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The relationship between perceived evaluation of weight and treatment outcome among individuals with binge eating disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore among individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) perceptions of others' evaluation of their weight-related behavior and affect aroused by such. METHOD: Prior to treatment for binge eating and weight loss, 47 subjects diagnosed with BED completed a questionnaire designed to assess the perceived evaluation of an understanding and a critical individual in both positive and negative weight-related situations and subjects' affective responses to being evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects exhibited characteristic patterns of affective response to perceived evaluation of their weight-related behavior, with negative situations and critical evaluators evoking greater degrees of negative affect. Negative affect in response to perceived evaluation was associated with poor outcome with weight loss but not binge eating. However, this finding was due to the correlation between negative affect in response to perceived evaluation and global severity of psychopathology (SCL-90-R). DISCUSSION: The results suggest that psychopathology in this population predicts poor outcome with weight loss, and further that independent of its relationship with depression, psychopathology is strongly associated with a tendency to experience negative affect in response to perceived evaluation by others of weight-related behavior.

Adult↗

Does size really matter? Weight and values in public health.

The medical community has long regarded obesity and overweight as serious health risks, and popular culture reflects these concerns. A focus on body weight reduction motivates many contemporary exercise and diet practices, especially among women. Yet, there is significant evidence that those risks have been exaggerated, that weight loss regimens may be more detrimental to health than moderate obesity, and that pressure to be thin leads to disordered eating and unhealthy lifestyle choices. This paper examines the problematic manners in which some national health policies regard the problems of overweight and obesity. It contends that concepts of aesthetics, grounded in 19th-century beliefs about the body, guide clinicians to emphasize measurement of the body in health assessment at potential cost to individual wellness.

Australia↗

Perceived body image and eating behavior in young adults with cystic fibrosis and their healthy peers.

Treatment aimed at achieving an ideal nutritional status is an integral part of the management of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Emphasis is continually placed upon dietary intake and weight. The effects of this on eating behavior and self-perceptions are unclear. This work compared male and female CF adults with a healthy male and female control population with regard to (a) clinical variables, (b) actual, perceived, and desired body shape/body mass index (BMI), and (c) body satisfaction, eating behaviors and attitudes, and self-esteem. Clinical data were recorded for 221 adults with CF and 148 healthy controls. All subjects completed BMI Charts (perception of body weight/BMI), the Eating Attitudes Test, and scales of body satisfaction and self-esteem. CF patients had poorer lung function and nutritional status than controls. Control males accurately perceived their body shape/BMI and were content with it, whereas CF males viewed their BMI as greater than it actually was and desired to be much heavier. Control females viewed their body shape/BMI as less than it actually was and desired to be even slimmer, in comparison with CF females, who perceived their BMI as less than it actually was but were happy with their perceived shape/weight. Control subjects, especially females, dieted to a greater extent and were more preoccupied with food (with binge eating and intended vomiting) than CF patients. Conversely, those with CF reported greater pressure from others to eat than did controls. More problems with food/eating behavior were associated with less body satisfaction and reduced self-esteem. In comparison with a healthy control population, the perceptions and behaviors of CF adults relating to eating, weight, and body image are not abnormal. Indeed, females with CF have fewer problems than their healthy peers.

Adolescent↗

Why are babies weaned early? Data from a prospective population based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The recommended age of introduction of solids food to the diet of infants (weaning) has recently been increased in the UK to 6 months, but most babies are still weaned before the age of 4 months. AIMS: To examine what predicts the age of weaning and how this relates to weight gain and morbidity using data from a population based cohort. METHODS: Parents of 923 term infants born in a defined geographical area and recruited shortly after birth were studied prospectively using postal questionnaires, weaning diaries, and routinely collected weights, of whom 707 (77%) returned data on weaning. RESULTS: The median age of first weaning solids was 3.5 months, with 21% commencing before 3 months and only 6% after 4 months of age. Infants progressed quickly to regular solids with few reported difficulties, even when weaned early. Most parents did not perceive professional advice or written materials to be a major influence. The strongest independent predictors of earlier age at weaning were rapid weight gain to age 6 weeks, lower socioeconomic status, the parents' perception that their baby was hungry, and feeding mode. Weight gain after 6 weeks was unrelated to age of weaning. Babies weaned before 3 months, compared to after 4 months, had an increased risk of diarrhoea. CONCLUSIONS: Social factors had some influence on when weaning solids were introduced, but the great majority of all infants were established on solids before the previously recommended age of 4 months, without difficulty. Earlier weaning was associated with an increased rate of minor morbidity.

Age Factors↗

The effect of (-)-hydroxycitrate on energy intake and satiety in overweight humans.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the effects of 2 weeks of daily administration of HCA on energy intake and satiety in overweight men and women. DESIGN: A 6-week randomized placebo-controlled single-blinded cross-over trial. SUBJECTS: consumed three times daily for 2 weeks 100 ml tomato juice (placebo) and, separated by a 2 week wash-out period, 100 ml tomato juice with 300 mg HCA.Subjects: Twelve males and 12 females (body mass index 27.5+/-2.0 kg/m(2); age 37+/-10 y). MEASUREMENTS: After 2 weeks, 24 h energy intake (EI), appetite profile, hedonics, mood and possible change in dietary restraint were assessed in the laboratory restaurant. Prevention of degradation and bio-availability was documented. RESULTS: Twenty-four-hour EI was decreased by 15-30% (P<0.05) with HCA treatment compared to placebo, without changes in the appetite profile, dietary restraint, mood, taste perception and hedonics, while body weight tended to decrease (P=0.1). CONCLUSION: HCA treatment reduced 24 h EI in humans while satiety was sustained.

Adult↗

The octadecanoic pathway: signal molecules for the regulation of secondary pathways.

Plant defense against microbial pathogens and herbivores relies heavily on the induction of defense proteins and low molecular weight antibiotics. The signals between perception of the aggression, gene activation, and the subsequent biosynthesis of secondary compounds are assumed to be pentacylic oxylipin derivatives. The rapid, but transient, synthesis of cis-jasmonic acid was demonstrated after insect attack on a food plant and by microbial elicitor addition to plant suspension cultures. This effect is highly specific and not caused by a number of environmental stresses such as light, heavy metals, or cold or heat shock. Elicitation of Eschscholtzia cell cultures also led to a rapid alkalinization of the growth medium prior to jasmonate formation. Inhibition of this alkalinization process by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine also inhibited jasmonate formation. The induction of specific enzymes in the benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid pathway leading to the antimicrobial sanguinarine was induced to a qualitatively and quantitatively similar extent by fungal elicitor, methyl jasmonate, and its linolenic acid-derived precursor 12-oxophytodienoic acid. It is herein proposed that a second oxylipid cascade may exist in plants starting from linoleic acid via 15,16-dihydro-12-oxophytodienoic acid to 9,10-dihydrojasmonate. Experiments with synthetic trihomojasmonate demonstrated that beta-oxidation is not a prerequisite for biological activity and that 12-oxophytodienoic acid and derivatives are most likely fully active as signal transducers. Octadecanoic acid-derived compounds are essential elements in modulating the synthesis of antibiotic compounds and are thus integral to plant defense.

Animals↗

Is obesity stigmatizing? Body weight, perceived discrimination, and psychological well-being in the United States.

We investigate the frequency and psychological correlates of institutional and interpersonal discrimination reported by underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese I, and obese II/III Americans. Analyses use data from the Midlife Development in the United States study, a national survey of more than 3,000 adults ages 25 to 74 in 1995. Compared to normal weight persons, obese II/III persons (body mass index of 35 or higher) are more likely to report institutional and day-to-day interpersonal discrimination. Among obese II/III persons, professional workers are more likely than nonprofessionals to report employment discrimination and interpersonal mistreatment. Obese II/III persons report lower levels of self-acceptance than normal weight persons, yet this relationship is fully mediated by the perception that one has been discriminated against due to body weight or physical appearance. Our findings offer further support for the pervasive stigma of obesity and the negative implications of stigmatized identities for life chances.

Adult↗

The family context of an intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes in high-risk teens.

PURPOSE: This research describes the family context of eating and mealtime patterns in young adolescents at high risk for type 2 diabetes and the implications for preventing this disease. METHODS: Ten families, each consisting of a child and one parent, participated in individual, semistructured interviews that focused on family eating patterns. Topics included meal schedules, food preparation, family eating patterns, school eating patterns, and perception of the child's weight. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using focused summaries and thematic analysis methods. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: child and family eating patterns, perspectives on obesity, perspectives on weight control, and health concerns. Family eating patterns were often inconsistent, and few healthy eating models were available at home or school. Obesity was not always seen as a negative factor, particularly by the youth. Weight-control efforts were sporadic, typically unsuccessful, and consisted primarily of intermittent increases in physical activity. Parents did not actively participate in their child's weight-control efforts. CONCLUSIONS: Effective interventions for obesity and prevention of type 2 diabetes in youth should include parents in both cognitive and behavioral strategies.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Audiologic assessment of extremely low birth weight infants: a preliminary report.

The aim of this study was to assess all relevant aspects of auditory function, including acuity and perception, of a cohort of extremely low birth weight (< 1000 g) children who survived to 8 years of age; 42 of the 59 consecutive survivors born over a 4-year period from January 1, 1977, had a full auditory assessment. Of the 42 children, 4 (9.5%) had a sensorineural hearing impairment, 5 (11.9%) had a conductive hearing impairment, 24 (57.1%) had figure/ground differentiation problems, and 20 (47.6%) had a short-term auditory memory problem. The 4 children with sensorineural hearing impairments had had significantly higher maximum concentrations of bilirubin in the newborn period (median 167 mumol/L vs 138 mumol/L and had required more intensive care; at 8 years of age they were significantly disadvantaged in verbal ability. The 5 children with conductive hearing impairments were not significantly different on any perinatal or other 8-year outcome variables. The proportion with figure/ground differentiation problems (57.1%) was significantly higher than in a normative population (11.7%, chi 2 = 24.2). Extremely low birth weight children with figure/ground differentiation problems were more likely to be restless in the classroom (45.0% [9/20]) than those without these problems (16.7% [2/12]), but the difference was not statistically significant (chi 2 = 2.7). Children with short-term auditory memory problems had significantly higher maximum bilirubin concentrations in the newborn period (median 152 mumol/L vs 137.5 mumol/L). At 8 years of age they had significantly reduced intelligence and reading ability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Audiometry↗

Principles of oscillatory brain dynamics and a treatise of recognition of faces and facial expressions.

The research of event-related oscillations is one of fast-growing fields in neuroscience. In this study, a theory of the "whole-brain-work," which can be useful for functional interpretation of brain oscillations, is presented together with its application to recognition of faces and facial expressions. Following results are summarized: (1) Mechanisms leading to the perception of the grandmother picture are manifested with parallel activations of neural assemblies in different cortical locations and as superposition of delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma oscillations. Known and anonymous faces can be differentiated by means of oscillatory brain dynamics. Percepts cannot be localized in a given specific region. The differentiation of facial expression induces significant change in alpha and theta oscillation. (2) While the importance of fMRI in object recognition is clear, this method has low temporal resolution. Our results shows that multiple brain oscillations clearly differentiate the known and unknown faces with varied degrees of selective-responsiveness in a short time window between 0 and 800 ms, thus completing and implementing the analysis of percepts in the dynamic window and indicating a broader distribution at the cortex. (3) The presented evidence of selectively distributed multiple oscillations for differentiation of facial percepts is in conceptual accordance with the "selectively distributed processing" in neurocognitive networks of Goldman-Rakic, Fuster, and of Mesulam. The large-scale approach of several investigators is also confirmed with the new results. On facial stimuli, a given location can show a considerable selected activation, but the formation of percepts is manifested by multiple oscillations with differentiated weight in large neural populations. (4) The most important feature of the comparison of percepts of grandmother and anonymous faces is the existence of a variety of significant differences in delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma responses between the anonymous and grandmother faces in frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital sites. (5) The brain response is a construct in a multi-dimensional state manifested by amplitudes of oscillatory responses, topological coordinates, and changes in the time axis following presentation of the percepts including delays and prolongations, coherence between locations. Only a new metrics embracing all these parameters can be representative for dynamics of functionality in the brain. The conceptual aspects of this new scope are explained in the presented theory.

Animals↗

The effects of color of lighting on the behavior and production of meat chickens.

Male and female meat chickens were reared for 28 d in blue, green, red, or white light at 30 lx and the effects on tissue growth and bird behavior recorded. Birds reared in red or white light were more active, as expressed by greater walking activity in the white light treatment and by greater floor-pecking, wing-stretching, and aggression in the red light treatment. In these two treatments, gut contents and skin and bone weights were reduced. After 28 d, the preference of the birds for blue, red, or green lights was determined, as well as residual effects of rearing color on bird growth. In the first few hours of the test, the birds chose to remain in their rearing color, except that the birds reared in red light quickly showed a preference for blue light. After 1 wk, birds in all treatments showed a preference for blue light, except that the birds reared in blue light showed some preference for a novel color, green. It was concluded that blue or green light is preferable to red or white light for broilers because it keeps the birds calmer and is chosen by the birds themselves.

Animal Husbandry↗

Daughters and mothers exercising together (DAMET): a 12-week pilot project designed to improve physical self-perception and increase recreational physical activity.

This paper presents the results of a 12-week single-sex, family-based physical activity intervention grounded in Social Cognitive Theory. Mother/daughter pairs and triads (n = 20) attended physical activity and classroom sessions twice weekly. Physiological data (VO2peak, height, and weight), psychological data (physical self-perception profile subscale scores), information about physical activity participation (PAP, d x wk(-1)) and qualitative impressions (QI) of the program were collected pre- and post-intervention. PAP and QI were also collected 6-months after completing the intervention. Although no significant increases in physical activity were reported, significant improvements in perceived sport competence, physical condition, and strength and muscularity were reported over time. The social cognitive theory, as used to plan this physical activity intervention, offered a promising theoretical perspective for facilitating improved physical self-perception in adolescent girls and their mothers.

Adolescent↗

Maternal perception of body size as a determinant of infant adiposity in an African-American community.

For 10 weeks, a sample of 105 postpartum African-American clients of three inner-city clinics, were recruited for this nine-month prospective study. Data from 54 mother-infant dyads were used to explore the associations between maternal perceptions of infant body size and the development of adiposity at six- to seven months of age. Correlations, chi-square, paired t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Quantitative assessments of BMI using weight and length measures and qualitative assessments of body size perceptions using questionnaires, silhouette, and ranking scales were conducted. At six- to seven months of age, 40% of the infants were above the 85th percentile and 31% were above the 95th percentile of the NCHS standards for weight for height. Maternal perception of infant body size was positively correlated with early introduction of nonmilk foods. Significantly, more infants perceived as small were introduced to nonmilk foods earlier, compared to infants perceived as average, p=0.03. Additionally, it was observed that the earlier the introduction of nonmilk foods, the greater the infant's BMI at six- to seven months of age (r=0.59, p=0.02). Finally, one-third of mothers were obese with BMI's exceeding 30, and 31.1% were overweight with BMI's between 25 and 30.

Adult↗

Weight change, perceived health status and mortality in middle-aged British men.

The association between weight change over a 5-year period, the subsequent perception of health and the mortality during a 4-year follow-up period has been examined in a prospective study of 7735 middle-aged British men. There were 357 deaths from all causes. Self-assessment of health status was considered as a potential guide to whether weight loss was intended or involuntary. Irrespective of weight change those who reported poor or fair health had a more than two-fold increase in death rate compared to those who reported good or excellent health. Considerable weight gain (greater than 10%) was associated with high rates of cardiovascular disease regardless of health perception, although this was most marked in those who perceived poor or fair health. Moderate weight gain was of little importance except in those who regarded their health as poor or fair. Weight loss was associated with increased death rates from cancer regardless of health perception, although the rates were highest in those who perceived poor or fair health. This study emphasizes that weight loss is a potentially serious symptom even in men who report good health. Assessment of weight change and of perception of health status are both of value and could be used in standard health enquiries to monitor health status in individuals and the community.

Adult↗

Clueless: parental knowledge of risk behaviors of middle school students.

OBJECTIVES: To determine parental knowledge of risk behaviors of their middle-school-aged children and to compare that knowledge with behaviors reported by the students. DESIGN: Confidential surveys were administered to 194 poor and middle-class middle school students and their parents. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Compare parental awareness and student admission of risk behaviors. RESULTS: Students and parents agree on the prevalence of some risk behaviors, including use of a seat belt, use of a bicycle helmet, arrest by police, use of diet pills, and attempts to lose weight through dieting and exercise. Small differences in perception, which were not statistically significant but which could be defined as trends, were found relating to the prevalence of dieting, exercising, or vomiting to lose weight. Statistically significant differences were found in the perceptions of the prevalence of the following risk behaviors: carrying a weapon to school (P<.001), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or cocaine use (P=.02), suicide attempt (P<.001), sexual intercourse (P<.001), alcohol use (P<.001), tobacco use (P<.001), and marijuana use (P<.001). In many cases, parents dramatically underestimated the prevalence of these behaviors in students. CONCLUSIONS: Parents are largely ignorant of the extent to which their adolescents are involved in major risk behaviors. Educating parents in this area encourages them to support comprehensive health education curricula and other preventive programs in schools and communities.

Adolescent↗

Judgments about length, weight, and width covariation as a function of intelligence and depth of processing in elementary school children: a preliminary study.

28 elementary school students were assessed for intelligence, then blindfolded and asked to explore objects manually before rendering judgments about how weight and width were related to length. Exploration time for each object was hypothesized to reflect the level of processing engaged in by the participants. It was also predicted that more intelligent children would produce the most accurate judgments. Inconsistent with the predictions, analysis indicated that children of higher intelligence did not produce the most accurate judgments. However, longer exploration times reflected a tendency to refrain from endorsing a negative correlation between length and width. Depth of processing is, therefore, presumed to aid in reasoning about covariation.

Child↗

Perception of health status and quality of life of extremely low-birth weight survivors. The consumer, the provider, and the child.

In neonatal intensive care, parents make important clinical management decisions in conjunction with health professionals. Little information is available in the literature, however, on whether the preferences of health care professionals, parents, and children differ for the resulting health outcomes. This article compares the preferences of these stakeholders for four to five hypothetical health states that are common to extremely low-birth weight infants. The findings have conceptual and practical implications for decision making in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Adolescent↗

Beyond psychophysics: the need for a cognitive engineering approach to setting limits in manual lifting tasks.

The classical psychophysical approach to setting limits in manual lifting tasks is discussed in view of experimental procedures used, non-linearity of human perception of load heaviness, and the related experimental outcomes. The results of two studies investigating the human assessment of load acceptability and safety are presented. The first study compares the classical concept of the maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL) to the alternative concept of the maximum safe weight of lift (MSWL). The second study utilizes the linguistic magnitude estimation (LME) method to mathematically model human assessment of four categories of lifted loads, including the concepts of acceptable, safe, not-too-heavy, and too-heavy loads for continuous lifting. It is shown that the concepts of the lifted load acceptability and safety are non-linear, and can be modelled with great accuracy using the third degree polynomials. This study also introduces and investigates the concept of the load indifference in assessment of load heaviness, and shows that lack of a cognitive benchmark introduces inconsistency in subjects' perception of load acceptability and safety compared to the concept of too-heavy load for continuous lifting. It is concluded that a new research approach to manual lifting tasks based on cognitive engineering is needed to improve the quality of research methodologies currently utilized in this field. This unexplored area of research should lead to greater understanding of human capacities and limitations in manual lifting tasks in the context of cultural and linguistic anthropology.

Adult↗