Eating Disorders: Comparison of Students’ Foodservice Satisfaction Between Korea and US.

Comparison of students’ foodservice satisfaction between Korea and US.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Nutr Res Pract. 2013 Feb; 7(1): 66-71
Jeong E, Chun Y, Joo N, Yoon JY

This study analyzes important factors of foodservice in school through comparison of students’ satisfaction of using foodservice in Korea and US in order to meet students’ expectations. The survey was composed of 4 categories including menu, service, hygiene, and facility and it was carried out in both countries to evaluate satisfaction. First, comparison of satisfaction between two countries was made using t-test. Secondly, multiple regression was performed to identify factors affecting satisfaction. As a result Korean students were more satisfied than American students in all aspects. However, regardless of nationality, the top three factors affecting the students’ satisfaction were the same. The predictors were food taste (Korean 0.375 and American 0.350), menu variety (Korean 0.305 and American 0.278), and service line (Korean 0.226 and American 0.192). Despite the similarity of the predicators, it can be concluded that the difference in satisfaction level between the two nationscan be explained by the approaches to create comfortable and acceptable changes in schools’ foodservice. Korea has been increasing the foodservice quality based on their objectives to provide students comfortable and positive environment when eating nutritious meals. However, US have made their main objectives on making changes to decrease youth obesity. Foodservice improvements according to continuous evaluations and surveys are necessary in order to increase students’ satisfaction.
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Anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents: diagnosis, treatment and the role of the pediatrician.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Minerva Pediatr. 2013 Feb; 65(1): 1-18
Silber TJ

The diagnosis and treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) in children and adolescents has some commonality but also differs from that of this condition in adults. A new understanding of AN is emerging: research data from the fields of epidemiology, genetics, and brain biology, suggest that there may be an underlying brain diathesis predisposing towards AN. It is now proposed that that what starts as a harmless diet, once it turns into a more prolonged food restriction may trigger an eating disorder in a genetically neurobiologically predisposed population. The condition may be then perpetuated by the biochemical changes induced by weight loss, ketosis, and the impact of the ensuing malnutrition on the brain (starvation illness). This change of paradigm from a psychological understanding to a neurobiological conceptualization calls for an early intervention to assure nutritional rehabilitation as soon as an eating disorder is suspected in children, without needing to wait for all the classical features of the diagnosis as seen in adults. This new model is agnostic about the origins of the disease and questions the classic assumption of “an underlying family pathology”. It gives strong support to treatments such as Family Based Treatment, also referred to as the “Maudsley method”. Essentially this consists of empowering parents to monitor and supervise the nutritional rehabilitation of their children. Hence pediatricians no longer need to be bystanders when treating these children and adolescents. They now have a clearly defined role: early diagnosticians, clinical monitors (of potential medical complications), nutrition advisors, and as members of a multidisciplinary team, patient and family advocates and educators.
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Maternal symptoms of depression are related to observations of controlling feeding practices in mothers of young children.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

J Fam Psychol. 2013 Feb; 27(1): 159-64
Haycraft E, Farrow C, Blissett J

Maternal depression can impair parenting practices and has been linked with less sensitive feeding interactions with children, but existing research is based on self-reports of feeding practices. This study examined relationships between maternal self-reported symptoms of depression with observations of mothers’ child feeding practices during a mealtime. Fifty-eight mothers of 3- and 4-year-old children were video recorded eating a standardized lunch. The recording was then coded for instances of maternal controlling feeding practices and maternal vocalizations using the Family Mealtime Coding System. Mothers also provided information on current symptoms of depression and anxiety. Mothers who reported greater symptoms of depression were observed to use more verbal and physical pressure for their child to eat and to offer more incentives or conditions in exchange for their child eating. Mothers also used more vocalizations with their child about food during the observed mealtime when they had greater symptoms of depression. There was no link between symptoms of depression and observations of maternal use of restriction. Symptoms of depression are linked with observations of mothers implementing a more controlling, less sensitive feeding style with their child. Health professionals working with families in which mothers have symptoms of depression may benefit from receiving training about the possible impact of maternal depression on child-feeding practices, and mothers with symptoms of depression may benefit from guidance regarding its potential impact on their child-feeding interactions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).
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Direct and indirect effects of a family-based intervention in early adolescence on parent-youth relationship quality, late adolescent health, and early adult obesity.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

J Fam Psychol. 2013 Feb; 27(1): 106-16
Van Ryzin MJ, Nowicka P

We explored family processes in adolescence that may influence the likelihood of obesity in early adulthood using a randomized trial of a family-based intervention (the Family Check-Up, or FCU). The FCU has been shown to reduce escalations in antisocial behavior and depression in adolescence by supporting positive family management practices, but no research has examined the mechanisms by which the FCU could influence health-related attitudes and behaviors linked to obesity. Participants were 998 adolescents (n = 526 male; n = 423 European American; M age 12.21 years) and their families, recruited in 6th grade from 3 middle schools in the Pacific Northwest. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) and an Intent-To-Treat (ITT) design to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the FCU on parent-youth relationship quality (ages 12-15), healthy lifestyle behaviors, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms (all measured at age 17), and obesity (age 22). We found that the FCU led to greater parent-youth relationship quality, which predicted enhanced health-related behaviors, reduced maladaptive eating attitudes, and reduced depression. In turn, reduced maladaptive eating attitudes predicted reduced odds of obesity. The indirect effect of the FCU on obesity by way of parent-youth relationship quality and eating attitudes was significant. Our findings illustrate how family processes may influence adolescent health and suggest that family functioning may be an additional factor to consider when developing intervention programs for obesity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).
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