Dietary factors associated with obesity indicators and level of sports participation in Flemish adults : a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Obesity develops when energy intake continuously exceeds energy expenditure, causing a fundamental chronic energy imbalance. Societal and behavioural changes over the last decades are held responsible for the considerable increase in sedentary lifestyles and inappropriate dietary patterns. The role of dietary fat and other dietary factors in the aetiology and maintenance of excess weight is controversial. The purposes of the present study were to investigate the dietary factors associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and to analyse whether dietary intake varies between subjects with different levels of sports participation. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study, including anthropometric measurements, 3-day diet diary and physical activity questionnaire, were collected by the Flemish Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health (SPAH) between October 2002 and April 2004. Results of 485 adult men and 362 women with plausible dietary records were analysed. Analyses of covariance were performed to determine the differences in dietary intake between normal weight, overweight and obese subjects, and between subjects with different levels of sports participation. RESULTS: Total energy intake, protein and fat intake (kcal/day) were significantly higher in obese subjects compared to their lean counterparts in both genders. Percentage of energy intake from fat was significantly higher in obese men compared to men with normal weight or WC. Energy percentages from carbohydrates and fibres were negatively related to BMI and WC in men, whereas in women a higher carbohydrate and fibre intake was positively associated with obesity. Alcohol intake was positively associated with WC in men. Subjects participating in health related sports reported higher intake of carbohydrates, but lower intake of fat compared to subjects not participating in sports. CONCLUSION: This study supports the evidence that carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre intake are closely related to BMI and WC. The sex differences for dietary intake between obese men and women might reflect the generally higher health consciousness of women. Alcohol intake was only associated with WC, emphasizing the importance of WC as an additional indicator in epidemiological studies. Besides enhancing sports and physical activity, it is necessary to improve the knowledge about nutrition and to promote the well-balanced consumption of wholesome food

La pilule d’urgence : nécessaire ? Pour qui ? Quels conseils ?

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Trick and treat: firearms fraud in the European Union

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Stealing precious steel: Firearms theft in the European Union

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Vuurwapengeweld in België - Op zoek naar een completer beeld

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Dietary factors associated with obesity indicators and level of sports participation in Flemish adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Obesity develops when energy intake continuously exceeds energy expenditure, causing a fundamental chronic energy imbalance. Societal and behavioural changes over the last decades are held responsible for the considerable increase in sedentary lifestyles and inappropriate dietary patterns. The role of dietary fat and other dietary factors in the aetiology and maintenance of excess weight is controversial. The purposes of the present study were to investigate the dietary factors associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and to analyse whether dietary intake varies between subjects with different levels of sports participation. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study, including anthropometric measurements, 3-day diet diary and physical activity questionnaire, were collected by the Flemish Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health (SPAH) between October 2002 and April 2004. Results of 485 adult men and 362 women with plausible dietary records were analysed. Analyses of covariance were performed to determine the differences in dietary intake between normal weight, overweight and obese subjects, and between subjects with different levels of sports participation. Results Total energy intake, protein and fat intake (kcal/day) were significantly higher in obese subjects compared to their lean counterparts in both genders. Percentage of energy intake from fat was significantly higher in obese men compared to men with normal weight or WC. Energy percentages from carbohydrates and fibres were negatively related to BMI and WC in men, whereas in women a higher carbohydrate and fibre intake was positively associated with obesity. Alcohol intake was positively associated with WC in men. Subjects participating in health related sports reported higher intake of carbohydrates, but lower intake of fat compared to subjects not participating in sports. Conclusion This study supports the evidence that carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre intake are closely related to BMI and WC. The sex differences for dietary intake between obese men and women might reflect the generally higher health consciousness of women. Alcohol intake was only associated with WC, emphasizing the importance of WC as an additional indicator in epidemiological studies. Besides enhancing sports and physical activity, it is necessary to improve the knowledge about nutrition and to promote the well-balanced consumption of wholesome food.</p

Reliability, equivalence and respondent preference of computerized versus paper-and-pencil mental health questionnaires

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability, equivalence and respondent preference of a computerized version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOSSSS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Utrecht Coping List (UCL) in comparison with the original version in a general adult population. Internal consistency, equivalence and preference between both administration modes was assessed in a group of participants (n = 130) who first completed the computerized questionnaire, followed by the traditional questionnaire and a post-assessment evaluation measure. Test-retest reliability was measured in a second group of participants (n = 115), who completed the computerized questionnaire twice. In both groups, the interval between first and second administration was set at one week. Reliability of the PC versions was acceptable to excellent; internal consistency ranged from α = 0.52-0.98, ICC&apos;s for test-retest reliability ranged from 0.58-0.92. Equivalence was fair to excellent with ICC&apos;s ranging from 0.54-0.91. Interestingly, more subjects preferred the computerized instead of the traditional questionnaires (computerized: 39.2%, traditional: 21.6%, no preference: 39.2%). These results support the use of computerized assessment for these five instruments in a general population of adults. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe

Developing the Care-Test Toolbox for Engaging Patients to Reduce Their Risk of Developing Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases

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Association between leisure time physical activity and stress, social support and coping: a cluster-analytic approach

Objectives: Identifying risk clusters of stress, anxiety and depression, taking into consideration social support and coping, two important factors through which leisure time physical activity may have stress-reducing effects, may lead to more effective exercise treatment strategies for stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether stress, social support and coping cluster in meaningful ways in the general adult population, and whether individuals of these clusters also differ in anxiety, depression and different types of leisure time physical activity. Design: Cross-sectional study in a randomly chosen community based sample of adults in the Flemish region of Belgium. Method: A sample of 2616 Flemish adults, aged 18-75, completed two self-report computerized questionnaires on mental health, physical activity and demographic characteristics in the presence of a scientific staff member. Results: Three reliable clusters were identified in both males and females. The first cluster showed high levels of stress and ineffective coping and low levels of social support. The second one showed the opposite, and the third one an intermediate profile. Anxiety and depression were highest in persons of the stressed cluster and diminished gradually over the intermediate and the nonstressed ones. Sports participation and not other types of leisure time physical activity was significantly lower in the stressed cluster. Conclusions: By means of cluster analysis, risk groups of stress, anxiety and depression in adult males and females can be identified. Sports participation may have a beneficial effect in these at-risk groups. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe

Care-Test: A Risk Evaluation Programme to Detect Risks Factors of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases at the Community Pharmacy

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