Real World Adherence to a Severely Energy Restricted Meal Replacement Diet in Participants with Class II and III Obesity

Severely energy-restricted diets (SERDs) are an effective treatment for obesity, however, adherence to such diets is often perceived as poor by healthcare professionals. This investigation evaluated adherence to a 12-week SERD in participants with class II and III obesity. Reported food consumption was compared against individualised SERD prescriptions. Body weight measures were obtained at baseline, 12 and 52 weeks. The data were analysed in three groups (i) the entire cohort (n = 26), (ii) completers (n = 13) and (iii) non-completers (n = 13). SERD prescription elements included (i) the number of meal replacement products; (ii) total protein; (iii) total energy intake; (iv) level of dietary energy restriction; (v) vegetable serves; (vi) water serves, and (vii) how much physical activity was performed. A generalised repeated-measures mixed-effects model was used to investigate if adherence to the program elements individually, or collectively, influenced weight loss. Completers had an average (± SD) of 4549 ± 748 kJ energy intake per day, resulting in a mean energy restriction of 62% compared to the 69% prescribed, indicating a degree of non-adherence. The percent weight changes for completers and non-completers were −7.8 ± 4.7% and −1.6 ± 2.6% at 12 weeks, and −12.2 ± 12.1% and −1.8 ± 3.2% at 52 weeks, respectively. Complete dietary adherence to a SERD may not be necessary to achieve a clinically relevant weight loss of 12% at 52 weeks, if energy is restricted by at least 62% (~4600 kJ per day) relative to requirements.

Food Security and Conflict Nexus An Empirical Evidence from South Asian Region

Purpose: This emprical study aims to find the plausible link of food security and conflict for six conflict affected south asian countries durng 1990-2017. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the data from FAO for Dietary Energy Supply (DES) a proxy for food security and battled deaths for Conflict from Uppsala conflict database a panel of six south Asian countries has been analyzed. Using fix effect model. Findings: The results reveal that conflict in selected sample of south Asian countries is negatively associated with food security as the onset of conflict the calories intake (kca/day/capita) decrease 26 on average in year. The results might be consistent with some recent empirical studies investigating the same relationship from other regions of the world. Implications/Originality/Value: The empirical literature explaining this nexus of food security and conflict has been analyzed on the date from single country affected by conflict. Fewer studies investigate this relation which is based cross countries analysis.

The Effects of Adult Offspring Migration on Nutrient Intake of Rural Elderly People in China

Sufficient and Reasonable nutrient intake is essential for guaranteeing elderly people’s health, especially in rural China where elderly people are the main labor inputs in agricultural sector. Using the 2011 wave data of China Health and Nutrition Survey, this study has empirical analyzed the impact of adult children’s migration on nutrient intake of their elderly parents in rural areas. The results show that dietary energy and protein intake of rural elderly parents are inadequate where it is less than the Chinese RNI value significantly. Adult offspring migration positively relates with rural elderly parents’ protein intake as well as the dietary energy intake. In the families that partly adult offspring have out-migrated or in the one-child families, elderly parents benefit more from children migration. And for male, younger and low education elders, their nutrient intake is more likely to be improved by offspring migration.

Effect of Intermittent Fasting (18/6) on Energy Expenditure, Nutritional Status, and Body Composition in Healthy Adults

Objective. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of intermittent fasting of Ramadan on resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition, and nutritional status. Methods. The study was conducted on a total of 27 adults (16 females, 11 males) who were fasting (18 h) in the Ramadan month (May 6–June 3) of 2019. REE was measured using the indirect calorimeter. Dietary energy and nutrient intakes were evaluated by 3-day food records in baseline and post-Ramadan. Body composition and some metabolic parameters were analyzed simultaneously with REE measurements. All measurements were performed two times at baseline, and post-Ramadan. Results. Body weight (−2.9% vs. −1.4%), body mass index (BMI) (−3.1% vs. −2.1%), fat-free mass (−2.7% vs. −1.4%), and hydration status were decreased in both males and females after the Ramadan fasting ( p < 0.05 ). REEs (kcal/d) of the participants were 1708.1 ± 262.50 kcal/d and 1596.5 ± 302.27 kcal/d at baseline and post-Ramadan, respectively (6.5%) ( p < 0.05 ). This decrease in REE (kcal/d) in females was greater than that in males (−8.1% vs. −4.6%). However, no statistically significant difference was found in sleep duration (h), physical activity levels, dietary energy and nutrient intakes, and blood pressures (mm Hg) of both genders compared to baseline ( p > 0.05 ). Conclusion. Intermittent circadian fasting may lead to a decreased energy expenditure and a change in fat-free mass in healthy individuals, and this effect is interpreted as gender-dependent.

Estimated Sweetness in US Diet Among Children and Adults Declined From 2001 to 2018: A Serial Cross-Sectional Surveillance Study Using NHANES 2001–2018

An agreed-upon measure of total dietary sweetness is lacking hindering assessments of population-level patterns and trends in dietary sweetness. This cross-sectional study used 24-h dietary recall data for 74,461 participants aged ≥ 2 y from nine cycles (2001–2018) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate trends in the sweetness of the diet in the United States (US). LCS-containing items were matched to a sugar-sweetened counterpart (e.g., diet cola–regular cola or sucralose sugar). The matched pair was used to estimate the sugar equivalents from LCS-sweetened foods or beverages to estimate dietary level sweetness, which was described as grams of approximate sugar equivalent (ASE) per day. Trends in ASE were estimated overall and by subgroup, and trends were further disaggregated by food or beverage category. Overall, LCS sources contributed about 10.5% of ASE. Total ASE declined from 152 g/d to 117 g/d from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018 (p-trend &lt; 0.001), with comparable declines in children and adults. Declines in total ASE were predominantly driven by beverages (−36.7% from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018) and tabletop sweeteners (−23.8%), but not food (−1.5%). Observed trends were robust to sensitivity analyses incorporating random, systematic, and sensory trial informed estimates of sweetness and also an analysis excluding possible under-reporters of dietary energy. This practical approach and underlying data may help researchers to apply the technique to other dietary studies to further these questions.