sodium-ethylxanthate and Obesity

The aim of this paper is to explore the evolution of the concept of obesity and to identify variations in its meaning and use from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and Black Americans, Caucasian Americans, and Latino Americans.. Obesity constitutes an emerging global healthcare epidemic. Little convergence is found between the meaning and use of the concept of obesity by healthcare professionals and those they are trying to serve. This lack of convergence points to the need for exploration of the assumptions, use and various meanings associated with this important concept.. The analysis included 20 papers from 18 research studies from the fields of nursing, psychology, epidemiology, medicine, and sociology. Caron and Bowers' dimensional analysis method guided the analysis.. Eight dimensions were identified: objective measure, attractiveness, sexual desirability, health, body image, strength or goodness, self-esteem, and social acceptability. Substantial differences in assumptions, use, and meanings of this concept were found within and between the perspectives studied. However, there were insufficient data to fully assess use and meaning of the concept of obesity from the Latino American perspective.. This analysis contributes to the development of an understanding of the meaning and use of the concept of obesity within varied socio-cultural contexts as well as from a healthcare perspective. Culture was found to play a significant role in how obesity is understood by the individual.

Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Health; Beauty; Black People; Body Image; Culture; Health Status; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Obesity; Self Concept; Sex; Terminology as Topic; United States

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Body Composition; Bone and Bones; Bone Remodeling; Child; Circadian Rhythm; Energy Metabolism; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Animal; Obesity; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Leptin; Sex

It has been recognized over the past years that women form a distinct subpopulation within patients with coronary heart disease. This phenomenon should be acknowledged in the management and in the assessment of coronary heart disease. Over the past years remarkable progress has been made concerning our knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors related to gender. For instance, diabetes, high density lipoproteins and triglycerides levels have been found to have a greater impact on coronary heart disease risk in women compared to men. On the other hand, evidence showing that lipoprotein (a) is a cardiovascular risk factor seems to be stronger in men than in women. For optimal treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease it is necessary to acknowledge that it is not self-evident that women and men show similar responses to risk factors or to treatment. This review article addresses the role of cardiovascular risk factors focusing on the differential impact they might have on men and women.

Topics: Aged; Bacterial Infections; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Coronary Disease; Diabetes Complications; Estrogens; Female; Fibrinogen; Homocysteine; Humans; Hypertension; Inflammation; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Psychosocial Deprivation; Risk Factors; Sex; Smoking; Triglycerides

Topics: Adult; Aging; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Autonomic Nervous System; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; Catecholamines; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Ischemia; Obesity; Sex; Vasomotor System

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), and in particular coronary artery heart disease (CAHD), is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Until recently, most of our knowledge about the pathophysiology of CVD in women - and, subsequently, management guidelines - were based on studies conducted mostly in men. While similar mechanisms operate to induce CVD in women and men, gender-related differences exist in the anatomy and physiology of the myocardium, and sex hormones modify the course of disease in women. Women, more than men, have their initial manifestation of CAHD as angina pectoris; are likely to be referred for diagnostic tests at a more advanced stage of disease, and are less likely than men to have corrective invasive procedures. The overall morbidity and mortality following the initial ischaemic heart event is worse in women, and the case fatality rate is greater in women than in men. Also, the relative impact of impaired vasoreactivity of the coronary artery, increased viscosity of the blood and dysregulation of automaticity and arrhythmia, is greater in women than in men. The most effective means of decreasing the impact of CVD on women's health is by an active approach from childhood to proper principles of healthcare in order to modify the contribution of specific risk factors. The latter include obesity, abnormal plasma lipid profile, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, sedentary lifestyle, increased blood viscosity, augmented platelet aggregability, stress and autonomic imbalance. The use of lipid-lowering drugs has not been adequately studied in women but reports from studies conducted mostly in men do predict an advantage also to women. Oestrogen deficiency after spontaneous or medically induced menopause is an important risk factor for CVD and CAHD. Observational and mechanistic data suggest a role for oestrogen replacement after menopause for primary, and possibly secondary, prevention of CVD. However, two recent prospective trials suggest that treatment de novo with hormone replacement of older post-menopausal women after an acute coronary event may not confer cardiovascular protection and may increase the risk of thromboembolic disease. Results of ongoing long-term studies may determine the beneficial role of hormone replacement versus potential risks involved with this treatment.

Topics: Aged; Blood Viscosity; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Complications; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Hypertension; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Postmenopause; Progesterone Congeners; Risk Factors; Sex; Smoking; Stress, Psychological

Topics: Basal Metabolism; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Body Weights and Measures; Environment; Enzymes; Epinephrine; Growth; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Obesity; Pharmacology; Sex; Thyroid Hormones

Topics: Body Constitution; Coronary Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Dietary Fats; Genetics, Medical; Glycerides; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Obesity; Peptic Ulcer; Physical Exertion; Sex; Smoking; Stress, Physiological; Thyroid Diseases

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a disease of obese individuals, yet lean patients are increasingly susceptible to have NAFLD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of nonobese patients by comparing with obese NAFLD patients.. We have included 465 patients of NAFLD after exclusion of other diseases, and 220 with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were biopsied. Patients were biochemically and clinically evaluated: blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were recorded for every patient. A BMI  ≥ 25 kg/m(2) was defined as obese, and those with a BMI of <25 kg/m(2) were labeled as nonobese. Histological activity was expressed with NAFLD activity score (NAS).. Of 465 cases, 119 (25.6 %) were nonobese. Diabetes was noted in 122 (26.2 %) and hypertension in 122 (26.2 %). Metabolic syndrome was present in 253 (59.7 %), low HDL cholesterol in 228 (64.8 %), hypertriglyceridemia in 297 (73.2 %), and WC above normal in 308 (70.2 %). Males were predominating in the nonobese compared to females in the obese (p = 0.001). Hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein was similar in the obese and nonobese (76.2 % vs. 72.3 %, p = 0.5 and 65.2 % vs. 64.6 %, p = 1.0, respectively). The grades of steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning, NAS, and the stage of fibrosis did not also significantly differ between obese and nonobese patients. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was 53.1 % in nonobese.. Nonobese was 25.6 % among NAFLD patients of Bangladesh, and 53.1 % of nonobese NAFLD cases were NASH. Though they were nonobese by BMI grade, they were metabolically similar to obese. Males were predominant in the nonobese, whereas females in the obese. NASH and fibrosis were similar in the obese and nonobese.

Topics: Adult; Bangladesh; Body Mass Index; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Obesity; Sex

Using a case-control design, we evaluated differences in risk factors for colorectal polyps according to histological type, anatomical site, and severity. Participants were enrollees in the Group Health Cooperative aged 20-79 years who underwent colonoscopy in Seattle, Washington, between 1998 and 2007 and comprised 628 adenoma cases, 594 serrated polyp cases, 247 cases with both types of polyps, and 1,037 polyp-free controls. Participants completed a structured interview, and polyps were evaluated via standardized pathology review. We used multivariable polytomous logistic regression to compare case groups with controls and with the other case groups. Factors for which the strength of the association varied significantly between adenomas and serrated polyps were sex (P < 0.001), use of estrogen-only postmenopausal hormone therapy (P = 0.01), and smoking status (P < 0.001). For lesion severity, prior endoscopy (P < 0.001) and age (P = 0.05) had significantly stronger associations with advanced adenomas than with nonadvanced adenomas; and higher education was positively correlated with sessile serrated polyps but not with other serrated polyps (P = 0.02). Statistically significant, site-specific associations were observed for current cigarette smoking (P = 0.05 among adenomas and P < 0.001 among serrated polyps), postmenopausal estrogen-only therapy (P = 0.01 among adenomas), and obesity (P = 0.01 among serrated polyps). These findings further illustrate the epidemiologic heterogeneity of colorectal neoplasia and may help elucidate carcinogenic mechanisms for distinct pathways.

Topics: Adenoma; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Colonic Polyps; Colonoscopy; Colorectal Neoplasms; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sex; Smoking; Socioeconomic Factors

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in obese adults, but not all obese adults have SDB. The aim of these analyses was to determine what predicted SDB in a sample of obese adults.. We conducted cross-sectional analysis of 139 obese men and women aged 18-50 years who are chronic short sleepers. Habitual sleep duration and sleep efficiency were estimated using two weeks of wrist actigraphy. Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was assessed by a portable screening device. SDB was defined as RDI ≥15 events h(-1). Subjective sleep quality, sleepiness, and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated by questionnaires.. Increased sleep duration from actigraphy was associated with reduced odds of SDB (OR 0.44 per hour, p=0.043). Neither subjective sleep quality nor sleepiness was associated with SDB. Male sex, older age, and increased waist circumference were associated with increased odds of SDB.. In this sample of obese adults, subjective measures of sleep quality and sleepiness were not indicators of SDB. These results suggest that, in obese patients, physicians should not rely on subjective measures to determine who should be referred for a clinical sleep study. A wider use of portable apnea screening devices should be considered in nonsymptomatic, non-Hispanic white males.

Topics: Actigraphy; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Sex; Sleep; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waist Circumference; Young Adult

The sodium pump consists of the membrane-bound enzyme sodium/potassium-ATPase, which exchanges internal sodium ions for external potassium ions. Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes associate with the activity of the sodium pump, motivating gene discovery for sodium pump number.. Variance components linkage analysis was applied to the number of red blood cell sodium pump sites measured by ouabain-binding assays on 1375 members of 46 Utah pedigrees. Both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) autosome-wide linkage analyses of pump number were performed on the combined sample as well as separately on the male and female subsets.. Two significant 1D linkages were identified: on chromosome 1p13 in the combined sample [1D logarithm of odds (LOD) score = 3.76] and on chromosome 17p21 in the female subset (1D LOD score = 3.24). In addition, two significant 2D linkages were identified in the female subset: on chromosome 10q22 interacting with chromosome 18q11 (2D LOD score = 7.18) and on chromosome 13q21 interacting with chromosome 4q31 (2D LOD score = 6.05). Single-nucleotide polymorphism rs17376826 in neuropeptide Y receptor Y2, an obesity-associated gene and a candidate in the chromosome 4q31 linkage region, is associated with pump number (P = 0.046 in the combined sample and P = 0.042 in the female subset).. Pump number is influenced by multiple genes, possibly including neuropeptide Y receptor Y2.

Topics: Chromosome Mapping; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Genetic Linkage; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Obesity; Pedigree; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Sex; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase

Obesity among adolescents is increasing in both developed and developing countries. However, previous studies have paid little attention to the roles that gender and body weight variables play in health-related behavior. This article examines the effects of these two variables on health-related behavior in Taiwanese adolescents. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with three body weight categories (underweight, average and overweight) and two gender categories (female and male). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student's t test, and one-way ANOVA with Scheffe's post hoc test. The results showed that average weight adolescents scored significantly higher than their overweight peers in the three dimensions of social support, health responsibility, and exercise behavior. Average weight adolescents also scored higher than the underweight group in the dimension of health responsibility. Girls scored significantly better than boys in five out of the total six health-related behavior - scoring lower only in the exercise dimension. These findings should sound an alarm for all public health professionals to take heed to what is happening to our youth. School and family health promotion counseling should be encouraged for overweight adolescents to improve their exercise and lifestyle habits. Based on the findings, school health promotion programs should focus on gender differences. Girls, in particular, need encouragement to improve their exercise habits.

Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Analysis of Variance; Attitude to Health; Body Weight; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Life Style; Male; Nursing Methodology Research; Obesity; Patient Education as Topic; School Nursing; Sex; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwan

This study investigated in prepubertal obese children (POC), compared with prepubertal lean children (PLC), a possible relation among plasma total homocysteine (tHcy)-an independent risk factor for future atherosclerosis-and MCP-1 and RANTES, two circulating chemokines inducing leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM), implicated in the initial stages of the inflammatory part of the atherosclerotic process. Seventy-two POC were evaluated for circulating tHcy, MCP-1, and RANTES, and compared with 42 healthy PLC. The mean adjusted (for age, sex as well as log10total insulin, vitB12, folate, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, log10triglycerides, and log10glucose levels) differences in tHcy, MCP-1, and RANTES levels between PLC and POC were all significant [1.16 nmol/mL (P = 0.03), 26.6 pg/mL (P = 0.02), and 52.9 pg/mL (P = 0.03), respectively]. In PLC, but not in POC, tHcy levels were negatively associated with both circulating MCP-1 (B = -1.68, P = 0.007) and RANTES (B = -1.16, P = 0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, as well as log10total insulin, vitB12, folate, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, log10triglycerides, and log10glucose levels. In conclusion, in POC there is a lack, in contrast to PLC, of a possibly autoregulatory, negative association of elevated tHcy levels to increased MCP-1 and RANTES levels. This could contribute to future, homocysteine-induced atherosclerosis.

Topics: Arteriosclerosis; Blood Glucose; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Chemokine CCL2; Chemokine CCL5; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Child; Cholesterol, HDL; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Folic Acid; Homocysteine; Humans; Insulin; Male; Obesity; Puberty; Sex; Thinness; Triglycerides; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Adult; Colonic Neoplasms; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Male; Menopause; Middle Aged; Obesity; Risk Factors; Sex

To examine the obesity-related chronic diseases in the US adult population according to gender, race and socioeconomic status.. Data from the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (1994-1996 CSFII) conducted by the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) were used in the analysis. Relevant data included self-reported weight and height, self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease and high serum cholesterol. Analysis was conducted according to gender, race, income level and education level.. There was a graded increase in diabetes, hypertension and high serum cholesterol with increasing body weight in nearly all gender, racial and socioeconomic groups. Among the obese individuals, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in black subjects and the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease was higher in individuals with lower education compared to their counterparts. The odds of having diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and high serum cholesterol increased with increasing body weight after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, education and smoking.. Although cross-sectional in nature, our results suggest that the disease burden associated with obesity in the population may be substantial. This burden increases with increasing severity of obesity. Our findings support the current opinion that, although the nature of obesity-related health risks is similar in all populations, the specific level of risk associated with a given level of obesity may be different depending on gender, race and socioeconomic condition.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Obesity; Odds Ratio; Racial Groups; Sex; Sex Factors; Social Class; United States

Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) has a central role in lipid metabolism. Mice lacking PPARalpha accumulate hepatic fat and are prone to late onset obesity. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, also plays an important role in regulating energy balance. In order to test the hypothesis that leptin secretion increases in response to PPARalpha knockout, we determined leptin concentrations including the effect of nutritional status in male and female PPARalpha knockout mice compared with wild-type controls.. We studied the effect of 16 h fasting and 4 h refeeding on plasma leptin concentrations in male and female wild-type and PPARalpha-knockout mice, aged 14 weeks. In female mice the effect of daily growth hormone (GH) injection on the leptin response to refeeding was determined.. Circulating leptin concentrations were higher in female mice compared with males and increased in both sexes after PPARalpha-knockout. There was no change in leptin levels after a 16 h fast, compared with ad libitum feeding. However leptin increased with refeeding, to the greatest extent in female PPARalpha-knockout mice. Intermittent GH administration decreased leptin concentrations in female, wild-type and PPARalpha-knockout animals and abolished the exaggerated leptin response to refeeding.. Leptin concentrations are increased in PPARalpha-knockout mice. There are gender differences in the leptin response to feeding which may be due to differences in insulin sensitivity.

Topics: Animals; Eating; Fasting; Female; Growth Hormone; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Leptin; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Obesity; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Sex; Transcription Factors

Increased cardiovascular mortality and carotid atherosclerosis have been observed in hypopituitary patients with untreated GH deficiency (GHD), but results are contradictory and relations to cardiovascular risk factors are not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate intima-media thickness (IMT) in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in adults with GHD.. Cross-sectional observational study of 21 men and 13 women with GHD, but without cardiovascular disease, compared to two healthy control groups matched for age, sex and smoking habits. One control group was matched for body mass index (BMI) and the other group was nonobese.. IMT of the carotid and femoral arteries, blood pressure, blood samples and anthropometric data.. Patients had 12% thicker composite carotid IMT [(IMT of common carotid artery + IMT of bulb)/2] compared to nonobese controls (P = 0.022), but IMT was not different compared to BMI-matched controls. Femoral IMT did not differ between patients and controls. Patients had higher waist : hip ratio (WHR), heart rate, serum triglycerides and fasting insulin concentrations in combination with lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and smaller low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peak particle size compared to both nonobese and to BMI-matched controls. This cardiovascular risk pattern was more pronounced in female patients than in male patients compared to their gender controls. Carotid IMT was related to age, serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and smoking in the patient group. Only age was independently related to carotid IMT in multivariate analysis.. These results indicate that high BMI in GH-deficient patients contribute to their increased intima-media thickness. However, several cardiovascular risk factors are present in this patient group independent of their increased BMI, especially in women.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotid Artery, Common; Case-Control Studies; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Femoral Artery; Growth Hormone; Humans; Hypopituitarism; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Obesity; Risk Factors; Sex; Sex Factors; Smoking; Statistics, Nonparametric; Tunica Intima; Ultrasonography

The hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) catalyses the breakdown of adipose tissue triglycerides into free fatty acids. The objective of this study was to determine whether HSLi6 microsatellite allele 5 (A5) and/or homozygosity for this allele is associated with body fat in Swedes.. A large case-control study on gender-specific association for several body fat-related clinical parameters to HSLi6 A5, and to HSLi6 A5 homozygosity, comparing A5 with the other alleles in group. The subjects were 323 obese patients (85 males, 238 females) without other metabolic complication, and 301 nonobese healthy individuals (134 males, 167 females). They were analyzed for various body fat-related clinical parameters, and HSLi6 genotype.. Homozygosity for HSLi6 A5 was a risk factor for obesity, BMI > or = 30 kg m-2 (Odds ratio = 1.75, 95% CI 1.58-1.93) and body fat mass > 39.6% (Odds ratio = 1.89, 95% CI 1.60-2.23) in women. This genotype was also associated with increased diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride level among nonobese women, and with increased body fat mass and waist/hip ratio among nonobese men.. HSLi6 A5 homozygosity is a risk factor for body fat accumulation.

Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gene Frequency; Homozygote; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Polymorphism, Genetic; Sex; Sterol Esterase

The effect of weight reduction on hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression and their relationship with adipose tissue metabolism were studied in massively obese men and women.. Seventeen obese subjects (eight men, nine women) participated in the study (age 44+/-2 y, weight 145+/-8 kg, fat 40+/-2% of body mass, mean+/-s.e.m.), who were going through a gastric-banding operation for weight reduction.. HSL and LPL mRNA expressions were analyzed using the reverse transcription competitive polymerase chain reaction. Subcutaneous fat lipolysis was measured in vivo by microdialysis and in vitro in isolated subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes. Measurements were done before and after 1 y of weight reduction.. Significant reductions in weight (for men -20.3+/-2.5%, for women -18.3+/-2.1% (mean+/-s.e.m.) and fat mass (for men -27.6+/-7.9%, for women -21.8+/-3.9%) were observed in both genders. In women HSL mRNA expression decreased by 31% (P=0.008) and LPL expression increased slightly, but nonsignificantly (42%, P=0.110). These changes were not observed in men. In men, inhibition of lipolysis with alpha(2)-adrenergic and adenosine agonist was improved (P=0.001) in isolated adipocytes.. This study uncovers new differences between genders in adipocyte metabolism along with weight reduction. In women, the observed changes in HSL and LPL gene expression suggest that deposition of lipids into adipose tissue might be favored after weight reduction. In men, the results indicate improved responsiveness to inhibition in adipose tissue metabolism along with weight reduction.

Topics: Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue; Adult; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Lipolysis; Lipoprotein Lipase; Male; Microdialysis; Middle Aged; Obesity; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Sex; Sterol Esterase; Weight Loss

Abdominal obesity affects many aspects of women's health, and recent studies indicate that hyperandrogenicity (HA) may contribute to the excess of body fat in women. As hormone behavior research attributes male-like play patterns in childhood to the effects of androgens, the aim of the present study was to assess the potential association of such behavior with obesity in adult women. In a randomly selected sample of 40-year-old women (n = 1464), 78% volunteered to respond to a questionnaire collecting information on the effect of other variables on childhood behavior. Self-reported body weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio (WHR). Age at menarche showed an inverse association with overweight (BMI > or = 25) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.82). Reports of gender-related behavior as a child showed that playing with girls and girl toys was negatively related to both overweight and abdominal obesity (WHR > or = 0.85). Among respondents who were overweight, relationships were found for playing with boys (OR = 0.90) and fighting (OR = 1.70). The OR of playing with boy toys and fighting among respondents with abdominal obesity were increased 1.12 and 1.65, respectively. Interests in athletics as a child seemed to decrease the risk for overweight (OR = 0.89) and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.91). Furthermore, dose-response analysis between the individual exposure levels and the OR for overweight showed a negative trend for playing with girls (p = 0.002) and girl toys (p = 0.017) and a positive trend for playing with boys (p = 0.011) and fighting (p = 0.031). Among respondents with abdominal obesity, positive dose-response effects were found for playing with boys (p = 0.026) and boy toys (p = 0.036) and fighting (p = 0.008). Thus, women with an elevated WHR showed a preference to play with boys and boy toys and also fought frequently as children. This might be a sign of a relative HA in childhood ("tomboyism"). These preliminary observations suggest that HA may originate in childhood.

Topics: Abdomen; Adult; Body Composition; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child Behavior; Female; Humans; Hyperandrogenism; Male; Obesity; Sex; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden; Women's Health

There is a lack of normal reference data on urinary GH (u-GH) excretion in children. We have investigated the impact of age, gender, pubertal development and body mass on reference values for u-GH excretion in normally growing non-obese and obese children.. u-GH levels were evaluated in 1153 healthy normal children (aged 5-14) and in 684 obese children (body mass index, BMI: > 75th). u-GH levels (ng/8 h) were determined by ELISA as the mean value of three consecutive first morning voidings.. Reference values (5-95th centile) for u-GH excretion in obese and non-obese children of both sexes are reported. In normal prepubertal children median u-GH levels were relatively stable and superimposable in the two sexes; subsequently, u-GH levels increased, reaching a peak value at 13 years in both sexes. Significant increments (P < 0.0001) in u-GH levels were shown at B2 for females and at G3 for males. A slight decline was evident at 14 years. In obese children, median u-GH concentrations were significantly lower than those recorded in normal children of prepubertal age and at all stages of puberty (except in females at B2), in spite of their comparable normal height. u-GH levels significantly increased at puberty also in obese children, although the pubertal rise was significantly (P < 0.001) lower (1.7-fold in both sexes) than that observed in normal children (2.5-fold in boys and 2.3-fold in girls). A multiple regression analysis showed that both chronological age (beta: 0.20), BMI (beta: - 0.11), gender (beta: - 0.04) and pubertal stage (beta: 0.25) contributed significantly to the physiological variation in u-GH levels (multiple R: 0.44, P < 0.00001).. This study provides reference values for u-GH in normally growing non-obese and obese children, analysing the impact of gender, puberty and body mass on this parameter. In agreement with previous studies, which demonstrate blunted GH-responses to provocative stimuli and reduced nocturnal GH concentration, obese children have significantly lower u-GH levels than age-matched normal weight children, both before and during puberty.

Topics: Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Child; Child, Preschool; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Male; Obesity; Puberty; Reference Values; Sex

Topics: Age Factors; Attitude; Beauty; Body Constitution; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Cues; Female; Fertility; Humans; Male; Obesity; Regression Analysis; Sex; Women

The purpose of this study was to establish whether preconceived body images influence quantitative perceptions of body shape. 59 healthy female subjects were subdivided into four groups by amount of activity and body mass index. The body shape of the same person, dressed differently to appear like a model, a student, and a cook, was classified by reference to an adiposity scale based on line drawings. A significant difference was shown between the representations of the types of occupation, with the model viewed consistently as the slimmest and the cook as the fattest. The obese women classified all three occupational groups as slimmer than the nonobese, and the active groups as slimmer than the inactive. The implications of this work relate to a better understanding of body-image distortion, to treatment for eating disorders, and a recognition that people retain preconceived perceptions developed on the basis of experience.

Topics: Adult; Body Image; Exercise; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Obesity; Perceptual Distortion; Sex; Social Perception; Social Values

We measured skin elastic properties (distension ability, retraction ability, and the skin elasticity) of 4 different body sites, finger, hand, forearm, and chest, in 191 normal individuals by means of a new suction device and investigated the correlation of skin elastic properties with sex, site, age, and the degree of obesity. Neither sex nor the degree of obesity were correlated with skin elastic properties. The skin elastic property of the chest was significantly higher than those of the other three sites. Decrease in the skin elasticity of the hand, forearm and chest were associated with aging. This simple and non-invasive device can provide an objective method for evaluating skin elastic property.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Analysis of Variance; Child; Elasticity; Equipment Design; Female; Fingers; Forearm; Hand; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Sex; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Suction; Thorax

Within the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death by disease among adults and children alike. Although cancer has been characterized as primarily a disease of aging, there is growing awareness that many of the cancer risk factors have their origins earlier in life. In keeping with the current trend of pediatricians assuming the primary care responsibility of adolescents and young adults, this article reviews the current status of primary and secondary cancer prevention as it relates to pediatric practice.

Topics: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Breast Neoplasms; Child; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Nutritional Requirements; Obesity; Primary Prevention; Risk; Sex; Smoking; Testicular Neoplasms; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Study of DPP extended over 2 groups selected as following: It was prospective in every patient seen between July 1976 and May 1977 (systematic study: SS: 35 girls and 2 boys). It was retrospective in another group before selected for importance of DPP (no systematic study: NSS: 34 girls and 6 boys). DPP were distributed into Dalpha (fear of any weight recovery), Dbeta (obsessing repercussion of a real defect, amplified in its perception) and Dgamma (delirious and obsessing conviction of a physical anomaly). We researched correlations with the type of AN (fixity or recession to childhood), premorbid weight-height ratio, overweight of the same-sex parent, important problems towards sexuality (ASC = Absolute sexual conflict = An entirely caused by a sexual difficulty, or PSC = Partial Sexual Conflict = difficulty towards sexuality when insuffisant to explain AN, or no sexual conflict), attitude towards pregnancy in cases of big-belly DPP. Every DPP were DPP of localized or generalized obesity. Dalpha is constant and pathognomonic. In females of SS, 37% presented Dbeta and 5% Dgamma before AN, 25% Dbeta and 11% Dgamma during AN. Among the 8 boys of the 2 studies, 3 presented Dgamma before AN, and everyone expressed their obsessing fear of "ugly grease". In 20% girls and 50% boys, explained aim of loss of weight was to "wipe out" the anomally DPP emphasized. We did not find any correlation between generalized DPP and studied elements, particularly with sexual conflicts (22% of our cases). The more frequent localized DPP was "big-belly"-DPP, always associated with overweight of the same sex parent, but as for other localized DPP, without any correlation with sexual conflicts, problems towards the father, neither reject of pregnancy.

Topics: Adolescent; Anorexia Nervosa; Body Height; Body Image; Body Weight; Female; Humans; Male; Motivation; Obesity; Phobic Disorders; Pregnancy; Sex; Sex Factors

Topics: Achievement; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Aggression; Body Image; Character; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Motivation; Obesity; Personality; Personality Inventory; Physical Exertion; Probability; Sex

Topics: Body Weight; Feeding Behavior; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Humans; Hypothalamus; Infant, Newborn; Male; Obesity; Sex; Sucking Behavior; Sweetening Agents; Taste

Topics: Adolescent; Female; Growth; Humans; Intelligence; Learning; Male; Menstruation; Mental Health; Motivation; Obesity; Psychology, Adolescent; Sex; Social Change

Topics: Animals; Appetite; Appetite Regulation; Body Weight; Castration; Estrogens; Estrus; Feeding Behavior; Female; Growth; Hypothalamus; Male; Motor Activity; Obesity; Pregnancy; Pseudopregnancy; Rats; Sex; Sexual Behavior, Animal

Topics: Adenoma; Adrenal Gland Diseases; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adult; Aged; Diabetes Mellitus; Ethnology; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Retrospective Studies; Sex

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aging; Anemia; Australia; Blood Pressure; Child; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Sex; Smoking; Surgical Wound Infection

Topics: Adult; Angina Pectoris; Blood Pressure; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Coronary Disease; Death, Sudden; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Obesity; Sex

Topics: Adult; Arteriosclerosis; Black or African American; Blood Donors; Cholesterol; Ethnology; Female; Glycerides; Gout; Humans; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Obesity; Retrospective Studies; Sex; Triglycerides; Uric Acid; White People

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aging; Birth Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Complications; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intellectual Disability; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Male; Muscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Obesity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Sex

Topics: Aging; Blood Pressure Determination; Cardiomegaly; Electrocardiography; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Ophthalmoscopy; Prognosis; Proteinuria; Sex; Uremia

Topics: Adolescent; Aging; Behavior; Central Nervous System Diseases; Depression; Diet; Female; Growth; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Obesity; Parent-Child Relations; Psychosomatic Medicine; Sex; Stress, Physiological

Topics: Economics; Epidemiology; Ethnology; Humans; New York; Obesity; Sex; Sociology

Topics: Adolescent; Aging; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Coronary Disease; Epidemiologic Studies; Epidemiology; Geriatrics; Heart Defects, Congenital; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertension; Michigan; Obesity; Rheumatic Heart Disease; Sex; Smoking

Topics: Blood Glucose; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Geriatrics; Glucose; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Lipids; Obesity; Sex

Topics: Brain; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cholesterol; Electrocardiography; Epidemiology; Humans; Intracranial Embolism; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Mortality; Myocardial Infarction; Obesity; Sex; Smoking

Topics: Adoption; Ethnology; Female; Genetics, Medical; Humans; Obesity; Pregnancy; Sex; Somatotypes; Twins

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anthropometry; Body Composition; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Growth; Humans; Infant; Male; Muscular Dystrophies; Obesity; Potassium Isotopes; Radioisotope Dilution Technique; Radiometry; Sex

Topics: Adult; Aging; Diabetes Mellitus; Diet, Reducing; Female; Health Education; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Occupations; Psychology; Sex

Topics: Culture; Diet; Dietary Fats; Ethnicity; Ethnology; Genetics, Medical; Humans; Incidence; Mortality; Myocardial Infarction; Obesity; Pennsylvania; Residence Characteristics; Sex; United States; Wine

Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus; Epidemiology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hungary; Hypertension; Myocardial Infarction; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutritional Sciences; Obesity; Occupations; Prognosis; Prothrombin; Sex; Smoking; Statistics as Topic

Topics: Aging; Classification; Cushing Syndrome; Diagnosis, Differential; Endocrinology; Humans; Metabolism; Obesity; Sex; Somatotypes

Topics: Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Humans; Incidence; Menopause; Obesity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics; Sex; Statistics as Topic

Topics: Animals; Avoidance Learning; Electrocoagulation; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Food; Haplorhini; Histology; Humans; Hyperphagia; Hypothalamus; Obesity; Physiology; Research; Sex

Topics: Abdominal Neoplasms; Aging; Ascites; Heart Failure; Hernia, Diaphragmatic; Hernia, Hiatal; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Minnesota; Obesity; Sex; Statistics as Topic

Topics: Cerebral Angiography; Cerebral Ventriculography; Electroencephalography; Humans; Intracranial Pressure; Obesity; Papilledema; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Radiography; Sex

Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Arteriosclerosis; Atrial Fibrillation; Atrial Flutter; Cardiac Complexes, Premature; Cardiomegaly; Coronary Disease; Geriatrics; Heart Block; Heart Diseases; Heart Failure; Hypertension; Myocardial Infarction; Obesity; Sex; Statistics as Topic

Topics: Absorption; Achlorhydria; Aging; Arteriosclerosis; Blood Chemical Analysis; Cholesterol; Coronary Disease; Dietary Fats; Fats, Unsaturated; Geriatrics; Humans; Lipids; Obesity; Physical Exertion; Sex; Stress, Physiological

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Diet; Diet, Reducing; Fatty Acids; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Obesity; Oleic Acid; Sex; Stearic Acids

Topics: Acetates; Body Weight; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Carbon Isotopes; Carbon Radioisotopes; Child; Energy Metabolism; Epinephrine; Glucose; Hydroxybutyrates; Menopause; Metabolism; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutritional Sciences; Obesity; Palmitic Acid; Pharmacology; Pyruvates; Sex

Topics: Aging; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Bundle-Branch Block; Cardiac Conduction System Disease; Cholesterol; Electrocardiography; Epidemiologic Studies; Epidemiology; Geriatrics; Health Surveys; Heart Block; Heart Diseases; Humans; Michigan; Obesity; Prognosis; Sex; Smoking

Topics: Aging; Chile; Humans; Mass Screening; Obesity; Sex; Statistics as Topic

Topics: Humans; Obesity; Sex; Sex Characteristics