Jada L. Stevenson

Metabolic responses to dietary fatty acids in obese women.

BACKGROUND The composition of fatty acids in a diet may differentially affect metabolism, thus playing a role in the development of obesity. Our purpose was to study the effects of three high-fat (HF) meals with different dietary fatty acid compositions on the thermic effect of meal (TEM) and substrate oxidation in obese premenopausal women. METHODS 16 healthy obese women, aged 18-39 years, participated in a single-blinded randomized cross-over study, in which they consumed isocaloric HF meals (70% of energy from fat) rich in either saturated fat (SFA), monounsaturated fat (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). Indirect calorimetry was used to measure respiratory gases for a 5-hour postprandial period. Data collected was used to determine respiratory exchange ratio (RER) for assessing substrate oxidation, and energy expenditure for the determination of TEM. RESULTS There was a significant time effect on both substrate oxidation and TEM (p<0.05). With and without using RMR as a covariate, there were no significant differences in TEM between test meals (TEM of 10.8±0.8 vs 11.0±1.0 kcal ∗ 5 h for high-MUFA vs. high-SFA meals, respectively, p=0.06). No treatment difference was found for postprandial substrate utilization (4.9±0.4, 4.9±0.3 and 4.6±0.4 g of fat oxidation following SFA, MUFA, and PUFA-rich HF meals, respectively; 13.2±0.9, 13.3±0.5 and 13.9±0.6 g of carbohydrate oxidation following SFA, MUFA, and PUFA-rich HF meals, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In premenopausal obese women, HF meals rich in either MUFAs, PUFAs, or SFAs did not differentially affect TEM or postprandial substrate oxidation.

Lipocalin‐2 increases fat oxidation in vitro and is correlated with energy expenditure in normal weight but not obese women

The role of lipocalin‐2 (Lcn2) was determined in regulating metabolism in cell, animal, and human models.

Age and sex differences pertaining to modes of locomotion in triathlon.

PURPOSE The magnitude of change in sex differences across age groups in triathlon performance for the Ironman distance has been established. However, the influence of age on sex differences at shorter-distance triathlons is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to compare sex differences across age groups for the different modes of locomotion among varying triathlon distances (Sprint, Olympic, and Ironman 70.3) in amateur triathletes from the 2009-2011 triathlon World Championship. METHODS Data for the top 10 male and female amateur triathletes for the age groups between 18 and 64 yr were collected from the 2009-2011 World Championships for Sprint, Olympic, and Ironman 70.3 triathlons. Sex differences across age groups were compared using time performances for swimming, cycling, running, transition time, overall race time, and estimated power output. RESULTS Total time differences between sexes were largest in 55-59 yr age groups for Sprint (18.7%, P < 0.05) and in 60-64 yr age groups for Olympic and Ironman 70.3 (14.8% and 21.7%, P < 0.05). Mean sex difference in performance time was smallest for cycling in Sprint (11.8% ± 0.41%) and in Ironman 70.3 (11.2% ± 0.41%), whereas running showed the smallest sex difference in Olympic (7.5% ± 0.33%, P < 0.05). Mean sex differences in estimated power output were significantly greater for swimming in Sprint (41.0% ± 1.47%), Olympic (39.8% ± 1.24%), and Ironman 70.3 (37.%5 ± 1.67%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Sex differences for total performance time were greatest in the youngest age groups and older age groups for Sprint, Olympic, and Ironman 70.3 distances. Sex differences varied among the modes of locomotion for the three distances of triathlons; however, for short- to mid-distance triathlons, both performance time and estimated power output seem to indicate that the largest sex differences exist for swimming.

Hunger and satiety responses to high-fat meals of varying fatty acid composition in women with obesity

Determine subjective and physiological appetite responses and ad libitum intake to high‐fat (HF) meals rich in either monounsaturated (MUFAs), polyunsaturated (PUFAs), or saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in women with obesity.

Parents' Underestimations of Child Weight: Implications for Obesity Prevention

Purpose Obesity prevention efforts may be ineffective if parents lack awareness of their childrens overweight status. This study examined the factors that predicted parents’ underestimation of child weight status. Design and Methods Using a cross sectional design, researchers recruited children and parents in a local childrens museum. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Newest Vital Sign, and the Child Body Image Scale. Childrens height and weight were measured to calculate child BMI. Random effects modeling examined the association between predictor variables (parent race/ethnicity, income, education, and health literacy, and child BMI percentile, gender, and age) and the dependent variable, parent underestimation of child weight status. Results Participants included 160 parents (213 children aged 7–12 years) representing a racially and ethnically diverse sample who were affluent, educated, and with 36.6% of parents assessed with limited health literacy. Although 45.1% of children were overweight/obese, only 7.5% of parents chose this weight status; 80% of parents underestimated the weight of their normal weight children, 96% underestimated their overweight children, and 72% underestimated their obese children. Parents were more likely to underestimate weight of older children and those under 81st percentile of BMI. No other predictors were significant. Conclusions Parent underestimation of child weight status appears to be a widespread phenomenon in this sample, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, education, and health literacy. Practice Implications The consistent underestimation of child weight suggests that parents’ misperception of weight status represents a critical pathway for intervention. Methods to improve parents’ perception of child weight need be developed and tested. HighlightsOver one third of parents in this sample had limited health literacy.The majority of parents underestimated the weight of their children.96% of parents underestimated their overweight children.72% of parents underestimated their obese children.Parent underestimation was not associated with social determinants of health.

Echinacea-Based Dietary Supplement Does Not Increase Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Endurance-Trained Men and Women.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine if an echinacea-based dietary supplement (EBS) provided at two different doses (a regular dose (RD), 8,000 mg/day, vs. a double dose (DD), 16,000 mg/day) would increase erythropoietin (EPO) and other blood markers involved in improving aerobic capacity and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in endurance-trained men. Secondly, to determine if any sex differences exist between male and female endurance-trained athletes. Methods: Forty-five endurance athletes completed three visits during a 35-day intervention. Participants were randomized into placebo (PLA; n = 8 men, n = 7 women), RD of EBS (n = 7 men, n = 8 women), or DD of EBS (n = 15 men) for the 35-day intervention period. At baseline, weight, body composition, and VO2max were measured. Blood was drawn to measure EPO, ferritin, red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. At the mid-intervention visit, blood was collected. At the post-intervention visit, all measurements from the baseline visit were obtained once again. Results: There was a significant increase in VO2max for endurance-trained men in PLA (increase of 2.8 ± 1.5 ml kg−1 min−1, p = .01) and RD of EBS (increase of 2.6 ± 1.8 ml kg−1 min−1, p = .04), but not in DD of EBS (p = .96). Importantly, there was no difference in the change in VO2max between PLA and RD of EBS. For endurance-trained women, VO2max did not change in either treatment (PLA: −0.7 ± 1.7 ml kg−1 min−1, p = .31; RD of EBS: −0.2 ± 2.4 ml kg−1 min−1, p = .80). There were no significant changes in any blood parameter across visits for any treatment group. Conclusions: This EBS should not be recommended as a means to improve performance in endurance athletes.

Poor Performance of Children Age 7 to 13 Years on the Newest Vital Sign

Valid and reliable instruments are needed to assess health literacy in children. Although the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) has been well established for use in adults, reports of its use in children have only recently received attention in the literature. Whereas some researchers have reported successful use of the NVS in children as young as age 7 years, others have suggested it is best used in children age 10 years and older. This analysis reports on the performance of the NVS in children age 7 to 13 years, adding to the growing evidence related to the use of the NVS in pediatric populations. Overall, children in this sample performed poorly on the NVS, which refutes previous reports. Differences in child samples and NVS administration procedures may provide some explanation for the lower-than-anticipated NVS performance in this sample. Interpreting the NVS based on educational standards and expectations may provide additional information to determine age-appropriate recommendations for NVS use in children. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2018;2(4):e175–e179.]