Obesity Care

Self-regulation strategies can prevent weight gain in young adults

A new study has identified 2 self-regulation strategies that prevent weight gain amongst young adults. By teaching participants to weigh themselves every day and  use that information to maintain a healthy weight or implement behaviour changes, it was shown that weight gain could be prevented. The findings of this study have been published online ahead of print in JAMA Internal Medicine. A total of 599 participants, aged 18-35 took part in this study, of which half were of normal weight, while the others were overweight. They were then split into 3 groups. One group that were taught behavioural and lifestyle changes to prevent weight gain, a second group that focused on a large initial 5-10 pound weight loss to buffer any weight gain, and a control group that received no intervention.

The 2 self-regulation groups both showed reduced weight gain after a 3 year follow-up period. The ‘initial weight loss’ group showed an overall weight loss over this period. The study showed that frequent weighing and either initial weight loss or smaller daily interventions are useful tools in preventing weight gain. The researchers themselves are hoping that the new self-regulation approaches will be taken notice of as they are both cost-effective and easy to carry out for young adults.

Average BMI associated with lowest risk of death increases

Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark recently examined whether BMI associated with the lowest mortality rates has increased in the general population over a period of 30 years and published their findings in JAMA. Previous work has suggested that whilst average BMI is increasing across most countries, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is decreasing; the researchers hypothesised that the BMI associated with lowest all-cause mortality might have changed over this time period.

They found that BMI values have increased by a factor of 3.3 over three decades. This means that the optimal BMI in relation to mortality is in the overweight category (for the last cohort that they examined – 2003-2013). The authors have suggested that the WHO should revise the BMI values that currently categorise people into normal weight, overweight and obese, as the data to form these was collected before the 1990s. However, they acknowledge that further investigation is needed to understand the reasons for these changes as well as any potential implications.

High-fat diets increase tiredness

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found that men who consume a diet high in fat are more likely to feel tired throughout the day. The Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) study analysed data from 1800 Australian men over a 12-month period. The study controlled for other demographic and lifestyle factors and found an overall trend that those consuming higher fat diets would feel more tired throughout the day, affecting their work due to the implications for alertness and concentration.

Sleep quality at night was also affected, as those who consumed more fat tended to report a poorer overall quality. Unfortunately, the researchers noticed that the effect is cyclical, as poor sleep and feeling tired throughout the day is associated with cravings for food high in fat. Obviously, the best way to counter this is to not give in to temptation and eat a healthier diet. However, this is much easier said than done. The researchers are hoping to continue their work and to inform future intervention studies so that people can lose weight whilst also improve their sleep quality.

Weight gain in pregnancy imprints on child

A new study published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal has shown that mothers who gain excess weight or have elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy are more likely to have overweight and obese children. The study examined 24,141 mothers and children over a ten-year period. Even though previous studies have found that women who gain excess weight during pregnancy are more likely to have bigger babies, this study revealed that even normal weight babies could grow up to become overweight or obese children.

The authors of this study hypothesised that an ‘imprinting’ mechanism in these children makes them more susceptible to becoming obese over their early years. The children whose mothers suffered from gestational diabetes were at greatest risk of becoming obese, being 30% more likely to be overweight between ages 2 and 10, than those whose mothers had a normal blood sugar level. The researchers suggest that this study proves that the effect of a mother’s womb during pregnancy is as important as the risk factors that the child is exposed to postpartum.

Drinking artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy linked to increased infant BMI

A recent study published in JAMA Paediatrics revealed that consumption of artificially sweetened beverages by pregnant women was associated with a higher infant BMI. It is known that excess sugar consumption can lead to obesity, both in mothers and children. However, little research has been conducted into the effects of sugar replacement exposure during pregnancy. In this study, 3,033 mother-child pairs were examined, with particular interest in their dietary choices during pregnancy and the subsequent effects on infant BMI.

About 30% of women reported drinking beverages with artificial sweeteners during their pregnancy. It was found that these women were more likely to have obese children, with a 2 to 4 fold increase in the risk of overweight by age 1. The authors admit that there was a margin for error as the study relied on food questionnaires, however an effect on the infants’ BMI was clearly present. Given that there is both widespread childhood obesity as well as artificial sweetener use, the authors hope to further their research and understand the biological mechanisms for such an effect.

The complex interaction between families and childhood obesity

The causes of obesity are known to be very complex, however a recent review has highlighted how family interventions may be able to significantly reduce a child’s genetic risk. The authors suggest that families should be fully involved in planning healthy living campaigns and in the? efforts to regulate food marketing strategies. Barbara Fiese, one of the review’s authors, explained that the family system should not be used as a source for blame, but rather as part of a larger ecology that could support or derail children’s health. The review points out that the likelihood of developing weight problems can be greatly reduced by family meals which promote and model healthy eating behaviours.

Furthemore, the use of electronic media devices whilst eating also increased children’s risk for obesity. This  may lead to increased exposure to advertising of unhealthy foods, as well as impede positive communication within the family. Positive communication has been shown to promote healthy habits due to attention to what, and how much, the children are consuming. The researchers support the collaboration of experts with families, but admit that parents also require the social tools to put concepts into action. This has proved to be difficult, however the authors have begun to address this by developing educational videos that focus on healthy habits in the family environment.

Parent’s perception of child weight has larger impact than once thought

A collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Florida State University College of Medicine has recently taken place to determine the effect of parents perception of their children’s weight on subsequent weight gain. They found that parents whose children are overweight often fail to identify their offspring’s weight accurately . Little research has taken place before to examine whether parental perceptions of child weight status are protective against further weight gain.

By analysing the data of 3,557 Australian children and their parents, the researchers found that children whose parents perceived them as being overweight as opposed to being ‘about the right weight’, gained more weight following analysis. This showed that an identification of overweight by parents does not actually carry any protection for the child but instead it puts them at more risk of weight gain in the future. Further research is required to understand how parental perceptions of child weight may counter-intuitively contribute to obesity.

High-fructose diet during pregnancy can have lasting effect on children

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch have shown that an increased consumption of fructose in a mouse model during pregnancy increases the risk of offspring developing obesity and heart disease. High-fructose corn syrup is used to sweeten food and beverages, and some reports suggest that refined sugars account for more than half of all sweeteners used in the US food supply chain. The authors compared the phenotype of the offspring of mice who were on a high-fructose diet during pregnancy to those on a normal diet.

The high fructose diet  was designed to mimic a diet that contained high amounts of sugary soft drinks. The research team were especially interested in the amount of abdominal fat tissue and fat around the liver, which they measured using computed tomography. They found that both female and male offspring of the high fructose diet mice were fatter, had higher glucose levels and higher blood pressure compared to the control offspring. The authors are hoping to expand their research which could have large implications as a very high proportion of the world’s processed food uses fructose and fructose based syrups as sweeteners.

Mindfulness very effective for teenagers

Some of the simplest, safest and most effective interventions for combating adolescent obesity may be just making them aware of what they are eating. A recent study conducted in Georgia, USA showed that mindfulness eating awareness training programs encourage adolescents to make healthier food choices and increase their physical activity. 40 high school students were enrolled in a 12 week mindfulness program, alongside a control group, sessions ranged from meditation techniques to meal timings.

Adolescents in the intervention arm eventually ate better and exercised more. They also experienced a slight downward trend in their weight, whilst those in the control arm did not experience such positive outcomes. However, many in the intervention arm continued to binge eat, therefore more research into the use of mindfulness and its possible adjustments must be conducted. The overall concept though is a relatively simple and easy intervention, and could prove to be highly successful in defending the health of young people.

Obesity affecting male fertility

Obesity affecting male fertility

Infertility in obese men is a global health issue and needs to be addressed by policymakers and the media. This is the suggestion from a recent study based in Porto, Portugal that examined, in particular, the effect of obesity on the fertility of males. Obesity is a metabolic disease that can cause dysfunction in the body’s endocrine system and hormonal functioning. Fertility is extremely closely linked with hormones and even the smallest of changes can result in large effects. The researchers wanted to highlight the fact that as obesity is now such a widespread problem, there will be other issues that occur at the same time, one of which is male infertility.

The study itself discussed the most recent and relevant evidence relating to male infertility and obesity, some of which examined how lifestyle factors and dietary habits can influence the progression of obesity and male infertility. Overall, the team hopes that their paper will lead to increased media coverage about the issue, whilst also proving to policymakers how important it is in today’s society.

BEATing hunger with a nonsurgical intervention

BEATing hunger with a nonsurgical intervention

A novel, safe and minimally invasive treatment has been developed that may help people struggling to lose weight. Researchers designed the Bariatric Embolization of Arteries for the Treatment of Obesity (BEAT) trial to evaluate the use of bariatric arterial embolization (BAE) as a new treatment option for obesity. The technology itself was developed by interventional radiologists and works by using catheters and image guidance systems to decrease blood flow to certain parts of the stomach that produce a hormone called ghrelin. This hormone is known for being the body’s most powerful ‘hunger hormone’.

The study itself enrolled 7 severely obese participants that were already being cared for by a multidisciplinary team. The participants were monitored after treatment with BAE and it was found to be a safe and effective procedure, as no adverse events were reported and all patients experienced marked weight loss as well as much lower hunger levels. After 6 months the participants had lost an average of 13.3% of their original weight. The researchers are hoping to gain approval to test the treatment on a larger cohort of patients, so that the safety and efficacy of BAE can be fully assessed.

Long-term diabetes reversal is now an achievable target

People who reverse their diabetes and subsequently keep their weight down can remain diabetes free. This is the conclusion from a study conducted at Newcastle University, which forms part of a large body of evidence detailing that losing weight in T2DM may effectively reverse it by removing fat from the pancreas. In 2013, a study was published which showed that T2DM could be reversed by limiting caloric intake, however it was a small and short study. This study included a slightly larger number of participants. Once again, it followed a similar diet and diabetes was reversed in a number of participants, although many of them remained overweight enough fat had been removed from their pancreas to allow for normal insulin production and action. The study also showed that longstanding diabetes can also be reversed, with some patients becoming diabetes free after 10 years.

The study’s authors are eager to point out that more research needs to be undertaken in order to improve the quality of the interventions in order to make it applicable to more patients, therefore they have already begun work on a larger trial that will look at how successfully people can reverse their diabetes through weight loss under the care of their GP or nurse. This is being funded by Diabetes UK.