The Freshman Weight Gain Phenomenon: Does It Apply To

Association between Serum Vitamin D and Metabolic Syndrome in a Sample of Adults in Lebanon

The evidence on the association between vitamin D and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is inconclusive. This was a cross-sectional study to explore the relationship between vitamin D serum levels and MetS in a sample of Lebanese adults (n = 230), free of diseases that affect vitamin D metabolism, recruited from an urban large university and neighboring community. MetS was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. A logistic regression analysis was performed taking MetS as the dependent variable, and vitamin D was forced into the model as an independent variable. The covariates included sociodemographic, dietary, and lifestyle variables. The mean (SD) serum vitamin D was 17.53 (12.40) ng/mL, and the prevalence of MetS was 44.3%. Serum vitamin D was not associated with MetS (OR = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.02), p < 0.757), whereas the male sex, compared with the female sex and older age, was associated with higher odds of having MetS (OR = 5.92 (95% CI: 2.44, 14.33), p < 0.001 and OR = 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.11), p < 0.001, respectively). This result adds to the controversy in this field. Future interventional studies are warranted to better understand the relationship between vitamin D and MetS and metabolic abnormalities.

Patterns and Determinants of Weight Gain among People Who Use Drugs Undergoing Treatment for Recovery in Lebanon

Substance use disorder compromises the nutritional status and the eating habits of drug users, often leading to malnutrition. Once referred for treatment, hyperphagia and poor lifestyle practices leading to weight gain are observed. This study aimed to examine the patterns and extent of weight change as well as the determinants of weight gain in a sample of drug users who were receiving treatment in Lebanon. A total of 172 male participants undergoing either rehabilitation or opioid substitution treatment (OST) were included. Multivariate regression analysis was applied to assess the effect of different variables on weight gain while adjusting for potentially confounding variables. Approximately two-thirds (65.1%) of the participants gained weight (OST: 54.3%, rehabilitation: 78.2%; p < 0.05). The mean weight gain was 5.9 kg and was mainly reported among participants in the underweight, normal, and overweight pre-treatment categories and accentuated in the rehabilitation group (OST: 2 kg, Rehabilitation: 10.6 kg). Around half of the participants moved from the normal weight category to the overweight and obese categories during treatment. Weight gain was negatively associated with the number of previous treatment attempts (Odds Ratio = 0.86; Confidence Interval: 0.74-0.99), duration of current treatment (Odds Ratio = 0.98; Confidence Interval: 0.96-0.99), and pre-treatment body mass index (BMI) (Odds Ratio = 0.88; Confidence Interval: 0.80-0.96). Investigating other nutrition and lifestyle practices, neither nutrition knowledge, food addiction, physical activity level, nor sleep quality were associated with weight gain. Treatment through drug use was associated with meaningful weight gain that might lead to health risk factors. Developing health promotion programs is crucial to enhance treatment and decrease the risk of relapse.

Understanding changes in eating behavior during the transition to university from a self-determination theory perspective: a systematic review

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to understand how and why eating behavior changes during the transition to university, and interpret findings from a self-determination theory perspective (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Methods: We searched six databases and identified 51 articles with findings involving changes in eating behavior during the transition to university. Results: During this transition, students eat less food, less healthy, and less regularly. These changes are mostly among students who move into a university residence or off-campus housing, with few changes in eating behavior among students who continue living at home. Yet, incoming students with food skills and experience living independently seem less likely to experience these changes. Conclusions: The university context offers challenges to eating healthy. Students' satisfaction of psychological needs may explain observed changes in habits, self-regulation, and motivation.

Association between Serum Vitamin D and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms in a Sample of Adults

Vitamin D may be associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pathways. This cross-sectional study evaluated the associations between serum Vitamin D and IBS symptoms in a sample of Lebanese adults. Participants (n = 230; mean (SD) age: 43.36 (16.05) years, 62.9% females) were adults, free of diseases affecting Vitamin D metabolism, and recruited from a large university and the surrounding community. Serum Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) was assessed using an automated chemiluminescence micro-particle immunoassay kit. The Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire total scale, and pain, constipation, and diarrhea subscales were used to study IBS symptoms. Four linear regression analyses were performed, taking respectively the total scale and each of the subscales as the dependent variable. Vitamin D was forced into each model. Covariates included sociodemographic and medical variables, fluid intake, physical activity, sleep quality, stress, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Mean (SD) serum Vitamin D was 17.53 (12.40) ng/mL and mean (SD) Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire was 16.98 (15.16) (pain: 20.75 (23.63), constipation: 25.06 (29.99), diarrhea: 9.88 (13.37)). Serum Vitamin D was not associated with the total score, nor with any of the subscales (p > 0.05 for the four regression analyses). Serum Vitamin D was not associated with IBS symptoms in a sample of Lebanese adults, adding to the controversy in this field. Further understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in Vitamin D and IBS is warranted.

Factors Related to Diet Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1055 University Students

Given that there is only a limited body of evidence available concerning the dietary habits of Spanish university students, the present study assesses the quality of this group's diet, their adherence to the National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, and the predictive factors of their diet quality. To do so, a cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 1055 students. The quality of the participants' diets was then analysed by using the Spanish Healthy Eating Index, and then their level of compliance was assessed in light of the dietary recommendations put forth by the Spanish Society for Community Nutrition. According to these standards, only 17.4% of the participants had a healthy diet. The level of compliance with the recommendations was poor, highlighting especially the low levels of "fruit" and "vegetables" that they consumed as well as high levels of "cold meats and cuts" and "sweets". The factors that predicted a worse diet are being male, living alone, low levels of physical activity, smoking, high alcohol intake, leading a sedentary lifestyle, psychological distress, and insomnia (p < 0.005). Furthermore, participants with low or high body weights showed signs of a higher quality diet (p < 0.001). The present findings suggest that a significant proportion of university students ought to change their dietary habits; these also attest to the importance of developing strategies that are directly targeted at university students in order to promote a healthy diet.

Association between serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and blood pressure: a cross-sectional study of Chinese freshmen

Background

High blood pressure is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular events, and the incidence of hypertension is increasing among young people. This study investigated the relationship between ALT and AST levels and hypertension among freshmen in China.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Anhui Province from September to November 2018. A total of 3114 freshmen underwent a physical examination including testing of biochemical indicators and a standardized questionnaire.

Results

The overall prevalence of elevated ALT and AST were 6.8% and 2.3% among freshmen. The mean ALT and AST levels were higher in males (22.59 ± 21.98 vs.12.62 ± 10.30 U/L; 23.55 ± 12.24 vs. 20.02 ± 5.75 U/L, respectively). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in men (16.1%) than in women (1.9%). The mean values of BMI, SBP, DBP, TC, TG, and LDL-C were found to be increased with elevated levels of serum ALT and AST in the quartiles (P for trend < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, the risk of hypertension was significantly higher in the highest ALT quartile than in the lowest quartile (OR (95% CI) of 1.681 (1.028, 2.751) in males; 2.802 (1.102, 7.124) in females). A strong linear relationship was found between serum ALT levels and the odds of hypertension after adjustment for potential confounders only in total population and females (P for trend < 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that ALT level is significantly associated with hypertension both in male and female freshmen.

Nutritional parameters and lifestyle practices of people who use drugs undergoing treatment for recovery in Lebanon: a descriptive study

Drug use disorder is a major public health problem. Once people who use drugs (PWUD) are referred to treatment, addressing their lifestyle practices and improving their quality of life improves treatment outcomes. The present study assessed the nutritional status and lifestyle practices among PWUD undergoing treatment for recovery in Lebanon. Furthermore, it explored significant differences in these parameters depending on the offered treatment modality, namely opioid substitution treatment (OST) and rehabilitation. In total, 187 PWUD undergoing treatment for recovery participated in this cross-sectional study. Nutritional status and anthropometrics, dietary intake, nutrition knowledge, food addiction, biochemical parameters, sleep and physical activity were measured using validated tools. Of the participants, 88⋅8 % were well nourished based on the Subjective Global Assessment. In total, 67 % gained weight during treatment placing them in the overweight category. This increase in weight was significantly higher in the rehabilitation group. It came in parallel with higher protein and energy intakes, higher rate of food addiction, and poor nutrition knowledge. Biochemical parameters, including fasting blood sugar, total protein, lipid profile and white blood cell count, were in the normal ranges. Moreover, the majority of participants exhibited poor quality sleep that was accentuated among the participants undergoing rehabilitation, in addition to activity levels that were mainly low in the OST group. PWUD undergoing treatment for recovery in Lebanon are subject to various vulnerability factors creating challenges to treatment. Longitudinal assessments to better understand health problems arising during treatment and to identify the components of a comprehensive health promotion intervention during treatment for recovery are needed.