Browsing by Author "Carrascosa, Conrado"
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- Environmental Footprints in Food Services: A Scoping ReviewPublication . Guimarães, Nathalia Sernizon; Reis, Marcela Gomes; Costa, Bruna Vieira de Lima; Zandonadi, Renata Puppin; Carrascosa, Conrado; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Costa, Cristina Amaro Da; Alturki, Hmidan A.; Raposo, AntónioAbstract The collective meals market generates significant revenue for the world economy. Food services are responsible for consuming large amounts of water and energy, as well as generating a substantial volume of waste, which is often improperly disposed of. Given the unchecked expansion of food services, the lack of proper management of environmental resources can undermine sustainability principles, posing a threat to future generations. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the existing scientific literature on carbon and water footprints in food services, describing the main methods and tools used and what strategies have been proposed to mitigate the high values of these footprints. The search for articles was performed on 6 June 2024 in seven electronic databases, using MeSH Terms and adaptations for each database from database inception. The search for local studies was complemented by a manual search in the list of references of the studies selected to compose this review. It included quantitative studies assessing footprints (water or carbon) in food services and excluded reviews, studies that reported footprints for diets, and protocols. A total of 2642 studies were identified, and among these, 29 were selected for this review. According to the findings, it was observed that meats, especially beef, contribute more to water and carbon footprint compared to other proteins. Mitigation strategies for the water footprint include promoting plant-based diets, menu changes, and awareness.
- Mediterranean Food Pattern Adherence in a Female-Dominated Sample of Health and Social Sciences University Students: Analysis from a Perspective of SustainabilityPublication . Oliveira, Leandro; Saraiva, Ariana; Lima, M. J. Reis; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Alhaji, Jwaher Haji; Carrascosa, Conrado; Raposo, AntónioBackground/Objectives: The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate adherence to the Mediter- ranean Food Pattern (MFP) in a self-selected sample of university students, addressing a perspective of food sustainability. In addition, it seeks to relate adherence to MFP with sociodemographic charac- teristics and nutritional status. Methods: This is a cross-sectional pilot study whose data collection was carried out by an online questionnaire between January and April 2023. Results: Two hundred and forty-eight students participated—most of them were female (78.2%), had a median of 22 ( 20; 30 ) years, resided in the central region of Portugal (42.3%), and were pursuing a degree (73.4%) in a public higher education institution (66.5%). The prevalence of overweight (overweight and obesity) found was 33.1%. Females predominantly used olive oil as their main source of fat (95.9%, p = 0.009) and had a higher consumption of sugary drinks (81.4%, p = 0.004) compared to males, who reported usage rates of 85.2% and 63.0%, The median score of the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener was 7 points, presented with an interquartile range (Q1: 6, Q3: 8), indicating moderate adherence. The analysis showed no differences between the sexes (p = 0.087). There was also a negative correlation between adherence to the MFP and the body mass index (p = 0.007; r = −0.171). In addition, adher- ence to the MFP was associated with the area of study and the course attended, with students in health-related fields showing higher adherence. Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions aimed at promoting adherence to the MFP among university students, which could contribute to improved health outcomes and enhanced environmental sustainability.
- Prevalence and Predictors of Diabetic Retinopathy in Saudi Arabia: Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPublication . Alshahrani, Ali Mohammed; Alshahrani, Alaa Mohammed; Al-Boqami, Beshayer Abdullah H.; Alqahtani, Alwaleed Abdulhadi; Alzahrani, Bassam; Bassi, Yousef; Almohaimeed, Mohammed Yousef; Alalmaai, Abeer Mohammed; Saraiva, Ariana; Alhumaidi, Bandar Naffaa; Albaridi, Najla A.; Lima, M. J. Reis; Carrascosa, Conrado; Raposo, AntónioAbstract: Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness among diabetic patients, particularly in areas with an increase in diabetes epidemics, such as Saudi Arabia. Notwithstanding the significant public health implications, data on the prevalence and risk factors of DR in Saudi Arabia are few and scattered, limited to certain geographic areas. Our study objective is to conduct a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of the prevalence and predictors for DR in Saudi Arabia, within both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were constructed according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases for studies published from 2000–2023. Any study related to the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in T1DM or T2DM among adult patients aged ≥18 years that was conducted in Saudi Arabia was included. Pooling prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity across the studies was tested by the I2 statistic and Cochran’s Q test. Results: A total of 11 studies published between 2006 and 2019 met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 99 to over 50,000 participants. The overall pooled prevalence of DR was estimated to be 31% (95% CI: 24–39%), with substantial heterogeneity observed across studies (I2 = 99%). Prevalence estimates ranged from 16.7% to 69.8% and were influenced by variables such as study design, duration of diabetes, and glycemic control. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, the pooled prevalence was 24% (95% CI: 20–28%). Poor glycemic control and longer diabetes duration were consistently identified as significant predictors of DR, while other factors, such as obesity and hypertension, were also associated with an increased risk of DR. Conclusions: The high prevalence of DR in Saudi Arabia highlights the critical need for focused public health initiatives, especially among those with type 2 diabetes. To minimize the effects of DR, early intervention, routine DR screening programs, and optimal diabetes control are essential. The increasing prevalence of DR in Saudi Arabia requires careful consideration of healthcare policy and resource allocation, which is made possible by our results.