Energy balance and obesity

Methyl dehydroabietate counters high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis by modulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of methyl dehydroabietate (mDA) on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and obesity characteristics induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in mice. Adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells was evaluated after 14 days of incubation with mDA. mDA enhanced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. For the in vivo evaluation, five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed HFD or normal CE-2 diet (control) for eight weeks. During the experimental period, mice were administered mDA (50 mg/kg, p.o.) as an olive oil emulsion (containing 10% ethanol), and body weights were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, the mice were euthanized after 16 h fasting period, and plasma samples were collected. The liver, kidney, and epididymal adipose tissues were collected and weighed. It significantly decreased body weight, adipose tissue weight, and plasma levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with that in the HFD group, and markedly reduced the impairment in glucose tolerance in obese mice. Furthermore, mDA reduced HFD-induced adipocyte hypertrophy and the formation of hepatic lipid droplets. Moreover, it induced the expression of proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in the liver and PPARγ in the adipose tissues. Our findings demonstrate that mDA reduces obesity-induced glucose and insulin tolerance by inducing PPAR expression.

HDAC11 suppresses the thermogenic program of adipose tissue via BRD2

Little is known about the biological function of histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11), which is the lone class IV HDAC. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of HDAC11 in mice stimulates brown adipose tissue (BAT) formation and beiging of white adipose tissue (WAT). Consequently, HDAC11-deficient mice exhibit enhanced thermogenic potential and, in response to high-fat feeding, attenuated obesity, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced hepatic steatosis. Ex vivo and cell-based assays revealed that HDAC11 catalytic activity suppresses the BAT transcriptional program, in both the basal state and in response to β-adrenergic receptor signaling, through a mechanism that is dependent on physical association with BRD2, a bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) acetyl-histone-binding protein. These findings define an epigenetic pathway for the regulation of energy homeostasis and suggest the potential for HDAC11-selective inhibitors for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

A genome-wide association study of energy intake and expenditure

Excessive energy intake or insufficient energy expenditure, which result in energy imbalance, contribute to the development of obesity. Obesity-related genes, such as FTO, are associated with energy traits. No genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted to detect the genetic associations with energy-related traits, including energy intake and energy expenditure, among European-ancestry populations. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide study using pooled GWAS including 12,030 European-ancestry women and 6,743 European-ancestry men to identify genetic variants associated with these two energy traits. We observed a statistically significant genome-wide SNP heritability for energy intake of 6.05% (95%CI = (1.76, 10.34), P = 0.006); the SNP heritability for expenditure was not statistically significantly greater than zero. We discovered three SNPs on chromosome 12q13 near gene ANKRD33 that were genome-wide significantly associated with increased total energy intake among all men. We also identified signals on region 2q22 that were associated with energy expenditure among lean people. Body mass index related SNPs were found to be significantly associated with energy intake and expenditure through SNP set analyses. Larger GWAS studies of total energy traits are warranted to explore the genetic basis of energy intake, including possible differences between men and women, and the association between total energy intake and other downstream phenotypes, such as diabetes and chronic diseases.

Subjective social status is associated with compensation for large meals - A prospective pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Subjective social status (SSS) is known to be inversely associated with obesity. Our objective was to determine if SSS is associated with eating behaviors that would predispose to weight gain, specifically, with inadequate compensation for excess energy consumed during a single large meal. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to determine the association of SSS with 24-h energy balance, 24-h and post-lunch energy intake, changes in body composition and changes in adjusted resting energy expenditure on days when a high-energy lunch was consumed in free-living human subjects.

METHOD

Female participants (7 normal weight and 10 overweight) consumed 60% of' estimated 24-h energy requirements as a lunchtime meal in the laboratory for 14 days. Subjective social status was measured at baseline using the MacArthur Scale. Remote Food Photography Method was used to record food intake outside of the lab on days 1-2, 7-8, and 12-13. Associations of 24-h energy balance, 24-h and post-lunch energy intake, changes in adjusted resting energy expenditure and changes in percent body fat (measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry) with SSS were studied.

RESULTS

Mean (standard deviation) age and BMI were 36.29 (8.25) years and 26.43 (2.32) kg/m², respectively. Lower SSS was significantly associated with positive energy balance (p for trend 0.002), and higher post-lunch energy intake (p = 0.02) when controlled for age and initial body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot data show that lower SSS is associated with higher post-lunch energy intake, which is indicative of poor energy compensation following a large meal. Over a longer time period, this could result in fat mass gain. Studies that are of longer duration and well-powered are warranted to confirm our findings.

Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes browning by inducing UCP1 expression and mitochondrial activity in 3T3-L1 and subcutaneous white adipocytes

Background

Panax ginseng Meyer is known as a conventional herbal medicine, and ginsenoside Rg1, a steroid glycoside, is one of its components. Although Rg1 has been proved to have an antiobesity effect, the mechanism of this effect and whether it involves adipose browning have not been elucidated.

Methods

3T3-L1 and subcutaneous white adipocytes from mice were used to access the thermogenic effect of Rg1. Adipose mitochondria and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Protein level and mRNA of UCP1 were also evaluated by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

Results

Rg1 dramatically enhanced expression of brown adipocyte–specific markers, such as UCP1 and fatty acid oxidation genes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1. In addition, it modulated lipid metabolism, activated 5′ adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase, and promoted lipid droplet dispersion.

Conclusions

Rg1 increases UCP1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis in 3T3-L1 and subcutaneous white adipose cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice. We suggest that Rg1 exerts its antiobesity effects by promoting adipocyte browning through activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway.

PPARG2 Pro12Ala polymorphism influences body composition changes in severely obese patients consuming extra virgin olive oil: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Previous intervention studies have reported the association of the PPARG2 Pro12Ala (rs1801282) and IL6 -174G > C (rs1800795) polymorphisms with weight loss; however, their results are inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the effect of the PPARG2 Pro12Ala and IL6 -174G > C polymorphisms on body weight, body composition and metabolic parameters after a 12-week nutritional intervention with a traditional Brazilian diet and extra virgin olive oil supplementation in severely obese patients.

METHODS

A total of 149 severely obese individuals [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2] were randomized into three 12-week nutritional intervention groups - the extra virgin olive oil supplementation (OO) group (n = 50), the traditional Brazilian diet (DieTBra) group (n = 49), and the DieTBra plus extra virgin olive oil supplementation (DieTBra+OO) group (n = 50). Anthropometric measurements, body composition, metabolic parameters, physical activity practise and dietary intake were assessed. The associations were tested using generalized linear models adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

The PPARG2 Pro12Ala polymorphism influenced body composition changes. Ala carriers in the intervention groups with extra virgin olive oil supplementation had greater reductions in the percentage of body fat (%BF) (OO: p = 0.049, DietBra+OO: p = 0.004) and greater increases in both fat-free mass (FFM) (OO: p = 0.020, DieTBra: p = 0.007) and lean mass (LM) (OO: p = 0.020, DieTBra+OO: p = 0.007) than did ProPro homozygotes. No association was found for the IL6 -174G > C polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONS

Extra virgin olive oil intake may modulate favourable body composition changes, promoting a decrease in the %BF and increases in the LM and FFM of severely obese individuals, even without weight loss, in the presence of the Ala allele of the Pro12Ala polymorphism.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier No. NCT02463435.

Obesity Paradox in Advanced Kidney Disease: From Bedside to the Bench

While obesity is associated with a variety of complications including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and premature death, observational studies have also found that obesity and increasing body mass index (BMI) can be linked with improved survival in certain patient populations, including those with conditions marked by protein-energy wasting and dysmetabolism that ultimately lead to cachexia. The latter observations have been reported in various clinical settings including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and have been described as the "obesity paradox" or "reverse epidemiology", engendering controversy. While some have attributed the obesity paradox to residual confounding in an effort to "debunk" these observations, recent experimental discoveries provide biologically plausible mechanisms in which higher BMI can be linked to longevity in certain groups of patients. In addition, sophisticated epidemiologic methods that extensively adjusted for confounding have found that the obesity paradox remains robust in ESRD. Furthermore, novel hypotheses suggest that weight loss and cachexia can be linked to adverse outcomes including cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, sudden death and poor outcomes. Therefore, the survival benefit observed in obese ESRD patients can at least partly be derived from mechanisms that protect against inefficient energy utilization, cachexia and protein-energy wasting. Given that in ESRD patients, treatment of traditional risk factors has failed to alter outcomes, detailed translational studies of the obesity paradox may help identify innovative pathways that can be targeted to improve survival. We have reviewed recent clinical evidence detailing the association of BMI with outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease, including ESRD, and discuss potential mechanisms underlying the obesity paradox with potential for clinical applicability.

Perspective: Are Large, Simple Trials the Solution for Nutrition Research?

Nutritional research and policies have been criticized for relying on observational evidence, using self-report diet assessment methods, and supposedly being unable to present a consensus on what constitutes a healthy diet. In particular, it is often asserted that for progress to occur in nutrition science, large, simple trials, which have worked well in evaluating the efficacy of drugs, need to replace most observational research and small trials in nutrition. However, this idea is infeasible, and is unlikely to advance nutritional sciences or improve policies. This article addresses some commonly held and unfounded "myths" surrounding dietary assessments, effect sizes, and confounding, demonstrating how carefully conducted observational studies can provide reliable and reproducible evidence on diet and health. Also, there is a strong consensus among nutritional researchers and practitioners about the basic elements of a healthy diet. To move forward, we should continue to improve study design and diet assessment methodologies, reduce measurement errors, and leverage new technologies. Advances in the field lie in coalescing evidence from multiple study designs, methodologies, and technologies, and translating what we already know into policy and practice, so we can improve diet quality and enhance health in an equitable and sustainable manner across the world.

In vivo maternal and in vitro BPA exposure effects on hypothalamic neurogenesis and appetite regulators

In utero exposure to the ubiquitous plasticizer, bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with offspring obesity. As food intake/appetite is one of the critical elements contributing to obesity, we determined the effects of in vivo maternal BPA and in vitro BPA exposure on newborn hypothalamic stem cells which form the arcuate nucleus appetite center. For in vivo studies, female rats received BPA prior to and during pregnancy via drinking water, and newborn offspring primary hypothalamic neuroprogenitor (NPCs) were obtained and cultured. For in vitro BPA exposure, primary hypothalamic NPCs from healthy newborns were utilized. In both cases, we studied the effects of BPA on NPC proliferation and differentiation, including putative signal and appetite factors. Maternal BPA increased hypothalamic NPC proliferation and differentiation in newborns, in conjunction with increased neuroproliferative (Hes1) and proneurogenic (Ngn3) protein expression. With NPC differentiation, BPA exposure increased appetite peptide and reduced satiety peptide expression. In vitro BPA-treated control NPCs showed results that were consistent with in vivo data (increase appetite vs satiety peptide expression) and further showed a shift towards neuronal versus glial fate as well as an increase in the epigenetic regulator lysine-specific histone demethylase1 (LSD1). These findings emphasize the vulnerability of stem-cell populations that are involved in life-long regulation of metabolic homeostasis to epigenetically-mediated endocrine disruption by BPA during early life.

Obesity-Associated Diseases Biomarkers Are Differently Modulated in Lean and Obese Individuals and Inversely Correlated to Plasma Polyphenolic Metabolites After 6 Weeks of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Consumption

SCOPE

Mangos are a rich source of gallotannin-derived polyphenols that may exert anti-inflammatory effects relevant to obesity-related chronic diseases. This randomized human clinical study investigated the influence of daily mango supplementation for 6 weeks on inflammation and metabolic functions in lean and obese individuals.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Lean (n = 12, body mass index [BMI] 18-26.2 kg m^-2 ) and obese (n = 9, BMI >28.9 kg m^-2 ) participants, aged 18-65 years received daily 400 g of mango pulp for 6 weeks. Inflammatory cytokines, metabolic hormones, and lipid profiles were examined in plasma before and after 6 weeks. In lean participants, systolic blood pressure was lowered by 4 mmHg after 6 weeks. In obese participants, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were reduced by 18% and 20%, respectively. Obese participants showed decreased plasma concentrations (area under the curve [AUC] _0-8h ) of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Correlation analysis indicates that the beneficial effects of mango supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines, PAI-1 and HbA1c, are associated with systemic exposure to polyphenolic metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

Mango supplementation improves the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and metabolic hormones in obese participants. There is a crucial need to investigate the role of lowered polyphenolic absorption in obese individuals on their efficacy in reducing biomarkers for inflammation and other risk factors for chronic diseases.

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT): a component of total daily energy expenditure

[Purpose]

The purpose of this review is to promote awareness of non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) as a new strategy to increase energy expenditure, and to manage obesity.

[Methods]

The content of this review is based on a literature search of PubMed and the Google Scholar search engine, using the search terms obesity, energy expenditure, non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and sitting disease.

[Results]

Daily energy expenditure is of great interest because most obese individuals have no exercise activity-related thermogenesis (EAT); thus their physical activity-related energy expenditure (PEE) is comprised almost entirely of NEAT. Consequently, NEAT represents the main variable component of daily total energy expenditure (TEE); this varies considerably, both within among individuals. These somewhat unplanned and unstructured low level physical activities are associated with energy expenditure in excess of the resting metabolic rate (RMR). They may therefore have the potential to stimulate greater energy expenditure over time with a higher rate of adherence.

[Conclusion]

In conclusion, NEAT is a highly variable component of daily TEE and a low level of NEAT is associated with obesity. NEAT enhances lifestyle, and variations in individual and environmental factors can significantly affect daily energy expenditure. Therefore, well designed longitudinal studies that focus on personal behavioral approaches and re-engineered environments to increase NEAT should be conducted in the future.

Quercetin Upregulates Uncoupling Protein 1 in White/Brown Adipose Tissues through Sympathetic Stimulation

Background

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) plays an important role in increasing energy expenditure; thus, it is being considered as a new target for preventing obesity and metabolic complications. In this study, we investigated the effect of quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, on UCP1 expression in white/brown adipose tissues (WAT/BAT).

Methods

Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with or without dietary quercetin for 9 weeks, and 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with quercetin. Expression of UCP1 and other thermogenic genes/proteins was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and/or Western blotting.

Results

Dietary quercetin supplementation increased the level of UCP1 in both WAT and/or BAT of HFD-fed obese mice, which was accompanied by upregulated mRNA levels of thermogenesis-related genes. Quercetin supplementation enhanced the plasma norepinephrine level and tended to upregulate β-adrenergic receptor mRNA level in the WAT of HFD-fed obese mice, accompanied by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Moreover, quercetin enhanced UCP1 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and this was blunted by treatment with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) antagonist.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that quercetin upregulates UCP1, implying increased WAT browning and BAT activity, via activation of the AMPK/PPARγ pathway through sympathetic stimulation. Quercetin may be useful for preventing obesity and metabolic complications.

Defining the Optimal Dietary Approach for Safe, Effective and Sustainable Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults

Various dietary approaches with different caloric content and macronutrient composition have been recommended to treat obesity in adults. Although their safety and efficacy profile has been assessed in numerous randomized clinical trials, reviews and meta-analyses, the characteristics of the optimal dietary weight loss strategy remain controversial. This mini-review will provide general principles and practical recommendations for the dietary management of obesity and will further explore the components of the optimal dietary intervention. To this end, various dietary plans are critically discussed, including low-fat diets, low-carbohydrate diets, high-protein diets, very low-calorie diets with meal replacements, Mediterranean diet, and diets with intermittent energy restriction. As a general principle, the optimal diet to treat obesity should be safe, efficacious, healthy and nutritionally adequate, culturally acceptable and economically affordable, and should ensure long-term compliance and maintenance of weight loss. Setting realistic goals for weight loss and pursuing a balanced dietary plan tailored to individual needs, preferences, and medical conditions, are the key principles to facilitate weight loss in obese patients and most importantly reduce their overall cardiometabolic risk and other obesity-related comorbidities.

Adipokines, adiposity, and bone marrow adipocytes: Dangerous accomplices in multiple myeloma

Obesity has become a global epidemic influencing the establishment and progression of a wide range of diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In 2016, International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that obesity is now associated with 13 different cancers, one of which is multiple myeloma (MM), a destructive cancer of plasma cells that predominantly reside in the bone marrow. Obesity is the accumulation of excess body fat, which causes metabolic, endocrine, immunologic, and inflammatory-like changes. Obesity is usually associated with an increase in visceral and/or subcutaneous fat; however, an additional fat depot that also responds to diet-induced changes is bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). There have been several studies over the past few decades that have identified BMAT as a key driver in MM progression. Adipocytes secrete numerous adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, adipsin, and visfatin, which when secreted at normal controlled levels have protective properties. However, in obesity these levels of secretion change, coupled with an increase in adipocyte number and size causing a profound and lasting effect on the bone microenvironment, contributing to MM cell growth, survival, and migration as well as potentially fueling bone destruction. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor making it an attractive option for targeted therapy. This review discusses the link between obesity, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (a benign condition that precedes MM), and myeloma, and the contribution of key adipokines to disease establishment and progression.

Combined Effects of Physical Activity and Obesity on Cognitive Function: Independent, Overlapping, Moderator, and Mediator Models

This article reviews studies on physical activity, obesity, and cognition to explore how physical activity and obesity may work independently or together in affecting cognitive function. In particular, we propose six hypotheses derived from four conceptual models to advance our understanding of the combined effects of physical activity and obesity on cognition. The four conceptual models are distinguished by the presumed temporal relationship and the presumed correlation between physical activity and obesity and include an independent model, an overlapping model, a moderator model, and a mediator model. Among the 16 studies testing the effects of physical activity and obesity on cognition in a combined approach, the moderator model, viewing either physical activity or obesity as the potential moderator, was most frequently examined (n = 10), mediator (n = 3) and independent (n = 2) models received relatively less attention, and only a single study used an overlapping model. Results were mixed when considering the moderator, independent, and mediator models. The single study that took an overlapping model approach found support for the model hypothesis. One relevant observation from this review is that the variance within the small extant literature with respect to the choice of conceptual model limits our ability to make assertive conclusions relative to the relations among the examined variables. Given the logic supporting a combined effect of physical activity and obesity on cognition, researchers are encouraged to consider the possible models of the relationship as they design studies to further address this research question.

Exacting Responses: Lack of Endocrine Cephalic Phase Responses Upon Oro-Sensory Exposure

Oro-sensory exposure (OSE) to food plays an important role in the regulation of food intake. One proposed underlying mechanism is the occurrence of cephalic phase responses (CPRs). CPRs include the pre-digestive endocrine responses induced by food-related sensory input. Yet, whether OSE duration or sweetness intensity affects CPRs is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the independent and interactive effects of oro-sensory duration (chewing) and stimulation intensity (sweetness) on endocrine CPRs and satiation. Eighteen males (22 ± 2 years, BMI 22 ± 2 kg/m2) participated in a 2 × 2 randomized study with a control condition. Each session participants performed modified sham feeding (MSF) with one of the four gel-based model foods. During the control session no MSF was performed. Model foods differed in chewing duration (hard or soft texture) and sweetness (low or high intensity). During each session, eight blood samples were collected up till 25 min after MSF onset. Subsequently, food intake from an ad libitum lunch was measured. No typical CPR was found for insulin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and ghrelin. However, the overall PP response was 1.1 times greater for the hard sweet MSF condition compared to control (p = 0.02). Overall ghrelin responses were 1.1 times greater for the hard model food compared to the soft model food conditions (p = 0.003). These differences in endocrine response were not associated with differences in food intake at the subsequent meal. Exploratory sub-analysis of the responsive insulin curves showed that after 2.5 min of MSF the hard texture model foods insulin concentrations were 1.2 greater compared to the soft texture. These findings indicate that texture hardness and sweetness increase the overall PP response and that MSF on hard texture increases the overall ghrelin response compared to soft texture model foods. However, MSF on model foods does not lead to a typical CPR. This study, among others, shows that there are major dissimilarities in the endocrine responses to food stimulation between individuals. This emphasizes the importance of considering cephalic responders and non-responders. More research is needed to understand CPRs in relation to food texture and taste properties.

The independent associations of protein consumption with body fat and glycaemic control in adult Chinese

PURPOSE

High-protein diets were popular in weight control. However, the role of protein intake in adiposity and related metabolic conditions among general populations is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the associations of protein intake with adiposity and glycaemic control among adult Chinese in a nationwide population-based survey.

METHODS

The data were from China Health and Nutrition Survey 2009. A total of 9360 men and women aged 18 years or older were included. Body fat percentage was calculated using validated Chinese-specific equations. Dietary intake levels of macronutrients were evaluated by food-weighing approach combined with a 3-day food intake recall.

RESULTS

Averagely, our participants have 12.5% energy intake from dietary protein. With multivariate adjustment including total energy intake, the odds ratios (95% CIs) of excessive adiposity (body fat percentage ≥ 20/30% for men/women), and central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 90/80 cm for men/women) were 1.51 (1.30, 1.75) and 1.40 (1.21, 1.62), respectively, comparing extreme quintiles of relative protein intake, while fat and carbohydrate were not associated with adiposity indices. Moreover, higher relative protein intake was associated with elevated concentration of fasting glucose (β ± SE: 1.233 ± 0.583), fasting insulin (23.211 ± 9.191), glycated hemoglobin (1.057 ± 0.369), and insulin resistance indicated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (7.558 ± 2.928) (all P < 0.05). Further adjusting for body mass index attenuated the associations.

CONCLUSION

In Chinese adults, higher habitual protein consumption may be associated with higher adiposity and worse glycaemic control, independent of total energy intake.

Physical activity protects NLRP3 inflammasome-associated coronary vascular dysfunction in obese mice

Activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome mediates the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β and thereby plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory response in vascular pathology. An active lifestyle has beneficial effects on inflammation-associated vascular dysfunction in obesity. However, it remains unclear how physical activity regulates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated vascular dysfunction in obesity. Therefore, we explored the protective effect of physical activity on NLRP3 inflammasome-associated vascular dysfunction in mouse hearts, and the potential underlying mechanisms. C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) control low-fat diet (LF-SED), (2) LF diet with free access to a voluntary running wheel (LF-RUN), (3) high-fat diet (HF-SED; 45% of calories from fat), and (4) HF-RUN. We examined NLRP3 inflammasome-related signaling pathways, nitric oxide (NO) signaling, and oxidative stress in coronary arterioles to test effects of HFD and physical activity. Voluntary running reduced NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream effects, caspase-1 and IL-1β in coronary arteriole endothelium of obese mice in immunofluorescence staining. HF-RUN attenuated HFD-dependent endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) reduction and thus increased NO production compared to HF-SED. HFD elevated intracellular superoxide production in coronary arterioles while voluntary running ameliorated oxidative stress. Our findings provide the first evidence that voluntary running attenuates endothelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation in coronary arterioles of HFD feeding mice. Results further suggest that voluntary running improves obesity-induced vascular dysfunction by preserved NO bioavailability via restored expression of eNOS and reduced oxidative stress.

Reported Influences on Restaurant-Type Food Selection Decision Making in a Grocery Store Chain

OBJECTIVE

To examine food decision-making priorities for restaurant-type foods at grocery stores and determine whether adding calorie information, as required by federal menu labeling laws, affected decision-making priorities.

DESIGN

Natural experiment: intervention and control groups with baseline and follow-up.

SETTING

Regional grocery store chain with 9 locations.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (n = 393; mean age, 54.8 ± 15.1 years) were primarily women (71%) and Caucasian (95%).

INTERVENTION

Data were collected before and after calorie information was added to restaurant-type foods at 4 intervention locations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Primary influencers of food selection decision making for restaurant-type foods and frequency of use of nutrition information.

ANALYSIS

Quantitative analysis examined the top 3 influencers of food selections and chi-square goodness of fit test determined whether the calorie labeling intervention changed food decision-making priorities. Qualitative data were used to describe responses.

RESULTS

Taste, cost, and convenience were the most frequently reported influencers of restaurant-type food selections; 20% of participants rated calories as influential. Calorie labeling did not affect food selection decision making; 16% of participants in intervention stores noticed calorie labels. Qualitative explanations confirmed these findings.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Menu labeling laws increase access to calorie information; however, use of this information is limited. Additional interventions are needed to encourage healthier restaurant-type food selections in grocery stores.

Roles of Sedentary Behaviors and Unhealthy Foods in Increasing the Obesity Risk in Adult Men and Women: A Cross-Sectional National Study

Sedentary behaviors and dietary intake are independently associated with obesity risk. In the literature, only a few studies have investigated gender differences for such associations. The present study aims to assess the association of sedentary behaviors and unhealthy foods intake with obesity in men and women in a comparative manner. The analysis presented in this study was based on the data from a population-based, cross-sectional, nationally representative survey (Indonesian Basic Health Research 2013/RISKESDAS 2013). In total, 222,650 men and 248,590 women aged 19–55 years were enrolled. A validated questionnaire, physical activity card, and food card were used for the assessments. The results showed that the prevalence of obesity (body mass index of ≥27.5 kg/m²) was higher in women (18.71%) than in men (8.67%). The mean body mass index in women tended to be higher than in men. After adjusting for age and education, the gender effect on obesity persisted in women and was more significant than in men. There was also a positive and significant effect on obesity of sedentary behaviors and unhealthy foods intake. Moreover, fatty and fried foods displayed a positive multiplicative interaction, increasing obesity risk in women more than in men and indicating a possible dietary risk in in women in relation to obesity. The study suggests that the implementation of educational programs on nutrition and physical activity is particularly important for promoting a healthy body weight among Indonesian women.

MacroH2A1.1 cooperates with EZH2 to promote adipogenesis by regulating Wnt signaling

White adipocytes play important roles in many physiological processes, including energy storage, endocrine signaling, and inflammatory responses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of adipocyte formation (adipogenesis) provides insights into therapeutic approaches against obesity and its related diseases. Many transcriptional factors and epigenetic enzymes are known to regulate adipogenesis; however, whether histone variants play a role in this process is unknown. Here we found that macroH2A1.1 (mH2A1.1), a variant of histone H2A, was upregulated during adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and in the white adipose tissue of obese mice. Ablation of mH2A1.1 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, while overexpression of mH2A1.1 showed opposite effects. We further found that mH2A1.1 regulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by cooperating with EZH2, a histone H3K27 methyltransferase, thus led to accumulation of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 on the promoters of Wnt genes. Mutations in the macro-domain, mH2A1.1G224E, and mH2A1.1G314E, not only impaired adipogenesis, but also impaired the binding ability of mH2A1.1 to EZH2 and the enrichments of H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 on the promoters of Wnt genes. Together, our study reveals a novel regulatory role of mH2A1.1 in adipogenesis and obesity, which provides new insights in white fat development.

Prevention of overweight and obesity in early life

Childhood obesity is a serious challenge for public health. The problem begins early with most excess childhood weight gained before starting school. In 2016, the WHO estimated that 41 million children under 5 were overweight or obese. Once established, obesity is difficult to reverse, likely to persist into adult life and is associated with increased risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Preventing obesity is therefore of high importance. However, its development is multi-factorial and prevention is a complex challenge. Modifiable lifestyle behaviours such as diet and physical activity are the most well-known determinants of obesity. More recently, early-life factors have emerged as key influencers of obesity in childhood. Understanding risk factors and how they interact is important to inform interventions that aim to prevent obesity in early childhood. Available evidence supports multi-component interventions as effective in obesity prevention. However, relatively few interventions are available in the UK and only one, TrimTots, has been evaluated in randomised controlled trials and shown to be effective at reducing obesity risk in preschool children (age 1-5 years). BMI was lower in children immediately after completing TrimTots compared with waiting list controls and this effect was sustained at long-term follow-up, 2 years after completion. Developing and evaluating complex interventions for obesity prevention is a challenge for clinicians and researchers. In addition, parents encounter barriers engaging with interventions. This review considers early-life risk factors for obesity, highlights evidence for preventative interventions and discusses barriers and facilitators to their success.

Children's screen time alters the expression of saliva extracellular miR-222 and miR-146a

An imbalance between energy uptake and energy expenditure is the most important reason for increasing trends in obesity starting from early in life. Extracellular miRNAs are expressed in all bodily fluids and their expression is influenced by a broad range of stimuli. We examined whether screen time, physical activity and BMI are associated with children’s salivary extracellular miR-222 and miR-146a expression. In 80 children the extracellular fraction of saliva was obtained by means of differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. Expression levels of miR-222 and miR-146a were profiled by qPCR. We studied the association between children’s salivary extracellular miRNA expression and screen time, physical activity and BMI using mixed models, while accounting for potential confounders. We found that higher screen time was positively associated with salivary extracellular miR-222 and miR-146a levels. On average, one hour more screen time use per week was associated with a 3.44% higher miR-222 (95% CI: 1.34 to 5.58; p = 0.002) and 1.84% higher miR-146a (95% CI: −0.04 to 3.75; p = 0.055) level in saliva. BMI and physical activity of the child were not significantly associated with either miR-222 or miR-146a. A sedentary behaviour, represented by screen time use in children, is associated with discernible changes in salivary expression of miR-146a and or miR-222. These miRNA targets may emerge attractive candidates to explore the role of these exposures in developmental processes of children’s health.

The Mediating Role of Overweight and Obesity in the Prospective Association between Overall Dietary Quality and Healthy Aging

BACKGROUND

Our objective was to quantify to what extent the association between adherence to the French nutritional recommendations at midlife, measured by the Programme National Nutrition Santé-Guideline Score (PNNS-GS), and healthy aging (HA) is mediated by body mass index (BMI) status.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 2249 participants of the French 'Supplementation with Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants' (SU.VI.MAX-'SUpplémentation en VItamines et Minéraux AntioXydants') cohort. At baseline (1994⁻1995), data on BMI status (<25 vs. ≥25 and <30 vs. ≥30) and diet were collected. At follow-up (2007⁻2009), HA status (yes/no) was evaluated via a multidimensional concept focusing on chronic disease incidence, physical and cognitive functioning, mental and social health, pain, and perceived health. Relative risks (RR) were estimated by extensively adjusted robust-error-variance Poisson regression, and counterfactual-based mediation analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Our HA criteria were met by 39% of participants. We identified a positive direct relation of a greater adherence to the French nutritional recommendations, with the probability of HA (RR_Quartile ₄ _vsquartile ₁ = 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13, 1.53)), and an indirect relation mediated by BMI status (1.01 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.02)), accounting for 5% of the total relation.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that high dietary quality may contribute to the preservation of overall health during aging, partly via obesity prevention and partly via other mechanisms.

MOSH Syndrome (Male Obesity Secondary Hypogonadism): Clinical Assessment and Possible Therapeutic Approaches

Male obesity secondary hypogonadism (MOSH) impairs fertility, sexual function, bone mineralization, fat metabolism, cognitive function, deteriorates muscle mass and alters body composition. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of dietary intervention and physical activity on the MOSH patient’s hormonal profile after a 10% weight loss compared to baseline. Fourteen male patients were enrolled. Hormonal, lipid, glycemic profiles and body composition were determined at baseline and after a 10% weight loss. Aging Male Symptoms Scale (AMS) and Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) were administered to patients in order to investigate hypogonadal symptoms and food addiction. Compared to baseline, a significant increase of Total Testosterone (TT) (300.2 ± 79.5 ng/dL vs. 408.3 ± 125.9 ng/dL, p = 0.002, 95% CI 26.8; 167.7) and a reduction of 17-Beta Estradiol level (48.3 ± 14.9 pg/mL vs. 39.2 ± 15.2 pg/mL, p = 0.049, 95% CI 3.1; 0.0) were observed. Total Fat Mass (FM) percentage, android and gynoid fat mass percentage (39.2 ± 6.4% vs. 36.2 ± 5.8%, p = 0.0001, 95% CI 22.5; 62.3; 51.5 ± 6.8% vs. 47.6 ± 6.8%, p = 0.001, 95% CI 0.6; 1.8, vs. 39.2 ± 6.2% vs. 36.5 ± 6.3% p = 0.0001, 95% CI 0.9; 2.0 respectively) were significantly decreased after nutritional intervention. In addition, total Fat Free Mass (FFM) in kg was significantly reduced after 10% weight loss (62.3 ± 2.8 kg vs. 60.3 ± 7.7 kg, p = 0.002, 95% CI 45.0; 93.0). Lifestyle changes, specifically dietotherapy and physical activity, induce positive effects on hypogonadism due to obesity.

The Coaching on Lifestyle (CooL) Intervention for Overweight and Obesity: A Longitudinal Study into Participants' Lifestyle Changes

Combined lifestyle interventions (CLIs) can be effective in reducing weight and improving lifestyle-related behaviours but it is unclear how CLIs can best be implemented in practice in order to achieve sustained lifestyle changes. The Coaching on Lifestyle programme (CooL) is a CLI in the Netherlands, in which professional lifestyle coaches counsel adults and children (and/or their parents) who are obese or at high risk of obesity to achieve a sustained healthier lifestyle. The CooL intervention consists of group and individual sessions addressing the topics of physical activity, dietary behaviours, sleep and stress. Our longitudinal one-group pre-post study aimed to identify lifestyle changes among participants (adults, children and their parents) at 8 and 18 months after initiation. We assessed constructs ranging from motivation and behaviour-specific cognitions to behaviours and health outcomes. Positive and sustained changes among adults were found regarding perceived autonomy, motivation, perceived barriers, lifestyle behaviours, quality of life and weight. Among children and their parents, few improvements were found regarding behaviours and quality of life. CooL has been successful in coaching adult participants towards sustained behavioural change during the intervention period. Mixed results and smaller effect sizes were found for children and their parents.

Ovarian hormones mediate running-induced changes in high fat diet choice patterns in female rats

Physical inactivity and increased consumption of energy dense, high fat (HF) foods often leads to a state of positive energy balance. Regular exercise can facilitate the maintenance of a healthy body weight and mediate changes in dietary selection. Past studies using a two-diet choice (chow vs. HF) and voluntary wheel running paradigm found that when a novel HF diet and wheel running are simultaneously introduced, male rats show complete and persistent HF diet avoidance whereas the majority of females show HF diet avoidance for a few days, but then revert to HF diet preference. Ovariectomy (OVX) appears to decrease preference for the HF diet bringing it closer to that of males. Given that estradiol but not progesterone mediates changes in food intake and energy balance, we hypothesized that estradiol signaling is required for the reversal of HF diet avoidance in female rats. Accordingly, Experiment 1 compared the persistency of running-induced HF diet avoidance in males, sham-operated females, and OVX rats with replacement of oil vehicle, estradiol benzoate (E), progesterone (P), or both (E + P). The number of wheel running rats that either avoided or preferred the HF diet varied with hormone treatment. The reversal of HF diet avoidance in running females and OVX E + P rats occurred more rapidly and frequently than male running rats. E + P but not E or P replaced OVX wheel running rats significantly reversed HF diet avoidance. OVX oil rats avoided HF diet to the same extent as male rats for the first 11 days of diet choice and then rapidly increased HF diet intake and began preferring it. This incomplete elimination of sex differences suggests that developmental factors or androgens might play a role in sustaining running-induced HF diet avoidance. Subsequently, Experiment 2 aimed to determine the role of androgens in the persistency of running-associated HF diet avoidance with sham-operated and orchiectomized (GDX) male rats. Both intact and GDX male running rats persistently avoided the HF diet to the same extent. Taken together, these results suggest that activational effects of ovarian hormones play a role in female specific running-induced changes in diet choice patterns. Furthermore, the activational effects of androgens are not required for the expression of HF diet avoidance in males.

Does basal metabolic rate drive eating rate?

There have been recent advances in our understanding of the drivers of energy intake (EI). However, the biological drivers of differences in eating rate (ER) remain less clear. Studies have reported that the fat-free mass (FFM) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) are both major components that contribute to daily energy expenditure (EE) and drive EI. More recently, a number of observations report that higher ER can lead to greater EI. The current study proposed that adults with a higher BMR and higher energy requirements would also exhibit higher ERs. Data on BMR, FFM, and ER were collected from 272 Chinese adults (91 males and 181 females) in a cross-sectional study. Analysis showed significant positive associations between BMR and ER (r_s = 0.405, p < 0.001), and between FFM and ER (r_s = 0.459, p < 0.001). BMR explained about 15% of the variation in ER which was taken to be metabolically significant. This association provides metabolic explanation that the differences in an individual's BMR (hence energy requirements) may be correlated with ERs. This merits further research.

Kernel machine SNP set analysis provides new insight into the association between obesity and polymorphisms located on the chromosomal 16q.12.2 region: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a serious health problem that leads to low quality of life and early mortality. To the purpose of prevention and gene therapy for such a worldwide disease, genome wide association study is a powerful tool for finding SNPs associated with increased risk of obesity. To conduct an association analysis, kernel machine regression is a generalized regression method, has an advantage of considering the epistasis effects as well as the correlation between individuals due to unknown factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, information of the people who participated in Tehran cardio-metabolic genetic study was used. They were genotyped for the chromosomal region, evaluation 986 variations located at 16q12.2; build 38hg. Kernel machine regression and single SNP analysis were used to assess the association between obesity and SNPs genotyped data.

RESULTS

We found that associated SNP sets with obesity, were almost in the FTO (P = 0.01), AIKTIP (P = 0.02) and MMP2 (P = 0.02) genes. Moreover, two SNPs, i.e., rs10521296 and rs11647470, showed significant association with obesity using kernel regression (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, significant sets were randomly distributed throughout the region with more density around the FTO, AIKTIP and MMP2 genes. Furthermore, two intergenic SNPs showed significant association after using kernel machine regression. Therefore, more studies have to be conducted to assess their functionality or precise mechanism.

Hypolipidemic, antioxidant and antiatherogenic property of sardine by-products proteins in high-fat diet induced obese rats

AIMS

Fish by-products valorization on account of their richness in bioactive compounds may represent a better alternative to marine products with a view to economic profitability and sustainable development. In this study, we compared the effect of sardine by-product proteins (SBy-P), with those of the fillets (SF-P) or casein (Cas), on growth parameters, serum leptin level, lipids disorders, lipid peroxidation and reverse cholesterol transport, in diet-induced obese rats.

MAIN METHODS

Obesity was induced by feeding rats a high-fat diet (20% sheep fat), during 12 weeks. At body weight (BW) of 400 ± 20 g, eighteen obese rats were divided into three homogenous groups and continue to consume the high-fat diet for 4 weeks containing either, 20% SBy-P, SF-P or Cas.

KEY FINDINGS

The results showed that SBy-P, compared to SF-P and Cas, efficiently reduced food intake (FI), BW gain and serum leptin level, and improved blood lipids levels and reverse cholesterol transport by reducing total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-HDL₁-C) serum levels, increasing the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL₂-C and HDL₃-C), and enhancing lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity. Furthermore, they attenuated lipid peroxidation by increasing atheroprotective activity of the paraoxonase-1 (PON-1).

SIGNIFICANCE

Sardine by-product proteins due to their richness in certain essential amino acids, highlight weight-loss, lipid-lowering, antioxidant and anti-atherogenic potentials, contributing to the improvement of the complications associated with obesity.

Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviors of children in Mauritius

The purpose of the study was to explore the dietary intake, fruit, vegetable and energy intake and lifestyle behaviors among Mauritian children. A validated questionnaire was used, assessing dietary intake, mean energy intake, mean body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviors as well as nutritional knowledge (NK) among males and females. 336 children aged 6–12 years (165 males and 171 females) from 8 public primary schools were recruited. Statistical analyses revealed that children consumed less nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains and more of refined and calorie-laden foods, with no significant differences across genders. Mean energy intake of children was 1522 ± 282.4 kcal per day while mean BMI was 17.5 ± 4.03 kg/m². Majority of children had a low-to-moderate physical activity level (PAL), with males being more active than females on average (P = 0.021). 88.7% of children watched TV for more than an hour daily, with 84.8% of them reporting to be eating during the process. Females were more likely to be breakfast skippers (P = 0.003). Maximum frequency of snacking was twice daily (72.7%) while consumption of fast food was once or twice weekly (44.0%). Results indicate the need for intervention with aim of improving the dietary and life quality of children in Mauritius.

Animal models of obesity and diabetes mellitus

More than one-third of the worldwide population is overweight or obese and therefore at risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. In order to mitigate this pandemic, safer and more potent therapeutics are urgently required. This necessitates the continued use of animal models to discover, validate and optimize novel therapeutics for their safe use in humans. In order to improve the transition from bench to bedside, researchers must not only carefully select the appropriate model but also draw the right conclusions. In this Review, we consolidate the key information on the currently available animal models of obesity and diabetes and highlight the advantages, limitations and important caveats of each of these models.

Soluble dietary fiber improves energy homeostasis in obese mice by remodeling the gut microbiota

Intervention with dietary fibers is an important strategy to combat the global epidemic of obesity which is a consequence of energy imbalance. However, a possible role of the gut microbiota in effects of dietary fibers on energy homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we treated a high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model with soluble dietary fiber. Our results showed that soluble dietary fiber reduced body weight gain and the excessive accumulation of white fat tissue in DIO mice. Notably, soluble dietary fiber increased energy expenditure, but not change energy intake in DIO mice. In accordance, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the diversity of the gut microbiota was restored by soluble dietary fiber. Moreover, compared with controls, soluble dietary fiber resulted in a decreased ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes at the phylum level, and an increased relative abundance of the genera Roseburia at the genus level. Taken together, these findings indicate that soluble dietary fiber improves energy homeostasis and prevents obesity by increasing the diversity of the gut microbiota and the colonization of beneficial bacteria.

A scoping review protocol to map the evidence on interventions to prevent overweight and obesity in children

INTRODUCTION

Obesity has become one of the biggest public health problems of the 21st century. Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has increased dramatically worldwide over the last 20 years, and this trend is expected to continue. Obesity in childhood is concerning as it predicts obesity in adulthood, a common risk factor for a wide array of chronic diseases and poor health outcomes. Obesity is preventable and a vast but fragmented body of evidence on preventative interventions is now available. This article outlines the protocol for a scoping review of published literature reviews on interventions to prevent obesity in children. The scoping review addresses the broad research question 'What is the evidence on interventions to prevent childhood obesity?'. It aims to give an overview of the various interventions available, understand those which are effective and identify barriers and facilitators to their effectiveness.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The six-staged Arksey and O'Malley methodology framework is used to guide the scoping review process: following the definition of the research questions (stage 1); the eligibility criteria and search strategy are defined (stage 2); the study selection process based on the eligibility criteria identified will follow (stage 3); a framework developed for this review will then inform the extraction and charting of data from the included reviews (stage 4); results will be aggregated and summarised with criteria relevant for health professionals and policy-makers (stage 5); and the optional consultation (stage 6) exercise is not planned.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Since the scoping review methodology aims at synthetising information from available publications, this study does not require ethical approval. An article reporting the results of the scoping review will be submitted for publication to a scientific journal, presented at relevant conferences and disseminated as part of future workshops with professionals involved in obesity prevention.

TBK1 at the Crossroads of Inflammation and Energy Homeostasis in Adipose Tissue

The noncanonical IKK family member TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, but its role in controlling metabolism remains unclear. Here, we report that the kinase uniquely controls energy metabolism. Tbk1 expression is increased in adipocytes of HFD-fed mice. Adipocyte-specific TBK1 knockout (ATKO) attenuates HFD-induced obesity by increasing energy expenditure; further studies show that TBK1 directly inhibits AMPK to repress respiration and increase energy storage. Conversely, activation of AMPK under catabolic conditions can increase TBK1 activity through phosphorylation, mediated by AMPK's downstream target ULK1. Surprisingly, ATKO also exaggerates adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. TBK1 suppresses inflammation by phosphorylating and inducing the degradation of the IKK kinase NIK, thus attenuating NF-κB activity. Moreover, TBK1 mediates the negative impact of AMPK activity on NF-κB activation. These data implicate a unique role for TBK1 in mediating bidirectional crosstalk between energy sensing and inflammatory signaling pathways in both over- and undernutrition.

Intermittent fasting, energy balance and associated health outcomes in adults: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background

Prior studies have shown that intermittent fasting is capable of producing improvements in body weight and fasted health markers. However, the extent to which intermittent fasting incurs compensatory changes in the components of energy balance and its impact on postprandial metabolism are yet to be ascertained.

Methods

A total of 30–36 lean participants and 30–36 overweight/obese participants will be recruited to provide two separate study groups who will undergo the same protocol. Following an initial assessment of basic anthropometry and key health markers, measurements of habitual energy intake (weighed food and fluid intake) and physical activity energy expenditure (combined heart rate and accelerometry) will be obtained over 4 weeks under conditions of energy balance. Participants will then be randomly allocated to one of three experimental conditions for 20 days, namely (1) daily calorie restriction (reduce habitual daily energy intake by 25%), (2) intermittent fasting with calorie restriction (alternate between 24-hour periods of fasting and feeding to 150% of habitual daily energy intake), (3) intermittent fasting without calorie restriction (alternate between 24-hour periods of fasting and feeding to 200% of habitual daily energy intake). In addition to continued monitoring of energy intake and physical activity during the intervention, participants will report for laboratory-based assessments of various metabolic parameters both before and after the intervention. Specifically, fasting and postprandial measurements of resting metabolic rate, substrate oxidation, appetite, food preference, and plasma concentrations of key metabolites and hormones will be made, in addition to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue biopsies in the fasted state and an assessment of body composition via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Discussion

Comparing observed changes in these measures across the three intervention arms in each group will establish the impact of intermittent fasting on postprandial metabolism and the components of energy balance in both lean and overweight/obese populations. Furthermore, this will be benchmarked against current nutritional interventions for weight management and the relative contributions of negative energy balance and fasting-dependent mechanisms in inducing any observed effects will be elucidated.

Trial registration

Trial retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov under reference number NCT02498002 (version: IMF-02, date: July 6, 2015).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2451-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Intracutaneous delivery of gelatins induces lipolysis and suppresses lipogenesis of adipocytes

Due to growing interest in cosmetics and medical applications, therapeutic medications that reduce the amount of local subcutaneous adipose tissue have potential for obesity treatment. However, conventional methods such as surgical operation are restricted due to risk of complications. Here, we report a simple and effective method for local reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) by using microneedle-assisted transdermal delivery of natural polymers. After in vitro screening tests, gelatin was selected as a therapeutic polymer to reduce accumulation of AT. An in vitro study showed that the level of released glycerol as an indicator of lipolysis was elevated in isolated adipocytes after gelatin treatment. In addition, gelatins suppressed expression levels of lipogenesis-associated genes. Following application of gelatin microneedle (GMN) patches to high-fat diet (HD)-induced obese rats, the amount of subcutaneous AT at the site of GMN application was significantly reduced, which was also confirmed by histological analysis and micro-computed tomography scanning. In addition, lipogenesis-associated genes were down-regulated in GMN-treated subcutaneous AT. These findings suggest that GMN patches induce lipolysis and simultaneously inhibit lipogenesis, thereby reducing deposition of subcutaneous AT. This platform using GMNs may provide a new strategy to treat excess subcutaneous AT with minimal complications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: (1) Significance This work reports a new approach for the local reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue using a dissolving microneedle patch prepared using gelatin to enable suppression of lipogenesis and acceleration of lipolysis in adipocytes. The gelatin microneedle patch exhibited a significant reduction of local subcutaneous fat up to 60% compared to control groups without any change in total weight. (2) Scientific impact This is the first report demonstrating the direct anti-obesity effects of gelatin administrated in a transdermal route and the feasibility of natural polymer therapeutics for regional reduction of subcutaneous fat. We believe that our work will excite interdisciplinary readers of Acta Biomaterialia, those who are interested in the natural polymers, drug delivery, and obesity.

Gene-by-Activity Interactions on Obesity Traits of 6-Year-Old New Zealand European Children: A Children of SCOPE Study

PURPOSE

The decline of physical activity in children is considered an important determinant to explain the rising rates of obesity. However, this risk may be augmented in children who are genetically susceptible to increased weight gain. We hypothesized that a sedentary lifestyle and moderate activity will interact with genetic loci, resulting in differential effects in relation to obesity risk.

METHODS

We recruited 643 European children born to participants in the New Zealand-based Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study. Seventy gene variants were evaluated by the Sequenom assay. Interaction analyses were performed between the genetic variants and the activity type derived from actigraphy, in relation to percentage body fat.

RESULTS

We found a statistically significant association between increased proportions of sedentary activity with increased percentage body fat scores (P = .012). The OLFM4-9568856 (P = .01) and GNPDA2-rs10938397 (P = .044) gene variants showed genotype differences with proportions of sedentary activity. Similarly, the OLFM4-9568856 (P = .021), CLOCK-rs4864548 (P = .029), and LEPR-1045895 (P = .047) showed genotype differences with proportions of moderate activity. We found evidence for unadjusted gene-by-activity interactions of SPACA3/SPRASA-rs16967845, PFKP-rs6602024, and SH2B1-rs7498665 on percentage body fat scores.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate a differential effect of physical activity in relation to obesity risk, suggesting that children genetically predisposed to increased weight gain may benefit from higher levels of moderate activity.

Adipocyte-specific expression of C-type natriuretic peptide suppresses lipid metabolism and adipocyte hypertrophy in adipose tissues in mice fed high-fat diet

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is expressed in diverse tissues, including adipose and endothelium, and exerts its effects by binding to and activating its receptor, guanylyl cyclase B. Natriuretic peptides regulate intracellular cGMP and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP). We recently revealed that overexpression of CNP in endothelial cells protects against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. Given that endothelial CNP affects adipose tissue during obesity, CNP in adipocytes might directly regulate adipocyte function during obesity. Therefore, to elucidate the effect of CNP in adipocytes, we assessed 3T3-L1 adipocytes and transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpressed CNP specifically in adipocytes (A-CNP). We found that CNP activates the cGMP–VASP pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Compared with Wt mice, A-CNP Tg mice showed decreases in fat weight and adipocyte hypertrophy and increases in fatty acid β-oxidation, lipolysis-related gene expression, and energy expenditure during HFD-induced obesity. These effects led to decreased levels of the macrophage marker F4/80 in the mesenteric fat pad and reduced inflammation. Furthermore, A-CNP Tg mice showed improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which were associated with enhanced insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. Our results suggest that CNP overexpression in adipocytes protects against adipocyte hypertrophy, excess lipid metabolism, inflammation, and decreased insulin sensitivity during HFD-induced obesity.

Autophagy Dysregulation and Obesity-Associated Pathologies

Autophagy is one of the major degradative mechanisms that can eliminate excessive nutrients, toxic protein aggregates, damaged organelles and invading microorganisms. In response to obesity and obesity-associated lipotoxic, proteotoxic and oxidative stresses, autophagy plays an essential role in maintaining physiological homeostasis. However, obesity and its associated stress insults can often interfere with the autophagic process through various mechanisms, which result in further aggravation of obesity-related metabolic pathologies in multiple metabolic organs. Paradoxically, inhibition of autophagy, within specific contexts, indirectly produces beneficial effects that can alleviate several detrimental consequences of obesity. In this minireview, we will provide a brief discussion about our current understanding of the impact of obesity on autophagy and the role of autophagy dysregulation in modulating obesity-associated pathological outcomes.

The GReat-Child™ Trial: A Quasi-Experimental Intervention on Whole Grains with Healthy Balanced Diet to Manage Childhood Obesity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Background: The GReat-Child Trial was a quasi-experimental intervention that has emphasized whole grain as a strategy to manage childhood obesity. Methods: Two schools in Kuala Lumpur with similar demographic characteristics were assigned as intervention (IG) and control (CG). Eligibility criteria were overweight/obese children aged 9 to 11 years who had no serious co-morbidity. Children who reported consuming wholegrain foods in their 3-day diet-recall during screening were excluded. A total of 63 children (31 IG; 32 CG) completed the entire intervention program. The IG children underwent six 30-min nutrition education lessons and had school delivery of wholegrain food on a daily basis over a 12-week period. Parents of IG children attended 1-h individual diet counseling. Anthropometric outcomes including BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ), body fat percentage and waist circumference were measured at baseline [T0], post-intervention [T1] (3rd month) and follow-up [T2] (9th month). Results: IG showed significantly lower BAZ (weighted difference: -0.12; 95% CI: -0.21, -0.03; p = 0.009), body fat percentage (weighted difference: -2.6%; 95% CI: -3.7, -1.5; p < 0.001) and waist circumference (weighted difference: -2.4 cm; 95% CI: -3.8, -1.0; p = 0.001) compared to CG. IG reported significantly lower body fat percentage (weighted difference: -3.4%; 95% CI: 1.8, 5.0; p < 0.001) and waist circumference (weighted difference: -2.1 cm; 95% CI: -3.7, -0.5; p = 0.014) at T1 compared to T0. Conclusions: The GReat-Child Trial made a positive impact in managing childhood obesity. It can be incorporated into childhood obesity intervention programs that are being implemented by the policy makers.

Rapid increase of overweight and obesity among primary school-aged children in the Caribbean; high initial BMI is the most significant predictor

BACKGROUND

To examine predictors of increasing overweight among children in two developing countries.

METHODS

Primary school children (6-10 y at baseline, n = 336) and their caregivers.Longitudinal data were collected in 2012, with follow-up 18 months later. Data on children's height, weight and dietary intake were collected within 8 primary public schools in Trinidad and 7 schools in St. Kitts. Caregivers' demographic and anthropometric data were also collected.

RESULTS

At baseline, children's age and sex and caregivers' BMI, age, and marital status and reported dietary intake were similar across all weight groups. The incidence of overweight and obesity among children was 8.8% and 8.1%, respectively. Dietary intake at baseline was not related to becoming overweight or obese. Similarly there were no differences in reported intake among children who became overweight or obese except that they consumed fewer fruits (0.54±0.92 vs. 0.98±1.66, p = 0.017). Misreporting of energy intake was higher among overweight/obese children as compared to those who were not overweight/obese (27% vs. 17%, p = 0.047). The baseline predictors of increasing BMI (adjusted) of the children were older age, higher baseline BMI z-score and higher height-for-age (HFA) z-score; caregiver BMI, children's energy intake (with adjustment for misreporting) did not predict changes in children's BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity among children is a serious problem in the Caribbean. Heavier children are at elevated risk of continued rapid increase in their weight status, pointing to the need for early intervention.