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PubMed2005

Fat and the law: who should take the blame?

The incidence of obesity in both adults and children is rising at a rapid rate in most developed countries, including in Australia. Some obese people are seeking to place the blame for their condition on the fast-food industry, as demonstrated by the recent litigation in the United States brought by two obese plaintiffs against McDonald's. This litigation was unsuccessful, and on existing Australian negligence principles any similar litigation commenced here is likely to suffer the same fate. Principles of personal responsibility, autonomy and free will should prevail to deny a negligence claim. The risk of obesity and concomitant health problems from eating fast food to excess is an obvious risk which the plaintiff should not have ignored and which he or she has voluntarily assumed. It is for the Australian Government, not the courts, to regulate the behaviour of the fast-food industry. The government should take action by requiring all major fast-food chains to label their products with nutritional information, and by imposing restrictions on the advertising of food to children.

Australia↗
PubMed2005

Are child eating patterns being transformed globally?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which child dietary patterns and trends are changing globally. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Diets of children 2 to 19 years of age were studied with nationally representative data from Russia and the United States, nationwide data from China, and regional data from metropolitan Cebu, Philippines. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were examined at several points in time to examine trends in calories consumed away from home, snacking behavior, and soft drink and modern fast food consumption. Urban-rural trends were compared. RESULTS: U.S. and Cebu youth consume more than one-third of their daily calories and a higher proportion of snack calories from foods prepared away from home. In contrast, away from home food consumption is minimal in Chinese and Russian children. U.S. and Cebu youth consume about one-fifth of their total daily energy from snacks, but snacks provide a much lower proportion of energy in Russia ( approximately 16%) and China (where snacks provide only approximately 1% of energy). Fast food plays a much more dominant role in the American diet ( approximately 20% of energy vs. 2% to 7% in the other countries), but as yet does not contribute substantially to children's diets in the other countries. Urban-rural differences were found to be important, but narrowing over time, for China and Cebu, whereas they are widening for Russia. DISCUSSION: This research suggests that globalization of the fast food and other modern food sectors is beginning to affect child eating patterns in several countries undergoing nutrition transition. However, the contribution of fast food and soft drinks to the diet of children remains relatively small in China, Russia, and Cebu, Philippines, relative to the United States.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The feasibility and utility of grocery receipt analyses for dietary assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility and utility of a simple data collection methodology for dietary assessment. DESIGN: Using a cross-sectional design, trained data collectors approached adults (approximately 20 - 40 years of age) at local grocery stores and asked whether they would volunteer their grocery receipts and answer a few questions for a small stipend (dollar 1). METHODS: The grocery data were divided into 3 categories: "fats, oils, and sweets," "processed foods," and "low-fat/low-calorie substitutions" as a percentage of the total food purchase price. The questions assessed the shopper's general eating habits (eg, fast-food consumption) and a few demographic characteristics and health aspects (eg, perception of body size). Statistical Analyses Performed. Descriptive and analytic analyses using non-parametric tests were conducted in SAS. RESULTS: Forty-eight receipts and questionnaires were collected. Nearly every respondent reported eating fast food at least once per month; 27% ate out once or twice a day. Frequency of fast-food consumption was positively related to perceived body size of the respondent (p = 0.02). Overall, 30% of the food purchase price was for fats, oils, sweets, 10% was for processed foods, and almost 6% was for low-fat/low-calorie substitutions. Households where no one was perceived to be overweight spent a smaller proportion of their food budget on fats, oils, and sweets than did households where at least one person was perceived to be overweight (p = 0.10); household where the spouse was not perceived to be overweight spent less on fats, oils, and sweets (p = 0.02) and more on low-fat/low-calorie substitutions (p = 0.09) than did households where the spouse was perceived to be overweight; and, respondents who perceived themselves to be overweight spent more on processed foods than did respondents who did not perceive themselves to be overweight (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: This simple dietary assessment method, although global in nature, may be a useful indicator of dietary practices as evidenced by its association with perceived weight status.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anatomical and histological changes in the alimentary tract of migrating blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla): a comparison among fed, fasted, food-restricted, and refed birds.

During northward migration, blackcaps that arrive to refuel at stopover sites in Israel's Negev Desert have reduced masses of organs that are important in food digestion and assimilation. We tested several predictions from the general hypothesis that smaller organs of digestion (small intestine and pancreas) and nutrient assimilation (liver) bring about a lower capacity to consume food and that the organs must be restored before blackcaps can feed and digest at a high rate. We used a fasting protocol to create a group of blackcaps with reduced intestine and liver mass (reduced by 45% and 36%, respectively) compared with controls fed ad lib. Because most of the small intestine's biochemical digestive capacity reside in enterocytes found on villi, we predicted and found that reduced intestinal mass in fasted blackcaps related mainly to changes in enterocytes rather than other cells and tissues such as nonabsorptive crypt cells or underlying muscle. Because migrating blackcaps that stop over to feed begin to increase in body mass only 2 d after arrival, we predicted and found a similar recovery period in blackcaps that were first fasted but then refed--the organ mass, structure, function, and ability to consume food was restored after 2 d of feeding. Another group of food-restricted blackcaps (fed at one-third ad lib. level) lost similar amounts of body mass as fasted blackcaps but had much greater capacity to consume food than fasted blackcaps, and so we predicted that they would exhibit little or no reduction in alimentary organs relative to controls fed ad lib. A surprising result was that, as in fasted blackcaps, in food-restricted blackcaps, the decreases in masses of small intestine, liver, and pancreas were proportionally greater than the decreases in body mass or in masses of nonalimentary organs (heart, pectoralis). Food restriction, like fasting, caused a decrease in amount of intestinal mucosa and an alteration in the phenotype of enterocytes. These results are thus not consistent with the general hypothesis, and although they can be rationalized by assuming that blackcaps fed ad lib. have excess digestive capacity, it may also be that the physiological process or processes limiting very high feeding rate lie elsewhere than in the digestive system.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

Measurement of plasma F2-isoprostanes as an index of lipid peroxidation does not appear to be confounded by diet.

F2-isoprostanes (F2-IPs) are formed by the free radical-catalysed oxidation of arachidonic acid. The measurement of F2-IPs, especially 8-epi-PGF2alpha, is recognised as a reliable marker of lipid peroxidation and is currently used as a sensitive index of oxidative stress in vivo. The majority of 8-epi-PGF2alpha present in the circulation occurs in association with lipoproteins which are synthesised in the liver. Since lipoproteins are derived from dietary fatty acids and triglycerides, it is possible that 8-epi-PGF2alpha generated in polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich food (during initial processing/packaging or during meal preparation) may become incorporated within these lipoproteins during synthesis. In view of the growing use of 8-epi-PGF2alpha as a marker of lipid peroxidation in vivo in nutritional or clinical studies, it is therefore important to investigate the possibility that the circulating levels measured could be confounded by the presence of 8-epi-PGF2alpha in food. In this study we evaluated the levels of 8-epi-PGF2alpha present in several popular fast-foods, using a combination of solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fast-foods were selected to represent meals prepared from vegetable-, chicken-, fish- and meat-derived ingredients. Total (free + esterified) 8-epi-PGF2alpha levels ranged from 0.09 to 0.73 pmol/g (122-644 pmol/mmol arachidonic acid), with the highest levels present in beef-derived meals. Further investigation of hamburgers and cheeseburgers revealed 8-epi-PGF2alpha levels of 1.83 +/- 0.24 and 0.84 +/- 0.03nmol/mmol arachidonic acid, respectively. Lower concentrations of vitamin E were found in the hamburgers. The postprandial contribution to plasma 8-epi-PGF2alpha levels following ingestion of 100 g portions of these fast-foods would therefore be expected to be no greater than the low picomole range, and would be unlikely to influence the normal endogenous levels of 8-epi-PGF2alpha and those produced during oxidative stress.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The role of race and poverty in access to foods that enable individuals to adhere to dietary guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: The increase in obesity and disparities in obesity and related chronic diseases across racial and ethnic and income groups have led researchers to focus on the social and environmental factors that influence dietary intake. The question guiding the current study was whether all communities have equal access to foods that enable individuals to make healthy dietary choices. METHODS: We conducted audits of community supermarkets and fast food restaurants to assess location and availability of food choices that enable individuals to meet the dietary guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, low-fat options). We used 2000 census data to assess the racial distribution and the percentage of individuals living below the federal poverty level in a defined area of St Louis, Mo. Spatial clustering of supermarkets and fast food restaurants was determined using a spatial scan statistic. RESULTS: The spatial distribution of fast food restaurants and supermarkets that provide options for meeting recommended dietary intake differed according to racial distribution and poverty rates. Mixed-race or white high-poverty areas and all African American areas (regardless of income) were less likely than predominantly white higher-income communities to have access to foods that enable individuals to make healthy choices. CONCLUSION: Without access to healthy food choices, individuals cannot make positive changes to their diets. If certain eating behaviors are required to reduce chronic disease and promote health, then some communities will continue to have disparities in critical health outcomes unless we increase access to healthy food.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2002

Fast Green FCF (Food Green 3) inhibits synaptic activity in rat hippocampal interneurons.

The effects of the certified food dye Fast Green FCF (Food Green 3) on miniature synaptic events in whole-cell voltage clamped hippocampal interneurons were examined. Fast Green FCF reduced the frequency, but did not affect the amplitude or kinetics, of miniature synaptic events in a dose-dependent manner. At 1 mg/ml (1.2 mM), the frequency was reduced to 21% of control. The half-maximum effective concentration was estimated to be 200 microg/ml (250 microM). In contrast, the dye Phenol Red neither affected frequency, amplitude nor kinetics of synaptic events. The results suggest that Fast Green FCF acts at a presynaptic locus, thereby inhibiting the release of neurotransmitter.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Obesity among female university students in the United Arab Emirates.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among female students from the United Arab Emirates University. A sample of 566 students was taken. Body weight and height were measured. The students were interviewed to collect data on age, home Emirate, obesity in childhood, obesity among parents, food intake between meals, the consumption of fast foods and physical activity. A student was considered overweight when the body weight was 110-120% of the reference weight of height and was considered obese when the body weight exceeds 120% of the reference value. The results show that 10.8% of the students were overweight and 30.6% were obese. While the prevalence of obesity increased with age, obesity among students was associated with obesity during childhood, the presence of obesity among one or both parents, food intake between meals and in particular fast foods. Limited physical exercise and long afternoon napping were important contributors to the development of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Changes in metabolism in response to fasting and food restriction in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus).

Many animals lower their resting metabolism (metabolic depression) when fasting or consuming inadequate food. We sought to document this response by subjecting five Steller sea lions to periods of: (1) complete fasting; or (2) restricting them to 50% of their normal herring diet. The sea lions lost an average of 1.5% of their initial body mass per day (2.30 kg/d) during the 9-14-day fast, and their resting metabolic rates decreased 31%, which is typical of a "fasting response". However, metabolic depression did not occur during the 28-day food restriction trials, despite the loss of 0.30% of body mass per day (0.42 kg/d). This difference in response suggests that undernutrition caused by reduced food intake may stimulate a "hunger response", which in turn might lead to increased foraging effort. The progressive changes in metabolism we observed during the fasts were related to, but were not directly caused by, changes in body mass from control levels. Combining these results with data collected from experiments when Steller sea lions were losing mass on low energy squid and pollock diets reveals a strong relationship between relative changes in body mass and relative changes in resting metabolism across experimental conditions. While metabolic depression caused by fasting or consuming large amounts of low energy food reduced the direct costs from resting metabolism, it was insufficient to completely overcome the incurred energy deficit.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

What are the key food groups to target for preventing obesity and improving nutrition in schools?

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in the contribution of foods and beverages to energy consumed in and out of school, and to compare consumption patterns between school canteen users and noncanteen users. DESIGN: Cross-sectional National Nutrition Survey, 1995. SETTING: Australia. SUBJECTS ON SCHOOL DAYS: A total of 1656 children aged 5-15 y who had weekday 24-h dietary recall data. RESULTS: An average of 37% of total energy intake was consumed at school. Energy-dense foods and beverages such as fat spreads, packaged snacks, biscuits and fruit/cordial drinks made a greater contribution to energy intake at school compared to out of school (P< or =0.01). Fast foods and soft drinks contributed 11 and 3% of total energy intake; however, these food groups were mostly consumed out of school. Fruit intake was low and consumption was greater in school. In all, 14% of children purchased food from the canteen and they obtained more energy from fast food, packaged snacks, desserts, milk and confectionary (P< or =0.05) than noncanteen users. CONCLUSIONS: : Energy-dense foods and beverages are over-represented in the Australian school environment. To help prevent obesity and improve nutrition in schools, biscuits, snack bars and fruit/cordial drinks brought from home and fast food, packaged snacks, and confectionary sold at canteens should be replaced with fruit and water.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Changes in childhood food consumption patterns: a cause for concern in light of increasing body weights.

Childhood obesity is currently at its highest: recent statistics show that 16% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 y are overweight [> or =95th percentile of body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) for age] and that an additional 14.3% are at risk of becoming overweight (> or =85th percentile but < 95th percentile of BMI for age). As children's body weights have increased, so has their consumption of fast foods and soft drinks. The proportion of foods that children consumed from restaurants and fast food outlets increased by nearly 300% between 1977 and 1996. Children's soft drink consumption has also increased during those years, and now soft drinks provide soft drink consumers 188 kcal/d beyond the energy intake of nonconsumers. These changes in food intakes among children may partly explain the rise in childhood obesity observed in the past few years. Although the mechanism of appetite regulation will not be explored in this report, it is hypothesized that the greater energy intakes in children who consume large amounts of soft drinks and fast foods are not compensated for by increased physical activity or decreased energy intakes. Furthermore, overweight and obesity in childhood may predispose persons to morbidity in adulthood. Blood pressure and fasting insulin and cholesterol concentrations are higher in overweight children than in normal-weight children. This review focuses on current food patterns and eating habits of children, in an attempt to explain their increasing BMI. In addition, a critical review of food service and political practices regarding food choices for children at school is included.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2005

McDonald's restaurants and neighborhood deprivation in Scotland and England.

BACKGROUND: Features of the local fast food environment have been hypothesized to contribute to the greater prevalence of obesity in deprived neighborhoods. However, few studies have investigated whether fast food outlets are more likely to be found in poorer areas, and those that have are local case studies. In this paper, using national-level data, we examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and the density of McDonald's restaurants in small census areas (neighborhoods) in Scotland and England. METHODS: Data on population, deprivation, and the location of McDonald's Restaurants were obtained for 38,987 small areas in Scotland and England (6505 "data zones" in Scotland, and 32,482 "super output areas" in England) in January 2005. Measures of McDonald's restaurants per 1000 people for each area were calculated, and areas were divided into quintiles of deprivation. Associations between neighborhood deprivation and outlet density were examined during February 2005, using one-way analysis of variance in Scotland, England, and both countries combined. RESULTS: Statistically significant positive associations were found between neighborhood deprivation and the mean number of McDonald's outlets per 1000 people for Scotland (p<0.001), England (p<0.001), and both countries combined (p<0.001). These associations were broadly linear with greater mean numbers of outlets per 1000 people occurring as deprivation levels increased. CONCLUSIONS: Observed associations between presence or absence of fast food outlets and neighborhood deprivation may provide support for environmental explanations for the higher prevalence of obesity in poor neighborhoods.

England↗
PubMed2007

NPY Y1 receptor is involved in ghrelin- and fasting-induced increases in foraging, food hoarding, and food intake.

Fasting triggers a constellation of physiological and behavioral changes, including increases in peripherally produced ghrelin and centrally produced hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY). Refeeding stimulates food intake in most species; however, hamsters primarily increase foraging and food hoarding with smaller increases in food intake. Fasting-induced increases in foraging and food hoarding in Siberian hamsters are mimicked by peripheral ghrelin, central NPY, and NPY Y1 receptor agonist injections. Because fasting stimulates ghrelin and subsequently NPY synthesis/release, it may be that fasting-induced increased hoarding is mediated by NPY Y1 receptor activation. Therefore, we asked: Can an Y1 receptor antagonist block fasting- or ghrelin-induced increases in foraging, food hoarding, and food intake? This was accomplished by injecting the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist 1229U91 intracerebroventricularly in hamsters fasted, fed, or given peripheral ghrelin injections and housed in a running wheel-based food delivery foraging system coupled with simulated-burrow housing. Three foraging conditions were used: 1) no running wheel access, free food, 2) running wheel access, free food, or 3) foraging requirement (10 revolutions/pellet) for food. Fasting was a more potent stimulator of foraging and food hoarding than ghrelin. Concurrent injections of 1229U91 completely blocked fasting- and ghrelin-induced increased foraging and food intake and attenuated, but did not always completely block, fasting- and ghrelin-induced increases in food hoarding. Collectively, these data suggest that the NPY Y1 receptor is important for the effects of ghrelin- and fasting-induced increases in foraging and food intake, but other NPY receptors and/or other neurochemical systems are involved in increases in food hoarding.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Obesity risk factors in the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) in Mexico City.

BACKGROUND: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) has promoted surveys in asthma and allergic diseases using standardized methodologies including validated questionnaires. Many items in the questionnaires have also been implied in the overweight and obesity etiology. OBJECTIVE: To describe the factors associated with obesity in subjects of 6-7 years and 13-14 years in the ISAAC survey in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were obtained from questionnaires of children participating in a phase 3b ISAAC survey. Logistic regression was used to determine the obesity risks factors. RESULTS: The factors related to obesity were weekly consumption of meat (+, positive relationship), vegetables, pasta, rice (+) and quartiles of birth weight (+) in boys of 6-7 years. Having suffered eczema at any time, weekly consumption of fruit, pasta, butter, nuts, potato (+), fast food (+), daily TV viewing (+) in girls of 6-7years. Having suffered eczema at any time, weekly consumption of pasta (+), butter, potato, weekly physical exercise in boys of 13-14 years; weekly consumption of pasta, margarine, milk, fast food (+), currently smoking in girls of 13-14 years. CONCLUSIONS: There were not common factor patterns for the different groups, birth weight, fast food, TV viewing and lack of exercise have been previously related to pediatric obesity. Asthma was not associated with a higher risk of obesity but medical history of eczema was associated with lower risk of obesity in the 6-7 years girls, and 13-14 years boys. The present study provides the bases for future epidemiological studies and gives some clues on possible public health actions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Food cravings, ethnicity and other factors related to eating out.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study factors related to eating patterns, specifically whether certain food cravings were associated with frequency of meals eaten away from home. METHODS: Data were collected from 277 patients from a family medicine residency office in Arizona. The survey questionnaire included information about the respondents' demographics, socioeconomic status, food cravings, as well as, number of meals eaten away from home. The food craving inventory included foods in four categories identified by factor analysis: fast foods, carbohydrates, sweets and snacks. Data on food cravings were factor analyzed and scale scores were derived. RESULTS: Being a Hispanic adult, working outside the home, and cravings for individual food items were related to eating more meals away from home. If the mother was working outside the home, the youngest child ate an average of two additional meals away from home each week. In general respondent's cravings for some specific food items were also related to higher numbers of meals their child ate away from home. Cravings for both fast food and snacks were positively correlated with adult eating out. None of the respondents' scale scores were related to child's eating away from home. Adults with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System insurance (AHCCCS--a form of Medicaid) and older adults were less likely to eat away from home compared to patients with other types of insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and food cravings are related to adult and child patterns of eating meals away from home.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Scopolamine-induced convulsions in food given fasted mice: effects of clonidine and tizanidine.

We recently reported that scopolamine pretreated mice fasted for 48 h developed clonic convulsions soon after they were allowed to eat ad libidum. Pretreatment with MK-801, the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, decreased the incidence of these convulsions. We suggested that a possible scopolamine-induced glutamatergic hyperactivity could account for these convulsions. Using alpha2-agonists, clonidine, which has been shown to inhibit glutamate release, and tizanidine, the present study was performed to find some additional data for the role of glutamate in the underlying mechanism of scopolamine-induced convulsions in food given fasted mice. Animals fasted for 48 h and pretreated (i.p.) with saline, clonidine (0.05, 0.10, 1 mg/kg) or tizanidine (0.10, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 mg/kg) were treated (i.p.) with either saline or scopolamine (3 mg/kg). Then 20 min later, they were allowed to eat ad libidum and were observed for 30 min for the incidence and onset of clonic convulsions. All doses of clonidine pretreatment completely suppressed (0%) scopolamine-induced clonic convulsions (75%). On the other hand, only 0.15 mg/kg tizanidine pretreatment significantly decreased (15%) the incidence of convulsions; however as well as 0.15 mg/kg, both 0.30 and 0.45 mg/kg tizanidine pretreatments significantly increased latency to the onset of convulsions.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clenbuterol, on muscle atrophy due to food deprivation in the rat.

The effects of a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clenbuterol, on body weight and protein metabolism of gastrocnemius muscle, heart, and liver were studied in rats subjected to 50% food restriction or fasting. Food restriction by 50% for 7 days caused a complete cessation of growth and reductions in the mass, protein, and RNA content of muscle, heart, and liver. The ratio of RNA to protein content was also suppressed in muscle and heart, but not in liver. Fasting for 3 days caused loss of body weight (BW), reductions in the mass, protein, and RNA content, and the ratio of RNA to protein of gastrocnemius muscle, heart, and liver. Oral administration of clenbuterol (approximately 0.6 mg/kg BW/d) to food-restricted animals did not affect BW, but did increase in the mass, protein, and RNA content, and the ratio of RNA to protein of gastrocnemius muscle. The protein content of heart was also increased. Twice-daily injections of clenbuterol (2 mg/kg body weight/d) to fasting animals had no effect on BW or the mass or protein content of gastrocnemius muscle or liver, but both parameters were stimulated in heart. The results indicate that the anabolic action of clenbuterol are maintained when substrate availability is reduced by food restriction, but this effect is lost during severe protein and energy deficit (fasting).

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2003

Time to eat: the relationship between the number of people eating and meal duration in three lunch settings.

We conducted an observational study of customers in three different types of lunch settings: a worksite cafeteria, a fast-food restaurant, and a moderately priced restaurant, and assessed the relationship between meal duration and the number of people eating at each table (group size). Results suggest a significant positive correlation between group size and meal duration, collapsing over eating settings. Analysis of variance yielded significant main effects of both eating setting and of group size, indicating that meal durations were longest in the moderately priced restaurant and shortest in the fast-food restaurant. An interaction between group size and eating setting indicates that the magnitude of the group size effect on meal duration differed in the different situations, with the effect of group size on duration being smallest, but still significant, in the fast-food setting compared with the other two settings.

Eating↗