[Improving diet quality in children through a new nutritional education programme: INFADIMED]

[Improvement in adherence to Mediterranean diet in children attending preschool centers]

Introduction

Background: the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, and with healthier lifestyles in adults and children, but data is scarce in younger ages. The Mediterranean-type ecosystem of the central region of Chile as well as its traditional gastronomy would facilitate the adoption of this dietary pattern. Objectives: to assess the adherence to Mediterranean diet in preschoolers and their parents, and to evaluate the impact of a nutrition education intervention and diet implementation. Methods: prospective cohort study. The KidMed index was applied to children older than 18 months, and the Mediterranean Dietary Index in Chile (Chilean-MDI) to their parents, before and after a remote educational intervention. Results: one hundred and thirty-nine families participated, with 95 preschoolers; 56 % were girls, aged 26.2 ± 8.7 months. The basal mean KidMed score was 7.4 ± 1.9 and increased to 7.9 ± 1.9 after the intervention (p = 0.1). The Chilean-MDI score was 6.9 ± 1.8 and 7.1 ± 1.7, respectively (p = 0.09). When separated by categories, there was improvement from low and moderate adherence to optimal adherence in both children and their parents (Chi2, p = 0.009 y p = 0.04). In 58 dyads, there was a positive correlation between the KidMed and the Chilean-MDI index, pre- and post-intervention (Pearson R = 0.3 y 0.34; p = 0.004 y 0.003, respectively). Conclusions: most of these sample of preschoolers and their parents had a moderate adherence to Mediterranean diet, with an improvement after an educational intervention.

Mediterranean Diet-Based Interventions to Improve Anthropometric and Obesity Indicators in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

To our knowledge, no systematic review with meta-analysis has separately synthesized the effects of Mediterranean diet-based interventions in children and adolescents in relation to the effects on anthropometric measures. A better understanding of the effects of Mediterranean diet-based interventions on anthropometric variables could facilitate their implementation in efforts to prevent obesity in the young population. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of Mediterranean diet-based interventions on anthropometric and obesity indicators among children and adolescents. Four databases were systematically searched (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), including all studies up until 15 March, 2023. Eligible articles were randomized controlled trials measuring the effect of an intervention based on the promotion of the Mediterranean diet and obesity-associated parameters. The effect size of each study was estimated by Cohen's d for continuous variables or risk difference for categorical variables. Compared to the control group, the Mediterranean diet-based interventions showed small and significant reductions in body mass index (d = -0.14; 95% CI: -0.26, -0.01; I2 = 77.52%). Participants in the Mediterranean diet-based interventions had a significant reduction in the percentage of obesity (risk difference = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.23; I2 = 84.56%) in comparison with the control group. Interventions had greater effects when aiming at participants with excess weight (that is, overweight or obesity), both for body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, percentage of obesity, and percentage of abdominal obesity. Mediterranean diet-based interventions have a significant effect on reducing the body mass index as well as reducing obesity in children and adolescents (aged 3-18 y). This trial was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023386789.

The treatment of obesity in children and adolescents: consensus position statement of the Italian society of pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, Italian Society of Pediatrics and Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery

This Position Statement updates the different components of the therapy of obesity (lifestyle intervention, drugs, and surgery) in children and adolescents, previously reported in the consensus position statement on pediatric obesity of the Italian Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology and the Italian Society of Pediatrics. Lifestyle intervention is the first step of treatment. In children older than 12 years, pharmacotherapy is the second step, and bariatric surgery is the third one, in selected cases. Novelties are available in the field of the medical treatment of obesity. In particular, new drugs demonstrated their efficacy and safety and have been approved in adolescents. Moreover, several randomized control trials with other drugs are in process and it is likely that some of them will become available in the future. The increase of the portfolio of treatment options for obesity in children and adolescents is promising for a more effective treatment of this disorder.

Trends in Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Spanish Children and Adolescents across Two Decades

Unhealthy dietary habits determined during childhood may represent a risk factor to many of the chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence in children and adolescents (8-16 years) living in Spain was investigated using the KIDMED questionnaire in a comparative analysis of two cross-sectional nationwide representative studies: enKid (1998-2000, n = 1001) and PASOS (2019-2020, n = 3540). Taking into account the educational level of pupils, as well as the characteristics of the place of living, a significant association was found between a KIDMED score ≥ 8 (optimal MD adherence) and primary education as well as residency in an area of <50,000 inhabitants, while living in the southern regions was associated with non-optimal MD adherence (p < 0.001). Participants of the 2019-2020 study showed an increase in the consumption of dairy products (31.1% increase), pasta/rice (15.4% increase), olive oil (16.9% increase), and nuts (9.7% increase), as well as a decreased sweets and candies intake (12.6% reduction). In contrast, a significantly lower MD adherence was found when comparing the 2019-2020 (mean ± SE: 6.9 ± 0.04) and the 1998-2000 study (7.37 ± 0.08); p < 0.001), due to less consumption of fish (20.3% reduction), pulse (19.4% reduction), and fruits (14.9% reduction), and an increased intake of commercial goods/pastries or fast-food intake (both 19.4% increase). The lowest adherence was recorded for adolescents also in the most recent study, where 10.9% of them presented a KIDMED score ≤ 3. This study shows that eating habits are deteriorating among Spanish children and adolescents. Such findings point out the urgency of undertaking strong measures to promote the consumption of healthy, sustainable, and non-ultra-processed food, such as those available in an MD, not only at a scientific and academic level, but also at a governmental one.

Validation of a Questionnaire of Food Education Content on School Catering Websites in Spain

The aim of this study was to design and validate a questionnaire on quality and food education on catering company websites. For the validation of the questionnaire, its reliability, feasibility and content validity characteristics were determined. For content validity, a panel of experts was used and the overall and item-wise Content Validity Index (CVI) of the experts' responses was calculated. Reliability was determined by the inter-judge agreement method with the analysis of 30 websites using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland and Altman plot. Adequate content validity was verified by obtaining a very high CVI (above 0.80) in the analysis of the expert panel's responses and excellent inter-observer agreement with a very high global ICC (above 0.90) value in the determination of test-retest reliability. The questionnaire is a valid instrument for the evaluation of the quality of school catering websites and their content in food education, as it has good feasibility, high content validity and excellent reliability.

Mediterranean diet and adiposity in children and adolescents: A systematic review

Our aim was to summarize, through a systematic review, the current evidence from dietary intervention and observational studies on the impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on adiposity markers and obesity in children and adolescents. We searched Medline up to June 1, 2021 for the identification of intervention and observational studies meeting the inclusion criteria, following the PRISMA statement. We included 55 articles: 8 intervention studies and 47 observational studies. Three trials report a beneficial effect of the dietary intervention, whereas two did not, and three did not compare with a control. All observational studies were cross-sectional, and only five studies also included a longitudinal analysis. More than half of the cross-sectional studies found no significant association between adherence to Mediterranean diet and adiposity. Three out of the five longitudinal studies found a negative association. The majority of both observational and intervention studies was of low quality. Despite a large number of published studies, overall, there is only limited evidence of a beneficial effect of following a traditional Mediterranean diet to maintain a healthy body weight in childhood. More high-quality intervention and longitudinal data are needed to form the base of large-scale health programs to prevent childhood obesity.

Mediterranean diet adherence amongst adolescents in North Lebanon: the role of skipping meals, meals with the family, physical activity and physical well-being

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a model of a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Adherence to the MD has been correlated with a reduction in many metabolic disorders including cancers. The factors associated with adolescents' adherence to the MD in North Lebanon using the KIDMED index have never been explored. Therefore, we thought to examine these factors amongst a sample of them. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the city of Tripoli, North Lebanon. A total of 798 adolescents aged 11-18 years were randomly selected to participate in this study. All participants completed a questionnaire assessing adherence to the MD (KIDMED index), physical activity (physical activity questionnaires for older children and adolescents), health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27 index) and sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, grade level and parents' educational status). Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height and waist circumference, were also collected. Adherence to the MD was good amongst only 13·3 % of the adolescents. The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity was elevated, affecting 36·9 % of the students. Lower adherence to the MD was significantly correlated with skipping meals (P = 0·001). Meanwhile, adolescents who were engaged in a high level of physical activity, those who consumed more meals with their families and those who benefited from better physical well-being had a better diet quality (P < 0·001). Nutrition intervention programmes, as well as public health policies, would be of interest in order to improve diet quality amongst Lebanese adolescents.

Child Involvement in Choosing a Recipe, Purchasing Ingredients, and Cooking at School Increases Willingness to Try New Foods and Reduces Food Neophobia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of involving children in their feeding process (choosing a recipe, purchasing the ingredients, and cooking) on their lunch food choice in a school environment.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental.

SETTING

Two schools in Bilbao, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 202 children (aged 8-9 years) participated in the study (43% girls), with 99 in the nutrition education (NE) group and 103 in the hands-on (HO) group.

INTERVENTION

Three 1-hour workshops (1 workshop/wk), different for each group: HO, cooking-related activities, and NE, healthy habits promotion through nutrition education activities.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Food neophobia, diet quality, cooking self-efficacy and attitudes toward cooking, and food intake and selection of the experimental lunches.

ANALYSIS

Chi-square test of independence, ANCOVA, and t tests were performed.

RESULTS

Students from the HO group selected and ate more spinach/broccoli (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively) for the first lunch; and selected more spinach/broccoli (P = 0.04) for the second lunch. After the intervention, improvements were observed for spinach liking and neophobia for the HO group and cooking self-efficacy and KidMed score for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Both interventions succeeded in improving children's diet quality, but only the HO group reduced food neophobia levels. Therefore, involving children in choosing a recipe, purchasing ingredients, and cooking may promote changing eating behaviors toward healthy habits such as increasing vegetable consumption.

Impact of an educational intervention on the quality of the Mediterranean diet, physical activity and weight status in adolescents: Randomised clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the impact of an educational intervention on the quality of the Mediterranean diet, physical activity and weight status in adolescents.

METHOD

Randomised clinical trial (RCT), controlled with a multimodal educational intervention (control group [n=36] and experimental group [n=46]). Data collection at the beginning and end of the study, in teenagers from Cáceres, Spain. In both groups anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic data were determined. The quality of the Mediterranean diet was assessed through the KIDMED test, the degree of physical activity through the PAQ-A questionnaire and weight status with the growth charts of the Faustino Orbegozo Eizaguirre Foundation.

RESULTS

We obtained a significant increase in the experimental group in the PAQ-A questionnaire that assesses physical activity (P=.029). No significant differences were observed between groups in the weight status (P=.916). When comparing the quality of the Mediterranean diet (high vs moderate or low quality) with physical activity (Pcontrol=.730; experimental P=.495) and with weight status (Pcontrol=.838; experimental P=.372), No significant differences are observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The educational intervention did not improve the quality of the Mediterranean diet or physical activity, although most of our sample had normal weight and acceptable physical activity. We must continue to improve the healthy eating pattern of our adolescents, to ensure an adequate state of health in the future.

[Effects of an alternative program to promote healthy eating in school canteen]

The objective of this study was to determine the effects on school feeding habits in an educational intervention alternative to the conventional model of feeding promotion to a center with school canteens and ecological garden project. Cross-sectional and comparative descriptive observational study of 111 boys and girls between 9 and 12 years old, in the 2013-15 period. A school with alternative intervention was compared with another one that only included contents of the Infant and Primary Education curriculum, by means of evaluation of adherence to the mediterranean diet of the students with a validated Kidmed questionnaire. The intervention center presented greater adherence to the mediterranean diet than the control center. In the intervention center, the percentage of students with optimal diet (64.52%) was higher than those who needed to improve their diet (33.87%), contrary to what occurs in control center (42.86% and 51.02% respectively). The students of the intervention center presented a higher percentage of affirmative answers in Kidmed test. The program of promotion of healthy alternative food of the intervention center could be effective for the acquisition of a diet of greater adherence to the mediterranean diet.

Growth, the Mediterranean diet and the buying power of adolescents in Greece

Background The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate associations between pocket money, Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and growth among Greek adolescents. Methods A total of 319 (157 boys and 162 girls) Greek adolescents, aged 10-18 years participated in the study. Pocket money was recorded, MD adherence was assessed with the KIDMED score and growth was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. Results Participants receiving pocket money exceeding 6.0€ daily demonstrated increased fast-food consumption and breakfast skipping. Overall, a negative relationship was revealed between pocket money and obesity. However, lower allowance receivers were less likely to be obese, consume fruit per day and more likely to consume breakfast and sweets, compared to average pocket money receivers. Increased MD adherence was associated with a lower risk of overweight and as expected, unhealthy eating habits were observed among obese adolescents. Conclusions Interrelationships tend to exist between MD adherence, pocket money and growth among adolescents.

Effect of pasta in the context of low-glycaemic index dietary patterns on body weight and markers of adiposity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials in adults

OBJECTIVE

Carbohydrate staples such as pasta have been implicated in the obesity epidemic. It is unclear whether pasta contributes to weight gain or like other low-glycaemic index (GI) foods contributes to weight loss. We synthesised the evidence of the effect of pasta on measures of adiposity.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched through 7 February 2017.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

We included randomised controlled trials ≥3 weeks assessing the effect of pasta alone or in the context of low-GI dietary patterns on measures of global (body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat) and regional (waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD)) adiposity in adults.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Data were pooled using the generic inverse-variance method and expressed as mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q statistic) and quantified (I2 statistic). GRADE assessed the certainty of the evidence.

RESULTS

We identified no trial comparisons of the effect of pasta alone and 32 trial comparisons (n=2448 participants) of the effect of pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns. Pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns significantly reduced body weight (MD=-0.63 kg; 95% CI -0.84 to -0.42 kg) and BMI (MD=-0.26 kg/m2; 95% CI -0.36 to -0.16 kg/m2) compared with higher-GI dietary patterns. There was no effect on other measures of adiposity. The certainty of the evidence was graded as moderate for body weight, BMI, WHR and SAD and low for WC and body fat.

CONCLUSIONS

Pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns does not adversely affect adiposity and even reduces body weight and BMI compared with higher-GI dietary patterns. Future trials should assess the effect of pasta in the context of other 'healthy' dietary patterns.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02961088; Results.