Percepción del etiquetado nutricional en población con obesidad y sobrepeso / Perception of the nutritional labels by population in risk of being obese or overweight

FUNDAMENTOS: El etiquetado nutricional representa una valiosa herramienta para ayudar a los consumidores a tomar decisiones informadas acerca de su dieta y estilo de vida. Son escasos los estudios realizados en España sobre la percepción de la información alimentaria por el consumidor y ninguno considera la población con obesidad y sobrepeso como objetivo principal. Por ello el objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la percepción de esta población frente a la información que le proporciona el etiquetado de los alimentos, su comprensión, utilidad y uso. MÉTODOS: Se realiza 133 encuestas en personas de la Comunidad Valenciana con obesidad (27,8%) y sobrepeso (72,2%) sobre la lectura, hábitos de compra, comprensión y uso de la información alimentaria. RESULTADOS: Se observa que a pesar del interés por seguir una dieta saludable (27,8%) y la valoración positiva del etiquetado de los alimentos (91%), se lee poco (35,3%) y resulta difícil de comprender (35,6%). El precio es el condicionante que más influye a la hora de la compra (72,9%). El 72,9% no sigue una dieta especial. El semáforo nutricional es el etiquetado frontal mejor comprendido. CONCLUSIONES: La población con obesidad y sobrepeso tiene dificultad para interpretar y comprender el etiquetado de los alimentos

BACKGROUND: Nutritional food label represents a valuable tool to help consumers to make informed decisions about their diets and lifestyle. There are few studies carried out in Spain about the perception of the consumer and none of them has obese or overweight population as their main target. Consequently the high interest to conduct this research in order to assess the perception of this population to food label, their understanding, utility and use. METHODS: 133 surveys are conducted in Comunidad Valenciana on obese (27.8%) and overweight (72.2%) people regarding their reading, shopping habits, use and understanding of food information. RESULTS: It is observed that despite their interest to follow a healthy diet (27.8%) and the positive assessment of the food label (91.0%) little is read (35.3%) and it is difficult to understand (35.6%). Price is the most determining factor regarding purchase (72.9%). 72.9% of the population don't follow a special diet. Traffic light colours used on the front packaging is the best understood food label. CONCLUSIONS: Obese and overweight population has difficulty in interpreting and understanding food labels

[Standardization of forced spirometry. Analysis of the basal pulmonary function (PEF, FEF2575, FEF50) in a selected group of children]. / Estandarización de la espirometría forzada. Análisis de la función pulmonar basal (PEF, FEF2575, FEF50) en una población infantil de referencia.

This is a study of the ventilatory function (FEF2575, FEF50, PEF) by dry spirometer Vitalograph in 1,566 children of both sexes with ages ranging from 7 to 14 years; 1,156 children (73.6%) were selected as reference population. Height was the biometric parameter with the greatest correlation to the functional variables studied in both sexes, except to PEF in females. Significant differences were observed in functional variables between male and female subjects. Multiple and simple linear regression equations and percentiles tables for each sex are presented.

[Basal pulmonary function studies (FVC, FEV) in a selected child population]. / Estudio de la función pulmonar basal (FVC, FEV1) en una población infantil de referencia.

This is a study of the ventilatory function (FVC, FEV1) by dry spirometer Vitalograph in 1566 children of both sexes with ages ranging from 7 to 14; 1156 children (73.6 per 100) were selected as reference population. Height was the biometric parameter with the greatest correlation to the functional variables studied in both sexes. Significant differences were observed in functional variables between male and female subjects. Multiple and simple linear prediction equations and percentiles tables for each sex are presented. The results of the present study are compared with those of previously published of children.

[Epidemiologic study of risk factors associated with the development of respiratory pathology in children]. / Estudio epidemiológico de los factores de riesgo asociados con el desarrollo de patología respiratoria en la población infantil.

A total of 1,566 children the area of Valencia (Spain), of both sexes and aged 7 to 14 received an epidemiological questionnaire recommended by the American Thoracic Society. Antecedents of asthma were recorded in 79 cases (5%), with a predominance among males; 73.3% of these children presented their first crisis before age three. Eighty-seven children were habitual smokers (5.6%), again with a predominance among males-most of these children being between 13 and 14 years old. A family history of smoking was observed in 82.8% of the children who were habitual smokers. A greater predominance of smoking mothers was observed at higher socio-economical levels--with no significant differences between parents. The incidence of respiratory pathology (cough and antecedents of bronchitis) was higher among children whose mothers (or both parents) were smokers. On comparing the two areas of the city with the greatest difference in air pollution level, no significant differences were observed in respiratory morbidity among the child population.

[Repercussion of risk factors associated with the development of chronic bronchial pathology on pulmonary function in children]. / Estudio de la repercusión de los factores de riesgo asociados al desarrollo de patología bronquial crónica en el funcionalismo pulmonar en una población infantil.

Of a total of 1,566 children, 1,416 of both sexes and aged 7 to 14 were subjected to functional respiratory exploration with a Vitalograph dry spirometer. The impact of tobacco smoke--as active and/or passive smokers--on the spirometric variables (FVC, FEV1, FEF2572, FEF50) evaluated by variance analysis (ANOVA) revealed no significant reductions. Asthma was the single antecedent of respiratory morbidity showing significant reductions in FEF2575, FEF50 among males alone; no significant reductions were observed for any of the other spirometric variables. No significant decreases were found in the spirometric variables on comparing two areas of the same city with the greatest difference in air pollution level.