Abstract Submission Deadline Extended: 20^th August 2025

The Scientific Committee of 3rd PNDS International Conference–Nutri-Connect 2025 invites nutritionists, dietitians, food scientists, public health professionals, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and stakeholders to submit original research abstracts to present at Nutri-Connect 2025, taking place in Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 17-19, 2025. Share your work on this platform to bridge gaps in academia, healthcare delivery, and policy, fostering innovation and collaboration in nutrition science and practice, and providing actionable solutions to improve health outcomes at both the individual and community levels.

Abstract Submission: Abstracts are invited on topics that align with the conference themes and objectives, particularly the following subthemes

Subthemes:

1. Malnutrition, NCDs, & Mental Health:

Exploring the interconnected rise of obesity, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), impaired immune function, and mental health challenges. This theme emphasizes the critical role of nutrition and lifestyle interventions in managing these conditions and supporting human well-being.

2. Nutrition across the Lifespan: Prevention, Care, and Policy

Optimizing nutrition across key life stages—from the first 1,000 days in maternal & child health to adolescence, adulthood, perimenopause, and geriatrics. This theme integrates clinical care, community strategies, and policy development to age-appropriate dietary guidelines, identify best nutrition practices, and advocate for integrated life-course sustainable nutrition policies.

3. Latest Trends in Clinical Nutrition Care: Explores the latest advancements in clinical nutrition, with a focus on integrating clinical care and public health to improve health outcomes. Key areas include:

• Inborn Errors of Metabolism
• Infectious Diseases and Public Health Implications
• Autoimmune Disorders and Population Health
• Cognitive & Neurological Disorders
• Personalized Nutrition: Nutri-Genomics
• Gut-Brain Axis: The Role of Gut Microbiome in Chronic Disease Prevention

4. Advancement in Critical & Specialized Nutrition Care

• Enteral and parenteral nutrition in critical care and recovery.
• Managing cachexia, malnutrition, and nutrition complications in cancer care.
• Specialized nutrition for kidney disease (e.g., dialysis, renal transplant).
• Nutrition therapy for gastrointestinal disorders like IBD, IBS

5. Sustainable Food Systems Transformation:

Transformation of entire food systems to achieve sustainability, climate resilience, and long-term food security from production through consumption. The focus is on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable production practices, and the use of data and policy tools (such as food system dashboards) to inform action. Public health is improved through enhanced system efficiency, food safety, and equitable access in vulnerable regions.

6. Health Promotion & Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)

This theme highlights evidence-based strategies and public health policies that encourage active lifestyles for better health outcomes. It will include:

• SBCC strategies for healthy eating and active living at community level.

• Culturally relevant communication to drive behavior change.
• Empowering women as leaders for sustainable health by shaping food choices, caregiving practices, and driving sustainable nutrition changes through gender-responsive policies.

 7.Sports Nutrition & Health Outcomes:

This subtheme emphasizes the integration of sports nutrition into public health efforts to promote healthier communities and reduce chronic disease risks by using nutrition strategies, evidence-based use & regulation of supplements & Nutraceuticals in Pakistan.

8. Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods: Aligning Evidence, Clinical Practice, and Regulation for Better Health

Integration of scientifically validated nutraceuticals and functional foods into clinical practice, emphasizing safe use and effective prescription. It also highlights the importance of strong regulatory frameworks to ensure product quality, consumer safety, and public health impact.

9. Advancement of Nutrition and Dietetic profession in Pakistan

This subtheme emphasizes the growth of the nutrition and dietetic profession in Pakistan through:

• Innovative evidence-based teaching strategies.
• Professional development ,leadership & career opportunities for nutrition professionals
• Promoting higher education and PhD programs to advance clinical & public health nutrition

10. Nutrition Policies, Governance, and Advocacy

Enhancing the role of nutrition professionals in transforming food systems through cross-sector coordination (government, healthcare, agriculture, and environment). This theme emphasizes strategies for achieving sustainable food security, improving public health outcomes, and aligning national nutrition policies with SDG-goals.

11. Agriculture, Nutrition, and Health linkages

Highlighting critical connections between agriculture, nutrition, and health outcomes to improve population’s wellbeing. It promotes nutrition sensitive agriculture, enhancement of food safety & quality, multisector collaboration across public health, agriculture and education. A unique emphasis is placed on capacity building and interdisciplinary education in areas such as dietetics and public health nutrition to enable integrated people centered approach to promote healthier populations.

12. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Digital Innovations in Clinical Practice and Public Health: Leveraging AI and digital technologies (e.g., mobile health apps, tele-nutrition) to transform nutrition care and strengthen public health systems. The sub-theme will explore innovations in dietary assessments and nutrition monitoring, with an emphasis on scalable solutions for improving nutrition outcomes across populations.

 Scientific Committee,

Nutri-Connect 2025

Accepted abstracts will be selected for either an oral or a poster presentation

All abstracts must be aligned with the conference themes.  

• Abstracts must be submitted in English language (UK English) with accurate grammar and spelling.
• The abstract should not exceed more than 300 words (excluding title and list of authors)
• Abstracts should include the following components:
  • Title
  • Background and objective
  • Methodology
  • Results and Findings (main results only)
  • Recommendations & Conclusions
  • Three to five Key Words
• The font should be “Times New Roman” with single spacing and font size 12.
• Abstract title should be in capital letters, bold and centrally aligned.
• Do not include any citation or references in the abstract
• Tables and illustration should not be included in the abstract
• Incomplete submissions will not be entertained
• Multiple abstracts can be submitted by the same presenting author but must address different research/ topics.

Author information should include the following:

• First name & Last name
• Affiliation (Institute/Company name, city and country name)
• Contact details (email and telephone number/WhatsApp number) of corresponding author only

 Poster Guideline:

Those who are Interested to present their research as poster, will be provided the opportunity to share their research findings with scientific community at conference in a special Poster Talk session. If your abstract will not be approved as oral, then it can be presented as poster.

 Selection Process: Abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee based on scientific quality, originality, relevance to the themes, and importance of research findings. Selected abstracts will be invited for oral or poster presentations. If your abstract is not selected for oral presentation, then automatically it will be shortlisted for poster presentation. Presenters of accepted abstracts will also be invited to participate in Networking & Mentorship Sessions.

NUTRITIONAL AND LIFESTYLE RISK BEHAVIORS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE AMONG PAKISTANI ADOLESCENTS: RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF 4583 INDIVIDUALS

Saadiyah Rao¹, Nadia Shah^1*, Nida Jawed¹, Sumera Inam¹, Kashif Shafique¹

¹School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

Corresponding author^:  nadia.shah@duhs.edu.pk

Abstract

Background and objective: Unhealthy behaviors are associated with mental health problems and violence in adolescents, yet their combined association has been understudied. Using the Global School Health Survey, this study examined the association between combined unhealthy behaviors (including fast food, soft drink, smoking, other tobacco products, and physical inactivity) and anxiety, suicidal ideation, and involvement in a physical fight among Pakistani adolescents.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Global School Health Survey conducted in Pakistan (2009). The study population consisted of school-going adolescents aged 13 to 15 years. The Association of combined unhealthy behaviors with anxiety, suicidal ideation, and involvement in physical fights was studied through secondary analysis. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis by complex sample method, accounting for cluster sampling technique used for data collection.

Results and findings: Of the total 4583 students, weighted percentage and unweighted count for one, two, three and four or more unhealthy behaviors was 39.4% (n = 1770), 22.1% (n = 963), 5.9% (n = 274) and 1.2% (n = 62) respectively. The weighted prevalence for anxiety, suicidal ideation, and involvement in the physical fight was 8.4%, 7.3%, and 37.4% respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment showed that students who had four or more unhealthy behaviors had higher odds of; being anxious (OR 2.45, 95%CI 1.31-4.59, p-value 0.004).

Conclusions: This study suggests that the co-occurrence of unhealthy behaviors is associated with anxiety, suicidal ideation, and physical fight among adolescents. These findings should be considered when developing interventions to combat detrimental outcomes of unhealthy behaviors during adolescence.

Keywords: Unhealthy behaviors, Adolescents, Mental health, Physical-fight