Obesity Prevention Toolkit to Combat Weight Gain Related to Sedentary Behavior and Dietary Habits in College Students: An Evidence-Based Project

Background: Overweight/obesity during adolescence in lower-middle income countries has become a public health problem with consequences in adulthood. Inadequate dietary habits, poor diet quality, sedentary behavior, and parental obesity have been reported. Objective: To describe management of obesity-like food habits and behavior of adolescents from lower-middle income countries with respect to what keeps them using this diet (barriers) and what helps them avoid it (enablers). Methods: Systematic review of the literature related to obesity and food intake of adolescents conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Results: We classified 11 eligible studies describing the barriers to and enablers of the management of obesity-like food intake and obesity lifestyle. The dual burdens of malnutrition and increased urbanization have been observed. There is preference for processed food, dietary habits, and obesity-like food intake and sedentary behavior. Barriers to managing body weight gain included mostly consumption of fast-food and snack food, less vegetable and fruit intake, skipping meals, and sedentary behavior. Enablers of managing body weight gain included changes in nutritional habits, perception of the consumption of healthy food, physical activity, and engagement in programs to change lifestyle. Conclusion: The globalization of the fast food industry has provided an obesogenic environmental stimulus for adolescents in lower-middle income countries.

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Examining the Longitudinal Relationship Between Sleep and Weight Gain in College Students

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04100967 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Weight Gain

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Effect of lifestyle intervention on dietary habits, physical activity, and gestational weight gain in obese pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1280988.746106 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Marleen van Baak

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Lifestyle Intervention ◽

Gestational Weight Gain ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Gestational Weight ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Can Health-Promoting Schools Contribute to Better Health Behaviors? Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Dietary Habits among Israeli Adolescents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031183 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1183

Author(s):

Hila Beck ◽

Riki Tesler ◽

Sharon Barak ◽

Daniel Sender Moran ◽

Adilson Marques ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Group Differences ◽

Time Behavior ◽

Health Promoting ◽

The Mean

Schools with health-promoting school (HPS) frameworks are actively committed to enhancing healthy lifestyles. This study explored the contribution of school participation in HPS on students’ health behaviors, namely, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and dieting. Data from the 2018/2019 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study on Israeli adolescents aged 11–17 years were used. Schools were selected from a sample of HPSs and non-HPSs. Between-group differences and predictions of health behavior were analyzed. No between-group differences were observed in mean number of days/week with at least 60 min of PA (HPS: 3.84 ± 2.19 days/week, 95% confidence interval of the mean = 3.02–3.34; non-HPS: 3.93 ± 2.17 days/week, 95% confidence interval of the mean = 3.13–3.38). Most children engaged in screen time behavior for >2 h/day (HPS: 60.83%; non-HPS: 63.91%). The odds of being on a diet were higher among more active children (odds ratio [OR] = 1.20), higher socio-economic status (OR = 1.23), and female (OR = 2.29). HPS did not predict any health behavior. These findings suggest that HPSs did not contribute to health behaviors more than non-HPSs. Therefore, health-promoting activities in HPSs need to be improved in order to justify their recognition as members of the HPS network and to fulfill their mission.

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Extracurricular Sports Participation and Sedentary Behavior in Association with Dietary Habits and Obesity Risk in Children and Adolescents and the Role of Family Structure: a Literature Review

Current Nutrition Reports ◽

10.1007/s13668-021-00352-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aikaterini Kanellopoulou ◽

Dimitrios V. Diamantis ◽

Venetia Notara ◽

Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Family Structure ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Obesity Risk

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Formative work to design a digital learning self-assessment and feedback tool to prevent weight gain among college students

Digital Health ◽

10.1177/2055207620979458 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205520762097945

Author(s):

Melissa A Napolitano ◽

Sarah Beth Lynch ◽

Meghan N Mavredes ◽

Benjamin D Shambon ◽

Laurie Posey

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

College Students ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Usability Testing ◽

Formative Research ◽

Weight Gain Prevention ◽

Digital Learning ◽

High Fat ◽

Prototype Development ◽

Sugary Beverages

Objective While colleges have implemented brief, tailored interventions for health-risk areas such as alcohol prevention, theoretically-guided digital learning offerings for weight gain prevention have lagged behind in programming and implementation. Thus, the objective was to design and usability test a weight gain prevention digital learning platform for college students with modules targeting key nutrition and physical activity behaviors. Methods Development occurred in iterative phases: formative research, descriptive normative data collection, prototype development, and usability testing. Formative research consisted of background work and survey administration to incoming and current freshmen. Prototype development was guided by theories of behavior change and cognitive processing, and consisted of brief assessment and feedback using written text, graphs, and videos. Iterative usability testing was conducted. Results Current freshmen reported eating more quick order meals per week than incoming freshman, but fewer high-fat snacks and fewer sugary beverages. Current freshmen reported more sedentary time than incoming freshmen. Based on iterative testing results, eight behavioral targets were established: breakfast, high-fat snacks, fried foods, sugary beverages, fruit/vegetables, physical activity, pizza intake, and sedentary behavior. Initial usability testers indicated the modules were easy to understand, held their attention, and were somewhat novel. Analysis of qualitative feedback revealed themes related to content, layout, structure and suggested refinements to the modules. Conclusions A gap exists for evidence-based obesity prevention programs targeted to adolescents as they transition into adulthood. Brief, tailored digital learning interventions show promise towards addressing key behavioral nutrition and physical activity targets among students during the transition to college.

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A prospective study of eating away-from-home meals and weight gain in a Mediterranean population: the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) cohort

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980009992783 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1356-1363 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Maira Bes-Rastrollo ◽

Francisco Javier Basterra-Gortari ◽

Almudena Sánchez-Villegas ◽

Amelia Marti ◽

José Alfredo Martínez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Mediterranean Population ◽

University Graduates ◽

The Sun ◽

Adjusted Risk ◽

Mediterranean Countries ◽

Eating Out

AbstractObjectiveThe traditional Mediterranean food pattern is more easily preserved when meals are eaten at home; however, as a result of recent socio-economic changes, away-from-home meal consumption has increased rapidly in Mediterranean countries. Little research has been conducted so far to investigate the long-term health effects of these changes in the Mediterranean area.DesignIn a prospective Spanish dynamic cohort of 9182 university graduates (the SUN Study; Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra Follow-up) with a mean age of 37 years, followed up for an average of 4·4 years, we assessed the association between the frequency of eating out of home and weight gain or incident overweight/obesity. Dietary habits were assessed with an FFQ previously validated in Spain.ResultsDuring follow-up, eating-out consumers (two times or more per week) had higher average adjusted weight gain (+129 g/year, P < 0·001) and higher adjusted risk of gaining 2 kg or more per year (OR = 1·36; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·63) than non-eating-out consumers. Among participants with baseline BMI < 25 kg/m2, we observed 855 new cases of overweight/obesity. Eating away-from-home meals was significantly associated with a higher risk of becoming overweight/obese (hazard ratio = 1·33; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·57).ConclusionsA higher frequency of meals eaten out of home may play a role in the current obesity epidemic observed in some Mediterranean countries.

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The process of culturally adapting the Healthy Beginnings early obesity prevention program for Arabic and Chinese mothers in Australia

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10270-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Marshall ◽

Sarah Taki ◽

Penny Love ◽

Yvonne Laird ◽

Marianne Kearney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Prevention ◽

Cultural Adaptation ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Delivery Mode ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Cultural Adaptations ◽

Local Study ◽

Culturally Adapted ◽

Obesity Prevention Program

Abstract Background Behavioural interventions for the early prevention of childhood obesity mostly focus on English-speaking populations in high-income countries. Cultural adaptation is an emerging strategy for implementing evidence-based interventions among different populations and regions. This paper describes the initial process of culturally adapting Healthy Beginnings, an evidence-based early childhood obesity prevention program, for Arabic and Chinese speaking migrant mothers and infants in Sydney, Australia. Methods The cultural adaptation process followed the Stages of Cultural Adaptation theoretical model and is reported using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced. We first established the adaptation rationale, then considered program underpinnings and the core components for effectiveness. To inform adaptations, we reviewed the scientific literature and engaged stakeholders. Consultations included focus groups with 24 Arabic and 22 Chinese speaking migrant mothers and interviews with 20 health professionals. With input from project partners, bi-cultural staff and community organisations, findings informed cultural adaptations to the content and delivery features of the Healthy Beginnings program. Results Program structure and delivery mode were retained to preserve fidelity (i.e. staged nurse calls with key program messages addressing modifiable obesity-related behaviours: infant feeding, active play, sedentary behaviours and sleep). Qualitative analysis of focus group and interview data resulted in descriptive themes concerning cultural practices and beliefs related to infant obesity-related behaviours and perceptions of child weight among Arabic and Chinese speaking mothers. Based on the literature and local study findings, cultural adaptations were made to recruitment approaches, staffing (bi-cultural nurses and project staff) and program content (modified call scripts and culturally adapted written health promotion materials). Conclusions This cultural adaptation of Healthy Beginnings followed an established process model and resulted in a program with enhanced relevance and accessibility among Arabic and Chinese speaking migrant mothers. This work will inform the future cultural adaptation stages: testing, refining, and trialling the culturally adapted Healthy Beginnings program to assess acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness.

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The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits and physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11540-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manar Abduljalil Bakhsh ◽

Jomana Khawandanah ◽

Rouba Khalil Naaman ◽

Shoug Alashmali

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Adult Population ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Future Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments around the world to impose strict hygiene and national lockdown measures, which in turn has changed the dietary and lifestyle habits of the world’s population. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether dietary and physical activity behaviors of Saudi Arabia’s adult population changed during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods An electronic questionnaire which assessed changes in body weight, dietary habits, and physical activity of Saudi Arabia’s adult population (n = 2255) during the COVID-19 quarantine was distributed on social media between June and July 2020. To test the differences between changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors in relation to changes in body weight a Chi-square test was used. Results Over 40 and 45% of participants reported eating and snacking more, respectively, which led to weight gain in around 28%. Most participants reported that they consumed home-cooked (73%) and healthy meals (47%), while only 7% reported that they consumed foods from restaurants. Feelings of boredom and emptiness (44%) and the availability of time for preparing meals (40%) were the main reasons for changing dietary habits. Honey (43%) and vitamin C (50%) were the most consumed immune-boosting food and dietary supplement, respectively. COVID-19 also had a negative impact on physical activity, lowering the practice in 52% subjects, which was associated with significant weight gain (p < 0.001). Conclusion Assessing the changes to the population’s dietary habits and physical activity during the lockdown will help predict the outcome of the population’s future health and wellbeing after the pandemic.

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