Influence of Women Age on Berries Consumption: The Role of Liking and Properties of Berries as Determinants of Their Intake

Due to the benefits of berries to health and aging in women and the fact that as women age, they are increasingly concerned about remaining healthy and looking young, the aim of this paper is to determine if the consumption of berries among women is influenced by their age; also, to identify if the reasons why berries are ingested vary with age. This study evaluated berries intake and motives of consumption of 240 adult women from Jalisco, Mexico, ranging from 18 to 65 years old, divided into three groups: Young Adult Women (YAW, from 18 to 35 years old), Middle-Aged Adult Women (MAW, from 36 to 55 years old) and Older Adult Women (OAW, from 56 to 65 years old). Berries (blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry) consumption was collected by an adapted Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire validated for Mexican population, and intake reasons were assessed by a qualitative section. Spearman’s Correlations, ANOVA and Bonferroni test were done. While berries consumption lowers in the MAW group, it increases when women reach the advanced adulthood. YAW consumes berries mainly because of liking and OAW due to its properties. Only 60% of OAW consumes berries and frequency of consumption is occasional in all women, so policies to increase berries intake are needed

Eat Well to Fight Obesity… and Save Water: The Water Footprint of Different Diets and Caloric Intake and Its Relationship With Adiposity

The authors thank the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the scholarship number 717186 (CVU 934420).Water scarcity and excess adiposity are two of the main problems worldwide and in Mexico, which is the most obese country in the world and suffers from water scarcity. Food production represents 90% of a person’s water footprint (WF), and healthy diets can lead to less WF than do unhealthy diets related to obesity. We calculated the WF of the diet and caloric intake of adults in Mexico and analyzed its relationship with adiposity. Also, the risk of water expenditure due to adiposity and adherence to dietary recommendations regarding WF of international healthy diets were examined. A Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ) was applied to 395 adults. Body mass index (BMI), associated with adiposity indicators, was used as a reference for grouping a sample into adiposity levels. The WF was calculated according to the WF Assessment Method, considering correction factors and accounting for water involved in cooking and food washing. Our results showed that the Mexican diet spends 6,056 liters per person per day (L p−1d−1) and is 55%higher than international healthy diets WF. Consumption of beef, milk, fruits, chicken, and fatty cereals represented 56% of total WF. Strong relations appeared between hypercaloric diets and high WF. Diets of people with excess adiposity generated statistically higher WF with extra expenses of 729 L p−1d−1 compared with the normal adiposity population. Following nutritional recommendations offers a protective factor in water care, whereas not adhering to these represents a risk up to 93 times greater of water expenditure regarding international healthy diets. Therefore, both for the general population and to regulate obesity, adequate diets can help mitigate the problem of water scarcity.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) 717186 (CVU 934420

Evaluation of taste aversion learning procedure for the generalization of aversion using palatable foods

An experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of the taste aversion conditioning paradigm in the generalization of aversion with palatable foods was performed. Ten experimentally naive females Wistar rats and three types of foods were used: a) standard purina rodent chow, b) vanilla flavor cookies and c) chocolate-flavored cookies. Subjects were divided into two groups. Using the taste aversion conditioning paradigm protocol, subjects were exposed to the types of food keeping an intake record. The experiment demonstrated that rats can acquire an aversion to palatable foods accompanied by a tendency to generalize, when using elements that share characteristics such as nutritional content and texture. In addition, the intake of a food that does not share the characteristics of texture, taste, smell and energy content with the one used for conditioning was not been affected. These findings indicate that the aversion generalization seems to depend on the properties of the food used

Risky behaviors and eating disorders symptomatology among undergraduate students from South of Jalisco, Mexico / Conductas de riesgo y sintomatología de trastornos del comportamiento alimentario en estudiantes universitarios del Sur de Jalisco, México

Abstract The purpose of this research was to estimate the occurrence of risky behaviors and eating disorders symptomatology among undergraduate students from South of Jalisco, Mexico. The sample comprised 143 women with a mean age of 19.90 (SD = 2.14) and 109 men with a mean age of 21.21 (SD= 3.53) who answered the Eating Attitudes Test, the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh and the Body Shape Questionnaire. The results showed that a higher percentage of women have been on a diet and consumed weight loss products compared with men, who reported to do exercise in order to burn calories. Also, higher percentage of women showed body dissatisfaction (14%) and eating disorders symptomatology (11.9%) in comparison with men (10% and 4.6%, respectively). Women with body dissatisfaction showed a higher number of risky behaviors compared with people without body dissatisfaction. The findings of this research revealed that an important number of undergraduate students from south of Jalisco showed risky behaviors and eating disorders symptomatology. Key words: Risky behavior, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders symptomatology, women, men.   Resumen El propósito de la presente investigación fue estimar la ocurrencia de conductas de riesgo y sintomatología de trastornos del comportamiento alimentario en estudiantes universitarios del Sur del Estado de Jalisco, México. La muestra incluyó 143 mujeres con una edad promedio de 19.90 años (DE = 2.14) y 109 varones con una edad promedio de 21.21 años (DE = 3.53), quienes contestaron el Cuestionario de Actitudes Alimentarias, el Cuestionario de Bulimia de Edimburgo y el Cuestionario de Imagen Corporal. Los resultados mostraron que mayores porcentajes de mujeres habían realizado dietas restrictivas y consumieron productos para adelgazar en comparación con los varones, quienes indicaron que realizaban ejercicio con la finalidad de quemar calorías en mayor medida que las mujeres. Asimismo, mayores porcentajes de mujeres presentaron insatisfacción corporal (14%) y sintomatología de trastornos del comportamiento alimentario (11.9%) en comparación con los varones (10% y 4.6%, respectivamente). Las mujeres con insatisfacción corporal presentaron mayor número de conductas de riesgo que quienes estaban satisfechas con su cuerpo. Los hallazgos de esta investigación muestran que una cantidad importante de jóvenes universitarios del Sur de Jalisco presentaron conductas alimentarias de riesgo o sintomatología de trastornos del comportamiento alimentario. Palabras clave: Conducta de riesgo, insatisfacción corporal, sintomatología de trastorno del comportamiento alimentario, mujeres, varones.

Impact of berries production on the eating behavior in a population of Jalisco, Mexico / Impacto de la producción de berries sobre el comportamiento alimentario en una población de Jalisco, México

Abstract In Zapotlán el Grande (ZEG) the production of berries has increased drastically, while traditional crops has decreased. The availability of these new foods may change eating habits (EH) of the population. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and amount of berry consumption in the adult population of Ciudad Guzmán (ZEG, Jalisco, Mexico), and to identify if these have become part of their EH. A total of 384 adults, from 18 to 65 years old, residents of Ciudad Guzmán, were surveyed with an adapted version of a food consumption frequency questionnaire. 34% of participants reported never consuming blueberries, raspberries or blackberries, while 39% eat them occasionally. On average, none of the berries was consumed in the amount proposed by the Mexican System of Equivalent Foods (SMAE), and only accounted 18% of the ration suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is concluded that although the amount of berries consumed is less than the recommended by the WHO or SMAE, a quarter of the population assessed has incorporated berries into their usual diet, which shows that their availability is generating a change in the EH of the population. Resumen En Zapotlán el Grande (ZEG) la producción de berries ha aumentado drásticamente, mientras que la de cultivos tradicionales ha disminuido. La disponibilidad de estos nuevos alimentos puede generar cambios en los hábitos alimentarios (HA) de la población. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la frecuencia y la cantidad de consumo de berries en población adulta de Ciudad Guzmán (ZEG, Jalisco, México), e identificar si estos han pasado a formar parte de sus HA. Participaron 384 adultos, de 18 a 65 años, residentes de Ciudad Guzmán, quienes fueron encuestados por medio de una versión adaptada de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos. El 34% de los participantes refirió nunca consumir arándanos, frambuesas o zarzamoras, mientras que 39% los ingieren ocasionalmente. En promedio, ninguno de los berries fue consumido en la ración propuesta en el Sistema Mexicano de Alimentos Equivalentes (SMAE), y solo representó 18% de la ración sugerida por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Se concluye que aunque en cantidad inferior a la recomendada por la OMS o el SMAE, una cuarta parte de la población evaluada ha incorporado los berries a su dieta habitual, lo que demuestra que su disponibilidad está generando una modificación en los HA de la población.

Fasting effect on eating behavior in university students / Efecto del ayuno sobre la conducta alimentaria en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract Scientific evidence on the characterization of eating behavior indicates that food deprivation situations, such as fasting, the food value increases and alter the fee- ding pattern. Consequently food consumption increases and therefore caloric intake. The situation worsens when after a deprivation period the preferred foods are unhealthy or consumed in excess becoming tiggers for health problems (Capaldi, 1993; Gottschalk , Libby & Graff , 2000; Velez & Garcia , 2003). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fasting on caloric intake and changing food preferences. This study was conducted with the participation of 9 university students who were classified according to their Body Mass Index (BMI) into three groups: Low-weight, Normo-weight and Over-weight. At the baseline participants were exposed to eight different foods. Same participants during the experimental phase were exposed to a period of fasting, subsequently were exposed to the same foods and record their consumption. Results showed that caloric intake and food preferences were altered after the fasting condition, differential effects among participants were observed. Low-weight group increased their food consumption while Normal-weight and Over-weight groups decreased. Resumen La evidencia científica sobre la caracterización de la conducta alimentaria señala que situaciones de privación de alimento, como el ayuno, aumentan el valor del alimento y modifican el patrón alimentario. En consecuencia se incrementa el consumo de alimentos y por ende el consumo calórico. La situación se agrava cuando los alimentos preferidos después del periodo de privación son poco saludables o se consumen en exceso convirtiéndose en detonadores de problemas de salud (Ca- paldi, 1993; Gottschalk, Libby & Graff, 2000; Vélez & Garcia, 2003). Con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del ayuno sobre el consumo calórico y la modificación de las preferencias alimentarias, se diseñó un estudio en el cual participaron nueve jóvenes universitarios que fueron clasificados de acuerdo a su Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) en tres grupos: Bajo-peso, Normo-peso y Sobre-peso. Fueron expuestos durante la línea base a ocho alimentos diferentes. Durante la fase experi- mental se expuso a los mismos participantes a un periodo de ayuno y posteriormente a los mismos alimentos registrando su consumo. Los resultados mostraron que el consumo calórico y la preferencia entre alimentos se modificaron. El grupo Bajo-peso aumentó su consumo de alimento mientras que en los grupos Normo-peso y Sobre-peso lo disminuyeron.

Study and research of feeding behavior: Roots, development and challenges / Estudio e investigación del comportamiento alimentario: Raíces, desarrollo y retos

Abstract The present work provides a review of the basis and development of the study and research on feeding behavior (FB). Initial contributions and those that gave identity to this field are highlighted. Among them, the behavior is approached as an essential mean to maintain the state of balance in the organisms, as well as the role of learning as a determinant of food preference, selection and consumption. Subsequently, are presented the arguments that establish FB as an element that integrate the knowledge related to feeding generated by other areas of science. Finally, are stated the main challenges for academics dedicated to the study and research of FB and the role of education on food and nutrition as an optimal solution for food problems. Resumen El presente trabajo expone una revisión de las raíces y el desarrollo del estudio e investigación sobre comportamiento alimentario (CA). Se destacan las aportaciones iniciales y algunas otras que le han venido dotando de identidad a esta área de estudio. Entre ellas, el señalamiento de la conducta como medio indispensable para mantener el estado de equilibrio en los organismos, y el papel del aprendizaje como determinante de la preferencia, la selección y el consumo de alimento. Posteriormente se presentan los argumentos que establecen al CA como elemento integrador del conocimiento que sobre alimentación han generado otras áreas de la ciencia. Finalmente se puntualizan los principales retos a enfrentar por parte de los académicos dedicados al estudio e investigación sobre CA, y se pondera el papel de la educación en alimentación y nutrición como la solución óptima a las problemáticas alimentarias.

IgG Anti-ghrelin Immune Complexes Are Increased in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Under Biologic Therapy and Are Related to Clinical and Metabolic Markers

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic alterations. The mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear. Ghrelin is a gastrointestinal hormone with potent effects on food intake, body weight, metabolism, and immune response. Recent studies reported the presence of anti-ghrelin autoantibodies in healthy subjects and the levels and affinity of these autoantibodies were altered in anorectic and obese individuals. In this cross-sectional study we analyzed anti-ghrelin autoantibodies in RA patients and evaluated its relationship with clinical, body-composition and metabolic parameters. Clinical measurements of RA patients included the disease activity score-28 (DAS-28), inflammatory biomarkers, autoantibodies (RF and anti-CCP), body composition, glucose and lipid profile. Serum ghrelin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Free and total anti-ghrelin autoantibodies quantification (IgG and IgA isotypes) was performed by in-house ELISA. RA patients had lower IgG anti-ghrelin autoantibodies levels and higher immune complexes percentage (IgG+ghrelin) compared to the control group, while the IgA anti-ghrelin autoantibodies showed no significant differences. In the bivariate analysis, the percentage of IgG anti-ghrelin immune complexes positively correlated with BMI and ghrelin whereas in the multivariate regression model, the variables associated were DAS-28, body weight, visceral fat, LDL-C and TG (R2 = 0.72). The percentage of IgA anti-ghrelin immune complexes positively correlated with RF and anti-CCP and the multivariate regression model showed an association with RF and body fat percentage (R2 = 0.22). Our study shows an increased percentage of IgG anti-ghrelin immune complexes in RA patients despite ghrelin levels were similar in both groups, suggesting an increase in the affinity of these autoantibodies toward ghrelin. The associations found in the multiple regression analysis for anti-ghrelin immune complexes support the previously reported functions of these natural autoantibodies as carriers and modulators of the stability and physiological effect of the hormone. However, in RA both the disease activity and the RF appear to influence the formation of these anti-ghrelin immune complexes

Sex, social interaction and food consumption: “The Eva effect” / Género, interacción social y consumo de alimento: “El efecto Eva”

Abstract. Several elements provide information for food consumption, among them: flavor, texture and temperature. These elements related to environmental characteristics and experience integrate the feeding behavior. Experimental evidence suggests that sex and social interaction are important factors for food consumption. This study evaluated effects of sex and social interaction on food consumption. Additionally, our proposal is to use Behavioral Catalogue of Feeding Interaction (BCFI).  Twenty-four human subjects, both sexes, between 20 and 28 years-old, which were not known between them, were exposed to different familiar and novel foods, evaluating the feeding interaction. Subjects were divided in three groups. First group was formed by man, second by woman; and third group by subjects of both sexes. Data suggest that group 1 and 2 registered similar food consumption in comparison with the group 3 that registered a little consumption. A strong influence of women was registered on men to stimulate its food consumption, phenomenon that was denominated “Eva Effect”. We conclude that sex is an important factor in the study of feeding phenomenon.   Key words: food consumption, sex, feeding interaction, Eva effect.   Resumen. Diversos elementos proporcionan la información necesaria para el consumo de alimentos, entre ellos: el sabor, la textura y temperatura.  Sin embargo, se requiere de su vinculación con la experiencia y las características ambientales para integrar el comportamiento alimentario. La evidencia experimental sugiere que el sexo y la interacción social son factores importantes para el consumo de alimentos. Esta investigación evaluó los efectos del género y de la interacción social sobre el consumo de alimentos. Adicionalmente, para tal objetivo se propone el uso del Catálogo Conductual de Interacción Alimentaria (CCIA). Participaron veinticuatro individuos de ambos sexos, entre 20 y 28 años, desconocidos entre ellos, fueron expuestos a diversos alimentos usuales y novedosos evaluando su interacción alimentaria. Los participantes fueron divididos en tres grupos. El grupo 1 fue integrado por hombres, el grupo 2 por mujeres y el grupo 3 por ambos géneros. Los resultados mostraron que el grupo 1 y 2 consumieron cantidades similares de alimento en comparación con el grupo 3 que presentó un escaso consumo. Se registró una fuerte influencia de las mujeres sobre los hombres para promover su consumo de alimento, fenómeno que fue denominado como “Efecto Eva”. Concluimos que el género es un importante factor en el estudio del fenómeno alimentario.   Palabras clave: consumo de alimento, género, interacción alimentaria, efecto Ev

Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) involves all people receiving the health services they need, of high quality, without experiencing financial hardship. Making progress towards UHC is a policy priority for both countries and global institutions, as highlighted by the agenda of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO's Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW13). Measuring effective coverage at the health-system level is important for understanding whether health services are aligned with countries' health profiles and are of sufficient quality to produce health gains for populations of all ages. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we assessed UHC effective coverage for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. Drawing from a measurement framework developed through WHO's GPW13 consultation, we mapped 23 effective coverage indicators to a matrix representing health service types (eg, promotion, prevention, and treatment) and five population-age groups spanning from reproductive and newborn to older adults (≥65 years). Effective coverage indicators were based on intervention coverage or outcome-based measures such as mortality-to-incidence ratios to approximate access to quality care; outcome-based measures were transformed to values on a scale of 0–100 based on the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile of location-year values. We constructed the UHC effective coverage index by weighting each effective coverage indicator relative to its associated potential health gains, as measured by disability-adjusted life-years for each location-year and population-age group. For three tests of validity (content, known-groups, and convergent), UHC effective coverage index performance was generally better than that of other UHC service coverage indices from WHO (ie, the current metric for SDG indicator 3.8.1 on UHC service coverage), the World Bank, and GBD 2017. We quantified frontiers of UHC effective coverage performance on the basis of pooled health spending per capita, representing UHC effective coverage index levels achieved in 2019 relative to country-level government health spending, prepaid private expenditures, and development assistance for health. To assess current trajectories towards the GPW13 UHC billion target—1 billion more people benefiting from UHC by 2023—we estimated additional population equivalents with UHC effective coverage from 2018 to 2023. Findings Globally, performance on the UHC effective coverage index improved from 45·8 (95% uncertainty interval 44·2–47·5) in 1990 to 60·3 (58·7–61·9) in 2019, yet country-level UHC effective coverage in 2019 still spanned from 95 or higher in Japan and Iceland to lower than 25 in Somalia and the Central African Republic. Since 2010, sub-Saharan Africa showed accelerated gains on the UHC effective coverage index (at an average increase of 2·6% [1·9–3·3] per year up to 2019); by contrast, most other GBD super-regions had slowed rates of progress in 2010–2019 relative to 1990–2010. Many countries showed lagging performance on effective coverage indicators for non-communicable diseases relative to those for communicable diseases and maternal and child health, despite non-communicable diseases accounting for a greater proportion of potential health gains in 2019, suggesting that many health systems are not keeping pace with the rising non-communicable disease burden and associated population health needs. In 2019, the UHC effective coverage index was associated with pooled health spending per capita (r=0·79), although countries across the development spectrum had much lower UHC effective coverage than is potentially achievable relative to their health spending. Under maximum efficiency of translating health spending into UHC effective coverage performance, countries would need to reach $1398 pooled health spending per capita (US$ adjusted for purchasing power parity) in order to achieve 80 on the UHC effective coverage index. From 2018 to 2023, an estimated 388·9 million (358·6–421·3) more population equivalents would have UHC effective coverage, falling well short of the GPW13 target of 1 billion more people benefiting from UHC during this time. Current projections point to an estimated 3·1 billion (3·0–3·2) population equivalents still lacking UHC effective coverage in 2023, with nearly a third (968·1 million [903·5–1040·3]) residing in south Asia. Interpretation The present study demonstrates the utility of measuring effective coverage and its role in supporting improved health outcomes for all people—the ultimate goal of UHC and its achievement. Global ambitions to accelerate progress on UHC service coverage are increasingly unlikely unless concerted action on non-communicable diseases occurs and countries can better translate health spending into improved performance. Focusing on effective coverage and accounting for the world's evolving health needs lays the groundwork for better understanding how close—or how far—all populations are in benefiting from UHC