Purpose
Increasing obesity rates and health care costs have prompted worksites to investigate interventions to improve employee health. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of worksite cafeteria interventions on fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
This review was guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method. After a thorough literature search and screening process, 18 studies were included in the review. Data were extracted, and a risk of bias assessment was created for the primary studies. An un-weighted average was used to determine the overall ranking for each study.
Findings
There appears to be a moderately strong association toward a positive impact of cafeteria interventions to increase F/V consumption. Of the 18 studies in the review, 13 reported a statistically significant increase, one reported a significant decrease, three reported mixed results, and one did not assess a change in consumption.
Research limitations/implications
Most of the data were self-reported and is subject to error. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of study design, method, and outcome measures among the studies warrants additional research with consistent methodology.
Practical implications
A positive impact on F/V consumption may be realized by the following techniques: price-point subsidies, point-of-purchase materials, and menu modification.
Originality/value
This new information on increasing F/V consumption in workplace cafeterias may improve employee health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Obesity is associated with altered gut microbiota and low-grade inflammation. A key factor in the inflammatory process is endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Plasma LPS levels and sensory agent lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) are shown to be elevated in obesity. This elevation may be due to increased intestinal permeability and incorporation of a high-fat diet accompanied by overfeeding. Bariatric surgery has become a popular treatment option that results in stable weight loss and improvement of obesity-related conditions. Studies outlined in this review show reduced LPS and LBP levels after different bariatric procedures. LPS receptor CD14 and mRNA expression toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were also shown to have reduced levels following surgery. Changes in LPS and LPS components after bariatric surgery are shown to be linked to the surgical technique of the procedure and restriction of caloric intake. Additionally, changes in the gut microbiota provide some insight to the reduction of inflammatory markers after surgery. The beneficial effects of bariatric surgery are not dependent on weight loss alone. The inflammatory pathway plays a key role in the improvement of metabolic complications following surgery that should be further examined. Additional research is needed to evaluate short- and long-term changes of LPS and LPS components after bariatric surgery, including how those assessments can be applied to clinical practice.
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