Special Issue "Nutrition in Pediatric Patients and Vulnerable Populations: Updates and Advances"

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Tonia Vassilakou
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 196, Alexandras Avenue, GR-11521 Athens, Greece
Interests: obesity; malnutrition; healthy diet; Mediterranean diet; public health; nutrition policy; public health policy
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria G. Grammatikopoulou
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Alexander Campus, International Hellenic University, GR-57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: vulnerable populations; pediatric patients; nutrition recommendations; dietary interventions; nutritional status; evidence-based nutrition
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Undeniably, our children are an important segment of the population, and protecting their health means protecting the health of future adults. Indeed, childhood is a pivotal period epigenetically, setting the basis for health and disease, future healthcare use, and health-related expenses. In this matrix, nutritional status and dietary interventions are important environmental health effectors, interplaying with genetic and other environmental traits. Recent advances in healthcare, evidence-based nutrition recommendations, and the focus on children’s health have all resulted in significant improvements in the health of children, improving prognosis and life expectancy among vulnerable and patient populations.

In this Special Issue, we aim to synthesize existing evidence on the advances and updates regarding the nutritional care and status of pediatric patients and vulnerable populations, turning the spotlight on all nutrition-related problems in infants, children, and adolescents today. We thus welcome your submissions focusing on nutrition-related issues among the aforementioned populations and look forward to showcasing your research.

Prof. Dr. Tonia Vassilakou
Dr. Maria G. Grammatikopoulou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nutritional status
  • nutritional care
  • quality of life
  • cystic fibrosis
  • food insecurity
  • diabetes mellitus
  • cardiovascular risk
  • cancer
  • short stature
  • obesity
  • eating disorders
  • mental disorders

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

Article
Dietary Patterns, Weight Perception and Obesity Status, among 10–12-Year-Old Children; an Epidemiological Study in Greece
Children 2021, 8(8), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8080626 - 23 Jul 2021
Viewed by 243
Abstract
Adherence to certain dietary patterns influences obesity status in both children and adults. Weight perception influences dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine children’s dietary habits and obesity status, in relation to weight perception. One thousand seven hundred Greek students [...] Read more.
Adherence to certain dietary patterns influences obesity status in both children and adults. Weight perception influences dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine children’s dietary habits and obesity status, in relation to weight perception. One thousand seven hundred Greek students enrolled in this study during 2014–2016. Children’s characteristics were assessed through validated questionnaires, and weight status was classified according to the criteria of the International Obesity Task Force. Dietary patterns were assessed through exploratory factor analysis. Overall, 52.2% of children characterized themselves as normal weight, 34.5% as low weight, and 13.3% as overweight/obese; 52.5% of children were in accordance with their actual weight status, with girls being more likely to overestimate their weight. Children followed three dietary patterns, i.e., starchy and protein foods, unhealthy/high-fat foods, and healthy foods. Children who followed the healthy dietary pattern and had accurate weight perception (in accordance with their actual weight), had lower odds of being overweight/obese (p < 0.001). Accurate weight perception in conjunction with healthy dietary habits may play a determinant role in the prevention of obesity. From a public health perspective, early identification of children’s weight misperception along with healthy dietary habit promotion shape a crucial role in childhood obesity confrontation. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Other

Jump to: Research

Case Report
The Synergistic Effects of a Complementary Physiotherapeutic Scheme in the Psychological and Nutritional Treatment in a Teenage Girl with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Anxiety Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa
Children 2021, 8(6), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8060443 - 25 May 2021
Viewed by 808
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic disease that can affect the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, often leading to anxiety disorders with chronic activation of the hypothalamic axis (HPA). Moreover, a great proportion of adolescents with T1DM also [...] Read more.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic disease that can affect the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, often leading to anxiety disorders with chronic activation of the hypothalamic axis (HPA). Moreover, a great proportion of adolescents with T1DM also demonstrate anorexia nervosa (AN), due to the increased preoccupation with food and the need to have an acceptable body image. Herein is described the first case study of an adolescent patient diagnosed with T1DM, anxiety disorder (AD), and AN. A 14-year-old girl with T1DM since the age of 12 years presented weight loss at age 13 years and 3 months and low body mass index (BMI), which did not improve despite dietary recommendations and adequate disease control. Additionally, she presented menstrual disorders at the age of 12 years and 11 months (menstrual age 12 years and 1 month). A psychological evaluation of the teenager was conducted using a semi-structured interview that assessed perceived stress, health status, quality of life, and depression. AD and AN were diagnosed and the patient initiated an intervention focusing on psychological health and nutrition and which incorporated physiotherapeutic relaxation sessions and breathing exercises. After 3 months of treatment, the patient’s BMI was increased, and a normal menstrual cycle was apparent. These results have since remained consistent. Stress leads to the appearance of AN and menstrual disorders. Therefore, physiotherapeutic programs could reduce stress and effectively ameliorate AN and AD. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop