This dissertation focuses on the changing food consumption patterns in Sweden and Belgium during the latter half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century and the implications as seen from a sustainability point of view, both from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. It is shown that changes in agriculture, food processing, distribution and consumption during the period under assessment were considerable and had a clear impact on the food consumption pattern in both countries. Statistical data on the consumption of different food groups such as meat, milk and dairy products, fish, fruits, vegetables, cereal, potatoes, sugar, margarine and chocolate were compared. Overall, an increase in the consumption of meat, cheese, yoghurt, cream, fruits and vegetables was observed in both countries, while the consumption of milk, butter and potatoes decreased. For the sustainability assessment three parameters were chosen: land requirement, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. The assessment was based on quantitative data about food consumption in 1960 and 2004. It was shown that the Swedish and Belgian diets in 2004 required more resources and emitted more greenhouse gas emissions than in 1960. The Belgian diet had higher values for all parameters than the Swedish, except when considering the values for the emissions of greenhouse gases in 1960 when the Swedish diet had higher values.

Introduction of fish species to North American drainages has occurred for over 100 years. Introduced fish species have been documented to have adverse effects on both the environment and native species of the drainage into which they have been introduced. To better understand the effects that introduced species may have on a particular drainage, it is essential to understand aspects of the introduced species’ life history. The objectives of the current study is to quantify the age, reproduction, growth, condition and diet of the yellow bass, Morone mississippiensis, in Barren River Lake, Kentucky. Monthly collections from three areas on Barren River Lake were made via a boat-mounted electrofisher from March 2008 to March 2009. Fish age was estimated by examining the sagittal otoliths of each individual. Reproductive condition was assessed using the mean gonadosomatic index (GSI) of all sexually mature individuals by month. Yearly growth rates were estimated by computing the mean length at age for each age class and subsequent calculation of the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF). To estimate the condition of yellow bass as it changed throughout the sample period, relative weight of each individual was calculated and the mean monthly relative weight was calculated. To examine the diet of yellow bass, diet items were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level. Then, dry weight of each diet item was estimated and pooled by season to assess the season changes in the diet of yellow bass. Individuals of age group 3 were the most frequent. Mean GSI was significantly higher in March, April and May of 2008. Calculation of the VBGF yielded 254.7 mm as the maximum attainable mean total length of yellow bass in Barren River Lake. VBGF predicted mean total lengths of age classes 0-8 were as follows: 21.7 mm, 64.4 mm, 99.2 mm, 127.7 mm, 151.0 mm, 170.0 mm, 185.5 mm, 198.2 mm, and 208.5 mm. Relative weight was highest in summer. The diet of adult and sub-adult yellow bass relied heavily on chironomid larvae and pupae throughout the year, although diet item consumption was very low in winter. Young-of-year gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), however, became the most important adult diet item in the spring and summer. To better understand the impacts that the introduced yellow bass has on the ecosystem of Barren Rive Lake, a multi-year study including an estimation of relative abundance is recommended.

, Diss--Univ. Stuttgart-Hohenheim, 2006. / Literaturverzeichnis S. [291] - 300.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Institute of Social Studies (Netherlands), 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [202]-222).

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Life in urban Africa is often mired in crisis, thus researchers and practitioners usually pay attention to the multiple urban development challenges and sometimes interpret the activities and actions of urban dwellers as their means to survive in these cities. Urban food security research has remerged in recent years as a major development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially following the food price crisis of 2007/08, which translated into violent protest in many African cities. There is increased recognition that the issue of urban food insecurity encompasses more than just an availability crisis, yet there is limited attention paid to the multiscalar and multifaceted political-economic, social-cultural and environmental factors that drive food insecurity in cities. This research examines the multifaceted factors that shape food insecurity among urban dwellers in Gaborone, Botswana, by assessing household food access and choice/consumption patterns. Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, like many African cities, has experienced rapid urban growth since independence, however, with low subsistence agricultural production, Botswana depends largely on South Africa for food imports. Using in-depth analysis and research techniques, including participant observation, food diaries and discussions with 40 households, this study examines urban dwellers’ complex food experiences. The data from Gaborone show that changing urban food system, food prices, income status and people’s lifestyle influences urban residents’ ability to access appropriate foods. The research highlights the poor quality of urban diets in Gaborone among the survey population. The high consumption recorded of processed foods; sugars and oils are major contributory factors to the so-called ‘double burden’ of disease, where food insecurity and malnutrition coexist with obesity, a situation that is increasingly prevalent in low-income societies. Drawing on an easy-to-use analytical tool, the Household Dietary Diversity Score, while combining it with a political ecology approach to provide more contexts, this study highlights the political-economic, socio-cultural and ecological factors that drive urban dietary diversity. The research, therefore, contributes to the methodological debate around measures of food access, while providing empirical details on the case of urban food insecurity in Botswana. Further inquiries on the factors influencing people’s food choices and consumption patterns reveals that multiple interacting factors, including cost, convenience, commercials, culture and class influence the decision around which foodstuff households consume and that food consumption patterns within Gaborone are fluid, dynamic and hybridized. Thus, food consumption in SSA matters in its own right and by illustrating that consumption patterns in Gaborone are heterogeneous and fluid this research helps us better understand and contest the idea that globally food consumption patterns are becoming increasingly homogeneous and predictable. By providing a conceptually holistic and methodologically in-depth assessment of food experiences in Gaborone, this research calls for increased attention towards urban dwellers' agency and the complexity, dynamism and hybridity of urban processes in SSA cities / The International Development Research Centre (IDRC); International Foundation for Science (IFS) (Sweden) and The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Syftet med studien var att testa ett nykonstruerat instrument för att beskriva grad av självtillit till att avstå från sockerhaltiga livsmedel i olika situationer. Syftet var även att beskriva vuxna individers intag av sockerhaltiga livsmedel samt att beskriva skillnaden mellan sockerintag och självtillit. Urvalet bestod av 62 patienter som kommit för undersökning eller behandling till privata och folktandvårdskliniker. Data samlades in via enkät. Resultatet visade att 16 (26,2 %) individer åt sockerhaltiga livsmedel minst en gång per dag och 45 (73,8 %) åt sockerhaltiga livsmedel mer sällan än en gång per dag. Det mest förekommande sockerhaltiga livsmedlet var bullar, sockerkaka och andra mjuka kakor, 5 (8,7 %) individer intog dessa typer av livsmedel minst en gång per dag. Det minst förekommande sockerhaltiga livsmedlet var fruktsoppa och kräm, 40 (67,8 %) individer intog aldrig detta livsmedel. Medelvärdet för graden av självtillit till att avstå från sockerhaltiga livsmedel i olika situationer var 6,4 (SD 2,2) av 10 på en 11-gradig Likertskala. En signifikant skillnad kunde ses i graden av självtillit bland de som intog sockerhaltiga livsmedel minst en gång per dag jämfört med de som mer sällan intog sockerhaltiga livsmedel (t=3.036; p=0.004). Instrumentet hade ett Cronbach´s Alpha värde på 0.94, vilket visar en god reliabilitet. Utifrån de resultat som framkommit tycks individer med lägre grad av självtillit inta sockerhaltiga livsmedel oftare än individer med högre grad av självtillit. Instrumentet visade sig användbart.

Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. / Bibliography: leaves 217-232. / xvi, 232 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / A cross-sectional survey of a randomly selected population sample was carried out to determine the associations of social status, beliefs and attitudes with dietary intake (Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth) / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1993

Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. / Bibliography: leaves 217-232. / xvi, 232 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / A cross-sectional survey of a randomly selected population sample was carried out to determine the associations of social status, beliefs and attitudes with dietary intake (Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth) / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1993

Several researchers have indicated that the emphasis placed by young people on body shape and appearance has been greatly shaped by the media. The aim of this research was to investigate this notion specifically with regard to televised media. It was hypothesised that there would be a relationship between media images, eating attitudes and dietary behaviours, particularly for teenagers with body-image self-schemas who were conscious of their appearance. Nine hundred and sixty five senior secondary school students, from 33 country and metropolitan, state and independent, co-educational and single-sex South Australian high schools were surveyed. Fifty-six percent of the sample were adolescent girls and the average age of participants was 16.1 years. The questionnaire included sections on television usage, dieting behaviours, eating restraint and eating habits, as well as attitudes to foods, gender and appearance. Cluster analysis procedures indicated that it was possible to cluster television viewers into four distinct groups, "Telephiliacs", "Telephobics", "Modellers" and a "Relaxation/Information" group. These groups were classified according to television usage. Telephiliacs made the mose use of television, using it to gain information, for relaxation and entertainment and as a resource for body image and appearance standards; Modellers used it as a guide on which to model their appearance and behaviour; the Relaxation/Information group used it to relax and to gain information; and Telephobics did not watch much television and made the least use of it. The results of discriminant analyses confirmed that these cluster groups were different and that they could be distinguished by attitudes to appearance, dieting behaviours and foods consumed. The findings support the notion that the adolescent television audience is an active one and that television usage is dependent upon the needs of the individual. Television usage varied amongst adolescents and it was more likely to be used as a source of reference for body image standards by teenagers who were conscious of their appearance. These teenagers were also more likely to diet. Any outcomes related to television usage were accentuated if teenagers believed that television was "real". The findings suggest that television perpetuates an image of the thin body ideal and acts as a source of reference for adolescents with body-image self-schemas. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Department of Education, 1996.