scholarly journals ‘Eating to survive’: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing food choice and eating behaviour in a food-insecure population

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo-Anne Puddephatt ◽  
Gregory S Keenan ◽  
Amy Fielden ◽  
Danielle Reaves ◽  
Jason Halford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Access To Food

Food insecurity affects approximately 8.4 million people in the UK, one of the worst levels in Europe. Food insecurity is associated with poor diet quality and obesity; however, the drivers of this relationship are unclear. This study used a qualitative approach to explore factors that influence food choice and eating behaviour in a food-insecure population in Liverpool, UK. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with adults (N=24) who were clients at foodbanks. The interviews were informed by a semi-structured interview schedule, which focussed on access to food, factors influencing food choices, and strategies used to conserve food. Interview transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Six themes were identified; ‘Income’, ‘Cost of food’, ‘Accessibility of shops’, ‘Health issues’, ‘Food rationing strategies’ and ‘Worsened health outcomes’. Income was the most salient factor influencing participants’ food choices with all participants reporting a constant struggle to afford food. Food decisions were primarily based on cost; most participants valued eating healthily but could not afford to do so. Strategies to ration food included skipping meals, consuming small portions, cooking in bulk, and prioritising children’s food intake. The majority of participants reported pre-existing physical and/or mental health issues, but these were exacerbated by poor access to food leading to a vicious cycle of stress and worsening health issues. In conclusion, participants’ food choices and eating behaviour seemed to be most strongly influenced by their level of income. Findings also highlight the mental health impact of food insecurity. Initiatives addressing income and the cost of healthy food are required.

scholarly journals Perceptual salience influences food choices independently of health and taste preferences

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Dai ◽  
Jeremy Cone ◽  
Jeff Moher
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Taste Preference ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Perceptual Salience ◽  
Choice Tests

Abstract Background Making decisions about food is a critical part of everyday life and a principal concern for a number of public health issues. Yet, the mechanisms involved in how people decide what to eat are not yet fully understood. Here, we examined the role of visual attention in healthy eating intentions and choices. We conducted two-alternative forced choice tests of competing food stimuli that paired healthy and unhealthy foods that varied in taste preference. We manipulated their perceptual salience such that, in some cases, one food item was more perceptually salient than the other. In addition, we manipulated the cognitive load and time pressure to test the generalizability of the salience effect. Results Manipulating salience had a powerful effect on choice in all situations; even when an unhealthy but tastier food was presented as an alternative, healthy food options were selected more often when they were perceptually salient. Moreover, in a second experiment, food choices on one trial impacted food choices on subsequent trials; when a participant chose the healthy option, they were more likely to choose a healthy option again on the next trial. Furthermore, robust effects of salience on food choice were observed across situations of high cognitive load and time pressure. Conclusions These results have implications both for understanding the mechanisms of food-related decision-making and for implementing interventions that might make it easier for people to make healthy eating choices.

scholarly journals Snacking cessation: It’s time to challenge this eating behaviour

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 351-355
Author(s):  
Catherine Krejany ◽  
Epi Kanjo ◽  
Moyez Jiwa
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Eating Pattern ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Health Challenge ◽  
The Way

Our habits have changed over the generations. In particular, our eating behaviours continue to adapt and are intrinsically linked with changing social norms and myriad other influences leading us to consume more. In light of the obesity epidemic that threatens to be our greatest health challenge, the race is on to find new ways to modify or alter our food choices to those considered more “healthful”. Somewhere along the way snacking has become an acceptable eating pattern. We are uncomfortable foregoing these readily available and hedonistic food rewards. It may be time to change more than our food choice and question the need to snack at all.

scholarly journals ‘Eating to survive’: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing food choice and eating behaviour in a food-insecure population

Appetite ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 104547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo-Anne Puddephatt ◽  
Gregory S. Keenan ◽  
Amy Fielden ◽  
Danielle L. Reaves ◽  
Jason C.G. Halford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Factors Influencing

scholarly journals Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1898
Author(s):  
Pin-Jane Chen ◽  
Marta Antonelli
Keyword(s):  
Food Choice ◽  
Conceptual Models ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Factors Influencing

Understanding individual food choices is critical for transforming the current food system to ensure healthiness of people and sustainability of the planet. Throughout the years, researchers from different fields have proposed conceptual models addressing factors influencing the food choice, recognized as a key leverage to improve planetary and human health. However, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to better understand how different factors are involved and interact with each other in the decision-making process. The present paper reviews and analyzes existing models, providing an intact point-of-view by integrating key elements into a bigger framework. Key determinants of general food choice are identified and categorized, including food-internal factor (sensory and perceptual features), food-external factors (information, social environment, physical environment), personal-state factors (biological features and physiological needs, psychological components, habits and experiences), cognitive factors (knowledge and skills, attitude, liking and preference, anticipated consequences, and personal identity), as well as sociocultural factors (culture, economic variables, political elements). Moreover, possible directions of influence among the factors towards final food choice were discussed. The need of multidisciplinary impulses across research field with the support of empirical data are crucial for understanding factors influencing food choice as well as for enriching existing conceptual models. The framework proposed here would serve as a roadmap for facilitating communications and collaborations between research fields in a structural and systematic way.

The Importance of Assessing and Treating Mental Health in Transition-Aged Adolescents with Epilepsy: A 1-Year Follow-up

2020 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 186-192
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Healy ◽  
Tadeu A. Fantaneanu ◽  
Sharon Whiting
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Adult Care ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Transition Clinic ◽  
The Impact

AbstractMental health issues become especially problematic when adolescents with epilepsy are preparing to transition from pediatric to adult care. Consistent with guidelines, a transition clinic with ongoing mental health assessment was created, providing treatment to patients scoring in the moderate severity range or higher. In order to examine the effectiveness of our epilepsy transition clinic and the impact of mental health in transition-aged adolescents, baseline and one-year follow-up data were compared in 36 participants (M = 15.82 years, 24 males). Results showed that the majority of participants had improved or comparable mental health scores at follow-up. Furthermore, participants who met threshold for mental health treatment had significantly improved mental health (t = 3.19, p = 0.015), while those who did not showed worsened mental health (t =  − 2.50, p = 0.019). Looking specifically at mental health impact, those with worsened mental health showed significantly worsened quality of life (t = 3.35, p = 0.012). Furthermore, those without mental health issues showed improved transition skills (t =  − 3.86, p = 0.002), while those with mental health issues did not. Results suggest that the transition clinic is effective in helping transition-aged adolescents with their mental health. Additionally, findings suggest that addressing these mental health issues are essential to ensuring successful transitions and the best outcomes in these patients.

scholarly journals COVID-19 IMPACT: NEW TENDENCIES AND TRENDS IN MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 2836-2839
Author(s):  
Viktor Vus ◽  
Anastasiia Puzyrina
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Traditional Values ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
The Individual

The aim: To provide an analysis of contemporary investigations in the area of Mental Health Care for the individual \ population; to define the main trends, tendencies, key concepts of these investigations during \ after Covid -19 pandemic and established restrictions. Materials and methods: A literary review (163 research publications totally) of relevant articles was performed (a scoping review method) based on the followings criteria: publication year (2020-2021), publication source (only PubMed and Open Access), mental health issues in regards of individual \ population. We used “mental health,” “covid19 mental health”, “impact of covid 19 on mental health,” and “covid 19 mental health impact” keywords for searching related research papers in the Pubmed database. Additionally, the clinical case of social restrictions’ impact on a patient’ mental health is described. Conclusions: The main trends of modern research are determined by: the search for more modern scientific terms and categories (E – Mental Health, digital Mental Health, Tele-Mental Health, etc.); study of risks and benefits of widespread use of virtual and information technologies in the field of Mental Health Care; diagnosis and treatment of new mental health disorders; reassessment of traditional values, active search for new meanings in the field of interpersonal and intergroup relationships; development of health-responsive economy and health-responsive society

Assessing the knowledge, perceptions, and mental health impact of COVID-19 among students in Rwanda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hawa Iye Obaje ◽  
Grace Chinelo Okengwu ◽  
Jolly Josiah Kenan ◽  
Aimable Uwimana ◽  
Andre Ndayambaje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Offline Learning ◽  
Learning Platforms

Purpose This paper aims to assess the knowledge, perceptions and mental health impact of COVID-19 among students in Rwanda. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a cross-sectional online survey questionnaire. Findings The mean knowledge score among the 375 respondents was 75.14% (SD ± 19.1), with 195 (55.1%) of the respondents scoring below 80%. Students who believed that COVID-19 education was sufficient were more likely to have lower knowledge levels (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.15; 2.94). While most respondents were aware of their vulnerability to the virus, they did not see themselves at risk of becoming infected. The percentage of respondents reported to have some form of mental health issues was 49.7%. The three most important factors in influencing mental health were age, history of mental health issues, and the way news was reported. Education quality was less affected for those who received online schooling (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33, 0.94). Practical implications Education about COVID-19 should be strengthened by capitalizing on existing online and offline learning platforms to frequently update new or changing information. Originality/value This paper was the first study assessing the knowledge, perception and mental health impact of COVID-19 among Rwanda students.

scholarly journals Adverse Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Individuals With Tourette Syndrome in Italy: An Online Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Conte ◽  
Valentina Baglioni ◽  
Francesca Valente ◽  
Flavia Chiarotti ◽  
Francesco Cardona
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
Clinical Worsening

During the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Italy, an online survey was launched via a local patient advocacy website to investigate mental health issues in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome (TS). Respondents were parents, who were asked to report on their child's general health, tics, comorbidities/problems, pharmacological treatment/psychotherapy, symptom variations, and daily routine, as well as on their family's health and work experiences during the pandemic. Two hundred thirty-eight people participated in the survey, 203 females and 35 males. Our findings indicate that, in the time window of 4–6 weeks after the beginning of the COVID-19-related lockdown, 67% of individuals with TS developed a relevant worsening of the overall clinical condition as rated by their parents. An improvement or no variation of the clinical picture was reported in 20.5 and 6.7% of cases, respectively. Most worsened symptoms included tics, hyperactivity, rage attacks, obsessions/compulsions, and anxiety. Of the subjects experiencing a clinical worsening, the majority (51.76%) showed variations across two to five symptom domains. No association was found between symptom variation and family demographics or health and economic issues specifically related to the lockdown. The current COVID-19 pandemic is exerting a considerable impact on the mental health of young individuals with TS by worsening both tics and emotional and behavioral symptoms.

scholarly journals Subjective Sensations related to Food as Determinants of Snack Choice

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Duerlund ◽  
Barbara Vad Andersen ◽  
Niki Alexi ◽  
Mei Peng ◽  
Derek Victor Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Physical Wellbeing ◽  
Unhealthy Snacks

Comprehending the complexity and determinants of food choices can help understand facets of the growing obesity epidemic. Focusing on consumers’ subjective sensations as determinants of food choices can provide essential insights into eating behaviors. We explored subjective sensations linked to appetite, desire, wellbeing and energy. This study aims to 1) quantify subjective temporal sensations, and 2) study the effects of these sensations on snack choice. Two-hundred and fifty-three participants (mean age 20.5) evaluated subjective sensations using a visual analogue scale. The choice of one of six snacks was offered to the participants; choices were recorded as implicit choice measures. The results demonstrated that especially sensory specific desire sensations (Salty, Fatty, Sweet desire) affected, either positively or negatively, snack choice. Furthermore, wellbeing sensations (Overall, Mental, Physical wellbeing) also showed significant effects for snack choice. Health-conscious females chose healthy snacks, and males chose unhealthy snacks. Importantly, this research indicates the relevance of subjective sensations in consumer studies that focus on diverse determinants of food choice. Sensory specific desires and wellbeing sensations were notably shown to be important determinants of snack choice. The contribution of different sensations to food choice is imperative, and helps us to understand aspects of snacking behavior. This could have broader implications concerning public health issues and obesity.

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