{"title":"Exploring under-five child malnutrition in Bangladesh: analysis using the Extended Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (ECIAF).","authors":"Farzana Akhter Bornee, Mohammad Rocky Khan Chowdhury, Bodrun Naher Siddiquea, Baki Billah, Farjana Akter, Md Nazmul Karim","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000138","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980025000138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The current study is an attempt to explore under-five child malnutrition in a low-income population setting using the Extended Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (ECIAF).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018 were analysed. Malnutrition using ECIAF was estimated using stunting, wasting underweight and overweight. Multilevel logistic regression models identified factors associated with malnutrition. Geospatial analysis was conducted using R programming.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Children under 5 years of age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In Bangladesh, as indicated by the ECIAF, approximately 40·8 % (95 % CI: 39·7, 41·9) of children under five experience malnutrition, whereas about 3·3 % (95 % CI: 2·9, 3·7) were overweight. Children of parents with no formal education (56·3 %, 95 % CI: 50·8, 61·8), underweight mothers (53·4 %, 95 % CI: 50·4, 56·3), belonging to the lowest socio-economic strata (50·6 %, 95 % CI: 48·3, 53·0), residing in rural areas (43·3 %, 95 % CI: 41·9, 44·6) and aged below 3 years (47·7 %, 95 % CI: 45·2, 50·2) demonstrated a greater age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of malnutrition. The Sylhet division (Eastern region) exhibited a higher prevalence of malnutrition (> 55·0 %). Mothers with no formal education (adjusted OR (AOR): 1·51, 95 % CI: 1·08, 2·10), underweight mother (AOR: 1·54, 95 % CI: 1·03, 1·83), poorest socio-economic status (AOR: 2·14, 95 % CI: 1·64, 2·81), children aged 24-35 months (AOR: 2·37, 95 % CI: 1·97, 2·85) and fourth and above birth order children (AOR: 1·41, 95 % CI: 1·16, 1·72) were identified key factors associated with childhood malnutrition while adjusting community- and household-level variations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In Bangladesh, two out of five children were malnourished, and one in thirty-five children was overweight. Continuous monitoring of the ECIAF over time would facilitate tracking changes in the prevalence of different forms of malnutrition, helping to plan interventions and assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing both undernutrition and overweight.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e43"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11883563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Busiso Helard Moyo, Anne Marie Thow, Florian Kroll, Scott Drimie
{"title":"The anti-politics of food in South Africa: Transformation, accountability and the nutrition policy subsystem.","authors":"Busiso Helard Moyo, Anne Marie Thow, Florian Kroll, Scott Drimie","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980025000163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine power and governance arrangements in food and nutrition policy formulation and agenda-setting in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Analysis of the policy implementation environment and in-depth interviews were conducted focussing on: existing policy content and priorities across food system sectors; institutional structures for cross-sectoral and external stakeholder engagement; exercise of power in relation to food system policies; and opportunities to strengthen action on nutrition.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>South Africa.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Interviews were conducted with 48 key stakeholders involved in the food and nutrition policy sphere: government sectors relevant to food systems (n=21), the private sector (n=4), academia (n=10), NGOs (n=11) and farmers (n=2).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study found that there are power dynamics involved in shaping the planning agenda that is inadvertently generating a food system that undermines the right to food. The concept of nutrition governance remains poorly defined and applied in different ways and usually based on a relatively narrow interpretation - therefore limiting policy coherence and coordination. South Africa has strong legal institutions and practices, and social policies that support public provisioning of food, but a non-interventionist approach to the food system.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The right to food and nutrition, as outlined in the South African Constitution, has not yet been effectively utilized to establish a robust normative and legal basis for tackling the dual challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition. Currently, the governance of the food system is grappling with substantial obstacles, balancing the influence of powerful stakeholders who uphold the status quo against its responsibilities for food justice.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-32"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anne E Sanders, Jianwen Cai, Martha L Daviglus, Olga Garcia-Bedoya, Gary D Slade
{"title":"Long-chain PUFA and painful temporomandibular disorder in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.","authors":"Anne E Sanders, Jianwen Cai, Martha L Daviglus, Olga Garcia-Bedoya, Gary D Slade","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000102","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980025000102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong><i>n</i>-6 and <i>n</i>-3 long-chain PUFA play opposing roles in inflammation, anxiety and nociception, all of which are closely associated with chronic pain. We hypothesised that diets high in <i>n</i>-6 arachidonic acid (C20:4<i>n</i>-6, AA) and low in combined <i>n</i>-3 EPA (C20:5<i>n</i>-3, EPA) and DHA (C22:6<i>n</i>-3, DHA) would be associated with higher odds of painful temporomandibular disorder (TMD).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>We analysed baseline data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Two 24-h dietary recall surveys quantified intake of long-chain <i>n</i>-6 and <i>n</i>-3 PUFA along with their precursors, linoleic acid (C18:2<i>n</i>-6, LA) and alpha linolenic acid (C18:3<i>n</i>-3, ALA), respectively. <i>n</i>-3 PUFA supplementation was quantified. Interviewer-administered questions assessed TMD. Survey multiple logistic regression estimated covariate-adjusted OR and 95 % confidence limits (CL) for associations between PUFA and TMD.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>From 2008 to 2011, HCHS/SOL recruited 16 415 adults of Hispanic/Latino backgrounds (Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, Central/South American), through field centres located in Miami, FL; San Diego CA; Chicago, IL; and the Bronx, NY.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>13 870 participants with non-missing data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In analysis adjusted for covariates, each sd increase in dietary intake of C20:4<i>n</i>-6, AA was associated with 12 % higher odds of TMD (OR = 1·12, CL: 1·01, 1·24). Although the dietary intake of combined long-chain C20:5<i>n</i>-3, EPA and C22:6<i>n</i>-3 DHA was not associated with TMD, each sd increase in <i>n</i>-3 dietary supplement was associated with lower odds of TMD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A diet rich in C20:4<i>n</i>-6, AA was associated with higher odds of painful TMD.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e41"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11883565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto, Risia Cristina Egito de Menezes, Juliana Souza Oliveira, Nathalia Paula de Souza, Thays Lane Ferreira Dos Santos, Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo Florêncio
{"title":"The food environment in favelas is associated with the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes in socially vulnerable women.","authors":"Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto, Risia Cristina Egito de Menezes, Juliana Souza Oliveira, Nathalia Paula de Souza, Thays Lane Ferreira Dos Santos, Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo Florêncio","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000175","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980025000175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the relationship between the food environment in favelas and the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes among women in the context of social vulnerability.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A cross-sectional and partially ecological population-based study was conducted in a Brazilian capital city. The healthiness and availability of ultra-processed foods in the food environment were assessed through retailer audits using the AUDITNOVA instrument. The presence of diabetes and arterial hypertension was evaluated based on self-reported prior medical diagnosis. Logistic regression models were applied using generalised estimating equations, adjusted for age, education, race/skin colour and poverty status.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>1882 adult women of reproductive age (20-44 years).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It was found that 10·9 % of women were hypertensive and 3·2 % had diabetes. The likelihood of having diabetes and arterial hypertension decreases with higher levels of healthiness in the food environment (diabetes (OR: 0·25; 95 % CI: 0·07, 0·97)/arterial hypertension (OR: 0·45; 95 % CI: 0·24, 0·81)) and increases with greater availability of ultra-processed foods in their living area (diabetes (OR: 2·18; 95 % CI: 1·13, 4·21)/arterial hypertension (OR: 1·64; 95 % CI: 1·09, 2·47)).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results suggest that characteristics of the consumer food environment have a significant effect on the occurrence of chronic diseases among socially vulnerable women, adding to the existing evidence in the literature and highlighting the need for integrated health care.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e44"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11883587/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neha Kishan Lalchandani, Clare Hume, Lynne Giles, Shona Crabb, Jo Hendrikx, Caroline Miller
{"title":"Sneak Peek: Food, Waste, and Packaging Characteristics of South Australian School Children's Lunchboxes.","authors":"Neha Kishan Lalchandani, Clare Hume, Lynne Giles, Shona Crabb, Jo Hendrikx, Caroline Miller","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980025000126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To characterise children's lunchbox contents for food, waste, and packaging.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted. Lunchboxes were photographed at two time points on the same day: before first morning break to capture food and packaging and post-lunch break to capture food waste. Contents were coded using an audit tool developed using REDCap.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>23 sites across metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia including 14 preschools and 9 primary schools in low (n=8), medium (n=7), and high (n=8) socioeconomic areas.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Preschool (3-5 years) to Grade 7 (6-13 years) school students.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>673 lunchboxes were analysed. Grain foods dominated (with at least half of them being discretionary varieties), with 92% of lunchboxes having at least one item from that category, followed by fruits (78%), snacks (62%), dairy (32%), and vegetables (26%). Lunchboxes of preschool children contained more fruits (92% vs 65%; χ2(1)=73.3, P<0.01), vegetables (36% vs 16%; χ2(1)=34.0, P<0.01), and dairy items (45% vs 19%; χ2(1)=53.6, P<0.01), compared to lunchboxes of primary school children. Snack foods were more prevalent in primary school (68%) than preschool (55%; χ2(1)=11.2, P<0.01). Discretionary foods appeared more frequently, and single-use packaging accounted for half (53%) of all packaging in lunchboxes, primarily from snacks and grain foods. Preschool children had less single-use packaging but more food waste. Vegetables were the most wasted food group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sandwiches, fruits, and various snacks are typical lunchbox foods, often accompanied by single-use packaging. Considering both health and environmental factors in lunchbox choices could benefit children and sustainability efforts in schools.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-39"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bettina Backman, Meg Adam, Jasmine Chan, Josephine Marshall, Emalie Rosewarne, Gary Sacks, Adrian J Cameron, Miranda R Blake
{"title":"Concordance of Australian state and territory government guidelines for classifying the healthiness of foods in public settings.","authors":"Bettina Backman, Meg Adam, Jasmine Chan, Josephine Marshall, Emalie Rosewarne, Gary Sacks, Adrian J Cameron, Miranda R Blake","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000059","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980025000059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the concordance between Australian government guidelines for classifying the healthiness of foods across various public settings.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Commonly available products in Australian food service settings across eight food categories were classified according to each of the seventeen Australian state and territory food classification guidelines applying to public schools, workplaces and healthcare settings. Product nutrition information was retrieved from online sources. The level of concordance between each pair of guidelines was determined by the proportion of products rated at the same level of healthiness.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Australia.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>No human participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Approximately half (56 %) of the 967 food and drink products assessed were classified as the same level of healthiness across all fifteen 'traffic light'-based systems. Within each setting type (e.g. schools), pairwise concordance in product classifications between guidelines ranged from 74 % to 100 %. 'Vegetables' (100 %) and 'sweet snacks and desserts' (78 %) had the highest concordance across guidelines, while 'cold ready-to-eat foods' (0 %) and 'savoury snacks' (23 %) had the lowest concordance. In addition to differences in classification criteria, discrepancies between guidelines arose from different approaches to grouping of products. The largest proportion of discrepancies (58 %) were attributed to whether products were classified as 'Red' (least healthy) or 'Amber' (moderately healthy).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results indicate only moderate concordance between all guidelines. National coordination to create evidence-based consistency between guidelines would help provide clarity for food businesses, which are often national, on how to better support community health through product development and reformulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e47"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caroline A Joyce, Bess L Caswell, Aulo Gelli, Sonja Y Hess, Hasara Sitisekara, Christine P Stewart, Xiuping Tan, Renuka Jayatissa, Kalana Peiris, Renuka Silva, Deanna K Olney
{"title":"Dietary intake and micronutrient adequacy among adults engaged in agriculture in rural Sri Lanka: findings from a cross-sectional baseline survey.","authors":"Caroline A Joyce, Bess L Caswell, Aulo Gelli, Sonja Y Hess, Hasara Sitisekara, Christine P Stewart, Xiuping Tan, Renuka Jayatissa, Kalana Peiris, Renuka Silva, Deanna K Olney","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000072","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980025000072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To characterise food group consumption, assess the contribution of food groups to energy and micronutrient intake, and estimate usual nutrient intake among adults in rural Sri Lanka.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A baseline survey (December 2020-February 2021) was conducted as part of an agriculture-based, nutrition-sensitive resilience program evaluation. Dietary intake was assessed using telephone-based 24-h recalls (<i>n</i> 1283), with repeat recalls from 769 participants. Mean daily intake of food groups and their contribution to energy and nutrient intakes were calculated. The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate usual intakes and the prevalence of adequate micronutrient intake (PAI). Differences by sex, district, and wealth were assessed using <i>t</i> tests and ANOVA.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Forty-five rural villages throughout Sri Lanka.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Men and women from households in the program evaluation study area.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On average, grains and coconut milk provided 56 % and 12 % of energy, respectively. Rice, fish, dairy, and pulses were the primary sources of micronutrients. Participants consumed 118 ± 117 g of vegetables and 71 ± 243 g of fruit per day. PAI was < 25 % for calcium, zinc, niacin, folate, and vitamins B<sub>6</sub>, B<sub>12</sub>, and C, reflecting low consumption of animal-source foods (80 g/day), whole grains, fruit, and vegetables (F&V). Significant differences in food group consumption by socio-demographic subgroup were observed among districts and wealth quintiles.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We observed high consumption of rice and coconut milk and low prevalence of micronutrient adequacy. We recommend increasing animal-source food, whole grain, and F&V consumption to close nutrient gaps, as well as research to identify effective solutions to increase micronutrient intake.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e35"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda Castelo Saragosa, Sheniz Moonie, Christopher Johansen, Alyssa N Crittenden, Gabriela Buccini
{"title":"Factors associated with caregiver responsive and non-responsive feeding styles in Clark County, Nevada.","authors":"Amanda Castelo Saragosa, Sheniz Moonie, Christopher Johansen, Alyssa N Crittenden, Gabriela Buccini","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000096","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980025000096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Early childhood obesity (ECO) significantly increased in the USA. ECO interventions lack focus on the prevention of ECO for infants under 2. Caregiver's feeding styles (CFS) have been shown to affect ECO development, but studies on CFS are limited. This study examined socio-ecological factors associated with CFS for infants under 2 in Nevada.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This cross-sectional study utilising a survey examined the five CFS constructs: responsive (RP), non-responsive (NRP) Laissez-Faire, NRP pressuring, NRP restrictive and NRP indulgent. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression following a hierarchical modelling approach were used to determine the associations between the CFS constructs and socio-ecological factors (e.g. household, maternal mental health and infant feeding).</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Clark County, Nevada.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>304 caregivers with infants under 2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NRP-feeding styles were associated with low-income households (e.g. NRP restrictive (adjusted OR (AOR) = 2·60, 95 % CI (1·01, 6·71))), water insecurity (e.g. NRP pressuring (AOR = 2·46, 95 % CI (1·00, 6·06)), young mothers (e.g. NRP-Laissez-Faire (AOR = 2·39, 95 % CI (1·00, 5·84))), lower maternal education (e.g. RP (AOR = 0·58, 95 % CI (0·33, 1·00))), mild risk for depression (e.g. NRP restrictive (AOR = 0·50, 95 % CI (0·28, 0·90))) and a moderate to severe risk for anxiety (e.g. NRP pressuring (AOR = 0·32, 95 % CI (0·14, 0·74))). There were no associations between infant-feeding factors and RP feeding.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study identified socio-ecological factors associated with dissimilarities in CFS in Nevada. These findings can be used to tailor educational approaches to address disparities in ECO.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e42"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11883572/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anthony J Basile, Nereus K Noshirwani, Karen L Sweazea
{"title":"Eighty-five Percent of Menu Items from the Six Highest Selling Fast-food Restaurants in the United States are Ultra-processed.","authors":"Anthony J Basile, Nereus K Noshirwani, Karen L Sweazea","doi":"10.1017/S1368980025000060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980025000060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>While fast-food is typically considered highly processed, an analysis to demonstrate this has yet to be conducted. Therefore, the objective of this research was to examine the menu items and ingredients from six fast-food restaurant menus using the NOVA Classification.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Data were collected from the top six highest selling United States restaurants, per each food category, identified using the Quick Service and Fast Casual Restaurants (QSR) 2020 Report.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>A total of 740 menu items were identified and classified according to their degree of processing based on ingredient lists using the NOVA Classification: Minimally Processed (MPF), Culinary Processed Ingredient (CPF), Processed (PRF), or Ultra-processed (UPF). In addition, individual ingredients that appeared on at least three menus were classified into NOVA groups, and the 20 most common ingredients were identified based on frequency of appearance in ingredient lists.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across all menus, 85% (Range: 70-94%) of items were UPFs with only 11% (Range: 6-25%) being MPF (p<0.001). Additionally, 46% of the ingredients that appeared on at least three menus were ultra-processed ingredients. Three ultra-processed ingredients appeared on all six menus: natural flavors, xanthan gum, and citric acid.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings show that the vast majority of menu items from major fast-food restaurants are UPFs and there are few options for MPFs. Fast-food companies should consider reformulation or the addition of MPF to the menu to increase healthful food options for their patrons.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samantha M Sundermeir, Erin Tigue, Francesco Acciai, Emma Moynihan, Meredith T Niles, Roni Neff
{"title":"US state-level containment policies not associated with food insecurity changes during the early COVID-19 pandemic: a multilevel analysis.","authors":"Samantha M Sundermeir, Erin Tigue, Francesco Acciai, Emma Moynihan, Meredith T Niles, Roni Neff","doi":"10.1017/S1368980024002696","DOIUrl":"10.1017/S1368980024002696","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the relationship between US containment measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and household food insecurity.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>To investigate these relationships, we developed a framework linking COVID-19-related containment policies with different domains of food security and then used multilevel random effects models to examine associations between state-level containment policies and household food security. Our framework depicts theorised linkages between stringency policies and five domains of food security (availability, physical access, economic access, acceptability in meeting preferences and agency, which includes both self-efficacy and infrastructure). We used US national data from a representative survey data from the National Food Access and COVID research Team that was fielded in July-August 2020 and April 2021. Containment policy measures came from the Oxford Stringency Index and included policies such as stay-at-home orders, closing of public transit and workplace closures.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>The USA.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>3071 adult individuals from the National Food Access and COVID research Team survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found no significant associations between state-level containment policies and overall food insecurity at the state level or any of the individual domains of food insecurity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research suggests that while food insecurity across all domains was a significant problem during the studied phases of the pandemic, it was not associated with these containment measures. Therefore, impacts may have been successfully mitigated, likely through a suite of policies aimed at maintaining food security, including the declaration of food workers as essential and the expansion of federal nutrition programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20951,"journal":{"name":"Public Health Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":"e37"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11822581/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}