Food consumption and nutrient intake in Italian school children: results of the ZOOM8 study

Abstract

The food consumption and food habits of Italian third-class-primary-school children were assessed and their energy and nutrient intakes were compared with requirements. The study involved 1740 subjects (900 males and 840 females) aged 8–9 years, from the north, centre and south of Italy. Body weight and height were measured. Parents filled in a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for their child. The results showed that the diet of Italian children is unbalanced in terms of macronutrients and deficient in fiber. The average daily intakes of fruit (234?g/d), vegetables (134?g/d) and legumes (17?g/d), were lower than the nationally recommended ones. The percentages of energy intake from fats (41%) and from carbohydrates (45%) were higher and lower respectively than recommended. Low intakes of fiber (13.5?g/d) were reported. A national nutrition policy in Italy should focus on nutrition education programs in schools and for parents.     

HIV prevention and adolescents: a sample survey on Italian high school students

This article resulted from a survey carried out by some researchers of the Telefono Verde AIDS (TVA-National AIDS Help-Line) of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, with the collaboration of some colleagues of the Segreteria per le Attività Culturali. It is also a summary of strategies of intervention against HIV/AIDS for young people implemented by the Italian Ministry of Health. The study was developed within the context of the workshops on HIV/AIDS education carried out since 1995 by some researchers of TVA. These workshops fall within some other initiatives arranged by the Segreteria per le Attività Culturali for the diffusion of scientific and technological information. Our study aimed at assessing the level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS among some different high-school students. Data processing points out a widespread and quite good level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS in general and particularly on ways of transmission and prevention measures. Results obtained could not be generalized because the sample involved in the survey represented a privileged target, already sensitive to the issues concerning HIV infection and AIDS dealt with in the context of specific teaching programmes.     

Food intake survey of kindergarten children in Korea: Part 1 food,energy, and nutrient intake

Objectives

Nutrient intakes of children were surveyed at the time when a nation-wide shift took place in the Republic of Korea from agriculture-based to industrialized society. Taking advantage of the survey locations (see below), possible delay in nutritional improvement in rural areas (as compared with that in an urban area) was also examined.

Methods

In total, 108 4- to 6-year-old children (boys and girls in combination) in 4 kindergartens (KGs; 1 in Seoul and 3 in Jeju Island) participated in the survey in 2003–2004. 24-h food duplicate samples were prepared by the mother of each child. Food items in each duplicate sample were separated and coded with reference to the Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans (the 2005 version). Nutrient intake of the day was estimated from the code and weight followed by summation for daily intake.

Results

The children in the KG in Seoul studied were younger, and therefore were smaller in body size than those in other KGs. Thus, it was considered necessary to evaluate nutrient intake not only on a daily basis, but after adjustment for body weight. The AM daily intake of energy (protein in parenthesis) for the 108 children was 1479 kcal (55 g)/day or 69.8 kcal (2.6 g)/kg body weight/day. Evaluation by individual nutrient suggested that the intake was sufficient for almost all nutrients except for sodium and potassium. Sodium and potassium intake (2285 and 1840 mg/day, respectively) was in excess and insufficient, respectively, with potential risk of inducing hypertension later in life.

Conclusions

Inter-KG difference was not remarkable and therefore urban–rural difference was not apparent. Nutrient intakes as a whole appeared to be sufficient urban and rural areas. Nevertheless, excess Na intake coupled with insufficient K intake was a common problem.     

Food consumption pattern and nutrient intake of Indian obese males

Mean daily intake of all foods except cereals i.e. pulses, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers, fruits, milk and milk products, sugar and fats of Indian obese male respondents was higher than the values recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR, 1987). The consumption of fat and sugar was 18 and 8 percent more than the recommended intake values respectively. However, their non-obese counterparts consumed significantly (P < 0.05) lower amounts of all the foods except cereals and pulses. The intake of various nutrients i.e. energy, protein, fats, beta-carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vit B12, folacin, ascorbic acid and calcium by obese respondents was considerably higher than the recommended values (ICMR, 1990) and the control group. All the obese respondents were consuming adequate (100% and above) amounts of energy, protein and fats. Intake of carbohydrates was marginally adequate (75-99.9%) among 92 percent of the obese respondents whereas 8 percent were consuming adequate amount of carbohydrates. They had higher consumption of visible as well as invisible fat than the control group.     

Food consumption patterns analysed as food portions rather than nutrients in east coast Kenya: a cluster sample survey

Food consumption patterns in the Kilifi District of Kenya are described. Data were collected by 24-h dietary recalls from 414 individuals, as part of a wider health survey. There was a very strong reliance on one staple, maize; the main supplementary foods being coconut milk, cowpeas, green leafy vegetables and fresh and dried sea fish. Breast feeding was almost universal, with virtually no use of artificial baby milks. The data were recorded as the number of portions of each food eaten daily: the foods were grouped together into ten food groups. Malnourished and well nourished children showed no significant difference in their frequency of intake of individual food groups. A composite figure was devised to reflect the overall adequacy of the diet; this was defined as the proportion of total food portions eaten that were staples. A highly significant correlation was found between this proportion and distance from the coast (r=0.55: P<0.001). This variable also showed a significant negative correlation with stunting (per cent height for age of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) median) (r=0.17; P<0.01) and a positive correlation with wasting (per cent weight for height of the NCHS median) (r-0.22; P<0.001). After controlling for the confounding factors of age, distance from the coast and malaria endemicity, significant correlations were still seen. The proportion of food portions that were staples was negatively correlated with red-cell folate levels (r=0.24; P<0.001). For individual food groups, the frequency of intake of beans and fat-rich foods were positively correlated with red-cell folate levels and negatively correlated with serum iron levels. Twenty-four-h dietary recalls in conjunction with analysis of food portions rather than nutrient values, produced significant correlations with anthropometric and biochemical indices of nutritional status. These results provide some degree of validation for this rapid and relatively cheap method of dietary investigation which would be useful for the assessment of food consumption patterns of groups of people in a community-based health survey.     

Comprehensive dietary evaluation of Italian primary school children: food consumption and intake of energy,nutrients and phenolic compounds

Abstract

Information on children’s diet including bioactive compounds is quite scarce. This observational study investigated the composition of the diet of children living in Parma (Italy; n?=?172, 8–10?years) using 3-day food records completed in winter and spring. Mean daily intakes of food groups, energy and nutrients were obtained using the national food database, while (poly)phenol contents were estimated from Phenol-Explorer or by specific literature searches. Food consumption, energy and nutrient intakes decreased in spring and were partially in line with national data. Adherence to the nutritional recommendations was not satisfied for the majority of nutrients. Main contributors to the phenolic intake were flavonoids (flavan-3-ols) and phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids), while main dietary sources were fruit, chocolate-based products, vegetables, and tea & coffee (decaffeinated). This study provided the first comprehensive analysis of the nutritional composition of children’s diet. Future research should look at the health implications of dietary choices in children.     

Food cravings,food intake,and weight status in a community-based sample

The aims of this study were to 1) determine the relationships between BMI and the frequency of food cravings for different categories of foods, 2) examine the associations between cravings for different types of foods and self-reported, habitual intake of these foods, and 3) assess how these relationships differ by BMI. Six hundred and forty-six participants (55.7% female; 66.4% White; mean age 29.5 ± 9.1 years; mean BMI 27.3 ± 5.5 kg/m²) completed a comprehensive assessment battery including the Food Craving Inventory (FCI) and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). There was a significant positive relationship between BMI and food cravings. There were significant positive associations of cravings for sweets, high fats, carbohydrates/starches, and fast-food fats on respective intake of these types of foods; however, there were no significant interactions between food cravings and BMI on the respective type of food intake. This study indicates significant positive relationships between specific categories of food cravings and habitual intake of those foods.     

Estimating food and nutrient intake from food frequency questionnaire data by reference to a standard weighed diet survey

Introduction The food frequency questionnaire is widely regarded as more appropriate for ranking and grouping individuals according to levels of nutrient intake than for estimating absolute nutrient amounts.
Aims To develop a method for estimation of amount of nutrient intake from food frequency questionnaires by reference to an independent weighed dietary survey.
Method Six stages of the method are described and illustrated in the estimation of total dietary fat from the 1984–85 Health and Lifestyle Survey using the 1986–87 Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults as the reference standard.
Results Several points support the validity of the approach although limitations are identified.     

Changes in the sexual health behaviours of New Zealand secondary school students, 2001–2012: findings from a national survey series

Objective : To describe trends in self‐reported sexual and reproductive health behaviours among New Zealand secondary school students. Methods : Nationally representative health and wellbeing surveys conducted in 2001 (n=9,699), 2007 (n=9,107) and 2012 (n=8,500) were analysed. Logistic regressions were used to explore variations in sexual health outcomes between 2001 and 2012. Results : ‘Ever had sex’ (?6.9%, p<0.001); ‘currently sexually active’ (? 2.3%, p<0.001); ‘always use condoms’ (?3.3%, p=0.006); ‘condoms at last sex’ (?7.0, p=0.002); ‘contraception at last sex’ (?5.8%, p<0.001) and sexually transmitted infections (?0.3%, p=0.001) have reduced over time. ‘Always use contraception’ did not change significantly (?1.4%, p=0.514) over time. Māori (OR 0.7), Pacific (OR 0.5) and socioeconomically deprived students (OR 0.7) less frequently used condoms. Māori (OR 0.6), Pacific (OR 0.4), Asian (OR 0.5), younger (OR 0.6), and socioeconomically deprived (OR 0.6) students less frequently used contraception. Conclusions : Students in 2012 were more likely to delay sexual activity, but were less likely to use condoms and contraception consistently, compared to students in 2001. Declining contraceptive use over an 11‐year period suggests that current strategies are inadequate, particularly for Māori, Pacific and socioeconomically deprived students. Appropriate and accessible sexual and reproductive health services are urgently required.     

北京市中小学生早餐状况分析

了解北京市中小学生早餐现况,为指导中小学生建立健康的生活方式提供参考.方法 分层整群抽取13 846名北京市中小学生,采用自填式问卷进行调查.结果 北京市中小学生有2.8%自报从不吃早餐,62.5%的学生能够做到每天吃早餐.随着学段的升高,每天吃早餐的人数减少,吃家里做好的早餐的人数也在减少.不吃早餐最多的原因是不饿/不想吃(44.3%),其次是没时间(33.3%)以及家里没有吃早餐的习惯(7.8%).不吃早餐原因的性别、城区和学段分布一致,54.1%的学生报告吃家里做的早餐,有4.5%的中小学生早饭总吃不饱.结论 北京市中小学生早餐摄入频率低,质量差与习惯有关;应开展有效营养教育.     

Food intake and food consumption patterns of hospital workers in the dominican republic

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death according to official mortality statistics in the Dominican Republic. The purpose of this study was to assess food intake and food consumption patterns of Dominicans and to discuss CHD risks related to nutrient intake. The subjects were 22 men and 81 women voluntarily recruited among 230 hospital workers in Santo Domingo. The mean nutrient intake and food consumption were estimated from a single 24-hour recall method administered by trained persons who elicited each subject’s previous day’s intake from midnight to midnight. The mean energy intake was 2030 kcal. The mean intake of total protein, total fat and carbohydrates were 66.3g, 89.1 g and 248g, respectively. Percentage of energy from total fat was 39.5%, which was higher than WHO recommendations. But, the percentage of animal fat per total fat was 46.8%. Especially, the value in the low income group was 31.7%. Moreover, we analyzed the food consumption structure in order to understand the Dominican dietary pattern, and three factors were found to explain the characteristics on the basis of factor analysis. The low percentage of animal fat was due to the diets rich in vegetable oil. Our results suggested that it was difficult to assume that CHD risks increased as a result of the Dominican dietary pattern. This was consistent with our previous findings that the average serum cholesterol level of Dominicans was generally low.     

Characteristics of predrinking and associated risks: a survey in a sample of German high school students

Objectives

Finding predictors for predrinking and placing the new phenomenon of predrinking on a greater database. Predrinking is defined as alcohol consumption, alone or with friends, at home or at public places, before going out in the evening to a party or in bars or discotheques.

Methods

Data were collected from a representative sample of 757 ninth- and tenth-grade students from 31 high schools located in a south German rural region and a city.

Results

Predrinkers, especially those who show this behaviour frequently, were notably more likely to engage in hazardous drinking, and experienced significantly more frequent involvements in fights and alcohol-induced blackouts. They also stated more often that they had the intention of getting drunk when consuming alcohol.

Conclusions

Predrinking proves to be a high-risk behaviour, particularly when it occurs at a high frequency. This behaviour has to be seen as part of a new youth culture, which does not seem to be limited to a certain subgroup—with all of the associated risks.     

Pregnancy and contraceptive use in a national representative sample of Australian secondary school students

OBJECTIVE: To determine rate of pregnancy and use of contraception in a nationally representative sample of school students. METHODS: Year 10 and 12 students from a representative random sample of schools throughout Australia completed a survey concerning health and sexual behaviour. RESULTS: Thirty-five per cent of students had experienced sexual intercourse. Of these, 6.1% (males 4.1%, females 7.8%) reported they had experienced sex that resulted in pregnancy, and a further 7.5% were unsure. Most sexually active students reported using a condom (65%), and a further 36.8% reported using the pill for contraception the last time they had sex. Relatively few students (17.2%) used a dual contraceptive (female method and condom). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of reported pregnancy among Year 10 and 12 students are relatively high. Although the majority of students used some form of contraception when they had sex, a significant minority practised unprotected and unsafe sex. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE: Sex education concerning pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection risks must be delivered early enough to influence first and early sexual activity.     

Bullying in middle school: results from a 2008 survey

A survey conducted in 2008 among 346 American middle school students in several cities determined that 82.7% of respondents found bullying to be a problem of some degree, with 46.0% rating it a "medium", "bad", or "very bad" problem. It was found that 89% had witnessed an act of bullying and 49.1% said they had been the victim of a bully. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to say that a victim deserved to be bullied (11.1% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.01), whereas girls were significantly more likely than boys to fail to intervene because they did not know what to do (30.3% for girls vs. 11.1%, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in this study between boys and girls in terms of being a bully: 43.6% admitted they had bullied another (46.2% boys, 41.1% girls, p = 0.34); however, girls were significantly more likely than boys to bully by excluding others and gossiping about them than by hitting, teasing, or threatening. Cyberbullying, surveyed as a distinct entity, had affected 31.1% of respondents directly, with similar results from 2006 to 2007 surveys. Of those who found conventional bullying a "bad" or "very bad" problem at their schools, numbers fell from 17.3% in 2006-2007 vs. 11.3% in 2008.     

243名小学生饮食行为及影响因素调查

儿童少年时期是生理、心理生长发育的关键时期,也是饮食行为和习惯形成的重要阶段。科学合理地摄入各种营养对于保证其正常的身心发育至关重要,而合理的营养摄入需要通过良好的饮食行为来实现。为了解虹口区儿童少年饮食行为现状及影响因素,以便进行有效的营养教育,我们利用“2008年上海市学生饮食行为现况调查”资料,对虹口区2所小学的调查数据进行了分析。