BMI and seatbelt use

Objective: Seatbelt use among obese persons may be reduced because seatbelts are uncomfortable. We investigated the association between obesity and seatbelt use with data from the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey. Research Methods and Procedures: Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for seatbelt use among overweight (BMI, 25.0 to 29.9), obese (BMI, 30.0 to 39.9), and extremely obese (BMI ≥ 40.0) persons, relative to a non‐overweight/non‐obese reference group (BMI ≤ 24.9), adjusted for age, race, gender, education, and state seatbelt law. Results: Adjusted odds ratios for seatbelt use were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.93) for overweight, 0.69 (0.66 to 0.73) for obese, and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.50) for extremely obese persons. Interaction effects were evident for all covariates, with stronger associations between increasing BMI and decreasing seatbelt use for women, increasing age, higher education, and residence in states with a secondary seatbelt law. There was a linear decrease in seatbelt use with increasing BMI for all subgroups except persons 18 to 24 years old. Discussion: Lack of seatbelt can be added to the list of risk factors associated with obesity. Effective preventive interventions are needed to promote seatbelt use among overweight and obese persons.     

Total and Central Obesity among Elderly Hispanics and the Association with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: To report the prevalence of total and central obesity in a representative sample of Puerto Rican and Dominican elders in Massachusetts, to compare them with a neighborhood‐based group of non‐Hispanic white elders, and to examine associations of obesity indices with the presence of type 2 diabetes. Research Methods and Procedures: We examined the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central obesity in 596 Hispanics of Caribbean origin, ages 60 to 92 years, and 239 non‐Hispanic whites, and tested linear and logistic regression models to determine associations among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and diabetes. Results: Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) was prevalent among all ethnic groups, ranging from 17% to 29% for Dominican and Puerto Rican men, respectively, and from 29% to 40% for non‐Hispanic white and Dominican women, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant. Among Hispanic men and women, diabetes was prevalent across all BMI and WC categories but tended to be greatest among those with BMI of 25 to 29 kg/m² (41% to 43%). In contrast, diabetes was most prevalent in the obese group (36% to 45%) of non‐Hispanic whites. Both BMI and WC were associated with the presence of diabetes, but the coefficients were greater for non‐Hispanic whites than for Hispanics. Discussion: Caribbean Hispanics and non‐Hispanic whites living in the same Massachusetts localities had high prevalences of overweight and obesity. Total and central obesity exerted a differential effect on the presence of diabetes among ethnic groups; for Hispanics, diabetes was prevalent even among non‐obese individuals, whereas for non‐Hispanic white women, the prevalence of diabetes was strongly associated with total and central obesity. Additional research is needed to investigate the factors associated with the differential effect of obesity on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Hispanic and non‐Hispanic white elders.     

Lifestyle factors and incident mobility limitation in obese and non-obese older adults

Objective: This study examines the association between incident mobility limitation and 4 lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and diet in well‐functioning obese (n = 667) and non‐obese (n = 2027) older adults. Research Methods and Procedures: Data were from men and women, 70 to 79 years of age from Pittsburgh, PA and Memphis, TN, participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. In addition to individual lifestyle practices, a high‐risk lifestyle score (0 to 4) was calculated indicating the total number of unhealthy lifestyle practices per person. Mobility limitation was defined as reported difficulty walking 1/4 mile or climbing 10 steps during two consecutive semiannual assessments over 6.5 years. Results: In non‐obese older persons, significant risk factors for incident mobility limitation after adjustment for socio‐demographics and health‐related variables were current and former smoking [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20 to 1.89; HR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.74), former alcohol intake (HR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.60), low and medium physical activity (HR = 1.78; 95% CI, 1.45 to 2.18; HR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.54), and eating an unhealthy diet (HR = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.10). In the obese, only low physical activity was associated with a significantly increased risk of mobility limitation (HR = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.92). Having two or more unhealthy lifestyle factors was a strong predictor of mobility limitation in the non‐obese only (HR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.61 to 2.43). Overall, obese persons had a significantly higher risk of mobility limitation compared with non‐obese persons, independent of lifestyle factors (HR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.52 to 1.96). Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of a healthy lifestyle for maintaining function among non‐obese older adults. However, a healthy lifestyle cannot overcome the effect of obesity in obese older adults; this stresses the importance of preventing obesity to protect against mobility loss in older persons.     

Autonomic Nervous System Activity and the State and Development of Obesity in Japanese School Children

Objective: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in regulating energy expenditure and body fat content; however, the extent to which the ANS contributes to pediatric obesity remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sympathetic and/or the parasympathetic nerve activities were altered in an obese pediatric population. We further examined a physiological association between the duration of obesity and the sympatho‐vagal activities to scrutinize the nature of ANS alteration as a possible etiologic factor of childhood obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: Forty‐two obese and 42 non‐obese healthy sedentary school children were carefully selected from 1080 participants initially recruited to this study. The two groups were matched in age, gender, and height. The clinical records of physical characteristics and development of the obese children were retrospectively reviewed to investigate the onset and progression of obesity. The ANS activities were assessed during a resting condition by means of heart rate variability power spectral analysis, which enables us to identify separate frequency components, i.e., total power (TP), low‐frequency (LF) power, and high‐frequency (HF) power. The spectral powers were then logarithmically transformed for statistical testing. Results: The obese children demonstrated a significantly lower TP (6.77 ± 0.12 vs. 7.11 ± 0.04 ln ms², p < 0.05), LF power (6.16 ± 0.12 vs. 6.42 ± 0.05 ln ms², p < 0.05), and HF power (5.84 ± 0.15 vs. 6.34 ± 0.07 ln ms², p < 0.01) compared with the non‐obese children. A partial correlation analysis revealed that the LF and HF powers among 42 obese children were negatively associated with the duration of obesity independent of age (LF: partial r = ?0.55, p < 0.001; HF: partial r = ?0.40, p < 0.01). The obese children were further subdivided into two groups based on the length of their obesity. All three spectral powers were significantly reduced in the obese group with obesity of >3 years (n = 18) compared to the group with obesity of <3 years. Discussion: Our data indicate that obese children possess reduced sympathetic as well as parasympathetic nerve activities. Such autonomic depression, which is associated with the duration of obesity, could be a physiological factor promoting the state and development of obesity. These findings further imply that preventing and treating obesity beginning in the childhood years could be an urgent and crucial pediatric public health issue.     

Comparison of body fat composition and serum adiponectin levels in diabetic obesity and non-diabetic obesity

Objective: Clinical aspects of diabetes and obesity are somewhat different, even at similar levels of insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in body fat distribution and serum adiponectin concentrations in diabetic and non‐diabetic obese participants. We were also interested in identifying the characteristics of insulin resistance in these two groups, particularly from the standpoint of adiponectin. Research Methods and Procedures: Adiponectin concentrations of 112 type 2 diabetic obese participants and 124 non‐diabetic obese participants were determined. Abdominal adipose tissue areas and midthigh skeletal muscle areas were measured by computed tomography. A homeostasis model assessment of the insulin resistance score was calculated to assess insulin sensitivity. The relationships among serum adiponectin, body fat distribution, and clinical characteristics were also analyzed. Results: Both abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat areas were higher in the non‐diabetic obese group, whereas midthigh low‐density muscle area was higher in the diabetic obese group. The homeostasis model assessment of the insulin resistance score was similar between groups, whereas serum adiponectin was lower in the diabetic obese group. Abdominal visceral fat (β = ?0.381, p = 0.012) was a more important predictor of adiponectin concentration than low‐density muscle (β = ?0.218, p = 0.026) in cases of non‐diabetic obesity, whereas low‐density muscle (β = ?0.413, p = 0.013) was a better predictor of adiponectin level than abdominal visceral fat (β = ? 0.228, p = 0.044) in diabetic obese patients. Discussion: Therefore, factors involved in pathophysiology, including different serum adiponectin levels and body fat distributions, are believed to be responsible for differences in clinical characteristics, even at similar levels of insulin resistance in both diseases.     

Stigmatized Students: Age,Sex, and Ethnicity Effects in the Stigmatization of Obesity

Objective: To assess the stigmatization of obesity relative to the stigmatization of various disabilities among young men and women. Attitudes across ethnic groups were compared. In addition, these findings were compared with data showing severe stigmatization of obesity among children. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants included 356 university students (56% women; mean age, 20.6 years; mean BMI, 23.3 kg/m²; range, 14.4 to 45.0 kg/m²) who ranked six drawings of same‐sex peers in order of how well they liked each person. The drawings showed adults with obesity, various disabilities, or no disability. These rankings were compared with those obtained through a similar procedure with 458 fifth‐ and sixth‐grade children. Results: Obesity was highly stigmatized relative to physical disabilities. African‐American women liked obese peers more than did African‐American men, white men, or white women [F (1, 216) = 4.02, p < 0.05]. Overweight and obese participants were no less stigmatizing of obesity than normal weight participants. Adults were more accepting than children of their obese peers [t (761) = 9.16, p < 0.001]. Discussion: Although the stigmatization of obesity was high among participants overall, African‐American women seemed to have more positive attitudes toward obesity than did white women, white men, or African‐American men. Participants’ weight did not affect their stigmatization of obesity: obese and overweight adults were as highly stigmatizing of obesity as non‐overweight adults. Such internalized stigmatization could help to explain the low self‐esteem and poor body image among obese young adults. However, adults seemed to have more positive attitudes about obesity than children. An understanding of the factors that limit the stigma of obesity among African‐American women could help efforts to reduce stigma.     

Assessment of hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome

Objective: Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS), the leading known genetic cause of obesity, is characterized by intellectual disabilities, maladaptive and compulsive behaviors, and hyperphagia. Although complications of obesity resulting from hyperphagia are the leading cause of death in PWS, quantifying this drive for food has long been an unmet research need. This study provides factor‐analytic and within‐syndrome analyses of a new measure of hyperphagia in PWS. Research Methods and Procedure: A 13‐item informant measure, the Hyperphagia Questionnaire, was developed and administered to the parents of 153 persons with PWS, 4 to 51 years of age. The intelligence quotients, genetic subtypes of PWS, and BMIs of offspring were obtained, as were measures of their non‐food problem behaviors. Results: Factor analyses with varimax rotation produced three statistically and conceptually robust factors that accounted for 59% of the variance: Hyperphagic Behaviors, Drive, and Severity. Hyperphagic Behavior increased with age, whereas Drive remained stable, and Severity dipped in older adults. Hyperphagic Drive and Severity were positively correlated with non‐food behavior problems, and Hyperphagic Drive differentiated the 36% of participants with extreme obesity from those who had overweight/obese (48%) or healthy (16%) BMI classifications. Discussion: The Hyperphagia Questionnaire is a robust tool for relating breakthroughs in the neurobiology of hyperphagia to in vivo food‐seeking behavior and for examining the psychological and developmental correlates of hyperphagia in PWS. The Hyperphagia Questionnaire also offers a nuanced, real‐life outcome measure for future clinical trials aimed at curbing the life‐threatening drive for food in PWS.     

Changes in obesity-related attitudes in women seeking weight reduction

Objective: To examine changes in obesity‐related attitudes in a sample of obese women who participated in either dieting or non‐dieting interventions. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 123 obese women were randomly assigned to one of three weight control programs: meal replacement diet, balanced deficit diet, or a non‐dieting program. (The first two groups were combined as a single dieting condition.) Participants completed questionnaires (at baseline, Week 20, and Week 40) to assess beliefs and attitudes about obesity, along with measures of self‐esteem, depression, and body image. Results: At Weeks 20 and 40, participants in the non‐dieting condition reported significantly less negativity about obesity than those in the dieting group. Women in the dieting condition did not report an increase in negative attitudes toward obesity, despite losing significantly more weight than non‐dieting participants. Both groups experienced improvements in self‐esteem, body image, and depressive symptoms. Improvement in self‐esteem was associated with a reduction in negativity about obesity and with improvements in body image. Discussion: The non‐dieting program produced greater reductions in negative attitudes toward obesity than the dieting intervention. Dieting (with successful weight loss), however, did not result in greater negativity toward obesity. Non‐dieting programs seem to be useful in obese women for improving self‐esteem, body image, and internalized negative attitudes about obesity.     

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.     

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.     

Locomotor strategies in obese and non-obese children

Objective: The constant strain in obese children may increase the risks of articular problems in adulthood. In the short term, obesity in children could lead to modifications of the gait pattern. The purpose of this study was to compare biomechanical parameters between obese and non‐obese children during self‐paced walking. Research Methods and Procedures: Gait analysis was performed on 10 non‐obese and 10 obese (body weight > 95th percentile) children between 8 and 13 years of age. Subjects were asked to walk at their own pace on a 10‐m walkway with two embedded AMTI force plates (Advanced Mechanical Technology, Watertown, MA) sampling at 960 Hz. Kinematics were captured with eight VICON optoelectronic cameras (Oxford Metrics Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom) recording at 60 Hz. Results: Obese children modified their hip motor pattern by shifting from extensor to flexor moment earlier in the gait cycle. This led obese children to significantly decrease the mechanical work done by the hip extensors during weight acceptance and significantly increase the mechanical work done by the hip flexors compared with non‐obese children. The ratio of power‐absorption‐by‐hip‐flexors to power‐generation‐by‐hip‐flexors was also significantly increased in the obese group compared with non‐obese children. Finally, there was a significant decrease in the single support duration in the obese group compared with non‐obese. Discussion: The kinetics analyzed showed that obese children could take advantage of a passive hip strategy to achieve forward progression during walking. However, considering that they are mechanically less efficient to transfer energy, walking at a natural cadence should be an appropriate exercise to reduce weight in obese children.     

Dietary Patterns and the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese and Non‐obese Framingham Women**

Objectives: To examine the relationship between habitual dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women and to identify foci for preventive nutrition interventions. Research Methods and Procedures: Dietary patterns, nutrient intake, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and MetS risk factors were characterized in 1615 Framingham Offspring‐Spouse Study (FOS) women. Dietary pattern subgroups were compared for MetS prevalence and CVD risk factor status using logistic regression and analysis of covariance. Analyses were performed overall in women and stratified on obesity status; multivariate models controlled for age, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes, and CVD risk factors. Results: Food and nutrient profiles and overall nutritional risk of five non‐overlapping habitual dietary patterns of women were identified including Heart Healthier, Lighter Eating, Wine and Moderate Eating, Higher Fat, and Empty Calories. Rates of hypertension and low high‐density lipoprotein levels were high in non‐obese women, but individual MetS risk factor levels were substantially increased in obese women. Overall MetS risk varied by dietary pattern and obesity status, independently of APOE and CVD risk factors. Compared with obese or non‐obese women and women overall with other dietary patterns, MetS was highest in those with the Empty Calorie pattern (contrast p value: p < 0.05). Discussion: This research shows the independent relationship between habitual dietary patterns and MetS risk in FOS women and the influence of obesity status. High overall MetS risk and the varying prevalence of individual MetS risk factors in female subgroups emphasize the importance of preventive nutrition interventions and suggest potential benefits of targeted behavior change in both obese and non‐obese women by dietary pattern.     

Obesity‐Related Knowledge,Attitudes, and Behaviors in Obese and Non‐obese Urban Philadelphia Female Adolescents

Objectives: To examine relationships between knowledge, attitudinal and behavioral factors, and obesity and to determine how these factors influence obesity status in west Philadelphia female adolescents. Research Methods and Procedures: A matched‐pairs study was conducted with 32 stature‐ and age‐matched pairs of obese (body mass index and triceps skinfold ≥95th percentile of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I) and non‐obese (body mass index and triceps skinfold between the 15th and 85th percentiles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I) female African American adolescents (aged 11 to 15 years), selected from a school‐based study sample, based on obesity status and matching criteria. Adolescents were compared on the following measures: physical activity, inactivity, dietary intake, eating attitudes, health behavior knowledge, body image, self‐esteem, and maturation status. Differences between obese and non‐obese females were tested using paired t tests and Wilcoxon matched‐pairs signed‐rank tests. Results: Physical activity, inactivity, and perception of ideal body size emerged as the most important contributory factors to obesity status. There were no statistically significant matched‐pair differences in macronutrient and micronutrient intakes, self‐esteem, eating attitudes, health behavior knowledge, or maturation status of these adolescents. Obese adolescents had significantly lower levels of physical activity, higher inactivity, and a larger perception of ideal body size than non‐obese adolescents. Discussion: Knowledge and attitudinal factors (with the exception of perception of ideal body size) had far less association with obesity than activity‐related behavioral factors. These findings suggest that future intervention strategies should pay particular attention to physical activity, inactivity, and body image attitudes.     

Obesity history as a predictor of walking limitation at old age

Objective: To study whether walking limitation at old age is determined by obesity history. Research Methods and Procedures: In a retrospective longitudinal study based on a representative sample of the Finnish population of 55 years and older (2055 women and 1337 men), maximal walking speed, body mass, and body height were measured in a health examination. Walking limitation was defined as walking speed <1.2 m/s or difficulty in walking 0.5 km. Recalled height at 20 years of age and recalled weight at 20, 30, 40, and 50 years of age were recorded. Results: Subjects who had been obese at the age of 30, 40, or 50 years had almost a 4‐fold higher risk of walking limitation compared to non‐obese. Obesity duration increased the age‐ and gender‐adjusted risk of walking limitation among those who had been obese since the age of 50 (odds ratio, 4.33; 95% confidence interval, 2.59 to 7.23, n = 114), among the obese since the age of 40 [6.01 (2.55 to 14.14), n = 39], and among the obese since the age of 30 [8.97 (3.06 to 26.29), n = 14]. The risk remained elevated even among those who had previously been obese but lost weight during their midlife or late adulthood [3.15 (1.63 to 6.11), n = 71]. Discussion: Early onset of obesity and obesity duration increased the risk of walking limitation, and the effect was only partially mediated through current BMI and higher risk of obesity‐related diseases. Preventing excess weight gain throughout one's life course is an important goal in order to promote good health and functioning in older age.     

Teasing History,Onset of Obesity,Current Eating Disorder Psychopathology,Body Dissatisfaction,and Psychological Functioning in Binge Eating Disorder

Objective: The primary goal of this study was to examine associations among teasing history, onset of obesity, current eating disorder psychopathology, body dissatisfaction, and psychological functioning in women with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects were 115 female adults who met DSM‐IV criteria for BED. Measurements assessing teasing history (general appearance [GAT] and weight and size [WST] teasing), current eating disorder psychopathology (binge frequency, eating restraint, and concerns regarding eating, shape, and weight), body dissatisfaction, and psychological functioning (depression and self‐esteem) were obtained. Results: History of GAT, but not WST, was associated with current weight concerns and body dissatisfaction, whereas both GAT and WST were significantly associated with current psychological functioning. Patients with earlier onset of obesity reported more WST than patients with later onset of obesity, but the groups did not differ significantly in GAT, current eating disorder psychopathology, body dissatisfaction, or psychological functioning. Obese women reported more WST than non‐obese women, but no differences in GAT or the other outcome variables were observed. Higher frequency of GAT was associated with greater binge frequency in obese women, and with greater eating restraint in non‐obese women. Discussion: Although physical appearance teasing history is not associated with variability in most eating disorder psychopathology, it is associated with related functioning, most notably body dissatisfaction, depression, and self‐esteem. Our findings also suggest that the age of onset of obesity and current body mass index status in isolation are not associated with eating psychopathology or associated psychological functioning in adult patients with BED.     

Visceral adiposity is associated with serum retinol binding protein-4 levels in healthy women

Objective: Retinol binding protein‐4 (RBP4) has been reported to impair insulin sensitivity throughout the body. We investigated the relationship between serum RBP4 levels and adiposity indices as well as metabolic risk variables. Research Methods and Procedure: We recruited a total of 102 healthy women 21 to 67 years old. We assessed body composition by computed tomography and divided the study population into four groups based on body weight and visceral fat area (non‐obese without visceral adiposity, non‐obese with visceral adiposity, obese without visceral adiposity, and obese with visceral adiposity). Serum RBP4 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: Despite similar levels of total body fat, non‐obese women had lower systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol levels, insulin resistance indices, and RBP4 levels than non‐obese women with visceral adiposity and had higher high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol levels. Similarly, obese women without visceral adiposity had lower blood pressure, total cholesterol, TG levels, insulin resistance indices, and RBP4 levels than obese women with visceral adiposity. In addition, despite having increased body fat, obese women without visceral adiposity had lower TGs, insulin resistance indices, and serum RBP4 levels than non‐obese women with visceral adiposity. By step‐wise multiple regression analysis, visceral fat areas and LDL‐cholesterol levels independently affected RBP4 levels. Discussion: We determined that serum RBP4 levels are independently associated with visceral fat and LDL‐cholesterol levels. These results suggest that, irrespective of body weight, visceral obesity is an independent predictor of serum RBP4 levels, and RBP4 may represent a link between visceral obesity and cardiovascular disease.     

Obesity Affects Myocardial Vasoreactivity and Coronary Flow Response to Insulin

Objective: Obesity is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and peripheral endothelial dysfunction. We examined whether myocardial vasoreactivity and coronary‐flow response to insulin stimulation are altered in obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: Myocardial blood flow was quantitated in 10 obese men (body mass index, 33.6 ± 1.9 kg/m²) and 10 healthy matched non‐obese men (body mass index, 24.2 ± 1.9 kg/m²), using positron emission tomography and oxygen‐15‐labeled water. The measurements were performed basally and during adenosine infusion (140 μg/kg per minute), with or without simultaneous physiological (1 mU/kg per minute) and supraphysiological (5 mU/kg per minute) hyperinsulinemia. Results: Basal myocardial blood flow was not significantly different between obese and non‐obese subjects. Adenosine‐stimulated flow was blunted in obese (3.2 ± 0.6 mL/g per minute) when compared with non‐obese subjects (4.0 ± 1.1 mL/g per minute, p < 0.05). Simultaneous physiological hyperinsulinemia increased adenosine‐stimulated myocardial flow significantly in both groups (to 4.03 ± 1.24 and 4.85 ± 1.04 mL/g per minute in obese and non‐obese men, respectively; p < 0.05 vs. adenosine). Supraphysiological hyperinsulinemia further enhanced the adenosine‐stimulated flow in non‐obese subjects (to 5.56 ± 0.98 mL/g per minute; p < 0.05) but not in obese subjects. Discussion: Young obese, healthy men have reduced myocardial vasoreactivity, which may represent an early precursor of future coronary artery disease. Additionally, insulin‐induced enhancement of myocardial blood flow is blunted in obesity. Thus, endothelial dysfunction seems to also characterize myocardial vasculature of obese subjects.     

Obesity and physical activity among Aboriginal Canadians

Objective: To investigate ethnic differences in obesity and physical activity among Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal Canadians. Methods and Procedures: The sample included 24,279 Canadians (1,176 Aboriginals, 23,103 non‐Aboriginals) aged 2–64 years from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Adult participants were classified as underweight/normal weight, overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m²) or obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). Children and youth 2–17 years of age were classified as normal weight, overweight or obese based on the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Leisure‐time physical activity levels over the previous 3 months were obtained by questionnaire in those aged 12–64 years. Results: The prevalence of obesity in adults was 22.9% (men: 22.9%; women: 22.9%), and the prevalence was higher among Aboriginals (37.8%) compared to non‐Aboriginals (22.6%). The prevalence of obesity in children and youth was 8.2% (boys: 9.2%; girls: 7.2%), and the prevalence was higher among Aboriginals (15.8%) compared to non‐Aboriginals (8.0%). In both youth and adults, the odds for obesity were higher among Aboriginals (youth: OR = 2.3 (95% CI: 1.4–3.8); adults: OR = 2.4 (95% CI: 1.6–3.6)) after adjustment for a number of covariates. There were no ethnic differences in the prevalence of physical inactivity; however, physical inactivity was a predictor of obesity in both the Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal samples. Discussion: The prevalence of obesity is higher among Canadian Aboriginals compared to the rest of the population. Further research is required to better delineate the determinants of obesity and the associated health consequences in this population.     

Development of guidelines for assessing obesity in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Many captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are subjectively considered to be overweight or obese. However, discussions of obesity in chimpanzees are rare in the literature, despite the acknowledged problem. No study to date has systematically examined obesity in captive chimpanzees. This project develops guidelines for defining obesity in captive chimpanzees through the examination of morphometric and physiologic characteristics in 37 adult female and 22 adult male chimpanzees. During each animal's biannual physical exam, morphometric data was collected including seven skinfolds (mm), body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), and total body weight (kg). The morphometric characteristics were correlated with triglycerides and serum glucose concentration, to test the utility of morphometrics in predicting relative obesity in captive chimpanzees. Abdominal skinfold (triglyceride: F=3.83, P=0.05; glucose: F=3.83, P=0.05) and BMI (triglyceride: F=10.42, p=0.003; glucose: F=6.20, P=0.02) were predictive of increased triglycerides and serum glucose in females; however no morphometric characteristics were predictive of relative obesity in males. Results suggest that no males in this population are overweight or obese. For females, there were additional significant differences in morphometric (skinfolds, BMI, WHR, total body weight) and physiologic measurements (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, red blood cells) between individuals classified overweight and those classified non‐overweight. Skinfold measurements, particularly abdominal, seem to be an accurate measure of obesity and thus potential cardiovascular risk in female chimpanzees, but not males. By establishing a baseline for estimated body fat composition in female captive chimpanzees, institutions can track individuals empirically determined to be obese, as well as obesity‐related health problems. Zoo Biol 0:1–12, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Impact of Information About Obesity Genomics on the Stigmatization of Overweight Individuals: An Experimental Study

Advances in genomic technologies are rapidly leading to new understandings of the roles that genetic variations play in obesity. Increasing public dissemination of information regarding the role of genetics in obesity could have beneficial, harmful, or neutral effects on the stigmatization of obese individuals. This study used an online survey and experimental design to examine the impact of genetic versus non‐genetic information on obesity stigma among self‐perceived non‐overweight individuals. Participants (n = 396) were randomly assigned to read either genetic, non‐genetic (environment), or gene—environment interaction obesity causal information. A total of 48% of participants were female; mean age was 42.7 years (range = 18–86 years); 75% were white; 45.2% had an annual household income of less than $40,000; mean BMI was 23.4 kg/m². Obesity stigma was measured using the Fat Phobia Scale — short form (FPS‐S). After reading the experimental information, participants in the genetic and gene—environment conditions were more likely to believe that genetics increase obesity risk than participants in the non‐genetic condition (both P < 0.05), but did not differ on obesity stigma. Obesity stigma was higher among whites and Asians than Hispanics and African Americans (P = 0.029), and associated with low self‐esteem (P = 0.036). Obesity stigma was also negatively associated with holding 'germ or virus' (P = 0.033) and 'overwork' (P = 0.016) causal beliefs about obesity, and positively associated with 'diet or eating habits' (P = 0.001) and 'lack of exercise' (P = 0.004) causal beliefs. Dissemination of brief information about the role of genetics in obesity may have neither a beneficial nor a harmful impact on obesity stigmatization compared with non‐genetic information among self‐perceived non‐overweight individuals.