Search Results (2,008)

This study examines the critical role of whole milk or milk replacer as a liquid diet (LD) with 15% solids in combination with different physical forms of starter as a solid diet (SD), on performance, health, and behavior of pre-weaned calves. Sixty male Holstein calves were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design, and randomly distributed into the following treatments: Whole milk powder diluted to 12.5% of solids and enriched with 25 g/L of milk replacer to achieve 15% solids, associated with either micropelleted stater (WM+micro) or texturized stater (WM+text); milk replacer diluted to 15% solids associated with either micropelleted stater (MRmicro) or texturized stater (MRtext). Starter intake and, consequently, total DMI were higher in the MRtext treatment compared to WM+micro. Calves fed texturized starter showed higher DMI, starter intake time, and rumination time. Calves in the WM+Text group showed greater ADG compared with MR treatments, regardless of starter type. Calves fed WM+ presented a lower number of days with fecal score ≥2, and the first day of diarrhea occurred at older ages. Calves fed MR showed more health challenges but similar feed efficiency with WM+, while texturized starter increased intake, eating duration, and rumination compared with micropelleted starter. Full article

Background/Objectives: Excessive social media usage in the current times and high rates of food advertising can impact the health status of individuals by increasing food cues related to perceived hunger and, thus, dietary behaviour. This study examined the association between social media usage patterns, food-related advertising, and dietary choices among Gen Z individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 314 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 in Surat city, Gujarat. Data was collected for social media usage, the most used platforms, preferred content, and eating patterns. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were also recorded. Perceived hunger responses to 12 social media-based food images were assessed using a ten-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 26.0), with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: YouTube and Instagram were the most used social media apps. There were no significant differences observed between the BMI of participants using social media for 2 h a day and those using it 3+ hours a day. However, a significant association between the BMI of those who viewed advertisements for ready-to-eat foods (p = 0.004) and the BMI of those who viewed advertisements for food delivery platforms (p = 0.001) was seen. A significant difference between usage of Pinterest (p = 0.02), Instagram (p = 0.047), and BMI was also found. Conclusions: Social media marketing and food content are shaping the dietary choices of young adults, and more studies need to be conducted in Pan India to understand the reasons. Such evidence will be crucial for guiding nutrition policies, digital marketing regulations, and youth-focused awareness programmes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Retirement from elite sport often disrupts structured routines and performance-driven nutrition habits, leaving athletes vulnerable to maladaptive eating behaviours and body image concerns. This study aimed to explore the experiences of former elite athletes regarding healthy eating after retirement, focusing on preparedness, barriers, and enablers during the transition to post-sport life. Methods: A qualitative design was employed using semi-structured interviews with former Australian athletes (national, international, or Olympic level) recruited via snowball sampling and professional networks. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis framework to identify key themes and subthemes. Results: Sixteen elite or highly trained athletes (56% female) were interviewed. Four overarching themes were apparent: (1) navigating life beyond elite sport, (2) detaching from sporting culture and belief systems, (3) reframing food, body, and control, and (4) the journey to healthy behaviours and food freedom. Participants reported identity loss, inadequate transition support, and persistent body image concerns. Over time, many described a gradual shift towards intuitive eating and improved relationships with food and self, though residual “food noise” and restrictive tendencies persisted for some. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for athlete-centred dietetic and psychological interventions across the athletic lifecycle and post-retirement. Culture change within elite sport and the development of tailored, accessible transition resources that include digital and AI-supported tools may facilitate healthier eating behaviours and long-term wellbeing. Full article

Obesity remains a major global health challenge, with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) providing substantial yet sensitive benefits in weight reduction, glycemic control, and cardiovascular protection. Despite robust trial data, real-world persistence is limited by cost, tolerability, and hedonic adaptation. Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating offer physiologically complementary, low-cost strategies that enhance fat oxidation, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic flexibility while engaging behavioral mechanisms of self-control and dietary regularity. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence and proposes a pragmatic, phased framework integrating GLP-1RA therapy with structured intermittent fasting and protein-optimized nutrition. The model emphasizes sequential initiation, transition, and maintenance phases designed to align pharmacologic appetite suppression with lifestyle-driven metabolic remodeling. Mechanistically, GLP-1RAs target vascular and neuroendocrine pathways, whereas fasting activates nutrient-sensing networks (AMPK, mTOR, sirtuins) associated with autophagy and longevity. Combined application may preserve lean mass, improve psychological autonomy, and reduce healthcare costs. Future research should validate this hybrid strategy in randomized trials assessing long-term weight durability, functional outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. By uniting pharmacologic potency with behavioral sustainability, phased GLP-1–fasting integration may represent an effective, affordable, and longevity-oriented paradigm for metabolic health. Full article

Time-qualified dietary interventions, including time-restricted eating (TRE), intermittent fasting (IF), and periodic fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs), have emerged as strategies to improve metabolic health. While preclinical studies consistently demonstrate robust effects on energy metabolism, cardiometabolic function, and longevity, translation to humans remains heterogeneous. In free-living settings, most metabolic improvements observed with TRE and IF appear primarily driven by spontaneous caloric restriction rather than meal timing per se, and isocaloric randomized controlled trials generally show no additional benefits compared to standard calorie restriction. Evidence supporting circadian-specific advantages, particularly for early TRE, is promising but inconsistent and often context-dependent. Important uncertainties also persist regarding long-term efficacy, lean mass preservation, safety in specific populations, and the physiological impact of extended fasting windows. Despite these controversies, time-qualified diets represent a paradigm shift in nutritional science by integrating chronobiology with dietary patterns. Future directions include tailoring eating windows to individual chronotypes, combining fasting regimens with high-quality dietary patterns and structured physical activity, and clarifying the molecular mechanisms that may mediate calorie-independent benefits. Large, long-term, mechanistically informed human trials are essential to determine whether aligning eating behaviors with circadian biology can produce durable clinical improvements. Such work will ultimately shape the role of personalized chrononutrition in preventive and therapeutic nutrition. Full article

Considering the prevalence of migraine and its impact on everyday living, its evolutionary persistence remains puzzling. This essay reviews recent literature and conceptual perspectives that frame migraine attacks as a possible side-effect of prolonged stress and unmet needs. To illustrate this, the article compares the antithetical relationship of triggers and migraine symptoms: During the early phase of the attack, many eat, drink, rest and sleep more and tolerate less nuisance compared to the hours and days before; previously, however, there was too little time to eat, drink, rest, and sleep, and the nuisance had to be tolerated. A relevant characteristic of many migraineurs is that they are prone to stress, e.g., because of a character trait, an impaired adaptation to stress, the lack of habituation to sensory stimuli, and disturbances of the energy supply. In that way, the appearance of the attack during fading stress makes sense: the body seizes the opportunity and communicates its needs when circumstances permit. In this context, the concept of pain as an imperative—a signal designed to enforce behavioural change—provides an insightful framework. Understanding migraine in this way may help reframe its pathophysiology and its clinical and translational significance. Full article

Accurate monitoring of cattle behavioral time budgets is crucial for early disease detection and welfare assessment. Changes in durations of standing, lying, and eating are known to be early indicators of health issues such as lameness and metabolic disorders. To enable low-cost, non-invasive, and real-time monitoring, this study proposes a lightweight cattle behavior recognition method based on an improved YOLO11n architecture. The model enhances multi-scale feature integration through a generalized efficient layer aggregation network (GELAN), improves feature extraction via a multidimensional collaborative attention (MCA) mechanism, and achieves efficient cross-scale fusion using a bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN). Depthwise separable convolution (DWConv) is incorporated to reduce computational load. Experimental results demonstrate high recognition accuracy, with mAP@0.5 values of 91.2%, 91.0%, and 93.9% for standing, lying, and eating, respectively. The model was subsequently compressed using a Layer-adaptive Magnitude-based Pruning (LAMP) algorithm, resulting in a final model of only 1.06 × 10⁶ parameters, a computational cost of 6.3 GFLOPS, and a weight size of 2.4 MB, while retaining 90.7% mAP@0.5. This highly efficient system is suitable for deployment on resource-constrained edge devices, providing a practical tool for continuous cattle monitoring. It offers a viable pathway for farmers to adopt precision livestock farming practices, facilitating early health intervention and promoting animal welfare. Full article

Background: Orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) and healthy orthorexia (HeOr) are two distinct but related dimensions of interest in eating behavior research. Evidence regarding their associations with sociodemographic, dietary, and sport-related variables in physically active young adults remains limited. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 190 physically active young adults (53.2% women; mean age = 23.16 ± 5.13 years). Participants practiced a variety of sports including fitness (25.3%), soccer (13.7%), handball (10.5%), athletics, martial arts, cycling, and other individual or team sports. Although all participants belonged to organized sports teams or structured training groups, 38.9% were not actively competing at the time of data collection. Participants completed validated instruments assessing OrNe, HeOr, and eating-related cognitions, alongside questionnaires on sociodemographic data, dietary habits, sport discipline, training frequency, and supplement use. Hierarchical and K-means clustering were applied using the standardized scores of HeOr, OrNe, and the EHQ total score. Group differences were assessed using t-tests and ANOVA with effect sizes (η²p) reported. Results: Age correlated positively with OrNe, HeOr, and eating-related cognitions, indicating greater consolidation of rigid eating patterns in young adulthood. BMI was associated with OrNe only among men. Vegetarian participants showed higher nutritional knowledge but lower overall orthorexia scores. Supplement users in fitness-related sports reported higher OrNe, whereas participants in collective sports reported lower scores. Three distinct orthorexia profiles were identified, characterized by lower, slightly above-average, and higher scores on orthorexia-related variables. Participants in the higher-scoring profile showed significantly higher EHQ total, OrNe, and HeOr scores compared with the other groups (η²p range = 0.11–0.19). Correlations among orthorexia dimensions were positive and moderate to large. Differences between clusters in sport modality, training frequency, and supplement use underscored the influence of the sporting context. Conclusions: Orthorexia in young physically active adults reflects heterogeneous patterns shaped by the interplay of individual (age, sex, BMI), dietary, and sport-related factors. The identification of differentiated profiles reinforces the multidimensional nature of orthorexia and underscores the relevance of considering specific sport environments when interpreting orthorexic tendencies. Longitudinal research is warranted to examine the stability or variability of these patterns over time and to enable the use of more robust multivariate approaches that further clarify the characterization of orthorexia. Full article

The monitoring of wildlife habitats is crucial for effective conservation efforts, particularly where biodiversity faces significant threats. This study aimed to monitor the biodiversity of wild mammals in a protected area (PA) of Northeastern Bangladesh, with a particular focus on detecting previously unrecorded species using camera traps. We deployed nine camera traps across 19 locations inside the PAs of Satchari National Park (SNP) from May 2024 to April 2025. Further, the camera-trap data were analyzed to evaluate the existing wild mammals, along with their activity patterns and seasonal variations, in SNP. Our study identified the Asiatic black bear in SNP for the first time, representing a significant contribution to biodiversity records of Bangladesh. Among the other frequently documented wild mammals were the wild boar, northern pig-tailed macaque, and barking deer, whereas less commonly detected species included the crab-eating mongoose and jungle cat. Activity pattern analysis of Asiatic black bear revealed a predominantly nocturnal-to-crepuscular behavior, with distinct bimodal peaks during early morning and evening. The present study showed that the Asiatic black bear was active in pre-monsoon and winter; however, it was absent during the rainy season, suggesting seasonal habitat use or detectability challenges. This is the first study to confirm the presence of Asiatic black bears in PAs of SNP using camera traps. These findings also highlight the importance of long-term biodiversity monitoring for continued conservation efforts to protect the diverse wildlife of SNP. The detection of previously undocumented wild mammals highlights the ecological importance of SNP, urging authorities to tighten the ongoing conservation initiatives. Understanding the diel and seasonal activity patterns would instruct the timing of conservation and habitat management strategies. This study also makes the integration of camera-trap monitoring into long-term biodiversity management to guide evidence-based conservation policies in Bangladesh’s PAs. Full article

Background: Young adults with bowel conditions—such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases—often experience poor quality of life, which may be influenced by their disease management, including eating behaviors. This study aimed to explore maladaptive eating behaviors and quality of life among young adults diagnosed with bowel conditions (IBS, Crohn’s, and Ulcerative Colitis), stratified by gender. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey assessing Quality of Life (QOL) and maladaptive eating behaviors (EDE-Q, TFEQ-18) was conducted in 73 young adults with bowel conditions (70% women; mean age 25.16 ± 2.94 years) in 2022/2023. Results: Participants reported an average of 10.72 ± 7.46 SD physically or mentally unhealthy days in the past month, indicating poor perceived health status. Mean EDE-Q global scores were higher than published normative data for healthy young adults (men: 2.49 ± 1.26 SD vs. 0.95 ± 0.98 SD; women: 2.30 ± 1.12 SD vs. 1.65 ± 1.30 SD). Mann–Whitney U tests revealed no significant gender differences in QOL or EDE-Q scores. However, men (n = 22) reported self-induced vomiting (68.18% vs. 29.41%) and medicine misuse (63.64% vs. 37.25%) ≥ 4 times in the past month at a higher proportion than women (n = 51). After controlling for age at diagnosis, the Global EDE-Q score was positively associated with QOL Global score (r_partial = 0.534, p < 0.001) and with the number of unhealthy days reported in the past month (r_partial = 0.452, p < 0.001) indicating a relationship of moderate strength. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential value of incorporating routine screening for eating disorder risk into the medical treatment of young adults with bowel conditions. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic stressors have profoundly reshaped consumer eating behaviors, presenting an urgent and underexplored challenge for the academic community. This interdisciplinary review critically examines how these disruptions have influenced both food approach and food avoidance patterns, offering a structured analysis of eight key behavioral parameters: Hunger (H), Food Responsiveness (FR), Emotional Overeating (EOE), Enjoyment of Food (EF), Satiety Responsiveness (SR), Emotional Under Eating (EUE), Food Fussiness (FF), and Slowness in Eating (SE). Drawing on recent literature, we highlight significant shifts in these traits—such as heightened hedonic hunger, age-related changes in food preferences, and gender-specific emotional-satiety dynamics—underscoring the complex interplay between emotional states, physiological cues, and behavioral tendencies. Grounded in the systematic examination of peer-reviewed studies in the post-COVID period, this review offers a robust and comprehensive synthesis of current evidence. The novelty of this work lies in its integration of findings into targeted proposition statements for each parameter, visually supported by original flow charts. These culminate in the development of a “Consumers’ Eating Behavior Index”—a conceptual tool designed to guide researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in understanding and responding to post-pandemic dietary transformations. By emphasizing the emotional and psychological dimensions of eating, this index offers a timely framework for designing tailored public health interventions that promote sustainable nutritional habits. This study calls for renewed academic attention to the behavioral consequences of global crises, positioning eating behavior research as a critical frontier in post-COVID recovery and resilience. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breastfeeding has positive effects on both maternal and offspring health. This study examined the association between egg consumption (total eggs and specific egg foods) and breastfeeding duration and initiation. Methods: Data from a U.S. cohort of 1039 mother–infant dyads in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II and its 6-year follow-up (2005–2012) were analyzed. In late pregnancy, mothers reported the frequency and serving size of their consumption of egg-related products in the past month, including total eggs, whole eggs, egg whites, egg substitutes, egg with fat, and egg salad. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to examine associations of egg consumption with breastfeeding initiation and duration, respectively, adjusting for socio-demographics, pregnancy-related characteristics, and the Healthy Eating Index. Results: Mothers who consumed eggs 3+ times/week had higher odds of breastfeeding initiation (93.8% vs. 81.1%; confounder-adjusted OR, 3.34 [95% CI, 1.51–7.39]), compared to non-consumers. Similar associations were seen with whole eggs 2+ times/week (91.5% vs. 83.4%; 2.21 [95% CI, 1.20–4.04]), and eggs with fat 2+ times per week (91.4% vs. 86.8%; 2.19 [95% CI, 1.16–4.13]). Compared to non-consumers, mothers who consumed total eggs or whole eggs 1+ times per month had about 5 weeks longer breastfeeding duration, and those who consumed total eggs or whole eggs 1+ times per week had about 3 weeks longer exclusive breastfeeding duration. No significant associations were found for egg whites, egg salad, or egg substitutes. Conclusions: High consumption of total eggs, whole eggs, or eggs with fat may help support favorable breastfeeding practice outcomes. Full article

For behavioral obesity treatments to improve their typically minimal effects and reduce an increasing reliance on surgical and pharmacologic interventions, an enhanced understanding of theory-driven psychosocial factors is needed. Recent applied research successfully targeted the social cognitive theory-related variables of self-efficacy (SE), self-regulation (SR), and mood (e.g., total mood disturbance; TMD) to increase participants’ exercise outputs and improve their dietary behaviors to sustain weight losses. However, an improved understanding of interactions of changes in those psychosocial factors, especially within paths toward longer-term behavioral changes, is required to increase both the reliability and effectiveness of obesity interventions. Women (N = 106) participated in a 12-month, community-based cognitive–behavioral obesity intervention. Consistent with tenets of social cognitive theory, most of the treatment time was focused on building SR and SE related to both exercise and controlled eating, and improving mood (i.e., TMD), primarily through increased exercise. Improvements in SR, SE, and TMD were significant (ps < 0.001) from baseline to Months 3, 6, and 9 (except in SE over 9 months). These effect sizes were large (ds = 0.82–1.53). In line with the prediction of both exercise and dietary improvements over 12 months, paths from 3-month, to 6-month, to 9-month changes in SR → TMD → SE (B = 0.93, SE_B = 0.59, 95% CI [0.034, 2.274], and B = 0.46, SE_B = 0.25, 95% CI [0.035, 1.025], respectively) and TMD → SR → SE (B = −0.08, SE_B = 0.03, 95% CI [−0.145, −0.020], and B = −0.04, SE_B = 0.01, 95% CI [−0.070, −0.015], respectively) were significant, whereas the other possible paths incorporating changes in SR, SE, and TMD were not. Consistent with social cognitive theory and the mood–behavior model, findings supported the value of early treatment foci on interactions of TMD and SR changes in pursuit of longer-term advancements in SE and weight-loss behaviors. Full article

Background: Saliva sampling is increasingly used for respiratory virus diagnostics in dentistry and oral medicine due to patient comfort and reduced exposure risk. How routine behaviors—mechanical oral hygiene, rinsing, and food intake—affect short-term SARS-CoV-2 detectability remains insufficiently characterized for clinical workflows. Methods: In this international two-center pilot study, twelve RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients provided paired mouth-rinse saliva samples and pharyngeal swabs at predefined time points. The study assessed (I) an intensified 3 min mechanical oral hygiene protocol (toothbrushing of teeth, gingiva, tongue, and palate, followed by toothpaste–saliva gargling); (II) repeated short mouth rinses; and (III) postprandial sampling. Viral RNA was quantified by RT-PCR; Ct-trajectories were analyzed intra-individually. Results: Cycle threshold (Ct) values from pharyngeal swabs remained relatively stable over time, whereas mouth-rinse samples exhibited notable fluctuations throughout the 24 h period. An average increase of 3 Ct units was observed three minutes after the final mouth rinse (T24+3). Meal ingestion was associated with increased Ct values, rising by 4–5 units for pharyngeal swabs and 3–11 units for mouth rinses immediately after eating. Conclusions: In clinical dental settings, saliva diagnostics are feasible but acutely modulated by common behaviors. Mechanical oral hygiene, brief rinsing, and food intake can transiently reduce detectable oral SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with potential implications for timing of sampling, chairside triage, and infection-control protocols. This pilot study provides initial evidence supporting the development of standardized pre-analytical instructions (e.g., fasting window, pre-rinse policy, and sampling timing relative to oral hygiene and meals) to enhance the reliability of saliva-based testing in dental care. Full article

Considering sustainable consumption not just as an exercise of individual choice but a shared and collective activity, this study explores the role of conscious and responsible consumption initiatives (CRCIs) driving citizens’ adoption of sustainable lifestyles. This research followed a qualitative approach, combining documentary research and twenty-six in-depth interviews with practitioners in eight grassroots consumer initiatives located in Galicia (Spain). The results show that CRCIs favor members’ consumption of organic, seasonal, fair, and locally produced food. The findings also reveal that engagement in these initiatives nurtures three interconnected types of learning—cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral—which contribute to wider adoption of sustainable practices related to shifts in dietary habits, energy use, mobility, and frugality. CRCIs facilitate gradual transitions toward reduced meat consumption, favoring the intake of plant-based foods, and greater self-efficacy in preparing sustainable meals. These behavioral changes are incremental, motivated by inner reflection, practical experience, and consciousness around alternative economic models. However, the consistent adoption of sustainable eating habits is hindered by cultural and psychological barriers like cultural traditions, entrenched habits, and time constraints. In conclusion, these grassroots initiatives are interesting entry points for engaging citizens in sustainable lifestyles, becoming also gateways to the broader social and solidarity economy movement. Full article