Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio misclassification of overweight and obesity in Chinese military personnel

Lifestyle factors and psychological factors are associated with central pain processing in service members with persistent low-back pain: A cross-sectional exploratory study

Persistent low-back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent in the military. Altered central pain processing is one of the mechanisms found to underlie persistent LBP. Our aim was to explore which factors are associated with altered pain processing in Dutch service members with persistent LBP. This knowledge may guide clinicians in what factors to address in the treatment of dysfunctional pain processing in service members with persistent LBP. Twenty-one service members with persistent LBP (mean age 34.0 years, 18 males) were included in this cross-sectional exploratory study. Participants completed questionnaires regarding lifestyle and psychological factors. Altered central pain processing was measured by temporal summation of pain to examine the function of the pain facilitatory system and by conditioned pain modulation to examine the pain inhibitory function. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. A higher local temporal summation of pain was associated with a longer sitting time, a higher level of physical activity and a higher level of pain catastrophizing. A higher local conditioned pain modulation was associated with a higher level of pain catastrophizing, anxiety and depression symptoms, and with a lower sleep quality. A higher remote conditioned pain modulation effect was associated with a higher level of physical activity, a higher body mass index and a shorter sitting time. This study succeeded in identifying lifestyle and psychological factors associated with altered pain processing in service members with persistent LBP. Prospective studies are needed to examine causality in these relationships.

Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk: A Study of Polish Military Flying Personnel

(1) Background: Military personnel worldwide exhibit high rates of obesity. Obesity, and especially visceral obesity, contribute to various health issues, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While BMI is commonly used to diagnose obesity, it has limitations and does not consider factors like fat distribution or muscle mass. This study aims to assess the relationship between BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and cardiovascular risk factors in Polish military flying personnel. Methods: This study involved 200 men from the Polish Air Force aged 38.8 ± 8.5 years. Anthropometric tests, body composition tests, and tests of biochemical markers of CVD were conducted. (2) Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity varied based on the evaluation criterion; they were present in 63.5% of soldiers by BMI and in 52.5% by percent body fat; abdominal obesity was present in almost half (47%) of the surveyed soldiers according to WC and in 62.5% according to WHtR. All markers of obesity correlated positively with various biochemical markers of CVD, and 8.5% of subjects met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. (3) Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity in Polish military flying personnel, regardless of the evaluation criterion, is associated with significant metabolic complications in the form of lipid disorders and insulin resistance.

Body Mass Index is Associated with blood pressure and vital capacity in medical students

BACKGROUND

The widely reported associations between body mass index (BMI) and various chronic diseases, such as hypertension and asthma, have garnered significant attention. Nonetheless, there remains a dearth of research dedicated to understanding the health impacts of medical school on the students, who experience considerable academic pressure. In that context, this study was driven by the goal of investigating the intricate interplay between BMI, blood pressure (BP), and vital capacity among medical students.

METHODS

This study included a cohort of 843 medical students enrolled at Southern Medical University who were selected through random cluster sampling. Within this cohort, measurements of height, weight, BP, and vital capacity were taken. Subsequently, both BMI and vital capacity index (VCI) were calculated for each participant. By categorizing the subjects into four groups according to BMI classifications, a comprehensive analysis that included correlation assessments and binomial logistic regression was conducted.

RESULTS

Within the participant pool, 9.4% and 3.8% of participants were classified as overweight and obese, respectively. Additionally, the prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, and poor VCI was 18.1%, 2.7%, and 13.5%, respectively. Notably, male students exhibited a higher prevalence of the aforementioned health issues than their female counterparts. Correlation analysis revealed that BMI displayed positive associations with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and vital capacity (r = 0.372, 0.257, 0.428; P < 0.001). However, an inverse correlation emerged between BMI and VCI (r = -0.284, P < 0.001). Further analysis revealed that overweight and obese individuals faced an elevated risk of high blood pressure ([OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.15-3.67] and [OR 5.44, 95% CI 2.28-13.02], respectively) compared to their normal-weight counterparts. Moreover, these groups also exhibited a higher risk of poor VCI ([OR 5.25, 95% CI 3.04-9.06] and [OR 15.61, 95% CI 6.81-35.81], respectively), while underweight subjects experienced a reduced risk ([OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07-0.52]).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI demonstrated a notably strong positive correlation with both BP and vital capacity and a negative correlation with VCI. Therefore, for medical students as well as the daily health care of patients, weight control is recommended to better combat obesity-related diseases, for example, cardiopulmonary diseases, gout and diabetes.

Study on the Association Between Dietary Quality and Overweight/Obesity of Han Nationality with Cold in Yunnan Plateau by DBI-16 - A Study Based on a Multi-Ethnic Cohort in China

BACKGROUND

In recent years, with the rapidly development of economic globalization, residents' dietary structure has undergone major changes, and diet have emerged as an important environmental factors linked to the increased incidence of obesity. Therefore, evaluating the overall dietary quality and structure of residents, further clarifying the main dietary factors that lead to disease occurrence, is of great practical significance for disease prevention and control.

METHODS

Baseline data from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study (CMEC), Han people living in high-altitude and cold regions of Yunnan Province, which was 1518 participants. In this study, the dietary balance index (DBI-16) was used (i) To evaluate the dietary quality of Han nationality residents 30-79 years old in the Yunnan plateau; (ii) To analyze the correlation between the dietary quality and overweight/obesity; (iii) And to provide reference basis of nutritional intervention for local residents and explore the main dietary factors affecting their health status.

RESULTS

The dietary structure of the Han nationality residents in the cold regions of Yunnan plateau is unreasonable. Firstly, the intake of cereals, fruits, dairy, eggs and fishes is insufficient to varying degrees, while the intake of beans, poultry, and cooking oil is relatively high. Secondly, the dietary patterns of normal groups, the overweight and obese groups obeyed the A, E, H and I dietary patterns, and the serum Leptin and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) levels of the overweight and obese group were higher than the normal group between the different dietary patterns (P < 0.05, r > 0). Additionally, excessive dietary intake was positively correlated with a higher serum UCP1 level (P < 0.05, r > 0). In comparison, insufficient dietary intake was positively correlated with a higher serum A-FABP level (P < 0.05, r > 0).

CONCLUSION

Through the DBI-16, it is found that the dietary structure of the Han nationality residents in the cold regions of Yunnan plateau was in a serious imbalance state, and nutritional guidance and intervention should be further strengthened.

The role of skeletal muscle mass on cardiovascular disease risk: an emerging role on modulating lipid profile

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review was to present updated evidence on the role of skeletal muscle mass on cardiometabolic health.

RECENT FINDINGS

Increased lean, and especially skeletal, muscle mass has been associated with better cardiometabolic health in various epidemiological studies, even in younger age groups. In addition, the link between skeletal muscle mass and adult lipid profile is of interest. A preliminary analysis using the data from the ATTICA prospective cohort study (2002-2022) supports this association.

SUMMARY

Skeletal muscle mass has many metabolic functions (i.e., glucose, insulin and protein metabolism, mitochondrial function, arterial stiffness, inflammation, oxidative stress, brain function, hormone status). Given its associations with the lipid profile and overall cardiometabolic risk, skeletal muscle mass stands among the emerging risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In addition to only using body mass index or fat distribution, more studies should evaluate lean mass and its prognostic and predictive ability regarding chronic diseases.

BMI Alterations and Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Related to Service Duration at the German Armed Forces

The aim of this study was to assess body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity at entry and release of service at the German Armed Forces and related associations to service duration. In a cohort study, 85,076 paired BMI data sets (entry and release of service) of German soldiers (5.4% females) between 2010 to 2022 were analyzed retrospectively to assess BMI alterations and the prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) after service durations of ≤2 years, 2−5 years, or ≥5 years. Between 2010 and 2022, we observed a trend for BMI increases of about 0.5 kg/m2 (X2 = 27.104, p = 0.007). BMI increases differed significantly (X2 = 7622.858, p < 0.001) after ≤2 years (0.0 kg/m2), after 2−5 years (1.1 kg/m2), and after ≥5 years (2.4 kg/m2) and were correlated to service duration (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). The prevalence of overweight increased from 33.0% to 39.5%. Obesity prevalence increased from 3.7% to 6.3%. The switch to obesity was more pronounced for longer service durations. Although secular trends for BMI increases among soldiers were in line with the general population, service duration was related to BMI increases. Especially, the service time depending on pronounced prevalence of obesity should be a matter of debate leading to counteracting measures at the German Armed Forces.

The associations between body composition and vital capacity index of medical students in Shenyang of China: a cross-sectional survey

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the associations between body composition and vital capacity index (VCI) among medical students of Shenyang, China.

Study design

The design of this study is a cross-sectional study.

Methods

Participants were 2063 individuals (17–25 years) from a medical college in Shenyang, who participated in this survey from April to May 2017. Height, weight, fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), protein mass (PM), total body water (TBW), mineral mass (MM), vital capacity were measured, then BMI and VCI were calculated. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of body composition on VCI of participants in different genders. In addition, subgroup analysis was carried out according to BMI levels.

Results

Male students showed significantly higher height, weight, BMI, FFM, PM, TBW, MM, VC, and VCI, but lower FM in comparison with female students. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that in both sexes FM was negatively correlated with VCI which represents pulmonary function (r < 0; P < 0.001). After dividing the whole participants by BMI, further correlation analysis showed FM was positively correlated with VCI only for male subgroups with BMI < 18.5 (r > 0; P = 0.050).

Conclusion

Overall, FM is highly negatively correlated with the VCI of Chinese medical students of both genders. However, there was a positive correlation between FM and VCI among low-weight male students.

American football position-specific neurometabolic changes in high school athletes - a magnetic resonance spectroscopic study

Reports estimate between 1.6-3.8 million sports-related concussions occur annually, with 30% occurring in youth male American football athletes. Many studies report neurophysiological changes in these athletes, but the exact reasons for these changes remain elusive. Investigation of injury mechanics highlights a need to address how player position might impact these changes. Here, 55 high school American football athletes (20 linemen; 35 non-linemen) underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy four times over the course of a football season (once prior to the season (Pre), twice during (In1, In2), and once following (Post)) to quantify metabolites (N-acetyl aspartate, choline, creatine, myo-inositol, and glutamate/glutamine) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and primary motor cortex (M1). Head acceleration events (HAEs) were monitored at each practice and game. Spectroscopic and HAE data were analyzed by imaging session and player position. Linear regression analyses were conducted between metabolite levels and HAEs, and metabolite levels in football athletes were compared to age-and gender-matched non-contact athletes. Across-season (i.e., between Pre and In1, In2, Post), different DLPFC and M1 metabolites decreased (p<0.05) according to player position (i.e., linemen vs. non-linemen). The majority of regression results involved DLPFC metabolites in linemen, where metabolite levels were higher, from Pre to Post, with increasing HAE load. Comparisons with control athletes revealed higher metabolite levels in football athletes both before and after the season. This study highlights the importance of player position when conducting analyses on American football athletes and demonstrates elevated DLPFC and M1 brain metabolites in football athletes compared to control athletes at both Pre and Post, suggesting potential HAE-related neurocompensatory mechanisms.

Assessment of Risk Factors for Development of Overweight and Obesity among Soldiers of Polish Armed Forces Participating in the National Health Programme 2016-2020

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish Armed Forces soldiers and to analyze risk factors impacting body mass. In total, 1096 male, Caucasian soldiers (36.31 ± 8.03 years) participated in this study. Anthropometric data were obtained, and questionnaires evaluated sociodemographic, environmental, behavioral and biological factors known to be associated with obesity. Only 33% of the total number of participants had normal body weight, and 17.3% were considered obese (according to WHO criteria). The results showed that being 40 years or older, sleeping six hours or less per day, more frequent reaching for food in stressful situations, having a mother with excessive body weight, not exercising or exercising at most two days per week, and spending two hours a day or more in front of the TV increase the risk of obesity. Taken together, the results show that factors such as family history of obesity, dietary habits, physical activity, length of sleep and ability to cope with stress could be used to identify soldiers at higher risk of developing obesity in order to provide them with personalized prevention programs.

Body mass index and glioma risk: A prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

The association between glioma risk and body mass index (BMI) remains obscure.

METHODS

This study aimed to assess the association between glioma risk and BMI in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The onset of a total of 269 gliomas was observed during a median follow-up period of 12.04 years. Compared with the normal weight, overweight (HR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.80, 1.39) and obesity (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.39) were not significantly associated with glioma risk. Further analysis showed a nonlinear relationship between glioma risk and BMI in men but not women. The multivariable-adjusted HRs per unit increase in BMI were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.00; P = 0.037) in men with BMI >25 kg/m² and 1.16 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.38; P = 0.075) in men with BMI <25 kg/m².

CONCLUSION

The present data provide evidence that there may be a nonlinear association between BMI and glioma risk in men. The risk of glioma decreased with increasing BMI among men with BMI >25 kg/m². Future studies are needed to validate our observation.