Mean Values Of Body Mass Index Research Articles

Revisional Bariatric Surgery in Israel: Findings from the Israeli Bariatric Surgery Registry

Bariatric surgery (BS) is a proven sustainable approach for obesity, and its frequency is increasing worldwide. However, the frequency of revision surgery (RS) is also increasing. This study aimed to evaluate the RS rate in Israel and compare RS to primary surgery (PS). Data were obtained from the Israeli Bariatric Surgery Registry. All patients aged > 18years who underwent BS between June 2013 and December 2016 were considered for inclusion. Sociodemographic and clinical data were analyzed. PS was performed in 28,707 patients and RS was performed in 4026 patients. The mean body mass index values were 42.1 ± 5.0 and 41.3 ± 7.0kg/m2 in the PS and RS groups, respectively. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver were less frequent in the RS group than in the PS group. The percentage total weight loss (%TWL) values 6months and 1year postoperatively were 25.1 ± 8.1% and 30.5 ± 9.5%, respectively, in the PS group and 18.5 ± 8.9% and 23.12 ± 11.4%, respectively, in the RS group (P < 0.001). Complications were noted in 856 (3.5%) and 210 (6.2%) patients from the PS and RS groups, respectively. A multilinear regression model found that more weight loss was significantly associated with RS type (revision bypass vs. revision restrictive surgery). The RS rate is continuously increasing, and it should be tapered according to indications and feasibility. Our findings indicate that RS can be performed with acceptable complication rates and that restrictive surgery should be converted to bypass surgery to achieve acceptable weight loss with fewer complications.

Comparison of body mass index among schoolgirls in Catamarca as per anthropometric, self-report and figure rating scale techniques.

To compare mean weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) values as per different measurement techniques and analyze the influence of socioeconomic level and school type. Cross-sectional, descriptive study in a sample of 856 schoolgirls aged 15-18 years attending secondary school in the city of Catamarca. Assessment included weight and height measurement, self-reported weight and height, and Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale. Socioeconomic level was assessed based on the Family Affluence Scale. Student's t tests were used for both independent and paired samples to analyze BMI measurement techniques and school type classification, and a one-way analysis of variance was used for the socioeconomic level. Pearson's correlation and linear regressions were established. Height was overestimated (p < 0.001) when self-reported compared to the anthropometric measurement. In relation to actual BMI, the self-report and body figure perception techniques showed significant differences (p < 0.001). No differences were established in terms of weight and BMI by schoolgirls' socioeconomic level. Girls who attended private schools were taller (p = 0.004); such difference was also observed in self-reported height (p < 0.001). Excess weight was observed in 29.2% of schoolgirls. BMI estimations varied depending on the technique, and actual BMI was underestimated.

Ophthalmologic evaluation of severely obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: A pilot, monocentric, prospective, open-label study.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenic role of obesity on blinding eye diseases in a population of severely obese patients with no history of eye diseases, and to verify whether weight loss induced by bariatric surgery may have a protective effect.MethodsThis was a pilot, monocentric, prospective, and open label study conducted at the University Hospital of Pisa. Fifty-seven severely obese patients with a mean body mass index value of 44.1 ± 6 kg/m2 were consecutively recruited and received a complete ophthalmological evaluation and optical coherence tomography. Twenty-nine patients who underwent gastric bypass were evaluated also 3 months, and 1 year after surgery.ResultsAt baseline, blood pressure value were directly and significantly related to intraocular pressure values (p<0.05, R = 0.35). Blood pressure values were also significantly and inversely related to retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, particularly in the temporal sector (RE p<0.05 r-0.30; LE p<0.01, R = -0.43). Moreover, minimum foveal thickness values were significantly and inversely associated with body mass index (RE p<0.02, R = -0.40; LE p<0.02, R = -0.30). A significant reduction of body mass index (p<0.05) and a significant (p<0.05) improvement of blood pressure was observed three months and one year after gastric bypass, which were significantly associated with an increase in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and minimum foveal thickness values in both eyes (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that obese patients may have a greater susceptibility to develop glaucomatous optic nerve head damage and age-related macular degeneration. Moreover, weight reduction and improvement of comorbidities obtained by bariatric surgery may be effective in preventing eye disease development by improving retinal nerve fiber layer and foveal thickness.

Associations of Plasma CD36 and Body Fat Distribution.

CD36 is a class B scavenger-receptor involved in the uptake of fatty acids in liver and adipose tissue. It is unknown whether plasma CD36 levels are related to liver fat content or adipose tissue in the general population. We measured plasma CD36 from 575 participants of the community-based PopGen cohort who underwent MRI to quantify visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and liver signal intensity (LSI), a proxy for liver fat content. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was defined as LSI ≥3.0 in the absence of high alcohol intake. The relations between plasma CD36 and body mass index (BMI), VAT, SAT, LSI, and NAFLD were evaluated via multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression analysis. Plasma CD36 concentrations were correlated with BMI (r = 0.11; P = 0.01), SAT (r = 0.16; P < 0.001), and VAT (r = 0.15, P < 0.001) but not with LSI (P = 0.44). In multivariable-adjusted regression models, mean BMI values rose across CD36 quartiles [quartile 1 (Q1), 27.8 kg/m2; Q4, 28.9 kg/m2; P-trend = 0.013). Similarly, VAT (Q1, 4.13 dm3; Q4, 4.71 dm3; P-trend < 0.001), and SAT (Q1, 7.61 dm3; Q4, 8.74 dm3; P-trend < 0.001) rose across CD36 quartiles. Plasma CD36 concentrations were unrelated to LSI (P-trend = 0.36) and NAFLD (P-trend = 0.64). Participants with NAFLD and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a marker for liver damage, had higher CD36 compared with participants with NAFLD and normal ALT. Higher plasma concentrations of CD36 were associated with greater general and abdominal adiposity but not with liver fat content or NAFLD in this community-based sample. However, plasma CD36 may reflect more severe liver damage in NAFLD.

The Evaluation of the Physical Activity Levels in Asthma and COPD Patients

Objective: To evaluated and compare the prevalence of physical activities in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 97 patients (44 with COPD and 53 with asthma). Patient’s socio-demographic characteristics and awareness about asthma or COPD were determined. The COPD and asthma patient’s regular exercise habits and level of participation in physical activities were evaluated using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis of the variables that did not have normal distribution.Results: The mean age of patients with COPD was 65.3±3.4 years, and their mean body mass index value was 25.8±2.5 kg/m². The mean age of asthmatic patients was 50.7±5.1 years, and their mean body mass index value was 29.2±3.4 kg/m². There was a significant difference between the mean body mass index values of adult asthma and COPD patients (p=0.01). The weekly energy expenditure of patients with COPD due to physical activity was 1564.2±615 MET-min, and it was 2130±842 MET-min for individuals with asthma. In this study, no statistically significant difference was found between the physical activity levels of adult asthma and COPD individuals (p=0.09). Conclusion: This study found the physical activity levels of individuals with adult asthma or COPD to be low. Physical inactivity is known to be a modifiable risk factor for asthma and COPD. Specific programs for this population should be developed so that individuals with COPD and asthma can be more active.

Association of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics with body mass index of outpatient diabetic adults attending a tertiary health facility in Enugu, Nigeria

Background/objectiveRecently, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics have been emphasized in dealing with chronic diseases of which Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one. This present study was conducted to correlate the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of out-patient type 2 diabetic adults with their body mass index (BMI). MethodologyThis cross-sectional study was conducted in the Out-patients Diabetic clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu Nigeria. A total of 370 subjects were purposively selected from the 2888 annual average attendances and examined with questionnaire and anthropometry. Information on their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics was correlated with their body mass index. ResultThe results indicated that there were more (59%) urban diabetics than rural (25.7%) diabetics, many (65.7%) were within the age range of 41–60years, more (64.9%) females than males (35.1%), mainly (86.2%) married and of Christian religion (94.1%) and Igbo ethnicity (95.9%). The majority (91.1%) were of a monogamous family type with 55.4% from average sized (4-6persons) families. More than 1/3 (34.1%) had tertiary education, mainly (43%) civil servants, and 45.1% earning above 137.21 US Dollar per month. Most (69%) of the diabetics were over-weight, a trend of both under-nutrition (1.1%), and over-nutrition (68.7%) with mean BMI value of 27.19 kg/m2 was also observed. BMI had slight negative association with age, sex, and occupation and positive association with religion, ethnicity, marital status and level of education. ConclusionThere is a weak negative association of age, sex and occupation with BMI.

Comparison of the prevalence of body mass disorders in 7-year-old children living in rural and urban areas of Lower Silesia in Poland

Body height and weight are somatic qualities largely determined by genetic factors. These qualities are also modified by the factors of external environment which have a higher impact on body mass rather than height. The aim of the research was to identify the prevalence of disorders related to body mass / height ratio in children residing in areas of diverse population numbers. A reconnaissance of cross-environmental diversification of the BMI value was also conducted. The sample consisted of 593 healthy children (314 boys; 279 girls) aged 7 from large city (Wrocław), small city (Polkowice) and rural environment (villages in the Lower Silesia) in Poland. Body height and weight were measured using standard procedures and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Children’s BMI categories were defined using IOTF cutoff points. Statistical analysis was carried out using ANOVA. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. The data analysis showed a general lack of significant cross-environmental and cross-gender differences in mean values of BMI among the studies girls and boys. Prevalence of children with abnormal body mass residing in areas of diverse degree of urbanisation varies from 20% to 28%. Prevalence of underweight in 7-year-old children is intensified particularly in urban environment where it occurs in a degree comparable to overweight (9.4% vs 10.7%). The observed not significant differences in BMI means in the 7-year-old children, indicate the disappearing of disproportions in basic somatic parameters between children from environments of different urbanisation degree. Underweight is found in 6%-12% children, which is particularly intensified in urban environment where it occurs with prevalence comparable to the phenomenon of overweight. This suggests the need to introduce intervention measures aimed at increasing the consciousness of parents in terms of effects of malnutrition in the contexts of health risks for a developing child.

The Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Premalignant Endometrial Pathology in Morbidly Obese Patients.

To investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on premalignant endometrial pathology in postmenopausal morbidly obese patients. Material and Methods: Between 2014 and 2019, in "Ponderas" Academic Hospital six postmenopausal morbidly obese patients with premalignant endometrial pathology were submitted to bariatric surgery consisting of sleeve gastrectomy. Results: At the time of bariatric surgery, the mean body mass index (BMI) value was of 43.5 kg/m2 (range = 41.5 kg/m2 - 48.5 kg/m2) while the mean age was of 61 years (range = 58 - 63 years). The preoperative biopsy of the endometrial lining demonstrated the presence of simple endometrial hyperplasia in five cases and complex endometrial hyperplasia in one case while the mean thickness of the endometrial lining at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was of 2.1 cm (range = 1.5 - 2.8 cm). At one year follow-up, the mean BMI was of 26.5 kg/m2 (range = 24 kg/m2 - 28 kg/m2) while the mean thickness estimated at MRI was of 0.8 cm (range = 0.5 - 1.1 cm). The biopsy demonstrated the presence of normal endometrium in four cases and simple hyperplasia in two cases. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery seems to have an important effect on premalignant endometrial conditions. Therefore, bariatric surgery and consecutive weight loss might decrease the risk of malignant transformation in postmenopausal morbidly obese women.

Comparison of selected body composition parameters in women using DXA and anthropometric method.

Background:An excessive accumulation of the adipose tissue in women's organism is a frequent and important medical problem which should be monitored. The aim of this study was to explore correlations between the selected parameters of body composition assessed using DXA and anthropometric methods.Materials and Methods:The study group consisted of 50 women aged 51–85. Both adipose mass and fat-free mass were assessed with the DXA method, and the nutritional status of the participants was evaluated with the anthropometric methods.Results:The mean body mass index (BMI) value assessed with the DXA method amounted to 28.4 (±5.12). The Spearman's Rho correlation indicated the presence of a moderate association (0.27–0.50) between: (1) right arm lean and the circumference of the arm (P = 0.020), forearm (P = 0.011), and transverse cross-section of the arm (P = 0.020), (2) right leg fat and circumference of the thigh (P = 0.003), shin (P = 0.009), and also the musculature index of the lower extremity (P = 0.034), (3) visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass and BMI (P = 0.050), Waist to HeightRatio (WtHR) (P = 0.031), (4) Android fat and WHtR (P = 0.044), and (5) gynoid fat and Škerlj index (P = 0.025).Conclusion:The selected parameters assessed with DXA were significantly correlated with the selected parameters assessed with anthropometric methods. WHtR anthropometric parameter is significantly correlated with DXA parameters: VAT mass, gynoid region % fat and android region % fat.

Patients With Obesity Exhibit a Plateau Pattern of the Right Ventricular Waveform.

BackgroundVentricular waveforms are characterized by a dip-and-plateau pattern during diastole owing to an abrupt termination of ventricular filling because of pericardial constraint under conditions such as constrictive pericarditis (CP). However, constrictive hemodynamics is not specifically caused by CP. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether patients with obesity exhibited constrictive hemodynamics.MethodsOverall, 60 consecutive Japanese patients (mean age, 69.5 years; 45% women) who underwent right heart catheterization at the Japan Community Healthcare Organization Osaka Hospital from July 2016 to September 2018 were examined. Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to measure the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in the standard parasternal long-axis view during end-diastole. Because patients who underwent open-heart surgery were highly likely to have CP, they were excluded.ResultsAmong the 60 patients, 11 (18%) exhibited a plateau pattern of the right ventricular waveform and had a mean EAT value of 4.2 mm, which was significantly higher than that of patients without such a pattern (2.1 mm, P < 0.001). Similarly, the mean body mass index (BMI) values were significantly higher in patients with a plateau pattern than in those without it (27.2 vs. 21.8 kg/m2, P < 0.001). EAT was significantly correlated with the BMI (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). In patients with a plateau pattern, the triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were significantly higher (TG: 150 vs. 100 mg/dL, LDL-C: 121 vs. 95 mg/dL, P < 0.05) and the left atrial diameter (52.8 vs. 44.7 mm, P < 0.01) and left atrial volume index (58.7 vs. 47.6 mL/m2, P < 0.05) were significantly greater than those in the patients without it. The EAT was also significantly correlated with the TG level (r = 0.37, P < 0.01).ConclusionsObese patients may present with constrictive hemodynamics, suggesting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. EAT was significantly correlated with metabolic syndrome components, namely obesity and TG levels.

Ellisras Longitudinal Study conference 2017: The relationship between dietary intake and body mass index among young rural adults in South Africa aged 18 to 30 years (ELS 18).

To assess the relationship between dietary intake and adiposity in young rural South African adults. A total of 728 young adults participated and dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour recall method. Linear regression models were used to determine the association between dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) before and after adjustment for age and gender. Females showed higher mean BMI values than males in all age groups. An age group of 27- to 30-year-old females had a mean value of 28.1 kg/m2 while males had a mean value of 21.9 kg/m2. The distribution of BMI categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) was 20.5, 61.7, 9.3 and 3.1% in males, and 8.6, 42.5, 23.1 and 25.8% in females (p ≤ 0.05). Cholesterol intake was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with BMI (beta = 0.002, 95% CI: 0.00-0.004) as well as overweight and obesity (odds ratio = 1.734; 95% CI: -1.09-2.75) after adjustment for age and gender. There was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among rural Ellisras females. Moreover, increasing cholesterol intake was associated with overweight and obesityin the overall sample.

Serum fatty acids and ischemic stroke subtypes in middle- and late-onset acute stroke patients

Summary Introduction Among stroke patients, the dietary lipid content is likely associated with the age at stroke onset and ischemic stroke subtype. Specifically, middle-onset stroke patients may have a higher serum level of saturated fatty acids and higher incidence of lacunar or atherosclerotic stroke, whereas late-onset stroke patients may have a higher serum level of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; a fish oil component) and lower incidence of lacunar or atherosclerotic stroke. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationships among serum fatty acid levels, age at stroke onset and stroke subtype in ischemic stroke patients. Methods Our analysis included ischemic stroke patients aged ≥50 years who were admitted to our institution within 24 h of stroke onset between September 2015 and March 2017 and underwent blood evaluations of saturated fatty acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic acids), a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA; oleic acid), n-6 PUFAs [linoleic, arachidonic acids (AA)] and n-3 PUFAs [alpha-linoleic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic acids (DHA)]. We excluded patients who used statins, n-3 PUFA supplements or purified EPA drugs, fibrates or ezetimibe at onset. To compare serum levels of fatty acids and incidence rates of stroke subtypes, we stratified patients by age at stroke onset as Middle onset (50–74 years) or Late onset (≥75 years). Results One hundred ninety-one patients with an average age of 74.4 years met our inclusion criteria. Ninety-one and 100 patients were classified as Middle- and Late-onset, respectively, and these groups differed significantly in terms of mean body mass index values (23.9 vs. 22.9 kg/m2, p Conclusions People with higher serum levels of saturated fatty acids, MUFAs and n-6 PUFAs more frequently experienced lacunar or atherosclerotic stroke during middle age, whereas those with lower serum levels of these fatty acids and higher serum levels of n-3 PUFAs, such as EPA, more frequently experienced all types of ischemic stroke at an older age.

Low Body Mass Index and Trends of Tuberculosis Infection: A Cohort Study of Orphan Children in Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan

Background: The tuberculosis is one the most life-threatening poverty associate diseases affecting one-third of the world population. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the trends of tuberculosis infection, and general health conditions of orphan children in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Methods: Total 1708 children have enrolled in this a longitudinal study and were screened for tuberculosis through sputum smear and PCR tests. Body Mass Index (BMI), exposure to tuberculosis risk factors was also analyzed for all participants. Results: In 2011, the prevalence of tuberculosis was 3.41%, 1.36%, which was among male and 2.05% among female children. In 2015, we found 1.95% positive tuberculosis cases including 1.12% females and 0.83% males. A significant overall decline in tuberculosis infection was found in four years, p &lt; 0.01. The mean BMI value for male and female children was 21.70 (SD±0.68) and 17.53 (SD±0.72), respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, malnutrition, unhygienic and crowded living conditions are strong factors contributing to TB infection and serious threat to the orphan children, especially for the females.

OBESITY IN RUSSIAN POPULATION — PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES RISK FACTORS

Aim. Evaluation of the prevalence of obesity and association with the risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases of the inhabitants of selected regions of Russia, by the data from ESSE-RF study.Material and methods. Representative selections investigated, of the inhabitants of 13 regions of Russia, totally 21768 participants, males n=8 304, females n=13 464, age 25-64 y. o., under the circumstances of the study “Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases (ESSE-RF)”, with response ~80%. Standard questionnaire, consisting 12 modules, was developed based upon adapted international methods. For the risk factors prevalence assessment, the standard epidemiological methods were applied. Body mass (BM) was evaluated in the categories of body mass index (BMI) (Ketle index: BMI — Body mass, kg / height, m2). BM as BMI was evaluated as insufficient (BMI &lt;18,5), normal (18,5≤ BMI ≤24,9), overweight (25,0≤ BMI ≤29,9), obesity grade I (30,0 ≤BMI ≤34,9), obesity grade II (35,0 ≤BMI ≤39,9) and obesity grade III (BMI ≥40,0). Abdominal obesity (AO) was assessed with the criteria: for males waist circumference (WC) ≥102 cm and for females ≥88 cm.Results. Mean BMI value among the participants was 27,6 kg/m2, with no gender difference. BMI increases with the age only in women. WC — 87,8 cm ±0,1, among males it was significantly higher than in females (92,9 cm vs 84,1 cm, p&lt;0,001), increasing with age. The prevalence of obesity was higher among females comparing to males: by BMI — 30,8% vs 26,9%, p&lt;0,001; by AO — 38,4% vs 24,3%, p&lt;0,001. The prevalence of obesity in female inhabitants of rural regions was significantly higher comparing to citizens (p&lt;0,001), and in the group of higher education, there was no difference among males wither by BMI (p&lt;0,005), or by AO (p&lt;0,001). There was no clear geographic gradient of the risk factors. The prevalence of obesity increases linearly with the age, in males from 14,3% to 36,3%, p&lt;0,001, and in females from 10,7% to 52,3%, p&lt;0,001. AO was more prevalent in women comparing to men in every of analyzed age group, and with the age this difference gets more profound. In the multifactorial model the associations of risk factors were analyzed, with any type of obesity. Close relation was found for obesity and raised levels of glucose and triglycerides, with alcohol overconsumption. Most significant associations were found for obesity and AH in both genders — OR: 2,71 and 2,52 in men and women, respectively. There was linear increase of AH prevalence with mean SBP and DBP, together with BM.Conclusion. In Russian population, obesity is associated most closely with alcohol overconsumption, increased glucose level, lipid disorders and especially strongly — with systemic hypertension, the factors that increase prevalence with age. Burden of this closely interrelated factors on healthcare system will increase with the portion of elderly inhabitants of the country. State of affairs demand for a complex approach based on the governmental politics on the control of populational levels of bodyweight, beginning at elementary school, with mass-media involvement, as the groceries manufacturers, regional governments.

Changing BMI scores among Canadian children, youth and young adults: An assessment of age, period and cohort effects

Introduction Overweight and obesity is a critical public health issue worldwide and is associated with the prevalence of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Hierarchical age-period-cohort (HAPC) analysis is a promising methodology that has been used to examine the independent effects of age, time period, and birth cohort for the prevalence of various health outcomes. The objective of this study is to examine age, period, and cohort effects on BMI among the Canadian population, using repeated cross-sectional survey data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS; 2001 to 2014). Methods Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess weight status and was calculated using self-reported height and weight values [BMI = weight (kg)/height (m2)]. Means for BMI scores were derived to describe the time trends in weight status by age, time period, and birth cohort. Cross-classified random effects two level models were used to estimate fixed effects for age and its quadratic term at level one, and also to estimate random effects for time periods and birth cohorts at level two, while controlling for the effects of sex, model of interview, and response by proxy. Sampling weights were normalized to reflect the actual numbers of respondents participating in each cycle of the CCHS. Results The mean value for BMI, across all age groups, time periods, and birth cohorts was 24.27. The time trends in BMI appear to be very linear; at each time period, BMI increases for each successive cohort. Results of the HAPC analyses suggest that the increase in BMI in the Canadian population between 2000 and 2014 can be accounted for by age-related and secular (period) trends, as well as by cohort effects. Conclusions Overall, the results support the hypothesis that age and period effects are primarily responsible for the current obesity epidemic. It would be valuable for future research to explore changing patterns in more proximal determinants of health (e.g., health behaviours such as diet and physical activity), socioeconomic disadvantage, geographic variability, and the influence of public health initiatives, as this would provide greater understanding of the trends in overweight and obesity.

Prevalence of malnutrition risk among institutionalized elderly from North Bohemia is higher than among those in the Capital City of Prague, Czech Republic.

The aim of the study is to assess the risk of malnutrition among institutionalized elderly individuals in North Bohemia and compare it to the risk of malnutrition in the capital city of Prague, Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, very few studies have been conducted with the goal of describing and evaluating the nutritional status of the institutionalized elderly. In this study, data was collected from 254 elderly individuals (aged ≥ 65) residing in retirement homes in North Bohemia and then compared with similar data for the elderly living in retirement homes in Prague (the data from Prague were previously published in 2013). The data included an Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test; anthropometric measurements - Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness; and biochemical parameters - albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, urea, and creatinine. Mean BMI values were 27.4 kg/m2 for females and 26.3 kg/m2 for males. According to the MNA questionnaire, 10.4% of all tested elderly were malnourished and 50.8% were at risk of malnutrition; lager proportion of females were found to be malnourished than males. Biochemical indicators supported the MNA results. MNA categories correlated positively with independence (r = 0.56; p < 0.001), mental status (r = 0.54; p < 0.001), mobility (r = 0.46; p < 0.001), calf circumference (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), BMI, and the ability to self-feed (both r = 0.37; p < 0.001). The percentage of institutionalized elderly with malnutrition living in North Bohemia and Prague were about the same; however, the percentage of those at risk of malnutrition was higher in North Bohemia (p = 0.006). Study results confirmed that the institutionalized elderly face issues that lower their nutritional status and put them at increased risk; clearly these issues need urgent attention.

Hand grip strength and adductor pollicis muscle thickness in patients on palliative care for hepatocellular carcinoma

Summary Background & aims Malnutrition is a common condition of difficult diagnosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in palliative care through handgrip strength and adductor pollicis muscle thickness. Methods Data on the severity of liver disease, and oncological and nutritional assessment data, including body mass index (BMI), hand grip strength (HGS), and adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), were collected from the electronic medical records of patients in nutritional outpatient follow-up. Analyzes were performed with all patients in a single group or according to Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification. Associations were analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient, with a p value > 0.05 indicating significance. Results Mean values of BMI and APMT increased while HGS decreased as disease severity increased according to the CHILD scale. According to the Performance Status evaluation by ECOG, the higher the severity of the disease assessed by the CHILD scale the worse the HGS and ECOG values. A correlation between HGS and CHILD B and C was found. Conclusions Higher BMI values and lower HGS values may be associated with a greater disease severity. HGS may be an interesting resource as a predictor of lean body mass in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of APMT in this group of patients.

Population-level trends in the distribution of body mass index in Canada, 2000-2014.

Research studying population-level body mass index (BMI) trends document increases in mean or prevalence of overweight/obese but less consideration has been given to describing the changing distribution of BMI. The objective of this research was to perform a detailed analysis of changes in the BMI distribution in Canada. Using data from the CCHS (2000-2014), we analyzed distributional parameters of BMI for 492,886 adults aged 25-64years. We further stratified these analyses for women and men, education level, and region of residence. Mean BMI has increased for most subgroups of the Canadian population. Mean BMI values were higher for men, while standard deviation (SD) of the BMI distribution was systematically higher in women. Increases in mean BMI were accompanied with increases in SD of BMI across cycles. Across survey cycles, the 95th percentile increased more than 10 times more rapidly compared to the 5th percentile, showing a very unequal change between extreme values in the BMI distribution over time. There was a relationship between SD with BMI, but these relations were generally not different between educational categories and regions. This suggests that the growing inter-individual inequalities (i.e., dispersion) in BMI were not solely attributable to socioeconomic and demographic factors. This study supports the hypothesis that the simultaneous increases in mean BMI and SD of the BMI distribution are occurring, and suggests the need to move beyond the mean-centric paradigm when studying a complex public health phenomenon such as population change in BMI.

Impact of weight reduction on selected immune system response among Hepatitis C virus Saudi patients.

Recently, about 2.35% of the world populations are estimated to be chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Previous cohort studies indicated that obesity increases risk of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C infection due to diminished response to anti-viral therapy and as a result obesity is considered as an important factor in the progression of chronic HCV. However, there is a strong association between BMI and the human immune system among HCV patients. This study aimed to examine effects of weight reduction program on selected immune parameters among HCV Saudi patients. One-hundred obese Saudi patients with chronic HCV infection participated in this study, their age ranged from 50-58 years and their body mass index (BMI) ranged from 30-35 kg/m2. All Subjects were included in two groups: The first group received weight reduction program in the form of treadmill aerobic exercises in addition to diet control whereas, the second group received no therapeutic intervention. Parameters of CD3, CD4 and CD8 were quantified; Leukocyte, differential counts and BMI were measured before and after 3 months, at the end of the study. The mean values of BMI, white blood cells, total neutrophil count, monocytes, CD3, CD4 and CD8 were significantly decreased in the training group as a result of weight loss program; however the results of the control group were not significant. Also, there were significant differences between both groups at the end of the study. Weight loss modulates immune system parameters of patients with HCV.

Reference growth curves for Greek infants and preschool children, aged 0–6.7 years

To construct weight, height, head circumference and body mass index (BMI) percentile growth curves for Greek children 0–6.7 years old and to compare the BMI means and upper limits with both available Greek national and international data. Data were obtained from six cross-sectional and one longitudinal study, which included single, term healthy neonates, recruited at birth and followed until 6.7 years. A total of 12,619 measurements were performed on 7034 boys and girls from five counties in Greece in 1988–2005. The per gender-age percentile estimations were based on Box-Cox power transformations to normalize the data. BMI values were compared with available national data and with the CDC 2000 Growth Charts, the Euro-Growth Study, WHO 2006 Growth Standards and IOTF BMI values. The mean birth weight was 3.5 kg in boys and 3.3 kg in girls, and all mean levels of body measurements were lower in girls than boys. The per gender-age mean BMI values were closer to the data of the Euro-Growth Study and significantly different from previous national and available international data. The 85th percentile of BMI was found significantly higher than all the international data. These growth curves could serve as an additional reference for Greece. That the 85th BMI percentile of this study was higher than all available data should be seriously addressed. Therefore, the growth patterns of preschool children from the present study could serve as approximate indicative values and assist in assessing the health level of the Greek child population.