Bernal-Orozco, MF, Posada-Falomir, M, Quiñónez-Gastélum, CM, Plascencia-Aguilera, LP, Arana-Nuño, JR, Badillo-Camacho, N, Márquez-Sandoval, F, Holway, FE, and Vizmanos-Lamotte, B. Anthropometric and body composition profile of young professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(7): 1911–1923, 2020—The purpose was to describe the anthropometric and body composition profile of young professional soccer players and to compare the players profiles between different competitive divisions and playing positions. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with anthropometric data obtained from the records of soccer players of Club Deportivo Guadalajara, S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) in the under-17, under-20, second, third, and fourth division categories. Body mass, height, sitting-height, skinfolds, girths, and bone breadths were measured by certified anthropometrists from September 2011 to March 2015, following the procedures recommended by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Body composition was determined using the 5-way fractionation method. Comparisons between playing positions in each division and between divisions were performed using analysis of variance, and Bonferroni's post-hoc analyses (SPSS version 22 for Windows, p < 0.05 considered as significant). Data from 755 subjects were analyzed. The mean age was 18.1 ± 1.7 years old (minimum 14.8, maximum 23.2). The under-20 division registered higher anthropometric and body composition values than all other competitive divisions. In addition, goalkeepers were taller, heavier, and obtained the highest values for adipose mass, whereas forwards presented higher percentages of muscle mass. These tables can be used during nutritional assessment and nutritional monitoring of players to establish body composition goals. In addition, the strength and conditioning practitioner may also use these data to design effective and specific training programs most suitable to the anthropometric and body composition profile of each player, taking into consideration his competitive division and playing position.

Emotional eating (EE) is food consumption in response to feelings rather than hunger. EE is related to unhealthy food intake and abdominal obesity (AO). However, little evidence exists about the association between EE and dietary patterns (DPs) and EE–AO interaction related to DPs. DPs allow describing food combinations that people usually eat. We analyzed the association of EE with DPs in adults (≥18 years) with AO (WC ≥ 80/90 cm in women/men, respectively; n = 494; 66.8% women;) or without AO (n = 269; 74.2% women) in a cross-sectional study. Principal component analysis allowed identifying four DPs from 40 food groups (validated with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire). Among the subjects presenting AO, being “emotional/very-emotional eater” (emotional eating questionnaire) was negatively associated with the “Healthy” DP (fruits, vegetables, olive oil, oilseeds, legumes, fish, seafood) (OR:0.53; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.88, p = 0.013) and positively with the “Snacks and fast food” DP (sweet bread, breakfast cereal, corn, potato, desserts, sweets, sugar, fast food) (OR:1.88; 95% CI: 1.17, 3.03, p = 0.010). Emotional eaters with AO have significantly lower fiber intake, folic acid, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B1, and vitamin C, while they had a higher intake of sodium, lipids, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and saturated fats. In non-AO participants, EE was not associated with any DP (p > 0.05). In conclusion, EE is associated with unhealthy DPs in subjects with AO.

Prediabetes and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are characterized by increased blood sugar concentration and insulin resistance. Although there are only a few reports of potential benefits of flaxseed's consumption on different metabolic parameters, there is no evidence of its effect among people with these conditions. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of flaxseed supplementation on glycemic control variables and insulin resistance in prediabetes and T2DM. A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science, to identify Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of milled or ground flaxseed supplementation on fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin concentrations, or HOMA-IR. The data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software version 3.3 in a fixed-effect model. Seven studies were included in the systematic review and the meta-analysis, the results showed a significant reduction on fasting blood sugar (SMD: -0.392, 95% CI: -0.596, -0.187, p = <0.001, I² = 64.81%) insulin concentrations, (SMD: -0.287, 95% CI: -0.534, -0.041, p = 0.022, I² = 32.53%), HbA1c (SMD: -0.442, 95% CI: -0.770, -0.114, p = 0.008, I² = 11.058%), and HOMA-IR (SMD: -0.284, 95% CI: -0.530, -0.038, p = 0.024, I² = 0.00%) after flaxseed supplementation. Flaxseed supplementation seems to improve glycemic control variables and insulin resistance in prediabetes and T2DM; however, more RCTs are needed to have more decisive evidence about doses, method of supplementation, and the possible effect of synergy with the dietetic treatment.

Evaluation of food intake quality using validated tools makes it possible to give individuals or populations recommendations for improving their diet. This study’s objective was to evaluate the reproducibility and ability to identify dietary patterns of the second version of the Mini Food Intake Quality Survey (Mini-ECCA v.2). The survey was administered using a remote voting system on two occasions with four-week intervals between administrations to 276 health science students (average age = 20.1 ± 3.1 years; 68% women). We then performed a per-question weighted kappa calculation, a cluster analysis, an ANOVA test by questionnaire item and between identified clusters, and a discriminant analysis. Moderate to excellent agreement was observed (weighted κ = 0.422–0.662). The cluster analysis identified three groups, and the discriminant analysis obtained three classification functions (85.9% of cases were correctly classified): group 1 (19.9%) was characterized by higher intake of water, vegetables, fruit, fats, oilseeds/avocado, meat and legumes (healthy food intake); group 2 (47.1%) frequently consumed both fish and unhealthy fats (habits in need of improvement); group 3 (33%) frequently consumed sweetened beverages, foods not prepared at home, processed foods, refined cereals and alcohol (unhealthy food intake). In conclusion, the Mini-ECCA v.2 has moderate to excellent agreement, and it is able to identify dietary patterns in university students.

Evaluating food intake quality may contribute to the development of nutrition programs. In Mexico, there are no screening tools that can be administered quickly for the evaluation of this variable. The aim was to determine the reproducibility of a mini-survey designed to evaluate the quality of food intake (Mini-ECCA) in a Mexican population. Mini-ECCA consists of 12 questions that are based on Mexican and international recommendations for food and non-alcoholic beverage intake, with the support of photographs for food quantity estimation. Each question scores as 0 (unhealthy) or 1 (healthy), and the final score undergoes a classification procedure. Through the framework of a nutritional study, 152 employees of the municipal water company in Guadalajara, Mexico (April–August 2016), were invited to participate. The survey was administered in two rounds (test and retest) with a 15-day interval between them. We calculated the Spearman correlation coefficient, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and weighted kappa for score classification agreement (SPSS versus 14 p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). The survey obtained a “good” reproducibility (ρ = 0.713, p < 0.001), and an excellent concordance (ICC = 0.841 Confidence Interval 95% 0.779, 0.885). It can thus be said that the Mini-ECCA displayed acceptable reproducibility and is suitable for the purpose of dietary assessment and guidance.

Household food insecurity (FI) remains a major public health challenge worldwide. Data about perceived FI and its risk factors in Mexican university students are lacking. We aimed to assess FI’s prevalence and factors affecting it among university students’ households in Mexico. This cross-sectional analysis involved 7671 university students’ households using the 2018 Mexican National of Household Income and Expenditure Survey data. Variables analyzed included sociodemographic characteristics, and the 12-item validated Mexican Scale for Food Security (EMSA). Multivariable logistic regression modelling was performed to identify FI risk factors. The overall household FI prevalence was 30.8%. According to FI severity, prevalence rates were 16.3% for mild-FI, 8.8% for moderate-FI, and 5.7% for severe-FI. Low socioeconomic status (OR = 2.72; 95%CI: 2.09–3.54), low education level of household’s head (OR = 2.36; 95%CI: 1.90–2.94), self-ascription to an indigenous group (OR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.41–1.79), attending public university (OR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.13–1.43), female-headed household (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.13–1.40), having worked recently (OR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.07–1.33), and being in second year of studies (OR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.03–1.33), were significantly related to FI. Our results confirm that FI is highly prevalent among Mexican university students’ households and that sociodemographic factors are essential in addressing this concern. Findings highlight the need for preventive programs and policies to alleviate FI.