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Nutrients
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Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health
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Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition Methodology & Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 September 2026 | Viewed by 3824

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marija Ljubičić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Studies, University of Zadar, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
Interests: lifestyle; nutrition; dietary assessment; stress; mental health; non-communicable diseases; diet-related disorders; parenting; children with disability; people with disabilities; elderly people; palliative care
Prof. Dr. Ivana Kolčič

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
2. Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
3. Psychiatric Clinic Sveti Ivan, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
4. Croatian Lifestyle Medicine Association, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: Mediterranean diet; lifestyle medicine; nutrition education; dietary surveys; dietary assessment; nutritional status; non-communicable diseases; mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lifestyle factors such as dietary habits, physical activity, sleep and stress management play a fundamental role in shaping individual and population health. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to how lifestyle interacts with nutrition-related public health interventions and policies. Nutrition surveys are essential tools for collecting real-world data on food consumption patterns and nutritional status, and enable the development and evaluation of effective nutrition interventions. This Special Issue, entitled “Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health”, aims to highlight methodological advances in dietary assessment and the integration of lifestyle indicators into nutrition surveillance systems. We welcome original papers and reviews that address innovative nutrition and lifestyle assessment tools, the impact of nutrition policy, and the role of comprehensive data in promoting health. We are particularly interested in interdisciplinary approaches that link dietary behavior, social determinants of health, and policy development in diverse populations.

Dr. Marija Ljubičić
Prof. Dr. Ivana Kolčič
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 submissions that pass pre-check are 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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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

  • lifestyle
  • nutritional surveys
  • nutritional policy
  • public health
  • nutritional status
  • health behavior
  • health promotion
  • chronic disease prevention and control
  • nutritional assessment
  • palliative care and nutrition
  • geriatric nutrition
  • nutritional support
  • women's health and nutrition
  • stress and emotional eating
  • health claims
  • metabolic syndrome

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 479 KB  
Article
Association Between Attitude Toward a Healthy Lifestyle, Lifestyle Behaviors, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Body Mass Index: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Marija Ljubičić, Tamara Sorić, Ivana Gusar, Donata Vidaković Samaržija, Gordana Ivković, Ana Pejdo, Jelena Vučak Lončar, Mira Klarin, Nita Šarić and Ivana Kolčić
Nutrients 2026, 18(3), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18030500 - 2 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 956
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Healthy lifestyle behaviors are major contributors to overall health and disease prevention. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess attitude toward a healthy lifestyle and its associations with lifestyle behaviors, body mass index (BMI), excess body weight, sociodemographic characteristics, and self-rated health [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Healthy lifestyle behaviors are major contributors to overall health and disease prevention. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess attitude toward a healthy lifestyle and its associations with lifestyle behaviors, body mass index (BMI), excess body weight, sociodemographic characteristics, and self-rated health in adults. Methods: The Attitudes toward a Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire was administered to 570 Croatian adults between November and December 2025. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression models were used to examine associations between lifestyle behaviors (number of daily meals, sitting time, sleep duration), smoking and e-cigarette use, alcohol consumption, BMI, self-rated health, and attitude toward a healthy lifestyle. Results: The median attitude toward a healthy lifestyle score was 52.0 (IQR = 10), corresponding to 62% of the maximum possible score. A more positive attitude toward a healthy lifestyle was associated with a higher number of daily meals (β = 0.16, p = 0.001), longer sleep duration (β = 0.17, p < 0.001), lower sitting time (β = −0.11, p = 0.010), and lower BMI (β = −0.24, p < 0.001). Smoking was negatively associated with attitude toward a healthy lifestyle (β = −0.18; p < 0.001), while e-cigarette use was associated with fewer daily meals (β = −0.10; p = 0.025). Longer sleep duration increased the odds of excellent self-rated health (OR = 1.31, p = 0.014), and a more positive attitude toward a healthy lifestyle was associated with lower odds of excess body weight (OR = 0.92, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Attitude toward a healthy lifestyle is significantly associated with lifestyle behaviors, BMI, excess body weight, and self-rated health, highlighting the importance of psychological factors in promoting sustainable healthy lifestyles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health)
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16 pages, 517 KB  
Article
Analysis of the Inter-Scale Agreement of Questionnaires to Assess the Emotional Eating in a Population of Polish Girls: PLACE-19 Study
by Dominika Guzek, Dominika Skolmowska and Dominika Głąbska
Nutrients 2026, 18(3), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18030457 - 30 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 513
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Emotional eating is a tendency to increase food consumption in order to modify a negative emotional state, but little is known about this phenomenon or about the way to assess it. The aim of the study was to assess the emotional [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Emotional eating is a tendency to increase food consumption in order to modify a negative emotional state, but little is known about this phenomenon or about the way to assess it. The aim of the study was to assess the emotional eating in the population of Polish girls using various questionnaires, in order to compare the results obtained while using various tools. Methods: The emotional eating was assessed in a sample of n = 771 girls (age 15–18 years) from a nationwide PLACE-19 Study population, recruited based on a random quota sampling of Polish secondary schools. The results were gathered within the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) and compared for four tools: Emotional Eating Scale for Children and adolescents (EES-C), Emotional Eating Subscale (EE-3) of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Emotional Overeating Questionnaire (EOQ-5), and Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). Results: The analysis of correlation revealed statistically significant association for comparison of all the questionnaires (p < 0.001). For a comparison of EE-3 and EOQ-5, the strongest correlation between the results, and the second highest share of the studied group presenting agreement in emotional eating category was stated, indicating the strongest agreement. For a comparison of EES-C and EOQ-5, as well as EES-C and EEQ, the weakest correlation between the results, and the lowest share of the studied group presenting agreement in emotional eating category was stated, indicating the weakest agreement. Conclusions: It may be suggested that in studies conducted in a group of girls the recommended approach would be to use at least two various questionnaires to assess emotional eating, to enable comparing results, as the knowledge gathered so far does not allow an indication of the most reliable tool. As there is only a fair agreement between compared tools, the arbitrary choice of one tool may significantly influence the formulated conclusions. Moreover, there is a need to conduct more studies assessing emotional eating while using various questionnaire methods, in order to compare the results obtained while using various tools and to indicate the most reliable questionnaires. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health)
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14 pages, 258 KB  
Article
Dietary Patterns and Depressive Symptom Severity in the Hungarian Adult Population: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey
by Battamir Ulambayar and Attila Csaba Nagy
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010159 - 3 Jan 2026
Viewed by 695
Abstract
Background: Depression represents a major public health burden in Hungary, where prevalence remains higher than the global average. Although diet is an increasingly studied factor associated with mental health, evidence from Central and Eastern Europe is scarce. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data [...] Read more.
Background: Depression represents a major public health burden in Hungary, where prevalence remains higher than the global average. Although diet is an increasingly studied factor associated with mental health, evidence from Central and Eastern Europe is scarce. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Hungarian wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2019, a nationally representative sample of 5603 adults aged ≥15 years. Depressive symptom severity was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and categorized as none (0–4), mild (5–9), and moderate-to-severe (≥10). Self-reported frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, fruit juice, dairy products, fish, processed meat, sweetened beverages, coffee, and sweeteners was examined. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression models, adjusted for gender, age, education, income, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, were used to estimate associations with depressive symptom severity. Results: Overall, 77.9% of participants had no depression, 17.0% mild, and 5.1% moderate-to-severe symptoms. After full adjustment, lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, less frequent fruit juice intake, and lower processed meat consumption were associated with higher odds of more severe depressive symptoms. Moderate coffee intake (1–2 cups/day) was associated with lower odds than heavier consumption. Conclusions: In the Hungarian adult population, poorer dietary patterns, particularly low intake of fruits, vegetables, and paradoxically lower processed meat consumption, are significantly associated with greater depressive symptom severity, independent of major sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. These findings underscore the potential role of diet quality in mental health and support public health efforts to promote nutrient-rich dietary patterns in Hungary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health)

Review

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24 pages, 531 KB  
Review
Obesity in Tanzanian Youth (15–35 Years): From Nutrition Transition to Policy Action—A Scoping Review
by Angeliki Sofroniou, Sara Basilico, Maria Vittoria Conti, Haikael David Martin and Hellas Cena
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010061 - 24 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1181
Abstract
Background: Tanzania is undergoing a rapid nutrition and epidemiological transition that has shifted dietary patterns and lifestyles toward more Westernised models, contributing to an increase in diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity. Youth aged 15–35 years are particularly vulnerable to these shifts. Objectives: [...] Read more.
Background: Tanzania is undergoing a rapid nutrition and epidemiological transition that has shifted dietary patterns and lifestyles toward more Westernised models, contributing to an increase in diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity. Youth aged 15–35 years are particularly vulnerable to these shifts. Objectives: The objective of this scoping review was to map the available evidence on youth obesity in Tanzania, focusing on (1) data gaps in epidemiological reporting; (2) the ongoing nutrition transition; and (3) existing food system and health-related policies targeting youth. Methods: A targeted search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and the grey literature. The PCC (Population/Concept/Context) framework guided the study selection, focusing on youth and general young adults aged 15–35 years in Tanzania. Eligible studies published between 2000 and June 2025 were included. Results: The search yielded 247 peer-reviewed articles, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal substantial gaps in epidemiological reporting, particularly limited regional data and inconsistent age disaggregation, which often obscures youth-specific patterns. Evidence on nutrition and lifestyle transitions is limited and fragmented, while available policies addressing obesity and related risk factors are broad in scope and rarely tailored to the youth population. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that evidence on obesity among Tanzanian youth is scarce, unevenly reported, and insufficiently specific to this age group. Clear gaps exist in epidemiological surveillance, research on nutrition transition, and youth-focused policy design. Strengthening age-specific monitoring systems, generating context-specific evidence, and developing targeted, measurable, and actionable strategies for youth could enhance Tanzania’s efforts to curb the rising burden of obesity and related NCDs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lifestyle, Dietary Surveys, Nutrition Policy and Human Health)
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