Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Preschool Children Using Multiple Methods

Background: The ability to determine the relationship between diet and health outcomes in children requires reproducible and validated long-term dietary assessment tools such as food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).Objective: To test the reproducibility and relative validity of a FFQ for young children using 24-hour food recalls (24HRs), anthropometric measurements, and a comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire (CFPQ).Methods: Children (aged 5-6) and their mothers were recruited during one school-year (2008) from preschools. Children's anthropometric measurements were obtained. Mothers provided during a personal interview on three occasions a 110-item semiquantitative FFQ, 24HRs and CFPQ. Pearson-correlation coefficients were calculated between the results of the FFQ and 3*24HR. Validity coefficients between the FFQ and the different measurements were calculated. Scores of the 12 factors of the CFPQ were calculated and related to dietary intake.Results: Sixty-six healthy children (47% boys) were recruited. Pearson's correlations between the average of the FFQs and 3*24HRs ranged from 0.3-0.6 (P<0.05). The highest correlation coefficients were 0.59 for total fat intake and 0.56 for energy. Dietary intake of energy and carbohydrates differed significantly (P=0.05, 0.001 respectively) across the three BMI z-score levels (normal-weight, overweight, obese) and the three waist circumference tertiles (0.019, 0.006 respectively). Obesogenic factors from the CFPQ correlated with consumption of empty calories like sweets, snacks, junk foods and sweet drinks.Conclusions: The modified FFQ is a relatively valid instrument to estimate mean energy intake in preschool children. The questionnaire performs reasonably well to rank children with respect to macronutrients intake as well as obesogenic food groups

Effect of a School-Based Intervention on Nutritional Knowledge and Habits of Low-Socioeconomic School Children in Israel: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Early social and economic deprivation, associated with poor nutrition and physical inactivity, may lead to adverse health trajectories. A cluster-randomized controlled-trial examining the effect of a school-based comprehensive intervention on nutrition knowledge, eating habits, and behaviors among low socioeconomic status (LSES) school-aged children was performed. LSES school-aged children (4–7 years) and their mothers were recruited from 11 schools, located in one town. The intervention was implemented on three levels: children, mothers, and teachers. The intervention (IArm) included nutrition classes for children, mothers, and teachers and physical activity (PA) classes for children; the control (CArm) received PA only. Interventions were conducted by professional personnel, who were trained during in a two-day session to deliver the specific program in schools. Family data were obtained by parental interviews. Food knowledge observations, packed lunch records, and anthropometric measurements were obtained in school at baseline, six months, and at the end of the school year. Of 258 children enrolled, 220 (87.6%) completed the six-month program. Only children in the IArm improved their nutrition knowledge and eating-habits and increased food variety and fruit and vegetable consumption, quality score of packed lunches (p < 0.001 for all), habitual water drinking increased (p = 0.02), and decreased sweet-drink consumption (p = 0.05). A school-based comprehensive nutrition intervention targeting LSES population improved eating habits, nutritional knowledge, and healthier packed lunches

Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Nutrigenetics: Findings from the 2019 Unified Forces Preventive Nutrition Conference (UFPN)

Background: Nutrigenetics indicates that individual genetic variability results in altered health outcomes necessitating personalized nutrition adaptation. Registered dietitians are recognized as the clinical nutrition experts, but their knowledge and attitudes regarding nutrigenetics has not been delineated. Methods: This cross sectional online survey was conducted in a convenience sample of 169 national nutrition conference attendees. The survey queried demographics, knowledge, and attitudes towards nutrigenetics and information on training in nutrigenetics. Results: The majority of participants were registered dietitians and female, 45% of whom held advanced degrees. Personalized nutrition was perceived by 93.5% of participants as highly important or important; however, 94% of respondents indicated they are not sufficiently knowledgeable in personalized nutrition and only 9.5% had received training in nutrigenetics. The mean nutrigenetics knowledge score was 6.89 ± 1.67 (out of a possible 12). A multivariate regression model of knowledge score identified education as the only independent predictor of this outcome. Conclusion: Personalized nutrition is a rapidly developing field that incorporates genetic data into clinical practice. Dietitians recognize the importance of advanced studies to acquire knowledge in nutrigenetics. Only by acquiring the necessary knowledge can dietitians accurately translate this nutrigenetics into clinical practice

Status of Nutrition in Hemodialysis Patients Survey (SNIPS): Nutrition Intake in Obese and Overweight vs. Healthy Weight Patients

Elevated body mass index (BMI) has been associated with improved survival and fewer hospitalizations in hemodialysis patients; however, it is not clear that dietary intake is associated with increased BMI in hemodialysis patients. The present analysis was designed to compare energy and macronutrient intake and distribution, as well as compliance with the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) dietary guidelines, by body weight status (overweight/obese vs. normal weight) in hemodialysis patients. The status of nutrition in hemodialysis patients survey (SNIPS) cohort is a cross-sectional study including a representative sample of individuals on hemodialysis treated in hospital dialysis centers throughout Israel. Of the 375 patients eligible for the current analysis, 60.1% had BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (overweight/obese). For each participant, the following measures were recorded: dietary intake, blood biochemistry, anthropometric and hemodynamic measures. These were compared by body weight status. Compared to their normal-weight counterparts, overweight/obese hemodialysis patients did not differ by energy and macronutrient intake, distribution of these nutrients in the diet. Regardless of body weight status, hemodialysis patients have poor compliance with ISRNM dietary guidelines

Nutrition Knowledge Translation Performance in Health Professionals: Findings from the 2017 Unified Forces Preventive Nutrition Conference (UFPN)

Background: Dietitians and other health care professionals must be able to translate findings from clinical trials into best treatment practices, a skill termed “knowledge translation„. This skill requires knowledge of treatment guidelines as well as the science underpinning treatment recommendations. Unsatisfactory knowledge translation of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) has been documented. Methods: Individuals registered to attend a leading national nutrition conference were asked to participate in an online cross-sectional survey. Participants were asked to provide demographic and professional information, answer questions on nutrition knowledge and to choose a clinical action plan in response to dietitian-designed case vignettes describing research outcomes. Responses were compared by profession and participation in research activities. Results: Of 3000 registered conference attendees, 299 individuals replied: 79.0% dietitians, 93.3% female, with a mean household income matching the 5th decile of income, 60.7% indicated a single employment setting, 20.7% reported participating in research. Almost 74% of respondents indicated that they would make clinical recommendations based on findings of an in vitro study. In one vignette, a patient with a disease previously not encountered by the respondent required a clinical treatment plan. Only 53% of participants chose to seek formal nutrition guidelines. Fewer than 15% of participants could identify the pathway for fat during weight loss. Differences in knowledge translation skills by research participation were not detected. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a deficit in knowledge translation proficiency in a convenience sample of dietitians and other health professionals, highlighting the need to develop these skills

Dietary Changes and Anxiety during the Coronavirus Pandemic: Differences between the Sexes

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with both increased anxiety, deterioration in diet and weight gain. These associations may differ by sex. The present report examines differences by sex in diet quality in order to determine whether associations between diet and psychological stress during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic differed by sex. This online study is available internationally in seven languages. The Mediterranean Diet Score was used to measure diet quality, while the General Anxiety Disorder 7-point scale (GAD-7) was used to measure anxiety. Findings were compared by self-reported sex (male vs. female). A total of 3797 respondents provided informed consent and met eligibility criteria, of whom 526 women were omitted due to being pregnant or six months or less post-partum, or due to reproductive status not being reported. Thus, 3271 individuals are included in the present report, of whom 71.2% were women. The median age of women was 30 (interquartile range (IQR) = 16) years vs. 31 (IQR = 19) years, p = 0.079. The median diet quality score was 9 (IQ = 3) in both women and men (p = 0.75). Despite the overall similarity in diet score, several components of the score differed significantly by sex. Women reported consuming significantly more olive oil, daily servings of vegetables, and weekly servings of sweet baked goods. Men reported consuming significantly more sweetened/carbonated drinks, red meat, alcohol, legumes, and hummus/tahini. Women reported a GAD-7 score of 6 (IQR = 8), while men reported 3 (6), p < 0.001. An inverse association was detected between the Mediterranean diet score and the GAD-7 score in both women (rho = −0.166, p < 0.001) and men (rho = −0.154, p < 0.001), and the correlation coefficients did not differ by sex (p = 0.76). Mediterranean diet score and age both reduced the odds of elevated anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10), while female sex, deterioration of diet quality during the outbreak, unemployment, and completing the survey in English increased the odds of this outcome. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, overall diet quality did not differ by sex; however, some differences by sex in components of the total score were detected. Moderate to severe anxiety was positively associated with female sex and poorer diet quality even after controlling for age, employment status, and the language in which the survey was performed

Dietary Patterns among Adolescents Are Associated with Growth, Socioeconomic Features, and Health-Related Behaviors

Dietary patterns (DPs), usually established in adolescents, are important modifiable risk factors in the etiology of malnutrition and chronic diseases. This study aimed to identify DPs of adolescents and examine their associations with growth, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics. A nationally representative, school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Israeli adolescents aged 11–18 years during 2015–2016. A self-administered survey queried sociodemographics, health behaviors, and diet. Weight and height were measured, and WHO height z-scores and BMI cutoffs were calculated. Food frequency questionnaire data were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) to identify DPs. Associations between growth, lifestyle, and sociodemographic characteristics and DPs were modeled using multivariable logistic regressions. A total of 3902 adolescents (46% males, mean age 15.2 ± 1.6 years) completed the survey. PCA identified five DPs, accounting for 38.3% of the total variance. The first two prominent DPs were the ‘plant-based food’ DP, which was associated with the female sex, higher socioeconomic status, overweight/obesity, and healthy lifestyle and the ‘junk food’ DP, which was associated with lower SES, unhealthy lifestyle, and lower height z-scores. Our results elucidate major DPs that strongly correlate with lifestyle risk behaviors and suboptimal growth among adolescents. Implementing screening for DPs should be further examined to identify higher risk health factors among youth

The quality of primary care provided to the elderly in Israel

Abstract Background In view of increasing global and local trends in population ageing and the high healthcare utilization rates among the elderly, this study assesses the quality of primary care provided to the elderly population in Israel. It examines changes in quality over time, how quality varies across sub-groups of the elderly, and how quality in Israel compares with other countries. Data originate from the National Program for Quality Indicators in Community Healthcare (QICH), which operates in full collaboration with Israel’s four HMOs. Methods The study population included all elderly Israeli residents aged 65 years or older during 2002–2015 (N = 879,671 residents in 2015). Seven elderly-specific quality indicators from within the QICH framework were included: influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, benzodiazepine overuse, long-acting benzodiazepine use, body weight documentation, weight loss and underweight. In addition, two non-age specific quality indicators relating to diabetes mellitus were included: the rate of HbA1C documentation and uncontrolled diabetes. Data were collected from patient electronic medical records (EMR) in accordance with each HMO, and aggregated by three variables: gender, age, and socio-economic position (SEP). Results During the measurement period, vaccination rates significantly increased (Influenza: from 42.0% in 2002 to 63.2% in 2015; and pneumococcal vaccination: from 25.8% in 2005 to 77.0% in 2015). Body weight documentation (in 65–74 year old persons) increased from only 16.3% in 2003 to 80.9% in 2015. The rate of underweight (BMI < 23 kg/m2) and significant weight-loss (10% or more of their body weight) was only measured in 2015. The overall rate of benzodiazepine overuse remained steady from 2011 to 2015 at around 5%, while the rate of long-acting benzodiazepine use decreased from 3.8% in 2011 to 2.4% in 2015. The rate of HbA1c documentation for elderly diabetics was higher than for non-elderly diabetics in 2015 (92.2% vs 87.9%). The rate of uncontrolled diabetes was lower for the elderly than the non-elderly population in 2015 (6.9% vs. 15.7%). Gender disparities were observed across all measures, after age stratification, with worse indicator rates among females compared to males. SEP-disparities were not consistent across measures. In all indicators except benzodiazepine overuse, Israel showed a higher quality of care for the elderly in comparison with the international healthcare community. Conclusions Overall, the quality of care received by elderly Israelis has improved substantially since measurements first began; yet, females receive lower quality care than males. Monitoring results of primary care quality indicators can contribute to population’s successful aging; both chronic conditions at earlier ages (e.g. diabetes), and short-term hazardous conditions such as the use of potentially harmful medications and weight loss should be evaluated