47 research outputs found
Diet in three towns in England
No full textAttempts to relate the geographical distribution of diseases in England to dietary intakes have been limited by the lack of age- and sex-specific dietary information. The diet of middle-aged (35-54 years) men and women in Ipswich, Wakefield and Stoke-on-Trent was studied. These towns were chosen because of their differences in socioeconomic status and geographical location within England. They also have differences in disease rates including heart disease, gallstones and stomach cancer. A 24-hour dietary record in household measures and a questionnaire were obtained from about 400 men and 400 women in each town, giving a response rate of 85 per cent. The fieldwork was carried out over one year. A number of characteristics of the people in the towns were examined. There were differences in height for men and body mass index for women, activity, alcohol intake and amount of tobacco smoked. Food and nutrient intakes differed more among the men than the women. Total fibre, vitamin C and B carotene intakes of women were significantly different between towns. For men, proximate nutrient intakes were highest in Stoke whereas vitamin C, vitamin A, B carotene and retinol levels were highest in Ipswich. Generally, Wakefield had the lowest nutrient values. The main nutritionally related potential risk factors for the diseases considered were not supported by the results of the study. Very little in the present diet appears to explain present differences in rates of disease between towns, other factors must be in operation.</p
Is there an association between food portion size and BMI among British adolescents?
No full textThe prevalence of obesity has increased simultaneously with the increase in the consumption of large food portion sizes (FPS). Studies investigating this association among adolescents are limited; fewer have addressed energy-dense foods as a potential risk factor. In the present study, the association between the portion size of the most energy-dense foods and BMI was investigated. A representative sample of 636 British adolescents (11-18 years) was used from the 2008-2011 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. FPS were estimated for the most energy-dense foods (those containing above 10·5 kJ/g (2·5 kcal/g)). Regression models with BMI as the outcome variable were adjusted for age, sex and misreporting energy intake (EI). A positive association was observed between total EI and BMI. For each 418 kJ (100 kcal) increase in EI, BMI increased by 0·19 kg/m2 (95 % CI 0·10, 0·28; P< 0·001) for the whole sample. This association remained significant after stratifying the sample by misreporting. The portion sizes of a limited number of high-energy-dense foods (high-fibre breakfast cereals, cream and high-energy soft drinks (carbonated)) were found to be positively associated with a higher BMI among all adolescents after adjusting for misreporting. When eliminating the effect of under-reporting, larger portion sizes of a number of high-energy-dense foods (biscuits, cheese, cream and cakes) were found to be positively associated with BMI among normal reporters. The portion sizes of only high-fibre breakfast cereals and high-energy soft drinks (carbonated) were found to be positively associated with BMI among under-reporters. These findings emphasise the importance of considering under-reporting when analysing adolescents' dietary intake data. Also, there is a need to address adolescents' awareness of portion sizes of energy-dense foods to improve their food choice and future health outcomes
Final Session. The Impact of Storytelling: The Pass It On Project
No full textLearn about this exciting act of kindness campaign through a guided conversation with author Dr. Gloria Burgess. Her book, Pass It On, has been used to support Mississippi Studies in 4th and 8th grades. Discover how this partnership between the UM Center for Community Engagement, UM School of Education, the University Museum, and the Lafayette County School District, led to the creation of an activity trunk participants can use at their schools. Participants will also hear from speakers Dr. Karen V. Davidson Smith, UM School of Education Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Clinical Associate Professor, and Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell Prewitt, UM Clinical Associate Professor
Reflections of contemporary socio-political and religious controversies in William Shakespeare's Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Henry V and Henry VI parts 1, 2 and 3
No full textWhile the general idea is to illustrate how William Shakespeare reflected the
contemporary conflicts and problems of the Elizabethan society, the particular
aim of the thesis is to offer a close critical analysis of Shakespeare's Henry IV
Part 1 and Part 2, Henry V and Henry VI Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 plays in an
eclectic critical approach derived from the theoretical principles of New
Historicism and Cultural Materialism. In order to provide a better understanding
of the plays studied in the thesis, there is a presentation of the development of
drama, both religious and secular, in the Reformation period. In addition to this,
main features of Cultural Materialism and New Historicism are given. The
English Reformation and its effects on drama have been given in the introductory
chapter. In the first chapter, contemporary religious controversies as reflected in
Shakespeare's 1 and 2 Henry VI plays are discussed. The second chapter deals
with the reflections of contemporary social conflicts in especially the Jack Cade
episode of Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI. In the third chapter, reflections of political
conflicts in Shakespeare's Henry V, Henry V, and Henry VI plays are analysed in
terms of the appropriation of commoners by the ruling class for the preservation
of the dominant order. The thesis concludes that the plays are polyvalent in
meaning and thus open to further academic discussions for the years to come
Dietary assessment tools available in Latin America: a scoping review protocol
No full textDiet is a lifestyle factor associated with a wide range of health outcomes, yet assessing nutritional risks poses challenges due to the complexities of diet. Dietary assessment is a vital tool in nutrition research and monitoring, to evaluate the food and nutrient intake of individuals. There are well-established methods for collecting dietary information including food diaries, 24-hour recalls, and food frequency questionnaires, among others. However, all techniques have limitations in terms of measuring usual intake and its application on an epidemiological scale. Major challenges include reliance on self-reported data, potential recall bias, inaccurate portion size estimation, and high administrative burdens. Emerging technologies, such as sensors or food scanners, offer innovative ways to estimate dietary intake. These tools provide more accurate and efficient methods for recording food intake and estimating nutrient content than traditional methods. While tools to assess diet are available, the majority have been developed and tested in high-income countries. For instance, an umbrella review in the United Kingdom identified 63 validated dietary assessment tools (DATs), emphasizing their pivotal role in nutritional epidemiology research. Also, a review of technology-based DATs for children and adolescents found 13 USA and European tools with comparable validity to traditional approaches. This lack of representation of tools to assess diet from low-middle-income countries could contribute to the existing gap in our understanding of nutrition and health inequalities in these countries.
Underlying food composition databases have an important role to play in our ability to measure dietary intakes in different populations. A study by Cathcart et al. (2022) investigated the availability of nutritional data of over 150 culturally popular foods worldwide in four commercial dietary apps. The findings revealed that West African and Latin American cuisines were less widely recognized across all apps compared to European and Indian dishes, highlighting a notable bias that may occur in dietary assessment within diverse communities. Frequently, Latin American populations are overlooked in global food intake studies revealing a gap in understanding their dietary habits. To address this, exploring how local populations respond to different DATs is crucial. This not only unveils their unique characteristics but also tests the validity of commonly used tools within these population groups.
Despite global recognition of the importance of updated dietary intake data, limited high-quality data has been collected from Latin American countries. This limitation, along with the diverse culinary culture and dietary habits of Latin American populations, underscores the need for accurate measurement of specific dietary components to explore potential health benefits. Furthermore, the lack of clear guidance on DATs tailored to Latin American contexts contributes to the existing gap in knowledge. To bridge this gap and address the challenges faced in dietary assessment in Latin America, this scoping review aims to identify and understand the variety, availability, and characteristics of DATs used in research and commercial settings in the region
Maternal iodine status in a multi-ethnic UK birth cohort: associations with autism spectrum disorder
No full textBackground: maternal iodine requirements increase during pregnancy to supply thyroid hormones essential for fetal brain development. Maternal iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroxinemia, a reduced fetal supply of thyroid hormones which, in the first trimester, has been linked to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the child. No study to date has explored the direct link between maternal iodine deficiency and diagnosis of ASD in offspring.Methods: urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) and iodine/creatinine ratios (I:Cr) were measured in 6955 mothers at 26–28 weeks gestation participating in the Born in Bradford (BiB) cohort. Maternal iodine status was examined in relation to the probability of a Read (CTV3) code for autism being present in a child’s primary care records through a series of logistic regression models with restricted cubic splines.Results: median (inter-quartile range) UIC was 76 μg/L (46, 120) and I:Cr was 83 μg/g (59, 121) indicating a deficient population according to WHO guidelines. Ninety two children (1·3%) in our cohort had received a diagnosis of ASD by the census date. Overall, there was no evidence to support an association between I:Cr or UIC and ASD risk in children aged 8–12 years (p = 0·3).Conclusions: there was no evidence of an increased clinical ASD risk in children born to mothers with mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency at 26 weeks gestation. Alternative functional biomarkers of exposure and a wider range of conditions may provide further insight
Inequalities in Diet Quality by socio-demographic characteristics, smoking and weight status in a large UK-based cohort using a new UK Diet Quality Questionnaire -UKDQQ
No full textThe aim of this study was to explore the associations between diet quality, socio-demographic measures, smoking, and weight status in a large, cross-sectional cohort of adults living in Yorkshire and Humber, UK. Data from 43, 023 participants aged over 16 years in the Yorkshire Health Survey, 2nd wave (2013–2015) were collected on diet quality, socio-demographic measures, smoking, and weight status. Diet quality was assessed using a brief, validated tool. Associations between these variables were assessed using multiple regression methods. Split-sample cross-validation was utilised to establish model portability. Observed patterns in the sample showed that the greatest substantive differences in diet quality were between females and males (3.94 points; P < 0.001) and non-smokers vs smokers (4.24 points; P < 0.001), with higher diet quality scores observed in females and non-smokers. Deprivation, employment status, age, and weight status categories were also associated with diet quality. Greater diet quality scores were observed in those with lower levels of deprivation, those engaged in sedentary occupations, older people, and those in a healthy weight category. Cross-validation procedures revealed that the model exhibited good transferability properties. Inequalities in patterns of diet quality in the cohort were consistent with those indicated by the findings of other observational studies. The findings indicate population subgroups that are at higher risk of dietary-related ill health due to poor quality diet and provide evidence for the design of targeted national policy and interventions to prevent dietary-related ill health in these groups. The findings support further research exploring inequalities in diet quality in the population.<br/
Using Social Media to Collect Dietary Information for Public Health Policy
No full textThere is no regular, routine measurement of food and nutrient intake regionally in the UK. Our goal was to identify a method to support policy makers tracking the local population food intakes. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of using social media to obtain a large sample in a short time, with a regional focus; collecting dietary information using online tools. A Facebook (FB) boost approach was used to recruit a regional (Yorkshire and Humberside) sample of adults to complete a brief online survey followed by a detailed measure of food and nutrient intakes for the previous day using myfood24®. The FB posts were boosted for 21 days and reached 76.9 k individuals. 1428 participants completed the main questionnaire and 673 participants completed the diet diary. The majority of respondents were older women. 22% of respondents reported experiencing moderate food insecurity during 2021. Overall nutrient values recorded were similar to national survey data. Intakes of fibre and iron were low. Despite some challenges, this study has demonstrated the potential to use social media, in this case Facebook, to recruit a large sample in a short timeframe. Participants were able to use online tools to report food and nutrient intakes. This data is relevant to local and national policy makers to monitor and evaluate public health programmes
Associations of clothing size, adiposity and weight change with risk of postmenopausal breast cancer in the UK Women’s Cohort Study (UKWCS)
No full textObjectives: Breast cancer is associated with overweight and obesity after menopause. However, clothing size as a proxy of adiposity in predicting postmenopausal breast cancer is not widely studied. We aimed to explore the relationships between postmenopausal breast cancer risk with adipose indicators (including clothing sizes) and weight change over adulthood.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
Setting: England, Wales and Scotland.
Participants: 17 781 postmenopausal women from the UK Women’s Cohort Study.
Primary: outcome measure Incident cases of malignant breast cancers (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 code 174 and ICD 10 code C50).
Results: From 282 277 person-years follow-up, there were 946 incident breast cancer cases with an incidence rate of 3.35 per 1000 women. Body mass index (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.07), blouse size (HR: 1.10; 1.03 to 1.18), waist circumference (HR: 1.07; 1.01 to 1.14) and skirt size (HR: 1.14;1.06 to 1.22) had positive associations with postmenopausal breast cancer after adjustment for potential confounders. Increased weight over adulthood (HR: 1.02; 1.01 to 1.03) was also associated with increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer.
Conclusions: Blouse and skirt sizes can be used as adipose indicators in predicting postmenopausal breast cancer. Maintaining healthy body weight over adulthood is an effective measure in the prevention of postmenopausal breast cancer
Maternal iodine status in a multi-ethnic UK birth cohort: associations with child cognitive and educational development
No full textBackground: Maternal iodine requirements increase during pregnancy to supply thyroid hormones critical for fetal neurodevelopment. Iodine insufficiency may result in poorer cognitive or child educational outcomes but current evidence is sparse and inconsistent. Objectives: To quantify the association between maternal iodine status and child educational outcomes. Methods: Urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) and iodine/creatinine ratios (I:Cr) were measured in 6971 mothers at 26-28 weeks' gestation participating in the Born in Bradford cohort. Maternal iodine status was examined in relation to child school achievement (early years foundation stage (EYFS), phonics, and Key Stage 1 (KS1)), other learning outcomes, social and behavioural difficulties, and sensorimotor control in 5745 children aged 4-7 years. Results: Median (interquartile range) UIC was 76 µg/L (46, 120), and I:Cr was 83 µg/g (59, 121). Overall, there was no strong or consistent evidence to support associations between UIC or I:Cr and neurodevelopmental outcomes. For instance, predicted EYFS and phonics scores (primary outcomes) at the 25th vs 75th I:Cr percentiles (99% confidence intervals) were similar, with no evidence of associations: EYFS scores were 32 (99% CI 31, 33) and 33 (99% CI 32, 34), and phonics scores were 34 (99% CI 33, 35) and 35 (99% CI 34, 36), respectively. Conclusions: In the largest single study of its kind, there was little evidence of detrimental neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born to pregnant women with iodine insufficiency as defined by World Health Organization–outlined thresholds. Alternative functional biomarkers for iodine status in pregnancy and focused assessment of other health outcomes may provide additional insight.</p
