bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lifestyle Intervention According to General Recommendations Improves Glucose Tolerance
Authors: Mensink Marco , Blaak Ellen E. , Corpeleijn Eefje , Saris Wim H. , de Bruin Tjerk W. , Feskens Edith J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Changing dietary and physical activity habits has the potential to postpone or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. However, it needs to be assessed whether moderate interventions, in agreement with current guidelines for the general population, are effective. We evaluated the impact of a 2‐year combined diet and physical activity intervention program on glucose tolerance in Dutch subjects at increased risk for developing diabetes.Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects with glucose intolerance were randomly assigned to either the lifestyle intervention group (INT) or control group (CON). The INT received regular dietary advice and was stimulated to increase their physical activity. The CON received a brief leaflet about healthy diet and increased physical activity. Primary outcome measure was the change in glucose tolerance.Results: In total, 88 subjects completed 2 years of intervention (40 subjects in the INT, 48 subjects in the CON, mean BMI 29.4 kg/m2). Subjects in the INT reduced their body weight, waist circumference, and (saturated) fat intake and improved their aerobic capacity. Two‐hour plasma glucose concentration declined from 8.7 to 8.0 mM in the INT and rose from 8.6 to 9.4 mM in the CON (p < 0.01). Subjects adherent to both the diet and exercise intervention showed the largest reduction in 2‐hour glucose levels.Discussion: Our results showed that a lifestyle intervention program according to general recommendations improves glucose tolerance, even in a less obese and more physical active population. Furthermore, our results underscore the importance of combining diet and physical activity to improve glucose tolerance and insulin resistance.
The Changing Environment and Population Obesity in the United States
Authors: Jeffery Robert W. , Utter Jennifer 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe recent unexpected increases in the prevalence of obesity in the United States are widely agreed to be the result of changes in environmental conditions. This paper reviews the available data from diverse sources on environmental factors and obesity. Coverage includes descriptive data on temporal trends in the environment, cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies of the association between environmental exposures and body weight, and experimental trials that have related environmental factors thought to be potentially important in influencing energy intake and expenditure and body weight. Over the period covered by the “obesity epidemic,” a variety of environmental factors have changed dramatically. Some would seem to favor increased body weight (e.g., increased availability of convenience foods and increased use of automobiles and televised entertainment), and others would seem to favor decreased body weight (e.g., a lower‐fat food supply and the increased availability of some forms of physical activity). Definitive conclusions about the relative contributions of energy intake and expenditure to increasing body weight or about the contribution of specific environmental exposures to increasing body weight are far from clear. Increased sophistication in methods for making valid inferences from existing environmental data would be helpful. Even more important, given the urgency of the problem, is experimental research on the question of what environmental changes would be necessary to reverse the obesity epidemic.
Self‐Regulation of Energy Intake in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: Is It Feasible?
Authors: Lowe Michael R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe prevalence of obesity in developed countries has been steadily increasing. Comprehensive lifestyle change programs for the treatment of obesity have garnered considerable empirical support, but most weight lost in lifestyle interventions is regained within several years. The outcome of obesity prevention programs has also been disappointing. One reason for this state of affairs may be that most weight control programs are based on an assumption of equipotentiality of their intervention components. That is, obesity prevention and treatment programs consist of a multitude of behavioral, cognitive, nutritional, physical activity, and interpersonal techniques, all of which are assumed to be of roughly equal importance in weight control. However, there is considerable evidence that our evolutionary heritage has made most humans highly sensitive to the availability and nature of food in the environment. It therefore may be unrealistic to expect that enhancing self‐regulatory skills will be sufficient to overcome the combined influence of our appetitive predispositions and the obesigenic environment. However, there is growing evidence that weight control interventions that focus on the availability, structure, composition, and portion size of foods in the diet improve long‐term weight control. Concerted efforts to change the availability and nature of foods at both the individual and population level may hold considerable promise for the treatment and prevention of obesity.
Plasma Leptin and Blood Pressure in Men: Graded Association Independent of Body Mass and Fat Pattern
Authors: Barba Gianvincenzo , Russo Ornella , Siani Alfonso , Iacone Roberto , Farinaro Eduardo , Gerardi Maria Clara , Russo Paola , Della Valle Elisabetta , Strazzullo Pasquale 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: The role of leptin in the association between body mass, central adiposity, and blood pressure (BP) is controversial. This study evaluated the relationship between leptin and BP in relation to body mass index (BMI) and fat distribution in a large sample of untreated male adults.Research Methods and Procedures: The study population was made up of 457 untreated male employees of the Olivetti factory in Naples. Plasma leptin, complete anthropometry, BP, and relevant biochemical variables were measured.Results: Log‐transformed plasma leptin levels were directly associated with BMI (r = 0.661, p < 0.001) and waist circumference (r = 0.630; p < 0.001). Leptin also correlated with systolic (r = 0.258) and diastolic (r = 0.277) BP (p < 0.001). The association between leptin and BP was maintained after accounting for age, BMI (or waist circumference), log‐insulin, and serum creatinine (p < 0.01); this association was stronger than that with BMI. Logistic regression analysis showed that an increased prevalence of hypertension (BP ≥ 140 and/or 90 mm Hg) was associated with high plasma leptin levels when controlling for age and waist circumference (odds ratio, 1.99; 95%CI, 1.06 to 3.72) or for age and BMI (odds ratio, 1.92; 95%CI, 1.02 to 3.61).Discussion: A graded positive relationship between plasma leptin levels and BP was observed in this sample of untreated male adults. This association was independent of age, BMI, abdominal adiposity, and fasting plasma insulin. Moreover, elevated plasma leptin concentrations were associated with greater probability of hypertension, again independently of potential confounders.
Reduced PDK4 Expression Associates with Increased Insulin Sensitivity in Postobese Patients
Authors: Rosa Giuseppina , Di Rocco Paola , Manco Melania , Greco Aldo V. , Castagneto Marco , Vidal Hubert , Mingrone Geltrude 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to verify whether changes in PDK4 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle in formerly obese subjects who underwent malabsorptive bariatric surgery [bilio‐pancreatic diversion (BPD)] might be related to insulin sensitivity improvement, and if these possible modifications might correlate with a reduction of the intramyocytic lipid level.Research Methods and Procedures: Six obese women (body mass index 46.6 ± 8.2 kg/m2) were enrolled in the study. Body composition, euglycemic‐hyperinsulinemic clamp and muscle biopsies for skeletal muscle lipid analysis, and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction were performed before and 3 years after BPD.Results: The average weight loss observed after surgery was ∼42%. Increased glucose uptake was accompanied by a significant decrease of PDK4 mRNA (R2 = 0.71, p < 0.001). The amounts of intramyocytic triglycerides correlate directly with PDK4 mRNA (R2 = 0.87, p = 0.005) and inversely with glucose uptake values (R2 = 0.75, p < 0.001).Discussion: Our results support the concept that a reduced tissue availability of fatty acids consequent to a massive lipid malabsorption influences glucose metabolism acting through the regulation of PDH complex. In fact, as shown in animals, a higher level of FFA availability is likely to induce overexpression of PDK4 also in humans.
Emotional Eating, Alexithymia, and Binge‐Eating Disorder in Obese Women
Authors: Pinaquy Sandrine , Chabrol Henri , Simon Chantal , Louvet Jean‐Pierre , Barbe Pierre 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To investigate the relationships between alexithymia and emotional eating in obese women with or without Binge Eating Disorder (BED).Research Methods and Procedures: One hundred sixty‐nine obese women completed self‐report questionnaires, including the Beck Depression Inventory, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Stress Perceived Scale, the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The presence of BED, screened using the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns, was confirmed by interview.Results: Forty obese women were identified as having BED. BED subjects and non‐BED subjects were comparable in age, body mass index, educational level, and socioeconomic class. According to the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, BED subjects exhibited higher depression, anxiety, perceived stress, alexithymia scores, and emotional and external eating scores than non‐BED subjects. Emotional eating and perceived stress emerged as significant predictors of BED. The relationships between alexithymia and emotional eating in obese subjects differed between the two groups according to the presence of BED. Alexithymia was the predictor of emotional eating in BED subjects, whereas perceived stress and depression were the predictors in non‐BED subjects.Discussion: This study pointed out different relationships among mood, alexithymia, and emotional eating in obese subjects with or without BED. Alexithymia was linked to emotional eating in BED. These data suggest the involvement of alexithymia in eating disorders among obese women.
Birth Weight, Adult Body Composition, and Subcutaneous Fat Distribution
Authors: te Velde Saskia J. , Twisk Jos W.R. , van Mechelen Willem , Kemper Han C.G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectives: To investigate if birth weight is related to both body mass index (BMI) and distribution of subcutaneous fat at adult age.Research Methods and Procedures: A 9‐year longitudinal study was performed in 229 subjects (192 women) with ages ranging from 27 to 36 years. Birth weight was retrieved by a questionnaire, and adult weight, height, skinfold thicknesses, and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) were repeatedly measured at mean ages 27, 29, 31, and 36 years. BMI, sum of four skinfolds (S4S), the ratio between two truncal skinfolds and S4S (SS/S4S), and the ratio between WHR and the cross‐sectional area of the left thigh were calculated with the available data.Results: The adjusted model showed that in women, birth weight was significantly negatively related to adult S4S [β = −5.211; (−9.768 to −0.654)], waist circumference [β = −1.449; (−2.829 to −0.069)], and SS/S4S ratio [β = −3.579; (−5.296 to −1.862)]. In men, a significant negative association was observed between birth weight and adult WHR [β = −1.096; (−2.092 to −0.100)] only. Other relationships showed, although not significantly, the same negative trend, namely that lower birth weight is related to higher adult body fat mass (S4S) and a more truncal subcutaneous fat distribution (SS/S4S). No associations were found between birth weight and either adult BMI or the cross‐sectional area of the thigh.Discussion: Lower birth weight is, in both adult men and women, related to a higher adult subcutaneous fat mass and a more truncal distribution of subcutaneous fat, indicating a higher risk for obesity.
Relationship of Neck Circumference to Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Ben‐Noun Liubov (Louba) , Laor Arie 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To determine a relationship between neck circumference (NC) and risk factors for coronary heart disease by evaluating the components of the metabolic syndrome.Research Methods and Procedures: The study group included 561 subjects (231 men and 330 women) who had no known major medical conditions and were not receiving any medication therapy. The subjects were those who attended a family health clinic for any reason between 1998 and December 2001. Main indicators studied included NC, waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, body mass index, blood pressure, and lipoprotein, glucose, and uric acid levels.Results: Pearson's correlation coefficients indicated a significant association between NC and body mass index (men, r = 0.71; women, r = 0.81; each, p < 0.0001), waist circumference (men, r = 0.75; women, r = 0.79; each, p < 0.0001), waist‐to‐hip ratio (men, r = 0.56; women, r = 0.63; each, p < 0.0001), total cholesterol (men, r = 0.50; women, r = 0.66; each, p < 0.0001), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (men, r = 0.42; women, r = 0.60; each, p < 0.0001), triglycerides (men, r = 0.48; women, r = 0.49; each, p < 0.0001), glucose (men, r = 0.21, p < 0.001; women, r = 0.44; p < 0.0001), uric acid (men, r = 0.50, p < 0.0001; women, r = 0.60, p < 0.001), and systolic (men, r = 0.53; women, r = 0.69; each, p < 0.0001), and diastolic (men, r = 0.55; women, r = 0.65; each, p < 0.0001) blood pressure.Discussion: Higher NC is correlated positively with the factors of the metabolic syndrome; therefore, it is likely to increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
Weight Goals in a College‐age Population
Authors: Anderson Drew A. , Lundgren Jennifer D. , Shapiro Jennifer R. , Paulosky Caroline A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Although a growing body of literature has found unrealistic weight loss goals to be common among older, primarily female, subjects, little is known about weight loss goals of younger adults.Research Methods and Procedures: Three hundred seventy‐nine college students had their height and weight taken and reported their “goal,” “dream,” “happy,” “acceptable,” and “disappointed” weights. A series of 2 (gender) × 2 (nonoverweight vs. overweight) ANOVAs were conducted with both absolute weight goals and percentage of weight loss needed to obtain those goals as dependent variables.Results: When examined in terms of absolute weight goals, women generally had lower body mass index (BMI) goals than men, and nonoverweight participants had lower BMI goals than overweight participants. Surprisingly, most overweight participants would accept a weight loss that would still place them in the overweight BMI range. When examined in terms of percentage loss needed to reach those goals, only overweight women chose goal and dream weights that would require a loss greater than can be expected from nonsurgical weight‐loss treatments, and all overweight participants chose happy and acceptable weights within 15% of current weight.Discussion: Participants in this study had generally reasonable weight‐loss goals, and even the most extreme weight loss goals were much more moderate than those found in previous studies. These results are surprising given the extreme social pressures for thinness facing young adults. Future studies should examine the variables that influence selection of goal weights and how goal weights affect actual dieting behavior.
DRF 2655: A Unique Molecule that Reduces Body Weight and Ameliorates Metabolic Abnormalities
Authors: Vikramadithyan Reeba K. , Hiriyan Jagadheshan , Suresh Juluri , Gershome Cynthia , Babu Ravi K. , Misra Parimal , Rajagopalan Ramanujam , Chakrabarti Ranjan 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Preclinical evaluation of DRF 2655, a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and PPARγ agonist, as a body‐weight lowering, hypolipidemic and euglycemic agent.Research Methods and Procedures: DRF 2655 was studied in different genetic, normal, and hyperlipidemic animal models. HEK 293 cells were used to conduct the reporter‐based transactivation of PPARα and PPARγ. To understand the biochemical mechanism of lipid‐, body‐weight‐, and glucose‐lowering effects, activities of key β‐oxidation and lipid catabolism enzymes and gluconeogenic enzymes were studied in db/db mice treated with DRF 2655. 3T3L1 cells were used for adipogenesis study, and HepG2 cells were used to study the effect of DRF 2655 on total cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis using [14C]acetate and [3H]glycerol.Results: DRF 2655 showed concentration‐dependent transactivation of PPARα and PPARγ. In the 3T3L1 cell‐differentiation study, DRF 2655 and rosiglitazone showed 369% and 471% increases, respectively, in triglyceride accumulation. DRF 2655 showed body‐weight lowering and euglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in various animal models. db/db mice treated with DRF 2655 showed 5‐ and 3.6‐fold inhibition in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6‐phosphatase activity and 651% and 77% increases in the β‐oxidation enzymes carnitine palmitoyltransferase and carnitine acetyltransferase, respectively. HepG2 cells treated with DRF 2655 showed significant reduction in lipid synthesis.Discussion: DRF 2655 showed excellent euglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in different animal models. An exciting finding is its body‐weight lowering effect in these models, which might be mediated by the induction of target enzymes involved in hepatic lipid catabolism through PPARα activation.
Absence of Hypersensitivity to Glucocorticoids in Antiretroviral‐associated Lipodystrophy
Authors: Martin Ian P. , Breen Patricia A. , Weigle David S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: The lipodystrophy syndrome, which is associated with the use of antiretroviral drugs in some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected individuals, bears a striking similarity to the fat redistribution observed in Cushing's disease. Although urinary free cortisol excretion and glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity are not elevated in subjects with lipodystrophy, glucocorticoid action at the cellular level has not been examined in affected individuals. The objective of this study was to determine whether tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids is increased in subjects with lipodystrophy taking protease inhibitors.Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects included 11 HIV‐infected men on protease inhibitor therapy with lipodystrophy and 10 control HIV‐infected men not on protease inhibitor therapy and without lipodystrophy. Trunk to extremity fat ratio was measured by DXA. Dexamethasone suppression of peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation was measured as an index of tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoid action.Results: Compared with the control group, subjects with lipodystrophy had a significant elevation of the trunk to extremity fat ratio [median (interquartile range): 2.9 (1.3) vs. 1.6 (1.2); p < 0.05]. The concentration of dexamethasone resulting in 50% maximal suppression of proliferation was 11.7 nM (9.3 nM) in subjects with lipodystrophy and 19.6 nM (9.7 nM) in control subjects (p = not significant), and the percentage minimal proliferation was 4% (12%) and 17% (18%) in the two groups, respectively (p = not significant).Discussion: Despite the Cushingoid appearance of affected individuals, these data suggest that body fat redistribution in antiretroviral‐associated lipodystrophy does not arise through an increase in postreceptor glucocorticoid signaling.
Regulation of Resistin by Gonadal, Thyroid Hormone, and Nutritional Status
Authors: Nogueiras Rubén , Gualillo Oreste , Caminos J. Eduardo , Casanueva Felipe F. , Diéguez Carlos 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Resistin was recently identified as a hormone secreted by adipocytes that is under hormonal and nutritional control. This hormone has been suggested to be the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of gender, gonadal status, thyroid hormones, pregnancy, and food restriction on resistin mRNA levels in adipose tissue of rats.Research Methods and Procedures: We have determined resistin mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis in all experimental sets.Results: Resistin mRNA expression is influenced by age, with the highest hormone levels existing at 45 days after birth and decreasing thereafter. Resistin mRNA expression is higher in men than in women. Moreover, we studied the effect of orchidectomy and ovariectomy in rats of different ages and showed that gonadal hormones increase adipose tissue resistin mRNA expression in male rats. Resistin is also regulated by thyroid hormones; it is severely decreased in hyperthyroid rats. Our results clearly show that chronic food restriction (30% of ad libitum food intake) led to a decrease in adipose tissue mRNA levels in normal cycling female rats and pregnant rats. In pregnancy, resistin mRNA levels were enhanced particularly at midgestation.Discussion: Our observations indicate that resistin is influenced by gender, gonadal status, thyroid hormones, and pregnancy. These findings suggest that resistin could explain the decreased insulin sensitivity during puberty and could be the link between sex steroids and insulin sensitivity. Moreover, resistin could mediate the effect of thyroid hormones on insulin resistance and the state of insulin resistance present during pregnancy.
Associations of Aging and Birth Cohort with Body Mass Index in a Biethnic Cohort
Authors: Juhaeri  , Stevens June , Jones Daniel W. , Arnett Donna 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To examine associations of aging and birth cohort with body mass index (BMI) in a biethnic cohort.Research Methods and Procedures: This was a longitudinal closed cohort study of 14, 500 white and African‐American men and women, 45 to 64 years of age, followed for 9 years. Aging was defined as the length of the interval in years between baseline and following visits. Birth cohort was defined by the year in which participants were born. Mixed model analyses were used to examine associations of aging, birth cohort, and BMI in four ethnicity‐gender groups.Results: We found that aging was associated with an increase in BMI in white and African‐American men and women. The associations between aging and BMI were stronger in the younger birth cohorts. Except for white women, younger birth cohort was associated with a higher BMI. After adjusting for aging, birth cohort was associated with an increase in BMI of 0.1 kg/m2 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): −0.1, 0.3] among white women. The corresponding values for African‐American women, white men, and African‐American men are 0.5 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.1, 0.9), 0.6 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.4, 0.8), and 0.6 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.2, 1.0), respectively.Discussion: Our analyses show that, in all except white women, people in this age range who were born later have a higher BMI at the same attained age. In all groups, people who are born later gained more weight as they aged. In general, subjects ages 45 to 64 years gained weight as they aged 9 years.