Patient Evaluation of Food Waste in Three Hospitals in Southern Italy

In recent years, food waste has received great attention and is now considered the cause of many negative effects, including health, economic, social and environmental issues. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 762 inpatients at three hospitals of Campania region in Italy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of food waste occurring in these hospitals using a structured questionnaire and asking inpatients about the average percentage of food they had disposed of in the previous three days. The overall food wasted amounted to 41.6%. The main plates, first (pasta or rice), second plate (meat or fish), resulted in similar amounts of waste (38.5% and 39.7%, respectively). The side plate (vegetable or potatoes), however, generated the greatest amount of waste (55.0%); 40.7% of patients totally discarded this part of their meals. The type of food wastage among the three hospitals reflected similar patient behaviours, with the amount of food wasted never falling below 30%. Females tended to waste more food than males (59.1% vs. 38.2%; p = 0.000). Other variables were correlated with less food waste, such as having a good opinion of the food’s quality (RR = 1.91; 95% C.I. = 1.68–2.17) and satisfaction with the foodservice in general (RR = 1.86; 95% C.I. = 1.64–2.10). Poor quality, different eating habits and the feeling of satiety were the main reasons patients gave for food waste. Our study suggests that the most promising way to reduce food waste in hospitals is to improve the quality of meals and to establish an individual, simplified and flexible meal reservation process based on specific needs and preferences.

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Eating Habits during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: The Nutritional and Lifestyle Side Effects of the Pandemic

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072279 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2279

Author(s):

Federica Grant ◽

Maria Luisa Scalvedi ◽

Umberto Scognamiglio ◽

Aida Turrini ◽

Laura Rossi

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Waste Prevention ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nutritional Recommendations ◽

Food And Nutrition ◽

Excessive Consumption

To limit the spread of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a nationwide lockdown started in Italy in March 2020. In this unpredictable situation, a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was carried out by the Observatory on Food Surplus, Recovery and Waste of CREA Food and Nutrition Centre. The aim of this work was to evaluate how Italian habits changed during this period, the determinants of changes, and the effect on food waste prevention. In a sample of 2678 respondents, 62% showed low Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (AMD). During lockdown many of participants improved the quality of their diet, increasing their consumption of fruit (24.4%), vegetables (28.5%), legumes (22.1%), nuts (12%), and fish or shellfish (14%). Unfavorable changes were observed with the excessive consumption of sweets or pastries (36.9%) and comfort foods (22.7%), and a lack of physical activity (37.2%). The main novelty of this study was the examination of dietary changes identified by a cluster analysis. Respondents with generally high AMD improved their eating habits, while the habits of the respondents with generally low AMD remained unchanged. In addition, nearly 80% of respondents were sensitive to food waste. The study provides a useful contribution to the debate on nutritional recommendations in case of further lockdown.

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Children-menus in restaurants of Portuguese, Hungarian and Croatian shopping centres: A qualitative study

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.891 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

J P M Lima ◽

C Viegas ◽

C Afonso ◽

A Tóth ◽

C B Illés ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Shopping Centres ◽

Side Dish ◽

Home Food ◽

Healthy Eating Habits ◽

Section Form

Abstract Background Families to eat out frequently use shopping centres and, there is evidence that children's menus are poor nutritional quality. Obesity rates have increased all over the world, and it has been associated to the observed out of home food consumption. This study aimed to characterise children's menus in shopping center restaurants in Portugal, Hungary and Croatia, as a preliminary study to further develop strategies to intervene. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in shopping centres in Portugal, Hungary and Croatia. Only the ones providing a children's menu were selected. Data collection tool was developed by the research team, consisting of a three-section form to identify and characterise the restaurant and analyses the quality of children's menu. Results Researcher visited 295 restaurants, from which only 69 provided a children's menu. From these 12 restaurants offered gifts associated with it. The most frequently featured items on the menu were hamburgers (22%), grilled or fried chicken (19%), nuggets (17%) and pizza (12%). Potato chips were the most frequent side dish option (33%). Only 11 restaurants offered vegetable soup or vegetables. Although water was available, a variety of soft drinks and sugary fruit juices were also options. Sweet dessert is a common part of the menu. Nutritional information is present in only 13% of the menus. Menu prices do not differ much, Portugal having the higher average (x ̅ = €5.35±1.45). Hungary had the lower average (x ̅ = €4.30±1.50) and Croatia the lowest range (min=€3.00, max=€7.40). Conclusions Children's menu options have poor quality. Shifting foods offered to children in restaurants has the potential to improve diet quality, reduce excess energy intake and promote healthy eating habits. Key messages European strategies are needed to promote children healthy food environment. Following aim is to develop and test balanced menus for children among food chains.

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Eating habits among primary and secondary school students in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Appetite ◽

10.1016/j.appet.2021.105222 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105222

Author(s):

Afnan Radwan ◽

Eqbal Radwan ◽

Walaa Radwan

Keyword(s):

Secondary School ◽

Secondary School Students ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Gaza Strip ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

School Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Gaza Strip ◽

Primary And Secondary School

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Discrimination and Health: The Mediating Effect of Acculturative Stress

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105312 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5312

Author(s):

Alfonso Urzúa ◽

Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar ◽

Diego Henríquez ◽

David R. Williams

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Acculturative Stress ◽

Short Form ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Ethnic Discrimination ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional

There is not much evidence on the effects of south–south migration and its consequences on physical and mental health. Our objective was to examine the mediating role of Acculturative Stress in the association between ethnic discrimination and racial discrimination with physical and mental health. This research is a non-experimental, analytical, cross-sectional study. A total of 976 adult Colombian migrants living in Chile were interviewed. We used the Everyday Discrimination Scale, the acculturative stress scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12) for health status; we found that racial and ethnic discrimination had a negative effect on physical and mental health. In the simultaneous presence of both types of discrimination, racial discrimination was completely absorbed by ethnic discrimination, the latter becoming a total mediator of the effect of racial discrimination on mental and physical health. Our findings are consistent with the literature, which suggests that there are various types of discrimination which, individually or in their intersectionality, can have negative effects on health.

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Predictors of COVID-19-Related Perceived Improvements in Dietary Health: Results from a US Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13062097 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 2097

Author(s):

Kelly Cosgrove ◽

Christopher Wharton

Keyword(s):

Dietary Habits ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Income Loss ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthy Eating Habits ◽

Health Related ◽

Survey Responses

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial lifestyle changes. No US study has identified predictors of perceived dietary healthfulness changes during the pandemic period. This study included analyses of lifestyle and dietary healthfulness changes using 958 survey responses from US primary household food purchasers. Information was collected related to demographics, COVID-19-related household changes, and health-related habits before and during the pandemic. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of perceived increase in dietary healthfulness during the pandemic period. Overall, 59.8%, 16.4%, and 23.4% of participants reported that their eating habits likely changed, may have changed, and likely did not change, respectively. Of the participants whose dietary habits likely or may have changed, 64.1%, 16.8%, and 19% reported healthier, neither healthier nor less healthy, and less healthy eating habits, respectively. COVID-19-related income loss, more meals consumed with household members in front of the television, an increase in food advertisement exposure, increased perceived stress, and better perceived current health were significant predictors of a perceived increase in dietary healthfulness. Overall, dietary habits were perceived to become healthier during the pandemic. The predictors of perceived improvement in dietary healthfulness were surprising and indicate the need for further study of these factors in crisis and noncrisis situations.

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Relationship between nurses' perceptions of mental support and their positive and negative effects: A cross‐sectional study

Perspectives In Psychiatric Care ◽

10.1111/ppc.12831 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emotion Tuning ◽

Fatma Karasu

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nurses Perceptions

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Food Waste and Its Association with Diet Quality of Foods Purchased in South Florida

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082535 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2535

Author(s):

Vanessa Mijares ◽

Jair Alcivar ◽

Cristina Palacios

Keyword(s):

Food Waste ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

South Florida ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Grocery Purchase

The objective of this study was to explore the associations between food waste and the diet quality of foods purchased and with grocery purchasing behaviors. This was a cross-sectional study among 109 primary household food providers conducting primary shopping. Participants were recruited outside of local grocery stores and were asked to complete a survey assessing amounts of avoidable food waste and grocery purchasing behaviors. The diet quality of the foods purchased was assessed from grocery receipts using the Grocery Purchase Quality Index-2016 (GPQI-2016). Variables were associated using linear regression, analysis of covariance, and point biserial correlations. We found that fresh fruits (63%) and leafy greens (70%) were the foods that were the most wasted. The GPQI-2016 total score was significantly inversely associated with the total amount of food wasted (β = −0.63; 95% CI: −1.14,−0.12) after adjusting for important confounders. The reason “food past the date printed on the package” was directly correlated with food wasted (r = 0.40; p < 0.01) but inversely correlated with GPQI-2016 score (r = −0.21; p = 0.04). Food wasted, but not the GPQI-2016 score, was significantly higher among those who grocery shop 2–4 times per week compared to 1 time every 1–2 weeks (p = 0.02). In conclusion, food waste is inversely associated with diet quality and directly associated with grocery purchasing frequency.

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Eating Disorders in Top Elite Beach Handball Players: Cross Sectional Study

Children ◽

10.3390/children8030245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 245

Author(s):

Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez ◽

Manuel Vicente-Martínez ◽

Javier Sánchez-Sánchez ◽

Laura Miralles-Amorós ◽

María Martínez-Olcina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Young Adults ◽

Body Composition ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Eat 26

(1) Background: The preoccupation with the increasing appearance of eating disorders (ED) in athletes continues to grow, especially in athletes who practice team sports. ED severely affects the eating habits of the athletes, who tend to use unhealthy approaches to control their body weight. The development of nutritional education and early interventions by training staff is essential, and these factors are widely perceived as beneficial in sports medicine. This study evaluates the frequency at which beach handball (BH) players develop ED, also comparing the differences by sex and age (junior: adolescents vs. senior: young adults). In addition, the relation between body composition variables and ED was studied. (2) Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 69 top elite handball players (36 males and 33 females) from the Spanish National BH Team; who were separated by age (junior: adolescents and senior: young adults). The athletes completed the Eating Attitudes Test in its 26 item version (EAT-26). (3) Results: The prevalence of ED indicated that 11% of females had a high possibility of developing an ED, and 3% of males. Regarding the EAT-26 total score and subscales, no significant differences were found between female and male participants, or between the junior and senior categories. The correlations showed an association between body composition, in terms of body mass index, and the EAT-26 total score in both males and females. In the case of males, the correlation was negative. (4) Conclusions: Although there are no significant differences between sex or categories, it has been found that elite athletes are a population that is at high risk of developing ED.

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Patterns of Change in Dietary Habits and Physical Activity during Lockdown in Spain Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13020300 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 300

Author(s):

Carmen Pérez-Rodrigo ◽

Marta Gianzo Citores ◽

Gotzone Hervás Bárbara ◽

Fátima Ruiz-Litago ◽

Luis Casis Sáenz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Health Impact ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dietary Change ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Supplement Use ◽

Active Cluster

Background: Lockdown due to COVID-19 influenced food habits and lifestyles with potential negative health impact. This study aims to identify patterns of change in eating habits and physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and to identify associations with sociodemographic factors and usual habits. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1155 adults recruited online to answer a 10-section questionnaire. The protocol assessed usual diet by means of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, usual physical activity (PA) and supplement use, dietary changes, sedentary time, PA, exposure to sunlight, sleep quality, and smoking during confinement. Patterns of dietary change were identified by factor analysis. Factor scores were included in cluster analysis together with change in PA. Results: Six patterns of dietary change were identified that together with PA changes during lockdown defined three clusters of lifestyle change: a cluster less active, a more active cluster, and a third cluster as active as usual. People who were usually less active were more likely to be classified in the cluster that increased physical activity in confinement. Scores of the Healthy Mediterranean-Style dietary pattern were higher in this group. Conclusions: Different patterns of change in lifestyles in confinement suggest the need to tailor support and advice to different population groups.

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