Depression, Anxiety, Emotional Eating, and Body Mass Index among Self-Reported Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: A Cross-Sectional Study in Peruvian Adults.

Background: Vegetarianism is commonly associated with various health benefits. However, the association between this dietary regimen and aspects of mental health remains ambiguous. This study compared the symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional eating (EmE), and body mass index (BMI) in Peruvian vegetarian and non-vegetarian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 768 Peruvian adults, of whom 284 (37%) were vegetarians and 484 (63%) were non-vegetarians. The Depression Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 (GAD-2), and an EmE questionnaire were applied; additionally, the BMI was calculated. Simple and multiple linear regression and Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to evaluate the association between depression, anxiety, EmE, and BMI with dietary patterns. Results: The vegetarians (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.31; p < 0.001) reported more depressive symptoms than the non-vegetarians. This trend persisted for anxiety, with an adjusted PR of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.01-0.29; p = 0.012). However, the vegetarians (adjusted PR = -0.38, 95% CI: -0.61--0.14; p < 0.001) reported lower EmE scores compared to the non-vegetarians. Likewise, the vegetarians had a lower mean BMI than the non-vegetarians (B = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.21--0.08; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Vegetarian diets are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as lower EmE and BMI scores. Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate these associations and determine causality and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Breakfast consumption, saturated fat intake, and body mass index among medical and non-medical students: a cross-sectional analysis.

Changes in dietary patterns and body weight have become a focus of research in undergraduate students. This study compared breakfast consumption, intake of foods high in saturated fat, and BMI between medical and non-medical students. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 4,561 Peruvian university students, of whom 1,464 (32.1%) were from the medical field and 3,097 (67.9%) from the non-medical field. We compared the frequency of breakfast consumption (categorized as regular: 6 to 7 days/week; occasional: 3 to 5 days/week; and rarely or never: 0 to 2 days/week) and the frequency of consumption of foods high in saturated fat. We created simple and multiple linear and Poisson regression models with robust variance to evaluate the association of the mentioned variables with academic fields. Non-medical students (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99; p = 0.008) were less likely to eat breakfast regularly compared to medical students. Likewise, consumption of foods high in saturated fats was higher in non-medical students (B = 1.47, 95% CI 0.91-2.04; p < 0.001) compared to medical students. Similarly, the mean BMI of these students was significantly higher than that of medical students (B = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12-0.53; p = 0.002). Although medical students reported relatively healthy eating habits and a lower BMI, there is a widespread need to promote improved diet and lifestyle among the entire university population to reduce the risks of communicable diseases and improve quality of life.

Body mass index and healthy lifestyle practices among Peruvian university students: a comparative study among academic discipline.

Background: Excess body weight and an unhealthy lifestyle are a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. University students are susceptible to unhealthy habits and obesity. This study compared body mass index (BMI) and healthy lifestyle practices among university students from four academic disciplines: Health Sciences, Business Sciences, Human Sciences and Education, and Engineering/Architecture. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a sample of 6,642 university students selected by non-probability convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used to assess healthy lifestyle practices. Results: Students in the areas of Business Sciences and Engineering/Architecture had a higher BMI than their peers in Health Sciences (B = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.56 and 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.52; p = 0.001). Additionally, these students tended to adopt less healthy lifestyle (B = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.20 to -0.01 and -0.09, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.00; p < 0.05) compared to those in Health Sciences. Conclusion: Although students of Health Sciences and Human Sciences and Education exhibited healthy lifestyle patterns, there is a clear need to improve eating and living habits in general among the university population to mitigate the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases.

Impact of a Nutrition Education Intervention on Knowledge, Healthy Eating Index, and Biochemical Profile in a Rural Community in Peru.

Background: Non-communicable diseases in adults and anemia in children represent a major global public health problem, with multiple causes including poor dietary quality. However, nutrition education interventions can empower individuals to make appropriate dietary changes. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a nutritional education intervention on nutrition knowledge (NK), healthy eating index (HEI), and biochemical profile in families in the community in Peru. Methods: A pre-experimental study was conducted in the community of Sinchicuy, located on the banks of the Amazon River, Iquitos, Peru. Nutrition education was provided over a 16-week period to a total of 61 heads of household (23 children under 5 years of age and 23 older adults). Fasting glucose and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration analyses were also carried out before and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, a significant improvement in the NK score was observed, increasing by 90% (p < 0.001). Additionally, the average HEI scores experienced a significant increase, rising by approximately 11.4% (p < 0.001). In children under 5 years of age, the Hb level showed a significant increase of 5.1% (p = 0.017). However, no statistically significant difference in glucose concentration was observed in older adults after the intervention. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated a positive impact on NK, HEI, and Hb in heads of households, older adults, and children under five in a rural community where there is limited access to basic services.

Bacteriemias por Staphylococcus aureus adquirida en la comunidad: comportamiento clínico y severidad en niños

Introducción: La bacteriemia por Staphylococcus aureus (SA) constituye una de las más graves infecciones de la edad pediátrica. Objetivos: Evaluar las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y laboratoriales de niños con bacteriemias por SA adquiridas en la comunidad (SAAC), identificar factores de riesgos asociados a mortalidad. Materiales y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo en el que se incluyeron pacientes (pts) de ≤16 años, hospitalizados entre 2010-2018, con dx de bacteriemias por SAAC. Los datos clínicos y laboratoriales fueron introducidos en una base de datos de Excel y formateados para análisis. Resultados: Se identificaron 117 pts con una edad media de 56+53 meses, de los cuales 81 fueron≤ 5 años. La bacteriemia se asoció principalmente a neumonía (47% de los casos), presentando choque el 38% e ingreso a UCI el 40% de los pts. En el 27% (32/117) la bacteriemia fue por SAMR. La edad <5 años (p=0.0001), presencia de choque (p=0001), hospitalización en UCI (p=0.002, OR 3.58, IC95% 1.5-8.3) y la mortalidad (p=0.03, OR 2.65, IC95% 1.05-6.7) se asociaron a infección por SAMR. La mortalidad de esta serie fue del 21 % (25/117). La presencia de comorbilidad (p=0.006, OR3.66, IC95% 1.4-92), choque (p=0.0001, OR 87.6, IC 95% 11.5-687.7), focos múltiples infecciosos (p=0.007,OR3.46, IC 95% 1.3-8.9), aislamiento de SAMR (p=0.03, OR 2.65,IC 95% 1.1-6.7), y trombocitopenia <100 000/mm3 (p= 0.0001, OR 25.3, IC 95% 5-128) se asociaron a mortalidad. Conclusiones: El presente estudio muestra la severidad de la bacteriemia por SA. La resistencia a meticilina, la comorbilidad, la presencia de focos múltiples y choque se identificaron como factores asociados a mortalidad.

Introduction: Bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is one of the most serious infections in the pediatric population. Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with bacteremia due to SA acquired in the community (SAAC) and to identify risk factors associated with mortality. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study in which patients (pts) ≤16 years, hospitalized between 2010-2018, with dx of bacteremia by SAAC were included. Clinical and laboratory data were entered into an Excel database and formatted for analysis. Results: We identified 117 pts with an average age of 56 + 53 months, of which 81 were ≤5 years. Bacteremia was associated mainly with pneumonia (47% of the cases), presenting with shock in 38% and admission to the ICU in 40% of the pts. In 27% (32/117) the bacteremia was caused by MRSA. Age <5 years (p = 0.0001), presence of shock (p = 0001), hospitalization in the ICU (p = 0.002, OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.5-8.3) and mortality (p = 0.03, OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.05-6.7) were associated with MRSA infection. The mortality in this series was 21% (25/117). The presence of comorbidities (p = 0.006, OR3.66, 95% CI 1.4-92), shock (p = 0.0001, OR 87.6, 95% CI 11.5-687.7), multiple infectious foci (p = 0.007, OR3.46, 95% CI 1.3-8.9), MRSA isolation (p = 0.03, OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.1-6.7), and thrombocytopenia <100 000 / mm3 (p = 0.0001, OR 25.3, 95% CI 5-128) were associated with mortality. Conclusions: This study shows the severity of SA bacteremia. Methicillin resistance, comorbidities, the presence of multiple infectious foci and shock were identified as factors associated with mortality.