Skipping Breakfast and Academic Grades, Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness, and School Connectedness Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023.

Breakfast consumption is positively associated with academic achievement and diet quality among students, whereas skipping breakfast has been linked with poor mental health. Data from CDC's 2023 nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey were used to describe how often high school students ate breakfast in the past 7 days and the associations between skipping breakfast every day (ate breakfast on 0 of the past 7 days), experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, school connectedness, and self-reported grades. Prevalence estimates and corresponding 95% CIs were calculated, and t-tests were used to identify differences within demographic groups (e.g., sex, race and ethnicity, and sexual identity). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to calculate prevalence ratios describing breakfast skipping, adjusting for demographics, and stratified by sex and race and ethnicity. Most students missed breakfast ≥1 time in the past 7 days (72.6%), and 17.9% of students skipped breakfast every day, with differences by sex, sexual identity, and race and ethnicity. Overall, and among both males and females, students who experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness were more likely to skip breakfast every day. The association between feelings of sadness and hopelessness and skipping breakfast was generally consistent across racial and ethnic groups. In contrast, greater levels of school connectedness and earning mostly As or Bs were inversely associated with skipping breakfast. Students who had higher school connectedness were approximately 30% less likely to skip breakfast on all 7 days. Skipping breakfast and poor mental health co-occur among many adolescents and might impede students' readiness to learn. School efforts to make breakfast accessible and appealing to high school students might yield multiple benefits and help reinforce school administrators' efforts to recover student learning losses that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents, school decision-makers, and organizations that partner with schools and families can use these findings to guide efforts to promote breakfast consumption.

Dietary Shifts since COVID-19: A Study of Racial Differences.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the quality and quantity of people's food consumption. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the dietary shifts among different racial groups resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on changes in consumption across various food categories. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 10,050 urban residents aged 40-100 years across the United States. Dietary patterns among African American, Asian, Hispanic, and White populations were assessed before and since the pandemic (retrospective condition) using the Dietary Screening Tool (DST). The DST investigates consumption trends in food groups aligned with the MyPlate guidelines, plus fat, sugar, and sweet (FSS) intake and processed meats. RESULTS: This study found significant shifts in food consumption patterns among racial groups since COVID-19. The data indicate that African American individuals largely reduced their consumption of several food groups compared to White individuals, with a 43% decrease in processed meats, 42% in dairy, 36% in lean protein, 21% in fruit, 17% in grains, and 15% in FSS, although their vegetable consumption did not significantly decrease. African American individuals also consumed 66% less processed meat, 57% less dairy, and 30% less lean protein in comparison to Asian individuals. Hispanic individuals also showed a tendency to reduce their consumption more than White individuals, with a 34% decrease in dairy, 28% in vegetables, and 24% in fruit. In contrast, Asian individuals consumed 37% less FSS and 34% less grains than White individuals. Additionally, when compared to Asian individuals, Hispanic individuals consumed 49% less dairy and 47% less processed meat. The findings also revealed that African American individuals were the most nutritionally vulnerable group since the pandemic. Specifically, they were 38% and 35% more likely to be considered at nutritional risk than Asians and White participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illuminate the considerable dietary shifts induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasize the critical need to address the racial disparities in nutritional vulnerability and public health policy.

Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Healthy Eating Behavior for Gestational Diabetes Risk Reduction Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescent and Young Adult Females: A Qualitative Exploration.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the perspectives of key informant experts regarding the relationship between food insecurity and gestational diabetes mellitus risk reduction behaviors among young American Indian and Alaska Native females. METHODS: Participants were adult key informants with expertise in food/nutrition and health within Tribal communities (N = 58) across the US. Data were collected through 1:1 interviews using a semistructured moderator guide and analyzed using thematic content analysis methods. RESULTS: Three themes included (1) diet and nutrition habits are formed through intergenerational food preferences and are driven by lasting implications of colonization; (2) young people are influenced by what their peers eat and the food environment, including outside of the home; and (3) the methods used to understand household food insecurity and nutrition habits in the parent study were likely limited. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings provide guidance as to where nutrition education and interventions may best support young Native females.

Social Determinants Influencing Nutrition Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health in Indigenous Populations: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Nutrition behavior is influenced by a large number of factors, including social and cultural factors. This scoping review aims to summarize how social determinants of health (SDoH) influence nutrition behaviors in Indigenous populations affected by or at risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a systematic search in six databases-PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and World Health Organization Global Index Medicus-limiting results to studies published in English up to 27 October 2023. A descriptive synthesis was conducted. We identified 1490 articles, and after screening, 31 of them met our inclusion criteria. We found that nutritional behavior is impacted by various SDoH domains, including economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, education, health and healthcare, and social and community context. The shift from traditional diets to Westernized diets and from subsistence-based food gathering to reliance on store-bought and processed foods reflects changes in SDoH, affecting both nutrition behaviors and health outcomes. Although not all included studies examined every SDoH domain in our review, future research should consider all domains to gain a comprehensive understanding of how they impact nutritional behavior. This approach will better inform interventions and policies, ultimately promoting health equity in Indigenous communities.

Measurement invariance of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 across country, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation: A cross-cultural study between Brazil and the U.S.

Intuitive eating is defined as being connected to internal hunger, satiety, and appetitive cues and flexibly using these cues to determine when, what, and how much to eat. The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) is a widely used measure of facets of intuitive eating. However, the scale has shown unstable factor structure in several validation studies and there is a lack of studies investigating the measurement invariance of the IES-2 beyond sex. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IES-2, testing several factor structures among Brazilian and U.S. samples of men and women; to test measurement invariance across country of origin, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation; and to evaluate its internal consistency. Three models of the latent structure of the IES-2 were tested using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in a total of 1072 young adults (452 Brazilians and 620 Americans), aged 18-35 years. Results demonstrated that only a 3-factor solution with 11 items of the IES-2 showed adequate fit to the data for both countries. This model demonstrated scalar invariance across sex and sexual orientation, but only configural invariance was found across country of origin and ethnicity. Good internal consistencies were found for both the Brazilian and American samples. The present study provides support for a 3-factor solution with 11 items of the IES-2, to Brazilian and American samples. The study also offers evidence of internal consistency, and invariance between sex (i.e., male and female) and sexual orientation (i.e., heterosexual participants and sexual minority participants).

A Comparison of Infant Feeding Practices in South Asian-Born Mothers and Australian-Born Mothers Living in Australia.

South Asian infants and children have a higher predisposition to central adiposity, increasing their risk of metabolic diseases in childhood. Infant feeding practices are a key factor in reducing the risk of obesity in children. The current study aimed to compare infant feeding practices of South Asian-born mothers to Australin-born mothers. The 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey data were used to compare infant feeding practices between South Asian-born mothers and Australian-born mothers with children aged up to 2 years. Chi-square and t-tests were conducted, as well as regression models, with adjustment for covariates, to assess individual infant feeding practices between the two groups. A total of 298 South Asian-born mothers and 294 Australian-born mothers were included. The age at which a child stopped receiving breast milk was lower among Australian-born mothers (3 months) compared with South Asian-born mothers (5 months, p < 0.001). A greater proportion of South Asian-born mothers reported that solids were introduced at or after 6 months of age compared to Australian-born mothers (86% vs. 69%, p < 0.001, respectively). South Asian-born mothers were engaging in some health-promoting infant feeding practices compared to Australian-born mothers; however, they were not meeting the infant feeding guidelines for exclusive breastfeeding and the introduction of solids. Further research is needed to better understand factors influencing infant feeding practices in South Asian-born immigrant mothers in Australia to determine whether culturally tailored interventions are needed to help these women achieve optimal feeding practices for their infants.

Weight stigma is uniquely tied to maladaptive eating across different racial, ethnic, and gender groups.

Weight stigma, racism, and sexism (social devaluation due to body weight, race or ethnicity, and sex or gender), have been linked to increased maladaptive eating behaviors; however, no research has investigated the unique associations between different forms of stigma and eating concurrently. We analyzed within-group (by race/ethnicity and sex) effects of different forms of stigma on maladaptive eating behaviors to test whether there is some unique relationship between weight stigma and maladaptive eating across identities. Additionally, we explored differences by racial/ethnic group and sex, as well as BMI category, in levels of reported weight stigma, racism, sexism, and maladaptive eating. Participants (N = 1051) were recruited so that there were approximately even numbers of participants identifying as Black (33.3%), Hispanic or Latino (32.8%), and White (33.9%). Overall, participants reported similar amounts of weight stigma by race/ethnicity and sex, but different levels of racism and sexism. Weight stigma, but not racism or sexism consistently predicted binge eating and eating to cope across groups, controlling for education, income, BMI, and age. Restricted dieting, however, was only predicted by weight stigma for Hispanic/Latino and Black men. These findings suggest that weight stigma is a unique predictor of maladaptive eating, even when considering the effects of racism and sexism. This study provides evidence of a more focused model of weight stigma and eating outcomes, rather than a more general model of the effect of stigma on eating outcomes due to overall stress. Future research should investigate when and why weight stigma drives restricted dieting, since this relationship seems strongest in men, going against many common inclinations about weight stigma.

Exploring Healthy Eating Perceptions, Barriers, and Facilitators among Urban Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan.

Urban Indigenous populations encounter distinctive challenges in maintaining traditional dietary practices, compounded by the complexities of socio-economic and environmental factors and the modern urban lifestyle. This qualitative study explores the perceptions of healthy eating, along with the facilitators and barriers to such practices, among urban Indigenous peoples in Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert. Through virtual interviews, we engage 14 participants from these cities. Utilizing NVivo for thematic coding, we apply inductive thematic analysis to reveal relevant themes. The study highlights a preference for nutrient-rich, natural, and minimally processed foods, with a significant emphasis on incorporating traditional Indigenous foods into diets. These preferences are deeply entwined with cultural identity and underscore the importance of traditional foods in maintaining cultural heritage and promoting well-being. Despite the intrinsic value of these traditional foods, participants face several barriers to healthy eating, including economic constraints, limited access to traditional foods, and the psychological impacts of historical trauma. Nevertheless, facilitators such as community and family support, engagement in traditional food practices, and a growing awareness of nutritional knowledge are identified as being crucial in supporting healthy dietary choices. This research underscores the complex interplay of cultural, economic, and environmental factors in shaping the dietary practices of urban Indigenous peoples.

A cross-sectional study on the dietary patterns of multiethnic Malaysian preschoolers and their sociodemographic determinants.

Early childhood is a critical developmental stage where established dietary patterns can impact lifelong health outcomes. This study investigates dietary patterns and their relationships with sociodemographic factors among Malaysian preschoolers. A total of 643 preschoolers of Malay, Indian, Chinese and other ethnicities participating in South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS II) were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a single triple-pass 24-h dietary recall method. Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis and their association with sociodemographic factors was determined using complex sampling logistic regressions. Five dietary patterns were identified: "healthy eating," "wholegrains and starchy vegetables," "high salt and sugar," "Western food," and "sugary drinks and legumes". Having older siblings was inversely associated with a "healthy eating" pattern (adjusted OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.33-0.87). Malay ethnicity was associated with higher odds of adhering to the "high salt and sugar" pattern (adjusted OR: 4.12, 95% CI: 2.20-7.75). Meanwhile, children living in urban areas (adjusted OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.03-3.01), those from middle-income families (adjusted OR: 3.20, 95% CI: 1.38-7.40) and whose fathers were overweight (adjusted OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.58-4.94) showed a higher association with "Western food" pattern. Conversely, children whose mothers had overweight were less likely to adhere to the "Western food" pattern (adjusted OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.83). Older age was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of the "sugary drinks and legumes" pattern (adjusted OR: 3.99, 95% CI: 1.75-9.06). There was no significant association between "wholegrains and starchy vegetables" pattern with sociodemographic characteristics (all p > 0.05). These findings suggest that ethnicity, age, residence area, having older siblings, parental weight status and household income level are associated with dietary patterns among multiethnic preschoolers in Malaysia. Thus, these sociodemographic characteristics should be considered when designing targeted dietary strategies and interventions for preschoolers.

Madrid immigrants' perceptions of urban food environments and their dietary behaviours.

Large cities are home to several groups of immigrants who undergo important changes in their environmental conditions and lifestyles that significantly modify their risk of chronic diseases. Quantitative evidence indicates that both their health and diet worsen over time; much less is known about the qualitative mechanisms that cause these changes. The aim of this article is to understand how immigrants in the city of Madrid perceive the relation between the urban food environment and dietary behaviour. Based on a Social Ecological Framework, we conducted a secondary qualitative analysis derived from data from 41 immigrant residents, collected in eight focus groups (FGs), conducted in two neighbourhoods in the city of Madrid. We identified the following main categories: 1) Transnational identity and dietary behaviour in the neighbourhood; 2) Transitions in dietary behaviour; and 3) Societal/structural factors determining dietary behaviour in the neighbourhood. The participants in the FGs mentioned that they try to maintain traditional dietary customs and perceive that the taste of their typical dishes is better than those of Spanish dishes. Contradictorily, some participants considered their traditional dietary patterns to be less healthy than Mediterranean ones (consuming olive oil, vegetables, fish). Some participants acknowledged having adapted to the latter voluntarily or through dietary negotiations with their children. Immigrant families with two working parents have difficulties cooking homemade food and resort to less healthy options, such as eating fast food or ready-made meals. Due to their low purchasing power, they buy both ethnic products and other products, as well as considering the prices and offers in supermarkets. Our study highlights several structural mechanisms connecting the physical and social urban food environment with dietary behaviours among immigrant residents of a large city.

Eating preferences and behaviors of older immigrants in Oslo: A qualitative study.

Norway's population of older, first-generation immigrants is expected to almost triple by the year 2060 due to decreased mortality and continued immigration. Studies indicate that older immigrants in Norway have a higher rate of non-communicable disease than older non-immigrants. Eating a health-supporting diet is important for reducing disease risk and maintaining independence in older adults. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the eating preferences and behaviors of older, home-dwelling, first-generation immigrants in Oslo, and to identify influences on their eating preferences and behaviors. This qualitative study took a phenomenological approach to understand older immigrants' shared experience of changing eating behaviors with aging. Fourteen home-dwelling, older immigrants were recruited using a combination of purposeful random sampling and snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted then analyzed according to reflexive thematic analysis. Study findings indicate that older immigrants eat a bi-cultural diet pattern. In addition, they seek out information about nutrition, and incorporate many health-supporting eating habits for disease management and prevention. In this way, older immigrants in Oslo share much in common with older non-immigrants. Hopes and worries for the future motivate older immigrants to eat more healthfully in order to maintain independence and cultural identity as long as possible. These results can be useful for designing culturally tailored programs which support eating habits for health maintenance and disease prevention among older immigrants.

Insights into Chinese Canadian culture: enablers and barriers for fruit and vegetable intake.

Background: Fruits and vegetables (F&V) play a vital role in promoting health and preventing diseases. Numerous studies have demonstrated the association between F&V consumption and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality. Despite the high priority of public health in promoting F&V intake, Chinese immigrants in Canada often fall below national guidelines in their consumption. Understanding the factors influencing F&V intake in this community is crucial for developing effective interventions. Methods: This study used an applied ethnographic research approach to gain insight into the enablers and barriers that influence F&V intake among Chinese-Canadian adults in Richmond, BC. Semi-structured interviews and 'photovoice' group sessions were conducted to gather qualitative data from community participants and health care providers (HCPs). Results: The research identified four key themes: (1) Cultural differences around how vegetables are perceived, consumed and prepared; (2) Motivators and strategies for increasing vegetable and fruit intake; (3) Lack of culturally relevant dietary education and resources; and (4) Importance of value in vegetable/fruit-related decisions. Participants showed a strong preference for the traditional Eastern diet, with cost of food and lack of knowledge about Western vegetables acting as barriers to dietary diversity. The study also highlighted the need for culturally tailored educational resources to effectively promote F&V consumption. Conclusion: By adopting a multi-modal approach, incorporating both interviews and 'photovoice' sessions, this research provided comprehensive insights into the participants' perspectives and experiences related to F&V intake. Understanding these factors can guide the development of culturally appropriate interventions to increase F&V consumption among Chinese-Canadian adults in Richmond, BC, and potentially improve their overall health and well-being. Future studies should consider the heterogeneity within the Chinese immigrant population and target a more balanced representation of age groups to further enhance our understanding of F&V intake patterns in this community.

What Do We Know about the Diets of Pacific Islander Adults in Papua New Guinea? A Scoping Review.

While a large proportion of the population in Papua New Guinea (PNG) maintain a subsistence lifestyle, exposure to modernisation and industrialisation since European contact has influenced a transition towards Western diets. This review aimed to scope and summarise the published research on dietary intake among Pacific Islander adults in PNG. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed the screening and data extraction. Fourteen studies were included from the Highlands (n = 7), Southern (n = 5), Momase (n = 1) and both the Highlands/Southern region (n = 1). No studies were from the Islands region. The majority of the studies were published prior to the year 2000 (n = 9). Geographical region and degree of urbanisation had an impact on dietary intake. Urban areas reported higher intakes of energy, protein and fat compared to rural areas. In the Southern region, a variety of foods, including sago, taro, kaukau, cooked banana, coconut and cassava contributed to energy intake, while kaukau was the main energy and protein source in the Highlands. The main foods contributing to protein in the Southern region were fresh fish, land animals and purchased animals. This review highlights an evidence gap regarding dietary intake research. Within the context of international initiatives, there is an urgent call for research aimed at understanding the social and cultural contextualisation of dietary behaviours in PNG.

Ethnic differences in meat consumption attitudes, norms and behaviors: A survey of White, South Asian and Black ethnic groups in the UK.

A reduction in meat consumption is necessary to mitigate negative impacts of climate change and adverse health outcomes. The UK has an increasingly multi-ethnic population, yet there is little research on meat consumption habits and attitudes among ethnic groups in the UK. We ran a survey (N = 1014) with quota samples for ethnic groups and analyzed attitudes, behaviors and norm perceptions of White, South Asian and Black British respondents. Most respondents believe overconsumption of red and processed meat has negative impacts on health (73.3%) and the environment (64.3%).South Asian respondents were statistically significantly less likely to be meat eaters than White respondents (OR = 0.44, 95% CIs: 0.30-0.65, t = -4.15, p = 0.000), while there was no significant difference between White and Black respondents (OR = 1.06, 95% CIs: 0.63-1.76, t = 0.21, p = 0.834). Both South Asian (OR = 2.76, 95% CIs: 1.89-4.03 t = 5.25, p = 0.000) and Black respondents (OR = 2.09, 95% CIs: 0.1.30-3.35, t = 3.06, p = 0.002) were significantly more likely to express being influenced by friends and family in their food choices than White respondents. South Asian (OR = 3.24,95% CIs: 2.17-4.84, t = 5.74, p = 0.000) and Black (OR = 2.02,95% CIs: 1.21-3.39, t = 2.69, p = 0.007) respondents were also both significantly more likely to report they would want to eat similarly to their friends and family than White respondents. Statistical analyses suggested some gender and socioeconomic differences across and among ethnic groups, which are reported and discussed. The differences in meat consumption behaviors and norm conformity between ethnic groups raises the prospect that interventions that leverage social norms may be more effective in South Asian groups than Black and White groups in the UK.

Disordered eating and emotional eating in Arab, middle eastern, and north African American women.

Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African (A-MENA) American women are often subject to intersectional discrimination, and they have also not been traditionally recognized as a distinct racial group in disordered eating literature. No study to date has provided descriptive information on disordered and emotional eating A-MENA American women, nor has examined perceptions of widely used measurements of eating pathology in this population. The current study generated descriptive information among A-MENA women on two widely used measures of eating pathology, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Emotional Eating Scale (EES). Participants (N = 244) were A-MENA adult women were recruited via social media and snowball sampling. Qualitative findings provide potential sociocultural predictors of disordered eating that should be further explored, such as bicultural identity and family pressures/comments toward appearance. Secondly, themes from the EES-R indicate adding emotion of shame and considering identity-related stress. The current study provides prevalence data and future directions of research on widely used eating pathology and appearance attitude measurements for A-MENA American women.

Perspective: Beyond the Mediterranean Diet-Exploring Latin American, Asian, and African Heritage Diets as Cultural Models of Healthy Eating.

The Mediterranean diet is a well-studied cultural model of healthy eating, yet research on healthy models from other cultures and cuisines has been limited. This perspective article summarizes the components of traditional Latin American, Asian, and African heritage diets, their association with diet quality and markers of health, and implications for nutrition programs and policy. Though these diets differ in specific foods and flavors, we present a common thread that emphasizes healthful plant foods and that is consistent with high dietary quality and low rates of major causes of disability and deaths. In this perspective, we propose that nutrition interventions that incorporate these cultural models of healthy eating show promise, though further research is needed to determine health outcomes and best practices for implementation.

Changes in weight status among "Ju/'hoansi" San hunter-gatherers between 1968/69 and 1987-The effects of nutritional transition, sex and age.

BACKGROUND: Changes in lifestyle and dietary habits that hunter-gatherer populations have undergone in recent decades have often led to rising obesity rates with disastrous consequences for their health. OBJECTIVES: The associations between dietary habits and weight status were studied in 238 "Ju/'hoansi" San (93 women and 145 men) aged between 18 and 65 years in northern Namibia in 1987. Weight status was estimated based on the World Health Organization body mass index (BMI) categories, and dietary habits were recorded using food recall methods. Anthropometrics and weight status were compared with those of a sex- and age-matched sample of "Ju/'hoansi" San people collected by Nancy Howell in 1968/69. RESULTS: Body weight had increased significantly among "Ju/'hoansi" San people from 1968/69 to 1987. The number of underweight people decreased from 1968/69 to 1987. In 1987, most participants (60.9%) were of normal weight. Overweight was found in 1.3% of the women, but not among men. No participants were obese. Less than 4% of the women and less than 2% of the men consumed exclusively traditional hunter-gatherer food. Westernized food products were significantly (p < 0.001) more common among men and younger people. Dietary patterns were significantly associated with weight status. The less traditional the diet, the higher the BMI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The transition to domestic agricultural and westernized foods was positively associated with increasing BMI. Overweight, however, was still an extremely rare condition in this population in 1987.

An Evaluation of ¡Haz Espacio Para Papi!, a Culturally Tailored Nutrition and Physical Activity Pilot Program for Mexican-Heritage Fathers.

Fathers are potential leaders of healthy behavior changes in their families. Culturally tailored programs are needed to support behavior changes within families, including Latino families; however, there have been few father-focused nutrition programs for Latino families. This study evaluated the immediate effects of ¡Haz Espacio Para Papi! (Make Room for Daddy!; HEPP), a six-week, father-focused, family-centered program focused on nutrition and physical activity near the Texas-Mexico border. A modified stepped-wedge study design included a treatment group for the HEPP pilot and a wait-listed control group. Pre/post-tests included instant skin carotenoid scores, the self-reported dietary intake of fruits and vegetables (FV), and healthy dietary behavior scores (HDBSs). A 2 × 2 mixed analysis of variance evaluated changes in outcomes across time and between groups for 42 fathers with pre/post-test measures. There were no statistically significant changes in fathers' VM scores and FV intake across time or between groups. Fathers' HDBSs increased across time (p ≤ 0.01, 95% CI [0.23, 1.38]). Age, educational attainment, and the number of children living in the household did not have a significant effect on the program outcomes (p > 0.05). The HEPP program may guide the design of future father-focused nutrition interventions aimed at dietary behavior changes.

Food for Soul-Older Immigrants' Food Habits and Meal Preferences After Immigration: A Systematic Literature Review.

There are few primary studies that focused on the older immigrants' food habits and meal preferences after immigration and settlement in a new country. A comprehensive database search for literature was conducted in May 2021 and upgraded in September 2021. Ten databases (Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycInfo (Ovid), Cinahl (EBSCOhost), Food Science Source (EBSCOhost), SocIndex (EBSCOhost), Social Care Online, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA), Web of Science and Google Scholar), were scanned for original, peer-reviewed papers published in English. The review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and SWiM items. Out of 3069 records, 10 papers were included for thematic synthesis. A data synthesis across all studies resulted in three main findings: (i) the significance of food in maintaining cultural identity, (ii) the continuity of traditional food culture and (iii) adapting to the host country's food culture. Although different forms of dietary acculturation occur throughout life, older immigrants often want to maintain their traditional food habits and meal preferences. For them, traditional eating habits offer comfort and security by serving as a means of identifying who they are and reminding them where they have come from. Public health and social services play an important role in providing cultural nutritional care to older immigrants; therefore, this issue should be carefully addressed by professionals and future research.Registration: The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 27 September 2022 with registration number CRD42022358235.

Do Appetite Traits Mediate the Link Between Birth Weight and Later Child Weight in Low-Income Hispanic Families?

Background: Birth weight and appetite traits (ATs) are important early life determinants of child weight and obesity. Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine whether (1) birth weight-for-gestational age z-scores (BWGAzs) were associated with ATs at child age 2 years and (2) ATs mediated the link between BWGAzs and weight-for-age z-scores (WFAzs) at child ages 3 and 4 years among Hispanic children. Methods: We conducted a secondary longitudinal analysis of data from the Starting Early Program of low-income, Hispanic mother-child pairs. ATs were assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at age 2 years. Child birth weight was obtained from medical records. Birth weight, sex, and gestational age were used to generate BWGAzs with Fenton growth curves. WFAz was calculated based on the CDC 2000 growth charts. Regression and mediation analyses were used to explore associations between BWGAzs, ATs, and WFAzs. Results: Infants with higher BWGAzs had significantly lower Satiety Responsiveness (B = -0.10) and Food Fussiness (B = -0.13) scores at age 2 years and higher WFAzs at ages 3 (B = 0.44) and 4 (B = 0.34) years. Lower Satiety Responsiveness at age 2 years was associated with higher WFAzs at ages 3 (B = -0.11) and 4 (B = -0.34; all p < 0.01) years. Lower Satiety Responsiveness partially mediated the positive relationship between birth weight and child WFAzs at ages 3 and 4 years. Conclusions: Children with higher birth weight and lower Satiety Responsiveness scores may be at higher risk of developing obesity in childhood. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms through which birth weight influences child appetite. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01541761.