Showing papers by "David S. Ludwig published in 2013"
TL;DR: Overweight or obese women are likely to gain excessive weight during pregnancy, which increases their risk of disease and potentially causes higher adiposity in their offspring, who may grow up to perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of obesity and chronic disease.
Abstract: Overweight or obese women are likely to gain excessive weight during pregnancy. This increases their risk of disease and potentially causes higher adiposity in their offspring, who may grow up to perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of obesity and chronic disease.
189 citations
TL;DR: Daily breakfast intake is strongly associated with reduced risk of a spectrum of metabolic conditions and there was no evidence of differential results for high versus low overall dietary quality.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE The relation of breakfast intake frequency to metabolic health is not well studied. The aim of this study was to examine breakfast intake frequency with incidence of metabolic conditions. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We performed an analysis of 3,598 participants from the community-based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study who were free of diabetes in the year 7 examination when breakfast and dietary habits were assessed (1992–1993) and participated in at least one of the five subsequent follow-up examinations over 18 years. RESULTS Relative to those with infrequent breakfast consumption (0–3 days/week), participants who reported eating breakfast daily gained 1.9 kg less weight over 18 years ( P = 0.001). In a Cox regression analysis, there was a stepwise decrease in risk across conditions in frequent breakfast consumers (4–6 days/week) and daily consumers. The results for incidence of abdominal obesity, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension remained significant after adjustment for baseline measures of adiposity (waist circumference or BMI) in daily breakfast consumers. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for daily breakfast consumption were as follows: abdominal obesity HR 0.78 (95% CI 0.66–0.91), obesity 0.80 (0.67–0.96), metabolic syndrome 0.82 (0.69–0.98), and hypertension 0.84 (0.72–0.99). For type 2 diabetes, the corresponding estimate was 0.81 (0.63–1.05), with a significant stepwise inverse association in black men and white men and women but no association in black women. There was no evidence of differential results for high versus low overall dietary quality. CONCLUSIONS Daily breakfast intake is strongly associated with reduced risk of a spectrum of metabolic conditions.
162 citations
TL;DR: Compared with an isocaloric low-GI Meal, a high-GI meal decreased plasma glucose, increased hunger, and selectively stimulated brain regions associated with reward and craving in the late postprandial period, which is a time with special significance to eating behavior at the next meal.
116 citations
TL;DR: The tragic slaughter of innocents in Newtown, Connecticut, has horrified and refocused the nation on the burden of gun violence, and much can be learned from prior public health successes in changing the prevalence, social norms, and cultures of harmful behaviors.
Abstract: The tragic slaughter of innocents in Newtown, Connecticut, has horrified and refocused the nation on the burden of gun violence. Each year in the United States, more than 30 000 individuals are killed by guns1 (homicides, suicides, and unintentional fatalities)—85 deaths per day plus many hundreds of nonfatal injuries. Gun homicide alone causes 11 000 deaths each year, more than all US troops killed throughout the last decade in Iraq and Afghanistan. Remarkably, the 26 deaths in Newtown represent fewer gun homicides than the daily US average. The Newtown shooting has rekindled a national discussion about gun policy. Most proposals focus on gun ownership such as a ban on rapidly firing assault weapons, piercing bullets, and high-capacity ammunition clips; waiting periods for firearm purchases; and universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers. This focus on gun ownership has been controversial due to Second Amendment interpretations and regional, partisan, and personal preferences. Although such commonsense regulations on ownership warrant implementation, a broader public health perspective is imperative. Gun violence arises from sociocultural, educational, behavioral, and product safety issues that transcend gun ownership alone. Addressing this crisis will require a comprehensive, multidimensional strategy. Toward that end, much can be learned from prior public health successes in changing the prevalence, social norms, and cultures of harmful behaviors.2 These major achievements—in the realms of tobacco, unintentional poisoning, and motor vehicle safety—provide a set of evidence-based, successful tactics for immediate application to gun violence.... Language: en
92 citations
TL;DR: No evidence was shown that an LGD and an LFD differ in efficacy for the reduction of BMI or aspects of metabolic syndrome in obese Hispanic youth, when prescribed in the context of a culturally adapted, comprehensive weight-reduction program.
77 citations
TL;DR: Among proposed WG criteria, the 10:1-ratio identified the most healthful WG products, including the industry-supported WG-Stamp which identified products with higher fibre and lower trans-fats, but also higher sugars and energy.
Abstract: The health benefits of whole grain (WG) foods are well established, including lower risk of CVD, weight gain and diabetes(1). Such benefits are likely related to multiple factors including higher contents of micronutrients, polyphenols, fatty acids and dietary fibre alone or in combination; lower glycaemic index; and also their replacement of more refined grains and sugars in one's diet(1–3). Based on this evidence, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommends that Americans consume at least 3 servings of WG products daily(4), and the new US Nutrition Standards for the National School Lunch and School Lunch Programs require that at least half of all grains be WG-rich(5). Many countries worldwide include an emphasis on eating whole grains (WG) in their dietary recommendations(6,7). Industry has responded with an explosion of products marketed to consumers as being or containing WG. In 2010, the number of new grains marketed as WG was nearly twenty times higher than the number introduced in 2000(6). The global market for WG foods is expected to exceed $US 24 billion by 2015(8).
Remarkably, this formulation, marketing and promotion of ‘whole grain’ foods has come with relatively little standardization to assist individuals and organizations in identifying and selecting healthful WG options. Internationally, requirements vary for industry to be able to add a specific WG health claim. In the UK and the USA, in order to use a health claim, WG foods must contain at least 51% WG ingredients by wet weight; in Sweden and Denmark, at least 50% WG ingredients by dry weight; and in Germany, at least 90% WG in bread(9). However, not all products that are eligible to use the WG health claim actually include it on the package, limiting the utility of this criterion for guiding consumers. Furthermore, the health claim is based on partial WG content alone, without any limitations or guidelines on contents of sugars, sodium, energy or trans-fats, so that products using the health claim can still be unhealthy in other aspects.
More problematic, for grain products that do not include a health claim, there are currently few regulations on what can be defined as WG, called a WG, or marketed as having or containing WG. Many products marketed as WG foods contain a mixture of WG, refined grains and sugars, with unknown relative proportions that are closely guarded as proprietary information by food manufacturers(7,10). The variety of terms used to describe ‘whole grains’ as well as the unclear and inconsistent labelling of WG ingredients by manufacturers make it challenging for consumers and organizations such as schools and workplaces to identify more healthful WG products(7,11,12). Thus, we aimed to determine the best identification criteria to assist consumers, food service personnel, and policy makers to select healthful WG products, for example to meet recommended dietary guidelines or programmatic requirements such as the new US National School Lunch Program Guidelines. Furthermore, the relative performance of these diverse identification criteria could be used to inform potential future WG labelling policy.
Several criteria have been proposed for identifying WG foods. One criterion, and the only one directly visible on food packages, is the Whole Grain stamp (WG-Stamp)(6). The WG-Stamp is a front-of-pack icon used in thirty-six countries worldwide and is promoted and regulated by a non-governmental organization with funding support from industry. The WG-Stamp is the most common front-of-package symbol dietitians report recommending to their clients as a reliable way to identify healthful WG products(13). In addition, the USDA and the European Food Information Council recommend other criteria to help consumers and organizations identify WG products, each of which makes use of the ingredient list. Notably, even USDA guidance is inconsistent across publications, and at least three different criteria exist (Table 1, second to fourth criteria)(4,14–16). The American Heart Association 2020 Strategic Impact Goals Committee also recently developed a criterion to define WG, based on the relative contents of total carbohydrate and fibre(17).
Table 1
Recommended criteria for identifying a grain product as ‘whole grain’
Given the importance of identifying healthful WG foods, information is needed regarding the proportions of different grain products identified as WG by each of these criteria and, more importantly, their relative discrimination of health-related factors. If a metric identifies healthful WG foods but only a limited number of products meet the metric, then consumers and organizations (e.g. schools, workplaces) will have a relatively small selection of products to choose from and could also have trouble actually finding the healthful products in their stores or distributors. Conversely, if a metric identifies healthful WG foods and also includes many options, then this greater selection will make it more likely that consumers and organizations can find healthful WG products that they both prefer and are available to them. Most relevantly, it is unknown whether any of these metrics actually identify healthful WG products.
To elucidate these issues, we investigated how these five different recommended criteria to identify WG products compared in terms of distinguishing contents of dietary fibre, sugars, sodium, trans-fats and energy. Because a second potential limitation for people to consume more WG products may be perception of higher cost(12,18,19), we also evaluated whether products identified as WG by each criterion were more expensive than non-WG options.
71 citations
TL;DR: Weight-reducing diets focused either on glycemic load or dietary fat improved hepatic steatosis over 6 months, and secondary outcomes also improved on both diets, with no between-group differences.
Abstract: Background: Fatty liver is highly prevalent among obese children and represents a major risk factor for chronic liver diseases and severe metabolic complications. Methods: We randomly assigned 17 obese children 8–17 years of age with fatty liver to either an experimental low-glycemic-load or conventional low-fat diet for 6 months. Participants in both groups received nutrition education and behavioral counseling of equal intensity. The primary outcome was hepatic lipid content measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Secondary outcomes included change in visceral fat, BMI, anthropometrics, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and insulin resistance. Results: A total of 16 participants completed the study. Reported glycemic load decreased in the low-glycemic-load group and reported dietary fat decreased in the low-fat group. At baseline, liver fat was 23.8% [standard deviation (SD) 12.2] in the low-glycemic-load group and 29.3% (14.1) in the low-fat group. Liver fat decreased substantially i...
68 citations
TL;DR: David Ludwig and colleagues examine the within-family relationship between pregnancy weight gain and the offspring's childhood weight gain, thereby reducing the influence of genes and environment.
Abstract: Background: Excessive pregnancy weight gain is associated with obesity in the offspring, but this relationship may be confounded by genetic and other shared influences. We aimed to examine the association of pregnancy weight gain with body mass index (BMI) in the offspring, using a within-family design to minimize confounding. Methods and Findings: In this population-based cohort study, we matched records of all live births in Arkansas with statemandated data on childhood BMI collected in public schools (from August 18, 2003 to June 2, 2011). The cohort included 42,133 women who had more than one singleton pregnancy and their 91,045 offspring. We examined how differences in weight gain that occurred during two or more pregnancies for each woman predicted her children’s BMI and odds ratio (OR) of being overweight or obese (BMI$85th percentile) at a mean age of 11.9 years, using a within-family design. For every additional kg of pregnancy weight gain, childhood BMI increased by 0.0220 (95% CI 0.0134–0.0306, p,0.0001) and the OR of overweight/obesity increased by 1.007 (CI 1.003–1.012, p=0.0008). Variations in pregnancy weight gain accounted for a 0.43 kg/m 2 difference in childhood BMI. After adjustment for birth weight, the association of pregnancy weight gain with childhood BMI was attenuated but remained statistically significant (0.0143 kg/m 2 per kg of pregnancy weight gain, CI 0.0057–0.0229, p=0.0007). Conclusions: High pregnancy weight gain is associated with increased body weight of the offspring in childhood, and this effect is only partially mediated through higher birth weight. Translation of these findings to public health obesity prevention requires additional study. Please see later in the article for the Editors’ Summary.
68 citations
TL;DR: The scientific rationale for promoting reduced-fat milk consumption at these levels in children and adults is questioned and the role of cow’s milk in human nutrition is reconsiders.
Abstract: In light of research linking sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to obesity, the US Department of Agriculture, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other organizations have formulated recommendations on healthy beverages. These guidelines consistently recommend limiting consumption of all calorie-containing liquids, except reduced-fat milk, of which people in most age groups are encouraged to consume 3 cups daily. This article questions the scientific rationale for promoting reduced-fat milk consumption at these levels in children and adults and reconsiders the role of cow’s milk in human nutrition.
42 citations
TL;DR: The physiological effects of common sugars are examined and a narrow public health focus on fructose is argued against, which is primarily through the effects of fructose at prevailing levels of consumption.
Abstract: IN THE 1990S, EXCESSIVE FAT CONSUMPTION WAS COMmonly believed to be the main cause of obesity. High sugar consumption was often considered to be innocuous and possibly protective against obesity by displacing dietary fat. A decade later, the American Heart Association linked intake of added sugars to weight gain and recommended substantial decreases in consumption to a daily maximum of 100 kcal for women and 150 kcal for men. Some experts now argue that sugar comprises the single most important cause of the worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes, primarily through the effects of fructose at prevailing levels of consumption. This Viewpoint examines the physiological effects of common sugars and argues against a narrow public health focus on fructose.
41 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that an LF diet may adversely affect postprandial EA and risk for weight regain during weight loss maintenance.
Abstract: Background
The major circulating metabolic fuels regulate hunger, and each is affected by dietary composition. An integrated measure of postprandial energy availability from circulating metabolic fuels may help inform dietary recommendations for weight maintenance after weight loss.
TL;DR: Accumulating evidence points towards a role for sugar and other refined carbohydrates in the development of overweight and indicates a need for further research into this issue.
Abstract: Accumulating evidence points towards a role for sugar and other refined carbohydrates in the development of overweight
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the outlines of a history of university collections in Germany and discuss this history as a case study of the changing attitudes of the sciences towards their material heritage.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Examination of the scientific and public functions of two- and three-dimensional models in nineteenth-century biology shows that these models incorporate both data and theory by presenting theoretical assumptions in the light of concrete data or organizing data through theoretical assumptions.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to examine the scientific and public functions of two- andthree-dimensional models in the context of three episodes from nineteenth-century biology. Iargue that these models incorporate both data and theory by presenting theoretical assumptions inthe light of concrete data or organizing data through theoretical assumptions. Despite their diverseroles in scientific practice, they all can be characterized as mediators between data and theory.Furthermore, I argue that these different mediating functions often reflect their different audiencesthat included specialized scientists, students, and the general public. In this sense, models innineteenth-century biology can be understood as mediators between theory, data, and their diverseaudiences
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the outline of a history of university collections in Germany and discuss this history as a case study of the changing attitudes of the sciences towards their material heritage.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is twofold: on the one hand, we present theoutlines of a history of university collections in Germany. On the other hand, we discuss this history as a case study of the changing attitudes of thesciences towards their material heritage. Based on data from 1094 Germanuniversity collections, we distinguish three periods that are by no meanshomogeneous but offer a helpful starting point for a discussion of theentangled institutional and epistemic factors in the history of universitycollections. In the 19th century, university collections were institutionalizedand widely recognized as indispensable in research and teaching. During the20th century, university collection became increasingly marginalized bothon an institutional and theoretical level. Towards the end of the 20thcentury, the situation of university collections improved partly because of their reconsideration as material heritage
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: It is argued that scientific collections provide unique primary sources for research in history of science and that they often contain information about scientific practice that is not accessible through written sources.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to discuss the potential of scientific collections as archives of scientific practice. We argue that scientific collections provide unique primary sources for research in history of science and that they often contain information about scientific practice that is not accessible through written sources. Unfortunately, the potential of scientific collections in history of science often remains untapped due to institutional factors such as limited documentation, visibility, and funding of collections. We discuss the documentation of university collections in Germany as a positive model to meet these challenges.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors develop a pluralist interpretation of the phenomenal concept strategy (PCS) and argue that PCS may lead to a new wave pluralism that is at odds with all mainstream positions in philosophy of mind.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to develop a pluralist interpretation of the phenomenal concept strategy (PCS). My starting point is Horgan and Tienson's deconstructive argument according to which proponents of PCS face the following dilemma: either phenomenal concepts or physical concepts allow us to conceive phenomenal states as they are in themselves. If phenomenal concepts allow us to conceive phenomenal states as they are in themselves, then phenomenal states are non-physical states and physicalism is wrong. If physical concepts allow us to conceive phenomenal states as they are in themselves, then phenomenal concepts are derivative and PCS is wrong. While Horgan and Tienson assume that their argument shows that PCS leads to dualism, I argue that one can also adopt an ‘epistemic pluralism’ that rejects the idea of only one fundamental way of conceiving phenomenal states as they are in themselves. However, I also argue that epistemic pluralism eventually leads to a position that is compatible neither with dualism nor physicalism. Instead of justifying a non-reductive ‘new wave materialism’, PCS may therefore lead to a ‘new wave pluralism’ that is at odds with all mainstream positions in philosophy of mind.
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: This article cites 63 articles, 21 of which can be accessed free at:/content/284/6/R1436.full.html and Comparative Physiology can be found at:Additional material and information about American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrativehttp://www.the-aps.org/publications/ajpregu
Abstract: You might find this additional info useful...This article cites 63 articles, 21 of which can be accessed free at:/content/284/6/R1436.full.html#ref-list-1 This article has been cited by 13 other HighWire hosted articles, the first 5 are:€[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] J. Neurosci., March 31, 2010; 30 (13): 4626-4635.E. Zayra Millan, Teri M. Furlong and Gavan P. McNallyAccumbens Shell−Hypothalamus Interactions Mediate Extinction of Alcohol Seeking€[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] Hum. Reprod. Update 2010; 16 (3): 276-292.Dean A. Van VugtBrain imaging studies of appetite in the context of obesity and the menstrual cycle€[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] J. Neurosci., June 16, 2010; 30 (24): 8263-8273.Laubach, George K. Aghajanian and Ralph J. DiLeoneRobert M. Sears, Rong-Jian Liu, Nandakumar S. Narayanan, Ruth Sharf, Mark F. Yeckel, MarkMelanin-Concentrating HormoneRegulation of Nucleus Accumbens Activity by the Hypothalamic Neuropeptide€[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] Mol Pharmacol, August , 2012; 82 (2): 156-167.Pauli M. Turunen, Maria H. Jantti and Jyrki P. KukkonenEndocannabinoid ReleaseOX1 Orexin/Hypocretin Receptor Signaling through Arachidonic Acid and€[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] Am J Clin Nutr, September , 2013; 98 (3): 641-647.Ebbeling, Jill M Goldstein and David S LudwigBelinda S Lennerz, David C Alsop, Laura M Holsen, Emily Stern, Rafael Rojas, Cara BEffects of dietary glycemic index on brain regions related to reward and craving in menUpdated information and services including high resolution figures, can be found at:/content/284/6/R1436.full.html and Comparative Physiology can be found at:Additional material and information about American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrativehttp://www.the-aps.org/publications/ajpreguThis information is current as of August 30, 2013.€