Percorrer por autor "Novo, Rita"
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- How does a storybook impact preschool children’s willingness to try vegetables? An experimental study from the Veggies4myHeart projectPublication . Braga-Pontes, Cátia; Borges, Mariana; Rosa, Tiago Araújo; Novo, Rita; Vieito, Leonel; Lages, Marlene; Guarino, Maria P.; Dias, Sara Simões; Minicucci, Marcos; Amancio, OlgaBackground Vegetable consumption among children is below recommended. Given the critical role of vegetable consumption in health, it is essential to identify effective strategies to promote this intake. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a superhero’s storybook (SB) as a nutrition education strategy on the willingness to try (WTT) 10 different vegetables in preschool children and relate WTT with food neophobia, preferences, age, and body mass index. Methods This is an experimental study conducted in three Portuguese preschools. The intervention consisted of 20-min educational sessions once a week for 5 weeks, using a SB for nutrition education, to 178 children aged 2 to 6 years. A baseline and a post-test were conducted to determine the impact of the nutrition education strategy on the WTT ten vegetables. WTT was assessed using the Farfan-Ramirez WTT (FR-WTT) scale. Kruskal–Wallis H test, Spearman correlation, and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. Results The mean FR-WTT total score at baseline was significantly lower than the mean FR-WTT total score at post-test [M = 22.79 (S.D. = 11.85) versus M = 24.39 (S.D. = 11.77)], respectively. The intervention promoted a significant increase in the WTT of half of the vegetables offered and the total FR-WTT score. Conclusion The storybook from the Veggies4myHeart project demonstrated positive results in increasing WTT vegetables. However, it is essential to understand the project’s impact at home and in the long term. It is necessary to find valuable strategies to increase vegetable consumption in different contexts, including schools and at home.
- Prevalence of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in Portuguese children aged 2–10 years: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Novo, Rita; Vieito, Leonel; Dias, Sara; Braga-Pontes, Cátia; Hay, Phillipa; Touyz, StephenBackground Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterised by the avoidance or restriction of food intake, associated with high sensory sensitivity, disinterest in eating, or fear of adverse consequences. It can lead to nutritional deficiencies, impaired growth, or psychosocial difficulties. Although recognition of ARFID has increased internationally, prevalence data in Portugal remain scarce. Methods This cross-sectional, descriptive observational study assessed the prevalence of ARFID in children aged 2–10 years attending a private outpatient clinic. Paediatricians applied DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria during routine consultations. Parents completed online questionnaires, including the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ). Results Of the 163 children assessed, ARFID was diagnosed in 3.1% of cases. Four of the five identified children were male (80%), with a mean age of 5.8 years (SD = 2.17). On the CEBQ, children with ARFID showed the highest mean scores on the food fussiness and satiety responsiveness subscales, indicating greater selectivity and heightened sensitivity to fullness. The lowest mean scores were observed in emotional overeating and desire to drink. On the CFQ, perceived responsibility and monitoring were the subscales with the highest mean values. Conclusions This study provides the first prevalence estimate of ARFID in Portuguese clinical practice. Although the small sample limits generalisability, the findings emphasise the need to raise awareness among both clinicians and parents to promote earlier recognition, thereby improving support for children and families and helping to reduce the long-term impact of ARFID.