The Impact of Caregiver Pressure to Eat on Food Neophobia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: With autistic children's high pervasiveness of eating problems and inappropriate feeding behaviors by their caregivers, this study wanted to inspect the connection between caregivers' pressure to eat and food neophobia in these children. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional overview of 160 guardians of kids aged 2 to 7 years. After one-on-one questioning by the researcher, the collected information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the children with autism, caregiver feeding behavior, and new food neophobia (FN) scores was entered into the Questionnaire Star system. (3) Results: The mean FN score was 25.56 ± 6.46. The caregiver's pressure to eat positively related to children's FN (ß = 0.164 95% CI, 0.078, 2.163). In these children, we found a negative correlation between FN score and the frequency of vegetable intake (p ≤ 0.001), fruit intake (p ≤ 0.05), aquatic product intake (p ≤ 0.05), and dietary diversity score (p ≤ 0.01), and positively correlated with the frequency of snack intake (p ≤ 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Caregiver pressure to eat was positively associated with high levels of FN in Chinese kids with ASD, which in turn negatively impacted dietary quality. To improve eating habits, caregivers should reconsider their feeding strategies and avoid using forceful methods to ease food neophobia in these children.

Be aware of the sodium intake outside student canteens: development and validation of a sodium food frequency questionnaire in Chinese undergraduates.

Background: Chinese college students used to eat in student canteens, making dietary consumption outside the cafeterias the main reason for the difference in sodium intake. This study aims to develop and validate a food frequency questionnaire (Sodium-FFQ) targeting dietary sodium intake outside the canteens among undergraduates in China. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 124 and 81 college students from comprehensive universities in the development and validation stage. A 24 h dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire were used to develop the Sodium-FFQ. Food items were selected according to the foods that contributed more to the total sodium intake. Test-retest correlation coefficients with an interval of 14 days were employed to evaluate reproducibility. Validity was assessed against a single 24 h urine collection and a 3-day dietary record using correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman analyses, and cross-classification analysis of Kappa coefficients. Results: The Sodium-FFQ consists of 12 groups of foods with 48 items. The Spearman correlation coefficient of test-retest on sodium intake was 0.654 (p < 0.05), and that between the Sodium-FFQ, 3 × 24 h dietary record, and 24-h urinary sodium were 0.393 (p < 0.05) and 0.342 (p < 0.05), respectively. The Sodium-FFQ was correlated to 24 h urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio, with a Spearman coefficient of 0.370 (p < 0.05). The classification agreement of the Sodium-FFQ and 24 h urinary sodium was 68.4%, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.371 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Sodium-FFQ developed in this study presented an acceptable reproducibility, validity, and classification agreement. It indicates that the Sodium-FFQ could be a potential tool for promoting sodium restriction in college students.

Association between Eating Habits and Sodium Intake among Chinese University Students.

(1) Background: Insufficient evidence exists regarding the dietary habits that may contribute to high sodium intake among college students in China. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the dietary sodium intake of college students in Hunan and its association with their dietary habits. (2) Methods: In total, 585 university students from Hunan were recruited for this study. The sodium Food Frequency Questionnaire (sodium-FFQ) and dietary habits were assessed. (3) Results: Excluding cooking salt and high-sodium seasonings, the daily dietary sodium intake among college students in Changsha, Hunan Province, was 1183.74 (563.38, 2054.86) mg/day. A vast majority (89%) of college students reported eating outside of school at least once a week, and approximately one-third (34%) ordered takeaways at least once a week. After adjusting for confounding factors, the associations between the frequency of eating out and ordering takeaways with college students' sodium intake remained significant. (4) Conclusions: The findings indicate that excessive dietary sodium intake among college students in Hunan is a growing concern. College students who frequently eat out and order takeaways tend to have a higher sodium intake. Future research should focus on identifying the main sources of dietary sodium and developing interventions that promote healthy dietary habits among college students.

Relationship between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Postpartum Depression in Exclusively Breastfeeding Women.

(1) Background: Research has shown that chronic inflammation can increase the risk of depression. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a novel measure of dietary inflammation, which has been used to investigate the relationship between diet and mental disorders in adults. However, little research has been conducted to establish an association between dietary inflammation (as measured by DII) and postpartum depression (PPD) in exclusively breastfeeding women. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 293 women who were exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months or less were enrolled. The DII scores were evaluated using semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure depression levels of breastfeeding mothers during the six months following delivery. The participants were classified by tertiles, and the possibility of DII being associated with PPD was assessed by binary regression analysis. (3) Results: The average DII score was 2.32 ± 1.08, which ranged from -1.66 to 4.19. The rate of depression was 60.1%. Adjusted for potential risk factors such as age, educational level, occupational level, number of babies, number of caregivers, social support level, and sleep quality, the results showed that the lowest DII score was associated with a lower risk of PPD than the highest score (OR tertile Q1 vs. 3 = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.93, p = 0.030). (4) Conclusions: In exclusive breastfeeding women, the inflammatory potential of dietary intake seems to be related to depression. Interventions to improve diet quality might consider including a dietary component that aims to lower chronic systemic inflammation to prevent PPD. However, the relationship between DII and PPD among Chinese women remains to be demonstrated in a larger population.

Association between Depression, Anxiety Symptoms and Gut Microbiota in Chinese Elderly with Functional Constipation.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between anxiety, depression, and gut microbiota in elderly patients with FC. METHODS: in this cross-sectional study, a total of 198 elderly participants (85 male and 113 female) aged over 60 years were recruited. The study was conducted in Changsha city, China. The participants completed an online questionnaire, including The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), The Patient Assessment of Symptoms (PAC-SYM), and The Patient Assessment of Quality of Life (PAC-QoL). We selected the 16S rDNA V3 + V4 region as the amplification region and sequenced the gut microbiota using the Illumina Novaseq PE250 high-throughput sequencing platform. RESULTS: in total, 30.3% of patients with constipation had depression, while 21.3% had anxiety. The relative abundance of intestinal microbiota in the normal group was higher than that in the anxiety and depression group. According to LEfSe analysis, the relative abundance of g_Peptoniphilus and g_Geobacter in the people without depression and anxiety was higher. The relative abundance of g_Pseudoramibacter-Eubacterium and g_Candidatus-Solibacter in the depression group was lower, and the relative abundance of g_Bacteroides and g_Paraprevotella, g_Cc_115 in the anxiety group was higher. In addition, according to the correlation analysis, g_Aquicella and g_Limnohabitans were negatively correlated with constipation symptoms, anxiety, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: this study found that gut microbiota composition may be associated with a higher incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with FC, thus providing insight into the mechanisms that ameliorate mood disorders in patients with FC.

Screen Time and Its Association with Vegetables, Fruits, Snacks and Sugary Sweetened Beverages Intake among Chinese Preschool Children in Changsha, Hunan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Introduction: Screen time may influence preschoolers' food consumption. However, there is limited evidence regarding preschoolers, especially in China. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between screen time and the consumption of vegetables, fruits, snacks, and sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs). (2) Methods: Participants (1567 caregivers) were recruited from six kindergartens in Hunan, China. Caregivers completed the questionnaire, which included the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and questions regarding their children's daily screen time. (3) Results: The mean screen time of preschoolers was 1.36 ± 1.26 h, and the proportion of children who spent more than one hour on screens was 54.3% in the overall sample. Children with longer screen time consumed vegetables and fruits less frequently, while having a higher consumption of snacks and SSBs. After adjustment of sociodemographic confounders, children's eating behaviors and parental feeding practices, the association of screen time with vegetables and SSBs still remained significant. (4) Conclusions: Screen time exposure needs to be monitored in preschool children, which was negatively associated with their consumption of vegetables and fruits, whereas it was positively associated with snacks and SSBs. Future research should focus more on the impact of screen time on children's unhealthy behaviors and dietary patterns.

Association between Parents' Perceptions of Preschool Children's Weight, Feeding Practices and Children's Dietary Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study in China.

Parental perception of children's weight may influence parents' feeding practices, and in turn, child dietary intake and weight status; however, there is limited evidence generated for preschoolers. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between Chinese parents' perceptions of child weight, feeding practices and preschoolers' dietary patterns. Participants (1616 parent-child pairs) were recruited from six kindergartens in Hunan, China. Parents' misperception, concern, and dissatisfaction on child weight were collected through a self-administered caregiver questionnaire. Parental feeding practices and children's dietary intake were, respectively, assessed using the Child Feeding Questionnaire and a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Linear regression models were applied to analyze associations between parental weight perceptions, feeding practices, and preschooler's dietary patterns. Associations between parents' weight perceptions and dietary patterns were significant only among underweight children. Regardless of child weight status, parental weight underestimation and preference for a heavier child were positively associated with pressure-to-eat. Parental weight concern was positively associated with restriction in normal weight child, but this was not found in other weight groups. In conclusion, Parents' misperception, concern, and dissatisfaction about child weight are associated with parents' feeding practices and may influence preschoolers' dietary quality, but the relationships vary by children's actual weight status.

Dietary Supplement Use Among Chinese Primary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hunan Province.

Dietary supplement use is increasing globally, especially among children. However, few studies have been conducted to examine dietary supplement use among Chinese children. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dietary supplement use and the associated factors in primary school students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four primary schools in Hunan province, China. A total of 706 Chinese parents/caregivers of school children aged 6⁻12 years old were enrolled. Self-administrated questionnaires were used to collect information about the children's dietary supplement use, and their socio-demographic characteristics. The prevalence of dietary supplement use in primary school students was 20.4%. Calcium (16.7%), vitamin C (9.2%), and vitamin D (8.5%) were the most commonly used types of dietary supplement. The main reasons for parents/caregivers to purchase dietary supplements for their children were immunity improvement (43.6%), and for growth promotion (36.5%). Some caregivers (26.4%) purchased dietary supplements online, including from dubious or unknown sellers. However, 37.5% of caregivers did not receive formal guidance on supplementation even if they purchased their supplements through formal channels. Parents/caregivers were unclear about the appropriate choices for children's dietary supplement use. Guidelines and counseling regarding dietary supplements for children may be helpful in public health work.