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This study aims to assess links among chronic stress, food addiction, eating behavior and body weight in adult Algerian population. A total of 210 adult participants were included in the study. Perceived Stress Scale PSS-10 was used to assess chronic stress. Subjects were divided into groups with low, moderate and high levels of stress. The Yale Food Addiction Scale YAFS was used to assess food addiction. To evaluate daily food intake and eating behavior, repeated 24-hour recall and liking questionnaires were employed. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. In total, 33.8%, 40.7% and 25.2% of subjects were in low, moderate and high-stress groups, respectively. Prevalence of food addiction within high, moderate and low stress groups were respectively 100%, 18.6% and 0%. Intake of energy and score preferences for sweet-fat or salty-fat foods were higher in the high-stress group. Addictive-like foods contributed 10% of total energy and 22% of simple sugars to daily dietary intake. Positive association between stress score and BMI was observed. These findings contribute to our understanding of the factors influencing caloric density food choice, weight gain and the risk of obesity among people in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics that frequently hide complex spectra with behavioral disorders. Medical intervention should rely on multimodal strategies including nutritional assessment and dietetic support as patients can suffer from impulsive eating and the medications often cause metabolic side effects. We present for the first time the case and treatment of a boy suffering from a severe phenotype of TS who experienced hyperphagia, weight gain, gastrointestinal disturbances, and nutritional delusions. Brief annotations about both differential nutritional assessment and underlying drug-related implications are also offered. The parents were educated on healthy eating, drug-food interactions, and hunger delay techniques. After the symptom-driven personalization of drug therapy, the start of cognitive behavioral therapy, and the escalation of the dietetic plan, the boy managed to lose weight and maintain healthy eating habits at the three-year follow-up. We reaffirm the importance of not only including a nutritionist in the management team of patients with TS, but also of assuring that the nutritional protocol perfectly integrates a comprehensive strategy in order to obtain long-term results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Notre rythme de vie actuel a entraîné une diminution progressive du temps alloué au sommeil. En France, une personne sur 3 dormirait moins de 7 heures par nuit. Dans le même temps, le nombre de patients souffrant d’obésité a augmenté. De nombreuses études épidémiologiques soulignent le lien entre la faible durée du temps de sommeil et la prise de poids. En parallèle, les études expérimentales ont observé que la privation de sommeil modifiait le comportement alimentaire en augmentant la sensation de faim et la prise alimentaire. Le cycle nycthéméral induit par l’alternance lumière–obscurité a une influence majeure sur le sommeil mais aussi sur le comportement alimentaire : la lumière agit sur les noyaux suprachiasmatiques, puis secondairement sur les noyaux préoptiques et les noyaux latéraux de l’hypothalamus d’où l’augmentation des orexines. Plusieurs théories tentent d’expliquer l’augmentation de la prise alimentaire : la première, phylogénétique, serait liée aux variations de la durée du sommeil au cours des saisons ; la deuxième concernerait l’adaptation anticipatoire face à l’éveil ; la dernière serait liée à une modification du contrôle hédonique de la prise alimentaire. De nombreuses pathologies altèrent la relation physiologique sommeil–comportement alimentaire, comme par exemple le syndrome d’apnée du sommeil. Il est donc nécessaire de mieux comprendre cette relation pour améliorer la prise en charge des personnes obèses et pour prévenir le développement du surpoids par le respect d’un rythme du sommeil adapté à l’enfant. Our current lifestyle leads to a gradual reduction in the time allocated to sleep. In France, one in three people is sleeping less than 7 hours a night. In parallel, the number of patients suffering from obesity increases. Numerous epidemiological studies emphasize the link between short sleep duration and weight gain. They highlight a number of factors that can influence this relationship including age, female gender or genetic factors. Experimental studies have also found that sleep deprivation altered feeding behaviour by increasing the feeling of hunger, food intake and plasma levels of ghrelin. The circadian cycle due to the alternation of light/darkness has a major influence on sleep but also on eating behaviour. Light acts on suprachiasmatic nuclei and then on preoptical as well as on lateral nuclei of the hypothalamus by increasing the secretion of orexins. Several theories have been advanced in order to explain the increase in food intake: the first, phylogenetic, would be linked to changes in sleep duration over the seasons; the second concerns anticipatory adaptation face to the awakening; the last to be related to the hedonic regulation of food intake. Many pathologies act by changing the sleep–eating behaviour relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to better understanding this relationship to prevent nutritional consequences by an optimal dietary management and by learning healthy lifestyle in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stress is often a subjective idea. Clinical data suggest that stressful situations may exert an influence upon the weight. Many epidemiological studies have shown a link between stress and weight gain; this may be in accordance with a symbolic stress such as social or mental stress from working conditions. A relationship occurs between socio-economic class and obesity and could be due to the social stress. The mechanisms which are involved are dietary behaviour and food intake, in case of stressful situations changes, particulary in restreint subjects. Many other data are concerning the hypothalamo pituitary adrenal axis and the nervous sympathic system which are stimulated by stress. Although the plasma cortisol concentrations are normal in obesity, there is an overproduction and an high reactivity of cortisol in obesity. The loco-regional synthesis of cortisol in the visceral adipose tissue with the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid-deshydrogenase may contribute to increase the adipocyte differenciation and proliferation. This may particularly explain the higher metabolic and cardiovascular risk in stressed subjects. Other hormonal disturbances including leptin, resistine, melanocortin are observed. The permanent sympathic stimulation may induces a beta adrenergic desensitization effect. Omega 3 fatty acids may be useful for decreasing stress and some metabolic effects of stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]