Stability and change in meat avoidance habits and their motivation in young women

The aim of this study was to examine the stability or otherwise of the avoidance of flesh foods and of its motivation in some young women at a British university in the mid-1990s. In 1993/94 and again in 1995, 40 female undergraduates in the U.K. were asked about foods they avoided and their reasons for and any changes in this avoidance. Most (29 out of 40) of these students maintained the same pattern of avoidance for 18-24 months, although about 66% (19 out of 29) of them changed their primary reason for not eating flesh. Also, most (8 out of 11) of those students who had changed their pattern of avoidance reported a different motive. Those women who became less strict (n = 8) accepted more poultry and/or fish or even beef or lamb. Only 3 students became stricter in their avoidance of animal species. Some students ate more variedly at home, because of more money and time, but also to conform to the family’s eating patterns. Most family members and friends (meat eaters) responded favourably to those who became less strict. However, more extreme peers (vegetarians) reacted negatively. Thus, although meat avoidance was sustained by many for at least 18 months, the range of avoidance and its reasons varied over time and with context

Evaluation of the Proximity of Singaporean Children’s Dietary Habits to Food-Based Dietary Guidelines

Dietary habits in children may not only impact current health status but could also shape future, lifelong dietary choices. Dietary intake data in Singaporean children are limited. The current study aimed to define the overall diet quality of Singaporean children using an existing cross-sectional dataset and to consider how demographic factors (i.e., body mass index (BMI) status, ethnicity, age, and sex) were associated with these scores. Existing, cross-sectional dietary data (n = 561 children aged 6–12 years, collected in 2014–2015) from duplicate 24-h recalls were assessed for diet quality using an index based on the Singaporean Health Promotion Board dietary guidelines. Total diet quality scores were calculated from ten different components (frequencies of rice and alternatives, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and alternatives, dairy and alternatives, total fat, saturated fat, sodium intake, and added sugars). Association with demographic factors and BMI category was evaluated by one-way multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA) tests, with Bonferroni post hoc analyses. Median (interquartile range) total diet quality scores were 65.4 (57.1–73.0). Median scores for whole grains (0.0, 0.0–33.4), fruits (24.1, 0.0–65.3), vegetables (36.5, 10.4-89.8), and sodium (58.4, 0.0–100.0) intake were frequently sub-optimal. Children of Malay ethnic origin had statistically lower total diet quality scores ((55.3, 47.5–60.3) vs. other ethnic groups (combined median 65.4 (57.1, 73.0); p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for continuing efforts to improve dietary intake in young Singaporeans and for longitudinal dietary monitoring in this group

Body image perception and satisfaction among Indian women residing in UK and Singapore

Women from the same ethnic background should not differ much regarding body shape. Nonetheless, living in a different country may contribute to differences in body image perception and satisfaction. Hence, the aim of this study is to contrast views on perceived and ideal body shapes of Indian women residing in UK and Singapore (SG) by using the Swami et al. (2008) photographic figure rating scale. Women from both countries reported age, height, weight, perceived and ideal body shapes. This sample was composed by 98 UK aged 18-30 years (mean=21.8y, SD=2.96) and 90 SG women aged 21-48years (mean=28.1y, SD=7.91). Mann-Whitney test assessed country differences regarding continuous variables. SG participants were in average older though, SG and UK women did not significantly differ in BMI, which in average was within normal values. Both groups perceived their shape as Overweight and wished for a slimmer figure within the Normal BMI category. There were no country significant differences for perceived shape and shape discrepancy. On the other hand, British women (mean=3.66) indicated a slimmer ideal shape in contrast with Singaporeans (mean=4.10; p<.05). This preference for a slimmer figure by UK women was no longer evident when contrasting with a SG sub-sample aged up to 30 years (n=61). In conclusion, in this small comparative study and regardless of BMI, UK Indian women ideally favoured a slimmer figure in contrast with Indian women living in SG. However, body image perception and satisfaction were similar among younger Indian women living in two culturally divergent countries