Diet quality, overweight and daily monetary allowance of Greek adolescents.

Objective: To investigate cross-correlates of pocket-money on diet quality and weight status of Greek adolescents. Methods: A total of 172 adolescents (55.2% boys), aged between 10 and 15 years old were recruited. Body weight and height were measured, body mass index (BMI) was computed. Weight status was assessed according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria and diet quality was evaluated via the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) - 2010. Results: Adolescents were allowed a mean allowance of €4.63 ± 3.66 daily. Among boys participants, BMI correlated with pocket money (r = 0.311, p ≤ 0.002) and normoweight boys received statistically less money than their overweight peers (p ≤ 0.019). In both sexes, normoweight was more prevalent in the lowest monetary quartiles. Pocket money was not associated with HEI. Among boys, moderate HEI was more prevalent in the third quartile of pocket money, significantly higher compared to all others (p ≤ 0.01 for all). For girls, the prevalence of moderate HEI declined by each ascending pocket money quartile (p ≤ 0.05 for all). Conclusion: In our sample, adolescents exhibited high rates of pooled overweight including obesity. The majority of the participants followed a diet of moderate quality. Pocket money was associated with BMI only among boys. As pocket money was not associated with diet quality, it is highly possible that adolescents might choose to spend their money on items other than foods. Our study shows that pocket money should be controlled during adolescence and teenagers should be educated on spending their money on healthier food choices

The effect of professional dietary counseling: Elite basketball players eat healthier during competition days

BACKGROUND: Literature suggests that dietary intake of elite athletes may differ between training and competition days. In addition, despite the importance of nutrition in sports and the popularity of basketball, studies on the diet of basketball players are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess dietary intake and diet quality in training and competition days in a team of elite basketball players receiving daily professional nutritional counseling. METHODS: One elite basketball team (N.=15) participating in EuroLeague volunteered for the study. The team employed a certified dietitian, responsible for providing individualized nutritional evaluation and counseling, dietary planning and supervision of the diet of all the players.Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour recalls and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was then calculated.RESULTS: All players exhibited adequate (i.e., >80) HEI score (raw and adjusted for energy intake [EI]), on both training and competition days.Although daily energy, carbohydrate and protein intakes were greater during training compared to competition days (26.0 [21.7, 26.4] vs. 19.5 [19.3, 22.1] MJ, 7.6±1.5 vs. 6.8±0.9 g/kg of body weight [BW] and 2.6±0.6 vs. 2.2±0.2 g/kg BW, respectively; all P<0.05), HEI score (raw and adjusted for EI) was lower in training compared to competition days (92.9 [82.1, 93.2] vs. 94.0 [94.0, 94.0] and 89.7 [88.4, 89.7] vs. 92.7 [91.7, 92.8], respectively; all P≤0.001) due to lower total grains, whole grains and total vegetables consumption and greater saturated fats consumption (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Elite basketball players receiving daily nutritional counseling by certified sports dietitians exhibit adequate diet quality, with the highest possible observed during competition days. © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Sex-specific physical activity patterns differentiate weight loss maintainers from regainers: The medweight study

Background: Although plenty of evidence indicates that weight loss maintainers are highly physically active, studies focusing on the sex-specific differences in activity levels between maintainers and regainers are scarce. The authors aimed to investigate sex-specific differences in activity patterns in a cohort of Mediterranean maintainers and regainers. Methods: Sample includes 756 participants of the MedWeight registry (60.5% women), aged 18–65 years, who lost ≥10% of their initial weight, and either maintained their loss for ≥12 months or regained it. Participants completed a series of questionnaires, including demographics and weight history. Activity levels were evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short version. Results: Maintainers of both sexes were, in total, more active than their same-sex regainers. When specific activities were considered, women maintainers spent more time walking than regainers (Padjusted = .02), whereas men maintainers spent more time in vigorous activities (Padjusted = .001) and walking than regainers (Padjusted = .001). Modest increments in activity of sex-relevant intensity were associated with increased odds for maintenance. Conclusions: Maintainers attained a more active lifestyle than their same-sex regainers, involving more walking for both sexes and more vigorous activities for men. The detected differences, according to activity intensity, support that activity patterns associated with successful weight loss are distinguishable between sexes. © 2020 Human Kinetics, Inc

A Modified Mediterranean Diet Improves Fasting and Postprandial Glucoregulation in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Pilot Study

The ideal lifestyle intervention to battle both obesity and diabetes is currently unknown. The aim of this pilot uncontrolled intervention trial was to assess the effect of a modified Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on weight loss and glucoregulation among overweight/obese adults. Eleven men and women with overweight/obesity, aged 37 ± 12 years, participated in a free-living intervention until 10% weight loss was achieved. Participants followed an individualized MedDiet high in monounsaturated fat and protein with decreased carbohydrate and saturated fat contents. Physical activity and dietary intake were monitored with pedometers and food records, respectively. Upon weight loss achievement, anthropometric measurements, blood metabolic profiles and individual responses to oral glucose and mixed-meal tests were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. The results showed significant ameliorations in body fat, waist circumference and leptin levels (p < 0.01), with concomitant increases in adiponectin–leptin ratios (p < 0.001). Glucoregulation was significantly improved according to glucose and insulin responses, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance indices and postprandial insulin sensitivity indices (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the modified Mediterranean diet may induce significant improvements in body composition, adipocytokine profile and glucose metabolism in overweight/obese individuals. Notably, ameliorated glycemia and increased insulin sensitivity may be retained even at postprandial level, irrespective of the meal consumed. © 2022 by the authors

Malnutrition surveillance among refugee children living in reception centres in Greece: A pilot study

Background The health of asylum seekers is of cardinal importance for the future health of Europe. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess malnutrition prevalence among refugee children living in reception areas in northern Greece. Methods A total of 192 refugee children (1-18 y old), inhabitants of the refugee reception centres in Drama and Kavala, were evaluated for acute and chronic malnutrition according to the WHO growth standards and charts. Results In the total sample, 13.0% of the participants had at least one form of malnutrition, the prevalence of underweight was 7.8% and stunting affected 7.3% of the children. Moreover, a greater proportion of adolescent girls from the Drama centre (38.5%) demonstrated at least one form of malnutrition compared with the children in Kavala (p=0.046). Girls demonstrated an increased prevalence of malnutrition compared with boys, while children <5 y of age appeared more vulnerable. Conclusions The present data underscore the necessity for malnutrition screening among refugees in order to have an early assessment of their nutritional status and address the direct and root causes of this substantial problem. © The Author(s) 2018

Metabolic syndrome in retired soccer players: A pilot study

Objectives Retirement from professional sports engagement is associated with reduced physical activity, physical pain, depression, obesity and ischemic heart disease; however, whether in particular, soccer players experience metabolic abnormalities after retirement is currently unknown. Therefore, the aim of this pilot cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associates in retired professional soccer players (RSP), compared to controls. Methods Twelve retired elite soccer players and 12 non-athletes, matched for age and body mass index, participated in a case-control study. Anthropometric and blood pressure measures and fasting blood samples were taken and analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed using food records, while other data on health status and lifestyle were also obtained. Results Prevalence of MetS was indifferent between groups. Among RSPs, those with MetS had gained significantly more weight since retirement, and exhibited greater body fatness (% of body weight), Fat Mass Index (FMI) and energy intake. RSPs who gained more than 12 kg after retirement from soccer (80.0% of RSPs) were in a greater risk for developing MetS, whereas none of those who gained less than 12 kg (n = 7) was diagnosed with MetS. Among RSPs, those with MetS had approximately triple chances of skipping breakfast daily and smoking, and eightfold more chances of eating right before their night sleep. Overall, a greater proportion of RSPs with MetS had familial overweight (P = 0.03) and experienced problems during sleeping (P = 0.028). Each increase per 1 kg/m2 in the FMI almost doubled the chances of having MetS (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4, P = 0.025). Conclusions RSPs should focus on attaining a healthy body weight after retirement (via moderate exercise and neutral energy balance), in order to minimize the chances of developing MetS. © 2017 Elsevier Lt

Food insecurity and Mediterranean diet adherence among Greek university students

Aim: To assess Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and food insecurity (FI) among university students in Greece. Methods and Results: A non-probability sample of 236 students was recruited from Athens and Thessaloniki during 2016. FI was assessed with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and MD adherence with the MEDAS questionnaire. Mean MEDAS score of the sample was 6.4 ± 1.9, with women demonstrating greater MD adherence compared to men (p = 0.016) and Dietetics students exhibiting increased score compared to the rest (p ≤ 0.001). A low proportion of participants were food-secure (17.8%), 45.3% were severely food-insecure, 22.0% experienced moderate FI and the remaining 14.8% had low FI. Participants studying in the city they grew up exhibited lower FI compared to those studying in other cities (p = 0.009), while, additionally, a trend was noted for increased FI among students with an unemployed family member (p = 0.05). Students working night shifts had lower MD adherence and increased FI compared to the rest (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003, respectively). The same pattern was observed among participants who smoked (p = 0.003 for MD adherence and p = 0.009 for FI, respectively). Multivariate regression analyses did not reveal any connections between FI categories, waist circumference or BMI, but showed an inverse relationship between severe FI and MD adherence. Conclusions: The majority of the surveyed university students from Greece demonstrate some degree of FI, with a great proportion being severely food-insecure. Increased FI is inversely associated with MD adherence. © 2018 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II Universit

Motor function and the probability of prodromal Parkinson's disease in older adults

Background: Identification and characterization of Parkinson's disease (PD) in its prodromal stage is crucial. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between motor function and the probability of prodromal PD in a community-dwelling older population. Methods: We used data from a population-based cohort of older adults (HELIAD study). Subjective motor function was evaluated with a 12-item motor symptoms questionnaire and objective motor function indirectly with a physical activity questionnaire and two gait speed tests. The probability of prodromal PD was calculated according to the Movement Disorder Society research criteria for n = 1731 without PD. Regression multiadjusted models were used to investigate the associations between each motor measure and prodromal PD probability. Results: For each unit increase in motor symptoms score and for each kcal/kg/day lower energy expenditure (corresponding to 20 minutes of light walking/day for a 75-kg man) there was a 27% and 3% higher probability for prodromal PD, respectively (P ' 0.001). Having at least one subjective motor symptom increased the odds of having possible/probable prodromal PD (n = 49; P ' 0.05). Including subjective and indirect motor variables in the same model showed that both (symptoms and physical activity) contributed significantly to the model (P ' 0.01). Excluding subthreshold parkinsonism from the calculation showed that gait speed less than 0.8 m/s was also associated with a higher prodromal PD probability score (P ' 0.001). Conclusions: Subjective motor symptoms as well as simple objective motor measures of physical activity or gait speed are associated with a higher probability of prodromal PD in older adults. These data may serve to enable the early identification of prodromal PD cohorts, particularly if they are confirmed in longitudinal studies. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Societ

Motor function and the probability of prodromal Parkinson&apos;s disease in older adults

Background: Identification and characterization of Parkinson&apos;s disease (PD) in its prodromal stage is crucial. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between motor function and the probability of prodromal PD in a community-dwelling older population. Methods: We used data from a population-based cohort of older adults (HELIAD study). Subjective motor function was evaluated with a 12-item motor symptoms questionnaire and objective motor function indirectly with a physical activity questionnaire and two gait speed tests. The probability of prodromal PD was calculated according to the Movement Disorder Society research criteria for n = 1731 without PD. Regression multiadjusted models were used to investigate the associations between each motor measure and prodromal PD probability. Results: For each unit increase in motor symptoms score and for each kcal/kg/day lower energy expenditure (corresponding to 20 minutes of light walking/day for a 75-kg man) there was a 27% and 3% higher probability for prodromal PD, respectively (P &apos; 0.001). Having at least one subjective motor symptom increased the odds of having possible/probable prodromal PD (n = 49; P &apos; 0.05). Including subjective and indirect motor variables in the same model showed that both (symptoms and physical activity) contributed significantly to the model (P &apos; 0.01). Excluding subthreshold parkinsonism from the calculation showed that gait speed less than 0.8 m/s was also associated with a higher prodromal PD probability score (P &apos; 0.001). Conclusions: Subjective motor symptoms as well as simple objective motor measures of physical activity or gait speed are associated with a higher probability of prodromal PD in older adults. These data may serve to enable the early identification of prodromal PD cohorts, particularly if they are confirmed in longitudinal studies. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Societ

Mediterranean diet adherence is related to reduced probability of prodromal Parkinson's disease

Background: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society recently introduced a methodology for probability score calculation for prodromal PD. Objectives: To assess the probability of prodromal PD in an older population and investigate its possible association with Mediterranean diet adherence. Methods: Data from a population-based cohort study of older adults (HEllenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet) in Greece were used. Probability of prodromal PD was calculated according to International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society research criteria. A detailed food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate dietary intake and calculate Mediterranean diet adherence score, ranging from 0 to 55, with higher scores indicating higher adherence. Results: Median probability of prodromal PD was 1.9%, ranging from 0.2 to 96.7% in 1,731 PD-free individuals aged ≥ 65 (41% male). Lower probability for prodromal PD (P < 0.001) in the higher Mediterranean diet adherence groups was noted, driven mostly by nonmotor markers of prodromal PD, depression, constipation, urinary dysfunction, and daytime somnolence. Each unit increase in Mediterranean diet score was associated with a 2% decreased probability for prodromal PD (P < 0.001). Compared to participants in the lowest quartile of Mediterranean diet adherence, those in the highest quartile were associated with a ∼21% lower probability for prodromal PD. Conclusions: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower probability of prodromal PD in older people. Further studies are needed to elucidate the potential causality of this association, potential relation of the Mediterranean diet to delayed onset or lower incidence of PD, as well as the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Societ