Meal and snack frequency in relation to diet quality in Japanese adults: a cross-sectional study using different definitions of meals and snacks

AbstractEpidemiological evidence on the association between eating frequency and overall diet quality does not represent a consistent picture. This cross-sectional study examined the associations of meal frequency and snack frequency with diet quality, using different definitions of meals and snacks. Based on 4-d weighed dietary record data obtained from 639 Japanese adults aged 20–81 years, all eating occasions were divided into meals or snacks based on either the participant-identified or time-of-day definitions. Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) and Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3). One additional meal per d increased the HEI-2015 total score by 3·6 and 1·3 points based on the participant-identified and time-of-day definitions, respectively. A higher meal frequency was also associated with higher values of some of the HEI-2015 component scores (total vegetables, greens and beans, and total protein foods), irrespective of how meals were defined. Additionally, one additional participant-identified snack per d increased the HEI-2015 total score by 0·7 points. The frequency of participant-identified snacks also showed positive associations with some of the HEI-2015 component scores (total fruits, whole fruits, total vegetables, greens and beans, dairy products, and Na). However, the frequency of time-of-day defined snacks was not associated with the total scores of HEI-2015, although there were some associations for its components. Similar findings were obtained when the NRF9.3 was used. In conclusion, higher meal frequency was consistently associated with higher diet quality, while associations between snack frequency and diet quality varied depending on the definition of snacks.

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Decreasing the number of small eating occasions (<15 % of total energy intake) regardless of the time of day may be important to improve diet quality but not adiposity: a cross-sectional study in British children and adolescents

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114515004420 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 115 (2) ◽

pp. 332-341 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Kentaro Murakami ◽

M. Barbara E. Livingstone

Keyword(s):

Energy Intake ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Time Of Day ◽

Total Sugar ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Energy Contribution ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Eating Occasions ◽

British Children

AbstractEvidence of associations between meal frequency (MF) and snack frequency (SF) and diet and obesity in young populations is limited. This cross-sectional study examined MF and SF in relation to dietary intake and adiposity measures in British children aged 4–10 years (n 818) and adolescents aged 11–18 years (n 818). Based on data from a 7-d weighed dietary record, all eating occasions were divided into meals or snacks on the basis of contribution to energy intake (≥15 or <15 %) or time (06.00–10.00, 12.00–15.00 and 18.00–21.00 hours or others). All measures of MF and SF showed positive associations with energy intake, except for MF based on energy contribution in children. Irrespective of the definition of snacks, SF was associated with higher intakes of soft drinks, confectionery and total sugar, lower intakes of cereals, fish, meat, protein, PUFA, starch and dietary fibre, and a lower diet quality (assessed by the Mediterranean diet score, except for SF based on energy contribution in adolescents). MF based on time, but not based on energy contribution, was associated with higher intakes of confectionery and total sugar, lower intakes of fish, protein, PUFA and starch, and, only in children, a lower diet quality. All measures of MF and SF showed no association with adiposity measures. In conclusion, this cross-sectional study in British children and adolescents suggests that decreasing the number of small eating occasions (<15 % of total energy intake) regardless of the time of day may be important to improve diet quality but not adiposity.

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Association between diet quality and food waste in Canadian families: a cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.23671/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas Carroll ◽

Angela Wallace ◽

Kira Jewell ◽

Gerarda Darlington ◽

David W.L. Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Vegetable Waste ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Per Capita

Abstract Background: Higher diet quality has been associated with greater amounts of food waste among adults in the United States. This study aims to build on previous work by examining the association between diet quality and food waste, as assessed using detailed waste audits, among a sample of Canadian families.Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from 85 Canadian families with young children. Parent and children diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), calculated from 3-day food records. Household food waste was measured using detailed waste audits conducted over multiple weeks and these data were used to calculate daily per capita food waste. Linear regression was used to explore the association between parent and child HEI-2015 scores and daily per capita total avoidable and unavoidable food waste, as well as daily per capita avoidable and unavoidable food waste in the following categories: 1) fruits and vegetables, 2) milk, cheese and eggs, 3) meat and fish, 4) breads and cereals, 5) fats and sugars.Results: Parent HEI-2015 scores ranged from 37 to 92 (out of 100) and 81% of parents’ diets scored in the “Needs Improvement (50-80)” category. Parent and child diet quality scores were significantly correlated (r=0.61; P<0.0001) and 82% of children’s diets scored in the “Needs Improvement” category. On average, households produced 107 grams of avoidable food waste and 52 grams of unavoidable food waste per person per day. Fruits and vegetables were the highest contributor for both avoidable and unavoidable food waste. Both parent and child HEI-2015 scores were not significantly associated with total daily per capita avoidable or unavoidable food waste. However, parent HEI-2015 scores were positively associated with daily per capita avoidable fruit and vegetable waste (β= 1.05; 95%CI: 0.11, 1.99; P= 0.03) and daily per capita unavoidable fruit and vegetable waste (β= 0.60; 95%CI: 0.03, 1.17; P= 0.04), after adjusting for household income.Conclusion: This is the first study to explore the association between diet quality and food waste using detailed waste audits. Future research should explore effective strategies towards improving diet quality while simultaneously reducing food waste, especially of fruits and vegetables.

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A healthy eating index to measure diet quality in pregnant women in Singapore: a cross-sectional study

BMC Nutrition ◽

10.1186/s40795-015-0029-3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Chad Yixian Han ◽

◽

Marjorelee Colega ◽

Elaine Phaik Ling Quah ◽

Yiong Huak Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Association between diet quality and food waste in Canadian families: a cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.23671/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas Carroll ◽

Angela Wallace ◽

Kira Jewell ◽

Gerarda Darlington ◽

David W.L. Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Vegetable Waste ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Per Capita

Abstract Background: Higher diet quality has been associated with greater amounts of food waste among adults in the United States. This study aims to build on previous work by examining the association between diet quality and food waste, as assessed using detailed waste audits, among a sample of Canadian families.Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from 85 Canadian families with young children. Parent and children diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), calculated from 3-day food records. Household food waste was measured using detailed waste audits conducted over multiple weeks and these data were used to calculate daily per capita food waste. Linear regression was used to explore the association between parent and child HEI-2015 scores and daily per capita total avoidable and unavoidable food waste, as well as daily per capita avoidable and unavoidable food waste in the following categories: 1) fruits and vegetables, 2) milk, cheese and eggs, 3) meat and fish, 4) breads and cereals, 5) fats and sugars.Results: Parent HEI-2015 scores ranged from 37 to 92 (out of 100) and 81% of parents’ diets scored in the “Needs Improvement (51-80)” category. Parent and child diet quality scores were significantly correlated (r=0.61; P<0.0001) and 82% of children’s diets scored in the “Needs Improvement” category. On average, households produced 107 grams of avoidable food waste and 52 grams of unavoidable food waste per person per day. Fruits and vegetables were the highest contributor for both avoidable and unavoidable food waste. Both parent and child HEI-2015 scores were not significantly associated with total daily per capita avoidable or unavoidable food waste. However, parent HEI-2015 scores were positively associated with daily per capita avoidable fruit and vegetable waste (Unstandardized β= 1.05; 95%CI: 0.11, 1.99; P= 0.03) and daily per capita unavoidable fruit and vegetable waste (Unstandardized β= 0.60; 95%CI: 0.03, 1.17; P= 0.04), after adjusting for household income. Conclusion: This is the first study to explore the association between diet quality and food waste using detailed waste audits. Future research should explore effective strategies towards improving diet quality while simultaneously reducing food waste, especially of fruits and vegetables.

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The association between purchasing locally produced food and diet quality among adults in Puerto Rico

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020003134 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Abrania Marrero ◽

Martha Tamez ◽

José F Rodríguez-Orengo ◽

Josiemer Mattei

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Linear Models ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Local Foods ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dietary Transition ◽

Component Scores

Abstract Objective: Diminished diet quality in the Caribbean and other island settings may be related to a dietary transition from local foods towards imported products. The current study aimed to characterise the association between intentionally purchasing local foods (IPLF) and diet quality in Puerto Rico (PR). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary care clinics in the PR metropolitan area. Participants: Data were obtained from adult participants (30–75 years; n 243) of the Puerto Rico Assessment of Diet, Lifestyle, and Diseases. IPLF was probed by asking: ‘How often do you purposely purchase foods from PR (like fruits, vegetables, meat and other products that are produced on the island rather than being imported)?’ Dietary intake was measured using a FFQ, and diet quality was assessed by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (range 0–110; higher scores indicating higher diet quality). Multivariate-adjusted generalised linear models tested the association between IPLF and Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI) and its component scores. Results: A third (33·9 %) of participants reported seldom, 33·5 % reported often and 30·6 % reported always IPLF. Compared with seldom IPLF, fully adjusted mean AHEI scores were 3·6 (P = 0·038) points higher among those often IPLF and 9·3 (P < 0·0001) points higher among those always IPLF. Compared with seldom IPLF, those who always IPLF had significantly higher fully adjusted mean component scores for vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes, trans fat and n-3 fats. Conclusions: Adults in PR who intentionally purchase local foods had higher diet quality, especially for intake of plant-based foods and healthy fats, highlighting potential dietary benefits associated with improved local food availability in PR.

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Association between diet quality and food waste in Canadian families: a cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.2.23671/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas Carroll ◽

Angela Wallace ◽

Kira Jewell ◽

Gerarda Darlington ◽

David W.L. Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Vegetable Waste ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Per Capita

Abstract Background : Higher diet quality has been associated with greater amounts of food waste among adults in the United States. This study aims to build on previous work by examining the association between diet quality and food waste, as assessed using detailed waste audits, among a sample of Canadian families. Methods : This cross-sectional study used data from 85 Canadian families with young children. Parent and children diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), calculated from 3-day food records. Household food waste was measured using detailed waste audits conducted over multiple weeks and these data were used to calculate daily per capita food waste. Linear regression was used to explore the association between parent and child HEI-2015 scores and daily per capita total avoidable and unavoidable food waste, as well as daily per capita avoidable and unavoidable food waste in the following categories: 1) fruits and vegetables, 2) milk, cheese and eggs, 3) meat and fish, 4) breads and cereals, 5) fats and sugars. Results : Parent HEI-2015 scores ranged from 37 to 92 (out of 100) and 81% of parents’ diets scored in the “Needs Improvement (50-80)” category. Parent and child diet quality scores were significantly correlated (r=0.61; P< 0.0001) and 82% of children’s diets scored in the “Needs Improvement” category. On average, households produced 107 grams of avoidable food waste and 52 grams of unavoidable food waste per person per day. Fruits and vegetables were the highest contributor for both avoidable and unavoidable food waste. Both parent and child HEI-2015 scores were not significantly associated with total daily per capita avoidable or unavoidable food waste. However, parent HEI-2015 scores were positively associated with daily per capita avoidable fruit and vegetable waste (Unstandardized β= 1.05; 95%CI: 0.11, 1.99; P = 0.03) and daily per capita unavoidable fruit and vegetable waste (Unstandardized β= 0.60; 95%CI: 0.03, 1.17; P = 0.04), after adjusting for household income. Conclusion : This is the first study to explore the association between diet quality and food waste using detailed waste audits. Future research should explore effective strategies towards improving diet quality while simultaneously reducing food waste, especially of fruits and vegetables.

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Factors Related to Diet Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1055 University Students

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13103512 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 3512

Author(s):

Enrique Ramón-Arbués ◽

José-Manuel Granada-López ◽

Blanca Martínez-Abadía ◽

Emmanuel Echániz-Serrano ◽

Isabel Antón-Solanas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Healthy Diet ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Low Levels

Given that there is only a limited body of evidence available concerning the dietary habits of Spanish university students, the present study assesses the quality of this group’s diet, their adherence to the National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, and the predictive factors of their diet quality. To do so, a cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 1055 students. The quality of the participants’ diets was then analysed by using the Spanish Healthy Eating Index, and then their level of compliance was assessed in light of the dietary recommendations put forth by the Spanish Society for Community Nutrition. According to these standards, only 17.4% of the participants had a healthy diet. The level of compliance with the recommendations was poor, highlighting especially the low levels of “fruit” and “vegetables” that they consumed as well as high levels of “cold meats and cuts” and “sweets.” The factors that predicted a worse diet are being male, living alone, low levels of physical activity, smoking, high alcohol intake, leading a sedentary lifestyle, psychological distress, and insomnia (p < 0.005). Furthermore, participants with low or high body weights showed signs of a higher quality diet (p < 0.001). The present findings suggest that a significant proportion of university students ought to change their dietary habits; these also attest to the importance of developing strategies that are directly targeted at university students in order to promote a healthy diet.

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