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- Anthropometric assessment of children aged between 6 and 14 years from a school in LisbonPublication . Costa, Adriana; Ferreira-Pêgo, Cíntia; Sousa, BrunoAs a global epidemic, obesity is currently a significant public health challenge, especially in children. Childhood obesity is related to short term consequences, but also with an increased risk to develop many comorbidities in adult life, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and others. A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of normal weight, pre-obesity and obesity in school-aged children was designed. The final sample size analyzed included 81 participants (47 boys and 34 girls) aged between 6 and 14 years old. Pre-obesity and obesity were determined according to the BMI cut-off points adopted by the IOTF. Although no significant differences were found, the prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity for the total population studied was 16.00% and 6.20%, respectively, with 14.60%, and 4.30% for boys and 17.60% and 8.80% for girls. More girls were pre-obese and obese than boys except at ages 9 and 12. The same age that boys presented cardiometabolic risk associated with a WHtR>0.50. These results emphasize the importance of nutritional status assessment to develop appropriate actions to prevent childhood obesity.
- Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Portuguese university studentsPublication . Ferreira-Pêgo, Cíntia; Rodrigues, Joana; Costa, Adriana; Sousa, BrunoMediterranean diet (MedDiet) is one of the most recognized healthy dietary patterns. Despite the beneficial effects of healthy eating habits on academic performance, university students make unhealthy food choices. Cross sectional information regarding MedDiet adherence was collected in 305 students from the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, from different academic courses, related or not with health sciences. To assess the MedDiet adherence, the participants completed a validated 14-point questionnaire. Approximately 29% of the total population presented poor (< 5 points) MedDiet adherence, meanwhile 59% presented an average (between 6 and 9 points) adherence and only 12.50% presented a high (> 10 points) MedDiet adherence. Nutrition students presented the highest MedDiet adherence of all the students analyzed. Pharmaceutical students, although being health professionals, showed poor adherence to the MedDiet, similar to students from courses not related to health sciences.
- Assessment of nutritional risk in elderly adults of a senior residence – a case studyPublication . Pereira, Diana; Ferreira-Pêgo, Cíntia; Sousa, BrunoElderly adults have reduced appetite and energy expenditure, and possible malnutrition is related to the decline in biological and physiological functions, as well as its consequences. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and malnutrition risk in elderly adults living in a senior residence. A cross-sectional observational analysis was carried out between February and March 2019 in a private senior residence in which the complete Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was applied. It was observed that of the total of 45 participants, 5 individuals had a normal nutritional status, 18 had malnutrition and 22 were at risk. Malnutrition was related to a decrease in intake in the last 3 months (p=0.015) or to the fact that they experienced some type of psychological stress or acute illness in the same period (p=0.023). A higher incidence of malnutrition was also found in bedridden individuals or those in wheelchairs (p<0.001), as well as in patients with severe dementia (p=0.010), with the presence of skin lesions or bedsores (p=0.006), weight loss in the previous 3 months (p=0.003), and decreased fluid consumption (p=0.017). In conclusion, in this residence we verified that the malnutrition and malnutrition risk values are high, highlighting the need for nutritional intervention.
- Body shape concerns in Portuguese university studentsPublication . Ferreira-Pêgo, Cíntia; Rodrigues, Joana; Sousa, BrunoMany current models of beauty in developed countries represent extreme thinness in women and a muscular body in men. The body image perception will condition the search for ideal beauty through different behaviors and can be transformed into eating disorders. The university students, with the changes typical of youth and university transition, are a vulnerable group. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the concerns about body shape in university students from the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias. The study included 163 students, of whom 100 were women, with a mean age of 21.71 (SD=3.80) years. 81% of men presented no body shape concerns, 17.50% showed mild, 1.60% moderate and 0% intense preoccupation. In comparison, 59% of women presented no level of body shape concerns, 27% showed a mild, 10% moderate, and 4% intense body shape preoccupation. The odds ratio of presenting concerns about body shape were significantly related to being of female gender. There were more cases of preoccupation about body shape in women, regardless of age, academic course, or adherence to the Mediterranean diet.