Weight Outcomes Research Articles

Preoperative medically supervised weight loss programs and weight loss outcomes following bariatric surgery – a prospective analysis

BackgroundPrior to undergoing bariatric surgery, many insurance companies require patients to attend medically supervised weight management visits for 3–6 months to be eligible for surgery. There have been few studies that have looked specifically at the relationship between medically supervised weight management visit attendance and postoperative outcomes, and the current literature reports discrepant findings. ObjectivesThis project aimed to better characterize the relationship between preoperative medically supervised weight management visit attendance and postoperative weight loss outcomes by examining weight loss up to 5 years postbariatric surgery, and by stratifying findings according to the type of surgery undergone. SettingUniversity Hospital. MethodsParticipants were recruited during presurgical bariatric surgery clinic visits at a bariatric and metabolic weight loss center. As part of standard of care all participants were required to participate in monthly medically supervised weight management visits before surgery. Participants who completed bariatric surgical procedures participated in postsurgical follow-up at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and then annually for 5 years. Weight outcomes measured were percentage of total weight lost. ResultsThe results do not indicate a significant association between number of group visits attended and percent total weight loss at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, or 5 years postbariatric surgery. ConclusionsThese data do not suggest a relationship between engagement in a medically supervised weight loss program prior to bariatric surgery and weight loss after surgery in either the short- or the long-term.

Antipsychotic effects on anthropometric outcomes in anorexia nervosa: a retrospective chart review of hospitalized children and adolescents

BackgroundOff-label antipsychotic use is not uncommon in youth with anorexia nervosa (AN), aiming to enhance suboptimal weight restoration, yet its efficacy remains debated, especially in youth.MethodsRetrospective chart review of consecutively admitted inpatients (ages 8–18 years) with restricting/binge-purge AN, comparing youth with versus without antipsychotic treatment regarding baseline factors, treatment, and anthropometric outcome characteristics including all patients and matched subgroups. Matched subsamples were also compared regarding faster versus slower weight change (median split). Furthermore, within-subject analyses compared weight gain trajectories before versus after antipsychotic use in antipsychotic-treated youth. These results were then compared in a pre-/post design with the matched control group without antipsychotic treatment, using the mean duration until antipsychotic use in the antipsychotic-treated group as the dividing timeline, controlling for a potential order effect, in that later rather than earlier antipsychotic treatment for AN may be more successful.ResultsOf 294 youth with AN (median age = 15.2 (interquartile range = 14.0, 16.6) years, females = 96.6%, restricting subtype = 81.0%, hospitalization duration = 98.2 ± 43.2 days), 44 (15.0%) underwent 52 antipsychotic trials (olanzapine = 63.5%). In multivariable analyses, antipsychotic use was independently associated with younger age, childhood physical abuse history, comorbid borderline personality traits, and lower pre-antipsychotic weight gain (p < 0.0001). In unmatched groups, antipsychotic-treated versus non-treated youth had significantly lower discharge anthropometric parameters, longer inpatient treatment, and lower weight change/week (p < 0.001–p = 0.005), without significant differences between olanzapine and non-olanzapine antipsychotics (p = 0.27–0.44). Non-significant antipsychotic effects on weight outcomes were confirmed in (1) matched subgroups of antipsychotic-treated versus non-treated youth (n = 43 each), (2) youth with faster versus slower weight gain (n = 21 vs. n = 22), and (3) antipsychotic-treated youth when comparing weight change before versus after antipsychotic use (n = 31). Moreover, in antipsychotic-treated youth, weight change/week remained significantly lower versus matched non-antipsychotic-treated youth (n = 31) both before (p = 0.053) and after (p = 0.006) the median time (5 weeks) until antipsychotic use.ConclusionsIn this naturalistic study, clinician's antipsychotic choice, given to a more severely ill subgroup of adolescents with AN, did not significantly improve overall worse weight change trajectories during inpatient treatment, even in matched subgroups. Randomized trials in individuals reflecting real-world samples are needed to evaluate the utility of antipsychotic treatment in youth with AN.

Giving weight to incretin-based pharmacotherapy for obesity-related sleep apnea: a revolution or a pipe dream?

Obesity is a chronic disease affecting over 670 million adults globally, with multiple complications including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Substantial weight loss in patients with obesity-related OSA can reduce or even eliminate OSA as well as reduce sleepiness and improve cardio-metabolic health. Evidence suggests that these improvements exceed those that occur with device-based OSA therapies like continuous positive airway pressure which continue to be the first-line of therapy. Resistance to weight management as a first-line strategy to combat OSA could arise from the complexities in delivering and maintaining adequate weight management, particularly in sleep clinic settings. Recently, incretin-based pharmacotherapies including glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists alone or combined with glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists have been developed to target glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. These medications also slow gastric emptying and reduce energy intake. In randomized, placebo-controlled trials of these medications in diabetic and non-diabetic populations with obesity, participants on active medication lost up to 20% of their body weight, with corresponding improvements in blood pressure, lipid levels, physical functioning, and fat mass loss. Their adverse effects are predominantly gastrointestinal-related, mild, and transient. There are trials currently underway within individuals with obesity-related OSA, with a focus on reduction in weight, OSA severity, and cardio-metabolic outcomes. These medications have the potential to substantially disrupt the management of OSA. Pending coming data, we will need to consider pharmacological weight loss as a first-line therapy and how that influences training and management guidelines.

Experiencing food insecurity in childhood: influences on eating habits and body weight in young adulthood.

To examine how food insecurity in childhood up to adolescence relates to eating habits and weight status in young adulthood. A longitudinal study design was used to derive trajectories of household food insecurity from age 4.5 to 13 years. Multivariable linear and logistical regression analyses were performed to model associations between being at high risk of food insecurity from age 4.5 to 13 years and both dietary and weight outcomes at age 22 years. A birth cohort study conducted in the Province of Quebec, Canada. 698 young adults participating in the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. After adjusting for sex, maternal education and immigrant status, household income and type of family, being at high risk (compared to low risk) of food insecurity in childhood up to adolescence was associated with consuming higher quantities of sugar-sweetened beverages (ßadj: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.27-1.00), non-whole-grain cereal products (ßadj: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.07-0.56), and processed meat (ßadj: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02-0.25), with skipping breakfast (ORadj: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.08-3.53), with eating meals prepared out of home (ORadj: 3.38; 95% CI: 1.52-9.02), with experiencing food insecurity (ORadj: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.91-4.76), and with being obese (ORadj: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.12-3.64), once reaching young adulthood. Growing up in families experiencing food insecurity may negatively influence eating habits and weight status later in life. Our findings reinforce the importance of public-health policies and programs tackling poverty and food insecurity, particularly for families with young children.

Alcohol blunts pregnancy-mediated insulin resistance and reduces fetal brain glucose despite elevated fetal gluconeogenesis, and these changes associate with fetal weight outcomes.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) impairs fetal growth and neurodevelopment. Although alcohol is well known to alter metabolism, its impact on these processes during pregnancy is largely unexplored. Here, we investigate how alcohol affects maternal-fetal glucose metabolism using our established mouse binge model of PAE. In the dam, alcohol reduces the hepatic abundance of glucose and glycolytic intermediates, and the gluconeogenic enzymes glucose-6-phosphtase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Fasting blood glucose is also reduced. In a healthy pregnancy, elevated maternal gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance ensures glucose availability for the fetus. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests reveal that alcohol impairs the dam's ability to acquire insulin resistance. Alcohol-exposed dams have enhanced glucose clearance (p < .05) in early gestation, after just two days of alcohol, and this persists through late term when fetal glucose needs are maximal. However, maternal plasma insulin levels, hepatic insulin signaling, and the abundance of glucose transporter proteins remain unchanged. In the PAE fetus, the expression of hepatic gluconeogenic genes is elevated, and there is a trend for elevated blood and liver glucose levels. In contrast, fetal brain and placental glucose levels remain low. This reduced maternal fasting glucose, reduced hepatic glucose, and elevated glucose clearance inversely correlated with fetal body and brain weight. Taken together, these data suggest that alcohol blunts the adaptive changes in maternal glucose metabolism that otherwise enhance fetal glucose availability. Compensatory attempts by the fetus to increase glucose pools via gluconeogenesis do not normalize brain glucose. These metabolic changes may contribute to the impaired fetal growth and brain development that typifies PAE.

Changes to Blood-Sampling Protocol to Reduce the Sampling Amount in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Quality Improvement Project.

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate whether the implementation of a modified blood-sampling protocol, which focused on need-based laboratory testing and minimized venous sampling by replacing it with point-of-care testing (POCT) via capillary puncture, successfully reduced iatrogenic blood loss, incidence of anemia, and the frequency of blood transfusion among extremely low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs) without negatively affecting neonatal outcomes. (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 313 ELBWIs with a gestational age (GA) of between 23 and 28 weeks and born between 2013 and 2019. The infants were divided into two groups corresponding to the periods before (period I) and after (period II) the implementation of the modified blood-sampling protocol in January 2016. Propensity score matching was conducted to minimize selection bias. Clinical data, including the frequency and amount of blood sampling, the frequency and volume of blood transfusion, and clinical characteristics, such as gestational age, birth weight, and neonatal outcome data, were collected and compared between the two groups. (3) Results: No significant differences in GA or birth weight between the two periods were observed. The total sampling volume a month after birth (16.7 ± 4.1 mL vs. 15.6 ± 4.4 mL, p = 0.03) and the total sampling volume during hospitalization days (51.4 ± 29.7 mL vs. 44.3 ± 27.5 mL, p = 0.04) in period II were significantly lower than those in period I. There were no differences in terms of anemia (hemoglobin 10.8 ± 2.2 vs. 11.0 ± 1.9, p = 0.43) and mortality or morbidity, such as intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis, between the two periods. Although the transfusion frequency and amount did not present significant differences between the periods, we observed a positive correlation between the transfusion frequency and sampling volume (coefficient: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.08-0.11). (4) Conclusions: The modified blood-sampling protocol effectively reduced the level of iatrogenic blood loss without negatively affecting the neonatal outcomes.

Associations of postprandial ghrelin, liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 and leptin levels with body composition, disease progression and survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Loss of appetite contributes to weight loss and faster disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Impairment of appetite control in ALS may include altered production or action of orexigenic (i.e., ghrelin) and anorexigenic (i.e., liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 [LEAP2] and leptin) hormones. We aimed to determine if postprandial circulating ghrelin levels, LEAP2 levels, LEAP2:ghrelin molar ratio and leptin levels differ in ALS patients compared to non-neurodegenerative disease controls, and whether they are associated with disease progression and body composition. In this prospective natural history study, we assessed postprandial plasma levels of ghrelin, LEAP2 and leptin in patients with ALS (cases; n = 46) and controls (controls; n = 43). For cases, measures were compared to changes in body weight, body composition and clinical outcomes. Postprandial ghrelin level was decreased by 52% in cases compared to controls (p = 0.013). LEAP2:ghrelin molar ratio was increased by 249% (p = 0.009), suggesting greater ghrelin resistance. Patients with lower LEAP2:ghrelin tended to have better functional capacity at assessment, as inferred by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (τ = -0.179, p = 0.086). Furthermore, ghrelin and LEAP2:ghrelin molar ratio correlated with diagnostic delay (ghrelin, τ = 0.223, p = 0.029; LEAP2:ghrelin, τ = -0.213, p = 0.037). Baseline ghrelin level, LEAP2 level, LEAP2:ghrelin ratio and leptin level were, however, not predictive of change in functional capacity during follow-up. Also, patients with higher postprandial ghrelin levels (hazard ratio [HR] 1.375, p = 0.048), and lower LEAP2:ghelin ratios (HR 0.828, p = 0.051) had an increased risk of earlier death. Reduced postprandial ghrelin levels, coupled with increased LEAP2:ghrelin molar ratios, suggests a loss of ghrelin action in patients with ALS. Given ghrelin's actions on appetite, metabolism and neuroprotection, reduced ghrelin and greater ghrelin resistance could contribute to impaired capacity to tolerate the physiological impact of disease. Comprehensive studies are needed to explain how ghrelin and LEAP2 contribute to body weight regulation and disease progression in ALS.

Complementary Feeding and Child Appetitive Traits in a Sample of Hispanic Mother-Child Dyads.

Complementary feeding practices may contribute to toddler eating practices that affect weight outcomes. Studies are needed to understand the relationship between complementary feeding practices and toddler dietary self-regulation. This study tests the hypothesis that earlier complementary food introduction predicts toddler food responsiveness and emotional overeating (ie, tendency to overeat in response to food cues and emotions, respectively), and considers whether introduction of certain foods better predict toddler dietary self-regulation. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a parent longitudinal birth cohort study on early growth/development among Hispanic mother-infant dyads. The analytic sample included 174 mother-child dyads recruited from maternity clinics affiliated with the University of Southern California in Los Angeles County. Recruitment and data collection were ongoing from July 2016 to April 2020. At 1-, 6-, 12-, and 24-months postpartum, mothers reported exclusive breastfeeding duration and age of complementary food introduction via questionnaire. Child food responsiveness and emotional overeating scores calculated from the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at 12 and 24 months of age. Separate linear mixed models with repeated measures were used to examine associations between age of complementary food introduction as a predictor of child food responsiveness or emotional overeating, controlling for infant sex, birth body mass index z score, duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and mother's body mass index. In separate models, delaying complementary food introduction by 1 month was associated with a 6% reduction in food responsiveness (P= 0.007) and a 5% reduction in emotional overeating scores (P= 0.013). Fifty-eight unique combinations of complementary foods introduced first were found, precluding analyses to examine whether specific combinations were related to eating behavior outcomes due to sample size limitations. Earlier complementary feeding was associated with higher food responsiveness and emotional overeating scores among Hispanic children. Future studies in larger samples are needed to characterize patterns of complementary food introduction and their influence on child self-regulation.

Ethnic differences in eating patterns and their associations with obesity among adults in West China.

Despite observed ethnic differences in eating patterns and obesity, evidence in China is limited. This study examined ethnic differences in eating patterns and their associations with weight outcomes among multi-ethnic adults in West China. A cross-sectional survey collected self-reported data on demographics, eating behaviours, weight and height in 2021. Principal component analysis and multivariate regression were conducted to identify eating patterns and examine their associations with weight outcomes. In total, 4407 subjects aged ≥ 18 years were recruited across seven provinces in West China. Four eating patterns were identified: 'meat-lover' - characterised by frequent consumption of meat and dairy products, 'indulgent' - by frequent intakes of added salt, sugar, alcohol and pickled food, 'diversified-eating' - by frequently consuming food with diversified cooking methods and eating out and 'nutri-health-concerned' - by good food hygiene behaviours and reading food labels. Ethnic differences in eating patterns were observed. Compared with Han, Hui were less likely to exhibit meat-lover or diversified-eating patterns; Tibetans were less likely to have meat-lover or nutri-health-concerned patterns; Mongolians were more likely to have indulgent pattern. BMI was positively associated with meat-lover pattern in both genders (exp(β): 1·029; 95 % CI: 1·001, 1·058 for men; 1·018; 1·000, 1·036 for women) and negatively associated with nutri-health-concerned pattern in women (0·983; 0·966, 1·000). Mongolians were two times more likely to be overweight/obese than Han (OR: 3·126; 1·688, 5·790). Considerable ethnic differences existed in eating patterns in West China. Mongolians were more likely to be overweight/obese, which was associated with their indulgent eating patterns. Ethnic-specific healthy eating intervention programs are needed.

Impact Evaluation of the Get Healthy in Pregnancy Program: Evidence of Effectiveness.

The efficacy of lifestyle interventions for reduced gestational weight gain (GWG) is established, but evidence of their effectiveness is limited. The Get Healthy in Pregnancy (GHiP) program is a telephone health coaching program supporting healthy GWG delivered state-wide in New South Wales, Australia. This evaluation explores the impact of GHiP on behavioural outcomes and GWG, analysing GHiP participant data (n = 3702 for 2018-2019). We conducted McNamar's tests to explore within-individual change for behavioural outcomes and logistic regression to assess associations between demographic characteristics, participant engagement and behavioural and weight outcomes for women who completed the program. Participants who completed ten coaching calls made significant improvements (all p < 0.001) in more health-related behaviours (walking, vigorous physical activity, vegetable consumption, takeaway meals and sweetened drink consumption) than those who completed fewer calls. Among women with valid weight change data (n = 245), 31% gained weight below, 33% gained weight within, and 36% gained weight above GWG guidelines. Pre-pregnancy BMI was the only factor significantly associated with meeting GWG guidelines. Women with pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity had lower odds than those with a healthy weight of having GWG within the guidelines. The majority of these women did not gain weight above the guidelines. A higher proportion of women with pre-pregnancy obesity gained weight below the guidelines (33.8%) than above the guidelines (28.5%). GHiP has the potential to support all pregnant women, including those with pre-pregnancy obesity, to achieve a healthier pregnancy.

Workplace health promotion programs among health workers: a systematic literature review

Objective: To identify the effect of workplace health promotion activities (WHPA) on the health status of health personnel. Methodology: A systematic literature review was performed. Six computerized databases were used to search for studies on the effect of at least one health promotion activity on the health status of health personnel. Studies were included if they were published in peer-reviewed and indexed journals and were written either in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Information such as study population, sample size, type of study, outcome, and health promotion activities performed were extracted from each publication. All the included articles were measured in terms of their methodological quality, including the risk of bias. Results: Lower scores on perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and mood symptoms were reported. An improvement in sleep hours and quality and a reduction in dietary sodium intake were informed. Improvements in participants’ dietary habits, weight loss, and body fat percentage, along with increased physical activity and a reduction in pain levels were reported. A reduction in the prevalence of cigarette smoking was found. Conclusions: WHPAs can enhance physical and mental health, and overall well-being, and encouraging healthier behaviors among health personnel. Most of the studies targeting mental health focused their efforts primarily on reducing healthcare workers’ perceived stress. WHPAs that addressed both diet and physical activity behaviors were more effective at improving weight outcomes than those that used only one approximation. Overall, this study offers valuable information on the impact of worksite-based health promotion interventions, including the effect of different strategies applied

Baseline Psychosocial, Environmental, Health, and Behavioral Correlates of 1- and 3-Year Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery.

Weight loss surgery is an effective, long-term treatment for severe obesity but individual response to surgery varies widely. The purpose of this study was to test a comprehensive theoretical model of factors that may be correlated with the greatest surgical weight loss at 1-3years following surgery. Such a model would help determine what predictive factors to measure when patients are preparing for surgery that may ensure the best weight outcomes. The Bariatric Experience Long Term (BELONG) study collected self-reported and medical record-based baseline information as correlates of 1- and 3-year % total weight loss (TWL) in n = 1341 patients. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the associations between 120 baseline variables and %TWL. Participants were 43.4 ± 11.3years old, Hispanic or Black (52%; n = 699), women (86%; n = 1149), and partnered (72%; n = 965) and had annual incomes of ≥ $51,000 (60%; n = 803). A total of 1006 (75%) had 3-year follow-up weight. Regression models accounted for 10.1% of the variance in %TWL at 1-year and 13.6% at 3years. Only bariatric operation accounted for a clinically meaningful difference (~ 5%) in %TWL at 1-year. At 3years after surgery, only bariatric operation, Black race, and BMI ≥ 50kg/m2 were associated with clinically meaningful differences in %TWL. Our findings combined with many others support a move away from extensive screening and selection of patients at the time of surgery to a focus on improving access to this treatment.

Does Medically Supervised Weight Loss Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty Improve Patient-Reported Pain and Physical Function?

BackgroundWeight loss is commonly recommended before total knee arthroplasty (TKA) despite inconsistent evidence for better outcomes. This study sought to examine the impacts of preoperative weight loss on patient-reported and adverse outcomes among TKA patients supervised by a medical weight management clinic. MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent medical weight management supervision within 18 months before TKA comparing patients who did and did not have clinically relevant weight loss. Preoperative body mass indices, demographics, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function and pain interference scores, pain intensity scores, and adverse outcomes were extracted. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to determine if preoperative weight loss correlated with patient-reported outcomes after controlling for confounders. ResultsThere were 90 patients, 75.6% women, who had a mean age of 65 years (range, 42-82) and were analyzed. There were 51 (56.7%) patients who underwent clinically relevant weight loss with a mean weight loss of 10.4% and experienced no difference in adverse outcomes. Preoperative weight loss predicted significantly improved 3-month postoperative physical function (β = 15.2 [13.0-17.3], P < .001), but not pain interference (β = −18.9 [-57.1-19.4], P = .215) or pain intensity (β = −1.8 [-4.9-1.2], P = .222) scores. ConclusionWe found that medically supervised preoperative weight loss predicted improvement in physical function 3 months after TKA. This weight loss caused no major adverse effects. Further research is needed to understand the causal relationships between preoperative weight loss, medical supervision, and outcome after TKA and to elucidate potential longer-term benefits in a larger sample.

Occupational Health Applied Infodemiological Studies of Nutritional Diseases and Disorders: Scoping Review with Meta-Analysis.

(1) Objective: to identify and review existing infodemiological studies on nutritional disorders applied to occupational health and to analyse the effect of the intervention on body mass index (BMI) or alternatively body weight (BW); (2) Methods: This study involved a critical analysis of articles retrieved from MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American, and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and Medicina en Español (MEDES) using the descriptors "Nutrition Disorders, "Occupational Health" and "Infodemiology", applying the filters "Humans" and "Adult: 19+ years". The search was conducted on 29 May 2021; (3) Results: a total of 357 references were identified from the bibliographic database searches; after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 11 valid studies were obtained for the review. Interventions could be categorised into (1) interventions related to lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary changes through education programmes, (2) interventions associated with lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary changes through the use of telemonitoring systems or self-help applications, (3) interventions tied to lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary changes through control and/or social network support groups, and (4) interventions linked to changes in the work environment, including behavioural change training and work environment training tasks. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the heterogeneity present when analysing the results for BMI was 72% (p < 0.01), which decreased to 0% (p = 0.57) when analysing the outcomes for weight, in which case the null hypothesis of homogeneity could be accepted. In all instances, the final summary of the effect was on the decreasing side for both BMI and BW; (4) Conclusions: Despite the high heterogeneity of the results reported, the trend shown in all cases indicates that the intervention methodologies implemented by empowering individuals through Web 2.0 technologies are positive in terms of the problem of overweight. Further implementation of novel strategies to support individuals is needed to overcome obesity, and, at least in the early studies, these strategies seem to be making the necessary change.

The effects of exercise training on insulin resistance in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of present meta-analysis was to determine the effects of exercise training (Exe) on insulin resistance (IR) and body weight in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for original articles, published through October 2022 that included exercise versus control interventions on fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and body weight outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. Standardized mean differences (SMD) for fasting insulin, and weighted mean differences (WMD) for fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, body weight (BW), and 95% confidence intervals were determined using random effects models. Thirty-five studies comprising 1,550 children and adolescents with overweight and obesity were included in the present meta-analysis. Exercise training reduced fasting glucose (WMD=-2.52 mg/dL, p=0.001), fasting insulin (SMD=-0.77, p=0.001), HOMA-IR (WMD=-0.82, p=0.001), and BW (WMD=-1.51 kg, p=0.001), as compared to a control. Subgroup analyses showed that biological sex, intervention duration, type of exercise training, BMI percentile, and health status (with or without diagnosed condition), were sources of heterogeneity. Exercise training is effective for lowering fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and BW in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity and could provide an important strategy for controlling IR and related factors. With clear evidence for the effectiveness of exercise interventions in this vulnerable population, it is important to determine effective approaches for increasing exercise training in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

Predictors of Responsiveness to GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Insulin-Treated Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are potent antihyperglycemic agents with beneficial effects on weight, cardiovascular, and renal outcomes. Physicians lack guidance as to which patients with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes will respond best to GLP-1 RAs with respect to glycemic control, insulin dose reduction, and weight loss. This study evaluated the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs in patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin and patient factors that may predict a beneficial clinical response. Adults with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin who had a GLP-1 RA added to their regimen were evaluated retrospectively. Baseline parameters and outcomes at 3, 6, and 12 months were collected. Among the 81 patients included, there was a mean reduction in hemoglobin A1C of 0.94% (SD, 0.26; p = 0.0007), 0.40% (SD, 0.21; p = 0.0636), and 0.58% (SD, 0.23, p = 0.0154) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, following the addition of a GLP-1 RA. There was also a reduction in body weight noted at each time point. Baseline characteristics including BMI, duration of diabetes, and insulin requirement did not significantly affect A1C reduction when GLP-1 RA was added. At 3 months, patients with a random C-peptide that was normal (≥0.8 ng/ml) were significantly more likely to have discontinued insulin than those with random C-peptide that was low (<0.8 ng/ml) (11 of 23 vs. 0 of 7 patients, p = 0.029). The addition of a GLP-1 RA reduced HbA1C, weight, and insulin requirements in this cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin. BMI, baseline insulin dose, and diabetes duration did not predict response. A C-peptide level ≥ 0.8 ng/ml predicted a beneficial response after 3 months of therapy.

Efficacy of Telephone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Weight Loss, Disordered Eating, and Psychological Distress After Bariatric Surgery

Weight regain after bariatric surgery is associated with recurrence of obesity-related medical comorbidities and deterioration in quality of life. Developing efficacious psychosocial interventions that target risk factors, prevent weight regain, and improve mental health is imperative. To determine the efficacy of a telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy (tele-CBT) intervention at 1 year after bariatric surgery in improving weight loss, disordered eating, and psychological distress. This multisite randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 hospital-based bariatric surgery programs, with recruitment between February 2018 and December 2021. Eligibility for participation was assessed among 314 adults at 1 year after bariatric surgery who were fluent in English and had access to a telephone and the internet. Patients with active suicidal ideation or poorly controlled severe psychiatric illness were excluded. Primary and secondary outcome measures were assessed at baseline (1 year after surgery), after the intervention (approximately 15 months after surgery), and at 3-month follow-up (approximately 18 months after surgery). Data were analyzed from January to February 2023. The tele-CBT intervention consisted of 6 weekly 1-hour sessions and a seventh booster session 1 month later. The control group received standard postoperative bariatric care. The primary outcome was postoperative percentage total weight loss. Secondary outcomes were disordered eating (Binge Eating Scale [BES] and Emotional Eating Scale [EES]) and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item scale [PHQ-9] and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item scale [GAD-7]). The hypotheses and data-analytic plan were developed prior to data collection. Among 306 patients 1 year after bariatric surgery (255 females [83.3%]; mean [SD] age, 47.55 [9.98] years), there were 152 patients in the tele-CBT group and 154 patients in the control group. The group by time interaction for percentage total weight loss was not significant (F1,160.61 = 2.09; P = .15). However, there were significant interactions for mean BES (F2,527.32 = 18.73; P < .001), EES total (F2,530.67 = 10.83; P < .001), PHQ-9 (F2,529.93 = 17.74; P < .001), and GAD-7 (F2,535.16 = 15.29; P < .001) scores between the tele-CBT group and control group across all times. This study found that tele-CBT delivered at 1 year after surgery resulted in no change in short-term weight outcomes but improved disordered eating and psychological distress. The impact of these psychosocial improvements on longer-term weight outcomes is currently being examined as part of this longitudinal multisite randomized clinical trial. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03315247.

Growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm and low birth weight infants in rural Kenya: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveData on long-term outcomes of preterm (PT) and low birth weight (LBW) infants in countries with high rates of neonatal mortality and childhood stunting are limited, especially from community settings....

Active video games and weight management in overweight children and adolescents-systematic review and meta-analysis.

The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing for several decades. Active video games (AVG) may be an effective intervention to help manage this rising health crisis. The aim of this review is to evaluate whether AVG are effective at reducing weight or improving body composition in overweight youths. Medline, Embase, SportDiscus, ASSIA, CINAHL Plus, CENTRAL, CDSR and PsychINFO databases were searched for studies assessing quantitative or qualitative impact of AVG in overweight adolescents published in English. Three authors screened the results using inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria; 11 reported a significant decrease in at least one weight outcome. Results from seven randomized controlled trials were pooled by meta-analysis, which compared with controls subjects in AVG groups demonstrated greater body mass index (BMI) Z-score reduction (mean difference: -0.09 (-0.12, -0.05) I2=34%, P<0.0001). The mean weight reduction (-2.66 Kg (-5.67, +0.35) I2=0%, P=0.08) and BMI (-2.29 (-4.81, +0.22) I2=49%, P=0.07) were greater in AVG groups but results did not reach statistical significance. BMI Z-score was significantly reduced in the AVG group and the majority of included studies reported significant results in at least one weight outcome, suggesting AVG can be used to reduce weight or improve body composition in overweight youths. Further studies investigating the long-term sustainability of this change in body composition are needed.

Neural Response to Expecting a Caloric Sweet Taste Stimulus Predicts Body Mass Index Longitudinally Among Young Adult Women With Anorexia Nervosa

BackgroundAnorexia nervosa (AN) is an often-chronic illness, and we lack biomarkers to predict long-term outcome. Recent neuroimaging studies using caloric taste stimuli suggest that paradigms that have tested conditioned neural responses to expectation or salient stimulus receipt may underpin behaviors. However, whether activation of those neural circuits can predict long-term outcome has not been studied. MethodsWe followed women treated for AN (n = 35, mean age [SD] = 23 [7] years) and tested whether functional imaging brain response during a taste conditioning paradigm could predict posttreatment body mass index (BMI). We anticipated greater neural activity relative to caloric stimulus expectation and that dopamine-related receipt conditions would predict lower posttreatment BMI, indicating fear-associated arousal. ResultsFollow-up occurred at mean (SD) = 1648 (1216) days after imaging. Stimulus expectation in orbitofrontal and striatal regions and BMI and BMI change at follow-up were negatively correlated, and these correlations remained significant for the right superior orbitofrontal cortex and BMI change after multiple comparison correction (r = −0.484, p = .003). This relationship remained significant after including time between brain scanning and follow-up in the model. Reward prediction error response did not predict long-term BMI. ConclusionsThe orbitofrontal cortex is involved in learning and conditioning, and these data implicate this region in learned caloric stimulus expectation and long-term prediction of weight outcomes in AN. Thus, conditioned elevated brain response to the anticipation of receiving a caloric stimulus may drive food avoidance, suggesting that breaking such associations is central for long-term recovery from AN.