Obesities

The stages of change have been identified as a valuable framework for understanding the transition toward a healthy lifestyle. It is also important to recognize change through other psychosocial variables, such as motivation and self-efficacy. The objective of this study was to explore weight control over the course of an academic year (nine months) through three behaviors: the stage of change toward weight control (pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance), healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors for weight control, and the frequency of physical activity (PA). Furthermore, we wanted to ascertain whether the three distinct types of motivation (autonomous, controlled, and amotivation) and self-efficacy could account for fluctuations in weight control over time. The sample consisted of 303 adolescents (205 female and 98 male) between the ages of 15 and 23 (M = 17.26; SD = 1.65). Chi-square, t-test, and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis were employed. The results indicated that a higher proportion of adolescents were in the precontemplation and action stages at Time 2. Concurrently, an increase in the frequency of moderate-to-vigorous PA and an increase in healthy and unhealthy behaviors were observed during the school period. The present study posits that autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and self-efficacy can explain healthy eating behaviors for weight control and the frequency of moderate-to-vigorous PA, while only controlled motivation explains unhealthy eating behaviors for weight control. The conclusion of the study points out that healthy behaviors can change over time due to individual regulation of motivation and increased self-perception of efficacy in one’s own abilities to perform a specific action to control weight.

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM)—the coexistence of overweight/obesity and micronutrient deficiency—is an emerging public health concern among school-aged children. Using data from 6063 participants in Colombia’s 2015 National Survey of Nutritional Status (ENSIN), this study estimated DBM prevalence and identified factors associated with its occurrence among children aged 5–12 years. DBM was defined as concurrent overweight/obesity (BMI-for-age z-score > 1) and vitamin D deficiency, applying thresholds of <30, <37.5, and <50 nmol/L. The prevalence of DBM ranged from 0.7% to 6.9%. Firth’s penalized logistic regression models were conducted separately for (1) overweight/obese combined, (2) overweight-only, and (3) obesity-only groups. For DBM1, insufficient physical activity was linked to higher odds across all three models. For DBM2, smaller household size and higher maternal education were associated with greater odds in the combined model. Living in large urban areas was related to lower odds compared with major metropolitan areas, a pattern also observed in the overweight-only model. For DBM3, children from the second wealth quartile (Q2) showed higher odds than those from the poorest (Q1), with a similar pattern in the overweight-only analysis. Stricter DBM definitions tended to capture behavioral and household characteristics, whereas broader thresholds reflected structural and contextual conditions. Despite its relatively low prevalence, DBM remains a relevant public health issue among Colombian schoolchildren.

Numerous reports have been published on the putative mechanisms of development of insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus. However, no unified view has been established yet, especially in regard to involvement of the nervous system in the regulation of insulin sensitivity. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in cellular glucose uptake by blocking Group C nerve fibers (C fibers) in the rat pancreas with capsaicin. When the junction of the proximal pancreatic duct and common bile duct was treated with capsaicin, glucose uptake was enhanced, probably due to increased insulin sensitivity. This suggests that capsaicin may partially block the vagal nerve fibers innervating the pancreas, resulting in enhanced insulin sensitivity. In other words, our finding suggests that pancreatic autonomic nerves may be involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and that partial blockade of these nerves may improve insulin sensitivity.