Obesities

Metabolic diseases caused by gene and unhealthy living habits are increasing, which seriously threaten the life of people worldwide. Moreover, the microbiome has been shown to play an active role in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases. However, reliable evidence on renalase gene (Rnls), as a common gene related to metabolic diseases, is still lacking with regard to the influence on the microbiome. Hence, we investigated the effect of a normal diet (ND) and a high-fat diet (HFD) on the gut microbiota of Rnls knockout (Rnls^−/−) and wild-type (Rnls^+/+) mice. At the end of the 8-week experiment, DNA samples were extracted from fresh feces, and the composition of microbiota was profiled. The species in Rnls^+/+-ND group were Bifidobacterium pseudolongum and Lactobacillus reuteri. Conversely, the species in Rnls^−/−-ND group belonged to the genera Lactobacillus and Turicibacter. The HFD changed the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes; while the bacteria in the Rnls^+/+-HFD and Rnls^−/−-HFD groups were different. Overall, this study not only revealed the composition of microbiota in Rnls^−/− mice, but also indicated that Rnls and the bacteria related to Rnls may be new candidates in the prevention and diagnosis of metabolic diseases at an early stage. Full article

Background: Moderate weight loss of 5–10% is considered a realistically achievable weight loss goal and is associated with decreased risk of obesity-related health complications. However, individuals tend to expect that they will lose as much as 20–30% of their body weight when they start a behavioral weight loss program. Current research is limited on how these expectations change over time during weight loss and the consequences of adjusting one’s expectations in a more realistic direction, particularly on a CBT-based program. Method: Therefore, this prospective cohort study evaluated whether individuals adjusted their weight loss expectations over time during real-world use of a mobile CBT-based behavior-change program (Noom Weight) and how this adjustment related to weight loss outcomes, as well as how the amount of adjustment depended on program engagement. Participants had recently signed up for Noom Weight and reported their weight, expectations for weight loss, and psychological well-being at baseline and six months. Engagement was automatically recorded by the program. Results: We found that after using Noom Weight for six months, participants’ expectations became more realistic (i.e., significantly decreased) compared to baseline (−5.77, s.e. = 0.57, p < 0.001), and this downward adjustment was associated with greater weight loss (b = 1.80, 95% CI 1.21–2.38, p < 0.001). Higher program engagement, particularly reading articles focused on CBT-based principles, was associated with greater decreases in expectations over time (b = −0.007, t = −2.22, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The results suggest that CBT-based principles may aid in adjusting weight loss expectations to more realistic levels and that such adjustment is associated with positive weight outcomes. Future research should build on these results by evaluating adjustment in weight loss expectations over time, rather than solely expectations at baseline. Full article

(1) Background: Obesity has become an important public health problem worldwide, and its characterization as a chronic disease reflects the impact of a complex and multifactorial condition. The treatment for obesity is based on lifestyle interventions that induce a negative energy balance. However, adherence to a lifestyle intervention is a challenge for many overweight and obese people. Thus, pharmacotherapy in the management of obesity is used to increase patient adherence to lifestyle changes and overcome the biological adaptations that occur with weight loss. Among these drugs, liraglutide stands out. Liraglutide is an analog of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that regulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, and glucagon release. (2) Results: Liraglutide appears to be effective in weight reduction and glycemic control in diabetic and obese patients, and combination of liraglutide and exercise can also bring benefits in weight loss. Furthermore, the combination of liraglutide and physical exercise can prevent adverse effects observed in the administration of liraglutide. (3) Conclusions: liraglutide seems to contribute to cardiometabolic improvement in obese individuals with or without diabetes, and the combination of liraglutide and physical exercise can prevent adverse effects observed in the administration of liraglutide. Full article

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may predict markers of neurocognitive performance (i.e., executive function; EF) and brain health/plasticity (i.e., brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). This pilot examined: (1) ACES history and current EF performance, (2) ACEs history and current BDNF levels, and (3) current EF performance and BDNF levels. We hypothesized that higher ACEs would be associated with lower EF scores and that these patterns would be associated with serum BDNF levels. Given the pilot nature of the study, emphasis was placed on effect size vs. significance. Participants were 37 middle-aged women. Higher ACEs were not directly associated with EF scores (β = 0.08, p = 0.635) but showed potentially meaningful negative beta coefficients with proBDNF levels (β = −0.22, p = 0.200) and positive coefficients with mature BDNF (β = 0.28, p = 0.094). EF scores and proBDNF showed a positive relationship that did not reach significance (r = 0.28, p = 0.100) similar to EF scores and mature BDNF (r = 0.14, p = 0.406). In a modest pilot sample of middle-aged women with excess weight, higher ACEs were potentially associated with lower proBDNF and higher mature BDNF. Larger follow-up studies are warranted given the size of the detected coefficients and theoretical implications of ACEs and obesity as neurocognitively toxic for brain health and performance. Full article

Non-traditional settings, such as schools, early childhood education programs, and healthcare clinics, can play a critical role in preventing obesity by providing free and nutritious food outside of food pantries to households that are experiencing low or very low food security, particularly during emergency situations. This evaluation study describes a low-income population that attended free food and produce distribution events during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a cross-sectional survey was administered to this group (n = 1498) to assess their food security status, fruit and vegetable (F+V) consumption, and prevalence of chronic disease condition(s). Program and event assessments were carried out using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses. More than a quarter (26%) of the participants attended the free food events for the first time. Approximately 70% reported some level of low food security, 57% to 64% did not meet F+V intake recommendations, and 37% had a diet-related chronic disease condition. In the adjusted models, households with very low food security had lower odds of meeting F+V recommendations (aOR, 0.41, 95% CI, 0.28, 0.58 and aOR, 0.27, 95% CI, 0.19, 0.39, respectively) and higher odds of having a chronic condition (aOR, 3.49, 95% CI, 2.34, 5.20) than those with high or marginal food security. Given these experiences, future research should examine how safety net food assistance programs can incorporate alternative service/distribution models to improve the nutritional value of the foods they offer. Full article

Objectives: To characterize a group of university students in social isolation regarding their eating behaviors and to investigate whether dieters have a tendency to engage in binge-eating. Study Design: Cross-sectional study carried out during Brazil’s first months of social isolation. Methods: University students filled out the Eating Attitudes Test—EAT, the Binge-eating Scale—BES, and the Hay questionnaire. In addition, the current research also evaluated food cravings (FC) and intuitive eating. Student’s t-test was used to compare the effect sizes (Cohen’s d) between groups. Results: More than 90% of participants were isolated from academic activities, and 68% reported significant dietary change. Those who dieted (n = 57) were less confident in signs of hunger and satiety (d = −0.9, p < 0.001) and had higher binge-eating and FC levels than those who did not diet. Conclusions: Data reinforces the high prevalence of risk for eating disorders in university students, the impact of dieting on FC, and intuitive eating during social isolation. Full article

Obesity incidence is rising worldwide, including women of reproductive age, contributing to increased gestations in which Maternal Obesity (MO) occurs. Offspring born to obese mothers present an increased predisposition to develop metabolic (e.g., obesity, diabetes) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The developmental programming of the metabolic dysfunction in MO offspring can initiate in utero. The different availability of metabolic substrates, namely glucose, can modulate cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation, resulting in different levels of tissue maturation and function. We defined the remodelling of these early processes as the first hit of metabolic disease programming. Among these, adipocyte early differentiation and gut dysbiosis are initial repercussions occurring in MO offspring, contributing to -tissue-specific dysfunction. The second hit of disease programming can be related to the endocrine–metabolic axis dysregulation. The endocrine–metabolic axis consists of multi-organ communication through the release of factors that are able to regulate the metabolic fate of cells of organs involved in physiological metabolic homeostasis. Upon adipose tissue and gut early dysregulation, these organs’ endocrine function can be programmed to the disrupted release of multiple factors (e.g., adiponectin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide). This can be perceived as a natural mechanism to overcome metabolic frailty in an attempt to prevent or postpone organ-specific disease. However, the action of these hormones on other tissues may potentiate metabolic dysfunction or even trigger disease in organs (liver, pancreas, heart) that were also programmed in utero for early disease. A second phase of the endocrine–metabolic dysregulation happens when the affected organs (e.g., liver and pancreas) self-produce an endocrine response, affecting all of the involved tissues and resulting in a new balance of the endocrine–metabolic axis. Altogether, the second hit exacerbates the organ-specific susceptibility to disease due to the new metabolic environment. The developmental programming of the endocrine–metabolic axis can start a vicious cycle of metabolic adaptations due to the release of factors, leading to an endocrine response that can jeopardize the organism’s function. Diseases programmed by MO can be boosted by endocrine dysregulation, namely Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease, and the aggravation of the adipose tissue and gut dysfunction. Chronic metabolic dysregulation can also predispose MO offspring to CVD through the modulation of the endocrine environment and/or the metabolic status. To cease the vicious cycle of MO disease transmission among generations and-provide preventive and specialized prenatal and postnatal care to MO offspring, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the MO-related disease development. In this review, we summarize most of the developmental programming molecular events of the endocrine–metabolic axis described on the offspring exposed to MO, providing a brief overview of the potential mechanisms that predispose MO offspring to metabolic disease, and discuss the programming of the endocrine–metabolic axis as a plausible mechanism for metabolic disease predisposition in MO offspring. Full article

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT), sprint interval training (SIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), weight (kg), body fat mass (%), plasma glucose (fasting) and lipid levels in reproductive-age women. Method: The search was conducted in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library and Scielo. The meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager software for random-effects models. The results were presented as standardized mean differences and 95%CI, which were calculated to determine the effect size of HIT/SIT and MICT interventions. Results: Eleven articles meet the inclusion criteria. The analyses demonstrated that all exercise modes improved body composition and metabolic profile, but nevertheless, MICT was significantly better at improving CRF (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹) compared with HIT (2.45 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹ (95% CI: 1.15 to 3.75 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); p < 0.05; I2 = 0%) and with SIT (0.98 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹ (95% CI: −0.98 to 2.93 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹); p = 0.33; I2 = 53%). Conclusion: Both HIT and SIT have the potential to be used as a training modality in reproductive-age women, with similar effects to MICT on body composition/metabolic markers but inferior effects on CRF, suggesting that HIT/SIT may be considered a “time-efficient component″ of weight management programs. However, the variability in the secondary outcome measures, coupled with the small sample sizes in studies, limits this finding. Full article

COVID-19, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a major public health concern around the world. The beta coronavirus family includes SARS-CoV2, which enters cells via the ACE2 receptor. Patients in Wuhan, China, who suffered from the first sickness had no symptoms concerning the digestive system. Only 2.6% developed diarrhea, and only 2% had chronic liver illness. As the situation becomes more complicated, more people are reporting gastric issues. The disorder is characterized by diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and gastrointestinal bleeding, with diarrhea being the most common symptom. Several theories have been proposed for the genesis of gastrointestinal issues. Virus-induced cytopathic effects via ACE2, immune-mediated inflammatory cytokine storm, gut–lung axis function and drug-related damage are among them, not only in cases of COVID-19, but also in gastrointestinal illnesses. Full article

A single-center randomized, controlled cross-over exercise intervention in 20 women willing to reduce weight (20–40 y, BMI: 27.4 ± 2.1), with the aim to examine potential benefits for weight loss under normal (N-Ox: 20.9%) and mildly reduced (R-Ox: 17.0%) normobaric oxygen in an “Altitude Simulation Chamber”. O₂ consumption (VO₂), CO₂ production (VCO₂), blood oxygen saturation (SaO₂), blood glucose and lactate (mM) were studied before, during and after cycling for 22 min at a mean personalized workload of 54.2 ± 11.7 watts, about 40% of VO₂max. Despite lower absolute SaO₂ values and a greater decline from rest to exercise under R-Ox (time x treatment interaction p < 0.01), VO₂ did not differ from N-Ox (time x treatment interaction p = 0.178). Average net VO₂, 13.8 mL O₂ per watt, reflected fairly normal aerobic cycling, irrespective of O₂ regime. The Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER; VO₂/VCO₂), 0.83 at rest, increased for both treatments to a ratio close to or beyond unity during and directly after exercise (treatment effect p = 0.407). The tendency of cycling for weight loss to clear carbohydrates rather than fat, irrespective of normal or mildly reduced normobaric oxygen, is discussed as a lactate-mediated and phenotype-specific consequence of apparent anaerobic glycolysis with adverse perspectives for weight loss and metabolic health. Full article

Obesity is a disease whose incidence has increased over the last few decades. Despite being a multifactorial disease, obesity results essentially from excessive intake of high-calorie foods associated with low physical activity. The demand for a pharmacological therapy using natural compounds as an alternative to synthetic drugs has increased. Natural compounds may have few adverse effects and high economic impact, as most of them can be extracted from underexploited plant species and food by-products. To test the potential anti-obesogenic effects of new natural substances, the use of preclinical animal models of obesity has been an important tool, among which rat and mouse models are the most used. Some animal models are monogenic, such as the db/db mice, ob/ob mice, Zucker fatty rat and Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rat. There are also available chemical models using the neurotoxin monosodium glutamate that induces lesions in the ventromedial hypothalamus nucleus, resulting in the development of obesity. However, the most widely used are the obesity models induced by high-fat diets. The aim of this review was to compile detail studies on the anti-obesity effects of natural compounds or their derivatives on rodent models of obesity as well as a critical analysis of the data. Full article

Body fat and muscle mass showed opposing associations with mortality. The results of research on the effectiveness of popular body mass (BM) loss diets in obese subjects showed 20 to 30% loss of muscle mass within the total BM loss; conversely, when the subjects used a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet, the loss was up to 42%. Therefore, we suggest an improvement. The aim of this retrospective analysis of data was to examine the assessment of changes in the body composition of 217 participants from all over Slovenia who joined our ongoing, community-based WFPB lifestyle programme from 2016 to 2021 and underwent two successive measurements of medically approved bioelectrical impedance. The WFPB lifestyle programme consisted of (i) nutrition, (ii) physical activity (PA) and (iii) a support system. The primary outcomes included the (vector of) change of body fat mass (BFM) per body height (BH), fat-free mass (FFM) per BH and whole-body phase angle (PhA) from the initial values to the first follow-up (FU) of the whole sample and for both sexes. Further, we examined the FFM change within the total BM loss according to their BMI classification and depending on how much BM they lost (5 kg < BM ≥ 5 kg) within the FU time (103.6 ± 89.8 day). Participants experienced a decrease in BFM per BH (−0.02 ± 0.02 kg/cm, p < 0.001), no change in FFM and an increase in PhA (0.2 ± 0.7°, p < 0.001). Importantly, the participants in the obesity BMI class achieved only partial FFM preservation (−1.5 ± 3.6 kg, p = 0.032 of FFM loss (20%) within −7.5 ± 6.1 kg, p < 0.001 of BM loss). However, the participants who lost BM < 5 kg had a significantly increased FFM (0.8 ± 3.2 kg, p = 0.001 of FFM (57%) within −1.4 ± 1.8 kg, p < 0.001 of BM loss), whereas the participants who lost BM ≥ 5 kg experienced a decrease in FFM (−2.2 ± 3.9 kg, p < 0.001 of FFM (−25%) within −8.8 ± 5.2 kg, p < 0.001 of BM loss). To conclude, the WFPB lifestyle, on average, effectively preserved FFM during BM and/or BFM loss among the normal and pre-obesity BMI classes but only partially among the obese BMI class and those who lost ≥ 5 kg of BM. Importantly, a customized PA strategy is needed for obese BMI class participants, where general resistance training is not possible or safe in order to preserve their muscle mass more effectively. In addition, muscle mass preservation is important for further improvements of BM, body composition and visual body image. Full article

The global epidemic of obesity has increased over the past two decades, which has been attributed to a lack of physical activity and increased energy intake. Given the fact that obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, nutritional approaches to prevent cardiovascular diseases often target weight loss. Although many strategies are used to induce weight loss, the most common ones involve either total energy restriction, carbohydrate restriction, or dietary fat restriction. This report addresses the impact of each diet on improving carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, a technique that is used to measure arterial stiffness—a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease risk. Fourteen studies were included in the analysis and revealed that diet-induced weight-loss plateaus with increasing duration of the intervention (p = 0.174, r = 0.455). Weight loss was significantly associated with a reduction in cf-PWV (p = 0.012, r = 0.591). Further, when macronutrient composition was considered, weight loss was achieved through a low-carbohydrate diet (p = 0.097, r = 0.626), not total energy restriction (p = 0.660, r = 0.204) or low-fat diet (p = 0.142, r = 0.975), tended to reduce cf-PWV. These data suggest that weight loss achieved through a low-carbohydrate diet may have a greater impact on PWV over total energy restriction. More studies are needed to test the effect of weight loss achieved through a low-fat diet on cf-PWV. Full article

Obesity, classified as an epidemic by the WHO, is a disease that continues to grow worldwide. Obesity results from abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat and usually leads to the development of other associated diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, among others. In vitro and in vivo models have been crucial for studying the underlying mechanisms of obesity, discovering new therapeutic targets, and developing and validating new pharmacological therapies against obesity. Preclinical animal models of obesity comprise a variety of species: invertebrates, fishes, and mammals. However, small rodents are the most widely used due to their cost-effectiveness, physiology, and easy genetic manipulation. The induction of obesity in rats or mice can be achieved by the occurrence of spontaneous single-gene mutations or polygenic mutations, by genetic modifications, by surgical or chemical induction, and by ingestion of hypercaloric diets. In this review, we describe some of the most commonly used murine models in obesity research. Full article

Nowadays, obesity is a pandemic, and some people seek slimming diets to guarantee their health and quality of life. However, the cult of the healthy body has been an ongoing concern since the beginning of time. Irrespective of the century to which they belong, these cults reflect no empirical knowledge about physiology, nutrients or kilocalories, with some of them being quantitative diets in contrast to qualitative diets, or even simple food recommendations. On the other hand, some of these treatments might have led to the death of a patient, meaning that it is important for people seeking to lose weight to be followed by a nutrition professional until the individual reaches a desirable body weight. In this article, we highlight that each century and each decade have devised different treatments with the aim of improving health, but it will be science and history that will judge whether the results of these treatments have been adequate. Full article

(1) Background: This study tracked the reporting of obesity in the Australian news media over three decades and how changing representations over time were linked to obesity-related public health policy developments. (2) Methods: Machine learning and computational language analysis techniques (word embedding, dichotomous bias mapping) were used to identify language biases associated with obesity in 157,237 relevant articles drawn from the Australian Dow Jones digital database of print news media articles from 1990 to 2019. (3) Results: Obesity-related terms were stigmatised on four key dimensions (gender, health, socioeconomic status, stereotypes), with language biased towards femininity and lower socioeconomic status in particular. Biases remained relatively steady from 2005 to 2019, despite recent policy initiatives directly seeking to address obesity stigma. To some degree, for each of the four dimensions, cosine values moved toward 0 over time (i.e., no association with one dimension poll or the other), but remained around 0.20. There was a strong relationship between news media and public health policy discourse over the 30-year study period. (4) Conclusions: With increasing recognition of the health consequences of weight stigma, policymakers and the media must work together to ensure public weight management narratives avoid discourse that may stigmatise heavier individuals, particularly women, and/or reinforce negative obesity stereotypes. Full article

Background: To analyze the effects of a single session of Muay Thai (MT) on blood pressure and heart rate in adolescents with overweight/obesity. Methods: A total of 27 adolescents with overweight/obesity (12.85 ± 2.08 years), 13 girls and 14 boys, performed 60 min of MT composed of general and modality-specific exercises, as well as combat at the end. Anthropometric measurements were taken and body fat (BF) was measured using DEXA. Excess weight was attested via the body mass index (BMI) and BF. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured by an oscillometric device before, immediately after MT, and 10, 20 and 30 min of recovery. Results: SBP decreased in boys after 20 min (d = −0.73) and 30 min (d = −0.78) of recovery, and in girls after 20 min (d = −0.56). DBP decreased in girls immediately after the session (d = −0.90) and after 10 min (d = −1.00); for the total sample, when analyzed across sex, DBP decreased immediately after the session (d = −0.70) and after 10 min (d = −0.52). No effect of MT on HR recovery was observed. Conclusions: A single MT session induces positive changes in blood pressure, with a greater impact on SBP in girls. Full article

Research has shown that weight-related public health campaigns can inadvertently stigmatise individuals with obesity. We compared the effects of weight-normative (personal responsibility and public health crisis) versus weight-inclusive (Health at Every Size [HAES] and fat acceptance) campaign narratives on anti-fat attitudes and reactions to campaigns in two studies. In study 1, participants (n = 283) from a range of Body Mass Index (BMI) categories viewed one of four mock campaigns before rating their anti-fat-attitudes (dislike, fear of fat, willpower, social distance), and reactions to the campaign (motivation, stigma). In study 2, participants (n = 175) in overweight or obese BMI categories viewed one of four mock campaigns before rating their reactions to the campaign (motivation, stigma, self-efficacy). Study 1 results showed that weight-normative campaigns were perceived as significantly more stigmatising than weight-inclusive ones. However, weight-inclusive campaigns did not decrease anti-fat attitudes or increase motivation for health behaviour change in this sample. Similarly, study 2 results showed that the personal responsibility campaign was rated as significantly more stigmatising than other campaigns among women with overweight or obesity. Fat acceptance was rated as the least stigmatising campaign in this sample, but weight-inclusive narratives did not increase motivation or self-efficacy for health behaviour change. Future research should focus on developing campaign narratives that are non-stigmatising, motivating, and efficacious by addressing health behavior benefits irrespective of sex or weight. Full article

Next to smoking, obesity is the second leading preventable risk factor for cancer, but increasing rates of obesity and overweight are estimated to overtake smoking as the leading preventable cancer risk factor. Few research studies have investigated the dysregulated endocrine metabolism of dietary phosphate as a potential mediating factor in the association of obesity with cancer. Phosphate toxicity, the accumulation of excess phosphate in the body from dysregulated phosphate metabolism, is associated with tumorigenesis. High levels of hormones that regulate phosphate metabolism, such as parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23, are also associated with obesity, providing a potential link between obesity and phosphate toxicity. Increased dietary intake of inorganic phosphate is linked to excessive consumption of foods processed with phosphate additives, and consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with an increase in the incidence of obesity. Sugar-sweetened beverages provide the single largest source of sugar and energy intake in the U.S. population, and colas containing phosphoric acid are associated with tumorigenesis, suggesting another potential connection between obesity and cancer. Furthermore, dietary phosphate is positively correlated with increases in obesity, central obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The present perspective article proposes that dysregulated dietary phosphate potentially mediates the association of obesity with cancer. Full article