Emerging health problems among women: Inactivity, obesity, and metabolic syndrome

Why Should Diabetic Women Be Active?-The Role of Personality, Self-Esteem, Body-Esteem, and Imagery

Diabetes is one of the fastest spreading diseases in the 21st century. The aim of the study is twofold: (1) to find differences in personality traits, self-esteem, body-esteem, and imagery between healthy women and women with diabetes; (2) to verify whether there are differences in the analyzed factors among women with diabetes who engage in sports compared to those who do not. We used 3 questionnaires: Imagination in Sport-short form, Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and BFIS Personality, which were tested online. We found that women with diabetes were characterized by significantly higher neuroticism, lower extraversion, and higher conscientiousness (marginally significant). We also found that women with diabetes who practice sport rated their bodies more highly in terms of sexual attractiveness and made better use of imagined affirmations than women without diabetes who were not active. Our study provides new insights into diabetics in terms of women navigating the disease.

Can coffee silverskin be a useful tool to fight metabolic syndrome?

Coffee is one of the most consumed products in the world, and its by-products are mainly discarded as waste. In order to solve this problem and in the context of a sustainable industrial attitude, coffee by-products have been studied concerning their chemical and nutritional features for a potential application in foodstuffs or dietary supplements. Under this perspective, coffee silverskin, the main by-product of coffee roasting, stands out as a noteworthy source of nutrients and remarkable bioactive compounds, such as chlorogenic acids, caffeine, and melanoidins, among others. Such compounds have been demonstrating beneficial health properties in the context of metabolic disorders. This mini-review compiles and discusses the potential health benefits of coffee silverskin and its main bioactive components on metabolic syndrome, highlighting the main biochemical mechanisms involved, namely their effects upon intestinal sugar uptake, glucose and lipids metabolism, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota. Even though additional research on this coffee by-product is needed, silverskin can be highlighted as an interesting source of compounds that could be used in the prevention or co-treatment of metabolic syndrome. Simultaneously, the valorization of this by-product also responds to the sustainability and circular economy needs of the coffee chain.

Pilot study of tai chi and qigong on body composition, sleep, and emotional eating in midlife/older women

Weight gain and related adverse changes in body composition are prevalent among midlife and older women and contribute to chronic disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, depression). Tai Chi (TC) and Qigong (QG), forms of Meditative Movement, demonstrate improved physical/psychological symptoms and body composition. Using a standardized TC/QG protocol, we explored pre/post intervention differences in percent body fat and factors related to body composition in midlife/older women. In the context of a single-group pilot study, females ages 45-75 (N = 51) enrolled in an 8-week TC/QG intervention. Primary outcome measures of body composition, sleep quality, emotional eating and select secondary outcome psycho-emotional factors (perceived stress, mood state, mindfulness, self-compassion, body awareness) were collected. Change in percent body fat did not reach statistical significance (p = .30, M =  0.35, 95% CI [- 0.32, 1.0]). Sleep quality improved significantly, p = .04, M = - 0.88, 95% CI [-1.71, - 0.04]. Emotional eating changed in the expected direction, but not significantly, p = .08, M =  -0.16, 95% CI [-0.34, 0.02]. Significant differences were found in body awareness, p = .01, M =  0.36, 95% CI [0.08, 0.63] and perceived stress, p = .05, M =  -2.36, 95% CI [-4.76, 0.04]. Preliminary results are promising as results showed improvements in factors related to healthy body composition. Refined research is needed to understand if/how TC/QG may improve body composition among midlife and older women.

Administration of ursolic acid to new-born pups prevents dietary fructose-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Sprague Dawley rats

Overconsumption of fructose time dependently induces the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether ursolic acid (UA) intake by new-born rats would protect against fructose-induced NAFLD. One hundred and seven male and female Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly grouped and gavaged (10 ml/kg body weight) with either 0.5% dimethylsulphoxide (vehicle control), 0.05% UA, 50% fructose mixed with UA (0.05%) or 50% fructose alone, from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P20. Post-weaning (P21-P69), the rats received normal rat chow (NRC) and water to drink. On P70, the rats in each group were continued on water or 20% fructose to drink, as a secondary high fructose diet during adulthood. After 8 weeks, body mass, food and fluid intake, circulating metabolites, visceral adiposity, surrogate markers of liver function and indices of NAFLD were determined. Food intake was reduced as a result of fructose feeding in both male and female rats (p < 0.0001). Fructose consumption in adulthood significantly increased fluid intake and visceral adiposity in female rats (p < 0.05) and had no apparent effects in male rats (p > 0.05). In both sexes of rats, fructose had no significant (p > 0.05) effects on body mass, circulating metabolites, total calorie intake and surrogate markers of hepatic function. Fructose consumption in both early life and adulthood in female rats promoted hepatic lipid accumulation (p < 0.001), hypertrophy, microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis (p < 0.05). Early-life UA intake significantly (p < 0.001) reduced fructose-induced hepatic lipid accumulation in both male and female rats. Administration of UA during periods of developmental plasticity shows prophylactic potential against dietary fructose-induced NAFLD.

Using social cognitive theory to explain physical activity in Iranian women preparing for pregnancy

Despite the known useful effects of regular physical activity during the preconception period on pregnancy outcomes, sedentary lifestyle is a prevalent phenomenon in reproductive-aged women. Using social cognitive theory (SCT) as its theoretical framework, the aim of this study was to explain physical activity model in the women preparing for pregnancy in Isfahan, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 Iranian women undergoing preconception care. The SCT constructs were measured using a researcher-made questionnaire. The duration of physical activity with moderate/severe intensity was also measured using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient and multivariable linear regression. The theoretical model was tested using structural equation modeling. The results showed that observational learning (β =.65, p <.0001) was the most important determinant of the physical activity level. The default model provided an adequate to good fit to the data (CMIN/DF = 2.10, p =.097). The results of the present study emphasized the role of observational learning in forming physical activity behavior in pre-pregnancy period; therefore, the design of interventions for providing the opportunity of observational learning may improve the level of physical activity among the women preparing for pregnancy.

Obesity in midlife: lifestyle and dietary strategies

As the rate of obesity increases globally, so does the incidence of other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and dementia, which have been referred to as 'adiposity-based chronic disease'. With timely lifestyle modification such as behavioral changes, implementation of a healthy diet, and proper physical activity, many of these diseases can be prevented. Weight gain is one of the major health concerns of midlife. Midlife body changes are the result of aging, menopause, and other influences unique to menopausal women which interfere with adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Reduced metabolism levels lead to low energy levels, which discourage physical activity. In addition, with the onset of bone loss, menopausal women begin to lose muscle mass and gain more fat, resulting in osteopenic sarco-obesity. Adoption of a healthy lifestyle is a first-line option in the treatment for these midlife changes. Lifestyle medicine offers a broad set of network-based interventions, which need to be brought to the forefront in preventing and managing obesity at all stages. This review article focuses on evidence-based lifestyle changes and their benefits for reducing morbidity and mortality related to obesity and its complications prevalent at midlife and beyond.

Prevalência de diabetes mellitus determinada pela hemoglobina glicada na população adulta brasileira, Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar as prevalências de diabetes mellitus segundo diferentes critérios diagnósticos, na população adulta brasileira, segundo os resultados laboratoriais da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde. Métodos: Análise dos dados laboratoriais da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, coletados entre os anos de 2014 e 2015. Foram calculadas as prevalências de diabetes conforme diferentes critérios diagnósticos. Foram calculadas as prevalências de diabetes segundo o critério de hemoglobina glicosilada ≥ 6,5% ou em uso de medicamentos, empregando regressão de Poisson para o cálculo da razão de prevalência (RP) bruta e ajustada e intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%). Resultados: A prevalência de diabetes segundo diferentes critérios pode variar 6,6 a 9,4%; e a hiperglicemia intermediária, ou pré-diabetes, de 6,8 a 16,9%. Usando-se o critério laboratorial ou uso de medicamentos, a prevalência de diabetes foi de 8,4%. A RP ajustada para sexo, idade, escolaridade e região foi menor no sexo masculino (RP = 0,75; IC95% 0,63 - 0,89); aumentou com a idade: 30 a 34 anos (RP=2,32; IC95% 1,33 - 4,07), 40 a 59 anos (RP = 8,1; IC95% 4,86 - 13,46), 60 anos ou mais (RP = 12,6; IC95% 7,1 - 21,0); e a escolaridade elevada foi protetora (RP = 0,8; IC95% 0,6 - 0,9). Maior RP foi encontrada na Região Centro-Oeste (RP = 1,3; IC95% 1,04 - 1,7) e naqueles com sobrepeso (RP = 1,8; IC95% 1,4 - 2,1) e obesidade (RP = 3,3; IC95% 2,6 - 4,1). Conclusão: A prevalência de diabetes foi maior no sexo feminino, naqueles com idade maior que 30 anos, em população com baixa escolaridade, com excesso de peso e obesidade. Os critérios laboratoriais são mais fidedignos para o conhecimento da situação real do diabetes no país.