Prevalence Rates of Loneliness and Its Impact on Lifestyle in the Healthy Population of Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: The Spanish population presents higher levels of loneliness than citizens of countries in Northern Europe. Numerous studies have linked loneliness to increased morbidity and mortality, but very few studies have associated loneliness with healthy lifestyles. The objectives of this research are to identify the feeling of unwanted loneliness in various age and gender groups in the city of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), to determine lifestyle habits in the areas of diet and physical exercise, and to examine the association between lifestyle habits and perceived loneliness. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational and analytical study on the perception of loneliness among men (59.06%) and women (60.06%) in a sample (n = 611) of the general population (N = 198,945), by means of random assignment of a health survey, was conducted. The data were collected using an ad hoc questionnaire. The data were stratified and analyzed with the IBM SSPS® v.25 software package. RESULTS: The frequency of loneliness is stratified by sex and age, and healthy lifestyle habits in terms of diet and physical exercise are analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: People with perceived loneliness do not have worse lifestyle habits. However, women living with other people have a higher perception of loneliness than those living alone. Specifically, the perception of loneliness in young adult women could suggest a low level of moderate physical exercise.

Análisis de patrones de alimentación: comparación con el Triángulo de la Nutrición del Flemish Institute for Healthy Living / Food pattern analysis: comparison with the nutrition triangle of the Flemish Institute for Healthy Living

En el siguiente trabajo de investigación se realiza un análisis del patrón alimentario de los habitantes de la ciudad de Alcalá de Henares a través de la pirámide invertida, que lo diferencia de la pirámide estándar ya existente. Como metodología, se realiza un estudio observacional de corte transversal, en el que se recogen los datos acerca del patrón alimentario a través de cuestionarios vía telefónica, presencial u online. Posteriormente, se clasifican estos datos por tres variables distintas como son edad, sexo y sentimiento de soledad, concluyendo que existen marcadas diferencias respecto al patrón alimentario. Se observa que las personas de entre 45-64 años consumen los distintos grupos de alimentos de una forma más adecuada que los adultos más jóvenes; respecto al sexo, las mujeres llevan a cabo un patrón alimentario más saludable desde edades tempranas respecto de los hombres; y respecto a las personas con sentimiento de soledad, se evidencia una mayor tendencia a peores patrones de consumo de alimentos en los grupos de personas que se sienten solas, generalmente adolescentes y adultos mayores. Se comprueba en el grupo de los universitarios jóvenes un consumo inferior de frutas, hortalizas y verduras, así como un aumento de su consumo en colegios; la evidencia de un mayor consumo de frutas y verduras por parte de las mujeres coincide con los datos disponibles a este respecto en el ámbito europeo; los grupos de personas que se sientan solas tienen asociados peores patrones alimentarios

In the following research work, an analysis is made of the eating pattern of the inhabitants of the city of Alcalá de Henares through the inverted pyramid, differentiating it from the existing standard pyramid. As a methodology, an observational cross-sectional study is carried out, in which data about the eating pattern is collected through questionnaires via telephone, in person or online. Later, these data are classified by three different groups such as age, sex, and people with feelings of loneliness; concluding that there are marked differences regarding the eating pattern, it is observed that people between 45-64 years old consume different food groups in a more adequate way than younger adults; Regarding sex, women carry out a healthier eating pattern from an early age compared to men; and regarding people with feelings of loneliness, a greater tendency to worse food consumption patterns is evident in the groups of people who feel lonely, generally adolescents and older adults. As a discussion, a lower consumption of fruits, vegetables and vegetables is evidenced in the group of young university students; an increase in the consumption of these in schools; European data coincidences regarding the higher consumption of fruits and vegetables in women; and worse patterns associated with groups of people who feel alone