Search Results (1,546)

Background: Population ageing increases the burden of chronic diseases, multimorbidity, and functional limitations, making nutrition and lifestyle important modifiable determinants of healthy ageing. Universities of the Third Age (U3A) provide an educational and social environment for older adults, but multidimensional relationships between nutrition knowledge, diet quality, lifestyle, and health status in this population remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to assess these associations among older adults attending U3A in Poland. Methodology: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between January and April 2026 among community-dwelling older adults participating in U3A programs. Of 700 distributed invitations and 520 returned questionnaires, 450 complete and eligible responses were included. The questionnaire was based on the KomPAN^® framework and expanded with items on health, lifestyle, psychosocial resources, barriers to healthy eating, and sources of health information. Diet quality was assessed using the pro-Healthy Diet Index, non-Healthy Diet Index, and overall Diet Quality Index (DQI). Nutrition knowledge was measured using a 24-item scale. Analyses included distributional diagnostics, non-parametric group comparisons, FDR-corrected Spearman correlations, psychometric assessment, principal component analysis, multivariable regression with model diagnostics, and profile segmentation. Results: The mean age was 73.63 ± 5.73 years, and most participants were women. The median DQI was 15.59 [3.93–24.86], with a predominance of neutral diet quality. Nutrition knowledge was moderate, with a median score of 12.00 [9.00–15.00], and the scale showed very good internal consistency. PCA identified three dietary patterns: convenience/ultra-processed, prudent/health-promoting, and traditional meat-and-fat. Higher DQI was associated with better nutrition knowledge, greater physical activity, a more favorable sleep profile, regular meal timing, and lower disease burden. Participants with multimorbidity had significantly lower DQI. Segmentation distinguished a health-engaged/higher-resource profile and a lower-resource/nutritionally vulnerable profile. Conclusions: U3A participants in Poland are educationally and socially active but nutritionally heterogeneous. The predominance of neutral diet quality, moderate nutrition knowledge, and identifiable knowledge gaps indicates the need for targeted, practical, and behavior-oriented nutrition education supporting healthy ageing. Full article

Eating behavior and eating habits are shaped from the earliest stages of life through interactions among biological, familial, social, and environmental factors. The aim of this narrative review is to integrate evidence on the early-life determinants of eating behavior and their influence on dietary intake from infancy to adolescence. A narrative review was conducted with a structured search approach prioritized on longitudinal studies, intervention trials, and policy evaluations when available, and using cross-sectional evidence mainly to describe patterns and sociodemographic factors. Synthesizing the current evidence, our framework proposes that breastfeeding, responsive complementary feeding, and self-regulatory parenting are associated with higher responsiveness to internal hunger, satiety cues, and preference for nutrient-dense foods. Conversely, coercive practices, early exposure to highly palatable foods, and the influence of food marketing are linked to dominant hedonic responses and impulsive consumption patterns. Furthermore, family environments characterized by stress or food insecurity, together with high access to low-nutrient foods, may increase vulnerability to poor eating habits and emotional eating during adolescence. Overall, the evidence highlights the need for preventive interventions that integrate parenting support, school food education, digital marketing regulation policies, and the promotion of healthy food environments across multiple sectors. Understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors linking early determinants to dietary intake and eating behaviors across development is essential for promoting a balanced relationship with food and preventing chronic diseases from an early age. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition that requires comprehensive and sustained interventions. Despite the central role of dietary modification in obesity management, current approaches to dietary counselling remain heterogeneous and often fail to account for the broader environmental and social determinants of eating behavior. In pediatric populations, dietary habits are strongly influenced by family dynamics, home food environments, school settings, and peer interactions, highlighting the need for system-oriented intervention models. Methods: This structured narrative review with conceptual framework development presents an integrative framework for dietary counselling in pediatric obesity, combining evidence-based nutritional strategies with behavioral and environmental approaches. The paper synthesizes current literature on early-life habit formation, family-based behavioral treatment, feeding practices, and environmental determinants of dietary behavior. Results: The proposed framework emphasizes the role of the family as the primary therapeutic unit and highlights the importance of modifying the home food environment and implementing gradual, achievable changes through the “small steps” approach. A structured, visit-based model of dietary counselling is introduced, integrating dietary assessment, patient education, and behavioral strategies. Additionally, the influence of external environments—including schools, peer groups, and public health systems—is considered to provide a comprehensive understanding of factors shaping dietary behaviors in children. Conclusions: The proposed system-oriented framework offers practical guidance for clinicians and public health practitioners and supports the development of more effective and sustainable interventions. Integrating individual, family, and environmental perspectives may improve adherence to dietary recommendations and enhance long-term outcomes in pediatric obesity management. Full article

Background: Critical illness leads to profound metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune disorders that affect the prognosis of patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs). The ketogenic diet, a high-fat and low-carbohydrate eating model, is gaining increasing importance as a potential metabolic intervention in the ICU. Preliminary data suggest that the ketogenic diet (KD) may support the control of seizures in a super-refractive epileptic state (SRSE), stabilize glycemia, reduce insulin demand, and modulate the immune response in sepsis. The aim of this review was to present a synthetic presentation of the current state of knowledge regarding use of the KD in intensive care patients. Methods: The review was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library databases were searched (10–19 April 2026) using the Population–Concept–Context model. Full-text observational studies, randomized trials and reviews of the use of KDs in ICU patients were included. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Of the 42 publications identified, seven studies were included in the analysis. The KD was feasible and safe in both critically ill adults and children. In SRSE, most patients achieved stable ketosis within a few days, which often allowed for reduction or discontinuation of anesthetics. In sepsis, the KD led to glycemic stabilization, reduced insulin demand and reduced immune deregulation; in one study, “after day 4, none of the patients in the KD group required insulin treatment.” The KD also showed beneficial effects on cellular bioenergetics and mitochondrial function. The safety profile was acceptable and adverse reactions were manageable with appropriate monitoring. Conclusions: The KD represents a promising, non-pharmacological metabolic intervention in intensive care, particularly in the treatment of SRSE and in the stabilization of glucose metabolism in sepsis and other critical conditions. Despite the growing number of positive clinical observations, the available evidence remains limited due to small samples, heterogeneous protocols, and a lack of randomized trials. Further, well-designed prospective studies are needed to determine optimal KD implementation protocols and identify the patient populations that benefit most. Full article

Objective: Naegleria fowleri, known as the brain-eating amoeba, is a thermophilic, freshwater amoeba causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease that progresses rapidly from symptom onset to death. Climate change is causing surface water temperatures to increase, providing a hospitable environment for N. fowleri, possibly increasing risk factors for PAM. This review synthesizes the peer-reviewed biomedical literature published between January 2012 and December 2025, examining the risk of N. fowleri infection in the context of a warming climate. Methods: A scoping review was conducted searching PubMed, Scopus, and Environment Complete. Data were extracted using a structured coding framework, and risk dimensions were derived inductively during the coding process. Results: Twenty-seven articles met inclusion criteria. Analysis revealed four dimensions of risk (environmental, behavioral, clinical/biological, and infrastructural). The environmental risk dimension highlighted gaps in understanding geographic range expansion and organism ecology. The behavioral dimension identified recreational water exposure, sinus rinsing, and travel as primary risk drivers. The clinical/biological dimension highlighted the need for standards and capacity in diagnosis and treatment, as well as research into pathogenicity. The infrastructural dimension identified gaps in water distribution system surveillance and disinfectant efficacy at high temperatures. Discussion: This review maps environmental, behavioral, clinical/biological, and infrastructural dimensions of N. fowleri disease risk onto a hazard/exposure/vulnerability framework, highlighting major gaps surrounding exposure and vulnerability. Uncertainties remain in hazard habitat favorability factors, human behavior, and water distribution systems. Emphasis should be placed on characterizing the hazard through environmental testing and determining geographic range, and addressing vulnerability by increasing clinician awareness, which serves double duty in both initiating early empiric treatment and efforts to quantify true disease burden. Full article

Background/Objectives: Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder with substantial public health implications, yet epidemiological data from Serbia remain limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of clinically significant insomnia symptoms in the adult population of Serbia and to examine associated sociodemographic, comorbidity, psychosocial, and lifestyle factors. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2023 to September 2025, including 2577 adults aged 18–89 years across Serbia. Insomnia symptom severity was measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), with scores ≥ 15 indicating clinically significant insomnia symptoms. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, psychosocial, and lifestyle factors were assessed via self-reported questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression with LASSO variable selection was used to identify factors independently associated with clinically significant insomnia symptoms. Results: The prevalence of clinically significant insomnia symptoms (ISI ≥ 15) was 10.9%. Independent factors associated with clinically significant insomnia symptoms included being single (OR = 1.54) or divorced (OR = 1.75), lower educational attainment (OR = 0.71 per level increase), being retired (OR = 1.83) or a student (OR = 1.66), dermatological comorbidities (OR = 2.99), use of anxiolytic medications (OR = 2.44), exposure to stressful life events (OR = 1.88), engagement in late-night activities (OR = 1.37), consumption of coffee/tea (OR = 2.22), energy drink consumption (OR = 1.52), and late-night eating habits (OR = 1.27). Conclusions: Clinically significant insomnia symptoms among adults in Serbia are influenced by a complex interplay of sociodemographic, comorbidity, psychosocial, and lifestyle factors. These findings underscore the need for integrated approaches that address both medical and modifiable behavioral determinants in the prevention and management of insomnia symptoms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Feeding and Eating Disorders (FEDs) are among the most challenging mental disorders due to their pervasive symptomatology and high relapse rates. While considerable research has focused on the role of personality in the onset and maintenance of FEDs, it remains unclear whether specific personality dimensions and emotion dysregulation mechanisms predict clinical severity and purging behaviors. This study aimed to explore the role of personality dimensions, emotion dysregulation, and purging behaviors in predicting psychological distress in patients with FEDs, adopting a dimensional and integrated perspective. Methods: A sample of cisgender women in a semi-residential treatment for FEDs or obesity (n = 124) was recruited in southern Italy and assessed using a psychodiagnostics survey, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Results: Patients with bulimia nervosa exhibited higher psychological distress compared to patients with other FEDs and Obesity, which was not significantly determined by the co-occurrence of personality disorders. Negative affectivity, detachment, and purging symptoms were significantly related to psychological distress in patients with FEDs and Obesity (p ranging from 0.028 to <0.001). Moreover, the results showed an indirect effect of emotion regulation on the relationship between self-esteem and purging symptoms in patients with FEDs and Obesity (β = 0.107; p = 0.046). Conclusions: These findings suggest that specific personality dimensions, emotion dysregulation, and purging symptoms are associated with psychological distress in individuals with FEDs and Obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on the impact of these psychological components in planning tailored treatment for FED patients. Full article

Background/Objectives: Probiotic feed additives are increasingly used in livestock production as antimicrobial-sparing tools, yet viable microbial products should not introduce clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) into the intestinal resistome. This study evaluated farm-animal probiotic products using an integrated phenotypic, metagenomic and mobilome-aware safety framework. Methods: Seven commercially available products intended for poultry, pigs, cattle or horses were assessed using product metadata, culture-based recovery, broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) profiling and Illumina short-read sequencing as a screening-level resistome approach. Reads were quality controlled, assembled, screened using the Comprehensive Antibiotic Research Database (CARD)/Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) workflow and interrogated for plasmid-, phage- and insertion sequence/mobile genetic element-associated genomic context. Results: MIC profiles were generated for viable bacterial isolates representing Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Bacillus subtilis. One labelled Lactobacillus plantarum component was not recovered as viable culture, and one labelled P. acidilactici component was recorded as P. pentosaceus. Sequencing-based resistome screening identified 30 antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-associated CARD antibiotic-resistant organism (ARO) hits belonging to 13 determinants across six ARG-positive coded products, while one coded product had no retained CARD/RGI hit. Profiles were dominated by recurrent Enterococcus-associated background determinants, including aac(6′)-Ii, msrC and eatAv. Plasmid prediction was positive for five hits, whereas no iMGE- or phage-associated ARG context was detected. No vanA/vanB, mcr, optrA, poxtA, cfr, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) or carbapenemase gene was detected. Conclusions: The investigated products did not show evidence of high-priority mobile ARG carriage. Nevertheless, AMR-associated determinants and occasional predicted mobile contexts support routine integrated MIC-sequencing-based resistome–mobilome assessment of veterinary probiotic products. Because short-read assemblies do not fully resolve plasmid architecture or transferability, mobile-context predictions should be considered screening-level indicators requiring confirmatory long-read or functional testing for higher-priority findings. Full article

The extant body of evidence pertaining to the acceptance of cultured meat in Sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. The present study examined the determinants of intention to adopt cultured meat among a sample of young, urban, meat-eating adults in Chad (n = 290, from a recruited sample of 304). This was achieved using a cross-sectional online survey. Hierarchical OLS with HC3-robust inference was estimated across five hypothesis blocks, complemented by dominance analysis, binary outcome sensitivity, and exploratory triangulation (Bayesian, elastic net, conditional random forest). Approximately half of the respondents expressed a willingness to try cultured meat (52.4%). The final model accounted for 30.6% of the intention variance (adjusted R² = 0.188). Following Holm’s correction for multiple comparisons, the conventional-meat and knowledge blocks did not demonstrate a significant difference. The product beliefs (ΔR² = 0.056, p = 0.022), affective risk barriers (ΔR² = 0.086, p = 0.004), and value fit (ΔR² = 0.039, p = 0.048) were found to be significant, with affective risk ranking first in dominance analysis (22.8%). Binary sensitivity analysis demonstrated acceptable discrimination (AUC = 0.744), although no block remained significant after correction. Exploratory analyses yielded convergent results, including notably robust Bayesian support for excluding the conventional-meat block (BF01 = 1.66 × 10¹²). Sensitivity power analysis confirmed adequate power (≥0.80) for the significant blocks, but indicated that the conventional-meat non-significance may partly reflect limited power (estimated power = 0.47). Cultured meat adoption intention was more strongly associated with affective risk and value fit appraisals than with conventional meat purchase priorities. This suggests that acceptance strategies should prioritise risk reduction, trust-building, and perceived value. The findings should be interpreted as applying to a digitally connected, young, urban, meat-eating, predominantly tertiary-educated early-adopter-like segment (90.5% with university-level education; 72.7% residing in cities of more than 500,000 inhabitants), rather than to the general Chadian population. Full article

Introduction: Problematic internet use has been increasingly associated with depression, anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms; however, its impact on attentional functioning has not been thoroughly researched. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Târgu Mureș, Romania, and aimed to examine the associations between problematic internet use, attentional control, and symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults, and to determine whether problematic internet use independently predicts attentional control after accounting for emotional symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 224 adults who completed an anonymous online survey between 1 January 2026 and 1 April 2026. Problematic internet use was assessed using the Compulsive Internet Use Scale-14 (CIUS-14), attentional control using the Attentional Control Scale (ACS), depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), and eating disorder risk using the SCOFF questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, internal consistency analyses, Pearson correlations, group comparisons according to the CIUS-14 screening threshold, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Problematic internet use was significantly associated with lower attentional control (r = −0.493, p < 0.001), higher depressive symptoms (r = 0.408, p < 0.001), and higher anxiety symptoms (r = 0.467, p < 0.001). In the regression model, problematic internet use remained the only significant independent predictor of attentional control (B = −0.597, p < 0.001), whereas depressive and anxiety symptoms were not significant after adjustment. Participants above the CIUS-14 screening threshold reported significantly lower attentional control and higher depression and anxiety scores than those below the threshold. Conclusions: Problematic internet use was associated with poorer attentional control and greater emotional symptom severity in Romanian adults. These findings suggest that problematic internet use may be linked to a broader cognitive–emotional vulnerability profile. However, because of the cross-sectional design, self-report measures, convenience sampling, and lack of detailed information on specific online activities, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. Longitudinal studies using objective cognitive measures and more detailed assessment of digital behaviors are needed. Full article

Background/Objectives: While body dissatisfaction is frequently studied as an outcome of physical activity, less is known about how pre-existing body image perceptions shape the quality of behavioral regulation. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this study aimed to investigate the associations of different perceived body image discrepancy profiles with autonomous and controlled motivation for both exercise and eating, and to explore the interaction effects between these profiles and sex. Methods: The sample comprised 939 regular gym exercisers (32.99 ± 11.90 years; 55.1% female). Using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale, participants were categorized into four discrepancy profiles: desire to increase, satisfied, mild desire to reduce, and moderate/severe desire to reduce. Data were analyzed using Two-Way ANOVAs. Results: The Satisfied group reported the highest autonomous and lowest controlled motivation across both domains (main effects: p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.019–0.046). A significant body image × sex interaction emerged for controlled eating motivation (F(3, 931) = 6.22, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.020). Females exhibited a “U-shaped” curve, demonstrating low controlled eating motivation when satisfied (M = 1.65) but elevated levels at extremes (desire to increase: M = 2.50; moderate/severe desire to reduce: M = 2.39). Males maintained stable controlled eating motivation across all discrepancy profiles (M = 2.06–2.30). Although these main and interaction effects were statistically significant, all observed multivariate effect sizes were small (η²_p = 0.012–0.046). Conclusions: Perceived body image discrepancy acts as a significant antecedent of motivational quality. The absence of a perceptual gap is linked to highly adaptive, autonomous behavioral regulation. Furthermore, the distinct sex-based patterns in controlled eating motivation underscore the necessity for health and exercise professionals to adopt tailored, sex-specific strategies when addressing body image concerns. Full article

Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), are increasingly used for the management of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. However, the impact of concomitant lifestyle interventions, which vary in scope, structure, and intensity, remains unclear. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted from April to December 2025 (last update: 12 December 2025), in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. Randomized and observational studies including patients aged 6–19 years with overweight or obesity, with or without T2D, treated with GLP-1 RAs or dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, were included. Anthropometric outcomes, metabolic parameters, and the scope and structure of concomitant nutritional and behavioral interventions were assessed. Results: Fifteen studies (12 interventional [RCT/non-RCT] and 3 observational), including 1448 participants, were analyzed: liraglutide (n = 6), exenatide (n = 5), semaglutide (n = 1), dulaglutide (n = 1), tirzepatide (n = 1), and lixisenatide (n = 1). Intervention duration ranged from 6 to 68 weeks. Reported BMI reductions varied across studies and pharmacological agents, with semaglutide trials reporting reductions of up to −16.1%. Lifestyle interventions were heterogeneously reported, ranging from general dietary advice to structured, multidisciplinary programs including nutritional counseling, physical activity, and behavioral or family support. Due to heterogeneity in study design and reporting, the independent contribution of lifestyle interventions could not be determined. Conclusions: Available evidence suggests that GLP-1 RAs may represent an effective therapeutic option for children and adolescents with obesity and metabolic disorders. However, available evidence is largely derived from studies incorporating inconsistently reported lifestyle interventions, limiting the ability to disentangle pharmacological and lifestyle effects. Standardized reporting and studies specifically designed to assess their independent and combined effects are needed. Future research should standardize the reporting of lifestyle protocols (e.g., using TIDieR), incorporate validated measures of eating behavior, food preferences, and dietary intake, and use designs (e.g., factorial or stratified randomization of lifestyle intensity) that allow for the pharmacological and behavioral contributions to be quantified separately. This review highlights a critical and previously underexplored methodological gap regarding the structure and reporting of lifestyle co-interventions in pediatric GLP-1 trials. Full article

This study aimed to develop shrimp gravlax (Penaeus japonicus) as a ready-to-eat seafood product and to determine its shelf life. The product was prepared using a curing method and stored at 4 °C for 30 days. Quality changes were monitored at five-day intervals through analyses of TVB-N, TBARs, peroxide value, pH, water activity, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, and total psychrophilic bacteria. Gradual shifts in quality parameters were observed during storage, with notable increases in TVB-N, lipid oxidation markers, and microbial counts. Sensory scores declined over time, yet the product remained acceptable until approximately day 25. These findings suggest that shrimp gravlax has a shelf life of around 25 days under the studied conditions. To support freshness evaluation, machine learning models including Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), and Decision Tree (DT) were applied. After data augmentation and parameter optimization, the models achieved high classification performance, reaching up to 100% under optimized conditions. The classification outcomes aligned well with experimental observations, highlighting the potential of machine learning to strengthen shelf-life assessment when multiple quality indicators are considered together. Nevertheless, the models were developed under a single storage condition and focused on classification rather than time-series prediction. Further research using independent datasets and varied storage environments will be necessary to enhance model generalizability. In conclusion, shrimp gravlax can be regarded as a promising ready-to-eat product. Combining traditional processing methods with machine learning provides a practical and innovative approach to shelf-life evaluation in seafood systems. Full article

Nitrogen fertilizer application rate and storage duration are critical agronomic and environmental factors affecting rice quality stability. The milling appearance, eating and nutritional quality, physicochemical properties, microstructure, and volatile metabolic profiles during long-term storage were investigated using three indica-japonica hybrid cultivars at four nitrogen fertilizer application levels. High nitrogen fertilizer application (300 kg hm⁻²) promoted an over-filled protein matrix and induced structural defects such as micropores in starch granules, which acted as “trigger points” for accelerated aging. Specifically, storage duration was the dominant factor reshaping volatile profiles and lipid degradation, but high nitrogen amplified these effects by promoting lipid oxidation and the accumulation of off-flavor compounds. Correlation analysis revealed that gel consistency (GC) is a core determinant of eating quality, exhibiting significant negative correlations with amylose content, setback, hardness and fatty acid values, while showing positive correlations with peak viscosity, breakdown value, and adhesiveness. All correlation patterns collectively contributed to the deterioration of rice eating quality after storage, indicating GC might be served as an indirect indicator for evaluating rice deterioration and applied in the breeding of rice varieties with improved storage tolerance. Microstructural analysis via SEM high nitrogen induced distinct cultivar-specific deterioration characteristics after 12 months storage. Full article

This study examines the determinants of subjective economic status and life satisfaction among Korean middle-aged individuals, defined as those between 45 and 57 years old. The research explores the impact of eating out expenses, clothing expenses, employment status, and physical exercise on these factors. Data is drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment (KLoEE) for the year 2022, with a sample size of 4392 observations. To test the research hypotheses, quadratic multiple regression analysis was employed. The findings reveal that subjective economic status is significantly influenced by both eating out and clothing expenses, exhibiting an inverted-U-shaped effect. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship between clothing expenses and life satisfaction was also observed. Employment had a positive effect on subjective economic status but a negative impact on life satisfaction. Furthermore, regular physical exercise was found to influence both subjective economic status and life satisfaction positively. The study concludes that subjective economic status positively affects life satisfaction among the Korean middle-aged population. This research contributes to the literature by identifying key behavioral characteristics of this demographic in Korea and discussing relevant policy implications. Full article