ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Body Mass Index , Breakfast , Feeding Behavior , Students, Medical , Humans , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Male , Students, Medical/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult , Adult , Students/statistics & numerical data , Dietary Fats , Fatty Acids , Adolescent , Universities , PeruABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: El estado nutricional es un indicador del estado de salud y es un elemento de resistencia del organismo frente a enfermedades intercurrentes, incluyendo la COVID-19. Objetivo: Analizar el estado nutricional en pacientes adultos mayores hospitalizados en UCI diagnosticados de COVID-19. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal entre los meses abril y mayo de 2020. Se determinó y comparó el estado nutricional de un grupo de 83 pacientes adultos mayores con COVID-19. Los datos fueron analizados mediante pruebas de Chi-cuadrado y t-student, considerando un nivel de significancia del 5%. Resultados: Aproximadamente el 42,2% de los pacientes presentaban exceso de peso corporal. La anemia (46,9% vs. 9,8%, p < 0,001) y el riesgo de sarcopenia (45,7% vs. 33,3%, p = 0,011) fueron mayores en las mujeres en comparación a los hombres que presentaban COVID-19. También, los niveles de urea fueron significativamente más bajos en los pacientes con desnutrición en comparación con aquellos que no presentaban desnutrición (37,9 mg/dL vs. 44,1 mg/dL, p = 0,020). Del mismo modo, se encontró que la concentración de leucocitos estuvo más baja en los pacientes con COVID-19 que presentaban desnutrición 9,6 WBC (x10g
Background: Nutritional status is an indicator of healthstatus and an element of the bodys resistance to intercurrentdiseases, including COVID-19.Objective: To analyze the nutritional status in hospitalizedolder adult ICU patients diagnosed with COVID-19.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in aNational Hospital in Metropolitan Lima during the months of April and May 2020. The nutritional status of a group of 83older adult patients with COVID-19 was determined and com-pared. The data were analyzed using Chi-square and t-stu-dent tests, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: Approximately 42.2% of the patients had ex-cess body weight. Anemia (46.9% vs. 9.8%, p < 0.001)and risk of sarcopenia (45.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.011) werehigher in women compared to men presenting COVID-19.Furthermore, urea levels were significantly lower in patientswith malnutrition compared to those without malnutrition(37.9 mg/dL vs. 44.1 mg/dL, p = 0.020). Similarly, leuko-cyte concentration was found to be lower in COVID-19 pa-tients with malnutrition 9.6 WBC (x10g
