COVID-19-related lockdowns and changes in overweight and obesity, movement behaviours, diet quality, and health-related quality of life among regional Australian primary school children: A repeat cross-sectional study.

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Australian state of Victoria (in particular, its capital, Melbourne) experienced some of the longest lockdowns in the world.

Objective: This repeated cross-sectional study examined changes between March to June 2019 (pre-pandemic) and April to August 2022 (6 to 11 months following pandemic-related lockdowns) in overweight and obesity prevalence, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among primary school children in north-east Victoria, Australia.

Methods: Height and weight were measured for Grade 2, 4, and 6 students in 2019 (3889 children) and 2022 (1816 children).

A Scoping Review of the Causal Pathways and Biological Mechanisms Linking Nutrition Exposures and Health Outcomes.

Background/aim: Building on the evidence for multifaceted effects of different nutrients, foods and dietary patterns is a new priority for nutrition science. This review aims to describe the causal pathways and biological mechanisms that elucidate the associations between different nutrition exposures (nutrients, foods and dietary patterns) and health outcomes.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted in two stages: 1) review of nutrition science textbooks; and 2) a review of reviews of empirical literature using a systematic approach to elucidate causal pathways and biological mechanisms for nutrition exposures and health outcomes.

Sleep behavioral outcomes of school-based interventions for promoting sleep health in children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years: a systematic review.

Study Objectives: Insufficient sleep is common among children and adolescents, and can contribute to poor health. School-based interventions potentially could improve sleep behavior due to their broad reach, but their effectiveness is unclear. This systematic review focused on the effects of school-based interventions on sleep behavior among children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity published internationally: A scoping review.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity placing additional demands on healthcare systems, many jurisdictions and professional bodies have developed clinical practice guidelines to support practitioners in the management of people with overweight and obesity. This scoping review aimed to identify key features of contemporary guidelines for the clinical management of overweight and obesity. Searches of MEDLINE, Guidelines International Network's international guidelines library, and other grey literature sources identified 38 guidelines of 18 countries and one region published since 2010.

Using the Hierarchies of Evidence Applied to Lifestyle Medicine (HEALM) Approach to Assess the Strength of Evidence on Associations between Dietary Patterns and All-Cause Mortality.

Dietary guidelines should be underpinned by high-quality evidence. Quality assessment methods that reflect traditional evidence hierarchies prioritise evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The Hierarchies of Evidence Applied to Lifestyle Medicine (HEALM) approach is an alternative quality assessment method for research questions that for practical and/or ethical reasons, cannot be answered using RCTs.

Mums on the Move: A pilot randomised controlled trial of a home-based physical activity intervention for mothers at risk of postnatal depression.

Background: Postnatal women are commonly physically inactive, and, when coupled with depressive symptoms, barriers to physical activity can be heightened. This study aimed to 1) examine the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-component home-based physical activity intervention delivered to mothers at risk of postnatal depression, and 2) examine changes in health behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet) and indicators of mental health.

Methods: Sixty-two mothers (3 - 9 months postpartum) who at baseline were insufficiently active and experiencing heightened depressive symptoms were recruited into a 12-week randomised controlled trial in 2018.

The association between sedentary behaviour and indicators of stress: a systematic review.

Background: Emerging evidence shows sedentary behaviour may be associated with mental health outcomes. Yet, the strength of the evidence linking sedentary behaviour and stress is still unclear. This study aimed to synthesise evidence regarding associations between time spent in sedentary behaviour and stress in adults.

An evaluation of SecondBite 's FoodMate , a nutrition education and skill-building program aimed at reducing food insecurity.

Issue Addressed: Enhancing food skills and nutrition knowledge may help promote healthy eating among people who are food insecure. FoodMate by SecondBite , an 8-week nutrition education and food hamper program, focuses on developing food skills and independence among Australians at risk of/experiencing food insecurity. This study aimed to explore participants' perceptions of and experiences with FoodMate over a long-term (up to 2 years) follow-up.

A qualitative study of the drivers of socioeconomic inequalities in men's eating behaviours.

Background: Men of low socioeconomic position (SEP) are less likely than those of higher SEP to consume fruits and vegetables, and more likely to eat processed discretionary foods. Education level is a widely used marker of SEP. Few studies have explored determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in men's eating behaviours.

Can an incentive-based intervention increase physical activity and reduce sitting among adults? the ACHIEVE (Active Choices IncEntiVE) feasibility study.

Background: Despite recent interest in the potential of incentivisation as a strategy for motivating healthier behaviors, little remains known about the effectiveness of incentives in promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior, and improving associated health outcomes. This pre-post-test design study investigated the feasibility, appeal and effects of providing non-financial incentives for promoting increased physical activity, reduced sedentary time, and reduced body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure among inactive middle-aged adults.

Methods: Inactive men (n = 36) and women (n = 46) aged 40-65 years were recruited via a not-for-profit insurance fund and participated in a 4 month pre-post design intervention.

ShopSmart 4 Health: results of a randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women.

Background: Behavioral interventions show potential for promoting increased fruit and vegetable consumption in the general population. However, little is known about their effectiveness or cost-effectiveness among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who are less likely to consume adequate fruit and vegetables.

Objective: This study investigated the effects and costs of a behavior change intervention for increasing fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption among socioeconomically disadvantaged women.

Nutrition promotion approaches preferred by Australian adolescents attending schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods: a qualitative study.

Background: Links between socioeconomic disadvantage and unhealthy eating behaviours among adolescents are well established. Little is known about strategies that might support healthy eating among this target group. This study aimed to identify potential strategies and preferred dissemination methods that could be employed in nutrition promotion initiatives focussed on improving eating behaviours among socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents.

Socio-economic differences in predictors of frequent dairy food consumption among Australian adolescents: a longitudinal study.

Objective: Sufficient dairy food consumption during adolescence is necessary for preventing disease. While socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents tend to consume few dairy foods, some eat quantities more in line with dietary recommendations despite socio-economic challenges. Socio-economic variations in factors supportive of adolescents' frequent dairy consumption remain unexplored.

Longitudinal predictors of frequent vegetable and fruit consumption among socio-economically disadvantaged Australian adolescents.

Adequate vegetable and fruit consumption is necessary for preventing nutrition-related diseases. Socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents tend to consume relatively few vegetables and fruits. However, despite nutritional challenges associated with socio-economic disadvantage, a minority of adolescents manage to eat vegetables and fruit in quantities that are more in line with dietary recommendations.

Predictors of high-energy foods and beverages: a longitudinal study among socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents.

Objective: While socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents tend to have poor dietary intakes, some manage to eat healthily. Understanding how some disadvantaged adolescents restrict high-energy foods and beverages may inform initiatives promoting healthier diets among this population. The present investigation aimed to: (i) identify disadvantaged adolescents' high-energy food and beverage intakes; and (ii) explore cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between intrapersonal, social and environmental factors and disadvantaged adolescents' high-energy food intakes.