Smoking status: effects on the dietary intake, physical activity, and body fat of adult men

This investigation evaluated the relationship between smoking status and body fatness, dietary intake, and physical activity in adults. Subjects were 210 males who were either regular cigarette smokers (n = 35) or nonsmokers (n = 175). Estimated body fat and waist-to-hip (girth) measurements were carefully obtained. Additionally, a sensitive assessment of long-term dietary intake and a multifactorial approach to the assessment of physical activity were made. Results indicated that smokers had lower estimated body fat as calculated by multiple skinfold thickness assessments. In contrast, smokers reported the same total energy intakes as nonsmokers and their levels of physical activity were significantly lower than those of nonsmokers. The differences in intake and expenditure in smokers and the role of metabolism as a possible determinant of the body fat differences in smokers vs nonsmokers are discussed.     

Impact of diabetic status, dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking status on body mass index in NHANES II.

Individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) have a higher body mass index (BMI) than nondiabetic individuals and it has been reported that individuals with NIDDM have more difficulty losing excess weight. To assess an independent effect of NIDDM on weight status, analyses were conducted to predict BMI with variables previously associated with weight status. Subjects from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were categorized into three groups: individuals with NIDDM and on oral medication, individuals with diet-controlled NIDDM, and nondiabetic adults. Additionally, planned orthogonal comparisons between these groups were conducted after other predictors were controlled for; 9.18% of the variability was explained for men (P less than 0.001) whereas 12.11% was explained for women (P less than 0.0001), with several variables significantly related in each model. An independent effect for diabetes status was found in both sexes and there were no differences in BMI between NIDDM groups in either sex.     

Socioeconomic, anthropometric and food intake characterization of severely obese people

The purpose of this study is to characterize morbid obese patients treated at bariatric surgery clinics in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, analyzed by socioeconomic, anthropometric and food intake aspects. Based on an exploratory, transversal and analytical design, this survey interviewed fifty patients being treated at one private and two public bariatric surgery clinics; 74% were female and 26% male. Their average age was 35 +/- 8.6 years old, with an average family income of 9.32 +/- 14.14 minimum wages; with an average family income of 4.69 +/- 3.78 minimum wages for the group treated at public clinics, and an 15.18 +/- 12.63 minimum wages for the obese patients seen at the private clinic; at least 70% of the participants held high school diplomas. The average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 47.5 +/- 7.2 Kg/m2;, with their food intake standard characterized largely by the consumption of high-energy, high-fat, low carbohydrate items, high in cholesterol and dietary staple fibers. It is concluded that the patients have a food intake standard that offers the risk of worsening their weight situation, requiring more intensive educational actions in preparation for bariatric surgery.     

Depressive symptoms are associated with dietary intake but not physical activity among overweight and obese women from disadvantaged neighborhoods

Evidence suggests that depressive symptoms are associated with poorer dietary intake and inadequate physical activity; however, this association has not been examined in lower-income overweight and obese African American women. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between depressive symptoms and diet and physical activity in 196 women (87% African American; age, 25-51 years). Higher depressive symptoms were hypothesized to predict poorer diet quality, greater emotional eating, lower physical activity levels, and greater sedentary time. Depressive symptoms were measured using the validated short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Dietary intake and quality were assessed using three 24-hour dietary recalls. Emotional eating was evaluated using 4 items from the emotional eating subscale of the Eating Behavior Patterns Questionnaire. Physical activity and sedentary time were objectively measured using the ActiGraph accelerometer. Linear regression models tested the associations between depressive symptoms and each dietary and physical activity outcome variable. Symptoms of depression were positively associated with total daily caloric intake from saturated fat and total sugars, as well as emotional eating scores (P < .05). Although not statistically significant, depressive symptoms were positively associated with sweetened beverage consumption (P = .06) and added sugars (P = .07). Depressive symptoms were not associated with total fat, sodium, fruit and vegetables, fast food consumption, the Alternate Healthy Eating Index score, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, or sedentary time. Future studies should explore the mechanisms linking the identified associations between depressive symptoms and dietary intake, such as the role of emotional eating.     

Effect of dietary supplements and physical exercise on sensory perception, appetite, dietary intake and body weight in frail elderly subjects

This present study investigated the effect of a 17-week intervention programme with nutrient-dense foods (enriched with vitamins and minerals at 25-100% of the Dutch recommended dietary allowance) and/or physical exercise in 159 frail elderly subjects (forty-six men, 113 women, mean age 78.7 (SD 5.6) years). Subjects were randomized into four groups: (1) control, (2) nutrition intervention, (3) exercise or (4) both nutrition intervention and exercise. Main outcome variables were sensory perception (smell test and questionnaire), appetite (questionnaire), energy intake (3 d food record) and body weight (on a weighing scale and with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements). At baseline, moderate but significant correlations were found between appetite and energy intake (r 0.30, P < 0.0001), between smell test and smell perception assessed by questionnaire (r 0.40, P < 0.0001) and between lean body weight and energy intake (r 0.50, P < 0.0001). Results after 17-weeks intervention revealed neither change in smell test scores (P = 0.19) nor in appetite (P = 0.17). A slight positive effect of exercise compared with non-exercising groups on energy intake (difference 0.5 MJ, P = 0.05) was shown next to a preserving effect of exercise on lean body mass (+0.08 kg) compared with a decrease (-0.4 kg) in non-exercisers (P < 0.02). The correlation between the change in lean body mass and change in energy intake was 0.18 (P = 0.05). In conclusion, an interesting preserving effect on lean body mass in frail elderly subjects due to 17 weeks of exercise was shown. Since a decline in lean body mass was observed in the non-exercisers, effects may be attributable to change in activity pattern. Changes in lean mass were also slightly, but significantly, correlated with changes in energy intake. In turn, energy intake was not related to a change in reported appetite or sensory perception. Nutrient-dense foods were not able to improve any of the outcome variables in this study.     

Dieting status and its relationship to weight, dietary intake, and physical activity changes over two years in a working population

The present study prospectively examined changes in dietary intake, physical activity and weight associated with self-reported efforts to lose weight in a cohort of 3671 men and women sampled from the general population. Dieting efforts, dietary intake, physical activity and weight were measured at two points in time, 24 months apart. At baseline, current dieters reported consuming fewer dairy products, sweets, meat, soft drinks and fried potatoes (all p's < .0001), and engaging more frequently in high-intensity physical activity (p < .0001) than those not currently dieting. At follow-up, current dieters reported consuming fewer sweets (p < .0001) and fried potatoes (p < .0008), and engaging more frequently in moderate-intensity physical activity (p < .02) than those not currently dieting. Prospectively, those who initiated weight-loss diets showed the largest decrease in consumption of sweets (p < .0001), soft drinks (p < .0001), and fried potatoes (p < .01), and increase in frequency of high-intensity physical activity (p < .0001) and moderate-intensity physical activity (p < .007). Those initiating weight-loss diets were the only group to lose weight (1 lb.). Those dieting at baseline but not at follow-up gained the most weight (4 lbs.). Self-reports of current dieting correspond to reported changes in dietary intake and physical activity, and to measured changes in weight over the same time period. Individuals who report dieting to lose weight have healthier eating and exercise patterns than those who do not report dieting.     

Association of the melanocortin-4 receptor V103I polymorphism with dietary intake in severely obese persons

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that carriers of the 103I allele of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene had lower body weight than did persons with the wild-type genotype. A recent study found an association of the MC4R 103I variant with carbohydrate intake, which may mediate some of the association of this variant with leanness. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between the MC4R V103I polymorphism and the dietary intake of persons with severe obesity, which was derived by using the Willett food-frequency questionnaire. DESIGN: The MC4R V103I polymorphism was genotyped in a group of 1029 severely obese white subjects with an average body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) of 46.0 (range: 33-92). RESULTS: Carriers of the 103I allele had significantly higher daily energy (364 kcal/d or 19%; P = 0.03) and carbohydrate (57 g/d or 27%; P = 0.01) intakes than did noncarriers, but there was no relation with BMI. No notable association of this polymorphism with lipid and glucose variables of the metabolic syndrome was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The higher dietary intake of carbohydrates in severely obese persons with the MC4R 103I variant is in line with previous findings. It may indicate a differential effect on body size measures in extremely obese subjects as compared with the general population.     

Resting metabolic rate in severely obese diabetic and nondiabetic subjects

OBJECTIVES: To compare the resting metabolic rate (RMR) between diabetic and nondiabetic obese subjects and to develop a predictive equation of RMR for these subjects. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Obese adults (1088; mean age = 44.9 +/- 12.7 years) with BMI > or = 35 kg/m2 (mean BMI = 46.4 +/- 8.4 kg/m2) were recruited. One hundred forty-two subjects (61 men, 81 women) were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (DM), giving the prevalence of DM in this clinic population as 13.7%. RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry, and several multivariate linear regression models were performed using age, gender, weight, height, BMI, fat mass, fat mass percentage, and fat-free mass as independent variables. RESULTS: The severely obese patients with DM had consistently higher RMR after adjustment for all other variables. The best predictive equation for the severely obese was RMR = 71.767 - 2.337 x age + 257.293 x gender (women = 0 and men = 1) + 9.996 x weight (in kilograms) + 4.132 x height (in centimeters) + 145.959 x DM (nondiabetic = 0 and diabetic = 1). The age, weight, and height-adjusted least square means of RMR between diabetic and nondiabetic groups were significantly different in both genders. DISCUSSION: Severely obese patients with type 2 diabetes had higher RMR than those without diabetes. The RMR of severely obese subjects was best predicted by an equation using age, gender, weight, height, and DM as variables.     

Vitamin B12 status,dietary protein intake and proton pump inhibitor use in geriatric rehabilitation subjects

Aim: To compare the dietary intake and nutritional status of users and non‐users of proton pump inhibitor medications. Methods: Cross‐sectional study of subacute rehabilitation inpatients. Forty‐nine patients (nine men and 40 women) without dementia fulfilled the study criteria. Information was collected on admission and included medical history, duration of proton pump inhibitor medication use, nutritional status and cognitive scores. Dietary data were collected by food frequency questionnaire and blood samples were analysed for vitamin B₁₂, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid concentrations. Results: Age was 80.4 ± 7.7 (mean ± SD) years and body mass index was 26 ± 6.7 kg/m². Twenty‐one (of 49) subjects had subclinical vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, which was defined as serum vitamin B₁₂ <148 pmol/L or 148–258 pmol/L and methylmalonic acid >0.30 µmol/L or tHcy >13 µmol/L (women) and >15 µmol/L (men). Subjects were stratified according to proton pump inhibitor use and vitamin B₁₂ status. The presence of subclinical deficiency was similar between the groups (χ²‐test P= 0.17). Proton pump inhibitor users had higher dietary protein and calcium intakes (but not supplement calcium intakes) compared with non‐users (93 vs 81 g/day, P= 0.002 and 968 vs 742 mg/day, P= 0.038, respectively). Conclusions: Subjects using proton pump inhibitor medications did not have lower vitamin B₁₂ status, but had higher dietary protein intakes suggesting higher intakes of meats, eggs and dairy foods may reduce the risk of developing vitamin B₁₂ deficiency whilst taking proton pump inhibitor medications.     

The long-term influence of orlistat on dietary intake in obese subjects with components of metabolic syndrome

Background:  Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that reduces the intestinal absorption of fat and may enhance the effects of dietary and behavioural therapy on weight loss and maintenance. The present study examined the effect of orlistat on dietary intake, especially fat intake, during long-term weight maintenance.
Methods:  Subjects comprised 44 men and women (aged 18–63 years; body mass index 37.5 ± 4.3 kg m⁻²) included in the Scandinavian Multicenter study of Obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome, a 3-year clinical trial of orlistat or placebo following an 8-week, very low energy diet (VLED). Two months after the end of the trial when the use of orlistat was optional, 33 subjects remained in the study. A dietary interview based on a validated food frequency questionnaire was conducted before the VLED, after 1 year of treatment with orlistat or placebo and 2 months after the end of the trial.
Results:  At 1 year, dietary intake did not differ between the orlistat and placebo group. Energy percent (E%) fat was reduced and E% carbohydrate was increased within both groups. Two months after the end of the trial, E% fat was 32.6% (SD 6.2%) in subjects that chose to take orlistat and 27.7% (SD 5.5%) in subjects not taking orlistat [between group difference −5.0% (95% confidence interval −9.2 to −0.7); P  = 0.021].
Conclusions:  The use of orlistat compared with placebo in a lifestyle modification programme does not appear to influence dietary intake. Subjects that chose to take orlistat after the end of the programme did not comply with dietary recommendations and this may hamper the effect of the drug.     

Long-term vitamin status and dietary intake of healthy elderly subjects. 1. Riboflavin.

1. Long-term clinical and biochemical riboflavin status and dietary intake of riboflavin were monitored for 18 months in a group of twenty-three relatively-healthy elderly subjects living at home in the north of England. 2. Both dietary intake and biochemical status, as measured by the activation coefficient (stimulated:basal activity) of NAD(P)H2:glutathione oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.4.2), remained fairly constant for each individual and for most subjects the usual intake and biochemical status were characterized quite accurately by a single week's intake dietary record and a single measurement of the activation coefficient. 3. The expected relationship between biochemical status and dietary intake was present, but not strongly evident. There was a significant within-subject correlation between alpha values and the immediately preceding dietary intake; however the between-subject correlation between alpha values and dietary intake approached zero if the two subjects receiving long-term riboflavin supplements were omitted. Over the limited range of intakes observed in unsupplemented subjects, non-dietary factors evidently obscure the relationship. 4. Although eight subjects had average values above 1.2 for the activation coefficient, no excessively high values were observed, and no subject showed any clear-cut clinical deficiency symptoms.     

Familial correlates of adolescent girls' physical activity,television use,dietary intake,weight, and body composition

Background  

The family environment offers several opportunities through which to improve adolescents' weight and weight-related behaviors. This study aims to examine the cross-sectional relationships between multiple factors in the family environment and physical activity (PA), television use (TV), soft drink intake, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, body mass index (BMI), and body composition among a sample of sociodemographically-diverse adolescent girls.     

A review of physical activity and well-being

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Based on this declaration the construct of well-being has been researched. Many researchers have set a clear path between physical exercise and feeling better or the connection of reduced physical activity and diminished health. Nevertheless the allusive subjective psychological construct of well-being has not been directly connected to physical activity. Despite abundance of technical evidence that supports notions of correlations between physical exercise and well-being, the scientific proof is not within our reach yet. Some of the basic reasons are the facts that the definition of well-being is unclear, not many RCT's (Randomized Control Trials) have been performed, dose related results are scarce and many articles use small populations and different methodology. Until an actual research based connection will be found between physical exercise and well-being, the authors strongly recommend physical activity as part of everyone's leisure time, since there are enough proven physical mental, and social benefits to physical activity besides well-being.