Maternal employment and childhood overweight in Germany

A widespread finding among studies from the US and the UK is that maternal employment is correlated with an increased risk of child overweight, even in a causal manner, whereas studies from other countries obtain less conclusive results. As evidence for Germany is still scarce, the purpose of this study is to identify the effect of maternal employment on childhood overweight in Germany using two sets of representative micro data. We further explore potential underlying mechanisms that might explain this relationship. In order to address the selection into maternal full-time employment, we use an instrumental variable strategy exploiting the number of younger siblings in the household as an instrument. While the OLS models suggest that maternal full-time employment is related to a 5 percentage point higher probability of the child to be overweight, IV estimates indicate a 25 percentage points higher overweight probability due to maternal full-time employment. Exploring various possible pathways, we find that maternal full-time employment promotes unhealthy dietary and activity behavior which might explain the positive effect of maternal employment on child overweight to some extent. Although there are limitations to our IV approach, several sensitivity analyses confirm the robustness of our findings.     

Overall and central obesity and risk of type 2 diabetes in U.S. black women

Objective: Obesity has risen to epidemic proportions in the United States, leading to an emerging epidemic of type 2 diabetes. African‐American women are disproportionately affected by both conditions. While an association of overall obesity with increasing risk of diabetes has been documented in black women, the effect of fat distribution, specifically abdominal obesity, has not been studied. We examined the association of BMI, abdominal obesity, and weight gain with risk of type 2 diabetes. Research Methods and Procedures: During eight years of follow‐up of 49,766 women from the Black Women's Health Study, 2472 incident cases of diabetes occurred. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs), with control for age, physical activity, family history of diabetes, cigarette smoking, years of education, and time period of data collection. Results: Sixty‐one percent of participants had a BMI ≥25 kg/m² (WHO definition of overweight). Compared with a BMI of <23 kg/m², the IRR for a BMI of >45 kg/m² was 23 (95% confidence interval, 17.0 to 31.0). The IRR for the highest quintile of waist‐to‐hip ratio relative to the lowest was 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 2.7) after control for BMI. Furthermore, at every level of BMI, an increased risk was observed for high waist‐to‐hip ratio relative to low. Discussion: Central obesity, as well as overall obesity, is a strong risk factor for diabetes in African‐American women. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of obesity in African‐American women are of paramount importance.     

Water and Food Consumption Patterns of U.S. Adults from 1999 to 2001

Objective: High water consumption has been proposed as an aid to weight control and as a means of reducing the energy density of the diet. This study examines the relationship between water consumption and other drinking and eating patterns. Research Methods and Procedures: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2001, with responses from 4755 individuals ≥18 years of age, provides the data for this cross‐sectional analysis. A cluster analysis was performed using z‐scores of specific food and beverage consumption to examine patterns. A multinomial logit analysis was used to examine sociodemographic characteristics of each dietary pattern and to examine the effects of water consumption on the likelihood of consuming a non–dairy caloric beverage. All results were weighted to be nationally representative and controlled for design effects. Results: Within the sample, 87% consumed water, with an average daily consumption of 51.9 oz (1.53 liters) per consumer. Water consumers drank fewer soft/fruit drinks and consumed 194 fewer calories per day. Water consumers (potentially a self‐selected sample) consumed more fruits, vegetables, and low‐ and medium‐fat dairy products. Four distinct unhealthy dietary patterns were found that included little or no water consumption. Older and more educated persons used healthier food patterns. Mexican dietary patterns were much healthier than dietary patterns of blacks. Discussion: Water consumption potentially is a dietary component to be promoted, but much more must be understood about its role in a healthy diet. Because high water consumption is linked with healthier eating patterns—patterns more likely to be followed by higher‐educated, older adults—the target of water promotion and healthy diet options should focus on younger and less educated adults.     

Disability,Arthritis, and Body Weight among Adults 45 Years and Older

Objectives : To examine the association between body weight and disability among persons with and without self‐reported arthritis. Research Methods and Procedures : Data were analyzed for noninstitutionalized adults, 45 years or older, in states that participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Self‐reported BMI (kilograms per meter squared) was used to categorize participants into six BMI‐defined groups: underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5 to <25), overweight (25 to <30), obese, class 1 (30 to <35), obese, class 2 (35 to <40), and obese, class 3 (≥40). Results : Class 3 obesity (BMI ≥ 40) was significantly associated with disability among participants both with and without self‐reported arthritis. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for disability in participants with class 3 obesity was 2.75 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.22 to 3.40] among those with self‐reported arthritis and 1.77 (95% CI = 1.20 to 2.62) among those without self‐reported arthritis compared with those of normal weight (BMI 18.5 to <25). Persons with self‐reported arthritis who were obese, class 2 (BMI 35 to <40) and obese, class 1 (BMI 30 to <35) and women with self‐reported arthritis who were overweight (BMI 25 to <30) also had higher odds of disability compared with those of normal weight [AOR = 1.72 (95% CI = 1.47 to 2.00), AOR = 1.30 (95% CI = 1.17 to 1.44), and AOR = 1.18 (95% CI = 1.06 to 1.32), respectively]. Discussion : Our findings reveal that obesity is associated with disability. Preventing and controlling obesity may improve the quality of life for persons with and without self‐reported arthritis.     

Trends in the Association between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in U.S. Adults: 1971 to 2000

Objective: To study the secular trends in the disparity of obesity across socioeconomic status (SES) groups among U.S. adults. Research Methods and Procedures: We used national representative data collected in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 1971 to 1974, 1976 to 1980, 1988 to 1994, and 1999 to 2000 from 28, 543 adults 20 to 60 years old. Obesity was defined based on BMI calculated using measured weight and height. Trends in the relationship between obesity and education levels were analyzed controlling for age, gender, and ethnicity. Results: The disparity in obesity across SES (less than high school, high school, and college or above to indicate low, medium, and high SES, respectively) has decreased over the past 3 decades. In National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys I (1971 to 1974), there was as much as a 50% relative difference in the obesity prevalence across the three groups, but by 1999 to 2000, it decreased to 14%. This trend was more pronounced in women. The trends of diminishing disparities in obesity were also revealed by our logistic and linear regression analyses. The odds ratio converged to 1 from the 1970s to 2000. In most sociodemographic groups, the relationship between BMI and SES (coefficients) has been weakened over time. Discussion: The association between SES and obesity has been weakened over the past 3 decades, when the prevalence of obesity increased dramatically. There are considerable variations in the changes in the associations across gender and ethnic groups. Our findings suggest that individual characteristics are not likely the main cause of the current obesity epidemic in the U.S., whereas social‐environmental factors play an important role. Strategies for obesity prevention and management should target all SES groups from a societal perspective.     

Long-term changes in body weight, BMI, and adiposity rebound among children and adolescents in the Czech republic

The Czech Republic has undergone rapid political, social, and economic transformation since the late 1980s. While obesity rates among children and adolescents in the Czech Republic have been previously relatively low, this has changed in recent years. Across the past 50 years, body weight, body mass index (BMI)-for-age, and adiposity rebound (AR) (the time when a child reaches the lowest BMI before their BMI gradually begins to increase until adulthood) occurs earlier. The most dramatic changes have been observed among school-aged children, where BMI values have increased at the 50th, 90th, and 97th percentiles. In contrast, adolescent girls appear to be thinner than in the past. The analyses of weight-for-height percentiles indicated that the 50th percentile of the body weight among boys and girls remained similar in nearly all age categories across the past 50 years. Although the growth pattern of children at the 50th percentile has not changed, the 10th and 90th percentiles have expanded. Our findings suggest that the secular trend of increased height, accelerated growth, and earlier maturation is responsible for Czech children experiencing adiposity rebound at earlier ages compared to the past.     

Health-related quality of life and weight loss among overweight and obese U.S. adults, 2001 to 2002

Objective: To examine the prevalence and association of health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) with trying to lose weight and with weight loss practices (eating fewer calories, physical activity, and both) among overweight and obese U.S. adults ≥ 20 years of age. Research Methods and Procedures: This study used data from the 2001 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a continuous annual survey of the civilian non‐institutionalized U.S. population. This analysis included those ≥ 20 years of age with BMI ≥ 25 (n = 2578) who responded to four standard HRQOL measures that assessed general health status and recent physical health, mental health, and activity limitation. Results: Among obese men, but not women, there were significant increasing linear trends in the adjusted prevalence of trying to lose weight as physically unhealthy and activity limitation days increased. Regardless of BMI or HRQOL, reducing calories was a common weight loss practice (66% to 86%). Except for recent activity limitation, respondents with BMI ≥ 35 did not generally differ by HRQOL level in the attainment of recommended physical activity either alone or in combination with reduced calories, whereas those in the BMI 25 to 34.9 groups often differed significantly by HRQOL level. Specifically, increased unhealthy or activity limitation days were associated with reduced prevalence of attained physical activity. Discussion: Our findings indicate an association between trying to lose weight and a greater number of unhealthy days reported by obese men, suggesting that these men may be influenced by traditional clinical weight‐loss counseling that is prompted by weight and comorbidity, whereas women had a high prevalence of trying to lose weight irrespective of weight and HRQOL. Assessment of HRQOL, especially measures that evaluate physical domains, could provide subjective information to assist with weight counseling.     

Sedentary Behavior,Physical Activity,and the Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults

Objective: We examined the associations among physical activity, sedentary behavior, and metabolic syndrome in a representative sample of U.S. adults. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 1626 men and women ≥20 years old from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2000 who attended the morning examination were evaluated. The metabolic syndrome was defined by using the definition from the National Cholesterol Education Program. Results: In unadjusted analysis, participants who did not engage in any moderate or vigorous physical activity during leisure time had almost twice the odds of having metabolic syndrome [odds ratio (OR), 1.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.22 to 2.97] as those who reportedly engaged in ≥150 min/wk of such activity. Adjustment for age, sex, race or ethnicity, educational status, smoking status, and alcohol use attenuated the OR (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.87 to 2.45). Compared with participants who watched television or videos or used a computer <1 h/d outside of work, the adjusted ORs for having metabolic syndrome were 1.41 (95% CI 0.80 to 2.51) for 1 h/d, 1.37 (95% CI 0.85 to 2.20) for 2 h/d, 1.70 (95% CI 0.92 to 3.14) for 3 h/d, and 2.10 (95% CI 1.27 to 3.47) for ≥4 h/d. Additional adjustment for physical activity or sedentary behavior minimally affected the ORs. Discussion: Sedentary behavior is an important potential determinant of the prevalence of the syndrome. Efforts to lessen the amount of time that U.S. adults spend watching television or videos or using a computer, especially if coupled to increases in physical activity, could result in substantial decreases in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.     

Association Between Lifting Weights and Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults: 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ABSTRACT: Magyari, PM and Churilla, JR. Association between lifting weights and metabolic syndrome among U.S. adults: 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Strength Cond Res 26(11): 3113-3117, 2012-The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the proportion of U.S. adults who participate in the resistance exercise modality of lifting weights (LWs) by demographic characteristics and to investigate the impact of LWs on the prevalence and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a national representative sample of U.S. adults. The sample (n = 5,618) in this cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥20 years who participated in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Approximately twice as many men (11.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.5, 13.1) reported LWs as women did (6.3%; 95% CI 5.2, 7.6) with non-Hispanic Whites (9.6%; 95% CI 8.1, 11.4) reporting the highest levels and Mexican Americans reporting the lowest levels (5.6%; 95% CI 4.4, 7.2) of engaging in LWs. Additionally, higher levels of socioeconomic status were associated with greater levels of self-reported LWs. MetS prevalence was found to be significantly lower among U.S. adults reporting LWs (24.6%; 95% CI 19.3, 30.9) compared with adults not reporting LWs (37.3%; 95% CI 35.5, 39.2) with associated risk reductions of 58% (p < 0.001) and 37% (p < 0.01) in the unadjusted model and model adjusted for demographic variables, respectively. These findings suggest that LWs may play a role in reducing the prevalence and risk of MetS among U.S. adults. Therefore, exercise professionals should strongly encourage the activity of LWs among adults of all ages to promote metabolic health and focus programs designed to increase the adoption of LWs among the subgroups who report the lowest levels of LWs.     

Varying Body Mass Index Cutoff Points to Describe Overweight Prevalence Among U. S. Adults: NHANES III (1988 to 1994)

KUCZMARSKI, ROBERT J, MARGARET D CARROLL, KATHERINE M FLEGAL, RICHARD P TROIANO. Varying body mass index cutoff points to determine overweight prevalence among U. S. adults: NHANES III (1988 to 1994). Body mass index (BMI; kg/m²) distributions are commonly reported in the scientific literature to describe weight for stature. These data are collected for various groups of subjects in local health and body composition studies, and comparisons with national distributions are often desirable. Tabular data for population prevalence estimates from thethird National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988 to 1994) at selected gender- and age-specific BMI levels ranging from <18. 0 to >45. 0 are presented and compared with various examples of BMI criteria reported in the scientific literature. NHANE HI was a statistically representative national probability sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States in which height and weight were measured as part of a more comprehensive health examination. The implications of varying population prevalence estimates based on varying BMI cutoff points are briefly discussed for selected examples including World Health Organization overweight/obesity criteria and the U. S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The median BMI for U. S. adults aged 20 years and older is 25. 5 kg/m². Median stature and weight for men are 175. 5 cm and 80. 0 kg and for women are 161. 6 cm and 65. 6 kg, respectively. The percentage of the population with BMI <19. 0 is 1. 6% for men, 5. 7% for women; BMI 19. 0 to <25. 0 is 39. 0% for men, 43. 6% for women; BMI 25. 0 is 59. 4% for men, 50. 7% for women. An estimated 97. 1 million adults have a BMI 25. 0. Additional prevalence estimates based on other BMI cutoff points and ages are presented.     

Quality of Attachment to Companion Animals among U.S. Adults 21 to 64 Years of Age

Abstract

Previous reports of scales and indices used in studying attachment to companion animals have not included representative samples of the United States population or have failed to show good psychometric properties. This report includes psychometric analyses of a companionanimal attachment scale used among a national probability sample of United States adults aged 21 to 64 years. Internal structures of the scale were shown to be good with all eight items loading strongly on one factor. Cronbach's alpha was 0.75 with all eight items included. As expected, those individuals who had sole responsibility for the care of the companion animal had stronger attachment scores, as did individuals who had never been married. Type of pet was not significantly associated with attachment scores, which indicates that this scale may be useful for all companion animals, not solely for dogs and cats. However, further work including a larger sample of bird and fish owners needs to be done before the value of this attachment scale in that population of owners is clearly established.     

Sedentary behavior, recreational physical activity, and 7-year weight gain among postmenopausal U.S. women

Objective: To assess the relationship among recreational physical activity (PA), non‐occupational sedentary behavior, and 7‐year weight gain among postmenopausal U.S. women 40 to 69 years old. Research Methods and Procedures: In 1992 and 1999, 18,583 healthy female participants from the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort completed questionnaires on anthropometric characteristics and lifestyle factors. The associations between recreational PA [in metabolic equivalent (MET) hours per week] and non‐occupational sedentary behavior (in hours per day) at baseline and risk for 7‐year weight gain (5 to 9 or ≥10 vs. ±4 pounds) were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Neither PA nor sedentary behavior was associated with a 5‐ to 9‐pound weight gain. Among women who were not overweight at baseline (BMI <25.0), the odds of ≥10‐pound weight gain were 12% lower (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 0.99) for those in the highest category of recreational PA (≥18 MET h/wk) compared with >0 to <4 MET h/wk; odds were 47% higher (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 1.79) for non‐overweight women who reported ≥6 h/d of non‐occupational sedentary behavior compared with <3 h/d. Neither PA nor sedentary behavior were associated with risk of ≥10‐pound weight gain weight among women who were overweight at baseline (BMI ≥25.0). Discussion: Both recreational PA and non‐occupational sedentary behavior independently predicted risk of ≥10‐pound weight gain among postmenopausal women who were not overweight at baseline. Public health messages to prevent weight gain among normal‐weight postmenopausal women may need to focus on decreasing time spent in sedentary behaviors and increasing the amount of time spent on PA.     

A prospective study of breakfast consumption and weight gain among U.S. men

Objective: The aim was to investigate the association between breakfast consumption and long‐term weight gain in an adult male population. Research Methods and Procedures: We evaluated prospective data on 20,064 U.S men, 46 to 81 years of age, who participated in the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study. Data on body weight, dietary factors, and lifestyle variables were obtained by validated questionnaires. We examined weight gain during 10 years of follow‐up. Results: Overall, 5857 men had a weight gain of 5 kg or greater during 10 years of follow‐up. Breakfast consumption was inversely associated with the risk of 5‐kg weight gain after adjustment for age [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.82)], and this association was independent of lifestyle and BMI at baseline [HR = 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82 to 0.93)]. Fiber and nutrient intakes partially explained the association between breakfast consumption and weight gain. The inverse association between breakfast consumption and weight gain was more pronounced in men with a baseline BMI of 25 kg/m² or lower [multivariate HR = 0.78 (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.87)] than in men who were overweight at baseline [HR = 0.92 (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.00)]. Furthermore, we observed that an increasing number of eating occasions in addition to three standard meals was associated with a higher risk of 5‐kg weight gain [HR = 1.15 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.25, for ≥2 vs. 0 additional eating occasions)]. Discussion: These findings suggest that the consumption of breakfast may modestly contribute to the prevention of weight gain as compared with skipping breakfast in middle‐aged and older men.     

Health and wealth: The late-20th century obesity epidemic in the U.S.

Obesity is a rapidly growing public health issue. This paper investigates obesity's relationship to individuals' wealth by analyzing data from a large U.S. longitudinal socio-economic survey. The results show a large negative association between BMI and White female's net worth, a smaller negative association for Black women and White males and no relationship for Black males. Weight changes and dieting also appear associated with wealth changes. Individuals who lose small amounts of weight experience little change in net worth, but those who lose large amounts of weight have a dramatically improved financial position, with Whites showing larger changes than Blacks.     

Evaluation of Finnish Diabetes Risk Score in Screening Undiagnosed Diabetes and Prediabetes among U.S. Adults by Gender and Race: NHANES 1999-2010

Objective

To evaluate the performance of Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) in detecting undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes among U.S. adults by gender and race.

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis included participants (aged ≥20 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2010. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the optimal cutoff points for identifying undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes were calculated for FINDRISC by gender and race/ethnicity.

Results

Among the 20,633 adults (≥20 years), 49.8% were women and 53.0% were non-Hispanic White. The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes was 4.1% and 35.6%, respectively. FINDRISC was positively associated with the prevalence of diabetes (OR = 1.48 for 1 unit increase, p<0.001) and prediabetes (OR = 1.15 for 1 unit increase, p<0.001). The area under ROC for detecting undiagnosed diabetes was 0.75 for total population, 0.74 for men and 0.78 for women (p = 0.04); 0.76 for White, 0.76 for Black and 0.72 for Hispanics (p = 0.03 for White vs. Hispanics). The area under ROC for detecting prediabetes was 0.67 for total population, 0.66 for men and 0.70 for women (p<0.001); 0.68 for White, 0.67 for Black and 0.65 for Hispanics (p<0.001 for White vs. Hispanics). The optimal cutoff point was 10 (sensitivity = 0.75) for men and 12 (sensitivity = 0.72) for women for detecting undiagnosed diabetes; 9 (sensitivity = 0.61) for men and 10 (sensitivity = 0.69) for women for detecting prediabetes.

Conclusions

FINDRISC is a simple and non-invasive screening tool to identify individuals at high risk for diabetes in the U.S. adults.     

A Novel Testing Model for Opportunistic Screening of Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes among U.S. Adults

Objective

The study aim was to evaluate the performance of a novel simultaneous testing model, based on the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) and HbA1c, in detecting undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes in Americans.

Research Design and Methods

This cross-sectional analysis included 3,886 men and women (≥ 20 years) without known diabetes from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010. The FINDRISC was developed based on eight variables (age, BMI, waist circumference, use of antihypertensive drug, history of high blood glucose, family history of diabetes, daily physical activity and fruit & vegetable intake). The sensitivity, specificity, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the testing model were calculated for undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes, determined by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Results

The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 7.0% and 43.1% for pre-diabetes (27.7% for isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 5.1% for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 10.3% for having both IFG and IGT). The sensitivity and specificity of using the HbA1c alone was 24.2% and 99.6% for diabetes (cutoff of ≥6.5%), and 35.2% and 86.4% for pre-diabetes (cutoff of ≥5.7%). The sensitivity and specificity of using the FINDRISC alone (cutoff of ≥9) was 79.1% and 48.6% for diabetes and 60.2% and 61.4% for pre-diabetes. Using the simultaneous testing model with a combination of FINDRISC and HbA1c improved the sensitivity to 84.2% for diabetes and 74.2% for pre-diabetes. The specificity for the simultaneous testing model was 48.4% of diabetes and 53.0% for pre-diabetes.

Conclusions

This simultaneous testing model is a practical and valid tool in diabetes screening in the general U.S. population.     

Relationship of BMI,Waist Circumference,and Weight Change with Use of Health Services by Older Adults

Objective: To examine the relationship of BMI, waist circumference (WC), and weight change with use of health care services by older adults. Research Methods and Procedures: This was a prospective cohort study conducted from 2001 to 2003 among 2919 persons representative of the non‐institutionalized Spanish population ≥60 years of age. Analyses were performed using logistic regression, with adjustment for age, educational level, size of place of residence, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and presence of chronic disease. Results: Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) and abdominal obesity (WC >102 cm in men and >88 cm in women) in 2001 were associated with greater use of certain health care services among men and women in the period 2001–2003. Compared with women with WC ≤ 88 cm, women with abdominal obesity were more likely to visit primary care physicians [odds ratio (OR): 1.36; 95% confidence limit (CL): 1.06–1.73] and receive influenza vaccination (OR: 1.30; 95% CL: 1.03–1.63). Weight gain was not associated with greater health service use by either sex, regardless of baseline BMI. Weight loss was associated with greater health service use by obese and non‐obese subjects of both sexes. In comparison with those who reported no important weight change, non‐obese women who lost weight were more likely to visit hospital specialists (OR: 1.45; 95% CL: 1.02–2.06), receive home medical visits (OR: 1.61; 95% CL: 1.06–2.45), be hospitalized (OR: 1.88; 95% CL: 1.29–2.74), and have more than one hospital admission (OR: 2.31; 95% CL: 1.19–4.47). Discussion: Obesity and weight loss are associated with greater health service use among the elderly.     

Historical trends in height, weight, and body mass: Data from U.S. Major League Baseball players, 1869-1983

We employ a unique dataset of Major League Baseball (MLB) players - a select, healthy population - to examine trends in height, weight, and body mass in birth cohorts from 1869 to 1983. Over that 115-year time period, U.S. born MLB players have gained, on average, approximately 3 in. (7.6 cm) in height and 27.0 lb (12.2 kg) in weight, which has contributed a 1.6-unit increase in the body mass index. Where comparable data are available, U.S. born MLB players are about 2.0 in. (5.1 cm) taller and 20.0 lb (9.1 kg) heavier but substantially less obese than males in the general U.S. population. But both groups exhibit similar height and weight trends; the majority of height and weight gains take place in cohorts that were born prior to World War II, followed by slower gains and occasional declines in height and weight for cohorts born in 1939 and later.     

Trends in the Educational Gradient of U.S. Adult Mortality from 1986 to 2006 by Race, Gender, and Age Group

The educational gradient of U.S. adult mortality became steeper between 1960 and the mid 1980s, but whether it continued to steepen is less clear given a dearth of attention to these trends since that time. This study provides new evidence on trends in the education-mortality gradient from 1986 to 2006 by race, gender, and age among non-Hispanic whites and blacks using data from the 2010 release of the National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality File. Results show that, for white and black men, the gradient steepened among older ages because declines in mortality risk across education levels were greater among the higher educated. The gradient steepened among white women, and to a much lesser and only marginally significant extent among black women, largely because mortality risk decreased among the college-educated but increased among women with less than a high school degree. Greater returns to higher education and compositional changes within educational strata likely contributed to the trends.     

Long-term effects of diet on leptin, energy intake, and activity in a model of diet-induced obesity.

This study investigated the effect of long-term high-fat sucrose (HFS) or low-fat complex-carbohydrate (LFCC) diet consumption on leptin, insulin, fat cell size, energy intake, and markers of activity to ascertain the role that leptin plays in long-term energy balance in a model of diet-induced obesity. Female Fischer 344 rats were fed either a HFS or LFCC diet ad libitum for a period of 20 mo. Measurements of leptin concentration, insulin concentration, and adipocyte size were performed at 2 wk, 2 mo, 6 mo, and 20 mo. Body weight and energy intake were measured weekly for calculation of feed efficiency. Body temperature and activity levels were assessed over a 5-day period after 12 mo of the dietary intervention. Plasma leptin and insulin concentrations were significantly elevated within 2 wk of HFS diet consumption and remained elevated throughout the course of the study. After 2 mo, the adipocytes of the HFS group were significantly larger and continued to increase in size throughout the course of the study. A significant correlation was noted between leptin and adipocyte cell size (r = 0.96, P < 0.01). However, despite elevated leptin, energy intake was similar, and the HFS group weighed significantly more than the LFCC group, as a result of a higher feed efficiency. There were no significant differences in body temperature or activity levels between the groups. These results demonstrate that a HFS diet causes hyperleptinemia and hyperinsulinemia before adipocyte size is increased and suggests that leptin resistance may be present or, alternatively, that leptin does not to play a major role in the long-term regulation of energy intake or activity levels in this model.