Analysis of the Diet Quality and Nutritional State of Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Polish Multiple Case Study.

Given the lack of data on dietary quality in young individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in Poland, a multiple case study was conducted in which anthropometric measurements and 7-day dietary records were collected from 20 subjects with PWS. The study group consisted of 8 females and 12 males with a mean age of 14.8 years and a mean BMI of 21.6. Based on BMI analysis, five subjects were overweight, including two subjects who were obese. The study showed that 35% of the subjects had energy intakes above the recommended levels. Protein deficiency was found in one subject in the analyzed diets. However, fat intake was excessive in four subjects, and the majority exceeded the recommended intake of saturated fatty acids. Vitamin E and B12 deficiencies were found in 40% and 85% of the subjects, respectively. All subjects had inadequate intakes of vitamin D and iodine, while the majority had deficiencies in sodium and copper intakes. Calcium intake was deficient in 35% of the subjects. However, most subjects met recommendations for the intakes of other minerals, vitamins, and fiber. These findings confirm the suboptimal dietary patterns of Polish individuals with PWS, with deficits observed in the intake of certain vitamins and minerals.

Personality profile of dietetics students from medical universities in the context of efficacy of prospective dietetic counseling - a Polish study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: A criterion for the efficacy of dietetic counseling is a change in patients' health behaviours. The patient-centred counseling approach in dietetics is believed to successfully induce behaviour changes. The aim of the study was to verify the assumption that students of dietetics at medical universities declare a preference for the ways of practicing dietetics which require direct work with patients, revealing a personality profile that allows implementation of the indicated approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Materials and method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 dietetics students aged 19-31 (M = 21.44, SD = 2.21) at medical universities. Those declaring preference for the ways of practicing dietetics that entail direct contact with patients made up the criterion group. The control group was composed of students declaring preference for career paths not implying direct work with patients. The study employed Polish versions of the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory and the Schwartz Value Survey. RESULTS: Results. There are four predictors of choosing career options entailing work with patients: agreeableness and conscientiousness (personality traits) and openness to change and self-transcendence (value meta-categories). When agreeableness and conscientiousness rise by 1 SD, the odds for a declared choice of working with patients increase by 151% and 139%, respectively. In turn, an increase in openness to change and self-transcendence by 1 SD translates into a decline in the chances of choosing this option by 40% and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions. Dietetics students at medical universities declaring a preference for direct work with patients show a personality predisposition to carefully perform professional tasks at 'technical level', and a poor predisposition to implement the patient-centred counseling approach.

Assessment of the influence of selected behaviours on incidence of overweight and obesity among women from rural areas.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of selected health behaviours of women living in the country, in one county on incidence of overweight and obesity. The study indicated that 50% of women living in the country were overweight or obese and that the normal value of BMI decreased with age. It was found that overweight and obese women suffered from arterial hypertension and diabetes more frequently. Women living in the country still did not attach significance to nutritional and energy value of purchased food products. It proves that there is little awareness of rational nutrition in the rural community and little interest in health effects connected with an excessive intake of specific food. Overweight and obesity did not motivate women living in the country to take more exercise. Women attempted to lose weight only through a diet without increased energy expenditure.

Body mass index (BMI) and dietary preferences of women living in rural areas.

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the BMI of women living in rural areas and their dietary habits, taking into consideration the regularity and frequency of consumption as well as preferences in various groups of foodstuffs. The study included 60 women aged 23 - 69, living in one county. The women were divided into two groups according to nutritional status (BMI): group I with normal body weight and group II with overweight and obesity. Dietary habits were evaluated by using the anonymous and voluntary questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions concerning dietary preferences. The results were statistically analyzed. The study indicated that a vast majority of overweight and obese women in rural areas prefer fried dishes, red meat and animal fats. However they do not consume vegetables and fruit frequently enough. Such dietary habits will only increase problems with obesity in rural communities. Thus it is important to start nutrition education as a significant strategy for non-pharmacological treatment of obesity and its health effects.

[Evaluation of the knowledge of atherosclerosis prevention among the inhabitants of the Lublin region]. / Ocena znajomosci zasad profilaktyki miazdzycy wsród mieszkanców Lubelszczyzny.

The major aim of the work was to assess the awareness of risk factors and atherosclerosis prevention among the inhabitants of the Lublin region. The anonymous and voluntary questionnaire survey was carried out in winter 2007 (January - February) among 152 inhabitants of Lublin and surroundings. The anonymous questionnaire method was applied to assess the usual way of nutrition and the knowledge of atherosclerosis prevention rules. The questionnaire concerned among others: nutrition regularity, consumption frequency, preference levels of different kinds of food products, the knowledge of atherosclerosis prevention rules and the health condition of the respondents as well. The anthropometric data was also analysed and the BMI was measured. This survey shows that despite the declared knowledge of cardiovascular disease prevention rules the majority of the respondents did not apply them, which can be exemplified by the BMI percentage and screening frequency. Also the way of nutrition of the analysed population is inadequate due to numerous inconsistences with current nutritional rules.

The most common causes of chemical food poisonings in humans.

The aim of the paper was to characterize the chemical factors and their sources which are the most common causes of food poisonings in humans.

Food pathogens as the most common cause of bacterial food poisoning.

The aim of the paper was to characterize the food borne microorganisms, which are the most common causes of bacterial food poisonings in humans. Furthermore, the dietary recommendations in acute gastro-intestinal disorders were presented.

The incidence rate of chemical food poisonings in the Lublin province between 1976 and 1998.

The aim of the study was to analyse the chemical poisonings in the Lublin province in the years 1976-1998. The analysis was based on the archive materials obtained from the Regional Unit for Control of Epidemics and Hygiene Promotion in Lublin. The findings demonstrate that chemical poisonings in the Lublin province compared to the whole country are a relevant epidemiological problem and that their most common causes include the consumption of toxic alcohols--mainly ethanol or other chemical substances and ethanol overdosage. Moreover, the health education system of the society should be systematically improved.

The incidence rate of bacterial food poisonings in the Lublin province in the years 1976-1998.

The aim of the paper was to analyse the bacterial poisonings in the Lublin province in the years 1976-1998. The analysis was based on the archive materials of the Regional Unit for Control of Epidemics and Hygiene Promotion in Lublin. To illustrate the discussed issues the exemplifying bacterial food poisonings in closed mass nutrition institutions in 1990 were examined. The studies revealed that the bacterial food poisonings were most frequently caused by Salmonella enteritidis and one of the basic carriers was the food prepared from animal-derived materials. The incidence of Salmonella infections is constantly growing while that of Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium botulinum infections is decreasing. In 1990 closed mass nutrition institutions in which the poisonings occurred had positive pre-infection sanitary scores, according to the hygiene classification sheet, which suggests that their staff followed the sanitary and hygienic regulations on an irregular basis.