The prevalence of obesity among adult population and its association with food outlet density in a hilly area of Uttarakhand

Lifestyle Interventions vs. Multi Interventional Therapy on Physiological Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome among Women: A Comparative Study

Background

Metabolic syndrome is one of the emerging health issues in developing countries. It includes diabetes, high Blood Pressure (BP), obesity, and elevated blood cholesterol.

Materials and Methods

This comparative study was conducted from March 2019 to February 2020 in selected areas of Ernakulam district, Kerala. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group. One-way analysis of variance and paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Women (aged between 35 and 55 years) with metabolic syndrome were recruited by multistage sampling (N = 220) and randomly assigned into three groups: (a) control, (b) Lifestyle Interventions (LI), and (c) Multi Interventional Therapy (MIT). LI was given to the LI group, and reflexology foot massage along with LI was given to the MIT group for 12 weeks. The control group received routine care. Physiological variables were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results

Women who received MIT and LI had significantly lower values of weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference after the treatment from baseline and compared with control (F = 12.09, 15.58, 22.37, p < 0.001). A remarkable change in systolic and diastolic BP was found in the MIT group (pretest mean of systolic BP and diastolic BP in control: 142.3 and 90.1, LI: 141.7 and 89.7, MIT: 141.8 and 89.8, p = 0.945, posttest means control: 142.6 and 90.4, LI: 131.5 and 85.5, MIT: 118.5 and 78.3, (F = 54.83, 57.87, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Both LI and MIT should be considered as interventions for reducing the physiological parameters of metabolic syndrome, such as body weight, BMI, and obesity. MIT was found to be more effective in reducing blood pressure.

Heterogeneity of Dietary practices in India: current status and implications for the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes

Diet is one of the important modifiable factors in prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D), making it important to understand geographical variations of food consumption pattern, their similarities and differences across various regions. Asian Indian diet patterns are mostly carbohydrate-based and with vast regional diversity. Staple food, food groups consumed, meat consumption pattern, type of fermented foods, food preparations, type of cooking oil used and food ingredients vary with different regions of India. There has been a slow transition from consumption of coarse grains to refined grains owing to socio-economic, cultural and other factors. Consumption of fruits and vegetables, fats, ready-to-eat foods and sugar is higher in urban population whereas consumption of carbohydrates in the form of cereals and millets is higher among the rural population. Cereal grains followed by pulses and legumes are main sources of protein, given that the frequency of meat consumption is low even among non-vegetarians in India compared to other countries. Overall, there is a tendency towards consumption of calorie-dense foods at the cost of food diversity, which may also result in micronutrient deficiencies as well as development of T2D and related metabolic diseases. Public health strategies and policy level decisions involving stakeholders with diet and lifestyle modification as focal points are absolute priorities to prevent and manage the burden of obesity and T2D in India.

Role of aerobics exercise and kettlebell training improving on selected health related physical fitness parameters in obese male adults

Background: Aerobics exercise training and kettlebell training is recommended to prevent and control overweight/obesity.   Purpose: The aim of the this research is to assess the improvement in various variables related to health fitness among obese adults on administrating a twelve weeks aerobics exercise training and kettlebell training. Materials and Methods: Total sixty male adults with obese (Mean ± SD; age: 18.92 ± 1.54 yrs.; height: 172.4 ± 5.4 cm.; weight: 84.4 ± 6.3 kg) were randomly allocated into three equal (n = 20) groups: Aerobic Exercise Training (AET), Kettlebell Training (KBT) and a control group. The AET & KBT training protocol was performed three days per week for 12 weeks. All the selected variables of physical fitness has been examined at baseline and 12 weeks.   Control group does not perform any exercise. Analysis and findings: There were significant difference in terms of Flexibility (F), Muscular Endurance (ME), Muscular Strength (MS) and Cardiovascular Endurance (CE), between the AETG & KBTG have been compared with control group (p < 0.05).  Body Composition (BF) significant reductions in AET & KBT groups have been compared with control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that AET & KBT protocols have greater effects than control group on health related physical fitness variables in obese male adult individuals. It is recommended that schools and colleges should administrate the aerobic exercise session and kettlebell training among adults for better health perspectives.

Prevalence of Internet-based addictive behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, many countries have imposed lockdowns which have caused an increase in Internet use. As large-scale disasters may have an impact on addictions, a review on Internet-based addictive behaviors seems necessary. The goals of this review are to find whether Internet-based addictive behaviors have increased during the pandemic and to define the main reasons for this increase. The systematic search was conducted in Google Scholar, Science Direct, PsycINFO, and PubMed in October of 2020, to determine the current evidence and observations concerning the Internet-based addictive behaviors amid COVID-19. Studies were included if they considered the Internet-based addictive behaviors during the current pandemic. We used all the names of the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2 previously 2019 nCoV), the name of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and common Internet-based addictive behaviors, namely Internet addiction, online gaming disorder, online gambling disorder, pornography use, and smartphone use disorder. The study design is PEOs, finding if individuals' exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in Internet-based addictive behaviors. The quality of the studies was assessed independently by two authors using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The articles found in this review proved an increase in Internet-based addictive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic mostly due to financial hardships, isolation, problematic substance use, and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Effective interventions should be scaled up to prevent and reduce online addictive behaviors, as well as accessible guidelines, particularly for adolescents.

Prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among undergraduate university students in Ethiopia: a community university-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Internet addiction is a common problem in university students and negatively affects cognitive functioning, leads to poor academic performance and engagement in hazardous activities, and may lead to anxiety and stress. Behavioral addictions operate on a modified principle of the classic addiction model. The problem is not well investigated in Ethiopia. So the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of internet addiction and associated factors among university students in Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVES

Main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among University Students in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019. A total of 603 students were participated in the study using a structured questionnaire. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. A binary logistic regression method was used to explore associated factors for internet addiction and variables with a p value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were fitted to the multi-variable logistic regression analysis. The strength of association between internet addiction and associated factors was assessed with odds ratio, 95% CI and p value < 0.05 in the final model was considered significant.

RESULTS

The prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85% (n = 466). Spending more time on the internet (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 10.13, 95% CI 1.33-77.00)), having mental distress (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.02-7.06), playing online games (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.38-4.18), current khat chewing (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.14-9.83) and current alcohol use (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.09-4.92) were associated with internet addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students. Factors associated with internet addiction were spending more time, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing, and current alcohol use. As internet addiction becomes an evident public health problem, carrying out public awareness campaigns may be a fruitful strategy to decrease its prevalence and effect. Besides to this, a collaborative work among stakeholders is important to develop other trendy, adaptive, and sustainable countermeasures.

Changing paradigms of management of isolated blunt renal trauma

Introduction

The last thirty years has seen a change in management of renal trauma with progression more towards nonoperative management; however there is lack of guidelines of many practical aspects for conservative management of renal trauma. Here we are sharing our experience of managing isolated renal trauma over a period of five years.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted in a tertiary care centre of eastern part of India from April 2015–March 2020. It was a retro-prospective study and included cases of isolated blunt renal trauma managed in our hospital.

Results

A total of 61 cases of isolated blunt renal trauma were treated in the mentioned time period. Seventeen (28%) cases were of AAST Grade IV and five (8%) Grade V injury. Blood transfusion was required in eighteen (29%) cases during management. In eight (47%) cases of Grade IV injury and two (40%) cases of Grade V injury angioembolization was done. In two (11.7%) cases of Grade IV injury ureteral stenting was performed. Delayed surgical exploration and nephrectomy was required in one case of Grade V injury because of failed angioembolization and one Grade IV injury due to sepsis. One death was encountered in Grade V injury who had delayed presentation with haemorrhagic shock and underwent immediate surgical exploration. On follow up four patients (23%) of Grade IV injury and one patient of Grade III injury and two patients (40%) of Grade IV injury developed hypertension. The remaining patients were found to be normal.

Conclusion

Conservative management of renal trauma is the norm nowadays. Angioembolisation was found to be one of the strongest armamentarium when patient needs intervention. Surgery is rarely contemplated, mostly in hemodynamically unstable high grade trauma patients.

Trends, prevalence and associated factors of obesity among adults in a rural community in Thailand: serial cross-sectional surveys, 2012 and 2018

Background

Obesity is one principle risk factor increasing the risk of noncommunicable diseases including diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. In Thailand, a 2014 study reported obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) in a Thai population aged ≥15 years was 37.5, 32.9 and 41.8% overall and among males and females, respectively. The study aimed to determine trends in the prevalence of obesity among adults residing in a Thai rural community between 2012 and 2018 and investigate the associations between obesity and behavioral factors.

Methods

Serial cross-sectional studies were conducted in 2012 and 2018 among adults in Na-Ngam rural community. In 2012 and 2018, all 635 and 627 individuals, respectively, were interviewed using structured questionnaires related to demographics, risk behaviors, comorbidities and arthrometric measurement. Spot urine was collected by participants and obesity was defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m². The risk factors for obesity were analyzed in the 2018 survey.

Results

A total of 1262 adults in Na-Ngam rural community were included in the study. The prevalence of obesity was 33.9% in 2012 and 44.8% in 2018 (P < 0.001). The average BMI increased from 23.9 ± 4.2 kg/m² in 2012 to 25.0 ± 4.52 kg/m² in 2018 (P < 0.001). Obesity was associated with higher age (AOR 0.99; 95%CI 0.97–0.99), smoking (AOR 0.52; 95%CI 0.28–0.94), instant coffee-mix consumption > 1 cup/week (AOR 1.44; 95%CI 1.02–2.04), higher number of chronic diseases (≥1 disease AOR 1.82; 95%CI 1.01–2.68, > 2 diseases AOR 2.15; 95%CI 1.32–3.50), and higher spot urine sodium level (AOR 1.002; 95%CI 0.99–1.01).

Conclusion

Our data emphasized that obesity constituted a serious problem among adults residing in a rural community. A trend in significant increase was found regarding the prevalence of obesity and average BMI in the rural community over 6 years. Effective public health interventions should be provided at the community level to reduce BMI. Moreover, modifiable risk factors for obesity should be attenuated to inhibit the progression of metabolic syndrome, noncommunicable diseases and their complications.