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Objective: To measure whole-grain intake in college students and determine the association with body mass index (BMI)., Design: Cross-sectional convenience sample of college students enrolled in an introductory nutrition course., Setting: Large state university., Participants: 159 college students, mean age: 19.9., Main Outcome Measures: Intake of whole grains, refined grains, calories, and fiber from food records; BMI determined from height and weight measurements., Analysis: Analysis of variance with linear contrasts; participants grouped by BMI category (P<.05)., Results: Average intake of cereal grains was 5.4 servings per day, of which whole-grain intake accounted for an average of 0.7 servings per day. Whole-grain intake was significantly higher in normal weight students than in overweight and obese students (based on BMI)., Conclusions and Implications: The low intake of whole grains in this population of college students indicates the need for interventions aiming to increase whole-grain intake to the recommended minimum of 3 servings per day. College students who are concerned about their body weight may be motivated to increase their intake of whole-grain foods; however, their intake of whole grains is likely to be influenced by the availability of these food items in campus dining halls and other locations around the college campus.

The widespread use of Brazilian red propolis extract promotes an increased production rate in the Northeast region of Brazil, with an impressive economic turnover for the region. The rational use of the hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis (HERP) raises the question about its value against obesity. In this work, the aim is to evaluate the anti‐obesity effect of HERP in rats submitted to hyperlipid dietary (HLD) supplementation. HERP extraction yield is 17.46% (m/v). The major chemical components of HERP are found to be daidzein (4.16 ± 0.22 mg g−1), formononetin (9.21 ± 0.10 mg g−1), and biochanin A (7.08 ± 0.09 mg g−1). After 8 weeks, the animals under HLD supplementation show significantly greater body weight gain, while after the subsequent 4‐week treatment with HERP, HLD–HERP animal shows lower body weight gain than HLD‐vehicle animals. Oral administration of HERP also attenuates the pathological changes in the liver, kidney, and large intestine caused by HLD supplementation. This study demonstrates that HERP treatment has a hypolipidemic effect in a rodent model of dyslipidemia and that HERP minimizes the impact of a hyperlipidic diet on murine body weight parameters and abdominal fat accumulation. Practical Applications: Brazilian red propolis is being exploited for a range of biomedical applications. It is demonstrated that its extract has hypolipidemic effect in a rodent model of dyslipidemia and minimizes the impact of a hyperlipidic diet on murine body weight parameters and abdominal fat accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: While cardiometabolic abnormalities are associated with elevated risk of morbidity, they may not occur in all individuals with obesity. Less is known about associations with mortality, especially cancer mortality. This study examined associations between cardiometabolic-weight categories and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and all causes. Methods: Cox proportional hazards regressions of time to all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortalities were used to examine associations with cardiometabolic-weight status, in the Multiethnic Cohort (n=157,865). Cardiometabolic-weight status categories were: Metabolically Healthy Normal Weight, Metabolically Healthy Obese, Metabolically Healthy Overweight, Metabolically Unhealthy Normal Weight, Metabolically Unhealthy Obese, and Metabolically Unhealthy Overweight. Results: Higher mortality, especially for all-cause and CVD, was found for all metabolically unhealthy groups no matter the weight classification when compared to the Metabolically Healthy Normal Weight category across sex-ethnic groups. For all-cause mortality, a reduction in mortality was seen for males in the Metabolically Healthy Overweight category (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.84, 0.93), especially for African American, Native Hawaiian, and Latino males. Mortality was elevated in the Metabolically Healthy Obese category for all-cause and CVD mortality in both sexes (HRrange: 1.08–1.93). Few associations were seen with cancer mortality. Conclusions: Past examinations of cardiometabolic-weight status and mortality have been hampered by a lack of diversity. In a racially/ethnically diverse population, metabolically unhealthy groups exhibited a substantially higher risk of death from all causes and CVD than metabolically healthy groups. A reduction in all-cause mortality was seen for some males classified as Metabolically Healthy Overweight; however, being classified as Metabolically Healthy Obese elevated mortality risk for males and females compared to Metabolically Healthy Normal Weight. Future research is needed to examine how sex-ethnic differences in body fat distribution and changes in weight over time influence associations between cardiometabolic-weight status and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has become a public health concern both in developing and developed countries. Previous research studies have shown that favourable perception of one's body weight is an important factor in weight control. This study determined prevalence of overweight and obesity and assessed perception about body weight among primary schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In this cross sectional study, nine schools were selected randomly from a list of all primary schools in Dar es Salaam. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle information including perception about body weight. Height and weight were measured following standard procedures. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regressions were used to determine factors which influence perceptions about body weight. A total of 446 children were included into the study. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 16.6±4.0kg/m2 (16.1±4.0 for males and 17.0±4.0 for females). Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 9.8% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was significantly higher among girls, 13.1% and 6.3% compared to boys with 6.3% and 3.8% overweight and obese respectively (P=0.0314). Overall, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.0% (10.1% among boys and 19.4% among girls). One-third (33.3%) of the children perceived their body weight as overweight or obese. Among overweight and obese children, 35.4% had unfavourable perception of their body weights. There was a statistically significant difference between perceived body weight and actual body weight as indicated by BMI for both boys and girls (P<0.05). Age of the child (AOR=0.55 95%CI 0.36-0.85) and area of residence (COR=0.64 95% CI 0.44-0.95) were found to be significant predictors of favourable perception of one's body weight. In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is not very high in this population. However over a third of overweight and obese children, had unfavourable perception of their body weights. We recommend targeted educational programmes about overweight and obesity and the associated health effects in order to instil a behaviour of self consciousness on overweight and obesity among children in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]