Consumption Of High-calorie Foods Research Articles

Poverty, inequality, and increased consumption of high calorie food: Experimental evidence for a causal link

Rising obesity represents a serious, global problem. It is now well established that obesity is associated with poverty and wealth inequality, suggesting that these factors may promote caloric intake. Whereas previous work has examined these links from an epidemiological perspective, the current paper examined them experimentally. In Study 1 we found that people experimentally induced to view themselves as poor (v. wealthy) exhibited increased calorie intake. In Study 2, participants who believed that they were poorer or wealthier than their interaction partners exhibited higher levels of anxiety compared to those in an equal partners condition; this anxiety in turn led to increased calorie consumption for people who had a strong need to belong. The findings provide causal evidence for the poverty-intake and inequality-intake links. Further, we identify social anxiety and a strong need to belong as important social psychological factors linking inequality to increased calorie intake.

Neurobiology of food choices—between energy homeostasis, reward system, and neuroeconomics

The rate of patients with obesity has been rapidly increasing, and this imposes a heavy economic burden on health-care systems. Food decisions, under the influence of different internal and external factors, lie at the core of this increasing health problem. Due to the biological necessity to consume sufficient amounts of food and to correctly regulate energy expenditure, there are different systems that control food intake. This article first focuses on neurobiological and hormonal foundations and explains various metabolic short- and long-term signals, such as leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. We then also present genetic factors, which directly or indirectly (via other genes or environmental influences) may affect nutritional status. Since the consumption of high-caloric foods is accompanied by dopamine release and the activation of the brain’s reward system, we will then present the interdependence of metabolic and reward systems. Last, we will present a neuroeconomic perspective that complements research on metabolic and hedonic feeding regulation.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Link between diet, HbA1c and complications

Diabetes mellitus is now globally considered as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is associated with high rates of microvascular and macrovascular complications. Regular consumption of high caloric food, poor dietary habits and adoption of sedentary life style has been linked with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this review is; to highlight the influence of diet on HbA1c in type 2 diabetics, to explore association between HbA1c and diabetes complications and to propose a dietary consultation model for more effective diabetes care. The literature was reviewed intensively from January – March 2016 through PubMed central, Medscape, Google Scholar and other databases. The keywords and MeSH terms used in this search were “diabetes mellitus”, “glycated haemoglobin”, “type 2 diabetes mellitus”, “diet and type 2 diabetes mellitus” and “diabetes complications”. Dietary management is a superior option for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is important to keep the HbA1c level in acceptable range to delay the onset and progression of diabetes complications. In this review, various food groups that can have beneficial and adverse effects on HbA1c have been identified. Moreover, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) stood out as the most prevalent complication of poorly managed diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia. The dimensions of the proposed dietary consultation model are based on the assessment of diabetics’ diabetes mellitus knowledge, dietary knowledge, dietary attitude and dietary practices. This assessment if carried out at the initial stage of Diabetes mellitus can be helpful in delaying the early onset and progression of microvascular and macrovascular diabetes complications.

EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION TO REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF HIGH-CALORIE FOODS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TERESINA, PIAUÍ (BRAZIL).

there is high prevalence of overweight and poor food habits among adolescents, and these factors contribute to the development of chronic diseases. the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to reduce the consumption of high-calorie foods in public school children in Teresina, Piaui, Brazil. quasi-experimental, randomized, quantitative intervention study involving adolescents (n = 126) of both sexes aged 10-14 years. An educational intervention, which involved 9 weekly meetings, was developed. A questionnaire was completed prior and subsequent to the intervention. Associations between variables were examined using a chi-square test (x2). there was a significant reduction in the consumption of soft drinks and processed juices subsequent to the educational intervention (p = 0.007). It has further reduction in weekly consumption of food like meat and sausage (p = 0.072). Adolescents' weekly consumption of fried foods and potato chips also decreased significantly subsequent to the educational intervention (p < 0.001). the food and nutrition educational program was efficacious in reducing the adolescents' intake of high-calorie food and drinks and contributed to an improvement in the quality of food consumed by the schoolchildren evaluated.

Intermittent-access binge consumption of sweet high-fat liquid does not require opioid or dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens

Binge eating disorders are characterized by episodes of intense consumption of high-calorie food. In recently developed animal models of binge eating, rats given intermittent access to such food escalate their consumption over time. Consumption of calorie-dense food is associated with neurochemical changes in the nucleus accumbens, including dopamine release and alterations in dopamine and opioid receptor expression. Therefore, we hypothesized that binge-like consumption on intermittent access schedules is dependent on opioid and/or dopamine neurotransmission in the accumbens. To test this hypothesis, we asked whether injection of dopamine and opioid receptor antagonists into the core and shell of the accumbens reduced consumption of a sweet high-fat liquid in rats with and without a history of intermittent binge access to the liquid. Although injection of a μ opioid agonist increased consumption, none of the antagonists (including μ opioid, δ opioid, κ opioid, D1 dopamine and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists, as well as the broad-spectrum opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone) reduced consumption, and this was the case whether or not the animals had a prior history of intermittent access. These results suggest that consumption of sweet, fatty food does not require opioid or dopamine receptor activation in the accumbens even under intermittent access conditions that resemble human binge episodes.

La cuestión de las sensaciones gustativas básicas

Background : There is interest in discovering more about the possible influence in taste perception and its effect in dietary selection and food behaviors. Objective : Explore the factors that alter perceptions of taste and their relationship with food consumption. Materials and methods: A literature review was performed using scientific databases: Science Direct, Medline y Pubmed on the subject of taste, regardless of dominant flavors. Results : Progress has been made on the physiological basis of the basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. It has recently been proposed to add a “fatty” taste but as of now no consensus exists. Taste and food selection depend on genetic factors, first experiences with sapid stimuli, even before birth, as well as cultural, social, individual and other factors related to food. An association between consumption of high-calorie foods and taste sensitivity has not been demonstrated, nor taste sensitivity with obesity. Conclusion : The effect of taste perception on food consumption and any relation with obesity continues to be controversial. It is recommended to educate from a young age on taste perception, with the goal of acquiring healthy food habits.

The Efficacy of a Family-Based Intervention Program on Childhood Obesity

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the efficacy of a family-based (FB) weight-loss and behavior-modification intervention among overweight/obese children (age 9-11 years) and their parents in Taiwan. The intervention group (52 child-parent dyads) participated in an FB program for 7 weeks. The control group (55 child-parent dyads) received an educational pamphlet about obesity prevention. The children's body mass index (BMI) z-scores were the primary outcome variable. The parents' BMI, high-calorie (HC) food-intake behaviors, screen-related behaviors, and restrictions on children's consumption of HC foods and screen-related behaviors and the availability of HC foods at home were the secondary outcome variables. Outcome variables were measured at baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2). A linear mixed model was used to assess the efficacy of the FB program. Results indicated that the children's BMI z-scores decreased significantly more from T0 to T2 in the experimental group than in the control group. The decreases in parents' HC food-intake behaviors and availability of HC foods at home and the increase in parental restrictions on children's consumption of HC foods were significantly greater in the experimental than in the control group from T0 to T1 and T0 to T2. The FB program was effective in modifying parental behaviors and the weight of overweight/obese children in a Taiwanese population.

The multifaceted factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in metabolism, immunity, and cancer.

The consumption of high-calorie foods combined with less physical exercise has increased the prevalence of obesity. Obesity is also associated with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, diabetes, impaired host defense, and the risk of some cancers. Because PPARγ is a central player that participates in various biological responses, including lipid metabolism, inflammation, and cell proliferation, further understanding of the lipid metabolic sensor PPARγ is necessary to reduce the incidence of metabolic diseases and cancer.

Poor ability to resist tempting calorie rich food is linked to altered balance between neural systems involved in urge and self-control.

BackgroundThe loss of self-control or inability to resist tempting/rewarding foods, and the development of less healthful eating habits may be explained by three key neural systems: (1) a hyper-functioning striatum system driven by external rewarding cues; (2) a hypo-functioning decision-making and impulse control system; and (3) an altered insula system involved in the translation of homeostatic and interoceptive signals into self-awareness and what may be subjectively experienced as a feeling.MethodsThe present study examined the activity within two of these neural systems when subjects were exposed to images of high-calorie versus low-calorie foods using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and related this activity to dietary intake, assessed by 24-hour recall. Thirty youth (mean BMI = 23.1 kg/m2, range = 19.1 - 33.7; age =19.7 years, range = 14 - 22) were scanned using fMRI while performing food-specific go/nogo tasks.ResultsBehaviorally, participants more readily pressed a response button when go trials consisted of high-calorie food cues (HGo task) and less readily pressed the response button when go trials consisted of low-calorie food cues (LGo task). This habitual response to high-calorie food cues was greater for individuals with higher BMI and individuals who reportedly consume more high-calorie foods. Response inhibition to the high-calorie food cues was most difficult for individuals with a higher BMI and individuals who reportedly consume more high-calorie foods. fMRI results confirmed our hypotheses that (1) the "habitual" system (right striatum) was more activated in response to high-calorie food cues during the go trials than low-calorie food go trials, and its activity correlated with participants’ BMI, as well as their consumption of high-calorie foods; (2) the prefrontal system was more active in nogo trials than go trials, and this activity was inversely correlated with BMI and high-calorie food consumption.ConclusionsUsing a cross-sectional design, our findings help increase understanding of the neural basis of one’s loss of ability to self-control when faced with tempting food cues. Though the design does not permit inferences regarding whether the inhibitory control deficits and hyper-responsivity of reward regions are individual vulnerability factors for overeating, or the results of habitual overeating.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-92) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Naltrexone sustained-release/bupropion sustained-release for the management of obesity: review of the data to date.

Obesity is an emerging disease worldwide. Changes in living habits, especially with increased consumption of high-calorie foods and decreased levels of physical activity, lead to an energy imbalance that brings weight gain. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for several chronic diseases (including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer), reduce quality of life, and are associated with higher mortality. For all these reasons, it is of the utmost importance that the trend be reversed and obese people enabled to lose weight. It is known that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help prevent obesity, but data show that in many cases these steps are not enough. This is the reason why, over the last few decades, several antiobesity drugs have been developed. However, the disappointing results demonstrated for the vast majority of them have not discouraged the pharmaceutical industry from continuing to look for an effective drug or combination of drugs. The systematic review presented here focuses on naltrexone sustained-release/bupropion sustained-release combination (Contrave®). We conclude from the current published reports that its effectiveness in the treatment of obesity can be estimated as a placebo-subtracted weight loss of around 4.5%. This weight reduction is moderate but similar to other antiobesity drugs. The safety profile of this combination is acceptable, despite additional data regarding cardiovascular disease being needed.

FTO genotype and aging: pleiotropic longitudinal effects on adiposity, brain function, impulsivity and diet.

While overweight and obesity are associated with poor health outcomes in the elderly, the biological bases of obesity-related behaviors during aging are poorly understood. Common variants in the FTO gene are associated with adiposity in children and younger adults as well as with adverse mental health in older individuals. However, it is unclear whether FTO influences longitudinal trajectories of adiposity and other intermediate phenotypes relevant to mental health during aging. We examined whether a commonly carried obesity risk variant in the FTO gene (rs1421085 single nucleotide polymorphism) influences adiposity and is associated with changes in brain function in participants within the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), one of the longest-running longitudinal aging studies in the United States. Our results show that obesity-related risk allele carriers of FTO gene show dose-dependent increments in body mass index during aging. Moreover, the obesity-related risk allele is associated with reduced medial prefrontal cortical function during aging. Consistent with reduced brain function in regions intrinsic to impulse control and taste responsiveness, risk allele carriers of FTO exhibit dose-dependent increments in both impulsivity and intake of fatty foods. We propose that a common neural mechanism may underlie obesity-associated impulsivity and increased consumption of high calorie foods during aging.

Correlates of objectively measured overweight/obesity and physical activity in Kenyan school children: results from ISCOLE-Kenya

BackgroundChildhood overweight/obesity and inadequate physical activity burden Western countries, and now, pose a growing threat to the health of children in low and middle income countries. Behavioural transitions toward more sedentary lifestyles coupled with increased consumption of high calorie foods has resulted in rising proportions of overweight/obesity and decreasing levels of physical activity in school-aged children. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and to investigate factors associated with overweight/obesity and physical activity in Kenyan children aged 9 to 11 years.MethodsBody composition and physical activity measures of participating children were accomplished by anthropometric assessment, accelerometry, and administration of questionnaires related to diet and lifestyle, and the school and neighbourhood environments. Data collection was conducted in the city of Nairobi as part of a larger International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and Environment.ResultsA total of 563 participants (46.5% boys, 53.5% girls) were included in the analyses. Of these, 3.7% were underweight, 14.4% were overweight, and 6.4% were obese based on WHO cut-points. Mean daily sedentary time was 398 minutes, time spent in light physical activity was 463 minutes, and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 36 minutes based on activity cut-points developed by Treuth et al. Only 12.6% of participating children were meeting the recommendation of ≥ 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and 45.7% of participants used active transportation to/from school. Increasing parental education level, total annual household income, and attending a private rather than public school were associated positively with being overweight/obese and negatively with meeting physical activity guidelines.ConclusionsThis study provided the evidence for an existing prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity in Nairobi. Children were spending a considerable amount of time in sedentary and light intensity physical activity, with few meeting physical activity guidelines. Higher socioeconomic status and parental education attainment were associated with a higher likelihood of children being overweight/obese and a lower likelihood of children meeting the physical activity recommendations. Interventions and strategies should be attentive to the potential health consequences of lifestyle transitions resulting from urbanisation and economic prosperity.

직장인의 건강행위와 운동프로그램 요구도

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine perceived needs for exercise programs among adults in the workforce based on sociodemographic characteristics and health-related behaviors. Methods: The sample consisted of 182 office workers, sales workers, and service workers recruited at a worksite in Seoul (97 males and 85 females, Mean age=34.6, SD=7.71). Study participants completed a structured questionnaire on health-related behaviors and areas of needs for exercise programs. Analysis of data was performed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: Workers with greater interest in exercise reported to engage in exercise. Significant differences were observed in goals of exercise, preferred exercise, preferred methods for delivery of exercise, preferred exercise monitoring, and social support for exercise maintenance according to age, sex, marital status, education, commuting time, occupation, alcohol use, smoking, and current participation in exercise. There were no differences in areas of exercise program needs by consumption of high calorie foods. Conclusion: Public health nurses can use these findings for development and implementation of tailored exercise programs to promote health for workers whose physical activity is insufficient.

Sobrepeso, obesidad y condiciones socioculturales en escolares entre los siete y los once años de edad en la ciudad de orizaba, veracruz

274 male and female students between seven and eleven years old in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz, in regard to malnourishment by overweight and obesity, and sociocultural conditions of their daily lives were evaluated by quantitative and qualitative methods, and indexes weight for age, body mass index (bmi) and sum of skinfolds. We used the Epi - Info version 3.4.3 software and the standard of the 2000 nchs (National Center for Health Statistics). The socio-cultural conditions were analyzed by a food survey of 24-hour recall to 132 individuals and an activity recall questionnaire to 126 children. Some overweight children were selected for participant observation and interviews. The distribution curve of the total sample weight for age in mean z scores showed bias to the right. In the classification of bmi, 41.6 % of the total sample were overweight or at risk of overweight. The amount of fat pads showed a high percentage of obesity and 16 % of the sample had excess adiposity. These results relate to large consumption of high-calorie foods and prevailing sedentary habits.

Sleep related eating disorder (SRED) and night eating syndrome (NES): same or different disorders?

Introduction The last revision of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders ( ICDS-2) has considered SRED as a parasomnia and it has established precise diagnostic criteria in order to differentiate it from NES. The presence of a variable level of awareness during the nocturnal eating episodes, consumption of some peculiar food combinations or dangerous behaviors or sleep related-injuries during the night are more typical in SRED. However the overlap between the clinical and polysomnographic features of both disorders is evident and some authors have postulated that they are “opposite poles of a continuous clinical spectrum”. We expose the results of the study of 30 patients with recurrent involuntary eating episodes during the night. Materials and methods 6 males and 24 females. Age range: 19 −67 years. All subjects underwent a semi structured clinical and psychological interview. The behaviours and the severity of the compulsive nocturnal eating was measured using the Night Eating Questionnaire. A video – polysomnographic study ( v-PSG) was done placing a table with food and drinks at the bedside. Results 1. Variable number of nocturnal eating episodes per night (1–20) depending on the emotional state of the patient. Frequent association with depressive - anxious syndrome. 2. Involuntary eating with reward sensation. 3. Variable level of consciousness during the episodes within a single night and across the longitudinal course of the disorder. 4. Consumption of high caloric food but no inedible or toxic substances. Morning anorexia common. 5. 2/3 of the patients were night and evening eaters. 6. Insomnia (100%) and frequent comorbid sleep disorders. 7. Obstructive Sleep apnea treatment with CPAP failed to reduce the number of episodes. However some therapeutic benefit was achieved with dopaminergic agents in patients with concomitant Restless leg syndrome. Conclusion 1. Sleep, eating or mood disorder? Probable observation bias between different specialists. 2. At present there isn’t a clear-cut border between SRED and NES. Our results support the hypothesis that they are ends of a continuum with the same underlying pathophysiology. Acknowledgements All medical staff, nurses and technicians of our Multidisciplinary Marques de Valdecilla Sleep Unit. Thanks to my family.

Lifestyle Habits : Diet , Physical Activity and Sleep Duration among Omani Adolescents = عادات نمط الحياة : الغذاء و النشاط البدني و مدة النوم بين المراهقين العمانيين

This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle habits-physical activity (PA), eating habits (EH), and sleep duration (SD)-of Omani adolescents, and to examine gender differences in such variables. 802 Omani adolescents (442 females and 360 males), aged 15-18 years were randomly recruited. Anthropometric indices, PA level, and EH and SD were evaluated by the Arab Teenage Lifestyle questionnaire. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment was also administered. The results showed that although the study subjects had a sedentary lifestyle (lack of PA, average of 6.7 hours sleep, and consumption of high calorie foods), they maintained a normal body mass (less than 25 Kg/m(2)). Males were more than twice as active as females. With respect to EH, there were few gender differences, except in dairy and meat consumption where 62.5% and 55.5% of males consumed more than 3 servings, respectively, compared to 18.78 % and 35.2% of females, respectively. In addition, waist/height ratio, height, reasons for being active, energy drinks, potato consumption, eating sweets, vigorous PA and breakfast EHs were statistically significant independent predictors for BMI, P <0.05 for both males and females. This study revealed a high prevalence of sedentary behaviors and a low level of physical activity, especially among females. Unhealthy dietary habits were also widely found among both genders. There is an urgent need for more research as well as a national policy promoting active living and healthy eating and discouraging sedentary behaviour among Omani adolescents.

Chronic stress exposure may affect the brain's response to high calorie food cues and predispose to obesogenic eating habits

Exaggerated reactivity to food cues involving calorically-dense foods may significantly contribute to food consumption beyond caloric need. Chronic stress, which can induce palatable “comfort” food consumption, may trigger or reinforce neural pathways leading to stronger reactions to highly rewarding foods. We implemented functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess whether chronic stress influences activation in reward, motivation and executive brain regions in response to pictures of high calorie and low calorie foods in thirty women. On separate lab visits, we also assessed food intake from a snack food buffet and circulating cortisol. In women reporting higher chronic stress (HCS), pictures of high calorie foods elicited exaggerated activity in regions of the brain involving reward, motivation, and habitual decision-making. In response to pictures of high calorie food, higher chronic stress was also associated with significant deactivation in frontal regions (BA10; BA46) linked to strategic planning and emotional control. In functional connectivity analysis, HCS strengthened connectivity between amygdala and the putamen, while LCS enhanced connectivity between amygdala and the anterior cingulate and anterior prefrontal cortex (BA10). A hypocortisolemic signature and more consumption of high calorie foods from the snack buffet were observed in the HCS group. These results suggest that persistent stress exposure may alter the brain's response to food in ways that predispose individuals to poor eating habits which, if sustained, may increase risk for obesity.

Hyperphagia and obesity

Since ancient times, mankind is faced with the problem of obesity, caused by mismatch between energy intake and energy use. In recent decades, both women and men are involved in obesity epidemic, the occurrence of which can be attributed to the increased consumption of energy – and fat-rich foods. There are several reasons for the increased consumption of high-calorie foods that are discussed in this paper. The article also highlights the mechanisms underlying hyperphagic disorders and diseases, the main manifestation of which is the insatiable hunger.

Electronic gaming and the obesity crisis.

Children and adolescents in the United States and in many countries are projected to have shorter life spans than their parents, partly because of the obesity crisis engulfing the developed world. Exposure to electronic media is often implicated in this crisis because media use, including electronic game play, may promote sedentary behavior and increase consumption of high-calorie foods and beverages that are low in nutritional value. Electronic games, however, may increase children's physical activity and expose them to healthier foods. We examine the role of electronic games in the pediatric obesity crisis and their contribution to more favorable health outcomes.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is an issue of serious medical and social concern. In developing countries including India, it is a phenomenon seen in higher socioeconomic strata due to the adoption of a western lifestyle. Consumption of high calorie food, lack of physical activity and increased screen time are major risk factors for childhood obesity apart from other genetic, prenatal factors and socio-cultural practices. Obese children and adolescents are at increased risk of medical and psychological complications. Insulin resistance is commonly present especially in those with central obesity and manifests as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome and metabolic syndrome. Obese children and adolescents often present to general physicians for management. The latter play a key role in prevention and treatment of obesity as it involves lifestyle modification of the entire family. This article aims at discussing the approach to diagnosis and work-up, treatment and preventive strategies for childhood obesity from a general physician's perspective.