Obesity

Socioeconomic Position, Rural Residence, and Marginality Influences on Obesity Status in the Adult Mexican Population

by Corey Sparks

This paper assesses individual and social environment determinants of obesity in the adult Mexican population based on... more This paper assesses individual and social environment determinants of obesity in the adult Mexican population based on socioeconomic position, rural residence, and areal deprivation. Using a nationally representative health and nutrition survey, this analysis considers individual and structural determinants of obesity from a socioeconomic position and health disparities conceptual framework using multilevel logistic regression models. We find that more than thirty percent of Mexican adults were obese in 2006 and that the odds of being obese were strongly associated with an individual's socioeconomic position, gender, place of residence, and the level of marginalization (areal deprivation) in the place of residence. Surprisingly, areas of the country where areal deprivation was highest had lower risks of individual obesity outcomes. We suggest that programs oriented towards addressing the health benefits of traditional food systems over high-energy dense refined foods and sugary beverages be promoted as part of a public health program aimed at curbing the rising obesity prevalence in Mexico.

The Image in the Mirror and the Number on the Scale: Weight, Weight Perceptions, and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms

by Jason Houle

The first two authors (Michelle Frisco and Jason Houle) were equal contributors to this manuscript.

Double jeopardy and health congruency theories suggest that adolescents’ joint experience of their weight and weight... more Double jeopardy and health congruency theories suggest that adolescents’ joint experience of their weight and weight perceptions are associated with depressive symptoms, but each theory offers a different prediction about which adolescents are at greatest risk. This study investigates the proposed associations and the applicability of both theoretical perspectives using data from 6,557 male and 6,126 female National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) Wave II participants. Empirically, results indicate that focusing on the intersection of weight and weight perceptions better shows which adolescents are at risk of depressive symptoms than an approach that treats both predictors as independent, unrelated constructs. Weight pessimists are at greatest risk of depressive symptoms. Thus, results support the health congruency framework, its extension to subpopulations outside of older adults, and its extension to optimism and pessimism about specific health conditions.

Adolescent Weight and Depressive Symptoms: For Whom is Weight a Burden?

by Jason Houle

Co-authored with Michelle Frisco and Molly Martin

Objective. Adolescent weight and depressive symptoms are serious population health concerns in their own right and as... more Objective. Adolescent weight and depressive symptoms are serious population health concerns in their own right and as they relate to each other. This study asks whether relationships between weight and depressive symptoms vary by sex and race/ethnicity because both shape experiences of weight and psychological distress.

Methods. Results are based on multivariate analyses of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data.

Results. There are no associations between adolescent girls' weight and depressive symptoms, but these associations vary considerably among boys. Underweight is associated with depressive symptoms among all boys and subpopulations of white and Hispanic boys. Among Hispanic boys, those who are overweight (vs. normal weight) have a lower probability of reporting depressive symptoms. Finally, among normal weight boys, Hispanics and blacks are more likely to report depressive symptoms than whites.

Conclusions. Findings are a reminder that understanding population health issues sometimes requires a focus on subpopulations, not simply the population as a whole.

Explaining the role of binge eating behaviour in weight loss post bariatric surgery

by Jane Ogden

"Suburbia as Culture: Exploring the U.S. Built Environment Through Art and Identity,” review of Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes, ed. by Andrew Blauvelt

by Matthew Lasner

caa.reviews: May 18, 2012

Obesity and sexually selected anorexia nervosa

by George A. Lozano

Lozano, G. A. 2008. Obesity and sexually selected anorexia nervosa. Medical Hypotheses 71: 933-940.

Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed by drastic weight loss, a fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and, in women,... more Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed by drastic weight loss, a fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and, in women, three consecutive episodes of amenorrhea. It is often associated with a compulsive need for exercise, a bright outlook on life, and a high level of competitiveness. It afflicts primarily young women in higher socioeconomic strata who are highly competitive and otherwise overachievers. There are three adaptive explanations for anorexia nervosa: the reproductive suppression, the fleeing famine and the pseudo-female hypotheses. Here I present a novel hypothesis, the age-related obesity hypothesis. It posits that the otherwise normal tendency by women to seek a youthful appearance can become maladaptive and lead to anorexia nervosa in environments in which thinness becomes the primary indicator of youth, such as in modern industrialized societies. This hypothesis explains the aforementioned associated features of anorexia nervosa, and its increasing prevalence in western societies. The hypothesis generates several testable predictions: (1) Prevalence of anorexia nervosa across societies should be related to the degree to which thinness is an indicator of youth in a population. (2) Conversely, perceptions of the weight-age relationship should differ among populations depending on the prevalence of anorexia nervosa. (3) Anorectic individuals, or those with the propensity to develop the disease, should have a biased perception of the weight-age relationship. (4) Experimental manipulation of individuals’ perception of the weight-age relationship should affect weight concerns, particularly among anorectic or at-risk individuals. Should the hypothesis be supported it might be used to screen at-risk individuals. Furthermore, it would call for more integrative public health programs that take a comprehensive approach encompassing both obesity and anorexia.

Service-learning in higher education relevant to the promotion of physical activity, healthful eating, and prevention of obesity

by Ric Rosenkranz

Rosenkranz, R.R. In press at International Journal of Preventive Medicine

Service-learning is a type of experiential teaching and learning strategy combining classroom instruction and... more Service-learning is a type of experiential teaching and learning strategy combining classroom instruction and meaningful community service and guided activities for reflection. This educational approach has been used frequently in higher education settings, including an array of disciplines such as medicine, theology, public health, physical education, nutrition, psychology, anthropology, and sociology. The purpose of the present review paper was to provide guidance on the use of service-learning within higher education, relevant to the preventive medicine and public health topics of healthful eating, physical activity, and obesity prevention. In service-learning, coursework is structured to address community needs, and to benefit students through the real-world application of knowledge. The benefits for students include positive impacts on social skills, empathy, awareness, understanding, and concern regarding community issues, plus greater confidence and skills to work with diverse populations, increased awareness of community resources, improved motivation, and enhanced knowledge. Educational institutions may also benefit through improved “town and gown” relations, as strong ties, partnerships, and mutually beneficial activities take place. The present literature review describes several service-learning applications such as nutrition education for kids, dietary improvement for seniors, foodservice recipe modification on a college campus, an intergenerational physical activity program for nursing home residents, motor skill development in kindergarteners, organised elementary school recess physical activities, health education, and obesity prevention in children. From this review, service-learning appears to have great potential as a flexible component of academic coursework in the areas of preventive medicine and public health.


Keywords: Community; Health; Teaching; Learning

Tabacchi, G., Mammina, C., Paoli, A., Filingeri, D., Bianco, A., Palma, A. (2011) The relationship between physical activity/sedentary behaviours, preadolescent schoolchildren weight status and gender in an area of Southern Italy. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 51 (Suppl.1 to No. 3): 57.

by Davide Filingeri

Body adiposity index utilization in a spanish mediterranean population: comparison with the body mass index

by Miguel Bennasar Veny

Multiple roles for the non-coding RNA SRA in regulation of adipogenesis and insulin sensitivity

by William Cawthorn

Dact1, a Nutritionally Regulated Preadipocyte Gene, Controls Adipogenesis by Coordinating the Wnt/ -Catenin Signaling Network

by William Cawthorn

Dact1, a Nutritionally Regulated Preadipocyte Gene, Controls Adipogenesis by Coordinating the Wnt/-Catenin Signaling Network

by William Cawthorn

IGF-Binding Protein2 Protects Against the Development of Obesity and Insulin Resistance

by William Cawthorn

TNF-α and adipocyte biology

by William Cawthorn

The impact of a bariatric rehabilitation service on weight loss and psychological adjustment - Study protocol

by Jane Ogden

Filingeri, D., Bianco, A., Jemni, M., Mammina, C., Paoli, A., Palma, A., Tabacchi, G., (2011) A web-based surveillance system for nutritional and physical activity in adolescence - The ASSO Project. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 51 (Suppl.1 to No. 3): 57.

by Davide Filingeri

Tabacchi, G., Filingeri, D., Bianco, A., Mammina, C., Palma, A. (2011) The effect of early and familial factors on the development of schoolchildren obesity. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 51 (Suppl.1 to No. 3): 6.

by Davide Filingeri

Dietary fiber and subsequent changes in body weight and waist circumference in European men and women

by Brian Buijsse

Fruit and vegetable intakes and subsequent changes in body weight in European populations: results from the project on Diet, Obesity, and Genes (DiOGenes)

by Brian Buijsse

The changes they are a-timed: metabolism, endogenous clocks, and the timing of puberty

by Kristen Tolson

Childhood obesity has increased dramatically over the last several decades, particularly in industrialized countries,... more Childhood obesity has increased dramatically over the last several decades, particularly in industrialized countries, often accompanied by acceleration of pubertal progression and associated reproductive abnormalities (Biro et al., 2006; Rosenfield et al., 2009). The timing of pubertal initiation and progression in mammals is likely influenced by nutritional and metabolic state, leading to the hypothesis that deviations from normal metabolic rate, such as those seen in obesity, may contribute to observed alterations in the rate of pubertal progression. While several recent reviews have addressed the effects of metabolic disorders on reproductive function in general, this review will explore previous and current models of pubertal timing, outlining a potential role of endogenous timing mechanisms such as cellular circadian clocks in the initiation of puberty, and how these clocks might be altered by metabolic factors. Additionally, we will examine recently elucidated neuroendocrine regulators of pubertal progression such as kisspeptin, explore models detailing how the mammalian reproductive axis is silenced during the juvenile period and reactivated at appropriate developmental times, and emphasize how metabolic dysfunction such as childhood obesity may alter timing cues that advance or delay pubertal progression, resulting in diminished reproductive capacity.