scholarly journals Sodium in commonly consumed fast foods in New Zealand: a public health opportunity

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 958-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia A Prentice ◽  
Claire Smith ◽  
Rachael M McLean
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Fast Foods ◽  
Nutrient Analysis ◽  
Food Standards ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Uk

AbstractObjective(i) To determine the Na content of commonly consumed fast foods in New Zealand and (ii) to estimate Na intake from savoury fast foods for the New Zealand adult population.DesignCommonly consumed fast foods were identified from the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey. Na values from all savoury fast foods from chain restaurants (n 471) were obtained from nutrition information on company websites, while the twelve most popular fast-food types from independent outlets (n 52) were determined using laboratory analysis. Results were compared with the UK Food Standards Agency 2012 sodium targets. Nutrient analysis was completed to estimate Na intake from savoury fast foods for the New Zealand population using the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey.SettingNew Zealand.SubjectsAdults aged 15 years and above.ResultsFrom chain restaurants, sauces/salad dressings and fried chicken had the highest Na content (per 100 g) and from independent outlets, sausage rolls, battered hotdogs and mince and cheese pies were highest in Na (per 100 g). The majority of fast foods exceeded the UK Food Standards Agency 2012 sodium targets. The mean daily Na intake from savoury fast foods was 283 mg/d for the total adult population and 1229 mg/d for fast-food consumers.ConclusionsTaking into account the Na content and frequency of consumption, potato dishes, filled rolls, hamburgers and battered fish contributed substantially to Na intake for fast-food consumers in New Zealand. These foods should be targeted for Na reduction reformulation.

scholarly journals Characteristics of fast-food/takeaway-food and restaurant/café-food consumers among New Zealand adults

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 2368-2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Smith ◽  
Andrew Robert Gray ◽  
Elizabeth Ann Fleming ◽  
Winsome Ruth Parnell
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fast Food Consumption

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate: (i) the percentage of the New Zealand (NZ) population reporting fast food/takeaway food and restaurant/café food per day; (ii) examine demographic factors associated with their use; (iii) quantify their contribution to energy intake; and (iv) describe the specific types of foods reported from both sources.DesignTwenty-four hour diet recalls from the cross-sectional 2008/09 NZ Adult Nutrition Survey were used to identify fast-food and restaurant-food consumers.SettingNZ households.SubjectsAdults aged 15 years and older (n 4721).ResultsOverall 28 % reported consuming at least one fast food and 14 % a restaurant food within the 24 h diet recall. Fast-food consumption was not associated with level of education or an area-based measure of socio-economic status, but a higher education was positively associated with restaurant-food consumption. Individual factors such as ethnicity, household size, age, sex and marital status were found to be important influences on the use of fast food and restaurant food. Fast-food consumption was more prevalent among participants living in urban areas, young adults (19–30 years) and Māori compared with NZ European and Others. The most frequently reported fast foods were bread-based dishes, potatoes (including fries) and non-alcoholic beverages.ConclusionsGiven the high reported consumption of fast food by young adults, health promotion initiatives both to improve the nutritional quality of fast-food menus and to encourage healthier food choices would likely make a large impact on the overall diet quality of this group.

scholarly journals Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle Characteristics of University Students in Cyprus: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Hadjimbei ◽  
George Botsaris ◽  
Vassilis Gekas ◽  
Andrie G. Panayiotou
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adherence Score ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Mediterranean

Objective. To assess dietary-related habits among young adults.Design and Setting. Dietary habits were assessed cross-sectionally, using a self-completed questionnaire in 193 students enrolled in public and private universities in Cyprus. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the validated KIDMED index. BMI was estimated based on weight and height measurements.Results. The mean BMI was 23.31 (±3.98). The mean adherence score to the Mediterranean diet was 6.0 (IQR 4 to 8), with 26.9% of students being classified as high adherers and 21.8% as low adherers to the Mediterranean diet. About 32% of students consumed a second serving of fruit and vegetables more than once a day, whereas 26% reported going more than once a week to a fast-food restaurant and 31% consumed sweets and candy several times a day. On the other hand, 76% of participants reported consumption of at least two dairy products daily and 88% use olive oil at home. The majority consume coffee 2-3 times per day.Conclusions. Results support a shift from traditional healthy diets to more unhealthy eating patterns. However, we also report a high dairy intake and use of olive oil. Tailored-made strategies targeting the young adult population could be warranted.

scholarly journals A Study of Fast Foods Consumption Attitude among Secondary High School Students, Ardakan, Yazd, Iran

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shokooh Fazelpour ◽  
Narjes Hoseini ◽  
Zahra Farzaneh ◽  
Farimah Shamsi ◽  
Farzaneh Sardari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Social Media ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Attitude Score ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fast Foods ◽  
Nutritional Habits ◽  
The Mean

Introduction: Healthy and nutritional habits are formed and consolidated during adolescence. So this research has been done in Ardakan-Yazd province on high school students' attitude to fast food use. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 200 students have been chosen by stratified sampling method and the data was collected by a questionnaire which approved its reliability and validity. All the descriptive data has been analyzed by SPSS 16 software through Chi-square experiment and ANOVA tests.  Results: The results of the experiment determined that 55% of the students were female, and 93% were single. The students' BMI was as follow: 22% thin (BMI< 18.5) 56% normal (18.5≤ BMI< 25) 14.5% overweight (25≤ BMI< 30) 6.5% fat (obese) (BMI ≥30).The female has a positive attitude to fast foods (P= 0.03). The mean attitude score for eating fast food in 17-18 years old group was more than 15-16 years old students (P= 0.001). The mean attitude score also showed that the single students were more eager to eat fast foods than the married students (P= 0.001) Conclusion: Most of the people who use fast foods are low educated, teenagers, youth and singles. On the other hand, social media like TV and radio and family has a significant effect on correct nutritional habits. So improving family's attitudes and educating students and teachers by social media can help in transferring data to the students and their teachers.

scholarly journals Predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D status among adults in two British national surveys

2008 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 760-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasant Hirani ◽  
Annhild Mosdøl ◽  
Gita Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
National Prevention ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
The Uk

Several recent reports have found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the adult British population. The present paper investigates the associations of low income/material deprivation and other predictors of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in two surveys: The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of the population aged 19–64 years in mainland Britain and the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey (LIDNS) of adults aged ≥ 19 years in all regions of the UK who were screened to identify low-income/materially deprived households. A valid serum 25(OH)D sample was obtained in 1297 and 792 participants from the NDNS and LDNS respectively. The NDNS participants who were not receiving benefits (n 1054) had a mean 25(OH)D of 50·1 nmol/l, which was higher than among NDNS participants receiving benefits (n 243) with a mean 25(OH)D of 43·0 nmol/l (P < 0·001) and the LIDNS sample (46·5 nmol/l; P < 0·05). For all three samples, the season of drawing blood, skin colour, dietary intake of vitamin D, and intake of dietary supplements were significant predictors (P < 0·05) of serum 25(OH)D status in mutually adjusted regression models. National prevention and treatments strategies of poor vitamin D status need to be targeted to include the adult population, particularly deprived populations, in addition to the elderly and ethnic minorities.

scholarly journals Patterns and predictors of nut consumption: results from the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (12) ◽  
pp. 2028-2040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel C. Brown ◽  
Siew Ling Tey ◽  
Andrew R. Gray ◽  
Alexandra Chisholm ◽  
Claire Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
New Strategies

Regular nut consumption is associated with reduced CVD risk. Insight into nut consumption patterns provides important information to help design strategies to encourage intake. The present study aimed to describe nut consumption in terms of the percentage of consumers, mean grams eaten among the population and nut consumers, and to identify the predictors of nut consumption. Data from the 24 h dietary recalls of the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey (n 4721) were used to measure nut consumption. On the recall day, the percentages of consumers of whole nuts, nut butters and nuts from hidden sources were 6·9 % (n 240), 7·2 % (n 346) and 19·2 % (n 732), respectively (28·9 % (n 1167) combined (total)). The mean grams consumed by the population were relatively low for whole nuts (2·8 g/d), nut butters (0·9 g/d), nuts from hidden sources (1·5 g/d) and total nuts (5·2 g/d). Among consumers, the mean daily grams of whole nuts, nut butters, nuts from hidden sources and total nuts eaten were 40·3, 12·9, 7·8 and 17·9 g/d, respectively. Those aged 15–18 years had the lowest whole nut consumption, but had the highest nut butter consumption. The consumption of total nuts was positively associated with education and socio-economic status, while whole nut consumption was inversely associated with BMI. In conclusion, the low percentage of nut consumers is of concern and new strategies to increase nut consumption are required. Future public health initiatives should be mindful of these patterns and predictors. In particular, different forms of nuts may appeal to different age and socio-economic groups.

scholarly journals UK Food Standards Agency Workshop Consensus Report: the choice of method for measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D to estimate vitamin D status for the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey

2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne de la Hunty ◽  
A. Michael Wallace ◽  
Sigrid Gibson ◽  
Heli Viljakainen ◽  
Christel Lamberg-Allardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
Young Infants ◽  
Food Standards ◽  
25 Hydroxyvitamin D ◽  
The Uk

The consensus workshop, organised on behalf of the Food Standards Agency, was convened to recommend the most appropriate and secure method for measuring vitamin D status in the UK. Workshop participants (the Expert Panel) were invited on the basis of expertise in current 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) assays, or expertise in vitamin D nutrition and metabolism or detailed knowledge and experience in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). A decision support matrix, which set out the particular criteria by which the different options were scored and evaluated, was used to structure the discussion. The Expert Panel agreed that five methods for measuring 25OHD should be evaluated according to eleven criteria, selected on the basis of their relevance to the NDNS. All three of the evaluating subgroups of the Expert Panel produced similar total scores over the eleven criteria for the different methods; they scored LC–MS/MS and HPLC-UV similarly highly, while the scores for the immunoassay methods were lower. The Expert Panel recommended that an LC–MS/MS method should be the preferred method for the NDNS. A detailed specification for the method will be required to ensure comparability between NDNS and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the US facilitating future comparisons. The Expert Panel also recommended that the method should be carried out in a laboratory with appropriate expertise, competency and history of records of good performance. The method should be standardised against the National Institute of Standards and Technology SRM 972. If the recommended LC–MS/MS is adopted, the Expert Panel indicated that the method should be able to discriminate the C-3 epimer of 25OHD3, especially if used to measure 25OHD in young infants in the forthcoming Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children, who are known to have high circulating concentrations of the C-3 epimer.

Readability of out-patient letters copied to patients: can patients understand what is written about them?

2009 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Todhunter ◽  
P J Clamp ◽  
S Gillett ◽  
D D Pothier
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Ease Score ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Service Plan ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThe National Health Service Plan of 2000 proposed that patients should receive a copy of all correspondence regarding their care. There is concern that the readability of patients' letters may not be appropriate for many patients.Materials and methods:This study determined readability scores for sequential letters written to general practitioners and copied to patients, following ENT consultations at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Intervention involved educating clinicians in techniques to improve readability.Results and analysis:A total of 295 letters from eight clinicians were assessed in the pre-intervention phase. The mean Flesch reading ease score was 61.8 (standard deviation 8.7) and the mean Flesch–Kincaid reading grade was 9.0 (standard deviation 1.7). Re-audit analysed a further 301 letters. There was no significant change in the readability of the letters post-intervention.Discussion:It may not be feasible to present medical information intended for general practitioners in a way that is readable to most of the UK adult population.

scholarly journals Development and Reliability of the Oxford Meat Frequency Questionnaire

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 922
Author(s):  
Cristina Stewart ◽  
Kerstin Frie ◽  
Carmen Piernas ◽  
Susan A. Jebb
Keyword(s):  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Meat Intake ◽  
Meat Content ◽  
Food Standards ◽  
Seafood Products ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Reliable and valid measurements of meat intake are needed to advance understanding of its health effects and to evaluate interventions to reduce meat consumption. Here, we describe the development and reliability of the Oxford Meat Frequency Questionnaire (MFQ). It asks individuals to report the number of servings of meat and seafood products they consumed in the last 24 h and is administered daily over 7 days. The MFQ combines food portion size data from the UK Food Standards Agency with estimates of meat content in composite dishes from the UK’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Adults who self-reported to eat meat (n = 129) completed a 3-week web-based test–retest reliability study assessing the MFQ twice, with a wash-out week in the middle. Two-way random intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) revealed moderate to good agreement on all meat outcomes (total meat ICC = 0.716; minimum–maximum individual components = 0.531–0.680), except for fish and seafood (ICC = 0.257). Participants reported finding the questionnaire easy to use and, on average, completed it in less than 2 min. This new MFQ offers a quick, acceptable, and reliable method to measure changes in an individual’s meat intake in a UK population.

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