OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the motivating and hindering factors affecting the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices of Muslim mothers in select municipalities of Maguindanao.

A pretested questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews conducted among 320 randomly selected Muslim mothers with a child aged 6-23 months.

Results revealed that prelacteal feeding was practiced by 16.6% of the Muslim mothers, giving mostly plain water. Solid/semi-solid foods were introduced at a mean age of 6.1 ± 1.4 months, with home-cooked lugao (porridge) (55.0%) and commercial baby food (31.3%) as the top foods introduced. The majority of Muslim mothers (82.5%) fed processed foods as complementary food to their children, including instant noodles (85.2%) and canned goods (51.5%). These processed foods were mostly obtained from sari-sari stores, with TV as the top source of information. More than 80% of the Muslim mothers cited food availability, economic reasons, and convenience in food preparation as the top three motivating factors in the practice of complementary feeding (CF). In addition, almost all the Muslim mothers (~97%) mentioned seeing their children grow healthy as the top reason for improving their food preparation practices, followed by positive feedback from their families. Meanwhile, household duties, low milk output, and a new pregnancy make it difficult to continue breastfeeding, while high complementary food costs, a limited budget, and a lack of food make it difficult to provide complementary food. The preparation of food for infants and young children is hindered by an increased workload and a lack of understanding.

The results revealed suboptimal practices in prelacteal feeding and the reliance on processed foods among Muslim mothers, with economic factors, availability, and convenience as motivating factors in complementary feeding practices. Challenges such as household duties, low milk output, and financial constraints hinder breastfeeding and nutritious food provision for infants and young children. The study reinforced the necessity for holistic strategies in IYCF promotion among Muslim mothers.

: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with problematic mealtime behaviors in Filipino children aged 3-11 years diagnosed with ASD and to validate the Filipino-translated Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) for clinical use. The study examined demographics, socioeconomic status, and clinical characteristics of children with ASD in relation to feeding difficulties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 166 caregivers of Filipino children with ASD at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. The BAMBI questionnaire, translated and validated into Filipino, was administered among patients evaluated under the Section of Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics. Content validity was established through neurodevelopmental pediatric experts, while face validity was achieved with feedback from 17 caregivers during the pilot test. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed to identify the factors. RESULTS: The Filipino-translated BAMBI demonstrated good content and face va- lidity based on reviews and pilot testing. The tool showed acceptable internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75, indicating good reliability. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of participants scored above the threshold for problematic mealtime behaviors, with multivariate analysis revealing a significant association between these behaviors and sensory sensitivities (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 7.3, p = 0.0150). Additional factors, such as dietary habits and family structure, also showed trends toward significance but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS This study validates the Filipino BAMBI as a reliable tool for assessing mealtime behaviors in children with ASD, highlighting the high prevalence of feeding problems in this population. Sensory sensitivities emerged as a significant factor contributing to problematic mealtime behaviors, underscoring the importance of incorporating sensory processing strategies in interventions. Further research should explore other contributing factors, such as dietary habits and family dynamics, to develop more comprehensive, tailored interventions for children with ASD and their families.
Autism spectrum disorder ; mealtime behaviors ; feeding difficulties ; BAMBI ; parent questionnaire ; risk factors

Humans ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Consensus ; Bottle Feeding ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Enteral Nutrition/standards* ; China

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among men, but its relationship with dietary habits is uncertain. The aim of our study was to assess whether dietary patterns enhance erectile function by reviewing the literature published before August 1, 2022, via PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. The data compiled included author details; publication dates, countries, treatments, patient numbers, ages, follow-ups, and clinical trial outcomes, such as ED cases, odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores with means and standard deviations. An analysis of 14 studies with 27 389 participants revealed that plant-based diets (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66-0.75; P < 0.00001), low-fat diets (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.53; P = 0.0002), and alternative diets such as intermittent fasting and organic diets (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80; P = 0.002) significantly reduced ED risk. High-protein low-fat diets (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64; P < 0.00001) and high-carb low-fat diets (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55-1.04; P < 0.00001) improved IIEF-5 scores. Combined diet and exercise interventions decreased the likelihood of ED (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.85; P = 0.01) and increased the IIEF-5 score (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.69-5.11; P < 0.0001). Diets abundant in fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98; P < 0.00001) and nuts (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37-0.80; P = 0.002) were also correlated with lower ED risk. Our meta-analysis underscores a strong dietary-ED association, suggesting that low-fat/Mediterranean diets rich in produce and nuts could benefit ED management.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Diet ; Diet, Fat-Restricted ; Feeding Behavior ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Diet, Vegetarian

OBJECTIVES: To develop a scale for evaluating responsive feeding behaviors among caregivers of children aged 0-24 months in China, and to examine its reliability and validity. METHODS: An initial item pool was constructed through literature review, expert panel discussions, and caregiver interviews. Items were screened and revised using expert consultation and item analysis. A total of 523 caregivers of children aged 0-24 months were randomly selected from urban community health service centers in Nanjing for a formal survey to assess the scale's reliability and validity. RESULTS: The scale comprised two age-specific subscales: 0-6 months (4 dimensions, 18 items) and 7-24 months (5 dimensions, 29 items). Cronbach's alpha values for the two subscales were 0.766 and 0.850, respectively; split-half reliability coefficients were 0.616 and 0.716. Content validity indices were 0.83 for the 0-6 months subscale and 0.86 for the 7-24 months subscale. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the structural validity of both subscales, with all fit indices within acceptable ranges. CONCLUSIONS The two age-specific subscales demonstrate good reliability and validity and can serve as practical tools for assessing caregivers' responsive feeding behaviors in children aged 0-24 months, suitable for clinical application and dissemination.
Humans ; Infant ; Caregivers/psychology* ; Male ; Female ; Feeding Behavior ; Child, Preschool ; Infant, Newborn ; Reproducibility of Results

This review focuses on the mechanisms of dietary intervention improving ED, dietary intervention modalities, and dietary recommendations, aiming to provide some guidance to ED patients in developing healthy dietary habits, so as to prevent and improve ED and promote overall health.
Humans ; Erectile Dysfunction/diet therapy* ; Male ; Diet ; Feeding Behavior

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study examined meal patterns based on daily energy intake distribution and their associations with nutrient and food intake, diet quality, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Body height, weight, habitual dietary intake and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020 score by eating occasion were assessed using the validated Meal-based Diet History Questionnaire among employees (465 males and 193 females aged 20-75 years) in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Meal patterns were extracted based on % energy intake from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks using K-means clustering by sex. Dietary intake, HEI-2020 score, and BMI were then compared between sex-specific meal patterns. RESULTS: The identified patterns were "large lunch and dinner" (n = 299), "three meals-balanced" (n = 97), and "large dinner" (n = 69) patterns in males and "large dinner" (n = 79); "large afternoon snack" (n = 54) and "large lunch" (n = 60) patterns in females. The HEI-2020 scores were the highest for dinner, followed by breakfast, lunch, and snacks in any meal pattern. Males with the "large dinner" pattern had lower intakes of rice, bread, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and thiamine; higher intake of alcoholic beverages; and higher HEI-2020 scores than those with other patterns. Females with a "large dinner" pattern had a lower intake of bread, confectionery, total and saturated fats, and carbohydrates; higher intake of fish, meat, and alcoholic beverages; higher HEI-2020 scores; and lower BMI. Thus, a meal pattern with higher energy intake distribution at dinner was associated with higher diet quality among males and females and lower BMI among females in Japanese workers. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that improving the quality of the meal with the highest energy contribution could help enhance overall dietary quality and metabolism.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Energy Intake ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Aged ; Meals ; Young Adult ; Tokyo ; Feeding Behavior ; Diet/statistics & numerical data*

BACKGROUND: Obesity and diabetes constitute significant health concerns within the Arab population in Israel. The study examines food literacy and self-assessed nutritional variables, which may explain family eating and activity habits among the Arab ethnic minority in Israel. The study examines these variables among professional nurses, who are expected to advocate for healthy behaviors within the population, compared to non-health professionals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study compared two groups: professional nurses and non-health professionals. A closed, structured self-report questionnaire (with five sub-sections) assessed food literacy, self-assessed nutrition, and family eating and activity habits. Data was collected between January and May 2022. A MANCOVA was used to compare the research variables among nurses and non-health professionals, and η² was calculated as the effect size. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the variables explaining families' eating and activity habits. The model's significance and variance explained (R²) were calculated. RESULTS: The study included 213 Israeli Arab participants (103 nurses and 110 non-health professionals). Nurses showed poorer self-assessed nutrition and family eating/activity habits than non-health professionals. Regression analysis identified profession (β = -0.39, p < 0.001), gender (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), BMI (β = -0.22, p < 0.001), food literacy (β = 0.20 p < 0.001), and self-assessed nutrition (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of family eating and activity habits. The model was significant (p < 0.001) and explained 38.0% of the variance. CONCLUSION Despite their health education background, Arab nurses reported suboptimal nutritional behaviors and unhealthy lifestyles that impact their family lifestyle practices, potentially hindering their health and limiting their effectiveness as health role models. Policymakers should develop ongoing nutrition health promotion programs tailored to the Arab nurses and Arab ethnic minority communities in Israel.
Humans ; Israel ; Female ; Male ; Arabs/psychology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Nurses/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Feeding Behavior ; Minority Groups/statistics & numerical data* ; Exercise ; Nutritional Status ; Family ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how larval feeding regimens influence development and deltamethrin resistance of Aedes albopictus to provide evidence for standardizing larval feeding protocols in studies of insecticide resistance. METHODS: Aedes albopictus larvae of a laboratory resistant strain were divided into 3 groups (n=500) and reared with high, medium, and low food availability (100, 50, or 25 mg daily for the 1st and 2nd instars, and 500 mg 250, or 125 mg daily for 3rd and 4th instars). The developmental time, pupation rate, adult emergence rate, adult body weight, and wing length were recorded in each group, and deltamethrin resistance of the mosquitoes was assessed using larval bioassays and contact tube tests for adults. RESULTS: Significant developmental differences were observed across the 3 feeding groups. Larval development time decreased as the food availability increased, and both high- and low-food groups showed reduced pupation rates (χ²=16.282, 7.440) and emergence rates (χ²=4.093, 6.977) compared to the medium-food group. Adult body weight and wing length were positively correlated with the amount of larval food intake (P<0.05). In high, medium and low food intake groups, larval LC₅₀ values for deltamethrin were 0.110, 0.072 and 0.064 mg/L, adult KDT50 values were 97.404, 68.964 and 65.005 min, and adult mosquitoe mortality rates at 24 h after deltamethrin exposure were 12%, 16% and 19%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The feeding amount during larval stage significantly impacts the development and deltamethrin resistance of Aedes albopictus, suggesting the importance of standardization of larval nutrition for ensuring comparability of resistance test data across laboratories.
Animals ; Aedes/physiology* ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology* ; Nitriles/pharmacology* ; Larva/physiology* ; Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/pharmacology* ; Feeding Behavior

In the face of constantly changing environments, the central nervous system (CNS) rapidly and accurately calculates the body's needs, regulates feeding behavior, and maintains energy homeostasis. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) plays a key role in this process, serving as a critical brain region for detecting nutrition-related hormones and regulating appetite and energy homeostasis. Agouti-related protein (AgRP)/neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in the ARC are core elements that interact with other brain regions through a complex appetite-regulating network to comprehensively control energy homeostasis. In this review, we explore the discovery and research progress of AgRP neurons in regulating feeding and energy metabolism. In addition, recent advances in terms of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis, along with the redundant neural mechanisms involved in energy metabolism, are discussed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in the field of neural regulation of feeding and energy metabolism are briefly discussed.
Energy Metabolism/physiology* ; Animals ; Humans ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Feeding Behavior/physiology* ; Brain Stem/metabolism* ; Agouti-Related Protein/metabolism* ; Homeostasis/physiology* ; Neuropeptide Y/metabolism*