Reduction in intake of discretionary foods and drinks among Danish schoolchildren: dietary results from the real-life cluster-randomised controlled trial 'Are You Too Sweet?'.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the multicomponent intervention trial 'Are You Too Sweet?' in reducing discretionary foods and drinks intake among young schoolchildren.

Design: The study was a 3·5-month two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial among primary schoolchildren and their families. School health nurses provided guidance to families regarding discretionary foods and drinks for the children.

The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity (DANSDA) 1995-2011-2013: Study design, study participants, participation rate and underreporting.

Aim: This study describes the study design, study participants, participation rate and underreporting in the Danish National Surveys of Diet and Physical Activity (DANSDA) from 1995 to 2011-2013.

Methods: DANSDA are government-funded surveys of food and nutrient intake, physical activity and lifestyle, undertaken to support nutritional policy, risk assessment and public health research. The surveys are cross-sectional based on primarily simple random samples (ages 1-80 years in 1995, 4-75 years in 2000-2013) drawn from the Danish Civil Registration System.

Dietary supplements increase the risk of excessive micronutrient intakes in Danish children.

Purpose: Dietary supplement use is common in Northern Europe. Many dietary supplements contain 100% of nutrient reference values (NRV) of micronutrients. This study investigates the contribution of dietary supplements to micronutrient intake, the prevalence of excess intake of micronutrients, and parental characteristics of dietary supplement use in Danish children.

Changes in Diet and Physical Activity among 18-65-Year-Olds after the First National COVID-19 Lockdown in Denmark.

COVID-19 lockdowns affected everyday life significantly and made it challenging to achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle. The aim of the present study was to examine longitudinal changes in Danish adults' eating habits and physical activity (PA) assessed during and after the first national lockdown in 2020. Furthermore, changes in body weight were examined during the first lockdown period.

Validation of the 2 × 24 h recall method and a 7-d web-based food diary against doubly labelled water in Danish adults.

The European Food Safety Authority has suggested that EU countries implement the 2 × 24 h diet recall (2 × 24 h DR) method and physical activity (PA) measurements for national dietary surveys. Since 2000, Denmark has used 7 d food diaries (7 d FD) with PA questionnaires and measurements. The accuracy of the reported energy intakes (EI) from the two diet methods, pedometer-determined step counts and self-reported time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were compared with total energy expenditure measured by the doubly labelled water (TEEDLW) technique and with PA energy expenditure (PAEE), respectively.

A Qualitative Evaluation of Social Aspects of Sugar-Rich Food and Drink Intake and Parental Strategies for Reductions.

Danish children have a much larger intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks than recommended. This study aimed to (1) explore social aspects and practices of pre-school children's intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks and (2) evaluate barriers and parental strategies to reduce their children's intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks employed in connection with the 3.5-month family-centred intervention trial 'Are you too sweet?'.

Evaluation of Parental Acceptability and Use of Intervention Components to Reduce Pre-School Children's Intake of Sugar-Rich Food and Drinks.

Knowledge is needed about effective tools that reach public health objectives focused on reducing the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks. The purpose of this study was to assess the parental acceptability, use and motivational potential of intervention components developed in the randomized family-based trial 'Are you too sweet?' aimed at reducing the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks among children (5-7 y). Intervention components included guidance on sugar-rich foods and drinks at a school health nurse consultation, a box with home-use materials and a digital platform.

Defining Energy-Dense, Nutrient-Poor Food and Drinks and Estimating the Amount of Discretionary Energy.

Overconsumption of energy provided by energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) food and drinks increases the risk of unhealthy weight gain and of obesity-related health outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a nutrient profiling model for classifying EDNP food and drinks and to estimate the amount of discretionary energy for EDNP food and drinks in a recommended diet. A stepwise approach was used first to develop a nutrient profiling model for classifying EDNP food and drinks and then to estimate the amount of discretionary energy in a recommended diet using diet modeling.

Comparison of Discretionary Food and Drink Intake Based on a Short Web-Based Sugar-Rich Food Screener and a Validated Web-Based 7-Day Dietary Record.

A high consumption of discretionary foods and drinks has been associated with increased risk of multiple adverse health outcomes, including risk of overweight and dental caries. The family-based cluster randomized intervention study “Are you too sweet?” aimed at reducing the intake of discretionary foods and drinks in a population of children starting pre-school. As part of the intervention a new short web-based sugar-rich food screener (SRFS), was developed to make the parents and the school health nurses aware of the children’s intake of discretionary foods and drinks.

Reducing Young Schoolchildren's Intake of Sugar-Rich Food and Drinks: Study Protocol and Intervention Design for "Are You Too Sweet?" A Multicomponent 3.5-Month Cluster Randomised Family-Based Intervention Study.

A high consumption of sugar-rich discretionary food and drinks has several health implications, which have been traced from childhood into adulthood. Parents act as primary mediators shaping children's dietary habits, and interventions that engage parents have shown to result in positive outcomes. Further, collaboration with local school health nurses and dentists provides an effective structural frame to support behaviour change and anchor new initiatives.

Weekly variation in diet and physical activity among 4-75-year-old Danes.

Objective: To compare dietary intake and physical activity (PA) between days of the week in a large sample of the Danish population; furthermore, to investigate the influence of gender and age as determinants for weekly variation.

Design: Analysis was based on cross-sectional data from the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity 2011-2013. Dietary intake and PA were assessed by 7 d of pre-coded food diaries and pedometer-determined step counts.

Avoidable cancers in the Nordic countries-the potential impact of increased physical activity on postmenopausal breast, colon and endometrial cancer.

Background: Physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of colon, endometrial and postmenopausal breast cancer. The aim of this study was to quantify the proportion of the cancer burden in the Nordic countries linked to insufficient levels of leisure time physical activity and estimate the potential for cancer prevention for these three sites by increasing physical activity levels.

Methods: Using the Prevent macrosimulation model, the number of cancer cases in the Nordic countries over a 30-year period (2016-2045) was modelled, under different scenarios of increasing physical activity levels in the population, and compared with the projected number of cases if constant physical activity prevailed.

Breakfast in Denmark. Prevalence of Consumption, Intake of Foods, Nutrients and Dietary Quality. A Study from the International Breakfast Research Initiative.

Breakfast is considered by many to be the most important meal of the day. This study examined the intake of nutrients and foods at breakfast among Danes and the relation to the overall dietary quality. Data were derived from the Danish National Survey on Diet and Physical Activity 2011⁻2013, a cross-sectional national food consumption study.

Optimistic and pessimistic self-assessment of own diets is associated with age, self-rated health and weight status in Danish adults.

The aim of this study was to analyse concordance between Danish adults' recorded diet quality and their own assessment of the healthiness and to examine socio-demographic, health and behavioural characteristics associated with an optimistic or pessimistic self-assessment. Data were derived from The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity 2011-2013 and included a random sample of 3014 adults (18-75 y). Diet quality was evaluated on the basis of seven-day pre-coded food diaries and categorised 'unhealthy', 'somewhat healthy' and 'healthy'.

Obesity Prevention in the Nordic Countries.

Previous studies have shown that mean BMI and prevalences of overweight/obesity and obesity have increased over the last decades in the Nordic countries, despite highly regulated societies with a focus on obesity prevention. We review recent overweight/obesity and obesity prevention initiatives within four of the five Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Moreover, we analyze the current situation based on monitoring data on BMI collected in 2011 and 2014, and obtain overall estimates of overweight/obesity and obesity prevalences for the Nordic Region.

Intake and sources of gluten in 20- to 75-year-old Danish adults: a national dietary survey.

Purpose: Celiac disease, an immunological response triggered by gluten, affects ~1 % of the Western population. Information concerning gluten intake in the general population is scarce. We determined intake of gluten from wheat, barley, rye and oat in the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity 2005-2008.

Reduction in pedometer-determined physical activity in the adult Danish population from 2007 to 2012.

Aims: To examine the development in pedometer-determined physical activity from 2007-2008 to 2011-2012 in the adult Danish population.

Methods: The study population comprised two random samples of 18-75-year-old individuals who took part in cross-sectional studies in 2007-2008 (n=224) and 2011-2012 (n=1515). Pedometer data (sealed Yamax SW 200) were obtained for seven consecutive days.

Disparities in dietary habits and physical activity in Denmark and trends from 1995 to 2008.

Aims: To examine social disparities in dietary-, alcohol- and leisure-time physical activity habits in Danish adults from 1995 to 2008 and to test the hypothesis of widening disparities.

Methods: Four cross-sectional surveys of representative samples of the Danish population aged 20-75 years were analysed, a total of 7900 respondents. Dietary and alcohol habits were measured by a 7-day pre-coded food diary and physical activity and education by a face-to-face interview.

Danish children born to parents with lower levels of education are more likely to become overweight.

Aim: Little is known about whether the socio-economic status of parents is linked to their children becoming overweight. This study examined the association between parents' educational level and overweight Danish children in a nationally representative sample.

Methods: Body mass index was calculated for a random sample of 512 children aged from four to 14 from the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity 2005-2008.

Trends in overweight and obesity in Danish children and adolescents: 2000-2008--exploring changes according to parental education.

Aims: To examine the hypotheses that an overall levelling off in the prevalence of overweight and obesity during the period 2000-2008 has occurred, and that increasing social inequality in overweight and obesity exists in a nationally representative sample of Danish children and adolescents.

Methods: The population comprised a random sample of 1849 children aged 4-14 years who participated in the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity in 2000-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2008. Parental education was chosen as an indicator of children's socioeconomic status.

Comparison of estimated energy intake using Web-based Dietary Assessment Software with accelerometer-determined energy expenditure in children.

Background: The OPUS (Optimal well-being, development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet) project carried out a school meal study to assess the impact of a New Nordic Diet (NND). The random controlled trial involved 834 children aged 8-11 in nine local authority schools in Denmark. Dietary assessment was carried out using a program known as WebDASC (Web-based Dietary Assessment Software for Children) to collect data from the children.

Misperception of body weight among overweight Danish adults: trends from 1995 to 2008.

Objective: To examine changes in the prevalence of overweight and weight misperception among overweight Danes from 1995 to 2008, and to identify factors associated with weight misperception.

Design: Cross-sectional studies, in which data on self-reported weight, height and self-perception of overweight status were obtained through face-to-face interviews. 'Overweight' includes obesity.

Relationship between sleep duration and dietary intake in 4- to 14-year-old Danish children.

A negative association between sleep duration and BMI has been observed in children. However, knowledge about the association between sleep duration and diet is limited. The objective was to examine the association between sleep duration and intake of foods and nutrients in children.

Dietary patterns on weekdays and weekend days in 4-14-year-old Danish children.

Little is known about dietary patterns on weekdays and weekend days in children, and the aim of the present study was to investigate 4–14-year-old children's dietary patterns specifically on weekdays (Monday–Thursday) and weekend days (Saturday–Sunday). Dietary data were derived from the Danish National Survey of Dietary Habits and Physical Activity 2003–8, where a total of 784 children aged 4–14 years completed a 7 d pre-coded food record. Principal component analysis was used to identify dietary patterns in the age groups 4–6, 7–10 and 11–14 years.