The interconnection between obesity and executive function in adolescence: The role of the gut microbiome

Research trends between childhood obesity and gut microbiota: a bibliometric analysis (2002-2023)

Background

In recent years, the prevalence of childhood obesity has escalated alarmingly, posing significant threats to the physical and mental well-being of children, with an elevated likelihood of persisting into adulthood. Notably, recent investigations have uncovered a profound association between intestinal microbiota, a crucial component of the internal milieu, and childhood obesity. Disturbances in intestinal microbiota and their by-products are now understood to be profoundly intertwined with the evolutionary pathway of childhood obesity. Bibliometric analysis offers a deep understanding of the current research landscape, so we apply it to a review of the emerging trends and patterns between childhood obesity and gut microbiota.

Materials and methods

We conducted a rigorous and extensive search of the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, spanning the years from 1900 to 2023, to analyze scholarly articles pertaining to childhood obesity and gut microbiota. Utilizing VOSviewer, CiteSpace, the R package "bibliometrix," and the online bibliometric analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/), we delved into the intricate details of research hotspots, academic collaborations, and emerging trends within this domain.

Results

The exhaustive search encompassed the globe, uncovering a cumulative total of 1,384 pertinent studies originating from 429 nations. The results were compelling, revealing a profound influence exerted by the United States and China in this specific field of research. Furthermore, it was observed that the volume of scholarly works pertaining to childhood obesity and gut microbiota is steadily growing year on year. The current hot topics in this field include "abuse," "maltreatment," "adverse childhood experiences," "students," and "food addiction".

Conclusion

This comprehensive review offers a meticulous exploration of the evolving trends and emerging research agendas pertaining to childhood obesity and gut microbiota over the past two decades. It strives to equip researchers with a thorough understanding of the key nations, institutions, journals, and potential collaborators in these specialized fields. Additionally, it sheds light on the current frontiers of research and strategic avenues for further exploration, thus serving as an invaluable resource for scholars delving deeper into the intricacies of childhood obesity and the gut microbiome.

Associations of physical activity and soybean product consumption with psychological symptoms: a cross-sectional survey of Chinese university students

INTRODUCTION

Declining physical activity among university students has become a concern, with increasingly poor dietary behaviors and other unfavorable factors having an impact on the occurrence of psychological symptoms. Previous studies have analyzed the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and psychological symptoms, but few studies have investigated the association between soy product consumption and these symptoms. In addition, the associations between physical activity and soy product consumption with psychological symptoms have not been investigated.

METHODS

In this study, 7267 university students from different regions of China were surveyed regarding physical activity, soy product consumption, and psychological symptoms. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associations among MVPA, soy product consumption, and psychological symptoms. A generalized linear model (GLM) was applied to further analyze the associations of MVPA and soy product consumption with psychological symptoms in this population.

RESULTS

The detection rate of psychological symptoms among Chinese university students was 17.9%, with the rate among female students (18.9%) higher than that among male students (16.6%). The proportion of university students with MVPA < 30 min/d, 30-60 min/d, and > 60 min/d was 76.1%, 19.3%, and 4.6%, respectively, and the proportion with soy product consumption ≤ 2 times/wk, 3-5 times/wk, and ≥ 5 times/wk was 25.8%, 42.4%, and 31.7%, respectively. The GLM showed that compared with university students who had MVPA < 30 min/d and soy product consumption ≤ 2 times/week, those with the lowest risk of developing psychological symptoms had MVPA > 60 min/d and soy product consumption ≥ 6 times/week (OR = 0.198, 95% CI: 0.100-0.393, P < 0.001). This group was followed by university students with MVPA > 60 min/d and soy product consumption 3-5 times/week (OR = 0.221, 95% CI: 0.102-0.479, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In terms of research, there is an association between physical activity and soy product consumption and psychological symptoms among university students. The results of our study suggest that integrated intervention for psychological symptoms among university students is needed from the perspectives of physical activity and dietary behavior to promote good mental health in this population.

Association of Overweight and Obesity with Impaired Executive Functioning in Mexican Adolescents: The Importance of Inhibitory Control

Overweight and obesity are major public health issues worldwide, including in Mexico, particularly among adolescents. This study aimed to analyze the associations between nutritional status and impaired executive function (EF) in Mexican adolescents. A case-control study was conducted with 98 male and female adolescents, categorized into normal weight and overweight/obese groups based on body mass index. EF was assessed using the BANFE-2 test. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 54.3%. The EF assessment revealed that 82.45% of the overweight/obese group exhibited mild-to-severe impairment, compared to only 36.58% in the normal weight group (X2 = 21.69, p < 0.0001). In the inhibitory control assessment, adolescents with overweight and obesity performed worse than their normal-weight counterparts. Specifically, females with overweight/obesity scored lower than females with normal weight on the risk-benefit processing test. The risk of severe EF impairment significantly increased with the presence of overweight/obesity (OR = 7.8, p < 0.0001). These findings indicate that EF, particularly inhibitory control and risk-benefit processing, is impaired in adolescents with overweight or obesity.

The Potential Impact of the Gut Microbiota on Neonatal Brain Development and Adverse Health Outcomes

Over the past decade, microbiome research has significantly expanded in both scope and volume, leading to the development of new models and treatments targeting the gut-brain axis to mitigate the effects of various disorders. Related research suggests that interventions during the critical period from birth to three years old may yield the greatest benefits. Investigating the substantial link between the gut and brain during this crucial developmental phase raises fundamental issues about the role of microorganisms in human health and brain development. This underscores the importance of focusing on the prevention rather than the treatment of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. The present review examines the gut microbiota from birth to age 3, with a particular focus on its potential relationship with neurodevelopment. This review emphasizes the immunological mechanisms underlying this relationship. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of the microbiome on cognitive development and neurobehavioral issues such as anxiety and autism. Importantly, it highlights the need to integrate mechanistic studies of animal models with epidemiological research across diverse cultures to better understand the role of a healthy microbiome in early life and the implications of dysbiosis. Furthermore, this review summarizes factors contributing to the transmission of gut microbiome-targeted therapies and their effects on neurodevelopment. Recent studies on environmental toxins known to impact neurodevelopment are also reviewed, exploring whether the microbiota may mitigate or modulate these effects.

A hamster model for stress-induced weight gain

This review addresses the translational relevance of animal models of stress and their effects on body weight. In humans, stress, whether chronic or acute, has often been associated with increased food intake and weight gain. In view of the current obesity epidemic, this phenomenon is especially relevant. Such observations contrast with reports with commonly used laboratory animals, especially rats and mice. In these species, it is common to find individuals gaining less weight under stress, even with potent social stressors. However, there are laboratory species that present increased appetite and weight gain under stress, such as golden hamsters. Furthermore, these animals also include metabolic and behavioral similarities with humans, including hoarding behavior which is also enhanced under stress. Consequently, we propose that our comparative perspective provides useful insights for future research on the development of obesity in humans as a consequence of chronic stress exposure.