of the Russian Federation" conducted in 2013-2014. Cross-sectional study subjects were interviewed face-to-face in order to obtain data on their diet. DPs were defined using principal component analysis. Four DPs were specified as "Rational", "Salt", "Meat", and "Mixed"; all these variants together accounted for 55.9% of variance. Diets in gender and age groups corresponded to those for an all-Russian population; in several regions, the defined diets differed from the all-Russian ones. More favorable diet trends were observed among women, people with no family, people not working, and urban dwellers, and diet trends were more favorable with an increase in age, level of education, and material wealth. Thus, a posteriori DPs were defined for the Russian population, which were stable in sex/age groups and were mediated by the socio-demographic characteristics of the population.

Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Sleep Hygiene (HEPAS) as the Winning Triad for Sustaining Physical and Mental Health in Patients at Risk for or with Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Considerations for Clinical Practice

Neuropsychiatric disorders stem from gene-environment interaction and their development can be, at least in some cases, prevented by the adoption of healthy and protective lifestyles. Once full blown, neuropsychiatric disorders are prevalent conditions that patients live with a great burden of disability. Indeed, the determinants that increase the affliction of neuropsychiatric disorders are various, with unhealthy lifestyles providing a significant contribution in the interplay between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that ultimately represent the pathophysiological basis of these impairing conditions. On one hand, the adoption of Healthy Eating education, Physical Activity programs, and Sleep hygiene promotion (HEPAS) has the potential to become one of the most suitable interventions to reduce the risk to develop neuropsychiatric disorders, while, on the other hand, its integration with pharmacological and psychological therapies seems to be essential in the overall management of neuropsychiatric disorders in order to reduce the disability and improve the quality of life of affected patients. We present an overview of the current evidence in relation to HEPAS components in the prevention and management of neuropsychiatric disorders and provide suggestions for clinical practice.

Diet-Related Factors, Physical Activity, and Weight Status in Polish Adults

Obesity is a serious problem for both the individual and society due to its health and economic consequences. Therefore, there is a need to focus on factors which explain this phenomenon and may be useful in preventing future occurrence. The aim of this study was to determine the lifestyle factors coexisting with increased body mass index (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) in Polish adults, including factors related to diet (dietary patterns-DPs; dietary restrictions; number of meals; frequency of snacking, eating out, and ordering home delivery meals), physical activity, and sociodemographic characteristics. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was carried out in 2016 amongst 972 Polish adults under the Life Style Study (LSS). To determine the factorscoexisting with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², the logistic regression model was developed. Women were less likely to be overweight or obese compared to men. The likelihood of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² increased with age by 4% in each subsequent year of life. Frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, adhering to restrictions in quantity of food consumed and at least moderate physical activity during leisure time decreased the likelihood of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². More frequent consumption of meat and eating five or more meals a day increased the likelihood of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Diet-related factors explained the developed model better than factors related to physical activity, however, age and gender were the factors most strongly correlated with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Therefore, development of strategies to prevent and reduce overweight and obesity should focus on the demographic characteristics of the population, and then on teaching behaviors conducive for reducing the amount of food consumed, especially meat. However, physical activity in leisure time should also be included in the prevention of obesity.

Relationships Between Poor Health and Calories From Fat Among Commercial Truck Drivers

OBJECTIVE

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers face many challenges to their health, including poor diet, disease, and crash risk. This study quantifies relationships between the percentage of calories from fat (PCF) and markers of poor health, many of which are associated with increased crash risk.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 790 CMV drivers were analyzed. PCF were estimated using the National Cancer Institute Percentage Energy from Fat Screener. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated.

RESULTS

The highest category of PCF (>38.2%) was statistically significantly more likely to not exercise (OR = 2.08), have sleep apnea (OR = 2.31), snore (OR = 1.90), smoke (OR = 2.28), and use alcohol (OR = 1.87) after adjustments.

CONCLUSION

Meaningful relationships between PCF and poor health indicators exist. These indicators may provide an intervention to improve the health and safety of CMV drivers.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Potential Moderators Associated with All-Cause Mortality in a Representative Sample of Spanish Older Adults

This study sought to determine the association between levels of fruit and vegetable consumption and time to death, and to explore potential moderators. We analyzed a nationally-representative sample of 1699 older adults aged 65+ who were followed up for a period of 6 years. Participants were classified into low (≤3 servings day), medium (4), or high (≥5) consumption using tertiles. Unadjusted and adjusted cox proportional hazard regression models (by age, gender, cohabiting, education, multimorbidity, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and obesity) were calculated. The majority of participants (65.7%) did not meet the recommendation of five servings per day. High fruit and vegetable intake increased by 27% the probability of surviving among older adults with two chronic conditions, compared to those who consumed ≤3 servings per day (HR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.21-0.69). However, this beneficial effect was not found for people with none, one chronic condition or three or more, indicating that this protective effect might not be sufficient for more severe cases of multimorbidity. Given a common co-occurrence of two non-communicable diseases in the elderly and the low frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in this population, interventions to promote consuming five or more servings per day could have a significant positive impact on reducing mortality.

Are Older Adults without a Healthy Diet Less Physically Active and More Sedentary?

Few studies on older populations consider several energy balance-related behaviors together. This cross-sectional study compared subjectively and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) patterns between older adults with and without a healthy diet. We recruited 127 community-dwelling older Taiwanese adults (69.9 ± 5.0 years); data were collected during April and September 2018. Objectively measured total PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, light PA, step count, total sedentary time, duration of sedentary bouts, number of sedentary bouts, and number of sedentary breaks were assessed using activity monitors. Subjectively measured PA and SB were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire for Older Adults. Chi-square tests and independent sample t-tests were performed. For subjective measures, older adults without a healthy diet spent significantly less total leisure time on PA and more leisure sitting time than those with a healthy diet. For objective measures, older adults without a healthy diet spent less time on light PA and had a higher total sedentary time, duration of sedentary bouts, times of sedentary bouts, and times of sedentary breaks than those with a healthy diet. Regardless of the use of objective or subjective measurements, older adults without a healthy diet engaged in a more inactive and sedentary lifestyle. These findings have implications for health promotion practitioners in designing tailored interventions.

Frequency of Dietary Intake and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Evidence shows that diet is associated with physical activity. However, there has been a lack of studies addressing it in a population of older adults. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to explore associations between various frequencies of dietary intake and physical activity in older adults.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 810 older adults aged ≥85. Frequency of dietary intake and the level of physical activity were assessed using the Elderly Diet Index score and International Physical Activity questionnaire. Mutual associations were examined using generalized estimating equations with a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

"Optimal" intake of fish and seafood (OR (odds ratio) = 1.40; 95% CI (95 percent confidence interval) 1.01 to 2.00), fruits (OR = 2.10; 95% CI 1.45 to 3.02), legumes (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.19 to 2.50), olive oil (OR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.09 to 3.08) and bread (OR = 4.62; 95% CI 3.05 to 6.99) and the total Elderly Diet Index score (OR = 4.99; 95% CI 3.20 to 7.70) were associated with "sufficient" physical activity. When all dietary components were entered simultaneously into the model, "optimal" intakes of meat (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.71), fish and seafood (OR = 2.26; 95% CI 1.46 to 3.51), cereals (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 1.02 to 3.25), fruits (OR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.26), legumes (OR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.93), and bread (OR = 5.14; 95% CI 3.24 to 8.15) were associated with "sufficient" physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the total Elderly Diet Index score is the strongest predictor associated with "sufficient" physical activity in a population of older adults. Thus, policies aiming to improve overall diet in order to achieve higher levels of physical activity are warranted.

A qualitative study of the drivers of socioeconomic inequalities in men's eating behaviours

Background

Men of low socioeconomic position (SEP) are less likely than those of higher SEP to consume fruits and vegetables, and more likely to eat processed discretionary foods. Education level is a widely used marker of SEP. Few studies have explored determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in men’s eating behaviours. The present study aimed to explore intrapersonal, social and environmental factors potentially contributing to educational inequalities in men’s eating behaviour.

Methods

Thirty Australian men aged 18–60 years (15 each with tertiary or non-tertiary education) from two large metropolitan sites (Melbourne, Victoria; and Newcastle, New South Wales) participated in qualitative, semi-structured, one-on-one telephone interviews about their perceptions of influences on their and other men’s eating behaviours. The social ecological model informed interview question development, and data were examined using abductive thematic analysis.

Results

Themes equally salient across tertiary and non-tertiary educated groups included attitudes about masculinity; nutrition knowledge and awareness; ‘moralising’ consumption of certain foods; the influence of children on eating; availability of healthy foods; convenience; and the interplay between cost, convenience, taste and healthfulness when choosing foods. More prominent influences among tertiary educated men included using advanced cooking skills but having relatively infrequent involvement in other food-related tasks; the influence of partner/spouse support on eating; access to healthy food; and cost. More predominant influences among non-tertiary educated men included having fewer cooking skills but frequent involvement in food-related tasks; identifying that ‘no-one’ influenced their diet; having mobile worksites; and adhering to food budgets.

Conclusions

This study identified key similarities and differences in perceived influences on eating behaviours among men with lower and higher education levels. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which such influences explain socioeconomic variations in men’s dietary intakes, and to identify feasible strategies that might support healthy eating among men in different socioeconomic groups.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-6162-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Associations between Dietary Patterns and Short Sleep Duration in Polish Adults (LifeStyle Study)

Short sleep duration appears to put adults at risk of excessive energy intake and obesity; less is known specifically about how sleep quantity relates to dietary patterns. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the associations of dietary patterns (DPs) with short sleep duration. The data were collected in November 2016 through a cross-sectional quantitative survey among 972 Polish adults with both normal weight and excessive weight. Principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted to derive DPs. Logistic regression analysis was used to verify associations between short sleep duration (independent variable) and DPs (dependent variables). Five DPs ('Fast foods & sweets'-FF&S; 'Meat & meat products'-M&MP; 'Fruit & vegetable'-F&V; 'Wholemeal food'-WF; and 'Fruit & vegetable juices'-F&VJ) were identified. Adults whose diet was based both on fruit and vegetables (OR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44⁻0.88; p < 0.01) and on fast food and sweets (OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44⁻0.99; p < 0.01) were less likely to be short sleepers on weekdays. On weekdays short sleep duration was associated with smaller odds of FF&S both for men (OR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33⁻0.97; p < 0.05) and for women (OR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38⁻0.98; p < 0.05), and with smaller odds of F&V (OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.20⁻0.58; p < 0.001) for men. Short sleep duration on weekend days was associated with a smaller odds of F&VJ (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.30⁻0.96; p < 0.05- only in crude model) and higher odds of F&V (OR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.02⁻3.11; p < 0.05) for women, and with a smaller odds of FF&S (OR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17⁻0.79; p < 0.05) for men. The number of significant associations between dietary patterns and sleep duration was higher among people with normal weight and overweight compared to those with BMI ≥ 30. We found that both short sleep duration on weekdays and weekend days was associated with some dietary patterns including both healthy and unhealthy DPs. Gender significantly differed these relationships in groups with normal and excessive weight. Findings of the study confirmed the potential effectiveness of combined use of sleep duration and dietary patterns in the development of recommendations for prevention of obesity. Future studies are called for to evaluate these links using dietary patterns identified according to food intake.