Changes In Total Body Weight Research Articles

Responses of pre- and post-menopausal females to aerobic conditioning

This study sought to determine whether the ability to improve cardiorespiratory endurance and body composition is affected by the menopausal status of females. Twenty premenopausal females and 18 postmenopausal females, ages 35-49 and 47-66 yr, respectively, were randomly assigned to exercise and control groups depending on menopausal status. Both exercise groups (PRE-EX, N = 16; POST-EN, N = 14) participated in a progressive walking program (4 days/week for 9 weeks) at an intensity of 80% the age-adjusted heart rate maximum (80% HRM). Following training, both exercise groups significantly improved submaximal exercise capacity (SEC) as measured by oxygen consumption (l/min; ml/kg . min) and treadmill walking time at 80% HRM. The PRE-EX group significantly improved percent body fat and lean body weight, while there was no significant change in total body weight. The POST-EX group significantly improved total body weight and percent body fat with no significant change in lean body weight. Although some of these changes in body composition were statistically significant, overall the alterations were minimal. ANCOVA revealed exercise, not menopause, to be the effective treatment for improving percent body fat and SEC80%HRM. There were no significant differences between the PRE-EX and POST-EX groups in their ability to improve SEC80%HRM or to reduce percent body fat. The POST-EX group had a significantly greater reduction in total body weight, while the PRE-EX group had significantly greater increases in lean body weight. These findings suggest that the ability to favorably alter body composition and cardiorespiratory endurance through the aerobic conditioning of females is independent of menopausal status.

Severe depression of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in weight lifters and body builders by self-administered exogenous testosterone and anabolic-androgenic steroids

The effects of nonphysician prescribed, self-obtained, self-administered exogenous anabolic-androgenic steroids and testosterone on plasma total, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC, LDLC), and triglycerides were evaluated in 14 adult white men, 11 body builders and 3 power weight lifters. Lipids and lipoprotein cholesterols were quantified during active physical conditioning, both on (for at least 1 month, X ± SD 2.1 ± 1.8 months) and off (for at least 4 months, 7.3 ± 2.7 months) self-administered exogenous androgenic steroids. The subjects took 50 to 100 mg methandrostenolone daily plus weekly injections of testosterone 100 to 200 mg and nandrolone decanoate 100 to 200 mg per week. Mean (SD) HDLC on exogenous androgenic steroids, 29 ± 8 mg/dL, was severely depressed, and was less than 50% of the consistently elevated mean HDLC when exogenous steroids were not used (61 ± 14 mg/dL, P < .01 for paired differences). During anabolic steroid use, HDLC was ≤ the age- race- and sex-specific 10th percentile in 11 of the 14 men, whereas while off anabolic steroids, HDLC was ≥ the 90th percentile in 7 of the 13 men, and in the top quartile for 3 of the remaining 6 men. Mean LDLC was higher on androgenic steroids (150 ± 44) than off (125 ± 38 mg/dL), P < .05 for paired differences. The ratio of LDLC/HDLC during exogenous steroid use (6.0 ± 3.7) was nearly triple the ratio obtained when steroids were not taken (2.2 ± 1.0), P < .01 for paired differences. The remarkable reductions in HDLC and increments in LDLC/HDLC on exogenous androgenic steroids were not related to changes in total body weight or Quetelet index. Widespread and habitual use of nonprescribed exogenous androgenic-anabolic steroids by body builders and weight lifters sharply and uniformly reduces their HDLC and elevates their LDLC, producing an atherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol profile, which is in marked contrast to the high HDLC and relatively low LDLC observed in the same men during training but not receiving anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Relaxation training for control of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy

ABSTRACT The study reports the use of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) in reducing nausea and vomiting and anxiety in a group of cancer patients. The patients were identified by their oncologists as experiencing refractory drug-induced nausea and vomiting in spite of the administration of antiemetic therapy. Baseline data was collected during one cycle of chemotherapy as the patients, by virtue of their history, served as their own controls. Data collection measured pre- and post-training physiological arousal and state-trait anxiety levels, food-fluid intake, degree and frequency of nausea and vomiting, and type and quantity of antiemetic therapy 48 hours following drug infusion; change in total body weight, and upper arm skin fold were measured throughout entire chemotherapy course. The results show that nine of the 12 patients showed some decrease in nausea and vomiting after PMR training. Caloric intake was greater 48 hours post-treatment in all patients. These data are suggestive that PMR may be an effective intervention for nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

Nutritional manipulations and tumor growth I. The effects of starvation

The effects of starvation on tumor and host growth were studied in growing male Fischer rats bearing methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. Tumor growth was evaluated by changes in weight, volume, and incorporation of tritiated methyl thymidine into tumor DNA, (dpm/µg DNA). Host growth was followed by changes in total body weight, carcass weight, and dpm/µg liver DNA. All periods of starvation (24 to96 hr) caused significant decreases in host body and carcass weight and dpm/µg liver DNA. Changes in tumor weight and tumor volume in fed and starved animals were equal. Tumor dpm/µg DNA in starved animals increased (P < 0.005) relative to fed controls at 48, 72, and 96 hr starvation intervals. Starvation allows continued tumor growth while host wasting occurs, and is accompanied by increased tumor dpm/µg DNA in this system.

The utilization of various biochemical entities in gonadally mature Balanus balanoides (L.) under starvaton and feeding in the absence of copulation

Copulation was prevented by isolation in Balanus balanoides (L.) and the changes in total body weight, carbohydrate, lipid, protein, RNA, and DNA followed when the animals were starved and fed; the results are compared with those on animals allowed to copulate with the consequent loss of semen and laying down of egg lamellae. General body tissues, semen, and ovaries are found not to be isolated compartments; on starvation both semen and ovary contribute to general metabolism, the former to a greater extent. Even when the isolated animals are fed there is still an almost complete resorption of semen, but the ovary is largely maintained. Possible control mechanisms are discussed.

EVALUATION OF CORN AND SORGHUM-SUDAN SILAGES ON THE BASIS OF DRY MATTER INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY AND MILK PRODUCTION

Sorghum-sudan (S-S) silage and corn silage were compared on the basis of dry matter intake and milk production when fed to lactating cows and on the basis of digestibility when fed to wether Iambs. Although dry matter percent was lower for the S-S silage, 21.5 vs. 27.4, average daily dry matter intake was nearly the same, 63.4 vs. 64.4 g/kg W0.75 when compared with corn silage. Average daily milk production and total body weight change were significantly less (P &lt; 0.05), 218.7 vs. 234.4 g/kg W0.75 and − 7.0 vs. + 10.7 kg, respectively, for cows fed S-S silage. Rumen fluid from cows fed corn silage contained a significantly lower molar percent acetic acid and higher butyric acid (P &lt; 0.01) than rumen fluid from cows fed S-S silage. Digestibility coefficients were greater (P &lt; 0.01) for corn silage dry matter, nitrogen-free extract, fiber and energy, but significantly less for protein (P &lt; 0.01) when compared with S-S silage. The high nitrogen content and protein digestibility suggest that sorghum-sudan hybrids may be usefully employed in ruminant rations, although they are low in digestible energy content when compared with corn.

Body Composition and Physical Fitness [and Comments and Reply

Body composition, changing characteristically not only according to age and sex but also according to the balance of energy input and output and functional state, has become one of the most interesting morphological features of human physique. Cross-sectional studies have revealed remarkable differences in the proportions of lean body mass and fat related to adaptation for intensive physical activity in both adults and children and also in the aged. These differences were significant even where body weight, absolute and relative, was the same. The dependence of the higher proportion of lean body mass to fat on the degree of physical activity has been further demonstrated by dynamic changes in these proportions during periods of changing intensity of physical activity, often even without marked changes in total body weight. Body composition is very closely related to various functional characteristics-functional aerobic capacity (measured as maximal oxygen consumption during graded work loads), metabolic cost of work, heart volume, creatinine excretion, oxygen consumption at rest, etc.-better functional fitness being connected with a higher proportion of lean body mass. All these relationships can also be demonstrated dynamically; i.e., with changing ratios of lean body mass to fat, these functional indicators change accordingly, especially in subjects in which the changes are highly noticeable (e.g., obese subjects after reduction in weight due to increased physical activity). The underlying mechanisms producing both increased proportion of lean body mass to fat and improved physical fitness have not yet been properly and systematically studied. From a metabolic point of view, it has been shown that marked changes in total body fat during periods of varying intensity of physical activity are connected with more profound changes in fat metabolism: adaptation for increased muscular work probably leads to an increased ability to mobilize fat metabolites (and to utilize them in greater proportion as a fuel for work) and increased lipolytic activity in various tissues (e.g., heart muscle), the contrary being the case with decreased physical activity. In this respect, and in its greater fitness, an organism adapted for greater physical activity resembles a younger one, a finding which is interesting also from the point of view of the so-called civilization diseases-obesity, cardiovascular diseases, etc.

THE USE OF SMALL SKIN SURFACE AREAS FOR WHOLE BODY SWEATING ASSESSMENT

It is possible to obtain a continuous record of the sweating rate of an active subject by monitoring changes in total body weight. However, elaborate equipment is required that is capable of accommodating the treadmill (or other exercising device) as well as the subject. The balance must be rugged enough to withstand the movements of the subject, yet sensitive enough to respond to small changes in weight. It would be a great convenience to be able, instead, to monitor small representative areas of the skin surface with confidence that they faithfully reflect whole body reactions.In this research, moisture loss from a representative area of the skin of the dorsum under a capsule covering 14 sq. cm was measured by an apparatus which automatically altered the flow of dry air to keep the humidity of the effluent constant. In four subjects exercising on a treadmill at 3.5 m.p.h. the correlation coefficient between the area under the curves so obtained and the total body weight loss was very high (more than 0.93), and there was also good correlation after sweating was partially suppressed by atropine. Short-period fluctuations were simultaneous and highly correlated between bilaterally symmetrical areas of skin. It is concluded that moisture loss from a single area of skin can be used to represent changes in the rate and pattern of sweating of the whole body.

HOMEOSTASIS OF THE NONFAT COMPONENTS OF MIGRATING BIRDS.

Obesity in migratory birds appears to differ from obesity in man in that gains and losses in body weight do not involve changes in the tissue structure of the body; fat is added to and used from preexisting tissue spaces without appreciable change in the water content or the nonfat dry weight of the body as a whole. Evidence is presented which supports the hypothesis that the nonfat body is essentially homeostatic during migration despite very large scale changes in total body weight.

Anatomic distribution of induced changes in blood volume, evaluated by regional weighing.

Anesthetized cats were supported on electronic scales placed under the head, thorax, abdomen and hindquarters, and the changes in the weights supported by these scales were recorded while blood was withdrawn and while blood and saline were infused. The recorded changes in weight indicated that the abdomen and the thorax both contributed significantly to the volume of withdrawn blood and that infused fluids were taken up by both regions. The blood volume of neither region was conserved at the expense of the other. The average weight change of the hindquarters was 5–10% of the over-all response, but in many cases the weight of the hindquarters was stable during an experiment. The average error in measurement of changes in total body weight was 6%. Interactions between the scales were evaluated by injecting mercury into pouches placed at specific anatomic locations. Interactions did occur, but were not so great as to invalidate the method. Submitted on September 16, 1960

Tissue weights of the rat. II. Changes following 700 r total body x-irradiation.

SummaryThe weight changes observed in 15 tissues at 9 different periods following total body irradiation with an LD50 dose (700 r) of x-ray have been described and statistically evaluated. The loss of muscle mass explains the major portion of the body weight loss which is seen in the rat during the first 4-6 days following irradiation. Though the percentage weight loss was greater in spleen, thymus and marrow, these tissues are too small to have an appreciable effect upon total body weight change.

THE EFFECTS OF HIGH FAT DIETS AND COLD ENVIRONMENT ON THE ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF THE BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE

At room temperature, the ascorbic acid content of the brown adipose tissue is doubled when rats are fed a high fat diet. It is nevertheless lower than in tissues studied by others under somewhat similar conditions. In cold adapted rats, the brown body is considerably hypertrophied and the ascorbic acid content is from four to eight times higher than at room temperature. Under our experimental conditions, rats exposed to cold doubled the weight of their perirenal fat with little or no change in total body weight. It is concluded that cold stimulates fat metabolism and that both ascorbic acid and the brown adipose tissue are involved in the process.

EFFECT OF PRESSOR AND OXYTOCIC FRACTIONS OF POSTERIOR PITUITARY EXTRACT ON THE LOSS OF WATER ADMINISTERED TO ALBINO RATS

DURING THE PAST TWENTY YEARS or so there has appeared variegated evidence which could be taken to suggest that in pharmacopoeial extracts of the posterior pituitary lobe there is present activity which is directed toward water balance in general rather than only toward the formation of urine. The evidence for a water-balance principle has been obtained most strikingly from experiments in frogs in which it is found that while posterior pituitary extract has a minor and fleeting effect upon urine formation, it influences total body water, as measured by changes in total body weight, to a pronounced degree. A reaction of this type in frogs is one which is referred to as the Brunn reaction and which consists of an uptake of water by frogs when injected with neurohypophyseal extract. Heller (1) has shown by assay that the proportion of what may be called the Brunn principle to the mammalian antidiuretic principle varies in extracts of the hypophysis obtained from different classes of the vertebrate subphylum.