Development and validity of a short web-based semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire applicable in both clinical and research setting: an evolution over time

Mental Health and Metabolic Outcomes in Early Postpartum in Women with Prediabetes After Gestational Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of the MELINDA Trial

Aims: To examine the association between depressive symptoms and metabolic profile in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and early postpartum prediabetes, and to explore whether a mobile-based lifestyle intervention affected mental health outcomes. Methods: Secondary, exploratory analysis of a multi-centric randomized controlled trial (MELINDA), evaluating a mobile-based lifestyle intervention versus standard follow-up (control group) in women with prediabetes after GDM. The analysis included 166 participants who completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) questionnaire [score of ≥16 being suggestive for (sub)clinical depression] at baseline (6-16 weeks postpartum) and one year post-randomization. Results: At one year, 26.5% of women (n = 44) reported depressive symptoms, with no significant difference between the intervention and control groups (30.5% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.293). Women with depressive symptoms (symptomatic women) were younger (30.9 ± 4.9 vs. 32.5 ± 3.8 years, p = 0.033) and were less often highly educated (61.4% vs. 80.3%, p = 0.028). At baseline, symptomatic women had a higher rate of metabolic syndrome (38.6% vs. 21.9%, p = 0.044), higher LDL-cholesterol [3.2 ± 0.8 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8 mmol/L, p = 0.009], lower quality of life (lower SF-36 scores, p < 0.050) and a higher level of anxiety based on the STAI-6 questionnaire (14.5 ± 3.6 vs. 11.2 ± 2.6, p < 0.001). These differences persisted at one year postpartum with worse metabolic profile, more anxiety and lower quality of life in symptomatic women. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms are common in women with prediabetes in early postpartum after GDM and are associated with a persistent worse metabolic profile, increased anxiety and lower quality of life postpartum. The mobile-based lifestyle intervention did not improve mental health.

Cooking methods affect advanced glycation end products and lipid profiles: A randomized cross-over study in healthy subjects

Thermal treatments used in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) lead to advanced glycation end products (AGEs). UPFs and serum AGEs are associated with cardiometabolic disease. We explore differential cooking methods as a mechanistic link between UPFs and detrimental health outcomes through a randomized cross-over cooking method trial in healthy subjects using identical ingredients and a deep profiling analysis. We show that low-AGE-generating cooking methods such as boiling and steaming decrease serum AGEs, improve lipid profiles, and increase serum protein 4E-BP1. In contrast, high-AGE-generating cooking methods such as grilling and baking increase fecal butyrate. In sum, this suggests that low-AGE-generating cooking methods should be considered in cardiovascular risk prevention. Since current dietary guidelines focus on ingredients, but not cooking methods, our results suggest that culinary techniques should be considered as an important factor in cardiometabolic preventive strategies and future dietary trial design. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06547190).

Development and User Experience Evaluation of an Experience Sampling-Based Dietary Assessment Method

Background

Most technology-based dietary assessment methods use the same methodology as traditional dietary assessment methods resulting in similar limitations and biases. Experience sampling methodology (ESM) is a real-life real-time data-capturing method that is explored as an alternative methodology for dietary assessment to improve feasibility and data accuracy.

Objectives

This research aimed to develop and evaluate an experience sampling-based dietary assessment method (ESDAM) measuring habitual dietary intake.

Methods

Starting from a food frequency questionnaire, experience sampling principles were implemented resulting in a pilot ESDAM. Second, the pilot ESDAM was evaluated for feasibility and convergent validity compared with a 3-d food record. Mean intake with standard deviations was compared between the pilot ESDAM, food record (FR), and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and Spearman correlation coefficients (SCCs) were calculated. Third, following a literature review and expert opinion, the questions and design of the pilot ESDAM were further adapted to ESM and implemented in an experience sampling survey application. The resulting prototype ESDAM underwent 2 rounds of user experience (UX) evaluation in which 10 persons tested ESDAM for 1 wk followed by a structured evaluation interview.

Results

The pilot ESDAM, FR, and FFQ were completed by 27 participants and the evaluation questionnaire by 78 participants. Mean energy intake by the FFQ, pilot ESDAM, and FR was 1272.2 ± 308.9 kcal/d, 1592.3 ± 358.9 kcal/d, and 1664.6 ± 257.8 kcal, respectively. The evaluation revealed the limited time window (19:00-23:00) to respond was inconvenient, good acceptability, and ease of use of the pilot ESDAM. The UX evaluation study revealed overall good acceptability, ease of use, and low burden of the different prototypes of ESDAM.

Conclusions

ESM could advance the field beyond traditional methodologies and improve feasibility. ESDAM is unique in assessing dietary intake quantitatively through ESM. Additional assessment of validity might shed light on the data accuracy of ESDAM.

Associations of lifestyle with burnout risk and recovery need in Flemish secondary schoolteachers: a cross-sectional study

Teacher burnout and high recovery need are a topic of concern for educational institutions. This cross-sectional study assesses the association between lifestyle (including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), dietary behavior and sleep), burnout risk and recovery need in 1878 secondary schoolteachers in Flanders. In September-October 2019, an online-questionnaire assessing burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment), recovery need, PA-domains, SB-domains, dietary behavior (including fruit and vegetable intake and diet quality) and sleep during the week and the weekend was completed. Multiple linear regression models were applied. More emotional exhaustion was associated with more domestic and garden PA, work-related SB and sleep during the weekend, whereas higher scores of emotional exhaustion were associated with lower fruit intake, diet quality and less sleep during the week. More depersonalization was associated with more leisure-time PA and work-related SB and with lower fruit intake. Teachers showing more recovery need, showed more domestic and garden PA and work-related SB, but less leisure-time PA and sleep during the week. Future research should use longitudinal or experimental designs to get more insight into causality. Despite the low effect sizes, education networks and schools might benefit from promoting and facilitating a healthy lifestyle in secondary schoolteachers.