The impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes:Evidence from China

With increasing population and changing demographics,food consumption has experienced a significant transition in quantity and quality.However,a dearth of knowledge remains regarding its environmental impacts and how it responds to demographic dynamics,particularly in emerging economies like China.Using the two-stage Quadratic Almost Demand System(QUAIDS)model,this study empirically examines the impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes based on the provincial data from 2000 to 2020 in China.Under various scenarios,according to changes in demographics,we extend our analysis to project the long-term trend of food consumption and its environmental impacts,including greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,water footprint(WF),and land appropriation(LA).The results reveal that an increase in the proportion of senior people significantly decreases the consumption of grain and livestock meat and increases the consumption of poultry,egg,and aquatic products,particularly for urban residents.Moreover,an increase in the proportion of males in the population leads to higher consumption of poultry and aquatic products.Correspondingly,in the current scenario of an increased aging population and sex ratio,it is anticipated that GHG emissions,WF,and LA are likely to decrease by 1.37,2.52,and 3.56%,respectively.More importantly,in the scenario adhering to the standards of nutritional intake according to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents in 2022,GHG emissions,WF,and LA in urban areas would increase by 12.78,20.94,and 18.32%,respectively.Our findings suggest that changing demographics should be considered when designing policies to mitigate the diet-environment-health trilemma and achieve sustainable food consumption.

Nutritional Considerations in High Performance Youth Soccer:A Systematic Review

Purpose As players in high performance youth soccer(HYPS)environments undergo large changes in growth and matura-tion throughout the course of their development,they require specific nutritional intakes if they are to meet these demands.The purpose of this review was to synthesise current nutritional research conducted within HYPS players.Methods A systematic approach,following PRISMA guidelines,was employed to capture all articles related to nutrition within HPYS using the databases MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus.Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using a Downs and Black instrument.Observational and intervention studies which investigated an element of nutritional status,knowledge,or intervention in academy aged players(U9 to U23s)within HPYS settings were included.Results Fifty-three articles qualified assessing:current nutritional intake and energy balance(n=21);ergogenic aids/sup-plements(n=13);hydration status(n=6);the influence of Ramadan fasting(n=4);Vitamin D status(n=4);female HPYS players(n=3);nutrition knowledge(n=2).Outcomes demonstrate a large proportion of HPYS players exhibit insufficient energy and carbohydrate intake,and a lack sufficient periodisation of nutrition to account for varying training/match loads.Large variability in energy intake and expenditure exists between and within chronological age groups,indicating the potential impact on growth and maturation.Female HPYS data is lacking but indicates similar trends to male counterparts.Conclusion HYPS players do not currently meet their energy requirements however the impact of growth and maturation is not fully understood.Furthermore,within this demographic future research is required into the barriers and enablers of players achieving adequate energy intake.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Consumption of Food away from Home:Evidence from High-frequency Rcstaurant Transaction Data

This article investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures affected the consumption of food away from home(FAFH)among Chinese consumers.We obtained access to the complete sales records from a major restaurant chain in China,for 111 sites located in 12 cities,covering over 5.6 million high-frequency dining transactions made between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020.By applying a high-dimensional fixed-effects model,we found that,on average,consumers spent more and ordered more calories(as well as carbohydrates,protein,fat,and sodium)after the COVID-19 outbreak than in thepre-COVID-19period.Our results do not support the hypothesis that COVID-19 led to healthier eating behaviors during and after the pandemic.Our results underline the importance of nutrition education and awareness programs to mitigate unhealthy eating habits generated by the pandemic and of the continued role of FAFH after the pandemic.