scholarly journals The Role of Education in Sustainable Dietary Patterns in Slovenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13036
Author(s):  
Andrej Kirbiš ◽  
Monika Lamot ◽  
Marija Javornik

The most sustainable dietary patterns involve the consumption of plant-based (vegan) foods, excluding or reducing animal products, including meat, fish, and dairy, yet there is a lack of research on determinants of sustainable dietary patterns in central European countries. The present article aimed to examine the prevalence of sustainable dietary practices and attitudes among the Slovenian public and to investigate the role of education in fostering sustainable dietary patterns. We analyzed a representative national sample of Slovenians, with data gathered in 2019 (ISSP/Slovenian Public Opinion; N = 1079; 51.2% females). The results indicate that most Slovenians do not have sustainable dietary practices or attitudes with regard to health, the environment, animals, and dietary minorities. One in four Slovenians consume meat at least once per day and one in two consume meat three to six times per week. In addition, 78.2% of Slovenians consume milk at least three times per week; more than half consume milk daily or more often. Fish consumption is the least frequent among the three food groups. At least two-thirds of Slovenians also hold attitudes that are low in sustainability. Results also show that, after controlling for confounding variables, higher educational level emerged as an independent predictor of lower meat consumption, but not of lower fish or milk consumption. Furthermore, those in the lowest educational group are significantly less likely to hold sustainable attitudes than those in the higher educational group. Finally, current student status only decreases meat consumption. Since our results show an educational gradient in meat consumption and attitudes, public health and environmental campaigns should focus on the less-educated groups, encouraging them to reduce meat intake and fostering more sustainable attitudes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 566-566
Author(s):  
Teresa Shamah-Levy ◽  
Sonia Rodríguez-Ramírez ◽  
Elsa Gaona-Pineda ◽  
Edith Kim-Herrera ◽  
Andrys Valdez-Sánchez

Abstract Objectives To analyze the dietary patterns trend in Mexican adolescent population from 2006 to 2018 by area of residence. Methods We analyzed information from four National Health and Nutrition Surveys in Mexico from 2006 to 2018. Dietary information was collected using a validated seven-day, semi-quantitative Food frequency questionnaire. We analyzed the consumption of different food groups: 1) Fruits and vegetables (g), 2) Red meat (consumption yes or not), 3) animal products (kcal), 4) sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (kcal), and ultra-processed foods (kcal), according to NOVA classification. We estimated the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), which was constructed based on 10 food groups consumed: 1) grains, roots, and tubers; 2) pulses; 3) nuts and seeds; 4) dairy; 5) meat, poultry and fish; 6) eggs; 7) dark green leafy vegetables; 8) other vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; 9) other vegetables; 10) other fruits. Food groups were assigned to 1 if any food item within the group was consumed, otherwise 0. We estimated the proportion of population with consumption of ≥ 400 g of fruits and vegetables/d, with ≥ 5 food groups (Minimum DDS) and percentage of consumers of red meat, and the contribution to the total energy of SSB, ultra-processed food and animal products (energy percentage). Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of sampled individuals such as sex, age, area and socio-economic status (SES) were obtained. The country was divided into urban and rural areas (≥2500 or < 2500 inhabitants, respectively). We used linear and logistic regression models to continuous and categorical variables, respectively. We analyzed difference by area. Results The percentage of population of Minimum DDS was lower in rural when compared with urban area by every year of survey (P < 0.05). The contribution of energy percentage from ultra-processed foods and animal products was lower in rural area than urban area (P < 0.05). The SSB contribution was similar in both areas. Conclusions Current findings show that the area of residence was associated with variations in the consumption of fruits, vegetables and red meat in Mexican adolescents. Consequently, interventions should focus on increasing healthy eating habits in this population, taking into account when designing preventive strategies the area of residence. Funding Sources Mexican Ministry of Health.


2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1939-1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica A Grieger ◽  
Jane Scott ◽  
Lynne Cobiac

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the dietary patterns of a national sample of 2–8-year-old Australian children and to establish whether breast-feeding is associated with dietary patterns in this age group.DesignCross-sectional study using 24 h recall data from the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.SettingAustralia.SubjectsA total of 2287 children aged 2–8 years.ResultsPrincipal component factor analysis identified three distinct patterns. The ‘Non-core food groups’ pattern included food groups such as whole-fat dairy products, cheese, medium–high sugar-sweetened breakfast cereals and sweet biscuits, no fruit, reduced/low-fat dairy products and wholegrain bread/rolls. The ‘Healthy, meat and vegetable’ pattern included vegetables, red meat, fruit and wholegrain bread/rolls and was inversely associated with take-away foods and carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages. The ‘Combination’ pattern contained many food groups including candy (not chocolate based), pasta/rice products, nuts/seeds, cakes and chocolate, but no fruit or vegetables. Of the 2287 children, 2064 (89·3 %) had been breast-fed. A positive association was found between breast-feeding and the healthy, meat and vegetable pattern (r= 0·267) but not with the other two patterns. Higher scores on this pattern were also associated with younger age, lower BMI, higher birth weight, high likelihood of being in the less-disadvantaged Socio-economic Indexes for Areas category and less likelihood of the child's parents having a lower educational level.ConclusionsThese results provide suggestive evidence that breast-feeding during infancy is associated with a healthy dietary pattern in childhood and offers a likely pathway to explain the previously reported association between breast-feeding and chronic disease.


2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne M. Lenighan ◽  
Anne P. Nugent ◽  
Kaifeng F. Li ◽  
Lorraine Brennan ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
...  

AbstractEvidence suggests that processed red meat consumption is a risk factor for CVD and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This analysis investigates the association between dietary patterns, their processed red meat contributions, and association with blood biomarkers of CVD and T2D, in 786 Irish adults (18–90 years) using cross-sectional data from a 2011 national food consumption survey. All meat-containing foods consumed were assigned to four food groups (n 502) on the basis of whether they contained red or white meat and whether they were processed or unprocessed. The remaining foods (n 2050) were assigned to twenty-nine food groups. Two-step and k-means cluster analyses were applied to derive dietary patterns. Nutrient intakes, plasma fatty acids and biomarkers of CVD and T2D were assessed. A total of four dietary patterns were derived. In comparison with the pattern with lower contributions from processed red meat, the dietary pattern with greater processed red meat intakes presented a poorer Alternate Healthy Eating Index (21·2 (sd 7·7)), a greater proportion of smokers (29 %) and lower plasma EPA (1·34 (sd 0·72) %) and DHA (2·21 (sd 0·84) %) levels (P<0·001). There were no differences in classical biomarkers of CVD and T2D, including serum cholesterol and insulin, across dietary patterns. This suggests that the consideration of processed red meat consumption as a risk factor for CVD and T2D may need to be re-assessed.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elke A. Trautwein ◽  
Sue McKay

Convincing evidence supports the intake of specific food components, food groups, or whole dietary patterns to positively influence dyslipidemia and to lower risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Specific macro- and micro-components of a predominantly plant-based dietary pattern are vegetable fats, dietary fibers, and phytonutrients such as phytosterols. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding effects of these components on lowering blood lipids, i.e., low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and on reducing CVD risk. The beneficial role of a plant-based diet on cardiovascular (CV) health has increasingly been recognized. Plant-based dietary patterns include a Mediterranean and Nordic diet pattern, the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH), and Portfolio diet, as well as vegetarian- or vegan-type diet patterns. These diets have all been found to lower CVD-related risk factors like blood LDL-C, and observational study evidence supports their role in lowering CVD risk. These diet patterns are not only beneficial for dyslipidemia management and prevention of CVD but further contribute to reducing the impact of food choices on environmental degradation. Hence, the CV health benefits of a predominantly plant-based diet as a healthy and environmentally sustainable eating pattern are today recommended by many food-based dietary as well as clinical practice guidelines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Vergeer ◽  
Lana Vanderlee ◽  
Christine M White ◽  
Vicki L Rynard ◽  
David Hammond

AbstractObjective:To estimate the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of youth and young adults in major Canadian cities with self-reported vegetarian dietary practices and examine efforts to alter their diets.Design:Data were collected in autumn 2016 via web-based surveys. Respondents reported vegetarian dietary practices (vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian) and efforts in the preceding year to consume more or less of several nutrients, food groups and/or foods with particular attributes. Logistic regression models examined sociodemographic correlates of each vegetarian dietary practice and differences in other eating practices by diet type.Setting:Participants were recruited from five major Canadian cities.Participants:Youth and young adults, aged 16–30 years (n 2566).Results:Overall, 13·6 % of respondents reported vegetarian dietary practices: 6·6 % vegetarian, 4·5 % pescatarian and 2·5 % vegan. Sex, race/ethnicity, self-reported frequency of using the Nutrition Facts table and health literacy were significantly correlated with self-reported vegetarian dietary practice (P < 0·01 for all). Efforts to consume more fruits and vegetables (66·8 %) and protein (54·8 %), and less sugar (61·3 %) and processed foods (54·7 %), were prevalent overall. Respondents with vegetarian dietary practices were more likely to report efforts to consume fewer carbohydrates and animal products, and more organic, locally produced, ethically sourced/sustainably sourced/fair trade and non-GM foods (P < 0·01 for all), compared with those without these reported dietary practices.Conclusions:Nearly 14 % of the sampled youth and young adults in major Canadian cities reported vegetarian dietary practices and may be especially likely to value and engage in behaviours related to health-conscious diets and sustainable food production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 910-911
Author(s):  
Qun Le ◽  
XinQi Dong

Abstract Studies have demonstrated that healthy dietary patterns are related to diminished stress. However, the potential moderation role of acculturation on dietary patterns and stress is unclear among the those whose eating habits are impacted by immigration. The aim of this study is to explore the moderation role of acculturation on dietary patterns and stress among Chinese elder immigrants in the United States. Data were conducted from the PINE Study with 3053 Chinese adults aged over 60 years in the Great Chicago area. Dietary patterns were measured via a 48-items Food-frequency questionnaire with frequency and size weighted. Items were identified into different food groups based on Dietary Guidelines. Acculturation was assessed by a 12-item short-scale among the population. Stress was measured via a 10-item Perceived Stress Scale with cutoff 14 indicating either low or high stress. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the moderation effects on the associations with demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, and BMI adjusted. After controlling covariates, one unit increasing in fruit consumption (OR: 0.61 (95%CI: 0.52 -0.72)) or coffee (OR: 0.49 (95%CI: 0.36 - 0.67)) was associated with lower odds of stress. However, after adding acculturation as an interaction term, the negative relationship between fruit or coffee consumption with stress was moderated by a higher level of acculturation (fruit: OR: 1.05 (95%CI: 1.02 - 1.08), coffee: OR: 1.05 (95%CI: 1.01 - 1.09) respectively). The associations between dietary patterns and stress may differentiate based on acculturation level among the elder immigrants. Further longitudinal studies should investigate potential causality.


Author(s):  
Celia Green ◽  
Andrew Joyce ◽  
Jonathan Hallett ◽  
Toni Hannelly ◽  
Gemma Carey

This chapter examines the link between dietary choices and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and possible interventions to reduce this impact. The connections between climate change, food systems and public health are explored. It is shown that there is variance in the impact of different food types on GHG emissions, with animal products having the greatest impact. The role of food system activities in the production of GHG emissions is also explored. Dietary choices and GHG emissions are examined using case studies from a variety of countries. Results show that reduced animal food production has increased potential to reduce GHG emissions compared to technological mitigation or increased productivity measures. Finally, a systems science approach is used to explore possible interventions aimed at reducing consumption of animal products.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-222
Author(s):  
Philip L. Tite

A persistent exegetical tradition exists linking the Pauline controversy over the consumption of idol meat in the Corinthian correspondence to social and economic assumptions about the Roman world. Specifically, there is the assumption that access to meat was limited to the elite within the Roman world. According to this exegetical tradition, the lower classes only had access to meat through public religious festivals or as derivative through cultic sacrifice by means of the marketplace, resulting in the view that non-elites were sustained on a diet of legumes, grains and wine. Roman access to meat along such class demarcations, furthermore, is founded upon an economic dichotomy of elite and non-elite. This article challenges these social assumptions regarding meat consumption in, especially, Corinth by engaging recent scholarship that re-evaluates Roman diet in regard to access to meat and other animal products. Specifically, methods in archaeological science (especially stable isotope analysis) are used to supplement literary reassessments. What arises is a new picture of Roman diet, wherein meat consumption was not limited to the elite, but was prevalent in nearly all levels of Roman society. With this fresh perspective on Roman dietary practices, Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 must be re-evaluated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 397-397
Author(s):  
Aurélie Cotillard ◽  
Soline Chaumont ◽  
Mathilde Saccareau ◽  
Nicole S Litwin ◽  
Diana Gutierrez Lopez ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Eating habits have been shown to impact the gut microbiome. Here we aimed to define several types of dietary patterns in a U.S. adult cohort and test their associations with the gut microbiome. Methods Using supervised and unsupervised approaches, we built dietary patterns based on a food frequency questionnaire of the American Gut Project database. Focusing on 1800 adult participants living in the United States, we defined patterns as partitions (groups of participants) or factors (combinations of food variables) driven by specific dietary criteria: fibers, proteins, Healthy Eating Index (HEI 2010), food items, food groups and micronutrients. We then associated these patterns with 16S gut microbiome data for 744 participants, excluding those reporting antibiotic intake in the last year or specific diseases. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex and BMI. Results Compared to individual features like fibers and proteins, or to factors representing reduced numbers of features, five unsupervised partitions based on food groups were best associated with gut microbiome beta-diversity. Two partitions presented a lower consumption of animal products, with one being almost completely exclusive and the other, close to a flexitarian diet, presenting the best diet quality as measured by HEI. A third one consisted mostly of participants under low carbohydrate diets with nearly no consumption of starchy foods or sweet products. Finally, the last two partitions presented Western-like diets with increased consumption of mixed dishes, sweet products and refined cereals, one of them being more diverse with increased nuts and whole cereals. Gut microbiome alpha-diversity was slightly increased in the flexitarian partition compared to the most westernized one. Strikingly, the low carbohydrate partition was associated with low levels of the Bifidobacterium genus. Conclusions We showed in a U.S. adult cohort that a global diet may be more associated with gut microbiome variations than individual features like fibers or proteins. Five diet partitions were identified and their specific associations with gut microbiome were studied. These results confirm the importance to consider diet as a whole when studying gut microbiota diversity. Funding Sources Danone Research.


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