Brain substrates of unhealthy versus healthy food choices: influence of homeostatic status and body mass index

Obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions in the United States and Hispanic women, particularly Mexican American women, are disproportionately affected. This quality improvement project, which took place at a clinic in East Los Angeles, California, implemented body mass index calculation, an eight-item starting the conversation (STC) tool, and culturally sensitive nutrition education in an effort to change the overweight/obesity status of these women. There were 36 female Hispanic patients who participated in this study. There was a significant decrease in body mass index percentile from pre implementation to 2-months post implementation. The total STC score decreased significantly from pre implementation to 2-months post implementation, indicating a positive change in dietary behavior. Dietary screening and intervention tools can assist health care providers with early identification of overweight/obesity status and prevention of overweight/obesity-related diseases. The STC tool will allow the health care provider to start the conversation about healthy food choices and provide for further culturally sensitive nutrition education.

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The retail food environment and its association with body mass index in Mexico

International Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1038/s41366-021-00760-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elisa Pineda ◽

Eric J. Brunner ◽

Clare H. Llewellyn ◽

Jennifer S. Mindell

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Food Environment ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Density Increase ◽

Convenience Store ◽

Food Outlet ◽

Retail Food Environment ◽

Convenience Stores ◽

Retail Food

Abstract Background/Objective Mexico has one of the highest rates of obesity and overweight worldwide, affecting 75% of the population. The country has experienced a dietary and food retail transition involving increased availability of high-calorie-dense foods and beverages. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the retail food environment and body mass index (BMI) in Mexico. Subjects/Methods Geographical and food outlet data were obtained from official statistics; anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic characteristics of adult participants (N = 22,219) came from the nationally representative 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). Densities (store count/census tract area (CTA)) of convenience stores, restaurants, fast-food restaurants, supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores were calculated. The association of retail food environment variables, sociodemographic data and BMI was tested using multilevel linear regression models. Results Convenience store density was high (mean (SD) = 50.0 (36.9)/CTA) compared with other food outlets in Mexico. A unit increase in density of convenience stores was associated with a 0.003 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.0006, 0.005, p = 0.011) increase in BMI, equivalent to 0.34 kg extra weight for an adult 1.60 m tall for every additional 10% store density increase (number of convenience stores per CTA (km2)). Metropolitan areas showed the highest density of food outlet concentration and the highest associations with BMI (β = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.004–0.01, p < 0.001). A 10% store density increase in these areas would represent a 1 kg increase in weight for an adult 1.60 m tall. Conclusions Convenience store density was associated with higher mean BMI in Mexican adults. An excessive convenience store availability, that offers unhealthy food options, coupled with low access to healthy food resources or stores retailing healthy food, including fruits and vegetables, may increase the risk of higher BMI. This is the first study to assess the association of the retail food environment and BMI at a national level in Mexico.

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Wybory produktów żywnościowych przez dzieci w wieku szkolnym w kontekście zmian regulacji prawnych związanych ze sprzedażą produktów spożywczych w szkołach

Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW - Ekonomika i Organizacja Gospodarki Żywnościowej ◽

10.22630/eiogz.2016.115.39 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 151-161

Author(s):

Dominika Głąbska ◽

Monika Borowska ◽

Dominika Guzek

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Food Products ◽

Food Choices ◽

Legal Regulation ◽

Child Growth ◽

Growth Standards ◽

High Body ◽

Low Bmi

The aim of the study was to analyze the food choices made by schoolchildren, depending on their body mass. In the study participated 75 girls and 49 boys aged 10–13, who were divided into groups characterized by various body mass index (BMI) in comparison with child growth standards. The children were asked about food products bought on their own. Among the most frequently bought foods were sweet products, but buying sweets was less commonly declared by those with proper body mass than by those with high and low BMI. High body mass children least commonly bought water, but simultaneously – most commonly chips, cold cuts and ready-to-cook meals. It was stated that food choices are associated with body mass. It was indicated that not only legal regulation of assortment of food products available in schools is needed, but education as well.

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Reported food choices in older women in relation to body mass index and depressive symptoms

Appetite ◽

10.1016/j.appet.2008.08.008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 238-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Robert W. Jeffery ◽

Jennifer A. Linde ◽

Gregory E. Simon ◽

Evette J. Ludman ◽

Paul Rohde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Older Women ◽

Body Mass ◽

Food Choices

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The Time Is Ripe: Thinking about the Future Reduces Unhealthy Eating in Those with a Higher BMI

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9101391 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1391

Author(s):

Betty P. I. Chang ◽

Maria Almudena Claassen ◽

Olivier Klein

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Delay Discounting ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Stop Signal ◽

Stop Signal Task ◽

Unhealthy Food ◽

Unhealthy Eating ◽

The Future

Research suggests that being oriented more towards the future (than the present) is correlated with healthier eating. However, this research tends to be correlational, and thus it is unclear whether inducing people to think about their future could increase healthy eating. Therefore, we investigated whether inducing people to think about their lives in the future versus the present would influence their intake of healthy (muesli) and unhealthy (Maltesers) food. Across two experiments, the effect of thinking about the future versus the present interacted with participants’ body mass index (BMI) to influence their consumption of unhealthy food, but no reliable effects were found for the consumption of healthy food. Among individuals with a higher BMI, thinking about their lives in the future resulted in lower consumption of the unhealthy food compared to thinking about their lives in the present. However, this effect was reversed for those with a lower BMI. In Experiment 2, we found no evidence that this effect was due to reduced impulsivity (as measured by a delay discounting task and a stop-signal task). This suggests that thinking about the future can reduce unhealthy eating among heavier people.

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