The present study was carried out to relate the role of natural products in the metabolism of an increasingly prevalent disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus. At present, in addition to the pharmacological resources, an attempt is being made to treat diabetes mellitus with natural products. We carried out a systematic review of studies focusing on the role of natural products on diabetes mellitus treatment. The bibliographic search was done through Medline (Pubmed) and Web of Science. From 193 records, the title and summary of each were examined according to the criteria and whether they met the selection criteria. A total of 15 articles were included; after reviewing the literature, it is apparent that the concept of natural products is ambiguous as no clear boundary has been established between what is natural and what is synthetic, therefore we feel that a more explicit definition of the concept of “natural product” is needed. Gut microbiota is a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, it would be necessary to work on the relationship between the microbiome and the benefits in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Treatment based solely on these natural products is not currently recommended as more studies are needed.

Background/Objectives: Endocrine disruptors are substances capable of altering the functions of the endocrine system. There is evidence that some pesticides can be endocrine disruptors and, among some of their effects, we find alterations in pubertal development and in the function of the thyroid gland, which could be related to a greater tendency of obesity. The aim was to evaluate the evidence from clinical and preclinical studies on the association between pesticides used in agriculture and found in plant-based foods with overweight/obesity. Methods: This is a systematic review of articles on the impact of the use of endocrine disrupting pesticides on obesity, conducted according to the PRISMA-2020 guidelines. Results: There was evidence that some pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids, may promote obesity and other anthropometric changes by altering lipid and glucose metabolism, modifying genes, or altering hormone levels such as leptin. Other studies suggest that perinatal exposure to chlorpyrifos or pesticides such as vinclozolin may alter lipid metabolism and promote weight gain in adulthood, whereas other pesticides such as boscalib, captan, thiacloprid, and ziram were not associated with changes in weight. Exposure to pesticides such as vinclozolin may be associated with a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity in later generations. Conclusions: The few studies that do not show these associations have methodological limitations in data collection with confounding variables. Further studies are needed to provide more and higher quality evidence to determine the true effect of these substances on obesity.

The FANTASTIC questionnaire is a scientific instrument that can be used by health professionals for quickly and effectively measuring the quality of life and lifestyle of people. It is a simple questionnaire that measures different dimensions including nutritional status, but the possibility of using it as a resource for studies in the nutritional field (regardless of its correlation with this) has never been considered, nor has it been used for studies in university populations. The aim was to validate the FANTASTIC questionnaire to report on the participant’s lifestyle in a Spanish university population by using a cross-sectional study. A sample of 501 participants was obtained. The study was approved by the Ethics Research Committee of Catholic University of Valencia, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Sociodemographic, lifestyle variables, habitual diet, and nutrition-related lifestyle were collected individually. Participants also completed the self-administered FANTASTIC questionnaire. The reliability analysis of the FANTASTIC questionnaire revealed a Cronbach’s Alpha statistic result of 0.797. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value was 0.786, with a significant Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (p = 0.000). This shows that the FANTASTIC questionnaire has good internal consistency and good construct validity. A retest was performed in four weeks’ time, showing excellent intraclass correlation values. We consider the applicability of the FANTASTIC questionnaire for nutritional studies in Spanish university students to be appropriate, and most students have high scores in the nutritional aspects of the questionnaire, showing correct diet implementation and good cooking skills.

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed a baby in the first months of life. It is an option with a low environmental impact, as it is a natural and renewable food that does not pollute. It is the optimal food for the infant, with nutritional and immunological advantages that reduce the prevalence of pregnancy disorders and provide benefits for the infant, the mother, and the environment. Its premature abandonment may have medium- and long-term consequences, as the use of formula milk is much more polluting. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out between December 2020 and January 2021, involving 96 breastfeeding women. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables were collected. A validated Spanish version of the Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) was used. Factors that may lead to the early cessation of breastfeeding among the mothers that were studied are a high level of education, a lack of preparation for childbirth, a lack of security, a lack of confidence in preparation for childbirth, a lack of self-confidence, discomfort with breastfeeding in the presence of others, and a low level of maternal satisfaction. Married women and women whose partners support breastfeeding are significantly more satisfied with exclusive breastfeeding than single and divorced women. Adequate and protocolised care must be provided. Education and support for parents to allow for optimal breastfeeding and reduce the environmental impact of formula feeding is essential.

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease that represents one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes how nutritional beliefs influence eating habits and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spanish children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 35 educational centers in 12 Spanish provinces, with a sample of 1131 children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected, and dietary habits were assessed by means of questionnaires. Statistical analyses were used to identify associations between dietary beliefs and body mass index. Results: In total, 29.5% of participants were overweight or obese. Two groups of beliefs were identified: healthier beliefs and less healthy beliefs. Children with less healthy dietary beliefs had a significantly higher BMI (22.16 kg/m²) compared to those with healthier beliefs (17.2 kg/m²). False nutritional beliefs, influenced by advertising and the family environment, contribute to overweight and obesity. Discussion: Dietary beliefs play a crucial role in determining eating habits and, therefore, the health of children. Nutrition education and public policies that promote healthy eating habits are essential to prevent childhood obesity. It is important to involve the family, the school, and the media in these efforts. Conclusions: Despite efforts, many children continue to hold erroneous nutritional beliefs that contribute to the rise in overweight and obesity. This study highlights the importance of addressing dietary beliefs and promoting appropriate nutrition education to prevent childhood obesity. It is recommended to implement educational strategies and public policies that regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods and promote healthy eating habits.

Malnutrition is one of the main public health problems affecting early childhood development, compromising the health and quality of life of thousands of Peruvian children. The main contribution of this work is the analysis of the nutritional status of the infant population of the Chirikyacu Indigenous Community of Peru in order to evaluate current and future food policies. It is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 19 children between 6 months and 6 years of age. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical variables and dietary habits were analyzed from 7 January to 4 February 2018. The mean age of the children was 29.74 months (SD = 23.91). We found statistically significant differences between the BMI values of boys and girls (p < 0.05; Mann–Whitney test). According to the z-scores, 35.29% suffer from malnutrition, although in no case is it severe. Hair, nails and skin were in good condition in general, except for some cases showing signs of nutritional deficiency. Dietary patterns are based on legumes, vegetables, dairy products, ice cream, cookies and sweets, and are considered insufficient to cover basic needs; water intake was also insufficient. Breastfeeding lasted an average of 14 months (SD = 2.9). We found a prevalence of malnutrition higher than that established by the WHO in Latin America among the children of Chirikyacu. The dietary pattern is insufficient to cover basic needs, so it is necessary to continue with nutritional educational interventions to improve it.