Quality of Life and Physical Performance in Patients with Obesity: A Network Analysis

Impact of a Food Rebalancing Program Associated with Plant-Derived Food Supplements on the Biometric, Behavioral, and Biological Parameters of Obese Subjects

Between 2021 and 2023, the Scientific Council of Dietplus®, a group specialized in overweight and obesity management, conducted a clinical study on 170 volunteer subjects with a BMI > 29 Kg/m2 consecutively recruited. The Dietplus® program comprises nutritional education, intensive, personalized coaching, and consuming food supplements rich in plant derivatives. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the Dietplus® program on biometric, behavioral, and biological parameters. A control group of 30 obese patients was followed for a similar 12-week period. Mean weight loss reached 9 ± 2.1 kg in the Dietplus® test group versus a 1 ± 0.1 kg weight gain in the control group. Excess weight loss reached 33 ± 13%, and fat mass loss was 7.6% (p < 0.001); waist circumference was reduced by 30%. Quality of Life, Nutriscore, and Prochaska di Clemente scale significantly improved (p < 0.001). Biological parameters showed substantial improvements in the carbohydrate profile and insulin resistance (HOMA index) and in the lipid profile with lower plasma triglyceride (p < 0.01) and VLDL (p < 0.01) concentrations. Inflammatory parameters (orosomucoid, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein, and PINI indices) were also substantially reduced. These results indicate a substantial benefit in subjects who followed the Dietplus® program. (Dietplus® 116 Rue Robert Bunsen, 57460 Behren-lès-Forbach, France is active in France Belgium and Spain. Plant Derived Food Supplements are produced in France). Indeed, improvements were observed in all biometric, behavioral, and metabolic parameters.

The interplay between emotion regulation, interpersonal problems and eating symptoms in individuals with obesity: A network analysis study

INTRODUCTION

A complex and bidirectional relationship between eating and psychological symptoms in individuals with obesity has been proposed. This study aims to identify the specific processes playing a role in this association, using a data-driven approach.

METHODS

Two hundred ninety-four adults with obesity, including 106 (36 %) with binge-eating disorder, were consecutively admitted to a specialized public center. They completed self-report questionnaires to assess emotion regulation, interpersonal problems, self-esteem, binge-eating symptoms, and expectancies regarding eating behaviors. To assess the interplay among eating and psychological variables, a network analysis was used. The bridge function analysis was also performed to identify the bridge nodes among three communities (eating symptoms, interpersonal and emotional problems).

RESULTS

The network was stable. Limited access to emotion regulation strategies, eating helps manage negative affect, and non-assertiveness were the nodes with the highest strength centrality. Lack of emotional clarity, non-assertiveness, socially inhibition, and binge-eating were the nodes with the highest bridge strength.

LIMITATIONS

The main limitation of the study is the cross-sectional nature of the findings which prevents to infer causality regarding the association between symptoms in the network.

DISCUSSION

An interplay between eating symptoms and affective and interpersonal factors characterizes individuals with obesity. Across the variety of psychological problems associated with obesity, the present study suggests specific psychological variables and their connections that could be addressed to improve treatment outcome.

The dynamic network associations of food craving, restrained eating, hunger and negative emotions

OBJECTIVE

Food craving, restrained eating, hunger, and negative emotions may predict and reinforce one another. However, less is known about how they interact together as a complex system in daily life. Therefore, we used a dynamic network approach to examine the associations between food craving, restrained eating, hunger and negative emotions in daily life.

METHODS

Food craving, restrained eating, hunger and negative emotions were measured using ecological momentary assessment three times a day over ten days in a community sample in Israel (n = 123). A two-step multilevel vector auto-regression network analysis was used to estimate temporal, contemporaneous and between-persons networks.

RESULTS

In the temporal network, restrained eating was the most central predictor of eating behaviors and negative emotions, predicting food craving and hunger as well as sadness and loneliness. Food craving was also predicted by hunger and stress, and hunger predicted loneliness. In the contemporaneous network, food craving was associated with hunger and feeling bored, and higher anger was associated with lower restrained eating. Stress and sadness were central negative emotions in the models.

DISCUSSION

This study suggests possible temporal and contemporaneous relationships between food craving, restrained eating, hunger and negative emotions, emphasizing their complex interactions in daily life. Restrained eating and stress should be investigated as potential targets for interventions addressing food craving and overeating.

Psychopathological Symptoms and Well-Being in Overweight and Underweight Adolescents: A Network Analysis

Overweight and underweight adolescents have an increased risk of psychological problems and reduced quality of life. We used a network analysis approach on a variety of psychopathology and well-being variables to identify central factors in these populations. The network analysis was conducted on data of 344 overweight adolescents (>90th BMI-percentile) and 423 underweight adolescents (<10th BMI-percentile) drawn from a large community sample (10-19 years) including behavioral and emotional problems (Youth Self-Report), eating disorder risk (SCOFF) and well-being variables (KIDSCREEN). Additionally, psychopathology and well-being scores of overweight and underweight individuals were compared with 1.560 normal weight adolescents. Compared to their normal weight peers, overweight adolescents showed elevated psychopathology and eating disorder risk as well as reduced well-being. Underweight adolescents reported increased levels of internalizing problems but no increased eating disorder risk or reduced well-being. The network analysis revealed that anxious/depressed mood and attention problems were the most central and interconnected nodes for both overweight and underweight subsamples. Among underweight individuals, social problems and socially withdrawn behavior additionally functioned as a bridge between other nodes in the network. The results support psychological interventions focusing on improving mood, coping with negative emotions and tackling inner tension.

Effect of telerehabilitation applied during COVID-19 isolation period on physical fitness and quality of life in overweight and obese individuals

Background/objectives

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of exercise training through telerehabilitation applied during COVID-19 isolation period on overweight and obese individuals on physical fitness and quality of life.

Subjects/methods

In our study, 41 participants between the ages of 18–65 years and whose BMI values were 25 kg/m² and above were randomly divided into two groups as telerehabilitation group (n: 21) and control group (n: 20). Exercise training applied to the telerehabilitation group with remote live connection included warm-up exercises, trunk stabilization exercises and breathing exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist for 6 weeks, 3 days in a week. The control group was only informed about the importance of exercise for one session and evaluated at baseline and after 6 weeks. The physical fitness levels of individuals was assessed by Senior Fitness Test protocol and quality of life by Short Form-36.

Results

As a result of the study, statistically significant improvements were obtained in all parameters of physical fitness, quality of life in the telerehabilitation group (p < 0.05). In the difference values of the two groups, all parameters of physical fitness and quality of life were observed that there were statistically significant differences in favor of telerehabilitation group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

As a result, it was found that exercise training applied through telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic process was an effective, safe and viable approach in overweight and obese individuals. In the future, studies investigating the long-term effectiveness of telerehabilitation in this population are needed.