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Background: Regular physical activity (PA) attenuates the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in postpartum women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). PA is assessed by calculating the energy expenditure (EE), thus accurate estimation of EE is crucial. International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ) and activity diary are widely used subjective methods while pedometer provides objective evidence of PA and EE. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to compare subjective and objective methods of assessing EE as a measure of PA in postpartum women with a history of GDM. Materials and Methods: Fifty postpartum women who had a history of GDM were advised to maintain activity diaries and pedometer readings for 1 week each month up to 1 year and IPAQ was administered at the end of 6 and 12 months. EE was calculated by all three methods separately and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the level of agreement between IPAQ and the other tools at 6 and 12 months. Friedman test was performed to compare estimated EE between the three methods. Results: There was a poor agreement between the subjective and objective methods. According to Bland-Altman plot results, the highest mean difference was observed between IPAQ and pedometer at 12 months (mean difference was 75.9). This observation indicated an underestimation of pedometer values at 12 months. EE assessed by two subjective methods were statistically comparable at both time points whereas, EE assessed by pedometer was significantly lower (P<0.017) compared to self-reported tools. Conclusion: Assessment of EE by subjective methods which are based on personal judgment may cause overestimation of PA. In contrast, pedometer readings are likely to underestimate the PA as it only reports kinetics activities. Therefore, a combination of subjective and objective methods is recommended to ameliorate the reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The link between sweet taste perception and carbohydrate intake in diabetics who perform regular combined exercises has not been explored. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed at determining the impact of combined exercises on taste perception for sucrose and carbohydrate intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: A clinical trial was conducted with 225 patients with T2DM, aged 35-60 years assigned randomly into three groups; aerobic, combined, and a control group. Outcomes of the aerobic group were not reported. Combined group performed brisk walking 4-5 days/week and resistance exercises 2-3 days/week for 6 months. Supra-threshold intensity ratings, preference for sucrose, and carbohydrate intake assessed at baseline, at 3 and 6 months were measured using "general Labeled Magnitude Scale," "Monell 2-series-forced choice method," and a 3-day diet diary, respectively. Results: Ratings for the highest (combined vs. control: +3.15±0.57 vs. -7.96±0.40 mol/L, P=0.022) and the second-highest sucrose concentrations (combined vs. control: +7.79±4.49 vs. -8.98±0.99 mol/L, P=0.003) in the combined group were significantly higher with significant time × group interaction (2.02M: P=0.002, 0.64M: P=0.003). Preference for sucrose was lower in the combined group (combined vs. control: -0.08±0.14 vs. +0.01±0.03 mol/L, P=0.002), and the time × group interaction was not significant. Carbohydrate intake (combined vs. control: -46.97±21.60 vs. -6.30±9.36 g, P=0.001) and HbA1c level (combined vs. control: -0.66±1.81 vs. +0.33±1.84%, P=0.008) were reduced in the combined group, and taste sensitivity significantly predicted the carbohydrate intake with combined exercises (R2=0.64, P=0.01). Conclusion: Regular combined exercises increase sweet taste sensitivity for higher concentrations of sucrose. Taste sensitivity, not the preference determines the carbohydrate intake in exercising diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity and its' comorbidities in young adults are emerging health concerns. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases, type -2 diabetes, carcinomas, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gynecological complications. Young adulthood is considered the best time period to introduce weight control interventions as the established lifestyle behaviors may persist throughout life. Aims and Objectives: The present study assessed self-perception of body weight, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction and their associated factors in a sample of treatment seeking obese young adults. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and sixty-one obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2) young (18-35 years) adults attending an out-patient nutrition clinic of a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka were studied. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information on body weight perception and, knowledge and practices on obesity and weight reduction. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Results: The mean (±SD) BMI of the participants was 29.0 (±3.6) kg m-2. Only 16.1% precisely perceived themselves as 'obese' and increased BMI was only significant predictor of accurate body weight perception (OR=1.23; 95% CI = 1.07-1.47; p = 0.003). Only 49.0% reported obesity as a disease and 46.0 % and 27.2% that it predisposes to stroke and carcinoma respectively. Although 86.2% have attempted weight reduction, only 33.8% sought professional advice. Diet control was the most common weight reduction strategy (73.1%) and among them 33.3% combined with exercises. One fourth (n = 56) relied on green tea for weight reduction and meal skipping was reported in 52.9%. Conclusion: Significant body weight misperception was reported in lower BMI categories. The overall knowledge regarding obesity and weight reduction was satisfactory though not optimum. Diet control with or without physical exercises was the most popular method of weight reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]