Perceptions of body weight that vary by body mass index: Clear associations with perceptions based on personal control and responsibility

Associations between attitudes towards and reported intakes of sugars, low/no-calorie sweeteners, and sweet-tasting foods in a UK sample

Public health initiatives are currently aiming to lower free sugar intakes for health benefits, but attitudes towards sugars, their alternatives such as low/no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS), and towards sweet-tasting foods may be hampering efforts. This work investigated associations between attitudes towards and the reported intakes of sugars, LNCS and sweet-tasting foods, and identified latent attitude profiles in subpopulations of adults in the United Kingdom. A total of 581 adults completed a questionnaire assessing their usual intake of sugars, LNCS and sweet-tasting foods, attitudes towards these foods and various demographic characteristics. Six principal components explained 39.1% of the variance in the attitude responses, named: 'Personal Impact', 'Personal Management', 'Apathy', 'Negativity', 'Perceived Understanding' and 'Perceived Nonautonomy'. Personal Impact was negatively associated with reported consumption of sugar-food and sweet-tasting food groups more frequently (smallest β = -0.24, p < .01). Personal Management was positively associated with reporting adding sugar and consuming sugar-food and sweet-tasting food groups more frequently (smallest β = 0.14, p < .01). Three latent classes of participants with distinct patterns of attitudes were identified, labelled: 'Feeling Ill-equipped' (n = 52), 'Actively Engaged' (n = 162) or 'Unopinionated' (n = 367). Individuals who were classed as Actively Engaged reported adding LNCS more frequently than those classed as Feeling Ill-equipped (t(212) = -2.14, p<.01), who reported consuming sweet-tasting food groups more frequently than those classed as Unopinionated (t(417) = 2.65, p < .01). These findings suggest the need for personalised approaches within public health initiatives, to reduce free sugar intakes.

Triglyceride-glucose index is a predictor of the risk of prostate cancer: a retrospective study based on a transprostatic aspiration biopsy population

Background

Current research suggests that prostate cancer (PCa), one of the most common cancers in men, may be linked to insulin resistance (IR).Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) was made for a marker of insulin resistance. We investigated the relationship between the TyG index and the risk of PCa.

Objective

To assess the correlation and dose-response relationship between TyG index and prostate cancer.

Method

Retrospectively, 316 patients who required prostate biopsy puncture in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2017 to July 2021 were collected, and the relationship between factors such as the TyG index and prostate cancer was analyzed by Logistic regression model combined with a restricted cubic spline.

Results

(1) The differences in age, initial PSA and TyG index between the two groups were statistically significant; (2) Logistic regression results showed that the risk of prostate cancer in the highest quartile of the TyG index (Q4) was 3.387 times higher than that in the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR=3.387,95% CI [1.511,7.593], P=0.003); (3) The interaction results showed a significant interaction between the TyG index Q4 group and age with the risk of developing prostate cancer (P for interaction<0.001). (4) The results of the restricted cubic spline showed a linear dose-response relationship between the TyG index and the risk of prostate cancer; (5) The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the TyG index combined with initial PSA and age was 0.840, with a sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 93.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

TyG index and age are risk factors for prostate cancer, and the interaction between the TyG index and different risk factors may increase the risk of prostate cancer. TyG index has some predictive value for the risk of prostate cancer, and the risk of prostate cancer can be reduced by controlling the levels of blood lipids and blood glucose.

Instagram-based priming to nudge drink choices: Subtlety is not the answer

Instagram-based priming (e.g., subtly incorporating healthy drinks into the background of Instagram images) could potentially nudge healthier consumption behaviours. Given the negative health consequences associated with sugar-sweetened-beverage consumption, two experiments tested the effect of three sets of Instagram-based primes for nudging drink choices from a visual food and drinks display. Participants (18-25 years) were randomly assigned to view a series of Instagram advertising images (for technology, travel, or homeware products) that included a glass containing water (water prime) or cola (soft drink prime), or no drink (control). They then selected an item from the visual display containing snack foods and drinks. In Experiment 1 (n = 493) beverages were subtly incorporated into the priming images; in Experiment 2 (n = 471) beverages were made more prominent. Priming condition did not predict choice in Experiment 1 but did so in Experiment 2, where participants in the soft drink prime condition were significantly more likely to select a drink versus a food, compared to those in the water prime and control conditions. The water prime did not predict choice in either study. A greater percentage of participants noticed the beverage primes in Experiment 2 than in Experiment 1. Overall, it appears that when clearly visible, soft drinks incorporated into Instagram-style images can nudge drink choices. However, a less subtle approach may be needed to effectively encourage healthier drink choices.

Effects of Yoga exercise on anxiety and fetus growth in pregnant women with small for gestational age fetus

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of yoga on anxiety and fetal weight of pregnant women carrying fetus small for gestational age (SGA).

METHODS

In this retrospective analysis, a total of 186 pregnant women with SGA fetus in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Among them, 90 patients received routine check-up were included in the control group, and the other 96 patients who had professional yoga exercise were included in the observation group. The differences of anxiety scale scores and fetal weight between the two groups before and after intervention were compared.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in scores of anxiety scale (SAS) between the two groups before intervention. After intervention, the SAS score of pregnant women in intervention group was (46.48±3.79) was significantly lower than that in control group (60.13±4.25). There was also significant difference in fetal growth trajectory between the two groups, with a significant increase of 1021.36 g in the intervention group compared with 795.62 g in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, single regression analysis showed that average gestational weeks (r=0.064. P=0.011), yoga exercise (r=0.043, P<0.001), forceps use (r=0.338, P<0.001) and conversion to cesarean section (r=0.431, P<0.001) showed a significant correlation with anxiety and fetus growth in pregnant women carrying SGA fetus. Multiple regression analysis showed that yoga exercise (P<0.001) was selected as independent variables in the multiple regression model of anxiety and fetus growth in pregnant women with SGA fetus.

CONCLUSION

Yoga can effectively reduce the anxiety of pregnant women with small gestational age fetus and good for the growth and development of the fetus.

Appearance-based health promotion messages for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption: gender, age and adverse effects

Aim

This study sought to investigate the effects of body-weight-based compared to health-based public health messages for encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption, dependent on gender and age, while also gauging adverse consequences.

Subject and methods

Using an independent groups design, male and female participants, aged 18–65 years, were randomized to view either a weight-based (N = 245) or a health-based (N = 231) public health message for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and intentions to consume, immediate selection and subsequent consumption of fruit and vegetables and biscuit/cake-bars, adverse consequences and various confounders were assessed.

Results

Weight-based messages resulted in greater immediate selection and subsequent fruit and vegetable consumption compared to health-based messages in females (smallest Beta = 0.375, p = 0.04), specifically younger females (least significant Beta = 0.683, p = 0.04). No effects were found in males. Intentions to consume fruit and vegetables, biscuit/cake-bars and subsequent biscuit/cake-bar consumption were predicted only by confounders. Adverse consequences of the messages were low (χ2(1) = 44.16, p < 0.05; smallest t(148) = 10.22, p < 0.01), and did not differ between weight-based and health-based messages (χ2(2) = 2.72, p > 0.05; largest t(278) = 0.75, p = 0.46).

Conclusions

This work demonstrates a role for weight-based compared to health-based public health promotion messages for increasing fruit and vegetable selection and consumption in young females. Adverse consequences following the messages were low, but care may still be needed.

Body shape and stable employment opportunity analysis of China's nonagricultural labor market

Based on the integrated data of the China General Social Survey (CGSS) from 2010 to 2017, this study observes that body shape - being overweight or underweight - is important for labor market outcomes. Body shape significantly affects the employment opportunities of Chinese individuals, and this effect differs by gender and across the occupational hierarchy. Women face both slim premium and obesity penalty effects. Slim women, those with normal and lower but not excessively lower body weight, are more likely to gain long-term employment contracts in the labor market, while the opposite is observed for overweight individuals. The relationship between women's body shape and employment opportunities also varies by occupation. The obesity penalty is more pronounced in occupations with a higher International Socio-Economic Index (ISEI), while the slim premium is more evident in occupations with a low ISEI. The results suggest that the Chinese labor market is highly demanding regarding women's figures, while it is relatively tolerant of men's figures. By mechanism analysis, health capital is found to be the leading cause of the body shape effect. In addition, socialization is also a possible pathway of action. This paper has extended implications for the study of stature and employment stability, enriching the empirical research on labor market discrimination.

Body Mass and Income: Gender and Occupational Differences

This paper aims to examine the influence of body shape on income, which varies with gender and occupational structure in China. The data were obtained from the CGSS (Chinese General Social Survey) 2010-2017 Survey. The overall finding in this paper is that women and men face different body shape-income effects. For females, the obesity penalty is significant and is reinforced with increasing occupational rank. For men, the thinness penalty (or weight premium) is enhanced as the occupational class decreases. Body shape-income gaps are mainly caused by the occupational structure. Twenty-nine percent of the income gap between overweight and average weight women can be explained by the obesity penalty, 37% of the income gap between overweight and average weight men can be interpreted by the weight premium, and 11% of the gap between underweight and normal weight men can be explained by the thinness penalty. The findings also suggest that the effect of body shape on income consists of two pathways: body shape affects health capital and socialization, and therefore income. Healthy lifestyles and scientific employment concepts should be promoted, and measures to close the gender gap should be implemented.

Sweet Talk: A Qualitative Study Exploring Attitudes towards Sugar, Sweeteners and Sweet-Tasting Foods in the United Kingdom

Worldwide initiatives currently aim to reduce free sugar intakes, but success will depend on consumer attitudes towards sugar and the alternatives. This work aimed to explore attitudes towards sugar, sweeteners and sweet-tasting foods, towards consumption and related policies, in a sample of the general public of the UK. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 34 adults (7 males, ages: 18-65 years). Thematic analysis identified six themes: 'Value' (e.g., pleasure, emotions), 'Angle' (e.g., disinterest), 'Personal Relevance' (to be concerned and/or change one's own behavior), 'Personal Responsibility' (one has an active relationship with these food items), 'Understanding' (the acquisition, comprehension and application of information) and 'It's Not Up to Me' (a passive approach, because intake is subjected to other factors). Both positive and negative attitudes towards sugar, sweeteners and sweet-tasting foods were expressed in all themes. Participants also reported varied engagement with and motivations towards all food items, with implications for intakes. Suggested challenges and potential strategies for reducing free sugar intakes highlighted the need for differing approaches. Future work should assess associations between attitudes and intakes. For greatest population benefit, evidence of the dominant attitudes in those in greatest need of reduced free sugar intakes would be of value.