Are Nutrition and Dietetics Students More Prone to Eating Disorders Related Attitudes and Comorbid Depression and Anxiety than Non-Dietetics Students?

It was aimed to investigate the eating attitudes and its relationships with anxiety and depression at Nutrition and Dietetics students. Students of Nutrition and Dietetics Departments were included in study group (n: 135) and non-medical students (n: 69) were in control group. Eating attitudes test (EAT-40), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to all students and some anthropometric measurements were taken. Body mass index (BMI) and percent of body fat were higher at students in study group than students in control group. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to EAT, BDI and BAI scores. But, BMI and body fat percentage in girls were significantly lower than boys. Both EAT and BDI scores were significantly higher in girls than boys but BAI scores did not differ significantly. It was concluded that students training on Nutrition and Dietetics might have obsessions related to body image. But results of this study revealed that especially young women were more susceptible to eating disorders and depression.

A Screening Program for Overweight Status Among Schoolgirls in Saudi Arabia： A Proposed Co-design Project to Tackle the Problem

The paper realizes the importance of communicating with schools to conduct nutritional screening, assessment and intervention programs for obesity and related risk factors to tackle the problem at earlier stage. The screening program was conducted by dietetics＇ students ＂under supervision＂ as part of their practice and community services to apply some assessment method for mritional status. Two intermediate schools for girls in Jeddah city were involved in the screening stage, followed by a full nutritional assessment and implementation of a designed intervention program at one of the schools. At screening stage, interview questionnaires for diet histories and anthropometric measurements used to screen overweight status and related food patterns. National and international references data used for assessment and comparison. Following screening approach, a designed comprehensive nutritional assessment and intervention program was piloted at one of the screened schools for overweight status. For screening stage： the overall prevalence of overweight girls is 61% （n = 81 out of 133） of the population, 73% （n = 91） of girls were centrally obese. Almost 3/4 of all students reported no participations in any type of physical activities/exercises. Dietary behaviors included non-consumption of breakfast （83%） and low intake of fruit and vegetables （38%）. For intervention stage, the present report concentrates on data concerning post intervention changes in Body Mass Index （BMI） and Waist Circumference （WC）. By the 30 days of intervention there were significant changes in values for BMI according to Saudi growth chart （p value = 0.009） with no changes among the control group. No statistically significant difference in the mean WC of the group. Study＇s results suggest that approaching young girls through schools to screen, assess and intervene overweight status and risk factors is vital. Although the non-random selection of only two schools for screening the prevalence of overweight status among school girls prevent the geralizability of the study findings to wider population, previous studies used random selection of schools and large sample sizes showed a high prevalence of overweight status among Saudi students Therefore, designing and piloting of an intervention program for implementation at a national level is useful to tackle theproblem.

Effects of basic traditional Chinese diet on body mass index,lean body mass,and eating and hunger behaviours in overweight or obese individuals

OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of a basic traditional Chinese diet with a Western standard diet on body mass index(BMI),lean body mass(LBD),and eating and hunger behaviours.METHODS:A sample of 284 patients were randomized into 2 groups:group A(n = 142) followed a basic traditional Chinese diet(BCTD) and group B(n =142) followed a Western standard diet(WSD).Both diets were set at approximately 1200 calories.The patients enrolled were compared before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment,and then follow-ups were made at 1 year and 5 years.RESULTS:In the BCTD group,BMI decreased by0.46 kg/m2 and LBM by 0.25 kg,versus respectively0.28 kg/m2 and 0.41 kg in the WSD group.Findings of eating self-assessment,hunger measurement and psychophysical indices of health were also in favour of the BCTD.CONCLUSION:Outcomes show that the BCTD has a better effect on BMI and LBM,as well as over the medium/long term,and provides stronger psychophysical support to obese patients.

Nutritional risks and defi ciencies pre and post bariatric surgery:Recommendations for optimal dietary management

Objective This paper aims to summarise the key recommendations from the most recent literature,to support Chinese bariatric surgeons and their multidisciplinary teams in the optimal nutritional management of their patients.There is a growing body of evidence that recognises the risk of untreated nutritional deficiencies pre and post bariatric surgery.This paper will focus on the most prevalent and catastrophic of nutritional consequences.Nutritional workup prior to surgery,in addition to postoperative nutrition follow up is highly desirable to avoid complications associated with restrictive diets and large variations in body mass[1].Dietetic counselling to address presurgical nutritional defi ciencies,appropriate use of presurgical Very Low-Calorie Diets(VLCD),postsurgical dietary protocol and adequate supplementation is prudent.Ensuring that patients are informed and prepared for the postsurgical restrictive dietary changes and lifestyle modifi cations is critical for long term success.Furthermore,longer term dietetic follow up can also monitor patient dietary compliance to avoid the extremes of nutritional defi ciency.Conclusions Pre and post bariatric nutritional screening and long term nutritional follow up in addition to adherence to a life-long nutritional supplementation regimen,is critical for successful postoperative outcomes.