Benjamin Janaway on a recent mendelian randomisation study that evaluates of the causal effects between subjective wellbeing and cardiometabolic health.
This statistical report presents information on obesity, physical activity and diet, drawn together from a variety of sources.
The topics covered include: •Obesity related hospital admissions. •Prescription items for the treatment of obesity. •Adult obesity prevalence. •Childhood obesity prevalence. •Physical activity levels among adults and children. •Diet among adults and children, including trends in purchases, and consumption of food and drink and energy intake.
Open access. Obesity and caries in young people are issues of public health concern. Even though research into the relationship between the two conditions has been conducted for many years, to date the results remain equivocal. The aim of this paper was to determine the nature of the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and caries in children and adolescents, by conducting a systematic review of the published literature.
Policymakers must do more than tell people to show greater willpower if government is to crack the obesity problem, says a new report from the British Psychological Society.
Intermittent fasting has been a popular diet plan since the 5:2 diet, where you eat normally for 5 days and fast for 2, hit the headlines.
But intermittent fasting is not safe or suitable for all people, such as those with long-term health conditions or a history of eating disorders.
And the researchers involved in this study made the point of warning that alternate day fasting should not be tried without medical advice. Speak to a GP for advice before starting.
Psychological Medicine; Cambridge Vol. 49, Iss. 13, (Oct 2019): 2256-2266. DOI:10.1017/S0033291718003197
Background
Jumping to conclusions (JTC), which is the proneness to require less information before forming beliefs or making a decision, has been related to formation and maintenance of delusions. Using data from the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre Genetics and Psychosis (GAP) case–control study of first-episode psychosis (FEP), we set out to test whether the presence of JTC would predict poor clinical outcome at 4 years.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The report makes recommendations to address and reduce childhood obesity. These aim to change behaviours and norms, building on existing commitments, and range from extending the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to sweetened milk-based drinks to improving air quality and safety in our built environment in order to create opportunities for children to be active and healthy.
The prevalence of obesity in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) far exceeds that in the general population. Cortisol, an adrenal hormone, can be obesogenic when dysregulated. However, the diurnal patterns of this hormone have not been examined among individuals with DS. Variations in adiposity may also mediate cortisol regulation. This study sought to examine diurnal cortisol patterns in adolescents with DS as well as associations between cortisol function and obesity.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
To describe the associations between dysphagia and malnutrition risk and to identify predictors for dysphagia in a group of persons at risk of malnutrition in hospitals and nursing homes.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
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This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing a link between poor sleep and weight gain.
But there are many other factors besides sleep that can affect weight. And the small size of the study suggests the results may not be reliable.
To compare the odds of depression in obese and overweight children with that in normal-weight children in the community.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
While the study results are theoretically interesting, they don't show any actual, physical evidence of increased weight loss or improved weight maintenance for people who followed a low-carb diet rather than a high- or moderate-carb diet.
The study has a number of limitations. The authors say that using isotopically labelled water has been shown to be "the gold standard method for [measurement of total energy expenditure] in free living people".
But as the study doesn't include evidence of different weight loss from people on the 3 diets, we can't tell whether the measured difference in energy expenditure actually results in differences in weight loss.
Non-sugar substitutes might be preferable to lots of sugar, but a better option might be to cut out sweetened food or drinks, or reduce how often we have them. As an independent expert quoted in The Guardian puts it: "replacement of sugary drinks with artificial sweeteners … is not superior to the preferred alternative – water".
This ad hoc statistical publication presents analyses of National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data collected in the 2016 to 2017 school year. It shows how child obesity prevalence varies by ethnicity, after adjustment for other explanatory variables.
There has long been an impression that overweight children are more likely to wheeze, but although the association has been well-defined in adults, until now studies in children have been inconclusive. Asthma definition is problematic, particularly as ‘physician-diagnosed’ asthma with no objective measures may be subject to bias: overweight children may be more likely to report feeling breathless, and doctors may be more inclined to declare a fat child to be asthmatic than a thin one.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Short report: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is independently associated with health and academic attainment in childhood and adolescence. Yet overweight/obesity remains the focus in public health policy. Surveillance of body mass index (BMI) and CRF considering school deprivation levels is limited. Therefore, we examined this in English primary schools.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
To investigate the frequency of coeliac disease (CD)-specific human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes in paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), who are known to have a higher prevalence of CD than the general population, and to evaluate whether HLA genotyping is a suitable first-line screening method for CD.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Effective management of diabetes mellitus requires lifelong adherence to a plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, exercise and diet. Following a dietary plan is a fundamental component of diabetes management because this can regulate the body’s supply of glucose and lipids, resulting in weight reduction, an improved response to pharmacotherapies, and optimal control of the patient’s glycaemic status and lipid profile. This article examines the components of nutrition therapy recommended for people with diabetes. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
After realising how much money they were spending on renting suitable venues for their ‘Save waste, save food, save money’ course, they decided to take the session down to their team allotment in Dewsbury.
The team are now in the second year of tending to their allotment and have seen it go from strength to strength. Every Monday a small group of service users and staff get their hands dirty sprouting a variety of fruit and vegetables, including cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and onions.
Tomato juice may have health benefits, but we cannot tell that from this study. Meanwhile, if you enjoy tomatoes and tomato juice as part of a balanced, healthy diet, there's no reason not to continue to do so.
A new website has been launched to help people in Shropshire who are struggling to afford a healthy diet. The Shropshire Larder website brings together local information on how to eat well on a budget, how to access money advice, and the location of foodbanks and other community food projects around the county.
Factors that influence the health of our blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are linked to less healthy brains, according to new research part-funded by the MRC.
Open access. The prevalence of asthma and obesity have increased over the last decades. A possible association between these two chronic illnesses has been suggested, since the prevalence of asthmatic symptoms rises with increasing Body Mass Index (BMI). However, asthma is only one of several possible causes of shortness of breath in obese children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overtreatment with asthma medication in a cohort overweight/obese children with respiratory symptoms visiting a pediatric outpatient clinic.
This document has been co-produced with a number of professional organisations for the public health workforce.
It describes the intent of professional organisations to work together, support and enable the public health workforce to have healthier weight conversations and maximise population behaviour change, helping individuals and communities significantly reduce their risk of obesity, in order to support the national ambition to halve childhood obesity rates by 2030.
A report published by Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition on the role of saturated fats and health concludes there's no need to change current advice.
Children have already exceeded the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18 year old by the time they reach their tenth birthday, according to Public Health England (PHE). This is based on their total sugar consumption from the age of 2.
We've added 10 new Be Aware updates following your suggestions:
Musculoskeletal ; Osteoporosis ; Nutrition and obesity ; Falls ; HR ; Research Methods ; Information Governance ; Bladder, bowel and pelvic healthcare ; Rheumatology ; Medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (circulated email)
Open access. To improve the postdischarge growth of exclusively breastfed preterm infants, born weighing ≤1.8 kg, by using breast milk fortifier (BMF) supplements postdischarge until 48 weeks’ gestational age
Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses explaining the relationship between carbohydrate quality and health have usually examined a single marker and a limited number of clinical outcomes. We aimed to more precisely quantify the predictive potential of several markers, to determine which markers are most useful, and to establish an evidence base for quantitative recommendations for intakes of dietary fibre.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
BPS If you’re planning to take off weight in the new year and it suddenly seems like food is everywhere – and is especially enticing – that’s probably your mind playing a particularly unhelpful trick on you. Thinking about food, even in terms of trying to avoid it, can actually make it more likely that you’ll notice food in your environment, especially if you’re already overweight or obese.
That’s according to a recent study in the International Journal of Obesity that compared how overweight and healthy weight people pay attention to food. Food cues – sights, smells, advertisements and social contexts like parties – are everywhere these days, so understanding why some people find it harder to ignore them could be key to designing weight loss programmes.
This study provides little evidence that can help people trying to lose weight safely.
It shows only that certain types of laboratory rat put on weight and have raised blood pressure if fed a high-fat diet, and that this may be linked to inflammatory cells in the body.
Aside from being a study in rats, the study is also short term and based on a diet that's not fed to people.
This document provides a guide to developing key performance indicators for child and family weight management services. Use these KPIs in line with the service guide.
it's not possible to prove not eating breakfast directly increased risk of cardiovascular death. Other lifestyle habits, like unhealthy diet and being inactive, which are also associated with not eating breakfast, could be clouding the link.
Overall the study supports general understanding that it's good to eat a breakfast as part of a healthy lifestyle, but the quality of what you're eating for breakfast is important too.
It's difficult to know how much confidence the conclusions of this review warrants. All of the evidence was assessed to be "low" or "very low certainty" by the researchers themselves, meaning the results could be unreliable.
Also, even a small reduction in risk of common health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and cancer could make a big difference at a population level.
Arguably it would be prudent to stick to World Cancer Research Fund recommendations, at least until higher-quality evidence becomes available.
This article critically evaluates medical and social constructionist approaches to obesity, within the context of a multidisciplinary life course paradigm, illuminating the importance of being cognisant of the strengths and weaknesses associated with both approaches. It therefore helps social workers to engage more critically and holistically with obesity, particularly understanding the limitations of the medical model, the influence of social divisions and inequalities, cultural issues, stigmatisation and value judgements and consequentially the importance of defending human rights and upholding social justice. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The researchers found the association only for those women who had very disrupted sleep patterns, having an actual light or TV left on in the room for most of the night. It is probably more likely to be the multitude of other health and lifestyle factors associated with this that are behind the weight gain – most likely poor diet and physical activity patterns.
Then if there is a direct link it may be more likely that it's disturbed sleep that could affect metabolic processes and so predispose to weight gain, rather than the light itself.
Most healthy diets include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and less sugar, salt and saturated fats.
We know that much processed food, such as sweets, crisps and many ready meals or desserts, are high in sugar, salt and fat.
But we need to remember that cohort studies like these cannot prove that ultra-processed foods directly caused the slightly higher rates of cardiovascular disease and death seen in the studies.
To examine associations of diet quality indicators with 4‐year incidence of frailty in community‐dwelling older adults.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Phase 3 of the whole systems approach to obesity is based around a workshop where stakeholders are invited to develop a local system map of the causes of obesity.
In East Herts, the primary learning was this facilitated stakeholder engagement and increased understanding of the range of different factors that impact obesity locally, and how these factors relate and can be linked together.
Obesity is common in adults with intellectual disabilities, yet little is known about how weight management interventions are provided for this population.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
While metformin may have potential as an aid for people needing to maintain weight loss in future, the study reminds us that in the original 1-year trial, the most successful weight-loss treatment was the diet and exercise plan.
You cannot outrun a bad diet has become a rallying phrase for diet-centric approaches to counteracting obesity and poor metabolic health. The phrase is, in our view, often taken to mean that you simply cannot do enough exercise to successfully lose or manage weight over time. Nonetheless, all weight loss paradigms run through energy balance,1 and the concept that you cannot outrun a bad diet is, in our view, inaccurate.
To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
NHS England will today consider guidance to GPs about a ban on gluten free pizzas, cakes and biscuits and set out plans to curb other low priority items such as silk garments and bath oils in moves that could save almost £70 million a year.
The NCMP and Child Obesity Profile displays prevalence of obesity, severe obesity, overweight, healthy weight and underweight at local, regional and national level over time; for children in Reception (aged 4 to 5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years).
Scientific advances over the last century have generated compelling evidence of the primary and secondary effects of gestational, infant, and childhood conditions. These early environmental influences have the potential not only to impact an individual's health outcomes, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, but also to confer various protections and risks to that individual's descendants. The immediate and extended ramifications of early environmental exposure bring an understanding of epidemiological impact on disease states and a hope for prevention. This review highlights the contributions of several key population studies and briefly explores specific environmental influences, including nutritional deficiencies, exposure to substances and infections, and adverse childhood experiences. Mechanisms of these influences (e.g. stress and epigenetics) are discussed, as well as possible means of mitigating their negative consequences.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Conclusions: The trial demonstrated that a parent-focused eHealth childhood obesity prevention program can provide support to improve dietary-related practices and self-efficacy but was not successful in reducing BMI. The target sample size was not achieved, which would have affected statistical power.
A new survey by the Obesity Health Alliance has revealed clear support among the UK public for far-reaching restrictions on junk food adverts, coinciding with the publication of a new position statement from the Alliance. Dr Max Davie, RCPCH Officer for Health Improvement, responds.
According to a new paper published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, few multivitamin products for children supply the recommended dose of 400 IU (international units) a day of vitamin D.
Of a survey of 91 different products available in the UK, supplements containing only vitamin D or labelled specifically ‘for healthy bones’ typically had a higher vitamin D content, although some products contained very low levels of the vitamin.
Aim: To examine the association of resident characteristics, staff mealtime assistance and environmental stimulation with the pace of food intake. Open Access Article
Because so many different types of food are included in the "ultra-processed" category, it's impossible to tell which foods might have contributed to the small increased risk in deaths among the people taking part in the study.
We certainly cannot conclude that all processed food is bad, or that eating processed food is killing us.
But the study is a reminder that relying on pre-prepared food or eating too many snacks, sweets and ready meals can make it easy to consume too much salt, sugar and saturated fat, and not enough fibre, green vegetables and fruit.
Severe mental illness (SMI) is thought to be associated with lower diet quality and adverse eating behaviours contributing towards physical health disparities. A rigorous review of the studies looking at dietary intake in psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder is lacking.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
New research has found it is not just what you eat, but when you eat that is important, knowledge which could improve the health of shift workers and people suffering from jet lag.
The MRC-funded study, published today in the journal Cell, is the first to identify insulin as a primary signal that helps communicate the timing of meals to the cellular clocks located across our body, commonly known as the body clock.
The team behind the research believe this improved understanding may lead to new ways to alleviate the ill-health associated with disruption to the body clock. These could include eating at specific times or taking drugs that target insulin signalling.
We have responded to the publication by Public Health England (PHE) of its second year report on progress by the food industry to reduce sugar in ‘everyday’ foods.
Due to the nature of the study the researchers were unable to prove that soft drinks are directly to blame for the small increased risk of death. However, the researchers say their findings add support to public health campaigns urging people to drink water instead of soft drinks. After all, tap water in the UK is safe to drink and free of calories.
Overall, the study does not provide any evidence that people should switch to or from a vegetarian diet. It's possible to have a balanced, healthy diet whether you eat meat or not. And of course, many people chose to eat a vegetarian diet for primarily ethical rather than health reasons.
Regardless of the diet you eat, the study also emphasises the importance of identifying and managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Dementia affects a person’s ability and desire to eat and drink to meet their nutritional requirements. This article identifies problems associated with nutritional status in people living with dementia and outlines the effectiveness of interventions to counteract the negative effects on nutritional status. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Psychological Medicine; Cambridge Vol. 49, Iss. 13, (Oct 2019): 2279-2286. DOI:10.1017/S0033291718003239
Background
High body mass index (BMI) has been associated with lower risks of suicidal behaviour and being underweight with increased risks. However, evidence is inconsistent and sparse, particularly for women. We aim to study this relationship in a large cohort of UK women.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The results are broadly in line with what we already know about eating well. Current advice is to limit consumption of red meat and processed meat, and to eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, pulses, beans and wholegrains.
If you eat more than 90g of meat a day, you are advised to cut down. This study suggests that replacing one portion of meat with other, healthier food might help you live a little longer.
We are all the descendants of people who for hundreds of millennia spent their days doing primarily one thing— assuring their food needs were met. Because they were successful, we are here reading this. Yet, to this day, dietary issues ranging from nutritional deficiencies to overeating remain a contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Trials done to establish a healthy diet are mainly observational, use food diaries, and have led to some erroneous recommendations that assume that the same diet is right for all people. But new tools and findings have changed the landscape for nutritional science and underscored the need to better individualise nutritional guidance.
There are thousands of consumer apps on diet and nutrition.
. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
A myth is a widely held but false belief. If it is repeated often by enough people, those who know the truth may start to doubt themselves. Indeed, George Orwell said that myths which are believed in tend to become true. Our department has repeatedly been told by parents that drinking milk increases mucus production from the lungs, and so they stop their child having milk. This is particularly so in patients with conditions associated with excess mucus, for example, cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia, but also includes children with infant wheeze or asthma. Indeed, many people believe milk should be avoided with any respiratory illness, even a common cold.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
We report three cases of scurvy in previously healthy children referred to us for leg pain and refusal to walk. All children had no significant medical history, symptoms had started months before and subtly advanced. Two of them presented with gingival hyperplasia and petechiae, another one reported night sweats and gingival bleeding in the past few weeks. Two had vitamin D deficiency, and all had microcytic anaemia (in one case requiring transfusional support). A nutritional screening revealed low or undetectable levels of ascorbic acid. This, along with the clinical and radiological findings, led to a diagnosis of scurvy. Vitamin C supplementation was started with rapid improvement of the children’s clinical condition. Scurvy is a rare disease in the ‘first world’, but there are anecdotal reports of scurvy in children without any of the known risk factors for this condition. In our cases, a selective diet was the only risk . To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
There has long been an impression that overweight children are more likely to wheeze, but although the association has been well-defined in adults, until now studies in children have been inconclusive. Asthma definition is problematic, particularly as ‘physician-diagnosed’ asthma with no objective measures may be subject to bias: overweight children may be more likely to report feeling breathless, and doctors may be more inclined to declare a fat child to be asthmatic than a thin one.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
While fish and chips can be a delicious treat, big portions of deep-fried food can mean it delivers far more calories in one meal than most of us need – or even want. This study suggests that it is possible to offer a smaller portion, using standardised boxes to control portion size, without causing problems for shops or upsetting customers. This may also have the benefit on cutting down on excess packaging and reducing food waste.
However, this was a small study, carried out in a real-world setting to find out whether the intervention was possible.
Aims and objectives- to examine the hypothesis that obesity is protective for dementia, we compared the associations of death from dementia with body weight and body mass index (BMI) in both middle and old age.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
E-learning tools are now available for cardiovascular disease prevention, adult obesity, antimicrobial resistance, physical activity, social prescribing, giving children the best start in life and supporting those at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
Positive associations were found between usage of (1) nutrition websites and being female, higher levels of excessive exercise, and perceived online social support; (2) weight loss websites and excessive exercise, internalization, being female, eating disorder symptomatology, and being overweight or obese; and (3) fitness websites and levels of excessive exercise, internalization, and frequency of internet use.
Current guidelines for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement focus largely on maintaining enteral feeding when oral feeding is no longer possible or adequate with an emphasis on nutrition and quality of life (QOL). Previous publications have also alluded to potential benefits in medication adherence, for example, in children with HIV, renal disease and neurodisability. We describe a cohort of children with refractory epilepsy who refused oral medication and in whom PEG tube placement was initiated for the purpose of drug administration.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
There is no gold standard in body composition measurement in pediatric patients with obesity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if there are any differences between two bioelectrical impedance analysis techniques performed in children and Open access. adolescents with obesity.
Limitations aside, there is a robust body of existing evidence that shows that regular consumption of sugary drinks can increase the risk of a range of health conditions, from tooth decay, to diabetes, to heart attacks and stroke.
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Older people are one of the most ‘at risk’ groups when it comes to facing malnutrition, with the issue said to cost almost £20 billion a year across the population in England alone. Dangers of malnutrition include a weakening of the immune system and lengthier hospital visits, adding pressures to the already strained healthcare system.
A recent collaboration of our company, Shaw Healthcare, with the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Nutrition Resources in Care Homes (NRICH) programme has improved the identification of malnutrition at a Bognor Regis care home, and how such programmes can benefit the sector as a whole. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Overall, this study does not provide enough evidence to recommend that people eat strong dark chocolate to improve the health of their arteries.
Stopping smoking remains the most important thing you can do, along with eating a balanced diet and keeping physically active.