Fast-Food Offerings in the United States in 1986, 1991, and 2016 Show Large Increases in Food Variety, Portion Size, Dietary Energy, and Selected Micronutrients

GDF8 and activin A are the key negative regulators of muscle mass in postmenopausal females: a randomized phase I trial

Evolutionary pressures to protect against food scarcity likely resulted in highly-conserved pathways designed to minimize energy expenditure, one of which involves the minimization of muscle mass; these mechanisms may be counter-productive in a modern world suffering from obesity and sarcopenia. Growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8)/myostatin, acting via ActRIIA/B receptors, is the best-characterized negative regulator of muscle mass, leading to therapeutic efforts to augment muscle growth by blocking GDF8 or ActRIIA/B. ActRIIA/B blockade approximately doubles the muscle increase of GDF8 blockade, and as ActRIIA/B responds to multiple other TGFβ-family members, this implies other ligands might also regulate muscle mass. Previously, we suggested that activin A (ActA) is the key second negative regulator acting via ActRIIA/B, as blockade of both GDF8 and ActA in mice/monkeys matches the muscle growth of ActRIIA/B blockade. Here, we extend these observations to humans in a two-part, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial ( www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT02943239) conducted at two sites in New Zealand. Eligible subjects included healthy postmenopausal females aged 45-70 years and males aged 35-60 years not intending to father children, with a body mass index of 18-32 kg/m2. Part I tested single-dose administration of anti-GDF8 alone, anti-ActA alone, several dose combinations of anti-GDF8 + anti-ActA, or placebo in healthy postmenopausal females; part II tested multiple-dose administration of anti-ActA alone or placebo in healthy postmenopausal females, combination anti-GDF8 + anti-ActA or placebo in healthy postmenopausal females, and anti-ActA alone or placebo in healthy males. The primary outcome measure was the incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events through week 16 for the single-dose part of the study and through week 40 for the multiple-dose part of the study. Secondary endpoints included percent and absolute change in thigh muscle volume, percent and absolute change in total and regional body composition, pharmacokinetic profiles of the GDF8 and ActA mAbs in serum over time, changes in serum total GDF8 and total ActA levels over time, and the presence of anti-drug antibodies against the GDF8 mAb or the ActA mAb. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantitate changes in thigh muscle volume and dual x-ray absorptiometry was used to quantitate changes in regional body composition (total lean mass, appendicular lean body mass, android fat mass, and total fat mass). A total of 82 subjects were enrolled (48 in the single-dose part and 34 in the multiple-dose part of the study). Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were generally balanced across the single- and multiple-dose parts of the study. Combining GDF8 and ActA blocking antibodies led to greater muscle growth than either antibody alone; increases in muscle were accompanied by reductions in fat. The observed clinical effects on muscle and fat paralleled mAb exposure in serum. The combination was generally well tolerated, and no subjects tested positive for anti-drug antibodies post-treatment. These results suggest that GDF8 and ActA are the dominant negative regulators of muscle mass in humans, and that combined blockade may be a promising therapeutic approach in muscle atrophy and obesity settings.

GDF8 and activin A blockade protects against GLP-1-induced muscle loss while enhancing fat loss in obese male mice and non-human primates

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists act via appetite suppression and caloric restriction. These treatments can result in significant muscle loss, likely due to evolutionary mechanisms protecting against food scarcity as muscle is a major energy utilizer. One mechanism that reduces muscle mass involves activation of type II activin receptors, ActRIIA/B, which yield profound muscle growth in humans when blocked. We previously demonstrated GDF8, also known as myostatin, and activin A are the two major ActRIIA/B ligands mediating muscle minimization. Here, we report that dual blockade can also prevent muscle loss associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists - and even increase muscle mass - in both obese mice and non-human primates; moreover, this muscle preservation enhances fat loss and is metabolically beneficial. These data raise the possibility that supplementing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment with GDF8 and activin A blockade could greatly improve the quality of weight loss during the treatment of obesity in humans.

Differences between the normal and perceived appropriate portion sizes of discretionary foods

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on the amount of discretionary foods that people normally consume and consider as appropriate at one eating occasion. This study aimed to provide an overview of the range and assess differences of the 'normal portion size' and 'perceived appropriate portion size' of energy-dense nutrient-poor discretionary foods among consumers aged 18-65 years.

METHODS

To measure normal and perceived appropriate portion sizes, a validated online image-series questionnaire consisting of eight successive portion size options for 15 discretionary foods was completed at two timepoints. Quantile regression models were used to estimate the ranges (lower boundary at 17th percentile, upper boundary at 83rd percentile) of normal and perceived appropriate portion sizes selected by two thirds of the study population. Models were adjusted for the effects of potential influencing factors including biological sex, age, usual physical activity level, cooking confidence, socio-economic status, body mass index, and baseline hunger levels.

RESULTS

A final sample of 295 participants were included in the analysis (51% females, mean age 39.5 ± 14.1 years). The normal portion sizes were significantly higher than the perceived appropriate portion sizes across all test foods, with the effects of sex, age, and BMI being significant for some foods.

CONCLUSION

The finding suggests that consumers would normally consume a portion size that was larger than what they perceive to be appropriate for discretionary foods. The estimated lower and upper boundaries would be valuable for the development of pragmatic public health messages to empower consumers towards better portion control.

Addressing the global obesity burden: a gender-responsive approach to changing food environments is needed

Obesity is a leading cause of death and disability globally. There is a higher proportion of women living with obesity than men, with differences in prevalence rates between women and men particularly staggering in low- and middle-income countries. The food environments that most people live in have been defined as 'obesogenic', characterised by easy access to energy dense, highly palatable foods with poor nutritional value. There is an established need to intervene to change food environments to prevent obesity. However, minimal successes are evident with no country set to meet the WHO goal of reducing obesity prevalence to 2010 numbers by 2025. In this review, we provide a narrative around the sex (biological)- and gender (sociocultural)-related considerations for the relationship between nutrition, interactions with the food environment and obesity risk. We provide an argument that there are gendered responses to food environments that place women at a higher risk of obesity particularly in relation to food industry influences, due to gendered roles and responsibilities in relation to paid and unpaid labour, and due to specific food security threats. This review concludes with hypotheses for addressing the obesity burden in a gender-responsive manner, with a call for gender equity to be a key component of the development, implementation and monitoring of obesity prevention focused policies going forward.

Nigerian adolescents' exposure to fast food marketing via Instagram

OBJECTIVES

To explore the promotion of fast food to lower-income adolescents on Instagram with the specific aims of (i) identifying the marketing strategies used by fast food brands on Instagram to promote fast food to Nigerian adolescents and (ii) examining the influence of these strategies on user engagement.

DESIGN

A content analysis of posts from a 90-day period of the Instagram accounts of five fast-food brands in Nigeria was conducted. Overall, 576 posts were analysed, using a codebook developed based on the relevant literature, to identify adolescent-targeted strategies. User engagement was measured by number of likes each post received.

RESULTS

The observed brands frequently utilised adolescent-targeted marketing strategies, with the most popular strategies being emotional appeal, 'teen language' and product appeal. The results of Mann-Whitney U tests revealed significant associations between the use of these promotional strategies and user engagement. Adolescent-aimed strategies like product appeal and competitions resulted in higher user engagement with fast food promotional content.

CONCLUSION

Fast food companies heavily target lower income adolescents through the use of Instagram. This raises health concerns related to the consumption of unhealthy food that arises from regular advertising in that demographic. Further, this exposure increases ad interactions that could cause adolescents to view fast foods more positively. Overall, findings indicate the need for actions aiming to limit and reduce the effect of adolescents' exposure to fast food marketing on social media, to target the features of social media platforms which affords users the ability to interact with fast food advertisements.

Association of ultraprocessed food consumption with risk of microvascular complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes in the UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The poor nutritional characteristics and potentially harmful molecules in ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are risk factors for diabetic microvascular complications. However, the evidence regarding UPFs and diabetic microvascular complications remains limited.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the associations between UPF consumption and risk of diabetic microvascular complications, to examine the underlying biological pathways (e.g., inflammation and lipid profile), and to identify whether the associations differ by type of UPF dietary patterns.

METHODS

We included a prospective cohort of UK Biobank participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) having at least one 24-h dietary recall (N = 5685). UPFs were defined using the Nova classification. Principal component analysis was used to derive UPF consumption patterns. Associations of UPFs and their consumption patterns with microvascular complications were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Mediation analyses were used to estimate the mediating effects of 22 biomarkers.

RESULTS

During a median of 12.7 y of follow-up, 1243 composite microvascular complications events occurred (599 diabetic retinopathy, 237 diabetic neuropathy, and 662 diabetic kidney disease events). Five consumption patterns were identified (spread and bread, cereal prepared with liquids, dairy-based products, sugary beverage and snack, and mixed beverage and savory snack patterns). A 10% increment in the proportion of UPF was associated with higher hazards of the composite microvascular complications (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.13) and diabetic kidney disease (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.20). Triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and body mass index collectively explained 22.0% (9.6%-43.0%) of the association between UPF intake and composite microvascular complications. Pattern high in mixed beverage and savory snack was associated with a higher risk of composite microvascular complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher UPF consumption was associated with higher risks of diabetic microvascular complications, and the association was partly mediated through multiple potential ways.

Iron Deficiency Related to Obesity

There is a direct correlation between being overweight and iron deficiency. Physiological changes occur in obese adipose cells that contribute to the development of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). These changes disrupt the normal iron metabolic checks and balances. Furthermore, bariatric surgery can lead to long-term ID and IDA. Oral iron supplementation may not be effective for many of these patients. Intravenous iron infusions can significantly increase the quality of life for individuals experiencing this condition but are also associated with potentially serious complications. Adequate knowledge about intravenous (IV) iron administration can greatly increase the safety of this beneficial therapy. This review article explains the relationship between obesity, ID/IDA, bariatric surgery and the safe administration of IV iron.

Influence of the food environment on obesity risk in a large cohort of US veterans by community type

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine relationships between the food environment and obesity by community type.

METHODS

Using electronic health record data from the US Veterans Administration Diabetes Risk (VADR) cohort, we examined associations between the percentage of supermarkets and fast-food restaurants with obesity prevalence from 2008 to 2018. We constructed multivariable logistic regression models with random effects and interaction terms for year and food environment variables. We stratified models by community type.

RESULTS

Mean age at baseline was 59.8 (SD = 16.1) years; 93.3% identified as men; and 2,102,542 (41.8%) were classified as having obesity. The association between the percentage of fast-food restaurants and obesity was positive in high-density urban areas (odds ratio [OR] = 1.033; 95% CI: 1.028-1.037), with no interaction by time (p = 0.83). The interaction with year was significant in other community types (p < 0.001), with increasing odds of obesity in each follow-up year. The associations between the percentage of supermarkets and obesity were null in high-density and low-density urban areas and positive in suburban (OR = 1.033; 95% CI: 1.027-1.039) and rural (OR = 1.007; 95% CI: 1.002-1.012) areas, with no interactions by time.

CONCLUSIONS

Many healthy eating policies have been passed in urban areas; our results suggest such policies might also mitigate obesity risk in nonurban areas.

Pairing Evidence-Based Strategies With Motivational Interviewing to Support Optimal Nutrition and Weight Gain in Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

Because eating, nutrition, and weight management patterns adopted during pregnancy may persist beyond the postpartum period, pregnancy provides an opportunity for health education that affects the future health of the pregnant person, the fetus, and the family. This systematic review aimed to find nutrition and weight management behaviors that could be used safely during pregnancy to optimize gestational weight gain.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched for research or systematic reviews published in English from 2018 to 2023 using terms including gestational weight gain maintenance, weight, management, pregnancy, behavior, strategy, and strategies. Excluded research used pediatric or adolescent populations, restrictive diets such as no carbohydrate or no fat diets, fasting, bariatric surgery, weight loss medications, private industry, or profit-earning programs using food brands or specific diet programs.

RESULTS

The abstracts reviewed in these areas: excessive gestational weight gain (1019), low-glycemic index diet (640), Mediterranean diet (220), MyPlate diet (2), the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet (50), portion control (6), home meal preparation (6), mindful eating (13), intuitive eating (10), self-weighing (10), and motivational interviewing during pregnancy (107), were reduced to 102 studies. Studies in those 10 areas were reviewed for nutrition and eating behaviors that are safe to use during pregnancy and could be used along with motivational interviewing.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians can discuss these behaviors using motivational interviewing techniques to assist clients in optimizing gestational weight gain. Dialogue examples pairing these strategies with motivational interviewing principles are included.

Variety and portion size combine to increase food intake at single-course and multi-course meals

Increases in food variety and portion size independently promote intake. Little is known about how these effects combine or how they depend on meal structure. In two randomized crossover experiments, once a week for four weeks, women ate a lunch meal that was varied in two properties: variety (low: three bowls of the favorite dish vs. high: three bowls, each with a different main dish) and portion size (small: 450 g vs. large: 600 g). In Experiment 1 (n = 42), dishes were served simultaneously and in Experiment 2 (n = 49), dishes were served sequentially over three courses. At each meal, the primary outcome of food intake was measured; additionally, we measured sensory-specific satiety (SSS; the relative hedonic decline of a food as it is eaten). In Experiment 1 (simultaneous structure) variety and portion size did not interact (p = 0.72) but both independently increased intake; participants consumed 15 ± 7 g more at meals with high variety compared to low and 57 ± 7 g more from large portions compared to small (both p < 0.03). Similarly, in Experiment 2 (sequential structure) variety and portion size did not interact (p = 0.99) but participants consumed 30 ± 8 g more at high-variety meals and 51 ± 8 g more from large portions (both p < 0.001). SSS was not influenced by portion size in either experiment (both p > 0.16) or by variety in Experiment 1 (p = 0.58), but SSS was smaller at high-variety meals in Experiment 2 (p = 0.001). Thus, variety and large portions promoted greater food intake for a similar or smaller hedonic decline, indicating these effects were facilitated by delayed SSS. At meals with either a simultaneous or sequential structure, high variety and large portions combined to increase intake, suggesting that these common properties act together to promote overconsumption.

Factors Associated with Food Delivery App use Among Young Adults

Food delivery apps are popular among young adults and often used to purchase calorie-dense foods. Limited research exists on the use of food delivery apps among young adults. The purpose of this study was to describe food delivery app use among young adults and examine the correlates of food delivery app use. Data are from a panel of U.S. young adults aged 18-25 (n = 1,576) who completed an online survey between January-April 2022. Participants were 51.8% female and 39.3% identified as non-Hispanic white, 24.4% as Hispanic/Latinx, 29.6% as non-Hispanic Black, and 6.8% as another race/ethnicity. Poisson regression was used to examine the relationship between food delivery app use and age, race, ethnicity, sex, SES, food insecurity, living arrangement, financial responsibility, and full-time student status. Young adults used food delivery apps approximately twice a week. Participants who identified as non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx used food delivery apps more frequently than participants who identified as white. Having higher perceived subjective social status, food insecurity, financial responsibility, and being a full-time student were significantly associated with using food delivery apps more frequently. Living with someone else was associated with using food delivery apps less frequently. This study provides a first step in understanding the characteristics of young adults who use food delivery apps. Given that food delivery apps are a new technology that can both increase access to unhealthy food options as well as healthy food options, further research is needed to better understand the types of food purchased through food delivery apps.

Nutritional quality and consumer health perception of online delivery food in the context of China

BACKGROUND

Today, the popularization of mobile internet technology has enabled the public's need for food convenience and diversity arising from modern fast-paced lifestyles to be met at a relatively low cost. The digital age of the restaurant industry has arrived. Online food delivery (OFD) is rapidly developing globally. However, the public's awareness of the nutritional quality of food through OFD and their knowledge of dietary nutrition remain to be investigated.

METHODS

In the context of China, this study attempts to evaluate the nutritional quality of best-selling OFD set meals (i.e., meal combos) based on the current official Chinese dietary guidelines 2022. It accomplishes this by collecting data on popular OFD restaurants among consumers in 115 Chinese universities from the restaurants' delivery addresses. Moreover, 20,430 valid questionnaires were collected online from undergraduates, graduate students, and other young groups aged 18-30 throughout China for descriptive analysis to investigate consumers' perceptions of the nutritional quality of food through OFD and its health impact.

RESULTS

The results of the nutritional quality evaluation of the OFD set meals ranged widely from 15 to 85, with a mean of 36.57 out of a possible maximum score of 100; and 89.56% scored less than 50. The nutritional quality of OFD foods was thus generally low. The nutritional quality of foods was negatively correlated with their popularity among consumers.

CONCLUSIONS

Young OFD consumers generally paid low attention to dietary nutrition knowledge and seldom paid attention to nutritional quality when choosing OFD foods while the nutritional quality of OFD foods was generally low. Respondents subjectively reported that long-term consumption of OFD food caused weight gain, increased blood lipids, and gastrointestinal discomfort. They thought that the reason might be excessive oil, salt, and sugar in the food, while ignoring the balance between different types of food.

Unhealthy Food at Your Fingertips: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Nutritional Quality of Restaurants and Takeaway Outlets on an Online Food Delivery Platform in New Zealand

Online food delivery (OFD) platforms have become increasingly popular due to advanced technology, which is changing the way consumers purchase food prepared outside of the home. There is limited research investigating the healthiness of the digital food environment and its influence on consumer choice and dietary behaviours. This study is the first to examine the nutritional quality and marketing attributes of menu items from popular independent and franchise restaurants and takeaway outlets on New Zealand’s market leading OFD platform (UberEATS®). A total of 374 popular independent and franchise restaurants and takeaway outlets were identified to form a database of complete menus and marketing attributes. All 25,877 menu items were classified into 38 food and beverage categories based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Of complete menus, 73.3% (18,955/25,877) were discretionary. Thirty-six percent (9419/25,877) were discretionary cereal-based mixed meals, the largest of the 38 categories. Discretionary menu items were more likely to be categorized as most popular (OR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.7−2.2), accompanied by a photo (OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.6−1.8), and offered as a value bundle (OR: 4.6, 95% CI 3.2−6.8). Two of the three discretionary mixed meal categories were significantly less expensive than their healthier counterparts (p < 0.001). The overwhelming availability and promotion of discretionary choices offered by restaurants and takeaway outlets on OFD platforms have implications for public health policy. Further research to explore direct associations between nutritional quality and consumers’ dietary choices is required.

Influence of Using Food Delivery Applications on Adult Saudi Female Dietary Habits and Preferences during COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions: Attitude Survey

Food delivery applications (FDAs) shined during COVID-19 global lockdown restrictions. Consequently, lifestyle changes imposed a greater use of these applications over this period. These changes may strongly influence the nutritional health of individuals, particularly adult Saudi females. A cross-sectional study was performed to examine the influence of using FDAs during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on attitude behaviours, including dietary habits and preferences among Saudi adult females. Participants voluntarily submitted their answers to a questionnaire administered via the Google Survey platform. Results illustrated that most Saudi female users of FDAs were aged between 18-24 years with 64.9%, 91.5% being single and 37% ordering food online within one to two days a month. There was a significant association between the influence of using FDAs during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and age, education, and average days of ordering food online (p ˂ 0.05). Another important factor is that higher education was associated with more frequent use of the FDAs, there were direct relationships between education level and using FDAs, 58% of the participants were educated as undergraduate or postgraduate. Although lifestyle changes increased the use of FDAs during COVID-19 global lockdown restrictions, these changes may negatively affect individuals' dietary habits and preferences, particularly adult Saudi females. These findings can aid in promoting healthy diet management globally and in Saudi Arabia unless the governments lead to significant beneficial changes toward improving food delivery applications.

Understanding obesity and addressing stigma: the role of healthcare professionals

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further emphasised the importance of recognising obesity as a health issue for adults and children, with associated increases in obesity prevalence and risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. Obesity is highly visible and highly stigmatised. It is frequently regarded as a result of lifestyle choices and behaviours, with a focus on personal responsibility rather than as a complex, multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, have an important role in supporting behaviour changes, and discussing weight with patients in neutral and respectful ways. This article outlines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight and weight-related behaviours and discusses the complexity of obesity and weight stigma. It also emphasises the importance of nurses advocating for action to address the obesogenic environment.

Systematic review of the portion size norm of discretionary foods

CONTEXT

Portion size norm is described as the perception of how much of a given food people choose to eat. Reducing the portion size norm of foods that are high in saturated fat, added sugar, and added salt toward smaller sizes might be a potential strategy to promote appropriate portion size selections. However, an overview of existing portion size norms for discretionary foods has yet to be established.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to examine the portion size norm of discretionary foods and assess the methodologies used to investigate the norm.

DATA SOURCES

The literature search was conducted in 6 databases following the PRISMA guidelines (from inception to January 2022).

DATA EXTRACTION

Forty studies were eligible and grouped into 3 categories by portion size norm measures: normal (n = 26), appropriate (n = 8), and preferred portion sizes (n = 3). Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools.

DATA ANALYSIS

A wide range of portion sizes were considered normal for each food type, with means/medians varying from 2- to 4-fold among studies. Studies differed considerably in design, with variables including the setting, food type, food presentation, the manner in which portion-size-related questions were formulated, and the range and number of displayed serving size options. The quality of reviewed studies was mixed (25 studies had low or moderate risk of bias, 15 had high risk of bias), and the method of assessing portion size was not validated in 15 of 33 quantitative studies.

CONCLUSION

The assessment of portion size in future studies should be conducted using tools that are validated for the population of interest so that more definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding portion size norms for discretionary foods.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number CRD42021249911.

Diet quality and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals among US adults

Human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may increase risk for chronic disease. Diet is a significant source of EDC exposure, yet healthy diets recommended for chronic disease prevention have not been thoroughly examined for associations with EDC exposure. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016, we examined associations of dietary patterns with exposure to non-persistent EDCs potentially consumed through diet. EDCs were measured in spot urine samples. Diet was assessed using 24-h recalls. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations of three healthy diet scores [Healthy Eating Index (HEI), relative Mediterranean Diet (rMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension] and fast-food consumption with EDCs. In fully adjusted models, no diet was associated with exposure to the bisphenols, phthalates, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons examined. A 1-point increase in rMED (of 18 possible points) was associated with 2.7% (95% CI: 1.7%, 3.8%) greater urinary nitrate. A 10-point increase in HEI (of 100 possible points) was associated with 5.3% (95% CI: 2.8%, 7.9%) greater nitrate and 6.8% (95% CI: 4.5%, 9.2%) greater perchlorate. Because perchlorate and nitrate can disrupt thyroid hormone production, we conducted an exploratory analysis to examine whether these chemicals mediate an association between diet and thyroid hormones. A 10-point increase in HEI was associated with 0.6% reduced serum total thyroxine (95% CI: 1.7%, 0.5%) among all adults, with 57.5% of the effect explained by perchlorate. Nitrate mediated an association of rMED with modestly reduced total triiodothyronine among females. Most EDCs examined had no association with the diets evaluated, indicating that recommended healthy diets were not protective against EDC exposures. As observed with two thyroid antagonists, some recommended diets may increase EDC exposures and related adverse health outcomes. Additional work should identify effective food production and processing practices to reduce dietary exposures to potentially harmful EDCs.

Levels of abdominal adipose tissue and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in middle age according to average fast-food intake over the preceding 25 years: the CARDIA Study

BACKGROUND

Higher levels of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) comprising visceral adipose tissue (VAT), intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), and liver fat are posited drivers of obesity-related chronic disease risk. Fast food is hypothesized to contribute to IAAT patterns.

OBJECTIVES

We quantified levels of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), IAAT, and odds of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in middle age according to average fast-food intake over the preceding 25 y.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Participants underwent 6 clinical exams and measurements over 25 y with computed tomography-measured VAT, SAT, and IMAT (n = 3156), plus MAFLD defined by liver attenuation (≤40 Hounsfield units) and 1 metabolic abnormality at year 25 (2010, n = 3001, n cases = 302). We estimated means of VAT, SAT, IMAT, and liver attenuation at the year 25 exam according to categories of average fast-food intake over the previous 25 y adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio of MAFLD at year 25.

RESULTS

With higher average fast-food intake over 25 y (categorized as follows: never-1×/mo, >1×-3×/mo, 1-<2×/wk, 2-<3×/wk, ≥3×/wk), there were monotonic higher levels of VAT (98.5, 127.6, 134.5, 142.0, 145.5 cm3), P-trend < 0.0001, which were consistent across anthropometrically classified obesity categories. There was a similar pattern with liver fat. There were higher levels of IMAT and SAT with higher fast-food intake (P-trend = 0.003, 0.0002, respectively), with amounts leveling off at ≥2×/wk. In addition, compared with participants who ate fast food never-1×/mo, there were monotonic higher odds of having MAFLD at year 25 with higher average fast-food intake, with participants who ate fast food ≥3×/wk having an OR of MAFLD = 5.18 (95% CI: 2.87, 9.37).

CONCLUSIONS

There were monotonic higher levels of VAT, liver fat, and odds of having MAFLD in middle age according to higher average fast-food intake over the preceding 25 y.

The Effect of Online Order Development on Fast Food, Vegetable, and Fruit Consumption Behavior on Students in Surabaya

Technology development causes easy access to various sectors, including ordering food online. Fast food is one of the foods that many people reviewed in online applications that are high in fat with a density of 40% of total calories. Meanwhile, the consumption of vegetables and fruits of Indonesia’s people is still inadequate; only 63.3% consume as recommended. These things will undoubtedly increase the body mass index (BMI) and increase the risk of overweight and obesity. This study aims to analyze the impact of online order development on fast food, vegetables, and fruits consumption behavior on students in Surabaya. This descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled 317 students in Surabaya City, East Java, Indonesia. The online survey collected data through online platforms, SurveyMonkey. Data were analyzed in statistical software SPSS 25.0 using multivariate binomial linear regression test. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Regression analysis shows that the habit of ordering boba drinks with a weekly frequency has a significant relationship with the incidence of overweight/obesity in respondents (p = 0.015; OR = 3.037; 95% CI (1.236-7.462)) when compared to respondents who have the habit of ordering and consuming boba drinks every month. Consumption habits of boba drink are associated with higher body mass index (BMI), increasing the risk of overweight and obesity. A policy from the government and related parties is needed to regulate boba consumption limits for the community.

The association between fast-food outlet proximity and density and Body Mass Index: Findings from 147,027 Lifelines Cohort Study participants

Unhealthy food environments may contribute to an elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a chronic disease risk factor. We examined the association between residential fast-food outlet exposure, in terms of proximity and density, and BMI in the Dutch adult general population. Additionally, we investigated to what extent this association was modified by urbanisation level. In this cross-sectional study, we linked residential addresses of baseline adult Lifelines Cohort participants (n = 147,027) to fast-food outlet locations using geo-coding. We computed residential fast-food outlet proximity, and density within 500 m, 1, 3, and 5 km. We used stratified (urban versus rural areas) multilevel linear regression models, adjusting for age, sex, partner status, education, employment, neighbourhood deprivation, and address density. The mean BMI of participants was 26.1 (SD 4.3) kg/m². Participants had a mean (SD) age of 44.9 (13.0), 57.3% was female, and 67.0% lived in a rural area. Having two or more (urban areas) or five or more (rural areas) fast-food outlets within 1 km was associated with a higher BMI (B = 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03, 0.62; B = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.36, respectively). Participants in urban and rural areas with a fast-food outlet within <250 m had a higher BMI (B = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.57; B = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.31, respectively). In rural areas, participants also had a higher BMI when having at least one fast-food outlet within 500 m (B = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.18). In conclusion, fast-food outlet exposure within 1 km from the residential address was associated with BMI in urban and rural areas. Also, fast-food outlet exposure within 500 m was associated with BMI in rural areas, but not in urban areas. In the future, natural experiments should investigate changes in the fast-food environment over time.

Cooking at Home, Fast Food, Meat Consumption, and Dietary Carbon Footprint among US Adults

Shifting consumer behavior towards more sustainable diets can benefit environmental sustainability and human health. Although more frequent home cooking is associated with a better diet quality and fast-food consumption with worse diet quality, the environmental impact of diets based on frequency of cooking or eating fast food is not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the frequency of cooking dinner at home or eating fast food is associated with dietary greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). We linked 24-h dietary recall data from adult respondents in the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (N = 11,469) to a database of GHGE factors to obtain a measure of dietary GHGE (kgCO2-eq/2000 kcal) (the sum of emissions released in the production of food for an individual's diet), adjusted by energy intake (kgCO2-eq/2000 kcal). We examined associations between frequency of cooking dinner (the only meal for which cooking frequency was measured), frequency of eating fast food, and dietary GHGE and protein sources (beef, pork, poultry, other meat, and fish and seafood (g/2000 kcal)) using generalized linearized regression models that controlled for age, sex, and other socio-economic characteristics. Greater cooking frequency was associated with higher dietary GHGE. In fully adjusted models, cooking 5-6 times/week was associated with an additional 0.058 kgCO2-eq/2000 kcal (SE 0.033) and cooking 7 times/week was associated with an additional 0.057 kgCO2-eq/2000 kcal (SE 0.027) when compared to cooking 0-2 times/week. Individuals in households who cooked dinner more frequently consumed significantly more meat, poultry, and fish (cooking 7 times/week: 148.7 g/2000 kcal vs. cooking 0-2 times/week: 135.4 g/2000 kcal, p-trend = 0.005), which could explain the association with a higher carbon footprint diet. There were few associations of note between fast-food frequency and GHGE. Policies and interventions that reduce consumption of meat and increase consumption of plants when both cooking meals at home and eating meals out are needed to shift toward diets that will be beneficial for both human health and the health of the planet.

Understanding Restaurant Healthfulness in Food Deserts

OBJECTIVE

To determine differences in restaurant environments between neighborhood and restaurant type to understand better a food desert's eating environments.

METHODS

The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for restaurants was used to assess restaurant healthfulness. Kruskal-Wallis compared healthy index scores, and Pearson chi-square compared individual items.

RESULTS

Healthy index scores were consistently low across neighborhoods (total mean = 4.6 out of 23). Fast-food restaurants (mean = 5.7) were more healthful than sit-down restaurants (mean = 3.1). Individual comparisons showed more healthy eating facilitators (eg, nutrition information at point-of-purchase, P = 0.004) in food deserts and more available healthful items (eg, whole grain bread, P < 0.001) in the neighborhoods with high incomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Findings indicate equities in restaurant environments across all neighborhoods but inequities across restaurant types, thus conclude the importance of restaurant type in understanding restaurant healthfulness. Policymakers can use these findings to develop healthy eating strategies in varying neighborhoods.

Nutrition and origin of US chain restaurant seafood

BACKGROUND

Seafood has a nutritional profile that can be beneficial to human health, which gives it a role to play in healthy diets. In addition, because its production and harvesting can have fewer environmental impacts than some forms of animal protein, it can contribute to sustainable diets. However, the positive health and environmental outcomes are not guaranteed-they depend on how seafood is prepared and served and whether it is sourced from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture industries.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the availability and nutritional attributes of seafood meals at chain restaurants in the United States. We assessed nutritional attributes by store type and geography. We also assessed menu labeling for species, production methods, and origin.

METHODS

The study population was 159 chain restaurants with 100,948 branch locations in the United States. Data were harvested from online restaurant menus, and the nutritional profile of seafood meals was calculated.

RESULTS

The average seafood menu item provides up to 49-61% of the total daily limit of saturated fat, 65% of the total daily limit of sodium, and 58-71% of total daily protein requirement for adult men and women. Restaurant chains located in the Deep South and Ohio River Valley, and casual dining chains nationally, carry seafood meals with more total calories and saturated fat per 100 g than other regions or chain types. Most menu items did not list origin or production methods, which is information that would help consumers make informed decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

The added ingredients and cooking methods used at chain restaurants can attenuate the health benefits of seafood. We recommend reformulating menus to reduce portion sizes, total calories, added fat, and sodium content per meal and to improve consumer-facing information about origin and production methods.

Modelling the inhibitors of cold supply chain using fuzzy interpretive structural modeling and fuzzy MICMAC analysis

The Cold Supply Chain (CSC) is an integral part of the supply chain of perishable products. The aim of this research is to examine the inhibitors that have a major impact on the performance of CSC operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study provides a synthesis and suggests a hierarchical model among CSC inhibitors and their respective relevance. The hierarchical synthesis of twelve (12) primary CSC inhibitors is achieved through a comprehensive literature review and consultation with academics and CSC professionals. This study used semi-structured interviews, a fuzzy interpretive structural modeling (FISM) and a Fuzzy-MICMAC (FMICMAC) analysis to explore and establish the relationship between and among identified inhibitors. FISM is used to examine the interaction between inhibitors, while FMICMAC analysis is used to examine the nature of inhibitors on the basis of their dependence and driving power. The results of the FISM and FMICMAC analysis show the inter-relationships and relative dominance of identified inhibitors. The results show that some inhibitors are of high strategic importance due to their high driving power and low dependence. These inhibitors seek more management attention in order to improve their effectiveness. The result of a hierarchical model helps to understand the influence of a particular inhibitor on others. 'Higher capital and operating costs' occupy the highest level in the FISM model. The 'fragmented cold supply chains', 'lack of skilled labor', 'inadequate information system infrastructure' and 'lack of commitment by top level management' had strong driving power but weak dependence, which characterizes them as independent inhibitors. Management should be extra careful when dealing with these inhibitors as they influence the effects of other variables at the top of the FISM hierarchy in the overall management of the cold supply chain. The study also suggests a number of recommendations for addressing these inhibitors in cold supply chains operating in the UAE. With due attention and care for these inhibitors, the operation of the cold supply chains is likely to be even more successful.

What Do Mom and Dad Think? Examining Parent Preferences for the Use of Behavioral Economic Strategies on Children's Menus in Restaurants

BACKGROUND

A majority of children's restaurant meals are nutritionally deficient; use of behavioral economics may improve healthful menu selections. Parents play a role in children's restaurant meal selection, thus understanding parent preferences for potential behavioral economic strategies is warranted.

OBJECTIVE

To examine parent-derived and -stated preferences for selected attributes of children's restaurant menus, which included behavioral economic strategies (eg, optimal defaults and vice-virtue bundles).

DESIGN

A descriptive, cross-sectional, within-subjects survey integrating a conjoint design was developed along with 8 children's menus. Menus were manipulated by varying levels of attributes (meal price, healthful side dishes, number of side dish items, healthful entrées, and cost for sugar-sweetened beverages [SSB]). Parents rated menus and attributes using Likert scales.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

A national sample of US parents with children 4 to 10 years (n = 463) were recruited in August of 2019 via Amazon's Mechanical Turk.

ANALYSIS

A conjoint (regression) analysis was conducted to derive parent preference for each attribute and overall menu preference. Descriptive statistics (means) described overall stated parent menu preferences and ratings. Cluster analysis segmented parents into groups with similar preferences.

RESULTS

Derived preferences showed parents had the strongest preference for choice of side dishes (β = .73) and low-priced menus (β = .51), and weak preferences for inclusion of healthful entrées (β = .04) and added cost for SSB (β = .18). Parents stated preference was for a menu that included healthful entrées, was low priced, and featured choices for side dishes. Cluster analysis revealed half of parents preferred the low-cost children's menu with the other half of parents split evenly across preferences related to health, choice, and traditional menus.

CONCLUSION

Parents stated preference was for a socially desirable menu featuring healthful entrée options and added cost for SSB, which was contrary to the conjoint derived menu preferences. Understanding parent preferences may help guide nutrition professionals working to build a more healthful food environment through the use of behavioral economic strategies.

Eat Well El Paso!: Lessons Learned From a Community-Level Restaurant Initiative to Increase Availability of Healthy Options While Celebrating Local Cuisine

PURPOSE

Restaurants have the potential to improve nutrition and positively shape social norms. We describe lessons learned and recommended strategies from Eat Well El Paso! (EWEP), a local restaurant initiative.

DESIGN

Descriptive case study.

SETTING

EWEP partnered with local restaurants from 2012-2017 in El Paso, Texas, along the US/Mexico border.

SAMPLE

Our sampling frame included EWEP staff and managers/owners at participating restaurants, of which the majority participated (80% and 85%, respectively).

INTERVENTION

EWEP was a local restaurant initiative led by the city public health department. EWEP contracted registered dietitians to assist locally-owned restaurants to increase availability of healthy menu options.

MEASURES

Observation, key informant interviews, and document review assessed participation, barriers, and facilitators to restaurant participation and program sustainability.

ANALYSIS

Thematic and descriptive analyses.

RESULTS

57% of restaurants completed the full on-boarding process, but long-term retention was low (24% of completers). Restaurant managers/owners perceived value in marketing, nutritional analysis, and menu design. Barriers included scheduling, complexity of restaurant culture, fear of food inspections, restaurant turnover, competing responsibilities, and lack of dedicated funding.

CONCLUSION

Although local context and sample size may limit generalizability, lessons learned and recommended strategies are relevant and informative for communities working to increase restaurants' healthy menu options.

Virtual Reality as a Tool to Study the Influence of the Eating Environment on Eating Behavior: A Feasibility Study

In this manuscript, we describe a new approach to study the effect of the eating environment on food intake and eating behavior using virtual reality technology. Fifteen adults consumed pizza rolls in two virtual reality (VR) environments: a restaurant and a table in an empty room. The participants' food intake, eating parameters (e.g., masticatory parameters and eating rate), and their sensory evaluation of the test food was measured. The participants' sense of presence (the feeling of being in the virtual environment) and markers of arousal were also measured. There was no statistical significant difference in food intake or the sensory evaluation of the test food. In the restaurant condition, participants used fewer masticatory cycles before swallowing but there was no effect on eating rate or maximum bite force. Participants experienced a greater sense of presence when they were in the pizza restaurant scene. Moreover, their heart rate and skin temperature were higher in the restaurant condition. This study suggests that VR could be developed as a new tool to study the effect of the eating environment on food intake and eating behavior.

KIMEHS-Proposal of an Index for Qualitative Evaluation of Children's Menus-A Pilot Study

Considering the importance of the food environments for health promotion, and the lack of simple, easy to use, low-cost measures of the quality of meals, the authors developed a qualitative menu index (KIMEHS—Kids’ Menu Healthy Score), tailored to children’s menu evaluation. Development of the tool was based on the Mediterranean food pattern. It includes 18 components, divided into seven main groups that reflect key aspects of menu quality, including protein source, side dishes, vegetables, dessert and beverages, and also allergens and nutritional information. The index was analysed for content and construct validity, as well as inter-rater reliability, and was applied to a sample of menus from restaurants in shopping centres in the Lisbon region. Possible index point ranges from −17 to 17, with a higher score indicating greater compliance with the recommendations. A value of 5.5 is obtained if all KIMEHS items are available, considering healthy and non-healthy options. The inter-rater reliability was assessed and values above 0.80 were obtained for Alpha Cronbach, as well as agreement % rate >75%. Agreement percentage is above 75% for all the components. Evaluated restaurants scored from −14 to 7, with an average KIMEHS of −6.15. Only four restaurants scored positive values, ranging from 0.25 to 7. KIMEHS was considered to be an adequate index to evaluate children’s menus, from the menu information displayed on restaurant websites and/or on restaurant displays or table menus. It is a simple, low-cost tool that may be used as a reference for health professionals as an objective measure to evaluate the food environment. Stakeholders could also be involved in their own assessment to help educate consumers about healthy food choices, strengthening the efforts to promote an adequate food pattern and health, contributing to the fight against obesity.

Differences in the sugar content of fast-food products across three countries

OBJECTIVE

To compare the sugar content of items at four multinational fast-food chains, across three countries.

DESIGN

Total sugar (g)/per serving was extracted from online nutrition information, and sugar/100 g serving was calculated. Foods were categorised as: breakfast sandwiches, burgers, sandwiches, desserts and condiments. Beverages were categorised as fountain, frozen or pre-packaged. Sugar (g) was compared across countries using linear mixed-effects models. Pairwise comparisons were performed with Tukey-Kramer adjustments.

SETTING

USA, Germany and Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Burger King™ (Hungry Jack's™), Kentucky Fried Chicken™, McDonald's™ and Subway™.

RESULTS

Differences in total sugar/100 g or ml were observed across countries for burgers (n 104), desserts (n 110), sandwiches (n 178), pre-packaged beverages (n 36) and frozen beverages (n 72). Comparing identical items across countries (e.g. BigMacTM from McDonalds in USA, Germany and Australia), burgers (n 10 available in all three countries) had lower sugar content in Australia (3·4 g/100 g) compared with the USA (4·7 g/100 g, P = 0·02) or Germany (4·6 g/100 g, P = 0·04), yet no differences were observed in other food categories. Comparing the same beverages across countries (e.g. chocolate shake from Burger King), frozen beverages (n 4 available in all three countries) had lower sugar content in Australia (14·2 g/100 ml), compared with the USA (20·3 g/100 ml, P = 0·0005) or Germany (17·8 g/100 ml, P = 0·0148), yet no differences were observed in other beverage categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Heterogeneity in fast-food sugar content across countries suggests that reductions are possible and should be implemented to reduce health risks associated with excess added sugar intake.

Snacks and The City: Unexpected Low Sales of an Easy-Access, Tasty, and Healthy Snack at an Urban Snacking Hotspot

: While many people declare an intention to eat and snack more healthily, a large body of research has found that these intentions often do not translate into actual behavior. This failure to fulfil intentions is regularly attributed to the obesogenic environment, on which basis it is assumed that changing the food environment may lead to more healthy snacking behavior. To test this premise in real life practice, the present research project investigated whether making a healthy snack easy-to-access in an urban environment characterized by unhealthy snacking would support people in their intentions of purchasing more healthy snacks. The urban snack project consisted of three phases. In Phase 1, a hotspot location for unhealthy snacking was determined by using a Global Positioning System to track people's snacking locations anda survey to verify the location . In Phase 2, an attractive snack was developed that met consumers' criteria of what constituted a healthy and tasty snack, together with corresponding branding that also included a small food truck from which to sell the newly developed snacks. In Phase 3, the snack was sold from the food truck located at the previously determined unhealthy snacking hotspot. We counted the number of snacks sold and canvassed people's opinions about the snack and its branding, finding that in spite of people's appreciation for the snack, the food truck, and the branding, actual sales of the snack were very low. In the Discussion, we name predominant eating and purchasing habits as possible reasons for these low sales. Future research could focus on placing the healthy snack directly beside people's habitual snack purchase location to ensure that the new choice gets better recognized. Overall, the findings suggest that merely placing healthy snacks more prominently in people's food environment is not sufficient to lead people to snack more healthily.

A Public Health Messaging Campaign to Reduce Caloric Intake: Feedback From Expert Stakeholders

OBJECTIVE

To obtain expert feedback on a public health messaging campaign to reduce caloric intake in US adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

In 2018, researchers conducted semistructured telephone interviews with US-based experts in obesity prevention, mental health, and health communications.

PARTICIPANTS

The research team invited 100 experts to participate using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Of those invited, 60 completed interviews, among which 37 (62%) were obesity prevention experts, 12 (20%) were mental health experts, and 11 (18%) were health communications experts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Expert feedback regarding a public health messaging campaign to reduce caloric intake.

ANALYSIS

Two researchers reviewed and coded all transcripts. The team identified major themes and summarized findings.

RESULTS

Most experts identified barriers to effective calorie reduction including social and environmental factors, lack of actionable strategies, and confusion regarding healthy eating messages. Expert suggestions for effective messaging included addressing eating patterns, emphasizing nutrient density, and dissemination through multiple channels and trusted sources. In general, mental health experts more frequently voiced concerns regarding eating disorders, and communications experts raised issues regarding the dissemination of campaigns.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Professionals should identify and address barriers to delivering a calorie reduction campaign before implementation, using strategies that enhance delivery to ensure an effective campaign.

Trends in the Nutrition Profile of Menu Items at Large Burger Chain Restaurants

INTRODUCTION

Fast food restaurants, including top burger chains, have reduced calorie content of some menu items in recent years. However, the extent to which the nutrition profile of restaurant menus is changing over time is unknown.

METHODS

Data from 2,472 food items on the menus of 14 top-earning burger fast food chain restaurants in the U.S., available from 2012 to 2016, were obtained from the MenuStat project and analyzed in 2019. Nutrition Profile Index scores were estimated and used to categorize foods as healthy (≥64 of 100). Generalized linear models examined mean scores and the proportion of healthy menu items among items offered in all years (2012-2016) and items offered in 2012 only compared with items newly introduced in subsequent years.

RESULTS

Overall, <20% of menu items were classified as healthy with no change from 2012 to 2016 (p=0.91). Mean Nutrition Profile Index score was relatively constant across the study period among all food items (≈50 points, p=0.58) and children's menu items (≈56 points, p=0.73). The only notable change in Nutrition Profile Index score or in proportion of healthy items was in the direction of menu items becoming less healthy.

CONCLUSIONS

At large chain burger restaurants, most items were unhealthy, and the overall nutrition profile of menus remained unchanged from 2012 to 2016. Future research should examine the nutrition profile of restaurant menus in a larger, more diverse sample of restaurants over a longer timeframe and examine whether results are robust when other measures of nutritional quality are used.

Preventing Lethal Prostate Cancer with Diet, Supplements, and Rx: Heart Healthy Continues to Be Prostate Healthy and "First Do No Harm" Part II

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss the overall and latest observations of the effect of diet, lifestyle, supplements, and some prescription heart healthy medications for prostate cancer prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

The concept of maximizing heart health to prevent aggressive prostate cancer continues to be solidified with the addition of more prospective observational and randomized controlled trial data. Heart healthy is prostate healthy, and heart unhealthy is prostate unhealthy. The primary goal of reducing the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality also coincides with maximizing prostate cancer prevention. The obesity epidemic in children and adults along with recent diverse research has only strengthened the nexus between heart and prostate health. Greater dietary adherence toward a variety of healthy foods is associated with a graded improved probability of CVD and potentially aggressive cancer risk reduction. Preventing prostate cancer via dietary supplements should encourage a "first do no harm," or less is more approach until future evidence can reverse the concerning trend that more supplementation has resulted in either no impact or an increased risk of prostate cancer. Supplements to reduce side effects of some cancer treatments appear to have more encouraging data. A discussion of quality (QC) before utilizing any pill also requires attention. Medications or interventions that potentially improve heart health including statins, aspirin, and metformin (S.A.M.), specific beta-blocker medications, and even preventive vaccines are in general generic, low-cost, "natural," and should continue to garner research interest. A watershed moment in medical education has arrived where the past perception of a diverse number of trees seemingly separated by vast distances, in reality, now appear to exist within the same forest.

Nutritional Quality of Fast Food Kids Meals and Their Contribution to the Diets of School-Aged Children

International data indicate that children and adolescents obtain around one third of their daily food intake from products consumed outside their home. Food products from restaurants are usually higher in calories and lower in nutritional value than those prepared home. We evaluated the nutritional quality in kids' meals from three fast food chains and two movie theaters and compared them with nutritional recommendations for Mexican school-age population. Results showed that the menu options marketed for school-age children have higher caloric contributions than those recommended, in addition to a deficient nutritional quality. The contribution of caloric and of almost all macronutrients for all mealtimes is not only high but even above 100% or 200% of the mean recommended daily intake (reaching to more than 400% of the recommendations of carbohydrates and lipids of preschool age group). In particular, the snack main dish (popcorn), provides over 100% of the mean energy intake recommendations for the three school age groups and for preschool age group, this contribution could reach to 270%. Therefore, regulations regarding nutritional recommendations should exist for these types of commercialized food products for school-age children, along with mandatory and clear labeling that allows consumers to be able to make better choices for their kids.

Health in the United States: Are Appeals to Choice and Personal Responsibility Making Americans Sick?

The United States suffers high rates of preventable lifestyle disease despite widespread calls for people to take responsibility for their health. The United States also stands out in its rejection of government action to guide industry practices and consumer choices. Why? We examine how deeply rooted cultural narratives about “free choice” and “personal responsibility” infuse policymaking, advertising, media, social norms, and individual attitudes about health in the United States. We argue that these narratives contribute to ill health in the United States: They encourage stress and worry over health, blame and stigmatization of the unhealthy, widened health disparities, and the failure to adopt policies that could save lives. Psychologists can play a major role in expanding narratives about health so that they include the role of personal choice and responsibility but also reflect current science about the physical, social, and cultural drivers of health. These broader narratives can be used to promote a more comprehensive understanding of health and to better inform the design, communication, and implementation of effective health-supportive policies.

Obesity à la carte? Children’s meal options in German full-service restaurants

Objective:

In light of the increasing prevalence of juvenile obesity seen around the world, obesogenic environments in general and the food environment in particular are receiving increasing attention in current public health research. Restaurants play a significant role in the food environment. The present study aimed to quantitatively describe and qualitatively evaluate the range of children’s meals available in full-service restaurants in Germany.

Design:

Five hundred restaurants were identified using a systematic quota sampling technique. The individual meals were evaluated using quality standards stipulated by the German Nutrition Society (DGE).

Setting:

Nationwide sample of menus from full-service restaurants.

Participants:

Meals (n 1877) from 500 menus were analysed.

Results:

Menus included 3·76 (sd 1·31) meals for children. About 70 % of the meals were limited to six typical dishes of low nutritional quality. In total, 54 % of meals included French fries or another form of fried potatoes. Of all meals, 23 % did not fulfil any of the eleven quality criteria set by the DGE and 38 % satisfied only one criterion. The majority of dishes on offer featured high energy density while simultaneously having low nutrient density. Healthy dishes were not highlighted visually in any menu.

Conclusions:

The range of dishes on offer for children in German restaurants is severely lacking in variety and in need of improvement from a nutritional point of view. Considering the growing importance of restaurants as food environments, there is a need to improve the presentation of menus and the meals offered.