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PubMed2005

Overweight and obesity associated with a missense polymorphism in fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).

BACKGROUND: The brain endogenous cannabinoid system modulates reward and craving pathways and consequently may affect body weight. A naturally occurring missense polymorphism in the gene encoding fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the primary enzyme for inactivation of endocannabinoids, is associated with problem drug use. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between the FAAH cDNA 385 A/A (P129T) polymorphism and overweight disorders in subjects of multiple ethnic backgrounds attending a medical screening clinic. SUBJECTS: A total of 2667 subjects of white, black and Asian ancestry were genotyped and stratified by a standardized clinic-based assessment of body mass index (BMI, weight in kilograms/(height in meters)(2) or kg/m(2)). METHODS: Subjects were genotyped for the FAAH cDNA 385 C --> A polymorphism using allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization methods by investigators blinded to all clinical information. BMI was calculated based on exact clinical measurements and World Health Organization ranges were used to stratify subjects. Statistical methods included the Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney U-test and multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The homozygous FAAH 385 A/A genotype was significantly associated with overweight and obesity in white subjects (P=0.005) and in black subjects (P=0.05) but not in a small group of Asians. The median BMI for all subjects was significantly greater in the FAAH 385 A/A genotype group compared to heterozygote and wild-type groups (P=0.0001). In white subjects, there was an increasing frequency of the FAAH 385 A/A genotype with increasing BMI categories of overweight (P=0.02) and obese (P=0.006) with the same trend in black subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a role for the FAAH 385 A/A missense polymorphism as an endocannabinoid risk factor in overweight/obesity and may provide indirect evidence to support cannabinoid antagonist treatment strategies in overweight disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Aerobic exercise, lipids and lipoproteins in overweight and obese adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in overweight and obese adults. DATA SOURCES: (1) Computerized literature searches, (2) cross-referencing from review and original articles, (3) hand searching, and (4) expert review of reference list. STUDY SELECTION: (1) randomized controlled trials, (2) aerobic exercise > or =8 weeks, (3) adult humans > or =18 y of age, (4) all subjects overweight or obese (BMI > or =25 kg/m(2)), (5) studies published in journal, dissertation, or master's thesis format, (6) studies published in the English-language, (7) studies published between 1 January 1955 and 1 January 2003, (8) assessment of one or more of the following lipid and/or lipoprotein variables: total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides (TG). DATA ABSTRACTION: Dual-coding by the first two authors (inter-rater agreement=0.96). RESULTS: In total, 13 studies representing 31 groups (17 exercise, 14 control), 613 subjects (348 exercise, 265 control), and up to 17 outcomes were available for pooling. Across all categories, random-effects modeling resulted in statistically significant improvements for TC (X +/- s.e.m., - 3.4+/-1.7 mg/dl, 95% CI, - 6.7 to - 0.2 mg/dl) and TG (X +/-s.e.m., - 16.1+/-7.3 mg/dl, 95% CI, - 30.2 to - 2.1 mg/dl) but not HDL (X +/- s.e.m., 1.6+/-0.8 mg/dl, 95% CI, - 0.02 to 3.2 mg/dl) or LDL (X +/-s.e.m., - 0.5+/-1.3 mg/dl, 95% CI, - 3.0 to 2.0 mg/dl). Changes were equivalent to improvements of 2% (TC), 11% (TG), 3% (HDL), and 0.3% (LDL). After conducting sensitivity analyses (each study deleted from the model once), only decreases in TG remained statistically significant. Increases in HDL were associated with increases in maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2 max) in ml/kg/min, r=0.75, P=0.002) and decreases in body weight (r=0.77, P<0.001), while decreases in LDL were associated with decreases in body weight (r=0.75, P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise decreases TG in overweight and obese adults. However, a need exists for additional randomized controlled trials in various overweight and/or obese populations above and beyond those included in our analysis.

Body Weight↗
PubMed2006

Overweight and obesity prevalence in children based on 6- or 12-month IOTF cut-points: does interval size matter?

The International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) recommends using age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-points for defining the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. These are given in both 6- and 12-month age intervals. Since the BMI-for-age curves are nonlinear, a degree of bias will be introduced when age intervals are wide. We aimed to quantify this bias in prevalence estimates in 2178 Australian children aged 4-12 years using 12- versus 6-month age intervals. Using the 12-month interval, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was underestimated by 1.4% compared to the 6-month interval estimates; however, this was age-dependent. It overestimated prevalence for 4-year olds, but underestimated it for older ages by up to 2.6%. Overweight prevalence was generally affected more than obesity prevalence. The use of different age intervals for IOTF cut-points introduces a small but systematic bias in prevalence estimates of overweight and obesity.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Eating as both coping and stressor in overweight control.

AIM: The aim of this study was to test a conceptual model proposing that stress evokes eating as coping, that eating then becomes a stressor in itself, and that a coping repertoire specific for overeating is required to moderate its yield of negative mood states. BACKGROUND: It is known that stressors may evoke eating as a coping response, and that some persons respond to lapses in their dietary regimen with depression and self-criticism. These two findings are linked within the context of a stress and coping paradigm that has in the past been applied to the study of substance abuse. METHOD: A survey of 79 women who reported overeating was implemented, including the administration of five instruments and a telephone interview. FINDINGS: Over 43% of the variance in the dependent variable, negative mood states, was explained by hierarchical regression of the independent variables, entered sequentially as exemplars of: social stressors, coping, degree of required calorie consumption, use of overweight control strategies and the interaction between the degree of required weekly calorie consumption and use of overweight control strategies. Significant contributions were made by variables denoting stressors, coping, and the interaction between degree of required calorie consumption and use of overweight control strategies. Of particular interest was the suggestion that for individuals who frequently use strategies to control overeating and overweight, eating may produce negative mood states. Individuals intensively involved in efforts to control their weight may be vulnerable for dysphoria, may require unique nursing interventions, and thus deserve continued study in this context.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and overweight may soon affect more than half of the population in some regions of the world and are associated with diabetes, hypertension and other diseases that cause morbidity, mortality and high health-care expenditure. No one approach, whether dietetic management, medication, or commercial weight loss programme, can alone solve the problem--all potential treatments need to be investigated and exploited. Among the herbal preparations known to non-western cultures are materials which may have applications in modulating physiological processes which influence gut motility, food intake and energy balance. One such mixed herbal preparation is 'YGD' containing Yerbe Maté (leaves of Ilex paraguayenis), Guarana (seeds of Paullinia cupana) and Damiana (leaves of Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca). AIMS: This study had two distinct aims: to determine the effect of a herbal preparation 'YGD' containing Yerbe Maté, Guarana and Damiana on gastric emptying; to determine the effect of the same preparation on weight loss over 10 days and 45 days and weight maintenance over 12 months. METHODS: Gastric emptying was observed using ultrasound scanning in seven healthy volunteers following YGD and placebo capsules taken with 420 mL apple juice. Body weight was observed before and after 10 days of treatment with three YGD capsules or three placebo capsules before each meal for 10 days in 44 healthy overweight patients attending a primary health care centre. Forty-seven healthy overweight patients entered a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel trial of three capsules of YGD capsules before each main meal for 45 days compared with three placebo capsules on body weight. Body weight was monitored in 22 patients who continued active (YGD capsules) treatment for 12 months. RESULTS: The herb preparation YGD was followed by a prolonged gastric emptying time of 58 +/- 15 min compared to 38 +/- 7.6 min after placebo (P = 0.025). Body weight reductions were 0.8 +/- 0.05 kg after YGD capsules compared to 0.3 +/- 0.03 kg after placebo capsules over 10 days, and 5.1 +/- 0.5 kg after PGD capsules compared to 0.3 +/- 0.08 kg after placebo over 45 days. Active treatment with YGD capsules resulted in weight maintenance of the group (73 kg at the beginning and 72.5 kg at the end of 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: The herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context. Maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole. The herbal preparation is thus shown to be one that significantly modulates gastric emptying. Further clinical studies with dietetic monitoring of energy intake, dietary quality, satiety ratings, body weight and body composition are now indicated, and examination of the active principles contained in the three herbal components may prove rewarding.

Caffeine↗
PubMed2003

Prediction of adult height and risk of overweight in females born small-for-gestational-age.

The risk of short adult stature in women born small-for-gestational age (SGA) was estimated in this prospective cohort study of 43 872 singleton females, born between 1973 and 1983, who gave birth to a child between 1989 and 1999. The risk of overweight in females born SGA, with and without short adult stature, was also studied. All data on birth characteristics and adult height and weight were obtained from the Swedish Birth Register. SGA-born females were divided into being born short only for gestational age [birth length < -2 standard deviation scores (SDS)], born light for gestational age (birthweight < -2 SDS) or being born both short and light for gestational age. Short adult stature was defined as adult height below -2 SDS. Among females, being born SGA (<-2 SDS in birth length or birthweight) was associated with increased risk of short adult stature, compared with being born appropriate for gestational age. The risk varied substantially within different subgroups of females born SGA: being born short for gestational age was associated with an almost fivefold increased risk [odds ratio (OR) 4.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.70, 6.47] of short adult stature, whereas being born light for gestational age was associated with an almost twofold increased risk [OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.43, 2.65]. Overall, females born SGA did not have increased risk of overweight compared with females with appropriate size at birth. However, among females born short for gestational age, short adult stature was associated with an increased risk of overweight in adulthood [OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.01, 3.12]. In conclusion, among females born SGA, of the birth characteristics, short birth length is associated with the highest increased risk of short adult stature. Spontaneous growth in height to normal adult stature reduced the risk of overweight in females born short for gestational age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Overweight is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in Chinese populations.

In the last decade of the 20th century, cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death in China, accounting for one-third of the total deaths. In comparison with western populations, the mean body weight or body mass index (BMI) of the Chinese population was lower, but showed an increasing trend. Whether the variation within lower levels of BMI or waist circumference was associated with other risk factors of cardiovascular disease, and whether they contribute independently to the risk of cardiovascular disease in the Chinese population, was investigated in this study. In keeping with a uniform study design, in each of 14 study populations at different geographical locations and with different characteristics, the incidence rates of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD) and the causes of death were monitored in approximately/= 100000 residents from 1991 to 1995 using the MONICA procedure. Risk factors were surveyed in a random cluster sample of 1000 subjects (35-59 years of age) from each population under surveillance using internationally standardized methods and a centralized system to ensure quality control. Among the risk factors, body weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences were measured. Cross-sectional stratified analyses were used to analyse the relationship of BMI (kg m(-2)) or waist circumference to other metabolic risk factors. Ten cohorts among the 14 study populations with 24734 participants were surveyed from 1982 to 1985 as a baseline for further study and were followed-up for 9 years taking the events of stroke, CHD and different causes of death as end-points. Cox regression models were used to explore the association of BMI with the relative risks of stroke, CHD and total death. The survey in 14 random samples with a total number of 19 741 subjects showed that the mean BMI (20.8-25.1) and waist circumference (67.8-86.7 cm) were much lower than those of western populations. There was, however, variation in the anthropometric measurements among populations within China. Thus, rates of overweight varied from 2.7% to 48.1% and obesity from 0% to 9.5% on the basis of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, but these values were lower than those found in western populations. Data from the 10 cohort samples compared with baseline data in the early 1980s showed that the mean BMIs increased significantly in eight populations during the early 1990s with the differences ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 kg m(-2). Despite the lower level of BMI and the lower rate of overweight, cross-sectional analyses showed that the prevalence of hypertension, high fasting serum glucose, high serum total cholesterol and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and their clustering were all raised with increases in BMI or waist circumference. The prospective cohort study showed that the BMI was one of the independent risk factors for stroke and CHD in Chinese populations. Hence, in a Chinese population characterized by lower levels of BMI and great variability in rates of overweight, variation of BMI was significantly related to the prevalence of other metabolic risk factors and their clustering. Overweight was one of the independent risk factors for stroke and CHD, both at population and individual levels. Given the increasing trends of BMI in the last 10 years, during the period of economic transition there is a need to encourage the population to adopt healthy dietary habits and to increase their physical activity. Health education and health promotion are important for the prevention and non-pharmacological therapy of cardiovascular disease in China.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Overweight and obesity: a major challenge for coronary heart disease secondary prevention in clinical practice in Europe.

AIMS: To evaluate the management of overweight and obesity in coronary artery disease patients in Europe. METHODS AND RESULTS: The EUROASPIRE Study is a multicentre epidemiological study involving nine European countries. The major cardiovascular risk factors and their management were collected from hospital records and measured at least 6 months after hospitalization during a specific interview. A total of 4863 consecutive records from men and women with coronary artery disease, under 71 years of age, were reviewed. Interviews were obtained for 3569 (73%). Body mass index was computed from height and weight noted in the medical records and measured at interview. Management of overweight and obesity was recorded at interview. At least 6 months after hospitalization, 75% of women and 80% of men were overweight and 33% of women and 23% of men were obese. Height noted in medical records was over-estimated, inducing an under-estimation of obesity in 16% of men and 33% of women. Advice from a nutritionist was offered in less than 20% of obese patients. The same trends were observed in all participating countries. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of overweight and obesity are high in coronary artery disease patients in Europe. A systematic measurement of height and weight is a prerequisite to a better management of this common modifiable risk factor.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Trends in smoking and overweight during pregnancy: prevalence, risks of pregnancy complications, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy is decreasing in some, but not all, developed countries, as the prevalence of overweight is increasing rapidly in most countries. During pregnancy, smoking increases the risk of placental abruption, but reduces the risk of preeclampsia, while overweight increases the risks of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. Both smoking and overweight are associated with dose-dependent increases in risks of stillbirth and very preterm birth (< 32 weeks). From a public health perspective, smoking and overweight today probably represent the most important modifiable risk factors for pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Which REE prediction equation should we use in normal-weight, overweight and obese women?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In our modern society, there is a growing and increasing prevalence of overweight, obesity and eating disorders and young female subjects frequently ask for nutritional counselling. Resting energy expenditure (REE) is essential to provide a sound diet to subjects seeking nutritional support. We perform a critical selection of accurate and reliable prediction equations employed on normal-weight, overweight and obese young women. METHODS: REE of 157 young women of Caucasian race (18-35 years)was measured with indirect calorimetry and was compared with the principal prediction equations (Harris and Benedict, Owen, Mifflin, WHO, Bernstein and Robertson and Reid). The statistical analysis used to compare measured and the predicted REE was paired t -test, +/-95% confidence interval and Bland and Altman method. The influence of weight loss on the prediction error was estimated in 31 subjects. An additional REE measurement was performed on patients who had lost >or=5% of the initial body weight due to a sound low-calorie diet. RESULTS: The equations more reliable in our study are Owen's equation in normal-weight subjects, Bernstein's equation in overweight subjects and Robertson and Reid's equation in obese subjects. Weight was a significant variable according to the stepwise regression analysis resulting in the following equation: 542.2 + 11.5 kg;R(2) : 0.59. Weight loss decisively increased the overestimation of the equations and only Owen's equation maintained the error of prediction within acceptable limits. CONCLUSIONS: The equation of Owen in normal weight, Bernstein in overweight and of Robertson and Reid in obese subjects should be chosen when we have to predict REE in young women. Due to metabolic adaptation occurring during therapeutic or spontaneous energy restriction, we suggest to use Owen' s equation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus in overweight European caucasian adolescents.

AIM: To present the clinical features of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in overweight European Caucasian children and adolescents. METHODS: We report the clinical characteristics of 16 non-syndromal overweight European Caucasian adolescents with T2DM (10 boys, 6 girls, SDS-BMI in median +2.8, range +1.6 to +3.4) treated in 5 specialised centres for obesity and diabetes. RESULTS: None of the adolescents manifested with ketoacidosis. 13 were asymptomatic (3 adolescents with polyuria), 12 showed features of metabolic syndrome (dyslipidaemia or hypertension), 8 demonstrated acanthosis nigricans and 12 had relatives with T2DM. 11 adolescents were extremely obese and all patients were pubertal. Mean age at diagnosis was 14.2 years (range 11.0 - 16.9). Median insulin was 19 microU/ml, insulin resistance index (HOMA) 8.5, C-peptide 2.3 ng/ml, HbA1c 6.9 %, fasting blood glucose 176 mg/dl and blood glucose at 2 hours with the oGTT 229 mg/dl at manifestation. Fasting blood glucose and HBA1c were in the normal range in 4 and 6 adolescents respectively, while oGTT always fitted the diagnosis of T2DM. CONCLUSION: Since T2DM occurred in Caucasian overweight adolescents and is frequently asymptomatic, it is essential that clinicians perform diagnostic procedures to identify T2DM in high-risk groups of overweight Caucasian adolescents (extreme obesity, features of metabolic syndrome, relatives with T2DM).

Acanthosis Nigricans↗
PubMed1998

Nutritional survey of children and adolescents with myelomeningocele (MMC): overweight associated with reduced energy intake.

UNLABELLED: In patients affected by MMC both neurological and systemic dysfunctions may cause obesity and malnutrition. The aim of this study is a nutritional survey, with anthropometric assessment and dietary evaluation, of patients affected by MMC. CLINICAL MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anthropometric assessment, dietary evaluation, and a comprehensive assessment of motor impairment degree (MID) were performed in 100 patients (54 males, 46 females) affected by MMC aged from 6 to 228 months (median 91 months). RESULTS: Fifty-five/100 children and adolescents with MMC were classified as normal or wellnourished and 5 at risk of malnutrition or malnourished, while another 40/100 patients were classified as marked overweight (weight-for-height or BMI above the 95th percentile). Deficit in height-for-age was observed in 34/100 patients; 12 of these patients presented with obesity. Dietary assessment evidenced that the majority of wellnourished patients (48/55) were consuming less than 80% or between 80% to 100% of recommended daily allowances (RDA) of energy. Overweight patients had an energy intake lower than their own RDA: 5 below 80%, 25 between 80% to 100%, and only 10 over 100% of RDA of energy for age and sex. No statistical correlation was found between nutritional status and MID, while there was a statistically significant difference between nutritional status and dietary intake (p = 0.005). DISCUSSION: Overweight is the most frequent nutritional disease in patients affected by MMC. Since in our experience on correlation with MID was found, we can speculate that childhood and adolescent obesity in patients with MMC occurs as a result of complex interactive factors, not strictly related to energy intake and MID. Nutritional surveillance and specific treatment programs for overweight MMC patients are essential to enhance their quality of life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The thermic effect of food in normal-weight and overweight pregnant women.

A defective thermic response to food may be an energy-sparing adaptation in both obesity and pregnancy. To evaluate the combined effect of obesity and pregnancy on postprandial thermogenesis, the thermic effect of food was assessed for a 240 min period following a high-carbohydrate meal and a typical mixed meal in nine normal-weight non-pregnant, eight overweight non-pregnant, eight normal-weight pregnant and six overweight pregnant women using indirect calorimetry. A test meal that provided 60% of each subject's measured daily requirement for basal metabolism was used. Pregnant women were studied during weeks 30-35 of gestation. Neither obesity nor pregnancy altered the thermic effect of food, although the response to the mixed meal was greater (P < 0.01) than that to the high-carbohydrate meal in all cases. The mean responses for the high-carbohydrate and mixed meals were 26.9 (SD 6.0) and 30.1 (SD 6.2) % baseline energy expenditure respectively, and 7.4 (SD 1.6) and 8.3 (SD 1.6) % of the meal energy load respectively. Obesity and pregnancy were associated with hyperinsulinaemia (P < 0.005) following both test meals, suggesting that postprandial thermogenesis was not altered by insulin resistance in this group. The incremental glucose response was elevated (P < 0.001) in the pregnant women following both test meals; overweight women tended to have a greater incremental glucose response following the high-carbohydrate meal, but it was not significant (P = 0.065). These results do not provide evidence of an impaired thermic response to food in either overweight or third trimester pregnant women.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

BMI does not accurately predict overweight in Asian Indians in northern India.

Asian Indians are at high risk for the development of atherosclerosis and related complications, possibly initiated by higher body fat (BF). The present study attempted to establish appropriate cut-off levels of the BMI for defining overweight, considering percentage BF in healthy Asian Indians in northern India as the standard. A total of 123 healthy volunteers (eighty-six males aged 18--75 years and thirty-seven females aged 20--69 years) participated in the study. Clinical examination and anthropometric measurements were performed, and percentage BF was calculated. BMI for males was 21.4 (sd 3.7) kg/m(2) and for females was 23.3 (sd 5.5) kg/m(2). Percentage BF was 21.3 (sd 7.6) in males and 35.4 (sd 5.0) in females. A comparison of BF data among Caucasians, Blacks, Polynesians and Asian ethnic groups (e.g. immigrant Chinese) revealed conspicuous differences. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a low sensitivity and negative predictive value of the conventional cut-off value of the BMI (25 kg/m(2)) in identifying subjects with overweight as compared to the cut-off value based on percentage BF (males >25, females >30). This observation is particularly obvious in females, resulting in substantial misclassification. Based on the ROC curve, a lower cut-off value of the BMI (21.5 kg/m(2) for males and 19.0 kg/m(2) for females) displayed the optimal sensitivity and specificity, and less misclassification in identification of subjects with high percentage BF. Furthermore, a novel obesity variable, BF:BMI, was tested and should prove useful for interethnic comparison of body composition. In the northern Indian population, the conventional cut-off level of the BMI underestimates overweight and obesity when percentage BF is used as the standard to define overweight. These preliminary findings, if confirmed in a larger number of subjects and with the use of instruments having a higher accuracy of BF assessment, would be crucial for planning and the prevention and treatment of various obesity-related metabolic diseases in the Asian Indian population.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Anthropometry of women of childbearing age in Morocco: body composition and prevalence of overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of obesity and body fat distribution of Moroccan women of childbearing age, using a panel of anthropometric measurements. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional survey conducted in 1995 in an agricultural community, El Jadida province of Morocco. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences and triceps, biceps, subscapular and supra-iliac skinfold thicknesses were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), sum of all and sum of trunk skinfold thicknesses were determined. SUBJECTS: In total, 1269 women aged 15-49 years from urban and rural areas were surveyed. RESULTS: The means of all anthropometric measurements including body fat were higher in urban than in rural women and increased with age. Trunk fat contributed 50% of total fat. Globally, 4.7% of women were underweight (BMI<18.5 kg m(-2)), 35.2% were overweight or obese (BMI> or =25 kg m(-2)), 10.1% were obese (BMI> or =30 kg m(-2)) and 16.8% had central obesity (WHR>0.85). The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in the urban than in the rural area. Underweight prevalence decreased with age, whereas that of overweight and obesity increased. All anthropometric parameters adjusted for age increased with the increase of BMI and WHR. CONCLUSIONS: Although undernutrition is still prevalent, there is an alarming prevalence of overweight and obesity in Moroccan women of childbearing age. The results indicate a shift in this country from the problem of dietary deficiency to the problem of dietary excess, and alert one to the necessity of establishing an intervention to prevent obesity-related diseases. It is necessary to address which of the anthropometric variables studied here is the best predictor of obesity-related diseases in this population.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2005

Overweight in urban, low-income, African American and Hispanic children attending Los Angeles elementary schools: research stimulating action.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to establish the prevalence and severity of nutritional problems among low-income children of elementary school age in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in order to collect baseline data to inform policy-makers. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of children in 14 elementary schools was conducted from January to June, 1998. Nine hundred and nineteen children were measured and interviewed. The planning, design and data analysis were carried out in collaboration with key LAUSD policy-makers. RESULTS: More than 35% of the sample was classified as being at risk for overweight or overweight according to body mass index. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of children who are at risk for overweight or who are overweight in Los Angeles. This finding has triggered the development of multiple school-based intervention programmes.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1981

The salience of overweight in personality characterization.

It is argued that the stigma attached to overweight or obesity often causes overweight to operate as a "master status." College students (N = 223) were asked to write stories about male and female stimulus characters who varied only in body image. It was hypothesized that subjects writing about overweight stimulus characters would be more likely than those writing about normal weight characters to (a) write sad or negative stories, (b) create unpleasant characters, and (c) describe their characters with more negative personality characteristics on a semantic differential personality scale. Support was found for part (a) and (b) of the hypothesis but not part (c). The relationships were stronger when the stimulus was a picture than when it was a descriptive paragraph and when the stimulus character was female rather than male. There was indication that female subjects were more likely to associate an overweight body image with an unpleasant personality than were male subjects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Overweight and obesity in affluent school children of Punjab.

In the present cross-sectional study, an attempt has been made to report the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school-going children of the affluent families of Punjab. A total of 1000 children (490 boys and 510 girls) were measured for height and weight. Overweight and obesity were assessed using age and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points. In the present study, 12.24% boys and 14.31% girls were overweight, and 5.92% boys and 6.27% girls were obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the affluent school children of Punjab was as high or higher as in some developed countries.

Body Mass Index↗