scholarly journals Nutritional assessment of servicemen in relation to area of duty and feeding habits: a Pakistani prospective

2023 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. F. Khan ◽  
M. Sohaib ◽  
S. Iqbal ◽  
M. S. Haider ◽  
M. Chaudhry

Abstract The present study was carried out to determine incidence of overweight and obesity in Pakistani servicemen with reference to their area of duty, feeding habits and also to identify risk factors. Accordingly, 2,501 servicemen selected from all over Pakistan using multiple stage stratified sampling protocol. Nutrition assessment performed using body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and dietary assessment using food frequency questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed using the SPSS version 25. Regression was used to find risk factors of obesity and WHR. Results indicated that about 1/4th of servicemen were smokers. Approximately, 1/5th of them were overweight and about one quarter were eating fruits and vegetables for <3 days/ week and <4 days/week, respectively. Only 1/3rd of them were physically active for at least <40 minutes per day. Age and fruits intake were significantly predicting BMI with a direct relation and vegetable intake was negatively correlated to BMI of the servicemen. Age and rank were significant predictors of WHR while, physical activity was negatively correlated to WHR. It is concluded and suggested from our study that there is a need to modify eating patterns and habits as well as improving physical activity on daily basis for healthy and long life of the servicemen.

Author(s):  
Joshua B. Owolabi ◽  
Habibah O. Ayantayo ◽  
Nicholas F. Nwachukwu ◽  
Thomas K. Thomas ◽  
Ekei E. Ekpenyong

Background: The purpose of this research was to assess the dietary and physical activity habits of All Saints University College of Medicine students to determine if they were meeting the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines government’s dietary guidelines and to ascertain the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the students.Methods: Data were collected from the participants using a survey concerned with demographics, and self-assessment on dietary and physical activity habits. Descriptive statistics was used to report and analyse the data.Results: Study subjects consisted of 76 students. Eighty three percent of them were between the ages of 16 and 25 years. Sixty–one percent were female and 39% were male. The majority of the student respondents (76%) were aware of the importance of eating healthy and being physically active each day, and 50-66% of the respondents engaged in and enjoyed physical activity, achieved the recommended daily amount of vegetable intake, were at a normal body mass index (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and reported satisfaction with their weight. However, majority (80%) of the respondents consumed fast food; about a third of them did not consume fruits nor exercise regularly, reporting lack of time, interest and self-discipline as major reasons.Conclusions: The results indicate that the majority of All Saints University Medical College students had high level of knowledge of overweight and obesity and were involved in some healthy behaviours that helped them achieve normal BMI. However, the poor nutritional and physical activity habits of many of the students could benefit from intervention programs to moderate the tendency for overweight and obesity in the student population.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinav Vaidya ◽  
Natalia Oli ◽  
Umesh R Aryal ◽  
Damber B Karki ◽  
Alexandra Krettek

Behavioral risk factors, particularly the major four- tobacco consumption, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity- are accountable for a major proportion of cardiovascular disease burden. Driven by urbanization and globalization, these risk factors are rising in many of the low- income countries including Nepal. Population-based surveys and hospital reports indicate cardiovascular diseases are rising in Nepal. The first countrywide WHO-STEPS risk factor survey conducted in 2007-2008 showed that 23.8% are daily smokers, 28.5% are current drinkers, and 61.9% consumed less than five servings of fruits and vegetables, while 5.5% had low physical activity. Risk factors are generally more prevalent in urban areas than rural. We aimed to study the status of these behavioural risk factors in a community that is rapidly undergoing transition from a village to an urban community. We conducted the study in Duwakot and Jhaukhel, two urbanizing villages 13 kilometers from the capital Kathmandu. Six clusters were randomly selected. Altogether 777 adults aged 25-59 years consented to participate. Questions were based on the WHO-STEPS survey. Current smokers included those who affirmed to the question ‘Do you smoke?’ Current drinkers had ‘consumed alcohol in the previous one month’. Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake indicated those who were taking less than five servings of combined fruit and vegetable in a day. Physical activity was subjectively measured by asking about the respondent’s activities at work, travel and leisure. Having low physical activity meant not meeting any of the GPAQ (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) criteria of adequate physical activity. Prevalence of the four major behavioral risk factors was high in the community. Addictive behavioural risk factors were particularly higher in the males than in the females: current smoking (33.5% vs. 14.7%), current smokeless tobacco consumption (20.2% vs. 3.3%), and current alcohol drinking (34.5 % vs. 12.6%). Only 2% of the study population fulfilled the recommended minimum five servings of fruits and vegetables. Low physical activity was present in 43.3% of the respondents, with a higher prevalence seen among the females, elderly, more educated and those on non-agro works. In conclusion, there is particularly high physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake in the community indicating negative effects of urbanization such as changing dietary habit and escalating sedentary lifestyle. Because the community is still beginning to urbanize, it is important that timely population-based health promotional strategies and favourable environmental modifications are implemented to counteract the effects of urbanization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bellisario ◽  
R Bono ◽  
G Squillacioti ◽  
M Caputo ◽  
I Gintoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Childhood obesity is an important public health issue worldwide and includes different risk factors, such as environmental pollutants exposure or physical activity. Neighborhood composition and green spaces availability could contrast obesogenic lifestyles and promote healthy habits, whereas, urbanization and traffic volume exposure are inversely associated with physical activity and worsen effects on childhood health. Methods This project analyzed students involved in the HBSC survey from the Piedmont Region. Data were collected in 2018, following the protocol. All the subjects were georeferenced within buffers around schools. Green-spaces availability was measured by Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI-satellite images) while urbanization was calculated by population density, traffic intensity (satellite measurements) and air pollution concentration (sampling stations). Results Overall, the sample included 3022 subjects, with amount 50% male/female and 30% for each age group (11-13-15 years old). Concerning weight status, above 14% of the all sample is obese or overweight, with, respectively, 20% among boys and 11% among girls. Preliminary analyses showed an association between weight status and population density (rural vs urbanized areas). Currently, we are analyzing the association with greenness and the other measures of urbanization. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that high urbanization levels impact health implementing weight in children. We are testing the hypothesis that greenness positively influences weight status and reduce negative effects of urbanization and air pollution. The managing of these risk factors must be deepened and corroborated by active preventive Public Health strategies for improving children health. Key messages Urbanization and greenness may influence weight status in children. Public Health strategies must be improved for children health.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e044066
Author(s):  
Prashant Mathur ◽  
Vaitheeswaran Kulothungan ◽  
Sravya Leburu ◽  
Anand Krishnan ◽  
Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo generate national estimates of key non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors for adolescents (15–17 years) identified in the National NCD Monitoring Framework and, study the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards NCD risk behaviours among school-going adolescents.Design and settingA community-based, national, cross-sectional survey conducted during 2017–2018. The survey was coordinated by the Indian Council of Medical Research—National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research with 10 reputed implementing research institutes/organisations across India in urban and rural areas.ParticipantsA multistage sampling design was adopted covering ages between 15 and 69 years—adolescents (15–17 years) and adults (18–69 years). The sample included 12 000 households drawn from 600 primary sampling units. All available adolescents (15–17 years) from the selected households were included in the survey.Main outcome measuresKey NCD risk factors for adolescents (15–17 years)—current tobacco and alcohol use, dietary behaviours, insufficient physical activity, overweight and obesity.ResultsOverall, 1402 households and 1531 adolescents completed the survey. Prevalence of current daily use of tobacco was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.0% to 4.7%), 25.2% (95% CI: 22.2% to 28.5%) adolescents showed insufficient levels of physical activity, 6.2% (95% CI: 4.9% to 7.9%) were overweight and 1.8% (95% CI: 1.0% to 2.9%) were obese. Two-thirds reported being imparted health education on NCD risk factors in their schools/colleges.ConclusionThe survey provides baseline data on NCD-related key risk factors among 15–17 years in India. These national-level data fill information gaps for this age group and help assess India’s progress towards NCD targets set for 2025 comprehensively. Though the prevalence of select risk factors is much lower than in many developed countries, this study offers national evidence for revisiting and framing appropriate policies, strategies for prevention and control of NCDs in younger age groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Martinez-Rueda ◽  
M A Camacho ◽  
I J Díaz

Abstract Background The changes generated in the studentś lifestyle due to the academic demands, may favour the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases as well as compromise other domains of their life. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of behavioural risk factors in students of the Professional in Physical Activity and Sports program of a University in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methods A cross-sectional study with a sample of 189 students was conducted. The students were surveyed with the first step of the STEPs questionnaire, which evaluates the behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases. A descriptive data analysis was performed, and Pearson tests were applied to determine the correlation between the analysed variables with a level of significance α = 0.05 using STATA 13.0. Results 80% of the participants were men. The age average was 22.7 ± 3.85 years. Regarding tobacco use, 10.1% of the participants were current smokers, while 30% smoked before. The majority of the participants (92.2%) have consumed alcohol within the past 12 months, while 69.8% consumed alcohol within the last month, with 8.7% of hazardous drinking. Concerning the diet, only 24.9% met the recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables per day. When assessing physical activity levels, only 6.3% were classified as physically inactive. Additionally, an average of 6 hours of sedentary behaviour was found, with 31.2% of excessive sedentary time. A weak correlation was found between age and academic cycle with the amount of physical activity at work (r = 0.24), (r = 0.18) and with sedentary time (r = -0.28), (-0, 32). Conclusions Although the prevalence of tobacco consumption was slightly higher than the national average, the students showed a lower prevalence of behavioural risk factors than the general population. However, it is necessary to promote strategies aimed at the control and prevention of these risk factors. Key messages Being a student of a program focused on physical activity and sport, can behave as a protective factor against the most prevalent risk factors in university life. It is necessary to implement more strategies centred on making students aware of the importance of the maintenance and improvement of their lifestyles in accordance with their professional profile.


2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie N. Powers ◽  
Charlotte V. Farewell ◽  
Emily Maiurro ◽  
Jini Puma

Background: Early childhood education (ECE) working environments often contribute to poor health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe healthy eating–related and physical activity–related awareness and adoption of behavior change of ECE providers after participating in a workplace wellness (WW) program and to explore facilitators and barriers to ECE provider participation in WW program. Methods: The WW program offered healthy eating and physical activity challenges to promote ECE provider health and well-being. Approximately 1,000 ECE providers in Colorado from 35 ECE settings were invited to participate. After the intervention, ECE providers completed two surveys: (a) a provider postsurvey and (b) a WW challenge survey. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to examine factors associated with percent agreement that participation in the WW program increased awareness and adoption of health behaviors. Findings: A total of 250 (25%) ECE providers participated in WW program from 2015 to 2017. After participation, approximately 84% of respondents agreed they were more aware of the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and of being physically active, while 81% reported eating more fruits and vegetables, and 80% reported being more physically active in the workplace. Logistic regression models found that the length of time teaching in ECE settings was positively and significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.00, 1.21]) with the odds of providers agreeing that participation in the WW program increased their awareness of health behaviors. Conclusion/Application to Practice: The design and implementation of WW programs that emphasize facilitators, such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as reduce barriers, such as time constraints and unachievable goal setting, may increase the awareness and adoptions of healthy eating–related and physical activity–related behaviors among ECE work settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 003685042110037
Author(s):  
Zhichong Chen ◽  
Menghui Liu ◽  
Shaozhao Zhang ◽  
Zhenyu Xiong ◽  
Xiangbin Zhong ◽  
...  

China is at a stage of rapid urbanization over the past decades, and the association of urbanization with cardiovascular disease has been confirmed by previous studies. However, few studies assessed the association of urbanization with cardiovascular risk factors, especially in Chinese population. We conducted a cross-sectional, populational-based study, using data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in 2009. The logistic regression was used to assess the association of urbanization measured by urban index with cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, physical activity and fruits and vegetables consumption), varied with sex. The current study included 18,887 participants enrolled (mean age 39.8 ± 19.8 years; 52.2% female) who live in China. In regression model, the urban index was significantly associated with the variations of cardiovascular risk factors for male, including diabetes (OR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.22–1.48), hypercholesterolemia (OR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09–1.22), never smoking (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.89–0.96), higher fruits and vegetables consumptions (OR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87–0.99), higher body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.10–1.22), and higher physical activity (OR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.66–0.73). Compared with the male, the associations of urban index with cardiovascular risk factors for female were similar, but not for BMI (OR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.96–1.05). The present finding emphasizes the changes of cardiovascular risk factors associated with urbanization in China, and indicated that close attention should be paid to the risk of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and men’s obesity in the process of urbanization.


2016 ◽  
pp. 143-148
Author(s):  
Pavlo Kolesnik ◽  
Timea Korol ◽  
Ivanna Shushman ◽  
Aita Prohorova

The article deals with the question of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the cohort of mental profession. It determines the level of their motivation for lifestyle changes, as well as possibility to enhance their motivation while using of the guar gum Guarem drug (Orion Corporation, Finland). 161 persons where skinned for diet habits, physical activity, the presence of risk factors as well as dislipidemiya. Motivation for lifestyle changes was evaluated. It was found that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in population with predominantly mental and light physical labor, is extremely high at 68% women and 73% men and incidence increased with age. While dynamic monitoring of the patients, who underwent motivational counseling while taking the drug guar gum Guarem, noted strengthening of motivation to comply with the recommendations, compared with patients who received only verbal motivation.


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lajous ◽  
Laura Tondeur ◽  
Agnes Fournier ◽  
Francoise Clavel-Chapelon

Background: There is controversy over whether cardiovascular disease and venous thromboembolism (VTE) share risk factors. Prospective information on risk factors for VTE in otherwise healthy individuals is limited. Methods and Results We evaluated the relation between known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and incidence of VTE among 65,272 French women in the E3N prospective cohort study with no prior history of VTE and who were free of cardiovascular disease or cancer in 1993. All information was self-reported via mailed questionnaires and diet and physical activity were assessed using previously validated instruments. Between 1993 and 2007, 766 cases of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were first identified through self-reports and validated using medical records and information from treating physicians. Cases were considered valid if the diagnosis was based on an imaging procedure. We evaluated the following risk factors: education, menopause, postmenopausal hormone use, treated hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking status and intake of alcohol, red meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, fiber and coffee. In a multivariable model with age as the time scale, we found that, compared to women with a BMI <22 kg/m2, the HR (95%CI) was 1.35 (1.14, 1.60) for 22–24.9 kg/m2, 2.11 (1.73, 2.57) for 25–29.9 kg/m2 and 2.88 (2.08, 3.98) for ≥30 kg/m2 and the p-trend was <0.0001. Menopause was found to be inversely associated with VTE risk [HR=0.60 (95%CI 0.45–0.80); postmenopausal vs. premenopausal women]. In analyses restricted to postmenopausal women, relative to never users current use of postmenopausal hormones was significantly associated to VTE risk [HR=1.44 (95%CI 1.18–1.74)]. No significant association was found with dietary and other cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion In this large prospective study only some risk factors for cardiovascular disease were associated to VTE incidence. We observed a strong inverse association between menopause and VTE.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renatha Pacific ◽  
Kissa Kulwa ◽  
Haikael D. Martin ◽  
Pammla Petrucka

Purpose This study aims at determining the risk of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors on overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 10–13 years in Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach A case-control study was conducted from January to March 2020 involving 69 overweight/obese children as cases and 138 normal weight children as controls. Cases were identified as having body mass index-for-age ≥ +1 standard deviation (SD) and controls as those having BMI-for-age range between −2 SD to <+1 SD. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection on daily physical activities and sedentary behavior types, frequency duration and activity score. An independent sample t-test was used to compare means of activity score between cases and controls. Binary logistic regression was used to predict risk factors for overweight/obesity. Findings Risk factors for overweight/obesity were listening to music and/or radio for >2 h/week (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.1) and walking for exercise <2 h/week (OR 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–4.1). On the other hand, rope skipping for >2 h/week (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03–0.7) was a protective factor against overweight/obesity. Controls had a significantly higher mean score of being active during lunch breaks compared to cases (p = 0.012). Cases had higher weight, height and percentage body fat than controls (p < 0.001). The home environment provided more avenues for physical activity than the school environment. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is original research work and the first case-control study to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight and obesity in Tanzanian school children.


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