Unveiling the Craving: A systematic review of pregnant women's desires for expert nutrition care in Australia.

Problem: Poor nutrition during the antenatal period can contribute to adverse health outcomes for both mother and baby.

Background: Despite the importance of nutrition during pregnancy, there is limited research exploring the attitudes and experiences pregnant women possess towards nutrition care, particularly within the Australian context. Existing literature has indicated that pregnant women lack knowledge of and are not adhering to pregnancy related nutrition recommendations.

Association Between Picky Eating, Weight Status, Vegetable, and Fruit Intake in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Picky eating is a common appetitive trait reported among children and adolescents and may have detrimental effects on their weight, vegetable, and fruit intake, impacting health status. However, an updated systematic review of the literature and summary of effect estimates is required. This study aims to explore the association between picky eating with weight, vegetable and fruit intake, vegetable-only intake, and fruit-only intake.

The benefits of virtual learning abroad programs for higher education students: A phenomenological research study.

Background: Higher education institutions offer in-country learning abroad programs to provide healthcare students with the opportunity to gain the intercultural and global competencies they need to work in a globally interconnected world. During the Covid-19 pandemic, institutions offered virtual learning abroad programs as an alternative to the in-country programs, however, little is known about whether they provide comparable benefits to students.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate, and identify, the benefits gained by higher education healthcare students through their participation in a virtual learning abroad program.

The knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of pregnant women regarding seafood consumption during the antenatal period: a qualitative study.

Background: Maternal nutrition impacts fetal growth and development. The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) guidelines recommend pregnant women consume 2-3 servings (224-336 g) of fish/seafood per week to support intake of long chain omega 3 fatty acids, given adequate consumption supports numerous health benefits including reduced risk of preterm and early preterm birth. Evidence indicates that pregnant women purposely lower their fish/seafood intake, largely due to fears of methylmercury exposure.

Alterations in gut microbiota caused by major depressive disorder or a low FODMAP diet and where they overlap.

Beneficial changes in microbiota observed in individuals with a major depressive disorder (MDD) may be initiated with a low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol (FODMAP) elimination diet. Academic Search Ultimate, APA PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for original research documenting differences in microbiota in MDD or changes with a low FODMAP diet in adults (age 18 years +). Studies with fecal microbiota, 16 s RNA sequencing and QIIME pipelines were included.

Development and validation of an assessment tool for higher education learning abroad programs: A qualitative Delphi study.

Background: Higher education learning abroad programs provide many benefits to healthcare students. However, inadequate preparation prior to their international travel, and misdirected motivations for their participation, can jeopardise the benefits and increase the risks. While it is pivotal to objectively evaluate pre-departure student preparation and the impact the programs have on students, existing assessment questionnaires fail to inform these aspects.

Different experiences of weight management and physical activity during pregnancy - a qualitative study of women and healthcare professionals in Australia.

Objective: Pregnancy is often described as a pivotal life stage for women, where regular contact with health professionals may play an important role in lifestyle awareness. This study explored the knowledge, practices, and beliefs of health professionals and pregnant women regarding physical activity and weight management during the antenatal period.

Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken in southeastern Australia using individual interviews.

Couples-based behaviour change interventions to reduce metabolic syndrome risk. A systematic review.

Background And Aims: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although MetS risk is transferred via the epigenome from both biological parents, periconceptional lifestyle interventions are generally directed towards mothers. There is a need for interventions to reflect the shared nature of epigenetic MetS risk between both biological parents.

Association Between a Low-Carbohydrate Diet, Glycemic Control, and Quality of Life in Australian Adults Living With Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To examine if there is an association between a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD), glycemic control, and quality of life (QoL) in Australian adults with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: This single-group, pre-post, mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) study was conducted in an outpatient tertiary hospital. Eligible participants were those aged ≥18 years, with type 1 diabetes for ≥1 year, and using multiple daily insulin injections.

Depression, Is It Treatable in Adults Utilising Dietary Interventions? A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials.

This systematic literature review examined whole food or whole diet interventions to treat depression. The inclusion criteria encompassed adults, depression, a recognized depression scale and a whole food or diet intervention. APA PsychINFO, CINAHL, the Cochrance Central Register of Controlled Trails, MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for original research addressing diet as a treatment for depression in adult populations.

Evaluation of a specialist antenatal nutrition clinic for women with a body mass index ≥ 40kg/m: A qualitative study.

Objective: To explore the views of women who attended a specialist antenatal nutrition clinic that was specifically developed and piloted for pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m.

Design: A phenomenological approach, using individual interviews, was employed. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and scrutinised using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.

Maternal body mass index and country of birth in relation to the adverse outcomes of large for gestational age and gestational diabetes mellitus in a retrospective cohort of Australian pregnant women.

Background: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Australia has been rising in line with the increased incidence of maternal overweight and obesity. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus, high body mass index or both are at an elevated risk of birthing a large for gestational age infant. The aim was to explore the relationship between country of birth, maternal body mass index with large for gestational age, and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Kingdom of Tonga: a qualitative investigation of the barriers and enablers to lifestyle management.

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in the Kingdom of Tonga, little is known of non-communicable disease experiences among adults living in this location. This investigation aimed to explore the barriers and enablers to healthy lifestyle in a group of men and women living with T2DM residing in this Pacific Island nation.

Methods: This qualitative study consisted of three semi-structured focus groups (n = 16), conducted at the only Tongan Public Hospital located at Nuku'alofa, capital of Tonga (north coast of the island of Tongatapu).

Association Between a Low Carbohydrate Diet, Quality of Life, and Glycemic Control in Australian Adults Living With Type 1 Diabetes: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Pilot Study.

Background: Globally, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is rising. In 2020, a total of 124,652 Australians had T1DM. Maintaining optimal glycemic control (hemoglobin A ≤7.

The relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and exclusive breastfeeding initiation: Findings from an Australian obstetric cohort.

Background: To assess the type of infant nutrition at initiation of first feed in association with increasing maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index in an Australian obstetric population.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2008 to 2013 was undertaken. Body Mass Index was available for 12,347 women categorised into groups according to: underweight (≤18 kg/m); normal weight (19-24 kg/m); overweight (25-29 kg/m); obese class I (30-34 kg/m); obese class II (35-39/kg) and obese class III (40+ kg/m).

The Association Between Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index, Perinatal Depression and Maternal Vitamin D Status: Findings from an Australian Cohort Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the relationship between early-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), perinatal depression risk and maternal vitamin D status.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2013 to 2017 was undertaken involving 16,528 birth events in the Australian Capital Territory. Multivariate binary logistic regression was conducted using the forced entry method.

The nutrition-related information seeking behaviours and attitudes of pregnant women with a high BMI: A qualitative study.

Background: The prevalence of high body mass index is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. High maternal body mass index has ramifications for both mother and baby including increased health risks from gestational diabetes mellitus, caesarean section and stillbirth. Despite the increasing prevalence of high maternal body mass index little is known of the experiences of these women regarding nutrition information access and use during the antenatal period.

Optimizing Gestational Weight Gain With the Eating4Two Smartphone App: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Approximately 50% of women gain excessive weight in pregnancy. Optimizing gestational weight gain is important for the short- and long-term health of the childbearing woman and her baby. Despite this, there is no recommendation for routine weighing in pregnancy, and weight is a topic that many maternity care providers avoid.

Association of BMI and interpregnancy BMI change with birth outcomes in an Australian obstetric population: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with increasing body mass index (BMI) and interpregnancy BMI changes in an Australian obstetric population.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2008 to 2013 was undertaken. BMI for 14 875 women was categorised as follows: underweight (≤18 kg/m(2)); normal weight (19-24 kg/m(2)); overweight (25-29 kg/m(2)); obese class I (30-34 kg/m(2)); obese class II (35-39 kg/m(2)) and obese class III (40+ kg/m(2)).

The perspectives of obese women receiving antenatal care: A qualitative study of women's experiences.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. Maternal obesity has implications for both mother and baby including increased health risks from gestational hypertensive disorders, caesarean section and stillbirth. Despite the increasing prevalence of maternal obesity little is known of the experiences of these women within the health care system.

Development and Pilot Testing of the Eating4two Mobile Phone App to Monitor Gestational Weight Gain.

Background: The number of pregnant women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m(2) or more is increasing, which has important implications for antenatal care. Various resource-intensive interventions have attempted to assist women in managing their weight gain during pregnancy with limited success. A mobile phone app has been proposed as a convenient and cost-effective alternative to face-to-face interventions.

The views and attitudes of health professionals providing antenatal care to women with a high BMI: a qualitative research study.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The objective of this study was to investigate the views and attitudes of providers of antenatal care for women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m(2) and over.

Methods: A qualitative study using focus groups was undertaken within the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a large teaching hospital in south-eastern Australia.