1.
Effectiveness of an Intervention of Dietary Counseling for Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women in the Consumption of Sugars and Energy.
Anleu, E, Reyes, M, Araya B, M, Flores, M, Uauy, R, Garmendia, ML
Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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Excessive weight during pregnancy and maternal obesity are associated with health complications. Long-term complications include the appearance of obesity and noncommunicable diseases in both mother and child. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether dietary counselling decreased the consumption of total sugars and energy, compared to their consumption before the intervention and compared to women who only received routine counselling. The study is an experimental study that compared the intervention group (n = 272) to the control group (n = 161). The former received dietary counselling whilst the latter received the routine control recommendations. The study population consisted of overweight or obese pregnant women. Results indicate that an intervention with dietary counselling in overweight or obese pregnant women was effective in decreasing the consumption of foods that most contribute to total sugars, energy, and the percentage of energy from sugars. Authors conclude that the implementation of a dietary intervention with nutritional counselling focused on sugars consumption, decreased the consumption of energy and total sugars in overweight and obese pregnant women, mainly in the foods groups high in free sugars.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate if an intervention based on nutritional counseling decreases total sugars and energy consumption in overweight and obese pregnant women, compared to their previous consumption and compared to women who only received routine counseling. METHODS Randomized study of two groups: dietary counseling (Intervention Group: IG) and routine counseling (Control Group: CG). The intervention consisted of three educational sessions focused on decreasing intake of foods that most contribute to sugars consumption. Changes in sugars and energy consumption were evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire before and after the intervention. RESULTS We evaluated 433 pregnant women, 272 in IG and 161 in CG, who before intervention had a mean consumption of 140 g total sugars and 2134 kcal energy per day. At the end of the intervention, the IG showed 15 g/day lower consumption of total sugars (95% CI: -25 and -5 g/day), 2% less total energy from sugars (95% CI: -3% and -1% g/day), and 125 kcal/day less energy than the CG (95% CI: -239 and -10 kcal/day). Table sugar, sweets, and soft drinks had the greatest reduction in consumption. CONCLUSIONS The intervention focused on counseling on the decrease in consumption of the foods that most contribute to sugars consumption in overweight and obese pregnant women was effective in decreasing total sugars and energy consumption, mainly in the food groups high in sugars. Future studies should examine if this intervention has an effect on maternal and fetal outcomes.
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Eating Behaviours and Food Cravings; Influence of Age, Sex, BMI and FTO Genotype.
Abdella, HM, El Farssi, HO, Broom, DR, Hadden, DA, Dalton, CF
Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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The development of obesity is influenced by an interaction between genetic, lifestyle, behavioural and psychological factors such as eating behaviours and food cravings. Eating behaviour includes meal size, attitudes to food, meal content and frequency of eating, all of which may have a role in obesity. Food cravings are defined as strong desires to consume specific foods and can be influenced by physical (e.g. appetite) and psychological (e.g. emotions) factors. Recent studies eating behaviours and food cravings have been associated to BMI and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between eating behaviours and food craving, and explore the influence of BMI, gender, age and obesity on these behaviours. The study group consisted of total of 475 participants. The participants completed an 18 question questionnaire so that eating behaviour such as cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating could be analysed. The study found significant relationships between food cravings and eating behaviours. The authors concluded that gender, genotype and BMI have an influence on eating behaviour and food cravings.
Abstract
Previous studies indicate that eating behaviours and food cravings are associated with increased BMI and obesity. However, the interaction between these behaviours and other variables such as age, sex, BMI and genetics is complex. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between eating behaviours and food cravings, and to examine the influence of age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) genotype on these relationships. A total of 475 participants (252 female, 223 male, BMI: 25.82 ± 6.14 kg/m², age: 30.65 ± 14.20 years) completed the revised 18-question version of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) to assess cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating, and the Food Cravings Inventory (FCI) to assess cravings for fatty food, sweet food, carbohydrates and fast food. DNA samples were genotyped for the rs9939609 polymorphism in the obesity-linked gene FTO. Questionnaire data was analysed for associations between the TFEQ-R18 and FCI subscales for the whole study group, and the group divided by sex, genotype and age (≤25 years versus >25 years). Finally, mediation analysis was used to explore the relationships between BMI, cognitive restraint and food cravings. FTO AA + AT genotype was associated with increased BMI, but not with differences in eating behavior scores or food craving scores; age was associated with increased BMI and decreases in food craving scores in which this effect was stronger in women compared to men. Increased cognitive restraint was associated with decreased food craving scores in the ≤25 years group. Mediation analysis demonstrated that in this group the association between BMI and reduced food cravings was mediated by cognitive restraint indicating that in this age group individuals use cognitive restraint to control their food cravings. The positive correlation between age and BMI confirms previous results but the findings of this study show that age, sex, FTO genotype and BMI have an influence on the relationships between eating behaviours and food cravings and that these variables interact.
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Emotional Eating, Health Behaviours, and Obesity in Children: A 12-Country Cross-Sectional Study.
Jalo, E, Konttinen, H, Vepsäläinen, H, Chaput, JP, Hu, G, Maher, C, Maia, J, Sarmiento, OL, Standage, M, Tudor-Locke, C, et al
Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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Childhood obesity rates are high in both developed and developing countries. The most important contributors are the increased availability of energy-dense foods and a reduced need for physical activity. The aim of the study was to examine the association between self-reported emotional eating, health behaviours and body mass index in 9 to 11-year-old children. The study is a secondary analysis of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and Environment. The cross-sectional sample included 5,426 children with an age range between 9 to 11-year-olds. Results indicate a positive association between emotional eating and an unhealthy diet pattern, which was consistent in all 12 different study sites. Authors conclude that the association between emotional eating and an unhealthy eating pattern is not restricted to Western countries and their cultural and food environments.
Abstract
Eating in response to negative emotions (emotional eating, EE) may predispose an individual to obesity. Yet, it is not well known how EE in children is associated with body mass index (BMI) and health behaviours (i.e., diet, physical activity, sleep, and TV-viewing). In the present study, we examined these associations in a cross-sectional sample of 5426 (54% girls) 9⁻11-year-old children from 12 countries and five continents. EE, food consumption, and TV-viewing were measured using self-administered questionnaires, and physical activity and nocturnal sleep duration were measured with accelerometers. BMI was calculated using measured weights and heights. EE factor scores were computed using confirmatory factor analysis, and dietary patterns were identified using principal components analysis. The associations of EE with health behaviours and BMI z-scores were analyzed using multilevel models including age, gender, and household income as covariates. EE was positively and consistently (across 12 study sites) associated with an unhealthy dietary pattern (β = 0.29, SE = 0.02, p < 0.0001), suggesting that the association is not restricted to Western countries. Positive associations between EE and physical activity and TV viewing were not consistent across sites. Results tended to be similar in boys and girls. EE was unrelated to BMI in this sample, but prospective studies are needed to determine whether higher EE in children predicts the development of undesirable dietary patterns and obesity over time.