Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Maria C. Caamano, Olga P. Garcia, Jorge L. Rosado
Summary: The association between socioeconomic status and chronic disease in middle- and low-income countries has become more evident. Poor socioeconomic conditions may restrict access to a healthy diet and be associated with cardiometabolic risk. This study examined the relation between socioeconomic indicators, body fat, and cardiometabolic disease risk markers in a random sample of mothers in Mexico.
NUTRITION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Jun Wen, Samia Khalid, Hamid Mahmood, Muhammad Zakaria
Summary: The study investigates the symmetric and asymmetric impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on food prices in China. It reveals that negative EPU shocks have a significant effect on food prices in the short run, while positive shocks do not have a significant impact. However, in the long run, the impact of both positive and negative EPU shocks is insignificant, demonstrating a shift towards equilibrium.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Qian Zhou, Li Zhao, Longhao Zhang, Qian Xiao, Tong Wu, Tommy Visscher, Jinfeng Zhao, Junguo Xin, Xueshuang Yu, Hong Xue, Hong Li, Jay Pan, Peng Jia
Summary: Childhood obesity is a pressing public health issue, with environmental factors potentially influencing lifestyle behaviors. Studies on the association between access to supermarkets and childhood obesity have shown mixed results, with better designed studies needed for a robust understanding in the future.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Peng Jia, Miyang Luo, Yamei Li, Ju-Sheng Zheng, Qian Xiao, Jiayou Luo
Summary: While higher access to fast-food restaurants (FFRs) was commonly associated with increased fast-food consumption, most studies did not find a significant association between FFR access and weight-related behaviors (such as dietary quality score and frequency of food consumption) in children. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis showed mixed results in terms of the relationship between FFR access and weight-related behaviors/outcomes among children and adolescents.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Diana Carvajal-Aldaz, Gabriela Cucalon, Carlos Ordonez
Summary: Obesity is a major health concern in the 21st century and is associated with Non-Communicable Diseases. Consideration of food insecurity adds complexity to this issue. Research should focus on understanding the mechanisms underlying the relationship between food insecurity and obesity to develop effective interventions.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Sajjad Moradi, Mohammad Hassan Entezari, Hamed Mohammadi, Ahmad Jayedi, Anastasia-Viktoria Lazaridi, Mohammad ali Hojjati Kermani, Maryam Miraghajani
Summary: This study indicates that consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) is associated with an increased risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, with every 10% increase in UPF consumption leading to a 7%, 6%, and 5% higher risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, respectively. The findings suggest a positive linear association between UPF consumption and abdominal obesity, as well as a positive linear association with the risk of overweight/obesity in cross-sectional studies and a positive monotonic association in cohort studies.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Norman J. Temple
Summary: This paper examines the likely causes of the obesity epidemic in the USA, and concludes that ultra-processed foods, especially sugar-sweetened beverages, are closely linked to the prevalence of obesity. Factors such as low price and the popularity of fast-food restaurants contributed to the increased intake of ultra-processed foods. The paper also discusses the health hazards associated with these foods and the need for public health measures to reduce their consumption.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Miriam Alvarado, Jean Adams, Tarra Penney, Madhuvanti M. Murphy, Safura Abdool Karim, Nat Egan, Nina Trivedy Rogers, Lauren Carters-White, Martin White
Summary: This study applies systems thinking to investigate the influences and impacts of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. The findings suggest that influences and impacts may be cyclically linked, and the use of systems thinking methods in this area is relatively limited. A feedback-oriented conceptual framework is proposed to synthesize the evidence and guide further research and policy development.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Lara Gomes Suhett, Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff, Bruna Clemente Cota, Sarah Aparecida Vieira Ribeiro, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hebert, Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini, Juliana Farias de Novaes
Summary: The study analyzed the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) or the children's C-DII and cardiometabolic risk and inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents. All papers found a positive association, indicating that a proinflammatory diet is linked to a higher risk of early development of cardiometabolic and inflammatory changes during childhood.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Economics
Sara Diab, Mohamad B. Karaki
Summary: This paper examines the impact of gasoline price shocks on food prices. Using data on aggregate and disaggregate food product prices, the study finds that an increase in gasoline prices leads to a significant rise in both aggregate food prices and the prices of individual food items. Additionally, it is found that higher gasoline prices also contribute to an increase in the cost of producing food due to higher fertilizer and animal feed prices. However, no significant impact on food marketing costs is observed. Through a historical counterfactual analysis, the study shows that higher gasoline prices played a role in the increase in food prices, particularly cereals and dairy products, during the 2005-2007 period and after the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Alexandra Chung, Christina Zorbas, Devorah Riesenberg, Ainslie Sartori, Kelly Kennington, Jaithri Ananthapavan, Kathryn Backholer
Summary: Unhealthy food marketing can influence people's preferences and consumption, and should be restricted by government policies; Existing studies mainly focus on advertising prevalence, but lack evaluation of the impact of implemented policies; Policy implementation requires collaboration, leadership, and overcoming industry lobbying, among other factors.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Gabriela P. Teixeira, Kisian C. Guimaraes, Ana Gabriela N. S. Soares, Elaine C. Marqueze, Claudia R. C. Moreno, Maria C. Mota, Cibele A. Crispim
Summary: Recent studies indicate that chronotype is associated with dietary habits and obesity. Evening types are more likely to have unhealthy eating habits such as eating late at night, skipping breakfast, and consuming processed/ultraprocessed foods. Morning types are more likely to have healthy eating habits such as eating breakfast early and consuming fresh/minimally processed foods. Intermediate types have eating patterns and health behaviors more similar to early types than late types.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Prida, Sara Alvarez-Delgado, Raquel Perez-Lois, Mateo Soto-Tielas, Ana Estany-Gestal, Johan Ferno, Luisa Maria Seoane, Mar Quinones, Omar Al-Massadi
Summary: Fibroblast growth factor 21 plays a key role in regulating metabolism and has direct effects on the central nervous system. It is involved in maintaining energy homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. Recombinant fibroblast growth factor 21 therapies have shown efficacy in counteracting obesity and related metabolic disorders in rodents and nonhuman primates.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Jiayan Zhang, Huan Deng, Juan Bai, Xinghua Zhou, Yansheng Zhao, Ying Zhu, David Julian McClements, Xiang Xiao, Quancai Sun
Summary: This article reviews the nutritional and functional characteristics of barley, focusing on its ability to improve glucose/lipid metabolism. It also discusses recent trends in barley product development and explores current limitations and future research directions in glucolipid modulation mechanisms and barley bioprocessing.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Fatemeh Eskandari, Amelia A. Lake, Kelly Rose, Mark Butler, Claire O'Malley
Summary: Obesity is a significant public health concern in rich countries, and its association with obesogenic food environments and food insecurity is complex. This review analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to examine the relationship between these variables among adults and children in high-income countries. The findings suggest that there is a statistically significant association between food insecurity and obesity, and different types of food environments are also associated with obesity. These results highlight the importance of addressing food insecurity and unhealthy food environments in tackling the obesity epidemic.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kiersten L. Strombotne, Aaron Legler, Taeko Minegishi, Jodie A. Trafton, Elizabeth M. Oliva, Eleanor T. Lewis, Pooja Sohoni, Melissa M. Garrido, Steven D. Pizer, Austin B. Frakt
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of a case review mandate on serious adverse events and all-cause mortality among high-risk veterans. The results showed that requiring providers to perform case reviews on high-risk patients was associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality and an increase in risk mitigation strategies.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Yevgeniy Feyman, Stuart M. Figueroa, Yingzhe Yuan, Megan E. Price, Aigerim Kabdiyeva, Jonathan R. Nebeker, Merry C. Ward, Paul R. Shafer, Steven D. Pizer, Kiersten L. Strombotne
Summary: This study aims to estimate the effects of changes in mental health services staffing levels on suicide-related events among Veterans. The results suggest that increasing mental health staffing can significantly reduce the occurrence of suicide-related events.
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Semra Ozdemir, Isha Chaudhry, Si Ning Germaine Tan, Irene Teo, Chetna Malhotra, Rahul Malhotra, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: This study investigated the changes in decision-making roles among patients with metastatic solid cancer in their last year of life and their association with patient quality of life and perceived quality of care. The most reported roles were patient-led and joint decision making, which were associated with better quality of life and quality of care. As death approached, there was a decrease in patient involvement, indicating a reliance on family and physicians.
MEDICAL DECISION MAKING
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Semra Ozdemir, Sean Ng, Isha Chaudhry, Irene Teo, Chetna Malhotra, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: This study longitudinally examined caregiver-reported treatment decision-making roles and investigated their associations with caregiver burden, caregiving esteem, caregiver anxiety, and depression. It found that higher family involvement in decision making was associated with higher caregiver burden and psychological distress. Therefore, support should be provided to family caregivers to enable meaningful support for patient decision-making.
MEDICAL DECISION MAKING
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Semra Ozdemir, Isha Chaudhry, Sean Ng, Irene Teo, Chetna Malhotra, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: This study examined changes in prognostic awareness among metastatic cancer patients in the last year of life and its association with anxiety, depression, and spiritual well-being. The results showed an increase in the proportion of patients with accurate prognostic awareness and a decrease in those with inaccurate awareness. However, a significant proportion of patients remained uncertain about their prognosis. Patients with accurate awareness reported worsened anxiety, depression, and spiritual well-being, while those uncertain about their prognosis reported worsened spiritual well-being.
Article
Psychiatry
Parth Chodavadia, Irene Teo, Daniel Poremski, Daniel Shuen Sheng Fung, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: This study aims to estimate the prevalence and economic burden of depression and anxiety symptoms in Singapore after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal a significant health and economic burden associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in Singapore, accounting for 2.9% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Effective strategies should be implemented to address this growing public health crisis.
Article
Oncology
Semra Ozdemir, Sean Ng, Isha Chaudhry, Chetna Malhotra, Eric Andrew Finkelstein, COMPASS Study Grp
Summary: This study examined the evolution of patient-caregiver decision-making role preferences over 3 years and the predictors of these preferences, as well as the discordance in decision-making role preferences among dyads. A total of 311 advanced solid cancer patients and their caregivers in Singapore reported their preferences for decision-making roles every 3 months. The results showed an increase in the proportion of patients and caregivers preferring patient-led decision-making at the end of the third year compared to baseline. The study also identified several predictors for decision-making role preferences among dyads.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Soye Shin, Jyotika Puri, Eric Finkelstein
Summary: The Singapore government will implement a mandatory color-coded front-of-package nutrition label called Nutri-Grade for beverages. The label grades beverages based on their sugar and saturated fat levels, and encourages consumers to choose healthier options. The label has been found to reduce sugar purchased from beverages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Eric A. Finkelstein, Junxing Chay
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Abdullah F. Alghannam, Jesse D. Malkin, Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa, Reem AlAhmed, Kelly R. Evenson, Severin Rakic, Reem Alsukait, Christopher H. Herbst, Saleh A. Alqahtani, Eric A. Finkelstein
Summary: This narrative review aims to identify promising physical activity (PA) public policies based on the best available evidence from the literature. The study found that implementing PA policies in schools and community-based walking groups are the most effective strategies.
GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Junxing Chay, Vinh Anh Huynh, Yin Bun Cheung, Ravindran Kanesvaran, Lai Heng Lee, Chetna Malhotra, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: Among patients with advanced cancer, higher levels of illness-related hope are associated with greater healthcare utilization and lower mortality risk. However, there is no evidence that a general measure of hope is related to healthcare utilization, expenditure, or survival.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Soye Shin, Ada Mohammad Alqunaibet, Reem F. Alsukait, Amaal Alruwaily, Rasha Abdulrahman Alfawaz, Abdullah Algwizani, Christopher H. Herbst, Meera Shekar, Eric A. Finkelstein
Summary: One common strategy governments use to combat non-communicable diseases is front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) considering implementing either France's Nutri-Score or the Chilean warning label approach. A study using an online grocery store found that both modified Nutri-Score labels and Chilean warning labels influenced food choices positively for KSA participants, but with differential effects. The Nutri-Score improved overall diet quality, particularly in reducing sugar intake, while the warning label approach was effective in decreasing energy and saturated fat intake.
Article
Economics
Junxing Chay, Joshua Yi Min Tung, Rebecca Jade Su, Edwin Jonathan Aslim, Callix Wong, Georgia Swan, Wei Jin Chua, Henry Sun Sien Ho, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive surgical therapies for moderate-to-severe BPH patients in Singapore, finding that WVTT as a first-line treatment is cost-effective for both moderate and severe patients, while PUL is not cost-effective. TURP is cost-effective as a first-line treatment for severe patients only.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Benjamin Chih Chiang Lam, Amanda Yuan Ling Lim, Soo Ling Chan, Mabel Po Shan Yum, Natalie Si Ya Koh, Eric Andrew Finkelstein
Summary: Obesity has a significant negative impact on human health, but many obese individuals may not realize their weight is a major problem and less than half of them receive weight loss advice from their physicians. This review emphasizes the importance of managing overweight and obesity by discussing their adverse consequences and impacts. In summary, obesity is strongly associated with more than 50 medical conditions, and many of them have causal relationships supported by Mendelian randomization studies. The clinical, social, and economic burdens of obesity are significant, and they may affect future generations. This review highlights the adverse health and economic consequences of obesity and the urgent and concerted effort needed to prevent and manage obesity in order to reduce its burden.
SINGAPORE MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Louis Tong, Semra Ozdemir, Jia Jia Lee, Adithya Bhaskar, Eric Finkelstein
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Chong-Su Kim
Summary: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in brain function through the gut-brain axis. This review highlights the effects of gut microbiota-derived dietary metabolites on cell-to-cell interactions in the central nervous system, particularly microglia, astrocytes, and neuronal cells, affecting cognitive function, mood, and behavior. The review also discusses the potential of diet-induced microbial metabolite-based therapies as novel approaches to mental health treatment.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2024)
