Nadine Zeeni

A cafeteria diet modifies the response to chronic variable stress in rats

Stress is known to lead to metabolic and behavioral changes. To study the possible relationships between stress and dietary intake, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of three diets for 6 weeks: high carbohydrate (HC), high fat (HF), or “Cafeteria” (CAF) (Standard HC plus a choice of highly palatable cafeteria foods: chocolate, biscuits, and peanut butter). After the first 3 weeks, half of the animals from each group (experimental groups) were stressed daily using a chronic variable stress (CVS) paradigm, while the other half of the animals (control groups) were kept undisturbed. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the 6-week period. The effects of stress and dietary intake on animal adiposity, serum lipids, and corticosterone were analyzed. Results showed that both chronic stress and CAF diet resulted in elevated total cholesterol, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In addition, increases in body weight, food intake, and intra-abdominal fat were observed in the CAF group compared with the other dietary groups. In addition, there was a significant interaction between stress and diet on serum corticosterone levels, which manifest as an increase in corticosterone levels in stressed rats relative to non-stressed controls in the HC and HF groups but not in the CAF group. These results show that a highly palatable diet, offering a choice of food items, is associated with a reduction in the response to CVS and could validate a stressor-induced preference for comfort food that in turn could increase body weight.

A positive change in energy balance modulates TrkB expression in the hypothalamus and nodose ganglia of rats.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its TrkB receptor play critical roles in the synaptic activity and plasticity of mature neurons and enhance adult neurogenesis. Furthermore, treatment with BDNF has been found to attenuate weight gain or even cause weight loss and appetite suppression in rats. The aim of this study was to look at the effect of nutrient intake on BDNF concentrations and cellular proliferation in the brain. Adult male Wistar rats were given one of three diets for 6 weeks: high-carbohydrate, high-fat or high-fat pair-fed diets. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the feeding period and BDNF concentrations in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), hypothalamus and plasma were measured by ELISA on protein extracts of these samples. Cellular proliferation in the DVC was quantified by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. Neither BDNF levels nor proliferation were modified by the diet. Secondly, using rats that received the same diets, real-time PCR was performed in the DVC, hypothalamus and nodose ganglia in order to compare TrkB receptor levels. The results showed significantly lower TrkB levels in the hypothalamus and nodose ganglia of fasted rats receiving the high-fat diet when compared to the other groups. These two complementary methodological approaches suggest that there is a relationship between long-term dietary intake and BDNF. More precisely, TrkB expression is more responsive to energy states than to diet composition. An increment in energy stores thus triggers decreased BDNF anorexigenic signaling at the receptor level in the hypothalamus and nodose ganglia, but not in the DVC.

The influence of sociocultural factors on the eating attitudes of Lebanese and Cypriot students: a cross‐cultural study

BACKGROUND The present comparative cross-cultural study aimed to explore the relationship between eating behaviour and sociocultural influences with respect to appearance and body image in female university students from two cultural contexts, namely Cyprus and Lebanon. METHODS The Dutch Eating Behavior questionnaire (DEBQ) and the Perceived Sociocultural Influences on Body Image and Body Change Questionnaire were used to assess sociocultural influences and body image, respectively, in 200 students from each country. RESULTS The results indicated that the Lebanese students were more likely to engage in emotional and external eating and their body image was impacted to a larger extent by sociocultural agents, including media influences, compared to the Cypriot students. Also, a positive relationship was found between emotional and external eating in both cultures. Finally, sociocultural influences correlated positively with external eating only in the Cypriot sample. CONCLUSIONS Culture-specific factors, such as the societal values and norms, as well as the Westernisation history of each country, are discussed as underpinnings for the differences found. These findings are significant for understanding the rise of eating pathology in these two cultures and provide evidence for a need to consider cultural environment when designing public health policies addressing the negative aspects of nutrition transition.

Tragopogon porrifolius improves serum lipid profile and increases short-term satiety in rats.

Tragopogon porrifolius (white salsify) is an edible plant commonly used in folk medicine in Lebanon and neighbouring countries. This study investigates the effect of the aqueous extract of the aerial part of T. porrifolius on lipemia and appetite regulation using a rat model. Food intake, abdominal fat percentage, blood lipid profile, liver weight and liver enzymes were assessed following 4 weeks of extract intake via drinking water (50, 100, or 250 mg/kg body weight) in standard high-carbohydrate and high-fat dietary conditions. In a separate study, the short term effect of a preload of T. porrifolius extract on food intake was evaluated. Results showed that consumption of the plant extract for a period of four weeks resulted in a marked improvement of the lipid profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol). Body weight, food intake and intra-abdominal fat were also lower in animals given the plant extract (100 and 250 mg/kg). In addition, T. porrifolius extract preload produced a dose dependent decrease in food intake observed over 24h. The intake of T. porrifolius aqueous extract therefore improved lipemia and increased satiety in rats with no visible adverse effects.

Investigating Vulnerability for Developing Eating Disorders in a Multi-confessional Population

The present study aimed to examine the vulnerability to eating disorders (ED) among 949 Lebanese female young adults as well as its association with stress, anxiety, depression, body image dissatisfaction (BID), dysfunctional eating, body mass index, religious affiliation (Christian, Muslim, Druze or Other), religiosity and activity level. Results showed that anxiety had the greatest effect on increasing the predisposition to ED, followed by stress level, BID, depression and restrained eating. Affiliating as Christian was found to significantly decrease the vulnerability to developing an ED. Furthermore, the interaction of anxiety with intrinsic religiosity was found to have a protective role on reducing ED. The current study emphasized a buffering role of intrinsic religiosity against anxiety and ED vulnerability.

Student perceptions towards interprofessional education: Findings from a longitudinal study based in a Middle Eastern university.

ABSTRACT The Lebanese American University Interprofessional Education (LAU IPE) Steps Framework consists of a five-step workshop-based series that is offered throughout the curriculum of health and social care students at an American university in Lebanon. The aim of the present study was to report students’ perceptions of their readiness for interprofessional learning before and after completing the IPE steps, their evaluations of interprofessional learning outcomes, as well as their satisfaction with the learning experience as a whole. A longitudinal survey design was used: questionnaires were completed by students before IPE exposure and after each step. The results showed that before IPE exposure, students’ perceptions of their readiness for interprofessional learning were generally favourable, with differences across genders (stronger professional identity in females compared to males) and across professions (higher teamwork and collaboration in pharmacy and nutrition students compared to other professions and lower patient centredness in nursing students compared to others). After participation in the IPE steps, students showed enhanced readiness for interprofessional learning and differences between genders and professions decreased. Participants were satisfied with the learning experience and assessment scores showed that all IPE learning outcomes were met. The LAU IPE Steps Framework may be of value to other interprofessional education course developers.

Effects of Recording Food Intake Using Cell Phone Camera Pictures on Energy Intake and Food Choice.

BACKGROUND The well-documented increases in obesity and unhealthy dietary practices substantiate the need for evidence-based tools that can help people improve their dietary habits. The current spread of mobile phone-embedded cameras offers new opportunities for recording food intake. Moreover, the act of taking pictures of food consumed may enhance visual consciousness of food choice and quantity. The present study aimed to assess the effect of using cell phone pictures to record food intake on energy intake and food choice in college students. The effectiveness and acceptability of cell phone picture-based diet recording also was assessed. METHODS A repeated measures crossover design was used. One group of participants entered their food intake online during 3 days based on their memory, although a second group recorded their food intake using cell phone pictures as their reference. Participants then crossed over to complete 3 more days of diet recording using the alternate method. Focus groups were conducted to obtain feedback on the effectiveness and acceptability of cell phone picture-based diet recording. RESULTS Intake of meat and vegetable servings were significantly higher in the memory period compared with the cell phone period, regardless of the order. Results from the focus group indicated a positive attitude toward the use of cell phone pictures in recording food intake and an increased awareness of food choice and portion size. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION Cell phone pictures may be an easy, relevant, and accessible method of diet self-monitoring when aiming at dietary changes. Future trials should combine this technique with healthy eating education.

Anxiety as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Body Image and Restrained Eating

PURPOSE To examine three indicators of psychopathology (stress, anxiety, and depression) as potential moderators of the relationship between body image dissatisfaction (BID) and restrained, emotional, and external eating, while controlling for family-related variables (i.e., household income, living situation, and psychopathology in the family) and individual variables (i.e., body mass index, physical activity, and major life events). DESIGN AND METHODS A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 894 female undergraduates aged between 18 and 25 completed a self-reported questionnaire. FINDINGS Moderation analyses indicated that anxiety significantly moderated the relationship between BID and restrained eating, whereas depression and stress did not. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Findings may be used in the development and implementation of education and prevention programs for disordered eating in college campuses. The usefulness of these findings for nursing practice is discussed.

Effect of movie violence on mood, stress, appetite perception and food preferences in a random population

Very little is known about media violence and its effect on appetite and eating behavior. The present study aims at investigating the immediate acute effect of violence in movies on mood, stress, appetite perception and food preferences in a real-life setting. A total of 447 subjects (F=202; M=239) completed a validated visual analog scale to record their subjective feelings of hunger, satiety and desire to eat immediately at their way out of any of the three types of movies (horror, romance/comedy and drama/action). There was a significant difference between the three movie categories for the tensed feeling (P=0.003), anxiety (P=0.021), the sleepy feeling (P=0.000) and a preference to eat something sweet (P=0.019). Horror/violence movie types affected the subject by making him feel more stressed and anxious; however, romance made him feel sleepier and less tensed. Movie types did not seem to affect hunger or appetite directly, but rather triggered some food preferences.

Media, Technology Use, and Attitudes: Associations With Physical and Mental Well‐Being in Youth With Implications for Evidence‐Based Practice

BACKGROUND Previous research has shown that the use of technology and media, in their different available forms, may have detrimental effects on the physical and mental well-being of adolescents and young adults. AIMS The present study aimed to investigate the use of different types of technology and media, attitudes toward them, and how they relate to physical and mental well-being in Lebanese university students. METHODS A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 244 undergraduates completed a self-report measuring media and technology use and attitudes, eating-related variables (e.g., healthy eating, body image dissatisfaction [BID], and eating disorders [EDs] risk), trait emotional intelligence (TEI), and psychopathology indicators (stress, anxiety, and depression). RESULTS The use of mobile phone multimedia (music, pictures, and videos) correlated with unhealthy eating and stress. Social media use was associated with BID, EDs risk, and the self-control construct of TEI. Anxiety of separation from technological devices and dependence on them was associated with increased BID, EDs risk, depression, and anxiety. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION Practical implications are discussed in terms of setting limits and boundaries on technology use during childhood and adolescence, and encouraging healthy eating and physical activity at home and on college campuses. Moreover, social media could be used as a platform for intervention and prevention programs to decrease BID, EDs, depression, and anxiety.