54 research outputs found
Dietary intake patterns of South Asian men attending mosques in Burnley, UK
Get PDFObjective: To characterise the diet of South Asian males attending mosques in Burnley in order to focus intervention strategies to improve nutrition-related health in the community. Design: Cross sectional survey of Muslim men in Burnley, Lancashire UK. Muslim men (n=141) aged 15-67 years who consented were recruited. Subjects completed a food and health questionnaire and a 24 hour dietary recall (repeated) and provided self-reported anthropometric data. Results: Data revealed significant dietary under-reporting in the sample with a mean value of 78.0% of the estimated average intake (EAR) for energy specific to age group reported. Under-reporting was more likely as the body mass index (BMI) of subjects increased. Similar proportions of total energy were derived from protein but a greater percentage of energy was provided by total fat and a smaller proportion by total carbohydrate when compared with white British males. Saturated fatty acids constituted half the proportion of total food energy yet mono-unsaturated fatty acid intake was low in comparison. All (except the 46-67) year old age group consumed greater than 6g of salt a day. Conclusions: The study identifies several areas with the potential for health improvement. Subjects should reduce total fat intake and redistribute fat intake to more favourable proportions, with more emphasis on monounsaturated fat sources. Further dietary modifications include reducing salt intake and increasing non-starch polysaccharide consumption. Access to mosques for use as a health assessment and promotion environment is an important avenue for ensuring effective communication of messages for Muslims
Nutrition knowledge and influence on diet in the carer-client relationship in residential care settings for people with intellectual disabilities
Get PDFPeople with intellectual disabilities generally have poorer health outcomes compared to those who do not, including outcomes related to nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. Carers support people with intellectual disabilities in many aspects including habitual shopping and preparation of food, but their own nutrition knowledge and the influence this may have on dietary intakes of clients is unknown. We explored the nutrition knowledge of carers of people with intellectual disabilities in residential care settings, their dietary habits and their influence on clients’ food shopping and preparation and therefore the diet consumed by their clients. Ninety-seven carers belonging to a large independent care sector organisation specialising in the care of people with an intellectual disability completed a validated general nutrition knowledge and behaviour questionnaire. Seventeen carers from the residential care settings were interviewed to contextualise practice. Knowledge about key dietary recommendations scored highly. Carers who had more work experience were found to be have higher scores in ‘making everyday food choices’ (p=0.034). Daily consumption of fruit and vegetables (at least one portion per day) was observed (for fruit by 39% of the carers and for vegetables by 44% of the carers), whilst most carers reported avoiding consuming full fat dairy products, sugary foods and fried foods. Concept of a healthy diet; typical dietary habits of clients; role in food acquisition; and training in nutrition emerged as themes from the interviews. Carers discussed various topics including importance of a balanced diet, cooking fresh foods and control of food portion sizes for clients relative to the care philosophy of a client-centred approach, which encapsulates client autonomy. Gaps in knowledge around specific nutrients, making healthy choices and cooking skills remain. Carers have an influence on client’s dietary choices; they are able to provide healthy meals and share good dietary habits with clients. Further training in nutrition is recommended for impact on clients’ health
Nutrition knowledge, dietary patterns and anthropometric indices of older persons in four peri-urban communities in Ga West municipality, Ghana
Get PDFBackground: Older adults are vulnerable to malnutrition due to sociologic, physiologic and anatomical effects of ageing.Objective: To investigate the influence of nutrition knowledge and dietary patterns on nutritional status of community-dwelling ambulatory older adults.Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 120 elderly aged 60-70 years purposively selected from four peri-urban communities in Ga West municipality, Ghana. Nutrition knowledge was assessed using a structured questionnaire and dietary intakes obtained using a standardized food frequency questionnaire. BMI from weight/height measurements was proxy for nutritional status. Data was analyzed descriptively in SPSS. Associations were tested using correlation analyses (-1<r<+1).Results: 28% had adequate knowledge on geriatric nutrition. Dietary patterns were mostly fair (40%) or poor (53%). Bloating (25%), constipation (18%), appetite loss (12%) and chewing difficulties (11%) affected intakes. Underweight was 10% while 21.7% were overweight or obese (16.6%). Positive insignificant corrections existed between knowledge and nutritional status (r=0.261) and with diet quality (r=0.415). However, strong significant (p=0.027) positive correlation (r=0.699) existed between diet quality and nutritional status.Conclusion: Nutrition knowledge was adequate but dietary intake was poor and a quarter were malnourished. The associations reaffirm that supporting the elderly to make healthy dietary choices and ensuring household food security is crucial to preventing malnutrition.Keywords: Dietary knowledge, food diversity, body mass index, elderly, geriatric nutrition
Decreasing physical activity levels across religious Sikh male South asian migrant population in Kent, UK: A public health concern
Get PDFPhysical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We investigated intergenerational physical activity level (PAL) among first and second generation Sikh Punjabi male subjects (n=137), recruited from two Sikh temples in Medway, UK. Employing a cross sectional survey PA was quantified using the validated Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ). Data were analysed using SPSS 20 and Epi Info software. 91% of the subjects were classified as overweight. Mean physical activity level (PAL) range was sedentary to low levels of PA (1.45 – 1.60). Comparisons between first and second generation Punjabi male subjects showed that the two groups are equally culpable in not engaging in work-related or recreational PA, but for the second generation this is significantly lower. Low PAL is a contributory factor to increased risk and prevalence of NCDs among this population and a public health concern. Efforts to increase PA in this group should continue
Parental Food Beliefs on Pre-School-Aged Children in Kaski District of Nepal: A Qualitative Review
Get PDFBackground: This study explores food beliefs among poor mothers related to feeding their offspring. Mothers’ misconception of a healthy diet is one of the major causes of nutritional problems in preschool-aged children in Nepal and these beliefs and attitudes can result in the inappropriate feeding of young children.
Objectives: The main objectives of this study were:• identify major barriers for recommending healthy food that are associated with existing cultures, religions and ethnic divisions;• assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about nutritious food amongst mothers;• assess health-seeking behaviour for children of low socio-economic status.
Methods: Study used a qualitative focus group discussion. Fifty participants took part in seven focus groups to explore their food beliefs. The qualitative focus groups aimed to collect in-depth information around food beliefs and data were thematically analysed.
Results: The study identified six key themes: (a) poverty; (b) knowledge; (c) policy; (d) beliefs about breastfeeding; (e) food beliefs: and (f) health-seeking behaviours/cultural influences. Many participants thought that illiterate and underserved populations are generally exposed due to financial scarcity, poor knowledge and strongly rooted in cultural practices, and beliefs. This study found ‘diversified views’ as a major barrier to food and health-seeking behaviours. Some groups recognised the negative effects of existing beliefs and taboos. However, the spiritual healers highlighted the importance of linking beliefs with cultural and religious norms and values. They showed the complex relationships between food and health-seeking behaviours and food recommendations with financial status and the perceived cultural practices of society.
Conclusions: This study suggests that a public health approach is needed to address nutrition problems associated with behaviour and revealed major barriers which were associated with poverty, resources, and mothers’ education level
Assessment of sodium and iodine intake among university students in Casablanca, Morocco
Get PDFIntroduction. – Iodine deficiency is still a matter of public health concern despite salt fortification andespecially with global recommendations to lower salt intake, this is mainly due to dietary habits. Uni-versity students have a diet based on street food high in sodium and low in other micronutrients (i.e.iodine and potassium). In this study, we aim to measure sodium and iodine levels in university studentsto assess their risk of developing complications later in life.Methodology. – A sample of 120 students aged between 18 and 25 years old was recruited and asked tocollect their 24-hours urine samples in special containers containing. Samples were stored then analyzedfor sodium, potassium, iodine and creatinine levels.Results. – The average urinary excretion of sodium was 3066.8 ± 1196.0 mg/day. Overall, 72.6% of par-ticipants consume more than 2 g/day of sodium. Average potassium intake is 1805.9 ± 559.4 mg/day,and all participants consume less than the adequate amount. Daily urinary excretion of iodine is135.6 ± 88.9 mg/day, and 69.2% of participants consume less than the recommended amount. Sodium,potassium and iodine intakes were higher in male participants (P-values = 0.008; 0.044 and 0.003, respec-tively). The lowest average iodine intake was observed in underweight participants (119.4 ± 31.4) with87.5% of underweight participants and 80% of female participants below the recommended intake.Conclusion. – Sodium intake is high while iodine intake is low in this studied population, especially inwomen
Sodium and potassium intakes assessed by 24-h urine among Moroccan University students in Casablanca, Morocco: Cross-sectional study
Get PDFIn Morocco, the high consumption of dietary sodium increases the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and predisposes to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and hypertension. This study aims to assess the dietary sodium and potassium intake in a random sample of Moroccan adult students as a benchmark informing a national strategy for reducing salt intake. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 adults aged 18 to 25 years recruited in Casablanca. The 24-hour urinary excretion was used to measure the sodium and potassium. Urine volume and creatinine excretion level were used to validate the completeness of the collected samples. The average urinary sodium excretion was 3.1 ± 0.1 g/day, 13.5% consumed less than 5g/day, while 69% consumed more than 5 g/day of which 17.5% consumed more than twice the recommendations. For the average urinary potassium excretion was 1.83 ± 0.06 g/day, and more than 98% of the students consumed less than the adequate intake. The Na/K ratio is significantly higher than the recommended amounts. The results of this pilot study show that the population studied has a high sodium intake and low potassium intake which does not meet World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, which requires implementing an action plan to reduce salt intake
Food supplementation among HIV-infected adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: Impact on treatment adherence and weight gain
Get PDFThis is the author's manuscript of an article published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest proportion of undernourished people in the world, along with the highest number of people living with HIV and AIDS. Thus, as a result of high levels of food insecurity many HIV patients are also undernourished. The synergism between HIV and undernutrition leads to poor treatment adherence and high mortality rates. Undernutrition has a debilitating effect on the immune system due to key nutrient deficiencies and the overproduction of reactive species (oxidative stress), which causes rapid HIV progression and the onset of AIDS. Therapeutic food supplementation used in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition is being applied to HIV palliative care; however, little biochemical data exist to highlight its impact on oxidative stress and immune recovery
Nutrition knowledge, dietary patterns and anthropometric indices of older persons in four peri-urban communities in Ga West municipality, Ghana
Get PDFBackground: Older adults are vulnerable to malnutrition due to
sociologic, physiologic and anatomical effects of ageing. Objective: To
investigate the influence of nutrition knowledge and dietary patterns
on nutritional status of community-dwelling ambulatory older adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 120 elderly aged 60-70
years purposively selected from four peri-urban communities in Ga West
municipality, Ghana. Nutrition knowledge was assessed using a
structured questionnaire and dietary intakes obtained using a
standardized food frequency questionnaire. BMI from weight/height
measurements was proxy for nutritional status. Data was analyzed
descriptively in SPSS. Associations were tested using correlation
analyses (-1<r<+1). Results: 28% had adequate knowledge on
geriatric nutrition. Dietary patterns were mostly fair (40%) or poor
(53%). Bloating (25%), constipation (18%), appetite loss (12%) and
chewing difficulties (11%) affected intakes. Underweight was 10% while
21.7% were overweight or obese (16.6%). Positive insignificant
corrections existed between knowledge and nutritional status (r=0.261)
and with diet quality (r=0.415). However, strong significant (p=0.027)
positive correlation (r=0.699) existed between diet quality and
nutritional status. Conclusion: Nutrition knowledge was adequate but
dietary intake was poor and a quarter were malnourished. The
associations reaffirm that supporting the elderly to make healthy
dietary choices and ensuring household food security is crucial to
preventing malnutrition
Dietary Calcium Intake, Vitamin D Status, and Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women in Rural Pakistan
Get PDFThe high prevalence of osteoporosis in Pakistan is of public-health concern. However, there is a paucity of information regarding nutrition and bone density in rural communities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary and lifestyle factors that impact bone health in Nahaqi. Data were collected from 140 postmenopausal women using an interviewer-administered 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire. Bone mineral density was estimated using the quantitative ultrasound index (QUI). Serum 25(OH)D was measured in fasting blood samples. The QUI scores revealed that 42% and 29% of the women had T-scores, indicative of osteopaenia and osteoporosis respectively. The mean calcium intake was 346 mg/d, which is less than 50% of the recommended daily intake. The QUI correlated with 25(OH)D after controlling for age (p=0.021, r=0.41, r2=0.168). Vitamin D deficiency and low intake of dietary calcium are two key factors contributing to poor bone health in this population
- …
