Obesity in Inner‐city African Americans

Objective. Obesity, a risk factor for chronic diseases, has a high prevalence in African Americans and low‐income individuals. However, little is known about perceptions of overweight, attempts to lose weight, and strategies used to lose weight among African Americans in inner cities.

Design. A 1990 cross‐sectional telephone survey (n = 1445) of north St Louis and central Kansas City, USA.

Results. Obesity was common (44%) in this sample of inner‐city African Americans. The obese perceived themselves as overweight (70%) and were trying to lose weight (66%). The majority of the obese (68%) were both dieting and exercising to lose weight. Smoking prevalence was not higher among the obese or those trying to lose weight. Many of the obese had received medical advice recently on low‐fat diets (51%) and had been advised to lose weight (40%). Factors independently associated with perception, attempts to lose weight and medical advice differed, but included degree of obesity.

Conclusions. These results corroborate US national data that obesity is a public health problem in this population and that obese inner‐city African Americans perceive themselves as overweight and are trying to lose weight, especially as degree of obesity increases. It also appears that smoking is not being used as a weight loss strategy and that the obese, as a group, are receiving some medical advice on low‐fat diets. This information is critical for designing culturally sensitive weight‐control programmes.     

Toward the Development of Predictive Equations for Resting Metabolic Rate in Acutely Ill Spontaneously Breathing Patients

Background: There are many equations used for calculating energy needs of nutrition support patients but few developed specifically for the subset of spontaneously breathing acutely ill patients. The purpose of the current study was to validate existing equations and to start developing new equations for this cohort. Methods: Acutely ill patients not requiring mechanical ventilation had their resting metabolic rate measured using an indirect calorimeter. Metabolic rate was also calculated using the Mifflin–St Jeor equation, the Ireton‐Jones equation for spontaneously breathing patients, and a modification of the Penn State equation in which the minute ventilation‐dependent variable was removed. These calculated values were compared with measured expenditure and considered accurate if they fell within 10% of the measurement. Results: Fifty‐five patients were measured successfully. The modified Penn State equation was accurate in 71% of patients compared with 44% for Ireton‐Jones and 42% for Mifflin–St Jeor. Several forms of a new equation were outlined but not validated. The equation with the highest R² (0.82) was as follows: resting metabolic rate (kcal/d) = weight in kg (20) ? age in years (3) + male sex (197) + body mass index in kg/m² (25.9) + mean heart rate in beats/min (9.4) + 89. Conclusions: A modification of the Penn State equation for predicting resting metabolic rate was shown to accurately predict resting metabolic rate in acutely ill, spontaneously breathing patients if body mass index was ≥20.5 kg/m². A new set of population‐specific equations was outlined but should not be used until validated.     

Does Persistent Inflammatory Catabolic Syndrome Exist in Critically Ill Neonates?

Background: Persistent inflammatory catabolic syndrome (PICS) has not been described in the infant population. This study proposes a definition of PICS in critically ill infants. Methods: A published adult criterion of PICS was modified using anthropometric and biochemical reference ranges for infants. A prospective chart review of admissions to a tertiary surgical neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was performed over 65 days. Demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and other clinical variables such as length of stay and medication use were collected daily throughout admission. Infants were categorized as having or not having PICS. Results: Twenty percent of admitted infants (n = 15) developed PICS using the proposed criteria. Infants with PICS were more likely to be classified as failure to thrive (53%), meeting only 75% of their anticipated weight gain. Significantly more infants with PICS had undergone surgery (100%; P = .01), received inotropic medication (40%; P = .05), and had longer NICU and total hospital length of stay (P < .001 and P < .001). Infants with PICS had higher peak glucose levels (11.8 ± 7.3 mmol/L) and elevated urea concentrations (7.9 ± 4.6 mmol/L). Conclusions: PICS does exist in a critically ill neonatal population and may be identified using the definition proposed in this study. Infants with PICS displayed metabolic dysregulation, impaired expected growth velocity, and longer length of stay despite no differences in severity scores or diagnosis between the groups. Validation of this work is required, and research into timely identification of infants with PICS is needed to inform whether these infants would benefit from earlier and novel nutrition intervention.     

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Postpartum Care Practices of Nurse‐Midwives

Introduction : Postpartum screening for glucose intolerance among women with recent histories of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is important for identifying women with continued glucose intolerance after birth, yet screening rates are suboptimal. In a thorough review of the literature, we found no studies of screening practices among certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs). The objectives of our study were to estimate the prevalence of postpartum screening for abnormal glucose tolerance and related care by CNMs for women with recent histories of GDM and to identify strategies for improvement. Methods : From October through December 2010, the Ohio Department of Health sent a survey by mail and Internet to all licensed CNMs practicing in Ohio. We calculated prevalence estimates for knowledge, attitudes, clinical practices, and behaviors related to postpartum diabetes screening. Chi‐square statistics were used to assess differences in self‐reported clinical behaviors by frequency of postpartum screening. Results : Of the 146 CNMs who provided postpartum care and responded to the survey (62.2% response rate), 50.4% reported screening women with GDM‐affected pregnancies for abnormal glucose tolerance at the postpartum visit. Of CNMs who screened postpartum, only 48.4% used fasting blood sugar or the 2‐hour oral glucose tolerance test. Although 86.2% of all responding CNMs reported that they inform women with recent histories of GDM of their increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, only 63.1% counseled these women to exercise regularly and 23.3% reported referring overweight/obese women to a diet support group or other nutrition counseling. CNMs reported that identification of community resources for lifestyle interventions and additional training in postpartum screening guidelines may help to improve postpartum care. Discussion : CNMs in Ohio reported suboptimal levels of postpartum diabetes testing and use of a recommended postpartum test. Providing CNMs with additional training and identifying community resources to support needed lifestyle behavior change may improve care for women with recent GDM‐affected pregnancies.