Validity of a self-reported measure of familial history of obesity

Maternal Hypertriglyceridemia in Gestational Diabetes: A New Risk Factor?

Elevated maternal triglycerides (TGs) have been associated with excessive fetal growth. However, the role of maternal lipid profile is less studied in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We aimed to study the association between maternal lipid profile in the third trimester and the risk for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns in women with GDM. We performed an observational and retrospective study of pregnant women with GDM who underwent a lipid profile measurement during the third trimester. We applied a logistic regression model to assess predictors of LGA. A total of 100 singleton pregnant women with GDM and third-trimester lipid profile evaluation were included. In the multivariate analysis, pre-pregnancy BMI (OR 1.19 (95% CI 1.03-1.38), p = 0.022) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 7.60 (1.70-34.10), p = 0.008) were independently associated with LGA. Third-trimester hypertriglyceridemia was found to be a predictor of LGA among women with GDM, independently of glycemic control, BMI, and pregnancy weight gain. Further investigation is needed to confirm the role of TGs in excessive fetal growth in GDM pregnancies.

Weight-Teasing and Eating Disorders-A Comparative Study in Adolescent and Adult Samples

Disordered eating, unhealthy weight-control behaviours and body dissatisfaction are associated with diminished mental health. A key aspect that has been identified for the development of disordered eating behaviours and body dissatisfaction is to be teased. Additionally, the literature suggests that weight may affect the relationship between weight-teasing and disordered eating and body dissatisfaction, although this pattern is unclear. This study presents two cross-sectional studies with an adult and an adolescent sample. The adolescent sample comprised 15,224 participants, and the adult sample comprised 321 participants, all from Spain. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Aims: to assess the relations among disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, weight, and weight-teasing among adolescents and adults; and to examine whether weight-teasing, weight, age, and gender predict disordered eating and body dissatisfaction in adults and adolescents. The results showed that adolescent girls presented greater effects, and all interactions were significant between weight-teasing and eating disorders. Adults also showed greater effects for women, and only eating disorder interactions were significant. Weight-control behaviours did not show any relationship with weight-teasing. Conclusion: Different approaches may be used in the prevention of eating disorders. Our results show that weight-teasing affects adults differently from adolescents.

Childhood Poly-victimization Is Associated With Elevated Body Mass Index and Blunted Cortisol Stress Response in College Women

BACKGROUND

Childhood interpersonal violence is linked to obesity and central adiposity in adulthood. Victimization experiences are likely to co-occur within individuals, but few studies have examined poly-victimization in the context of obesity and central adiposity.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between poly-victimization and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) and to explore whether dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, as measured by the cortisol stress response, mediates the relationship.

METHODS

Healthy undergraduate women were recruited for a laboratory study from an online survey that assessed six different childhood victimization experiences: physical abuse, sexual abuse, peer violence, intimate partner violence, community violence, and witnessing violence. Forty-four women were categorized as poly-victims (2-5 types of violence exposures) and 48 were controls (0 types of violence exposures). Salivary cortisol was measured before and after the Trier Social Stress Test. Cortisol stress response was analyzed by the area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCG).

RESULTS

Compared with controls, poly-victims had higher BMI (B = 2.03, p = .04) and lower cortisol AUCG (B = -6.70, p < .01), independent of covariates. Poly-victims showed blunted AUCG in response to the stress task compared with controls, independent of covariates (B = -6.70, p < .01). Bootstrapping tests of mediation showed that cortisol response was not a significant mediator of the relationship between poly-victimization and BMI. Secondary analyses among poly-victims showed that the more frequent the violence exposure the higher the BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood poly-victimization is linked to higher BMI and blunted cortisol responses in young adult women. Assessment of multiple forms of childhood victimization is recommended.

Associations Between Dietary Protein Sources, Plasma BCAA and Short-Chain Acylcarnitine Levels in Adults

Elevated plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and C3 and C5 acylcarnitines (AC) levels observed in individuals with insulin resistance (IR) might be influenced by dietary protein intakes. This study explores the associations between dietary protein sources, plasma BCAA levels and C3 and C5 ACs in normal weight (NW) or overweight (OW) individuals with or without metabolic syndrome (MS). Data from 199 men and women aged 18⁻55 years with complete metabolite profile were analyzed. Associations between metabolic parameters, protein sources, plasma BCAA and AC levels were tested. OW/MS+ consumed significantly more animal protein (p = 0.0388) and had higher plasma BCAA levels (p < 0.0001) than OW/MS- or NW/MS- individuals. Plasma BCAA levels were not associated with BCAA intakes in the whole cohort, while there was a trend for an association between plasma BCAA levels and red meat or with animal protein in OW/MS+. These associations were of weak magnitude. In NW/MS- individuals, the protein sources associated with BCAA levels varied greatly with adjustment for confounders. Plasma C3 and C5 ACs were associated with plasma BCAA levels in the whole cohort (p < 0.0001) and in subgroups based on OW and MS status. These results suggest a modest association of meat or animal protein intakes and an association of C3 and C5 ACs with plasma BCAA levels, obesity and MS.

Discrepancies between reported and cadaveric body size measurements associated with a modern donated skeletal collection

Body mass and stature estimation methods used in biological anthropology require materials with known body size information. There are several types of body size data that can be associated with skeletal collections. However, discussion regarding the reliability and suitability of these types of information for anthropological research is scarce. This paper focuses on differences between reported and recorded cadaver weights and heights associated with a modern donated skeletal collection, similar to these commonly used in anthropological research. In addition, the study identifies factors that may influence these discrepancies. The results show statistically significant differences between reported and cadaver body size information. Generally, reported weights, statures and body mass indices (BMI) were greater compared to the cadaver information in this sample. However, potential effects on these discrepancies varied depending on sex and information type. Age was found to influence stature discrepancy in females, and donation type had an effect on the female weight discrepancy. The results also show that body size range (weight, stature and BMI) can contribute to these discrepancies. Even though the differences between reported and cadaver data may not be significant at the population level, the individual variation can cause misclassifications of individuals depending on the data used. This study encourages researchers using modern documented collections and their body size information to openly acknowledge the types of weight and stature data used and to discuss potential problems associated with them.

A comparison of measured versus self-reported anthropometrics for assessing obesity in adults: a literature review

Aims: Up-to-date information on the accuracy between different anthropometric data collection methods is vital for the reliability of anthropometric data. A previous review on this matter was conducted a decade ago. Our aim was to conduct a literature review on the accuracy of self-reported height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) against measured values for assessing obesity in adults. To obtain an overview of the present situation, we included studies published after the previous review. Differences according to sex, BMI groups, and continents were also assessed. Methods: Studies published between January 2006 and April 2017 were identified from a literature search on PubMed. Results: Our search retrieved 62 publications on adult populations that showed a tendency for self-reported height to be overestimated and weight to be underestimated when compared with measured values. The findings were similar for both sexes. BMI derived from self-reported height and weight was underestimated; there was a clear tendency for underestimation of overweight (from 1.8%-points to 9.8%-points) and obesity (from 0.7%-points to 13.4%-points) prevalence by self-report. The bias was greater in overweight and obese participants than those of normal weight. Studies conducted in North America showed a greater bias, whereas the bias in Asian studies seemed to be lower than those from other continents. Conclusions: With globally rising obesity rates, accurate estimation of obesity is essential for effective public health policies to support obesity prevention. As self-report bias tends to be higher among overweight and obese individuals, measured anthropometrics provide a more reliable tool for assessing the prevalence of obesity.

Association between Metabolite Profiles, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity Status

Underlying mechanisms associated with the development of abnormal metabolic phenotypes among obese individuals are not yet clear. Our aim is to investigate differences in plasma metabolomics profiles between normal weight (NW) and overweight/obese (Ov/Ob) individuals, with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling was used to compare metabolite levels between each group. Three main principal components factors explaining a maximum of variance were retained. Factor 1's (long chain glycerophospholipids) metabolite profile score was higher among Ov/Ob with MetS than among Ov/Ob and NW participants without MetS. This factor was positively correlated to plasma total cholesterol (total-C) and triglyceride levels in the three groups, to high density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C) among participants without MetS. Factor 2 (amino acids and short to long chain acylcarnitine) was positively correlated to HDL-C and negatively correlated with insulin levels among NW participants. Factor 3's (medium chain acylcarnitines) metabolite profile scores were higher among NW participants than among Ov/Ob with or without MetS. Factor 3 was negatively associated with glucose levels among the Ov/Ob with MetS. Factor 1 seems to be associated with a deteriorated metabolic profile that corresponds to obesity, whereas Factors 2 and 3 seem to be rather associated with a healthy metabolic profile.

Personal history of dieting and family history of obesity are unrelated: implications for understanding weight gain proneness

Identifying predictors of future weight gain is important in obesity prevention efforts. Both family history of obesity and personal dieting history have been established as predictors of future weight gain; however, it is unknown if they are independent or overlapping predictors. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of overlap between these two predictors using cross-sectional data. Baseline data from four studies were examined separately and in combination for a total of 561 female participants, and analyses were conducted to examine parent anthropometric variables by dieting status within and across studies. All participants were female university students between the ages of 17 and 30. For each study, as well as for the entire sample combined, parent anthropometric variables were examined by dieting status using factorial ANOVAs. No meaningful pattern was found when examining parent anthropometric variables by dieting status, which suggests that the two risk factors are largely independent. This suggests that the processes associated with the development of future weight gain by each variable are different; therefore, future research should use a longitudinal study to test the hypothesis that using both variables to predict future weight gain would account for more variance than using either variable alone.

Misconceptions about health and disease prevention behaviors of rural Appalachian Americans

Background

Appalachia is one of the unhealthiest regions in the United States due to poor disease prevention behaviors.

Objective

Determine if self-perceived health of rural Appalachians is related to participation in disease prevention behaviors.

Methods

Rural Appalachian adults (n=437) were surveyed regarding their self-perceived health and disease prevention behaviors. Healthy behaviors included: moderate (≥ 90 min/wk) and vigorous (≥ 45 min/wk) physical activity, sugared drink consumption (≤ 1 sugared drink/d), smoking (non-smoker), alcohol consumption (≤ 1 drink/d), blood pressure (≤ 120/80 mm Hg), and fast food consumption (≤ 1 time/wk). Participants were grouped where healthy = (self-health rating > 5 on a 0-10 scale), BMI < 25, and blood pressure (≤ 120/80 mm Hg). Jaccard Binary Similarity (JBS) coefficients and Russell and Rao (RR) dichotomy coefficients determined the association and predictability of self-health ratings and disease prevention behaviors. T-tests determined group differences in the number of disease prevention behaviors.

Results

Individuals who reported being healthy had high JBS coefficients for having healthy sugared drink consumption (0.552), not smoking (0.704), low alcohol consumption (0.742), and low fast food consumption (0.481). RR results were similar to JBS results. Not smoking and low alcohol consumption were highly correlated (r=0.87). Those with a good health perception practiced more disease prevention behaviors (mean±SEM, 2.84±0.06) than those with a poor health perception (2.19±0.10, p<0.001). Good health perceptions were not strongly related to obesity and inactivity.

Conclusions

Appalachians are not indifferent about their health. However, Appalachians may not understand how inactivity and obesity relate to disease.

Association between plasma omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease risk factors

The consumption of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FA), namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been linked to reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective of this study was to examine the relation between n-3 FA in plasma phospholipid (PL) levels and CVD risk factors. n-3 FA levels in plasma PL were determined using gas chromatography in 100 obese (body mass index (BMI), ≥30 kg·m(-2)) and 100 nonobese selected individuals from the Quebec City metropolitan area. The CVD risk factors analysed were BMI, blood pressure, plasma lipids levels, and fasting plasma glucose. Significantly higher levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were observed in obese subjects, whereas significantly higher levels of DHA were observed in nonobese subjects. For CVD risk factors, ALA levels were positively correlated with plasma triglyceride concentrations and negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure. None of the CVD risk factors studied was linked to EPA levels. In addition, DPA was negatively related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and positively correlated with the total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. DHA levels were negatively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and plasma triglyceride levels, whereas a positive association was observed with HDL-C levels. Total n-3 FA percentages were negatively correlated with BMI. In conclusion, higher DHA percentages in plasma PL are associated with a more favourable CVD risk profile, whereas higher DPA percentages in plasma PL are associated with a more deteriorated CVD risk profile.

Omega-3 fatty acids status in human subjects estimated using a food frequency questionnaire and plasma phospholipids levels

BACKGROUND

Intakes of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FA) are associated with several health benefits. The aim of this study was to verify whether intakes of n-3 FA estimated from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) correlate with n-3 FA levels measured in plasma phospholipids (PL).

METHODS

The study sample consisted of 200 French-Canadians men and women aged between 18 to 55 years. Dietary data were collected using a validated FFQ. Fasting blood samples were collected and the plasma PL FA profile was measured by gas chromatography.

RESULTS

Low intakes of n-3 long-chain FA together with low percentages of n-3 long-chain FA in plasma PL were found in French-Canadian population. Daily intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were similar between men and women. Yet, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and total n-3 FA intakes were significantly higher in men compared to women (ALA: 2.28 g and 1.69 g, p < 0.0001, total n-3 FA: 2.57 g and 1.99 g, p < 0.0001; respectively). In plasma PL, DPA and DHA percentages were significantly different between men and women (DPA: 1.03% and 0.88%, p < 0.0001, DHA: 3.00% and 3.43%, p = 0.0005; respectively). Moreover, DHA (men: r = 0.52, p < 0.0001; women: r = 0.57, p < 0.0001) and total n-3 FA (men: r = 0.47, p < 0.0001; women: r = 0.52, p < 0.0001) intakes were positively correlated to their respective plasma PL FA levels. In women, EPA (r = 0.44, p < 0.0001) and DPA (r = 0.23, p = 0.02) intakes were also correlated respectively with EPA and DPA plasma PL FA percentages.

CONCLUSION

Estimated n-3 long-chain FA intake among this young and well-educated French-Canadian population is lower than the recommendations. Further, FFQ data is comparable to plasma PL results to estimate DHA and total n-3 FA status in healthy individuals as well as to evaluate the EPA and DPA status in women. Overall, this FFQ could be used as a simple, low-cost tool in future studies to rank n-3 FA status of individuals.

Accuracy and reliability of self-reported weight and height in the Sister Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the accuracy and reliability of self-reported weight and height and identify the factors associated with reporting accuracy.

DESIGN

Analysis of self-reported and measured weight and height from participants in the Sister Study (2003-2009), a nationwide cohort of 50 884 women aged 35-74 years in the USA with a sister with breast cancer.

SETTING

Weight and height were reported via computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) and self-administered questionnaires, and measured by examiners.

SUBJECTS

Early enrolees in the Sister Study. There were 18 639 women available for the accuracy analyses and 13 316 for the reliability analyses.

RESULTS

Using weighted kappa statistics, comparisons were made between CATI responses and examiner measures to assess accuracy and CATI and questionnaire responses to assess reliability. Polytomous logistic regression evaluated factors associated with over- or under-reporting. Compared with measured values, agreement was 96 % for reported height (±1 inch (±2·5 cm); weighted κ = 0·84) and 67 % for weight (±3 lb (±1·36 kg); weighted κ = 0·92). Obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were more likely than normal-weight women to under-report weight by ≥5 % and underweight women (BMI < 18·5 kg/m2) were more likely to over-report. Among normal-weight and overweight women (18·5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2), weight cycling and lifetime weight difference ≥50 lb (≥22·68 kg) were associated with over-reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

US women in the Sister Study were reasonably reliable and accurate in reporting weight and height. Women with normal-range BMI reported most accurately. Overweight and obese women and those with weight fluctuations were less accurate, but even among obese women, few under-reported their weight by >10 %.

Self-rated health in rural Appalachia: health perceptions are incongruent with health status and health behaviors

BACKGROUND

Appalachia is characterized by poor health behaviors, poor health status, and health disparities. Recent interventions have not demonstrated much success in improving health status or reducing health disparities in the Appalachian region. Since one's perception of personal health precedes his or her health behaviors, the purpose of this project was to evaluate the self-rated health of Appalachian adults in relation to objective health status and current health behaviors.

METHODS

Appalachian adults (n = 1,576) were surveyed regarding health behaviors - soda consumer (drink ≥ 355 ml/d), or non-consumer (drink < 355 ml/d), fast food consumer (eating fast food ≥ 3 times/wk) or healthy food consumer (eating fast food < 3 times/wk), smoking (smoker or non-smoker), exercise (exerciser > 30 min > 1 d/wk) and sedentary (exercise < 30 min 1 d/wk), blood pressure medication (yes, no), and self-rated health. Blood pressure was measured through auscultation and serum cholesterol measured via needle prick. Weight status was based on BMI: normal weight (NW ≥ 18.5 and < 25.0), overweight (OW ≥ 25.0 and < 30.0), and obese (OB ≥ 30.0). Jaccard Binary Similarity coefficients, odds ratios, chi-square, and prevalence ratios were calculated to evaluate the relationships among self-rated health, objective health status, and health behaviors. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Respondents reported being healthy, while being sedentary (65%), hypertensive (76%), overweight (73%), or hyperlipidemic (79%). Between 57% and 66% of the respondents who considered themselves healthy had at least two disease conditions or poor health behaviors. Jaccard Binary Similarity coefficients and odds ratios showed the probability of reporting being healthy when having a disease condition or poor health behavior was high.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between self-rated health and poor health indicators in Appalachian adults is distorted. The public health challenge is to formulate messages and programs about health and health needs which take into account the current distortion about health in Appalachia and the cultural context in which this distortion was shaped.

Effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, dietary fat intakes and gene-diet interactions on peak particle diameters of low-density lipoproteins

The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is modulated by gene-diet interactions. The objective of this study was to examine whether gene-diet interactions affect peak particle diameters (PPD) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

METHODS

The study included 674 participants. A food frequency questionnaire was administered to obtain dietary information. LDL-PPD was determined by non-denaturing 2-16% polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gene polymorphisms PPARα L162V (rs1800206), PPARγ P12A (rs1801282) and PPARδ -87T→C (rs2016520) were determined by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

Among carriers of thePPARα L162V polymorphism, gene-diet interaction effects on LDL-PPD were observed with saturated fat (p=0.0005) and total dietary fat (p=0.006). Among PPARα V162 carriers, subjects with higher saturated fat intakes had smaller LDL-PPD than those with lower intakes (254.23±2.74 vs. 256.21±2.61 Å, respectively, p=0.007). Among subjects homozygous for the PPARα L162 allele, those with higher saturated fat intakes had larger LDL-PPD than those with lower saturated fat intakes (255.86±2.66 vs. 255.05±2.65 Å, respectively, p=0.01). Gene-diet interactions were also found for PPARγ P12A polymorphism with saturated fat intake (p=0.04) and for PPARδ -87T→C with the polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio (p=0.0013).

CONCLUSIONS

These results stress that dietary factors should be included in studies determining the effect of different polymorphisms on CVD risk factors.

Metabolically healthy obesity: different prevalences using different criteria

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) according to different definitions.

METHODS

Population-based sample of 2803 women and 2557 men participated in the study. Metabolic abnormalities were defined using six sets of criteria, which included different combinations of the following: waist; blood pressure; total, high-density lipoprotein or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; triglycerides; fasting glucose; homeostasis model assessment; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; personal history of cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases. For each set, prevalence of MHO was assessed for body mass index (BMI); waist or percent body fat.

RESULTS

Among obese (BMI 30 kg/m(2)) participants, prevalence of MHO ranged between 3.3 and 32.1% in men and between 11.4 and 43.3% in women according to the criteria used. Using abdominal obesity, prevalence of MHO ranged between 5.7 and 36.7% (men) and 12.2 and 57.5% (women). Using percent body fat led to a prevalence of MHO ranging between 6.4 and 43.1% (men) and 12.0 and 55.5% (women). MHO participants had a lower odd of presenting a family history of type 2 diabetes. After multivariate adjustment, the odds of presenting with MHO decreased with increasing age, whereas no relationship was found with gender, alcohol consumption or tobacco smoking using most sets of criteria. Physical activity was positively related, whereas increased waist was negatively related with BMI-defined MHO.

CONCLUSION

MHO prevalence varies considerably according to the criteria used, underscoring the need for a standard definition of this metabolic entity. Physical activity increases the likelihood of presenting with MHO, and MHO is associated with a lower prevalence of family history of type 2 diabetes.

Body dissatisfaction among adolescent boys and girls: the effects of body mass, peer appearance culture and internalization of appearance ideals

Body image dissatisfaction is a significant risk factor in the onset of eating pathology and depression. Therefore, understanding predictors of negative body image is an important focus of investigation. This research sought to examine the contributions of body mass, appearance conversations with friends, peer appearance criticism and internalization of appearance ideals to body dissatisfaction among adolescents. The sample was comprised of 239 (54% female) adolescents, with a mean age of 16 years. Self-report questionnaires were completed on body dissatisfaction, peer appearance conversations and criticism, internalization of appearance ideals, height and weight. For girls and boys, body mass, appearance conversations with friends, peer appearance criticism and internalized appearance ideals emerged as significant predictors of body dissatisfaction. Gender moderated the effect of body mass on body dissatisfaction. Internalization mediated the relationship between peer appearance conversations and criticism, and body dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that while body mass exerts a differential risk for body dissatisfaction among boys and girls, internalisation may represent a key psychological process that underpins body dissatisfaction among both boys and girls.

Food-related lifestyles and their association to obesity in five European countries

This paper's objective is to investigate the associations between obesity and Food-Related Lifestyles (FRL) in five European countries. A cross-sectional web-based survey was carried out in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland, January 2008, with quota samples on gender (male, female), age categories (20-44 and 45-70 years), and locality of residence (urban, rural). A total of 2437 respondents (51% women, 49% men; mean age 41.4 years, SD 13.1) participated. Obtained data included socio-demographic information, measure of the food-related lifestyle scale and self-reported weights and heights. Body Mass Index (in kg/m(2)) was calculated as weight (in kg) divided by the squared height (in m(2)). Individuals were classified as obese if BMI > or = 30. Logistic regressions were fitted for the aggregated sample and then by country with obese as dependent and socio-demographics and FRL were included as independents. The prevalence of obesity in the five countries is 22%. Europeans giving more importance to 'self-fulfilment' (odds = 1.18), 'planning of meals' (odds = 1.15), and preferring 'snacks vs. meals' (odds = 1.24) are more likely to be obese. Respondents were less likely to be obese if they attached lower levels of importance to the use of 'shopping lists' (odds = 0.87). The overall picture is that a stronger interest in health, organic products and freshness, within the FLR domain of quality aspects, is associated with 'not being obese'. This study has identified specific FRL dimensions as potential predictors of obesity. The resulting consumers' profiling can be used for targeted interventions for weight management in Europe.