Diet quality in middle-aged and older women with and without body weight dissatisfaction: results from a population-based national nutrition survey in Switzerland

Nutrition and Neuroinflammation: Are Middle-Aged Women in the Red Zone?

Women exhibit unique vulnerabilities in health, especially regarding mental health and neurodegenerative diseases. Biological, hormonal, and metabolic differences contribute to sex-specific risks that remain underrepresented in clinical studies. Diseases such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are more prevalent in women and may be influenced by hormonal transitions, particularly during menopause. Chronic low-grade inflammation is emerging as a shared mechanism underlying both conditions, and this inflammatory state can be worsened by dietary habits. During menopause, mood and sleep disturbances can influence dietary behavior, leading to enhanced snacking and consumption of high-glycemic and comfort foods. Such foods, low in nutritional value, promote weight gain and elevated inflammatory markers. Their consumption combined (or not) with a preexisting Western diet pattern-already linked to inflammation-could reinforce systemic inflammation involving the gut-brain axis. Moreover, the symptoms "per se" could act on inflammation as well. Peripheral inflammation may cross the blood-brain barrier, sustaining mood disorders and promoting neurodegenerative changes. Finally, MDD and AD are both associated with conditions such as obesity and diabetes, which occur more frequently in women. The review highlights how menopause-related changes in mood, sleep, and diet may heighten susceptibility to mental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Mindful eating is associated with a better diet quality in the NutriNet-Santé study

BACKGROUND

Mindful eating (ME) is a promising approach for promoting healthy eating. Although an association between ME and healthier eating habits has been indicated in the literature, data remain limited. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between ME and several nutritional indicators, including overall diet quality, consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), organic foods, food groups, and intake of energy and nutrients in a large population sample.

METHODS

In 2023, 13,759 participants of the NutriNet-Santé cohort study completed the Mind-Eat Scale, assessing total ME (range: 1-5), and its six sub-dimensions, and at least three 24-h dietary records. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to analyze the association between ME (independent variable) and various indices reflecting the nutritional quality of the diet: two scores reflecting the adherence to the French dietary guidelines (sPNNS-GS2) and the Mediterranean diet (MEDI-LITE score), the consumption of UPF (using the NOVA classification), organic foods and food groups, and energy and nutrient intake (dependent variables), adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics.

RESULTS

ME was positively associated with French dietary guideline (β = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.45) and Mediterranean diet (β = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.45) scores and with organic food consumption (β = 9.72; 95%CI: 8.84, 10.60). Furthermore, ME was negatively associated with energy intake (β = -36.79; 95%CI: 50.92, -22.67) and UPF consumption (β = -1.55; 95%CI: 1.81, -1.29). ME was also associated with the intake of several food groups and nutrients.

CONCLUSION

Overall, ME was associated with a healthier diet. These results suggest that ME could be an interesting lever for promoting healthy eating habits. Further studies are required to better understand the relationships between ME, dietary intake, and health, particularly through the use of longitudinal studies.

Associations Between Body Weight Dissatisfaction and Diet Quality in Women With a Body Mass Index in the Healthy Weight Category: Results From the 2014-2015 Swiss National Nutrition Survey

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined whether diet quality is lower in women with body weight dissatisfaction compared with women without body weight dissatisfaction.

OBJECTIVES

(1) Examine the association between body weight dissatisfaction and diet quality among women (18-65 years old) in the healthy weight body mass index (BMI) category, and (2) explore dietary and behavioral patterns among women with body weight dissatisfaction.

DESIGN

Data were extracted from the cross-sectional 2014-2015 Swiss National Nutrition Survey.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Population-based sample of 507 women with BMI ≥ 18.5 and < 25.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Dietary intakes assessed by registered dietitians using 2 nonconsecutive computer-assisted multi-pass 24-hour dietary recalls. Diet quality was measured with a slightly modified version of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Multiple linear regressions were performed to test the association between body weight dissatisfaction and total HEI-2020 score. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups of women with body weight dissatisfaction.

RESULTS

Body weight dissatisfaction was not found to be associated with diet quality (β = -1.73 [-4.18; 0.71], P = .16). However, women who were dissatisfied with their body weight had lower scores for the HEI-2020 total fruits (P = .050) and whole grains (P = .014) components than women who were satisfied with their body weight. Four profiles with different dietary patterns were identified among women with body weight dissatisfaction: "Unhealthy diet with dairy," "Protein and fat," "Vegetables without protein," and "Healthier diet without dairy."

CONCLUSIONS

Among women with a BMI in the healthy weight category, overall diet quality was not observed to differ between those with or without body weight dissatisfaction. More research is needed to explore the different profiles of dietary intake in women with body weight dissatisfaction.

The Longitudinal Associations of Body Dissatisfaction with Health and Wellness Behaviors in Midlife and Older Women

Emerging research suggests that body dissatisfaction (BD) is prevalent among midlife and older women (i.e., upwards of 70%). Cross-sectionally, BD is associated with myriad poor health and wellness outcomes (e.g., depression, disordered eating, bad nutrition) in midlife/older women. However, relatively few studies have examined the longitudinal relations between BD and health outcomes in this population. This preliminary study investigated the longitudinal associations of BD with wellbeing and health-related quality of life (QOL) among midlife/older adult women over one year. Participants (n = 86, women aged 40-72 years, M = 51.49, SD = 7.34, 86% white) completed self-report measures of BD, psychosocial impairment, health behaviors, and QOL at baseline (T1) and 12-month follow-up (T2). A series of multiple linear regression models included T1 BD as the predictor variable of health outcomes at T2, covarying for T1 BMI and age in all models. BD was associated with greater negative emotions and psychosocial impairment, less physical activity enjoyment, and poorer physical, psychological, and social QOL one year later. Findings suggest that BD is associated with negative consequences for women across the lifespan (ƒ2 ranges = 0.06-0.60). Future research investigating BD as a unique, modifiable risk factor for health outcomes among diverse samples of midlife/older women is warranted. Targeting BD in interventions may improve health indices beyond eating disorders for this population.

Examining the Usage Patterns of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners among Non-Diabetic Individuals: Insights from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

BACKGROUND

Although non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) were formulated primarily for sugar-restricted diets, nowadays, their consumption has become widespread among the general population. Thus, the purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the regular use of NNSs and their associated factors among non-diabetic individuals from the baseline of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS

In total, 9226 individuals were analysed, and the regular consumption of NNSs was defined as follows: NSSs are used at least once a day. Associations between exposure and outcomes were analysed using chi-square and Student's t-tests. Significant variables were inserted into a binary logistic regression model to determine the adjusted association measures (significance level of 5%).

RESULTS

The prevalence of regular NNS consumption was 25.7%. Regular NNS consumption increased with age, categories of BMI, income, and schooling. The odds of regularly consuming NNSs were 1.9-times higher among women, 6.1-times higher among obese individuals, and 1.8-times higher among those with higher schooling and income.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific groups seem to present a larger association relative to the use of NNS. Based on the significant overall prevalence of the regular use of NNSs, a discussion regarding country-wide policies related to their intake is needed to address recent WHO directions concerning this additive.

Body Dissatisfaction, Eating Styles, Weight-Related Behaviors, and Health among Young Women in the United States

Body dissatisfaction is a common condition that poses health behavior risks, such as the use of maladaptive eating styles instead of adaptive eating styles. Few studies have simultaneously examined both adaptive and maladaptive eating styles and their association with body dissatisfaction in a comprehensive manner. To address this gap, this study examined how body dissatisfaction is related to an array of adaptive and maladaptive eating styles, weight-related behaviors, and health status as well as the associations of health status, BMI, and weight-related behaviors with body dissatisfaction in 261 young adult women. Maladaptive eating styles, such as emotional eating, tended to rise in tandem with body dissatisfaction, differing significantly among body-dissatisfaction levels with medium to large effect sizes. For adaptive eating styles, as body dissatisfaction increased, compensatory restraint increased, intuitive eating declined, and mindful eating did not differ. Weight-related dietary, physical activity, and sleep behaviors did not differ by body dissatisfaction level. BMI increased and health status decreased as body dissatisfaction increased. Binary logistic regression revealed those who were body-dissatisfied had significantly lower health status, higher BMIs, and did not differ on weight-related behaviors. Study findings suggest strategies to improve health-promotion interventions aiming to increase body satisfaction.

Associations between Resilience and Food Intake Are Mediated by Emotional Eating in the NutriNet-Santé Study

BACKGROUND

Resilience, the ability to bounce back or recover from stress, has been associated with several health-related behaviors. However, data on food intake and emotional eating are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the associations between resilience and diet quality and ultraprocessed food (UPF) and food group consumption, and to assess whether emotional eating was a mediator of these associations.

METHODS

In 2017, 17,840 participants (73.5% female, mean age = 55.4 ± 14.0 y) of the NutriNet-Santé study completed the Brief Resilience Scale, the revised 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and ≥3 self-administered 24-h dietary records. Diet quality was assessed with the modified French National Nutrition and Health Program Guideline Score. Foods and beverages consumed were categorized according to their degree of processing by the NOVA classification. We assessed the association between resilience and emotional eating using linear regression models. We also assessed the mediating role of emotional eating in the associations between resilience and diet quality, energy intake, and UPF and food group consumption, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

In our study, resilience was negatively associated with emotional eating (P < 0.0001). More resilient participants had greater overall diet quality, greater intakes of seafood, whole-grain foods, fats, unsalted oleaginous fruits, and alcoholic beverages, and lower intakes of UPFs, starchy foods, dairy desserts, sugary fatty products, and sugar and confectionery (all P < 0.05). Emotional eating was a mediator of the inverse associations between resilience and intake of energy, UPFs, dairy desserts, sugary fatty products, and of the positive associations between resilience and alcoholic beverages (all P < 0.05), with a 20-70% mediation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that resilience was associated with an overall better diet quality in the NutriNet-Santé population-based study. These associations were partially explained by emotional eating. These findings suggest that resilience should be considered in the promotion of healthy dietary habits.The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03335644.