Hyper-alimentation - effects on health and well-being
01 Jan 2010-
TL;DR: Hyper-alimentation and limited physical activity during a short-term period of 4 weeks is sufficient to temporarily induce worsened HRQoL, cause depressive symptoms and lack of energy in healthy normal weight individuals, suggesting that hyperaliments per se can induce profound ALT elevations in less than 4 weeks.
Abstract: The general aim of this thesis was to prospectively examine the effects on health and well-being when healthy normal weight individuals increase their energy intake, mainly from fast food and simultaneously adopt a sedentary lifestyle.This thesis is based upon a prospective experimental study design where 18 healthy normal weight individuals, 12 men and 6 women, aged 26 (6.6) years, increased their energy intake with in average 70 % during four weeks. Simultaneously their physical activity was limited to a maximum of 5000 steps per day. An age and gender matched control group (n=18), was recruited and asked not to change their eatingand physical activity habits for four weeks. Long-term follow-up measurements were performed after 6 and 12 months and 2.5 years after the intervention.During the intervention body weight increased with 6.4 (2.8) kg and measurements of body composition showed an increase of both fat mass and fat free mass after the intervention. Lower physical and mental health scores on SF-36 as well as depressive symptoms were found compared to baseline. They were temporary and when followed up 6 and 12 months after the intervention, physical and mental health had returned to baseline values, despite a somewhat increased body weight. The main essence of adopting an obesity provoking behaviour was lack of energy emerging from five structures: influenced self-confidence, commitment to oneself and others, managing eating, feelings of tiredness and physical impact. Laboratory measurements showed an increase of ALT above reference limits in 14 of the 18 participants during the intervention and HTGC increased, although this was not related to the increase in ALT levels. Twelve months after the intervention an increase of body weight with 1.5 (2.4) kg was found compared to baseline (p=0.018), fat free mass was unchanged compared to baseline while fat mass had increased, + 1.4 (1.9) kg (p=0.01). Two and a half years after the intervention an increase of body weight with 3.1 (4.0) kg was found compared to baseline (p=0.01), while there was no change in controls compared to baseline, + 0.1 (2.5) kg (p=0.88).Hyper-alimentation and limited physical activity during a short-term period of 4 weeks is sufficient to temporarily induce worsened HRQoL, cause depressive symptoms and lack of energy in healthy normal weight individuals. There were also temporary but clear effects on biochemical markers, suggesting that hyperalimentation per se can induce profound ALT elevations in less than 4 weeks. During the intervention both fat mass and fat-free mass increased while after 12 months there was only an increase of fat mass which was greater than expected from epidemiological studies. The marked difference between the increase in body weight in the intervention- and control group at 2.5 years also raises the question whether there is a long-term effect of increasing fat mass after a short period of hyperalimentation.
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: Although people aged 18 to 64 continued to gain weight, the amount gained decreased significantly in the most recent interval, 2002/2003 to 2004/2005, and this downturn is due, in part, to a significant decrease in the proportion of men gaining weight during that period.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES Longitudinal analyses were used to examine the rate of change of self-reported weight among adults over two-year intervals from 1996/1997 to 2004/2005, and to determine if the pace at which Canadians' weight is changing has slowed down or accelerated. Associations between weight change and sex, age group and body mass index (BMI) category arealsoexamined. DATA SOURCES The data are from the 1996/1997 through 2004/2005 National Population Health Survey. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Average weight changes over two-year intervals were calculated by sex, age group and BMI category. Linear regression was used to determine if the rate of weight change was stable, increased or decreased over time. MAIN RESULTS From 1996/1997 to 2004/2005, Canadian adults gained, on average, 0.5 to 1 kg per two-year period. Although people aged 18 to 64 continued to gain weight, the amount gained decreased significantly in the most recent interval, 2002/2003 to 2004/2005. This downturn is due, in part, to a significant decrease in the proportion of men gaining weight during that period. However, among people who gained weight, the amount gained in two years increased over the entire eight-year period.
35 citations
TL;DR: Educational efforts should be broadened to include those adults who are usually considered to be at low risk for weight gain – younger individuals, those of normal body weight, and those without health conditions – as these are the individuals who are least likely to maintain their body weight over a 10 year period.
Abstract: Obesity has primarily been addressed with interventions to promote weight loss and these have been largely unsuccessful. Primary prevention of obesity through support of weight maintenance may be a preferable strategy although to date this has not been the main focus of public health interventions. The aim of this study is to characterize who is not gaining weight during a 10 year period in Sweden. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were conducted in adults aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years during the Vasterbotten Intervention Programme in Sweden. Height, weight, demographics and selected cardiovascular risk factors were collected on each participant. Prevalences of obesity were calculated for the 40, 50 and 60 year olds from the cross-sectional studies between 1990 and 2004. In the longitudinal study, 10-year non-gain (lost weight or maintained body weight within 3% of baseline weight) or weight gain (≥ 3%) was calculated for individuals aged 30, 40, or 50 years at baseline. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to predict weight non-gain. There were 82,927 adults included in the cross-sectional studies which had an average annual participation rate of 63%. Prevalence of obesity [body mass index (BMI) in kg/m2 ≥ 30] increased from 9.4% in 1990 to 17.5% in 2004, and 60 year olds had the highest prevalence of obesity. 14,867 adults with a BMI of 18.5–29.9 at baseline participated in the longitudinal surveys which had a participation rate of 74%. 5242 adults (35.3%) were categorized as non-gainers. Older age, being female, classified as overweight by baseline BMI, later survey year, baseline diagnosis of diabetes, and lack of snuff use increased the chances of not gaining weight. Educational efforts should be broadened to include those adults who are usually considered to be at low risk for weight gain – younger individuals, those of normal body weight, and those without health conditions (e.g. diabetes type 2) and cardiovascular risk factors – as these are the individuals who are least likely to maintain their body weight over a 10 year period. The importance of focusing obesity prevention efforts on such individuals has not been widely recognized.
33 citations
TL;DR: Dietary intake in Denmark is characterized by a high intake of saturated fat and total fat, and by a relatively low intake of fruit and vegetables.
Abstract: Food-based dietary guidelines in Denmark have usually been expressed in simple terms only and need to be elaborated. Quantitative recommendations on fruit and vegetable intake were issued in 1998, recommending 600 g/d (potatoes not included). This paper is based on a national dietary survey in 1995 (n = 3098, age range 1-80 years) supplemented with data from a simple frequency survey in 1995 (n = 1007, age range 15-80 years) and from the first national survey in 1985 (n = 2242, age range 15-80 years). Only data on adults are included in this paper. Fat intake, saturated fat in particular, is too high (median intake 37 %energy and 16 %energy, respectively). Main fat sources are separated fats (butter, margarine, oil, etc.: 40%), meat (18%), and dairy products (21%). Total fat intake decreased from 1985 to 1995 but fatty acid composition did not improve. Dietary fibre intake is from 18 to 22 g/d (women and men, respectively) with 62% from cereals, 24% from vegetables and 12% from fruit. Mean intake of vegetables and potatoes was from 200 to 250 g/d (women and men, respectively). Mean intake of fruit and vegetables (potatoes not included) was 277 g/d, or less than half of the new recommendation (600 g/d). Only 15% of participants in the frequency survey reported consuming both fruit and vegetables every day, and only 28% reported to do so almost every day. In conclusion, dietary intake in Denmark is characterized by a high intake of saturated fat and total fat, and by a relatively low intake of fruit and vegetables.
33 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The major risk factors present at the consumer and population levels are increased dietary intake of fats and refined sugar and inadequate energy, fruit and vegetable consumption combined with a sedentary lifestyle with minimum physical activity, occurring within an environment of aggressive commercial marketing of fast foods and breast-milk substitutes.
Abstract: S107 ǂnjǟ Ǟƥơ ǂdzơ ƾǴƴǸǴdz ǍƢŬơ ǁơƾǏȍơ ƨȈŭƢǠdzơ ƨƸǐdzơ ƨǸǜǼǷ ǖLJȂƬŭơ ǩ ǂnjdz ƨȈƸǐdzơ ƨǴƴŭơ Background A complex combination of dietary practices and environmental, social and economic factors in countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) has resulted in the persistence of what is described as the double burden of malnutrition, where undernutri-tion among young children and women of childbearing age co-exists with nutrition of excess, demonstrated by increasing rates of overweight, obesity and chronic disease. Based on a combination of nutrition and health indicators and risk factors, the countries of the Region can be divided into 4 categories [1]. In the first category are countries that are characterized by high prevalence of overweight and obesity along with a moderate level of undernutrition among children under the age of 5 years and micronutrient deficiencies in population subgroups (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emir-ates). The major risk factors that may be attributed to the role of government are lack of clear food and nutrition policies and strategies; unclear lines of coordination and collaboration between the national authorities concerned; lack of consumer education and protection laws; and overall inadequate food safety and nutrition education among the general population. At the consumer and individual levels, risk factors are very high intake of energy-dense foods (fats, sugar/ refined carbohydrates) and low vegetable/ fruit consumption combined with a sedentary lifestyle with minimum physical activity, all existing within an overall environment of aggressive commercial marketing of fast foods and breast-milk substitutes. In the second category are countries where moderate levels of overweight/obesity co-exist with moderate levels of undernutri-tion in specific population pockets and age groups alongside widespread micronutrient Tunisia). The major risk factors that may be attributed to the role of government are again lack of clear food and nutrition policies and strategies; unclear lines of coordination and collaboration between the national authorities concerned; lack of consumer education and protection laws, and inadequate food safety and nutrition education among the general population. The risk factors present at the consumer and population levels are increased dietary intake of fats and refined sugar and inadequate energy, fruit and vegetable consumption combined with a sedentary lifestyle with minimum physical activity, occurring within an environment S108 La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée orientale Vol. 14, Numéro thematique ǂnjǟ Ǟƥơ ǂdzơ ƾǴƴǸǴdz ǍƢŬơ ǁơƾǏȍơ ƨȈŭƢǠdzơ ƨƸǐdzơ ƨǸǜǼǷ ǖLJȂƬŭơ ǩ ǂnjdz ƨȈƸǐdzơ ƨǴƴŭơ …
30 citations
TL;DR: In the medical domain, there has been debate concerning the respective merits of a medical view of these concepts, stressing the biological basis, and a sociological/anthropological view, which emphasises their dependence on the cultural and social context in which they are used.
Abstract: Medical concepts, such as health, illness and disease, have been the focus of studies in the disciplines of anthropology, sociology and philosophy for a number of decades. There has been debate concerning mainly the respective merits of a medical view of these concepts, stressing the biological basis, and a sociological/anthropological view, which emphasises their dependence on the cultural and social context in which they are used. Most debaters, in particular the representatives of the social sciences, have sided with the sociological interpretation of these concepts. In the philosophical arena, on the other hand, quite different theories have been proposed; a forceful analysis essentially defending the medical view has been given by C. Boorse [9], [10] and [11], whilst many equally forceful criticisms of this view have been presented by a number of later theorists (for instance G.J. Agich [1], H.T. Engelhardt [28], K.W.M. Fulford [30] and myself [71]; for a recent response by Boorse, see [12]).
29 citations