bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic Dissection of Neuronal Pathways Controlling Energy Homeostasis
Authors: Balthasar Nina 
Published: April 2008

AbstractRecent research has identified a number of genes playing critical roles in the central regulation of energy homeostasis. Subsequently, models of the neurocircuitry regulating energy balance have been suggested, although their physiological relevance remains mostly untested. Using the Cre/loxP system, we can now genetically dissect these neurocircuits and establish the specific roles of these genes in small neuronal subpopulations. Here we focus on two receptors shown to be critical in the central regulation of energy homeostasis: leptin (LepR) and melanocortin‐4 receptors (MC4R). Mice and humans deficient in either leptin or melanocortin signaling are severely obese. A prominent model of leptin action places the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and in particular arcuate proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, at the center stage of energy balance regulation. By deleting LepR specifically from POMC neurons in mice, we showed that LepR on POMC neurons are required but not solely responsible for leptin's regulation of body weight homeostasis. Thus, LepR on other neurons must also be critically important in leptin‐mediated regulation of body weight homeostasis. Data from MC4R‐deficient mice have shown that MC4Rs regulate both sides of the energy intake/energy expenditure balance. Our recent experiments used MC4R‐deficient mice with restored MC4R expression only in the paraventricular hypothalamus and a subpopulation of amygdala neurons. We showed that MC4Rs in the paraventricular hypothalamus and/or amygdala are sufficient to control food intake but that MC4Rs elsewhere control energy expenditure, thereby discovering the novel concept of functional and anatomical divergence of MC4Rs.
Validity of Hand‐to‐Foot Measurement of Bioimpedance: Standing Compared with Lying Position
Authors: Rush Elaine C. , Crowley Jennifer , Freitas Ismael F. , Luke Amy 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To assess the reliability of the standing measurement of hand‐to‐foot bioimpedance compared with measurements made in the lying position.Research Methods and Procedures: In 205 volunteers 6 to 89 years of age, 111 males and 94 females from six ethnic groups, effects of posture, time, and age on hand‐to‐foot resistance were studied over a range of body size. The effect of time in a position on resistance was also recorded in a small subset (n = 10), and repeat measurements over 3 days at the same time of the day were recorded in another subset (n = 12).Results: Lying impedance was consistently higher than standing, with the relationship (resistance lying/resistance standing) for the children (5 to 14 years) being 1.031, progressing to a ratio of 1.016 in those >60 years. The time spent static in either position did change resistance measurements—a decrease of up to 9 Ω (mean 5 Ω, 1.0%) over 10 minutes of standing and an increase of up to 7 Ω (mean 3 Ω, 0.7%) with lying.Discussion: In the field, measurements of hand‐to‐foot bioimpedance can be made in the standing position, and, with appropriate adjustment, previously validated recumbent equations can be used. Given that errors in the measurement of height and weight also affect the reliability of the derivation of body fat from bioelectrical conductance, the errors that may arise from a more practical standing measurement rather than lying are minimal.
Web‐based Weight Management Programs in an Integrated Health Care Setting: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Rothert Kendra , Strecher Victor J. , Doyle Laurie A. , Caplan William M. , Joyce Jodi S. , Jimison Holly B. , Karm Lya M. , Mims Adrienne D. , Roth Mark A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To assess the efficacy of a Web‐based tailored behavioral weight management program compared with Web‐based information‐only weight management materials.Research Methods and Procedures: Participants, 2862 eligible overweight and obese (BMI = 27 to 40 kg/m2) members from four regions of Kaiser Permanente's integrated health care delivery system, were randomized to receive either a tailored expert system or information‐only Web‐based weight management materials. Weight change and program satisfaction were assessed by self‐report through an Internet‐based survey at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up periods.Results: Significantly greater weight loss at follow‐up was found among participants assigned to the tailored expert system than among those assigned to the information‐only condition. Subjects in the tailored expert system lost a mean of 3 ± 0.3% of their baseline weight, whereas subjects in the information‐only condition lost a mean of 1.2 ± 0.4% (p < 0.0004). Participants were also more likely to report that the tailored expert system was personally relevant, helpful, and easy to understand. Notably, 36% of enrollees were African‐American, with enrollment rates higher than the general proportion of African Americans in any of the study regions.Discussion: The results of this large, randomized control trial show the potential benefit of the Web‐based tailored expert system for weight management compared with a Web‐based information‐only weight management program.
Increased Exercise Capacity after Surgically Induced Weight Loss in Morbid Obesity
Authors: Serés Luis , Lopez‐Ayerbe Jordi , Coll Ramón , Rodriguez Oriol , Vila Juan , Formiguera Xavier , Alastrue Antonio , Rull Miguel , Valle Vicente 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To investigate the effects of surgically induced weight loss on exercise capacity in patients with morbid obesity (MO).Research Methods and Procedures: A prospective 1‐year follow‐up study was carried out, with patients being their own controls. A symptom‐limited cardiopulmonary exercise stress test was performed in 31 MO patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2) before and 1 year after undergoing bariatric surgery.Results: At 1 year after surgery, weight was reduced from 146 ± 33 to 95 ± 19 kg (p < 0.001), and BMI went from 51 ± 4 to 33 ± 6 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). After weight loss, obese patients performed each workload with lower oxygen consumption, heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, and ventilatory volume (p < 0.001). This reduced energy expenditure allowed them to increase the duration of their effort test from 13.8 ± 3.8 to 21 ± 4.2 minutes (p < 0.001). Upon finishing the exercise, MO patients before surgery were able to reach only 83% of their age‐predicted maximal heart rate, and their respiratory exchange ratio was 0.87 ± 0.06. After weight loss, those values were 90% and 1 ± 0.08, respectively (p < 0.01). When we compared the peak O2 pulse corrected by fat free mass before and after surgery, no significant differences between the groups were found.Discussion: After surgically induced weight loss, MO patients markedly improved their exercise capacity. This is due to the fact that they were able to perform the external work with lower energy expenditure and also to increase cardiovascular stress, optimizing the use of cardiac reserve. There were no differences in cardiac function before and after surgery.
Neurobiology of Exercise
Authors: Dishman Rod K. , Berthoud Hans‐Rudolf , Booth Frank W. , Cotman Carl W. , Edgerton V. Reggie , Fleshner Monika R. , Gandevia Simon C. , Gomez‐Pinilla Fernando , Greenwood Benjamin N. , Hillman Charles H. , Kramer Arthur F. , Levin Barry E. , Moran Timothy H. , Russo‐Neustadt Amelia A. , Salamone John D. , van Hoomissen Jacqueline D. , Wade Charles E. , York David A. , Zigmond Michael J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractVoluntary physical activity and exercise training can favorably influence brain plasticity by facilitating neurogenerative, neuroadaptive, and neuroprotective processes. At least some of the processes are mediated by neurotrophic factors. Motor skill training and regular exercise enhance executive functions of cognition and some types of learning, including motor learning in the spinal cord. These adaptations in the central nervous system have implications for the prevention and treatment of obesity, cancer, depression, the decline in cognition associated with aging, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, ischemic stroke, and head and spinal cord injury. Chronic voluntary physical activity also attenuates neural responses to stress in brain circuits responsible for regulating peripheral sympathetic activity, suggesting constraint on sympathetic responses to stress that could plausibly contribute to reductions in clinical disorders such as hypertension, heart failure, oxidative stress, and suppression of immunity. Mechanisms explaining these adaptations are not as yet known, but metabolic and neurochemical pathways among skeletal muscle, the spinal cord, and the brain offer plausible, testable mechanisms that might help explain effects of physical activity and exercise on the central nervous system.
Adiponectin Receptors in Human Adipose Tissue: Effects of Obesity, Weight Loss, and Fat Depots
Authors: Rasmussen Maria S. , Lihn Aina S. , Pedersen Steen B. , Bruun Jens M. , Rasmussen Mads , Richelsen Bjørn 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To investigate the presence and regulatory properties of the adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, in human adipose tissue (AT) and in isolated human adipocytes.Research Methods and Procedures: The effect of obesity, weight loss, and gender on expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 was investigated in subcutaneous AT. The influence of fat distribution on these receptors was investigated in paired samples of subcutaneous and omental AT. Gene expression of these receptors was quantified by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction.Results: AdipoR1 mRNA levels were ∼10‐fold higher than adipoR2 in both AT fragments and in isolated adipocytes. AdipoR1 expression was lower in AT from obese subjects (p < 0.05) compared with that from normal‐weight subjects, and AdipoR1 displayed a negative correlation with BMI (r = −0.53, p < 0.01). In obese subjects, weight loss (∼12 kg) increased AdipoR1 expression by 80% in AT (p < 0.01). Concerning regional differences, AdipoR1 showed significantly lower expression in omental AT than in subcutaneous AT (p < 0.01). No gender difference was observed in the expression of these receptors. In human preadipocyte cultures, AdipoR1 expression was not induced during the differentiation process, whereas AdipoR2 was induced by 5‐fold (p < 0.05).Discussion: AdipoR1 is highly expressed in human AT, indicating that adiponectin may have biological effects in AT in an autocrine/paracrine manner. AdipoR1 expression in AT is reduced in obese subjects and is increased after weight loss. Thus, it can be suggested that adiponectin might have reduced biological effects in AT due to low levels of adiponectin receptors in obese subjects and in omental adipocytes, which may further aggravate the negative metabolic effect of low levels of adiponectin characterizing the obese state.
The Influence of One's Own Body Weight on Implicit and Explicit Anti‐fat Bias
Authors: Schwartz Marlene B. , Vartanian Lenny R. , Nosek Brian A. , Brownell Kelly D. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: This study examined the influence of one's own body weight on the strength of implicit and explicit anti‐fat bias.Research Methods and Procedure: Implicit and explicit anti‐fat attitudes and obesity stereotypes were assessed among a large online sample (N = 4283) that included representation from across the weight spectrum (from underweight to extremely obese). Respondents also indicated their willingness to make a range of personal sacrifices in exchange for not being obese.Results: All weight groups exhibited significant anti‐fat bias, but there was an inverse relation between one's own weight and the level of observed bias. Thinner people were more likely to automatically associate negative attributes (bad, lazy) with fat people, to prefer thin people to fat people, and to explicitly rate fat people as lazier and less motivated than thin people. However, when the lazy stereotype was contrasted with another negative attribute (anxious), obese and non‐obese people exhibited equally strong implicit stereotyping. Finally, a substantial proportion of respondents indicated a willingness to endure aversive life events to avoid being obese. For example, 46% of the total sample indicated that they would rather give up 1 year of life than be obese, and 30% reported that they would rather be divorced than be obese. In each case, thinner people were more willing to sacrifice aspects of their health or life circumstances than were heavier people.Discussion: Although the strength of weight bias decreased as respondents’ body weight increased, a significant degree of anti‐fat bias was still evident among even the most obese group of respondents, highlighting the pervasiveness of this bias.
The Perceived Effectiveness of Continuing Care and Group Support in the Long‐Term Self‐Help Treatment of Obesity
Authors: Latner Janet D. , Stunkard Albert J. , Wilson G. Terence , Jackson Mary L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Obesity is increasingly considered a chronic disease requiring continuing care, but professional long‐term treatment for most patients is not available. This study examined treatment recipients’ perception of the effectiveness of different components of a group self‐help, continuing‐care treatment program for obesity.Research Methods and Procedures: Members (n = 120) and volunteer leaders (n = 66) of a self‐help, continuing‐care treatment program of previously demonstrated effectiveness (mean treatment duration, 40.6 months; mean weight lost, 14.1 kg) rated how helpful and effective they found the various therapeutic strategies used by this program. The strategies examined were continuing care, group support, behavior therapy, motivational enhancement strategies involving positive reinforcement, and motivational enhancement strategies involving punishment.Results: The single most highly valued aspect of treatment was the provision of continuing care, followed by group support. Greater success at achieving one's goal weight was associated with perceptions of greater effectiveness of the program's strategies overall (r = 0.219, p < 0.005), of continuing care (r = 0.225, p < 0.005), and of positive reinforcement strategies (r = 0.223, p < 0.01). Participants who had successfully attained their goal weight perceived behavior therapy strategies as more effective than did participants who had not reached their goal weight [t (170) = 2.93, p < 0.005].Discussion: The high ratings given to continuing care and group support strategies indicate the acceptability of supportive self‐help treatment for obesity administered over the long term. The findings suggest that continuing care and group support should be made available to participants in the self‐help treatment of obesity.
Obesity and Sexual Quality of Life
Authors: Kolotkin Ronette L. , Binks Martin , Crosby Ross D. , Østbye Truls , Gress Richard E. , Adams Ted D. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectives: Reduced sexual quality of life is a frequently reported yet rarely studied consequence of obesity. The objectives of this study were to 1) examine the prevalence of sexual quality‐of‐life difficulties in obese individuals and 2) investigate the association between sexual quality of life and BMI class, sex, and obesity treatment—seeking status.Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects consisted of 1) 500 participants in an intensive residential program for weight loss and lifestyle modification (BMI = 41.3 kg/m2), 2) 372 patients evaluated for gastric bypass surgery (BMI = 47.1 kg/m2), and 3) 286 obese control subjects not seeking weight loss treatment (BMI = 43.6 kg/m2). Participants completed the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life‐Lite, a measure of weight‐related quality of life. Responses to the four Sexual Life items (assessing enjoyment, desire, performance, and avoidance) were analyzed by BMI, sex, and group.Results: Higher BMI was associated with greater impairments in sexual quality of life. Obese women reported more impairment in sexual quality of life than obese men for three of four items. Gastric bypass surgery candidates reported more impairment in sexual quality of life than residential patients and controls for most items. In general, residential patients reported levels of impairment greater than or equal to controls.Discussion: Obesity is associated with lack of enjoyment of sexual activity, lack of sexual desire, difficulties with sexual performance, and avoidance of sexual encounters. Sexual quality of life is most impaired for women, individuals with Class III obesity, and patients seeking gastric bypass surgery.
Chronic Dietary Vitamin A Supplementation Regulates Obesity in an Obese Mutant WNIN/Ob Rat Model
Authors: Jeyakumar Shanmugam M. , Vajreswari Ayyalasomayajula , Giridharan Nappan V. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To understand the possible role of chronic dietary high vitamin A supplementation in body weight regulation and obesity using a novel WNIN/Ob obese rat model developed at the National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences of National Institute of Nutrition, India.Research Methods and Procedures: Thirty‐six 7‐month‐old male rats of lean, carrier, and obese phenotypes were broadly divided into two groups; each group was subdivided into three subgroups consisting of six lean, six carrier, and six obese rats and received diets containing either 2.6 or 129 mg vitamin A/kg of diet for 2 months. Body weight gain, food intake, and weights of various organs were recorded. Adiposity index and BMI were calculated. Serum and liver retinol and brown adipose tissue (BAT)‐uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) mRNA expression levels were quantified.Results: Chronic feeding of high but non‐toxic doses of vitamin A through diet significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) body weight gain, adiposity index, and retroperitoneal white adipose tissue mass (without affecting food intake) in obese rats compared with their lean and carrier counterparts. In general, vitamin A treatment significantly improved hepatic retinol stores (P ≤ 0.05) in all phenotypes without affecting serum free retinol levels. However, augmented BAT‐UCP1 expression was observed only in carrier and obese rats (whose basal expression was low).Discussion: Our data suggest that chronic dietary vitamin A supplementation at high doses effectively regulates obesity in obese phenotype of the WNIN/Ob strain, possibly through up‐regulation of the BAT‐UCP1 gene and associated adipose tissue loss. However, in vitamin A‐supplemented lean and carrier rats, changes in adiposity could not be related to BAT‐UCP1 expression levels.
Obesity Disease Management Opportunities and Barriers
Authors: Sidorov Jaan E. , Fitzner Karen 
Published: April 2008

AbstractDisease management, a system of coordinated health care interventions and communications for chronically ill populations, relies on patient education and case management to engage individuals in the management of their condition. Disease management also aims to enhance the quality of interactions between doctors and patients and advance evidence‐based medicine. Because these programs’ interventions frequently include helping individuals who suffer comorbidities associated with obesity to reduce their BMI, adaptation of disease management to populations with obesity seems a viable option. A major barrier for implementing disease management for obesity, however, is the lack of proven return on investment, which limits health plan and disease management organization interest. Purchaser demand may overcome this reluctance. Further research is needed to objectively test whether disease management interventions would be clinically effective for obese populations, produce positive financial outcomes for insurers, and enhance workplace productivity.
Dihydrotestosterone Treatment Results in Obesity and Altered Lipid Metabolism in Orchidectomized Mice
Authors: Movérare‐Skrtic Sofia , Venken Katrien , Andersson Niklas , Lindberg Marie K. , Svensson Johan , Swanson Charlotte , Vanderschueren Dirk , Oscarsson Jan , Gustafsson Jan‐Åke , Ohlsson Claes 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To determine the role of androgen receptor (AR) activation for adipose tissue metabolism. Sex steroids are important regulators of adipose tissue metabolism in men. Androgens may regulate the adipose tissue metabolism in men either directly by stimulation of the AR or indirectly by aromatization of androgens into estrogens and, thereafter, by stimulation of the estrogen receptors. Previous studies have shown that estrogen receptor α stimulation results in reduced fat mass in men.Research Methods and Procedures: Orchidectomized mice were treated with the non‐aromatizable androgen 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β‐estradiol, or vehicle. VO2, VCO2, resting metabolic rate, locomotor activity, and food consumption were measured. Furthermore, changes in hepatic gene expression were analyzed.Results: DHT treatment resulted in obesity, associated with reduced energy expenditure and fat oxidation. In contrast, DHT did not affect food consumption or locomotor activity. Furthermore, DHT treatment resulted in increased high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol and triglyceride levels associated with markedly decreased 7α‐hydroxylase gene expression, indicating decreased bile acid production.Discussion: We showed that AR activation results in obesity and altered lipid metabolism in orchidectomized mice. One may speculate that AR antagonists might be useful in the treatment of obesity in men.
The Effect of Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Fat Distribution and Adipocytokines
Authors: Beulens Joline W.J. , van Beers Roderik M. , Stolk Ronald P. , Schaafsma Gertjan , Hendriks Henk F.J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To investigate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on fat distribution, adipose tissue secreted proteins (adiponectin and resistin), and insulin sensitivity in healthy middle‐aged men with abdominal obesity.Research Methods and Procedures: Thirty‐four healthy men between 35 and 70 years old, with increased waist circumference (≥94 cm), participated in a randomized, controlled cross‐over design trial. They drank 450 mL of red wine (40 grams of alcohol) or 450 mL of de‐alcoholized red wine daily during 4 weeks. At the end of each treatment period, fat distribution, adipose tissue proteins, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were measured.Results: Subcutaneous and abdominal fat contents and body weight did not change after 4 weeks of moderate alcohol consumption. Liver fat (quip index) was slightly higher after consumption of red wine (6.8 ± 0.1) as compared with de‐alcoholized red wine (6.5 ± 0.1) but not significantly different (p = 0.09). Plasma adiponectin concentration increased (p < 0.01) to 6.0 ± 0.1 μg/mL after 28 days of moderate alcohol consumption compared with de‐alcoholized red wine (5.5 ± 0.1 μg/mL). Serum resistin concentrations and ISI were not affected by alcohol consumption. Percentage changes in serum resistin correlated significantly with changes in ISI (r = −0.69, p < 0.01), whereas this correlation was not present between changes in plasma adiponectin and ISI (r = 0.31, p = 0.22).Discussion: Moderate alcohol consumption for 4 weeks is not associated with differences in subcutaneous and abdominal fat contents or body weight. Thus, the 10% increase in adiponectin was not associated with a change in fat distribution or body weight change.