Evaluation of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention in adolescents in six European countries: the Activ-O-Meter in the HELENA intervention study.

Purpose: The present study investigates the effect of the Activ-O-Meter, an internet-based computer-tailored physical activity intervention in adolescents in six European centers involved in the HELENA study.

Methods: Adolescents (12-17 years old) from Vienna, Ghent, Heraklion, Dortmund, Athens, and Stockholm were randomized into intervention and control schools. Participants in the intervention condition received the computer-tailored advice at baseline and after 1 month.

Attenuation of the effect of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on total and central body fat by physical activity in adolescents: the HELENA study.

Objective: To examine whether physical activity attenuates the effect of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on body fat estimates in adolescents.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Athens, Greece; Dortmund, Germany; Ghent, Belgium; Heraklion, Greece; Lille, France; Pécs, Hungary; Rome, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; Vienna, Austria; and Zaragoza, Spain, from October 2006 to December 2007.

The influence of n-3 PUFA supplements and n-3 PUFA enriched foods on the n-3 LC PUFA intake of Flemish women.

Food consumption data of Flemish women of reproductive age collected in 2002 showed a large deficit for ALA and n-3 LC PUFA compared to the recommendations (mean ALA and EPA + DHA intake 1.4 g/day and 209 mg/day, respectively) and indicated a need to tackle the problem of low n-3 PUFA intake. Another recent Belgian study demonstrated that enrichment of commonly eaten food items with n-3 PUFA provides the opportunity to increase the n-3 PUFA intake up to 6.

Self-reported physical activity in European adolescents: results from the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study.

Objective: To describe self-reported physical activity (PA) patterns in the various domains (school, home, transport, leisure time) and intensity categories (walking, moderate PA, vigorous PA) in European adolescents. Furthermore, self-reported PA patterns were evaluated in relation to gender, age category, weight status category and socio-economic status (SES).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Reproducibility and validity of a diet quality index for children assessed using a FFQ.

The diet quality index (DQI) for preschool children is a new index developed to reflect compliance with four main food-based dietary guidelines for preschool children in Flanders. The present study investigates: (1) the validity of this index by comparing DQI scores for preschool children with nutrient intakes, both of which were derived from 3 d estimated diet records; (2) the reproducibility of the DQI for preschoolers based on a parentally reported forty-seven-item FFQ DQI, which was repeated after 5 weeks; (3) the relative validity of the FFQ DQI with 3 d record DQI scores as reference. The study sample included 510 and 58 preschoolers (2.

Primary prevention from the epidemiology perspective: three examples from the practice.

Background: Primary prevention programmes are of increasing importance to reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the individual, institutional and societal level. However, most initiatives that develop and implement primary prevention programmes are not evaluated with scientific rigor. On the basis of three different projects we discuss necessary steps on the road to evidence-based primary prevention.

Validity of self-reported weight and height of adolescents, its impact on classification into BMI-categories and the association with weighing behaviour.

This paper investigated the validity of self-reported height and weight of adolescents for the diagnosis of underweight, overweight and obesity and the influence of weighing behaviour on the accuracy. A total of 982 adolescents reported their height, weight, weighing behaviour and eating patterns in a questionnaire. Afterwards, their height and weight were measured and their Body Mass Index (BMI)-categories were determined using age- and gender-specific BMI cut-off points.

High dietary supplement intakes among Flemish preschoolers.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dietary supplement use among Flemish preschoolers and to investigate associations between dietary supplement use and socio-economic variables of the parents. Parentally reported 3-day estimated dietary records (n=696) were used to calculate mean daily nutrient intakes, using Software for Intake Distribution Estimation (Cside). Socio-demographic information and frequency of dietary supplement use were collected via parental questionnaires, including a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) (n=1847).

Breast-feeding modulates the influence of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARG2) Pro12Ala polymorphism on adiposity in adolescents: The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) cross-sectional study.

Objective: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPARG2) Pro12Ala polymorphism has been associated with a higher BMI and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The association between adiposity and PPARG variants can be influenced by environmental factors such as early growth, dietary fat, and (as recently shown) breast-feeding. The objectives of this study were to assess 1) the influence of the PPARG2 Pro12Ala polymorphism on adiposity markers in adolescents and 2) a possible modulating effect of breast-feeding on these associations.

Comparison of the nutritional-toxicological conflict related to seafood consumption in different regions worldwide.

This article discusses the seafood consumption worldwide as well as the related nutritional-toxicological conflict. An exposure assessment was performed using seafood consumption data from the Global Environment Monitoring System and nutrient and contaminant concentration data. The data indicated that the region of Japan, Korea, Madagascar and Philippines have the highest seafood consumption, followed by the Nordic-Baltic countries and South-East Asia.

Determinants of nutrition knowledge in young and middle-aged Belgian women and the association with their dietary behaviour.

The present study investigated the role of socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants on the nutrition knowledge of Belgian women and the association between their knowledge and dietary behaviour. A total of 803 women, aged 18-39 years, were included in a cross-sectional study and completed a general and nutrition knowledge questionnaire and a 2-day food record. Their height and weight were measured under standardised conditions.

Effect of ALA-enriched food supply on cardiovascular risk factors in males.

The outcome of a total dietary approach using a wide range of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) enriched food items on cardiovascular diseases called for further investigation. The study objective was to assess the effect of an ALA-enriched food supply on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy males. A dietary intervention (single-blind field trial with pre- and post-measurements) was performed with 59 healthy males in a Belgian prison.

Relative validity and reproducibility of a food-frequency questionnaire for estimating food intakes among Flemish preschoolers.

The aims of this study were to assess the relative validity and reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) applied in a large region-wide survey among 2.5-6.5 year-old children for estimating food group intakes.

Validity and reproducibility of a self-administered semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire for estimating usual daily fat, fibre, alcohol, caffeine and theobromine intakes among Belgian post-menopausal women.

A novel food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed and validated to assess the usual daily fat, saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acid, fibre, alcohol, caffeine, and theobromine intakes among Belgian post-menopausal women participating in dietary intervention trials with phyto-oestrogens. The relative validity of the FFQ was estimated by comparison with 7 day (d) estimated diet records (EDR, n 64) and its reproducibility was evaluated by repeated administrations 6 weeks apart (n 79). Although the questionnaire underestimated significantly all intakes compared to the 7 d EDR, it had a good ranking ability (r 0.

Effectiveness of a computer tailored physical activity intervention in adolescents compared to a generic advice.

Objective: To investigate the differences in effects of a computer tailored physical activity advice as compared to generic information in adolescents.

Methods: Students (mean age, 14.6+/-1.

Reliability and validity of a healthy diet determinants questionnaire for adolescents.

Objective: To describe the development of a short questionnaire including a wide range of personal, social and environmental constructs in relation to a healthy diet in an adolescent population.

Design: The questionnaire was developed based on the literature, past experiences and feedback from a small pilot study (n 10). Test and retest (2 weeks later) of the questionnaire was done to investigate test-retest reliability.

Food intakes by preschool children in Flanders compared with dietary guidelines.

The objective of this study was to compare food group intakes among preschool children with food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) and to determine the proportion of children meeting these guidelines. Food consumption of preschool children (2.5-6.

Determinants of ferritin and soluble transferrin receptors as iron status parameters in young adult women.

Objective: To investigate associations between nutritional and non-nutritional variables and Fe status parameters, i.e. serum ferritin and soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR).

Evaluation of the exposure methodology for risk-benefit assessment of seafood consumption.

This study evaluated the methodology of using existing, international data to calculate the intake of nutrients and contaminants via seafood consumption on a national level. This was done by combining French seafood consumption data with two different datasets. The results showed that a significant correlation was found between the results obtained by using different data sets and that a high percentage of the population was classified in the same category (above or below the intake reference values).

Fish consumption and its motives in households with versus without self-reported medical history of CVD: a consumer survey from five European countries.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the cross-cultural differences in the frequency of fish intake and in motivations for fish consumption between people from households with (CVD+) or without (CVD-) medical history of cardiovascular disease, using data obtained in five European countries.

Methods: A cross-sectional consumer survey was carried out in November-December 2004 with representative household samples from Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland and Spain. The sample consisted of 4,786 respondents, aged 18-84 and who were responsible for food purchasing and cooking in the household.

Reproducibility and relative validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire designed for assessing the intake of dioxin-like contaminants.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility and relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) designed to estimate the intake of dioxin-like contaminants.

Method: In total, 180 adults (50-65 years) completed the FFQ twice and 157 of them kept four times a 2-day estimated dietary record (EDR) spread over a year.

Results: Spearman rank correlation coefficients varied between 0.

Communicating risks and benefits from fish consumption: impact on Belgian consumers' perception and intention to eat fish.

Communicating about the health effects of fish and seafood may potentially result in a conflict situation: increasing intake is desirable because of health and nutritional benefits, but higher consumption may also lead to an increased intake of potentially harmful environmental contaminants. In order to anticipate the communication challenge this conflict may pose, the research presented here aimed to assess the impact of risk/benefit communication on Belgian consumers' fish consumption behavior and fish attribute perception. Data were collected in June 2005 from a sample of 381 women, aged between 20 and 50 years.

The relation between the estimated dietary intake of PCDD/Fs and levels in blood in a Flemish population (50-65 years).

Dioxin-like activity was measured in the serum of 1425 Flemish men and women via the CALUX assay. The adults, aged between 50 and 65 years, participated in a large biomonitoring program, executed by the Flemish Center of Expertise for Environment and Health between 2002 and 2006. Within the context of this biomonitoring program also dietary intake of dioxin-like contaminants was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire.

Variation in energy and nutrient intakes among pre-school children: implications for study design.

Background: Within- and between-person variation in nutrient intakes has been characterized in adult populations, but little is known about variation in the diet of pre-school-aged children. The aim of this study was to describe dietary variations in Flemish pre-schoolers and to estimate the number of record days required for studying diet-disease associations among pre-school-aged children.

Methods: Data from 3-day estimated diet records, collected in 2002-03, were used from 661 pre-school children (2.

Food consumption among preschoolers. Does the school make a difference?

Few preschool children have a diet in line with nutrition recommendations. The school food policy is one of the factors that can influence children's eating habits. Multilevel regression analyses were carried out to test the potential influence of a school's food policy (N=50) on the children's (N=1678; ages 2.