The objective of this research is to discover if significant relationships exist between age, gender, household income, locations where children/adolescents ate, whom they ate with, whether they considered the food as a meal or a snack, and their consumption of food by food group. Three hundred and twelve children (9-11 years old)/adolescents (13-15 years old) completed a 24-hour dietary intake recall, and a 2-day dietary record. The subject was asked to indicate the amount of food he/she consumed, where he/she consumed it, who was with him/her when he/she consumed the food, and whether he/she considered the food to be a meal or a snack. The information was coded and all the foods were grouped into 12 groups. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The results showed that children had higher intakes of breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, snacks and desserts than adolescents. Girls consumed more snacks and desserts, and condiments than boys. Children/adolescents in families with higher household incomes consumed more snacks and desserts, but fewer meats than those with lower household incomes. Children and adolescents consumed more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats, and snacks and desserts when they ate at home than when they ate away from home. Children/adolescents ate more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats and condiments when they ate with various family members than when they ate alone, with only one family member or with non-family members. Children/adolescents consumed more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, burgers and sandwiches, snacks and desserts, condiments, but less fats when they ate with their friends as compared to eating with others. Children/adolescents who ate breakfast had higher intakes of breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats, snacks and desserts, and condiments than those who did not eat breakfast. Children/adolescents who ate more fruit and fruit juices had consumed significantly more breads and cereals, dairy products, vegetables, snacks and desserts, but consumed fewer sweetened beverages than those who did not eat fruits and fruit juices.

Alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to characterize alcohol consumers at the nutritional, anthropometric, and sociodemographic levels. Data from 9218 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela participating in “Latin American Health and Nutrition Study (ELANS)”, a multi-country, population-based study, were used. Dietary intake was collected through two, 24 h recalls. Participants were classified into consumers (n = 1073) and non-alcohol consumers (n = 8145) using a cut-off criterium of ≥15 g/day of alcohol consumption calculated from the estimation of their usual daily intake. Among alcohol consumers, the mean alcohol consumption was 69.22 ± 2.18 grams (4.6. beverages/day), contributing to 484.62 kcal, which corresponded to 16.86% of the total energy intake. We found that the risk of alcohol consumption was higher in young and middle-aged men from low and middle socioeconomic status. Argentine, Brazil, and Chile had the highest percentage of consumers, while Ecuador showed the highest alcohol consumption. Alcohol drinkers were characterized by having higher body weight and wider neck, waist, hips circumferences. Alcohol drinkers had a higher energy intake, with macronutrients providing relatively less energy at the expense of the energy derived from alcohol. Alcohol drinkers showed lower and higher consumptions of healthy and unhealthy food groups, respectively. In addition, adequacy ratios for all micronutrients assessed were lower in alcohol consumers. All these deleterious effects of alcohol on nutritional and anthropometric parameters increased with the number of alcoholic beverages consumed daily. Altogether, these findings suggest that limiting alcohol consumption can contribute to reducing the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diet-related diseases. / Universidad de Costa Rica / Revisión por pares

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a condition affecting over one third of U.S. adults and is characterized by risk factors that promote inflammation and result in chronic disease. Indicated by high visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hypertension, MetS has been associated with increased risk for future cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and all-cause mortality. Recognizing the need for population-specific dietary and lifestyle guidance is crucial for reversing the exponential growth in chronic diseases. Self-reported behavior and directly measured anthropometric and laboratory data from 4,627 adults in the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The objectives were 1) determine the prevalence of MetS using the AHA/NHLBI criteria for specific cohorts in U.S. adults 2) determine whether macronutrient composition, micronutrient adequacy and energy balance differ between adults age 20-59 with and without MetS 3) investigate dietary patterns reported using food groups and their relationships with MetS in adults age 20-59. Agejusted prevalence of MetS was 36.8 percent (95 percent CI 34.7 percent-39.0 percent). Prevalence increased with age groups and BMI categories. Odds Ratios (OR) for MetS compared to normal weight were 4.33 (95 percent CI 3.43-5.47) for overweight individuals and 17.98 (95 percent CI 13.29-24.31) for obese individuals. Average daily moderate activity was 45 minutes less in adults with MetS (p<0.05). Within races, black women had a higher prevalence of MetS than black men (p<0.05) and white men had a higher prevalence than white women (p<0.05). Overall, there were few clinically significant differences in nutrient intake between those with and without MetS in race/gender cohorts, however nutrient intake differed between cohorts. Nutrient intake relative to caloric needs was lower in those with MetS, which may suggest lower metabolic rate than predicted. White men and women consumed more of most food groups than the other races. Women with MetS consumed more meat, seafood and eggs, and solid fat and less legumes, nuts, and seeds and grains than women without MetS (p<0.05). Men without MetS consumed more alcohol than men with MetS (p<0.05). Dietary intake was not predictive of MetS, however total volume of physical activity and BMI are factors that can be modified.

No description available.