Disordered eating (DE) is common among patients attending primary health care settings. However, the prevalence of DE among patients who receive care in nutrition practice settings has yet to be estimated. We aimed to determine the prevalence of DE and its correlates among outpatients in a nutrition service. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample of outpatients (N = 502) who received care from 2022 to 2024 at the Nutrition Care Offices, which is a university nutrition service in Mexico City. A screening questionnaire was created to identify DE. Items were derived from existing DE screening tools and patients’ experiences. Linear regression models were estimated, with the outcomes being the three indicators of DE (negative body image, binge eating-compensation, and exercise as a negative experience). The most common DE behaviours and cognitions were feeling uncomfortable or insecure about their body fat (74.7%), feeling ashamed of their weight (57.6%), feeling uncomfortable or insecure about their muscles (57.2%), feeling bad when their weight is measured (54.0%), and feeling they have lost control of what they eat (51.0%). Binge eating-compensation and negative body image scores were higher among women, younger individuals, those with higher body weight, and those with very light or light leisure-time physical activity (PA). The practice of leisure-time PA was positively associated with exercise as a negative experience but negatively related to negative body image. Our findings suggest that DE is a problem that arises recurrently in weight-related nutrition consultations. Higher risk groups deserved special attention.

Flavanones represent a significant subgroup of flavonoids and offer various advantages for the human body, such as aiding in metabolic regulation and providing antioxidant properties. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between dietary flavanones and the prevalence of kidney stones among adults in the USA. Flavanones, including eriodictyol, hesperetin and naringenin, were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007–2010 and 2017–2018, utilising two 24-h dietary recall interviews. The definition of kidney stones was established through a self-administered questionnaire. To evaluate the relationships between dietary flavanones and kidney stones, a variety of statistical methods were utilised, such as multivariable regression analysis, restricted cubic splines (RCS) and subgroup analysis. Data from 9790 participants were included in this analysis, with 9·67 % of them indicating that they had experienced kidney stones. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, it was found that kidney stones exhibited a negative correlation with total flavanones and naringenin, with OR of 0·96 (95 % CI 0·93, 1·00) and 0·89 (95 % CI 0·80, 0·99) for the highest intake group compared with the lowest intake group. The RCS plot revealed a notable negative linear association between the consumption levels of total dietary flavanones and the risk of kidney stones, including naringenin. The results of the subgroup analysis indicated that no significant interactions were observed in each subgroup. Our research indicated that a higher intake of flavanones correlates with a lowered prevalence of kidney stones in adults.

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the evidence to date and several key considerations regarding addressing undernutrition in older adults with plant-based products. Undernutrition, resulting from inadequate protein and energy intake is common among older adults, and is associated with poor health and quality of life. Ensuring adequate protein and energy intake is a key component of strategies aiming to prevent and/or treat undernutrition. Increasing diversity of protein intake to include more sustainable plant-based sources is encouraged in the general population. However, to support healthy ageing, it is important to consider factors such as the impact of greater consumption of plant-based products on appetite and nutritional status, muscle protein synthesis and skeletal muscle mass. Although the literature in older adults is limited, the current evidence suggests no significant differences when comparing effects of plant to animal-based products/diets on a range of outcomes including appetite, nutritional status, longer-term muscle protein synthesis and muscle mass. Furthermore, there is evidence of improvements in nutritional status and muscle protein synthesis following plant protein supplementation compared to before supplementation or lower protein intakes. Therefore, greater intake of certain plant-based products could assist in enhancing sustainability of food systems and meeting nutritional requirements to prevent undernutrition. Among other factors, the plant protein source, the food matrix and presence of other nutrients need consideration. Further studies are needed in several areas, including investigating the effects of greater intake of plant-based products on the gut microbiome, and in the treatment of undernutrition.

Depression is a common mental disorder and a leading cause of global disease burden. Emerging evidence supports diet as an adjunct treatment for depression. Previous studies are limited, meaning it is unclear whether improvements are directly due to dietary change. The OPTIMISM trial aims to address this gap through a sham-controlled randomised feeding trial design.

The OPTIMISM trial is a 4-week double-blind, sham-controlled, randomised feeding trial. A total of 44 participants with MDD in a current major depressive episode of moderate to severe severity will be recruited and randomised to a Mediterranean or a sham control diet, designed to reflect typical dietary intake of the general population. All food will be provided for four weeks. Participants will complete assessments and have blood and stool collected at baseline and four weeks. The primary outcome is the differential change in clinician-rated depressive severity at four weeks. Exploratory outcomes include patient-rated depressive and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. Potential mechanisms will be evaluated through analysis of biological samples. An additional group of 22 healthy individuals without depression will also be recruited and will receive a Mediterranean diet for four weeks; their data will determine whether clinical and biological responses to the intervention are unique to depression and whether the diet treatment modulates depression-related pathology.

If the intervention diet leads to a greater reduction in depressive symptoms compared with a sham control diet, this trial will provide preliminary evidence supporting the use of a Mediterranean diet in the treatment of depression.

Poor nutrition and the rise in inequalities in diet and obesity during childhood and adolescence are of concern in Ireland and globally. Food insecurity among families is also on the rise and impacts children and youth beyond the effects of poverty alone. The social, structural and commercial determinants of health help to explain why dietary and health inequalities exist yet the solutions to such inequity have been slow, delayed and difficult to implement. This review takes a health promotion approach to the diet of children and adolescents, drawing on evidence in the Republic of Ireland and beyond to emphasize a need for supportive environments and health promoting public policy. Schools are a key setting to improve dietary habits and diet-related diseases. The impact of food environments on dietary habits both within and external to schools is clear with evidence supporting the implementation of universal school meal provision and the use of planning regulations to enable healthier environments. Evidence of how best to support children and adolescent’s diet out-of-term time is needed, especially within the Irish context. There is a clear need for upstream measures to support healthy dietary habits such as legislation to enforce restrictions of food marketing to children and extension of taxation of foods. Children and adolescents have the right and capacity to be involved in changes needed to our food system so that the marketing, availability and affordability of healthy foods becomes the norm for children and adolescents.

The Nutrition Society of Australia’s 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting was held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Queensland, Australia, from 3 to 5 December. Centred on the theme ‘Nourishing Generations: 50 Years of the Nutrition Society of Australia’, the meeting marked a milestone in the Society’s history and celebrated its enduring contribution to nutrition science. The conference featured a public symposium, pre-conference workshops, plenary lectures, thematic oral and poster sessions, and dedicated sessions for early career researchers. A highlight of the meeting was the recognition of four outstanding researchers who received Awards of Excellence for their significant contributions to the field. Together, these elements created a vibrant and forward-looking scientific meeting that honoured the past while showcasing cutting-edge research and innovation across diverse fields of nutrition, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing health equity through evidence-based practice.

This study aims to compare dietary diversity score (DDS), nutrient intakes and child feeding practices between under-five children who are provided meals by daycare (PM) or bring a lunchbox (LB) and to explore the perspective of mothers, daycare staff and management on their role in providing balanced and nutritious meals for under-five children. The cross-sectional study used mixed method. The quantitative part assessed nutrient intakes using 2-day non-consecutive dietary records and child feeding practices using Child Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ). Qualitative research employed WeValue Insitu and Perspective Exploration. The study was conducted at daycares in Ministries/Agencies in Jakarta, Indonesia, involving 138 children (6–59 months) and 124 working mothers. The qualitative sample comprised three working mothers, five daycare staff, and five daycare managers. Although DDS was higher among children aged 6–23 months in the PM group, energy and nutrient intakes were lower, with higher inadequacy of folate and calcium. Mothers in the LB had higher scores in environment, encouragement of balance and variety, and restriction subscales. Qualitative data identified role of daycare in providing meals or advice on lunchbox menus, skipping breakfast, eating environment between home and daycare, and nutrition knowledge. The higher nutrient intakes in LB were concurrent with better child feeding practices. Food provision in daycare, if not accompanied by nutrition education for parents, may lead to parents over reliance to daycare. Nutrition education is needed to enhance attitudes and awareness of working mothers and daycare staff regarding breakfast consumption, menu planning, child feeding practices, and portion sizes.

Metabolic disorders, as a global burden, have a detrimental effect on individuals’ health status, regardless of their weight. We aimed to assess the link between diet-related behaviors and metabolic health status as well as serum levels of adropin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A cross-sectional investigation involving 527 adults with ages of 20 and 65 years was carried out in Isfahan, Iran. Using a pre-tested questionnaire, dietary habits were assessed in five domains including meal pattern, eating rate, meal-to-sleep interval, intra-meal fluid intake, and fatty food intake. To identify these dietary behaviors, latent class analysis was performed. Based on the lipid and glycemic profile, inflammation status, and insulin resistance (IR), participants were classified as having either metabolically healthy (MH) or metabolically unhealthy (MU) status. Serum concentrations of BDNF and adropin were evaluated by obtaining a blood sample from participants after an overnight fast. Metabolic unhealthy normal-weight and overweight/obese status were respectively prevalent in 8.7% and 33.8% of study population. We recognized three distinct eating rate classes: ‘moderate’, ‘fast’, and ‘slow’; two major meal pattern classes: ‘regular’ and ‘irregular’; two main meal-to-sleep interval classes: ‘short’ and ‘long’; two intra-meal fluid intake classes: ‘moderate’ and ‘more’; and two major fatty food intake classes: ‘high’ and ‘low’. After controlling for potential confounders, slow eating rate was related to lower odds of MU profile (OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.17-0.91). Moreover, fast eating rate was positively associated with hyperglycemia (OR=3.55, 95% CI: 1.48-8.51). More intra-meal fluid intake was also associated with higher chance of MU profile (OR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.35-3.63), high HOMA-IR (OR=2.20, 95% CI: 1.06-4.58), hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.36-3.65), and hypertension (OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.03-2.69). Serum BDNF or adropin was not associated with classes of diet-related habits. More intra-meal fluid intake was linked to higher chance of having MU profile, while slow eating rate was related to decreased odds of MU profile among Iranian adults.

Understanding children’s diet quality is crucial for developing effective interventions to address dietary-related issues. Thus, this study examines the distribution of energy and nutrient intakes across meals and snacks among primary schoolchildren aged 6.0-12.9 years in Peninsular Malaysia and the implications of meal skipping on their nutritional status. Data from 1,102 children in Peninsular Malaysia from the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS II), were analysed. Children’s height, weight, and waist circumference were measured. Questionnaires captured sociodemographic information and meal consumption patterns. Nutrient distribution across meals and snacks was assessed through a one-day 24-hour dietary recall approach. Logistic regression analysed the association between meal skipping and nutritional status. Breakfast contributed significantly to essential micronutrients, but provided the least energy and macronutrients compared to lunch and dinner. Approximately one-third of daily nutrient intake came from snacking, with contributions ranging from 25% for cobalamin to 36% for both calcium and thiamine. Children who skipped main meals had higher odds of being overweight/obese {skipped one type of meal at least once weekly [(1.59; 95%CI (1.08, 2.33)]; skipped >1 type of meal [1.77; 95%CI (1.12, 2.79]}, and abdominal obese {skipped > 1 type of meal [(1.91; 95%CI (1.17, 3.12)]}. In conclusion, primary schoolchildren in Peninsular Malaysia tended to have higher micronutrient intakes at breakfast and higher energy and macronutrients in subsequent main meals. Meal skipping was linked to elevated body fat. This study underscores the need to prioritise continued education on the importance of healthy dietary habits among children.

Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is central to MASLD management, however evidence in non-Mediterranean populations is limited. This study examined the association between MedDiet adherence and MASLD, hospitalisation, and mortality in a non-Mediterranean population. This longitudinal study included 119,536 UK Biobank adults with at least one 24-hour dietary recall and available sociodemographic and clinical data. Diet quality was assessed using the Modified-Mediterranean Diet Score (M-MedDietScore). MASLD was determined by Fatty Liver Index (FLI) at baseline and by liver imaging in a subgroup. Hospitalisation and mortality data were obtained from linked records, with MASLD outcomes identified using ICD-10 codes. Binary logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models estimated odds ratios (OR) for MASLD and hazard ratios (HR) for hospitalisation and mortality. Each five-unit increase in M-MedDietScore was associated with 19% lower OR of MASLD as identified by FLI and confirmed in the imaging sub-analysis in a multivariate adjusted Model 2. Higher adherence to the MedDiet was associated with lower HR of hospitalisation due to liver-related, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, respiratory and renal disease (all p < 0.05). During a median follow-up of 9.7 years, 5,552 deaths occurred. Higher MedDiet adherence was associated with lower HR of all-cause, CVD, and extrahepatic cancer mortality and lower all-cause mortality risk in those with MASLD (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98). Higher adherence to the MedDiet was associated with lower off of MASLD and with reduced MASLD-related hospitalisations and mortality and lower all-cause mortality in those with MASLD. These findings support the role of MedDiet in reducing hepatic and cardiovascular burden in non-Mediterranean population.

Intra-household energy and nutrient inequity occurs when food is distributed differentially, leaving some members without adequate nutrition. If unaddressed, this can reduce the effectiveness of food based nutrition interventions. This study assessed energy and micronutrient intake inequities among urban Ethiopian households before and after wheat flour and edible oil fortification. Using 24-hour dietary recall data from the 2013 Ethiopian Household Food Consumption Survey, we analyzed 375 households with adult men and women. The Ethiopian mandatory fortification standard for wheat flour and edible oil was considered in the simulation. Usual intake estimates and fortification modeling were performed using the Simulating Intake of Micronutrients for Policy Learning and Engagement (SIMPLE) macro 1-day method. Inequity ratios were calculated by comparing energy and nutrient intakes with dietary requirements for each group. Prefortification, the median nutrient consumption was generally higher among men, except for vitamin A. Fortification of wheat flour with zinc and vitamin B1, along with vitamin A-fortified vegetable oil, led to a 26–74 percentage point reduction in nutrient inadequacy among all participants. Men could benefit more from zinc and vitamin A fortification, whereas women could benefit more from vitamin B1 fortification. Inequity estimates before and after fortification ranged from 1 to 1.5, favoring men. Although intra-household food allocation was not directly assessed, observed differences in nutrient intake between men and women suggest gender-related disparities that should be considered in nutrition interventions.