Possible predictors for sarcopenia in community-dwelling elderly: neck and calf circumferences.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between sarcopenia and calf and neck circumferences. One hundred seventy-seven community-dwelling elderly individuals (over 65 years old) were recruited. A questionnaire was applied via face-to-face interview and the MNA-SF was used to assess nutritional status.

Nutritional Status among Portuguese and Turkish Older Adults Living in the Community: Relationships with Sociodemographic, Health and Anthropometric Characteristics.

Malnutrition is widespread among older adults, and its determinants may differ between countries. We compared Portuguese and Turkish non-institutionalized older adults regarding nutritional status, sociodemographic, health and anthropometric characteristics and studied the relationships between nutritional status and those characteristics. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 430 Portuguese and 162 Turkish non-institutionalized older adults regarding sociodemographics, health conditions, the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA-FF) and anthropometry.

An extended version of the MNA-SF increases sensitivity in identifying malnutrition among community living older adults. Results from the PRONUTRISENIOR project.

Background & Aims: The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is the most used tool to assess malnutrition and/or its risk among older adults. Its Screening section was proposed as a short form (MNA-SF) but studies comparing the two forms present controversial results. Our main aims were to study the agreement between MNA-SF and its full form (MNA-FF) among Portuguese older adults living in the community and to develop a more sensible version of the MNA-SF.

Food-related quality of life among older adults living in community: A multi-factorial approach.

Background & Aims: Food-related quality of life (FRQoL) assesses the specific impact of diet, eating behaviors, and food-related anxiety on a person's Health-related quality of life. The food serves a set of purposes that go beyond supplying the basic physiological needs, it also has a hedonic and social dimension. In addition, the relationship between food and health and well-being nowadays is unquestionable.

Portugal nutritional transition during the last 4 decades: 1974-2011.

Objective: To examine trends in food availability for Portugal during the last 4 decades (1974-2011) and analyze such changes in accordance with the nutritional transition theory.

Methods: Food balance sheets from Portugal from 1974 to 2011 were analyzed for potential trends by linear regression to study the availability of protein, fat, carbohydrate, ethanol, and total energy and the availability of the following food groups: (i) cereals and tubers; (ii) vegetables; (iii) fruit; (iv) milk; (v) meat, fish, and eggs; (vi) fat; (vii) pulses; (viii) alcoholic beverages; and (ix) sugar and sweeteners. A comparison regarding protein, fat, and carbohydrate availability and WHO recommendation was also performed.

The relationship between health self-perception, food consumption and nutritional status among Portuguese older adults.

In Portugal people aged 65 and above will be the populational group with the highest growth rate of the next decades. Healthy ageing constitutes a challenge as not only the number of years lived are essential, but also the quality of life becomes a priority. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between health self-perception (HSP), food consumption and nutritional status among Portuguese older adults.

Food choice and food consumption frequency of Cape Verde inhabitants.

The knowledge of the food pattern of a population is crucial for establishing nutritional and epidemiological profiles, as well as for controlling the market of foodstuffs and to help in the management of stock of staple foods. This study aims to evaluate food consumption and its association with the underlying motives for consumers' food choices, through the application of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) followed by a Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ). Face to face interviews were conducted with 503 participants, recruited at their homes, workplaces, health centers and other central locations in Cape Verde, only including subjects aged ≥18 years, without a self-reported history of chronic diseases.

General and abdominal adiposity in a representative sample of Portuguese adults: dependency of measures and socio-demographic factors' influence.

The aims of this study were: (i) to estimate the dependency between BMI and waist:height ratio (WHtR) as measures of general and abdominal adiposity, and (ii) to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic factors on both measures and on their dependency in risk classification. Data from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2009 among a representative sample of 3529 Portuguese adults were used. Height, weight and waist were measured and socio-demographic data (sex, age, education level, occupational status, marital status, region of residence) were obtained.

Promoting healthy dietary behaviour through personalised nutrition: technology push or technology pull?

The notion of educating the public through generic healthy eating messages has pervaded dietary health promotion efforts over the years and continues to do so through various media, despite little evidence for any enduring impact upon eating behaviour. There is growing evidence, however, that tailored interventions such as those that could be delivered online can be effective in bringing about healthy dietary behaviour change. The present paper brings together evidence from qualitative and quantitative studies that have considered the public perspective of genomics, nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition, including those conducted as part of the EU-funded Food4Me project.

Fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of 11-year-old children in ten European countries--the PRO GREENS cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To describe fruit and vegetable intake of 11-year-old children in ten European countries and compare it with current dietary guidelines.

Design: Cross-sectional survey. Intake was assessed using a previously validated questionnaire containing a pre-coded 24 h recall and an FFQ which were completed in the classroom.

Does eating family meals and having the television on during dinner correlate with overweight? A sub-study of the PRO GREENS project, looking at children from nine European countries.

Objective: Family meals have been negatively associated with overweight in children, while television (TV) viewing during meals has been associated with a poorer diet. The aim of the present study was to assess the association of eating family breakfast and dinner, and having a TV on during dinner, with overweight in nine European countries and whether these associations differed between Northern and Southern & Eastern Europe.

Design: Cross-sectional data.

Mediation of parental educational level on fruit and vegetable intake among schoolchildren in ten European countries.

Objective: To examine which factors act as mediators between parental educational level and children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in ten European countries.

Design: Cross-sectional data were collected in ten European countries participating in the PRO GREENS project (2009). Schoolchildren completed a validated FFQ about their daily F&V intake and filled in a questionnaire about availability of F&V at home, parental facilitation of F&V intake, knowledge of recommendations about F&V intake, self-efficacy to eat F&V and liking for F&V.

Fruit and vegetables: intake and sociodemographic determinants among Portuguese mothers.

Background: Fruit and vegetable intake is crucial in health promotion and disease prevention. Inadequate intake is found among adult populations worldwide.

Aims: To assess fruit and vegetable intake among Portuguese mothers and to examine its association with sociodemographic determinants.

Factors influencing European consumer uptake of personalised nutrition. Results of a qualitative analysis.

The aim of this research was to explore consumer perceptions of personalised nutrition and to compare these across three different levels of "medicalization": lifestyle assessment (no blood sampling); phenotypic assessment (blood sampling); genomic assessment (blood and buccal sampling). The protocol was developed from two pilot focus groups conducted in the UK. Two focus groups (one comprising only "older" individuals between 30 and 60 years old, the other of adults 18-65 yrs of age) were run in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Germany (N=16).

[Validation of a questionnaire to evaluate alcohol related behaviours in excessive drinkers].

Unlabelled: The excessive consumption of alcohol and alcoholic drinks is an habit with high socioeconomic costs and a strong impact on health that requires research aiming at establishing adequate political options concerning trends, observed behaviours and consumption.

Objectives: To validate an instrument to evaluate the consumption of the different kinds of alcoholic drinks and alcohol-related behaviours; to assess the determinants of alcoholic drinks consumption.

Type Of Study: Validation study of an instrument to assess alcohol-related behaviours.

Association between parenting styles and own fruit and vegetable consumption among Portuguese mothers of school children.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between parenting styles and own fruit and vegetable consumption among Portuguese mothers of school children. A cross-sectional study was performed in Portugal as part of the Pro Children cross-sectional European survey. Portuguese mothers (n 1601) of 11-13-year-old school children were included in the present study.

Metabolic syndrome, adipokines and ghrelin in overweight and obese schoolchildren: results of a 1-year lifestyle intervention programme.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a lifestyle intervention programme (nutrition and exercise counselling) on metabolic syndrome (MS) components, adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) and ghrelin levels in overweight children. A total of 61 overweight children aged 7-9 years (≥ 85th body mass index (BMI) percentile; 27 boys/34 girls) were randomly assigned and completed a 1-year individual (IT) or group-based treatment (GT). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline, at 6 months and at 1 year.

Worldwide variation of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, in 1961-1965 and 2000-2003.

Objective: The present study aimed to analyse the worldwide trends of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in 1961-1965 and 2000-2003.

Design: Data were obtained from the FAO food balance sheets in two periods: 1961-1965 and 2000-2003. In order to have a sample from across the world, forty-one countries were selected.

Availability of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean foods during the last four decades: comparison of several geographical areas.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the availability of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet and other food groups in five geographical areas during a 43-year period.

Design: Ecological study with food availability data obtained from FAO food balance sheets in forty-one countries for the period 1961-1965 and 2000-2004.

Setting: Mediterranean, Northern and Central Europe, Other Mediterranean countries and Other Countries of the World were the studied areas.

The Women's Health Initiative. What is on trial: nutrition and chronic disease? Or misinterpreted science, media havoc and the sound of silence from peers?

The first results of the Women's Health Initiative dietary intervention trial were published in the USA in February. This is a colossal intervention designed to see if diets lower in fat and higher in fruits, vegetables and grains than is usual in high-income countries reduce the incidence of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases, in women aged 50-79 years. As interpreted by US government media releases, the results were unimpressive.

[Body mass index: sensitivity and specificity].

Introduction: Self-reported height and weight data have been used in several studies with the purpose of determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Despite being a simple methodology, little information exists about the reliability of these measures, namely, in university students. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of self-reported body mass index (BMI) to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in university students.

Personal, social and environmental factors regarding fruit and vegetable intake among schoolchildren in nine European countries.

Background/aims: Children in Europe are consuming less fruit and vegetables than recommended. Knowledge about the potential determinants of fruit and vegetable intake is vital to understand discrepancies in intake and to guide interventions. The aim of the present study was to assess personal, social and environmental factors regarding fruit and vegetable intake among 11- to 12-year-old children in Europe.

Fruit and vegetable intake of mothers of 11-year-old children in nine European countries: The Pro Children Cross-sectional Survey.

Objective: To describe and compare fruit and vegetable intakes of mothers of 11-year-old children across Europe.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 9 European countries in October/November 2003. Self-administered questionnaires assessing fruit and vegetable consumption were used for data collection.

Validity and reproducibility of a precoded questionnaire to assess fruit and vegetable intake in European 11- to 12-year-old schoolchildren.

Background/aims: Validity and reproducibility were evaluated of a new questionnaire to assess fruit and vegetable intakes in 11- to 12-year-old children.

Methods: The precoded teacher-assisted self-administered questionnaire included two sections: a 24-hour recall part and a food frequency part. Validity was tested in 4 countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Portugal; n = 43-60 per country) using a 1-day weighed food record and 7-day food records as reference methods.