Psychological distress in Spanish airline pilots during the aviation crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and psychometric analysis of the 12-item general health questionnaire.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological distress of Spanish airline pilots, a group of professionals undergoing an unprecedented work situation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To do so, we administered the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). A total of 342 questionnaires were obtained, with the largest respondent age group being 41-50 years. The psychometric properties of the instrument were also evaluated, with an exploratory factor analysis revealing a unidimensional structure that explained 59.23% of the variance. The total score on the standard GHQ-12 was 4.54 ± 3.31 very close to the cut-off point established to determine psychological distress. The score increased among those unemployed and was also higher among pilots on furlough compared to those whose work situation was relatively normal. Furthermore, the reliability measured by the total Cronbach's alpha was above 0.8 of each across all employment status considered. These results show the desirability of conducting periodic psychological distress assessments of pilots so that effective measures can be implemented to ensure their psychological and socio-emotional well-being. Practitioner summary: This article evaluates psychological distress in a group of professionals that has received scant attention in the field. Moreover, it does so against the background of an atypical situation, evaluating the psychological distress suffered by pilots in different employment categories during the current severe crisis in the aviation sector.Abbreviations: CFI: comparative fit index; COPAC: Official College of Commercial Aviation Pilots; ECA: European Cockpit Association; EFA: exploratory factor analysis; GHQ-12: general health questionnaire-12; IATA: International Air Transport Association; KMO: Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test; PA: optimal implementation of parallel analysis; ULS: unweighted least squares.

[Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and eating behaviour in Spanish schoolchildren]. / Adhesión a la dieta mediterránea y conducta alimentaria en escolares españoles.

Introduction: Introduction: eating behaviors may modulate or influence diet quality and the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in children and adolescents. Aims: to investigate the association between diet quality and eating behavior in a group of Spanish schoolchildren. Methods: descriptive cross-sectional study of 283 Spain schoolchildren aged six to 16. Each subject was assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire for adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) questionnaire to assess eating behavior. Results: of the sample, 12.80 % had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 59.80 % had poor adherence, 59.80 % could be improved, and 27.40 % had high adherence. When relating eating behavior to dietary quality, it was found that, generally, schoolchildren with greater enjoyment of food and less demand for food have double the adherence to the Mediterranean diet due to almost twice the consumption of vegetables, nuts, and fish, and a lower intake of low-quality processed foods (sweets). The response to satiety and the speed of ingestion also played an important role in food choices. Conclusions: eating behaviors may play an essential role in the quality of school children's diets highlighting the enjoyment and acceptance or rejection of food. Given the bidirectional nature of the effects between eating behaviors and diet quality, the joint analysis may be the basis for future research with the aim of a better nutritional approach from the earliest ages.

Introducción: Introducción: las conductas alimentarias pueden modular o influir en la calidad de la dieta y el grado de adherencia a la dieta mediterránea de niños y adolescentes. Objetivos: investigar la asociación entre la calidad de la dieta y el comportamiento alimentario en un grupo de escolares españoles. Métodos: se trata de un estudio transversal descriptivo en una muestra de 283 escolares españoles de seis a 16 años. Cada sujeto fue evaluado mediante el cuestionario KIDMED de adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y el cuestionario Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) para evaluar el comportamiento alimentario. Resultados: un 12,80 % de la muestra presentó baja adherencia a la dieta mediterránea; un 59,80 %, adherencia mejorable; y un 27,40 %, adherencia alta. Al relacionar las conductas alimentarias con la calidad dietética, los escolares con mayor disfrute por los alimentos y menos exigencia con la comida presentan el doble de adherencia a la dieta mediterránea, por un consumo de casi el doble de vegetales, frutos secos o pescado, así como menor ingesta de procesados de baja calidad (golosinas y dulces). La respuesta a la saciedad y la velocidad de ingesta también tuvieron un papel importante en las elecciones alimentarias. Conclusiones: las conductas alimentarias pueden tener un importante papel en la calidad de la dieta de los escolares, destacando el disfrute y la aceptación o rechazo por los alimentos. Dada la naturaleza bidireccional de los efectos entre las conductas alimentarias y la calidad de la dieta, el análisis conjunto puede ser la base de futuras investigaciones con el objetivo de un mejor abordaje nutricional desde las edades más tempranas.

Eating Behavior and Obesity in a Sample of Spanish Schoolchildren.

From the point of view of prevention, it is convenient to explore the association between eating behavior and the obese phenotype during school and adolescent age. The aim of the present study was to identify eating behavior patterns associated with nutritional status in Spanish schoolchildren. A cross-sectional study of 283 boys and girls (aged 6 to 16 years) was carried out. The sample was evaluated anthropometrically by Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (%BF). Eating behavior was analyzed using the CEBQ "Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire". The subscales of the CEBQ were significantly associated with BMI, WHtR and %BF. Pro-intake subscales (enjoyment of food, food responsiveness, emotional overeating, desire for drinks) were positively related to excess weight by BMI (ß = 0.812 to 0.869; p = 0.002 to <0.001), abdominal obesity (ß = 0.543-0.640; p = 0.02 to <0.009) and high adiposity (ß = 0.508 to 0.595; p = 0.037 to 0.01). Anti-intake subscales (satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating, food fussiness) were negatively related to BMI (ß = -0.661 to -0.719; p = 0.009 to 0.006) and % BF (ß = -0.17 to -0.46; p = 0.042 to p = 0.016).

Fatigue, Work Overload, and Sleepiness in a Sample of Spanish Commercial Airline Pilots.

Commercial aviation pilots are an occupational group that work in particular conditions, with frequent schedule changes, shift work, unfavorable environmental conditions, etc. These circumstances can lead to fatigue, work overload (WO), and daytime sleepiness, factors that can affect their health and safety. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and the association between these parameters in a sample of Spanish commercial airline pilots. The Raw TLX, Fatigue Severity Scale, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires were administered in a sample of 283 participants. The relationships of the total scores between all the questionnaires were studied by the chi-square test and the risk scores (odds ratio) were calculated. Different models using multiple linear regression were carried out to evaluate the effects of WO, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness, among the total scores, age, and flight hours. Additionally, the internal consistency of each questionnaire was estimated. A total of 28.2% presented WO above the 75th percentile, with mental and temporal demand the dimensions with the greatest weight. A total of 18% of pilots presented fatigue, 15.8% moderate sleepiness, and 3.9% severe sleepiness. We observed an association among WO, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness, important factors related to pilot health and aviation safety.

Concordance between methods of estimating body fat in pediatric and adolescent age.

Background and objective: The percentage of fat (%BF), essential data in the health or nutrition field, can be estimated by different methods. This work compares the %BF values obtained by anthropometry, Near Infrared Interactance (NIR), and Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA), in childhood and adolescence. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 1015 schoolchildren aged 9 to 16 years. Height, weight, and four adipose folds were measured: tricipital, bicipital, subscapular, and suprailiac. The %BF by anthropometry was calculated using a specific formula based on body density (BD). A tetrapolar analyzer was used for the BIA calculation. The optical density in the biceps was measured for the one observed by NIR. Results: The high correlation and determination coefficients show that the relationship between %BF by anthropometry, BIA, or NIR is very strong, mainly between the first two. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) results between Anthropometry and BIA show an almost perfect agreement. Its graphical contrast attests that the correlation is higher in the male sex. In general, the agreement between Anthropometry and BIA is higher than between Anthropometry and NIR. Conclusions: The three techniques used to measure %BF show high concordance. All ICC values between pairs of methods are above 0.90. The comparison of %BF by anthropometry with BIA or NIR shows that the affinity is higher in intermediate adiposity percentages than in extreme ones. This trend occurs in both sexes and age groups.

Genetic risk score for common obesity and anthropometry in Spanish schoolchildren.

IntroductionCommon or non-syndromic obesity is a complex polygenic trait conditioned by biallelic or single-base polymorphisms called SNPs (Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms) that present an additive effect and act synergistically. Most genotype-obese phenotype association studies include body mass index (BMI) or waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), and very few introduce a broad anthropometric profile. ObjectiveTo verify whether a genetic risk score (GRS) developed from 10 SNPs is associated with the obesity phenotype assessed from anthropometric measures indicative of excess weight, adiposity and fat distribution. Material and methodsA series of 438 Spanish schoolchildren (6-16 years old) were evaluated anthropometrically (weight, height, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, BMI, WtHR, body fat percentage [%BF]). Ten SNPs were genotyped from saliva samples, generating a GRS for obesity, establishing genotype-phenotype association. ResultsSchoolchildren categorised as obese by BMI, ICT and %BF had higher GRS than their non-obese peers. The prevalence of overweight and adiposity was higher in subjects with a GRS above the median. Similarly, between 11 and 16 years of age, all anthropometric variables presented higher averages. ConclusionsGRS estimated from the 10 SNPs can be a diagnostic tool for the potential risk of obesity in Spanish schoolchildren and could be useful from the preventive perspective.

Atherogenic Risk, Anthropometry, Diet and Physical Activity in a Sample of Spanish Commercial Airline Pilots.

Cardiovascular accidents are the most disabling event for pilots, causing complicated situations during flight and the withdrawal of license. The study aims to assess the modifiable risk factors and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) associated with anthropometric, physiometabolic and lifestyle profiles in a sample of Spanish aviation pilots. Data from pilots' clinical and professional history, anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance assessments of nutritional status, and diet and physical activity questionnaires. The sample comprised 304 men pilots. Up to 53.6% showed excess weight, of which 6.4% were obese, 64.3% presented high relative adiposity and 64.6% showed abdominal obesity. Regarding the physiometabolic profile, 10.0% had hypertension, 42.6% hypercholesterolemia, 9.4% high LDL and 10.6% low HDL, 9.4% hyperglycemia and 8.1% hypertriglyceridemia. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was high in 29.7% and low in 14.7%. Most of the sample showed a good physical activity level. The AIP risk increased with higher obesity indicators and LDL cholesterol levels. There was an inverse relationship between the MedDiet adherence and vigorous physical activity and the risk of atherogenicity. Elevated rates of overweight, abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia were found, contributing to the atherogenic risk of plasma (AIP). This parameter was significantly associated with all anthropometric indicators and LDL cholesterol. Prevention plans on reducing excess fat and blood cholesterol levels are recommended to reduce cardiovascular risk in Spanish aviation pilots and ensure flight safety.