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Impact of Health Status and Environmental Factors on Food Intake

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 9460

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil
Interests: diet; nutrition; food intake; food choice; diet quality; dietary survey; nutrition epidemiolog

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil
Interests: diet; nutrition; human health; diet-related diseases; nutritional therapy; dietary prevention; systematic revisions and meta-analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food intake can be influenced by different determinants, including individual characteristics, such as health conditions, and environmental factors. Due to different health conditions, individuals may modify their food intake. Some of these changes can be positive, as for controlling some diseases and health problems, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of risk nutrients and increase the consumption of protective nutrients. However, in some cases, especially those that demand restrictive diets, practicing a healthy and nutritive diet can be complex. In addition, environmental factors, such as food prices, food advertising, food outlet access in the individuals’ surroundings and food availability in institutional places, such as schools, universities, worksites, are also relevant in the determination of food practices. Therefore, understanding the impact of different health conditions and environmental factors on food intake will help design specific interventions and recommendations aimed at improving the health and well-being of people.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews (narrative systematic reviews or systematic reviews with meta-analyses) are welcome. In cases of original research articles, cross-sectional investigations will be accepted, although longitudinal (cohorts and case–control studies) designs are preferrable. Interventional studies can also be submitted, given that they present interventions to reduce the impact of health conditions and environmental factors on food intake. Acute or chronic diseases or other health problems, such as sleep disturbances, mental disorders, substance abuse, etc., that are diet-related can be defined as exposure in observational studies, and strategies to control them as interventions in clinical trials. Food environment characteristics can also be used as exposure variables in these studies. Dietary data, used as outcomes in these investigations, can be collected by qualitative or quantitative methods, although the tools and instruments used to assess food consumption should be assessed for their validity, consistency and reliability. Investigations can be carried out with different age groups and nationalities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof Dr. Paula Horta
Prof Dr. Camila Duarte
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • acute conditions
  • chronic diseases
  • health problems
  • lifestyle factors
  • diet-related conditions
  • food environments
  • food prices
  • food advertising
  • food availability
  • food intake
  • nutrient intake
  • diet quality

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
Consumption of Food Offered by Delivery Applications (Apps)
by Jamile Carvalho Tahim, Sara Maria Moreira Lima Verde, Carla Soraya Costa Maia and Ilana Nogueira Bezerra
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050568 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 956
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether the use of food delivery applications is related to food consumption practices. Methods: Data collection was carried out between 5 and 20 June 2020 in a Brazilian capital with a final sample of 2113 individuals. The instrument [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate whether the use of food delivery applications is related to food consumption practices. Methods: Data collection was carried out between 5 and 20 June 2020 in a Brazilian capital with a final sample of 2113 individuals. The instrument included questions about socioeconomic characteristics, anthropometric data, and information about eating practices and the use of delivery apps. Logistic regression models were developed with the consumption of each food group as the outcome variable and the use of the application as the exposure variable. Results: Of those interviewed, 78.1% used delivery apps to purchase food. The frequencies of the consumption of foods considered markers of healthy eating were higher for individuals who did not use the applications (59.7% vs. 38.7% for the daily consumption of fresh fruit, respectively, p < 0.0001). The frequencies of the consumption of items considered markers of unhealthy eating were higher for individuals who used apps to purchase food prepared outside the home compared to those who did not (53.7 vs. 38.1 for weekly consumption of hamburgers, respectively, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The use of delivery applications influenced the users’ eating practices through the acquisition of food within the digital scope and is related to a greater frequency of the consumption of unhealthy items by users. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Health Status and Environmental Factors on Food Intake)
14 pages, 356 KiB  
Article
Healthy Food Policies Documented in University Food Service Contracts
by Stacy M. Fandetti, Alicia Anne Dahl, Caitlan Webster, Morium Barakat Bably, Maren J. Coffman and Elizabeth F. Racine
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(16), 6617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166617 - 21 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1867
Abstract
In the United States, there is an opportunity to improve the nutritional health of university students through the campus food environment. This project used a content analysis approach to investigate whether healthy food standards and policies were incorporated into the contract agreements between [...] Read more.
In the United States, there is an opportunity to improve the nutritional health of university students through the campus food environment. This project used a content analysis approach to investigate whether healthy food standards and policies were incorporated into the contract agreements between North Carolina (NC) public universities and their food service management companies. Food service contracts were collected from 14 NC public universities using food service management companies on campus. Each contract was evaluated using the 35-item North Carolina Food Service Policy Guidelines Assessment to examine four elements of the campus food environment: Beverages, Packaged Snacks, Prepared Foods, and Other (e.g., strategic placement of healthier food). Five university food service contracts incorporated no North Carolina Food Service Policy Guidelines, three university contracts included one to five guidelines, and six university contracts included six to nine guidelines. Altogether, 13 of the 35 guidelines were incorporated into at least one university food service contract. This project presents a cost and time-effective assessment method for determining if evidence-based nutrition guidelines have been included in university food service contracts. This approach and findings may lead to contract revisions to improve the campus food environment and, subsequently, the nutritional health of college populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Health Status and Environmental Factors on Food Intake)
14 pages, 776 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Nutrient Consumption for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Health Promotion Services: A Controlled and Randomized Community Trial to Promote Fruits and Vegetables
by Suellen Fabiane Campos, Mariana Souza Lopes, Luana Caroline dos Santos, Patrícia Pinheiro de Freitas and Aline Cristine Souza Lopes
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6267; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136267 - 30 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1534
Abstract
To evaluate the effectiveness of a collective intervention to encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables on the nutrients intake for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a randomized controlled community trial was conducted with a representative sample from the Health Academy [...] Read more.
To evaluate the effectiveness of a collective intervention to encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables on the nutrients intake for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a randomized controlled community trial was conducted with a representative sample from the Health Academy Program. While the individuals in the control group (CG) participated in regular physical exercise, those in the intervention group (IG) also participated in a collective intervention. After 12 months, IG and CG showed a reduction in energy, omega 3 and sodium intake and an increase in the consumption of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Individuals from the CG showed an increase in phosphorus consumption and, in the IG, a reduction in the consumption of total, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats as well as an increase in the consumption of monounsaturated fats was seen. In both groups, there was an increase in the prevalence of adequate nutrients. Participation in the nutritional intervention was associated with lower consumption of energy and protein in the diet. The results pointed to the importance of individuals’ participation in the program, which, associated with nutritional intervention, promoted an improvement in the nutrient profile of the diet and the prevention and control of NCDs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Health Status and Environmental Factors on Food Intake)
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22 pages, 841 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Scoping Review of Observational Studies on Food and Beverage Advertising on Social Media: A Public Health Perspective
by Juliana de Paula Matos, Michele Bittencourt Rodrigues, Camila Kümmel Duarte and Paula Martins Horta
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3615; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043615 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4200
Abstract
Popular social media platforms have been actively used by ultra-processed food companies to promote their products. Being exposed to this type of advertising increases the consumption of unhealthy foods and the risk of developing obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Thus, monitoring commercial [...] Read more.
Popular social media platforms have been actively used by ultra-processed food companies to promote their products. Being exposed to this type of advertising increases the consumption of unhealthy foods and the risk of developing obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Thus, monitoring commercial content on social media is a core public health practice. We aimed to characterize the methods used for monitoring food advertising on social media and summarize the investigated advertising strategies via a scoping review of observational studies. This study is reported according to the MOOSE Statement, and its protocol was registered with the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration nº. CRD42020187740). Out of the 6093 citations retrieved, 26 met our eligibility criteria. The studies were published from 2014 to 2021, mostly after 2018. They focused on Australia, Facebook, strategies aimed at children and adolescents, and advertising practices of ultra-processed food companies. We grouped strategies in eight classes: post features (n = 18); connectivity and engagement (n = 18); economic advantages, gifts, or competitions (n = 14); claims (n = 14); promotional characters (n = 12); brand in evidence (n = 8); corporate social responsibility or philanthropy (n = 7); and COVID-19 (n = 3). We found similarities in the investigation of strategies regardless of the type of social media. Our findings can contribute to the designing of tools for monitoring studies and regulatory mechanisms to restrict the exposure of food advertising. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Health Status and Environmental Factors on Food Intake)
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