Tonia Vassilakou

Prof. Tonia Vassilakou

Dept. of Public Health Policy, university of West Attica
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

37Years (1990-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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2 December 1995 in BMJ
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ATAntonia Trichopoulou
Antonia Trichopoulou
AKAntigone Kouris-Blazos
Antigone Kouris-Blazos
MWMark L Wahlqvist
Mark L Wahlqvist
CHARALAMBOS GNARDELLISCHARALAMBOS GNARDELLIS
CHARALAMBOS GNARDELLIS
PLPagona Lagiou
Pagona Lagiou
DTDimitrios Trichopoulos
Dimitrios Trichopoulos
Objective : To assess the influence of a specific dietary pattern on overall survival. Design : Cohort study. Setting : Three rural Greek villages, the data from which were collected as part of an international cross cultural study of food habits in later life. Subjects : 182 elderly residents of the three villages. Main outcome measure : Overall mortality. Results : Diet was assessed with a validated extensive semiquantitative questionnaire on food intake. A one unit increase in diet score, devised a priori on the basis of eight component characteristics of the traditional common diet in the Mediterranean region, was associated with a significant 17% reduction in overall mortality (95% confidence interval 1% to 31%). Conclusion : A diet meeting currently understood health criteria does predict survival among people.

24 February 2023 in Children
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Journal Article
Open access
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ATAnastasia Tsochantaridou
Anastasia Tsochantaridou
Theodoros N. SergentanisTheodoros N. Sergentanis
Theodoros N. Sergentanis
MGMaria G Grammatikopoulou
Maria G Grammatikopoulou
KMKyriakoula Merakou
Kyriakoula Merakou
Tonia VassilakouTonia Vassilakou
Tonia Vassilakou
EKEleni Kornarou
Eleni Kornarou
Adolescents are exposed to food marketing through many routes, including television, movies, videos, print media, online games, and social media. The interplay between exposure to unhealthy food advertisements and food choices by adolescents is a field of special interest given the ongoing evolution of social media trends and marketing strategies. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the scientific findings in the last five years (2017–2022) regarding the possible influence of nutrition-related advertisements through television, social media, or video games on the choice and consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks in adolescents. Nineteen studies were included in this review. Adolescents exposed to unhealthy food and beverage advertising showed high desire and intention to consume the advertised foods, as evidenced by the majority of included studies. The effects of advertisements are reinforced by peer pressure and influencers and interact with socioeconomic, biological, and environmental factors. Food marketing represents part of the obesogenic environment of the present time.

7 November 2020 in Children
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Journal Article
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VDVassiliki Diakatou
Vassiliki Diakatou
Tonia VassilakouTonia Vassilakou
Tonia Vassilakou
Malnutrition is caused either by cancer itself or by its treatment, and affects the clinical outcome, the quality of life (QOL), and the overall survival (OS) of the patient. However, malnutrition in children with cancer should not be accepted or tolerated as an inevitable procedure at any stage of the disease. A review of the international literature from 2014 to 2019 was performed. Despite the difficulty of accurately assessing the prevalence of malnutrition, poor nutritional status has adverse effects from diagnosis to subsequent survival. Nutritional status (NS) at diagnosis relates to undernutrition, while correlations with clinical outcome are still unclear. Malnutrition adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with cancer and collective evidence constantly shows poor nutritional quality in childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). Nutritional assessment and early intervention in pediatric cancer patients could minimize the side effects of treatment, improve their survival, and reduce the risk of nutritional morbidity with a positive impact on QOL, in view of the potentially manageable nature of this risk factor.

1 June 1995 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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ATA Trichopoulou
A Trichopoulou
AKA Kouris-Blazos
A Kouris-Blazos
Tonia VassilakouTonia Vassilakou
Tonia Vassilakou
CHARALAMBOS GNARDELLISCHARALAMBOS GNARDELLIS
CHARALAMBOS GNARDELLIS
EPEvangelos Polychronopoulos
Evangelos Polychronopoulos
DTD Trichopoulos
D Trichopoulos
In 1988 and 1989, we investigated in three Greek villages the dietary patterns of 182 men and women aged > 70 y by using a validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire and compared these dietary patterns with the traditional Greek diet as ascertained in the late 1950s by Keys and his colleagues. As in the traditional diet, olive oil dominated fat intake, total fat exceeded 35% of total energy intake, average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables exceeded 500 g, and average ethanol intake for men corresponded to two to three glasses of wine per day. In contrast, consumption of meat and meat products has substantially increased and intake of bread and other cereals has apparently declined. We observed no differences between the two periods with respect to consumption of legumes, eggs and egg products, and sugar confectionery. We have also attempted to assess whether a gradient of adherence to the traditional Greek diet can be identified in the diets of the study subjects, and whether it can subsequently predict total mortality. During a follow-up period of approximately 5 y, 53 deaths were observed. The risk of death was apparently higher among the minority of study subjects whose diet deviated substantially from the traditional Greek pattern, compared with the majority whose diet adhered closely to the traditional pattern.

3 February 2021 in Children
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Journal Article
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Tonia VassilakouTonia Vassilakou
Tonia Vassilakou
Childhood malnutrition of every form, including undernutrition (wasting, stunting and underweight), micronutrient deficiencies, as well as overweight and obesity, consists a triple burden of disease, especially for low- and middle-income countries, and is one of the leading causes of poor health and a major impediment to personal development and achievement of full human potential worldwide

21 August 2021 in Children
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Journal Article
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Ioanna KonteleIoanna Kontele
Ioanna Kontele
Tonia VassilakouTonia Vassilakou
Tonia Vassilakou
In their attempt to achieve the optimum weight or body shape for their activity, athletes frequently use harmful weight-control practices that may lead to the development of disordered eating or eating disorders. These practices are linked to several medical and mental consequences that may be more serious in adolescent athletes, as their bodies must meet both intensive growth demands and training requirements at the same time. Among other consequences, adolescent athletes may be at nutritional risk, due to their high nutrient needs and unhealthy eating behaviors. A literature review was conducted to examine the main nutritional risks and malnutrition issues faced by adolescent athletes that present disordered eating attitudes or eating disorders. Most studies refer to adult elite athletes, however research on adolescent athletes also indicates that the most common nutritional risks that may arise due to disordered eating include energy, macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances and changes in body composition that may lead to menstrual abnormalities, and decreased bone mass density. Educational programs and early detection of disordered eating and eating disorders are crucial to avoid the emergence and ensure timely management of nutrition-related problems in the vulnerable group of adolescent athletes.