Potential Effects of Nutrient Profiles on Nutrient Intakes in the Netherlands, Greece, Spain, USA, Israel, China and South-Africa

Nutrient profiling is defined as the science of categorising foods based on their nutrient composition. The Choices Programme is a nutrient profile system with criteria that determine whether foods are eligible to carry a "healthier option" stamp. The Daily Menu Method which has been developed to evaluate these criteria is described here. This method simulates the change in calculated nutrient intakes which would be the result of consumers changing their diets in favour of food products that comply with the criteria.Average intakes of energy, trans fatty acids (TFA), saturated fatty acids (SAFA), sodium, added sugar and fibre were derived from dietary intake studies and food consumption surveys of 7 countries: The Netherlands, Greece, Spain, the USA, Israel, China and South Africa. For each of the key nutrients, these average intakes were translated into three Typical Daily Menus per country. Average intakes based on these three menus were compared with average intakes from three Choices Daily Menus. To compose the Choices Menus, foods from the Typical Menus that did not comply with the Choices criteria were replaced with foods that did comply and are available on the market.Comparison of intakes from the Choices Menus with the survey data showed that calculated intakes of energy, SAFA, TFA, sodium and added sugar were reduced. Fibre intakes were increased. The size of the effect differed per country.The Daily Menu Method is a useful means to predict the potential effects of nutrient profiles such as the Choices criteria, on daily nutrient intakes. The method can be applied internationally and confirms that the criteria of the Choices Programme are in line with the aim of the programme: to improve nutrient intakes in the direction of the recommendations

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Summary Background Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence. Findings We pooled data from 2181 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in 65 million participants in 200 countries and territories. In 2019, we estimated a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations (the Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for boys; and the Netherlands, Montenegro, Denmark, and Iceland for girls) and those with the shortest populations (Timor-Leste, Laos, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea for boys; and Guatemala, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste for girls). In the same year, the difference between the highest mean BMI (in Pacific island countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Bahamas, Chile, the USA, and New Zealand for both boys and girls and in South Africa for girls) and lowest mean BMI (in India, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Chad for boys and girls; and in Japan and Romania for girls) was approximately 9–10 kg/m2. In some countries, children aged 5 years started with healthier height or BMI than the global median and, in some cases, as healthy as the best performing countries, but they became progressively less healthy compared with their comparators as they grew older by not growing as tall (eg, boys in Austria and Barbados, and girls in Belgium and Puerto Rico) or gaining too much weight for their height (eg, girls and boys in Kuwait, Bahrain, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mexico; and girls in South Africa and New Zealand). In other countries, growing children overtook the height of their comparators (eg, Latvia, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Iran) or curbed their weight gain (eg, Italy, France, and Croatia) in late childhood and adolescence. When changes in both height and BMI were considered, girls in South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some central Asian countries (eg, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and boys in central and western Europe (eg, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, and Montenegro) had the healthiest changes in anthropometric status over the past 3·5 decades because, compared with children and adolescents in other countries, they had a much larger gain in height than they did in BMI. The unhealthiest changes—gaining too little height, too much weight for their height compared with children in other countries, or both—occurred in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, New Zealand, and the USA for boys and girls; in Malaysia and some Pacific island nations for boys; and in Mexico for girls. Interpretation The height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions

The benefits and challenges of mapping for students and teachers: geospatial technologies as a tool in open school education.

<p>Geospatial technologies, with an emphasis on mapping, are increasingly being recognized as highly important instructional resources inside open schools. They offer a multitude of benefits for both students and educators, facilitating the development of crucial cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial literacy while facilitating interdisciplinary learning, enhancing student engagement, and fostering collaborative opportunities. Nevertheless, the incorporation of technology in educational settings presents other obstacles, including the necessity for adequate teacher preparation, the restricted availability of technological resources, and the possibility of diverting students' attention. The study incorporates enlightening case studies from a variety of schools, showcasing the successful integration of mapping through the CONNECT project, which encompasses a range of educational settings from special education to experimental and model high schools. These instances demonstrate the potential of mapping to stimulate student-centered learning, foster problem-solving skills, and promote critical thinking by tackling real-world situations via the lens of spatial thinking. In summary, this article highlights the significant importance of geospatial technology while recognizing inherent constraints and challenges. It is imperative to prioritize ongoing teacher assistance, promote a harmonious integration of technology, and ensure equal opportunities for all students. Through the use and integration of new technologies, students have the opportunity to develop and acquire essential skills that will be vital in a future society that largely depends on digital tools.</p&gt

Diachronic analysis of urban renewal in Athens: Center - Suburbs

The present research includes an attempt to approach gentrification as part of modern urban renewal with a scope of application in the city of Athens in both its central and suburban neighborhoods. The purpose of this research is to standardize the concept of gentrification, to create a methodological model framework for the analysis and evaluation of this urban phenomenon. The main research questions are the following: 1. Whether gentrification occurs in the same way or degree in both central areas or suburban centers. 2. If gentrification is applied theoretically and practically in Greece in the same way as mentioned in the international literature/standards. 2.1. The changes of the theoretical scheme described in the international literature on the phenomenon in relation to the Greek counterpart (in terms of the form, intensity and specificity of the phenomenon in Greece in relation to the experience and examples abroad). 2.2. If the Greek cities show important peculiarities, which influence by creating an urban gentrification that deviates from the standard. What are they and how do they affect it? What are the factors that shape "Greek Gentrification"? 2.3. Is there uniqueness in the manifestations of gentrification in the Athenian landscape? By what imprint? 3. Measurement of the phenomenon - coding. Identifying the process of Gentrification and controlling it, are the biggest challenges for the success of urban renewal programs. 3.1. What is the most appropriate methodology and what are the appropriate tools for measuring and consequently its analysis and management? 3.2. Are there models for predicting gentrification? And if so to what extent it can to be applied to the Greek reality? In order to answer the above questions, the present work is divided into three parts, the theoretical background, the techniques and tools for recording, analyzing and measuring the phenomenon and the research with the results, while above all the methodology of the research followed. The present research was original in its findings and created prospects for further research in the relevant scientific field.Η παρούσα έρευνα περιλαμβάνει μια προσπάθεια προσέγγισης του εξευγενισμού ως μέρος της μοντέρνας αστικής ανανέωσης με πεδίο εφαρμογής την πόλη της Αθήνας τόσο σε κεντρικές γειτονιές της όσο και σε προαστιακές. Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας αποτελεί η τυποποίηση της έννοιας του εξευγενισμού, η δημιουργία ενός μεθοδολογικού πρότυπου πλαισίου ανάλυσης και αξιολόγησης του αστικού αυτού φαινομένου. Τα βασικά ερευνητικά ερωτήματα είναι τα εξής: 1. Αν ο εξευγενισμός εμφανίζεται με το ίδιο τρόπο ή βαθμό τόσο σε κεντρικές περιοχές ή σε προαστιακά κέντρα. 2. Αν ο εξευγενισμός εφαρμόζεται θεωρητικά και πρακτικά στην Ελλάδα με τον ίδιο τρόπο που αναφέρεται στη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία/πρότυπα. 2.1. Οι μεταβολές του θεωρητικού σχήματος που περιγράφει η διεθνής βιβλιογραφία για το φαινόμενο σε σχέση με το αντίστοιχο της Ελλάδας (σε ότι αφορά την μορφή, την ένταση και ιδιαιτερότητα του φαινομένου στην Ελλάδα σε σχέση με την εμπειρία και τα παραδείγματα του εξωτερικού). 2.2. Αν οι ελληνικές πόλεις εμφανίζουν σημαντικές ιδιαιτερότητες, που επιδρούν δημιουργώντας έναν αστικό εξευγενισμό που αποκλίνει από το πρότυπο. Ποιες είναι αυτές και πως το επηρεάζουν; Ποιοι είναι οι παράγοντες που διαμορφώνουν τον « ελληνικό εξευγενισμό»; 2.3. Υπάρχει μοναδικότητα στις εκφάνσεις του εξευγενισμού στο αθηναϊκό τοπίο; Με ποια αποτύπωση; 3. Μέτρηση του φαινομένου – κωδικοποίηση. Ο εντοπισμός της διαδικασίας του εξευγενισμού και ο έλεγχος της, αποτελούν τις μεγαλύτερες προκλήσεις για την επιτυχία των προγραμμάτων της αστικής ανανέωσης. 3.1.Ποια είναι η καταλληλότερη μεθοδολογία και ποια τα προσήκοντα εργαλεία μέτρησης και κατ` επέκταση ανάλυσης και διαχείρισης του; 3.2.Υπάρχουν μοντέλα πρόβλεψης του εξευγενισμού? Και αν ναι σε τι βαθμό μπορεί να εφαρμοστεί στην ελληνική πραγματικότητα; Για να απαντηθούν τα παραπάνω ερωτήματα η παρούσα εργασία διαμοιράζεται σε τρία μέρη, το θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο, τις τεχνικές και τα εργαλεία καταγραφής, ανάλυσης και μέτρησης του φαινομένου και η έρευνά με τα αποτελέσματα, ενώ προηγείται πάνω από όλα η μεθοδολογία της έρευνας που ακολουθήθηκε. Η παρούσα έρευνα είχε πρωτοτυπία στα ευρήματα της και δημιούργησε προοπτικές για περαιτέρω έρευνα στο σχετικό επιστημονικό πεδίο

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions