Commercial weight-loss diets, greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater consumption

BACKGROUND

Weight-loss attempts are widespread in the United States, with many using commercial weight-loss diet plans for guidance and support. Accordingly, dietary suggestions within these plans influence the nation's food-related environmental footprint.

METHODS

We modelled United States (US) per capita greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and water footprints associated with seven commercial weight-loss diets, the US baseline, and selected other dietary patterns. We characterised consumption in commercial weight-loss diets both via modelling from provided guidelines and based on specific foods in 1-week meal plans. Cradle-to-farmgate GHGe and water footprints were assessed using a previously developed model. GHGe results were compared to the EAT-Lancet 2050 target. Water footprints were compared to the US baseline.

RESULTS

Weight-loss diets had GHGe footprints on average 4.4 times the EAT-Lancet target recommended for planetary health (range: 2.4-8.5 times). Bovine meat was by far the largest contributor of GHGe in most diets that included it. Three commercial diets had water footprints above the US baseline. Low caloric intake in some diets compensated for the relative increases in GHGe- and water-intensive foods.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary patterns suggested by marketing materials and guidelines from commercial weight-loss diets can have high GHGe and water footprints, particularly if caloric limits are exceeded. Commercial diet plan guidance can be altered to support planetary and individual health, including describing what dietary patterns can jointly support environmental sustainability and weight loss.

Short communication: commercial diets for pigs in the United States contain more calcium than formulated

Data from Europe indicate that commercial diets for pigs and poultry contain significantly more Ca than formulated. Therefore, a survey of commercial pig diets used in the United States was conducted to test the hypothesis that the analyzed concentrations of total Ca and total P in commercial pig diets in the United States are not greater than formulated values. A total of 103 diet samples from the commercial swine industry in the United States were collected between 2019 and 2021. Diet samples were provided by feed mills, feed companies, or swine farms located in major swine-producing states in the United States including NC, TN, IA, IN, KS, MN, NE, and IL. Diets were formulated for nursery pigs, growing-finishing pigs, or sows. Each company provided formulated values for total Ca and P in all samples. Samples were sent to the University of Illinois where they were ground and analyzed for Ca and P by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The formulated values for Ca and P were regressed against analyzed values, and the intercept was considered the estimated under- or over-supply of each mineral. Results indicated that there was an average of 0.19 percentage units more Ca (model; P < 0.001) in the diets than formulated, whereas, for total P, the average oversupply was only 0.06 percentage units (model; P < 0.001). In conclusion, diets used in the U.S. swine industry contain more total Ca than formulated, whereas total P is close to formulated values, which indicates that greater importance is given to P than to Ca in formulation. However, the current data indicate that more attention should be given to the actual concentration of Ca in all Ca-containing feed ingredients to avoid Ca oversupply and its detrimental effect on P digestibility and growth performance of pigs fed diets that do not contain excess P.

Food Preferences in Cats: Effect of Dietary Composition and Intrinsic Variables on Diet Selection

Simple Summary

Cats tend to retain food preferences across their lifetime, but intrinsic variables could affect their diet choices so as to preserve internal homoeostasis. This work intended to study the feeding behavior of cats in relation to diet composition and some intrinsic variables (sex, age, and body weight) by analyzing data from a 10-year database of two-feeder food preference tests (2007–2017). Diet mineral components (calcium, crude fiber and ashes) affected food preferences negatively. In addition, the influence of body weight and sex manifested as lower food intake in both females and the heaviest cats (relative to bodyweight). However, only body weight affected food preferences, where the heaviest animals presented the higher preferences overall. During the cold season, animals (especially females) displayed higher food intake, whereas hot seasons increased male cat preferences for palatable diets, hence we observed an interaction between sex and climate season. In conclusion, understanding the relationship that both food composition and some intrinsic variables cats have with their diet preference could help in improving the formulation of specific pet food diets, so that these adequately satisfy the physiological and hedonic needs of domestic cats.

Abstract

A ten-year database of food preference tests (n = 1021; period 2007−2017) was used to explore the feeding behavior of domestic cats. Principal component (PC) analysis and linear regression between food nutrients and preferences (for the most preferred diet of each test; Diet A) were performed. Intake and preference for Diet A were analyzed by intrinsic cats’ variables and climate season. The PC1 (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and ash), PC2 (lipids and ether extract) and PC4 (crude fiber; CF) had borderline significance (p < 0.06; β = −1.42, β = −1.56, and β = 2.68, respectively). Ash and CF contents presented negative correlations with food preference (rho = −0.269, p = 0.031; rho = −0.338, p = 0.006, respectively), and Ca had borderline significance and negative correlation with food preference (rho = −0.241, p = 0.054). Body weight and sex influenced the intake of Diet A, being lower for females (β = 11.758; p = 0.014) and heaviest cats (β = −5.490; p < 0.001). However, only body weight affected food preferences, where the heaviest cats had greater preferences for Diet A. Hot season decreased food intake (β = −2,117; p = 0.032), mostly in females (rho = −3.537; p = 0.002). Males had greater preferences for Diet A during hot seasons (β = 10.216; p = 0.023) and females presented similar preferences throughout the year (p = 0.950). Mineral contents, body weight and sex affected food intake and preferences of cats under the influence of climate season, probably explained by adaptive changes in food detection.

'I'm searching for solutions': why are obese individuals turning to the Internet for help and support with 'being fat'?

INTRODUCTION

This study explores what types of information obese individuals search for on the Internet, their motivations for seeking information and how they apply it in their daily lives.

METHOD

In-depth telephone interviews with an Australian community sample of 142 individuals with a BMI ≥ 30 were conducted. Theoretical, purposive and strategic samplings were employed. Data were analysed using a constant comparative method.

RESULTS

Of the 142 individuals who participated in the study, 111 (78%) searched for information about weight loss or obesity. Of these, about three quarters searched for weight loss solutions. The higher the individual's weight, the more they appeared to search for weight loss solutions. Participants also searched for information about health risks associated with obesity (n = 28), how to prevent poor health outcomes (n = 30) and for peer support forums with other obese individuals (n = 25). Whilst participants visited a range of websites, including government-sponsored sites, community groups and weight loss companies, they overwhelmingly acted upon the advice given on commercial diet websites. However, safe, non-judgemental spaces such as the Fatosphere (online fat acceptance community) provided much needed solidarity and support.

CONCLUSIONS

The Internet provides a convenient source of support and information for obese individuals. However, many turn to the same unsuccessful solutions online (e.g. fad dieting) they turn to in the community. Government and community organisations could draw upon some lessons learned in other consumer-driven online spaces (e.g. the Fatosphere) to provide supportive environments for obese individuals that resonate with their health and social experiences, and address their needs.