The objective of this study was to describe the content validation, through expert judgment, of a questionnaire for determining the level of knowledge that school teachers have of diabetes in order to design relevant educational interventions to improve the health of school-aged children. This psychometric study involved 15 experts who assessed each of the items in the instrument. The results revealed that the strength of agreement shown by the questionnaire ranged from substantial to almost perfect in its four dimensions, with the characteristics of “sufficiency” and “relevance” having the highest scores (0.982 and 0.903, respectively) based on the judgments made by the participating experts. Regarding statistical significance, the characteristics “sufficiency”, with p < 0.001, and “relevance”, with p = 0.001, were particularly relevant. The overall degree of understandability for the new version of the instrument was high (91.54%). The psychometric results obtained from validation of the “grado de conocimientos sobre diabetes en docentes del ámbito escolar” (Spanish for “level of knowledge of diabetes in school teachers”)—GCDDaE questionnaire through expert judgment and the pre-test indicate that it is recommended for use as it is both relevant and quick and easy to administer.

Defining the nutritional status and physical activity level of older adults makes it possible to guide them toward healthy lifestyles. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary habits, nutritional status, and physical activity engagement in older adults living in the city of Manta, Manabí. Methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study of 130 older adults was conducted to determine nutritional status via anthropometry, self-reported frequency of the consumption of foodstuffs, calculation of the healthy eating index (IAS), and physical activity patterns. Results: Average age was 71.62 ± 4.34 years, whilst 83.07% of participants were at nutritional risk due to being overweight or obese. Dietary habits in males were characterized by the consumption of three meals a day, as well as greater intake of cereals, roots, tubers, and milk and its derivatives, whilst females consumed more fruits and vegetables. Meat was widely consumed, although females consumed more fish and seafood than males. Eggs were hugely popular foods, in contrast to legumes. Pasta was a dietary staple in females. Visible fats and luncheon meats were consumed little. IAS values reflected the “need to change”, whilst physical activity engagement was found to be low. Conclusions: The nutritional status of the present study population was characterized by a tendency toward increasing overweight, particularly amongst females, with the predominance of class 1 obesity, low physical activity, and a healthy eating index requiring change toward more healthy habits.

The main objective of the study was to assess the perception of non-university teachers in the city of Melilla to help students with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), as well as their attitudes towards helping these students in diabetic emergencies. This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzed the answers given by 441 teachers from 25 public institutions in the city of Melilla to a survey on the attitude and perception regarding the capacity of educational institutions (16 questions) to help and manage students with T1DM. Out of 47.6% of teachers who represent having had students with TIDM, only 4.8% acknowledged having been trained in diabetes. The percentage that has experienced a hypoglycaemia episode at the institution was 29.9%. More than half of participants acknowledged that their educational institution is not prepared to manage diabetic emergencies. Only 5.7% stated their institutions have glucagon in their first-aid kit and less than half of participants (44.7%) would be willing to administer it if necessary. Teachers of educational institutions believe they have not been particularly trained in the care of students living with T1DM and point out that their educational institutions are not prepared to help in diabetic emergencies.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a major impact on the mental health of the population has been observed, with women being one of the most affected groups. From the lockdown to “de-escalation” phases, sex differences have been recognised as significant determinants of mental health. Thus, equally ensuring physical and mental protection at work remains one of the challenges faced by industrial companies, especially in the construction sector, where the percentage of employed women has increased in recent years. This study aims to examine the impact of sex differences on psychological distress and work engagement in the productive construction sector, as well as related variables. For this, a cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. Descriptive statistical analyses were completed, and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests were used to identify differences between men and women. This was followed by logistic regression analysis by sex. Psychological distress is more prevalent among women, even after controlling for most variables. Both sexes receive equal preventive measures and training from the companies, yet women still experience higher levels of psychological distress. At the beginning of the pandemic, women reported higher levels of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 and of perceived danger associated with the pandemic than men. However, these differences were not present by 2023. For men, work engagement appeared to be a determining factor for a stable mental health, while for women, health and physical status seemed to be more influential. In both sexes, psychological distress was found to be conditioned by mental and emotional well-being. In a sector where women are increasingly present, the differences observed in terms of how physical and mental health are affected across the two sexes justify the need to promote data analysis that acknowledges this reality.

Introducción: Del litoral ecuatoriano hay reportes de condición nutricional alterada en niños y motiva al pesquisajenutricional.Objetivo: Evaluar la transición de la complexión ósea y estado nutricional en escolares de Portoviejo, Ecuador.Métodos: Diagnóstico nutricional a 1258 escolares de cinco a nueve años en unidades educativas de Portoviejo. Serealiza medición de peso, talla y circunferencia de la muñeca, para determinar índice de complexión corporal y de masacorporal, además de índices de crecimiento segregados por sexo. El análisis estadístico se realiza con software IBM SPSSversión 23.0.Resultados: La media de talla es 1,24(0,11) m, peso 28,11(10,34) kg y la circunferencia de la muñeca 11,88(2,09)cm. Las féminas (1,19(0,12) m) tienen altura inferior a varones (1,21(0,11) m) hasta ocho años, luego los sobrepasan.Situación similar con el peso. El estado nutricional es normopeso y la complexión que prevalece es grande.Discusión: Se muestra incremento progresivo en talla y peso, con disparidad en los rangos 5-7,9 y 8-9 años porefecto sinérgico edad-sexo y de eventos prepuberales. El índice de complexión no incrementa según edad e influye en elde masa corporal por asociación con el contenido de grasa abdominal.Conclusiones: talla y peso tienen un incremento genérico similar hasta que se inician cambios fisiológicos asociados a lapubertad femenina, cuando ellas sobrepasan a sus pares sexuales. Individuos de mayor altura presentan un IMC más elevado. La complexión corporal está influida por cambios puberales con prevalencia de una complexión grande en el crecimiento activo y predisposición al sobrepeso u obesidad,la pequeña a la emaciación.

Introducción. La alimentación en universitarios excede la necesidad biológica y pasa a ser un acto generador de placeres, con un claro reflejo en el estado nutricional, la complexión corporal y la condición de salud. Objetivo. Evaluar el estado nutricional y la complexión corporal en estudiantes de la Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, (ULEAM), Ecuador. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal sobre 211 estudiantes universitarios de ambos sexos en la ULEAM. Se midieron variables antropométricas para propiciar el cálculo del índice de masa corporal, la complexión y composición corporal mediante modelo tetracompartimental y la detección de riesgo cardiometabólico con uso de la circunferencia de la cintura y los índices cintura/cadera y cintura/talla. Resultados. Las mediciones antropométricas se encuentran recogidas en tablas y se constata que el peso, la talla, la circunferencia abdominal y de la muñeca, fueron de mayor dimensión en hombres que en las mujeres, no así respecto a la edad, la sumatoria de pliegues y la circunferencia de cadera, en las que ellas los superan. El IMC arrojó un predominó del sobrepeso (49,3%), en particular en mujeres, mientras que normopeso en hombres. La complexión corporal es pequeña, mientras que la composición corporal difiere entre sexos, con mayor porcentaje de masa grasa en las femeninas, siendo superadas en masa muscular y ósea por masculinos. La situación de riesgo cardiometabólico está presente y tiene mayor manifestación en hombres que mujeres, en particular en el rango de edad de 19 a 23 años. Conclusiones. El estado nutricional de la población de estudio presenta una alta prevalencia de sobrepeso y complexión corporal pequeña, y una composición corporal que difiere entre hombres y mujeres. A lo que se agrega que el exceso ponderal evidencia la posibilidad de una transición nutricional avanzada en los sujetos en estudio, así como manifestaciones de riesgos cardiometabólicos (RCM), cuya detección según la CA, ICC y el ICT, expresa diferencias cuantitativas entre los distintos modelos, siendo el más efectivo el ICT, mostrando ser un fuerte predictor del RCM, simple en aplicación y con un punto de corte unisexuado. Palabras claves: alimentación, estado nutricional, complexión corporal, transición nutricional avanzada, estructura tetracompartimental, dimorfismo sexual, riesgo cardiometabólico. Introduction. University students’ diets are often characterised by a number of vices, with clear repercussions on nutritional and health status. Objective. Evaluate the nutritional status and body composition of students attending the Eloy Alfaro Secular University of Manabí (ULEAM), Ecuador. Methods. An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on 211 university students attending ULEAM. Anthropometric variables were measured from which body mass index, body frame and body composition were calculated, in accordance with a three-component model. Cardiometabolic risk was determined through waist circumference and waist/hip and waist/height indices. Results. Weight, height, and waist and wrist circumference were greater in men than in women, with no differences regarding the sum of skinfolds and waist circumference. BMI measurements revealed the majority to be overweight (49.3%), particularly in the case of women, whilst more men had a normal weight. Body frame was found to be small, whilst body composition differed according to sex, with women having a higher fat mass percentage and men having greater muscle and bone mass. Participants were found to be at cardiometabolic risk, with men being more at risk than women. Conclusions. Nutritional status revealed a high prevalence of excess body weight, small body frame and a body composition that differed between men and women. The excess body weight found, alongside evidence of cardiometabolic risk, of which BMI is a strong predictor, calls for the need for a transition towards improved nutrition. Keywords: diet; nutritional status; body size; nutritional transition; sexual dimorphism; cardiometabolic risk