Preference For Energy-dense Foods Research Articles

Long-term stress and diet among Finnish pre-schoolers

AbstractIntroductionStudying the link between children's stress and diet is crucial, as early childhood is an important period for the development of eating habits as well as other health behaviours. Among adults, studies have shown that elevated cortisol levels (indicator of long-term stress) might be associated with overweight and a preference for energy-dense foods. However, the association between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and diet among pre-school-aged children is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether HCC, a measure of long-term stress, is associated with diet among 3–6-year-old Finnish children.Materials and methodsThe current cross-sectional study is a part of the DAGIS study conducted in 66 Finnish pre-schools in 2015–2016. Of the 864 participating pre-schoolers, 578 (67%) provided the information needed to examine the association between HCC and diet. HCC was measured from 4-cm hair samples using a chemiluminescence immunoassay, and the HCCs were categorized into fifths. The parents of the participating children filled in a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) assessing the child's food consumption outside preschool hours. The FFQ items (n = 47) were used as inputs in principal component analysis to derive dietary patterns. The associations between HCC and food group consumption frequencies as well as dietary pattern scores for ‘sweets-and-treats’, ‘health-conscious’ and ‘vegetables-and-processed meats’ patterns were examined with multilevel linear mixed models and adjusted for age, gender and parental education.ResultsThe median HCC was 11.7 pg/mg (min 0.24, max 879.6). Compared to the children who had the lowest HCCs, the children with the highest HCCs consumed vegetables as well as fruits and berries less frequently (β = -1.62, 95% CI -3.14, -0.09; β = -1.49, 95% CI -2.95, -0.04) and scored lower on the ‘health-conscious’ dietary pattern (β = -0.31, 95% CI -0.51, -0.11). After adjustments, the associations between HCC and fruit and berry and sugary beverage consumption as well as ‘health-conscious’ pattern were significant (β = -1.62, 95% CI -3.09, -0.16; β = 1.30, 95% CI 0.06, 2.54; β = -0.33, 95% CI -0.53, -0.14).DiscussionThis study supports the link between long-term stress and lower-quality diet, as it showed that elevated HCCs and less healthful diets were connected already in the early childhood. However, because of the cross-sectional design of the study, we are not able to conclude whether stress affects diet or vice versa. Nevertheless, these results give reason to further investigate the relationship between stress and children's eating habits as well as health in general.

Obesity risk and preference for high dietary fat intake are determined by FTO rs9939609 gene polymorphism in selected Indonesian adults.

Data suggest that genetic factors are associated with BMI. The fat mass and obesity- associated (FTO) gene modulates adipogenesis through alternative splicing and m6A demethylation. Individuals with FTO rs9939609 gene polymorphism have a preference for energy-dense foods. This study investigates the relationship between FTO rs9939609 and obesity and preference for dietary fat intake among selected Indonesian adults. A total of 40 non-obese and 40 obese participants aged 19-59 living in Jakarta were recruited. Body composition measurements included body weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat mass. Dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and food recall over 2 × 24-h periods. Genetic variation was determined using amplification-refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. The genotype distribution of the FTO gene (rs9939609) was at Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium (p=1) with minor allele frequency=0.19. Individuals with AT/AA genotypes had 3.72 times higher risk of obesity (p=0.009) and 5.98 times higher dietary fat intake (p=0.02) than those with TT genotype. Obese participants with the AT/AA genotypes had 1.40 times higher dietary fat intake than those with the TT genotype (p=0.016). These findings suggest that Indonesian adults with AT/AA genotypes of the FTO rs9939609 have higher obesity risks and preferences for high dietary fat intake than those with TT genotype.

Getting to More Effective Weight Management in Antipsychotic-Treated Youth: A Survey of Barriers and Preferences.

Mentally ill youth are at risk for developing obesity, especially when they require antipsychotic treatment; moreover, they may face unique challenges in adhering to behavioral weight loss interventions. The aims of this project were to characterize the challenges families of youth with psychiatric disorders face when engaging in weight loss treatment and to gather information on attitudes and preferences for weight management interventions in this population. We devised a telephone survey to evaluate caregiver-perceived barriers/challenges to and preferences for behavioral weight loss treatment in overweight or obese mentally ill youth ages 6-18 treated with an antipsychotic agent in an outpatient setting. A total of 26 parents or primary caregivers completed the survey. The most commonly cited barriers to participation in physical activity (PA) and maintaining a healthy diet were child's dislike of PA and child's preference for energy-dense foods, respectively, which were impacted by psychiatric symptoms. Preferences for weight loss treatment included individualized, prescribed meal plans and shopping lists, and exercise support/demonstration, with a preference for Internet or cell phone applications to help with monitoring food intake and exercise. These results suggest that targets for obesity treatment in this population include individualized, specific support that takes into account the child's motivation, which is effected by psychiatric symptoms. Tools for providing support may include the use of telehealth visits and mobile device applications for self-monitoring.

Is sleep deprivation a contributor to obesity in children?

Chronic lack of sleep (called "sleep deprivation") is common in modern societies with 24/7 availability of commodities. Accumulating evidence supports the role of reduced sleep as contributing to the current obesity epidemic in children and youth. Longitudinal studies have consistently shown that short sleep duration is associated with weight gain and the development of obesity. Recent experimental studies have reported that sleep restriction leads to weight gain in humans. Increased food intake appears to be the main mechanism by which insufficient sleep results in weight gain. Voluntary sleep restriction has been shown to increase snacking, the number of meals eaten per day, and the preference for energy-dense foods. Although the causes of sleep loss in the pediatric population are numerous, more research looking at screen exposure before bedtime and its effects on sleep is needed given the pervasiveness of electronic media devices in today's environment. Health professionals should routinely ask questions about sleep and promote a good night's sleep because insufficient sleep impacts activity and eating behaviors. Future research should examine the clinical benefits of increasing sleep duration on eating behaviors and body weight control and determine the importance of adequate sleep to improve the treatment of obesity.

Preference for Energy Dense Snack Foods in Healthy and Overweight Minority Preschool Children

Snacking is an important eating episode for energy and development of food preferences in children. The purpose of this study was to describe the quality and quantity of snack intake in minority preschool children enrolled in the Head Start Program in four centers in Detroit, Michigan, and investigate differences by child weight status. This secondary data analysis used anthropometric and snack time food observation data from a convenience sample of 58 children (43% girls, 46±7.85 months old). BMI‐for‐age percentiles were used to separate children into weight categories according to CDC guidelines. Snack intake data (servings/snack) was converted into USDA food group portions and averaged for each child. Based on BMI‐for‐age percentiles, 70.7% of the sample was under/healthy weight and 29.3% was overweight/obese. Average snack time intakes of milk (0.74±0.33) and combined fruits/vegetables (0.77±0.33) were significantly lower than one USDA snack serving, while average intakes of energy dense foods such as grains (1.99±0.89), meat/meat alternates (2.20±1.91) and other foods (1.43±1.06) were significantly higher than one serving (p蠄0.05). Children ate more when offered canned fruits versus fresh fruits (0.93±0.57 vs. 0.65±0.37, p=0.007). Except for a significantly higher milk intake in the under/healthy weight group compared to the overweight/obese group (0.81±0.34 vs. 0.58±0.24, p=0.005], no relationship was found between snack food intake and weight category. A preference for energy dense foods was observed. Continued efforts should be made to provide nutrient dense foods at the preschool settings to promote healthier food habits.
AC support: NIH/NIGMS R25 GM061347

A link between FTO, ghrelin, and impaired brain food-cue responsivity

Polymorphisms in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) are associated with human obesity and obesity-prone behaviors, including increased food intake and a preference for energy-dense foods. FTO demethylates N6-methyladenosine, a potential regulatory RNA modification, but the mechanisms by which FTO predisposes humans to obesity remain unclear. In adiposity-matched, normal-weight humans, we showed that subjects homozygous for the FTO "obesity-risk" rs9939609 A allele have dysregulated circulating levels of the orexigenic hormone acyl-ghrelin and attenuated postprandial appetite reduction. Using functional MRI (fMRI) in normal-weight AA and TT humans, we found that the FTO genotype modulates the neural responses to food images in homeostatic and brain reward regions. Furthermore, AA and TT subjects exhibited divergent neural responsiveness to circulating acyl-ghrelin within brain regions that regulate appetite, reward processing, and incentive motivation. In cell models, FTO overexpression reduced ghrelin mRNA N6-methyladenosine methylation, concomitantly increasing ghrelin mRNA and peptide levels. Furthermore, peripheral blood cells from AA human subjects exhibited increased FTO mRNA, reduced ghrelin mRNA N6-methyladenosine methylation, and increased ghrelin mRNA abundance compared with TT subjects. Our findings show that FTO regulates ghrelin, a key mediator of ingestive behavior, and offer insight into how FTO obesity-risk alleles predispose to increased energy intake and obesity in humans.

Food Commercials Increase Preference for Energy-Dense Foods, Particularly in Children Who Watch More Television

Food Commercials Increase Preference for Energy-Dense Foods, Particularly in Children Who Watch More Television

An Obesity-AssociatedFTOGene Variant and Increased Energy Intake in Children

Variation in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene has provided the most robust associations with common obesity to date. However, the role of FTO variants in modulating specific components of energy balance is unknown. We studied 2726 Scottish children, 4 to 10 years of age, who underwent genotyping for FTO variant rs9939609 and were measured for height and weight. A subsample of 97 children was examined for possible association of the FTO variant with adiposity, energy expenditure, and food intake. In the total study group and the subsample, the A allele of rs9939609 was associated with increased weight (P=0.003 and P=0.049, respectively) and body-mass index (P=0.003 and P=0.03, respectively). In the intensively phenotyped subsample, the A allele was also associated with increased fat mass (P=0.01) but not with lean mass. Although total and resting energy expenditures were increased in children with the A allele (P=0.009 and P=0.03, respectively), resting energy expenditure was identical to that predicted for the age and weight of the child, indicating that there is no defect in metabolic adaptation to obesity in persons bearing the risk-associated allele. The A allele was associated with increased energy intake (P=0.006) independently of body weight. In contrast, the weight of food ingested by children who had the allele was similar to that in children who did not have the allele (P=0.82). The FTO variant that confers a predisposition to obesity does not appear to be involved in the regulation of energy expenditure but may have a role in the control of food intake and food choice, suggesting a link to a hyperphagic phenotype or a preference for energy-dense foods.

Challenges in obesity epidemiology

This paper was commissioned by the Foresight programme of the Office of Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry © 2007 Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO; published with permission Journal compilation © 2007 The International Association for the Study of Obesity. obesity reviews 8 (Suppl. 1) , 1–11 1 obesity reviews (2007) 8 (Suppl. 1) , 1–11 OnlineOpen: This article is available free online at www.blackwell-synergy.com Blackwell Publishing LtdOxford, UKOBRObesity Reviews1467-7881© 2007 Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO; published with permission; Journal compilation © 2007 The International Association for the Study of Obesity ? 20078 ••111Review Article Challenges in obesity epidemiology D. Canoy & I. Buchan

The Dietary Approach to Obesity

INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO LOSE WEIGHT HAVE MANY DIET choices, ranging from very low-fat (Ornish) to very highfat (Atkins). However, despite great popularity and millions of dollars of sales, good-quality comparative data on the safety and effectiveness of these diets remain elusive. The study by Dansinger et al in this issue of JAMA could be the randomized trial many have been waiting for to help determine which diet works best. Yet, even after considering a number of important limitations, the primary outcome of weight loss at 1 year was modest and there was no difference between the low-carbohydrate approach of Atkins, the high-protein low-glycemic load approach of Sears (the Zone diet), the very low-fat approach of Ornish, and the low-calorie/portion-size approach of Weight Watchers. The results of the study by Dansinger et al appear to be at odds with findings from a number of recent studies that demonstrated more weight loss, at least during the initial months, with low-carbohydrate diets. One important similarity between this trial and the other studies is a high dropout rate. In the study by Dansinger et al, 42% of the study participants were no longer adhering to their diets by 12 months after randomization, and those participants who did complete the trial had a weight reduction of only 5 kg or 5% from baseline weight. Adherence rates were poor for all 4 diets but were particularly poor for the Atkins and Ornish groups. In the setting of a randomized trial, in which there was at least initially substantial involvement of the study team, the results among adherent participants would have been expected to be better. After all, some studies suggest that obese patients can lose weight on their own. Data from the National Weight Control Registry indicate that some patients who successfully lose at least 10% of their weight on their own sustain the reduction for 5 years. However, Heshka et al demonstrated that the dropout rate in a self-help weight loss group was similar to that experienced in a commercial weight loss program, but the amount of weight loss was less in the self-help group. Thus, perhaps more structure and input from health care professionals does facilitate the outcome, at least over relatively short intervals. Even 1 month after randomization in the study by Dansinger et al, adherence to the recommendations of the Atkins, Ornish, and Zone diets was highly variable. Participants in the Atkins diet group were ingesting a median of 68 g of carbohydrate daily, not 20 g as recommended at this stage of the diet. Participants in the Ornish diet group were consuming a median of 27 g of fat or 17% of total calories after 1 month, well above the target of 10%. By 1 year, calories from fat accounted for 32% of total intake. For participants in the Zone diet group, carbohydrate intake accounted for 45% of total calories by 1 month, identical to the target of 45%, while fat content was 34% of calories, slightly above the target of 30%. An additional concern historically related to the dietary treatment of obesity is estimated caloric intake at baseline. The reported average caloric intake was only 2059 kcal for participants whose mean weight was 100 kg (220 lb). This is well below a very conservative estimate of 2860 calories (calculated as basal calories [weight in pounds 10] + lifestyle activity level [weight in pounds 3]) for an individual younger than 50 years who weighs 220 lb with a sedentary lifestyle. Even with a further 10% downward adjustment for an individual aged 50 years or older, the estimated caloric intake of 2574 is more than 25% above the average estimated by this study population (average age of 49 years). This underestimate is not surprising, given that diet records are notoriously inaccurate in obese patients. Losing weight and sustaining weight reduction are very difficult. Most health care professionals who treat obese patients would acknowledge that there is insufficient knowledge about mechanisms for recidivism in obesity. Beyond a lack of willpower is a plethora of biological explanations that challenge the weight-reduced state. These include increased appetite with a preference for energy-dense foods, reductions in energy expenditure (both basal metabolic rate and physical activity), increased insulin sensitivity, increased respiratory quotient due to more carbohydrate oxidation and less fat oxidation, and tissue-specific changes in the activity of lipoprotein lipase (more in adipose tissue and