The role of social determinants on unhealthy eating habits in an urban area in Mexico: A qualitative study in low-income mothers with a young child at home

Associations of the Social Determinants of Health and Lifestyle Components with Dietary Patterns in a Population of Reproductive Age

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Lifestyle factors, sociodemographic determinants, and dietary patterns play an important role in shaping genitors and fetal health. This study aimed to identify dietary patterns and to investigate the social determinants of health and lifestyle components associated with dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) in a population of reproductive age.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March 2021 and February 2022. Self-reported data on age, weight, height, social determinants, lifestyle factors, and medical history were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 284 participants of reproductive age (≤40 years of age) were included in the analysis. We identified 3 main dietary patterns: (1) the Prudent pattern, associated with a higher probability of eating 3 meals/day, a longer eating jetlag and a higher probability of being a homemaker, unemployed, or a student; (2) the Western pattern, associated with eating after 9 p.m., a longer eating jetlag and negatively associated with the employment status (i.e., of being a homemaker, unemployed, or a student); and (3) the Unhealthy pattern, associated with being a smoker. Furthermore, using multivariate linear regression, we found that BMI was associated with living in rural area and adopting an Unhealthy dietary pattern. For the Unhealthy pattern, the adherence to it was higher in smoking men > smoking women, with a significant interaction between gender and smoking status (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These data could be helpful in implementing personalized educational interventions in nutrition and lifestyle changes tailored for risk categories in order to improve health in people of reproductive age.

Improving the Health and Well-Being of Individuals by Addressing Social, Economic, and Health Inequities (Healthy Eating Active Living): Protocol for a Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Health inequity is interlinked with the good health and well-being of an individual. Health inequity can be due to various socioeconomic factors like income levels or social status. Digital health interventions have the potential to reduce the existing health inequities.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify determinants of social, economic, and health inequity in diverse settings to enhance healthy eating and active living. It further aims to design and develop a digital health intervention HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) that incorporates a human-centered design framework in order to improve healthy eating and active living among rural and urban population groups in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

METHODS

A prospective, 3-year cohort study will be conducted. This study aims to recruit 6350 individuals across rural and urban settings of Chennai. A total of 11 sites have been selected for participation in the study. Data on sociodemographic characteristics; economic inequity; HEAL profile; depression, anxiety, and stress; well-being; sources of health information; perceived access to health care; health literacy; navigation of health literacy; and satisfaction with the health system will be gathered. This study would help to explore the determinants of social, economic, and health inequity across multiple sites. SAS (version 9.3; SAS Institute Inc) will be used for data analysis, and results will be reported as 95% CI and P values. This study's findings will guide the design and development of a tailored, human-centered digital health intervention to enhance the health and well-being of Chennai's population groups.

RESULTS

As of December 2024, the literature review for the development of the intervention has been completed. The recruitment for the baseline data collection will begin shortly, followed by the development of HEAL intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed study will help in examining the role of the proposed HEAL intervention to enhance the health and well-being of the population groups of Chennai.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/41169.

Comparative determination of factors affecting attitude level towards healthy nutrition

Healthy eating habits are critical to the health and well-being of future generations. Many people worldwide do not receive enough vitamins and minerals due to malnutrition To eliminate these, it is necessary to determine the factors that support people's healthy eating habits. This study was conducted to determine the factors that affect healthy eating habits. There are three external factors to the study: (1) being an expert in food and drink, (2) having received formal education in health, and (3) receiving professional support (dietician support) in nutrition. The level of healthy eating was evaluated based on nutritional knowledge, feelings about nutrition, positive eating habits, and poor eating habits. In this context, an online survey was applied to 425 employees in the health sector (202 people) and the food and beverage sector (223 people). The data obtained were analyzed comparatively. The study results showed that the level of nutritional knowledge was equal in both groups. However, it was concluded that food and beverage sector employees were more sensitive to feelings about nutrition, positive eating, and poor eating habits than healthcare sector employees. While food and beverage sector employees are expected to constantly deal with food, which causes desensitization, it has been observed that they are stable and resistant to healthy eating. It has been concluded that although they have not received any formal health training, the information they have obtained through professional support (dietician) accelerates the process of developing healthy eating behaviors. This result has strengthened the power of the education variable affecting healthy nutrition. In addition, sensitivity to healthy nutrition is catalyzed by the professional profession. Dietician support indirectly reinforces this attitude. Thus, it has contributed to the development of healthy nutrition literature.

Examining the effectiveness of food literacy interventions in improving food literacy behavior and healthy eating among adults belonging to different socioeconomic groups- a systematic scoping review

BACKGROUND

In high-income countries, significant diet-related health inequalities exist between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Individuals who face socioeconomic challenges are less likely to meet dietary guidelines, leading to increased incidence and prevalence of morbidity and mortality associated with dietary risk factors. To promote healthy eating, strategies may focus on individual-level factors (e.g., knowledge, skills, and behavior) along with broader societal factors (e.g., social determinants of health). The concept of food literacy is considered an individual-level factor and has been framed as a skill set that individuals must possess to effectively navigate the complexities of the modern food system. Food literacy interventions can be a complementary but effective tool for encouraging healthy eating behavior among diverse populations, including those facing socioeconomic disadvantage. However, there is limited evidence to guide the design of food literacy intervention for vulnerable population groups. In the process of developing an ideal portfolio of solutions and strategies to promote food literacy and healthy eating for people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, this systematic scoping review aims to comprehensively examine the effects of food literacy interventions on promoting food literacy behavior and healthy eating in adults (18 years and above) from various socioeconomic groups (SEGs) in high-income countries.

METHODS

The review includes both qualitative and quantitative papers obtained from academic databases, including MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. In addition to the electronic search, manual forward and backward citation searching will be conducted to identify additional relevant papers. Food literacy interventions will be evaluated across four domains: planning and management, selection, preparation, and consumption. Papers included in the review will be analyzed for process, impact, and outcome evaluation. The main outcome of a food literacy intervention is the modification in eating behavior, while the mechanism for this action will be through impact measure of food literacy behaviors. Implementation factors will be extracted for process evaluation. This review will also include a range of dietary behavior measures, such as diet quality index and dietary intake indicator. The screening process for all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data will be carried out by two reviewers independently. In case of any potential conflicts, they will be resolved through discussion. The quality of quantitative studies will be reviewed using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. The "Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ)" will be used to report on the quality of qualitative papers.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TPNKU.

Nutrition-Related Knowledge Graph Neural Network for Food Recommendation

Food recommendation systems are becoming increasingly vital in modern society, given the fast-paced lifestyle and diverse dietary habits. Existing research and implemented solutions often rely on user preferences and past behaviors for recommendations, which poses significant issues. Firstly, this approach inadequately considers the nutritional content of foods, potentially leading to recommendations that are overly homogeneous and lacking in diversity. Secondly, it may result in repetitive suggestions of the same types of foods, thereby encouraging users to develop unhealthy dietary habits that could adversely affect their overall health. To address this issue, we introduce a novel nutrition-related knowledge graph (NRKG) method based on graph convolutional networks (GCNs). This method not only enhances users' ability to select appropriate foods but also encourages the development of healthy eating habits, thereby contributing to overall public health. The NRKG method comprises two key components: user nutrition-related food preferences and recipe nutrition components. The first component gathers nutritional information from recipes that users show interest in and synthesizes these data for user reference. The second component connects recipes with similar nutritional profiles, forming a complex heterogeneous graph structure. By learning from this graph, the NRKG method integrates user preferences with nutritional data, resulting in more accurate and personalized food recommendations. We evaluated the NRKG method against six baseline methods using real-world food datasets. In the 100% dataset, the five metrics exceeded the performance of the best baseline method by 2.8%, 5.9%, 1.5%, 9.7%, and 6.0%, respectively. The results indicate that our NRKG method significantly outperforms the baseline methods, including FeaStNet, DeepGCN, GraphSAGE, GAT, UniMP, and GATv2, demonstrating its superiority and effectiveness in promoting healthier and more diverse eating habits. Unlike these baseline methods, which primarily focus on hierarchical information propagation, our NRKG method offers a more comprehensive approach by integrating the nutritional information of recipes with user preferences.

Food Choices, Sustainability and Australian Native Foods: Perceptions among University Students

(1) Background: Urgent changes in our food choices are needed for more sustainable, resilient and equitable food systems. Australian native plant-based foods have both environmental and health benefits. Including these foods in our diet may reduce both the risk of chronic diseases and the impact of climate change. This study explored the perceptions and attitudes towards food choices, sustainability and Australian native plant-based food among university students. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 212 university students in Australia from October to December 2022. Questions included information about sociodemographic characteristics, food choices, Australian native foods and the impact on sustainability. Logistic regression was used for analyses. (3) Results: Most participants recognised the impact of food choices on sustainability. There was a significant association between recognition of the impact of food choices on sustainability and the environmental and nutritional benefits of Australian native foods (OR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.29, 6.46, p = 0.010). Students who were familiar with or had tried Australian native plant-based foods were significantly more likely to recognise their environmental and nutritional benefits (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Students who recognise the impact of food choices on sustainability and the benefits of Australian native foods are more likely to include native foods in their diet. More studies are needed to investigate the specific native foods consumed and the barriers and facilitators to the intake of these foods.

Descriptive study of the oral health status of disadvantaged mexican populations in relation to their adherence to the mediterranean diet

BACKGROUND

Obesity in Mexico is an alarming problem that has been increasing in recent decades. Dietary factors make this pathology more common at younger ages and closely related to oral health. This study attempts to investigate the association between the oral health status of a Mexican population in the state of Yucatan and their dietary habits.

OBJECTIVE

This study explores the relationship between oral health-related quality of life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a disadvantaged population in the state of Yucatan, Mexico.

METHODS

The research was conducted in July 2023 in Merida, Yucatan (Mexico). The sample consisted of 109 individuals aged between 4 and 72 years old. Data analysis focused on factors such as body mass index (BMI), oral health-related quality of life, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

RESULTS

A notable presence of caries is observed in individuals with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Correlation coefficient 0.040, p=0.682). This underscores the potential interaction between oral health, obesity, and dietary habits. The mean Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHIP-14Sp) score was 13.19 ±13.57, median 8.00.

CONCLUSIONS

This research adds to the increasing evidence that highlights the significance of a balanced diet in enhancing the oral quality of life for people. More research is necessary to explore preventive measures and treatment to raise awareness about oral health within the community.

A Qualitative Study of Food Choice in Urban Coastal Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Background

Constraints on food choice increase risk of malnutrition worldwide. Residents of secondary cities within low- and middle-income countries are a population of particular concern because they often face high rates of food insecurity and multiple nutritional burdens. Within this context, effective and equitable interventions to support healthy diets must be based on an understanding of the lived experience of individuals and their interactions with the food environment.

Objectives

The primary objectives of this study were to describe considerations that drive household decision making around food choice in the city of Esmeraldas, Ecuador; to identify trade-offs between these considerations; and to understand how an evolving urban environment influences these trade-offs.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 mothers of young children to explore drivers in food choice throughout the purchase, preparation, and consumption chain. Interviews were transcribed and coded to identify key themes.

Results

Personal preference, economic access (costs), convenience, and perceptions of food safety were key influencers of decision making related to food. In addition, concerns about personal safety in the urban environment limited physical access to food. This, combined with the need to travel long distances to obtain desirable foods, increased men's participation in food purchasing. Women's increasing engagement in the workforce also increased men's participation in food preparation.

Conclusions

Policies to promote healthy food behavior in this context should focus on increasing access to health foods, such as affordable fresh produce, in convenient and physically safe locations. CurrDev Nutr 2023;x:xx.

Cultural factors related to childhood and adolescent obesity in Mexico: A systematic review of qualitative studies

Culture and culturally specific beliefs or practices may influence perceptions and decisions, potentially contributing to childhood obesity. The objective of this study is to identify the cultural factors (expressed through decisions, behaviors, individual experiences, perceptions, attitudes, or views) related to childhood and adolescent obesity in Mexico. Ten databases and one search engine were searched from 1995 onwards for qualitative studies. The Sunrise Enabler Model, described within the Cultural Care Theory, guided this review. Sample, the phenomenon of interest, study design, and evaluation data were extracted, and the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Twenty-four studies were included. Of these, 12 studies included children or adolescents, 12 included parents, eight included schoolteachers, four included school staff (other than teachers), four included food vendors, and one included policymakers. Cultural values, beliefs, lifeways (especially food and food costumes), kinship, and social factors (particularly immediate and extended family) strongly influenced childhood and adolescent obesity-related lifestyles in Mexico. Most cultural factors related to childhood obesity in Mexico identified in this review may be modifiable and amenable to practical interventions.

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.