The harmful consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on children are its impact on eating habits, physical activity, sleep, and mood disorders. In the future, this may result in a higher prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s eating behavior and lifestyle. The study was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire on dietary and lifestyle habits before and during the pandemic, and the reasons for changes due to the pandemic. The study involved 294 parents of children in grades 1–8 in elementary schools in two regions of Poland. The survey showed that during the pandemic, the percentage of children eating five regular meals daily, including fruits and vegetables, and engaging in daily physical activity decreased. However, the percentage of children spending more than 4 h a day in front of a screen increased (p < 0.05). The main reasons for changes in eating habits and physical activity were less eating out, lack of motivation, obstruction, and lack of access to sports facilities (p < 0.05). The pandemic had a significant impact on reduced levels of physical activity and increased time spent in front of a screen. In summary, among the reasons for changes in children’s dietary and lifestyle habits, factors related to the pandemic itself, i.e., social restrictions, restrictions, closure of schools and other facilities, and fear of coronavirus infection, had the greatest impact.

Introduction and objective: Prevention of Sars-CoV-2 infection aims primarily on actions to limit the spread of the virus. However, many people have taken steps to improve the functioning of the immune system. The aim of the study was to assess individual behaviours strengthening immunity...

Background/Objectives: Diet therapy is a key component of a holistic approach to the physiological and psychological health of children with autism spectrum disorders. A personalized diet, tailored to clinical symptoms, yields positive therapeutic effects. The aim of this study was to assess the intake of specific food groups and the dietary methods used among children and adolescents with autism. Methods: This study included 141 patients from neuropediatric centers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Inclusion criteria were parental consent for the study, age of the child, and autism diagnosis. The research tool was a custom questionnaire covering patients’ demographic data, type of disorder, and a qualitative analysis of the dietary habits of selected products. Results: The predominant dietary models were the basic diet (n = 26; 72.22%) and the elimination diet (n = 9; 25%), with a higher application rate among children with autism spectrum disorders. Aversion to specific foods/products was more prevalent in children with autism (n = 79; 75.24%) compared to those with other neurodevelopmental disorders (n = 10; 27.78%). Snacking between meals was significantly more common among the overall neuropediatric patient group (n = 140; 99.29%), with fruit purees (n = 33; 23.57%) and fruits (n = 28; 20%) being the most frequently consumed snacks. Conclusions: The qualitative analysis of dietary habits revealed selective food aversions and eating disorders due to a narrow range of frequently consumed products within dietary groups.

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential for the human body, have several positive functions that affect human health. Pregnancy is a time of particular demand for these acids, especially DHA and EPA, whose sources are mainly oily marine fish. The supply of adequate amounts of these acids conditions the proper development of the fetus, influencing, among other things, the formation of the central nervous system and the development of the child's retina, as well as protecting against premature birth and increasing the child's birth weight. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of consumption of fish, vegetable oils, and products rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and evaluate DHA supplementation by pregnant women, as well as to assess knowledge of PFAs, especially DHA and EPA.Material and methods: 210 pregnant women were included in the study. A self-administered and online survey questionnaires were used as the research tool. A database was created using Microsoft Excel.Results: According to the recommended amounts, 2-3 times a week, Marine fish was consumed by only 12.86% of the women surveyed. Regular consumption of ALA-rich products, such as flaxseed, was declared by 10 respondents, while 59.05% of the surveyed women did not consume it at all. The use of DHA acid supplementation during pregnancy was unequivocally declared by 58 women surveyed, representing only ¼ of the women surveyed.Conclusions: The dietary behavior of pregnant women related to fish consumption is not correct, the overall proportion of fish in the diet of the subjects does not cover the recommended amounts. Vegetable oils and products rich in PFAs are not consumed with adequate frequency by pregnant women. DHA supplementation by pregnant women, despite low fish consumption, is underestimated and at a very low level.

Pre- and postnatal factors influence the formation of the newborn’s microbiome as early as birth and the intrauterine period has a substantial impact on the composition of the baby’s gastrointestinal microbiota and its subsequent development. This study intends to measure pregnant women’s knowledge of the importance of microbiota for the health of the newborn. The sample was selected based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The assessment of women’s knowledge was assessed by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests. This study population comprised 291 adult pregnant women with a mean age of 28.4 ± 4.7 years. A total of 34% (n = 99), 35% (n = 101), and 31.3% (n = 91) were at the 1–3 trimester, respectively. The results showed that 36.4% of the women were aware that the intrauterine period changes the makeup of the gastrointestinal microbiota, whereas 5.8% exhibited awareness of the composition of the child’s normal gut microbiota. Most of the women surveyed—(72.1%)—know that colonization of the tract occurs as early as the birth period. Women with student status (those who will pursue higher education in the future) and those who had given birth to the most children exhibited higher levels of knowledge.

Background: Thyroid diseases including Hashimoto's chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis represent an increasing epidemiological problem of the 21st century. Thyroid disease is estimated to affect approximately 7.0-9.0 per cent of the population up to the age of 60 years, and as much as 10.0-12.0 per cent after the age of 60 years. Hashimoto's disease is much more common among women of childbearing age, but it is also increasingly common among children and adolescents. The number of reported cases of autoimmune thyroiditis is steadily increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional knowledge of female patients with Hashimoto's disease in selected closed online support groups for patients with thyroid disease.Materials and methods: A self-administered online survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study.Results: 321 women were enrolled in the study. The largest group of respondents, aged between 20 and 40 years, lived in cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants and had a university education. Hypothyroidism along with Hashimoto's disease was declared by the largest number of respondents. The respondents' main source of nutritional knowledge was the media; the level of knowledge was assessed as insufficient.Conclusions: There is a need to increase nutritional education among patients in order to reduce the incidence of disease complications, the development of other comorbidities and will allow for health-promoting effects during the pharmacotherapy process.