You eye what you eat: BMI, consumption patterns, and dieting status predict temporal attentional bias to food-associated images.

People know that overconsumption of high-fat high-sugar (HFHS) foods have negative consequences for physical and cognitive wellbeing but continue to consume these foods in excess, leading to recent proposals to model obesity as an addiction disorder. The current experiment tested, in a large undergraduate sample (N = 306), the hypothesis that obesity and overconsumption is linked with an oversensitivity to rewards that drives attentional biases towards foods and food-associated cues. Using a modified emotion-induced blindness task with food-related distractors, we examined the extent to which attentional biases to images of HFHS foods were accounted for by BMI, HFHS food intake, self-reported hunger, time since last meal, diet status, food preferences, and attentional control. We also examined whether the same individual differences predicted attentional priority to cues that have a learned association with HFHS foods (i.e., images of food logos). Contrary to our predictions, higher BMI predicted less attentional priority for images of food and food logos. At the same time, increased consumption of HFHS foods predicted increased attentional priority for food images, whereas dieting predicted increased attentional priority for food logo images. Our results suggest that different people may preferentially attend to food versus food logo imagery based on their relationships with food. More broadly, our results support the theoretical perspective that attentional biases to food-associated stimuli can be affected by various competing, state-related factors.

Psychological considerations for the holistic management of obesity.

Psychological presence in multidisciplinary obesity teams has been highlighted as an important component of such teams. Although mentioned in guidelines and recommendations, there is little information regarding the extent to which this is present currently in weight management services, and in what form. Here, we discuss important ways in which psychological aspects of obesity can impact a person living with obesity and how psychology can be incorporated to provide holistic support in weight management services. Recommendations are also made to create clearer guidelines to provide a more robust reference for the inclusion of psychology in multidisciplinary teams.

Mindfulness facets differentially relate to self-reported negative and positive emotional eating types in treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness is a meaningful therapeutic target in the treatment of emotional eating in adults with overweight/obesity. Descriptive research mapping relations between mindfulness facets and emotional eating types in treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity is needed. METHODS: Cross-sectional relations between mindfulness facets (i.e., acting with awareness, describe, non-judgment, non-reactive, and observe; Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form) and emotional eating types (i.e., self-reported negative and positive emotional eating; Emotional Eating Scale-Revised, Emotional Appetite Questionnaire) were examined in a treatment-seeking sample of adults with overweight/obesity (N = 63). RESULTS: Significant bivariate correlations revealed negative relations between mindfulness facets and emotional eating types. Multiple regressions revealed that higher describe (ß = - 0.42, p = 0.004) mindfulness was associated with lower self-reported emotional eating-anger/anxiety; higher non-reactive (ß = - 0.31, p = 0.01) and non-judgment (ß = - 0.28, p = 0.02) mindfulness were associated with lower self-reported emotional eating-depression; and higher non-judgment (ß = 0.26, p = 0.04) mindfulness was associated with higher self-reported emotional eating-positive. CONCLUSIONS: Describe, non-judgment, and non-reactive mindfulness were uniquely and significantly associated with eating in response to negative and positive emotions. Results suggest the potential need for intervention programs to be sensitive to the multidimensional nature of mindfulness in the treatment of distinct types of emotional eating in adults with overweight/obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Mindful eating for weight loss in women with obesity: a randomised controlled trial.

Mindful eating (ME) has been linked to improvement in binge eating disorder, but this approach in obesity management has shown conflicting results. Our aim was to assess the effect of ME associated with moderate energy restriction (MER) on weight loss in women with obesity. Metabolic parameters, dietary assessment, eating behaviour, depression, anxiety and stress were also evaluated. A total of 138 women with obesity were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: ME associated with MER (ME + MER), MER and ME, and they were followed up monthly for 6 months. ME + MER joined seven monthly mindfulness-based intervention group sessions each lasting 90 min and received an individualised food plan with MER (deficit of 2092 kJ/d - 500 kcal/d). MER received an individualised food plan with MER (deficit of 2092 kJ/d - 500 kcal/d), and ME joined seven monthly mindfulness-based intervention group sessions each lasting 90 min. Seventy patients completed the intervention. Weight loss was significant, but no statistically significant difference was found between the groups. There was a greater reduction in uncontrolled eating in the ME group than in the MER group and a greater reduction in emotional eating in the ME group than in both the MER and the ME + MER groups. No statistically significant differences were found in the other variables evaluated between groups. The association between ME with energy restriction did not promote greater weight loss than ME or MER.

'Mindful eating' for reducing emotional eating in patients with overweight or obesity in primary care settings: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to analyse the efficacy of a 'mindful eating' programme for reducing emotional eating in patients with overweight or obesity. METHOD: A cluster randomized controlled trial (reg. NCT03927534) was conducted with 76 participants with overweight/obesity who were assigned to 'mindful eating' (7 weeks) + treatment as usual (TAU), or to TAU alone. They were assessed at baseline, posttreatment and 12-month follow-up. The main outcome was 'emotional eating' (Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, DEBQ); other eating behaviours were also assessed along with psychological and physiological variables. RESULTS: 'Mindful eating' + TAU reduced emotional eating both at posttreatment (B = -0.27; p = 0.006; d = 0.35) and follow-up (B = -0.53; p < 0.001; d = 0.69) compared to the control group (TAU alone). 'External eating' (DEBQ) was also significantly improved by the intervention at both timepoints. Significant effects at follow-up were observed for some secondary outcomes related to bulimic behaviours, mindful eating, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Weight and other physiological parameters were not significantly affected by 'mindful eating' + TAU. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the efficacy of the 'mindful eating' + TAU programme for reducing emotional and external eating, along with some other secondary measures, but no significant changes in weight reduction were observed.

Exploring perceptions about Mindfulness and Mindful Eating Programs for low-income women with overweight in primary health care.

Background: Obesity and overweight are public health problems of multifactorial etiology, aggravated by the challenge that is maintaining weight loss. Used in the context of general health, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have also showed positive effects when targeting changes to overweight-related eating behaviors. Methods: This study consists of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial conducted with 284 women from primary health care units. Data were collected from the last session with 16 focus groups, considering each intervention group (mindfulness or mindful eating) Aim: This article aims to present the perceptions of low-income overweight women who participated in Mindfulness and Mindful Eating intervention groups in primary health care according to each type of intervention. Results: Seven themes were identified: course challenges; valorization of the teacher's attitudes; mindfulness understanding; self-awareness development; change of expectations; development of a different food-weight relationship; and discover of a wide range of benefits. Conclusion: Mindfulness and Mindful eating interventions affect not only an individual's relationship with body and food, but also life and human relations. The results indicate the feasibility of the intervention, which addresses a large number of patients who lack treatment options for overweight or emotional and psychological issues associated with this condition. MBIs such as mindful eating are applicable in primary health care facilities, targeting overweight women and supporting treatment by addressing a repressed demand in the system. Similar to mind-body therapies, these interventions allow for comprehensive care.ClinicalTrials.gov, (NCT02893150) on 30 March 2017.

Exploring the association between self-compassion, mindfulness and mindful eating with eating behaviours amongst patients with obesity.

Background: People who have obesity often experience problematic eating behaviours, contributing towards their excessive weight gain. Aims: Understanding problematic eating behaviours and their association to self-compassion, mindfulness and mindful eating is important for the development of future interventions that improve weight-loss and weight-regulation. Methods: One hundred and one participants attending their first session of a 6-session dietetic programme within a Tier 3 medical weight management service in the West Midlands, UK were recruited to complete questionnaires on self-compassion, mindfulness, mindful eating and eating behaviours, such as, emotional, restrained, external, fat and sugar consumption and grazing. Results: The findings suggested all three constructs, self-compassion, mindfulness and mindful eating were significantly and negatively associated with grazing and emotional eating, but mindful eating was the only construct that also displayed a significant and negative association with other eating behaviours that are often barriers to successful weight regulation, such as external eating and fat consumption. Further investigation suggested mindful eating had an indirect effect on fat consumption and grazing via external eating. Conclusion: Whilst, self-compassion, mindfulness and mindful eating displayed a negative relationship with grazing and emotional eating, mindful eating also displayed a negative relationship with fat consumption and external eating. Possible explanations and directions for future work are discussed with an emphasis on the need for more empirical work.

The use of audio self-hypnosis to promote weight loss using the transtheoretical model of change: a randomized clinical pilot trial.

Background: Few studies suggest the use of hypnosis in weight loss may be beneficial, especially when in conjunction with other lifestyle modifications or cognitive behavioral therapy. The primary aim of this study was to determine the ability of self-hypnosis audiotape to promote weight loss by measuring its effects on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of change stages and processes. Methods: This study is a 3-week randomized double-blinded parallel controlled trial among adults who have overweight or obesity. The intervention group listened to a self-hypnosis audio file while the control group listened to a placebo audio file. Results: Forty-six participants completed the 3-week follow-up visit. There was no association between progression across stages of change and self-hypnosis (X2(2, 46) = 1.909, p-value = 0.580). Gender, baseline BMD, and baseline S-weight had no effect on the association between stage change progression and self-hypnosis. The mean difference in weight at 3 weeks was -0.63 ± 0.43 kg in the hypnosis group and 0.0 ± 1.5 kg in the control group, independent t-test, p = 0.148. Conclusion: Self-hypnosis was not associated with a progression in the TTM's stages of change or with weight loss after 3 weeks. As this pilot study was underpowered, further research with larger sample size and an examination of the effect of various self-hypnosis content and duration is recommended.

Obesidad en adultos: guía de práctica clínica adaptada para Chile / Obesity in adults: clinical practice guideline adapted for Chile

La Sociedad Chilena de Cirugía Bariátrica y Metabólica, junto a otras sociedades científicas, lideró el proceso de adaptación de la guía de práctica clínica de obesidad en adultos para Chile, tomando como base las directrices desarrolladas para Canadá. La guía canadiense buscó, entre sus principales objetivos, proponer cambios en el enfoque del manejo de la obesidad como una enfermedad crónica y para mejorar los desenlaces de salud centrados en los pacientes, en lugar de enfocarse en la pérdida de peso como principal y único objetivo. Se convocó a un grupo de 58 profesionales para el desarrollo del proyecto, quienes revisaron y utilizaron el método para el análisis de las recomendaciones originales y desarrollo de recomendaciones . Para la elaboración de nuevas recomendaciones, se llevó a cabo una búsqueda de revisiones sistemáticas en la base de datos Epistemonikos, y se utilizó metodología GRADE y el marco para la evaluación de la evidencia y la descripción de la recomendación. Se adoptaron 76 de las 80 recomendaciones de la guía canadiense, se adaptó una recomendación y se desarrollaron 12 preguntas nuevas con sus respectivas recomendaciones. El proceso de adaptación permitió acortar el tiempo necesario para elaborar una guía de práctica clínica en obesidad del adulto para nuestro país. El cambio en el enfoque hacia una aproximación sin estigma y centrada en la salud y no en el peso, es universal y posible de aplicar en diferentes países y contextos.

Comparative effectiveness of mindfulness and mindful eating programmes among low-income overweight women in primary health care: A randomised controlled pragmatic study with psychological, biochemical, and anthropometric outcomes.

Obesity is a chronic and multifactorial disease, with growing rates in the last 50 years worldwide, reaching pandemic levels. It is a major public health problem and is difficult to treat. Different approaches have been used to improve this scenario, including mindfulness-based interventions to enhance dietary behaviour and nutritional status. We compared the effectiveness of a 10-week mindful eating programme with that of a 10-week mindfulness programme and of a no-treatment control group. The sample was composed of adult, low-income women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 to < 40 receiving primary health care in São Paulo, Brazil. The participants (n = 284) were randomised into 3 groups: the control, mindfulness, and mindful eating. We took anthropometric and body composition measurements, applied psychometric measures, and performed biochemical tests at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and after 3 months. We estimated the regression coefficients among the analysis of adherent participants (per protocol: PP) and among those of all participants randomised to treatment (intention-to-treat: ITT) in addition to multiple imputation (MI). Both groups showed improvement in eating behaviour and reduction of binge eating both in the post-intervention and follow-up periods, but without significant changes in weight or most of the biological tests. Those in the mindful eating programme performed slightly better than those in the mindfulness and control groups in terms of improving eating behaviour and reducing binge eating among low-income overweight women.

Skinny Genes' Six-week, Online, Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques Program: Durable Weight Loss and Improved Psychological Symptoms.

Context: With obesity a mounting global issue, efficacious treatments can make a contribution to both personal and public health. Prior clinical trials have demonstrated that an evidence-based method, Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), can produce a durable weight reduction. Objective: The study evaluated whether Skinny Genes, a six-week online program applying EFT to emotional eating, was associated with behavioral change and reductions in weight. Design: A pre-post outcome study design evaluated the results of a convenience sample of participants enrolled in an online weight loss course. Participants: Participant were recruited through EFT websites. Pre, post and follow-up measures were available for 72 participants and all analysis was performed on this sample. Intervention: Participants used EFT to address cognitions, behaviors, and adverse experiences that could contribute to binge eating, intermittent dieting, and resistance to exercise. Outcome Measures: Behaviors to restrain eating were measured using the Revised Restraint Scale (RRS); the association of food with reward using the Power of Food Scale (PFS); anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Weight was measured pre and postintervention and at six-month follow-up. Results: Postintervention, a 36.8% reduction in anxiety (P < .001) and a 48.5% reduction in depression (P < .001) were found. The perceived power of food decreased significantly as did restraint behaviors. Participants lost an average of 12.9 lbs during the six weeks of the program (P < .001), and at follow-up, a further 2.6 lbs. All psychological gains were maintained (P < .001). Conclusions: The findings are consistent with those of other clinical trials studying the benefits of EFT for weight loss, demonstrating simultaneous reductions in both weight and psychological distress. The continued weight reduction found on follow-up was consistent with other EFT studies but counter to the pattern of weight regain noted in the literature. Addressing emotional issues using an online delivery format was associated with durable weight-loss maintenance as well as improved mental health. App-based and virtual programs such as Skinny Genes have the potential to bring effective therapies to underserved populations.

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guided Self-Help for Overweight and Obese Adults High in Weight Self-Stigma.

Weight self-stigma, in which individuals internalize stigmatizing messages about weight, is a prevalent problem that contributes to poor quality of life and health. This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) guided self-help using The Diet Trap for 55 overweight/obese adults high in weight self-stigma. Participants were randomized to the ACT self-help book plus phone coaching (GSH-P; n = 17), self-help book plus email prompts only (GSH-E; n = 20), or a waitlist condition (n = 18), with online self-report assessments at baseline and posttreatment (8 weeks later). Participants reported high satisfaction ratings and engagement with the ACT self-help book, with no differences between GSH-P and GSH-E. Both GSH-P and GSH-E improved weight self-stigma relative to waitlist with large effect sizes. There were mixed findings for health outcomes. The GSH-P condition improved more on healthy eating behaviors and general physical activity, but neither ACT condition improved more than waitlist on self-reported body mass index, emotional eating, and a second measure of physical activity. Results suggest an ACT self-help book with email prompts can reduce weight self-stigma and potentially improve some health behavior outcomes. Phone coaching may provide additional benefits for generalizing ACT to diet and physical activity.

An Eight-Week Mindful Eating Program Applied in a Mediterranean Population With Overweight or Obesity: The EATT Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are important public health priorities. Mindful eating can contribute in preventing automatic eating behavior and emotional dysregulation, both being primary causes of overeating and negative body image. This research outlines an eight-week mindful eating intervention (i.e., project EATT) focusing on people with overweight or obesity in assisting positive behavioral, psychological and physiological change. METHODS: Fifty-seven people residing in Athens were recruited to participate in this research, where participants were allocated to either an experimental or a waitlist condition. Changes in body weight, and eating attitude, mindfulness, self-compassion, anxiety questionnaires were administered at baseline and post-intervention, and at a 14-month follow-up. RESULTS: Results indicated that mindfulness and self-compassion increased significantly, while anxiety symptoms decreased. Significance was also observed in reduction of overeating symptoms and oral control. While a negative relationship was observed between anxiety and mindfulness, and anxiety and self-compassion, self-compassion was negatively associated with overeating episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention improved participants' relationship with food and enabled changes towards successful weight regulation.

Mindful Eating Proficiency and Healthy Eating Literacy among Japanese Mothers: Associations with Their Own and Their Children's Eating Behavior.

Mindfulness is a process of focusing one's attention on the present moment. Applying this concept to eating (i.e., mindful eating (ME)) is associated with regulated eating behaviors, particularly in people with obesity and who are overweight. Sustaining healthy eating habits requires both healthy eating literacy (HEL) and proficiency in ME. However, ME proficiency in Japanese people has not been sufficiently investigated. In this paper, we conduct a survey of mothers with 4- to 5-year-old children in Aomori City, Japan, to investigate their ME proficiency and HEL level and eating behavior and self-reported body mass index in both mothers and their children from August to September 2019. This study is the first to describe ME proficiency in Japanese mothers. The study sample includes 128 participants from 18 nursery schools. ME proficiency in mothers was positively correlated with both their own and their children's eating behaviors, thereby suggesting a potential relationship, while strong relationships were not observed between the HEL level and eating behaviors of mothers and children. Improving ME skills, rather than HEL, may be an effective way to sustain healthier eating behaviors in mothers and their children. The level of evidence was Level V: Opinions of respected authorities based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

Hypothalamic steroid receptor coactivator-2 regulates adaptations to fasting and overnutrition.

The neuroendocrine system coordinates metabolic and behavioral adaptations to fasting, including reducing energy expenditure, promoting counterregulation, and suppressing satiation and anxiety to engage refeeding. Here, we show that steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2) in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons is a key regulator of all these responses to fasting. POMC-specific deletion of SRC-2 enhances the basal excitability of POMC neurons; mutant mice fail to efficiently suppress energy expenditure during food deprivation. SRC-2 deficiency blunts electric responses of POMC neurons to glucose fluctuations, causing impaired counterregulation. When food becomes available, these mutant mice show insufficient refeeding associated with enhanced satiation and discoordination of anxiety and food-seeking behavior. SRC-2 coactivates Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) to suppress POMC gene expression. POMC-specific deletion of SRC-2 protects mice from weight gain induced by an obesogenic diet feeding and/or FoxO1 overexpression. Collectively, we identify SRC-2 as a key molecule that coordinates multifaceted adaptive responses to food shortage.

NTS Prlh overcomes orexigenic stimuli and ameliorates dietary and genetic forms of obesity.

Calcitonin receptor (Calcr)-expressing neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS; CalcrNTS cells) contribute to the long-term control of food intake and body weight. Here, we show that Prlh-expressing NTS (PrlhNTS) neurons represent a subset of CalcrNTS cells and that Prlh expression in these cells restrains body weight gain in the face of high fat diet challenge in mice. To understand the relationship of PrlhNTS cells to hypothalamic feeding circuits, we determined the ability of PrlhNTS-mediated signals to overcome enforced activation of AgRP neurons. We found that PrlhNTS neuron activation and Prlh overexpression in PrlhNTS cells abrogates AgRP neuron-driven hyperphagia and ameliorates the obesity of mice deficient in melanocortin signaling or leptin. Thus, enhancing Prlh-mediated neurotransmission from the NTS dampens hypothalamically-driven hyperphagia and obesity, demonstrating that NTS-mediated signals can override the effects of orexigenic hypothalamic signals on long-term energy balance.

Olive leaf extract prevents obesity, cognitive decline, and depression and improves exercise capacity in mice.

Obesity is a risk factor for development of metabolic diseases and cognitive decline; therefore, obesity prevention is of paramount importance. Neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction induced by oxidative stress is an important mechanism underlying cognitive decline. Olive leaf extract contains large amounts of oleanolic acid, a transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) agonist, and oleuropein, an antioxidant. Activation of TGR5 results in enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, which suggests that olive leaf extract may help prevent cognitive decline through its mitochondrial and antioxidant effects. Therefore, we investigated olive leaf extract's effects on obesity, cognitive decline, depression, and endurance exercise capacity in a mouse model. In physically inactive mice fed a high-fat diet, olive leaf extract administration suppressed increases in fat mass and body weight and prevented cognitive declines, specifically decreased working memory and depressive behaviors. Additionally, olive leaf extract increased endurance exercise capacity under atmospheric and hypoxic conditions. Our study suggests that these promising effects may be related to oleanolic acid's improvement of mitochondrial function and oleuropein's increase of antioxidant capacity.

Hypothalamic neuropeptides and neurocircuitries in Prader Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare and incurable congenital neurodevelopmental disorder, resulting from the absence of expression of a group of genes on the paternally acquired chromosome 15q11-q13. Phenotypical characteristics of PWS include infantile hypotonia, short stature, incomplete pubertal development, hyperphagia and morbid obesity. Hypothalamic dysfunction in controlling body weight and food intake is a hallmark of PWS. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that PWS subjects have abnormal neurocircuitry engaged in the hedonic and physiological control of feeding behavior. This is translated into diminished production of hypothalamic effector peptides which are responsible for the coordination of energy homeostasis and satiety. So far, studies with animal models for PWS and with human post-mortem hypothalamic specimens demonstrated changes particularly in the infundibular and the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, both in orexigenic and anorexigenic neural populations. Moreover, many PWS patients have a severe endocrine dysfunction, e.g. central hypogonadism and/or growth hormone deficiency, which may contribute to the development of increased fat mass, especially if left untreated. Additionally, the role of non-neuronal cells, such as astrocytes and microglia in the hypothalamic dysregulation in PWS is yet to be determined. Notably, microglial activation is persistently present in non-genetic obesity. To what extent microglia, and other glial cells, are affected in PWS is poorly understood. The elucidation of the hypothalamic dysfunction in PWS could prove to be a key feature of rational therapeutic management in this syndrome. This review aims to examine the evidence for hypothalamic dysfunction, both at the neuropeptidergic and circuitry levels, and its correlation with the pathophysiology of PWS.

The relationship between socioeconomic status and childhood overweight/obesity is linked through paternal obesity and dietary intake: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in childhood has increased dramatically over the past decades globally. Thus, the risk factors of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents must be studied. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reveal the prevalence of childhood obesity and examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and z-body mass index (z-BMI) via parental obesity and dietary intake using path analysis. METHODS: Stratified cluster sampling was used to select 17,007 participants aged 6-12 years on two avenues per region in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Path analysis was conducted to examine the mediators between SES and z-BMI. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 13.36% and 8.60%, respectively, and were positively correlated with the father's education level, family income, a birth weight > 3000g, a parental obesity history, vegetable intake and red meat intake (all P < 0.05). Four mediators (paternal obesity history, red meat intake, vegetable intake, and nutritional supplements) were observed, and the four path analyses were significant (all P < 0.05). The adjusted total effects on z-BMI were significant for income (ßTot = 0.03; P < 0.01), father's education (ßTot = 0.05; P < 0.001), and region (ßTot = 0.11; P<0.001), and the total mediation effects were 20.69%, 16.67%, and 5.36%, respectively. All the variables accounted for 12.60% of the z-BMI variance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight/obesity in children was notable, and the relationship between SES and z-BMI was mediated by paternal obesity history and dietary intake.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy restores cognitive function and hippocampal pathologies in both aging and aging-obese rats.

The population of obese-elderly has increased prominently around the world. Both aging and obesity are major factors of neurodegeneration. The present study hypothesizes that HBOT attenuates metabolic disturbance, cognitive decline, hippocampal pathologies in aging and aging-obese model. Sixty Wistar rats were separated into 2 groups to receive normal-diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 22 weeks. At week 13, ND rats were divided into two subgroups to receive vehicle (0.9 % NSS, s.c) or d-gal (150 mg/kg/d, s.c) for total 10 weeks. HFD rats were injected only d-gal (150 mg/kg/d, s.c; HFDD) for total 10 weeks. At week 20, rats in each subgroup were given sham-treatment (1ATA, 80 L/min, 80 min/day), or HBOT (2ATA, pure O2, 250 L/min, 80 min/day) for 14 days. Novel object location test, metabolic parameters, and hippocampal pathologies were determined after HBOT. d-gal induced insulin resistance, increased oxidative stress, autophagy impairment, microglial hyperactivation, apoptosis, synaptic dysplasticity which resulted in cognitive impairment. d-gal-treated HFD-fed rats had the highest levels of oxidative stress, apoptosis, dendritic spine loss. HBOT attenuated insulin resistance, cognitive impairment, hippocampal aging and pathologies in both models. These findings suggest that HBOT restored insulin sensitivity, hippocampal functions, cognition in aging and aging-obese models.