FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INADEQUATE MILK CONSUMPTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS: NATIONAL SCHOOL HEALTH SURVEY - PENSE 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with inadequate milk consumption among adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the National School Health Survey (2012), a Brazilian survey carried out using a self-administered questionnaire in a representative sample of 9th-grade students from public and private schools. The frequency of milk intake and its association with socio-demographic characteristics, food consumption and physical activity were estimated. A descriptive and inferential analysis of factors associated with inadequate milk consumption (no consumption at least one of the seven days of the week) was performed. A multiple logistic model was adjusted to control confounders. RESULTS: The sample included 108,828 adolescents and inadequate milk consumption ocurred in 58.9%. The final model included nine variables independently associated with inadequate milk intake: breakfast frequency less than 4 days per week (odds ratio [OR]=2.40; p<0.001), unprocessed or minimally processed foods intake less than 5 days per week (OR=1.93; p<0.001), living in the northeast region (OR=1.39; p<0.001), less maternal schooling (OR=1.35; p<0.001), physical inactivity (OR=1.33; p<0.001), attending public school (OR=1.26; p<0.001), not being white (OR=1.14; p<0.001), being older than 14 years old (OR=1.13; p<0.001) and having a habit of eating meals while watching TV or studying (OR=1.04; p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate milk consumption is prevalent among Brazilian adolescents. The identification of associated factors suggests the need to develop nutritional guidance strategies for the prevention of diseases that result from low calcium intake.

Factors associated with inadequate milk consumption among adolescents: national school health survey - pense 2012 / Fatores associados ao consumo inadequado de leite em adolescentes: pesquisa nacional de saúde do escolar - pense 2012

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with inadequate milk consumption among adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the National School Health Survey (2012), a Brazilian survey carried out using a self-administered questionnaire in a representative sample of 9th-grade students from public and private schools. The frequency of milk intake and its association with socio-demographic characteristics, food consumption and physical activity were estimated. A descriptive and inferential analysis of factors associated with inadequate milk consumption (no consumption at least one of the seven days of the week) was performed. A multiple logistic model was adjusted to control confounders. Results: The sample included 108,828 adolescents and inadequate milk consumption ocurred in 58.9%. The final model included nine variables independently associated with inadequate milk intake: breakfast frequency less than 4 days per week (odds ratio [OR]=2.40; p<0.001), unprocessed or minimally processed foods intake less than 5 days per week (OR=1.93; p<0.001), living in the northeast region (OR=1.39; p<0.001), less maternal schooling (OR=1.35; p<0.001), physical inactivity (OR=1.33; p<0.001), attending public school (OR=1.26; p<0.001), not being white (OR=1.14; p<0.001), being older than 14 years old (OR=1.13; p<0.001) and having a habit of eating meals while watching TV or studying (OR=1.04; p=0.036). Conclusions: Inadequate milk consumption is prevalent among Brazilian adolescents. The identification of associated factors suggests the need to develop nutritional guidance strategies for the prevention of diseases that result from low calcium intake.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados ao consumo inadequado de leite em adolescentes. Métodos: Estudo transversal com base em dados secundários da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE; 2012), inquérito brasileiro realizado por meio de questionário autoaplicável em amostra representativa de alunos do nono ano do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas e privadas. Estimou-se a frequência da ingestão de leite e sua associação com características sociodemográficas, consumo alimentar e prática de atividade física. Foi realizada análise descritiva e inferencial dos fatores associados ao consumo inadequado de leite (ausência em pelo menos um dos sete dias da semana). Um modelo logístico múltiplo foi ajustado para controle das variáveis de confusão. Resultados: A amostra incluiu 108.828 adolescentes e o consumo inadequado de leite foi de 58,9%. O modelo final incluiu 9 variáveis independentemente associadas à ingestão inadequada de leite: frequência de desjejum inferior a 4 dias semanais (odds ratio [OR]=2,40; p<0,001), consumo de alimentos in natura e minimamente processados inferior a 5 dias semanais (OR=1,93; p<0,001), residir na Região Nordeste (OR=1,39; p<0,001), menor escolaridade materna (OR=1,35; p<0,001), inatividade física (OR=1,33; p<0,001), frequentar escola pública (OR=1,26; p<0,001), não ser da raça branca (OR=1,14; p<0,001), ter idade superior a 14 anos (OR=1,13; p<0,001) e possuir o hábito de realizar as refeições assistindo à TV ou estudando (OR=1,04; p=0,036). Conclusões: O consumo inadequado de leite é frequente entre adolescentes brasileiros. A identificação de fatores associados sugere a necessidade do desenvolvimento de estratégias de orientação nutricional para a prevenção de doenças resultantes da baixa ingestão de cálcio.

Nutrition imbalance in Chinese chronic kidney disease children.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition imbalance is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) children. This study evaluated the nutrition status of CKD children at different stages using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) compared with anthropometry. METHODS: Fifty-five CKD children at stages III, IV, V and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Fat, protein and mineral composition on BIA were analyzed together with anthropometry for height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Biochemistry was also checked in CKD children. RESULTS: Of the CKD children, 23.6%, 10.9% and 56.3% were underweight, overweight/obese and stunted, respectively. On BIA, 52.7%, 70.9%, 14.5% and 40.0% of the CKD children had protein reduction, fat reduction, fat enhancement and mineral reduction, respectively. Growth retardation and nutrition reduction became remarkable at stages IV and V. Approximately 65% of healthy-weight children had nutrition reduction. In the underweight and healthy-weight groups, fat reduction rates were higher than protein reduction rate. In the overweight/obese group, fat enhancement was most notable. Mineral reduction was less remarkable. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition imbalance in CKD children on BIA correlated well with anthropometry and disease process, supporting BIA as an auxiliary diagnosis tool.

Measuring Nutrition Literacy in Spanish-Speaking Latinos: An Exploratory Validation Study.

Nutrition is important for preventing and treating chronic diseases highly prevalent among Latinos, yet no tool exists for measuring nutrition literacy among Spanish speakers. This study aimed to adapt the validated Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument for Spanish-speaking Latinos. This study was developed in two phases: adaptation and validity testing. Adaptation included translation, expert item content review, and interviews with Spanish speakers. For validity testing, 51 participants completed the Short Assessment of Health Literacy-Spanish (SAHL-S), the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument in Spanish (NLit-S), and socio-demographic questionnaire. Validity and reliability statistics were analyzed. Content validity was confirmed with a Scale Content Validity Index of 0.96. Validity testing demonstrated NLit-S scores were strongly correlated with SAHL-S scores (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). Entire reliability was substantial at 0.994 (CI 0.992-0.996) and internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.92). The NLit-S demonstrates validity and reliability for measuring nutrition literacy among Spanish-speakers.

Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Adverse Mental Health Indicators and Lower Quality of Life among Koreans: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012-2013.

Food insecurity is an ongoing public health issue and contributes to mental health status. We investigated whether food insecurity is associated with inadequate nutrient intake and whether it affects mental health indicators (perceived stress/experience of depressive symptom/suicidal ideation) and quality of life (QOL) among Koreans (n = 5862, 20-64 years) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2012-2013). Household food security status was categorized as "food-secure household", "food-insecure household without hunger", and "food-insecure household with hunger". Data on food insecurity, sociodemographic factors, nutrient intake, mental health indicators, and QOL were used. A logistic regression model was conducted to determine odds ratios (ORs) for psychological health. A greater proportion of food-insecure participants were nutritionally deficient compared with expectations of the 2015 Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. These deficiencies were generally higher in both "food-insecure household" groups. Both "food-insecure household" groups, particularly the "food-insecure household with hunger" group showed significantly adverse mental health status (ORs: 1.52-3.83) and lower QOL (ORs: 1.49-3.92) than did the "food-secure household" group before and after adjusting for sex, age, education, household income, smoking/alcohol consumption, physical activity, marital status, and receiving food assistance. In conclusion, food insecurity may be significantly associated with adverse mental health indicators and decreased QOL in young/middle-aged Koreans.

Antiretroviral Therapy and Nutrition in Southern Africa: Citizenship and the Grammar of Hunger.

How might we understand and respond to the new forms of hunger that arise with the massive rollout of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV in southern Africa? Rather than 'merely' a technical problem of measurement, medicine or infrastructure, I suggest that a philosophical question arises concerning the relationship between the experience of hunger, the utterances that communicate that experience, and the bodily regimes of well-being and ill-being indexed by such utterances. Taking the gut as a particular kind of mediator of experience, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to open up a set of questions on acknowledgment and avoidance. The central question concerns the divergent concepts of 'grammar' that confront the relationship between hunger and ART.

Risk of mental health and nutritional problems for left-behind children of international labor migrants.

BACKGROUND: One-in-ten Sri Lankans are employed abroad as International Labor Migrants (ILM), mainly as domestic maids or low-skilled laborers. Little is known about the impact their migration has on the health status of the children they 'leave behind'. This national study explored associations between the health status of 'left-behind' children of ILM's with those from comparative non-migrant families. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design with multi-stage random sampling was used to survey a total of 820 children matched for both age and sex. Socio-demographic and health status data were derived using standardized pre-validated instruments. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to estimate the differences in mental health outcomes between children of migrant vs. non-migrant families. RESULTS: Two in every five left-behind children were shown to have mental disorders [95%CI: 37.4-49.2, p < 0.05], suggesting that socio-emotional maladjustment and behavioural problems may occur in absence of a parent in left-behind children. Male left-behind children were more vulnerable to psychopathology. In the adjusted analyses, significant associations between child psychopathological outcomes, child gender and parent's mental health status were observed. Over a quarter (30%) of the left-behind children aged 6-59 months were 'underweight or severely underweight' compared to 17.7% of non-migrant children. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide evidence on health consequences for children of migrant worker families in a country experiencing heavy out-migration of labour, where remittances from ILM's remain as the single highest contributor to the economy. These findings may be relevant for other labour 'sending countries' in Asia relying on contractual labor migration for economic gain. Further studies are needed to assess longitudinal health impacts on the children left-behind.

Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños y adolescentes de Cochabamba (Bolivia); estudio transversal / Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from cochabamba (bolivia); a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCCIÓN: La antropometría en escolares y jóvenes adolescentes de países andinos es poco conocida. OBJETIVOS: El objetivo de dicho estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños y adolescentes de la región de Cochabamba (Bolivia), y su asociación con diferentes variables así como determinar la concordancia entre una clasificación nacional (BAP) e internacional (IOTF) de obesidad y sobrepeso. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado en el año 2010 en escolares (n=441) entre 5 y 16 años de edad de la región de Cochabamba (Bolivia). Los padres de los participantes fueron encuestados y a los escolares se les realizó un examen físico antropométrico. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo, bivariado y de concordancia entre clasificaciones. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia global de sobrepeso fue del 20,9% (IC95% 17,1-24,7) y de obesidad del 3,2% (IC95% 1,6-4,8), con mayores tasas en cohortes más jóvenes de áreas rurales. No se detectaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas según género, nivel educativo de los padres, ingesta alimentaria ni actividad física. Hubo un grado de acuerdo moderado tanto a nivel global como en el sobrepeso, y excelente en la obesidad. CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio determinó que la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en escolares está aumentando, principalmente en cohortes más jóvenes de áreas rurales, independientemente de actividad física e ingesta alimentaria (AU)

BACKGROUND: The anthropometric status of school age children and young adolescents in Andean countries is not well known. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents in the Cochabamba region (Bolivia), and their association with different variables, as well as to determine the agreement between two classifications (BAP, IOTF) of obesity and overweight. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional survey (n=441) was carried out in 2010 in pupils, aged 5 to 16 years old, living in the Cochabamba region (Bolivia). Evaluations were based on parent-administered questionnaires and a physical examination based on anthropometric measures. Descriptive, bivariate, and concordance analyses were performed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity were 20.9% (CI95% 17.1-24.7) and 3.2% (CI 95% 1.6-4.8) respectively, with higher incidences in younger birth cohorts from rural areas. No differences were observed according to gender, parent's educational level, nutritional patterns, or physical activity. There was a moderate agreement globally and on overweight, and excellent on obesity. CONCLUSIONS: This study determined that the prevalence of overweight and obese Bolivian school children is increasing, mainly in younger birth cohorts from rural areas, independently from physical activity and energy intake (AU)

The effects of market integration on childhood growth and nutritional status: the dual burden of under- and over-nutrition in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon.

OBJECTIVES: Market integration is an important source of cultural change exposing indigenous populations to epidemiologic and nutrition transitions. As children and adolescents are biologically sensitive to the health effects of market integration, we examine community variation of anthropometric indicators of nutritional status and growth among a cross-cultural sample of Kichwa, Shuar, Huaorani, and Cofán indigenous groups in the northern Ecuadorian Amazon. METHODS: We measured height, weight, body mass index (BMI), upper arm circumference, and triceps skinfolds of 186 children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years from seven communities. Anthropometric z-scores were calculated based on the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Comparisons were made with this US reference group, along with between community differences to contextually explore the impacts of varying degrees of market integration. RESULTS: We found a high prevalence of stunting in both boys (40%) and girls (34%). Adiposity increased with age and 40% of girls between 15 and 18 years old were overweight. There were large sex differences in body composition with higher BMI, arm circumference, and triceps skinfolds in adolescent girls. The Kichwa demonstrated the poorest growth outcomes and nutritional stress followed by the Huaorani and Shuar; yet distinctions in under- and over-nutrition were evident within groups. CONCLUSION: Market integration is a major factor influencing the developmental and lifestyle mismatch associated with the epidemiologic and nutrition transition in general, and the dual burden pattern of high rates of stunting yet adequate to above average short-term nutritional status indicators found among indigenous Amazonian populations.

Nutritional vulnerability seen within asylum seekers in Australia.

To examine the extent of nutritional vulnerability seen in a cohort of asylum seekers in Australia. Twenty-one asylum seekers (15 males, 6 females) that used a food bank were interviewed over a 6 week period at the Melbourne based Asylum Seeker Resource Centre about foods consumed in the previous 24-h and any non food bank foods obtained. A basket audit was conducted after participants accessed the food bank on the day of interview, Participants obtained significantly less than the minimum requirements for the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating in the vegetables and legumes (P < .001, 95% CI -3.5, -1.7) fruits (P < .001, 95% CI -1.7, -.1.2), dairy (P < .001, 95% CI -1.8, -1.5) and meat and meat alternatives core food groups (P = .001, 95% CI -0.8, -0.3) using foods accessed from the food bank, their primary or sole food source. A high level of nutritional vulnerability was seen in this cohort due to their inability to meet minimum nutritional requirements from their primary food access point. Health professionals working with asylum seeker populations need to be aware of this issue and the resulting potential for longer term ill health as a consequence.

"Now we got lots to eat and they're telling us not to eat it": understanding changes to south-east Labrador Inuit relationships to food.

OBJECTIVES: Culture, history and social circumstances shape how people understand their relationships to food, what foods are eaten, when, how much and how often. This ultimately shapes overall health. This study aims to connect research about food, culture and health by positioning south-eastern Labrador Inuit understandings of food at the forefront of how we begin to address chronic disease within southeastern Labrador Inuit communities. STUDY DESIGN: This study collected stories about food from 3 generations of men and women who live in the south-east Labrador Inuit community of St. Lewis, Newfoundland and Labrador. METHODS: Qualitative interviews (n=24) and 1 focus group (n=8) were conducted with 3 generations of men and women who were asked to share stories about how they experience and understand their relationships to food. RESULTS: Local plants and animals have historically been used for shelter, clothing and medicines, and their procurement provided opportunities for physical activity, sharing with others and passing along generational knowledge. The historical absence of government services has meant that stable food supplies were unavailable; local sources of food have, until the recent past, been essential for survival. The significant change over a short period, from having to ensure that one has enough to eat and avoiding nutritional deficiencies, to having both healthy and unhealthy food choices constantly available, has required a different "way" of understanding food. CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative that nutrition programs and resources directed towards improving the health of south-east Labrador Inuit take into account how cultural, historical and social circumstances have shaped south-east Labrador Inuit understandings of food.

Persistence of growth stunting in a Peruvian high altitude community, 1964-1999.

The growth of children living in Nuñoa, a Peruvian high-altitude community, was studied over a 35-year period using data collected in 1964 and 1999. There had been evidence of a secular trend in growth in the mid-1980s, but this was before a period of sociopolitical upheaval lasting until the late 1990s partly linked to the activities of the Shining Path group and the Peruvian government's response. Anthropometric data for 576 children examined in 1964-1966 were compared with data from 361 children examined in 1999. Data were converted to Z Scores using NCHS/WHO reference standards. Compared with the 1964 cohort, boys in 1999 had marginally greater height Z Scores, but among females, the trend was reversed. Stunting prevalence had decreased from 1964 levels, but still approached 60% in both sexes, among the highest rates recorded for a modern world population. The prevalence of low weight for height was less than expected, possibly because of the compensatory effect of enlarged chest diameter. This anatomical feature may represent the effect of chronic hypoxic stress, causing growth of the chest cavity at the expense of growth in height. In view of modest improvements during the late 1980s in this population, we believe that the relatively poor growth status of children a decade later may result from food disruption associated with later political instability. Compared with children in a nearby community, which benefits from the socioeconomic infrastructure associated with a large copper mine, Nuñoa children continue to fare relatively poorly.

Sociodemographic determinants of growth among Malian adolescent females.

In Africa, research concerning the social determinants of poor nutritional status has typically focused on children under 5 years of age and has used defined categorical boundaries based on international reference standards. In this article, stunting and wasting of 1,157 Malian adolescent girls is measured through both categorical and continuous data. The focus on adolescent girls is significant because there is relatively little literature examining this group, and because adolescence marks the time when girls gain greater workload responsibilities, autonomy of food choices, and, as a result of the adolescent growth spurt, require the greatest amount of caloric intake respective to their weight since infancy. To differentiate stunting and wasting causes, a number of socioeconomic, geographic, and demographic factors are explored. The findings suggest that continuous data provides a basis for modeling stunting and wasting superior to utilizing international reference categories. Estimations show that decreasing age, the presence of servants, a greater number of wives in a compound, and residence in a large urban area correlate with improved nutritional status while wealthier families appear to correlate with greater stunting and wasting, and no correlation exists with estimated energy expenditure. Future studies should incorporate continuous data, and the need exists for greater analysis of social determinants of growth indicators among adolescent females. Further, these findings have significant implications in the development of nutrition intervention programs aimed at the vulnerable population in Mali, leading us to conclude that factors beyond socioeconomic indicators such as household structure and location should be more fully examined.

[Poverty and indigenous origin as risk factors of nutritional problems among children who enroll in school]. / Pobreza y procedencia indígena como factores de riesgo de problemas nutricionales de los niños que ingresan a la escuela.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of indigenous ancestry and poverty on nutritional outcomes in Chilean schoolchildren. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used the national database of children entering to the public educational system in 1997-2004. This includes anthropometric assessment, socioeconomic status and parental surnames, used to derive the ethnic origin. Logistic regression models related poverty and ethnicity on stunting and obesity were done, controlling for sex, age and calendar year. RESULTS: Data convey 1,580,103 children being 7.4% indigenous; 2.9% had stunting and around 16.0% were obese. Stratifying by poverty, it was shown that the poorest had higher risk of stunting both in indigenous (OR= 2.30; CI95%=2.27-2.33) and non indigenous (OR= 2.29; CI95%= 2.28-2.30). Conversely, poverty was a 'protective factor' for obesity (OR= 0.63; CI95%= 0.62-0.64). Indigenous origin showed a significant OR slightly over the null. CONCLUSIONS: In Chilean children, poverty is a risk factor for stunting but still protects from obesity, independent of indigenous origin.

Pobreza y procedencia indígena como factores de riesgo de problemas nutricionales de los niños que ingresan a la escuela / Poverty and indigenous origin as risk factors of nutritional problems among children who enroll in school

OBJETIVO:Determinar el efecto de ser indígena y de la pobreza, en los problemas nutricionales de escolares chilenos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS:Se usaron bases de datos de niños que ingresaron a la escuela (1997-2004) que tenían información antropométrica, socioeconómica y origen étnico. Se construyeron modelos de regresión logística para talla baja y obesidad controlando el efecto de la pobreza y la etnia por sexo, edad y año de análisis. RESULTADOS:Se estudió a 1580103 niños: indígenas (7.4%), con talla baja (2.9%) y obesidad (16%). Al estratificar por etnia, los más pobres tuvieron mayor riesgo de talla baja: en indígenas RM: 2.30 (IC95%: 2.27-2.33) y no indígenas RM: 2.29 (IC95%: 2.28-2.30). A la inversa, los escolares más pobres tuvieron menos riesgo de ser obesos (RM: 0.63; IC95%: 0.62-0.64). Ser indígena proporcionó 6% más posibilidad de presentar obesidad, comparado con no ser indígena (RM: 1.06; IC95%: 1.05-1.08). CONCLUSIÓN:. En niños chilenos, la pobreza es factor de riesgo de talla baja pero protector de obesidad independiente de la etnia. El mayor riesgo de obesidad en los escolares indígenas, si bien es pequeño, debe ser una voz de alerta para prevenir en ellos el aumento de las cifras.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the effect of indigenous ancestry and poverty on nutritional outcomes in Chilean schoolchildren. MATERIAL AND METHODS:We used the national database of children entering to the public educational system in 1997-2004. This includes anthropometric assessment, socioeconomic status and parental surnames, used to derive the ethnic origin. Logistic regression models related poverty and ethnicity on stunting and obesity were done, controlling for sex, age and calendar year. RESULTS:Data convey 1580103 children being 7.4% indigenous; 2.9% had stunting and around 16.0% were obese. Stratifying by poverty, it was shown that the poorest had higher risk of stunting both in indigenous (OR= 2.30; CI95%=2.27-2.33) and non indigenous (OR= 2.29; CI95%= 2.28-2.30). Conversely, poverty was a "protective factor" for obesity (OR= 0.63; CI95%= 0.62-0.64). Indigenous origin showed a significant OR slightly over the null. CONCLUSIONS:In Chilean children, poverty is a risk factor for stunting but still protects from obesity, independent of indigenous origin.

Assessment of dietary intake in an inner-city African American population and development of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire to highlight foods and nutrients for a nutritional invention.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To characterize the diets of low-income inner-city African Americans to develop a population-specific quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) that will be used to highlight foods and nutrients for a nutritional intervention program aimed at reducing the risk of chronic disease and to evaluate the program. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional survey conducted in inner-city Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected in 91 low-income African Americans aged between 18 and 74 years. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The average daily energy intake was approximately 2,165 kcal for women and 2,509 kcal for men. The percentages of energy from fat were approximately 34% and 33% for women and men, respectively. Sodas were the main contributor to energy and sugar intake. A 113-item QFFQ was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlighted specific foods and nutrients that would be targeted in the nutritional intervention. The QFFQ developed is culturally appropriate and specific for low-income African Americans in inner-city Baltimore.

Reduced fat oxidation and obesity risks among the Buryat of Southern Siberia.

Over the last 20 years, obesity and associated metabolic diseases have emerged as major global health problems. Among urbanizing populations of developing regions of the world, childhood undernutrition often coexists with adult overnutrition, a phenomenon known as the "dual nutritional burden". A recent work (Frisancho 2003: Am J Hum Biol 15:522-532) suggests that linear growth stunting in early childhood may contribute to adult obesity by reducing the body's ability to oxidize fat. We test central aspects of this model drawing on data from 112 adult Buryat herders (53 males; 59 females) from Southern Siberia. The results are consistent with the predictions of the model, but only for women. Shorter Buryat women (height-for-age Z-scores < or = -1) have significantly lower fasting fat oxidation levels compared to their taller counterparts. Shorter women are also significantly heavier and fatter, and have higher serum lipid levels. Among all Buryat women, reduced fat oxidation is significantly correlated with percent body fatness, serum triglyceride levels, and serum leptin levels, after controlling for relevant covariates. Additionally, Buryat women with high dietary fat intakes and low fat oxidation are significantly fatter and have higher lipid and leptin levels than those with low fat intakes and high fat oxidation. These results suggest that developmental changes in fat oxidation may play a role in the origins of obesity among populations with high rates of linear growth stunting. Further longitudinal research is necessary to elucidate the pathways through which early-life undernutrition may increase risks for adulthood obesity and cardiovascular disease.

[Study on the trend of minority students' health status from 1995 to 2005 in China].

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the trend of minority students' health from 1995 to 2005 in China. METHODS: We selected 15 minority groups wtih data pertaining to students' nutritional status, poor vision and decayed tooth in 1995, 2000 and 2005. The minority groups were Mongolian, Hui, Uygur, Zhuang, Korean, Tibetan, Yao, Li, Qiang, Bouyei, Dong, Hmong, Tu, Salar and Kirgiz. RESULTS: The prevalences of underweight and malnutrition in 2005 in Mongolian, Hui, Uygur, Zhuang and Korean students aged 7 - 22 years were lower than that of 1995 and 2000, indicating the nutrition status was improved. The prevalence of malnutrition in city girls was the highest. The mild malnutrition rates in 2005 decreased to 2.69%, 4.67%, 3.68%, 9.62% and 2.65% but the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased. For city boys, the rates were 5.50%, 8.12%, 2.69%, 3.69% and 13.50%. The prevalence of decayed tooth changed but with no significant differences. The prevalence rates of poor vision and myopia kept increasing. The minority students' myopia rates in 2005 were 29.5%, 39.1%, 10.1%, 42.6%, 41.1%, for boys and 45.4%, 50.0%, 15.4%, 49.7%, 46.7% for girls. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the health of students in minority regions, we need to promote health education at schools.