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For caregivers of people living with major neurocognitive disorders (MNCD), adapting and applying methods optimizing learning (MOL) to a specific situation, based on preserved cognitive skills, can be challenging. This study aimed to 1) co-develop workshops, a web application and accompanying materials to support the operationalization of MOL; 2) better understand the factors influencing caregivers' use of MOL, and 3) evaluate the perceived effects of the workshops. A participatory action research study was conducted in collaboration with family caregivers of people living with MNCD and healthcare and community organization workers (HCOW). Qualitative questionnaires and interviews were conducted and transcribed in verbatim. Thematic content analysis was conducted. Workshops and accompanying materials were co-developed and continuously improved based on conceptual framework and feedback from the participants. The final version of the workshops consisted of seven two-hour sessions structured around the type of cognitive deficits affecting the realization of activities. Facilitators (e.g. help to identify the person's capabilities) and barriers (e.g. fluctuation of MNCD symptoms) for caregivers' use of the MOL were reported. The identification of the cause of reactive behavioral expressions could be challenging for some family caregivers, reducing the use of MOL. Caregivers mentioned their increased preparedness to support and relationship with the person living with MNCD and feeling of competence for analyzing the reactive behavioral expressions and to use MOL. This participatory action research has shown that caregivers can acquire abilities to adapt and apply MOL in specific situations with people living with MNCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many frail older adults have difficulty maintaining social participation. We developed an innovative, personalized intervention to help frail older adults pursue meaningful leisure activities through the use of compensatory strategies. This pre-experimental pilot study conducted with 10 community-dwelling frail older adults (≥80 years) showed that the intervention improved their knowledge regarding the compensatory strategies learned and their participation in meaningful leisure activities. However, results also showed a decrease in feelings of well-being. This study provides promising results to support the implementation of an innovative intervention tailored to the needs of frail seniors and designed to foster their participation. However, further research is needed to improve our understanding of the impact of the intervention on well-being and explain the results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The frailty syndrome has recently attracted attention of the scientific community and public health organizations as precursor and contributor of age-related conditions (particularly disability) in older persons. In parallel, dementia and cognitive disorders also represent major healthcare and social priorities. Although physical frailty and cognitive impairment have shown to be related in epidemiological studies, their pathophysiological mechanisms have been usually studied separately. An International Consensus Group on 'Cognitive Frailty' was organized by the International Academy on Nutrition and Aging (I.A.N.A) and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (I.A.G.G) on April 16th, 2013 in Toulouse (France). The present report describes the results of the Consensus Group and provides the first definition of a 'Cognitive Frailty' condition in older adults. Specific aim of this approach was to facilitate the design of future personalized preventive interventions in older persons. Finally, the Group discussed the use of multidomain interventions focused on the physical, nutritional, cognitive and psychological domains for improving the well-being and quality of life in the elderly. The consensus panel proposed the identification of the so-called 'cognitive frailty' as an heterogeneous clinical manifestation characterized by the simultaneous presence of both physical frailty and cognitive impairment. In particular, the key factors defining such a condition include: 1) presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment (CDR=0.5); and 2) exclusion of concurrent AD dementia or other dementias. Under different circumstances, cognitive frailty may represent a precursor of neurodegenerative processes. A potential for reversibility may also characterize this entity. A psychological component of the condition is evident and concurs at increasing the vulnerability of the individual to stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:To compare the effects of two dietary approaches on changes in dietary intakes and body weight: (1) an approach emphasizing nonrestrictive messages directed toward the inclusion of fruits and vegetables (HIFV) and (2) another approach using restrictive messages to limit high-fat foods (LOFAT).Subjects/Methods:A total of 68 overweight–obese postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary approaches. The 6-month dietary intervention included three group sessions and ten individual sessions with a dietitian. Dietary food intake and anthropometric variables were measured at baseline, at 3 months and at 6 months.Results:Energy density decreased in both groups after the intervention compared with baseline (HIFV, −0.3±0.2 kcal/g; LOFAT, −0.3±0.3 kcal/g; P<0.0001). Although body weight decreased significantly in both groups after the intervention compared with baseline (HIFV, −1.6±2.9 kg; LOFAT, −3.5±2.9 kg; P<0.0001), women in the LOFAT group lost significantly more body weight than women in the HIFV group (P=0.01). In the HIFV group, the decrease in energy density was found to be an independent predictor of body weight loss.Conclusions:The LOFAT approach induces more weight loss than does the HIFV approach in our sample of overweight–obese postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective:To examine associations between defined weight expectations and anthropometric profile and to identify psychological and eating behavioral factors that characterize women having more realistic weight expectations.Methods:A nonrandom sample of 154 overweight/obese women completed the ‘Goals and Relative Weight Questionnaire’, which assessed four weight expectations: (1) dream weight (whatever wanted to weight); (2) happy weight (would be happy to achieve); (3) acceptable weight (could accept even if not happy with it); and (4) disappointed weight (would not view as a successful achievement). Psychological assessments evaluated dysphoria, self-esteem, satisfaction with one's body (i.e., body esteem) and weight-related quality of life. The ‘Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire’ assessed eating behaviors: (1) cognitive dietary restraint (control of food intake), (2) disinhibition (overconsumption of food with a loss of control), and (3) susceptibility to hunger (food intake in response to feelings and perceptions of hunger).Results:Women's expectations for their dream (60.6±6.0 kg), happy (65.2±6.4 kg) and acceptable (67.9±6.8 kg) weights corresponded to higher percentages of weight loss (24.2±6.6% or 19.8±7.1 kg, 18.6±5.8% or 15.2±6.0 kg and 15.2±5.7% or 12.6±5.8 kg, respectively) than goals recommended for overweight individuals. Defined weight expectations were positively associated with current weight and body mass index (BMI; 0.37r0.85; P<0.0001). When women were matched one by one for their current BMI, but showing different happy BMI, women with a more realistic happy BMI were older (P=0.03) and were characterized by a greater satisfaction towards body weight (P=0.04), a higher score for flexible restraint (P=0.003) and a lower score for susceptibility to hunger (P=0.02) than women with a less realistic happy BMI.Conclusion:These findings suggest that having more realistic weight expectations is related to healthier psychological and eating behavioral characteristics.International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 1731–1738; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803656; published online 5 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to verify the hypothesis of a relationship between weight status and psychological well-being, and to examine whether cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition, susceptibility to hunger and dieting history could be related to psychological well-being.Design and subjects:In a sample of 101 postmenopausal women, we performed anthropometric measurements (weight, height and body mass index (BMI)), and measured psychological well-being (PER Questionnaire). The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) and a questionnaire about dieting history (dieters: had already been on a diet; non-dieters: had never been on a diet) were also administrated.Results:A trend for a significant relationship was observed between BMI and psychological well-being (r=−0.17; P=0.08). Significant negative relationships were observed for disinhibition, susceptibility to hunger and all their subscales with psychological well-being (−0.28r−0.48), whereas no significant differences in psychological well-being were observed between dieters and non-dieters. Finally, women displaying a higher score for habitual susceptibility to disinhibition (which is the subscale of TFEQ that was the most closely related to psychological well-being) had a lower level of psychological well-being, regardless of their weight status.Conclusion:These results show that, as well as being related to weight status, TFEQ-factors are also related to psychological well-being. More specifically, individuals who display higher levels of disinhibition may be at higher risk of having an impaired psychological well-being.Psychological correlates of obesity remain under controversy. As eating behaviors and dieting history have been previously related to obesity status, these dietary variables may contribute to identify overweight and obese individuals who are at higher risk of having an impaired psychological well-being.International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 315–320. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803405; published online 6 June 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Obesity is frequently associated with eating disorders, and evidence indicates that both conditions are influenced by genetic factors. However, little is known about the genes influencing eating behaviors. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify genes associated with eating behaviors. DESIGN: Three eating behaviors were assessed in 660 adults from the Quebec Family Study with the use of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. A genome-wide scan was conducted with a total of 471 genetic markers spanning the 22 autosomes to identify quantitative trait loci for eating behaviors. Body composition and macronutrient and energy intakes were also measured. RESULTS: Four quantitative trait loci were identified for disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger. Of these, the best evidence of linkage was found between a locus on chromosome 15q24-q25 and disinhibition (P <0.0058) and susceptibility to hunger (P <0.0001). After fine-mapping, the peak linkage was found between markers D15S206 and D15S201 surrounding the neuromedin beta (NMB) gene. A missense mutation (p.P73T) located within the NMB gene showed significant associations with eating behaviors and obesity phenotypes. The T73T homozygotes were 2 times as likely to exhibit high levels of disinhibition (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.89; P=0.03) and susceptibility to hunger (odds ratio: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.06; P=0.01) as were the P73 allele carriers. Six-year follow-up data showed that the amount of body fat gain over time in T73T subjects was >2 times that than in P73P homozygotes (3.6 compared with 1.5 kg; P <0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that NMB is a very strong candidate gene of eating behaviors and predisposition to obesity. Copyright © 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to compare eating behaviours (cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger), dietary profile and physiological variables according to the practice of dieting: current dieting; history of dieting in the 10-year period that preceded the study; no dieting during the same period. Dieting history, anthropometric markers of adiposity, RMR, dietary profile (3 d food record) and eating behaviours (three-factor eating questionnaire) were determined in a sample of 244 men and 352 women. A greater proportion of women (31??8 %) than men (16??8 %) reported that they had been on a diet over the past 10 years (P=0??0001). In both genders, current and past dieters had a higher BMI (P<0??05) than non-dieters and current dieters had lower reported energy intakes than past dieters and non-dieters (only in women) (P<0??05). Current and past dieters also had higher scores for all eating behaviours and their subscales (P<0??05; except for susceptibility to hunger in men) compared with non-dieters (adjusted for age, reported energy intake, percentage of dietary fat, BMI and RMR). Moreover, for each dieting-history category, women had significantly higher scores for cognitive dietary restraint than men (P<0??05). In conclusion, the present study showed that current and past dieters had higher scores for cognitive dietary restraint and disinhibition compared with non-dieters. As disinhibition has previously been associated with a greater risk of subsequent weight gain, interventions aimed at preventing an increase in disinhibition may be promising for long-term weight maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine changes in eating behaviors as assessed by the three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ) and to quantify the potential associations between these eating behaviors and body weight changes in a 6-follow-up study. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Prospective study performed in men and women who were tested twice (Visit 1 = 1989-1995 and Visit 2 = 6 y later) in the Québec Family Study (QFS). RESULTS: Women were more restrained and less hungry than men. To reduce food intake, women relied more on strategic dieting behavior and avoided more fattening food. However, they had higher emotional and situational susceptibility to eat than men. Significant decreases in the disinhibition score were noted over time in women (P<0.01), which resulted from a decrease in habitual susceptibility behavior to increase food intake. In men, we observed an increase in the avoidance of fattening food (P<0.05). In both genders, we found that the 6-y change in restraint behavior was negatively correlated with body weight changes (P<0.05). In women, a high restraint behavior seems to promote weight gain, whereas in men, it is associated with the opposite trend. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that variables reflecting some eating behaviors are associated with body weight changes in a free-living context. However, these behaviors are expressed differently between men and women. These behaviors should be considered in clinical interventions for individuals seeking a better body weight control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of a ""Health-at-every-size"" (HAES) intervention on psychological variables and body weight the weight-preoccupied overweight/obese women. Those women were randomized into three groups (1) HAES, (2) social support (SS), (3) waiting-list (WL), and were tested at baseline, post-treatment and six-month and one-year follow-ups. All participants presented significant psychological improvement no matter if they received the HAES intervention or not. However, even if during the intervention, the three groups showed improvements, during the follow up, the HAES group continued to improve while the other groups did not, even sometimes experiencing some deterioration. Furthermore, in the HAES group only, participant's weight maintenance 12 months after the intervention was related to their psychological improvement (quality of life, body dissatisfaction, and binge eating) during the intervention. Thus, even if, in the short-term, our study did not show distinctive effects of the HAES intervention compared to SS and WL on all variables, in the long-term, HAES group seemed to present a different trajectory as psychological variables and body weight are maintained or continue to improve, which was not the case in other groups. These differential long-term effects still need to be documented and further empirically demonstrated." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]