Eating habits, physical activity, consumption of substances and eating disorders in adolescents

Evaluation of Eating Habits and Nutrient Intake in Adolescents with and without Suspected Eating Disorders in Iran

Objective: Increasing the incidence of eating disorder (ED) attitude during adolescence may lead to inadequate nutrient intake and consequently to growth disorders. This study aimed to compare eating habits and nutrient intakes of adolescents with high risk and low risk of developing eating disorders in high schools in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was applied to 299 students (185 females and 114 males) aged 15-18 years for the determination of ED attitudes. Food habits and nutrient intake were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire and a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), respectively. Nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) were calculated using nutrient’s Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for age and sex. Results: Of all students, 17.7% were at risk of developing ED. The results showed that girls, unlike boys, consumed more energy than they needed, but this difference between the ED group in both sexes was not significant. The distribution of sweetened drinks, candy, chocolate, and fast food frequency was significantly different between the two groups of girls (P

Adolescents at risk of eating disorders: The mediating role of emotional distress in the relationship between differentiation of self and eating disorders

Introduction

Adolescents may feel dissatisfied with their bodies, which may lead to a risk of eating disorders (EDs) due to several factors, with emotional distress being one of the most important. Evidence suggests that family might be one of the most significant factors that may increase or decrease emotional distress. An important family pattern found to contribute to mental and physical health is the differentiation of self (DoS). The primary purpose of the current study was to map the complex relationships between DoS, emotional distress, and EDs among adolescents. We hypothesized that emotional distress would mediate the relationship between DoS and the risk of EDs among adolescents. Moreover, based on findings indicating a higher risk of EDs among females, we expected sex differences in the research indices and the mediation model.

Methods

The sample included 194 non-clinical adolescents (mean age 15.15; mean BMI 21.66). Preliminary analyses examined differences between males and females using t-tests. In addition, Pearson correlations were run to assess the association between background variables and the study metrics among males and females. To examine the mediation effect, we ran SEM.

Results

Due to a sex moderation effect, two mediation models were run (SEM), one for females and one for males. Results indicated that emotional distress partially mediated the relationships between DoS and the risk of EDs. In addition, sex differences were found in the mediated indices, showing that among female adolescents, perfectionism is the only dimension of EDs that was associated with DoS through the mediation of emotional distress. While the relationship between emotional distress and the risk of EDs is well documented.

Conclusions

It is concluded that high DoS may reduce emotional distress, which may, in turn, decrease the risk of EDs. In addition, the results enable an in-depth understanding of specific risk factors of EDs that characterize each sex.

Restrained eating behaviour, anorexia nervosa and food consumption between children and adolescents: a scoping review

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and restrained eating behaviour (REB) are characterised by reduced food intake to achieve body weight loss. This scope review aimed to describe the existing evidence on the association between AN, restrictive eating behaviour and food consumption. Studies with children and adolescents of both sexes of all races and ethnicities were included. Experimental and observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, case reports or series, conference abstracts, dissertations and theses were also included. The search was conducted in ten electronic databases and grey literature without language restriction on 14 November 2020. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies included girls and identified lower intake of energy content, fat and certain micronutrients. There was also a higher intake of caffeine, fibre, vegetables, legumes and fruits and a lower intake of low-quality snack, fast food, sweets and foods with high carbohydrate and fat contents. The need to improve the quality of the diet among study participants was also identified. Thus, it is recommended that the evaluation of food consumption be careful to develop effective prevention strategies for the development of AN/REB and minimise nutritional deficiencies in these individuals.

Mudanças na frequência do consumo de refeições em adolescentes residentes em área de vulnerabilidade social da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever as mudanças na frequência do consumo de refeições de adolescentes residentes na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, em período de 5 anos. Utilizaram-se dados de dois estudos transversais, de base populacional, que foram realizados por meio de visitas domiciliares. Em 2005, a amostra final foi de 1089 domicílios com 511 adolescentes (de 12 a 18 anos), e em 2010 de 1121 domicílios com 314 adolescentes. A frequência do consumo de refeições foi obtida por meio de questionário autopreenchido e a avaliação da adequação de peso dos adolescentes foi realizada com base nos pontos de corte do IMC por sexo e faixa etária. Houve aumento da substituição diária do almoço tradicional por lanche (3,7% para 13,7%) e no consumo do jantar tradicional (62,9% para 72,0%). Os adolescentes com sobrepeso consumiram o desjejum com menor frequência do que aqueles sem sobrepeso (2005: 68,3% vs 79,3% p=0,02, 2010: 59,5% vs 77,4% p=0,03). Conclui-se que houve aumento da substituição diária do almoço tradicional por lanche e no consumo do jantar tradicional no período de 5 anos. Ademais, a prática do desjejum diário se associou com a classificação de IMC nos dois momentos do estudo, de modo que aqueles com sobrepeso consomem o desjejum com menor frequência.

Association between eating habits and quality of life among Chilean university students

Objective To estimate the association between eating habits and quality of life (QOL) in Chilean university students. Participants: 1,212 students from the Universidad de La Frontera, Chile (mean age 18.7 ± 2.15) were surveyed in January-March 2018. Methods: Participants completed a cross-sectional self-report survey to evaluate QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF scale and eating habits with a food habits survey. Results: Students reporting a better healthy eating habits score also presented a higher QOL. Eating breakfast and eating home-cooked meals is a protective factor for QOL in each domain. The consumption of sweet snacks was shown to be a risk factor for the physical health and environment domains. The consumption of fast food is shown as the greatest risk factor in the physical domain. Conclusion: Healthy and unhealthy eating habits are associated with different dimensions of QOL. University authorities should develop new policies to improve the QOL of the entire university community.

Adolescents from low-income families in Hong Kong and unhealthy eating behaviours: Implications for health and social care practitioners

The development of dietary preferences of adolescents involves a complex interplay of individual behaviours and environmental factors. Interpersonal factors-such as peer influences and unpleasant school experiences-and institutional factors-such as school rules and policies-are closely associated with unhealthy eating of adolescents. Family support and guidance are also crucial in influencing adolescents' eating habits. However, the low social status, low educational levels, and low household incomes of disadvantaged parents can markedly prevent their children from establishing healthy eating habits. Therefore, adolescents from low-income families are more likely to engage in unhealthy dietary behaviours and hence to be more susceptible to diet-related health problems. However, few studies have addressed the difficulties associated with inculcating healthy eating habits among adolescents from low-income families. Therefore, to investigate the barriers to adopting healthy eating habits, this study adopted a qualitative research approach and conducted five focus-group semistructured interviews with 30 junior- and senior-form students of a secondary school in Hong Kong, all of whom were from low-income families. The results revealed skipping meals because of poverty, following irregular meal patterns on school holidays, receiving poor guidance from family and peers, perceiving healthy eating as expensive and unappealing, and geographical inaccessibility to healthy food all prevented these students from healthy eating. These mutually reinforcing factors were interlocking with the economic strain that was experienced by the participants and their families. In particular, the stereotype of "healthful food is expensive" was strong. Therefore, we suggest students from low-income families should be enabled to understand that healthy eating is not necessarily expensive. The participants' stereotypes about healthy food was handed down by their parents. Such stereotypes, together with the low health literacy, influence the food preparation habits of the parents. Therefore, parents should be made to aware that healthful food can also be affordable.

Prevalence and Correlates of Missing Meals Among High School Students-United States, 2010

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence and correlates of missing meals among adolescents.

DESIGN

The 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, a cross-sectional study.

SETTING

School based.

PARTICIPANTS

A nationally representative sample of 11 429 high school students.

MEASURES

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumption; demographics; measured and perceived weight status; physical activity and sedentary behaviors; and fruit, vegetable, milk, sugar-sweetened beverage, and fast-food intake.

ANALYSIS

Prevalence estimates for missing breakfast, lunch, or dinner on ≥1 day during the past 7 days were calculated. Associations between demographics and missing meals were tested. Associations of lifestyle and dietary behaviors with missing meals were examined using logistic regression controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade.

RESULTS

In 2010, 63.1% of students missed breakfast, 38.2% missed lunch, and 23.3% missed dinner; the prevalence was highest among female and non-Hispanic black students. Being overweight/obese, perceiving oneself to be overweight, and video game/computer use were associated with increased risk of missing meals. Physical activity behaviors were associated with reduced risk of missing meals. Students who missed breakfast were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables and more likely to consume sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food.

CONCLUSION

Breakfast was the most frequently missed meal, and missing breakfast was associated with the greatest number of less healthy dietary practices. Intervention and education efforts might prioritize breakfast consumption.

Breakfast consumption and physical activity in adolescents: daily associations and hourly patterns

BACKGROUND

The association between breakfast consumption and physical activity (PA) is inconclusive.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate daily associations and hourly patterns of PA and breakfast consumption in British adolescents.

DESIGN

Daily PA [accelerometry-derived moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA)] and breakfast consumption (diet diary) were measured simultaneously over 4 d in 860 adolescents (boys: 43.4%; mean ± SD age: 14.5 ± 0.5 y). Associations between MVPA and breakfast consumption were assessed by using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression separately by sex and for weekends and weekdays. Hourly patterns of MVPA by breakfast consumption status were displayed graphically, and differences were tested by using ANOVA. Multilevel linear regression was used to investigate differences in log MVPA on days when 570 inconsistent breakfast consumers ate or skipped breakfast.

RESULTS

On weekends, boys and girls with higher MVPA were more likely to eat breakfast [OR (95% CI): boys, 1.78 (1.30, 2.45) (P < 0.001); girls, 2.30 (1.66, 3.08) (P < 0.001)] when adjusted for socioeconomic status, percentage of body fat, and total energy intake. Peak hourly MVPA differed for breakfast consumers compared with nonconsumers on weekends (P < 0.001). Inconsistent breakfast consumers did more MVPA on days when they ate breakfast [exponentiated β coefficients (95% CIs): 1.2 (1.0, 1.5) on weekdays and 1.4 (1.1, 1.8) on weekends for boys and 1.6 (1.3, 2.1) on weekends for girls; all P < 0.03].

CONCLUSIONS

Eating breakfast was associated with higher MVPA on weekends. The time of peak MVPA differed between breakfast consumers and nonconsumers on weekends. Breakfast consumption at weekends is worth additional investigation to potentially inform PA promotion in adolescents.

Residual beta cell function at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents varies with gender and season

BACKGROUND

There are seasonal variations and gender differences in incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D), metabolic control and responses to immune interventions at onset of the disease. We hypothesized that there are seasonal and gender differences in residual insulin secretion already at diagnosis of T1D.

METHODS

In 2005, a national study, the Better Diabetes Diagnosis, was started to classify all newly diagnosed children and adolescents with diabetes. About 95% (3824/4017) of the patients were classified as T1D, and our analyses are based on the patients with T1D.

RESULTS

C-peptide was lower in younger children, 0-10 years of age (0.23 ± 0.20 nmol/L) than in older children, 11-18 years of age (0.34 ± 0.28 nmol/L) (p < 0.000 ). There was a seasonal variation in non-fasting serum C-peptide, significantly correlated to the seasonal variation of diagnosis (p < 0.01). Most children were diagnosed in January, February and March as well as in October when C-peptide was highest, whereas fewer patients were diagnosed in April and May when serum C-peptide was significantly lower (p < 0.01). The seasonal variation of C-peptide was more pronounced in boys than in girls (p < 0.000 and p < 0.01, respectively). Girls had higher C-peptide than boys (p < 0.05), especially in early puberty.

CONCLUSIONS

Both seasonal and gender differences in residual beta cell function exist already at diagnosis of T1D. These observations have consequences for treatment and for randomizing patients in immune intervention clinical trials.