Search results

This study aims to look at the prevalence of obesity and its association with sleep problems among police officers.

The authors conducted a cross‐sectional study of the relationship between obesity and sleep disorders among 110 randomly selected police officers from the Buffalo, New York, Police Department in 1999. Participants, who ranged in age from 26 to 61 years (mean±SD=39.5±7.5), responded to sleep related questions and had anthropometric measurements taken.

Results show that several measures of obesity were significantly associated with sleep‐disordered breathing in police officers, but not with other sleep problems.

A major strength of the study was that it was conducted in a cooperative and motivated study population. It was possible to assess a wide range of anthropometric measurements, including many that are important but are rarely used to measure obesity in epidemiologic studies such as abdominal height, neck circumference, and neck‐to‐height ratio. In addition, the assessment of the anthropometric indices was performed by trained clinic staff using standardized procedures.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary polyamine levels, metabolic risk parameters and anthropometric measurements in postmenopausal women.

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 562 45–64-year-old postmenopausal women who presented to a Family Health Center. To collect the data, the Descriptive Information Form and Food Frequency Questionnaire were used. In the data analysis, numbers, percentages, mean, standard deviation and multiple linear regression analysis were used.

The multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that dietary putrescine intake was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (ß = −0.179, p < 0.001), dietary spermidine intake was positively associated with waist circumference (WC) (ß = 0.142, p = 0.013), systolic blood pressure (ß = 0.188, p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (ß = 0.218, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (ß = 0.169, p = 0.003) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (ß = 0.156, p = 0.006), and dietary spermine intake was negatively associated with WC (ß = −0.158, p = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (ß = −0.195, p < 0.001), BMI (ß = −0.107, p = 0.042) and WHtR (ß = −0.138, p = 0.009).

Owing to the study’s cross-sectional nature, the lack of succession in the cause–effect relationship, the use of self-report Food Frequency Questionnaire to determine dietary polyamine intake and the inability to analyze seasonal differences are among the limitations of the study.

In this study, an association was determined between dietary polyamines, metabolic risk parameters and anthropometric measurements. The findings suggest that dietary polyamines in human health should be further investigated owing to the increasing metabolic risk parameters.

To outline the benefits of the ratio of the waist to height ratio (WHTR) and its graphical representation in the Ashwell® shape chart for the assessment of the health risks of obesity. To show that it has potential to be used in all ethnic groups and in adults and children.

A review of the benefits and limitations of the use of some different anthropometric measures to assess the health risks of obesity. Those covered are the body mass index (BMI), the waist to hip ratio (WHR), the waist circumference (WC) and the waist to height ratio (WHTR).

Waist to Height Ratio (WHTR) has the potential to be globally applicable to different ethnic populations and to children as well as adults. Further validation, particularly of the suggested boundary values of 0.5 and 0.6, as used within the Ashwell® shape chart to indicate different levels of risk, is required.

This is the first paper to summarise the accumulating evidence for the benefits of using WHTR and the Ashwell® shape chart to assess health risk.

The purpose of this paper is to identify health and physical activity status and prevalence of chronic diseases risk factors in a sample of Government office employees.

Quantitative assessment of various health and physical activity measures including blood pressure, BMI, waist‐to‐hip ratio, cholesterol, blood glucose and physical activity in adult male (n=66; age=42 ±9 years) and female (n=262; age=40 ±10 years) Government office employees located in metropolitan, rural and remote areas of central and northern Queensland.

It was found that 54 per cent of females and 77 per cent of males were classified as overweight or obese, while 38 per cent of all participants did not participate in sufficient weekly physical activity. Metropolitan females reported significantly higher blood glucose levels and diastolic blood pressure but significantly lower waist‐to‐hip ratio than rural and remote females.

There was uneven sampling across geographical locations, however the sample size of each group was largely indicative of the workforce in each location.

There is a large prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in male and female Government office employees working throughout metropolitan, rural and remote areas of central and northern Queensland. Workplace personnel should work to improve the health and physical activity status of employees, as this may have positive effects on workplace participation and productivity.

This study provides insight into the prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in Government office workers undertaking similar work duties across a variety of geographical locations, and provides suggestions for workplace interventions.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the association between food consumption classified by the degree of processing and cardiometabolic risk factors in a population at risk of cardiovascular disease.

A cross-sectional study conducted with 325 adults and elderlies who present a cardiovascular risk factor. The food consumption was evaluated by a 24 h dietary recall, and it was classified according to the NOVA classification.

Individuals who presented a higher consumption of processed and ultra-processed food had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, waist/hip ratio (PR = 1.005; p-value = 0.049), waist circumference (PR = 1.003; p-value = 0.02) and high total cholesterol (PR = 1.008; p-value = 0.047), while ultra-processed had a higher prevalence of excess weight (PR = 1.004; p-value = 0.04), and abdominal obesity, waist/hip ratio (PR = 1.005; p-value = 0.04), waist circumference (PR = 1.004; p-value = 0.004) and waist/height ratio (PR = 1.003; p-value = 0.03).

An association was found between the degree of food processing and cardiometabolic risk factors, even in a population that already has a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the importance of personalized nutrition orientation that considers the profile of the target population as well as types of meals.

Food processing in itself can influence cardiometabolic risk and, as far as is known, no study has evaluated food processing in individuals who already have some type of cardiovascular risk. Also, consumption was assessed by the degree of processing between meals.

This study was designed with the aim of assessing the energy and nutrient intakes of male university students before and during Ramadan and comparing it with the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) of Malaysia.

A total of 30 male students aged between 19‐24 years from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan Campus were recruited before Ramadan. The height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were recorded on day one of Ramadan and also recorded on day 21 of Ramadan to assess the changes. From the weight and height, the body mass index was calculated and from the waist and hip circumference, the waist‐to‐hip ratios were calculated. The respondents were requested to keep three days food record in household measurements; once prior to fasting and once during the third week of Ramadan. The records were then analyzed using Malaysian Food Composition Table and Food Atlas to get the averages of energy and macronutrients intakes of the subjects.

After 21 days of Ramadan, the results revealed that there was reduction in the body weight and there was significant (P<0.05) improvement in the waist‐to‐hip ratio of the subjects. The effect was more prominent in the normal‐weight compared to overweight respondents. The mean energy and protein intakes were significantly (P<0.001) lower than the RNI for Malaysians of similar age group. However, mean energy and protein intakes increased during Ramadan compared to the first day of Ramadan. This study indicates that Ramadan fasting does not affect energy and macronutrients intake but only the routine of intake is affected.

This research was limited to a specific group of normal and overweight students who were residing on campus of the IIUM. Their intakes might not be consistent with those at home or living outside the university campus. Another thing is that the students might have over‐reported their energy and macro‐nutrients intakes compared to what they have consumed in reality. So, the self‐reported intakes could not be ascertained. The stated factors might have confounding effects on the finding of this research.

Most research argues that the body weight loss during Ramadan fasting is due to reduced energy consumption; however, this is not true in all cases. This study infers that there is no reduction in the total energy consumption, rather there is a change in the pattern of energy intake. This brief study would help researchers planning to conduct research on Ramadan fasting and will caution fasting readers about the intakes.

This study indicates that during Ramadan fasting does not affect energy and macro‐nutrients intake but only the schedule of intake is affected.

The purpose of this paper is to assess eight weeks individualized balanced low-calorie diet on anthropometric measurements and body composition in apparently healthy obese women.

Forty apparently healthy obese women (body mass index: 27.5-40 kg/m² and age: 18-40 years) were recruited from the nutrition clinic in the north-west of Iran, Ardabil city. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis were done at baseline and after the intervention.

During eight weeks, individualized balanced low-calorie diet resulted in a significant decrease in body weight (−4.0 ± 0.3 kg, p < 0.001), body mass index (−1.6 ± 0.1 kg/m², p < 0.001), waist circumference (−2.9 ± 0.3 cm, p < 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (−0.01 ± 0.004, p = 0.001), waist-to-height ratio (−0.02 ± 0.002, p < 0.001), per cent body fat (−1.1 ± 0.2 per cent, p < 0.001), fat mass (−2.5 ± 0.3 kg, p < 0.001), visceral fat level (−0.8 ± 0.1, p < 0.001), visceral fat area (−11.3 ± 2.3 cm², p < 0.001), trunk mass fat (−1.2 ± 0.1 kg, p < 0.001), left arm mass fat (−0.2 ± 0.03 kg, p < 0.001), right arm mass fat (−0.2 ± 0.03 kg, p < 0.001), left leg mass fat (−0.4 ± 0.1 kg, p < 0.001), right leg mass fat (−0.4 ± 0.05 kg, p < 0.001), abdominal volume index (−1.1 ± 0.1 m², p < 0.001), conicity index (−0.007 ± 0.002 m^2/3/kg^1/2, p = 0.001) and body adiposity index (1.0 ± 0.1 per cent, p < 0.001).

The limitation concerns the generalizability to the general population of obese women. Future studies should take sex differences into consideration. These studies may focus on the long-term benefits.

Balanced low-calorie diet-induced moderate weight loss alone may represent an effective strategy for reducing metabolic risk factors among obese women.

This study aims to determine the correlation of anthropometric measurements with serum lipid profile among Malay subjects in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kuala Terengganu on a total of 193 individuals aged 18-60 years. Subjects were recruited via direct interview as per inclusion criteria and anthropometric measurements, i.e. body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio, abdominal volume index and conicity index, were taken using International Standards for Anthropometric Assessment Guidelines. Fasting blood samples were collected for serum lipid profile analysis that measures triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), TG/HDL, TC/HDL and LDL/HDL. Besides socio-demographic characteristics, means and association of anthropometric parameters with lipid profiles were performed using simple linear regression and multivariate-adjusted regression analysis.

The mean age of obese (male [39.2 ± 8.7] and female [41.1 ± 1.0]) and non-obese (male [29.8 ± 1.3] and female [33.3 ± 1.3]) respondents was compared. Means of anthropometric indices and lipid profile were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in obese than in non-obese group. Multivariate-adjusted regression showed that weight and BMI increased risks for prevalent high TC, TG, LDL, TC/HDL, TG/HDL, LDL/HDL, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and dyslipidemia. Regardless of sex, age and prevalent obese status, WHR increased risks for high prevalence of TC, TG, LDL, TC/HDL and LDL/HDL, and presents an independent risk factor for hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia. WC was highly associated with TG, while HC was associated with atherogenic lipid profile ratios: TC/HDL, TG/HDL and LDL/HDL.

In conclusion, the lipid profile (TC, TG and TG/HDL) of triglyceridemia and hypercholesteremia is highly correlated with anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC and WHR) of central obesity that predict obesity-associated cardiac risks.

The purpose of the study was to find the incidence of “diabesity” among morning walkers of Jaipur city (20‐60 years).

Totally 303 subjects willing to participate in the study were included, out of which 211 were males and 92 were females. Subjects were categorized into two age groups 20‐40 and 40‐60 years. Height (cm), weight (kg), waist circumference (cm), hip circumference (cm) and fasting blood glucose values of morning walkers were measured.

There was no significant difference in the incidence of “diabesity” among both the genders. The mean body mass index of females (28.47+4.3) was higher than that of males (26.55+3.42). Mean waist‐to‐hip ratio values were 0.86+0.07 for females and 0.92+0.13 for males. Age was better correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.276 (M); r=0.359 (F)) than diastolic blood pressure (r=0.037 (M); r=0.165 (F)) for both males and females.

The study aimed at assessing incidence of “diabesity” among the individuals who are regular with morning walk.

The aim of this literature review is to summarise and synthesise the research base concerning childhood obesity and physical activity, particularly in relation to teachers and schools and within a policy context of the UK. The review investigates childhood obesity, physical activity, physical education, the role of teachers, the role of schools and physical activity in the classroom.

A literature review was undertaken involving selection of primary research and other systematic reviews. A computer search was performed using a combination of keywords including: obesity, prevention, intervention, preventive, teachers, schools, healthy schools, role models, physical activity, physical education, active school, active classroom. The review also includes samples of media coverage of the issue.

This review highlights the complex and ambiguous nature of the evidence in relation to this important contemporary issue.

A limited understanding of childhood obesity is evident from the review and this precludes definitive conclusions in relation to almost all aspects of the agenda. More quality research is needed in almost all areas of the topic, including areas such as the engagement of schools and teachers.