Biomedical subjects

C L Hupkens

Publications and source records attributed to C L Hupkens.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

National health interview surveys in Europe: an overview.

In order to study the value of national health interview surveys for national and international research and policy activities, this paper examines the existence and content of recent and future health interview surveys in the 15 member states of the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. National health interview surveys are performed in most countries, but not in Greece (only regional surveys), Luxembourg, Ireland and Iceland (only multi-purpose surveys). The health interview surveys in the other 14 countries provide regular data on the main health topics. Of the 14 health topics that are examined in this inventory seven are measured in all countries. Questions on health status (e.g. self-assessed health, long-term physical disability, and height and weight) and medical consumption (e.g. consultations with the general practitioner, GP) are often included. Lifestyle topics are less often included, except smoking habits, information about which is sought in all countries. Topics like diet and drugs/narcotics are more often included in special surveys than in general health interview surveys. Despite differences in the content, frequency and methodology of national health interview surveys in different countries, these surveys are a valuable source of information on the health of Europeans.

European Union↗

PubMed1998

Class differences in the food rules mothers impose on their children: a cross-national study.

Many studies indicate that children in middle-class families have healthier eating habits than children in lower class families. Class differences in food rules, which parents and especially mothers impose on their children, may underlie these social inequalities in food consumption. The present study uses education as a classifying variable and analyses whether mothers with higher education prescribe more "healthy" foodstuffs for their children and whether they restrict more "unhealthy" food items than less educated mothers. Moreover, the study examines whether higher class mothers consider health aspects more often and the preferences of their family members less often in their choice of food, and whether class differences in these considerations explain class differences in food rules. To answer these questions, questionnaires on the food practices of 849 women living in middle-class or lower class districts in Maastricht (the Netherlands), Liège (Belgium) and Aachen (Germany) were collected and analysed. The majority of mothers in each city prescribed primarily foods that were served at dinner like meat and vegetables, and most mothers limited their children's consumption of sweet foods, soft drinks and snacks. Higher class mothers restricted more foods, but prescribed as many food items as their lower class counterparts. Class differences in the number of restricted foods were partly, but not completely, explained by class differences in health and taste considerations. Despite national variations in dietary habits and possibly in the education of children, class differences in food rules and the explanatory power of health and taste considerations were comparable in the three cities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Social class differences in women's fat and fibre consumption: a cross-national study.

This study focuses on social class variation in the intake of fat and fibre in Maastricht, Liège and Aachen, based on food frequency questionnaires of 849 women from nuclear families with schoolgoing children. In Maastricht and Liège higher-middle class women consumed less fat than working class women, while in Aachen no class difference was apparent. The intake of fibre was highest among the higher-middle class women, although this tendency was not significant in Aachen. Analysis of food groups that contribute to the intake of fat and fibre revealed that not all food groups showed this pattern. Higher-middle class women consumed less bread, less potatoes and more cheese than working class women. Moreover, they chose more often high-fat cheese and fats. Yet, working class women consumed more meat, milk and fats, and less grain, fruit and vegetables. In general, social class variations in fat and fibre intake were uniform across the cities, although in Aachen class differences were small or absent. In conclusion, these results suggest that the diet of higher-middle class women is more in accordance with the dietary recommendations regarding fat and fibre than the diet of working class women.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Alcohol consumption in the European community: uniformity and diversity in drinking patterns.

Within the European Community (EC) drinking patterns in the southern countries can be characterised by daily consumption of wine at meals, and in the northern countries by less frequent consumption of beer outside meals. Yet, as in past decades in the southern countries beer consumption and in the northern countries wine consumption strongly increased, the question is whether the distinction in drinking patterns still applies. This paper (1) describes for each country of the EC total alcohol consumption, (2) examines the frequency and the context of consumption of the new beverage type and (3) analyses whether subpopulations, defined by sex, age and educational level, differ in the adoption of the new beverage type. In all countries wine is consumed more often at meals compared to beer. Older people consume wine in greater numbers and more frequently than younger people, who consume beer in greater numbers. People of higher educational level consume the new beverage type more often compared to people of lower educational level, who consume the traditional beverage type more frequently. Finally, males and females differ less in the frequency of consumption of the new beverage type than in the frequency of the traditional beverage type.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Modernization and geographical diffusion as explanations for regional differences in the consumption of wine and beer in the European Community.

Mediterranean and Northern countries in Europe differ strongly in drinking cultures and drinking patterns. However, since about 1960 the Mediterranean and Northern countries in Europe have converged with respect to per capital consumption and beverage choice. This paper explores whether modernization and/or geographical diffusion explain the convergence in beverage choice for countries belonging to the EC. The results show that for wine and two of the indicators of modernization, the expected results are found. The diffusion of beer is not related with the indicators of modernization used in this study. There is no or only very limited support for the relevance of geographical proximity for the diffusion of beer and wine.

Adolescent↗