Role Of Weight Research Articles

The Effect of Plausible Versus Implausible Balance Scale Feedback on the Expectancies of 3- to 4-Year-Old Children

Previous studies (Case, 1985; Siegler, 1981) have shown that children under the age of 5 years have little understanding of balance scales when required to encode the influence of weight or distance from the fulcrum. More recently, however, Halford, Andrews, Dalton, Boag, and Zielinski (2002) noted that an understanding based on weight alone is present even in 2-year-olds. In all these experiments, weight was varied using multiple objects of the same weight. Consequently, the children's decisions could have been based upon visual features (size, number) without necessarily taking the weight into account. The present study investigated whether young children are able to correctly encode the relevance of weight in influencing the behavior of a balance scale. We studied how well 3- to 4-year-old children learn to use one of two different weights (of equal appearance) to tip the scale. In the plausible condition, the heavy weight produced the desired outcome. In the implausible condition, the light weight caused the scale to tip. Only 4-year-olds' performance differed between conditions by learning more effectively in the plausible than the implausible condition. Our results suggest that children younger than 4 years of age have not yet developed clear expectations of the role of weights on the movements of a balance scale.

Role of Vagal Fibers in Weight Control and Nutrient Absorption

Role of Vagal Fibers in Weight Control and Nutrient Absorption

Weight Regain after a Diet-Induced Loss Is Predicted by Higher Baseline Leptin and Lower Ghrelin Plasma Levels

Appetite-related hormones may play an important role in weight regain after obesity therapy. Our objective was to investigate the potential involvement of ghrelin, leptin, and insulin plasma levels in weight regain after a therapeutic hypocaloric diet. A group of obese/overweight volunteers (49 women and 55 men; 35 ± 7 yr; 30.7 ± 2.4 kg/m(2)) followed an 8-wk hypocaloric diet (-30% energy expenditure) and were evaluated again 32 wk after treatment. Body weight as well as plasma fasting ghrelin, leptin, and insulin concentrations were measured at three points (wk 0, 8, and 32). After the 8-wk hypocaloric diet, the average weight loss was -5.0 ± 2.2% (P < 0.001). Plasma leptin and insulin concentrations decreased significantly, whereas ghrelin levels did not markedly change. In the group regaining more than 10% of the weight loss, leptin levels were higher (P < 0.01), whereas ghrelin levels were lower (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in insulin levels. Weight regain at wk 32 was negatively correlated with ghrelin and positively associated with leptin levels at baseline (wk 0) and endpoint (wk 8). These outcomes showed a gender-specific influence, being statistically significant among men for ghrelin and between women for leptin. Moreover, a decrease in ghrelin after an 8-wk hypocaloric diet was related to an increased risk for weight regain (odds ratio = 3.109; P = 0.008) whereas a greater reduction in leptin (odds ratio = 0.141; P = 0.001) was related to weight-loss maintenance. Subjects with higher plasma leptin and lower ghrelin levels at baseline could be more prone to regain lost weight, and hormones levels could be proposed as biomarkers for predicting obesity-treatment outcomes.

Vitamin D Status in Overweight and Obese Individuals During A Controlled Calorie Restricted Intervention

Vitamin D deficiency is common in obese subjects and status may be improved with dietary interventions. We examined serum 25(OH)D in overweight and obese individuals enrolled in a controlled calorie restricted intervention. Serum samples from overweight and obese (BMI = 28–37) subjects (F=53, M=18), participating in a study examining dairy's role in weight and fat loss, were taken pre‐ and post‐intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to either a high dairy (HD: 3–4 servings; average 333IU D) or low dairy (LD: ≤ 1 serving/d, average 151 IU D) for 12 wks. Energy balance was achieved in wks 1–3 followed by 12wk of 500 kcal/d reduction. All foods were supplied by the metabolic food lab. Outcome variables were body weight (WT), body fat (BF) determined by DXA and serum 25(OH)D measured by RIA. When controlling for total body fat mass, ANOVA showed a significant treatment effect with a greater increase in the %change of serum 25(OH)D in the high dairy group (27.27 ± 37.47 nmol; p = 0.05) compared to the low dairy group(13.16 ± 32.7 nmol; p = .09). The inclusion of 3–4 servings of vitamin D fortified dairy rich foods in a moderate energy restricted diet may contribute to an improved vitamin D status in overweight and obese individuals.Funding: National Dairy Council; USDA, ARS, WHNRC; DairyCouncil of California; CTSC, CCRC University of California (1M01RR19975‐01), and National Center for Medical Research (UL1 RR024146).

Towards research-based approaches for solving body composition problems in sports: ski jumping as a heuristic example

Extremely low body weight and associated eating and body composition disorders are becoming prevalent in many sports, and can be summarised into three groups: I. Sports in which weight restricts...

Polymorphism Val103Ile of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene in the Serbian population

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays an important role in weight and energy homeostasis and it is associated with lower risk to develop obesity and lower body mass index. The contribution of MC4R mutation to obesity in Vojvodina (Northern Province of Serbia), known as a region with the largest number of overweight people, has not been previously investigated. The objective of this study was to examine the Val103Ile polymorphism of MC4R in a population of Vojvodina and its association with obesity. The study was carried out in a group of 96 persons: 62 obese and 34 normal weight men and women. Anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk factors assessment were done. The genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP. In our on going study, three subjects were heterozygous for Val103Ile mutation (3.12%), and one was homozygous for 103Ile allele (1.04%). Among obese patients no isoleucine allele homozygous was found. The frequencies of the 103Ile allele in a group of obese and normal weight persons were found to be 1.61 and 4.41%, respectively. Val103Ile polymorphism of melanocortin-4 receptor is unlikely to be a major cause of overweight and obesity in Vojvodina, but further studies on larger groups of patients are needed.

Determinants of Ski-Jump Performance and Implications for Health, Safety and Fairness

Ski jumping puts high demands on the athlete's ability to control posture and movement. The athlete has to solve extremely difficult optimization problems. These implicit decisions and the resulting control manoeuvres can be understood by means of computer simulations. Computer simulations based on wind tunnel input data can identify the determinants for high performance and answer many questions of training methods, safety and health, role of weight, fairness, optimized hill design, sport development, and changes to the regulations. Each of the performance determinants has to be seen in the context of all others in order to understand its importance; the predominant factors are: high in-run velocity, high momentum perpendicular to the ramp at take-off due to the jump and the lift force, accurate timing of the take-off with respect to the ramp edge, appropriate angular momentum at take-off in order to obtain an aerodynamically advantageous and stable flight position as soon as possible, choice of advantageous body and equipment configurations during the entire flight in order to obtain optimum lift and drag values, and the ability to control the flight stability. Wind blowing up the hill increases the jump length dramatically and decreases the landing velocity, which eases the landing, and vice versa for wind from behind. Improvements to reduce unfairness due to changing wind are urgently needed. The current practice of the judges to reduce the score when the athlete has to perform body movements in order to counteract dangerous gusts is irrational. The athletes should rather be rewarded and not punished for their ability to handle such dangerous situations. For the quantification of underweight it is suggested to use the mass index: MI=0.28 m/s2 (where m is the jumper mass and s is the sitting height), which indirectly considers the individual leg length. The MI formula is similar to the body mass index (BMI) formula: the height is replaced by the sitting height s and a factor of 0.28 effects that the MI is equal to the BMI for persons with average leg length. The classification of underweight is not only a question of the cut-off point, as much it is a question of the measure for relative bodyweight used. Low weight is one of the performance determinants; however, it should be considered that very low weight can cause severe performance setbacks due to decreased jumping force, general weakness, reduced ability to cope with pressure, and increased susceptibility for diseases. In the past, several cases of anorexia nervosa among ski jumpers had come to light. The development toward extremely low weight was stopped in 2004 by new Fédération Internationale de Ski ski-jumping regulations, which relate relative body mass to maximum ski length. The 2006/7 and 2008/9 seasons showed that light athletes who had to use skis with just 142% of their height could still win competitions. A further increase of the borderline weight is being discussed. The current regulations are based on the well known BMI; the use of the MI instead of the BMI should be explored in future studies.

P099 Posture evaluation in obese patients: the role of weight and gender

P099 Posture evaluation in obese patients: the role of weight and gender

Toward an understanding of risk factors for anorexia nervosa: a case-control study

Prospective, longitudinal studies of risk factors for anorexia nervosa (AN) are lacking and existing cross-sectional studies are generally narrow in focus and lack methodological rigor. Building on two studies that used the Oxford Risk Factor Interview (RFI) to establish time precedence and comprehensively assess potential risk correlates for AN, the present study advances this line of research and represents the first case-control study of risk factors for AN in the USA. The RFI was used for retrospective assessment of a broad range of risk factors, while establishing time precedence. Using a case-control design, 50 women who met DSM-IV criteria for AN were compared to those with non-eating disorder DSM-IV psychiatric disorders (n=50) and those with no psychiatric disorder (n=50). Women with psychiatric disorders reported higher rates of negative affectivity, maternal and paternal parenting problems, family discord, parental mood and substance disorder, and physical and sexual abuse than women with no psychiatric disorder. Women with AN specifically reported greater severity and significantly higher rates of negative affectivity, perfectionism and family discord, and higher parental demands than women with other psychiatric disorders. The role of weight and shape concerns was most salient in the year preceding onset of AN. Convergent data identifying common risk factors as well as those more severe in the development of AN are emerging to inform longitudinal risk factor and prevention studies for this disorder.

Why do some overweight children experience psychological problems? The role of weight and shape concern

To examine the associations between weight status, weight and shape concern, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and depression in children. Interviews were conducted with 7- to 13-year-old overweight (n = 89) and healthy weight (n = 118) children, using the Child Eating Disorder Examination, Self-Perception Profile for Children, Children's Body Image Scale and Child Depression Inventory. Overweight children were more concerned about weight and shape than healthy weight children. After controlling for BMI z-score, children with high weight and shape concern reported lower self-esteem, higher body dissatisfaction and higher depression than children with low weight and shape concern. Concern about weight and shape mediated the relationships between BMI z-score and low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and depression. Results support the hypothesis that differences in weight and shape concern, within samples of overweight and healthy weight children, can account for differences in degree of psychological distress. Findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of psychological problems in overweight children.

The explicit role of weight bounds in models of data envelopment analysis

In this paper, we suggest that weight bounds used in models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) can be assessed using production trade-offs between inputs and outputs. This development is based on a transformation of the envelopment DEA model to a special form, which exhibits an explicit link between weight bounds and production trade-offs. This allows us to specify the guidelines to the construction of weight bounds, which ensure that the envelopment form has a clear economic meaning. In this development, the radial efficiency measure retains its standard meaning as a technologically realistic improvement factor. This contrasts with the methods based on value judgements for which this traditional meaning of efficiency becomes void. We show that the exact economic meaning of the same weight bounds depends on the unit under the assessment and the orientation (input-minimization or output-maximization) of the model. The suggested approach is valid under the assumptions of constant and variable returns to scale.

Cancers of the Gut and Western Ills

I n their well-known 1981 review on the causes of cancer in the United States, Doll and Peto[*][1] estimated that around one-third of deaths from cancer could be attributed to diet and were therefore, in principle, preventable. Epidemiological evidence continues to support this general conclusion, but in contrast to cardiovascular disease, for which the link to nutrition is now generally recognized, the relationship between diet and cancer has made much less impact on both policy-makers and the general public. One reason for this is the absence of any single hypothesis on which to build a dietary strategy for cancer prevention; this itself is a reflection of the complexity of human diets and the obvious fact that cancer is not a single disease. Although there has been huge progress in our understanding of the molecular basis of many cancers in recent years, most of the new knowledge has been deployed in the search for new therapies rather than to understand the role of nutrition in their causation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms linking diet to cancer can be understood and exploited for prevention as much as for treatment, and there are sound scientific and strategic reasons to focus such research on carcinomas of the alimentary tract. ![Figure][2] CREDIT: ROYALTY-FREE/CORBIS The hypothesis that “overnutrition” increases the risk of bowel cancer is supported by studies within the populations of the developed world, where overconsumption of energy, low levels of physical activity, high body mass index, and abdominal obesity are strong independent risk factors for colorectal carcinoma, much as they are for insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. A similar link to obesity has been established for esophageal adenocarcinoma, once the rarest form of cancer of the esophagus but now advancing rapidly throughout North America and Western Europe. What do we know about the links between gut-related cancer progression and diet? Although mutagens are present in foods and feces at low concentrations, there is little evidence that the adverse effects of diet on alimentary cancers in the West are caused by food-borne carcinogens that can be identified and eliminated from the food chain. It seems more plausible that the Western gut becomes vulnerable to neoplasia because of adverse metabolic factors, such as pro-inflammatory agents produced by adipose tissue, and because of low intakes of anticarcinogens from plant foods. The chronic use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs significantly reduces the risk of colorectal and esophageal cancers, perhaps by inhibiting the expression of the pro-inflammatory enzymes in precancerous tissues. Both diseases are also less common among consumers of diets rich in fruits and vegetables, which harbor a huge variety of biologically active secondary metabolites such as glucosinolates and flavonoids, which may act synergistically in the human diet. There are profound and fascinating biological problems to be solved in the search for the links between nutrition and cancer, and the human digestive tract is likely to prove an immensely rewarding focus for future research. Meanwhile, carcinomas of the gut are among the most common causes of morbidity and death from cancer in the developed world. The role of weight, lack of exercise, and inadequate consumption of plant foods in their etiology needs to be more widely acknowledged and publicized. [1]: #fn-1 [2]: pending:yes

The Rise of Eating Disorders in Japan: Issues of Culture and Limitations of the Model of ?westernization?

As the first non-Western nation in contemporary history to become a major industrialized economic power, Japan is central to the debate on cultural relativism in psychiatric nosologies, and the study of eating disorders in Japan contributes to the complex discussion of the impact of culture and history on the experience, diagnosis and treatment of such disorders (R. Gordon 2001; Palmer 2001). Without question, the rise in eating disorders in Japan correlated with increasing industrialization, urbanization, and the fraying of traditional family forms following World War II. While the case of Japan confirms that the existence of eating disorders appears to be linked with these broader social transformations, it also points to the importance of specific cultural and historical factors in shaping the experience of eating disorders. In this article, we explore two particular dimensions of culture in contemporary Japan: (1) gender development and gender role expectations for females coming of age; and (2) beauty ideals and the role of weight and shape concerns in the etiology of eating disorders. Our analysis of these dimensions of culture, and the data accruing from empirical and qualitative research, reveal limitations to the model of "Westernization" and call for a more culturally sensitive search for meaning in both describing and explaining eating disorders in Japan today.

A cross-cultural study on the role of weight and waist-to-hip ratio on female attractiveness

The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally test Singh's (1993) hypothesis of the effect of weight and waist-to-hip ratio on judgements of female attractiveness, using stimulus figures developed by Tassinary and Hansen (1998) . A total of 308 subjects, half male, half female, were recruited from Greece, Uganda and the United Kingdom. Their task was to rate eight line drawings varying in weight (light and heavy) and waist-to-hip ratio WHR (0.5, 0.7 with small waist and hip size, 0.7 with large waist and hip size, and 0.9). The stimulus figures were rated on attractiveness, healthiness, fertility, youthfulness, and willingness to engage in short-term and long-term relationships, on a seven-point Likert scale . The results showed an overall preference for the 0.7 WHR and the light weight category, as predicted. However, cross-cultural differences showed Ugandans had a preference for the 0.5 WHR and the heavy weight category. The prediction that small waist and hip size would be preferred over large waist and hip size was also confirmed. In accordance with predictions, attractiveness was found to be significantly correlated with all the attributes tested.

Factors influencing cannibalism in the wolf spider Pardosa agrestis (Araneae, Lycosidae)

Cannibalistic tendencies are well known in spiders and may be a significant factor influencing population size. The wolf spider, Pardosa agrestis, is the dominant non-web-building spider in a wide range of central European agricultural habitats. Preliminary field observations indicated an extended reproductive period, which results in a very wide size distribution of juvenile instars. We hypothesised that if cannibalism is enhanced by differences in size, especially during periods when prey is scarce, these populations might be susceptible to cannibalism in an ecologically significant way. Laboratory studies were conducted on juvenile P. agrestis in arenas. We analysed the following specific aspects of cannibalism: (1) the effect of the weight ratio between the opponents; (2) the effect of weight per se, and (3) the role of hunger level in determining cannibalistic tendencies of spiders. The role of weight and hunger were analysed in separate experiments, in both cases by controlling for the other variable. The results showed that cannibalism was strongly positively correlated with both weight ratio and hunger, but absolute size/age of an individual could not predict the occurrence of a cannibalistic event. These experiments generated the plausible hypothesis that cannibalism might be an important phenomenon in the regulation of real populations, which should be tested specifically in future field experiments.

The role of weights in multi-criteria decision aid, and the ranking of water projects in Jordan

A case study to build the water sector objectives hierarchy and their weights utilising a structured group brainstorming workshop is described. This became an input to rank the major water projects in Jordan utilising a multi-criteria decision aid method. Finally, weights sensitivity analysis was conducted to judge the stability of the results.

International renal-cell cancer study. III. Role of weight, height, physical activity, and use of amphetamines.

Although numerous studies have identified obesity or high relative weight as a risk factor for renal-cell cancer in women, the degree to which this effect is present in men remains unclear. A multicenter population-based case-control study concerning incident cases of histologically verified renal-cell cancer (n = 1,732) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 2,309) was conducted in Australia, Denmark, Germany (2 centers), Sweden and the United States. Relative weight was estimated by the body mass index, and the association between this factor and other factors, such as height, physical activity and use of amphetamines, was measured by the relative risk estimated in logistic regression models. Body mass index was found to be a risk factor among women and, to a lesser extent, among men. A 3-fold increased risk (RR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.3-5.7) was observed for women with a relative weight in the top 5% compared with those in the lowest quartile. Rate of weight change (estimated as weight change per annum in kilograms) appeared to be an independent risk factor among women but not among men. Physical activity and height were unrelated to risk of renal-cell cancer regardless of level of BMI, while use of amphetamines was associated with an increased risk among men, although no dose or duration effect was seen. Our findings verify the link between high relative weight and risk of renal-cell cancer, particularly among women. The mechanism that underlies this association is, however, still unclear, although the rate of weight change may play a role.

Risk factors for renal-cell carcinoma in Denmark. III. Role of weight, physical activity and reproductive factors.

A population-based case-control study of risk factors for renal-cell carcinoma was conducted in Denmark from 1989 to 1992. A total of 368 histologically verified cases and 396 controls were included. Information on weight, height, physical activity and reproductive factors were collected in a structured interview, along with information on other suspected risk factors. A significant increase in risk was seen for obese women but not obese men. Although there was no clear gradient, the risk was highest among women with a relative weight in the upper 5% (OR 6.1; 95% CI, 2.3 to 16.1). The increased risk was most evident for high relative weight in ages 30 to 50. No association was observed for height or physical activity. Use of amphetamines was associated with increased risk but, because of the close link with obesity, we were unable to provide evidence that amphetamines are an independent risk factor. We found some evidence for an association with reproductive variables, including decreased risk for women with late menarche and first pregnancy and birth. We observed no association with number of pregnancies or age at menopause, or use of estrogen-containing medication.

Role of Weight and Acoustic Parameters, including Nature of Chorusing, in the Mating Success of Males of the Katydid, Amblycorypha parvipennis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Amblycorypha parvipennis Stal males are unique chorusers; adjacent males alternate 4-5 s phrases frequently overlapping the end of a partner's phrases, and where phrases overlap, phonatomes (phrase subunits) are synchronized. We explored the effect of weight and a number of sound parameters, including frequency, intensity, temporal parameters and phrase phase relationships during chorusing, on male mating success using laboratory tests in which single females were exposed to pairs of chorusing males. Females mated with males that were heavier, louder, and overlapped their partner's phrases less when in the presence of a sexually-receptive (sound-producing) female. Male spermatophore weight was correlated with male body weight; this suggests that females may choose heavier males to obtain larger spermatophores (10-20% of male's wet body weight) upon which females feed. Sound level rather than sound frequency may be important in mating success because competing males produce sounds in close proximity to competitors and females and this proximity negates the environmental degradation of sound level over greater distances. The reduction in the rate at which eventual successfully mating males overlap unsuccessful males in the presence of a female suggests that males compete to reduce the rate at which they overlap the end of a competitor's phrases. This ability, as well as weight and sound level, appears to be utilized by females or competitors in determining the @'superior@' male.

Red blood cell Na content, Na, Li-countertransport, family history of hypertension and blood pressure in school children.

This study focuses on the relationship between some aspects of intra-erythrocytic sodium metabolism (intra-erythrocytic Na content, Na,Li-countertransport), blood pressure, and family history of hypertension, in a group of 84 randomly selected school children (45 males, 39 females). Na,Li-countertransport was significantly related to both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) only in boys at the univariate level, but both of these associations lost statistical significance after the possible confounding role of weight and height were taken into consideration. In both sexes, participants with a family history of hypertension had similar values of both intra-erythrocytic Na content and Na,Li-countertransport to participants with no family history. We conclude that family history of hypertension does not seem to play an important role in the determination of either intra-erythrocytic Na content or Na,Li-countertransport at this age. Although the positive association between Na,Li-countertransport and blood pressure observed in adult males is already present in childhood, this probably is still, at least in part, dependent upon body size.