Dietary habits of a Mediterranean population of women in an agricultural region of Morocco

Knowing food habits of populations is of importance to better define appropriate public health interventions. The objective of this study was to assess and describe the dietary intake and major food sources of energy and nutrients in a women sample selected from an agricultural region of Morocco. A total of 191 adult women 18–55 years old resident in urban areas in El Jadida, a costal province of Moroccowas selected. Dietary habits were assessed using a combination of a 24-h dietary recall during 3 non consecutive days and a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Food habits are characterized by large consumption of cereals, meat and poultry, fish and sea foods, eggs, fruits and vegetables, but low intake of olive oil. The total energy intake was high and not balanced by physical activity levels. The contribution of lipids to the energy was low but high in saturated fat (39 %) reflected in the higher PUFA/SFA ratio (0.76 ± 0.62). The total carbohydrate consumption was high (61 % of daily energy) and that of fiber was low 18.07 ± 11.44 g. Furthermore a significantly high intake of saturated and monounsaturated fat is observed in the youngest women and women with a higher education level. Except for the intakes of phosphorus and sodium, all minerals and vitamins assessed are below or close to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) while all vitamins are consumed at rates below two-third of RDA by a large proportion of women. The nutrient intake of the studied population is not in line with that recommended for women despite a large consumption of the majority of food groups. Data indicate that dietary guidelines should not consider only quantitative intake but must address adequate numbers of servings and favorable food choices that may explain, in part, the nutritional and metabolic disorders reported in this population.Keywords: women, Diet - intake - habits, Mediterranean, Morocc

Neuromyelite optique de devic

La neuromyélite optique de Devic est un syndrome clinique rare associant une névrite optique unilatérale ou bilatérale à une myélite transverse. Cliniquement proche de la sclérose en plaque, avec néanmoins une évolution plus rapide et plus sévère, elle constitue une entité anatomo-clinique distincte. La séropositivité pour les NMO-IgG et les lésions médullaires longitudinalement étendues (3 ou plus segments spinaux) sont très caractéristiques de NMO. Le pronostic de la maladie apparaît plus péjoratif, justifiant des options thérapeutiques très agressives

Updating the mediterranean diet pyramid towards sustainability: focus on environmental concerns

Background: Nowadays the food production, supply and consumption chain represent a major cause of ecological pressure on the natural environment, and diet links worldwide human health with environmental sustainability. Food policy, dietary guidelines and food security strategies need to evolve from the limited historical approach, mainly focused on nutrients and health, to a new one considering the environmental, socio-economic and cultural impact—and thus the sustainability—of diets. Objective: To present an updated version of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid (MDP) to reflect multiple environmental concerns. Methods: We performed a revision and restructuring of the MDP to incorporate more recent findings on the sustainability and environmental impact of the Mediterranean Diet pattern, as well as its associations with nutrition and health. For each level of the MDP we provided a third dimension featuring the corresponding environmental aspects related to it. Conclusions: The new environmental dimension of the MDP enhances food intake recommendations addressing both health and environmental issues. Compared to the previous 2011 version, it emphasizes more strongly a lower consumption of red meat and bovine dairy products, and a higher consumption of legumes and locally grown eco-friendly plant foods as much as possible

Anthropometry measures and prevalence of obesity in the urban adult population of Cameroon: an update from the Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to provide baseline and reference data on the prevalence and distribution of overweight and obesity, using different anthropometric measurements in adult urban populations in Cameroon. METHODS: The Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey was a cross-sectional study, conducted in 4 urban districts (Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua and Bamenda) of Cameroon, using the WHO Step approach for population-based assessment of cardiovascular risk factors. Body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were measured using standardized methods. Overall, 10,011 individuals, 6,004 women and 4,007 men, from 4,189 households, aged 15 years and above participated. RESULTS: Based on body mass index, more than 25% of urban men and almost half of urban women were either overweight or obese with 6.5% of men and 19.5% of women being obese. The prevalence of obesity showed considerable variation with age in both genders. Using body mass index provided the highest prevalence of obesity in men (6.5%) and waist-to-hip ratio the lowest prevalence (3.2%). Among women, using waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference yielded the highest prevalence of obesity (28%) and body mass index the lowest (19.5%). There was a trend towards an increase in age-adjusted odd ratios of being overweight or obese with duration of education in both sexes. CONCLUSION: The study provides current data on anthropometric measurements and obesity in urban Cameroonian populations, and found high prevalences of overweight and obesity particularly over 35 years of age, and among women. Prevalence varied according to the measure used. Our findings highlight the need to carry out further studies in Cameroonian and other Sub-Saharan African populations to provide appropriate cut-off points for the identification of people at risk of obesity-related disorders, and indicate the need to implement interventions to reverse increasing levels of obesity

Obesity prevalence from a European perspective: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity has been recognised as an important contributing factor in the development of various diseases, but comparative data on this condition are limited. We therefore aimed to identify and discuss current epidemiological data on the prevalence of obesity in European countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We identified relevant published studies by means of a MEDLINE search (1990–2008) supplemented by information obtained from regulatory agencies. We only included surveys that used direct measures of weight and height and were representative of each country's overall population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In Europe, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) in men ranged from 4.0% to 28.3% and in women from 6.2% to 36.5%. We observed considerable geographic variation, with prevalence rates in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe being higher than those in Western and Northern Europe.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Europe, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. The data presented in our review emphasise the need for effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.</p

Lipid profile and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a Mediterranean population of women in nutrition transition

International audienc

Forme ictérique de la Leptospirose Humaine: présentation d’un cas à El Jadida, Maroc

Leptospirosis has been scarcely described in Morocco and is probably underestimated in the current local medical practices. In October 2010, one patient, 22 years old, was admitted to Mohamed V hospital in El Jadida presenting clinical symptoms assimilable with leptospirosis and hospitalized for biological investigation of leptospirosis markers by serology techniques (Elisa-IgM test and the micro-agglutination reference test) and receiving adequate care and treatment. Seven serogroups of Leptospira have been identified: L. bataviae, L.canicola, L. cynopteri, L. hebdomadis, L.icterohaemorrhagiae, L. patoc (non pathogenic), L. pyrogenes, illustrating a probable wide range of animal reservoir hosts, with predominance of L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. patoc.Au  Maroc, La  leptospirose est jusqu’à présent peu étudiée et probablement sous- estimée. En octobre 2010, un patient,  âgé de 22 ans, a été admis à l’hôpital Mohamed V d’El Jadida pour un syndrome assimilable à la leptospirose et a été hospitalisé pour recherche des marqueurs biologiques de cette infection par techniques sérologiques (Elisa- IgM et test de microagglutination) et réception  de  soins  et  traitement adéquats. Sept  sérogroupes de Leptospira(L.) ont été identifiés : L. bataviae, L. canicola, L. cynopteri, L.hebdomadis, L.icterohaemorrhagiae, L. patoc (reconnue non pathogène), L. pyrogenes illustrant ainsi la grande diversité des hôtes réservoirs avec prédominance de L.icterohaemorrhagiae et Leptospira patoc

Nutritional characteristics in a Mediterranean community among procreating Moroccan women

International audienc

Nutritional status of sub-Saharans residing in the city of El Jadida - Morocco: weight in relation to socio-economic status

Background. Onset of overweight and obesity has been previously reported as a result of population migration to western countries. Objective. To determine the nutritional status, weight status and their association with socioeconomic status in sub- Saharan settled in El Jadida city in a Mediterranean country Morocco. Materials and methods. A descriptive study was carried out in 2018 on 256 sub-Saharans migrants living in the city of El Jadida in Morocco. Information on socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics as well as anthropometric measurements was collected. The body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity by measuring waist circumference (WC) and waist circumference to hip ratio (WHR) and the distribution of body fat by calculating the sum of skin folds are determined. Results. Analysis results indicate that height, waist circumference, hip circumference, sum of trunk skinfolds, total sum of skinfolds, and BMI increase with age. The prevalence of underweight decreases with age, overweight was 38.7% in the youngest age group (18-25 years) and reached higher values after 35 years (44.10%). In addition, the prevalence of general obesity (based on BMI) increased with age and abdominal obesity (based on WHR and WC) was more marked in sub-Saharan people aged 26 to 35 years. These results also reveal the coexistence of underweight, overweight and obesity in all age groups. The analysis revealed a significant association between several variables and obesity. Significant associations were found between age and BMI (P=0.04), between level of education (university) and WHR (p=0.02), between sex and WHR, and between sex and WC (p=0.049). The study revealed also that the majority of the study sample gained weight after their settling in the host country. Conclusions. The study data show that obesity including overweight and abdominal obesity were prevalent among sub- Saharan migrants residing in the city of El Jadida. This prevalence is associated with socio-demographic and socio- economic factors