Skipping Breakfast and Incidence of Frequent Alcohol Drinking in University Students in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Living Arrangements Predict Frequent Alcohol Consumption Among University Students: A Retrospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to confirm the clinical impact of living arrangements on incidence of frequent alcohol consumption in university students.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A national university in Japan.

SUBJECTS

17,774 university students.

MEASURES

The association between living arrangements on admission and the incidence of frequent alcohol consumption (≥4 days/week) was assessed using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models.

RESULTS

Among 5,685, 692, and 5,151 male students living with family, living in the dormitory, and living alone, 5.0%, 6.2%, and 5.8% reported frequent alcohol consumption during the median observational period of 3.0 years, respectively. Living in the dormitory and living alone were identified as significant predictors of frequent alcohol consumption (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios: 1.00 [reference], 1.39 [1.01-1.92], and 1.21 [1.03-1.42], respectively). On the contrary, living arrangements were not associated with the incidence of frequent alcohol consumption among of 6,091 female students, partly because of low incidence of frequent alcohol consumption (2.3%, 1.4%, and 2.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Living arrangements predicted frequent alcohol consumption among male university students, whereas not among female university students.

Short sleep duration and smoking initiation in university students: a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to clarify an association between short sleep duration and smoking initiation.

METHODS

Participants eligible for this retrospective cohort study were university students who were admitted to a single national university in Japan between 2007 and 2015. Baseline sleep duration and smoking status were measured using general questionnaires at health checkups at admission. During a 6-year observation period, smoking initiation was assessed using general questionnaires at annual health checkups. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for clinically relevant factors were used to assess the association between sleep duration and smoking initiation.

RESULTS

Of 17,493 men, including 540, 5,568, 8,458, 2,507, and 420 men with sleep duration of < 5, 5-6, 6-7, 7-8, and ≥ 8 h, respectively, smoking initiation was observed in 16.1%, 12.5%, 11.2%, 10.0%, and 11.7%, respectively, during a median observation period of 3.0 years. Men with shorter sleep duration were at a higher risk of smoking initiation (adjusted hazard ratio 1.49 [95% confidence interval 1.19-1.85], 1.11 [1.01-1.22], 1.00 [reference], 0.92 [0.80-1.06], and 1.00 [0.75-1.34], respectively). Of 8,880 women, including 267, 3,163, 4,220, and 1,230 women with sleep duration of < 5, 5-6, 6-7, and ≥ 7 h, respectively, smoking initiation was observed in 4.9%, 2.3%, 2.0%, and 2.2%, respectively, during a median observation period of 3.0 years. A similar dose dependent association was ascertained in women (2.50 [1.39-4.49], 1.18 [0.86-1.62], 1.00 [reference], and 1.22 [0.79-1.89], respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study clarified that university students with short sleep duration were vulnerable to smoking initiation.

Self-Reported Nutritional Status and Breakfast Characterization in Latin American University Students

OBJECTIVE

To associate breakfast consumption frequency with self-reported nutritional status and dietary patterns of Latin American university students by human development.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional, multicenter observational study. University students from 11 Latin American countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Panama and Uruguay) were invited to participate by answering an online self-administered questionnaire on food consumption and sociodemographic indicators, associations were investigated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between breakfast consumption and the crude model, models 2 and 3 in countries with very high and upper-middle/high human development. However, after adjustment in the most comprehensive model, the association is no longer statistically significant. In the fully adjusted model of the variables, a significant relationship was observed between breakfast consumption and both healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns. Specifically, students who typically consume breakfast exhibit greater consumption of oatmeal and fruits, as well as healthier dinner choices. Conversely, they exhibit lower consumption of fast food, sugary drinks, and juices. In particular, in highly developed countries, along with the mentioned foods, consumption of dairy was linked to breakfast consumption in a positive way, while alcohol consumption was negatively associated.

CONCLUSION

University students who eat breakfast on a regular basis maintain a healthier diet in comparison to those who do not, irrespective of their country's level of human development.

Macronutrient Intake, Sleep Quality, Anxiety, Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and Emotional Eating among Female Health Science Undergraduate Students

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 provoked a myriad of challenges for people's health, poor life satisfaction and an unhealthy diet that could be associated with serious negative health outcomes and behaviours. University is a stressful environment that is associated with unhealthy changes in the eating behaviours of students. The association between diet and mental health is complex and bidirectional, depending on the motivation to eat; emotional eaters regulate their emotions through the increased consumption of comfort foods.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional habits, alcohol consumption, anxiety and sleep quality of female health science college students.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 191 female undergraduate students in Madrid was used. Their body mass index and waist hip ratio were measured. The questionnaires used included the Mediterranean Diet Adherence test, AUDIT, Emotional Eater Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Food Addiction, Perceived Stress Scale and STAI questionnaires.

RESULTS

We observed a high intake of protein, fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Overall, 9.5% never had breakfast, and 66.5% consciously reduced their food intake. According to Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, they mainly slept 6-7 h, and 82% presented with a poor sleep quality; 13.5% presented moderate-high food addiction, and 35% had moderate Mediterranean Diet Adherence score.

CONCLUSION

Female students' macronutrient imbalances were noted, with a high-level protein and fat intake diet and a low proportion of carbohydrates and fibre. A high proportion of them need alcohol education and, depending on the social context, they mainly drank beer and spirits.

Eating behaviors and incident cardiovascular disease in Japanese people: The population-based Panasonic cohort study 14

Evidence on common eating behaviors to support the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Japanese people is insufficient. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association of diet behaviors (e.g., skipping breakfast, eating speed, snack after dinner, and alcohol consumption) with incident CVD in Japanese individuals. Employees of Panasonic Corporation who underwent the annual health checkups and without a history of CVD at baseline were enrolled. The main outcome was incident 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary outcomes were incident coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. To assess the effect of BMI, the subgroup analysis was conducted. In total, 132,795 participants were included. Overall, 3,115, 1,982, and 1,165 participants developed 3-point MACE, CAD, and stroke, respectively. Skipping breakfast (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.23) and fast eating (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47) were associated with 3-point MACE in the participants overall. Skipping breakfast (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.10-1.37) and fast eating (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.71) were also associated with 3-point MACE in participants with BMI < 25 kg/m². In contrast, in participants with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², these associations were not detectable (P value for the interaction between subgroups = 0.09 [skipping breakfast] and 0.03 [fast eating], respectively). The diet behavior is a potential risk factor of incident CVD in Japanese people, particularly in those with BMI < 25 kg/m².