Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Fast Foods”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

How much food advertising is there on Australian television?

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive content analysis of television food advertising and provide data on current levels of food advertising in Australia. All three commercial stations available on free-to-air Australian television were concurrently videotaped between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on two weekdays and both weekend days in four locations across Australia to provide a total of 645 h for analysis. Each advertisement was categorized as 'non-food ad', 'healthy/core food ad' or 'unhealthy/non-core food ad' according to set criteria. Thirty-one percent of the advertisements analyzed were for food. Eighty-one percent of the food advertisements identified were for unhealthy/non-core foods. When comparing the results of this study with previous research, it was found that the number of unhealthy advertisements screened per hour had not changed over the past few years. On weekdays, the number of advertisements increased throughout the day to peak at more than five advertisements per hour in the 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. time slot. The early morning time slot on Saturday was the most concentrated period for advertising unhealthy/non-core food with more than six advertisements screened per hour. The regional areas screened a significantly lower level of unhealthy/non-core food advertisements (19.5%) compared with the metropolitan areas (29.5%). Fast food and takeaway was the most advertised food category, followed by chocolate and confectionery. A total 194 breaches of the Children's Television Standards were identified according to our interpretation of the standard. It is well recognized that childhood obesity is a worldwide problem. The heavy marketing of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods influences food choices and contributes to the incidence of overweight and obesity in children. Despite the recognition of this growing problem, little has been done to ensure children are protected against the use of large volumes of unhealthy/non-core food advertising.

Advertising↗
PubMed2006

Nutrition and exercise environment available to outpatients, visitors, and staff in Children's hospitals in Canada and the United States.

BACKGROUND: Children's hospitals should advocate for children's health by modeling optimum health environments. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether children's hospitals provide optimum health environments and to identify associated factors. DESIGN: Telephone survey. SETTING: Canadian and US hospitals with accredited pediatric residency programs. PARTICIPANTS: Food services directors or administrative dietitians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health environment grades as determined for 4 domains quantifying (1) the amount of less nutritious food sold at cafeterias (cafeteria grade), (2) the presence of fast food outlets (outlet grade), (3) the amount of nutritious food alternatives available (healthful alternative grade), and (4) the presence of patient obesity or employee exercise programs (program grade). RESULTS: The overall response rate was 87%. Compared with Canadian hospitals, US hospitals had more food outlets (89% vs 50%) and more snack/beverage vending machines (median, 16 vs 12) (P = .001 for both), despite equivalent consumer numbers. External companies managed more outlets at US vs Canadian hospitals (65% vs 14%; P = .01), and, generally, US hospitals recuperated more revenue from their outlets. Worst cafeteria grade was associated with US hospital location (odds ratio [OR], 8.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-50; P = .01) and lower healthful alternative grade (OR, 0.016; 95% CI, 0.002-0.15; P<.001). Lower grade in any domain was related to whether hospitals received more revenue from noncafeteria food outlets (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.06-2.72; P = .03) and the presence of more internally operated cafeterias (OR, 2.3 per cafeteria; 95% CI, 1.53-3.36; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Children's hospitals provide suboptimal health environments. Reliance on revenue may be an important motivating factor encouraging the adoption of outlets that serve less nutritious food.

Canada↗
PubMed2006

Time scarcity and food choices: an overview.

Time scarcity, the feeling of not having enough time, has been implicated in changes in food consumption patterns such as a decrease in food preparation at home, an increase in the consumption of fast foods, a decrease in family meals, and an increase in the consumption of convenience or ready-prepared foods. These food choices are associated with less healthful diets and may contribute to obesity and chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. In spite of the potential importance for health, there has been little study of how time scarcity influences people's food choices. This paper presents an overview of time issues related to food choices and discuss applications of time research for nutrition and health researchers, policy makers, and practitioners interested in food choice.

Choice Behavior↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of cooked muscle meats for heterocyclic aromatic amine carcinogens.

A number of related heterocyclic amines that are mutagenic in bacterial test systems and carcinogenic in animals are formed during the cooking of food. The most commonly reported and abundant compounds are PhIP, MeIQx, DiMeIQx, IQ and A alpha C. Using analysis by solid-phase extraction and HPLC, amounts found in foods range from less than one ng/g for products from fast-food restaurants, up to 14 ng/g in commercially cooked products and over 300 ng/g for well done flame-grilled chicken breast meat. Interestingly, marinating meat for 4 h greatly reduces the amount of PhIP produced during cooking, but not MeIQx. Comparing mutagenic activity in meat samples to the mutagenic activity accounted for by the known heterocyclic amines shows that most samples have activity that cannot be accounted for by the aromatic amines we can currently identify. This suggests that additional compounds are present in these foods and need to be investigated, particularly those grilled over open flames.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Changes in human ecology and behavior in relation to the emergence of diarrheal diseases, including cholera.

Human populations throughout the world can be found in diverse conditions. A proportion of the population of developing countries lives in deprived conditions characterized by ramshackle housing, lack of piped water and sanitation, and widespread fecal contamination of the environment. Enteric infections, particularly due to bacterial pathogenes, are readily transmitted under these circumstances. In contrast, the majority of inhabitants of industrialized countries live in a sanitary environment that generally discourages the transmission of enteric pathogenes, particularly bacteria. In both these ecologic niches, changes in human ecology and behavior are leading to the emergence of certain enteric infections. Relevant factors in developing areas include urbanization (leading to periurban slums), diminished breastfeeding, and political upheaval that results in population migrations. In industrialized areas, large-scale food production (e.g., enormous poultry farms), distribution, and retailing (e.g., fast-food chains) create opportunities where widespread and extensive outbreaks of food-borne enteric infection can ensue if a breakdown in food hygiene occurs.

Behavior↗
PubMed2000

Regulation of the fatty acid synthase promoter by insulin.

Expression of critical enzymes in fatty acid and fat biosynthesis is tightly controlled by nutritional and hormonal stimuli. The expression of fatty acid synthase, which catalyzes all reactions for synthesis of palmitate from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, and of mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, which catalyzes the first acylation step in glycerophospholipid synthesis, is decreased to an undetectable level during fasting. Food intake, especially a high carbohydrate, fat-free diet after fasting, causes a dramatic increase in the transcription of these genes. Insulin secretion is increased during feeding and has a positive effect on expression. By using adipocytes in culture and transgenic mice that express the reporter gene driven by the fatty acid synthase promoter, the cis-acting sequence that mediates insulin regulation of the fatty acid synthase promoter was defined. Upstream stimulatory factors (USF) that bind to the -65 E-box are required for insulin-mediated transcriptional activation of the fatty acid symthase gene. Sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1 may be also involved in induction of these genes during feeding. Using specific inhibitors and expressing various signaling molecules, we found that insulin regulation of the fatty acid synthase promoter is mediated by the phosphatidylinositol (PI)3-kinase signaling pathway and that protein kinase B/akt is a downstream effector.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Scopolamine-induced convulsions in fasted mice after food intake: determination of blood glucose levels, [3H]glutamate binding kinetics and antidopaminergic drug effects.

The present study was performed to evaluate the role(s) of hypoglycemia, changes in [(3)H]glutamate binding kinetics and dopaminergic activity in the occurrence of scopolamine-induced convulsions in fasted mice after food intake. Plasma glucose levels and density (B(max)) and affinity (K(d)) of [(3)H]glutamate binding sites in whole brain synaptic membranes were determined in animals fed ad lib or fasted for 48 h and treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 3 mg/kg scopolamine or saline and allowed to eat for 5 min. Fasting for 48 h decreased plasma glucose levels. After refeeding, plasma glucose concentrations increased in saline treated animals, but remained unchanged in scopolamine treated animals which consumed less food. Fasting for 48 h also produced significant changes in the kinetics of [(3)H]glutamate binding. The B(max) and K(d) of the binding sites decreased in fasted animals. These changes were partially antagonized by scopolamine treatment and food intake. For the evaluation of the contribution of dopaminergic activity, another group of mice fasted for 48 h and pretreated (i.p.) with saline or dopamine antagonists, 2 mg/kg chlorpromazine or 2 or 4 mg/kg haloperidol, were treated 10 min later with either saline or 3 mg/kg scopolamine. Then 20 min later, they were allowed to eat ad lib and were observed for 30 min for the incidence and onset of clonic convulsions. Pretreatment of both 2 mg/kg chlorpromazine and 4 mg/kg haloperidol markedly suppressed the convulsions. These results indicate that the decrease in the [(3)H]glutamate binding induced by fasting, its antagonism by scopolamine treatment and food intake, and the dopaminergic hyperactivity may be possible factors contributing to the occurrence of convulsions.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effect of food intake and fasting on gastrointestinal lead absorption in humans.

The effect of food intake versus brief fasting on gastrointestinal absorption of lead was measured in five healthy men who were living in a metabolic unit and eating constant lead diets. Lead absorpiton was assessed by the difference between dietary intake and output of 1) lead tracers composed of nonradioactive isotopes which were ingested as a single dose either with food or during a 16-hr fast, 2) lead tracers ingested with meals for relatively long periods (2 to 124 days), and 3) total led in ingested foods. Absorption estimated by 1) was confirmed by increments in tracer concentrations in blood. Lead tracers were given as nitrate, cysteine complex, or sulfide. Absorption was 10.3 +/- 2.2% (SD) for food lead; 8.2 +/- 2.8% for tracers ingested with food; and 35 +/- 13% (P < 0.01) percent for tracers ingested without food. The increased absorption of lead when ingested without food should be considered when the hazards of exposure to lead are determined.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Food service ventures turn back to standard recipes.

From in-house operations to marriages with fast-food operators, the food service at many hospitals has become a source of nourishment for budgets instead of a drain. But hospitals no longer are pushing the entrepreneurial limits of food sales like they did a few years back, mainly because they're realizing the effect their not-for-profit presence has on taxpaying competitors in the community.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed1996

Influences on adolescent eating behavior.

PURPOSE: The food consumption behavior of American adolescents often fails to meet dietary recommendations, indicating the need for investigation of the factors that influence this behavior. This study, guided by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, examined relationships between such behavior and other personal, environmental, and behavioral variables. METHODS: A paper-and-pencil instrument was administered to a sample of 242 high school students. "Pyramid," fat, and sugar food scores were calculated to measure subjects' dietary diversity along with their consumption of fats and sugar/sweets. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify relationships between subjects' food scores and other study variables. RESULTS: Male and female subjects' pyramid scores were positively related (p < or = 0.05) to the number of meals they consumed daily. Some gender differences emerged in the data, as conformity to parents, snack consumption, and consumption of meals and snacks from home predicted males' Pyramid scores, while amount of physical exercise predicted pyramid scores of females. Both male and female subjects' fat and sugar scores were positively related (p < or = 0.05) to their consumption of meals and snacks from the school cafeteria and overall snack consumption and negatively related to their self-efficacy for making healthful food choices. Females' fat scores were further predicted by their consumption of fast food. CONCLUSIONS: Different aspects of adolescents' food consumption behavior may be influenced by different factors, which may vary between males and females. Therefore, nutrition and health professionals should tailor educational and treatment strategies according to both the gender of their patients and the specific desired dietary outcomes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The contextual effect of the local food environment on residents' diets: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

OBJECTIVES: We studied the association between the local food environment and residents' report of recommended dietary intake. METHODS: Recommended intakes of foods and nutrients for 10 623 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants were estimated from food frequency questionnaires. Supermarkets, grocery stores, and full-service and fast-food restaurants were geocoded to census tracts. RESULTS: Black Americans' fruit and vegetable intake increased by 32% for each additional supermarket in the census tract (relative risk [RR] = 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 1.60). White Americans' fruit and vegetable intake increased by 11% with the presence of 1 or more supermarket (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.93, 1.32). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the local food environment is associated with residents' recommended diets.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

The food industry and provincial economies.

This paper discusses the significance of the food industry for the Zhejiang provincial economy and for provincial economies generally. It is suggested that the strong ties between the food industry and provincial economies in China means that the food industry can be a key influence in the economic development of regional China. Moreover, the geographically diffuse nature of the food industry in China gives the industry a strategic significance in countering regional inequality within and between provinces, a by-product of China's rapid growth over the past 25 years. For these reasons, change in the food industry, whether it has its origins in the introduction of western fast foods, or in environmental, technological or economic trends, not only assumes significance for the health of the Chinese people (as other papers presented to the International Cuisine and Health Workshop at Hangzhou have pointed out), but also for the wealth of the nation and the way that wealth is distributed.

China↗
PubMed1979

The relationship of diet to blood pressure control.

Sodium restriction has become an integral part of the medical management of hypertension. In general the degree of sodium restriction recommended by physicians depends upon the severity of the disease. The commonly prescribed sodium restricted diets are classified as mild and moderate. Mild sodium restriction refers to a diet in which 3.0-4.0 gm of sodium are allowed per day. Moderate sodium restriction is indicated when hypertension is more severe; 1-2 gm of sodium are allowed daily. Sodium added in the processing of foods contributes significantly to the sodium content of the diet. "Convenience" and "fast" foods are high in sodium and are not allowed the hypertensive patients. Significant advances have occurred in the past decade in the medical management of hypertension. The sodium-restricted diet remains the cornerstone of effective blood pressure control. Therefore, nutrition must become an integral part of the hypertensive treatment program.

Diet, Sodium-Restricted↗
PubMed2002

Identification of sesame seed allergens by 2-dimensional proteomics and Edman sequencing: seed storage proteins as common food allergens.

BACKGROUND: Sesame seed allergy is becoming increasingly prevalent, probably because of its use in international fast-food and bakery products. Despite this fact, few studies have focused on the identification of its major allergenic proteins. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify allergenic proteins of sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum). METHODS: Extracted sesame seed proteins were separated by means of SDS-PAGE and 2-dimensional (2-D) PAGE. Immunolabeling was performed with individual patient sera from 20 patients with sesame seed allergy. Selected proteins were further analyzed by means of Edman sequencing. RESULTS: IgE-binding proteins were identified at 78, 52, 45, 34, 32, 29, 25, 20, 9, and 7 kd. Analyzing internal sequences, the protein at 45 kd, which was recognized by 75% of the patients, was found to be a 7S vicilin-type globulin, a seed storage protein of sesame and named Ses i 3. The protein at 7 kd was found to be a 2S albumin, another seed storage protein of sesame and named Ses i 2. Seed storage proteins are known food allergens in peanut, walnut, Brazil nut, and soybean. Interestingly, one known IgE-binding epitope of the peanut allergen Ara h 1 has 80% homology with the corresponding area of Ses i 3. The different amino acids were previously shown not to be critical for IgE binding in Ara h 1. In addition, the proteins at 78 and 34 kd were found to be homologous to the embryonic abundant protein and the seed maturation protein of soybeans, respectively. CONCLUSION: The identification of 4 sesame seed allergens is the first step toward generating recombinant allergens for use in future immunotherapeutic approaches. In addition, the detection of conserved IgE binding epitopes in common food allergens might be a useful tool for predicting cross-reactivity to certain foods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Is dietary intake able to explain differences in body fatness in children and adolescents?

Obesity is the result of an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Controversial information exists about what are the strongest energy balance aspects influencing body fatness. This article is focused on food consumption facts that could be related to the risk of being obese in children and adolescents. It reviews whether energy intake, macronutrient composition of diet, eating patterns or other dietary intake factors are able to explain differences in body composition when obesity has been already developed or even in subjects at risk to become obese. There is not enough evidence to clarify the importance of diet on overweight children and adolescents, and conclusions derived are somewhat controversial. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies do not show clear relationships between energy intake or food composition and body fatness. To find relations between dietary factors and childhood obesity perhaps eating patterns or different types of foods must be considered: meal patterns and meal frequency, snacking and beverage consumption, fast food intake, portion sizes, etc. There is no clear association between different aspects of dietary intake and the development of obesity in children and adolescents. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The nutrition and health transition in Malaysia.

The accelerated phase of industrialisation and urbanisation in recent decades has inevitably brought about changes in the lifestyle of Malaysians. Changes in dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles are known to be associated with changes in health and increased prevalence of chronic diseases in the population. The objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the link between demographic variables and food consumption patterns related to the nutrition transition in Malaysia. This review uses various reports and publications from several ministries and selected local studies. The statistics compiled over the last two decades have shown that as the population achieves affluence, intakes of calories, fats and sugars increase, which may account for the substantial increase in food importation bills over the same period. Similarly, the rapid growth of the fast food industry during the last decade has added another dimension to the change in food consumption patterns of Malaysians. With the exception of a study on adolescents, the prevalences of overweight and obesity in children and adults are not strictly comparable due to the difference in body mass index (BMI) cut-off points in children and the study protocol in adults, and hence should not be misinterpreted as trends. The recent recommendation to lower the BMI cut-off points for Asians would only increase the magnitude of the existing prevalence among adults. The need to promote healthy nutrition for the population must be pursued vigorously, as the escalation of nutrition-related chronic degenerative diseases - once an urban phenomenon--has now spread to the rural population at an alarming rate. This paper indicates that the problem is real and needs urgent attention because it may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of healthy eating in children and youth.

This review outlines the state of knowledge and research gaps in the area of determinants of healthy eating among children and youth. The article is structured around individual and collective determinants that affect healthy eating in children and youth. We defined healthy eating as "eating practices and behaviours that are consistent with improving, maintaining and/or enhancing health." Relevant databases were searched for papers published between January 1992 and March 2003 that focussed on children or youth and reported at least one factor relevant to healthy eating. Among collective factors, familial factors and the nature of foods available in the physical environment, including at home, schools and in fast-food establishments, stand out as significant influences on healthy eating in children and youth. The media, particularly television, also have an enormous potential influence and can overshadow familial influences. Individual factors identified include knowledge, attitudes and food preferences; only the latter have been identified as a strong determinant of healthy eating in both children and adolescents. The results of the review identified a significant body of literature in the area of determinants of healthy eating in children and youth; however, very little of this research has taken place in Canada. Only a few determinants, such as economic factors and food security, the content of media nutritional messages, and the issue of flavours, neophobia and food preferences, have undergone some examination by Canadian researchers. Research priorities for Canada in the area of determinants of healthy eating and surveillance of eating behaviours are identified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Food and guar decrease absorption of trimethoprim.

Absorption of trimethoprim suspension 3 mg/kg has been studied in 12 healthy adult volunteers when given alone, with food or with food and guar, using a randomised Latin-squares study design. Serum and urine trimethoprim concentrations were followed for 24 h. The mean peak serum concentration was higher when fasting subjects were treated (mean: 2.35, 1.84 and 1.97 micrograms/ml for the fasting, food and food + guar groups, respectively; ANOVA p less than 0.001 for the difference between fasting and non-fasting values). The times of the peak serum concentrations did not differ. Food ingestion decreased the area under the curve by 22.2%, as did food + guar. For maximal efficacy trimethoprim should be administered between meals.

Absorption↗