Associations between Meal Companions and Obesity in South Korean Adults

Association of behavior pattern with overweight and obesity in South Korean adults-A multi correspondence analysis (KNHANES-2018-2020)

The objective was to determine the association between health-related behaviour with overweight and obesity in South Korean adults by using the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2018-2020. The study participants were 16,784 aged ≥ 20years. The variables were socio-demographic, lifestyle, food habits and metabolic conditions. The logistic regression analysis performed to find the association by the odds ratio (OR, 95% CI). MCA performed to identify risk factors were computed for overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with health behaviour, high income (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.15-1.39), smoking(OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.08-1.53), low physical activity(OR = 3.23; 95% CI: 1.79-4.69), diabetes(OR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.62-4.50), high cholesterol and low HDL(OR = 3.98; 95%CI:2.65-5.97). The high discriminant variables of MCA were aged over 60years, lower education, high income, diabetes, lack of physical activity, and high cholesterol. The findings confirm that the OR of obesity and overweight was likely associated with health behaviour patterns. Besides, it indicates the MCA would be very effective to identify the population-based data context than individual data and it may suggest that more research on association between health behaviours and obesity prevention interventions should be developed for each age group for better health outcomes.

Insights into the constellating drivers of satiety impacting dietary patterns and lifestyle

Food intake and body weight regulation are of special interest for meeting today's lifestyle essential requirements. Since balanced energy intake and expenditure are crucial for healthy living, high levels of energy intake are associated with obesity. Hence, regulation of energy intake occurs through short- and long-term signals as complex central and peripheral physiological signals control food intake. This work aims to explore and compile the main factors influencing satiating efficiency of foods by updating recent knowledge to point out new perspectives on the potential drivers of satiety interfering with food intake regulation. Human internal factors such as genetics, gender, age, nutritional status, gastrointestinal satiety signals, gut enzymes, gastric emptying rate, gut microbiota, individual behavioral response to foods, sleep and circadian rhythms are likely to be important in determining satiety. Besides, the external factors (environmental and behavioral) impacting satiety efficiency are highlighted. Based on mechanisms related to food consumption and dietary patterns several physical, physiological, and psychological factors affect satiety or satiation. A complex network of endocrine and neuroendocrine mechanisms controls the satiety pathways. In response to food intake and other behavioral cues, gut signals enable endocrine systems to target the brain. Intestinal and gastric signals interact with neural pathways in the central nervous system to halt eating or induce satiety. Moreover, complex food composition and structures result in considerable variation in satiety responses for different food groups. A better understanding of foods and factors impacting the efficiency of satiety could be helpful in making smart food choices and dietary recommendations for a healthy lifestyle based on updated scientific evidence.

Poor appetite and overeating reported by adults in Australia during the coronavirus-19 disease pandemic: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

As a result of the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Australia adopted emergency measures on 22 March 2020. This study reports the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on appetite and overeating in Australian adults during the first month of emergency measures.

DESIGN

This study reports analysis of data from the population-based, self-completed survey. The main outcome measure was an item from the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 asking: 'Over the past 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by poor appetite or overeating?'. Data on sociodemographic factors, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown were also collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations with poor appetite or overeating.

SETTING

An anonymous online survey available from 3 April to 2 May 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 13 829 Australian residents aged 18 years or over.

RESULTS

The weighted prevalence of being bothered by poor appetite or overeating in the past 2 weeks was 53·6 %, with 11·6 % (95 % CI 10·6, 12·6) of the cohort reporting poor appetite or overeating nearly every day. High levels of anxiety, concern about contracting COVID-19, being in lockdown with children and reporting a severe impact of the lockdown were associated with increased odds of poor appetite or overeating.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the widespread prevalence of being bothered by poor appetite or overeating, universal public health interventions to address emotion-focused or situational eating during periods of lockdown may be appropriate.