Hip Circumference Research Articles

Apple Cider Vinegar in the Combat Against Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity – An Overview of Recent Research

ABSTRACT Introduction Apple Cider Vinegar, primarily composed of acetic acid, is gaining more recognition for its possible health advantages, especially its anti-diabetic effects and its beneficial impact on weight loss. Aim of this study The aim of this review is to discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of ACV on glycemic indices and weight management in diabetic and obese patients, explore the possibilities of preventing comorbidities, and assess the safety of ACV consumption. Materials and Methods Research was performed based on Pubmed and Google Scholar databases. The literature was reviewed using the keywords : Apple Cider Vinegar, Diabetes, Glucose, Obesity. Results Studies have confirmed that apple cider vinegar exhibits significant anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. It demonstrates dose- and time-dependent effects on reducing fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and lipid parameters. It positively impacts weight loss, reducing waist and hip circumference, and enhances tissue sensitivity to insulin. Additionally, apple cider vinegar has been shown to potentiate the effects of metformin, with liquid consumption yielding better results than pill form. Conclusions Although initial findings are encouraging, additional research with a larger participant pool and an extended duration of vinegar consumption is necessary. The brevity of the study period restricts the observation of long-term effects, and a larger sample size would improve the applicability of the findings. Key words: apple cider vinegar; diabetes; glucose; obesity

Breastfeeding behaviours in women with obesity; associations with weight retention and the serum metabolome: a secondary analysis of UPBEAT.

Maternal obesity is associated with a decreased intention and initiation of breastfeeding as well as a shortened duration of breastfeeding. This analysis was undertaken to identify breastfeeding behaviours, and relationships with maternal anthropometry and the serum metabolome at 6-months postpartum in an ethnically diverse cohort of women with obesity. A cohort analysis of 715 women from the UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT); a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of an antenatal lifestyle intervention in women with obesity. Maternal data were collected in early pregnancy and included body mass index (BMI), socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometry. At 6-months postpartum, breastfeeding behaviours, anthropometry and 158 maternal metabolic measures from blood samples were recorded. Kaplan-Meier curves of breastfeeding duration were constructed and were stratified by obesity class (I: BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m2, II: 35.0-39.9 kg/m2, III: ≥40.0 kg/m2). Relationships between breastfeeding behaviours, socio-demographic characteristics, the metabolome, and anthropometry were determined using regression analyses. Eighty-two percent (591/715) of the cohort-initiated breastfeeding and at the 6-month follow-up 40% (283/715) were breastfeeding exclusively or partially. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding decreased with increasing BMI: Compared to BMI class I (mean 90.4 ± 64 days) the difference in mean for classes II and III were -15.8 days (95% confidence interval: -28.5, -3.1, p < 0.05) and -16.7 (95% CI: -32.0 to -1.35, p < 0.05), respectively. Compared to no breastfeeding, any breastfeeding at 6-months postpartum was associated with improvements in metabolites towards a healthier profile, reduced weight retention by -1.81 kg (95% CI -0.75, -2.88, p < 0.05 ) and reduced anthropometric measures, including mid-upper arm and hip circumferences. The breastfeeding related changes in anthropometry were not evident in women of Black ethnicity. Greater emphasis on enabling breastfeeding for women with obesity could improve duration, women's weight management and metabolic health. The lack of breastfeeding related anthropometric effects in Black women requires further investigation. ISRCTN reference 89971375.

Association Between Osteoporosis and Adiposity Index Reveals Nonlinearity Among Postmenopausal Women and Linearity Among Men Aged over 50 Years

PurposePrevious research shows conflicting views on the relationship between obesity and osteoporosis, partly due to variations in obesity classification and the nonlinear nature of these relationships. This study investigated the association between adiposity indices and osteoporosis, diagnosed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), employing nonlinear models and offering optimal thresholds to prevent further bone mineral density decline.MethodsIn 2019, a prospective study enrolled males over 50 years and postmenopausal women. Anthropometric measurements, blood biochemistry, and osteoporosis measured by DXA were collected. Associations between adiposity indices and osteoporosis were analyzed using a generalized additive model and segmented regression model.ResultsThe study included 872 women and 1321 men. Indices such as abdominal volume index (AVI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were inversely associated with osteoporosis. In women, the relationship between the risk of osteoporosis and the adiposity indices was U-shaped, with thresholds of WC = 94 cm, AVI = 17.67 cm2, BMI = 25.74 kg/m2, VAI = 4.29, and WHtR = 0.61, considering changes in bone mineral density. Conversely, men exhibited a linear patterns for the inverse association.ConclusionThe impact of obesity and adiposity on osteoporosis varies significantly between women and men. In postmenopausal women, the relationship is nonlinear (U-shaped), with both very low and very high adiposity linked to higher osteoporosis risk. In men over 50, the relationship is linear, with higher adiposity associated with lower osteoporosis risk. The study suggests that maintaining specific levels of adiposity could help prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Anthropometrics and Mental Health Among People with and Without Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: To investigate the relationships between anthropometric variables and the mental health of older people with type 2 diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Design: A case-control study. Setting(s): The study was conducted in Yazd, the capital city of the Yazd province in Iran. Participants: This study comprised 501 diabetic and 555 non-diabetic individuals recruited from the Yazd Health Study (YaHS). Outcome measures: The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire was used to assess mental health. The scale measured anthropometric indicators, including blood pressure, waist circumference, hip circumference, neck circumference, body fat, body muscle percentage, visceral fat, and body mass index (BMI). Results: The non-diabetic group exhibited better mental health (P≤0.01) compared to the diabetic group. Linear regression analysis indicated that, among demographic variables, gender in diabetic elderly was associated with mental health (P≤0.01), while gender, level of education, and marital status (P≤0.01) in non-diabetics were associated with mental health. Furthermore, among anthropometric factors, BMI and visceral fat (P≤0.01) in diabetics and visceral fat (P≤0.01) in non-diabetics were associated with mental health. The model obtained from liner regression based on demographic and anthropometric variables explained 6 to 13.3% and 8.8 to 15.4% of variance in mental health among diabetic (R2=0.086, P≤0.01) and non-diabetic (R2=0.162, P≤0.01) individuals, respectively. Conclusions: Gender, higher BMI, and visceral fat were associated with poor mental health among diabetic patients. The results of the present study can be used for designing appropriate interventions through different programs such as physical fitness programs.

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-center, comparative study evaluating Phaseolean® safety and efficacy in overweight/obese participants

ScopePhaseolean®, a standardized water extract of Phaseolus vulgaris or white kidney bean, exhibits α-amylase inhibitory property, which decreases calorie absorption by preventing or delaying carbohydrate digestion, thus supporting weight management. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center comparative study (Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2023/02/049440, Registered on: February 03, 2023) evaluated the safety and efficacy of Phaseolean® in weight management in overweight or obese participants upon regular intake at two different doses compared with placebo. MethodSixty-six participants were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups, considering the inclusion & exclusion criteria. Each group was assigned a specific daily dosage for three meals: Phaseolean® 1500 mg/day (500 mg per meal), Phaseolean® 3000 mg/day (1000 mg per meal), or placebo 1500 mg/day (500 mg per meal), administered thrice a day before meals for 45 consecutive days. Body weight; body mass index (BMI); skinfold fat thickness; waist, hip, and thigh circumferences; and blood biochemical parameters were monitored and analyzed to evaluate the effects of these interventions. Results and conclusionsOf the 66 enrolled participants, 62 completed the study. Treatment with Phaseolean® 1500 mg/day reduced the weight by an average of 2.10 kg (0.33 kg/week), while that with 3000 mg/day was 1.94 kg (0.30 kg/week); 0.13 kg weight loss (0.02 kg/week) was observed in the placebo group after 45 days, showing significant differences between the Phaseolean® and placebo groups (p < 0.01). BMI, body fat, skinfold fat thickness, and the waist, hip, and thigh circumference were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) in both Phaseolean® groups compared with those in the placebo group, which showed no significant changes.No adverse effects were observed during the clinical trial period. Phaseolean® 1500 mg/day dose was more effective in weight reduction than the 3000 mg/day higher dose. Therefore, Phaseolean® can be used to support healthy weight management.

Effect of sodium glucose Co-transporter 2 inhibitor use on anthropometric measurements and blood glucose in obese and non-obese type 2 diabetic patients

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are closely associated with each other and require careful management. This study aimed to assess the impact of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on glycemic control and body composition in diabetic patients, stratified by obesity status. We enrolled patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, categorized as obese (BMI≥30) or non-obese (BMI<30), from our outpatient clinic. SGLT2 inhibitor therapy was added to their existing treatment regimen without altering dietary habits or exercise routines. Anthropometric measurements and laboratory parameters were compared between baseline and the third month of treatment. The study included 40 participants, evenly split between obese and non-obese groups. At the third-month follow-up, significant reductions were observed in BMI, weight, waist and hip circumference, and body fat percentage across both groups (p<0.001). Conversely, muscle mass percentage significantly increased (p<0.001). Additionally, there were statistically significant decreases in HbA1c, glucose, CRP, ALT, LDL, and total cholesterol levels from baseline to the third month of treatment (p<0.001 for HbA1c and glucose; p=0.009, p=0.022, p=0.003, and p=0.021, respectively, for CRP, ALT, LDL, and total cholesterol). The findings of the present study suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors may offer substantial benefits, particularly in the management of obesity-related type 2 diabetes.

The role of morphometric characteristics in predicting 20-meter sprint performance through machine learning

The aim of this study was to test the morphometric features affecting 20-m sprint performance in children at the first level of primary education using machine learning (ML) algorithms. In this study, 130 male and 152 female volunteers aged between 6 and 11 years were included. After obtaining demographic information of the participants, skinfold thickness, diameter and circumference measurements, and 20-m sprint performance were determined. The study conducted three distinct experiments to determine the optimal ML technique for predicting outcomes. Initially, the entire feature space was utilized for training the ML models to establish a baseline performance. In the second experiment, only significant features identified through correlation analysis were used for training and testing the models, enhancing the focus on relevant predictors. Lastly, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to reduce the feature space, aiming to streamline model complexity while retaining data variance. These experiments collectively aimed to evaluate different feature selection and dimensionality reduction techniques, providing insights into the most effective strategies for optimizing predictive performance in the given context. The correlation-based selected features (Age, Height, waist circumference, hip circumference, leg length, thigh length, foot length) has produced a minimum Mean Squared Error (MSE) value of 0.012 for predicting the sprint performance in children. The effective utilization of correlation analysis in the selection of relevant features for our regression model suggests that the features selected exhibit robust linear associations with the target variable and can be relied upon as predictors.

Comparative analysis of body mass index and obesity-related anthropometric indices for mortality prediction: a study of the Namwon and Dong-gu cohort in Korea.

This study investigated the associations between several obesity-related anthropometric indices and mortality in middle-aged and elderly populations to compare the indices' predictive ability with that of the body mass index (BMI). We analyzed data on 12 indices calculated from 19,805 community-based cohort participants (average age, 63.27 years; median follow-up, 13.49 years). Each index was calculated using directly measured values of height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC). We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each index using Cox regression and evaluated mortality prediction with the Harrell concordance index (c-index). Adding anthropometric indices to the basic mortality model (c-index, 0.7723; 95% CI, 0.7647 to 0.7799) significantly increased the predictive power of BMI (c-index, 0.7735; 95% CI, 0.7659 to 0.7811), a body shape index (ABSI; c-index, 0.7735; 95% CI, 0.7659 to 0.7810), weight-adjusted waist index (WWI; c-index, 0.7731; 95% CI, 0.7656 to 0.7807), and waist to hip index (WHI; c-index, 0.7733; 95% CI, 0.7657 to 0.7809). The differences between the BMI model and the other 3 models were not statistically significant. In predicting all-cause mortality, the ABSI, WWI, and WHI models based on WC or HC had stronger predictive power than conventional risk factors but were not significantly different from the BMI model.

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and paraoxonase-1 levels in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients in Nigeria.

Recent evidence has linked changes in plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) levels with increased risk for development of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in different populations. However, studies on this in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. This study assessed the association between reduced plasma LCAT and PON-1 levels and an increased risk of ASCVD, and their potential as biomarkers for ASCVD. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients and healthy controls were randomly selected for this cross-sectional case-control study from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, between March 2022 and March 2023. Plasma LCAT and PON-1 were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while the lipid profile was measured by spectrophotometry. A total of 153 ASCVD patients (mean age: 52.92 ± 10.24 years) and 50 healthy controls (mean age: 46.96 ± 11.05 years) were included in the analyses. Stastistically significant increases were observed in the mean body weight, hip circumference, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure (all p ≤ 0.001), and pulse rate (p = 0.003) compared to the control values. Statistically significant increases were also observed in the mean plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all p ≤ 0.001). In contrast, the mean plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LCAT, and PON-1 (p ≤ 0.001) were notably reduced compared to the control values. The present study provides supportive evidence that changes in plasma LCAT and PON-1 could predispose individuals to risk of premature ASCVD. Plasma LCAT and PON-1 may serve as independent markers or complement other established cardiovascular disease markers to discriminate the risk of ASCVD when it is unclear.

The association of menopause with cardiometabolic disease risk factors in women living with and without HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: Results from the AWI-Gen 1 study

BackgroundMenopause and HIV are associated with cardiometabolic disease. In sub-Saharan Africa there is a growing population of midlife women living with HIV and a high prevalence of cardiometabolic disease. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine whether menopause and HIV were associated with cardiometabolic disease risk factors in a population of midlife sub-Saharan African women. Study designThis was a cross-sectional comparison of cardiometabolic disease risk factors between 944 premenopausal women (733 living without HIV and 211 living with HIV) and 1135 postmenopausal women (932 living without HIV and 203 living with HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. Main outcome measuresAnthropometric and cardiometabolic variables were compared between pre- and postmenopausal women living without HIV and between pre- and postmenopausal women living with HIV and between women living without HIV and women living with HIV. ResultsThe prevalence of HIV was 19.9 %. Age at menopause was lower in women living with HIV than in women living without HIV (48.1 ± 5.1 vs 50.9 ± 4.7 years, p < 0.001).Women living with HIV and receiving efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy had a lower body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, blood pressure and carotid intima media thickness but higher triglyceride levels and insulin resistance than women living without HIV. Antiretroviral therapy-naïve women living with HIV had lower HDL-cholesterol than women living without HIV.In this study, menopause was associated with higher LDL-C levels, regardless of HIV status. ConclusionThe high prevalence of obesity and related cardiometabolic disease risk factors in these midlife sub-Saharan African women is not related to the menopausal transition. The association of cardiometabolic disease risk factors with HIV and antiretroviral therapy is complex and requires further investigation in longitudinal studies, as does the negative association of age at final menstrual period with HIV.

Diabetes-specific formula with standard of care improves glycemic control, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Medical nutrition therapy is important for diabetes management. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a diabetes-specific formula (DSF) on glycemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Participants (n = 235) were randomized to either DSF with standard of care (SOC) (DSF group; n = 117) or SOC only (control group; n = 118). The DSF group consumed one or two DSF servings daily as meal replacement or partial meal replacement. The assessments were done at baseline, on day 45, and on day 90. There were significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (-0.44% vs. -0.26%, p = 0.015, at day 45; -0.50% vs. -0.21%, p = 0.002, at day 90) and fasting blood glucose (-0.14 mmol/L vs. +0.32 mmol/L, p = 0.036, at day 90), as well as twofold greater weight loss (-1.30 kg vs. -0.61 kg, p < 0.001, at day 45; -1.74 kg vs. -0.76 kg, p < 0.001, at day 90) in the DSF group compared with the control group. The decrease in percent body fat and increase in percent fat-free mass at day 90 in the DSF group were almost twice that of the control group (1.44% vs. 0.79%, p = 0.047). In addition, the percent change in visceral adipose tissue at day 90 in the DSF group was several-fold lower than in the control group (-6.52% vs. -0.95%, p < 0.001). The DSF group also showed smaller waist and hip circumferences, and lower diastolic blood pressure than the control group (all overall p ≤ 0.045). DSF with SOC yielded significantly greater improvements than only SOC in glycemic control, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with T2D.

The association between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with diabetes in the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study population

BackgroundWaist circumference (WC), or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), potentially offers a more accurate reflection of intra-abdominal fat accumulation and could serve as a superior predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk compared to BMI. The current study investigated the relationship between WHR and its influencing factors among diabetes patients enrolled in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN) Guilan Cohort study (PGCS).MethodIn this cross-sectional study of 10,520 participants, 2,531 had T2DM. Waist and hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), underlying diseases, and demographical data of participants were recorded. Also, fasting blood sugar (FBS), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG) were assessed. All data was analyzed using SPSS version 16; the significant level was < 0.05.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 51.52 ± 8.90 years, and 39.9% had a BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2. The prevalence of diabetes was 24.1% (n = 2531). About 7628 (72.5%) individuals had abnormal WHR, and 2072 (19.7%) were diabetics. Among patients with diabetes, abnormal WHR was significantly associated with age over 50, female gender, higher BMI, and lower LDL (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe study showed a higher prevalence of abnormal WHR in diabetic patients. Abnormal WHR in patients with diabetes was significantly associated with age, gender, and BMI.

Accurate Prediction of Three-Dimensional Humanoid Avatars for Anthropometric Modeling.

To evaluate the hypothesis that anthropometric dimensions derived from a person's manifold-regression predicted three-dimensional (3D) humanoid avatar are accurate when compared to their actual circumference, volume, and surface area measurements acquired with a ground-truth 3D optical imaging method. Avatars predicted using this approach, if accurate with respect to anthropometric dimensions, can serve multiple purposes including patient metabolic disease risk stratification in clinical settings. Manifold regression 3D avatar prediction equations were developed on a sample of 570 adults who completed 3D optical scans, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) evaluations. A new prospective sample of 84 adults had ground-truth measurements of 6 body circumferences, 7 volumes, and 7 surface areas with a 20-camera 3D reference scanner. 3D humanoid avatars were generated on these participants with manifold regression including age, weight, height, DXA %fat, and BIA impedances as potential predictor variables. Ground-truth and predicted avatar anthropometric dimensions were quantified with the same software. Following exploratory studies, one manifold prediction model was moved forward for presentation that included age, weight, height, and %fat as covariates. Predicted and ground-truth avatars had similar visual appearances; correlations between predicted and ground-truth anthropometric estimates were all high (R2s, 0.75-0.99; all p < 0.001) with non-significant mean differences except for arm circumferences (%D ~ 5%; p < 0.05). Concordance correlation coefficients ranged from 0.80-0.99 and small but significant bias (p < 0.05 - 0.01) was present with Bland-Altman plots in 13 of 20 total anthropometric measurements. The mean waist to hip circumference ratio predicted by manifold regression was non-significantly different from ground-truth scanner measurements. 3D avatars predicted from demographic, physical, and other accessible characteristics can produce body representations with accurate anthropometric dimensions without a 3D scanner. Combining manifold regression algorithms into established body composition methods such as DXA, BIA, and other accessible methods provides new research and clinical opportunities.

SOMATIC STATUS AND BODY COMPOSITION OF YOUNG WOMEN OF THE ALTAI REPUBLIC LIVING IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS

Introduction. Due to the wide variety of ethnogeographic features and ecological niches, environmental differences as well as changes in living conditions, the study of the morphological status of indigenous populations of Russia retains its significance. Our aim was to study the somatic status and BIA body composition of young women of Altai and Russian ethnicities aged 17-23 years living in urban and rural areas of the Altai Republic. Materials and methods. In 2021–2023, 230 young women aged 17 to 23 years (117 Altai-Kizhi and 113 Russians) living in urban and rural areas were examined. The examination program included anthropometry, the Heath-Carter somatotyping, and BIA. Ethnic differences and city-village differences were assessed using parametric and non-parametric methods. Results. Ethnically Russian women were, in general, somewhat larger than Altai women, significant differences were found for height (Ht), weight (Wt), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Significant differences were also observed for the resistance R50, phase angle and fat-free mass (FFM) values. The somatotype distributions by enlarged classes were close with a predominance of mesomorphic and endomorphic types. When testing for city-village differences in ethnic subgroups, the total body dimensions (Wt, Ht, chest circumference), as well as WC, hip circumference (HC) and body mass index were slightly higher in urban residents (not significant differences). The urban Altai women had a statistically significantly higher endomorphy rating with a noticeable increase in fat mass (FM), %FM and fat mass index. Ethnic differences were more pronounced in rural (Ht, Wt, HC, WHR, R50, phase angle, FFM and fat-free mass index were significantly different) than in urban residents (significant differences only for Ht and FFM). Conclusions. The results of our study suggest that permanent residence in urban or rural areas, along with ethnic differences, is a significant factor associated with the somatic status of young Altai-Kizhi and ethnically Russian women belonging to the modern indigenous population of the Altai Republic. In the subgroup of young women who are inherently living in the city, less pronounced ethnic differences in somatic status were observed as compared to residents of rural areas. © 2024. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Community childhood obesity assessment in elementary school, anthropometric indices as screening tools: a community cross-sectional study in Indonesia

BackgroundRepresentative anthropometric epidemiological data are needed to formulate screening and intervention methods to prevent obesity in children. This study aims to conduct community childhood obesity assessment in elementary school based...

Prediction of visceral adipose tissue magnitude using a new model based on simple clinical measurements.

Waist circumference (WC) is a reliable obesity surrogate but may not distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Our aim was to develop a novel sex-specific model to estimate the magnitude of visceral adipose tissue measured by computed tomography (CT-VAT). The model was initially formulated through the integration of anthropometric measurements, laboratory data, and CT-VAT within a study group (n=185), utilizing the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) methodology. Subsequently, its correlation with CT-VAT was examined in an external validation group (n=50). The accuracy of the new model in estimating increased CT-VAT (>130 cm2) was compared with WC, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), a body shape index (ABSI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), body roundness index (BRI), and metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) in the study group. Additionally, the new model's accuracy in identifying metabolic syndrome was evaluated in our Metabolic Healthiness Discovery Cohort (n=430). The new model comprised WC, gender, BMI, and hip circumference, providing the highest predictive accuracy in estimating increased CT-VAT in men (AUC of 0.96 ± 0.02), outperforming other indices. In women, the AUC was 0.94 ± 0.03, which was significantly higher than that of VAI, WHR, and ABSI but similar to WC, BMI, LAP, BRI, and METS-VF. It's demonstrated high ability for identifying metabolic syndrome with an AUC of 0.76 ± 0.03 (p<0.001). The new model is a valuable indicator of CT-VAT, especially in men, and it exhibits a strong predictive capability for identifying metabolic syndrome.

Obesity and adiposity promote the development of non-suppurative otitis media: a Mendelian randomization study.

Observational studies have found that obesity is associated with the development of non-suppurative otitis media (NSOM), but the causality and pathogenesis are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity, lipid metabolism, and NSOM at the genetic level. We performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to examine the causal relationship between obesity, lipid metabolism-related factors, and NSOM by using the datasets obtained from the IEU Open genome-wide association studies (GWAS) Project. Furthermore, a multivariate MR (MVMR) analysis on lipid indicators was conducted to validate the results. We then used obesity or body mass index (BMI) as the exposure and NSOM as the outcome to search for possible mediators in lipids and adipokines. Using NSOM as the outcome, we found nine positive exposure results related to obesity and lipid metabolism. Among them, obesity, BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, and resistin were risk factors, while apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and nerve growth factor (NGF) were protective factors. Then, we used the obesity and lipid metabolism-related factors as outcomes and NSOM as the exposure to perform the MR analysis, which failed to obtain positive results. In the MVMR analysis, we found that HDL cholesterol and apoA1 remained causally associated with NSOM after correction for other potential confounders. Simultaneously, when obesity or BMI was used as the exposure and NSOM as the outcome, HDL cholesterol or apoA1 served as mediators through a two-step MR analysis. The MR analysis for mediation, obesity, and BMI reduced the production of HDL or apoA1, which served as protective factors affecting the development of NSOM. At the genetic level, obesity and adiposity may promote the development of NSOM, while NSOM has no effect on obesity and adiposity. Obesity can also encourage the progress of NSOM by reducing HDL cholesterol/apoA1. Resistin may be a potential risk factor for NSOM, whereas NGF may be a potential protective factor.

The relationship of visceral adiposity with endothelial functions and subclinical atherosclerosis in obese individuals.

On the cardiovascular system, obesity accelerates atherosclerosis progression, inducing pathophysiological changes that are detectable already from young adults. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the earliest vascular alterations observed in obesity. In this study, we aimed to determine endothelial functions and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with obesity without overt cardiovascular disease. The study was conducted with 112 individuals with obesity without overt cardiovascular disease and any chronical diseases (BMI>30 kg/m2) (84 female, 28 male, mean age: 46.3±11.2 years) and 49 healthy individuals with no diseases (33 female, 16 male, mean age: 44.6±10.2 years). All patients were examined for endothelial functions by the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) method and carotid intima-media thicknesses (CIMT). All measurements were performed by the same imaging specialist, averaging 3 different measurements. In addition to the body mass index and waist circumference visceral adiposity index (VAI) and triponderal mass index (TPI) also calculated. The percentage of FMD obtained by brachial artery ultrasound was significantly lower, visceral adipose tissue, perirenal adipose tissue thicknesses measured by abdominal ultrasound and CIMT were significantly thicker in Group 1 compared to Group 2. FMD had a negative significant correlation with body mass index, visceral adipose tissue thickness, perirenal adipose tissue thickness, and waist and hip circumferences, and carotid intima-media thickness and CIMT had a significant correlation with visceral adipose tissue thickness, perirenal adipose tissue thickness, VAI, TPI and waist, hip circumferences. Individuals with obesity have impaired endothelial functions and greater carotid intima-media thicknesses compared to healthy individuals. This impairment in endothelial functions is proportional to the amount of visceral and perirenal fat accumulation. Parameterss reflecting visceral fat distribution such as VAI and TPI are also related with these impairment.

Effect of Early Time-Restricted Eating on Metabolic Markers and Body Composition in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of early time-restricted eating (eTRE) on metabolic markers and body composition in individuals with overweight or obesity. Seventeen subjects completed a randomized, crossover, and controlled clinical trial. Twelve women and five men participated, with a mean age of 25.8 ± 10.0 years and a BMI of 32.0 ± 6.3 kg/m2. The eTRE intervention included 16 h of fasting (3:00 pm to 7:00 am) and 8 h of ad libitum eating (7:00 am to 03:00 pm) (16:8). The trial included four weeks of interventions followed by a four-week washout period. Body weight, waist and hip circumferences, and body composition measurements were taken. Additionally, a venous blood sample was collected for biochemical determinations. In a before-after analysis, eTRE induced a reduction in BW and BMI in women but this was not significant when compared to the control group. eTRE did not modify any other anthropometric measurements, fasting biochemical parameters, glycemic and insulinemic responses, blood pressure, or subjective appetite. In conclusion, eTRE did not induce beneficial effects on the glycemic and lipid metabolisms, body composition, subjective appetite, or blood pressure. These findings may be attributed to the special characteristics of the population and the short intervention period.

Reliability, concurrent validity, and clinical feasibility of measurement methods determining volume in patients with lower limb lymphedema and healthy controls

Purpose To investigate reliability, concurrent validity, and clinical feasibility of measurements assessing volume in patients with lower limb lymphedema (LLL) and healthy controls. Materials and methods To investigate intra- and interrater reliability, 47 patients with LLL and 30 healthy controls were assessed three times by two assessors. To investigate between session reliability, 50 participants were reassessed two weeks later. Each assessment included measurements of the midline region (hip circumference; suprapubic volume), leg volume (perimeter every 4 cm; Perometer®), and foot volume (water displacement; figure-of-eight method). Concurrent validity was assessed with correlation coefficients. Measurements were timed and practical limitations were reviewed. Clinical trial registration number: NCT: 05269264. Results Measurements of the total volume of different regions showed weak to very high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) (0.131–998). Absolute and relative volume differences had lower ICC values (0.360–0.976). A strong correlation was found between the total volumes of the same region. The Perometer® and figure-of-eight method were the fastest method for leg and foot volume, respectively. Conclusions The assessed total volumes might be more valuable in assessing the evolution of volume in bilateral LLL than the calculated absolute and relative differences between both limbs. The Perometer® and figure-of-eight method were the most time efficient for leg and foot volume, respectively. Implications for rehabilitation Lymphedema is a chronic condition for which a reliable and clinically feasible assessment of volume is essential for the diagnosis, treatment decisions, and the evaluation of the treatment. This study shows that the total leg/foot volumes were more reliable than the calculated absolute and relative differences between both limbs and could therefore more valuable to evaluate bilateral lower limb lymphedema. For the assessment of leg volume, the Perometer® was the most reliable and fastest method. For the evaluation of the foot volume, the figure-of-eight method was overall the best method.