Mariana Rei

Dr. Mariana Rei

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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22 May 2024 in British Journal of Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MSMariana Silva
Mariana Silva
Sara SP RodriguesSara SP Rodrigues
Sara SP Rodrigues
DCDaniela Macedo Correia
Daniela Macedo Correia
MRMariana Rei
Mariana Rei
MSMilton Severo
Milton Severo
CLCarla Lopes
Carla Lopes
This cross-sectional study aims to describe and compare energy, nutrient intake and food consumption according to eating location and by age groups using data from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015/2016). Dietary intake was estimated by two non-consecutive days of food diaries (children)/24-h recalls (other age groups), and four eating location categories were defined according to the proportion of meals consumed at out-of-home locations:Home(at least 80 % of meals at home),Other Homes,School or WorkandRestaurants and Other Places. The majority of meals (69·1 %) were consumed at home. Meals were also often taken at school by children and adolescents and in restaurants and similar outlets by adults and elderly. Children and adolescents in theSchool or Workcategory ate more fruit, vegetables and pulses and cereals and starchy tubers, whereas adults in this category ate more red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets. Compared withHomecategory,Restaurants and Other Placeswas associated with worse diet adequacies among children (β= –1·0; 95 % CI = –2·0, −0·04), adolescents: (β= –2·4; 95 % CI = –3·2, −1·5) and adults (β= –1·3; 95 % CI = –1·6, −1·0) reflecting higher intakes of energy, fat,trans-fatty acids and SFA, and Na. The elderly consumed more free sugars and fat when eating out of home in general. Overall, findings reflect important variation in nutrient profiles by eating location, with meals taken at school or work contributing to higher consumption of nutrient-dense foods and those taken in restaurants and other similar settings implying higher consumption of energy-dense foods.

28 June 2024 in Nutrition Reviews
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Journal Article
Closed access
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MRMariana Rei
Mariana Rei
Alexandra CostaAlexandra Costa
Alexandra Costa
SSSofia Sosa
Sofia Sosa
SCSofia da Costa
Sofia da Costa
DTDuarte Torres
Duarte Torres
Sara SP RodriguesSara SP Rodrigues
Sara SP Rodrigues
Context: Assessing the overall sustainability of a diet is a challenging undertaking requiring a holistic approach capable of addressing the multicriteria nature of this concept. Objective: The aim was to identify and summarize the multicriteria measures used to assess the sustainability characteristics of diets reported at the individual level by healthy adults. Data Sources: Articles were identified via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy consisted of key words and MeSH terms, and was concluded in September 2022, covering references in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Data Extraction: This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. The search identified 5663 references, from which 1794 were duplicates. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of each of the 3869 records and the full-text of the 144 references selected. Of these, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data Analysis: A total of 6 multicriteria measures were identified: 3 different Sustainable Diet Indices, the Quality Environmental Costs of Diet, the Quality Financial Costs of Diet, and the Environmental Impact of Diet. All of these incorporated a health/nutrition dimension, while the environmental and economic dimensions were the second and the third most integrated, respectively. A sociocultural sustainability dimension was included in only 1 of the measures. Conclusion: Despite some methodological concerns in the development and validation process of the identified measures, their inclusion is considered indispensable in assessing the transition towards sustainable diets in future studies. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022358824.

21 September 2024 in Epilepsy & Behavior
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
JFJoão Ferreira
João Ferreira
MFMiguel França
Miguel França
MRMariana Rei
Mariana Rei
RPRicardo Peixoto
Ricardo Peixoto
SLSidsel Armand Larsen
Sidsel Armand Larsen
JCJoão Claro
João Claro
Objectives: As epilepsy management medical devices emerge as potential technological solutions for prediction and prevention of sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP), there is a gap in understanding the features and priorities that should be included in the design of these devices. This study aims to bridge the gap between current technology and emerging needs by leveraging insights from persons with epilepsy (PWE) and caregivers (CG) on current epilepsy management devices and understanding how SUDEP awareness influences preferences and design considerations for potential future solutions. Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were designed to survey PWE and CG on medical device design features, SUDEP awareness, and participation in medical device research. Data analysis included both qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative statistical analysis. Results: The survey revealed that among 284 responses, CG were more aware of SUDEP than PWE. Comfort was identified as the primary concern regarding wearable medical devices for epilepsy management with significant differences between PWE and CG regarding acceptance and continuous use preferences. The thematic analysis identified integration with daily life, aesthetic and emotional resonance, adaptability to seizure characteristics, and user-centric design specifications as crucial factors to be considered for enhanced medical device adoption. The integration of a companion app is seen as an important tool to enhance communication and data sharing. Discussion: This study reveals that while SUDEP awareness can promote the development of future SUDEP predictive and preventive medical devices, these should be designed to mitigate its impact on daily life and anxiety of both PWE and CG. Comfort and acceptance are seen as key priorities to support continuous use and are seen as a technical requirement of future medical devices for SUDEP prediction and prevention. Widespread adoption requires these technologies to be customizable to adapt to different lifestyles and social situations. A holistic approach should be used in the design of future medical devices to capture several dimensions of PWE and CG epilepsy management journey and uphold communication between healthcare professionals, PWE and CG. Conclusion: Data from this study highlight the importance of considering user preferences and experiences in the design of epilepsy management medical devices with potential applicability for SUDEP prediction and prevention. By employing user-centered design methods this research provides valuable insights to inform the development of future SUDEP prediction and prevention devices.

23 January 2025 in Journal of Nutritional Science
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MRMariana Rei
Mariana Rei
DCDaniela Macedo Correia
Daniela Macedo Correia
DTDuarte Torres
Duarte Torres
CLCarla Lopes
Carla Lopes
ACAna Isabel Costa
Ana Isabel Costa
Sara SP RodriguesSara SP Rodrigues
Sara SP Rodrigues
This cross-sectional study aimed to identify patterns of food preparation and examine their demographic and socio-economic drivers, along with impacts on health and nutritional status, physical activity, and diet quality. Dietary data from a national-representative sample (n = 5005, 3–84 years) of the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015/16) were classified by preparation locations (at or away from home) and analysed via hierarchical clustering. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between demographic and socio-economic factors and food preparation patterns and between these patterns and health and nutritional status, physical activity, and diet quality. The most common food preparation pattern (followed by 45.4% of participants) represented the highest intake of foods prepared by away-from-home establishments. Adolescents (vs. children, OR = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.17, 0.49) and older adults (vs. adults, OR = 0.37, 95%CI = 0.26, 0.53) had lower odds of following this pattern, whereas adult men (vs. women, OR = 4.20, 95%CI = 3.17, 5.57) had higher odds. Higher education, higher household income, and having children/adolescents in the household also increased the odds of eating foods prepared away from home, whereas living in rural areas or in food-insecure households decreased the odds. Noticeably, adults consuming more foods prepared away from home had lower odds of being overweight or obese (OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.56, 0.97), but higher odds of sedentarism (OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.08, 1.96) and poor diet (OR = 3.01, 95%CI = 2.08, 4.34) compared to those consuming more foods prepared at home by themselves. Dietary patterns marked by high away-from-home food preparation prevail. While these correlated with higher socio-economic status, sedentarism, and poorer diet — relatively to patterns with greater reliance on homecooked food — they were not linked to higher odds of obesity.

1 December 2025 in European Journal of Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MRMariana Rei
Mariana Rei
Catarina Campos SilvaCatarina Campos Silva
Catarina Campos Silva
DTDuarte Torres
Duarte Torres
Colin SageColin Sage
Colin Sage
Sara SP RodriguesSara SP Rodrigues
Sara SP Rodrigues

18 July 2025 in Public Health Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MRMariana Rei
Mariana Rei
DCDaniela Correia
Daniela Correia
DTDuarte Torres
Duarte Torres
CLCarla Lopes
Carla Lopes
ACAna Isabel Costa
Ana Isabel Costa
Sara SP RodriguesSara SP Rodrigues
Sara SP Rodrigues
Objective: To investigate associations between dietary intake and patterns of food preparation by age group. Design: This cross-sectional study analysed dietary intake data from the most recent Portuguese National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Cluster analysis categorised dietary intake based on the source of food preparation. Regression models were used to study the association between dietary daily intake, Healthy Eating Score (HES) and patterns of food preparation. Setting: Portugal, using data representative of the Portuguese population. Participants: A total of 5005 Portuguese residents aged 3–84 years were included in the analysis. Dietary intake and food preparation patterns were examined by age group. Results: The predominant pattern of food preparation was food prepared by restaurants, canteens and other away-from-home establishments (45·9 %, 95 % CI = 43·8, 48·1). Children and adolescents in this pattern had significantly higher intakes of energy and carbohydrates but lower protein intake compared with those consuming predominantly home-prepared foods. Among adults and the elderly, this pattern was associated with higher intakes of energy, saturated fats, trans fats and free sugars and lower fibre intake. Additionally, children and adolescents whose diets predominantly included food prepared away-from-home showed a decrease in HES (β = –0·7, 95 % CI = –1·3, –0·2), and adults experienced a greater reduction (β = –1·2, 95 % CI = –1·5, –0·9). Conclusions: In Portugal, consuming food prepared away from home is associated with poorer dietary quality, with higher energy and unhealthy nutrient intake and lower HES, suggesting a need for interventions focused on promoting healthier food preparation practices.