The Effects of a "Health at Every Size(®)"-Based Approach in Obese Women: A Pilot-Trial of the "Health and Wellness in Obesity" Study.

This study explored the effects of Health at Every Size(®)-based intervention on obese women by qualitatively evaluating participants' perception toward the program and quantitatively evaluating changes related to psychological, behavioral, and body composition assessments. A prospective 1-year quasi-experimental mixed-method trial was conducted. The mixed-method design was characterized by a spiral method, and quantitative and qualitative findings were combined during the interpretation phase. The qualitative data involved three focus groups; and quantitative data comprised physiological, psychological, and behavioral assessments. Initially, 30 participants were recruited; 14 concluded the intervention. From the focus groups, the following interpretative axes were constructed: the intervention as a period of discoveries; shifting parameters: psychological, physical, and behavioral changes; eating changes, and; redefining success. Body weight, body mass index, total body fat mass, and body fat percentage were significantly decreased after the intervention (-3.6, -3.2, -13.0, and -11.1%, respectively; p ≤ 0.05, within-time effect). Participants reported to be more physically active and perceiving better their bodies. Eating-wise, participants reported that the hunger and satiety cues and the consumption of more frequent meals facilitated their eating changes. Finally, participants reported that they could identify feelings with eating choices and refrain from the restrained behavior. These qualitative improvements were accompanied by modest but significant improvements in quantitative assessments. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT02102061.

Influence of nutritional variables and obesity on health and metabolism.

Obesity is a recurring theme in current scientific literature. This can easily be explained by its exponential increase in all layers of society. The popularity of this subject has also given rise to associated questions, which have achieved greater prominence in health-related publications. In order to assess what has been studied in the field of obesity and nutrition, an overview of all articles published on these subjects in some of the main Brazilian scientific journals over the past two years was performed. Among the subthemes selected for this study, those related to childhood obesity attracted attention due to their greater frequency. These were subdivided into: prevalence, intrauterine and breastfeeding influences that may lead to the development of this condition, impact on quality of life, cardiovascular system and metabolism, and possible prevention strategies. Furthermore, issues related to obesity in adults were explored, such as risk factors and new strategies for prevention, with special attention given to the many studies evaluating different aspects of bariatric surgery. Finally, the subject of malnutrition and the impact of the deficiency of specific micronutrients such as selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 were assessed. Based on the results, it was possible to assess the actual importance of obesity and nutrition in health maintenance, and also the several lines of research regarding these issues. Thus, it is essential to create new methods, which must be quick and efficient, to update health professionals involved in the treatment of obesity.

Influência das variáveis nutricionais e da obesidade sobre a saúde e o metabolismo / Influence of nutritional variables and obesity on health and metabolism

A obesidade é um tema recorrente na literatura científica da atualidade. Isso se deve ao aumento exponencial de sua prevalência em todas as camadas da sociedade. A popularidade deste tema fez também com que assuntos associados a ele emergissem e ganhassem maior notabilidade em publicações da área da saúde. Com objetivo de avaliar o que vem sendo estudado no campo da obesidade e nutrição, esta revisão realiza um apanhado de todos os artigos publicados dentro destes temas em algumas das principais revistas científicas brasileiras nos últimos dois anos. Dentre os subtemas selecionados neste trabalho, aqueles relacionados à obesidade infantil chamaram atenção por aparecerem com maior frequência. Estes foram subdivididos em: prevalência, influências intrauterinas e do aleitamento que podem levar ao desenvolvimento desta condição, consequências na qualidade de vida, sistema cardiovascular e metabolismo e possíveis estratégias de prevenção. Além disso, foram explorados temas relacionados à obesidade em adultos como seus fatores de risco e novas estratégias de prevenção, com atenção especial aos muitos estudos avaliando diferentes aspectos relacionados à cirurgia bariátrica. Finalmente, abordou-se o tema da desnutrição e o impacto da deficiência de micronutrientes específicos como selênio, vitamina D e vitamina B12. A partir dos resultados, tornou-se possível concluir a real importância da obesidade e da nutrição na manutenção da saúde e também as diversas frentes de pesquisa que a envolvem na atualidade. Dessa forma, é essencial que se criem novas formas de atualização que sejam rápidas e eficientes, direcionadas aos profissionais de saúde envolvidos no tratamento destes indivíduos.

Obesity is a recurring theme in current scientific literature. This can easily be explained by its exponential increase in all layers of society. The popularity of this subject has also given rise to associated questions, which have achieved greater prominence in health-related publications. In order to assess what has been studied in the field of obesity and nutrition, an overview of all articles published on these subjects in some of the main Brazilian scientific journals over the past two years was performed. Among the subthemes selected for this study, those related to childhood obesity attracted attention due to their greater frequency. These were subdivided into: prevalence, intrauterine and breastfeeding influences that may lead to the development of this condition, impact on quality of life, cardiovascular system and metabolism, and possible prevention strategies. Furthermore, issues related to obesity in adults were explored, such as risk factors and new strategies for prevention, with special attention given to the many studies evaluating different aspects of bariatric surgery. Finally, the subject of malnutrition and the impact of the deficiency of specific micronutrients such as selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 were assessed. Based on the results, it was possible to assess the actual importance of obesity and nutrition in health maintenance, and also the several lines of research regarding these issues. Thus, it is essential to create new methods, which must be quick and efficient, to update health professionals involved in the treatment of obesity.