Tran Quang Duc

BackgroundOverweight and obesity are major public health concerns, particularly in rapidly urbanizing settings seeking nutrition care such as Vietnam. Beyond excess energy intake, dietary patterns and eating behaviors are increasingly recognized as key determinants of body weight. Emotional, external, and restrained eating represent distinct behavioral pathways that may influence both dietary intake and body mass index (BMI). A better understanding of these associations is needed to inform targeted, behavior-based nutritional interventions among adults with obesity in clinical practice.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted among 173 overweight and obese adults. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Vietnamese version of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ_V), including emotional, external, and restrained eating domains. Nutritional status was determined using BMI, classified according to Asian-specific criteria. Dietary intake was evaluated using a 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. Associations between eating behaviors, dietary intake, and BMI were examined using correlation and linear regression analyses. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the role of dietary energy intake in the relationship between eating behaviors and BMI.ResultsIn the overweight group, all eating behavior domains were positively associated with carbohydrate intake, and external eating was also associated with fat intake. In regression analyses, all three eating behavior domains were significantly associated with BMI, with emotional and external eating showing positive associations and restrained eating showing an inverse association. After adjustment, only restrained eating remained significant in overweight individuals, whereas all domains were associated with BMI in obesity. Mediation analysis showed that behavioral factors were directly associated with BMI, independent of reported energy intake.ConclusionsThis study showed that in adults with overweight and obesity, eating behaviors were independently associated with BMI, while dietary energy intake did not mediate these relationships. These findings highlight the importance of targeting behavioral patterns, particularly emotional and external eating, in clinical nutrition interventions for weight management.

Common variants in the fat mass and obesity–associated (FTO) gene are linked to obesity and cardiometabolic risk, but whether they modify lipid and g

Background: Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) prevalence has declined in many high-income countries, data from Vietnam remain limited and fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection in Vietnamese adults and children. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted for observational studies published between January 2000 and September 2025. Eligible studies reported H. pylori prevalence in Vietnamese populations using validated diagnostic methods. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted by age group, geographic area, and study setting. Results: Twenty-five studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 8204 adults and 4641 children. The pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection was 58.7% (95% CI: 49.9%–67.2%) in adults and 77.2% (95% CI: 67.1%–86.0%) in children, with high heterogeneity across studies ( I ² > 98%, P < .001). Among adults, prevalence was 56.4% in those aged P = .455). Prevalence was lower in rural areas (46.8%) compared to urban areas (60.7%) ( P = .045), with no significant difference between community- and hospital-based settings ( P = .723). Funnel plot assessment did not indicate evident publication bias. Conclusion: H. pylori infection remains common in the populations represented in this study, particularly among urban and healthcare-seeking groups in Vietnam. These findings underscore the need for expanded surveillance and monitoring to better characterize H. pylori infection patterns and inform appropriate response strategies.

Personalized nutrition (PN) shows promise for improving cardiometabolic health; however, evidence on its summarized methodologies and effectiveness remains limited and inconsistent. This review evaluates the effects of PN interventions on cardiometabolic outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity. We searched five databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to March 2026. Eligible RCTs included at least one biological component to guide personalized dietary advice. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis, with heterogeneity assessed by Cochran's Q statistic and quantified using I2. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed. Fifteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria, each comparing PN with standard, non-personalized dietary interventions. PN implementation varied substantially in the quantity and type of individual-level features, algorithms applied, and personalization strategies used. No significant differences were observed between PN and controls in energy intake or macronutrient composition. 46.7% employed specific dietary patterns as controls or withheld nutritional counseling. Pooled analyses showed slightly greater reductions in body weight and body fat in the PN group compared with controls, but no effects on body mass index, waist circumference, lipid profile, or glycemic markers. GRADE certainty ranged from moderate to very low across the assessed outcomes. PN interventions modestly reduce body weight and body fat. Importantly, the absence of a standardized PN framework hampers evaluation and comparison of the effectiveness of nutritional personalization strategies. Future research should aim to establish standardized PN definitions, harmonized individual-level features, and transparent reporting. REGISTRY AND REGISTRY NUMBER FOR SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS OR META-ANALYSES: CRD420251134855.

Personalized nutrition (PN) interventions are increasingly used to address overweight and obesity, yet randomized controlled trials (RCTs) vary widely in how personalization is defined and delivered. This scoping review synthesized methodological characteristics of PN RCTs in adults with overweight or obesity and meta-analyzed PN effects on anthropometrics. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov through November 20, 2025. Data were extracted using a standardized template capturing intervention characteristics. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, Bayesian meta-regression was used to explore the effect of intervention duration, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Among the 17 included RCTs, none provided a definition of PN, and substantial methodological heterogeneity was evident. Personalization inputs differed markedly in both number and type, and delivery modes ranged from digital platforms and group sessions to meal-box provision and routine dietitian consultations. PN interventions typically used the same delivery format as their control groups but layered on individualized components, with some providing higher contact frequency. Comparator structures also varied, from standardized guideline-based diets to minimal or no dietary counseling. Personalized diets were produced through algorithmic models, dietitian-guided tailoring, or continuous glucose monitoring-guided participant selection. PN produced a small but significant reduction in body weight, while effects on body mass index (BMI) were non-significant. Longer intervention duration was credibly associated with greater reductions in body weight and BMI. No publication bias was detected, and certainty of evidence was low for body weight and very low for BMI. PN interventions show modest effects on body weight but not BMI, within a highly heterogeneous methodological landscape. This review identifies design features to guide more effective PN interventions. Advancing toward more standardized approaches will require clearer operational definitions of personalization, better-aligned comparator diets, and greater transparency in how personalized strategies are generated and delivered. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12263-026-00800-4.

Objectives: The consumption of soft drinks, such as carbonated or non-carbonated beverages, including sugars or artificial sweeteners, flavorings, colorings, acidulants, and preservatives, has recently emerged as a major global public health problem. This review aims to analyse the evidence on the association between soft drink consumption and depressive symptoms among the general population. Methods: Five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and medRxiv) were searched for relevant articles published up to 31 January 2024. All the studies were evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a random-effects model in the presence of heterogeneity. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using I² statistics. Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias. Results: Fifteen studies involving 55 635 cases of depressive symptoms among 521 392 participants were included. The pooled OR of depressive symptoms for the highest versus the lowest consumption of soft drinks was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.26–1.52). The association demonstrated statistical significance in cross-sectional studies (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24–1.70) and cohort studies (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.19–1.51). In the subgroup analysis, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages (SSCBs) revealed a rise in the trend of depressive symptoms. The linear dose–response meta-analysis showed no statistically significant association between dose and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that more rigorous and targeted policy interventions are warranted to curtail soft drink consumption in order to alleviate the global burden of depression.

Background: The high prevalence of overweight/obesity and low fruit and vegetable consumption in the United States underscores the need to better understand the role of carotenoids in body mass index (BMI) management. While carotenoids have anti-obesity mechanisms, their influence on BMI remains inconclusive. Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between total dietary carotenoid intake and the risk of abnormal BMI (≥25 kg/m ² ), and to validate this relationship using serum carotenoid levels. Methods: We analyzed data from 13,449 adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018 cycles, applying weighted multi-variable logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling, and mediation analysis. Results: Individuals with abnormal BMI—representing 73.3% of the cohort—had significantly lower levels of both dietary and serum carotenoids. After full adjustment, those in the highest quintile of dietary carotenoid intake had a lower risk of abnormal BMI compared to those in the lowest quintile (odds ratio: 0.798; 95% confidence interval: 0.678–0.939), a pattern consistent with serum carotenoid levels. RCS analysis revealed a significant non-linear association, with protective effects observed above inflection points of 12.37 μg/kg/day for dietary intake and 0.21 μmol/L for serum concentrations. Mediation analysis further indicated that serum carotenoids accounted for approximately 64.2% of the total effect of dietary intake on BMI. Conclusion: These findings suggest that higher carotenoid intake may be associated with a lower risk of abnormal BMI, potentially mediated through circulating carotenoids. Promoting carotenoid-rich diets may offer a promising strategy for obesity prevention, though further research is warranted to refine intake recommendations.