John M Kearney

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Technological University Dublin

Objective:To identify the main foods determining saturated fatty acid (SFA) intakes and model the impact of food exchanges to improve compliance with dietary fat recommendations in Irish children. Design:Estimated food and nutrient intakes were obtained from a cross-sectional study, the National Children’s Food Survey II. Participants were categori...

Dietary changes are required to mitigate the climatic impact of food consumption. Food consumption databases can support the development of sustainable food based dietary guidelines (SFBDG) when linked to environmental indicators. An improved knowledge base is crucial to the transition to sustainable diets, and multiple environmental indicators sho...

Background Overweight and obesity in adolescence is a growing issue and can have a range of both short‐ and long‐term consequences on health. Objectives To analyse trends in adolescent weight status in Ireland across a 30‐year period and to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors on overweight/obesity in Irish adolescents over time. Met...

The childhood years represent a period of increased nutrient requirements during which a balanced diet is important to ensure optimal growth and development. The aim of this study was to examine food and nutrient intakes and compliance with recommendations in school-aged children in Ireland and to examine changes over time. Analyses were based on t...

Context and purpose In light of the key roles of vitamin D and calcium in adolescent bone health, there is a critical need for representative data on nutritional status for both micronutrients in teenagers. The present work used data from the recent representative National Teens’ Food Survey II (2019–2020) to assess calcium and vitamin D intakes of...

Background: During the transition from secondary school into higher education many lifelong health-related behaviors are established. Evidence suggests that unhealthy diet and lifestyle behaviors correlate, causing an increase in co-morbidities, affecting overall health. Objective: The aim of this review was to identify the relationship between di...

In Ireland, television (TV) screen time is a highly prevalent sedentary behavior among children aged less than five years. Little is known about the influence of parental rules and policies or screen time availability and accessibility within the home on children’s TV screen time behaviors. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the extent to...

Background The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may contribute to the overall improvement of exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This study was conducted to elicit suggestions...

This study was conducted to explore the associations between maternal feeding practices, mealtime emotions, as well as maternal food neophobia and toddlers’ food neophobia in Ireland. A follow-up to the Technological University Dublin (DIT)-Coombe Hospital birth cohort was conducted. Mothers in the original cohort were invited to the present study...

Background: Breastfeeding rates in Ireland are among the lowest in the world. Improving the prevalence of breastfeeding is an objective of the Irish Health Service Executive, with the recognition that this would improve public health. Polish people represent the largest immigrant group in Ireland, and Polish women are more likely to initiate breas...

Poor health behaviours can lead to chronic diseases associated with high BMI or weight gain including CVD, stroke, dementia, cognitive disorders, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders e.g. osteoarthritis and some cancers e.g. breast, ovarian, prostate, kidney and colon (WHO, 2018). Poor dietary quality, regular alcohol consumption, lack of physical a...

Objectives Shift work is associated with adverse effects on the health and lifestyle behaviours of employees. This study aimed to examine factors associated with adherence among shift workers to selected indicators of dietary and physical activity guidelines. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1300 shift workers. Data were collected...

Objectives: To describe the eating behaviour styles of Irish teens and to explore the relationships between demographic factors, BMI and dietary intake and these eating behaviour styles. Design: Cross-sectional data from the Irish National Teens' Food Survey (2005-2006). The Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire assessed three eating behaviour st...

Within the home environment, parents influence their children’s dietary intakes through their parenting and dietary practices, and the foods they make available/accessible. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between home environmental characteristics and children’s dietary intakes. Three hundred and thirty-two chi...

The home environment is acknowledged as an important setting that can shape dietary habits in early childhood. For instance, parents influence their children's dietary intakes through the foods they make available to their children, their own eating habits and their parenting practices. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the ass...

Background: Approximately 17% of the European Union workforce is engaged in shift work. Shift work has been associated with a number of chronic conditions, including obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the dietary and lifestyle behaviours of shift workers with a healthy vs. overweight/obese body mas...

Background: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months was previously found to be very low among Chinese immigrants in Ireland, at 5.8% (Zhou et al., Front Public Health 6:351, 2018). This study investigates the successful experiences of Chinese mothers living in Ireland who exclusively breastfeed for between four and 6 months...

International students may have difficulties in dietary acculturation. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of diet and health during the acculturation of international students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 473 international students in Dublin. Knowledge, attitude and prac...

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may contribute to the overall improvement of exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This study was conducted to elicit recommenda...

Background The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may contribute to the overall improvement of exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This study was conducted to elicit recommendat...

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may contribute to the overall improvement of exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This study was conducted to elicit suggestion...

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may contribute to the overall improvement of exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This study was conducted to elicit suggestion...

Background: The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Ireland is very low with extremely slow annual growth. The population of immigrants in Ireland is increasing. Improving exclusive breastfeeding practice among immigrants may contribute to the overall improvement of exclusive breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This study was conducted to elicit suggestion...

Abstract Background Migration to another country has a potential influence on breastfeeding practices. A significant difference in breastfeeding rates between Irish nationals and non-nationals has been reported. This study was conducted to explore breastfeeding practices of the Chinese in Ireland, one of the largest Irish ethnic groups, and to expl...

Background: Identifying modifiable factors associated with body fat in infancy may improve health outcomes. Few studies have examined factors associated with percentage body fat calculated using air displacement plethysmography, a gold standard technique. Aims: To investigate maternal sociodemographic and health behaviour characteristics associa...

Objectives Maternal health behaviours (MHBs) can influence pregnancy outcomes. Despite efforts internationally to encourage positive MHBs, women often fail to comply with pregnancy guidelines. International studies show differences in MHBs between nationalities and an effect of time spent in the host country. There is limited Irish data in this are...

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and complicated hepatocellular carcinoma with defined differential symptoms and manifestations. Objective: To evaluate the fatty liver status by several validated approaches and to compare imaging techniques, lipidomic and routine blood markers with m...

This chapter describes the major nutrition-related issues of current public health concern in Ireland. Specifically, we discuss concerns related to maternal obesity, gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, folate, vitamin D, iron, long-chain polyunsaturated acids, and alcohol use. For each issue, the extent of the problem is outlined and any...

Objectives: The study aimed to understand lifestyle practices among shift workers, including an exploration of workers' perceptions of their workplace environment (WPE). Methods: Fifteen focus groups (FGs) were conducted by two researchers, with a total of 109 participants. A pilot FG was carried out with both researchers present, to ensure cons...

The Role of Influencer Marketing and Social Influencers in Public Health - Volume 76 Issue OCE3 - E. Byrne, J. Kearney, C. MacEvilly

Aim and objectives: The overall aim of this research was to investigate maternal and paternal behaviours and attitudes and their influences on the diet and growth of infants in the first year of life. Specific objectives were to assess: maternal wellbeing and breastfeeding outcomes; weaning and supplementation practices; infant growth and body comp...

Objective: this study investigated the relationship between fathers and breast feeding in Ireland. Design and method: a cross-sectional semi-quantitative questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended questions was posted to 1398 men with an Irish partner who had given birth 4-7 months previously. Fathers who specified that their partner breast...

Objectives (background): Requirement for Vitamin D is high at particular stages of the lifecycle especially during pregnancy and infancy. Severe vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of rickets in childhood. While policies exist in Ireland regarding supplementation of Vitamin D in either pregnancy or infancy, no policy recomme...

To examine women's experience of professional support for breast-feeding and health-care professionals' experience of providing support. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews among women with experience of breast-feeding and health-care professionals with infant feeding roles. Interviews with women were designed to explore their exper...

Objective: To examine the extent to which early child nutrition, maternal antenatal lifestyle behaviours and child diet and lifestyle explain social class inequalities in the risk of rapid weight gain between birth and 3 years and obesity at age 3 years. Design: A longitudinal and prospective birth cohort study. Subjects: Nationally representa...

The present study aimed to investigate socio-economic disparities in food and nutrient intakes among young Irish women. A total of 221 disadvantaged and seventy-four non-disadvantaged women aged 18-35 years were recruited. Diet was assessed using a diet history protocol. Of the total population, 153 disadvantaged and sixty-three non-disadvantaged w...

The majority of mothers in Ireland provide formula milk to their infants during the initial weeks postpartum; however, data are lacking on their formula feeding practices and support needs. This prospective Dublin-based observational study, which included 450 eligible mother–term infant pairs recruited and followed up to six months postpartum, aime...

Obesity is an independent predictor of breastfeeding initiation when socioeconomic status is controlled for - Volume 72 Issue OCE3 - A. E. Bennett, D. McCartney, J. M. Kearney

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Placental villous maturation is maximal in the third trimester with an abundance of terminal villi. Delayed villous maturation (DVM) of the placenta is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, gestational diabetes and an adverse outcome. The aim of this study was to compare quantitative assessment of vasculo-syncytial membrane...

This study aimed to report on adverse infant and maternal clinical outcomes, and investigate the relationship between infant feeding practice and such adverse clinical outcomes in infants during the first 6 weeks postpartum. From an eligible sample of 450 mother-term infant pairs recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Du...

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited inborn error of metabolism resulting in the inability of the patient to metabolise the essential amino acid (AA) phenylalanine (Phe) and convert it to tyrosine. Untreated, a build-up of Phe occurs that damages the brain and leads to mental retardation (Williams et al., 2008). Management guidelines f...

There is a need to comprehensively examine why mothers in Ireland discontinue breastfeeding early and to explore the factors influencing duration of breastfeeding during the first 6 months postpartum. Findings from this study provide valuable direction for future strategies and interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration rates in Irela...

This prospective Irish observational study examined maternal and infant nutritional supplement use. From an initial sample of 539 mothers recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin (during 2004-2006), 450 eligible mothers were followed up at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Only 200 women (44.4%) complied with peri-co...

To examine the prevalence and combined occurrence of peri-conceptional folic acid (FA) supplement use, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy in a sample of women in Dublin, and determine the factors associated with these health behaviours. A prospective observational study (2004-2006) involving the recruitment of 491 pregnant women from...

Understand food choice, from the perspective of people residing in socioeconomically deprived rural neighborhoods. Focus groups (n = 7) were undertaken within a community setting involving 42 adults (2 males and 40 females) recruited through voluntary action groups. Data were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and content analyzed. Attitudes to food a...

Breastfeeding rates in Ireland remain among the lowest in Europe, with exclusive breastfeeding rates of 44% at discharge from hospital. The knowledge and attitudes of health professionals are important factors in the promotion and support of breastfeeding. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy in breastfeeding in...

Psychological factors are important in influencing breastfeeding practices. This retrospective study explored knowledge and attitudes related to breastfeeding of Chinese mothers living in Ireland. A cross-sectional self-administrated survey written in Chinese was distributed to a convenience sample of 322 immigrant Chinese mothers mainly via Chines...

The WHO (2001) recommends exclusive breast-feeding and delaying the introduction of solid foods to an infant's diet until 6 months postpartum. However, in many countries, this recommendation is followed by few mothers, and earlier weaning onto solids is a commonly reported global practice. Therefore, this prospective, observational study aimed to a...

Purpose Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Europe with exclusive breastfeeding rates of 44 per cent at discharge from hospital. Increased awareness and debate on breastfeeding and its issues is needed. The purpose of this paper is to describe an evaluation of the piloting of a forum theatre production in increasing awareness of...

To compare macronutrient intakes of Swedish children and adolescents to population goals; to identify the major sources of energy, fat, saturated fat and sucrose; and to simulate the effect adherence to current food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) would have on saturated fat and sucrose intakes. Cross-sectional study. From 24 h recall data, food gr...

To investigate if dietary energy density is associated with measures of dietary quality (food group, micronutrient and macronutrient intakes) in children and adolescents. In all, 551 children (mean age 9.6 years, 52% girls) and 569 adolescents (15.5 years, 55% girls), sampled from schools in Sweden, completed a single 24-h dietary recall. Dietary e...

Maternal health behaviours during pregnancy and associations with postnatal infant feeding practices Objectives: To examine modifiable maternal health behaviours during pregnancy, including folic acid use peri-conceptually, smoking and alcohol consumption patterns, and relate these factors to maternal postnatal infant feeding practices. Materials a...

This chapter aims to identify; The main sources of nutrients in Western diets. To understand the social, psychological, geographic and economic factors determining food choices and diet patterns. To appreciate the similarities and variability in food and nutrient patterns in different population groups and countries. To be aware of changing trends,...

The stability of dietary habits through various life-stages is not well understood. A better understanding of the tracking of diet over time could have implications for health promotion as well as for the planning of nutritional epidemiology studies. We examined the stability of dietary intakes of children and adolescents over six years. As part of...

To assess breast-feeding initiation and prevalence from birth to 6 months in a sample of mothers in Dublin, and to determine the factors associated with breast-feeding initiation and 'any' breast-feeding at 6 weeks in a sample of Irish-national mothers. This prospective cross-sectional study involved the recruitment of women during the antenatal pe...

Breast-feeding is the superior infant feeding method from birth, with research consistently demonstrating its numerous short- and long-term health benefits for both mother and infant. As a global recommendation the WHO advises that mothers should exclusively breast-feed for the first 6-months of life, thus delaying the introduction of solids during...

Breast-feeding is the superior infant feeding method from birth, with research consistently demonstrating its numerous short- and long-term health benefits for both mother and infant. As a global recommendation the WHO advises that mothers should exclusively breast-feed for the first 6-months of life, thus delaying the introduction of solids during...

Attitudes towards healthy eating were explored according to dietary, lifestyle and socio-demographic correlates in a random sample of 1256 Irish adults. Data were obtained from an Irish cross-sectional survey (1997-1999). A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain attitudinal information. Food consumption was estimated using a 7-d food di...

The first results of the Women's Health Initiative dietary intervention trial were published in the USA in February. This is a colossal intervention designed to see if diets lower in fat and higher in fruits, vegetables and grains than is usual in high-income countries reduce the incidence of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, heart disease and othe...

Aim A low level of physical activity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases, and evidence suggests that physical activity levels are in decline. Reversing this trend will involve a change in behaviour for most people. However, the associations between many psychosocial determinants and physical activity are not well understood. This study ai...

To examine the influence of intense sweetener consumption on nutrient intakes in insulin dependent diabetics compared to controls. Case-control food consumption survey. Dietary data were collected from individuals in Ireland between 1998 and 1999. Diabetics were recruited through diabetic outpatient departments of St. James's Hospital Dublin. Contr...

Many studies have shown the health burden of a sedentary lifestyle. The main goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles in the 15 Member States of the European Union (EU) and to identify the main correlates of a sedentary lifestyle. Nationally representative samples (n approximately 1000 subjects in each country; >15...

Objective: To describe the rationale and methods for a European project (EFCOSUM) to develop a method for a European food consumption survey that delivers internationally comparable data on a set of policy-relevant nutritional indicators. Rationale and methods: Currently Member States are collecting data and information for use at national level...

To discuss the general outcome and conclusions of a European project (EFCOSUM); to develop a method for a European food consumption survey that delivers internationally comparable data on a set of policy relevant nutritional indicators. The EFCOSUM project was carried out within the framework of the European Health Monitoring Programme by 14 Member...

For effective healthy eating promotion, it is necessary to understand the attitudes towards and beliefs about nutrition of the general public. The objective of this study was to provide data on attitudes towards eating a healthy diet and the perceived need to alter eating habits from a random sample of adults in the Republic of Ireland and in North...

To estimate the prevalence of physical activity during leisure time in adults from the 15 member states of the European Union and the relationship with sociodemographic variables. A representative sample, with approximately 1000 adults, aged 15 and upward, was selected from each member state to complete a questionnaire on attitudes to physical acti...

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of physical activity during leisure time in adults from the 15 member states of the European Union and the relationship with sociodemographic variables. Methods: A representative sample, with approximately 1000 adults. aged 15 and upward, was selected from each member state to complete a questionnaire on attitude...

A consideration of eating patterns in the general population is necessary when deriving food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) as promoting the intake of one food may indirectly result in the increased consumption of another, which may not always be desirable. A number of issues that influence meal patterns such as temporal distribution of food intak...

To identify the factors associated with an adequate perception of body image in relation to body weight. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of the European Union (7,155 men and 8,077 women). Body Mass Index (BMI) was grouped into four categories, perceived body image was assessed using the nine silhouet...

To know the sources of information and the level of trust in these sources in a population to facilitate the promotion of healthy dietary habits. A national survey was carried out according to an established protocol on a representative sample of 1009 Spanish subjects over 15 years of age selected by a random multietapic procedure. This study belon...

The promotion of healthy eating is more likely to be effective if based on the understanding of how the elderly perceive their own diets and healthy eating. The objectives of this study were to identify in the elderly European population, the attitudes to food, nutrition and health, in order to define adequate strategies of health promotion. Cross-...

It is important to study the factors which modulate ageing, among which physical activity (PA) seems to have a very important role on the health status and quality of life of the elderly. To be effective, any intervention specifically targeted to promote PA should be based on the knowledge of the population, namely on their needs, attitudes and beh...

An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of the European Union (7155 men and 8077 women) to calculate the underestimation of body weight as assessed by body image among the overweight and obese population and identify the associated factors to this behavior. Participants were older than 15 years and they were...

Development of food-based dietary guidelines relies on correct identification and interpretation of current dietary intake patterns. The process involves assessing Which foods discriminate between those with desirable and undesirable intakes of particular nutrients. It is therefore important that those involved in this task are aware of any source...

Background: A Pan-European survey was carried out to assess the main sources of information about healthy diet in the European population and to assess whether these sources differ between a Mediterranean country and other European populations. Methods: This study belongs to a Pan-European survey on Attitudes to Food, Nutrition and Health. A multis...

To assess what healthy eating means for the European population and whether this concept differs between Spain and other European Countries. A Pan-European survey was developed between October 1995 and February 1996 by the Institute of European Food Studies (Dublin). Each subject was asked to describe in his or her own words what he/she understood...