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Chiwila MK, Krebs NF, Manasyan A, Chomba E, Mwenechanya M, Mazariegos M, Sami N, Pasha O, Tshefu A, Lokangaka A, Goldenberg RL, Bose CL, Koso-Thomas M, Goco N, Do BT, McClure EM, Hambidge KM, Westcott JE, Carlo WA. Junk food use and neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes in infants in low-resource settings. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1308685. [PMID: 38686037 PMCID: PMC11057493 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1308685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Feeding infants a sub-optimal diet deprives them of critical nutrients for their physical and cognitive development. The objective of this study is to describe the intake of foods of low nutritional value (junk foods) and identify the association with growth and developmental outcomes in infants up to 18 months in low-resource settings. Methods This is a secondary analysis of data from an iron-rich complementary foods (meat versus fortified cereal) randomized clinical trial on nutrition conducted in low-resource settings in four low- and middle-income countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, Pakistan, and Zambia). Mothers in both study arms received nutritional messages on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months with continued breastfeeding up to at least 12 months. This study was designed to identify the socio-demographic predictors of feeding infants' complementary foods of low nutritional value (junk foods) and to assess the associations between prevalence of junk food use with neurodevelopment (assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II) and growth at 18 months. Results 1,231 infants were enrolled, and 1,062 (86%) completed the study. Junk food feeding was more common in Guatemala, Pakistan, and Zambia than in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 7% of the infants were fed junk foods at 6 months which increased to 70% at 12 months. Non-exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, higher maternal body mass index, more years of maternal and paternal education, and higher socioeconomic status were associated with feeding junk food. Prevalence of junk foods use was not associated with adverse neurodevelopmental or growth outcomes. Conclusion The frequency of consumption of junk food was high in these low-resource settings but was not associated with adverse neurodevelopment or growth over the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nancy F. Krebs
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Albert Manasyan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Elwyn Chomba
- Global Network, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | | | - Manolo Mazariegos
- Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Neelofar Sami
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Omrana Pasha
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Antoinette Tshefu
- School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Adrien Lokangaka
- School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Robert L. Goldenberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carl L. Bose
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Marion Koso-Thomas
- Eunice Kennedy Shiver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Norman Goco
- Research Triangle Institute International, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Barbara T. Do
- Research Triangle Institute International, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | | | - Jamie E. Westcott
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Waldemar A. Carlo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Ghosh S, Shrestha R, Ren Y, Salve K, Webb P. Deteriorating complementary feeding practices and dietary quality in Jordan: Trends and challenges. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024; 20:e13601. [PMID: 38053298 PMCID: PMC10981486 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Quality complementary feeding (CF) of infants and young children is key to their growth and development. But in Jordan, providing appropriate CF remains a challenge. This study assesses trends in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, and consumption by infants and young children aged 6-23 months of breast milk substitutes (BMSs), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and micronutrient-rich foods in Jordan from 1990 to 2017. We combined dietary data on infants and young children from six Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) (n = 14,880 children) to compute IYCF indicators. The latter included minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD), as well as intake of micronutrient-rich foods and food groups, specific SSBs, and infant formula. We conducted trend analyses using logistic regression models adjusted for child's age in month, child age squared, governorates, urban/rural residence, mother's educational attainment, and household wealth quintiles. We found that the proportion of consumption of micronutrient-rich food groups declined significantly between 1990 and 2017, with fewer infants and young children consuming eggs (OR = 0.39, p ≤ 0.001, 2002 reference), meat, poultry, and fish (OR = 0.25, p ≤ 0.001, 2002 reference), dairy (OR = 0.59, p ≤ 0.001, 2002 reference) and Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.66, p ≤ 0.001, 2002 reference). Conversely, there was increased use of BMSs and sugar-sweetened juices that paralleled a decline in the share of infants and young children meeting appropriate CF practices and consuming micronutrient-rich foods and food groups. By 2017, children aged 6-23 months were significantly less likely to meet MDD, MMF, and subsequently MAD; the odds of consuming BMSs were almost three times the reference (OR = 3.8, p ≤ 0.001, 1990 reference), as were the odds of consuming sugar sweetened juices (OR = 3.63, p ≤ 0.001, 1990 reference). Food insecurity and undernutrition are low in Jordan; however, overweight and obesity rates are increasing concurrently as are micronutrient deficiencies. This highlights the need for policymakers to address factors at individual and household levels (behaviours and practices) as well as environmental issues (increasing access to unhealthy and ultraprocessed foods).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibani Ghosh
- Division of Food and Nutrition Policy and ProgramsGerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition (Jordan)Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Robin Shrestha
- Division of Food and Nutrition Policy and ProgramsGerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition (Jordan)Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Yanlin Ren
- Division of Food and Nutrition Policy and ProgramsGerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition (Jordan)Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Karuna Salve
- Division of Food and Nutrition Policy and ProgramsGerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition (Jordan)Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Patrick Webb
- Division of Food and Nutrition Policy and ProgramsGerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition (Jordan)Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Brown A, Trimble M, Sokal-Gutierrez K, Fernald L, Madsen K, Turton B. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Foods of Low Nutritional Value, and Child Undernutrition in Cambodia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:169. [PMID: 38397660 PMCID: PMC10887798 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Child undernutrition persists in Cambodia despite recent progress. As Cambodia undergoes a shift in dietary consumption that coincides with economic, demographic, and epidemiologic changes, there is risk of ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages displacing nutrient-dense foods during the critical period of infant growth in the first 24 months. The aim of this study was to assess the introduction and intake of foods of low nutritional value and sugar-sweetened beverages and their association with undernutrition among children 24 months of age in rural and semi-urban Cambodia. Cross-sectional analyses of a 24-h dietary recall from a sample (n = 377) of 24-month-olds found that the majority of infants had been introduced to packaged salty snacks and sweets by 12 months of age and to sugar-sweetened beverages by 15 months. By 24 months of age, 78% of children had consumed foods of low nutritional value and 57% consumed a sugar-sweetened beverage on the previous day. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that infant intake of a flavored sugary drink on the previous day was associated with over two times the odds of both stunting and wasting, and consumption of packaged sweets on the previous day was associated with over two times the odds of wasting, but no association was found with stunting. These findings underscore the need to improve educational and policy interventions to support healthy feeding practices for infants and young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akemi Brown
- University of California San Francisco Joint Medical Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
| | - Margaret Trimble
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (M.T.); (L.F.); (K.M.)
| | - Karen Sokal-Gutierrez
- University of California San Francisco Joint Medical Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
| | - Lia Fernald
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (M.T.); (L.F.); (K.M.)
| | - Kristine Madsen
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (M.T.); (L.F.); (K.M.)
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Mekonen EG, Zegeye AF, Workneh BS, Techane MA, Tamir TT, Terefe B. Unhealthy food consumption and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of the demographic and health survey. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:40. [PMID: 38218821 PMCID: PMC10787455 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04514-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unhealthy food consumption that begins early in life is associated with a higher risk of nutrient inadequacy and related chronic diseases later in life. Healthy eating and consumption of important nutrients help to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions. Research from sub-Saharan Africa regarding consumption of unhealthy foods remains limited, with no studies quantifying the pooled prevalence among young children. Therefore, this study is intended to assess the pooled prevalence and determinants of unhealthy food consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months. METHODS Data from the most recent demographic and health surveys of five countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2015 and 2022 were used. A total weighted sample of 16,226 children aged 6 to 23 months was included in the study. Data extracted from DHS data sets were cleaned, recorded, and analyzed using STATA/SE version 14.0 statistical software. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the dependent variable. Intra-class correlation coefficient, likelihood ratio test, median odds ratio, and deviance (-2LLR) values were used for model comparison and fitness. Finally, variables with a p-value < 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant. RESULTS The pooled prevalence of unhealthy food consumption among children aged 6 to 23 months was 13.41% (95% CI: 12.89-13.94%). Higher consumption of unhealthy foods was reported among mothers with low education [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.30, 0.46)], unmarried women [AOR = 1.19; 95% CI (1.05, 1.34)], who had no media exposure [AOR = 0.64; 95% CI (0.56, 0.72)], delivered at home [AOR = 0.74; 95% CI (0.62, 0.87)], who hadn't had a PNC checkup [AOR = 0.66; 95% CI (0.60, 0.73)], wealthier households [AOR = 1.20; 95% CI (1.05, 1.37)], older children (aged ≥ 9 months) [AOR = 3.88; 95% CI (3.25, 4.63)], and low community level media exposure [AOR = 1.18; 95% CI (1.04, 1.34)]. CONCLUSION Nearly one out of seven children aged 6 to 23 months consumed unhealthy foods. Maternal educational level, marital status of the mother, exposure to media, wealth index, place of delivery, PNC checkup, and the current age of the child were factors significantly associated with unhealthy food consumption. Therefore, improving women's education, disseminating nutrition-related information through the media, providing more attention to poor and unmarried women, and strengthening health facility delivery and postnatal care services are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enyew Getaneh Mekonen
- Department of Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Alebachew Ferede Zegeye
- Department of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Belayneh Shetie Workneh
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Masresha Asmare Techane
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadesse Tarik Tamir
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Bewuketu Terefe
- Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Pries AM, Bassetti E, White JM, Mulder A, Threapleton D, Blankenship J. Benchmarking the nutrient composition and labelling practices of finger foods and snacks for older infants and young children across seven Southeast Asian countries. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2023; 19 Suppl 2:e13598. [PMID: 38092380 PMCID: PMC10719055 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Ensuring consumption of nutrient-dense, safe and appropriate complementary foods among older infants and young children (IYC) 6-36 months of age is critical for enabling optimal growth and development. The ubiquitous availability of and high demand for commercially packaged snack foods has culminated in a growing trend of snack food products specifically produced and promoted for older IYC. Commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) that are finger foods/snacks often contain added sugars, excessive sodium content and high total sugar content, making them inappropriate for this young population. This study benchmarked the nutrient composition and labelling practices of CPCF finger foods/snacks available for purchase in seven countries in Southeast Asia. The study adapted a nutrient profiling model from the WHO Regional Office for Europe to determine the proportion of products suitable for promotion for older IYC. Of the total 606 products identified, 8.2% were automatically categorized as not suitable because they were confectionery items. Of the remaining 556 products assessed, over 85% failed to meet all nutrient composition requirements, with the presence of added sugars/sweeteners and excessive sodium and total sugar contents the primary reasons for failure. Products also demonstrated concerning labelling practices, with all of the products (98.6%) displaying an inappropriate claim on the label. These findings reveal major concerns with the nutrient composition and labelling practices of CPCF finger foods/snacks in the SEA region and should serve as an alarm bell for regulatory action. National binding legal measures, such as mandatory standards for composition and labelling are urgently needed.
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Gyimah EA, Nicholas JL, Waters WF, Gallegos-Riofrío CA, Chapnick M, Blackmore I, Douglas KE, Iannotti LL. Ultra-processed foods in a rural Ecuadorian community: associations with child anthropometry and bone maturation. Br J Nutr 2023; 130:1609-1624. [PMID: 36912073 PMCID: PMC10551472 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114523000624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Frequent ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is consistently associated with poor health outcomes. Little is known about UPF intake during early childhood and its effects on growth. We assessed UPF in relation to child anthropometry, bone maturation, and their nutrition profiles in a rural Ecuadorian community. Covariate-adjusted regression models estimated relationships between UPF intake from a 24-hour Food Frequency Questionnaire and three outcomes: linear growth, weight status and bone maturation. Nutrient Profiling Models (NPM) evaluated a convenience sample of UPF (n 28) consumed by children in the community. In this cohort (n 125; mean age = 33·92 (sd 1·75) months), 92·8 % consumed some form of UPF the previous day. On average, children consuming UPF four to twelve times per day (highest tertile) had lower height-for-age z-scores than those with none or a single instance of UPF intake (lowest tertile) (β = -0·43 [se 0·18]; P = 0·02). Adjusted stunting odds were significantly higher in the highest tertile relative to the lowest tertile (OR: 3·07, 95 % CI 1·11, 9·09). Children in the highest tertile had significantly higher bone age z-scores (BAZ) on average compared with the lowest tertile (β = 0·58 [se 0·25]; P = 0·03). Intake of savoury UPF was negatively associated with weight-for-height z-scores (β = -0·30 [se 0·14]; P = 0·04) but positively associated with BAZ (β = 0·77 [se 0·23]; P < 0·001). NPM indicated the availability of unhealthy UPF to children, with excessive amounts of saturated fats, free sugars and sodium. Findings suggest that frequent UPF intake during early childhood may be linked to stunted growth (after controlling for bone age and additional covariates), despite paradoxical associations with bone maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A. Gyimah
- Brown School, Institute of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Nicholas
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - William F. Waters
- Institute for Research in Health and Nutrition, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Andres Gallegos-Riofrío
- Brown School, Institute of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Institute for Research in Health and Nutrition, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Melissa Chapnick
- Brown School, Institute of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ivy Blackmore
- Brown School, Institute of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Lora L. Iannotti
- Brown School, Institute of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Trilok‐Kumar G, Malik A, Gusain Y, Millerot E, Pathak R, Filteau S. Dietary patterns of Indian school-aged children and associations with markers of chronic disease risk. Food Sci Nutr 2023; 11:7070-7079. [PMID: 37970425 PMCID: PMC10630838 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India which may be related to changing dietary patterns. We aimed to assess dietary patterns in children since they have time to change unhealthy patterns before NCDs develop. Participants were 665 children, 9-12 years old, born with low birth weight and 77 similarly aged normal birth weight controls. We collected data on sociodemography, anthropometry, body composition, and markers of risk for NCDs: grip strength, long jump, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary data from which dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis (PCA). Fourteen food groups were included in the PCA analysis, resulting in three components: 'fruits and vegetables', 'protein', and 'sugar and fat'. Higher socioeconomic status and maternal education were associated with lower adherence to the fruit and vegetable pattern and higher adherence to the protein and sugar and fat patterns. Adherence to the fruits and vegetables pattern was associated with lower height-for-age, whereas the fat and sugar pattern was associated with higher indicators of body fat. In linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, maternal education, and season of data collection, adherence to the 'fruits and vegetables' pattern was associated with lower grip strength, shorter long jump, and lower HbA1c. Adherence to the other patterns was not associated with NCD risk factors. Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, achievable even by poorer families in the cohort, may lower HbA1c, a risk factor for diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anku Malik
- Institute of Home Economics, University of DelhiNew DelhiIndia
| | - Yamini Gusain
- Institute of Home Economics, University of DelhiNew DelhiIndia
| | - Eve Millerot
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Renuka Pathak
- Institute of Home Economics, University of DelhiNew DelhiIndia
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Collins TE, Akselrod S, Mahy L, Poznyak V, Berlina D, Hatefi A, Allen L. Engaging with the Private Sector for Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control: Is it Possible to Create "Shared Value?". Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:46. [PMID: 37425141 PMCID: PMC10327866 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of premature mortality worldwide. Corporate interests are sometimes well-aligned with public health, but profiteering from the consumption of products that are known to be the major contributors to the noncommunicable disease burden undermines public health. This paper describes the key industry actors shaping the NCD landscape; highlights the unhealthy commodities' impact on health and the growing burden of NCDs; and outlines challenges and opportunities to reduce exposure to those risk factors. Corporations deploy a wide array of strategies to maximize profits at the expense of health, including sophisticated marketing techniques, interference in the policy-making process, opposition and distortion of research and evidence, and whitewashing of health-harming activities through corporate social responsibility initiatives. There can be no shared value for industries that sell goods that harm health irrespective of consumption patterns (such as tobacco and likely alcohol), so government actions such as regulation and legislation are the only viable policy instruments. Where shared value is possible (for example, with the food industry), industry engagement can potentially realign corporate interests with the public health interest for mutual benefit. Deliberate, careful, and nuanced approaches to engagement are required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lina Mahy
- Multisectoral Action in Food Systems, World Health Organization, CH
| | - Vladimir Poznyak
- Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviors, World Health Organization, CH
| | | | | | - Luke Allen
- Global NCD Platform, World Health Organization, CH
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Jubayer A, Nowar A, Islam S, Islam MH, Nayan MM. Complementary feeding practices and their determinants among children aged 6-23 months in rural Bangladesh: evidence from Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) 2018-2019 evaluated against WHO/UNICEF guideline -2021. Arch Public Health 2023; 81:114. [PMID: 37344900 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01131-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate Complementary feeding (CF) practices play a crucial role in determining child nutrition, growth, and development. This study seeks to examine CF practices and their predictors among children aged 6 to 23 months in rural Bangladesh according to the most recently updated WHO/UNICEF guidelines for CF. METHODS A total of 665 children aged 6 to 23 months from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) 2018-2019 dataset were analyzed. The WHO/UNICEF guidelines for CF were followed to evaluate each of the nine CF practice indicators. We also examined the effect of the child, maternal, household, and community-level factors on different CF components using multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Approximately two-thirds of the children initiated complementary feeding on time (63.5%) but had zero vegetable or fruit consumption (63.2%). More than half (52.4%) and the majority (86.5%) of children had minimum meal frequency and minimum milk feeding frequency, respectively. On the other hand, the proportion of minimum dietary diversity was quite low (18.3%), as reflected in the alarming prevalence (16.3%) of minimum acceptable diet. Egg and/or flesh food, sweet beverage, and unhealthy food consumption were 23.3%, 2.5%, and 12.2%, respectively. Child age, mothers' education level, antenatal care visit, household food security, monthly household income, and place of residence were found to be associated with CF practices. CONCLUSION When compared to results obtained using the previous guideline, the new one has resulted in a lower prevalence of Introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods (ISSF), Minimum dietary diversity (MDD), Minimum meal frequency (MMF), and Minimum acceptable diet (MAD). It is crucial to convey the new knowledge for better child feeding and nutrition as the country prepares to apply the new guideline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Jubayer
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR) Trust, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh.
| | - Abira Nowar
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Saiful Islam
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Hafizul Islam
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Moniruzzaman Nayan
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
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Vanderkooy A, Ferguson EL, Sy NY, Kane R, Diagne M, Mbodji A, Pries AM. High unhealthy food and beverage consumption is associated with poor diet quality among 12-35-month-olds in Guédiawaye Department, Senegal. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1125827. [PMID: 37404859 PMCID: PMC10315617 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1125827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background High consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages (UFB) during early childhood is cause for concern, with growing evidence from low- and middle-income countries finding associations with poor diet quality and malnutrition. Research from sub-Saharan Africa remains limited, with no studies quantifying the contribution of UFB to total energy intakes among young children or exploring the relationship between such intakes and diet quality or anthropometric outcomes. Objectives Assess UFB consumption patterns and their contribution to total energy intake from non-breastmilk foods/beverages (TEI-NBF), assess the association between high UFB consumption and dietary/nutrition outcomes, and explore drivers of unhealthy food choice among young children in Guédiawaye Department, Senegal. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 724 primary caregivers and their 12-35.9-month-old children. The study included a questionnaire, a quantitative four-pass 24-h dietary recall, and anthropometric measurements. The contribution of UFB to TEI-NBF was calculated and terciles generated. Logistic and linear models were used to compare outcomes of high versus low UFB consumption terciles. Results UFB contributed on average 22.2% of TEI-NBF, averaging 5.9% for the lowest tercile and 39.9% for the highest. Diets of high UFB consumers, as compared to low, were significantly less dense in protein, fiber, and seven of the 11 micronutrients assessed and significantly denser in total fat, saturated fat, and total sugar. No associations were found with anthropometric outcomes. High UFB consumers were older and more likely to be living in food insecurity. The most common drivers of commercial UFB consumption were related to child preference, the use of these products as behavior management tools, treats, or gifts, and the sharing of these products by someone else eating them. Conclusion High UFB consumption is associated with poor diet quality among 12-35-month-olds in Guédiawaye Department, Senegal. Addressing high UFB consumption during this critical developmental period should be prioritized in young child nutrition research, programming, and policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elaine L. Ferguson
- Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Maty Diagne
- Direction de la Santé de la Mère et de l’Enfant, Division Alimentaire et Nutrition, Ministère de la Santé et de l’Action Sociale, Dakar, Senegal
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11
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Hinnouho G, Ferguson EL, MacDougall A, Kroeun H, Sophonneary P, Chea M, Pries AM. High consumption of unhealthy commercial foods and beverages tracks across the complementary feeding period in rural/peri-urban Cambodia. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2023; 19:e13485. [PMID: 36751966 PMCID: PMC10019055 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Consumption of unhealthy commercial foods and beverages (UCFB) is common among infants and young children living in low- and middle-income countries. Such foods can displace other nutritious foods, however, there is limited evidence on how this consumption tracks across time. This study assessed and tracked UCFB consumption of children living in rural/peri-urban Cambodia during the complementary feeding period, identified UCFB consumption patterns of these children, and explored the association between UCFB consumption and growth. A 6-month longitudinal cohort study was implemented among 567 caregivers of children aged 10-14 months at recruitment. UCFB consumption was estimated each month via a telephone-administered 7-day food frequency questionnaire, and UCFB consumption patterns were identified based on changes in this frequency of consumption over time. The majority of children either maintained (45.7%, n = 246) or developed (43.5%, n = 234) an unhealthy consumption pattern and only 10.8% (n = 58) of children maintained/transitioned into a healthy consumption pattern. High consumers of UCFB at 10-14 months had a 4.7 (CI: 4.7 [3.1-7.2]) times odds of being high consumers of UCFB at 15-19 months (p < 0.001). There was a trend of lower length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) among children maintaining or developing an unhealthy consumption pattern (~-0. SD LAZ) compared to children maintaining/transitioning into a healthy consumption pattern, however, this association was not statistically significant. Findings indicate that high UCFB consumption begins during infancy and tracks into early childhood. National policies and programmes centred on early interventions addressing the use of UCFB for infant and young child feeding are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hou Kroeun
- Helen Keller InternationalNew York CityNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Mary Chea
- Ministry of HealthPhnom PenhCambodia
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12
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Kartasurya MI, Syauqy A, Suyatno S, Dewantiningrum J, Nuryanto N, Sunarto S, Isnawati M, Nurcahyani YD, Wati EK, Hapsari PW, Samsudin M, Fuada N. Determinants of length for age Z scores among children aged 6-23 months in Central Java, Indonesia: a path analysis. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1031835. [PMID: 37139439 PMCID: PMC10150047 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1031835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Length for Age Z (LAZ) score determinants are complex and vary among different areas, but it is important for designing effective and efficient strategies to decrease stunting prevalence among children under 2 years. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of LAZ scores among children under 2 years in Central Java, Indonesia. Methods This study was conducted on the 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Study (INSS) dataset, which was a cross-sectional survey. Data on 3,430 children aged 6-23 months from Central Java province were derived from the 2021 INSS data. After missing data elimination, 3,238 subjects were included in the analysis. Determinant factors included direct and indirect factors. Direct factors were the mother's age, birth weight Z score (BWZ), birth length Z score (BLZ), exclusively breastfed history, dietary diversity scores (DDS), empty calorie drink consumption, unhealthy snacks consumption, and infections. Indirect factors were early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and posyandu (integrated health post) utilization. Underlying factors were socioeconomic status (SES) and the mother's education. Bivariate analyses and multiple linear regressions were conducted. A path analysis with a hypothesized model based on the UNICEF conceptual framework was also performed. Results Stunting, wasting and underweight proportions among the subjects were 19.1%, 7.6% and 12.3%, respectively. The mean LAZ scores were -0.95 ± 1.22; the mother's age was 29.7 ± 5.95 years; BWZ was -0.47 ± 0.97; BLZ was -0.55 ± 1.05; and DDS was 4.45 ± 1.51. The infection proportion among the subjects was 28%. BWZ and BLZ were positively correlated to LAZ scores, with r = 0.267 (p < 0.01) and r = 0.260 (p < 0.01), respectively. The mother's age was negatively correlated to LAZ scores with r = -0.041 (p < 0.05). Maternal education was positively correlated to SES but had no direct effect on LAZ scores. LAZ score determinants of BLZ (p < 0.001) and SES (p < 0.001) showed positive direct associations with LAZ scores, but the mother's age (p = 0.039), exclusively breastfed history (p < 0.001), and empty calorie drinks consumption (p < 0.001) had negative associations with LAZ scores. Conclusion To prevent stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Central Java, Indonesia, intervention programs to increase the nutritional status of women at child-bearing age and nutrition education on child feeding practices should be conducted more efficiently and effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Irene Kartasurya
- Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
- *Correspondence: Martha Irene Kartasurya
| | - Ahmad Syauqy
- Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
| | - Suyatno Suyatno
- Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Sunarto Sunarto
- Nutrition Department, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
| | - Muflihah Isnawati
- Nutrition Department, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
| | - Yusi Dwi Nurcahyani
- Research Services, Center for Health Research and Development, Magelang, Indonesia
| | - Erna Kusuma Wati
- Faculty of Health, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia
| | | | - Mohamad Samsudin
- Research Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Noviati Fuada
- Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
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13
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Simple solutions for complex problems? What is missing in agriculture for nutrition interventions. Food Secur 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Within the nutritionism paradigm, in this article we critically review the marketization and medicalization logics which aim to address the pressing issue of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. Drawing from political economy and food system transformation discourses, we are using the popular intervention types of nutrition-sensitive value chains (marketization logic) and biofortification exemplified through orange-fleshed sweet potato (medicalization logic) to assess their outcomes and underlying logics. We demonstrate that there is insufficient evidence of the positive impact of these interventions on nutritional outcomes, and that their underlying theories of change and impact logics do not deal with the inherent complexity of nutritional challenges. We show that nutrition-sensitive value chain approaches are unable to leverage or enhance the functioning of value chains to improve nutritional outcomes, especially in light of the disproportionate power of some food companies. We further demonstrate that orange-fleshed sweet potato interventions and biofortification more broadly adopt a narrow approach to malnutrition, disregarding the interactions between food components and broader value chain and food system dynamics. We argue that both intervention types focus solely on increasing the intake of specific nutrients without incorporating their embeddedness in the wider food systems and the relevant political-economic and social relations that influence the production and consumption of food. We conclude that the systemic nature of malnutrition requires to be understood and addressed as part of the food system transformation challenge in order to move towards solving it. To do so, new evaluation frameworks along with new approaches to solutions are necessary that support multiple and diverse development pathways, which are able to acknowledge the social, political-economic, and environmental factors and drivers of malnutrition and poverty.
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Rousham EK, Goudet S, Markey O, Griffiths P, Boxer B, Carroll C, Petherick ES, Pradeilles R. Unhealthy Food and Beverage Consumption in Children and Risk of Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Adv Nutr 2022; 13:1669-1696. [PMID: 35362512 PMCID: PMC9526862 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmac032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This WHO-commissioned review contributed to the update of complementary feeding recommendations, synthesizing evidence on effects of unhealthy food and beverage consumption in children on overweight and obesity. We searched PubMed (Medline), Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase for articles, irrespective of language or geography. Inclusion criteria were: 1) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, cohort studies, and pre/post studies with control; 2) participants aged ≤10.9 y at exposure; 3) studies reporting greater consumption of unhealthy foods/beverages compared with no or low consumption; 4) studies assessing anthropometric and/or body composition; and 5) publication date ≥1971. Unhealthy foods and beverages were defined using nutrient- and food-based approaches. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I (risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions version I) and RoB2 [Cochrane RoB (version 2)] tools for nonrandomized and randomized studies, respectively. Narrative synthesis was complemented by meta-analyses where appropriate. Certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Of 26,542 identified citations, 60 studies from 71 articles were included. Most studies were observational (59/60), and no included studies were from low-income countries. The evidence base was low quality, as assessed by ROBINS-I and RoB2 tools. Evidence synthesis was limited by the different interventions and comparators across studies. Evidence indicated that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and unhealthy foods in childhood may increase BMI/BMI z-score, percentage body fat, or odds of overweight/obesity (low certainty of evidence). Artificially sweetened beverages and 100% fruit juice consumption make little/no difference to BMI, percentage body fat, or overweight/obesity outcomes (low certainty of evidence). Meta-analyses of a subset of studies indicated a positive association between SSB intake and percentage body fat, but no association with change in BMI and BMI z-score. High-quality epidemiological studies that are designed to assess the effects of unhealthy food consumption during childhood on risk of overweight/obesity are needed to contribute to a more robust evidence base upon which to design policy recommendations. This protocol was registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO as CRD42020218109.
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Affiliation(s)
- E K Rousham
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - S Goudet
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - O Markey
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - P Griffiths
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - B Boxer
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - C Carroll
- School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - E S Petherick
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - R Pradeilles
- Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
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Costa CDS, Buffarini R, Flores TR, Neri D, Freitas Silveira M, Monteiro CA. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and growth outcomes in early childhood: 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort. Br J Nutr 2022; 129:1-8. [PMID: 36093936 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114522002926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The current study aims to describe the consumption of ultra-processed foods, from 2 to 4 years old, and evaluate its association with growth outcomes during the same period. It is a prospective cohort study using data from the 2015 Pelotas-Brazil Birth Cohort. Outcomes assessed at the 2- and 4-year-old follow-ups were BMI-for-age Z-score and length/height-for-age Z-score. The exposure was a score of ultra-processed food consumption calculated at each follow-up by summing up the positive answers for the consumption of nine specific items/subgroups of ultra-processed foods: (i) instant noodles; (ii) soft drink; (iii) chocolate powder in milk; (iv) nuggets, hamburger or sausages; (v) packaged salty snacks; (vi) candies, lollipops, chewing gum, chocolate or jelly; (vii) sandwich cookie or sweet biscuit; (viii) juice in can or box or prepared from a powdered mix and (ix) yogurt. Crude and adjusted analyses between the score of ultra-processed foods and the outcomes were run using generalised estimating equations. Prevalence of consumption of ultra-processed foods increased from 2 to 4 years old, for all evaluated items/subgroups, except yogurt. In prospective analyses, higher scores of ultra-processed food consumption were associated with higher BMI-for-age Z-score and lower length/height-for-age Z-score, after adjustment for confounders. Ultra-processed food consumption, measured using a short questionnaire with low research burden, increased from 2 to 4 years old and was related to deleterious growth outcomes in early childhood. These results reinforce the importance of avoiding the consumption of these products in childhood to prevent the double burden of malnutrition and non-communicable chronic diseases throughout the life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Dos Santos Costa
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP01246-904, Brazil
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Romina Buffarini
- Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Thaynã Ramos Flores
- Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Daniela Neri
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP01246-904, Brazil
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Augusto Monteiro
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP01246-904, Brazil
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Retail Cost and Energy Adjusted Cost Are Associated with Dietary Diversity and Nutrient Adequacy for Diets of 6–24 Months Children. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14163376. [PMID: 36014881 PMCID: PMC9415705 DOI: 10.3390/nu14163376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor nutrition during the first two years of life has long term consequences, but resource-poor households often do not have the means to access nutrient-dense and diverse diets. Pooled data of 24-h dietary recalls (n = 3336) and 2019 retail food prices were analyzed to determine associations of retail cost and energy cost (per 100 kcal) with diet quality indicators for diets of 6–24-month-old South African children who were breastfed (BF-diet) and not breastfed (NBF-diet) during the 24-h recall period. Compared to the BF-diet, retail cost for the NBF-diet was three times higher for age 6–11 months, and double for age 12–17 months. Higher retail cost and energy cost were both associated with higher mean adequacy ratios and dietary diversity scores for BF and NBF diets, except energy cost for the NBF-diet for age 6–11 months. Overall, inclusion of flesh foods, vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, and other fruit and vegetables increased from the lowest to the highest retail cost tertile. The higher cost of more nutritious diets highlights the importance of the affordability of diets in interventions aimed at improving diet quality. Possible strategies include: identifying the most-affordable foods within each food group, focusing on foods that provide multiple key micronutrients, and the inclusion of locally available indigenous foods.
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17
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Estimating Unhealthy Food Effects on Childhood Overweight in Malawi Using an Observational Study. Matern Child Health J 2022; 26:2346-2354. [PMID: 35947273 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-022-03462-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Consumption of unhealthy foods in children contributes to high levels of childhood obesity globally. In developing countries there is paucity of empirical studies on the association. This study employed propensity-score methods to evaluate the effect of unhealthy foods on overweight among children in Malawi using observational data. METHODS Data on 4625 children aged 6 to 59 months from the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) were analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression model of unhealthy foods (yes or no) on purported confounders of childhood overweight was used to obtain a child's unhealthy food propensity score. The propensity scores were then used to form matched sets of healthy and unhealthy fed children. The association between unhealthy foods and childhood overweight was assessed using the conditional logistic regression model. RESULTS The prevalence of overweight (body mass index (BMI) z-score > 2 standard deviations) was estimated at 4.5% (3.8%, 5.3%). The proportion of children who consumed unhealthy foods was estimated at 14.6% (95% CI: 13.1%, 16.2%). Our propensity score matching achieved a balance in the distribution of the confounders between children in the healthy and unhealthy food groups. Children fed unhealthy foods were significantly more likely to be overweight than those fed healthy foods (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: (1.2, 5.2)). CONCLUSION The findings suggest the adverse effects of unhealthy foods on childhood overweight in Malawi. Thus, efforts to reduce unhealthy food consumption among children should be implemented and supported to address the problem of childhood overweight in Malawi and the sub-Saharan African region.
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Bercholz M, Ng SW, Stacey N, Swart EC. Decomposing consumer and producer effects on sugar from beverage purchases after a sugar-based tax on beverages in South Africa. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022; 46:101136. [PMID: 35358759 PMCID: PMC9288974 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2022.101136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Growing global concern about obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases has raised interest in fiscal policy as a tool to reduce this disease burden and its social costs, especially excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Of particular interest have been nutrient-based taxes to improve diet quality. These can incentivize producers to reformulate existing products and introduce healthier alternatives into their ranges. In 2018, South Africa adopted a sugar-based tax on SSBs, the Health Promotion Levy (HPL). Early findings suggest that purchases of higher-sugar taxable beverages fell and purchases of no- and lower-sugar beverages increased, alongside significant reductions in the sugar content of overall beverage purchases. However, underlying these changes are consumption shifts as well as product reformulation and changes in producers' product portfolios. Drawing on a household scanner dataset, this study employed a descriptive approach to decompose changes in the sugar content of households' non-alcoholic beverage purchases into producer factors (reformulation and product entry and exit) and consumer factors (product switching and volume changes as a result of price changes, changing preferences, or other factors). We look at these factors as the tax was announced and implemented across a sample of over 3000 South African households, and then by Living Standard Measures (LSM) groups (middle vs. high). The sugar content of beverage purchases fell by 4.9 g/capita/day overall, a 32% decrease. Taken in isolation, consumer switching and volume changes together led to a reduction equivalent to 71% of the total change, while reformulation accounted for a decrease equal to 34% of that change. Middle-LSM households experienced larger reductions than high-LSM households due to larger changes on the consumer side. For both LSM groups, reformulation-led reductions mostly occurred after implementation, and most changes came from taxable beverage purchases. As sugary drink tax designs evolve with broader implementation globally, understanding both supply- and demand-side factors will help to better assess the population and equity potential of these policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Bercholz
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United Sates
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United Sates; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United Sates.
| | - Nicholas Stacey
- Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom; SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA, Wits School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth C Swart
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; DST/NRF Center of Excellence in Food Security, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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Singh SK, Taillie LS, Gupta A, Bercholz M, Popkin B, Murukutla N. Front-of-Package Labels on Unhealthy Packaged Foods in India: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14153128. [PMID: 35956305 PMCID: PMC9370292 DOI: 10.3390/nu14153128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Policies to require front-of-package labels (FOPLs) on packaged foods may help Indian consumers to better identify foods high in nutrients of concern, including sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, and discourage their consumption, which are outcomes that are critical for preventing rises in diet-related non-communicable disease. The objective was to test whether FOPLs helped Indian consumers identify “high-in” packaged foods and reduce intentions to purchase them. We conducted an in-person randomized experiment (n = 2869 adults between ages 18 and 60 years old) in six states of India in 2022. Participants were randomized to one of five FOPLs: a control label (barcode), warning label (octagon with “High in [nutrient]”), Health Star Rating (HSR), Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), or traffic light label. Participants then viewed a series of packaged foods high in sugar, saturated fat, or sodium with the assigned FOPL, and rated product perceptions and label reactions. Fewer than half of participants in the control group (39.1%) correctly identified all products high in nutrient(s) of concern. All FOPLs led to an increase in this outcome, with the biggest differences observed for the warning label (60.8%, p < 0.001), followed by the traffic light label (54.8%, p < 0.001), GDA (55.0%, p < 0.001), and HSR (45.0%, p < 0.01). While no FOPLs led to a reduction in intentions to purchase the packaged foods, the overall pattern of results suggested that warning labels are the most effective FOPL to help Indian consumers identify unhealthy foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. K. Singh
- Department of Survey Research and Data Analytics, International Institute for Population Sciences, Deemed University, Mumbai 400088, India
- Correspondence: (S.K.S.); (L.S.T.)
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
- Correspondence: (S.K.S.); (L.S.T.)
| | - Ashish Gupta
- Vital Strategies, New York, NY 27599, USA; (A.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Maxime Bercholz
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
| | - Barry Popkin
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
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Tizazu W, Laillou A, Hirvonen K, Chitekwe S, Baye K. Child feeding practices in rural Ethiopia show increasing consumption of unhealthy foods. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2022:e13401. [PMID: 35852042 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The quality of complementary feeding can have both short- and long-term health impacts by delaying or promoting child growth and establishing taste preferences and feeding behaviours. We aimed to assess the healthy and unhealthy feeding practices of infants and young children in rural Ethiopia. We conducted two rounds of surveys in December 2017/18 in Habru district, North Wello, rural Ethiopia among caregivers of infants and young children (N = 574). We characterised the consumption of infants and young children using non-quantitative 24 h recall and the World Health Organization infant and young child feeding indicators. Sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometry and haemoglobin concentrations were assessed. Breastfeeding was a norm as 82% and 67% were breastfed in the first and second rounds. Between the two rounds, dietary diversity increased from 5% to 17% (p < 0.05), but more pronounced increases were observed in the consumption of ultra-processed food (UPFs). Up to one-in-five (22%) of the children consumed UFPs. With an average of only three food groups consumed, the consumption of nutrient-dense foods like animal source foods, fruits and vegetables was very low particularly among younger children. UPFs are an additional risk factor that contributes to poor quality diets. Behavioural Change Communication interventions, including those in rural areas, should explicitly discourage the consumption of UPFs. Future studies should aim to quantify the amount of UPFs consumed and evaluate how this is associated with diet adequacy and nutritional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woinshet Tizazu
- Center for Food Science and Nutrition, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Arnaud Laillou
- Nutrition Section, UNICEF Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kalle Hirvonen
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- The United Nations University, World Institute for Development Economics Research, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Kaleab Baye
- Center for Food Science and Nutrition, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Research Center for Inclusive Development in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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21
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Bassetti E, Zehner E, Mayhew SH, Nasser N, Mulder A, Badham J, Sweet L, Crossley R, Pries AM. Nutrient profiles of commercially produced complementary foods available in Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:1-11. [PMID: 35786427 PMCID: PMC9991791 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022001483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional suitability of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) marketed in three South-East Asian contexts. DESIGN Based on label information declared on the products, nutrient composition and content of CPCF were assessed against the WHO Europe nutrient profile model (NPM). The proportion of CPCF that would require a 'high sugar' warning was also determined. SETTING Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia; Bandung City, Indonesia; and National Capital Region, Philippines. PARTICIPANTS CPCF products purchased in Cambodia (n 68) and Philippines (n 211) in 2020, and Indonesia (n 211) in 2017. RESULTS Only 4·4 % of products in Cambodia, 10·0 % of products in Indonesia and 37·0 % of products in the Philippines fully complied with relevant WHO Europe NPM nutrient composition requirements. Sixteen per cent of CPCF in Cambodia, 27·0 % in Indonesia and 58·8 % in the Philippines contained total sugar content levels that would require a 'high sugar' warning. CONCLUSIONS Most of the analysed CPCF were not nutritionally suitable to be promoted for older infants and young children based on their nutrient profiles, with many containing high levels of sugar and sodium. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce new policies, regulations and standards to limit the promotion of inappropriate CPCF in the South-East Asia region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Bassetti
- Helen Keller International, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Susannah H Mayhew
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nadine Nasser
- Access to Nutrition Initiative, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Lara Sweet
- JB Consultancy, Johannesburg, South Africa
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22
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Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of the INDDEX24 Dietary Assessment Platform in Viet Nam. Br J Nutr 2022; 129:1751-1764. [PMID: 35587720 PMCID: PMC10116183 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114522001507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Technology-enabled approaches to conducting 24-h dietary recalls (24HR) may reduce dietary assessment bottlenecks in low-resource settings. However, few studies have assessed their performance relative to conventional pen-and-paper interview (PAPI) approaches and none have validated performance against a benchmark (e.g. weighed food record (WFR)) in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC). This study assessed relative accuracy and cost-effectiveness of INDDEX24, a technology-enabled approach to conducting 24HR, compared with a PAPI approach and against an observer WFR. Women aged 18-49 years from northern Viet Nam (n 234) were randomly assigned to be interviewed using INDDEX24 or PAPI 24HR following a WFR. The two one-sided t test approach assessed the equivalence of each recall modality to the benchmark. Difference-in-differences analysis compared the recall-benchmark results across modalities. Cost per percentage point of accuracy for INDDEX24 and PAPI was derived from accuracy results and the cost to conduct the 24HR. The PAPI and INDDEX24 24HR were statistically equivalent to the WFR for all nutrients except vitamin A. INDDEX24 diverged significantly less than PAPI from the WFR for Fe (0·9 v. -1·3 mg) and PAPI diverged less for protein (-3·7 v. 7·9 g). At the individual level, 26 % of PAPI and 32 % of INDDEX24 respondents had energy intakes within +/- 10 % of the WFR. INDDEX24 cost $111 004 and the PAPI cost $120 483 (USD 2019), making INDDEX24 more cost-effective across most indicators. INDDEX24 was an accurate and cost-effective method for assessing dietary intake in the study context and represents a preferred alternative to PAPI 24HR in Viet Nam and other LMIC.
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23
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Torlesse H, Murira Z, Hoogendoorn A. Complementary feeding in South Asia: a multi-system analysis of the enabling environment and programme context. J Public Health (Oxf) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-022-01709-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aim
The links between poor complementary feeding and child malnutrition in South Asia argue for greater attention to improving young children’s diets. This study examined the status of policy and programme actions to support complementary feeding across four systems in South Asia: food, health, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Methods
We conducted a review to assess the status of national policy and programme actions to improve complementary feeding in children aged 6–23 months in eight South Asian countries across four systems, including the comprehensiveness of the enabling environment and the geographic scale of programmes.
Results
All countries have policy and programme commitments to improving complementary feeding; however, no country has a comprehensive set of legislation, policies, strategies, and plans that fully incorporate relevant global recommendations and guidance. The health system has the strongest enabling environment for complementary feeding, but the lack of supportive legislation, policies, strategies, and plans in other systems may hinder multisystem action. There are few examples of nationwide programmes to improve complementary feeding beyond the health system.
Conclusion
Governments should mobilize their institutions and resources to enable a coherent and multisystem response to complementary feeding that addresses the gaps in legislation, policies, and programmes and the barriers and bottlenecks to implementation at scale, with a focus on the food, health, social protection, and WASH systems. Further operational research is needed on the factors and processes that enable multisystem action to secure nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable diets for young children in South Asia.
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24
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Popkin BM, Ng SW. The nutrition transition to a stage of high obesity and noncommunicable disease prevalence dominated by ultra-processed foods is not inevitable. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13366. [PMID: 34632692 PMCID: PMC8639733 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The Nutrition Transition model is presented with the nature and pace of change in key stages varying by location and subpopulations. At present, all high-income and many low- and middle-income countries are in a stage of the transition where nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are dominating adult morbidity and mortality and are very high or growing rapidly in prevalence. Some countries still have key subpopulations facing hunger and undernutrition defined by stunting or extreme thinness among adults. We call these double burden of malnutrition countries. All low- and middle-income countries face rapid growth in consumption of ultra-processed food and beverages, but it is not inevitable that these countries will reach the same high levels of consumption seen in high-income countries, with all the negative impacts of this diet on health. With great political and civil society commitment to adoption of policies shown in other countries to have improved dietary choices and social norms around foods, we can arrest and even reverse the rapid shift to diets dominated by a stage of high ultra-processed food intake and increasing prevalence of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry M Popkin
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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25
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Vidal L, Brunet G, Bove I, Girona A, Fuletti D, Ares G. Parents’ mental associations with ultra-processed products for their infant children: Insights to improve complementary feeding practices. Food Qual Prefer 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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26
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Chitekwe S, Torlesse H, Aguayo VM. Nutrition in Nepal: Three decades of commitment to children and women. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2021; 18 Suppl 1:e13229. [PMID: 34523803 PMCID: PMC8770654 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
South Asia has made significant progress in reducing child undernutrition. The prevalence of stunting declined by one third between 2000 and 2019; as a result, in 2019, there were 34 million fewer stunted children than in 2000, indicating that progress for child nutrition is possible and is happening at scale. However, no country in South Asia is on track for all nutrition targets of Sustainable Development Goal 2, and the region has the highest prevalence of stunting (33.2%) and wasting (14.8%) in the world. Nepal, the best performing country in the region, narrowly missed the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target to half the prevalence of child underweight between 1990 and 2015 and achieved the fastest recorded reduction in stunting prevalence in the world between 2001 and 2011. In 2019, UNICEF Nepal completed a series of papers to examine Nepal's progress on maternal and child nutrition during the MDG era. The series explores the trends, distribution and disparities in stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and feeding practices in children under 5 years and anaemia in adolescents and women. Besides, it reviews national micronutrient programmes (vitamin A supplementation, iron and folic acid supplementation and universal salt iodization) and Nepal's first Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan, to illuminate the success factors and enduring challenges in the policy and programme landscape for nutrition. This overview paper summarizes the evidence from these analyses and examines the implications for the direction of future advocacy, policy and programme actions to improve maternal and child nutrition in Nepal and other similar contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Chitekwe
- Nutrition Section, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Harriet Torlesse
- Nutrition Section, Regional Office for South Asia, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Victor M Aguayo
- Programme Division, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), New York, New York, USA
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27
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Schreinemachers P, Shrestha RM, Gole B, Bhattarai DR, Ghimire PL, Subedi BP, Brück T, Baliki G, Gautam IP, Blake CE. Drivers of Food Choice among Children and Caregivers in Post-earthquake Nepal. Ecol Food Nutr 2021; 60:826-846. [PMID: 34420456 DOI: 10.1080/03670244.2021.1969925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Food systems in many countries are experiencing a shift from traditional foods toward processed foods high in sugar, fat and salt, but low in dietary fiber and micronutrients. There is an urgent need to better understand drivers of changing food behavior, particularly for lower-income countries. This study analyzes drivers of food choice among children and parents in rural Nepal. It uses qualitative data collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions with school children, parents and teachers. The study reveals substantial changes in food behavior during the past decade with increased consumption of rice, meat, and highly processed snack foods while an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is not evident. It identifies cash availability is the main driver of increased rice, meat and snack food consumption. The second driver is the 2015 Nepal earthquake, which accelerated the transition from homegrown food to purchased food as people got habituated to eating more meat and snack foods while reconstruction tripled local wages and changed the food environment. This shows how humanitarian assistance in the wake of extreme shocks can unintentionally contribute to unhealthy eating habits. An integrated school and home garden intervention appears to contribute to healthier diets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachana Manandhar Shrestha
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Dhruba Raj Bhattarai
- Outreach Research Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Puspa Lal Ghimire
- Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Bhishma P Subedi
- Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Tilman Brück
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Großbeeren, Germany.,Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, UK.,ISDC - International Security and Development Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ghassan Baliki
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Großbeeren, Germany.,ISDC - International Security and Development Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ishwori P Gautam
- Horticulture Research Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Christine E Blake
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
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28
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Pandav C, Smith Taillie L, Miles DR, Hollingsworth BA, Popkin BM. The WHO South-East Asia Region Nutrient Profile Model Is Quite Appropriate for India: An Exploration of 31,516 Food Products. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13082799. [PMID: 34444959 PMCID: PMC8400900 DOI: 10.3390/nu13082799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid rise in prevalence of overweight/obesity, as well as high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and other nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases, has led the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to propose a front-of-package labeling (FOPL) regulation. An effective FOPL system applies a nutrient profile model that identifies foods high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat that would receive a warning label for consumers to effectively discern between more and less healthy foods. Previous Nutrition Alchemy data collected by the food industry (n = 1306 products) estimated that approximately 96% of foods in India would have at least one warning label based on the FSSAI proposed FOPL. This near universal coverage of warning labels may be inaccurate and misleading. To address this, the current study compared two nutrient profile models, the WHO South-East Asia Region Organization (SEARO) and the Chilean Warning Octagon (CWO) Phase 3, applied to food products available in the Indian market from 2015-2020, collected through Mintel Global New Products Database (n = 10,501 products). Results suggest that 68% of foods and beverages would have at least one ' high-in' level warning label. This study highlights the need to include a more comprehensive sample of food products for assessing the value of warning labels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Pandav
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi 110029, India;
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition and Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #8120, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
| | - Donna R. Miles
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #8120, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA; (D.R.M.); (B.A.H.)
| | - Bridget A. Hollingsworth
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #8120, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA; (D.R.M.); (B.A.H.)
| | - Barry M. Popkin
- Department of Nutrition and Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #8120, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-445-6931
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29
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Fisher L, Dahal M, Hawkes S, Puri M, Buse K. Barriers and opportunities to restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in Nepal: a policy analysis. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1351. [PMID: 34238256 PMCID: PMC8268610 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt ("unhealthy foods") to children is contributing to increasing child obesity. However, many countries have not implemented WHO recommendations to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children. We sought to understand the absence of marketing restrictions and identify potential strategic actions to develop and implement such restrictions in Nepal. METHODS Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was based on Baker et al.'s 18 factor-framework for understanding what drives political commitment to nutrition, organised by five categories: Actors; Institutions; Political and societal contexts; Knowledge, evidence and framing; Capacities and resources. RESULTS All factors in Baker et al.'s framework were reported to be acting largely as barriers to Nepal developing and implementing marketing restrictions. Six factors were identified by the highest number of respondents: the threat of private sector interference in policy-making; lack of international actor support; absence of well-designed and enacted policies and legislation; lack of political commitment to regulate; insufficient mobilisation of existing evidence to spur action and lack of national evidence to guide regulatory design; and weak implementation capacity. Opportunities for progress were identified as Nepal's ability to combat private sector interference - as previously demonstrated in tobacco control. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study conducted in Nepal examining the lack of restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children. Our findings reflect the manifestation of power in the policy process. The absence of civil society and a multi-stakeholder coalition demanding change on marketing of unhealthy food to children, the threat of private sector interference in introducing marketing restrictions, the promotion of norms and narratives around modernity, consumption and the primary role of the individual in regulating diet - all have helped create a policy vacuum on marketing restrictions. We propose that stakeholders focus on five strategic actions, including: developing a multi-stakeholder coalition to put and keep marketing restrictions on the health agenda; framing the need for marketing restrictions as critical to protect child rights and government regulation as the solution; and increasing support, particularly through developing more robust global policy guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fisher
- Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, Canberra, Australia
| | - Minakshi Dahal
- Center for Research on Environment, Health and Population Activities (CREHPA), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sarah Hawkes
- Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, England.
| | - Mahesh Puri
- Center for Research on Environment, Health and Population Activities (CREHPA), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Kent Buse
- Global Healthier Societies Program, The George Institute, Newtown, Australia
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Popkin BM, Barquera S, Corvalan C, Hofman KJ, Monteiro C, Ng SW, Swart EC, Taillie LS. Towards unified and impactful policies to reduce ultra-processed food consumption and promote healthier eating. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2021; 9:462-470. [PMID: 33865500 PMCID: PMC8217149 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(21)00078-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The global surges in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have created a need for decisive new food policy initiatives. A major concern has been the impact of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and ultra-processed drinks on weight gain and on the risk of several NCDs. These foods, generally high in calories, added sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats, and poor in fibre, protein, and micronutrients, have extensive negative effects on human health and on the environment (due to their associated carbon emission and water use). There is a growing tendency worldwide, and especially in South America, for food companies to add micronutrients to UPFs to make health claims regarding these products, to which food-regulating authorities refer to fake foods. Although more than 45 countries and smaller subregional or urban entities have created taxes on ultra-processed drinks, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, only a few have adopted taxes on snacks and other UPFs, and none have added major subsidies for truly healthy, fresh or minimally processed food for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Another major focus has been on developing effective package labelling. A smaller number of countries have selected the most impactful warning labels and linked them with other measures to create a mutually reinforcing set of policies; a few other countries have developed effective school food policies. We herein present in-depth results from key countries involved in all these actions and in comprehensive marketing controls, and conclude with our recommendations for the future. This field is quite new; progress to date is substantial, but much more is left to learn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry M Popkin
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Simon Barquera
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Camila Corvalan
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karen J Hofman
- South African Medical Research Council Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science (PRICELESS SA), Faculty of Health Sciences School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Carlos Monteiro
- Center for Epidemiological Studies in Health and Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Swart
- Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Food Security, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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31
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Pasqualino MM, Thorne-Lyman AL, Manohar S, KC A, Shrestha B, Adhikari R, Klemm RD, West KP. The Risk Factors for Child Anemia Are Consistent across 3 National Surveys in Nepal. Curr Dev Nutr 2021; 5:nzab079. [PMID: 34104851 PMCID: PMC8178108 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anemia is an etiologically heterogeneous condition affecting over half of preschool-aged children in South Asia. An urgent need exists to elucidate context-specific causes of anemia to effectively address this issue. OBJECTIVES This study investigated national trends and stability in the prevalence of child anemia and associated risk factors from 2013 to 2016 in Nepal. METHODS Same-season national surveys were administered in 2013, 2014, and 2016 in 63 sites across 21 districts, selected using multistage random sampling, representing the mountains, hills, and Tarai (plains). Among consenting households with children aged 6-59 mo, a random sample of capillary blood was selected each year for anemia assessment using an Hb 201+ hemoglobinometer, with n = 835, 807, and 881 children assessed, respectively. Prevalence of child anemia, defined as hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL with adjustment for altitude, was estimated each year and disaggregated by region and child age. Prevalence ratios were estimated using log-binomial regression models with robust SE or robust Poisson regression when models failed to converge. Interaction terms between each risk factor and year were created to test for consistencies in associations over time. RESULTS The national prevalence of child anemia decreased from 63.3% (95% CI: 59.0%, 67.5%) in 2013 to 51.9% (95% CI: 46.5%, 57.2%) in 2014 and increased to 59.3% (95% CI: 54.7%, 63.8%) in 2016. Across years, prevalence was highest in the Tarai (58.4-70.2%), followed by the mountains (53.0-61.1%) and hills (37.5-51.4%). Nationally and across time, child age and maternal anemia were significantly associated with child anemia. Child diarrhea and stunting, maternal thinness, and poor water and sanitation conditions also showed consistent trends toward higher anemia prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Anemia affects more than half of Nepalese children aged 6-59 mo. Although prevalence varies year to year, the stability of observed risk factors suggests the need to focus on reducing gastrointestinal infection, promoting adequate household sanitation, and improving maternal and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M Pasqualino
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew L Thorne-Lyman
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Swetha Manohar
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Angela KC
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Ramesh Adhikari
- Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Rolf D Klemm
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Helen Keller International, New York, NY, USA
| | - Keith P West
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Abstract
Objective: Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a widespread livelihood in low- and middle-income countries; however, many in ASM communities face high levels of poverty and malnutrition. The food environments in ASM communities have non-agricultural rural characteristics that differ from those in urban and agricultural rural areas examined in much existing food environment literature. Design: We examine these complex external and personal food environments in ASM communities via a study using qualitative and quantitative methods. Market surveys and a cross-sectional household survey, plus qualitative mining site non-participant observations and in-depth structured interviews, were conducted in three waves. Setting: Eighteen study sites in ASM communities in northern Guinea. Participants: Surveys covered mothers in mining households with young children (n 613); in-depth interviews engaged caregivers of young children (n 45), food vendors (n 40) and young single miners (n 15); observations focused on mothers of young children (n 25). Results: The external food environment in these ASM communities combines widespread availability of commercially processed and staple-heavy foods with lower availability and higher prices for more nutritious, non-staple foods. Within the personal food environment, miners are constrained in their food choices by considerable variability in daily cash income and limited time for acquisition and preparation. Conclusions: We demonstrate that ASM communities have characteristics of both urban and rural populations and argue for greater nuance and appreciation of complexity in food environment research and resultant policy and programming.
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Heidkamp RA, Piwoz E, Gillespie S, Keats EC, D'Alimonte MR, Menon P, Das JK, Flory A, Clift JW, Ruel MT, Vosti S, Akuoku JK, Bhutta ZA. Mobilising evidence, data, and resources to achieve global maternal and child undernutrition targets and the Sustainable Development Goals: an agenda for action. Lancet 2021; 397:1400-1418. [PMID: 33691095 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00568-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
As the world counts down to the 2025 World Health Assembly nutrition targets and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, millions of women, children, and adolescents worldwide remain undernourished (underweight, stunted, and deficient in micronutrients), despite evidence on effective interventions and increasing political commitment to, and financial investment in, nutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled health systems, exacerbated household food insecurity, and reversed economic growth, which together could set back improvements in undernutrition across low-income and middle-income countries. This paper highlights how the evidence base for nutrition, health, food systems, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions has evolved since the 2013 Lancet Series on maternal and child nutrition and identifies the priority actions needed to regain and accelerate progress within the next decade. Policies and interventions targeting the first 1000 days of life, including some newly identified since 2013, require renewed commitment, implementation research, and increased funding from both domestic and global actors. A new body of evidence from national and state-level success stories in stunting reduction reinforces the crucial importance of multisectoral actions to address the underlying determinants of undernutrition and identifies key features of enabling political environments. To support these actions, well-resourced nutrition data and information systems are essential. The paper concludes with a call to action for the 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit to unite global and national nutrition stakeholders around common priorities to tackle a large, unfinished undernutrition agenda-now amplified by the COVID-19 crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ellen Piwoz
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stuart Gillespie
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Emily C Keats
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Purnima Menon
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Delhi, India
| | - Jai K Das
- Division of Women and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Marie T Ruel
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Stephen Vosti
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and Institute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
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Lutter CK, Grummer-Strawn L, Rogers L. Complementary feeding of infants and young children 6 to 23 months of age. Nutr Rev 2021; 79:825-846. [PMID: 33684940 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Complementary feeding, when foods are introduced to complement a milk-based diet, generally occurs between 6 and 23 months of age. It is a critical period for both physical and cognitive development. During this period, the growth rate of the brain is one of the fastest during the life span and, consequently, the timing, dose, and duration of exposure to specific nutrients can result in both positive and negative effects. Complementary feeding is more than ensuring an adequate intake of nutrients; it also is about avoiding excess intakes of calories, salt, sugars, and unhealthy fats. Meals are cultural and social events where young children observe, imitate, learn about foods to like or dislike, and form lifelong eating habits and practices. Meals are also when a child learns to touch foods and connect food tastes to how foods look and feel. Ideally, complementary feeding is responsive and promotes child autonomy, but it can also be used to manage behavior problems or overly indulge a child, resulting in long-term consequences for nutrition and health. Therefore, in addition to what a child is fed, attention to how a child is fed is also important. In this review, 12 topics relevant for updating global guidance on complementary feeding were identified: age of introduction of complementary foods; continued breastfeeding; responsive feeding; safe preparation and storage of complementary foods; food textures, flavors, and acceptance; energy and meal and snack frequency; fats, protein, and carbohydrates; dietary diversity; milks other than breast milk; fluid needs; unhealthy foods and beverages; and use of vitamin and mineral supplements or supplementary foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chessa K Lutter
- Division of Food Security and Agriculture, RTI International, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Lisa Rogers
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Indexes to assess feeding practices of children under 2 years old: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:2033-2049. [PMID: 33504386 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically review studies that used indexes to assess feeding practices of children under 2 years. DESIGN Seven databases were searched with no limit on language or publication date. SETTING The reviewed studies included thirteen Asian, ten Latin American, four European, four North American, three Oceanian and three African. PARTICIPANTS Children under 2 years. RESULTS We analysed thirty-six studies: twenty-two presenting original indexes and fourteen using adapted indexes. Among the original indexes, thirteen assess breast-feeding, fourteen food consumption, ten food groups, and ten other feeding practices. Original indexes were mainly adapted to fit the data available in the study, to update for current nutritional recommendations or to add components not present in the original indexes. Seven studies evaluated the associations between the indexes and nutrient intake or nutritional status. The main limitations cited by the authors were: flaws in the definition of the index components, criteria for cut-off points and weighting of the evaluated index components. CONCLUSIONS The assessment of feeding practices for young children and its comparison across countries remains a challenge, especially due to the lack of consensus on the construction of indexes and regional differences in dietary recommendations and practices. Lack of validation for some indexes also makes it difficult to choose the most appropriate index for a given objective. Adapting existing indexes is a viable option. We point out relevant recommendations that may contribute to future research. Validation and longitudinal studies in diverse populations are favourable to qualify the assessment of feeding practices in this group.
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Pomati M, Mendoza-Quispe D, Anza-Ramirez C, Hernández-Vásquez A, Carrillo Larco RM, Fernandez G, Nandy S, Miranda JJ, Bernabé-Ortiz A. Trends and patterns of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in Peru: a pooled analysis of 129,159 mother-child dyads. Int J Obes (Lond) 2021; 45:609-618. [PMID: 33402688 PMCID: PMC7906898 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-020-00725-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background This study aims to evaluate trends of DBM in Peru over the last 20 years. Methods Using individual-level data collected in nationally representative household surveys from Peru between 1996 and 2017, we analysed trends in the prevalence and patterning of the DBM. We classified the nutritional status of children and their mothers as undernourished (either underweight, stunted or wasted for children), normal, overweight or obese. Children classified as experiencing the DBM were those undernourished and living with an overweight or obese mother. We also fitted logistic regression models to evaluate the probability of children having an overweight/obese mother across subgroups of socioeconomic status, place of residence and education. Results The overall percentage of children experiencing the DBM in 2016 was 7%, and constitutes ~203,600 children (90% of whom were stunted). Between 1996 and 2016, undernourished children have seen the largest relative increase in the risk of having an overweight mother (31% vs. 37%) or obese mother (6% vs. 17%); however, due to the substantial decrease in the absolute number of undernourished children, the DBM has not grown. Moreover, all children, irrespective of their own nutritional status, are now more likely to live with an overweight or obese mother, a consistent pattern across wealth, location and education subgroups, and all regions of Peru. Conclusions DBM prevalence in Peru has decreased, although the number of DBM cases is estimated to be above 200,000. In addition, all children are now more likely to live with overweight or obese mothers. The basic pattern has shifted from one of undernourished children whose mothers have a ‘normal’ BMI, to one where now most children have a ‘normal’ or healthy anthropometric status, but whose mothers are overweight or obese. This suggest that Peru is on the cusp of a major public health challenge requiring significant action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pomati
- School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3PG, UK.
| | - Daniel Mendoza-Quispe
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Cecilia Anza-Ramirez
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Akram Hernández-Vásquez
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Rodrigo M Carrillo Larco
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Shailen Nandy
- School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3PG, UK
| | - J Jaime Miranda
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Antonio Bernabé-Ortiz
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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Gyawali B, Khanal P, Mishra SR, van Teijlingen E, Wolf Meyrowitsch D. Building Strong Primary Health Care to Tackle the Growing Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nepal. Glob Health Action 2020; 13:1788262. [PMID: 32696724 PMCID: PMC7480568 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1788262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nepal is currently facing a double burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases, with rising trends of NCDs. This situation will add great pressure to already fragile health systems and pose a major challenge to the country's development unless urgent action is taken. While the primary health care approach offers a common platform to effectively address NCDs through preventive and curative interventions, yet its potential is not fully tapped in Nepal. In line with the Alma Ata and Astana Declarations, we propose an integrated approach for Nepal, and other low-and middle-income countries, including six key reforms to enhance the primary care response to the increasing burdens of NCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishal Gyawali
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pratik Khanal
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | | | - Dan Wolf Meyrowitsch
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Reardon T, Tschirley D, Liverpool-Tasie LSO, Awokuse T, Fanzo J, Minten B, Vos R, Dolislager M, Sauer C, Dhar R, Vargas C, Lartey A, Raza A, Popkin BM. The Processed food revolution in African food systems and the Double Burden of Malnutrition. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT 2020; 28. [PMID: 33868911 DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
African consumers have purchased increasing amounts of processed food over the past 50 years. The opportunity cost of time of women and men has increased as more of them work outside the home, driving them to buy processed food and food prepared away from home to save arduous home-processing and preparation labor. In the past several decades, this trend has accelerated with a surge on the supply side of the processing sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large private companies making massive aggregate investments. Packaged, industrialized, ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a growing proportion of the processed food consumed. Also, in the past several decades, overweight and obesity have joined the long-standing high levels of stunting and wasting among children and extreme thinness among women of childbearing age. Together these phenomena have formed a double burden of malnutrition (DBM). The DBM has emerged as an important health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The rise of the DBM and the increase in ultra-processed food consumption are linked. Policy makers face a dilemma. On the one hand, purchases of processed food are driven by long-term factors, such as urbanization, increased income, and employment changes, and thus policy cannot change the pursuit of convenience and labor-saving food. Moreover, much processed food, like packaged milk, is a boon to nutrition, and the processed food system is a major source of jobs for women. On the other hand, the portion (some 10-30%) of processed food that is ultra-processed is a public health challenge, and policy must address its detrimental effects on disease burden. The global experience suggests that double duty actions are most important as are selected policies focused on healthy weaning foods for addressing stunting and taxes on SSBs, nutrition labeling, and other measures can steer consumers away from unhealthy ultra-processed foods to addressing obesity and possibly child nutrition and stunting. We recommend that African governments consider these policy options, but note that the current extreme fragmentation of the processing sector, consisting of vast numbers of informal SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa, and the limited administrative/implementation capacity of many African governments require pursuing this path only gradually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Reardon
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - David Tschirley
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Titus Awokuse
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jessica Fanzo
- Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and the Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bart Minten
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Rob Vos
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Michael Dolislager
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Christine Sauer
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Rahul Dhar
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Carolina Vargas
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Anna Lartey
- Nutrition and Food Systems Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, USA
| | - Ahmed Raza
- Nutrition and Food Systems Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, USA
| | - Barry M Popkin
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
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Haile D, Luo H, Vosti SA, Dodd KW, Arnold CD, Engle-Stone R. Micronutrient Fortification of Commercially Available Biscuits Is Predicted to Have Minimal Impact on Prevalence of Inadequate Micronutrient Intakes: Modeling of National Dietary Data From Cameroon. Curr Dev Nutr 2020; 4:nzaa132. [PMID: 32908959 PMCID: PMC7467246 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Voluntarily fortified snack products are increasingly available but are not necessarily formulated to meet known dietary nutrient gaps, so potential impacts on population micronutrient intake adequacy are uncertain. OBJECTIVES We modeled the impacts of hypothetical micronutrient-fortified biscuits on inadequate micronutrient intake in children and women of reproductive age (WRA) in Cameroon. METHODS In a nationally representative survey stratified by macro-region (North, South, and Yaoundé/Douala), 24-h dietary recall data were collected from 883 children aged 12-59 mo and from 912 WRA. We estimated usual nutrient intake by the National Cancer Institute method for vitamin A, folate, vitamin B-12, zinc, and iron. We simulated the impact of biscuit fortification on prevalence of micronutrient intake below the estimated average requirement, given observed biscuit consumption, in the presence and absence of large-scale food fortification (LSFF) programs. RESULTS Biscuit consumption in the prior 24-h by children and WRA, respectively, ranged from 4.5% and 1.5% in the South, to 20.7% and 5.9% in Yaoundé/Douala. In the absence of LSFF programs, biscuits fortified with retinol (600 μg/100 g), folic acid (300 μg/100 g), and zinc (8 mg/100 g) were predicted to reduce the prevalence of inadequacy among children by 10.3 ± 4.4, 13.2 ± 4.2, and 12.0 ± 6.1 percentage points, respectively, in Yaoundé/Douala. However, when existing vitamin A-fortified oil, and folic acid-fortified and zinc-fortified wheat flour programs were considered, the additional impacts of fortified biscuits were reduced substantially. Micronutrient-fortified biscuits were predicted to have minimal impact on dietary inadequacy in WRA, with or without LSFF programs. CONCLUSIONS Given observed patterns of biscuit consumption in Cameroon, biscuit fortification is unlikely to reduce dietary inadequacy of studied micronutrients, except possibly for selected nutrients in children in urban areas in the absence of LSFF programs. As voluntary fortification becomes increasingly common, modeling studies could help guide efforts to ensure that fortified products align with public health goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demewoz Haile
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Hanqi Luo
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stephen A Vosti
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kevin W Dodd
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Reina Engle-Stone
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Schreinemachers P, Baliki G, Shrestha RM, Bhattarai DR, Gautam IP, Ghimire PL, Subedi BP, Brück T. Nudging children toward healthier food choices: An experiment combining school and home gardens. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 2020; 26:100454. [PMID: 33324538 PMCID: PMC7726313 DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
School gardens have become a widely used approach to influence children's food knowledge, preferences and choices in low- and high-income countries alike. However, evidence indicates that such programs are more effective at influencing food knowledge and preferences than actual food choices. Such finding may occur because school gardens insufficiently influence the food behavior of parents and because healthy food items are not always available in children's homes. We tested this hypothesis using a one-year cluster randomized controlled trial in Nepal with 15 treatment and 15 control schools and a matched sample of 779 schoolchildren (aged 8-12) and their caregivers. Data were collected before and after the intervention during the 2018-2019 school year. In addition, children's food consumption was monitored using a monthly food logbook. Average treatment effects were quantified with a double-difference estimator. For caregivers, the intervention led to a 26% increase in their food and nutrition knowledge (p < 0.001), a 5% increase in their agricultural knowledge (p = 0.022), a 10% increase in their liking for vegetables (p < 0.001), and a 15% increase in home garden productivity (p = 0.073). For children, the intervention had no discernible effect on food and nutrition knowledge (p = 0.666) but led to a 6% increase in their liking for vegetables (p = 0.070), healthy food practices (p < 0.001), and vegetable consumption (October-December +15%; p = 0.084; January-March +26%; p = 0.017; April-June +26%; p = 0.088). The results therefore indicate both schools and parents matter for nudging children toward healthier food choices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ghassan Baliki
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Großbeeren, Germany
| | | | - Dhruba Raj Bhattarai
- Outreach Research Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Ishwori P. Gautam
- National Horticulture Research Centre, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Puspa Lal Ghimire
- Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Bhishma P. Subedi
- Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Tilman Brück
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Großbeeren, Germany
- Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, UK
- ISDC – International Security and Development Center, Berlin, Germany
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Scrinis G. Reframing malnutrition in all its forms: A critique of the tripartite classification of malnutrition. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Cunningham K, Pries A, Erichsen D, Manohar S, Nielsen J. Adolescent Girls' Nutritional Status and Knowledge, Beliefs, Practices, and Access to Services: An Assessment to Guide Intervention Design in Nepal. Curr Dev Nutr 2020; 4:nzaa094. [PMID: 32617452 PMCID: PMC7319728 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite growing recognition of the importance of the adolescent period for health and nutritional well-being, scant evidence exists to inform interventions. Beyond limited understanding of adolescents' knowledge and practices, gaps in adolescent research also include limited understanding of how best to reach them with programs and policies and how the contexts in which they live present barriers and opportunities. Given that most studies on adolescent health and nutrition have used data from surveys of women of reproductive age, this study also sought to understand variation among younger and older adolescents and those who were already mothers. OBJECTIVES The primary aim was to support the design of an evidence-based adolescent program (Suaahara) in Nepal by describing adolescent girls' nutritional status; their exposure to information and services, knowledge, and practices in nutrition, health, family planning, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and contextual factors; and to quantify variation by stage of adolescence. METHODS Using the first round (2017) from a panel of Nepalese adolescent girls, we categorized adolescent girls as: younger (10-14.9 y; n = 512), older (15-19.9 y; n = 325), and mothers (15-19.9 y; n = 256). Descriptive analyses generated proportions and means ± SDs, with statistical significance testing of differences. RESULTS The prevalence of underweight was highest in younger adolescents, whereas the prevalence of overweight/obesity in mothers was double that of the other 2 groups. More younger adolescents were in school, but fewer owned a mobile phone or had radio access. Exposure, knowledge, and behaviors across thematic areas also differed by stage of adolescence. CONCLUSIONS These findings have implications for Suaahara and other programs and policies aiming to support the health and nutritional well-being of adolescent girls. Heterogeneity among adolescent girls should be considered when identifying which interventions are needed and have the most potential for each subpopulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenda Cunningham
- Suaahara II, Helen Keller International, Patan, Nepal
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Dorit Erichsen
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Swetha Manohar
- Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA
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Angela KC, Thorne-Lyman AL, Manohar S, Shrestha B, Klemm R, Adhikari RK, Webb P, West KP. Preschool Child Nutritional Status in Nepal in 2016: A National Profile and 40-Year Comparative Trend. Food Nutr Bull 2020; 41:152-166. [PMID: 32522131 DOI: 10.1177/0379572120916343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preschool child anthropometric status has been assessed nationally in Nepal since 1975, with semi-decadal surveys since 1996, plus several recent, short-interval surveys to track progress toward achieving a World Health Assembly (WHA) goal to reduce stunting to 24% by 2025. OBJECTIVE We report prevalence of preschool child stunting and wasting from a national survey in 2016 and place findings into the context of national trends and alignment for Nepal to attain its WHA 2025 goal. METHODS A representative, midyear Policy and Science for Health, Agriculture and Nutrition (PoSHAN) survey was conducted in 2016 on 5479 children <60 months in 4051 households in 21 village development committees. Child weight and height were measured, and sociodemographic factors were assessed. Data from previous surveys (Nepal Demographic Health Surveys, PoSHAN) were also acquired, and rates of stunting (<-2 height-for-age z score) and wasting (<-2 weight-for-height z score) were compared to current World Health Organization standards. Trends were expressed as average annual rates of reduction (AARR). RESULTS Nationally, in 2016, 34.1% of preschoolers were stunted and 13.7% wasted. Stunting was highest in the Mountains (40.6%) and wasting highest in the Tarai (18.9%). Trend analysis revealed a steady decline (3.8% AARR) in stunting from 2001 to 2013, with virtually no decline from 2013 to 2016. Wasting has been continually high and variable, at ≥8%, since 1975. CONCLUSIONS Following a steady decline in prevalence, preschool child stunting has plateaued at ∼35% in Nepal, while wasting has changed little over time, offering the opportunity to inform, reassess, and adjust, as needed, efforts to reach WHA 2025 goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Angela
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew L Thorne-Lyman
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Swetha Manohar
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Binod Shrestha
- Nutrition Innovation Lab, Johns Hopkins University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Rolf Klemm
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Helen Keller International, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Patrick Webb
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keith P West
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Jannat K, Luby SP, Unicomb L, Rahman M, Winch PJ, Hossain MI, Stewart CP. Snack food consumption among Bangladeshi children, supplementary data from a large RCT. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2020; 16:e12994. [PMID: 32196968 PMCID: PMC7507356 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Childhood obesity has been associated with consumption of energy-dense foods such as caloric beverages and fast foods. Many low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh are now experiencing a rising problem of noncommunicable diseases along with the long-standing problem of stunting and undernutrition. WASH Benefits Bangladesh was a large community-based cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Bangladesh. Study clusters were randomized into seven arms: single nutrition (N); water (W); sanitation (S); hygiene (H); combined water, sanitation, and hygiene (WSH); WSH and nutrition (N + WSH); and a double sized control (C). Nutrition intervention messages included four promotional components: maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and lipid-based nutrient supplements. The World Health Organization infant food frequency questionnaire (24-hr recall and 7-day recall) was administered at Year 1 and Year 2 of intervention. The likelihood of any snack food consumption was significantly lower (odds ratio 0.37: 95% confidence interval [0.28, 0.49]) in the nutrition intervention arms compared to the control arm in Year 2 follow-up. In addition, in the water intervention arm, fewer children (about 50% less) consumed soft drinks, but not the other sugar-sweetened beverages, compared with control in Year 2. There were no other differences between groups. Simple messages about balanced diet and feeding family foods were effective in lowering commercially produced snack food consumption of the young children in low-income rural communities of Bangladesh. Provision of safe water apparently encouraged mothers to reduce offering unhealthy beverages to the young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaniz Jannat
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen P Luby
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Leanne Unicomb
- Infectious Disease Division and Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Infectious Disease Division and Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Peter J Winch
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Md Iqbal Hossain
- Infectious Disease Division and Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Hawkes C, Ruel MT, Salm L, Sinclair B, Branca F. Double-duty actions: seizing programme and policy opportunities to address malnutrition in all its forms. Lancet 2020; 395:142-155. [PMID: 31852603 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32506-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Actions to address different forms of malnutrition are typically managed by separate communities, policies, programmes, governance structures, and funding streams. By contrast, double-duty actions, which aim to simultaneously tackle both undernutrition and problems of overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases (DR-NCDs) have been proposed as a way to effectively address malnutrition in all its forms in a more holisitic way. This Series paper identifies ten double-duty actions that have strong potential to reduce the risk of both undernutrition, obesity, and DR-NCDs. It does so by summarising evidence on common drivers of different forms of malnutrition; documenting examples of unintended harm caused by some undernutrition-focused programmes on obesity and DR-NCDs; and highlighting examples of double-duty actions to tackle multiple forms of malnutrition. We find that undernutrition, obesity, and DR-NCDs are intrinsically linked through early-life nutrition, diet diversity, food environments, and socioeconomic factors. Some evidence shows that programmes focused on undernutrition have raised risks of poor quality diets, obesity, and DR-NCDs, especially in countries undergoing a rapid nutrition transition. This Series paper builds on this evidence to develop a framework to guide the design of double-duty approaches and strategies, and defines the first steps needed to deliver them. With a clear package of double-duty actions now identified, there is an urgent need to move forward with double-duty actions to address malnutrition in all its forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Hawkes
- Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London, London, UK.
| | - Marie T Ruel
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leah Salm
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
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Popkin BM, Corvalan C, Grummer-Strawn LM. Dynamics of the double burden of malnutrition and the changing nutrition reality. Lancet 2020; 395:65-74. [PMID: 31852602 PMCID: PMC7179702 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32497-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 601] [Impact Index Per Article: 150.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The double burden of malnutrition (DBM), defined as the simultaneous manifestation of both undernutrition and overweight and obesity, affects most low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This Series paper describes the dynamics of the DBM in LMICs and how it differs by socioeconomic level. This Series paper shows that the DBM has increased in the poorest LMICs, mainly due to overweight and obesity increases. Indonesia is the largest country with a severe DBM, but many other Asian and sub-Saharan African countries also face this problem. We also discuss that overweight increases are mainly due to very rapid changes in the food system, particularly the availability of cheap ultra-processed food and beverages in LMICs, and major reductions in physical activity at work, transportation, home, and even leisure due to introductions of activity-saving technologies. Understanding that the lowest income LMICs face severe levels of the DBM and that the major direct cause is rapid increases in overweight allows identifying selected crucial drivers and possible options for addressing the DBM at all levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry M Popkin
- Department of Nutrition and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Camila Corvalan
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Exploratory Analysis of Nutritional Quality and Metrics of Snack Consumption among Nepali Children during the Complementary Feeding Period. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11122962. [PMID: 31817203 PMCID: PMC6950298 DOI: 10.3390/nu11122962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization recommends feeding snacks between meals to young children. This study explored nutritional quality of snacks consumed between meals and consumption metrics (% total energy intakes (%TEI) and amount of kcal from snacks) to understand correlations with dietary outcomes (total energy intakes and dietary adequacy) and body-mass-index-for-age z-scores (BMIZ). Data used were 24-h dietary recalls and anthropometric measurements among a representative sample (n = 679) of one-year-olds in Nepal. Nepali meal patterns for young children were identified through formative research and all foods/beverages consumed outside of meals were categorized as snacks. A nutrient profiling model was used to categorize snacks as healthy or unhealthy, based on positive and negative nutrient content. Snacks consumed between meals provided half of all energy consumed, and were associated with increased energy and nutrient intakes. The positive effect of snacks between meals on dietary adequacy was greater when these snacks were healthy, while increasing %TEI from unhealthy snacks consumed between meals was negatively associated with dietary adequacy. Consumption of snacks between meals was not associated with mean BMIZ among the children. These findings indicate that the provision of and nutritional quality of snacks are important considerations to communicate to caregivers. Discouragement of unhealthy, nutrient-poor snacks is critical for complementary feeding dietary guidelines in contexts experiencing nutrition transition.
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Commercial Snack Food and Beverage Consumption Prevalence among Children 6-59 Months in West Africa. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11112715. [PMID: 31717487 PMCID: PMC6893794 DOI: 10.3390/nu11112715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of commercial snack food and beverage products among infants, young, and school-aged children may have negative effects on child nutritional outcomes, as these foods are typically dense in energy but not in micronutrients. However, there is limited information available about the consumption of such snacks in low-income settings, particularly in Africa. We contribute to filling this gap using data from 11,537 children aged 6-59.9 months from four West African countries (i.e., Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, and Niger). We estimated the prevalence of commercial snack food and drink consumption and explored variations within the sample by age group, urban or rural residence, household wealth status, and caregiver educational attainment. The results show that 25.7% of children in Niger, 31.5% in Burkina Faso, 42.9% in Mali, and 45.4% in Cote d'Ivoire ate at least one commercial snack food or beverage in the prior 24 h. Consumption prevalence was significantly higher in urban areas than rural areas, among older children (ages 2-5 y) than those in the complementary feeding period (6-23.9 months), and among children in wealthier households. These relationships were confirmed via logistic regression. Our results confirm the widespread consumption of commercial snack foods and drinks by young children in West Africa, a finding with relevance for nutrition policy and programming.
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Thorne-Lyman AL, Shrestha M, Fawzi WW, Pasqualino M, Strand TA, Kvestad I, Hysing M, Joshi N, Lohani M, Miller LC. Dietary Diversity and Child Development in the Far West of Nepal: A Cohort Study. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11081799. [PMID: 31382653 PMCID: PMC6722734 DOI: 10.3390/nu11081799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Poverty adversely affects child development through multiple pathways in low- and middle-income countries. Relationships between diet and child development are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to explore these associations in a longitudinal cohort of 305 children in rural Nepal (baseline mean age 14 months), evaluating dietary diversity and the consumption of specific food groups at three timepoints over 1.5 years. Child development was assessed using the Ages and Stages questionnaire-version 3 (ASQ-3). Associations between the number of days that children consumed minimum dietary diversity (MDD) (≥4/8 items) and specific food groups over time (range 0–3) and total and subscale ASQ scores at age 23–38 months were estimated using multiple linear and logistic regression, dichotomizing scores at the lowest quartile. After adjusting for confounders, each additional day of consuming MDD was associated with a 35% reduction in the odds of low total ASQ score [OR 0.65, 95% CI (0.46, 0.92)]. The consumption of animal source foods [OR 0.64, (0.46, 0.89)], and vegetables/fruits [OR 0.60, (0.41, 0.90), but not processed foods [OR 0.99, (0.62, 1.59)] was associated with lower odds of low total development. Vegetables, fruits and animal source foods may be important for child development in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Thorne-Lyman
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E2545, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Merina Shrestha
- Department of Child Health, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Wafaie W Fawzi
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Building 1 Room 1108, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Pasqualino
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E2545, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tor A Strand
- Division for Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway and The Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ingrid Kvestad
- Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Center, Bergen, Norway
| | - Mari Hysing
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Neena Joshi
- Heifer International, Satobato Road, Hattiban, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Mahendra Lohani
- Heifer International, 1 World Ave, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
| | - Laurie C Miller
- Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington St, Boston, MD 02111, USA
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