High sugar content of European commercial baby foods and proposed updates to existing recommendations.

The aim was to determine whether commercial baby foods marketed within Europe (up to 36 months of age) have inappropriate formulation and high sugar content and to provide suggestions to update European regulations and recommendations as part of a nutrient profile model developed for this age group. The latter was produced following recommended World Health Organization (WHO) steps, including undertaking a rapid literature review. Packaging information from countries across the WHO European region was used to determine mean energy from total sugar by food category. The percentage of products containing added sugar and the percentage of savoury meal-type products containing pureed fruit were also calculated. A total of 2,634 baby foods from 10 countries were summarised: 768 sold in the United Kingdom, over 200 each from Denmark (319), Spain (241), Italy (430) and Malta (243) and between 99-200 from Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Estonia and Slovenia. On average, approximately a third of energy in baby foods in these European countries came from total sugar, and for most food categories, energy from sugar was higher than 10%. Use of added sugars was widespread across product categories, with concentrated fruit juice most commonly used. Savoury meal-type purees did not contain added sugars except in United Kingdom and Malta; however, fruit as an ingredient was found in 7% of savoury meals, most frequently seen in UK products. Clear proposals for reducing the high sugar content seen in commercial baby foods were produced. These suggestions, relating to both content and labelling, should be used to update regulations and promote product reformulation.

Substantial variation across geographic regions in the obesity prevalence among 6-8 years old Hungarian children (COSI Hungary 2016).

BACKGROUND: There have been previous representative nutritional status surveys conducted in Hungary, but this is the first one that examines overweight and obesity prevalence according to the level of urbanization and in different geographic regions among 6-8-year-old children. We also assessed whether these variations were different by sex. METHODS: This survey was part of the fourth data collection round of World Health Organization (WHO) Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative which took place during the academic year 2016/2017. The representative sample was determined by two-stage cluster sampling. A total of 5332 children (48.4% boys; age 7.54 ± 0.64 years) were measured from all seven geographic regions including urban (at least 500 inhabitants per square kilometer; n = 1598), semi-urban (100 to 500 inhabitants per square kilometer; n = 1932) and rural (less than 100 inhabitants per square kilometer; n = 1802) areas. RESULTS: Using the WHO reference, prevalence of overweight and obesity within the whole sample were 14.2, and 12.7%, respectively. According to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reference, rates were 12.6 and 8.6%. Northern Hungary and Southern Transdanubia were the regions with the highest obesity prevalence of 11.0 and 12.0%, while Central Hungary was the one with the lowest obesity rate (6.1%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity tended to be higher in rural areas (13.0 and 9.8%) than in urban areas (11.9 and 7.0%). Concerning differences in sex, girls had higher obesity risk in rural areas (OR = 2.0) but boys did not. Odds ratios were 2.0-3.4 in different regions for obesity compared to Central Hungary, but only among boys. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are emerging problems in Hungary. Remarkable differences were observed in the prevalence of obesity by geographic regions. These variations can only be partly explained by geographic characteristics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Study protocol was approved by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Medical Research Council ( 61158-2/2016/EKU ).

Weight Status of 7-Year-Old Hungarian Children between 2010 and 2016 Using Different Classifications (COSI Hungary).

AIMS: To describe the prevalence of thinness, overweight, and obesity in Hungarian children (age 7.0-7.9 years) according to different classifications, to assess the progress between 2010 and 2016, and to investigate whether tendencies differ according to gender. METHODS: A national representative sample was generated by two-stage cluster sampling, and a total of 2,651 children (50.9% boys; age 7.49 ± 0.3 years) were measured (weight and height) in October 2016. Population estimates were calculated using the WHO, IOTF, and national cut-offs. RESULTS: Prevalence of thinness (including grade 1 and 2) was 12.6% based on the IOTF criteria and 15.6% based on the WHO definition. 22.5% of children were identified as overweight or obese according to the IOTF classification, compared with 28.4% according to the WHO definition. Between 2010 and 2016, each classification indicated possible stability in overweight and obesity prevalence. In contrast, the prevalence of thinness grade 2 almost doubled in 6 years according to all definitions (p < 0.05). No significant gender difference was observed in the progress. CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity appeared to be stable over 6 years, but we detected growing thinness rates. Routine collection of high-quality data that are based on standardized and comparable methods is essential to monitor the childhood obesity problem.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - The OTAP2014 study. IV. Microelement intake of the Hungarian population]. / Országos Táplálkozás és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat ­ OTÁP2014. IV. A magyar lakosság mikroelem-bevitele.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey examined the dietary habits of the Hungarian population. This publication presents the microelement intake. METHOD: The survey represents the microelement intake of the Hungarian non-institutionalised adult population of 18 years and older. RESULTS: While the intake of iron, copper and manganese corresponded with the recommendations in males, in females it was insufficient. The iron intake of women in their reproductive age (9.8 mg/d) stayed well below the recommendation, thus representing a high health risk. In comparison to earlier Hungarian data chromium intake decreased significantly in both sexes (men p = 0.000, women p = 0.008) and the zinc intake of men (9.6 mg/d) decreased below recommended. CONCLUSION: Since the consumption of whole grain products with high microelement content in Hungary is very low, it would be favourable to increase the proportion of these foods in the diet. In case of women it is also necessary to increase the consumption of food groups (e.g. meat, fruits) contributing to the iron intake. Furthermore, communication of adequate nutrition, and the availability of healthy foods is essential for the entire population. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(21): 803-810.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey 2014. I. Nutritional status of the Hungarian adult population]. / Országos Táplálkozás és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat 2014. I. A magyar felnott lakosság tápláltsági állapota.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey examines the obesity prevalence, dietary habits and, since 2014, physical activity in Hungarian adults in every 5 years. METHOD: The survey provides national data representative by age and gender, based on anthropometric measurements and international standards. RESULTS: In 2014, nearly two-thirds of adults were overweight or obese. 28.2% of men and 31.5% of women were obese. Prevalence of morbid obesity were 2.6% and 3.3% in men and women, respectively. Abdominal obesity was more prevalent among women than men (55% vs. 38%), and the rate was increasing with age in both genders. In elderly, 55% of men and almost 80% of women were abdominally obese. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity is high in Hungarian adults. In order to tackle obesity, we need to obtain representative and measured data, which form the basis of targeted interventions and the assessment of their impact. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(14), 533-540.