Weight In Overweight Individuals Research Articles

Effects of probiotic and alpha-lipoic acid supplements, separately or in combination on the anthropometric indicators and maintenance of weight in overweight individuals.

Weight loss after proper diet is one of the main topics in nutrition. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of probiotic and alpha-Lipoic acid (ALA) supplements on the anthropometric indicators and maintenance of weight in overweight individuals. This study consisted of two phases of weight loss (8 weeks) and weight maintenance (16 weeks). Eighty-eight overweight participants were randomly divided into 4 groups in phase 1: isocaloric diet with probiotic (500mg), an isocaloric diet with ALA (600mg) and probiotic, an isocaloric diet with ALA and isocaloric diet with placebo. In phase 2, participants received a normal diet with the mentioned supplements. In the beginning, end of the phase 1, and at the end of phase 2, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body fat percentage, and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Also, 10cc blood samples were taken from subjects to measure C-reactive protein (CRP). Data was analyzed using SPSS software. At the end of the two phases, the differences of changes in the probiotic+ALA group was significant in weight, WC, and CRP factors when compared to the other groups (P<0.05). Also, at the end of the study, maintain a reduced weight was significantly higher in the probiotic+ALA group than in the other groups (P<0.05). According to findings, probiotics and ALA supplementation with normal diet help to maintain decreased weight after adhering to a weight loss diet. This may be due to the reduction of inflammation. (IRCT20141025019669N10).

The Clinical Testing of the Serious Game Digest-Inn: A Tool to Increase Diet Adherence in Overweight Individuals

Objective: Overweight and obesity are serious health issues often caused by a combination of high-energy consumption and limited physical activity. Diets that focus on limiting the energy intake are effective in the short term, but adherence to a diet is difficult and many individuals drop out prematurely. Materials and Methods: The serious game Digest-Inn is designed to increase diet adherence and to stimulate physical activity. The game was evaluated in three studies, assessing playability (in the general population; N = 76), usefulness (in dietetics practice; N = 7), and effectiveness (in reducing weight in overweight individuals; N = 47). Results: In the 3 studies, in total, 108 individuals played the game. The results show that the game supports dietetics practice and increases the effectiveness of the diet as prescribed by a dietitian. Overweight subjects showed an increased diet adherence (from 45% [in nonplayers] to 100% [in players]), increased weight loss (2.2 kg), and their physical activity was 3800 steps per day, during an average study period of 1 month. Conclusion: These results indicate that the game Digest-Inn is valued by dietitians to support the treatment of overweight clients. The game increases the adherence, and the game mechanics may also be of use for other conditions that suffer from low compliance and treatment adherence.

Obesity management: A multifaceted approach

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that has proven difficult to treat. In the United States, over 70% of Americans are considered overweight. Using a multifaceted psychosocial approach appears to have higher impact than traditional obesity management in combating obesity rates and decreasing dependence on medication for chronic morbidities due to obesity. OBJECTIVES: In this Prospective Observational Study we aimed to employ specific multifaceted approaches to decreasing weight in overweight individuals and follow their progress. METHODS: This was an observational case series study that is ongoing. Our primary endpoint was to employ different methods, including lifestyle questionnaire, body composition analysis, dietary journaling, nutritional consultation, physical therapy evaluation, blood specimen analysis and motivational coaching, by various professionals including physicians, nutritionists, physical trainers and therapists and life coaches. Our goal here was to see if using this multifaceted approach actually increased weight management compliance. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred patients were included. Average overweight in pounds was measured by our body. Body Composition machine, and was 35 pounds. Targeting the patients’ objective by trying to change lifestyle incrementally, using a nutritionist for consultation and interpreting lab results, and close follow-up resulted in an average weight loss of 30 pounds over a one-and-a-half year period. (on-going study). Every single patient lost some weight. One hundred patients stopped their hypertensive medications, and another forty stopped their high cholesterol medications. This was an unexpected finding of our study. Of those that lost weight, 90% have kept the weight off. We lost fifty-eight patients to follow up. 98% of patients reported feeling better and having more energy. 85% reported increase in life appreciation and enjoyment. CONCLUSION: Using different approaches within different disciplines and careful follow up appear to increase self-information awareness and better compliance which then leads to losing weight. It appears as well, that this approach, would improve health outcomes and prolong and encourage a more healthy lifestyle, as a number of our patients that were once hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic, no longer carried that diagnosis. Larger, comparative studies need to be performed before this multifaceted approach can be routinely and largely employed.

PROTOCOL: Effects of lifestyle modification interventions to prevent and manage child and adolescent obesity: a systematic review.

PROTOCOL: Effects of lifestyle modification interventions to prevent and manage child and adolescent obesity: a systematic review.

Antiadipogenic Effect of Green Coffee Bean Extract (LB368)

Obesity, the accumulation of excess fat or adipose resulting in increased health problems and decreased life span, is a serious problem worldwide. Prevention of adipogenesis is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity. Extracts of unroasted coffee beans or green coffee bean extract (GCBE) have recently been shown in small clinical trials to decrease weight in overweight individuals, however the mechanism of its effects are unclear. We evaluated the effect of GCBE on the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes by analyzing the stages of differentiation and lipid accumulation. In preliminary results, we have found that GCBE inhibits 3T3‐L1 preadipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation as measured by Oil Red O staining without cytotoxic effects using the Alamar Blue viability assay. Importantly, this inhibition by GCBE occurred when treatment was given on the first day of adipogenesis induction and was enough to slow the differentiation process, indicating that GCBE may exert its effect at the onset of the adipogenic program, which we plan to further investigate.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the Evelyn C.F. Ma Memorial Research Fund and The University of the Sciences Department of Biological Sciences.

Hydration and Health

Daily adequate water intake to maintain euhydration is arguably the most important nutrient requirement for humans. Within a margin of error, the body regulates the maintenance of body fluid balance and especially that of the plasma volume, through mechanisms that stimulate thirst and/or modify the rate of urine production. However, there are circumstances such as with excessive sweating during exercise in the heat, osmotic diarrhea, or excessive fluid consumption, or water intoxication where normal mechanisms of regulation may be inadequate to compensate for acute changes in hydration status and result in life threatening consequences. Health and onset of disease may be affected by the chronic hydration state of individual. The risks of colorectal cancer, nephrolithiasis in those with a history of kidney stones, and bladder cancer may be reduced by more frequent water consumption. Recent research suggests that appropriate timing of water intake around meal occasions may help reduce energy intake and contribute to maintenance of body weight in overweight individuals. Definitive benefits of hydration on cardiovascular and oral health and general immune system function remain to be determined. It is also unclear whether the health benefits of water and fluid ingestion are a function of the process of frequent fluid intake or the maintenance of a potentially expanded state of hydration.

Natural Honey and Cardiovascular Risk Factors; Effects on Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, Triacylglycerole, CRP, and Body Weight Compared with Sucrose

It has been found that honey ameliorates cardiovascular risk factors in healthy individuals and in patients with elevated risk factors. The present study investigated the effect of natural honey on total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triacylglycerole, C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and body weight in overweight individuals. There were 55 patients, overweight or obese, who were randomly recruited into the study and assigned into two groups: control group (17 subjects) and experimental group (38 subjects). Patients in the control group received 70 g of sucrose daily for a maximum of 30 days and patients in the experimental group received 70 g of natural honey for the same period. In the control and experimental groups, body weight, body mass index, body fat weight, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triacylglycerole, FBG, and CRP were measured before treatment and at day 31 after the commencement of treatment. Results showed that honey caused a mild reduction in body weight (1.3%) and body fat (1.1%). Honey reduced total cholesterol (3%), LDL-C (5.8), triacylglycerole (11%), FBG (4.2%), and CRP (3.2%), and increased HDL-C (3.3%) in subjects with normal values, while in patients with elevated variables, honey caused reduction in total cholesterol by 3.3%, LDL-C by 4.3%, triacylglycerole by 19%, and CRP by 3.3% (p < 0.05). It is our conclusion that consumption of natural honey reduces cardiovascular risk factors, particularly in subjects with elevated risk factors, and it does not increase body weight in overweight or obese subjects.