scholarly journals Eating Occasions, Obesity and Related Behaviors in Working Adults: Does it Matter When You Snack?

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy E. Barrington ◽  
Shirley A. A. Beresford

Reported relationships between frequency, type, and timing of eating occasions and obesity-risk among adults are mixed while associations with obesogenic eating behaviors remain unexplored. The Physical Activity and Changes in Eating (PACE) study was a group-randomized controlled trial to prevent weight gain among 34 small worksites in Seattle from 2005–2009. Baseline surveys assessed body mass index (BMI), obesogenic eating behaviors (e.g., fast food and distracted-eating), and eating occasions (i.e., snacks and meals) among 2265 employees. BMI and waist circumference were measured on a subset (n = 567). Time-periods for analyses included: morning (12:00 a.m. to 10:59 a.m.), mid-day (11:00 a.m. to 4:29 p.m.), and evening (4:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.). Multilevel linear models estimated associations between snack timing, obesity, and related behaviors while adjusting for meal timing, gender, and worksite random effects. Greater morning snacking was associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption, while greater evening snacking was associated with higher BMI, higher obesogenic dietary index (intake of fast food, French fries, and soft drinks), and higher percent time eating while distracted. Associations with mid-day snacking were mixed. Patterns of association were consistent across repeated and objective measures. Findings suggest that evening snacking is more detrimental to healthy weight compared to snacking at other times of day. Reducing evening snacks may be an important and simple message for population-level obesity prevention efforts.

Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel P Ogilvie ◽  
Pamela L Lutsey ◽  
Rachel Widome ◽  
Melissa N Laska ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer

Background: Short sleep duration appears to put adults at risk for excess energy intake and obesity; less is known specifically about how sleep quantity relates to eating patterns. Objectives: We tested the association between sleep duration and eating among young adults, a group especially vulnerable to suboptimal sleep. Methods: We used data from Project EAT-III, a cross-sectional study of 1,854 racially/ethnically diverse young adults aged 20-30 from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The EAT survey assessed: average sleep duration (calculated via weekday and weekend bedtimes and wake times), breakfast skipping, fast food, energy drink, and sport drink consumption. A food frequency questionnaire queried intake of sugar-sweetened, sugar-free, and caffeinated beverages. Linear and logistic regression, adjusted for demographic and behavioral covariates, were used to model the relationship between sleep duration and dietary outcomes. In logistic models, post-estimation commands were used to calculate risk ratios. Results: In linear models, participants who slept < 7 hours per night (11.5%) consumed significantly more caffeinated beverages relative to those who slept 7-8 hours per night (Table). In logistic models, those who slept 8-9 hours a night (26.6%) and > 9 hours per night (25.8%) reported a lower risk (0.85 (95% CI 0.70-0.99) and 0.80 (95% 0.63-0.98), respectively) of sports drink consumption, compared to those who slept 7-8 hours a night. Intake of sugar sweetened beverages, sugar-free beverages, energy drinks, breakfast, and fast food did not differ significantly by sleep duration. Conclusions: Sleep duration was related to some eating behaviors associated with energy imbalance, but not all. The impact of sleep insufficiency during young adulthood, a pivotal period in the life course, may set lifelong trajectories that may increase cardiovascular risk. Sleep may be an important target to include in interventions and policies aimed at cardiometabolic risk management.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny S. Kim ◽  
Jody Brook ◽  
Becci A. Akin

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) intervention on substance abuse and trauma-related problems. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of SFBT in primary substance use treatment services for child welfare involved parents in outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. Mixed linear models were used to test within- and between-group changes using intent-to-treat analysis ( N = 64). Hedges’s g effect sizes were also calculated to examine magnitude of treatment effects. Results: Both groups decreased on the Addiction Severity Index-Self-Report and the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40. The between group effect sizes were not statistically significant on either measures, thus SFBT produced similar results as the research supported treatments the control group received. Conclusion: Results support the use of SFBT in treating substance use and trauma and provide an alternative approach that is more strengths based and less problem focused.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-151
Author(s):  
Carol A. Fackler ◽  
Nancy Baugh ◽  
Ann A. Lovegren ◽  
Carol Nemeroff ◽  
Janet Whatley Blum

Obesity is an issue for young adults in the U.S. This population is particularly vulnerable to weight gain as they move from adolescence to young adulthood, especially as they transition from high school to college. Adopting a health promotion approach, a university-based cluster of researchers, community advocates, and a technology partner embarked on a two-year seed development project that focused on development, implementation, and evaluation of a web-based healthy lifestyle intervention for college students. Using a mixed-method design, two convenience samples of residential university students were recruited to participate in a 4-week intervention called Eat, Move, Live, in which they interacted with a newly-created comprehensive website about management of a healthy lifestyle. Participants’ post-intervention readiness for change increased by 15% (eating and life balance behaviors) to 23% (moving behaviors). Participants reported increased awareness of eating behaviors, and feelings of engagement in tracking their fruit and vegetable consumption. Findings suggest that technology may be utilized to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of achieving students’ individual goals related to healthy living. These preliminary findings have implications for increasing the development and implementation of technological approaches to health promotion for young adult students.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Panchali Moitra ◽  
Jagmeet Madan ◽  
Preeti Verma

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a behaviourally focused nutrition education (NE) intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to eating habits and activity levels in 10–12-year-old adolescents in Mumbai, India. Design: School-based cluster randomised controlled trial. The experimental group (EG) received weekly NE and three parent sessions over 12 weeks; no sessions were conducted for the control group (CG). The theoretical framework of HBM and focus group discussion results guided the development of behaviour change communication strategies and NE aids. KAP were measured using a validated survey instrument, administered at baseline and endline in EG and CG. Paired and independent t tests determined within-group and between-group changes in pre–post scores. Setting: Two aided and two private schools that were randomly allocated to either an EG or CG. Participants: Adolescent boys and girls (n 498; EG n 292 and CG n 206). Results: EG reported improvements in mean knowledge (39·3%), attitude (7·3 %), diet (9·6 %) and activity practice (9·4%) scores from pre to post intervention. No significant changes were observed in CG. Significant improvements in scores associated with perceived benefits, barriers and self-efficacy, breakfast and vegetable consumption, and moderate-to-vigorous activities were observed in EG. Conclusions: Integrating NE into the academic curriculum and adopting evidence-based lessons that entail targeted information delivery and participatory activities can improve knowledge, foster right attitudes and facilitate better eating and activity-related practices in Indian adolescents.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110229
Author(s):  
Kristie Rupp ◽  
Ciarán P. Friel

Purpose: To determine whether perceived changes (i.e. perception of engagement during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic) in specific health behaviors differ by weight status (i.e. healthy weight, overweight, obese). Design: Cross-sectional. Recruitment took place between June-August 2020, via social media posts and Qualtrics online panels. Setting: Participants completed the survey online through the Qualtrics platform. Sample: Analyses included N = 502 participants (≥18 years); 45.2% healthy weight (n = 227), 28.5% overweight (n = 143), and 26.3% obese (n = 132). Measures: Study-specific survey items included questions about demographics and perceived changes in health behaviors. Analysis: Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, and COVID-19 diagnosis, assessed the odds of perceiving changes in health behaviors considered a risk for weight gain. Results: Participants with obesity, but not overweight, were significantly more likely to report deleterious changes to health behaviors compared to healthy weight peers, including: (1) decreased fruit/vegetable consumption [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.13, 3.26)]; (2) increased processed food consumption [AOR = 1.85; 95%CI: (1.15, 3.00)]; (3) increased caloric intake [AOR = 1.66; 95% CI: (1.06, 2.61)]; (4) decreased physical activity [AOR = 2.07; 95%CI: (1.31, 3.28)]; and (5) deterioration in sleep quality [AOR = 2.07; 95%CI: (1.32, 3.25)]. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adults with obesity may be at greater risk for unhealthy behaviors during a period of prolonged social distancing, potentially exacerbating the obesity epidemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Orlando

Background: Results from a clinical trial can either support the efficacy and safety of a new compound or fail to provide such evidence. One reason for ‘non[1]positive’ result is due to the underlying assumption of normality and homogeneity of variances, which are quite often violated when analyzing data from clinical trials, despite randomization. A question of interest is can we obtain more informative results when using mixture of normal distributions or linear models (MLMs) in such cases. Introduction: MLM can be used when traditional methods fail. MLMs “search” within the variability in data to identify components or subgroups of individuals (also known as latent classes) who have common intercepts and common slopes of change in a variable/endpoint of interest but whose intercepts and slopes are different from other subsets of patients. Thus, MLMs can be used to identify subgroups of patients exhibiting differential response to treatment within each treatment arm. The purpose of our study was to examine the usefulness of using MLM in such circumstances. Methods: Data of 155 subjects taken from a Multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial that evaluated the efficacy of Cpn10, administered twice weekly subcutaneously to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis was taken to evaluate the usefulness of MLM. The primary efficacy measure ACR20 was analyzed using a 3-step process: first, MLM was used to estimate RA duration using a 3-component model. The second step took the results of the first step to inform the logistic model and its analyses. Model was fitted with an intercept, MLM components, treatment arm, RA duration (linear and quadratic), dose response (modeled as an interaction effect), age and baseline weight. LOCF was used to impute for missing data. Data was analyzed using MLM and SAS v 9.0. Results: The model was a good fit to the data with a likelihood ratio significant at p=0.026, and a significant increase in the -2log L. We also observed low p-values for those variables that were non normal. Overall and for the 75 mg dose, Cpn 10 was efficacious relative to placebo, p<0.050. We also observed that dose response was significant at p><0.15 Conclusion: The use of MLM adds value because it can be used to understand the disease experience or the value of treatment when traditional statistical methods cannot. Key words: Mixture of linear models, normality, entropy.


Author(s):  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Bo Huang

Outside of western countries, the study of the local food environment and evidence for its association with dietary behavior is limited. The aim of this paper was to examine the association between the local retail food environment and consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) among adults in Hong Kong. Local retail food environment was measured by density of different types of retail food outlets (grocery stores, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants) within a 1000 m Euclidean buffer around individual’s homes using a geographic information system (GIS). The Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) was calculated based on the relative density of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores. Logistic regressions were performed to examine associations using cross-sectional data of 1977 adults (18 years or older). Overall, people living in an area with the highest RFEI (Q4, >5.76) had significantly greater odds of infrequent FV consumption (<7 days/week) after covariates adjustment (infrequent fruit consumption: OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.04–1.78; infrequent vegetable consumption: OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.11–2.68) in comparison to the lowest RFEI (Q1, <2.25). Highest density of fast food restaurants (Q4, >53) was also significantly associated with greater odds of infrequent fruit consumption (<7 days/week) (unadjusted model: OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.04–1.73), relative to lowest density of fast food restaurants (Q1, <13). No significant association of density of grocery stores or convenience stores was observed with infrequent FV consumption regardless of the covariates included in the model. Our results suggest that the ratio of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores near people’s home is an important environmental factor in meeting fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines. “Food swamps” (areas with an abundance of unhealthy foods) rather than “food deserts” (areas where there is limited access to healthy foods) seems to be more of a problem in Hong Kong’s urban areas. We advanced international literature by providing evidence in a non-western setting.


Author(s):  
Deborah Bowen ◽  
Jennifer Jabson ◽  
Wendy Barrington ◽  
Alyson Littman ◽  
Donald Patrick ◽  
...  

The objective of this effort is to gather data to tailor interventions appropriately. Greater understanding of the correlates of socioeconomic status and obesogenic dietary behaviors was the focus of this manuscript. Using multistage sampling, women with varied education levels completed a baseline assessment in a longitudinal study of women aged 30 to 50 years. This study was conducted in low-SES areas of South King County, Washington State. This study included 530 Caucasian and 510 Hispanic women. Fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated and soft drink consumption inversely associated with the level of education in Caucasian women. In contrast, percentage calories from fat was positively associated with the level of education in Hispanic women. In Hispanic women, level of education interacted significantly with food security in relation to percentage calories from fat, and with eating norms in relation to soft drink consumption. Neighborhood presence of ethnic food stores was associated with outcomes for Hispanic women, but for Caucasians, presence of fast food restaurants was important. Education was consistently associated with two of the three obesogenic dietary behaviors studied among Caucasian women. Education played a moderating role in the associations of food security and eating norms, independent of area level food availability, in two of three obesogenic dietary behaviors studied. However, these patterns differed for Hispanic women, indicating the need for more research into important variables to support change in Hispanic women. Women of differing ethnic groups did not respond similarly to environmental conditions and policy-relevant surroundings. These data have meaning for considering urban policy that impacts obesity levels in the population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Renata da Rocha Muniz Rodrigues ◽  
Bárbara da Silva Nalin de Souza ◽  
Diana Barbosa Cunha ◽  
Camilla de Chermont Prochnik Estima ◽  
Rosely Sichieri ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Changes in eating habits may be associated with sedentary behaviors by favoring excessive weight gain among adolescents, and consequently leading to the occurrence of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). Objective To evaluate the association between screen time and consumption of healthy and unhealthy food markers in adolescents. Method A longitudinal study with adolescents aged from 10-16 years of public schools in Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil was performed in 2014. It was applied a questionnaire about screen time, food consumption frequency and socio-demographic variables. Generalized linear models were applied with p-value <0.05. Results 448 students participated in the study, 54.8% were male, and 67% were in the category of ≥5 hours/day of total screen time and 69% in the ≤4 hours/day of television time (TV time). It was not observed an association between total screen time and food intake variations. However, an inverse association was observed between TV time and vegetable consumption (p-value = 0.02). Conclusion It was not observed an association between total screen time and food intake variations. Nevertheless, it was verified that time spent watching television was associated with consumption of vegetables. Thus, it is suggested that the reduction of the time spent in sedentary activities and healthy food choices are priorities in the elaboration of public policies.


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