J Am Diet Assoc
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Psychological effects of prescriptive vs general lifestyle advice for weight loss in young women.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of prescriptive lifestyle advice with quantifiable dietary and physical goals compared to general lifestyle advice on weight and psychological outcomes in young women with overweight or obesity. A total of 203 women (body mass index 33.3+/-0.3, age 28+/-0.3 years) received either prescriptive or general lifestyle advice for weight loss over 12 weeks. Linear mixed models found that the prescriptive lifestyle advice group had significantly greater weight loss (4.2+/-0.4 kg vs 0.6+/-0.2 kg, P<0.001) compared to the general lifestyle advice group. ⋯ Drop-outs had greater baseline psychological distress (15.1+/-0.7 vs 12.5+/-0.4, P<0.01) and higher food cravings (2.42+/-0.07 vs 2.24+/-0.05, P=0.049) compared to completers. In conclusion, a prescriptive approach is associated with greater weight loss and greater improvements in psychological outcomes in young women compared to general lifestyle advice. However, these quantitative targets should be accompanied with qualitative advice on how they could be met in a variety of circumstances.
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Breakfast consumption is often examined when researching adolescent dietary intakes and overall health. However, fewer studies have examined the relationship between breakfast and obesity, particularly over time and in relation to weight outcomes in young adulthood. In addition, little is known about contextual factors influencing the likelihood of adolescents consuming breakfast on a regular basis. ⋯ Results indicate that low-income youth in disadvantaged communities, especially African Americans, should be specifically targeted for nutrition interventions related to breakfast consumption. In addition, parental promotion of breakfast at home and/or engagement with schools to develop or strengthen school-based breakfast programs may be a powerful addition to nutrition interventions for youth at risk for lifelong struggles with obesity and other nutrition-related problems.
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Practice Guideline
Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets.
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods. ⋯ Features of a vegetarian diet that may reduce risk of chronic disease include lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, fiber, and phytochemicals. The variability of dietary practices among vegetarians makes individual assessment of dietary adequacy essential. In addition to assessing dietary adequacy, food and nutrition professionals can also play key roles in educating vegetarians about sources of specific nutrients, food purchase and preparation, and dietary modifications to meet their needs.
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This review summarizes what is known about the effect of diet on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms emphasizing data from randomized, controlled clinical trials. Studies suggest that IBS symptoms in one quarter of patients may be caused or exacerbated by one or more dietary components. Recent studies indicate that a diet restricted in fermentable, poorly absorbed carbohydrates, including fructose, fructans (present in wheat and onions), sorbitol, and other sugar alcohols is beneficial, but confirmatory studies are needed. ⋯ In clinical practice, it is very difficult to establish that a patient's symptoms result from an adverse reaction to food. A double blind placebo-controlled food challenge is the most reliable method, but it is not suitable for routine clinical use. A modified exclusion diet and stepwise reintroduction of foods or trials of eliminating classes of food may be useful.