Geographic determinants of individual obesity risk in Spain: A multilevel approach

This paper seeks to understand the determinants of individual body weight status and obesity risk in Spain by concurrently examining individual and regional characteristics. The data are drawn from the National Health Survey of Spain for the year 2011–2012 (INE-National Statistical Institute of Spain) and contain information for a representative sample of 12,671 adults across 50 provinces in Spain. A multilevel analysis is carried out to examine the determinants of individual weight status and obesity, controlling not only for the individual effects and those of the immediate environment but also for the broader setting to which individuals and their immediate environment belong. Our findings suggest that attributes from all three levels of analysis have an effect on individual weight status and obesity. Lack of green spaces and criminality taken as proxies of the social environment positively affect individual and women's BMI and obesity, respectively.     

CD276 expression enables squamous cell carcinoma stem cells to evade immune surveillance

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Microbiota conservation and BMI signatures in adult monozygotic twins

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiota acts like a virtual organ and is suggested to be of great importance in human energy balance and weight control. This study included 40 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs to investigate the influence of the human genotype on GI microbiota structure as well as microbial signatures for differences in body mass index (BMI). Phylogenetic microarraying based on 16S rRNA genes demonstrated that MZ twins have more similar microbiotas compared with unrelated subjects (P<0.001), which allowed the identification of 35 genus-like microbial groups that are more conserved between MZ twins. Half of the twin pairs were selected on discordance in terms of BMI, which revealed an inverse correlation between Clostridium cluster IV diversity and BMI. Furthermore, relatives of Eubacterium ventriosum and Roseburia intestinalis were positively correlated to BMI differences, and relatives of Oscillospira guillermondii were negatively correlated to BMI differences. Lower BMI was associated with a more abundant network of primary fiber degraders, while a network of butyrate producers was more prominent in subjects with higher BMI. Combined with higher butyrate and valerate contents in the fecal matter of higher BMI subjects, the difference in microbial networks suggests a shift in fermentation patterns at the end of the colon, which could affect human energy homeostasis.     

The vanishing weight gap: Trends in obesity among adult food stamp participants (US) (1976–2002)

High rates of obesity among low-income populations have led some to question whether USDA's food assistance programs have contributed to this health problem. Using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), this study shows that the association between food assistance program participation and body weight measures has weakened over the past three decades. Earlier NHANES data show that program participants were more likely to be overweight than individuals who were eligible but not participating in the program. This was particularly true among white women. However, the more recent data show that these differences have vanished, as the BMI of the rest of the population has caught up to BMI levels of food stamps recipients.     

Types of fiber and gut microbiota composition and diversity among arab females

ObjectivesDietary fiber is recognized as an important nutrient for gut health. However, research on the relations of different types of fibers (soluble and insoluble) to the human microbiota health is limited. This study aimed to identify whether higher habitual intake of soluble and/or insoluble fiber have a different influence on the composition, diversity, and abundance of microbiota.MethodsWe examined the fecal microbial composition of 92 healthy females aged 18 and above using the novel shotgun metagenomics sequencing technique. The habitual fiber intake was determined using the Saudi food frequency questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation was used for the correlations between total, soluble, and insoluble fiber and gut microbiota. α- and β-diversities were applied to acquire the distinctions in the relative abundances of bacterial taxa.ResultsOur findings show that higher dietary fiber, particularly insoluble fiber, was significantly correlated with the abundances of Bacteroides_u_s, Bacteroides uniformis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus (r = 0.26, 0.29, 0.26, p-value < 0.05, respectively). Non-significant difference was noted in the microbial α-diversity and β-diversity in low and high soluble/insoluble dietary fiber.ConclusionsCurrent findings suggest that insoluble dietary-fiber intake is favorably correlated with the health of the human gut microbiota. However, further investigations are necessary to identify the effect of types of fiber on the specific species identified in this study.     

Do employers discriminate against obese employees? Evidence from individuals who are simultaneously self-employed and working for an employer

We test whether the lower wages of obese employees result from employer discrimination using a novel empirical strategy. Using data from two nationally representative surveys from the US, we analyze the wages of individuals who are simultaneously self-employed and working for an employer. While lower productivity and customer discrimination against obese individuals may affect wages in both types of jobs, employer discrimination cannot affect the wages of solo entrepreneurs. Our estimates suggest that, even after controlling for productivity (proxied by their concurrent wage in self-employment), white women (men) who are obese earn 11.4% (9.7%) less than their healthy-weight counterparts in their paid employment jobs. We also find that white women (but not men) who are overweight earn 9.1% less than their healthy-weight counterparts. We do not find any evidence of significant bodyweight discrimination among black and Hispanic workers. These results suggest that white workers, especially white women, are likely to face bodyweight discrimination in their workplaces. We report the results for a series of robustness checks to rule out alternative explanations, such as reverse causality, differences in healthcare costs, and occupation-specific customer discrimination.     

Psychiatric III-Health of Women and Its Relationship to Obesity and Body Fat Distribution

Objective : Abdominal obesity is associated with serious, prevalent diseases. Previously, psychiatric symptoms and ill-health has been found in this condition in men. The results of a similar study in women is reported herein. Research Methods and Procedures : A cohort of 1464 women, aged 40 years and recruited by systematic sampling, was examined (77.7% participation rate). Items regarding use of anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressive drugs were registered, as well as symptoms of dyspepsia, sleeping disturbances, melancholy, and degree of life satisfaction. Smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as self-measured weight, height, waist, and hip circumferences, were reported, from which body mass index [BMI; weight (kg)/height² (m²), kg/m²] and the waist/hip circumference ratio (WHR) were calculated. Results : In bivariate analyses, BMI was associated with use of anxiolytics, antidepressive drugs, various sleeping disturbances, and a low degree of life satisfaction. After controlling for “the WHR, alcohol, and tobacco use in multivariate analysis, the associations between BMI and use of anxiolytics and sleeping disturbances remained significant. The WHR correlated with dyspepsia, sleeping problems, and use of antidepressive drugs. After adjustments for BMI, smoking, and alcohol, the relationship to dyspepsia and antidepressants remained significant. Discussion : The results suggest that elevated BMI (obesity) and elevated WHR (central fat distribution) are associated in different ways with symptoms of psychiatric ill-health in women. Obesity alone shows no such relationships to psy chiatric ill-health in men, whereas central fat distribution shows independent associations to all of the measured variables studied in this report in women, suggesting gender differences in these associations.     

Assessment of Childhood Obesity: National Reference Data or International Approach?

Assessing body mass index in children requires cutoffs that are different from those for adults. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence base, rationale, and practical issues that should inform decisions about the use of national and international reference data for assessing obesity in children. In many countries, decisions are being made without consideration of the existing evidence, and with limited understanding of the practical problems or potential harm that may arise.     

Mental Distress,Obesity and Body Fat Distribution in Middle-Aged Men

Previous epidemiological studies have suggested that psychiatric symptoms are associated with obesity and abdominal distribution of body fat in women. The aim of the present study was to examine this in middle-aged men. In 1992 a cluster selected cohort of 1040 men born in 1944 (participation rate 79.9%) was examined. Registrations of symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, psychosomatic disease as well as degree of life satisfaction were analyzed in relation to body mass index (BMI) and the waist/hip circumference ratio (WHR). In univariate analyses both BMI and WHR correlated with these factors. BMI and WHR were, however, closely interrelated (p=0.61), necessitating analyses of separate, independent relationships in multivariate analyses. When adjusted for WHR all the significant relationships with BMI disappeared. In contrast the WHR, adjusted for BMI, showed remaining significant associations with the use of anxiolytics (p=0.018), hypnotics (p=0.029), antidepressive drugs (p=0.008), degree of melancholy (p=0.002), and life satisfaction (p=0.002, negative), difficulties to sleep (p=0.014) and fall asleep (p=0.047), tendency to wake up from sleep (borderline, p=0.070) and dyspepsia (p < 0.001). Since smoking and alcohol are known to influence on the WHR, these factors were, in addition to BMI, entered into the analyses as confounding variables. The mentioned associations then remained statistical significant (use of hypnotics borderline, p=0.074) except difficulties to fall asleep and tendency to wake up. It was concluded that in contrast to BMI, the WHR is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety with associated sleep disturbances, as well as psychosomatic symptoms and dissatisfaction. It was hypothesized that the mechanism involved might be increased secretion of Cortisol, directing storage fat to central adipose tissue depots.