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As rates of obesity continue to rise, so does the impact of obesity on cognitive function. Engaging in physical activity is one pathway through which individuals can help maintain cognitive function. This study examined whether any link between exercise and cognitive function was associated with weight characteristics. Data from 6,012 participants in the Health and Retirement Study were used. The association between participation in light or moderate physical activity and better cognitive function was particularly strong for overweight or obese adults and less so for those who were normal weight. Overall, the findings suggested that while being physically active is associated with better cognitive function regardless of weight, the associations were stronger for individuals who were overweight/obese compared with those who were normal weight. Given the results were particularly pronounced for waist circumference (relative to body mass index), further research should be conducted to examine if individuals with greater abdominal adiposity may benefit most from staying active in terms of their cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The purpose of the study was to develop normative ranges and standards for knee and shoulder isokinetic and anthropometric values. These standards can be qualitatively interpreted and allow practitioners to classify isokinetic and anthropometric values more objectively for university-level netball players. Design: Posttest only observational study design. All players were only evaluated once during the in-season to generate normative ranges. Methods: A total of 51 female players volunteered. Participants were evaluated on an isokinetic dynamometer at 60° per second to obtain knee-extensor and knee-flexor values as well as shoulder-flexor and shoulder-extensor values. A total of 16 anthropometric variables were collected including stature, body mass, 8 skinfolds, and 6 circumferences. Between-group differences were calculated to determine whether playing level was a differentiating factor in data. Results: Normative standards were developed for isokinetic parameters associated with the knee and shoulder joints as well as skinfolds and circumference measures. No statistically significant between-group differences were evident (χKruskal-Wallis²[2] = 3.96, P = .140). Conclusion: These standards can be used by coaches and practitioners to set attainable goals for individual players or those from secondary leagues, classify individual and team-based performances, and facilitate decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity is highly prevalent and linked to poorer diet and worse metabolic outcomes. Food insecurity can be stressful, and could elicit chronic psychological and physiological stress. In this study, we tested whether stress could be used to identify those at highest risk for worse diet and metabolic measures from food insecurity. Specifically, we hypothesized that cortisol (a physiological marker of stress) and perceived psychological stress would amplify the link between food insecurity and hyperpalatable food intake as well as metabolic measures. In a sample of 624 Black and White women aged 36-43 who participated in the NHLBI Growth and Health Study's midlife assessment, we assessed associations between food insecurity with hyperpalatable food intake (high fat + high sodium foods; high fat + high sugar foods; and high carbohydrate + high sodium foods), and metabolic measures (fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and waist circumference). We found that food insecurity was associated with higher levels of perceived stress (R2 = 0.09), and greater intake of high fat + high sugar (hyperpalatable) foods (R2 = 0.03). In those with higher cumulative cortisol (as indexed by hair cortisol), food insecurity was associated with higher levels of fasting glucose. Neither cortisol nor perceived stress moderated any other relationships, and neither variable functioned as a mediator in sensitivity analyses. Given these largely null findings, further research is needed to understand the role stress plays in the chronic health burdens of food insecurity.

Objectives: Movement behaviors and abdominal obesity are associated with higher inflammatory biomarkers. However, the role of waist circumference as a mediating factor is still unknown. Thus, our aims were to (1) test the associations between 24-hour movement behavior variables (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep), abdominal obesity, and pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers; and (2) investigate whether abdominal obesity had a mediating effect between the investigated associations. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study included 3591 adolescents (aged 12–17 y) from 4 Brazilian cities. Waist circumference (in centimeters; at half the distance between the iliac crest and at the lower costal margin), 24-hour movement behaviors (validated questionnaire), high-sensitive C-reactive protein, and adiponectin (serum plasma) were evaluated. We used multiple mediation regression models (95% confidence interval) to determine if waist circumference mediated the association between 24-hour movement behaviors and pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers. Results: The results revealed that screen time and moderate to vigorous physical activity were not associated with pro- or anti-inflammatory biomarkers. However, sleep duration (in hours per day) was negatively associated with pro- (C-reactive protein, β = −0.08; 95% confidence interval, −0.38 to −0.02) and anti- (adiponectin, β = −0.31; 95% confidence interval, −2.13 to −0.12) inflammatory biomarkers. Our results also showed that waist circumference mediated the association between sleep duration and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (2.7%), and adiponectin (2.8%). Conclusion: Sleep duration was inversely associated with pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers, and these relations were mediated by abdominal obesity. Therefore, adolescents having healthy sleep can have implications for reducing waist circumference and inflammatory indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Materials and methods Results Conclusion To investigate the effect of different physical activity patterns on obesity.Data from adults aged 17–79 years were extracted from the Hong Kong Territory‐Wide Physical Fitness Survey conducted in 2011–2012 and 2021–2022. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) patterns were collected through questionnaires and categorized as inactive (no MVPA ≥10 min), insufficiently active (<150 min MVPA/week), weekend warriors (≥150 min MVPA/week from 1 to 2 days) and regularly active (≥150 min MVPA/week from ≥3 days). The association between these activity patterns with obesity risk and body fat percentage was analysed.This study included 9863 obesity data (including valid waist circumference and body mass index) and 7496 body fat data. Compared with the inactive group, the weekend warriors and regularly active individuals had lower risks of general and abdominal obesity, as well as reduced body fat. Furthermore, individuals who were insufficiently active but engaged in ≥3 days of MVPA showed significantly lower body fat and obesity risk than their inactive counterparts.Engaging in physical activity even once or twice a week can positively impact weight control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies indicate that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) significantly contribute to metabolic syndrome (MetS) development. This study aims to assess the distinguishing value of novel obesity markers, specifically lipid accumulation products (LAP) and cardiometabolic index (CMI), in relation to MetS. Considering the gender disparity in MetS prevalence, it is essential to explore whether LAP and CMI exhibit differential distinguishing capabilities by gender. Method: The investigation included a total of 11,687 qualified individuals who participated in the NHANES survey spanning a 14-year period from 2005 to 2018. Biochemical analysis of blood and body measurements were utilized to determine LAP and CMI values for each participant. Inclusion of gender as a variable was a key factor in the examination of all data. Restricted cube plots (RCS) were utilized to analyze the strength of the relationship between LAP, CMI, and MetS. The study delved into potential connections between LAP and CMI with MetS, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality using various statistical models such as multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression. Results: The findings revealed a significant nonlinear association between CMI, LAP, and MetS (P-non-linear < 0.001), irrespective of gender, with all models exhibiting a J-shaped trend. The multivariable logistic regression analysis considered both LAP and CMI as continuous variables or tertiles, revealing significant associations with MetS in male, female, and general populations (All the P < 0.001). Although males displayed a higher risk of MetS, no gender differences were observed in the area under the curve (AUC) values of LAP and CMI for distinguishing (P > 0.005) MetS. Impressively, LAP and CMI were identified as the primary predictors of MetS in both genders from AUC (P < 0.005). More specifically, the cutoff points for distinguishing MetS in females were LAP = 49.87 or CMI = 0.56, while for males, they were LAP = 52.76 or CMI = 0.70. Additionally, the Cox regression analysis revealed that LAP and CMI were correlated with all-cause mortality in both general population and females (P < 0.005), but not in males. Conclusion: In comparison to other measures of obesity, LAP and CMI demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy for MetS in both males and females. Additionally, LAP and CMI were found to be predictive of all-cause mortality in both general population and females. These markers are cost-effective, easily accessible, and widely applicable for the early identification and screening of MetS in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We assessed the impact of a 3-year change-percent in adiposity measures on regression and pre-diabetes (Pre-DM) progression among Iranian adults. Methods: Three-year change-percent in body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were calculated for 1458 Pre-DM subjects (mean age of 53.0 ± 13.7, 46.8% men), participated in the third examination of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (2006–2008). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate relative risk ratios (RRRs) of the outcomes [i.e., regression to normal glucose regulation (NGR), persistence in Pre-DM, and progression to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D)] across 3-year change categories of adiposity measures (i.e., ≥ 5% decrease, 0–5% decrease, increase). Results: Over nine years of follow-up, 37.7 and 39.0% returned to NGR and progressed to T2D, respectively. Decreased BW (0–5 and ≥ 5%) was associated with regression to NGR (RRRs = 1.44, 95% CIs = 1.05–1.98, and 2.64, 1.63–4.28, respectively). Decreased BMI and WC ≥ 5% were also associated with regression to NGR (RRRs = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.01–2.64; 1.69, 1.20–2.37, respectively). Changes in WHR and VAI were not associated with Pre-DM regression or progression. Pre-DM subjects with ≥ 5% BW loss had a constant FSG level overtime and a lower overall mean of FSG (116 vs. 111 and 112 mg/dL, P = 0.023 and 0.009, respectively) and 2 h-SG (154 vs. 165 and 168 mg/dL) compared to those had 0–5% BW loss or BW gain. Conclusion: Short-term management of adiposity measures increases the regression probability to NGR. Targeting BW loss seems a more potent predictor of Pre-DM reversion among the adiposity measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between prevalence of Osteoarthritis (OA) and insulin resistance (IR). The correlation between IR surrogates indices and gold standard tool for IR evaluation (Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HIEC)) have been well demonstrated. However, few studies evaluated the relationship between IR surrogates and OA. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential associations between different IR surrogates (the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, the triglyceride glucose with body mass (TyG-BMI) index, the triglyceride glucose with waist circumference (TyG-WC) index, and the triglyceride glucose with the ratio of waist circumference divided by height (TyG-WtHR) index) and OA. Methods: This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations of different IR surrogates with OA. Results: After adjusting for covariates, TyG-BMI index (OR = 1.006, 95% CI [1.004, 1.007], P < 0.0001), TyG-WC index (OR = 1.002, 95% CI [1.002, 1.003], P < 0.0001) and TyG-WtHR index (OR = 1.425, 95%CI [1.292,1.572], P < 0.0001) still showed robust positive correlation with IR. The risk of OA in the fourth quartile of the TyG-BMI index, TyG-WC index, and TyG-WtHR index are 2.634-fold, 2.651-fold, and 2.433-fold higher than that in the first quartile, respectively. Conclusions: Compared to the HOMA-IR index and the TyG index, the association between the TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WtHR indices and OA is closer and more stable. The TyG-WtHR index has the highest accuracy in predicting OA, followed by the TyG-WC and TyG-BMI index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the widespread use of ephedra in various forms, including food supplements and herbal prescriptions, comprehensive studies reviewing its efficacy and safety across different countries are lacking. Methods: We systematically searched 5 electronic databases and conducted a meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ephedra-containing oral medications (EOMs), performing a dose–response analysis for weight loss. Results: The meta-analysis results revealed a statistically significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) (MD: 1.5 kg/m2; 95% CI: −2.46 to −0.54) and secondary outcomes like body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC). The dose–response analysis indicated a correlation between ephedra and weight reduction. The safety analysis showed no significant difference in adverse effects between the treatment and control groups (RR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.80 ∼ 1.21, and p = 0.90). Discussion: In conclusion, EOMs demonstrated effectiveness in promoting weight loss, and the dose–response analysis indicated a correlation between ephedra and weight reduction. However, additional research is necessary due to the limited number of studies and inconsistent results among the assessment criteria. Moreover, if prescribed by traditional medicine physicians within the permissible daily ephedrine dosage range of 150 mg set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and monitored by healthcare professionals, the risk of severe adverse events is likely to be minimal. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display%5frecord.php?RecordID=387895, identifier CRD42023387895. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: the independent association between parental obesity, sleep and lifestyle habits with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents has been widely explored in the literature. Our study represents a novel approach to comprehensively investigate a complex model encompassing various aspects associated with cardiometabolic risk in youth. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify the relationship between parental obesity and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents, considering the mediator role of health indicators according to sleep time. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,973 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years attending public and private schools in a city located in Southern Brazil. Sleep duration, lifestyle, physical activity, natural food consumption, and parental obesity were evaluated through self-reported questionnaires. Physical fitness was evaluated according to the protocols of Projeto Esporte Brasil. The body fat percentage was evaluated through the measures of tricipital and subscapular folds, and the body mass index was calculated. The clustered metabolic risk score (cMetS) considered the summing z-scores of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and fasting glucose, divided by five. A structural equation model was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The relationship between parental obesity and cardiometabolic risk was observed in children and adolescents with adequate sleep, being significant (p < 0.05) mediated by physical activity, natural food, physical fitness, and lifestyle. This was also observed when parental education was included in the inadequate sleep cluster model. Conclusion: Present findings underscore the importance of sufficient sleep duration as a critical factor in understanding the complex interplay between parental obesity and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) has been reported to be associated with obesity, the association of BCAA with visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) remained unclear in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 284 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Enzyme-linked immunospecific assay was used to measure levels of serum BCAA and branched-chain keto acid (BCKA). VFA and SFA were measured with bio-impedance analysis method. The association between BCAA and VFA was calculated using Pearson correlation and multivariable linear regression analysis. Results: There were significant differences in the means of body mass index, waist circumstance, SFA and VFA among the three groups divided by total BCAA tertiles (all p < 0.05). Compared to patients with lower levels of serum BCAA (the lower tertile group), the means of VFA and SFA were significantly larger in the middle and upper tertile groups (all p < 0.05). However, the differences in above obesity parameters were nonsignificant according to various BCKA tertiles. Pearson correlation analysis also demonstrated that BCAA levels were positive associated with each obesity parameter (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, multivariable linear regression analysis showed that levels of serum BCAA were correlated with VFA, BMI and WC (all p < 0.05) rather than SFA after adjusted for other confounders. Conclusions: levels of serum BCAA were more closely correlated with VFA than SFA, prospective studies should be warranted to further explore the mechanism mediating BCAA and visceral fat accumulation in Human beings. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a novel, sex-specific indicator of lipid accumulation. While previous studies have investigated the relationship between LAP and diabetes, they have not specifically addressed potential sex differences in this association. The present study explores the potential sex-specific differences in the relationship between LAP and diabetes mellitus (DM) risk in the Japanese population. From 2004 to 2015, a total of 15,263 Japanese individuals without DM underwent physical assessments at Murakami Memorial Hospital. The association between LAP and incident diabetes was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models, incorporating cubic spline functions and smooth curve fitting to identify potential non-linear relationships. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis assessments were conducted to validate the robustness of our findings. After adjusting for covariates, a positive association between LAP and DM risk was observed in both females (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03, P = 0.0138) and males (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, P = 0.0314). A non-linear association between LAP and incident DM was identified for both sexes. The inflection points for LAP were 16.58 for females and 11.11 for males. In females, the HR to the left and right of the inflection point were 1.09 (95% CI: 1.02–1.17) and 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03), respectively. In males, the HR to the left and right of the inflection point were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86–0.98) and 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.01), respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated a stronger association between LAP and DM risk. Elevated baseline LAP levels were associated with an increased risk of incident DM, with the relationship exhibiting non-linear characteristics. These findings suggest that maintaining lower LAP levels may help mitigate the risk of developing diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most current studies use body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) to define obesity, and BMI, which reflects subcutaneous fat independent of visceral fat, is the most commonly used indicator of obesity. WC reflects subcutaneous and visceral fat. This research aims to investigate the effect of obesity on mortality in people with digestive diseases. According to BMI and WC, we divided patients with obesity into the following four groups: general obesity, abdominal obesity, combined obesity, and non-obese. The effects of different obesity types on mortality in a population with digestive diseases were analysed via Cox regression and inverse probability-weighted Cox regression. Our research employed multivariate imputation via the chained equations method to interpolate missing values. A total of 254,445 participants, with a mean age of 57.8 ± 7.8 years, were included in the analysis. Of these participants, 227,111 (89.3%) participants were censored, and 27,334 (10.7%) participants died. Abdominal obesity and combined obesity were independent predictors of mortality in patients with digestive diseases. The combination of BMI and WC was valuable and significant for considering the type of obesity. In addition, our study revealed that sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and physical activity were also associated with death in people with digestive disorders. Combined obesity, which is determined by both BMI and WC, is an important factor that influences mortality in a population with digestive diseases, and it plays a stronger role than abdominal obesity alone. These modifiable risk factors for mortality can provide guidance to populations with digestive diseases to avoid poor lifestyles and prolong survival time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity/overweight, its treatment or prevention with new interventions can greatly help health and reduce its adverse effects in people. One of these new interventions is investigating the effect of Survodutide as a dual agonist of glucagon and GLP-1 receptors, which seems to be able to influence weight loss processes in different ways. In this study, we investigated the effect of injectable Survodutide on weight loss. Methods: In order to identify all randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of Survodutide on factores related to obesity, a systematic search was conducted in the original databases using predefined keywords until August 2024. The pooled weighted mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were computed using the random-effects model. Results: The Findings from 18 treatment arms with 1029 participants indicated significant reductions in weight (WMD: -8.33 kg; 95% CI: -10.80, -5.86; I2 = 99.6%), body mass index (BMI) (WMD:-4.03 kg/m2; 95% CI: -4.86, -3.20; I2 = 72.7%), and waist circumferences (WC) (WMD: -6.33 cm; 95% CI: -8.85 to -3.81; I2 = 99.5%) following the Survodutide injection compared to the control group. Subgroup analysis reveals that longer interventions (more than 16 weeks) and higher doses (more than 2 mg/week) of Survodutide are associated with more significant reductions in weight and WC. These results were also observed in the meta-regression analysis. Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis show that Survodutide is effective in reducing weight, BMI and waist circumference, especially with longer interventions and higher doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical activity indicators monitored by the POLAR accelerometer on body obesity indicators, metabolic syndrome parameters, and energy metabolism hormones in postmenopausal women. Was included 71 participants from this study program (68.8 ± 4.3 years). We divided participants into LPA and MVPA groups based on their level of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week; Physical activity levels over 7 days were assessed using a POLAR accelerometer, with daily step counts and sedentary time recorded. Measurements included waist circumference, visceral fat volume, body fat percentage, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol, and energy metabolism hormone levels (leptin, resistin, adiponectin). The MVPA group displayed lower waist circumference, body fat percentage, abdominal fat, and BMI compared to the LPA group (p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between daily step count and obesity indicators, including waist circumference (r = -0.301), body fat percentage (r = -0.295), abdominal fat (r = -0.318), and BMI (r = -0.238). Conversely, sedentary time showed a positive correlation with obesity indicators such as waist circumference (r = 0.258), body fat percentage (r = 0.239), and abdominal fat (r = 0.244). Moreover, daily step count exhibited a significant negative correlation with leptin levels (r = -0.245), while sedentary time was positively correlated with the energy metabolic factor leptin (r = 0.279). Waist circumference demonstrated significant positive correlations with triglycerides, blood glucose, adiponectin, resistin, and leptin levels. Postmenopausal women who engage in at least 150 min of MVPA weekly show lower obesity indices. There is a significant correlation between physical activity levels and obesity indicators, which relate to metabolic syndrome and energy metabolism factors. Thus, increased physical activity may help prevent metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is a safe and effective method for treating obesity. However, how it modulates intestinal flora and adiponectin remains unclear. We employed 16s rRNA sequencing technology to investigate ACE induced changes in intestinal flora and its association with adiponectin in subjects who received real (n = 41) and Sham (n = 41) stimulation. After treatment, the ACE group’s body weight, BMI, WC, HC, WHtR, and WHR were significantly lower than those of the Control group (p < .01), there was statistically significant differences in ADPN between the two groups (p < .01). ACE reduces the species abundance and increased the diversity and differences of the gut microbiota in perimenopausal patients with central obesity. Most notably, there was an increase in Kosakonia and Klebsiella after ACE treatment in the patients. Significant negatively correlations were found between body weight/waist circumference and adiponectin. Increases in Klebsiella and Kosakonia were positively correlated with adiponectin, and were negatively correlated with body weight/waist circumference. Our results showed increases in Klebsiella and Kosakonia were correlated with body weight/waist circumference and adiponectin. These findings suggest that ACE-induced weight loss is probably in part associated with increases in adiponectin, Klebsiella and Kosakonia.Trial re-registration: www.chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2400087718, Registration Date: August 2nd 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies have indicated an obesity paradox in observational research on aging health, where being normal weight or underweight adversely affects cognitive function, while moderate obesity may offer protective benefits. This study aims to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), abdominal volume index (AVI), and the joint effect of BMI and HC on cognitive impairment in older Chinese people. Methods: A total of 10,579 participants aged 65 years and older from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were included in this cross-sectional study. BMI, WC, HC, WHtR, WHR, and AVI were calculated from height, weight, WC, and HC measurements, where weight, WC, and HC were obtained by direct measurement. Mini-Mental State Examination was used to assess cognitive impairment. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using binary logistic regression. Non-linear correlations were investigated using restricted cubic spline curves. Results: In multivariate logistic regression models fully adjusted for confounding variables, our analyses showed significant negative associations of WC [OR 0.93 (95%CI 0.88–0.98), P =.012], HC [OR 0.92 (95%CI 0.87–0.97), P =.004], lower WHR (Q2) [OR 0.85 (95%CI 0.72-1.00), P =.044], and AVI [OR 0.93 (95%CI 0.88–0.98), P =.011] with cognitive impairment. Nonlinear curve analysis showed that the risk of cognitive impairment was lowest when the BMI was about 25.5 kg/m², suggesting that the optimal BMI for older Chinese people to maintain good cognitive ability may be in the overweight range. In addition, there was a non-linear "N" shaped relationship between HC and cognitive impairment, with HC having the highest risk of cognitive impairment at about 82 cm and the lowest risk at about 101 cm. The joint effects analysis indicated that the lowest risk was observed among those with normal or higher BMI but higher HC compared with participants with normal BMI levels and lower HC levels. Conclusion: In older Chinese people, a low-waisted and high-hip circumference body figure is favorable for cognitive function in older people. It also found a significant association between AVI and cognitive impairment. The joint analysis of BMI and HC suggests that maintaining a normal or higher BMI with a higher HC may be more conducive to maintaining good cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is a new predictor of obesity-related diseases, but its link to periodontitis is under-researched. This study aims to examine the potential association between the CMI and periodontitis. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2009–2014) to examine the potential association between CMI and periodontitis. The study utilized a weighted multivariate logistic model to assess the association between TG, HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, obesity indices (BMI, WC, WHtR, CMI), and periodontitis, employing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) to estimate areas under the curve (AUC). Furthermore, generalized smooth curve fitting was conducted to examine the relationship between CMI and periodontitis. Finally, the study incorporated subgroup analysis and interaction tests to examine consistency across different populations. Results: TG/HDL-C, WHtR, and CMI were positively associated with periodontitis in the fully adjusted classification model. It was observed that for each unit increase in CMI, there was a corresponding 17.8% increase in the prevalence of periodontitis [1.178 (1.049, 1.322) 0.00562] and 18.7% increase in the prevalence of moderate/severe [1.187 (1.057, 1.334) 0.00376] in the fully adjusted model. When CMI was used as a categorical variable, the adjusted OR for periodontitis prevalence increased significantly with increasing CMI after adjusting for all potential covariates (T3 vs. T1: OR, 1.28 [1.06, 1.55], p < 0.05). The ROC analysis indicated that a larger area under the curve was found in the CMI [0.554 (0.538–0.570)] than in the WC [0.544 (0.528–0.560)] and WHtR [0.544 (0.528–0.561)]. Nonetheless, the discrepancy observed did not reach statistical significance (all p > 0.05). Further generalized smooth curve fitting and threshold effect models indicated a positive linear correlation between CMI and periodontitis. Moreover, there is no interactive association between TG/HDL-C, WHtR, CMI, and periodontitis. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study revealed a positive relationship between CMI and periodontitis. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study is to measure perirenal fat thickness using MRI in individuals with steatotic liver disease and investigate the relationship between perirenal fat thickness and metabolic syndrome. This retrospective study included consecutive patients with steatotic liver disease who underwent magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction from October 2018 to February 2020. Among them, patients with crossed fused kidneys or who underwent nephrectomy were excluded. The metabolic abnormalities were reviewed; presence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, abdominal circumference, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein. Perirenal fat was measured in four directions in both kidneys and the total sum of them was calculated. A total of 250 patients (140 males and 110 females) were included. Perirenal fat thickness showed a moderate correlation with waist circumference, creatinine, and hepatic fat fraction (all p < 0.001). Perirenal fat thickness was significantly higher in patients with metabolic syndrome than in patients without (76.8 mm vs. 65.1 mm, p = 0.004). In multivariable regression analysis, the group with high perirenal fat thickness had as significantly higher odd ratio of 2.71 compared to the low group. The perirenal fat thickness is independently associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with steatotic liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objectives Methods Results Conclusion The aim of the study was to assess changes in waist and hip circumference, as well as the waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) indices among adolescents (11–15‐year‐olds) from the Kraków during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Cross‐sectional studies were conducted in four main districts of the city in the years 2020 and 2022. The study group consisted of 1662 people. Measurements of height, waist circumference, and hip circumference were taken. The collected data were used to calculate the WHR and WHtR indices. Statistical analyses were performed using two‐way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test, as well as the Kruskal–Wallis test, depending on the normality of distribution.An increase in hip circumference was observed in most age groups of both sexes. Among 14–15‐year‐old boys, an increase in waist circumference was observed, while among girls, the majority of cohorts showed the opposite trend. Additionally, in most age groups, a decrease in the values of WHR and WHtR indices was observed in both sexes, except for boys aged 14–15.The study found that government‐imposed restrictions related to the COVID‐19 pandemic had an impact on waist circumference, hip circumference, WHR, and WHtR indicators among adolescents aged 11–15 from Kraków. While some results showed regression, suggesting potential factors such as reduced physical activity or increased screen time contributing to deteriorating outcomes. On the other hand, not all results changed, which may be attributed to the absence of modifications in dietary habits or physical activity as government restrictions ceased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of multiple stress events in different stages of life on the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Miners from Tangshan, China, were recruited for this study. Workers of the Kailuan Mining Group were evaluated to investigate whether exposure to Tangshan earthquakes during the fetal period in 1976. Adult life events and childhood trauma were assessed separately via the Life Event Scale and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The subjects were physically examined and general demographic data such as waist circumference were collected. Blood samples were collected for measurement of metabolic parameters. Corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH) levels was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The subjects were divided into four groups according to their exposure to traumatic events in different stages of life: no exposure group, 1-exposure group, 2-exposures group, and 3-exposures group. The incidence of MetS, metabolic parameters and CRH levels in each of the four groups was compared. Results: In all, 626 people were enrolled; of these, 183, 262, 150, and 31 were in the no exposure, 1-exposure, 2-exposures, and 3-exposure groups, respectively. A remarkable variation in the incidence of MetS was observed among the four groups (x2 = 16.462, P <0.001). MetS incidence increased with the increasing number of traumatic events, except for in the no exposure group (17.9% in 1-exposure group, 24.7% in 2-exposure group, and 48.4% in the 3-exposure group). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that exposure to multiple stress during the fetal, childhood, and adult stages of life represent independent risk factors for developing MetS (OR =3.134, 95%CI =1.042–9.429). Smoking increased the risk of developing MetS (OR =1.809, 95%CI =1.140–2.871). Conclusions: Exposure to multiple traumatic events in distinct life stages increases the risk of developing MetS. Smoking is a risk factor for developing MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity has emerged as an epidemic and is known to be associated with multiple co-morbidities, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Body-mass index (BMI) has been traditionally used to assess obesity in an individual but abdominal obesity markers are being claimed to have a stronger association with adverse cardiovascular outcome as compared to BMI. However, there are only a few studies that have evaluated these indices in Asian Indians. Aims and Objectives: The study was conducted to compare BMI and waist measurement based indices among hypertensive adults and their association with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The secondary objectives were to determine any gender-based differences among anthropometric indices and improved predictability on adding waistbased indices to BMI. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted to analyse association of anthropometric indices such as BMI, A body shape index (ABSI), Waist--hip ratio (WHR), Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), Lean body mass-to-weight ratio, and Waist circumference (WC), with risk of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in Indian hypertensive adults. Results: In total, 400 participants were included and female subjects were noted to have higher prevalence of obesity in our study population. Only 33.25% patients had BMI in recommended range and the numbers were even lower for WHtR and WHR. BMI and ABSI were found to have a weak association with development of co-morbidities while measures of abdominal obesity such as WHR, WC, and WHtR were found to have consistently strong association with CVA and CAD with high sensitivity and negative predictive values. Conclusion: More accurate markers of abdominal obesity can help in better assessment of cardiovascular risk among high-risk population to improve the overall outcome. Easy to use, outpatient-based markers such as WC, WHR, and WHtR appear to be better than BMI in risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between adherence to 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24-HMG) with continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS) among Chinese children. Cross-sectional study. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 4604 children aged 6–17 years from Shenzhen, China. The 24-HMG was constructed using the self-report information on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time (ST), and sleep duration. The cMetS was calculated based on waist circumference, homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, mean arterial blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the associations between adherence to recommendations of 24-HMG and cMetS. Among the participants, 563 (12.23%) students adhered to 3 recommendations of the 24-HMG. We found that adhering to more recommendations was negatively associated with cMetS (P for trend: <0.001). For specific combinations, meeting the ST + MVPA recommendations was negatively associated with cMetS (coefficients [β]: −0.686; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.148, −0.223). Individuals who adhered to all recommendations had a lower cMetS (β: −0.693; 95% CI: −1.147, −0.238) than those who met none of the recommendations. Our study showed that adherence to more recommendations of the 24-HMG was associated with lower levels of cMetS in Chinese children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between ambient carbon monoxide (CO) exposure and hypertension is crucial for advancing public health research. We investigated the association between air pollution CO exposure and hypertension and determined whether various health indicators played a mediating role. Cross-sectional population-based study. Our study examined the data of 13,240 participants in the China Health and Aging Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2015. A logistic regression approach was used to investigate the association between CO concentration and hypertension. The mediating effects (MEs) of health indicators on the association between carbon monoxide and hypertension prevalence were explored using mediation models. Hypertension was diagnosed in 2953 of the participants. A significantly increased prevalence of hypertension was associated with higher concentrations of air pollutant CO after adjusting for all covariates (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04–1.37) in the matched group (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.03–1.42). The study also showed that proportional mediation was 3.7% by TG, −5.3% by TC, −2.9% by LDL-C and 19.0% by HDL-C for blood lipid; 4.6% by FPG and 12.2% by HbA1c for blood glucose; −2.0% by grip strength and 16.2% by chair rising time for muscle strength; 59.6% by WC and 1.8% by BMI for obesity indicator and −2.3% by nighttime sleep and 7.8% by daytime nap for sleep duration. A significant positive association has been found between environmental CO exposure and hypertension, and obesity, muscle strength, sleep duration, and metabolic factors may play a significant role in mediating this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ayurveda asserts that a healthy diet can prevent many health issues. Food is essential as a source of nutrition and possesses significant medicinal value. Nutritional deficiencies, often referred to as undernutrition, arise from insufficient dietary intake. Karshya is a condition in which an individual's body becomes emaciated, characterised by a reduced quantity of rasa dhatu, leading to a state of Mamsahinata or Manskshaya. Need for the Study: Many individuals experience a lack of confidence and depression due to their emaciated condition. Various nutritional and bulk-promoting products available in the market are often very costly. Ashwagandha is commonly used by Ayurveda practitioners for its Bruhan effect. Although Kushmanda is mentioned as Bruhaniya in the Bhavaprakash Nighantu, there have been very few studies conducted on it. Since Kushmanda is more economical than Ashwagandha, research is needed to explore this cost-effective bulk-promoting medicine. Aim: To conduct a comparative evaluation of the Bruhaniya (bulk-promoting) effects of Kushmanda granules (Benincasa hispida) and Ashwagandha granules (Withania Somnifera Linn.) in cases of Karshya (Undernutrition). Materials and Methods: A single-blinded, randomised controlled trial will be conducted at the Department of Kayachikitsa, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurveda College Hospital and Research Centre (MGACHRC), Salad Hirapur (H), Maharashtra, India, from October 2023 to September 2024. A total of 60 subjects will be divided into two groups for the present study, with 30 subjects in each group. In Group A, Trikatu Churna will be administered in doses of 2 grams once a day with lukewarm water for the first seven days, followed by Ashwagandha granules in doses of 10 grams with milk twice a day for 90 days. In Group B, 2 grams of Trikatu Churna will be given once a day with lukewarm water for the first seven days, followed by Kushmanda granules in doses of 10 grams with milk twice a day for 90 days. Assessments will be made on the 0, 30th, 60th, and 90th days. The assessment will be based on improvements in body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and arm and waist circumference. Statistical analysis will be performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0, and the statistical tests applied will include the Chi-square test, Wilcoxon's rank sum test, and Wilcoxon's signed rank test, with a significance level set at 0.05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease often associated with serious cardiovascular comorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate the systemic inflammatory burden in psoriasis by examining various inflammatory markers and to assess the relationship between these markers and the severity of the disease. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on medical records of patients who visited the dermatology outpatient clinic between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2022. The study included patients with psoriasis vulgaris and healthy volunteers. Demographic data, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, C‐reactive protein, monocyte‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune‐inflammation index, and Systemic Inflammation Response Index were analysed and compared. Results: A total of 278 psoriasis patients and 90 healthy volunteers were analysed. Compared to the control group, psoriasis patients showed significantly higher systemic immune‐inflammation index, Systemic Inflammation Response Index, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, monocyte‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, serum C‐reactive protein levels, neutrophil count, monocyte count, body mass index, and waist circumference (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.014, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.046, p < 0.001, and p = 0.011, respectively). Among patients with severe psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index >10), systemic immune‐inflammation index, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, and serum C‐reactive protein levels were significantly higher compared to patients with mild/moderate psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index ≤10). In the ROC curve analysis, the optimal cut‐off (AUC, sensitivity, specificity) values for neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune‐inflammation index, and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio were found to be 2.11 (0.592, 62%, 57%), 552.9 (0.579, 61%, 58%), and 111.9 (0.578, 64%, 46%), respectively. The inflammatory parameters that showed correlation with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index were systemic immune‐inflammation index, Systemic Inflammation Response Index, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, monocyte‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, and C‐reactive protein. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that systemic immune‐inflammation index, Systemic Inflammation Response Index, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, monocyte‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and C‐reactive protein values have the potential to serve as simple and cost‐effective markers for assessing the inflammatory burden in individuals with psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop prediction models for intrapartum caesarean section in vaginal breech birth. This single-center cohort-study included 262 nulliparous and 230 multiparous women attempting vaginal breech birth. For both groups, we developed and (internally) validated three models for the prediction of intrapartum cesarean section. The prediction model for nulliparous women (AUC: 0.67) included epidural analgesia (aOR 2.14; p=0.01), maternal height (aOR 0.64 per 10 cm; p=0.08), birthweight ≥3.8 kg (aOR 2.45; p=0.03) and an interaction term describing the effect of OC if birthweight is ≥3.8 kg (aOR 0.24; p=0.04). An alternative model for nulliparous women which, instead of birthweight, included fetal abdominal circumference with a cut-off at 34 cm (aOR 1.93; p=0.04), showed similar performance (AUC: 0.68). The prediction model for multiparous women (AUC: 0.77) included prelabor rupture of membranes (aOR 0.31; p=0.03), epidural analgesia (aOR 2.42; p=0.07), maternal BMI (aOR 2.92 per 10 kg/m2; p=0.01) and maternal age (aOR 3.17 per decade; p=0.06). Our prediction models show the most relevant risk factors associated with intrapartum cesarean section in vaginal breech birth for both nulliparous and multiparous women. Importantly, this study clarifies the role of the OC by showing that this parameter is only associated with intrapartum cesarean section if birthweight is above 3.8 kg (or abdominal circumference is above 34 cm). Conversely, knowing the OC when the birthweight is less than 3.8 kg (or abdominal circumference is less than 34 cm) did not improve prediction of this surgical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The digit ratio (2D:4D) is a possible marker of prenatal hormone exposure. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between digit ratio (2D:4D) and anthropometric indexes in Chinese children and adolescents. Methods: This study is a cross‐sectional study. A school‐based survey among 685 children and adolescents aged 8–15 years were conducted by stratified cluster sampling. The length of index finger (2D) and ring finger (4D) of the left hand, height, sitting height (ST), weight, chest circumference (CC), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and abdominal skinfold thickness (AST) were measured. Pearson correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze associations between 2D:4D and above indexes. Results: In girls, 2D:4D was positively related to WC, AST, waist‐to‐height (WHtR), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) after adjusting for ages (p < 0.05). The WC, AST, WHtR, and WHR among girls with 2D:4D ≥ 1 were significantly higher than those among girls with 2D:4D < 1, respectively (p < 0.05). However, there was no correlations between digit ratio (2D:4D) and above anthropometric indexes in boys (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The 2D:4D was related to anthropometric indexes in girls, which suggests that the maternal prenatal hormone exposure might be related to the anthropometric indexes of their female offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives "Blue Zones" (BZs) are regions with exceptionally high numbers of longevous inhabitants. Several factors have been suggested to promote longevity in BZs, but the evidence generally does not meet scientific quality criteria. We aimed to characterize a municipality as a "relative BZ," satisfying 3 criteria: compared to other municipalities, more exceptionally longevous inhabitants, a higher life expectancy, and a more stable population. Research Design and Methods The population-based Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam has been ongoing since 1992 in 11 municipalities across the Netherlands with 3- or 4-yearly measurement waves. Using all available waves, we included 39 genetic, personal, sociocultural, and environmental characteristics. Results One municipality satisfied the 3 BZ criteria. In comparison with participants in other municipalities in the same province and other provinces in the Netherlands, BZ-participants more often had a polygenic risk score linked to longevity, smoked less, consumed less alcohol and more fruit, biked more minutes, did more often paid work, practiced singing more often, attached higher importance to religion, and lived in a more walkable and livable environment. In contrast, BZ-participants had a slower walking speed, more depressive symptoms, felt less purpose in life, had a larger waist circumference, walked and did sports less often, consumed less vegetables, and exchanged less instrumental support. Other indicators of their physical and mental health and social connectedness did not substantially differ from non-BZ-participants. Discussion and Implications Rather than clues to healthy aging, our findings suggest factors conducive to longevity regardless of impaired health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The longitudinal efficacy and clinical utility of Testosterone Therapy (TTh) in ameliorating functional hypogonadism (FH) remain contentious, with long‐term data being scarce. To address this lacuna, a comprehensive long‐term registry study, stratifying patients across a spectrum of hypogonadal etiologies, offers a robust investigative paradigm. Materials and methods: This 9‐year registry, encompassing 650 patients (equivalent to 4,362 cumulative years of treatment), included 188 patients diagnosed with FH (mean age 42.3 ± 11.3 years) and 462 individuals with classical hypogonadism (CH). The cohort segregated into 266 men with primary hypogonadism (PH, mean age 34.0 ± 11.7 years) and 196 with secondary hypogonadism (SH, mean age 31.9 ± 12.0 years). Uniform treatment across the cohort involved intramuscular administration of testosterone undecanoate (1,000 mg). A comparative analysis was conducted focusing on anthropometric, metabolic, and safety parameters. Results: Serum testosterone levels increased from 6.6 ± 2.4 to 19.3 ± 2.9 nmol/L (p < 0.001). TTh was linked with weight reduction and decreased waist circumference (WC) in both CH and FH cohorts (both p < 0.001). Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses delineated disparities: men with FH demonstrated a higher propensity for losing > 10% body weight and > 5% WC compared to CH (hazard ratio [HR] 1.3 [1.1–1.4], p = 0.008 and HR 1.4 [1.3–1.5], p = 0.001). Increases in hematocrit > 50% were uniform across groups, albeit amelioration of anemia was more pronounced in FH versus CH (p = 0.002). Increments of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels were more likely to occur in FH (HR 1.3 [1.1–1.6], p = 0.003). FH patients exhibited pronounced improvements in metabolic parameters and in aging male symptom score (AMS) and IIEF‐EF questionnaire scores. These effects were markedly modulated by age and initial weight. Subgroup analysis of age‐matched obese patients revealed an accentuated impact of TTh in CH compared to FH. Discussion and conclusion: The therapeutic outcomes of TTh across distinct hypogonadal populations demonstrate heterogeneous responses, significantly influenced by diagnostic categorization, age, and baseline risk factor profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study investigated the association of physical activity (PA) levels with all‐cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risks stratified by adiposity and age. Methods: Participants (36 703; mean age: 49.1; 57.1% women) were selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2013. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association between PA and mortality across different adiposity categories and ages. Results: Median follow‐up was 9.22 years; 2393 individuals died, including 538 with CVD. Compared with normal‐weight controls, underweight individuals had increased all‐cause mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–1.79). The overweight and obese groups demonstrated reduced mortality risks (HRs: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.67–0.84] and 0.59 [95% CI: 0.51–0.67], respectively). Mortality risk based on abdominal obesity had an HR of 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08–1.37). PA protected against mortality risk most in the obese group performing more than 1000 MET‐min/week and was particularly significant among those who were underweight and obese aged 65 and older. Conclusions: Overweight and obese Asian individuals (based on body mass index) had a lower mortality risk than those with normal body mass index, whereas obesity based on waist circumference was associated with increased mortality. PA protected against mortality across various weight categories, especially in individuals aged ≥65. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 1156–1164. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthropometric data quality in large multicentre nutrition surveys is seldom adequately assessed. In preparation for the South African National Dietary Intake Survey (NDIS-2022), this study assessed site leads' and fieldworkers' intra- and inter-rater reliability for measuring weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), waist circumference (WC) and calf circumference (CC). Methods: Standardised training materials and measurement protocols were developed, and new anthropometric equipment was procured. Following two training rounds (12 site lead teams, 46 fieldworker teams), measurement reliability was assessed for both groups, using repeated measurements of volunteers similar to the survey target population. Reliability was statistically assessed using the technical error of measurement (TEM), relative TEM (%TEM), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of reliability (R). Agreement was visualised with Bland-Altman analysis. Results: By %TEM, the best reliability was achieved for weight (%TEM = 0.260–0.923) and length/height (%TEM = 0.434–0.855), and the poorest for MUAC by fieldworkers (%TEM = 2.592–3.199) and WC (%TEM = 2.353–2.945). Whole-sample ICC and R were excellent (> 0.90) for all parameters except site leads' CC inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.896, R = 0.889) and fieldworkers' inter-rater reliability for MUAC in children under two (ICC = 0.851, R = 0.881). Bland-Altman analysis revealed no significant bias except in fieldworkers' intra-rater reliability of length/height measurement in adolescents/adults (+ 0.220 (0.042, 0.400) cm). Reliability was higher for site leads vs. fieldworkers, for intra-rater vs. inter-rater assessment, and for weight and length/height vs. circumference measurements. Conclusion: NDIS-2022 site leads and fieldworkers displayed acceptable reliability in performing anthropometric measurements, highlighting the importance of intensive training and standardised measurement protocols. Ongoing reliability assessment during data collection is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. There is limited evidence that exposure to current-use pesticides may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. We examined the association between residential proximity to the application of agricultural pesticides and cardiovascular risk factors among 484 adult women in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) Study, a cohort based in an agricultural region of California. Outcome assessment was completed between 2010 and 2013. Using participant residential addresses and California's Pesticide Use Reporting database, we estimated agricultural pesticide use within 1 km of residences during the 2-year period preceding outcome assessment. We used Bayesian hierarchical modeling to evaluate associations between exposure to 14 agricultural pesticides and continuous measures of waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure. Each 10-fold increase in paraquat application around homes was associated with increased diastolic blood pressure (β = 2.60 mm Hg; 95% credible interval [CrI], 0.27-4.89) and each 10-fold increase in glyphosate application was associated with increased pulse pressure (β = 2.26 mm Hg; 95% CrI, 0.09-4.41). No meaningful associations were observed for the other pesticides examined. Our results suggest that paraquat and glyphosate pesticides may affect cardiovascular disease development in women with chronic environmental exposure. This article is part of a Special Collection on Environmental Epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker for insulin resistance, has been proposed as a predictor of cardiovascular events. However, the combined impact of the TyG index and obesity indicators, such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), on stroke risk was not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index combined with these obesity indicators and stroke risk in the Chinese population. Materials and methods: Data on 17,708 participants aged 45 years or older for this study were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from baseline (2011) to the Wave 5 follow-up (2020). Cox proportional hazards model, restricted cubic spline (RCS) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were employed to examine the association between the TyG index and its combined obesity-related indicators with stroke. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore the mutual potential mediating role of TyG and obesity indicators in the above relationships. Results: A total of 8,207 participants with an average age of 58.2 years were investigated, of which 11.0% were stroke individuals, 44.80% were men and 84.6% were from rural areas. TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WHtR, TyG-WC were significantly higher in stroke subjects than in the non-stroke subjects (P < 0.001), and were significantly and positively associated with stroke in all 3 models (P < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline models revealed nonlinear associations between TyG and TyG-BMI with stroke (P-overall < 0.001, P-nonlinear = 0.003 for TyG, and P-overall < 0.001, P-nonlinear = 0.028 for TyG-BMI), while TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR (P-overall < 0.001 and P-nonlinear > 0.05) demonstrated linear associations with stroke after adjusting for covariates. TyG-WHtR, TyG-BMI and TyG-WC had more robust predictive power than TyG for risk of stroke. TyG-WHtR or TyG-WC had the highest predictive power for stroke (AUC:0.696, 95% CI 0.677–0.715), slightly higher than the other indicators. Associations between TyG, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, and TyG-BMI with stroke were found to be stronger among individuals who were ≥ 55 years of age, male. The relationship between TyG and stroke was significantly mediated by BMI, WHtR and WC (15.79%, 21.72%, and 24.06% respectively), while the relationship between these obesity measures and stroke was significantly mediated by TyG (18.48%, 14.45%, and 14.70% respectively). Conclusion: The combination of TyG and obesity-related indicators was significantly associated with stroke risk, and could improve predictive power for stroke compared to the single TyG. Obesity indicators and TyG mediated each other in their respective associations with stroke risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is more available than gold-standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but DXA ability to estimate abdominal skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is unknown. DXA-derived abdominal fat-free mass (FFM; Hologic QDR2000 or QDR4500w) was correlated with single-slice MRI SMM at L4 (N = 69; r QDR2000 = 0.71, QDR4500w = 0.69; p < 0.0001). Linear regression to predict SMM, including DXA FFM, BMI, and age, resulted in an R-squared of 0.72 and 0.65 for QDR2000 and QDR4500. Bland-Altman limits of agreement were ±21 and ±31 g for 2–3 standard deviations from the mean difference. DXA predicted abdominal SSM is a moderate proxy for MRI abdominal SMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaling, to remove the effects of body size, is an important methodological approach for enabling an equitable comparison of performance differences between individuals who vary in anthropometric characteristics. Many previous studies using scaling in sport have done so based on only one or two anthropometric characteristics, with only one study to date adopting a three‐dimensional approach. To apply a three‐dimensional allometric model to rowing ergometer performance (REP) in adolescents, and to detect whether key ‘scaling’ parameters remain stable when scaling REP both before and after a 6‐week training intervention. Novel three‐dimensional allometric models were used, incorporating body mass, stature and waist circumference (WC) to detect the most appropriate body size dimension(s) and scaling parameters associated with REP before and after a 6‐week training intervention. Using this more flexible and sensitive three‐dimensional allometry demonstrated that, following 6‐weeks of training, there was a change in the ideal body shape associated with REP. Before training, taller, but not heavier, adolescents performed better. After 6‐weeks of training, older participants with a greater body mass but smaller WC performed better. Scaling approaches are important for evaluating performance differences between individuals of differing body size. The findings from the current study (using a novel three‐dimensional allometry approach) emphasise that relatively subtle changes in individuals' behavioural characteristics, such as changes in their training/fitness status, can result in quite dramatic changes in the body dimension characteristics and scaling parameters deemed to be key for performance in activities such as REP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to examine the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS), depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in naturally postmenopausal women aged 45–65 years using data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We classified the participants into four groups: normal (neither MetS nor depressive symptoms), MetS, depressive symptoms, and MetS + depressive symptoms. Compared to the other three groups, the MetS + depressive symptoms group had the worst self-rated health. High fasting glucose, high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were the most common in the MetS + depressive symptoms group. After adjusting for covariates, the MetS + depressive symptoms group was more likely to have problems with usual activities and pain/discomfort than the normal group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the effects of a 16-wk combined exercise training on body composition, and metabolic and inflammatory markers in sedentary middle-aged workers. We also assessed whether alterations in metabolic markers were associated with changes in health-related outcomes. Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved 46 participants randomly allocated into control and exercise groups. The exercise group performed 16-wk combined aerobic and resistance training for 75 min per session, 3 times a week. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and after 16-wk intervention to determine lipid profile, and metabolic and inflammatory markers as primary outcomes. Results: A total of 36 participants completed the intervention (53.70 ± 6.92 yr old; n = 18 in each group). Waist circumference (interaction effect: F = 7.423, P = 0.002), fat mass (interaction effect: F = 5.070, P = 0.011), and muscle mass (interaction effect: F = 5.420, P = 0.007) were improved in the exercise group compared with the control group. Fasting glucose increased after the 16-wk follow-up (time effect: F = 73.253, P < 0.001), without an intergroup difference. Insulin levels were greater in the control compared with exercise group (group effect: F = 6.509, P = 0.015). The control group tended to increase the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (interaction effect: F = 3.493, P = 0.070) and to decrease the QUICKI index (interaction effect: F = 3.364, P = 0.075) to a greater extent compared with the exercise group. Exercise group reduced leptin (interaction effect: F = 11.175, P = 0.002) and adiponectin (interaction effect: F = 4.437, P = 0.043) concentrations in a greater magnitude than the control group. Interleukin (IL)-6 (time effect: F = 17.767, P < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor α (time effect: F = 9.781, P = 0.004) concentrations decreased after the intervention, without an intergroup difference. IL-17A levels increased in the control compared with exercise group (interaction effect: F = 5.010, P = 0.033). Effects on adiponectin, IL-6, and IL-17A levels seem to depend on baseline body mass index, age, and sex. Percentage changes in leptin correlated positively with changes in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index in the exercise (r = 0.565, P = 0.015) and control (r = 0.670, P = 0.002) groups. Conclusions: A combined training program can be an effective strategy to improve body composition and inflammatory markers and prevent marked reductions in insulin sensitivity among middle-aged workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Polyphenols are plant-based compounds with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-obesogenic properties. However, their effects on health outcomes remain unclear. Objective To evaluate the effects of polyphenols on anthropometric and cardiometabolic markers. Data Sources Six electronic databases—namely, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library (reviews only), and Web of Science—were searched for relevant systematic reviews with meta-analyses (SRMAs). Data Extraction Three reviewers performed the data extraction via a data-extraction Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Data Analysis An umbrella review and meta-analysis of existing SRMAs was conducted. Eighteen SRMAs published from 2015 to 2023, representing 445 primary studies and 838 unique effect sizes, were identified. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models with general inverse variance. Polyphenol-containing foods were found to significantly improve weight (-0.36 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.62, 0.77 kg; P  < 0.01, I 2 = 64.9%), body mass index (−0.25 kg/m2; 95% CI: −0.34, −0.17 kg/m2; P  < 0.001, I 2 = 82.4%), waist circumference (−0.74 cm; 95% CI: −1.34, −0.15 cm; P  < 0.01, I 2 = 99.3%), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (−1.75 mg/dL; 95% CI: −2.56, −0.94; P  < 0.001, I 2 = 98.6%), total cholesterol (−1.23 mg/dL; 95% CI: −2.00, −0.46; P  = 0.002, I 2 = 94.6%), systolic blood pressure (−1.77 mmHg; 95% CI: −1.77, −0.93 mmHg; P  < 0.001, I 2 = 72.4%), diastolic blood pressure (−1.45 mmHg; 95% CI: −2.09, −0.80 mmHg; P  < 0.001, I 2 = 61.0%), fat percentage (−0.70%; 95% CI: −1.03, −0.36%; P  < 0.001, I 2 = 52.6%), fasting blood glucose (−0.18 mg/dL; 95% CI: −0.35, −0.01 mg/dL; P  = 0.04, I 2 = 62.0%), and C-reactive protein (CRP; including high-sensitivity-CRP [hs-CRP]) (−0.2972 mg/dL; 95% CI: −0.52, −0.08 mg/dL; P  = 0.01, I 2 = 87.9%). No significant changes were found for high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (−0.12 mg/dL; 95% CI: −1.44, 0.69; P  = 0.67, I 2 = 89.4%) and triglycerides (−1.29 mg/dL; 95% CI: −2.74, 0.16; P  = 0.08, I 2 = 85.4%). Between-study heterogeneity could be explained by polyphenol subclass differences. Conclusion The findings of this umbrella review support the beneficial effects of polyphenols on anthropometric and metabolic markers, but discretion is warranted to determine the clinical significance of the magnitude of the biomarker improvements. Systematic Review Registration International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews no. CRD42023420206. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Error in birthweight prediction by sonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) has clinical implications, such as avoidable cesarean or misclassification of fetal risk in labor. We aimed to evaluate optimal timing of ultrasound and which fetal measurements contribute to error in fetal ultrasound estimations of birth size at the extremes of birthweight. Study Design We compared differences in head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length, and EFW between ultrasound and corresponding birth measurements within 14 (n = 1,290) and 7 (n = 617) days of birth for small- (SGA, <10th percentile), appropriate- (AGA, 10th–90th), and large-for-gestational age (LGA, >90th) newborns. Results Average differences between EFW and birthweight for SGA neonates were: −40.2 g (confidence interval [CI]: −82.1, 1.6) at 14 days versus 13.6 g (CI: −52.4, 79.7) at 7 days; for AGA, −122.4 g (−139.6, −105.1) at 14 days versus −27.2 g (−50.4, −4.0) at 7 days; and for LGA, −242.8 g (−306.5, −179.1) at 14 days versus −72.1 g (−152.0, 7.9) at 7 days. Differences between fetal and neonatal HC were larger at 14 versus 7 days, and similar to patterns for EFW and birthweight, differences were the largest for LGA at both intervals. In contrast, differences between fetal and neonatal AC were larger at 7 versus 14 days, suggesting larger error in AC estimation closer to birth. Conclusion Using a standardized ultrasound protocol, SGA neonates had ultrasound measurements closer to actual birth measurements compared with AGA or LGA neonates. LGA neonates had the largest differences between fetal and neonatal size, with measurements 14 days from delivery showing 3- to 4-fold greater differences from birthweight. Differences in EFW and birthweight may not be explained by a single fetal measurement; whether estimation may be improved by incorporation of other knowable factors should be evaluated in future research. Key Points Ultrasound measurements may be inadequate to predict neonatal size at birth. Birthweight estimation error is higher for neonates >90th percentile. There is higher error in AC closer to birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Introduction: Loss‐of‐control (LOC) eating, or the subjective experience of being unable to stop eating, is a hallmark feature of binge‐eating episodes, which are also characterized by consuming an unusually large amount of food. However, regardless of the size of eating episode, LOC‐eating may be a risk factor for adverse health outcomes. This systematic review and meta‐analysis comprehensively examine the relationship of LOC‐eating with cardiometabolic health components and inflammatory markers. Methods: Search procedures were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines in six electronic databases. Studies of adult or youth samples published in English from the year 2000 onward were included. Given heterogeneity in age groups and adjustment for body mass index across studies, these factors were included as meta‐regression moderators. Results: Fifty‐eight studies were identified through the literature search. Among individuals with (versus without) LOC‐eating, relative risk ratios provided evidence of a greater relative risk for metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and dyslipidemia; standardized mean differences also provided evidence of higher waist circumference and impaired levels of fasting plasma glucose, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol, and triglycerides, but not blood pressure. Age group did not impact cardiometabolic health components. Body mass index differences moderated the effect on waist circumference. A narrative review of inflammatory markers revealed mixed findings linking inflammatory markers to LOC‐eating. Discussion: Overall, evidence for the relationship between LOC‐eating and impaired cardiometabolic health underscores LOC‐eating as an important early intervention target for prevention of serious adverse health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The bacterial flora of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of humans, there are differences in the composition of the flora which are influenced by age, diet, cultural conditions, and the use of antibiotics. Since the origin of obesity is multifactorial and complex, resulting from the interaction between genetic/epigenetic, environmental, and socio-psychological determinants, in addition to the bacterial composition of the intestinal flora could be a third element involved in the development of excess weight. Therefore intestinal flora plays an intermediary role in the metabolism and inflammation and is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes type 2 and obesity. Objectives: This study aimed to draw the relationship between identified intestinal bacterial types on increasing the waist circumference among study participants. Materials and Methods: This study included the collection of 180 samples from participants (20–60 years) during the period from December 2022 to June 2023. Body mass index and waist circumference were calculated for study participants and intestinal bacteria was microbiologically and biochemically identified. Results: Results obtained showed that the intestinal flora of obese participants is significantly (P < 0.001) different from that of thin and normal participants. This flora was characterized by the presence of high levels of Gram's negative at the percentage (80.6% in obese), and Gram's positive at the percentage (19.4% in obese), with higher body mass index and waist circumference than those participants, with lower body mass index and waist circumference. Conclusion: This study showed a significant relationship between intestinal bacteria and diabetic patients with increased body mass index and waist circumference, leading to probable useful tools for developing strategies to prevent obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effectiveness of telehealth in managing obesity in Saudi patients is still under investigation. This study compared the effectiveness of telehealth and in-person obesity management programs for adults. Methods: This clinical trial involved 62 adults, 29 receiving in-person intervention at the clinic and 33 receiving telehealth via videoconference calls. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and dietary and lifestyle habits were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Patients have been educated about goal-setting, healthy eating behaviors, personalized meal plans, and increasing physical activity levels. Results: It showed that 45% and 49% of the in-person and telehealth groups lost more than 5% of their initial body weight. Weight, % body fat, and waist circumference were significantly reduced in the in-person and telehealth groups (p < 0.001). No significant differences between the groups were found in the parameters mentioned above. Within-group analysis showed that light physical activity levels improved in both groups significantly (p < 0.001), and the moderate physical activity level improved significantly among the telehealth group (p < 0.039). No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding physical activity level, blood pressure measurement, and biochemical markers, except for the RBC blood level (p = 0.026). The telehealth group had significantly higher attendance rates for counseling sessions (97% vs. 75% for the in-person group, p < 0.01). Participants' dropout rates were higher for the in-person group 21%, compared to the telehealth group 13%. Telehealth participants' satisfaction regarding the benefits of the obesity management program in losing weight was higher at 87% compared to the in-person group at 76%. Conclusions: In conclusion, applying a telehealth obesity management program can support patients struggling with obesity who may have limited access to traditional healthcare services, while ensuring that telehealth care replicates the quality of in-person care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research aimed to assess the correlation between the Adjusted Body Shape Index (ABSI) and the presence of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) among middle-aged and older American adults. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, this study analyzed data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), focusing on 3077 participants aged 40 and above. AAC detection was conducted using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). ABSI was determined based on waist circumference (WC), weight, and height data. The association between ABSI and AAC was examined through multiple linear regression, smoothed curve analysis, threshold effect evaluation, subgroup analysis, and interaction testing. Results: The study encompassed 3077 individuals aged 40 and above. Findings indicated a noteworthy positive relationship between ABSI and AAC when adjusting various covariates. Analysis of threshold effects identified a K-point at 0.0908, showing no significant effect to its left but a significant effect to its right. Further, subgroup and interaction analyses highlighted the ABSI-AAC connection specifically within different age groups and among individuals with diabetes. Conclusion: Higher ABSI was correlated with higher AAC score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between lipid accumulation products (LAP) and depression among adults in the United States. Methods: We analyzed data from 13,051 persons participating in the NHANES 2005-2018 cycle. The LAP index was calculated using the waist circumference (WC) and serum triglyceride (TG) levels, which reflect lipid toxicity. Participants who scored ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were considered depressed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the association between the LAP index and depression. Subgroup analysis was also conducted to identify sensitive populations. Smoothed curve fitting and generalized additive model (GAM) regression were performed to verify the association between the LAP index and depression. Results: After adjusting for all potential confounders, the risk of depression increased with increasing LAP index (odds ratio [OR]=1.0011, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.0001-1.0021). Compared to participants in LAP quartile 1, participants in LAP quartile 3 exhibited the highest risk for depression (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.03-1.99). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a stronger association between the LAP index and depression in men (OR= 1.002, 95% CI= 1.001-1.004) and in those with hypertension (OR=1.002, 95% CI=1.000-1.003). Additionally, smoothed curve fitting and GAM regression demonstrated a positive linear correlation between the LAP index and depression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that individuals with a higher LAP index may be at greater risk for depression, particularly among men and those with hypertension. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims/hypothesis: It is not known whether the early-pregnancy metabolome differs in patients with early- vs late-onset gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) stratified by maternal overweight. The aims of this study were to analyse correlations between early-pregnancy metabolites and maternal glycaemic and anthropometric characteristics, and to identify early-pregnancy metabolomic alterations that characterise lean women (BMI <25 kg/m2) and women with overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) with early-onset GDM (E-GDM) or late-onset GDM (L-GDM). Methods: We performed a nested case–control study within the population-based prospective Early Diagnosis of Diabetes in Pregnancy cohort, comprising 210 participants with GDM (126 early-onset, 84 late-onset) and 209 normoglycaemic control participants matched according to maternal age, BMI class and primiparity. Maternal weight, height and waist circumference were measured at 8–14 weeks' gestation. A 2 h 75 g OGTT was performed at 12–16 weeks' gestation (OGTT1), and women with normal results underwent repeat testing at 24–28 weeks' gestation (OGTT2). Comprehensive metabolomic profiling of fasting serum samples, collected at OGTT1, was performed by untargeted ultra-HPLC-MS. Linear models were applied to study correlations between early-pregnancy metabolites and maternal glucose concentrations during OGTT1, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, BMI and waist circumference. Early-pregnancy metabolomic features for GDM subtypes (participants stratified by maternal overweight and gestational timepoint at GDM onset) were studied using linear and multivariate models. The false discovery rate was controlled using the Benjamini–Hochberg method. Results: In the total cohort (n=419), the clearest correlation patterns were observed between (1) maternal glucose concentrations and long-chain fatty acids and medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines; (2) maternal BMI and/or waist circumference and long-chain fatty acids, medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines, phospholipids, and aromatic and branched-chain amino acids; and (3) HOMA-IR and/or fasting insulin and l-tyrosine, certain long-chain fatty acids and phospholipids (q<0.001). Univariate analyses of GDM subtypes revealed significant differences (q<0.05) for seven non-glucose metabolites only in overweight women with E-GDM compared with control participants: linolenic acid, oleic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosatetraenoic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine 20:4/0:0 abundances were higher, whereas levels of specific phosphatidylcholines (P-16:0/18:2 and 15:0/18:2) were lower. However, multivariate analyses exploring the early-pregnancy metabolome of GDM subtypes showed differential clustering of acylcarnitines and long-chain fatty acids between normal-weight and overweight women with E- and L-GDM. Conclusions/interpretation: GDM subtypes show distinct early-pregnancy metabolomic features that correlate with maternal glycaemic and anthropometric characteristics. The patterns identified suggest early-pregnancy disturbances of maternal lipid metabolism, with most alterations observed in overweight women with E-GDM. Our findings highlight the importance of maternal adiposity as the primary target for prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Understanding the genetic underpinnings of anthropometric traits in diverse populations is crucial for gaining insights into their biological mechanisms and potential implications for health. Methods: We conducted a genome‐wide association study, meta‐analysis, and gene set analysis of waist‐hip ratio (WHR), WHR adjusted for BMI (WHRadjBMI), waist circumference, BMI, and height using the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) cohort (n = ~11,000) for discovery and polygenic score target analyses and the Africa America Diabetes Mellitus (AADM) study (n = ~5200) for replication and polygenic score validation. We generated and compared polygenic scores from European, African, Afro‐Caribbean, and multiethnic ancestry populations. Results: The top loci associated with each trait in the meta‐analysis were in CD36 (rs3211826 [p = 5.90 × 10−12] for WHR and rs73709003 [p = 1.75 × 10−13] for WHRadjBMI), IFI27L1 (rs59775050 [p = 2.66 × 10−08] for waist circumference), INPP4B (rs2636629 [p = 1.44 × 10−09] for BMI), and HMGA1 (rs6937622 [p = 1.40 × 10−15] for height) gene regions. A novel variant rs7797157, near GNAT3, was also significantly associated with WHR (p = 2.50 × 10−10) and WHRadjBMI (p = 2.66 × 10−11). The ancestry‐specific parameters for the best predictive polygenic scores were European ancestry (R2 = 0.68%; p = 1.63 × 10−16) and multiethnic ancestry (R2 = 0.06%; p = 1.29 × 10−02) for WHR; European ancestry (R2 = 1.36%; p = 2.94 × 10−31) and multiethnic ancestry (R2 = 1.12%; p = 3.52 × 10−25) for BMI; and European ancestry (R2 = 3.16%; p = 2.95 × 10−73), African ancestry (R2 = 4.16%; p = 1.75 × 10−96), and African and Afro‐Caribbean ancestry (R2 = 2.67%; p = 4.35 × 10−62) for height. Conclusions: The discovery of a novel locus for WHR and genetic signals for each trait and the assessment of polygenic score performance underscore the importance of conducting well‐powered studies in diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prolonged periods of sitting have been linked to negative health outcomes. Implementation of sit-stand desks in the workplace has been one strategy to reduce prolonged sitting. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of sit-stand workstations on reducing sitting time and improving other health outcomes of office-based workers. METHODS: 39 Portuguese office workers were randomized into a 6-month parallel-group cluster RCT consisting by the implementation of sit-stand desks in the workplace. The primary outcome of sitting time was assessed using ActivPAL. Secondary outcomes included biometric, psychological, and diet-related variables. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6 months for the whole sample and at 3 months for a sub-sample of the intervention group (n = 11). RESULTS: No significant time*group interaction was found for the primary or secondary outcomes, apart from waist circumference favoring the control group (Δ–1.81 cm, pinteraction = 0.04). There were significant changes within the intervention group for sitting time (–44.0 min/day), prolonged sitting (>30 min) (–45.3 min/day) and standing time (51.7 min/day) at 3 months in the sub-sample and in prolonged sitting (>30 min) (–26 min/day) in the full intervention group (p < 0.05). Changes were also observed within the intervention group for percent body fat (Δ–3.7%) and ratings of quality of life (Δ2.2), musculoskeletal discomfort (Δ–4.9), overall fatigue (Δ–2.2), and the need for recovery after work (Δ–1.7) at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although not being effective for reducing sitting time, the implementation of sit-stand desks in the Portuguese workspace was shown to be feasible over the long term, received well by users, and may offer other health benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OSF Registration, OSF.IO/JHGPW. Registered 15 November 2022. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/JHGPW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for diabetes, yet the potential role of lipids in the diabetes risk associated with central obesity remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the possible mediating role of 11 lipid parameters [high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non-HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), remnant cholesterol (RC), and ratios of Non-HDL-C/HDL-C, RC/HDL-C, LDL/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C] in the association of central obesity with diabetes risk. Methods: We utilized data from 15,453 participants in the NAGALA longitudinal cohort to assess the association of baseline central obesity indicators [waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC)] and the 11 lipid parameters with diabetes risk. Mediation analysis models were constructed to explore the mediating role of lipid parameters in the association of WC/WHtR with diabetes. Results: Confirmatory associative analysis using multivariable Cox regression showed that, except for Non-HDL-C, TC and LD-C, the remaining eight lipid parameters were significantly associated with WC/WHtR and diabetes risk. Mediation analysis indicated that TG, RC, HDL-C, and lipid ratios such as Non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio, RC/HDL-C ratio, TG/HDL-C ratio, TC/HDL-C ratio and LDL/HDL-C ratio are potential lipids affecting the diabetes risk related to central obesity. Among these, the RC/HDL-C ratio seemed to contribute the most in the WC/WHtR-related diabetes risk association, with a mediation percentage of about 37%. Additionally, lipid ratio parameters appeared to play a more mediating role in the association of central obesity-related diabetes risk than individual lipids. Conclusions: In central obesity-related diabetes risk, most lipids, especially lipid ratio parameters, play a significant mediating role. Given these findings, we advocate for increased efforts in multifactorial risk monitoring and joint management of diabetes. The evaluation of lipids, particularly lipid ratio parameters, may be holds substantial value in the prevention and management of diabetes risk under close monitoring of central obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]