The association of food insecurity with the relative reinforcing value of food, BMI, and gestational weight gain among pregnant women
APPETITE
Authors: Crandall, Amanda K.; Temple, Jennifer L.; Kong, Kai Ling
Abstract
Objective: Food insecurity is associated with obesity among adults. During pregnancy, food insecurity increases obesity risk among mothers and infants. This study investigated the association of food security with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG) adequacy to date, and the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of food during pregnancy. Methods: This secondary data analysis examined 258 pregnant women (mean gestational age = 21.21 +/- 10.21 weeks) surveyed on pre-pregnancy weight, height, pregnancy due date and GWG to date, current diagnoses related to eating and pregnancy, and demographics. The survey also assessed current food security and RRV of meals, snacks, cognitive activities, and active activities. BMI was calculated from pre-pregnancy height and weight (kg/m(2)). Gestational weight gain adequacy to date was derived from the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the relation of food security with pre-pregnancy BMI and RRVs of foods/activities. The relation between food security and GWG adequacy to date was examined using multinomial regression models. Results: Lower food security was related to both greater pre-pregnancy BMI (beta = 0.60, p <.001) and greater RRV of snack foods (beta = 3.46, p < .05), after controlling for covariates. Lower food security was also related to GWG to date below recommended levels (OR = 1.25, p < .05). Conclusions: Food insecurity is related to higher relative food reinforcement during pregnancy, and greater pre-pregnancy weight status. Future research should replicate and extend these findings by assessing them longitudinally to better evaluate the directions of these relationships.
Impact of copper sulfate application at an urban Brazilian reservoir: A geostatistical and ecotoxicological approach
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Leal, P. R.; Moschini-Carlos, V.; Lopez-Doval, J. C.; Cintra, J. P.; Yamamoto, J. K.; Bitencourt, M. D.; Santos, R. F.; Abreu, G. C.; Pompeo, M. L. M.
Abstract
A landscape ecotoxicology approach was used to assess the spatial distribution of copper in the recent bottom sediment (surficial sediment) of a Brazilian subtropical reservoir (the Guarapiranga reservoir) and its potential ecotoxicological impacts on the reservoir ecosystem and the local society. We discuss the policies and procedures that have been employed for the management of this reservoir over the past four decades. Spatial heterogeneity in the reservoir was evaluated by means of sampling design and statistical analysis based on kriging spatial interpolation. The sediment copper concentrations have been converted into qualitative categories in order to interpret the reservoir quality and the impacts of management policies. This conversion followed the Canadian Water Framework Directive (WFD) ecotoxicological concentration levels approach, employing sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). The SQG valueswere applied as the copper concentration thresholds for quantitative-qualitative conversion of data for the surficial sediment of the Guarapiranga. The SQGs used were as follows: a) interim sediment quality guideline (ISQG), b) probable effect level (PEL), and c) regional reference value (RRV). The quantitative results showed that the spatial distribution of copper in the recent bottom sediment reflected the reservoir's management policy and the copper application protocol, and that the copper concentrations varied considerably, ranging from virtually-zero to in excess of 3 g(copper)/kg(ds). The qualitative results demonstrated that the recent bottom sediment was predominantly in a bad or very bad condition, and could therefore have impacts on the local society and the ecosystem. It could be concluded that the management policy for this reservoir was mainly determined by the desire to minimize short-term costs, disregarding long-term socioeconomic and environmental consequences. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.