During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government in Kuwait implemented public health measures to control the spread of the virus. However, despite the importance of these restrictions, normal activities related to purchasing of groceries, concerns related to food safety, and overall uncertainty may have influenced food behaviors and food consumption. Hence, the study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on food purchasing behaviors, eating behaviors, and the perception of food safety and security among residents in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study was carried out using self-administered questionnaires between 28 July 2020 and 31 August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait. A total of 841 respondents participated in the study. The study identified several changes in food purchasing behaviors, eating behaviors, food consumption, and consumers perceptions on food safety during the pandemic. The closures, restrictions, and changes in food purchasing evidently influenced individual’s eating behaviors. Largely, participants were found to (i) change their food purchasing behavior (74%); (ii) opt for online food delivery services (42.8%); (iii) purchase long-shelf-life foods (e.g., canned food and dry staples) (76%); (iv) consume more meals at home (76%); and (v) follow public health measures to reduce the spread of the virus and ensure their safety (98%). This study indicates that individuals during times of uncertainty and stress change their food purchasing behaviors, food consumption habits, and follow guidelines and recommendations. These findings may help public health initiatives to focus on raising awareness about the importance of health, wellbeing, and nutrition during times of crises.

Introduction: Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease that affects populations worldwide. In Kuwait, the prevalence of obesity is a major public health problem. Intra-Gastric Balloon (IGB) is commonly used as a non-operative strategy among bariatric patients. However, with the increasing use of IGB, life-threatening adverse outcomes are widely reported. Presentation of cases: A case series five patients presenting with pancreatitis from IGB in Kuwait is reported to better investigate the emerging complications of IGB. Three types of IGB were inserted, these include the Orbera Intragastric Balloon System, Orbera365 Intragastric Balloon System, and the Spatz Adjustable Gastric. The clinical course of balloon pancreatitis is described. Discussion: The case series examined existing case reports of IGB associated pancreatitis in the literature, in addition to the investigated clinical outcomes. Patients presented with mild pancreatitis, and removal of balloon resulted in significant improvement in symptoms. Pathogenesis of balloon pancreatitis could be secondary to the pancreas compression by the IGB. Conclusion: Despite the rarity of balloon pancreatitis, it needs to be recognized as a complication of IGB insertion. Further research is needed to better understand the implications of the balloon size, shape, volume and location of balloon insertion in order to prevent this fatal complication. Highlights:

Transitioning toward sustainable food systems and sustainable diets is critical in reducing environmental impact and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly. This transition requires collaborative efforts across multiple stakeholders, including the general public’s knowledge and attitudes. To assess the knowledge and attitudes toward food sustainability, we carried out a cross-sectional study among Kuwait University students with a total of 278 participants aged ≥18 years (78% women and 22% men). A validated questionnaire was used for this study. Most respondents (>70%) recognized the concept of “local food” and “environmental impact.” The concept “green water-blue water” was least recognized among respondents (75%). Participants perceived that a sustainable diet was rich in vegetables, included plenty of fresh products, and was affordable. Participants (>66%) perceived a positive impact of meat and its derivatives toward sustainability, a misconception most common among men. Overall, participants with more knowledge about environmental concepts showed favorable attitudes toward a sustainable diet. Women showed more interest in changing their current dietary habits toward food sustainability. In conclusion, despite participants’ positive attitude toward food sustainability, lack of understanding persists, necessitating public health interventions aimed at educating consumers about sustainable diets and their impact on the environment.

Dietary supplements (DS) are commonly used to improve overall health status and correct nutritional deficiencies. However, with the global rise in DS use, there is an increased risk of misuse and/or excessive use leading to toxicity and adverse events (AE). Research on DS use and DS-related AE is limited in Kuwait. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of DS use, its associated factors, and reported AE in a population of young adults. A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online self-administered questionnaire. Non-probabilistic sampling was used via multiple social media platforms. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between sociodemographic, lifestyle characteristics and health status with DS use and AE. The prevalence of DS use was 68.24%. DS use was found to be associated with age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.13; p-value [p] = < 0.001) and being female (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.01–2.41; p = 0.047). AE related to DS use were found to be associated with having respiratory disorders (asthma) (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.07–4.05; p = 0.029) and digestive disorders (OR = 3.22, 95% CI 1.24–8.35; p = 0.016). The study findings provide valuable insights into current DS use in young adults in Kuwait, which may enable the strategic development of targeted interventions and health promotion awareness campaigns. Furthermore, they emphasize the necessity of implementing regulations and policies to effectively manage DS use and monitor AE reporting in Kuwait.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its comorbidities are a major public health concern. In addition to peripheral tissues, T2D also impacts the central nervous system leading to neurocognitive impairments, including memory deficits, anxiety, and depression. The metabolic determinants of these neurocognitive impairments remain unidentified. Here, we used a novel proprietary high-fat diet, in which glucose intolerance precedes weight gain, to decipher the metabolic determinants of neurocognitive affects. We show that this model exhibits anxiety-like behaviors, without eliciting depression nor recognition memory deficits. Long-term feeding leads to weight gain, brain glucose hypometabolism and impaired recognition memory alongside the early onset anxiety-like behavior. Using an established genetic model of T2D (db/db) and of diet-induced obesity we show that additional insulin resistance and obesity are associated with depressive-like behaviors and recognition memory deficits. Our findings indicate that glucose intolerance alone can elicit anxiety-like behaviors. Through this study we also provide a novel nutritional model to characterize the discrete effects of glucose intolerance on cognition, behavior, and the physiology of metabolic disease.