Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Katy A. van Galen, Jan Booij, Anouk Schrantee, Sofie M. Adriaanse, Unga A. Unmehopa, Eric Fliers, Gary J. Schwartz, Ralph J. DiLeone, Kasper W. ter Horst, Susanne E. la Fleur, Mireille J. Serlie
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of fasting on hypothalamic/thalamic serotonin transporter (SERT) and striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in lean subjects and subjects with obesity. It was found that lean men respond to fasting by increasing hypothalamic SERT availability, while this response is absent in men with obesity. Changes in circulating free fatty acids (FFAs) post-fasting may influence the adaptations of cerebral serotonergic and dopaminergic systems.
METABOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
(2021)
Article
Urban Studies
Margriet Goossensen, Xavier Garcia, Marta Garcia-Sierra, Laura Calvet-Mir, Elena Domene
Summary: This study explores the contribution of convenience stores in Barcelona to healthy food environments and finds that they are as equally available and of good-medium quality as supermarkets in terms of fruits and vegetables. However, convenience stores are 18% more expensive than supermarkets. Therefore, further research is needed to evaluate the implications of affordability in low-income neighborhoods.
Article
Neurosciences
Jamie van Son, Katy A. van Galen, Anne Marijn Bruijn, Karin E. Koopman, Ruth I. Versteeg, Susanne E. la Fleur, Mireille J. Serlie, Jan Booij
Summary: Food craving is increased in obesity, but the scores for food craving are not significantly related to changes in striatal DAT availability.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Junguo Xin, Li Zhao, Tong Wu, Longhao Zhang, Yan Li, Hong Xue, Qian Xiao, Ruiou Wang, Peiyao Xu, Tommy Visscher, Xiao Ma, Peng Jia
Summary: This study found that the density and proximity of convenience stores in children's residential and school neighborhoods were positively associated with unhealthy eating behaviors, but their associations with children's weight status varied significantly by regions.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Viia Koiv, Tanel Tenson
Summary: Gluten, a mixture of storage proteins in wheat, can trigger immune responses leading to diseases, and the main treatment option is a gluten-free diet, but alternative options such as enzymes or microorganisms with gluten-degrading properties may also be considered. Additionally, natural food from the environment can enrich gut microbial communities with high potential to degrade gluten, and the effects of food and environment-induced changes in the gut microbiome on gluten-related diseases warrant further investigation.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Barbara H. Fiese, Jennifer M. Barton, Esra Sahin
Summary: This study examined changes in home food availability during the first 3 years of life and the predictors of these changes. The results showed significant changes in food availability over time, and the presence of older siblings was a consistent predictor. The study suggests that it is important to consider the family context in understanding children's dietary needs.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nihaal Rahman, Kazue Ishitsuka, Aurelie Piedvache, Hisako Tanaka, Nobuko Murayama, Naho Morisaki
Summary: This study investigated the diet quality of Japanese school children during the COVID-19 pandemic, and found that frequent consumption of instant and take-out foods resulted in inadequate nutrient intake.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kevin P. Myers, Marta Majewski, Dominique Schaefer, Alexis Tierney
Summary: The causal factors linking food insecurity and obesity are not well understood. This study used an animal model to investigate the biopsychological impacts of chronic food uncertainty and found that it is a factor promoting obesity.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Saron Demeke, Kaitlyn Rohde, Lynn Chollet-Hinton, Cassandra Sutton, Kai Ling Kong, Tera L. Fazzino
Summary: This study aims to quantify the change in availability of hyper-palatable foods (HPF) in the US food system over 30 years. The results show that the prevalence of HPF increased by 20% from 1988 to 2018, with a significant increase in the availability of HPF high in fat and sodium. The study suggests that existing food products in the US food system may have been reformulated over time to enhance their palatability.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Madison N. LeCroy, Maria Bryant, Sandra S. Albrecht, Anna Maria Siega-Riz, Dianne S. Ward, Jianwen Cai, June Stevens
Summary: The study revealed that obesogenic home food availability at 18 months was positively associated with children's intake of certain items at 36 months, but not with BMI.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Cultural Studies
Chen Liu, Jiaxi Chen
Summary: This research found that Chinese young people have normalized takeaway food consumption and have strategies to reduce food waste. The consumption of takeaway food reflects a lifestyle in urban China that is individualized, technology-dependent, and fast-paced. Furthermore, the study suggests that social studies on household food practices should consider household sizes and patterns.
JOURNAL OF CONSUMER CULTURE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Harriette M. Snoek, Ireen Raaijmakers, Oluranti M. Lawal, Machiel J. Reinders
Summary: This study found that Nigerian consumers view vegetables as healthy, but face barriers related to preparation time and availability. The Veg-on-Wheels intervention, which provided ready-to-cook convenience vegetables, was successful in increasing vegetable intake among buyers. The study highlights the importance of understanding the food environment and consumer behavior in designing interventions.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Riccardo Testa, Giorgio Schifani, Giuseppina Migliore
Summary: The fresh-cut fruit market in Western society, especially in Italy, is experiencing significant growth, driven by consumers' demand for convenience products influenced by health-oriented lifestyles. Psychometric variables and sociodemographic factors play important roles in understanding consumer demand for convenience products. The Italian fresh-cut fruit consumers were grouped into four categories, with the largest group being uninvolved consumers and an interesting target group being health-oriented consumers with higher incomes.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jodie Leu, Salome A. Rebello, Ginny M. Sargent, Matthew Kelly, Cathy Banwell
Summary: This paper examines the role of the Singaporean food environment in the lives of young working adults and how they interact with it to make food choices. Through interviews and observation, it is found that the food environment provides accessible and affordable options for young adults who eat out frequently. They often dine at hawker centers and similar establishments, which offer appealing food choices. The foodscape also serves as popular entertainment and social media marketing on food experiences targets this group, despite potential implications for healthy eating.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jodie Leu, Salome A. Rebello, Ginny M. Sargent, Matthew Kelly, Cathy Banwell
Summary: Singapore's diverse and affordable foodscape plays a multifaceted role in the lives of working young adults. Through social media, they interact with the food environment and frequently dine out. The food environment provides them with affordable and appealing options, and serves as a popular source of entertainment through exploring diverse cuisines and shared social experiences. While it may not always promote healthy eating, the food environment contributes to the protection of young adults' mental well-being through the maintenance and development of relationships and a sense of belonging.
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)