In Australia, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contribute to 42% of total energy intake(1) and have been associated with excessive intakes of nutrients of concern for non-communicable diseases and increased odds of obesity(1,2). Evidence from systematic reviews have shown associations between UPF consumption and the risk of type-2 diabetes(3). Such prospective evidence is lacking in Australia. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between UPF consumption and risk of type-2 diabetes in Australian adults. Participants from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS) aged 40–69 years, without diabetes at baseline (1990–1994), and who provided dietary and follow-up data were included. Dietary assessment was conducted at baseline using a 121-item food frequency questionnaire developed for the MCCS, and UPFs were categorised using the Nova system. Incidence of type-2 diabetes was assessed at follow-up 1 (1995–2002; self-report) and follow-up 2 (2003–2007; self-report, elevated plasma glucose (≥ 7.0 mmol/l fasting or ≥ 11.1 mmol/l non-fasting), or medication use). Poisson regression models were used to estimate Incidence Rate Ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of type-2 diabetes per 10% increase and by quartiles of UPF consumption (as a percentage of total energy intake per day), using age as the time metric. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic (i.e., sex, age, marital status, country of birth, number of people occupying the household, education and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas) and behavioural (i.e., smoking, physical activity and alcohol intake) variables. A total of 25,214 participants were included in the analysis (mean ± SD age = 54.3 ± 8.4 years at baseline, 61% female). In average, UPFs contributed to 40.4% of total energy intake, ranging from 25.6% in the first quartile to 55.8% in the fourth quartile. The proportion of males, individuals living in households with ≤ 2 people, those born in Australia, with lower education levels, greater socioeconomic disadvantage, and physically inactive increased with higher UPF consumption. During the follow-up period, 1,734 cases of type-2 diabetes occurred. Each 10% increase in UPF consumption was associated with an estimated 5% increase in risk of type-2 diabetes (IRR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.004–1.09; p-value = 0.031). Participants in the highest quartile of UPF consumption had a 14% higher risk of type-2 diabetes (IRRhigh (quartile 4) vs. low (quartile 1) category = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01–1.34, p-value = 0.037). In this large cohort of Australian adults, higher UPF consumption was associated with an increased risk of type-2 diabetes. Limiting UPF consumption may reduce type-2 diabetes risk. These findings contribute to the body of research on the impacts of UPFs on chronic diseases, supporting recommendations to limit UPF consumption as part of a healthy diet.

Leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of energy homeostasis(1). Obesity is characterised by elevated circulating leptin levels but paradoxically impaired anorexigenic leptin signalling(2,3). This systematic review aimed to provide comprehensive insights into the association between redox imbalance induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and the neuronal leptin signalling dysfunction. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Emcare and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify studies reporting the effect of HFD interventions on redox balance in the nervous system, focusing on leptin-driven neural mechanisms of energy homeostasis. Twenty-nine articles were identified for the systematic review, with 14 eligible for meta-analysis. The review demonstrated that HFD interventions led to increased oxidative stress, even after short-term exposure, and/or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in neural tissues. Meta-analysis revealed that HFD significantly increased circulating leptin levels and oxidative damage, as indicated by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA), and impaired antioxidant defences, reflected by decreased glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), compared to controls. In addition, elevated leptin following HFD was associated with upregulation of the negative regulators of leptin signalling, including suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3), protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B), as well as decreased phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), and elevated phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), collectively indicating disrupted leptin signalling pathways. Additionally, HFD-induced peroxisome proliferation in hypothalamic neurons suggest moderate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may fine-tune leptin sensitivity, while excessive ROS generation contributes to leptin resistance(4,5). These findings highlight the crucial interplay between redox homeostasis and leptin signalling in diet-induced obesity. However, the role of redox imbalance in modulating leptin signalling within the peripheral nervous system remains poorly understood and requires further investigation.

We fully endorse the authors’ aim and conclusions that we must move toward a deeper and more representative developmental science. We disagree with the authors’ interpretation of the evidence to support their claim. We propose a more inclusive approach to science with a focus on development in action.

This study explores the potential of mycelium as a biofabricated coating for textiles through an interdisciplinary collaboration between designers and scientists. The research begins with exploratory biotinkering, investigating mycelium as a textile coating to understand how textile substrates can function as bioreceptive surfaces for living organisms. Building on these initial observations, interdisciplinary collaborations were activated to further refine the experimental process and to test selected properties of the mycelium-based bio-coating, including abrasion resistance and wetting behaviour. The results demonstrate that mycelium can act as a transformative agent as textile coating, influencing both material performance and enabling new aesthetic expressions grounded in biological growth processes, opening

Voters of government parties are systematically more satisfied with democracy than supporters of opposition parties. The dynamics of this winner-loser gap are typically studied in the context of elections. However, it is not clear how changes in government composition that occur without elections midway through an electoral cycle, and that change voters’ winner/loser status, influence satisfaction with democracy. We address this question by examining an unexpected government change in Estonia in 2016, which interrupted the European Social Survey data collection (Round 8). The largest party in a three-party coalition government was replaced by the largest opposition party midway through the 2015–2019 electoral cycle while all other parties retained their government or opposition status. These circumstances enabled us to examine the effect of winning and losing without elections using fixed effects models, including a difference-in-differences design. The results provide suggestive but fragile evidence that losing government status might reduce satisfaction with democracy, whereas the effect of winning is modest at best and statistically inconclusive. Where effects emerge, they do so with a lag of approximately six weeks, coinciding with the implementation of a major tax reform – consistent with policy-based considerations rather than by immediate affective responses.

Food insecurity, defined as inadequate or uncertain access to food due to financial or social constraints, is increasingly recognised as a key social determinant of health(1). While some estimates suggest around 30% of Australians experience food insecurity(2), regional prevalence statistics are less well documented. International studies have consistently linked food insecurity with poor mental health outcomes, but Australian data, particularly at the local level, remain limited. This study examined associations between food insecurity, self-reported mental health, and social isolation in a regional Australian population. Data were drawn from the Let’s Talk About Food survey, a cross-sectional online survey of adults (≥ 18 years) living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of New South Wales, conducted in April–May 2024. Food insecurity was assessed using the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module and classified into four categories (food secure, marginal, moderate, severe) using USDA/Health Canada thresholds(3). Mental health was measured via self-rated mental health, diagnosed mental health conditions, and six social isolation indicators. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, income, education, household structure, and disability. Among 666 respondents (79.8% female, 57.1% with university education), 38.3% were food insecure compromising 7.8% experiencing marginal food insecurity, 18.8% moderate food insecurity, and 11.7% severe food insecurity. Food insecurity was significantly associated with poor mental health outcomes. Respondents with fair or poor self-rated mental health (n = 107, 22.0%) had more than double the odds of food insecurity (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.47–3.96), as did those with a diagnosed mental health condition (n = 157, 27.7%; AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.46–3.71). Strong associations were also observed with social isolation indicators. Feeling alone and friendless at least half the time (AOR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.81–5.43), often feeling separate (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.65–4.52), isolated (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.81–4.67), or struggling to reach out (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.31–3.03) all increased the odds of food insecurity. A lack of emotional support similarly doubled the odds (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.37–4.24). This is the first Australian study to demonstrate consistent associations between food insecurity, mental health, and social isolation in a regional context. Findings highlight that food insecurity should be treated as both a nutritional and mental health issue. Integrated responses that embed mental health support within food programs, alongside broader policies addressing income, housing, and social connection, are urgently needed.

This review essay considers the history of free and unfree Chinese labor through books on the Yunnan-Indochina Railway, Chinese indentured labor in the Dutch East Indies, Chinese American migration and community formation in the U.S. heartland, and the global politics of the gold rushes.

Weight loss may improve chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), possibly via reduced mechanical loading and lessening of systemic inflammation associated with excess adiposity(1,2). Strategies to achieve weight loss include energy restriction, but this may involve detrimental dietary practices that restrict foods or nutrients and therefore reduce the quality of the diet(3). The potential for diet to modulate CMP is an emerging area of interest, particularly given interrelationships between diet and weight. Consequently, this study aimed to determine whether improved diet quality alleviates CMP directly, or indirectly through weight loss and reduced adiposity. This secondary analysis included 104 Australian adults (aged 25–65 years; BMI 27.5–34.9 kg/m²) who participated in a 3-month dietary weight-loss intervention and had complete data for diet, weight, and pain. Measures at baseline and after 3-months included diet quality (Dietary Guideline Index [DGI]), presence of CMP, pain-related quality of life (Short-Form-36 Bodily Pain Scale [SF36-BPS]), pain severity (McGill Pain Questionnaire [MPQ]), and adiposity indicators (body weight, waist circumference [WC], body fat percentage [BF]). Linear mixed models were used to estimate the intervention’s effect on these outcomes. Structural equation modelling mediation analyses explored the direct effect of changes in diet quality on CMP, plus the extent to which changes in adiposity (weight, WC, BF) mediated these relationships. Participants completing the intervention improved their diet quality (DGI total score) by 22% (p < 0.001) and lost an average of 7.1 ± 0.3 kg (95% CI −7.7, −6.4), equivalent to ~8% of their body weight. Presence of CMP decreased from 50% to 24% (p < 0.001), with significant improvements in pain-related quality of life (SF36-BPS, +6.9 ± 2.1, 95% CI, 2.7, 11.1), and reductions in pain severity at the site identified as most troublesome, and when identical (matched) pain sites were assessed (MPQ, −3.3 ± 0.8, 95% CI, −5.0, −1.7, and −3.5 ± 0.9, 95% CI, −5.3, −1.8, respectively). Structural equation modelling showed improved diet quality was directly associated with lower pain severity, when accounting for reductions in WC (β = −0.085, 95% CI −0.151, −0.019) and BF (β = −0.073, 95% CI −0.135, −0.012). Additionally, there was a direct relationship between DGI core scores and site-matched MPQ scores, independent of changes in WC (β = −158, 95% CI −0.314, −0.002). Reductions in weight, WC, or BF did not mediate the observed improvements in pain outcomes. In conclusion, a 3-month dietary intervention for weight loss improved both diet quality and pain outcomes, but these improvements were not mediated by changes in adiposity. Findings highlight the importance of diet quality for CMP management and underscore the need for further research to inform the development of targeted dietary strategies to reduce CMP independent of weight loss.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses a heterogeneous group of chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract(1). Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of IBD, contributing to both disease onset and progression(2). Among potential therapeutic interventions, krill oil (KO) has demonstrated potential efficacy in alleviating chemically induced acute colitis and parasite-driven infectious colitis in preclinical models(3,4). However, it’s impact on gut microbiota remains poorly understood. This is the first study to examine the impacts of KO on gut microbiota composition and diversity in Winnie mice, a C57BL/6-based model of chronic colitis. Spontaneous colitis in these mice arises from a Muc2 gene mutation, resulting in epithelial defects that closely resemble the pathophysiology of human IBD. Furthermore, it evaluates the comparative effectiveness of KO and dexamethasone (DEX), and explores the possibility of synergistic interactions between these treatments. Winnie mice (Win/Win) were divided into four treatment groups (n = 10 per group) and fed a standard chow diet supplemented with either saline (intraperitoneal), 10% KO, 20 ng/g DEX (intraperitoneal), or a combination of 10% KO and 20 ng/g DEX. Heterozygous Winnie mice (Win/Wt) receiving saline served as the healthy control group. After 28 days of treatment, fecal samples were collected for DNA extraction and 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform at the Australian Genome Research Facility (University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia) to assess the composition of the gut microbiota. It was found that, while KO and DEX treatment alone showed some positive effects in restoring microbial composition, combined treatment with KO and DEX significantly modulated the gut microbiota profile in Win/Win mice. Beta diversity analysis revealed that KO+DEX most effectively restored the microbial community structure, similar to that of healthy controls (Win/Wt). This treatment also significantly increased the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (68.35 ± 13.36%, p < 0.01) when compared to the Win/Win sham group mice (24.39 ± 5.74%), reaching levels comparable to those observed in Win/Wt mice (70.75 ± 7.86%). In addition, KO+DEX most effectively enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial genera, particularly the probiotic taxa, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. These findings suggest that KO may serve as an adjunctive agent to DEX in the modulation of gut microbiota composition in a chronic colitis mouse model.

Communication of nutrition-related information in news media may have an important impact on the nutrition knowledge and skills and consequently, the dietary behaviours of the population(1). However, the information provided in these sources can often be inaccurate, sensationalised and conflicting, leading to nutrition confusion among the population(2). This confusion makes it difficult to make informed dietary choices as individuals struggle with conflicting and misleading messages regarding dietary patterns and foods best suited for the prevention and management of T2DM(3). This study aimed to examine the content and framing of T2DM nutrition-related information in Australian news media articles. A content and framing analysis of Australian news media articles published over the past five years was undertaken. The top five Australian print and top four online news media outlets were searched for relevant articles that discussed T2DM and nutrition. A coding framework was developed inductively. Articles were coded according to the following content categories: year of publication, newspaper publication, article format, author qualification, word count, news type, health professional support, target population, food-policy content, prevention vs. treatment focus, nutrient of focus and suggested dietary pattern. Articles were coded for framing characteristics, including gain vs. loss framing, headline tone and attribution of responsibility. Results revealed 310 eligible articles for coding and framing. Coding results found that the majority of articles focused on prevention of T2DM (57%), and provided no nutrient (32%) or dietary pattern of focus (53%) for the prevention or treatment of T2DM. The majority of articles were supported by a health authority (83%), with researchers (36%) and medical doctors (27%) the most commonly referred to, and nutrition professionals such as dietitians (25%) or nutritionists (6%) appearing less frequently in articles. Framing analysis revealed the majority of article headlines were negatively toned (43%), gain framed (52%) (highlighting the benefits of adjusting dietary behaviours in relation to T2DM) and attributed responsibility for T2DM prevention or management on the individual (57%), rather than policy or government. Our analysis shows there is lack of dietary guidance in news media articles for those seeking information on T2DM. Furthermore, there is minimal acknowledgement of the social determinants of health, with a significant focus on blame and responsibility being placed on individuals to improve health outcomes related to T2DM prevention and treatment, which may contribute to stigma in social, medical and policy arenas. Findings show that journalists, publishers and nutrition professionals need to play a more active role in supporting public awareness of T2DM nutrition related issues in the media, ensuring that nutrition confusion is not a barrier to dietary and lifestyle changes in the management and prevention of T2DM.

Biodesign education increasingly seeks to integrate design practice with the life sciences through interdisciplinary, hands-on approaches. However, few teaching models show how living-material prototyping can be embedded across studio-based design education and biosafety-level laboratory environments. This paper presents Living Pigments, a pedagogical framework developed in the first year of a two-year biodesign master programme. The unit introduces algae-based prototyping through a design-led approach that emphasises experimentation, collaboration, and ethical engagement. Through lectures, laboratory workshops, biofabrication sessions, and studio tutorials, students learn to cultivate and design with pigment-producing algae as active collaborators rather than inert materials. Informed by Ron Wakkary’s concept of designing-with, the framework foregrounds non-human agency, care, maintenance, and uncertainty. Drawing on selected student case studies, the paper demonstrates how algae-based prototyping supports interdisciplinary thinking, technical confidence, and reflective practice, offering a practice-based model that bridges studio and laboratory learning in biodesign education.

This article examines the activism of far-right women who, beginning in the late 1970s, produced the magazine Eowyn. It reconstructs the foundational principles of far-right feminist thought in Italy, which these women self-identified as personalising feminism, situating this framework within the broader currents of contemporary feminist discourse and its cultural referents. The essay further explores the reception of Eowyn by Marxist feminists and far-right male actors, illuminating the tensions and dialogues that shaped the movement. A distinct feminist typology emerges – one that neither repudiates an organicist conception of society nor reduces women’s history to narratives of oppression, while remaining sensitive to the risks of the massification and masculinisation of the female figure. This approach advocates for women’s equal opportunities while offering a sustained critique of a society and state perceived as retrograde, highlighting the complex intersections of gender, ideology, and political culture in late twentieth-century Italy.

One of the most significant achievements of equilibrium logic was the characterization of strong equivalence, a property crucial for program transformation and optimization in answer set programming (ASP). While ASP has recently been extended to a higher-order setting to enhance its expressive power, the lack of a comparable purely logical foundation has made verifying strong equivalence for higher-order programs or even proving the correctness of simple program transformations, a difficult challenge. This paper addresses this gap by developing a logical semantics for higher-order ASP by extending the equilibrium logic framework. Within this extended framework, we demonstrate that every stratified higher-order logic program possesses a unique equilibrium model. Moreover, we establish definability results demonstrating that the syntax of our higher-order language is sufficiently expressive to capture its semantic domains. Finally, and most importantly, we generalize the classical theorem of strong equivalence to the higher-order setting: we prove that two programs are strongly equivalent if and only if they share the same higher-order models.

While Bard et al.’s WILD framework commendably calls for broader inclusivity in developmental science, it underestimates the challenges posed by migration. Migrant children’s lives complicate the constructs of local and in situ, demanding their reconceptualization as fluid and multi-sited. Recognizing this complexity is important for advancing culturally robust developmental theories.

The Heart Foundation’s State of the Heart 2025 survey(1) set out to capture a nationally representative picture of Australians’ health related habits, including nutrition related behaviours such as food purchasing habits, adherence to heart-healthy dietary advice, and the barriers that influence everyday food choices. The survey was conducted by the Social Research Centre using the Life in Australia™ probability-based online panel, achieving 5,099 interviews (completion rate 67.5%) between 4–16 March 2025. The survey findings reveal distinct patterns in Australians’ shopping behaviours, dietary habits, and barriers to healthy eating, with clear variations across age and gender. Cost-conscious shopping was widespread, with 72% of Australians seeking discounts, 61% shopping across multiple stores, and 55% planning meals ahead. Women were more likely than men to engage in these behaviours (i.e. discount-seeking: 76% vs. 68%), with the highest prevalence among adults aged 45–54 (77%). Adherence to Heart-Healthy Eating Pattern principles was high for certain messages, including incorporating eggs/poultry (85%), choosing healthy oils (82%), eating vegetables, fruits, and wholegrains (81%), limiting alcohol to < 10 standard drinks/week (80%), and selecting unflavoured dairy (78%). However, disparities emerged with men being less likely to choose healthy oils (79% vs. 84%), limit alcohol (75% vs. 84%), or reduce red meat intake (61% vs. 74%). Younger adults (18–34) were notably less likely to include fish/seafood (53%) despite demonstrating higher adherence to alcohol guidelines than older cohorts. The most frequently cited barriers to healthy eating were the high cost of healthy food and the convenience of unhealthy options. Women were more likely to report cost pressures and family resistance to healthy meals, while men more often cited disliking the taste of healthy food. Younger adults faced time constraints, knowledge gaps, and a greater susceptibility to convenient, less healthy options. Non-binary/self-described respondents consistently reported the highest barrier rates across all categories, highlighting the importance of inclusive strategies. Confidence in preparing healthy foods was highest for fruit (88%), healthy oils (86%), and vegetables (84%). Women generally reported greater confidence across food categories, except for fish, where men led (70% vs. 62%). Adults aged 18–34 showed the lowest confidence overall, with the exception of herbs, spices, and fruit. These findings suggest that while nutrition awareness is strong nationally, practical and perceptual challenges (i.e. thinking healthy food is less tasty) limit the translation of knowledge into action, particularly among younger adults and men. Strategies to address cost barriers, improve the perceived palatability of healthy foods, and build cooking skills in younger demographics are warranted. Consideration of how consumers prefer to receive dietary advice is recommended to enhance engagement, promote quick and affordable healthy meals, and foster long-term heart-healthy behaviours.

Nutrition during infancy and early childhood is widely recognised as a crucial period in human development(1). Commercial complementary foods are manufactured and marketed for young children to consume during the complementary feeding period and beyond as they transition to family foods(2). These include products such as infant cereals, purees, squeeze pouches, ready-to-eat meals and snack foods. Recently, there has been a global increase in the availability and consumption of these foods, particularly foods in squeeze pouches. Parents use these products primarily for their convenience, perceived health benefits and affordability(3). However, accurately assessing the dietary intake of commercial complementary foods in infants and young children is uniquely challenging, compounded by the rapidly evolving commercial food market and their limited representation in food composition databases used by nutrition professionals to estimate dietary intake. Additionally, consolidated evidence on suitable dietary assessment methods or validated tools is limited. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesise the literature on how the dietary intake of commercial complementary foods is measured in infants and young children, with a focus on the methodologies applied. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: 1038587). A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases between April–May 2025, (Scopus, MEDLINE (EBSCO), PubMed (EBSCO), CINAHL and Web of Science). Study selection and data extraction were managed using Covidence. Two independent reviewers screened 2,307 studies, of which 81 were assessed at full text. Reference lists were manually reviewed, and a snowballing approach was employed to identify additional relevant studies. Results were summarised narratively. A total of fifty studies across twenty-six countries were included in this review. Twelve studies used a general questionnaire (e.g., basic questions such as: Has your child ever consumed commercial complementary foods?). Fourteen studies utilised a food frequency questionnaire to identify habitual intake of specific commercial complementary foods over a defined period (e.g. past week/month). Ten studies used 24-hour recalls, with half applying a multiple-pass method to capture detailed intake and portion sizes. Two studies applied a diet index that incorporated commercial complementary foods as part of a broader diet quality score. Twelve studies used dietary records, including four with weighed records that provided precise quantitative data on commercial complementary food consumption. This review highlights wide variation and key limitations in methods used to assess commercial complementary food intake for infants and young children. No validated or standardised tool currently exists, representing a major gap given the growing market and frequent use of these products. Future tools should be consumer-informed, easy to use, and validated for use in this population. Accurate measurement is essential for clinical care, surveillance, and understanding links to dietary patterns and health outcomes.

Food insecurity, the inconsistent access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food, is a growing public health concern(1). The antenatal period, spanning pre-pregnancy to postpartum life-stages, is critical for shaping lifelong health(2). Whie antenatal food insecurity research has predominantly focused on mothers(2), the increasing recognition of fathers’ evolving roles in the antenatal period(3) highlights the need to understand how expectant fathers experience and manage food insecurity. Their perspectives are fundamental to supporting family food security and ensuring equitable nutrition outcomes. This study aims to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of food-insecure expectant fathers in Victoria, Australia regarding the impact of food insecurity during their partners pregnancy. Using a narrative inquiry approach, this qualitative study is interviewing a cohort of expectant fathers (n = 15) in Victoria, Australia. In-depth semi-structured interviews are being conducted at two timepoints: during pregnancy and three-months postpartum. First round interviews are currently underway and will be completed by December 2025. Preliminary analysis of interviews conducted to date identifies key themes, including stress and anxiety for adequate food provisioning, intergenerational influences and conflicts, isolation and invisibility of expectant fathers, limited structural support, and pragmatic acceptance whereby coping was seen as the only option. These themes are shaped by participants’ narratives, reflecting how diverse family structures, socioeconomic contexts, and cultural backgrounds influence their experiences. The preliminary findings offer valuable insights into how food-insecure expectant fathers reflect on the challenges of food provision and fatherhood during a critical life transition. By centring fathers’ voices during pregnancy, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of paternal involvement in family nutrition and food security. These findings will inform the development of inclusive public health strategies to better engage and support expectant fathers, promoting long-term food security for families.

Facilitating sustainable dietary transitions is crucial for addressing the climate crisis, yet changing individual eating behaviours—particularly in meat-centric food cultures—remains challenging(1). This study examines different psychological factors underlying plant-based eating, with a focus on meat-centric meal perception—the tendency to view meat as the essential component of a proper meal. Data were collected via an online questionnaire from 592 meat-eating adults aged 20 to 70 (evenly recruited across five age groups) in Australia (n = 325) and Denmark (n = 267), two of the world’s highest meat-consuming countries. Participants completed validated measures of familiarity with plant-based meals, food neophobia, cognitive reflection, and meat-centric meal perception. A more meat-centric meal perception was correlated with consuming fewer plant-based meals in Australia r(323) = −0.36, p < 0.001 and Denmark r(265) = −0.42, p < 0.001. Mediation analyses showed that higher familiarity with plant-based meals was associated with a less meat-centric meal perception, which in turn was related to higher plant-based eating among Australians (indirect effect = 0.34, 95% CI [0.183, 0.534]) and Danes (indirect effect = 0.45, 95% CI [0.267, 0.673]). Food neophobia was associated with lower plant-based eating in both countries, with an additional negative indirect effect via meat-centric meal perception in Denmark. Cognitive reflection showed no significant association with either meal perception or plant-based eating. These findings highlight meat-centric meal perception as a key psychological barrier to plant-based eating and underscore the importance of familiarity and food neophobia in shaping meal perceptions, offering valuable insights for promoting sustainable dietary change.

Bard, Keller, and Leavens’ proposal for a decolonized science is situated in shared intentionality and attachment theories. I suggest that decolonization is a complex and challenging endeavor that exceeds the scope of WILD. The commentary discusses the need for inclusive leadership, deeper cultural analysis, and broader structural reform in the research enterprise to advance toward decolonization.

Young adulthood is a pivotal transitional phase marked by increased autonomy and potential formation of lifelong dietary habits(1). This presents a window of opportunity for nutrition promotion, with long-term implications for public health outcomes, healthcare burden and food security. Nevertheless, young adults are often overlooked in public healthcare planning. Many perceive healthy eating as inconvenient and costly, commonly reporting limited time, skills, and knowledge to plan and prepare healthy meals(2). These factors can contribute to broader issues of diet-related health risks and food insecurity. Today’s young adults are shifting away from traditional sources and increasingly turning to digital platforms for news and information(3). The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this shift, reshaping how health information is accessed and used(4). Understanding this evolving trend will help inform the development of more accessible, innovative and tailored population-level nutrition strategies for this age group. This study aimed to scope the existing peer-reviewed literature to identify and examine digital sources of healthy eating knowledge for young adults (18–24 years). The review followed the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Six databases (Medline, CINAHL, Global Health, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane) were searched. Studies were included if they explored digital platforms commonly used by young adults to access nutrition-related information or reported digital nutrition education interventions with changes in healthy eating knowledge, awareness, attitudes or behaviours as outcomes. Eligible studies included primary research (quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods) and those published in English from 2010 onwards. In total, 88 studies were included in this review. Over half (n = 54) were published within the past five years. Female participants (n = 54) and tertiary students (n = 47) were overrepresented. The most frequently cited information sources were social media, particularly Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, followed by the Internet (e.g., websites and search engines) and health applications (e.g., MyFitnessPal). Of 55 studies reporting digital sources’ impacts, 28 reported improvements in participants’ healthy eating knowledge, awareness, attitudes and/or behaviours. Negative impacts (n = 4) were largely associated with exposure to ‘fitspiration’ content, fitness influencers and junk food promotions. Ease of use, accessibility, appealing aesthetics, credibility and peer connection were among key characteristics of digital sources valued by young adults. This review demonstrated the widespread use of digital platforms among young adults for nutrition-related information and their potential to enhance the reach and effectiveness of public health nutrition interventions. Future health promotion strategies should prioritise this population group and harness digital sources to deliver evidence-based and visually engaging messages tailored to their needs and preferences. This approach may help address existing health inequity and barriers to healthy eating, support positive knowledge and behaviour changes, and ultimately contribute to overall public health goals.