Obesity research
-
The increasing prevalence of obesity has led to an increased use of bariatric surgery in the treatment of severely obese individuals. The characteristics of patients undergoing bariatric procedures outside of clinical studies and on a national level have not previously been reported. ⋯ In the last decade, there has been a small increase in the average age and the number of patients with concomitant cardiovascular risk factors who are undergoing bariatric procedures in Canada. However, the vast majority of surgeries are being performed in middle-aged women with little cardiovascular comorbidity, and this is likely contributing to very low in-hospital death rates. Such individuals likely represent a highly selected sample of severely obese patients within Canada.
-
Obesity and overweight are affecting increasing numbers of Canadians and have received considerable amounts of medical, governmental, and media attention in recent years. This study sought to determine whether this rise in prevalence and awareness has resulted in an increased frequency of obesity and overweight-related office visits or antiobesity drug prescriptions over the past 5 years. ⋯ Increases in the prevalence and awareness of obesity have not resulted in major increases in office visits or drug prescriptions for this condition over the past 5 years. A number of patient, physician, and drug-related factors may explain these results, which are likely a reflection primarily of the current lack of effective weight loss strategies for obese individuals.
-
To determine the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in extremely overweight adolescents and to examine the effect of significant weight loss on OSA severity. ⋯ Our study indicated that OSA was highly prevalent in extremely overweight adolescents meeting eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery. The significant weight loss after gastric bypass was associated with a marked reduction in OSA severity.
-
Comparative Study
Stigmatized students: age, sex, and ethnicity effects in the stigmatization of obesity.
To assess the stigmatization of obesity relative to the stigmatization of various disabilities among young men and women. Attitudes across ethnic groups were compared. In addition, these findings were compared with data showing severe stigmatization of obesity among children. ⋯ Although the stigmatization of obesity was high among participants overall, African-American women seemed to have more positive attitudes toward obesity than did white women, white men, or African-American men. Participants' weight did not affect their stigmatization of obesity: obese and overweight adults were as highly stigmatizing of obesity as non-overweight adults. Such internalized stigmatization could help to explain the low self-esteem and poor body image among obese young adults. However, adults seemed to have more positive attitudes about obesity than children. An understanding of the factors that limit the stigma of obesity among African-American women could help efforts to reduce stigma.
-
To analyze the putative interest of oligofructose (OFS) in the modulation of food intake after high-fat diet in rats and to question the relevance of the expression and secretion of intestinal peptides in that context. ⋯ In rats exposed to high-fat diet, OFS is, thus, able to modulate endogenous production of gut peptides involved in appetite and body weight regulation. Because several approaches are currently used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity with limited effectiveness, dietary fibers such as OFS, which promote the endogenous production of gut peptides like GLP-1, could be proposed as interesting nutrients to consider in the management of fat intake and associated metabolic disorders.