Dyshomeostasis, obesity, addiction and chronic stress

How is physical attractiveness associated with depression in China: A moderated mediation analysis

Rewarding beauty has never fallen out of vogue in human history. Attractive people enjoy many social and economic advantages. This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical attractiveness and depression and its potential mechanism among Chinese residents. A population-based data including 12,172 Chinese adults from 3 waves of CFPS (2012, 2016, 2020) were used. Moderated-mediation models were utilized to assess the mediation effect of unfair experiences and the moderation effect of socioeconomic-status (SES), in the linkage between physical attractiveness and depression. Firstly, our results demonstrated that physical attractiveness is negatively associated with depression. Secondly, the effect of unfair experiences as a mediator between physical attractiveness and depression is statistically significant. Lastly, socioeconomic status (SES) performs a crucial moderating role. Among Chinese residents, the mitigating effect of physical attractiveness on unfair experiences and depression would be stronger among those with a lower SES compared to those with a higher SES.

Association between Stress and Physical Fitness of University Students Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

Post-COVID-19 pandemic, most universities changed their educational model from online courses to onsite learning, allowing students to attend regular face-to-face classes. These changes can cause stress in students, which affects physical fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress levels and physical fitness in female university students. The participants were 101 female university students, 18-23 years of age. All participants completed the Suan Prung Stress Test-60 (SPST-60). The physical fitness test included body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as musculoskeletal fitness. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between SPST-60 scores and physical fitness. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a negative correlation between the sources of stress scores, here environment, and maximal oxygen consumption (β = -0.291; 95% CI, -0.551, -0.031). We also found that symptoms of stress scores in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems were positively associated with waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR) (β = 0.010; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.017 and β = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.000, 0.012, respectively). Moreover, the symptoms of stress, here emotion, were positively associated with the WHR (β = 0.005; 95 %CI, 0.001, 0.009) and negatively associated with upper extremity muscle strength (β = -0.005; 95% CI, -0.009, 0.000). The results of this study confirmed the associations between stress levels in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era and WHR, maximal oxygen consumption, and upper extremity muscle strength. As a result, stress reduction or prevention alternatives should be considered in order to maintain physical fitness and prevent stress disorders.

The relationship of hedonic hunger with food addiction and obesity in university students

PURPOSE

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship of hedonic hunger with food addiction and obesity in university students.

METHODS

The research sample consists of 275 university students between the ages of 19-28 years. Body weight (kg), height (cm), waist and hip circumference (cm) were measured by applying a face-to-face questionnaire including descriptive characteristics of individuals, the Power of Food Scale (PFS), the Palatable Eating Motive Scale (PEMS) and the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) 2.0. Statistical analysis of the data was done with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 18.

RESULTS

In individuals, according to the mean PFS score the presence of food power-induced hedonic hunger was detected. While according to the mean PEMS score no motivational hedonic hunger was detected. According to the BMI classification the average scores of PFS (p = 0.002), PEMS (p = 0.009), and mYFAS 2.0 (p < 0.001) showed a gradual increase from underweight to obese. A weak positive correlation was found between BMI and PFS score (r = 0.238; p < 0.05) and PEMS score (r = 0.196; p < 0.05), respectively. The moderate positive correlation (r = 0.439 p < 0.001) was found between mYFAS 2.0 and the PEMS scores.

CONCLUSION

As a result, the presence of food-based hedonic hunger was determined in young individuals. A relationship was determined between food addiction and hedonic hunger caused by the motivation to consume delicious foods. Accordingly, hedonic hunger is related to food addiction and obesity in university students.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

[Weight stigma, Mediterranean diet and obesity]

INTRODUCTION

obesity is a disease that affects a high percentage of the world's population. Although its origin is multicausal and multifactorial, less attention has been paid to psychological and behavioral variables.

AIM

to determine whether psychological variables (weight stigma, stress and depressive symptomatology) and behavioral variable (Mediterranean diet index) predict obesity according to body mass index (BMI), controlling for the effect of physiological variables (HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and blood pressure) and sociodemographic variables (sex, income, educational level).

METHODS

non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design. By means of a non-probabilistic convenience sampling, 344 persons were selected from the general Chilean population from the Araucanía region (Mage = 55.7 years; SD = 5.1 years; 55.8 % women). A blood sample, anthropometric measurement of weight and height, and self-report measures of psychological and behavioral variables were obtained.

RESULTS

a 5-block hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. Sociodemographic covariates did not significantly predict BMI, however physiological covariates, the behavioral variable and weight stigma, were significantly associated with BMI, with weight stigma being the predictor that explained the most variance.

CONCLUSIONS

the findings allow us to verify the role of psychological and behavioral variables in the multifactorial etiology of obesity. The findings are discussed in the light of the biopsychosocial approach, and a multidisciplinary approach to obesity is suggested.

Psychological homeostasis and protective behaviours in the Covid-19 pandemic

Since the first case of human SARS-CoV-2 infection late in 2019 workers across multiple disciplines have been strenuously engaged in attempting to prevent the spread of the virus and to provide care to patients. Never in history has so much human effort been concentrated on a single health trauma. Much of the new research is empirical in nature with relatively few strands of theory. This article focuses on two recent theories relevant to COVID-19 protective behaviours, the COM-B and the General Theory of Behaviour. New empirical findings on the means, motives and opportunities for COVID-19 protective behaviours improve our knowledge and capacity to cope with pandemics using psychological homeostasis.

Disordered eating in the postpartum period: Role of psychological distress, body dissatisfaction, dysfunctional maternal beliefs and self-compassion

The present cross-sectional study tested the affect regulation model of disordered eating for women in the postpartum period, whereby disordered eating is used to cope with psychological distress. Two hundred and two women who had given birth in the last two years completed an online survey of self-report measures of study variables. Path analyses supported the primary hypothesis: negative affect mediated relationships between body dissatisfaction, dysfunctional maternal beliefs, negative components of self-compassion and disordered eating behaviours, particularly binge eating. Results suggest that negative affect plays a central role in postpartum disordered eating. Interventions to address maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, specifically targeting body image distress and self-critical maternal thoughts may improve eating behaviours for this population.

How is obesity associated with happiness? Evidence from China

Happiness is a universal goal that people pursue. Studies of the relationship between obesity and happiness have shown mixed findings. It is uncertain whether an optimum BMI level exists and at what level obesity interferes or interacts with happiness. Guided by the Circle of Discontent Theory, we examined the relationship between obesity and happiness among Chinese residents using the 2014 China Family Panel Studies data. The results reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between BMI and happiness, with obesity associated with happiness through physical appearance, health, and income. The socioeconomic conditions for the appropriate weight to achieve happiness are discussed.

The interface between psychology and spirituality in palliative care

In palliative care, a biopsychosocial-spiritual model is essential to address the patient in totality. Spirituality is often a relevant issue in such settings, yet there is a need to differentiate spirituality from religion. Spirituality in palliative care focuses on the psychological and spiritual aspects of care, helping to relieve the physical, emotional, social and spiritual distresses of the patient, family members and healthcare professionals, produced in such conditions. Psychologists, according to their ethical responsibilities, may include the assessment of their patients' spiritual needs in therapy, as it will help to identify the patients' values, belief systems, spiritual history, distress and needs. All patients have different needs, some may need religious/spiritual guidance, in collaboration with spiritual care workers, and others may not demonstrate needs regarding these issues. The essential is that each patient is treated as a 'whole', addressing his physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

The effect of body dissatisfaction on disordered eating: The mediating role of self-esteem and negative affect in male and female adolescents

This study aimed to determine whether self-esteem and negative affect sequentially mediate the relationship between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. A total of 806 adolescents (61.8% females) completed the Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2, the Anxiety and Depression subscales of the General Health Questionnaire-28, and the Negative Self-beliefs subscale of the Eating Disorder Belief Questionnaire. Mediational analyses showed that body dissatisfaction had both direct and indirect effects through self-esteem and negative affect on disordered eating. It was also observed that negative self-esteem mediated-completely in boys and partially in girls-the relationship between body dissatisfaction and negative affect.

Toward the prevention of alcohol use disorders: Overdrinking (unintentional binge drinking) in a community sample

Approximately 64,000,000 people in the United States report binge drinking at least once in the past month. Unlike overeating and oversleeping, "overdrinking"-defined as drinking more than a person intends to drink-does not exist in the literature. Terms such as binge and problem drinking do not consider the intent of the drinker. The results of this pilot study suggest that most people drink more than they intend to drink. Moreover, they also report often being surprised that they overdrank. Smartphones may help overdrinkers be less often surprised by overdrinking and may prevent drinkers from developing an alcohol use disorder.

Chronic stress and body composition disorders: implications for health and disease

Recent studies have suggested that body composition is key to health and disease. First, fat tissue is a complex, essential, and highly active metabolic and endocrine organ that responds to afferent signals from traditional hormone systems and the central nervous system but also expresses and secretes factors with important endocrine, metabolic, and immune functions. Second, skeletal muscle mass is an important predictor of health in adult life, while severe mass loss has been associated with the frailty of old age. Studies have shown that skeletal muscle is also an important endocrine organ that secretes factors with autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine actions, which have been associated with inflammatory processes. Third, the bone is also a systemic endocrine regulator playing a pivotal role in health and disease. Finally, proper hydration in humans has been neglected as a health factor, especially in adults. Chronic stress and stress hormone hypersecretion alone or associated with distinct disorders, such as anxiety, depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disorders, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), have been associated with psychological and somatic manifestations, typically, increased fat mass, osteosarcopenia/frailty, cellular dehydration, and chronic systemic inflammation. This review aims to provide new insights into the newly developed concept of stress-related osteosarcopenic obesity and its prevention.

Self-guided Change: The most common form of long-term, maintained health behavior change

Millions of people change risky, health-related behaviors and maintain those changes. However, they often take years to change, and their unhealthy behaviors may harm themselves and others and constitute a significant cost to society. A review-similar in nature to a scoping review-was done of the literature related to long-term health behavior change in six areas: alcohol, cocaine and heroin misuse, gambling, smoking, and overeating. Based on the limited research available, reasons for change and strategies for changing and for maintaining change were also reviewed. Fifty years of research clearly indicate that as people age, in the case of alcohol, heroin and cocaine misuse, smoking, and gambling, 80-90 percent moderate or stop their unhealthy behaviors. The one exception is overeating; only 20 percent maintain their weight loss. Most of these changes, when they occur, appear to be the result of self-guided change. More ways to accelerate self-guided, health-related behavior change need to be developed and disseminated.

Resting high-frequency heart rate variability moderates the association between early-life adversity and body adiposity

This study investigates resting high-frequency heart rate variability as a moderator of the association between early-life adversity and two measures of body adiposity. Data were collected from 149 young adults attending a large university in the Midwestern United States (M_age = 18.8 years; 45% black; 55% white; 56% female). Self-reported early-life adversity was associated with greater waist-to-height ratio and body mass index. The strength of these associations was moderated by high-frequency heart rate variability, such that the link was stronger for individuals with lower heart rate variability. Resting high-frequency heart rate variability thus has potential health significance as a biomarker of stress vulnerability.

Self-stigma and weight loss: The impact of fear of being stigmatized

This study sought to examine whether two facets of weight self-stigma (fear of enacted stigma and self-devaluation) were associated with weight change and treatment engagement for 188 individuals participating in a 3-month online weight loss program. Fear of enacted stigma predicted less weight loss 3 months later after controlling for demographics, eating problems, and psychological symptoms. Self-devaluation did not predict weight loss. Neither weight self-stigma variable predicted engagement in the online program. These results add to the literature indicating the negative effects of weight self-stigma while highlighting the central role of fear of being stigmatized by others in this process.

Body appreciation, anxiety, and depression among a racially diverse sample of women

This study aims to explore correlates between body appreciation and mental health among a racially and ethnically diverse sample of adult women using validated measures. The sample included racially and ethnically diverse women ( N = 497) from various socioeconomic levels. Linear regression results indicated that body appreciation was significantly and inversely associated with depression ( b = −3.68; p < 0.001). In this sample, as body appreciation increased, depression scores decreased. Similarly, body appreciation was significantly and inversely associated with anxiety among this sample ( b = −1.78; p < 0.001). This article concludes with a discussion of findings and implications.

Body dissatisfaction predicts inflammatory status in asymptomatic healthy individuals

Body dissatisfaction may play some role in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases. This study examined relations between body dissatisfaction and circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and anti-inflammatory adiponectin, and to explore positive changes in relevant lifestyle behaviour after these associations. A total of 33 asymptomatic overweight men and women were evaluated at the baseline and after a 6-month lifestyle behaviour intervention. Body dissatisfaction emerged as an important predictor of pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers and may promote the production of inflammatory cytokines by reducing the level of anti-inflammatory and increasing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Understanding obesity in the context of an Indigenous population-A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a progressive global phenomenon that is disparately prevalent amongst Indigenous populations. While there is a growing body of literature investigating the extrinsic contributors to obesity, there is a lack of evidence to elucidate intrinsic drivers in the context of an Indigenous population.

METHODS

Qualitative research theory, inclusive of Indigenous knowledge systems, was applied to the narratives of 15 Indigenous (Māori) people aged between 18 and 65 to contextualise their understandings of obesity.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed four intrinsic determinants for obesity expression that specifically relate to Indigenous peoples: (1) relationships and social connectedness; (2) holistic health including spiritual beliefs and cultural practices (Indigenous worldview); (3) historical trauma and the impacts of colonisation; and (4) the biomedical model of caloric restriction, diet and exercise were culturally insensitive, non-relatable, and were not significant drivers for engagement in healthier lifestyles.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Similar to non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous understandings of obesity are multi-factorial. What was unique about the findings of this study were insights into the importance of relational aspects and connectedness to each other and the environment, as determinants for obesity expression. This suggests that the current individualistic approaches of western medicine to obesity management are not culturally aligned with Indigenous peoples ways of being. Adopting an ontology of connectedness may represent a more culturally centred approach, and help build epistemological resilience to mitigate rising obesity incidence in Indigenous populations.

Global meaning in people with stroke: Content and changes

After a traumatic event like a stroke, people need to find meaning and control again. This study enhances knowledge on one of the driving principles behind meaning-making processes: global meaning. Global meaning refers to individuals' general orienting systems, comprising fundamental beliefs and life goals. Little is known about global meaning in people with stroke and whether global meaning changes after stroke. In this qualitative study, five aspects of global meaning were found: core values, relationships, worldview, identity and inner posture. Continuity in all aspects was reported, but worldview, identity and inner posture were also subjected to change.

Development and validation of the 'Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé': A motivation scale towards health-oriented physical activity in French

This article presents the validation of the 'Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé' including the six forms of motivation underlined by self-determination theory. Study 1 underlines the content validity of a pool of 30 items ( N = 20). Study 2 supports the six-factor structure validity of the 18-item Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé ( N = 309). Study 3 ( N = 191) confirms structure validity, as well as concurrent validity and 2-week temporal reliability. The Echelle de Motivation envers l'Activité Physique en contexte de Santé can be considered as a valid and reliable tool to use in prevention or rehabilitation contexts.

Obese children are thin in parents' eyes: A psychologically, socially, or culturally driven bias?

Although obesity presents a serious health problem in children, parents often underestimate their children's overweight and obesity status. Therefore, scientific literature was systematically screened through PubMed and PsycINFO to demonstrate the psychological, social, and cultural processes that underlie this evaluation bias. A total of 37 papers that focused on research conducted in different geopolitical contexts were taken into account. Furthermore, a lexicometric analysis of the papers' conclusions was performed. The findings showed that education plays a key role in promoting parents' awareness and their realistic recognition of their children's weight. Accordingly, adequate educational support for parents should be implemented in all healthcare policies addressing childhood obesity.

Body image dissatisfaction, physical activity and screen-time in Spanish adolescents

This cross-sectional study contributes to the literature on whether body dissatisfaction is a barrier/facilitator to engaging in physical activity and to investigate the impact of mass-media messages via computer-time on body dissatisfaction. High-school students ( N = 1501) reported their physical activity, computer-time (homework/leisure) and body dissatisfaction. Researchers measured students’ weight and height. Analyses revealed that body dissatisfaction was negatively associated with physical activity on both genders, whereas computer-time was associated only with girls’ body dissatisfaction. Specifically, as computer-homework increased, body dissatisfaction decreased; as computer-leisure increased, body dissatisfaction increased. Weight-related interventions should improve body image and physical activity simultaneously, while critical consumption of mass-media interventions should include a computer component.