Measured Body Mass Research Articles

Effects of orlistat on body mass index and serum lipids in overweight and obese adolescents: a meta-analysis.

We performed a meta-analysis to compare the effects of orlistat on body mass index and serum lipids in overweight and obese adolescents. The meta-analysis was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to 1 August 2024. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The outcome measures body mass index (BMI) and serum lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The review of publications was conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Project for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). This study has been registered with INPLASY (number INPLASY202480052). A total of 696 patients were included in five randomized controlled trials. The orlistat group reduced BMI compared to placebo in the short term (MD=-0.73, 95 % CI:-1.44 to-0.02, p=0.04, I2=73 %) but appeared to have little effect in the long term (MD=-1.72, 95%CI:-3.55 to 0.12, p=0.07, I2=84 %). The exciting thing is that orlistat can significantly improve blood lipid levels in children, TC (MD=-8.11, 95 % CI:-10.88 to-5.33, P<0.05, I2=0 %), TG (MD=-3.22, 95 % CI:-5.58 to-0.86, P<0.05, I2=0 %), LDL (MD=-6.06, 95 % CI:-8.75 to-3.37, P<0.05, I2=0 %), and HDL (MD=0.87, 95 % CI: 0.13-1.61, P<0.05, I2=31 %). Orlistat has been linked to alter lipid levels in obese or overweight children. However, the evidence regarding its efficacy in reducing BMI is inconclusive, with inconsistent findings across short and long-term studies. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to ascertain its long-term impact on prognosis.

Dietary antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with F2- isoprostane and body fat percentage in elite soccer referees

Background Dietary antioxidant Capacity (DaC) has been used as a tool for predicting plasma and dietary antioxidant concentrations. However, the DaC association with oxidative stress (OS) and body composition parameters is an unexplored area, mainly in physically active individuals. Given the potential for increased OS in physically active individuals, it becomes crucial to investigate this association. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between DaC, OS biomarkers, and body composition in healthy and physically active individuals. Methods This Cross-sectional study included 20 male soccer referees. Body composition measurements (body mass, fat mass, lean mass, and waist circumference), OS biomarkers (F2-isoprostane, total antioxidant state, total oxidative status, reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase), and DaC were evaluated. Linear regression models were used to determine the association between DaC and the dependent variables. The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), CAAE 82584318.0.0000.0121, and file no. 2.572.301. Results DaC was inversely associated with F2-isoprostane (p = 0.044), GPx activity (p = 0.048), and body fat percentage (p = 0.025). Conclusions Increased DaC in physically active individuals may bring benefits related to biomarkers of OS, such as decreasing F2-isoprostane and increasing GPx activity. The increase in DaC also showed an improvement in body composition, demonstrated by the lower percentage of body fat in the study subjects.

Disparities in Perimyotis subflavus Body Mass Between Cave and Culvert Hibernacula in Georgia, USA.

The tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), once common in the eastern United States, has experienced significant mortality due to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that primarily affects bats hibernating in caves and mines. In coastal regions of the southeastern United States, where caves and mines are scarce, tricolored bats often use roadway culverts as hibernacula. However, WNS infection dynamics in culverts are poorly understood. Previous research indicated that bats with higher body mass at the onset of hibernation have a higher probability of surviving repeated arousal events from WNS. Therefore, we compared tricolored bat winter body mass between cave and culvert hibernacula and identified culvert characteristics influencing body mass during hibernation in Georgia, USA. From 2018 to 2022, we measured body mass of 754 individuals in early and late hibernation across 32 culverts (n = 497) and four caves (n = 257). Our study revealed a southward spread of the fungus over multiple years, with the first confirmed case of WNS in a Georgia culvert in 2022. Overall, tricolored bats in caves weighed more in early hibernation than those in culverts, but bats in culverts weighed more in late hibernation. Across all sites, female tricolored bats entering and leaving hibernation had greater mass than males but lost more mass during hibernation, possibly due to differences in torpor-arousal patterns and WNS infection rates. Additionally, all bats lost more mass in longer culverts. Understanding culvert characteristics affecting bat body mass will inform management strategies to mitigate WNS effects. Identifying risk factors for specific tricolored bat hibernacula can guide managers on where to focus winter WNS monitoring efforts and potential treatments.

Abstract 4137985: Impaired Skeletal Muscle Condition and Stroke Volume Reserve Characterize Poor Exercise Performance in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) frequently show poor exercise performance, but its pathophysiology and clinical significance are poorly understood. Methods: Poor exercise performers, defined as peak oxygen consumption (VO2)/kg &lt; 80% of predicted maximum VO2/kg, were enrolled, including 40 CCS (20 males, 20 females) and 32 controls (15 males, 17 females) from 79 CCS and 147 age-matched controls, respectively. Peak and submaximal CPET parameters were compared between CCS and controls with poor exercise performance. Submaximal slope parameters represent a trend up to anaerobic threshold (AT). Results: Ages and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and body mass index) were comparable between CCS and controls in both sexes (Table 1). Both resting and peak heart rate (HR) were significantly higher in CCS than in controls in males. There was no significant difference in peak VO2/kg, peak oxygen pulse (OP)/kg, peak respiratory exchange ratio, or VO2/kg at AT (VAT/kg) between CCS and controls in both sexes. Peak work rate (WR/kg) was significantly lower in CCS compared with that in controls in both sexes, suggesting reduced muscle strength in CCS. Figure 1 demonstrates decreased muscle mass/strength in CCS than in controls. In males, Δ[VO2/kg]/ ΔHR was significantly lower in CCS than in controls, indicating limited stroke volume reserve (SVR) in male CCS. In female, although there was no significant difference in Δ[VO2/kg]/ΔHR between CCS and controls, HR-dependency expressed by ΔHR/Δ[WR/kg] was significantly higher in CCS than in controls, suggesting impaired SVR. ΔVO2/ΔWR, a marker for physical conditioning, was comparable between CCS and controls in both sexes. Conclusions: Poor exercise performance in CCS is characterized mainly by decreased muscle mass/strength and impaired SVR for both sexs. Impaired SVR may be an early sign of subclinical cardiotoxicity. Poor exercise performance in CCS should be improved to prevent future cardiovascular complications.

Breeding zebra finches prioritize reproductive bout over self-maintenance under food restriction.

Reproduction requires high amounts of energy, and challenging environments during breeding can force parents to prioritize their current reproductive bout over self-maintenance or vice versa. However, little is known about how common stressors, such as food restriction, can influence these trade-offs during breeding, and the physiological mechanisms for these trade-off decisions. In this study, adult zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis) were subjected to a control diet (ad libitum) or a 40% food restriction while raising nestlings and fledglings, and we measured body mass, furculum fat, plasma corticosterone (CORT) and blood glucose levels of the parents at the time of pairing, when their offspring fledged, and when their offspring reached nutritional independence. We also measured body mass and growth rate in the offspring from hatching until the end of the treatment period. Food-restricted parents had lower body mass when their offspring fledged and reached nutritional independence and higher baseline CORT when their offspring fledged compared to controls. Offspring did not differ in body mass or growth rate between treatment groups. However, there was no effect of food restriction on parents' furculum fat, baseline glucose, the adrenocortical response, or the glucose response. Furthermore, path analysis results suggest that alterations in baseline glucose is the primary driver of changes in body mass in parents and offspring brood mass. Taken together, these results suggest that food restriction during chick rearing in a short-lived passerine drives parents to prioritize their current reproductive bout over self-maintenance, and glucose could potentially be a mechanism for diverting energy toward parental effort.

Exploring the Link between ABO Blood Groups and Obesity among Young Adults

Objective: To explore the link between the ABO blood groups and obesity among young adults of Hyderabad district, Sind, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to January 2022, and included 582 randomly selected participants, including 301 males and 281 females, aged between 18 to 40 years, from various institutions of district Hyderabad, including students, faculty members, and employee of universities, colleges, hospitals. A simple random sampling technique was used for the collection of data. Before induction, verbal consent was taken from all the participants. Data was collected by a self-structured questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics. A brief history was taken relevant to the parameters of the study followed by measuring Body Mass Index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio. BMI was categorized with South Asian standards. Data collected through structured questionnaires and anthropometric parameters were analyzed by SPSS version 20.0. Results: In this study, the data of 582 participants were included out of 600 participants, as the remaining 18 could not provide complete data. The mean age in male participants was 27.83 ± 5.478 and in females was 22.27 ± 4.730. The average BMI in male participants was 25.81 ± 5.08 and in females was 24.00 ±4.90. Overall, 205 B blood group participants were found obese, which included 111 male participants and 94 female participants, followed by blood 197 group O participants, 130 A blood group participants, and 50 AB group individuals. In total, there were 536 Rh positives, and only 42 Rh negatives. Individuals with blood group B and Rh-positive status were identified at being greater risk of developing higher BMI, waist-hip ratio, and waist circumference. Conclusion: The evidence found in this study proved a positive association of the types of blood groups with BMI, waist-hip ratio, and waist circumference.

Sex differences in association between dietary sodium intake and white matter hyperintensity volume

Abstract Background There is limited evidence on the relationship between dietary sodium intake (dNa) and brain health, and very little on sex differences in associations. Purpose To study the relationship between dNa and imaging measures of brain health in men and women from the INSIGHT 46 substudy of the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (British 1946 birth cohort). Methods Participants had measurements (dNa using 5-day food diary, anthropometrics, blood pressure (BP) body mass index (BMI)) at 60-64years. Whole-brain and hippocampal volumes, white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) and florbetapir amyloid-β positivity were measured using MRI-PET imaging at 69-71years. Associations (β (95% confidence intervals)) were estimated separately in men and women using generalized linear models with robust standard errors adjusted for potential confounders (age, diet quality, energy intake, socioeconomic status) or potential mediators (BMI, BP). Results Participants’ characteristics are shown in Table 1. In women but not men dNa was positively associated with higher WMHV (β[women]=32(1, 72) %/g; p=0.043; β[men]=-10(-27, 11)%/g; p=0.342); this relationship in women was independent of BMI (β = 32(1, 72)%/g; p = 0.043) or systolic BP (β = 31(1, 70)%/g; p=0.041). dNa was not associated with total brain volume, hippocampal volume or amyloid-β positivity in either sex. Conclusions Elevated sodium consumption in the diet is associated with cerebral small vessel disease in older age women but not men. This association was independent of BMI or BP.Table 1

Childhood-to-adulthood body size trajectory and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background While excess weight in adulthood and childhood has been associated with increased cancer risk, the link between childhood-to-adulthood body size trajectories and cancer risk requires further investigation. Methods We used data from the UK Biobank, a prospective population-based cohort study. The main exposure was childhood-to-adulthood body size trajectory, constructed from self-reported body at age 10 (categories: thinner, average, and plumper than average) and measured body mass index (BMI) at recruitment (normal weight, overweight, and obese). Primary outcome was obesity-related cancer (13 different cancer types). Results During a median follow-up of 11.7 years, 21,289 participants developed obesity-related cancers. Having a larger body size at age 10 was strongly associated with being overweight or obese in adulthood. Compared to participants with average childhood to normal adulthood body size trajectory, all trajectories ending in overweight or obesity in adulthood were strongly associated with an increased risk of obesity-related cancers. The strength of the association was mostly determined by adulthood BMI, and similar patterns were observed for colorectal, endometrial, kidney, pancreatic and esophageal cancer. However, a larger body size in childhood was associated with a lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Conclusions Although a larger body size in childhood predisposes to overweight and obesity in adulthood, it does not necessarily predispose to an increased obesity-related cancer risk if measures to maintain a healthy weight are taken in adulthood. Key messages • While larger body size in childhood predisposes individuals to overweight and obesity in adulthood, maintaining a healthy weight in adulthood may help mitigate the risk of obesity-related cancers. • Our findings highlight the importance of preventing and reducing overweight and obesity in adulthood for primary cancer prevention.

Study on Physical Fitness Index BMI and VO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; Max of Physical Education Students

Physical activity is human body movement of any type, while physical education programs use physical activity to teach children how to improve and sustain an active lifestyle. One of the most crucial factors to think about when evaluating a subject&amp;apos;s cardiorespiratory efficiency is their Physical Fitness Index (PFI). The risks involved in implementing BMI for adults also affect kids and teenagers. The term &amp;quot;maximal oxygen consumption capacity&amp;quot; (VO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;max) refers to the body&amp;apos;s capacity to consume oxygen in the skeletal muscle mitochondria at a maximum rate during vigorous full-body exercise. To investigate correlation body mass index, physical fitness index and maximal oxygen capacity (VO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;max) among physical education students. The investigator was selected 36 BPED students (Male: 20 &amp; Female: 16) from University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia. The age range of subject from 19 to 25 years. To conduct this study measured body mass index though Quetelet index, physical fitness index through Harvard step test and maximal oxygen capacity (VO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;max) through Queens College Step test were considered. Conclusion of this present study were no significant relationship between physical fitness index and body mass index of male, female students and students as a whole. Significantly relationship between VO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; max and body mass index for female students but in case of male and student as a whole found no relationship. Positive relationship between physical fitness index and VO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; max for male students and student as a whole but in case of female found no relationship.

Association Between Serum Albumin And Lower Limb Ultrasound Muscle Thickness in Older Patients Admitted with Hip Fracture

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is an important geriatric syndrome that is common in older patients admitted to the hospital with hip fracture. Nutritional status is known to be associated with sarcopenia in the general population, but less is known about this association in hospitalised hip fracture patients, especially when considering biochemical nutritional biomarkers. Our aim was to contribute evidence in this regard. Methods We recruited patients over the age of 75 years admitted to a hospital with hip fracture. During admission, we measured muscle thickness (MT) of the rectus femoris (contralateral to the fracture) using ultrasonography (Sonosite M-Turbo). All patients had serum albumin measured on admission, and in a subsample we were able to measure body mass index (BMI). We performed bivariate correlation between serum albumin and MT, and linear regression models were computed to assess how MT was predicted by albumin, controlling for age, sex, and BMI. Results 69 patients were recruited, mean age 87.8 years (SD 6.3; minimum 76, maximum 103), and 79.7% were women. Mean MT was 1.19 cm (SD 0.36). Serum albumin was available in 68 patients (mean 3.30 g/dl, SD 0.36), and BMI was available in 41 patients (mean 25.4 kg/m2, SD 4.0). The correlation between serum albumin and MT was statistically significant (Pearson’s coefficient = 0.263, p = 0.030). After controlling for age and sex in n = 68, albumin was the only significant predictor of MT (Beta = 0.275, p = 0.036). When adding BMI to the model in n = 41, albumin was the only significant predictor of MT (Beta = 0.364, p = 0.026). Conclusion Serum albumin was independently predictive of MT in hospitalised hip fracture patients. Serum albumin may be a useful biochemical nutritional biomarker of risk of sarcopenia in this population, and further research is required to confirm this biologically plausible observation.

Correlations and consistency of body composition measurement indicators and BMI: a systematic review.

It is critical to accurately determine the level of obesity and health status since overweight/obesity has become a main global public health problem. This systematic review attempted to evaluate the consistency and correlation between body composition measurement indicators and body mass index (BMI) in childhood and adolescence. Seven electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, SinoMed) were searched to collect the literature published since 1999 with the focus on the relationship between body composition measurement indicators and BMI to measure obesity in childhood and adolescence. Among the 28 articles included, 13 articles reported a moderate to very strong correlation between %BF and BMI in obesity measurement (range: 0.49-0.907), while two articles reported a strong to very strong correlation between FM and BMI (range: 0.60-0.86). Six articles reported good to excellent obesity measurement consistency between %BF and BMI (range: 0.441-0.876), one article reported WC (0.58) and WHtR (0.46) in the moderate consistency with BMI, and one article reported a relatively poor to fair consistency between FM and BMI (range: 0.167-0.409). WC, WHtR, and BMI showed the moderate consistency in pre-adolescent children. In pre-adolescence and adolescence, the measurement consistency between %BF and BMI was higher than that between FM and BMI. Gender difference existed in the consistency between %BF and BMI during adolescence. A range of body composition indicators such as %BF, WC, WHtR, and FM could provide valuable body composition measurements, complement BMI for obesity assessment in children and adolescents, and facilitate efficient and comprehensive surveillance of childhood obesity. PROSPERO CRD42024506932.

Anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of male South African youth soccer players.

This study comparatively investigates the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of male South African players by age group, competitive level and playing position. The sample consisted of 201 youth soccer players drawn from six sports academies in South Africa. Players were subjected to standardized protocols for anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass and body fat percentage) and physical fitness tests (flexibility, vertical jump, push-ups, sit-ups, muscle strength, agility, 30-m sprint and V̇O<inf>2max</inf>). A series of two-way analyses of variance was performed to determine the interactions between playing position (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or attacker) or age group (13, under-15, under-17 or under-19) and competitive level (elite or non-elite). The results show significant interaction effects of agility, body fat percentage and sprint speed between the players' competitive levels and age group (P<0.05). No interaction effect was found between playing position and competitive level in any anthropometric or physical fitness variable (P>0.05). However, playing position exhibited significant main effects in the youth players' aerobic endurance and body mass (P<0.05). The results provide practical implications for tailoring position-specific conditioning regimes that optimize effective soccer performance.

A Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) of Genetic Risk for C-Reactive Protein in Children of European Ancestry: Results From the ABCD Study.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a moderately heritable marker of systemic inflammation that is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Identifying factors associated with genetic liability to elevated CRP in childhood may inform our understanding of variability in CRP that could be targeted to prevent and/or delay the onset of related health outcomes. We conducted a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) of genetic risk for elevated CRP (i.e. CRP polygenic risk score [PRS]) among children genetically similar to European ancestry reference populations (median analytic n = 5,509) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development℠ (ABCD) Study. Associations between CRP PRS and 2,377 psychosocial and neuroimaging phenotypes were estimated using independent mixed effects models. Post hoc analyses examined whether: (1) covarying for measured body mass index (BMI) or removing the shared genetic architecture between CRP and BMI altered phenotypic associations, (2) sex moderated CRP PRS associations, and (3) associations are unconfounded by assortative mating or passive gene-environment correlations (using a within-family analyses). Multiple testing was adjusted for using Bonferroni and false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Nine phenotypes were positively associated with CRP PRS after multiple testing correction: five weight- and eating-related phenotypes (e.g. BMI, overeating), three phenotypes related to caregiver somatic problems (e.g. caregiver somatic complaints), as well as weekday video watching (all ps = 1.2 × 10-7 - 2.5 × 10-4, all p FDR s = 0.0002 - 0.05). No neuroimaging phenotypes were associated with CRP PRS (all ps = 0.0003 - 0.998; all p FDR s = 0.08 - 0.998) after correction for multiple testing. Eating and weight-related phenotypes remained associated with CRP PRS in within-family analyses. Covarying for BMI resulted in largely consistent results, and sex did not moderate any CRP PRS associations. Removing the shared genetic variance between CRP and BMI attenuated all relationships; associations with weekday video watching, caregiver somatic problems and caregiver report that the child is overweight remained significant while associations with waist circumference, weight, and caregiver report that child overeats did not. Genetic liability to elevated CRP is associated with higher weight, eating, and weekday video watching during childhood as well as caregiver somatic problems. These associations were consistent with direct genetic effects (i.e., not solely due to confounding factors like passive gene-environment correlations) and were independent of measured BMI. The majority of associations with weight and eating phenotypes were attributable to shared genetic architecture between BMI and inflammation. The relationship between genetics and heightened inflammation in later life may be partially attributable to modifiable behaviors (e.g. weight and activity levels) that are expressed as early as childhood.

Pengaruh Status Gizi terhadap Tingkat Kelelahan Pekerja PT. Maruki Internasional Indonesia

Fatigue is a common complaint in the wider community and the working population. Work-related fatigue is a situation where workers experience a decrease in work productivity. This study aims to determine the effect of nutritional status on work fatigue. This type of research is observational analysis with a cross-sectional study design, which is carried out on employees of the production department of PT. Maruki International Indonesia. The research population amounted to 197 people, and 130 people were selected as a sample through the proportional sampling method. Nutritional status data collection is carried out by measuring Body Mass Index (BMI). Work fatigue data was obtained through interviews using a Subjective self-rating test questionnaire from the Industrial Fatigue Research Committee (IFRC). Data analysis was carried out using a linear regression test with SPSS. Based on the results of the study, a p-value of 0.043 (p&lt;0.05) was obtained, so nutritional status had a significant influence on fatigue in employees of the production department of PT. Maruki International Indonesia. So it can be concluded that work fatigue can be influenced by the nutritional status of workers in the Production section of PT. Maruki International Indonesia.

Diagnostic utility of the average peak LH levels measured during GnRH stimulation test.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) test is the gold standard test to evaluate the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis for the diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP). However, the diagnosis of cases with clinical features of CPP whilst have borderline peak luteinizing hormone (LH) remain challenges. We aimed to evaluate diagnostic performance of the average of LH levels measured during GnRH stimulation test. Cases with diagnosis of CPP and premature thelarche (PT) who had a GnRH stimulation test results were retrospectively reviewed. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and body mass index), age and sex-specific standard deviation scores, growth velocity, puberty stages, bone ages, serum FSH, LH, and estradiol levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunological method (ECLIA), and the GnRH stimulation test results, which performed by obtaining venous blood samples at basal, 20th, and 40th minutes for FSH and LH measurement, were recorded. A total of 76 girls (38 CPP, 38 PT) were included. We detected an average peak LH cut-off value of 4.25 IU/L with 94.7 % sensitivity and 97.4 % specificity, a 97.3 % positive predictive value, and a 94.9 % negative predictive value in GnRH test to differentiate cases with CPP from PT. This is the first study evaluating the diagnostic utility of the average of LH levels measured during GnRH stimulation test. We showed that the average of two LH measurements has a high diagnostic performance. Therefore, it can be used as a valid and reliable diagnostic tool for assessment of HPG axis activation, particularly for cases with a borderline peak LH level.

Generacion de recursos audiovisuales para la realización de medidas antropométricas en adultos mayores

Introduction: Ageing, according to the WHO, results from accumulated molecular and cellular damage, affecting physical and mental health. In Spain, the population aged 65 years and over has increased to 20% in 2022. Nutritional assessment in older adults, crucial for assessing health, uses the MNA questionnaire and anthropometric assessment. Although there are standard protocols for anthropometric measurements in the normal-weight and athletic population, there are no protocols adapted for older adults. The aim of the study is to generate audiovisual teaching resources with specific measurement criteria to improve the knowledge of health professionals and students about anthropometric measurements in older adults. Methodology: Descriptive study on the generation of audiovisual material based on possible and relevant measurements for the anthropometric study of older adults. Photographs and videos were taken of such measurements in an older adult male volunteer. Results: The audiovisual material consists of 13 videos with anthropometric measurements including 3 basic measurements (body mass, Stretch stature and medium arm span), 4 skinfolds (tricipital, bicipital, subscapular and iliac crest), 3 girths (arm relaxed, waist and calf) and 3 lengths (radiale-stylion, heel-knee height and tibiale mediale-sphyrion tibiale). Conclusion: Current manuals do not provide detailed information on the adaptation of the anthropometric measurement protocol to the limitations of older adults, such as spinal deviations or other physical or postural difficulties. Therefore, the audiovisual material created is novel, useful for teaching and learning anthropometric measurements and applicable both in academia and in daily clinical practice.

Charting the cascade of physical activities: implications for reducing sitting time and obesity in children

ObjectiveTraditional intensity-based physical activity measures and variable-centered statistics may not fully capture the complex associations between sitting time, physical activity, and obesity indices. This study investigates the associations between device-measured sitting, standing and different modes of physical activity (i.e., slow walking, brisk-walking, cycling and high-intensity activity) and measured body mass index (BMI) in children using person-based latent profile analyses and Partial Least Squared-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).MethodsA total of 344 children (11.5 ± 0.81 years, boys n = 139) wore a triaxial accelerometer (Fibion®) on their thigh for eight days, and their weight and height were measured at school. Latent profile analysis formed profiles including BMI, total sitting time, and physical activities, and their associations were further studied with PLS-SEM.ResultsThe latent profile analysis indicates that high levels of physical activity always coincide with low sitting time. Both normal weight and overweight/obesity can coexist with low physical activity and prolonged sitting. The PLS-SEM results highlight a cascade-like sequence in the relationship between various types of physical activity, sitting time, and BMI. This sequence begins with light-intensity activities, such as standing, progresses to higher-intensity activities, and ultimately through reduced sitting time (sample mean= -0.01; effect size = 0.0001; p = 0.02), mediates a decline in BMI (sample mean= -0.06; effect size = 0.0036; p = 0.01). The most positive effects on sitting time and BMI occur when this pattern is adhered to consistently, suggesting that omitting steps could negatively impact the associations.ConclusionThese findings suggest that persuading children to increase physical activity incrementally, starting from low-intensity activities such as standing and slow walking to activity types with higher intensities, possibly influence BMI by mediating reduced sitting time. This approach is particularly inclusive for overweight and obese children, taking into account the potential challenges they may encounter when performing activity types with high intensity. These cross-sectional associations need to be verified with longitudinal and experimental designs.

Untangling the complex food webs of tropical rainforest streams.

Food webs depict the tangled web of trophic interactions associated with the functioning of an ecosystem. Understanding the mechanisms providing stability to these food webs is therefore vital for conservation efforts and the management of natural systems. Here, we first characterised a tropical stream meta-food web and five individual food webs using a Bayesian Hierarchical approach unifying three sources of information (gut content analysis, literature compilation and stable isotope data). With data on population-level biomass and individually measured body mass, we applied a bioenergetic model and assessed food web stability using a Lotka-Volterra system of equations. We then assessed the resilience of the system to individual species extinctions using simulations and investigated the network patterns associated with systems with higher stability. The model resulted in a stable meta-food web with 307 links among the 61 components. At the regional scale, 70% of the total energy flow occurred through a set of 10 taxa with large variation in body masses. The remaining 30% of total energy flow relied on 48 different taxa, supporting a significant dependency on a diverse community. The meta-food web was stable against individual species extinctions, with a higher resilience in food webs harbouring omnivorous fish species able to connect multiple food web compartments via weak, non-specialised interactions. Moreover, these fish species contributed largely to the spatial variation among individual food webs, suggesting that these species could operate as mobile predators connecting different streams and stabilising variability at the regional scale. Our results outline two key mechanisms of food web stability operating in tropical streams: (i) the diversity of species and body masses buffering against random and size-dependent disturbances and (ii) high regional diversity and weak omnivorous interactions of predators buffering against local stochastic variation in species composition. These mechanisms rely on high local and regional biodiversity in tropical streams, which is known to be strongly affected by human impacts. Therefore, an urgent challenge is to understand how the ongoing systematic loss of diversity jeopardises the stability of stream food webs in human-impacted landscapes.

Dialysis Duration, Time Interaction, and Visceral Fat Accumulation: A 6-Year Posttransplantation Study.

Kidney transplantation (KT) leads to body composition change, particularly increasing the fat mass. However, limited researches have focused on the long-term follow-up of these changes and factors influencing body composition after KT. This study evaluated body composition in 31 adult KT recipients, measuring body mass index (BMI), the psoas muscle mass index (PMI) representing muscle mass, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) representing fat mass, and skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMR) representing muscle quality before KT and at 2, 4, and 6years posttransplantation using computed tomography. Linear mixed models (LMM) analyzed temporal changes and contributing factors, while growth curve models assessed influence of these factors on body composition changes posttransplantation. Following KT, BMI, and PMI remained stable, while SAT increased significantly, revealing a 1.30-fold increase from baseline 2years after transplantation. Similarly, a substantial increase in VAT was observed, with a 1.47-fold increase from baseline 2years after transplantation with a further 1.75-fold increase 6years after transplantation. In contrast, SMR decreased with a 0.86-fold decrease from baseline after 2years. VAT increase was significantly influenced by the interaction between posttransplantation and dialysis duration. Growth curve models confirmed this interaction effect persistently influenced VAT increase posttransplantation. The study revealed that KT promoted significant alterations in body composition characterized by increase in the VAT and SAT and a decline in SMR. Notably, dialysis duration and its interaction with posttransplantation duration emerged as significant factors influencing VAT increase.

Rapid Increase of Female but not Male Obesity: Analysis of the 2023 Vanuatu Health Transition Project Survey on Aneityum

Globally, obesity rates are continuing to increase and countries in the midst of modernization are most vulnerable. Developing nations are undergoing a health transition alongside rapid economic modernization. The nation of Vanuatu, like other Pacific island countries, is experiencing such a transition marked by decreased cases of infectious disease and increased incidence of chronic and non-communicable diseases. Aneityum is a small and sparsely populated island in Vanuatu and is behind more developed islands in its transition. This present study is the latest in a multi-year project examining health in Vanuatu as it undergoes a health transition with an increased prevalence of chronic disease, namely cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we sought to continue tracking the population health on Aneityum, to analyze health differences between men and women, and to compare findings to previous data in Vanuatu. In July and August of 2023, adult males [n=41] and females [n=62] were surveyed and had their anthropometric measurements taken on Aneityum in Vanuatu. Mean anthropometric measurements (body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference) continued to be significantly greater among women than men (P-value &lt; 0.05). Women exhibited higher rates of obesity in all metrics than in previous studies while men remained relatively unchanged. While men still have lower obesity rates compared to those from Efate in 2011, the women of Aneityum have reached similar levels as their counterparts from a decade ago. There is debate whether Ni-Vanuatu populations are more accurately measured by WHO or Asian-Pacific BMI cutoffs. When Asian-Pacific BMI guidelines are applied, male obesity rate rises 4.87% and the female obesity rate rises 17.74%, indicating drastically worse population health than previously thought. Potential explanations for the disparity in obesity rates between males and females include sex-associated fat distribution patterns, social inequality, and cultural habits. This paper provides valuable insights into the state of Vanuatu's health in its transitional period and a greater understanding of the interplay between sex and health.