Joseph L. Mahoney

Adolescent Summer Care Arrangements and Risk for Obesity the Following School Year

This longitudinal study identified common summer care arrangements for adolescents and examined whether those arrangements predicted risk for obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile for age and gender) the following school year. Participants were a nationally representative sample of 1766 adolescents ages 10-18 from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics-Child Development Supplement. Results showed that, beyond measures of BMI taken before the summer and several demographic aspects known to predict obesity, youth whose summer arrangements involved regular participation in organized activities (e.g., sports) showed significantly lower risk for obesity than other youth. This was most evident during early adolescence. Youth whose regular summer arrangement was predominated by parent care without organized activity participation showed the greatest risk for obesity.

Parental Knowledge as a Mediator of the Relation between Adolescent Summer Care Arrangement Configurations and Adjustment the Following School Year.

Through secondary data analysis of a nationally representative sample, the study explored the relations between adolescent summer arrangements and associated developmental outcomes (well-being, externalizing behavior, body mass index, and academic performance). The study also examined if these relations were mediated by parental knowledge of youth whereabouts and activities, as well as if these relations differed for subgroups of youth regularly involved in self-care, parent care, or other adult care during the summer. Controlling for individual and demographic characteristics and prior measures of outcomes, summer organized activity participation was related to higher emotional well-being, academic performance and lower externalizing behavior and body mass index the following school year. Moreover, the relation between summer organized activity participation and adolescent outcomes was mediated by high levels of parental knowledge for emotional well-being, reading, math, and externalizing behavior, but not obesity.

The Development of After-School Program Educators Through University-Community Partnerships

Participation in after-school programs (ASPs) can positively affect the development of young people. However, whether ASPs are beneficial depends on program quality. Although many factors influence the quality of a program, the competencies of adult staff who lead ASPs are a critical determinant. Unfortunately, ASP staff members often do not receive the education and training needed to provide high quality programming. This article discusses how training provided through university-community (U-C) partnerships can help to fill this educational void. After summarizing existing research on staff development for educators, the role that U-C partnerships can play in providing a realistic and viable means to developing the competencies of ASP educators is described and examples of two model programs are provided. Challenges and future directions for the development of the after-school workforce are discussed.

The importance of organized out-of-school activities in developing obesity during childhood and adolescence

D obesity establishment, immune cells resident in adipose tissue become important as sources of pro-inflammatory mediators. Exercise and caloric restriction are important non-pharmacological tools against body mass increase and are poorly investigated concerning their effects on immune cells of adipose tissue in obese organisms, especially when a high fat diet is consumed. Thus, after a previous period of high fat diet consumption, mice were submitted to chronic swimming training or 30% caloric restriction in order to investigate the effect of both interventions on immune cells resident in adipose tissue. Our results demonstrated that both exercise and caloric restriction were able to reduce body mass in animals consuming high fat diet. However, in general, such strategies induced different chances in the numbers of immune cells resident in adipose tissue or in serum cytokines/chemokines produced by mice in a fat diet regimen. Specifically, exercise was able to increase NK number in adipose tissue and serum levels of IL-6 and RANTES while caloric restriction increased CD4/CD8 ratio and increased MCP-1 levels. Together, these data suggest that body mass reduction is not the only prerequisite to determine the effects of exercise or caloric restriction and reinforce the idea that the combination of both strategies is better than their single utilization. We also investigated the role of leptin in these parameters using the leptin deficient mice (ob/ob) after swimming protocol. We observed that exercise didn’t affect the food intake, body weight as well as immune cells of adipose tissue in ob/ob mice, highlighting the leptin role in exercise and in adipose tissue inflammation. Ronaldo C. Araujo, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012T current western diet is approximately 35% deficient in magnesium (Mg2+). Magnesium deficiency has been correlated with the onset and progression of several pathological conditions including diabetes, and obesity. As opposed to other clinical electrolytes, Mg2+ is not given the same attention clinically due to the poor understanding of its homeostasis. The hormonal regulation of magnesium has not been fully elucidated, and we continue to interpret the serum concentrations relative to urinary Mg2+ excretion. Also, our understanding of the extraand intra-cellular role of Mg2+ is further complicated by the fact that the principal reservoir of Mg2+ (i.e., the bone) are not readily exchangeable with circulating Mg2+ in the extracellular fluid space. Thus, in states of a negative Mg2+ balance, initial losses come from the extracellular space since equilibrium with bone stores does not begin for several weeks. The long term goal of this research is to elucidate the implications of magnesium deficiency for liver and whole body metabolism. Our laboratory has previously reported that Mg2+ deficiency increases G6P transport into the liver ER, and its hydrolysis by G6Pase. The study reported here evaluates the role of Mg2+ deficiency on G6P conversion by Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD), the other intrareticular metabolic pathway for G6P, and its connection with 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), the NADPH-dependent enzyme responsible for the conversion of cortisone to cortisol. Both enzymes have been implicated in diabetes and obesity onset and progression. The results reported here validate our working hypothesis that a deficiency in hepatic Mg2+ content enhances the activities of both G6PD and 11β-HSD1within the lumen of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum. Methods: Minimal deviation hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2-C34) were grown in media containing 0.2 mM, 0.4 mM (deficient) and 0.8 mM (physiological) [Mg2+] acutely (i.e. 5 days), and analyzed for NADPH production by fluorescence detection (350 nm excitation; 460 nm emission). NADPH production was induced by addition of varying concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate to digitonin-permeabilized cells. G6PD, G6Pase, and 11β-HSD1 expression levels were analyzed by western blot analysis for upor down-regulation following Mg2+ deficiency onset. Production of cortisol from cortisone as a measure of the activity of 11β-HSD1 was analyzed by reversed phase HPLC. Results: NADPH production increased by ~60% under conditions of Mg2+ deficiency compared to cells presenting physiological levels of Mg2+, and resulted in a marked increase in cortisol production through 11β-HSD1 activity. Conclusion: Deficiency in Mg2+ appears to upregulate the utilization of G6P by G6PD for energetic purposes, with increased synthesis of NADPH. In turn, the increased level of intrareticular NADPH will favor the conversion of cortisone to cortisol. Increased cortisol production can explain – at least in partthe insulin resistance observed in several diabetic and/or obese conditions. Validation of these results in human patients represents the next step in our studies. Chesinta B. Voma et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012U of meal replacements (MR) and physical activity (PA) seems to be effective weight-loss strategies both in the short and long term in a clinical trial setting. Two longitudinal studies kept track of the nutritional parameters development within the weight loss programs based mainly on low-calorie diet using MR (MR group, 56 women and 23 men) and physical activity (PA group, 97 women and 46 men). In both samples, weight loss was significant, with an average of-10 to 11% of initial weight, but in different periods of time (on average 4 months to MR sample and 9 months to PA sample). The average weight loss was -2.7 kg/month in MR group and -0.8 kg/month in PA group, with higher values in men for both study groups. Percentage of excess weight loss was approximately 40%, and adherence to weight loss program was better for women in MR group and for men in PA group. The percentage of weight loss was significantly correlated with the length of weight loss program, but also with initial BMI. Replacing two meals a day was an effective way to lose weight because of its simplicity and convenience of use. The cost of the products and monotony of the diet were the main causes to abandon the diet. Subsequently, keeping the obtained weight was better in the subjects replacing one meal a day with MR and in the people keeping a high level of PA. Ioan Chirila et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012C obesity continues to be a critical problem. Ability to be ‘satiety responsive’ and balance intake of energy to need is an important element of maintaining a healthy weight. Research has shown that experiences during infancy may have a longterm impact upon weight gain and eating style. Breastfeeding and delayed introduction of solid foods are associated with lower risk of obesity. However research has not explored the impact how infants are introduced to solids upon child weight. Traditionally infants are introduced to solid foods via spoon-feeding of purees. However baby-led weaning advocates allowing infants to self-feed foods in their whole form. Advocates suggest it may promote healthy eating styles but empirical evidence examining the method is sparse. The aim of the current study was to compare child weight and eating behavior at 18-24 months for infants weaned following a traditional weaning approach compared to a baby-led weaning style. 298 mothers completed a longitudinal questionnaire exploring infant nutrition when their infant was 6–12 months and again at 18–24 months. At 6–12 months mothers reported weaning style (bay-led versus traditional), breastfeeding duration and timing of introduction to complementary foods. At 18–24 months, mothers reported child-eating behavior (satiety responsiveness, food responsiveness, fussiness, enjoyment of food). Infants weaned using a baby-led approach (n=163) were significantly more satiety responsive and less likely to be overweight compared to those weaned using a standard approach (n=135). This was independent of breastfeeding duration, timing of introduction to complementary foods, birth weight and maternal child-feeding style. A baby-led weaning approach may therefore encourage greater satiety responsiveness and healthy weight gain trajectories in infants. Explanations for the findings include greater infant control, flavor learning and participation in family meal times. Amy Brown, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012R studies have shown that the gut microbiota varies in both its composition (e.g. reduced levels of bifidobacteria and increased levels of less desirable bacteria) and its metabolic activity in obese individuals compared with lean individuals. It seems that microbiota can modulate host energy homeostasis and adiposity through a number of different mechanisms, including harvesting energy from food, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chronic inflammation, modulation of tissue fatty acid composition and gut-derived-peptide secretion. Modulation of the gut microbiota by dietary means is the basis for the probiotic and prebiotic concepts. The majority of scientific data on prebiotic effects comes from studies with either inulin-type fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or galactooligosaccharides (GOS). The capacity of these prebiotics to selectively stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, and in some cases lactobacilli, and elicit a significant change in the overall composition of the gut microbiota has been demonstrated repeatedly. With regard to obesity and related metabolic disorders, the majority of available data related to prebiotics comes from animal models and dietary supplementation with FOS. These studies suggest that prebiotics are able to regulate food intake and weight gain, glucose homeostasis, dyslipidemia, steatosis and hypertension. However, one recent study looked at the effect of a unique second generation prebiotic GOS and found significant positive effects on microbiota, immune response and metabolic syndrome markers in overweight individuals. This presentation will aim to summarise the ‘obese microbiota’, its possible beneficial modulation through the use of prebiotics with the emphasis on the second generation prebiotic GOS. Jelena Vulevic, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012T WeightMatters Practice in the heart of London’s medical district is a growing and thriving practice that uses a multifactorial model for the treatment of weight loss and obesity. The medical factors and current nutrition of a client are examined in context with their personal psychological and eating history, together with the relational context of their upbringing and their present day circumstances. Eating and behavioral therapists work with a cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic and nutritional frame of reference to explore eating patterns and self-sabotage behaviors, supporting clients to build new strategies, skills and resources to lose weight and change their lifestyle. The wider team offers medical, psychiatric, dietetic and body work providing a holistic and robust support structure for clients who present with varying levels of eating, weight, food and body presentations. The talk will present the reasons why this model works, and how this can be a useful blueprint for other weight loss and obesity practices. James Lamper, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012Background: Obesity is known to impact negatively the functioning of the cardiovascular system. According to the Kenya Ministry of Health Report (2012), up to 13.3% of males and 24% females are overweight and obese while 46.2% males and 42.7% females have high blood pressure. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and the associated factors among urban residents of Karen/Langata and Kibra Constituencies in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on a three-stage cluster sampling methodology across the socio-economic strata. Assessments included measurement of weight and height, blood pressure (BP) check, fasting blood glucose, the lipid profile and C-reactive protein concentrations. Information on demographics was also collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was weighted and analyzed with values of p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 537 adults (m: 50.3%; w: 49.7%) aged 18 years and above participated in the study. The mean age was 38.09±13.4 years. The prevalence of obesity was 16.3% and higher in women than men (w: 27.3% vs. m: 5.9%). A significant positive association (p<0.001) was observed between BMI and increasing age in both sexes. In men, obesity was significantly associated with the lipid profile (p<0.001), higher socio-economic status (p<0.001), BP (p=0.004) and fasting blood glucose concentration (p=0.003), whereas in women, BMI was strongly associated with CRP (p=0.002), the lipid profile (p<0.05) and BP (p=0.001). Conclusions: The gender disparity observed in the presentation of obesity and concomitant cormobidities calls for health promotion and intervention efforts geared not only towards the observed cardiovascular risk factors but also the social cultural and economic factors that may be responsible for the observed findings. Lydia Kaduka et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012L sleeve gastrectomy is now widely accepted as a form of primary procedure to treat morbid obesity. There has also been evidence to support laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a safe and efficacious procedure for pre-transplant patients with morbid obesity. However, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy to achieve weight loss as a procedure to improve living donor candidacy in morbidly obese patients has not been examined. We report a case of a patient who was initially not an ideal candidate as an altruistic renal transplant donor due to his morbid obesity. This 24-year-old gentleman initially underwent a trial of medical therapy to achieve weight loss but was unsuccessful. He subsequently presented to our bariatric service where he was offered laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy to achieve weight loss. He has a medical history of allergic rhinitis, hyperlipidemia and mild obstructive sleep apnea. The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with a pre-operative body mass index (BMI) of 36.2 kg/m2. He tolerated the procedure well and was discharged on postoperative day five with no significant perioperative complications. The patient was followed up and achieved significant weight loss of 35 kg with BMI of 24.5 kg/m2 nine months after the surgery. He was reassessed by the transplant team and was deemed to be fit to be a renal transplant donor. The ASA score improved from III to I. The patient subsequently underwent left laparoscopic nephrectomy as a living donor and tolerated the procedure well. There were no immediate post-operative complications and he was discharged well on postoperative day three. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy may be a viable primary bariatric procedure to achieve rapid weight loss to improve candidacy of morbidly obese patients as potential transplant donors. Oh Han Boon, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012T presentation overviews two longitudinal studies that identify common out-of-school care arrangements for children adolescents and examined whether those arrangements predicted subsequent obesity. The first study assesses after-school program (ASP) participation on child body mass index (BMI), obesity status, and indicators of peer acceptance over time. Participants were 439 children in grades 1-3 who resided in a disadvantaged, urban city in the Northeastern United States. Obesity status was defined as a BMI ≥95th percentile for age and gender. Children who were regular participants in ASPs showed a significantly lower increase in BMI over time and were less likely to be obese at follow-up than non-participants (21% and 33% respectively). Children who participated in ASPs also showed significant increases in popularity, received fewer peer nominations for rejection, and had larger peer networks compared to non-participants. All findings held after controlling for demographics. The second study involved participants from a nationally representative sample of 1,766 adolescents from the panel study of Income Dynamics-Child Development Supplement. Results showed that, beyond baseline measures of BMI before the summer and several demographic aspects known to predict obesity, youth whose summer arrangements involved regular participation in organized activities (sports, extracurricular activities, and after-school programs) showed significantly lower rates of obesity than other youth. This was most evident for youth whose activity participation was consistent across two waves of the study and for early adolescents. Youth whose regular summer arrangement was predominated by parent care without organized activity participation showed the highest rates of obesity. Joseph L. Mahoney, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012Background: Socio-demographic, lifestyle factors and physical activity are important in the understanding of obesity. The possibly direct or indirect nature of the associations among these factors and the eventual link to obesity is not well understood. We assess the indirect association between socio-demographic and obesity through lifestyle factors. Methods: A case-control study involving African American women conducted at Howard University Cancer Center. One hundred ninety eight participants gave information on anthropometric measurements, socio-demographic factors (age, marital status, income and education) and lifestyle factors. Path analysis was utilized to assess associations between socio-demographic factors and obesity through physical activity, smoking or alcohol consumption. Results: The mean age of the participants was 55±12 years, with 50% being obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2). Obesity level decreased by approximately 17% for every one year level increase in education via its prior effect on vigorous physical activity. Age had a significant positive indirect effect on obesity through vigorous physical activity with obesity levels increasing by approximately 7% for every one year increase in age. Conclusions: Vigorous physical activity mediates the association between education and obesity as well as age and obesity. Kepher H. Makambi et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012A obesity has become a major lifestyle health problem in the world, the present study was designed to investigate the possible anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effect of demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a bioactive phenolic component of turmeric spice, for the first time, using in vivo anti-obesity models and to explore the linking mechanism behind it by evaluating bodyweight, food intake, lipid profiles, renal, hepatic, cardiac function markers, lipid peroxidation, and the glucose and insulin levels in blood and liver tissue in rats. Rats (80-100 gms) were divided into 4 groups with n=6. Group 1 served as control and was fed with normal diet. All other animals were treated with high fat died for 14 continuous weeks which was followed by its equal distribution in three equal groups. Group 2 received HFD with no supplement; Group 3 received DMC (20 mg/kg) + HFD. DMC was started administered at 10th week from the start time for the treatment. Group 3 received DMC (40 mg/kg) + HFD. Body weight, lipid profile & renal function (urea, uric acid creatinine) ALT & AST activities, cardiac markers, (LDH, C.KNAC and MB) the oxidative stress marker reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) catalase activity, in addition to glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in serum & tissues were analysed. Results revealed that HFD significantly increased final body weight, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, & LDL concentration compared with controls. DMC treatment significantly improved obesity and its associated metabolic problems in different degrees in experimental animals proving its distinct anti-obesity effect. Sumeet Gullaiya, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012A tissue is an easily accessible tissue that in addition to its roles in storage of excess energy in form of triglyceride also contains the largest pool of cholesterol in the body and plays a critical role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis. The mechanism of this regulation is however unknown. We reported previously that LRP1, a trans-membrane receptor positively regulates a Wnt5a signaling pathway that protects against intracellular cholesterol and cholesteryl-esters accumulation in cells submitted to adipogenesis. To investigate the role of Wnt5a in cholesterol homeostasis we generated mice overexpressing Wnt5a in adipose tissue (aTgWnt5a). aTgWnt5a mice fed a regular chow diet exhibit a decrease in adipocyte cholesterol levels with no difference in triglycerides content compared to controls. This was accompanied by an inhibition in adipose tissue of the HMGCoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol biosynthesis. mRNA and protein levels of HMG CoA reductase were both severely decreased compared to controls suggesting that Wnt5a interfere with cholesterol biosynthesis. In agreement with this hypothesis, we found an increase in Insig-1 protein and mRNA levels in adipocytes from these mice, with no difference in SREBPs mRNA expressions. We confirmed in vitro the effects of Wnt5a on the HMGCoA reductase levels. Similarly, Wnt5a increased Insig-1 protein when stably transfected in MEFs. In agreement with an inhibition effect of Wnt5a on cholesterol biosynthesis, SREBP2 cleavage, and nuclear translocation were reduced in Wnt5a transfected cells. These data suggested that Wnt5a protects against cholesterol intracellular accumulation through inhibition of its biosynthesis. Philippe Boucher, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of regular aerobic exercises with diet control on weight reduction on obese children. Subjects and Methods: Thirty children with overweight (age ranged from eight to twelve years) were included in the study. The children were randomly divided into two equal groups. The exercise group received ten weeks physical activities program included upper limb, lower limb, and trunk and neck exercises as well as running three sessions per week (in the first four weeks the session lasted for about 40 minutes and in the last six weeks the session extended to be 50 minutes. Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference) were used to assess the children weight before and after three months of the treatment program. Results: The results revealed statistically significant improvement in the measuring variables of both groups when comparing their pre and post treatment mean values. Comparing the two groups’ post –treatment variables, significant difference is revealed in favor of the study group (B) Conclusion: The obtained results strongly support the using of aerobic exercise with diet control as an additional procedure for the weight reduction of obese children. Abd El Aziz Ali Sherif, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2013, 3:7 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.S1.012