Journal of Behavior and Feeding

Primatological models for human nutrition: Lessons from the feeding ecology of howler monkeys

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In a global scenario marked by the loss of dietary diversity and the rise of metabolic diseases, there is an urgent need to reconsider the biological and evolutionary foundations of human nutrition. Nutritional anthropology incorporates comparative models with non-human primates to understand how dietary patterns are regulated in diverse environmental contexts. From this perspective, we propose that primates such as howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.) may serve as relevant models for understanding strategies of nutritional resilience in humans. Through an analysis of feeding ecology, dietary nutrient composition, secondary compound intake, and physiological adaptations, we argue that the trophic flexibility of howler monkeys reflects adaptive principles shared with humans, including protein leverage, prioritization of functional resources, and resilience in nutritionally constrained environments. This comparative approach seeks to enrich our understanding of dietary and nutritional transitions in humans, particularly in rural communities or those at risk of dietary homogenization, as recently documented in studies on the traditional Mexican diet. Finally, we advocate for a stronger integration of primatology, nutritional ecology, and nutritional anthropology to develop interdisciplinary frameworks that can inform and guide food policy development.

Influence of social networks on body perception

Diana Lizbeth Saucedo Fernández, Anaid Guadalupe Martin-Díaz — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The media, especially social media, play a key role in spreading beauty ideals, contributing to body dissatisfaction among young people and adolescents, particularly females. These platforms have transformed the way we communicate by enabling two-way interactions. Moreover, they have become spaces that encourage social comparison and promote beauty ideals that undermine or
negatively influence personal perceptions of body image, understood as the set of thoughts and feelings about one’s own body, shaped by social, cultural, and individual factors. This concept is especially relevant among youth, who are more susceptible to the beauty standards imposed by the media. These standards, particularly thinness, can lead to risky behaviors, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and symptoms of depression or anxiety that affect overall health. Despite their negative impact on body image perception, social media can also become spaces that foster body diversity and acceptance. Strategies such as focusing on the body’s functionality and diversity, adopting a critical perspective toward unrealistic content, and limiting or taking breaks from these platforms are suggested. In this way, social media can serve as positive tools for promoting a more inclusive view of the body.

Pro-environmental practices for sustainability: Advancing a greener future through global and local initiatives

Fátima Antonia Montes Garcia, Jose Roberto Espinoza Villegas — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In a world impacted by climate change and environmental degradation, the adoption of pro-environmental practices emerges as one of the key solutions to achieving sustainability. These practices aim to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment by promoting the conservation of natural resources and the protection of ecosystems. Sustainability, understood as the balance between human well-being and the preservation of the planet, requires a comprehensive approach that considers not only environmental factors but also economic and social dimensions. The path toward a greener future entail recognizing and addressing the environmental challenges we face, such as resource depletion, pollution, and biodiversity loss. To mitigate these issues, it is essential to adopt proactive behaviors at both individual and collective levels. Pro-environmental practices, such as the responsible management of resources and the promotion of more sustainable production and consumption systems, are fundamental to ensuring that future generations can enjoy a healthy planet. Integrating these practices across all sectors demands close collaboration among governments, businesses, academia, and civil society. Public policies and regulatory frameworks play a critical role in creating an enabling environment for sustainability, fostering the adoption of responsible behaviors and technological innovation. Likewise, active citizen participation is essential to achieving real and lasting change toward a more sustainable development model. By embracing these practices and policies, we can move toward a more balanced and environmentally respectful future.

Transgenic maize in Mexico: Challenges to food sovereignty

Dennis Alberto Meza-Peña, Iris Mireille Ramirez Canales, Fernando Chávez Corona — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Maize is part of the food, culture, economy, identity, and history of Mexico. Recently, a panel under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ruled in favor of the United States, stating that Mexico violates international trade agreements regarding the use of genetically modified maize. Therefore, the Mexican government lifted the ban on the importation of genetically modified maize for human consumption. The arrival of genetically modified maize threatens the food sovereignty of Mexican society, the biodiversity of native maize varieties, the gastronomy, and the cultural heritage of our country. Bicultural diversity refers to the interconnection between biological and cultural diversity. Mexico is home to around 59 native maize varieties. On the other hand, food sovereignty is the right of peoples to define their own policies and strategies regarding the production, distribution, and consumption of food, ensuring that they are healthy, culturally appropriate, and produced sustainably. Eating behavior, defined as the combination of knowledge and practices related to what organisms do to feed themselves, is influenced by biological, environmental, social, cultural, and economic factors. In this context, biodiversity and food sovereignty are crucial elements to understand how food practices and access to food are shaped. Additionally, for the preservation of native maize species in Mexico, it must be considered that economic policies also put the diversity of maize at risk. This work presents a perspective on the risks of adopting genetically modified maize in Mexico, the traditional Mexican diet, biodiversity, and the cultural rights of indigenous peoples.

Intensive lifestyle interventions: A strategy for the treatment of obesity

Itzel Nieto Marín, Heysel Murillo Cazares — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Obesity is a condition characterized by excess of body fat, which can trigger systemic inflammation, thereby increasing the risk of developing life-threatening diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and cancer. Despite its global prevalence, affecting 1.9 billion adults, current treatments have not significantly reduced either obesity or its associated complication. Furthermore, the lack of proper diagnosis and the related omission regarding obesity contribute to worsening the situation. In response to this challenge, intensive lifestyle interventions (ILIs), have been proposed, combining diet, physical activity and behavioral support. These elements aim to promote sustainable changes in individuals with obesity, with the goal of achieving effective weight loss and improving long-term metabolic health. Programs such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) have demonstrated benefits not only in reducing body weight but also in improving cardiorespiratory health, body composition and even systemic inflammation. ILIs focus on behavioral strategies to enhance adherence to dietary and physical activity changes. The diet is tailored to each patient’s individual needs, while physical activity is adjusted according to their physical capacity. Moreover, behavioral support is essential for achieving sustainable long-term outcomes in obesity treatment. For all these reasons, ILIs should be considered the first line treatment for obesity.

Obesity: A biopsychosocial perspective for integrated care

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The current lifestyle, characterized by sedentary behavior and high consumption of unhealthy foods, whose widespread availability and easy access facilitate their intake, has led to significant public health consequences. Obesity is a multifactorial disease marked by excessive accumulation of body fat resulting from an energy imbalance. Its prevalence continues to rise, affecting individuals from childhood through adulthood, and is associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases, which are the leading causes of death in Mexico. Living with obesity negatively impacts individuals’ quality of life and poses substantial economic burdens on the country. Despite the implementation of governmental strategies aimed at reducing obesity prevalence, these efforts have largely failed to achieve their intended outcomes. The predominant approaches to obesity treatment focus on dietary intake reduction through food restriction and increased physical activity. However, this strategy is reductionist, given the complex interplay of factors involved in the development of obesity. The aim of this perspective was to address key biological, psychological, and social factors underlying the development of obesity, drawing on relevant theories and a model that explains its origin, with the goal of contributing to the design of comprehensive and personalized intervention strategies.

Effects of wheatgrass protein consumption and meditation on blood oxygenation in young adults from Centro Universitario de los Valles

Laura Vanesa Solano Santos, Luis Alfaro Hernández — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

This project is an interdisciplinary study that integrates knowledge from nutrition and psychology. Specifically, it evaluated the effect of consuming a dietary supplement made from wheatgrass (Bien Verde brand) on blood oxygenation in young students from the Centro Universitario de los Valles at the University of Guadalajara. Regarding the psychological component, the effect of guided meditation on the same physiological indicator was examined. Both factors were assessed individually and in combination, using two experimental designs: one within-subjects and one between-groups. The results showed a consistent pattern across both designs, with the highest increases in oxygenation observed in the group that consumed wheatgrass, followed by the combined group, the meditation group, and lastly, the control group. However, statistically significant differences were observed only in the between-groups design, particularly in the comparison between the control group and the intervention groups (Meditation, Protein, and Combined).

Nutritional and sensory analysis and Glycemic Index of snacks made with plant-based protein sources

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Snack consumption has increased primarily due to their low cost. These products are typically made with refined flours, salt, sugars, and fats, resulting in high energy density and low protein content, which can contribute to the development of obesity, malnutrition, and dyslipidemia. The incorporation of legumes into snacks enhances their content of dietary fiber, protein, micronutrients, and biofunctional compounds with potential health benefits. Moreover, plant-based proteins can partially replace animal proteins, thereby promoting sustainability. The aim of this study was to formulate, determine the nutritional composition, perform sensory analyses, and determine the Glycemic Index (GI) of snacks made with corn, beans, and chickpeas. In the first stage, three types of chip-like snacks were formulated and analyzed nutritionally, each with two versions, made with chickpea paste, bean paste, and corn flour. In the second stage, sensory evaluation was carried out using consumer acceptance tests (hedonic and preference tests). The snack with the highest score in the hedonic satisfaction test was selected for GI determination. Overall, protein content ranged from 12.59% to 15.07%, with statistically significant differences in multiple comparisons (p = 0.0001). In the satisfaction test, four out of six snacks received average scores corresponding to the “I like it” category, with no significant differences by sex or overall average. In the preference test, the bean-corn-chili (FMCH) snack was the most preferred in its category (67.74%). This same snack showed a GI of 40.93, classified as low. These results support the use of legumes as functional ingredients in the development of consumer-acceptable snacks with low GI, offering a healthy and sustainable alternative to conventional ultra-processed products.