Associations between diet, physical activity and body fat distribution: a cross sectional study in an Indian population

Urbanization and Unfavorable Changes in Metabolic Profiles: A Prospective Cohort Study of Indonesian Young Adults

The substantial increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Indonesia might be driven by rapid socio-economic development through urbanization. Here, we carried out a longitudinal 1-year follow-up study to evaluate the effect of urbanization, an important determinant of health, on metabolic profiles of young Indonesian adults. University freshmen/women in Jakarta, aged 16−25 years, who either had recently migrated from rural areas or originated from urban settings were studied. Anthropometry, dietary intake, and physical activity, as well as fasting blood glucose and insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured at baseline and repeated at one year follow-up. At baseline, 106 urban and 83 rural subjects were recruited, of which 81 urban and 66 rural were followed up. At baseline, rural subjects had better adiposity profiles, whole-body insulin resistance, and adipokine levels compared to their urban counterparts. After 1-year, rural subjects experienced an almost twice higher increase in BMI than urban subjects (estimate (95%CI): 1.23 (0.94; 1.52) and 0.69 (0.43; 0.95) for rural and urban subjects, respectively, Pint < 0.01). Fat intake served as the major dietary component, which partially mediates the differences in BMI between urban and rural group at baseline. It also contributed to the changes in BMI over time for both groups, although it does not explain the enhanced gain of BMI in rural subjects. A significantly higher increase of leptin/adiponectin ratio was also seen in rural subjects after 1-year of living in an urban area. In conclusion, urbanization was associated with less favorable changes in adiposity and adipokine profiles in a population of young Indonesian adults.

Validity and Relative Validity of Alternative Methods of Assessing Physical Activity in Epidemiologic Studies: Findings From the Men's Lifestyle Validation Study

In the Men's Lifestyle Validation Study (2011-2013), we examined the validity and relative validity of a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ), a Web-based 24-hour recall (Activities Completed Over Time in 24 Hours (ACT24)), and an accelerometer by multiple comparison methods. Over the course of 1 year, 609 men completed 2 PAQs, two 7-day accelerometer measurements, at least 1 doubly labeled water (DLW) physical activity level (PAL) measurement (n = 100 with repeat measurements), and 4 ACT24s; they also measured their resting pulse rate. A subset (n = 197) underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (n = 99 with repeated measurements). The method of triads was used to estimate correlations with true activity using DLW PAL, accelerometry, and the PAQ or ACT24 as alternative comparison measures. Estimated correlations of the PAQ with true activity were 0.60 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.52, 0.68) for total activity, 0.69 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.79) for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.93) for vigorous activity. Corresponding correlations for total activity were 0.53 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.63) for the average of 4 ACT24s and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.75) for accelerometry. Total activity and MVPA measured by PAQ, ACT24, and accelerometry were all significantly correlated with body fat percentage and resting pulse rate, which are physiological indicators of physical activity. Using a combination of comparison methods, we found the PAQ and accelerometry to have moderate validity for assessing physical activity, especially MVPA, in epidemiologic studies.

Does engagement in frequent physical activity improve diabetes mellitus among older adults in India? A propensity score matching approach

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Diabetes is a major chronic condition and was identified as one of the four priority non-communicable diseases that the United Nations targeted because of its increasing disease burden. The present study aims to examine the impact of physical activity on improving diabetes mellitus among older adults in India.

METHODS

This study utilizes data from India's first nationally representative longitudinal ageing survey (2017-18). Descriptive along with bivariate analysis was used to present the preliminary results. Additionally, Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used.

RESULTS

About 14% of older adults suffered from diabetes. Eighteen percent of older adults did frequent physical activity. The estimated average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) values in treated and control groups were 0.123 and 0.147, respectively, indicating that the prevalence of diabetes among older adults was reduced by 2.5% points because of frequent physical activity. The average treatment effect on the untreated (ATU) results indicates that among older adults who did not do frequent physical activity, if they did frequent physical activity, the prevalence of diabetes is likely to decrease by 2.2% points.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that frequent physical activity is associated with a lower risk of diabetes in older adults. The results underscore the need to develop strategies of promoting an active lifestyle by maintaining physical activity to combat the diabetes epidemic in the older population.

Spatial distribution of various forms of malnutrition among reproductive age women in Nepal: A Bayesian geoadditive quantile regression approach

Addressing both the under-and over-nutritional status of women is an eminent challenge for developing countries like Nepal. This paper examined a critical analysis of factors associated with various forms of malnutrition using Bayesian geoadditive quantile regression approach and assessed spatial variations of malnutrition among Nepalese women using Asian cut-off values. Data drawn from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey was utilized to assess the spatial distributions of underweight, overweight and obesity at the provincial level. Spatial and nonlinear components were estimated using Markov random fields and Bayesian P-splines, respectively. The analysis of 4,338 women confirmed that women living in extremely urbanized areas and in Province 1, Province 3, and Province 4 were more likely to be overweight/obese. Similarly, the likelihood of being underweight was prominently high among women residing in rural municipality and women residing in Province 2 and Province 7. Women from the richest and richer quintiles, and with primary education were more likely to be obese. Furthermore, currently-working women and women having access to protected water source were less likely to be obese while improved toilet and access to electricity facility were associated with obesity. Women with access to newspaper and radio were less prone to obesity. Inconsistent distribution of under- and over-nutrition existed in Nepal, given that the high prevalence of overweight/obesity among women living in metropolitan and undernutrition among rural women. Specific intervention measures, addressing location-specific nutrition issues are urgent. Rigorous implementation of strategies incorporated in the national nutrition plan is called for to curb the burden of overweight/obesity. Involving mass media to promote healthier lifestyle and nutritious food could be advantageous at the population level, especially in rural municipalities.

The Potential Benefit of Monitoring Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

The significant increase in worldwide morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) indicates that the efficacy of existing strategies addressing this crisis may need improvement. Early identification of the metabolic irregularities associated with the disease process may be a key to developing early intervention strategies. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are well established drivers of the development of several NCDs, but the impact of such behaviours on health can vary considerably between individuals. How can it be determined if an individual's unique set of lifestyle behaviours is producing disease? Accumulating evidence suggests that lifestyle-associated activation of oxidative and inflammatory processes is primary driver of the cell and tissue damage which underpins the development of NCDs. However, the benefit of monitoring subclinical inflammation and oxidative activity has not yet been established. After reviewing relevant studies in this context, we suggest that quantification of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers during the disease-free prodromal stage of NCD development may have clinical relevance as a timely indicator of the presence of subclinical metabolic changes, in the individual, portending the development of disease. Monitoring markers of oxidative and inflammatory activity may therefore enable earlier and more efficient strategies to both prevent NCD development and/or monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Relationships of Physical Activity and Diet Quality with Body Composition and Fat Distribution in US Adults

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationships among physical activity (PA), diet quality, body composition, and fat distribution in a representative sample of US adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using publicly accessible data from the 2011 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (n = 7,423). Variables from the data sets were analyzed for this study, including PA, two 24-hour dietary recalls, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry outputs.

RESULTS

For men, PA and diet quality were inversely associated with the percentage of body fat (β = -0.0042, 95% CI: -0.0084 to -0.0001; β = -0.28, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.14) and fat mass index (β = -0.0125, 95% CI: -0.0209 to -0.0041; β = -0.56, 95% CI: -0.81 to -0.32); meeting the PA recommendation and having good diet quality provided an additive effect on body fat. A similar pattern was observed in women. Additionally, diet quality was inversely associated with all fat distribution measures in both sexes, whereas PA was positively associated with lean mass measures in men only.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased PA and/or better diet quality were associated with reduced body fat, a healthier fat distribution, and increased lean mass. Further research examining how changes in PA or diet quality influence body composition and fat distribution in adults is warranted.

A cardiovascular disease risk factor in children with congenital heart disease: unmasking elevated waist circumference - a CHAMPS* study *CHAMPS: Children's Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan

BACKGROUND

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have an elevated risk of future cardiovascular disease but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Abdominal obesity (measured as waist circumference) is a risk factor for adult onset of cardiovascular diseases and is correlated with low physical activity levels, commonly found in children with congenital heart disease. Elevated waist circumference may be a mechanism by which cardiovascular disease risk is elevated in children with CHD. The purpose of this study was to compare waist circumference between children with and without CHD, while considering potential confounders. We hypothesized that children with CHD would have higher measures of waist circumference when controlling for differences in birthweight, lean mass, and physical activity.

METHODS

Thirty-two children with CHD (10.9 ± 2.6 years; 12 female) from the Children's Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan, and 23 healthy controls (11.7 ± 2.5 years; 10 female) were studied. Waist circumference, physical activity (physical activity questionnaire), body composition (lean mass; dual x-ray absorptiometry), and birthweight were assessed. Analysis of covariance, Mann-Whitney U, and independent sample t-tests were used to assess group differences (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Children with CHD had greater waist circumference than controls, controlling for lean mass, physical activity, birthweight, and sex (F (1, 49) = 4.488, p = 0.039). Physical activity, lean mass, and birthweight were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings generate a novel hypothesis-higher waist circumferences in children with CHD compared to age-matched controls, may contribute to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

The association between physical activity and body fat percentage with adjustment for body mass index among middle-aged adults: China health and nutrition survey in 2015

BACKGROUND

The inverse association between physical activity and body fat percentage (%) varies among different populations. We aim to examine whether the significant association between them was uniform across the subpopulations after taking into account body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

Our study relied on data from China Health and Nutrition Surveys in 2015, including 5763 participants aged 40-64 years from 15 regions. Physical activity was calculated as metabolic equivalent task hours per day (MET·h/d). Body fat% was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Body mass index < 24 kg/m2 was defined as normal weight and BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 was overweight/obese. The effects of physical activity on body fat% were estimated using the Kruskal-Wallis test among sex, age, BMI groups, education, income, region and urbanization. Quantile regression analyses were utilized to describe the relationship between physical activity and body fat% distribution.

RESULTS

Older adults, overweight/obese, higher education, higher income, residents of central China and those living in areas of higher urbanization had the lower physical activity. Participants who engaged in the highest level of physical activity had 2.0 and 1.5% lower body fat% than the lowest level of physical activity group (23.4, 34.8%) for men and women, respectively. There were 10.4 and 8.8% of normal weight males and females called normal weight obese. Overall, 1 h extra 4.5 MET•h/d was significantly associated with 0.079 and 0.110% less total body fat% at the 75th and 90th percentiles in normal weight males, with 0.071% less at the 25th percentiles in overweight/obese males, with 0.046-0.098% less at the 25th to 90th percentiles in normal weight females, and with 0.035-0.037% less from the 50th to 90th percentiles in overweight/obese females. The inverse association between physical activity and total body fat% was stronger in normal weight obese participants than other subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

In middle-aged Chinese adults, the inverse association between physical activity and body fat% was only in particular subpopulations rather than the entire population. We should pay much attention to normal weight obese and give a suitable physical activity guideline taking into account people with different body fat%.

Association Between Diet, Physical Activity and Body Mass Index, Fat Mass Index and Bone Mineral Density of Soldiers of the Polish Air Cavalry Units

Research from recent years indicates a problem of excessive body weight among soldiers, who, due to the kind of work carried out, should possess good health and fitness levels. The aim of the study was to determine the association between diet and physical activity and the nutritional status of soldiers of the Polish Air Cavalry Units. One hundred and twenty male soldiers (aged 28 ± 5 years) completed a questionnaire (food frequency questionnaire, long-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and bone calcification of the forearm was assessed by the DXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) densitometric method. This study confirmed the association between both the diet and physical activity and body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), and bone mineral density (BMD) expressed as T-score. Significant negative correlations were found between BMI and the frequency of consumption of cereal products, meat products and fish, and nonalcoholic beverages, between FMI and cereal products, and between BMD T-score and meat products and fish, fat, nuts, and grains, sweets and snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages. Physical activity expressed as metabolic equivalent (MET-minutes/week) negatively correlated with FMI (but not BMI) and positively correlated with the BMD T-score. This study confirmed numerous irregularities in eating behavior and in nutritional status indices; therefore, there is a need for nutritional education and further monitoring of both dietary behaviors and nutritional status of soldiers.

Anthropometric Obesity Indices, Body Fat Percentage, and Grip Strength in Young Adults with different Physical Activity Levels

The purposes of this study were to determine whether moderately physically active (MPA) and highly physically active (HPA) male (n = 96, age = 22.5 ± 1.7 years) and female (n = 85, age = 21.3 ± 1.6 years) young adults differed in their anthropometric obesity indices (AOIs), body fat percentage (BF%), and muscular strength, and also to examine the associations between physical activity level (PAL) and the abovementioned variables. Participants were measured for body height and weight, BF%, waist and hip circumferences, and maximal isometric grip strength. According to their PAL, estimated by the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, they were assigned to MPA and HPA subgroups. Regardless of gender, results indicated that participants in the MPA groups had significantly higher values of body weight, waist and hip circumference, BF%, and BMI than participants in the HPA groups. No significant differences were found between physical activity groups in terms of grip strength. The AOIs and BF% were found to be significantly and negatively correlated with the PAL in both genders. In conclusion, the findings of the study suggest that high habitual physical activity is associated with lower adiposity markers. However, the differences in the hand grip strength of the contrasting activity groups were negligible.

Illustration of Measurement Error Models for Reducing Bias in Nutrition and Obesity Research Using 2-D Body Composition Data

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to illustrate the use and value of measurement error models for reducing bias when evaluating associations between body fat and having type 2 diabetes (T2D) or being physically active.

METHODS

Logistic regression models were used to evaluate T2D and physical activity among adults aged 19 to 80 years from the Photobody Study (n = 558). Self-reported T2D and physical activity were categorized as "yes" or "no." Body fat measured by two-dimensional photographs was adjusted for bias using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans as a reference. Three approaches were applied: regression calibration (RC), simulation extrapolation (SIMEX), and multiple imputation (MI).

RESULTS

Unadjusted two-dimensional measures of body fat had upward biases of 30% and 233% for physical activity and T2D, respectively. For the physical activity model, RC-adjusted values had a 13% upward bias, whereas MI and SIMEX decreased the bias to 9% and 91%, respectively. For the T2D model, MI reduced the bias to 0%, whereas RC and SIMEX increased the upward bias to > 300%.

CONCLUSIONS

Of three statistical approaches to reducing bias due to measurement errors, MI performed best in comparison to RC and SIMEX. Measurement error methods can improve the reliability of analyses that look for relations between body fat measures and health outcomes.

Smartphone use while eating increases caloric ingestion

The use of smartphones during meals may possibly influence the number of ingested calories. We evaluated the influence of smartphones' distraction during eating on caloric intake. Physical (masticatory parameters, sex and body mass index - BMI); environmental (with or without distraction) and psychological (stress levels) variables were evaluated as confounding factors. Sixty-two adults were recruited for experimental snack tests performed on four different days. At baseline, we evaluated masticatory performance, swallowing threshold, masticatory frequency and body mass index (BMI). In the following three sessions, volunteers were presented a snack test in which participants ate under three experimental conditions: no distraction, using their smartphones, or reading a printed text. At the end of each session, total and nutritional compound stratified caloric intake was measured. Three-way mixed model ANOVA was used to test the effect of experimental condition on the total, carbohydrate and lipid caloric intakes. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the influence of confounding factors on the total caloric intake. We found an effect of the condition (no distraction, smartphone or reading) on the total caloric (p = .007) and lipid intake (p = .002). When eating without distraction, the mean caloric intake was 535 (±164) kcal, in comparison to 591 (±203) kcal using smartphone (p = .05) and 622 (±226) kcal (p = .002) reading a text (no significant difference between distracters). Eating with distracters increased approximately 15% caloric ingestion. An interaction condition*sex effect was observed on lipid intake (p = .020). Energy intake was found to be dependent on sex and age, in which older men ingested more calories. Smartphone use during a meal increased caloric and lipid intake, depending on sex and age in young adults with complete dentition.

Analyzing the distinguishing factors that affect childhood obesity in South Korea

Understanding obesity in children is crucial because it can lead to adulthood obesity and result in fatal chronic diseases. Distinctive factors associated with obesity in adults have been described, but distinctive factors related to children remain unclear. We analyzed the correlation between the percentage of body mass index and lifestyle habits by conducting surveys on physical, nutritional, and psychological factors, and we used annual physical examination data to compare different traits among elementary school students (n = 197) and middle school students (n = 461). Our study revealed that the computing hours in elementary school students with overweight and obesity were significantly correlated with the percentage of body mass index (r = 0.29 on school days and r = 0.35 on days off, all P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found (all P > 0.05) in the computing hours of middle school students with overweight and obesity. Childhood obesity can cause depression and reduce children's quality of life because of their distorted body perception. In conclusion, physical factors directly affecting childhood obesity and psychological and environmental factors surrounding a child should be considered.

Prediction of body fat loss in relation to change in nutrient intake among housewives participating in the MyBFF@home study

BACKGROUND

Diet compositions are likely to be one of the influential factors for body fat deposition. The aim of this paper was to determine the nutrient changes and its association to body fat loss among the overweight and obese housewives in the MyBFF@home study.

METHODS

Data of participants in the MyBFF@home study (intervention and control groups) were analysed. Participants in the intervention group received personalised dietary counselling consisted of reduced calorie diet 1200-1500 kcal/day, while the control group was assigned to receive women's health seminars. The dietary assessment was done during the intervention phase at baseline, 1 month (m), 2 m, 3 m and 6 m using a 3-day food diary. Body fat was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyser (In-body 720) at baseline and at the end of the intervention phase. The mean differences of nutrient intake and body compositions during the intervention phase were measured with paired t-test. The changes in body fat and nutrients intake were calculated by subtracting baseline measurements from those taken at 6 months. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which the changes in each gram of nutrients per 1000 kcal were predictive of changes in body fat mass.

RESULTS

There were significant reductions in energy, all macronutrients, dietary fibre, calcium and iron intake in both study groups after the intervention phase (p <  0.05). In the intervention group, body fat loss increased with the reduction of each gram of carbohydrate, protein and fat per 1000 kcal, (p <  0.05), and decreased with the reduction of each gram of calcium and fibre intake per 1000 kcal (p <  0.05). In the control group, body fat loss increased with the reduction of each gram fat per 1000 kcal (p <  0.05) and decreased with the reduction of each gram iron per 1000 kcal.

CONCLUSION

Changes in the intake of various nutrients have different effects on body fat loss between the intervention and control group.

The independent associations of protein consumption with body fat and glycaemic control in adult Chinese

PURPOSE

High-protein diets were popular in weight control. However, the role of protein intake in adiposity and related metabolic conditions among general populations is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the associations of protein intake with adiposity and glycaemic control among adult Chinese in a nationwide population-based survey.

METHODS

The data were from China Health and Nutrition Survey 2009. A total of 9360 men and women aged 18 years or older were included. Body fat percentage was calculated using validated Chinese-specific equations. Dietary intake levels of macronutrients were evaluated by food-weighing approach combined with a 3-day food intake recall.

RESULTS

Averagely, our participants have 12.5% energy intake from dietary protein. With multivariate adjustment including total energy intake, the odds ratios (95% CIs) of excessive adiposity (body fat percentage ≥ 20/30% for men/women), and central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 90/80 cm for men/women) were 1.51 (1.30, 1.75) and 1.40 (1.21, 1.62), respectively, comparing extreme quintiles of relative protein intake, while fat and carbohydrate were not associated with adiposity indices. Moreover, higher relative protein intake was associated with elevated concentration of fasting glucose (β ± SE: 1.233 ± 0.583), fasting insulin (23.211 ± 9.191), glycated hemoglobin (1.057 ± 0.369), and insulin resistance indicated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (7.558 ± 2.928) (all P < 0.05). Further adjusting for body mass index attenuated the associations.

CONCLUSION

In Chinese adults, higher habitual protein consumption may be associated with higher adiposity and worse glycaemic control, independent of total energy intake.

Impact of dietary nutrient intake and physical activity on body composition and growth in Indian children

BackgroundTo investigate interrelationships of dietary composition and physical activity (PA) with growth and body composition (BC) in urban Indian school children.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed in 4,747 Indian school children (2,623 boys) aged 3-18 years. Weight, height, BC by body impedance analyzer, PA and dietary food intakes by questionnaire method were recorded.ResultsMean daily energy and protein intakes as recommended dietary allowance were significantly lower in both boys and girls (P<0.01) above 6 years, with 55% reduction in micronutrient intakes in older children. When compared with World Health Organization references, lower heights in pubertal boys and girls were related to dietary energy and protein intake. Multiple regression analysis showed positive association of height for age z-scores (HAZ) with midparental height z-scores (β=0.45, P=0.0001) and protein density (β=0.103, P=0.014). HAZ was negatively associated with inactivity (β=-0.0001, P=0.049) in boys and girls (R²=0.104, P<0.01). Further, body fat percentage was negatively correlated with moderate or light activity and antioxidant intakes (P<0.01) but not with dietary fat intake. Percentage muscle mass was positively correlated with moderate activity and negatively with inactivity (P<0.05).ConclusionAdequacy of protein and antioxidant intakes, reducing inactivity and increasing moderate activity are essential for optimal growth and body composition in Indian children.

Influence of Childhood and Adolescent Fat Development on Fat Mass Accrual During Emerging Adulthood: A 20-Year Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

Fat mass and the prevalence of overweight/obesity (OWO) increase during emerging adulthood (EA; 18-25 years). The factors that contribute to the transition from having healthy weight to having OWO during EA are understudied. This study aimed to identify the independent effect of concurrent physical activity (PA) and energy intake (EI) and childhood/adolescent fat accrual, PA, and EI on EA fat accrual.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-six participants (59 male) were measured serially between 1991 and 2011. Measures included age, height, weight, total body and trunk fat mass (TBF and TrF, in grams) derived from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and PA and EI. Composite childhood/adolescent z scores were calculated for each participant (average mean z score) for TBF, TrF, PA, and EI. Multilevel random-effects models were developed.

RESULTS

EA fat accrual was predicted by childhood and adolescent TBF and TrF z score (0.30 ± 0.05, P < 0.05), respectively, in both sexes. Concurrent PA (-0.06 ± 0.02, P < 0.05) was significant in males only.

CONCLUSIONS

These results underscore the importance of maintaining a lower TBF and TrF during childhood and adolescence, and a higher level of PA in order to mitigate TBF and TrF accrual and prevent the transition from having healthy weight to having OWO during EA.

Dietary fat intake associated with bone mineral density among visfatin genotype in obese people

Osteoporosis and adipose tissue are closely related with many contradictions. Visfatin is an adipokine that is related to osteoporosis and adiposity. This nutrigenomics study examined the interaction between visfatin genotypes and dietary fat intake, with regard to bone mineral density (BMD) among an obese population. In this cross-sectional study, 336 subjects were enrolled; the mean age was 38·25 (sd 11·69) years and the mean BMI was 31·79 (sd 4·77) kg/m2. Laboratory measurements were lipid profile, insulin and fasting blood sugar. Bone density measurements were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary data were collected through a 3-d 24-h dietary recall. Genotyping for visfatin gene SNP (rs2110385) was performed by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The frequency of GG, GT and TT genotypes were 33·92 48·51 and 17·54 %, respectively, and 86·6 % of participants were women. The results showed that subjects with TT genotypes had significantly higher lumbar BMD, T score and z score (P<0·0001). After categorisation by percentage of fat intake (30 % of total energy content as a cut-off point), no interaction was found, but when categorised by fat types, we found an interaction between visfatin genotypes and dietary PUFA intake in terms of the hip T score and z score (P=0·043, B= -0·08; P=0·04, B= -0·078, respectively). There was a significant relationship between high PUFA intake and lower energy and protein intake. When participants were categorised by median PUFA intake (22·8 g), it was concluded that subjects with GG genotype who had high PUFA-intake diets had lower hip z scores and T scores, unlike the other genotypes.

Being fat and smart: A comparative analysis of the fat-brain trade-off in mammals

Humans stand out among non-aquatic mammals by having both an extremely large brain and a relatively large amount of body fat. To understand the evolution of this human peculiarity we report a phylogenetic comparative study of 120 mammalian species, including 30 primates, using seasonal variation in adult body mass as a proxy of the tendency to store fat. Species that rely on storing fat to survive lean periods are expected to be less active because of higher costs of locomotion and have increased predation risk due to reduced agility. Because a fat-storage strategy reduces the net cognitive benefit of a large brain without reducing its cost, such species should be less likely to evolve a larger brain than non-fat-storing species. We therefore predict that the two strategies to buffer food shortages (storing body fat and cognitive flexibility) are compensatory, and therefore predict negative co-evolution between relative brain size and seasonal variation in body mass. This trade-off is expected to be stronger in predominantly arboreal species than in more terrestrial ones, as the cost of transporting additional adipose depots is higher for climbing than for horizontal locomotion. We did, indeed, find a significant negative correlation between brain size and coefficient of variation (CV) in body mass in both sexes for the subsample of arboreal species, both in all mammals and within primates. In predominantly terrestrial species, in contrast, this correlation was not significant. We therefore suggest that the adoption of habitually terrestrial locomotor habits, accompanied by a reduced reliance on climbing, has allowed for a primate of our body size the unique human combination of unusually large brains and unusually large adipose depots.

Relationships Between Anthropometric Measurements and Intraocular Pressure: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PURPOSE

To evaluate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and various anthropometric measures.

DESIGN

A population-based cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A total of 5008 participants, 2080 men and 2928 women ≥19 years of age were included from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V database, focusing on the years 2010 and 2011. We selected IOP in the right eye of a normal healthy population as the outcome variable of our study. We analyzed the relationship between IOP and anthropometric parameters using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry by sex. Lean body mass was calculated as total body mass minus fat mass. We used general linear models and logistic regression analysis to evaluate risk factors of high IOP. Our main outcome measure was correlation between anthropometric data and IOP.

RESULTS

In multivariate general linear models, greater body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were correlated with higher IOP for both men (BMI, β = 0.053, P = .026; waist circumference, β = 0.016, P = .067) and women (BMI, β = 0.074, P < .001; waist circumference, β = 0.028, P < .001). Greater fat mass (β = 0.027, P = .037) and fat mass/lean body mass (β = 1.170, P = .06) were correlated with higher IOP, while greater lean body mass/weight (β = -3.188, P = .025), lean body mass/BMI (β = -1.379, P = .002), appendicular skeletal muscle mass/BMI (β = -2.270, P = .022), and bone mineral content/BMI (β = -11.653, P = .031) were correlated with lower IOP in women, but not in men (P > .10).

CONCLUSIONS

In healthy women, greater fat mass was associated with higher IOP, and greater muscle mass was associated with lower IOP after adjusting for weight and BMI. Fat and muscle influenced IOP in women independently.

Associations between body composition, nutrition, and physical activity in young adults

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study is to investigate the associations between total energy, macronutrient intakes, and physical activity (PA) and body composition by assessing body fat mass, fat-free mass, and BMI in a population of young adults.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 605 young Spanish adults (median age 20.38 ± 2.67). Body composition, including fat mass and fat-free mass, was calculated with body composition analyzer. Daily energy and macronutrient intakes were measured using a 72-h recall method. The International PA Questionnaire was used to assess PA and sedentary time. Linear regression analyses were performed to test the possible associations between nutrition, PA factors, and body composition.

RESULTS

Linear regression analyses revealed that BMI has a significant positive association with protein intake (P = .004, B = 0.088, 95% CI 0.028-0.149) and an inverse association with carbohydrate intake (P = 0.034, B = -0.027, 95% CI -0.053 - -0.002). Protein intake also demonstrated a significant association with fat-free mass, but the size of the effect was smaller (P = .027, B = 96.965, 95% CI 11.250-182.679). There was evidence of a positive association between total PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (P < .001, B = 15.630, 95% CI 6.989 -24.270) and fat-free mass (P < .001, B = 20.208, 95% CI 9.694 -30.723). When fat mass was used as the outcome variable, there was no evidence of any association with the PA, total energy, and macronutrient intakes variables analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that PA variables were consistently associated with body composition, specifically fat-free mass. Dietary factors also have influence over body composition; we showed that protein intake is significantly associated with fat-free mass and BMI.