Reducing eating disorder risk among male athletes: A randomized controlled trial investigating the male athlete body project.

OBJECTIVE: No study to date has investigated an intervention program for male athletes that targets eating disorder risk factors. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of the Male Athlete Body Project (MABP), an adaptation of the Female Athlete Body Project on body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, body-ideal internalization, and muscle dysmorphia. METHOD: Participants were 79 male collegiate athletes who were randomized to the MABP (n = 39) or an assessment-only control condition (n = 40). All participants completed psychometrically validated measures at three time points: baseline, post-treatment (3 weeks after baseline for the control condition), and 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Hierarchical Linear Modeling assessed differences between conditions across time. Interaction effects revealed that participation in the MABP improved satisfaction with specific body parts and reduced drive for muscularity and body-ideal internalization at post-treatment compared to a control group. Athletes in the MABP also reported increased body areas satisfaction and reductions in drive for muscularity at 1-month follow-up. Reductions in supplement use were observed at 1-month follow-up only. DISCUSSION: This study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the MABP in reducing some eating disorder risk factors up to 1 month after the intervention; follow-up study considerations are discussed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04077177 PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the importance of eating disorder and body image intervention efforts for male athletes. Findings suggest that male college athletes who attended a 3-session group intervention based on a well-established program for college women experienced an increase in satisfaction with specific body areas and a reduction in some eating disorder risk factors (e.g., drive for muscularity, supplement use, and body-ideal internalization) compared to a control group.

Nutrition knowledge moderates the association between perfectionism and shape/weight concerns.

Perfectionistic traits have been associated with stronger weight and diet concerns. Maladaptive perfectionism is tied to critical evaluation tendencies such as excessive concern about making mistakes, increasing one's risk for eating disorder pathology. Knowledge about healthy diet and nutrition may be one factor influencing associations between perfectionistic tendencies, as individuals with eating disorders may be more attuned to sources of nutrients. The current study examined whether nutrition knowledge moderates the association between one facet of perfectionism, concern over mistakes, and shape/weight concerns and the association between concern over mistakes and global eating pathology. College women (N = 122) completed questionnaires on disordered eating attitudes, nutrition knowledge, and perfectionism. Concern over mistakes was positively related to shape/weight concerns and global eating pathology. Nutrition knowledge significantly moderated the association between concerns over mistakes and shape/weight concerns, such that the association was stronger among those with higher levels of nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, nutrition knowledge displayed trend-level significance for the moderation of the association between concern over mistakes and global eating pathology. College women displaying high levels of concern over mistakes who are more informed about nutrition knowledge may be more vulnerable to developing concerns about body shape/weight and eating disorder pathology.

Eating pathology and depressive symptoms as predictors of excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Excessive gestational weight gain is associated with negative outcomes and the identification of contributing psychosocial factors may be useful in prevention and intervention. Pregnant women (N = 70) completed self-report measures of eating pathology, depressive symptomatology, and gestational weight gain. Global eating pathology was positively associated with overvaluation of shape and weight, dietary restraint, frequency of binge eating, and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms significantly predicted excessive gestational weight gain, while global eating pathology predicted excessive gestational weight gain at a trend level. Results suggest that depressive symptoms more strongly predict excessive gestational weight gain than eating pathology.

Clinical Relevance of Overvaluation of Shape and Weight Among Bariatric Surgery Candidates.

Overvaluation of shape and weight (OSW), or self-evaluation based primarily on body shape and weight, is associated with cognitive and behavioral aspects of eating disorders (including dietary restraint; concerns about eating, shape, and weight; and loss of control eating (LOC-eating), as well as psychological distress. We explored associations among OSW, depressive symptoms, and various forms of eating-related psychopathology, including whether frequency of LOC-eating mediates observed associations, among 88 bariatric surgery candidates. OSW was positively correlated with LOC-eating frequency, eating-related psychopathology, and depressive symptoms. There was a direct effect of OSW on depressive symptoms and eating-related psychopathology. LOC-eating frequency partially mediated the association between OSW and eating-related psychopathology. These findings demonstrate that OSW is important to assess as a marker of psychosocial distress.

Psychotropic drug changes contributing to readmissions in medically hospitalized psychiatric patients: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Psychotropic drug changes during medical hospitalizations may lead to psychiatric and medical readmissions. METHODS: One-year hospitalization records of nursing home patients with chronic mental illness and a psychotropic drug change during medical admission were reviewed. We calculated the readmission rates for 30, 60, and 90 days; the classes of the psychotropic drugs changed; the reason for change; and the specialties of the responsible physicians. The readmission rates were compared with those of an age-matched control group. RESULTS: The changes were associated with an increase in psychiatric readmission rates of 2.7% (30 days), 5.4% (60 days), and 14.9% (90 days). The 90 days readmission rate reached statistical significance (14.9% vs 2.7%; OR = 6.29; P = .020). The family practice team was responsible for the highest psychiatric readmission rate (18.4%). The most significant reasons for change included human errors (up to 40%), which is alarming. CONCLUSIONS: Judicious changes, attempts at re-titration, and appropriate documentation of reasons for change on discharge records may reduce the readmission rates.

High-fiber foods reduce periodontal disease progression in men aged 65 and older: the Veterans Affairs normative aging study/Dental Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether foods that are good to excellent sources of fiber reduce periodontal disease progression in men. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Greater Boston, Massachusetts, metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred twenty-five community-dwelling men participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs Dental Longitudinal Study. MEASUREMENTS: Dental and physical examinations were conducted every 3 to 5 years. Diet was assessed using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). Mean follow-up was 15 years (range: 2-24 years). Periodontal disease progression on each tooth was defined as alveolar bone loss (ABL) advancement of 40% or more, probing pocket depth (PPD) of 2 mm or more, or tooth loss. Good and excellent fiber sources provided 2.5 g or more of fiber per serving. Multivariate proportional hazards regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of periodontal disease progression and tooth loss in relation to fiber sources, stratified according to age younger than 65 versus 65 and older, and controlled for smoking, body mass index, calculus, baseline periodontal disease level, caries, education, exercise, carotene, thiamin and caffeine intake, and tooth brushing. RESULTS: In men aged 65 and older, each serving of good to excellent sources of total fiber was associated with lower risk of ABL progression (HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60-0.95) and tooth loss (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53-0.97). Of the different food groups, only fruits that were good to excellent sources of fiber were associated with lower risk of progression of ABL (HR = 0.86 per serving, 95% CI = 0.78-0.95), PPD (HR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91-0.99), and tooth loss (HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78-0.99). No significant associations were seen in men younger than 65. CONCLUSION: Benefits of higher intake of high-fiber foods, especially fruits, on slowing periodontal disease progression are most evident in men aged 65 and older.

Evaluation of 1,5-anhydroglucitol, hemoglobin A1c, and glucose levels in youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a marker of hyperglycemic excursions in adults with diabetes and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) < 8%. We compared 1,5-AG levels among youth and young adults with and without type 1 diabetes (T1D) and investigated the utility of 1,5-AG in the assessment of glycemic status in pediatric T1D. METHODS: We compared 1,5-AG, HbA1c, and plasma glucose levels in 138 patients with T1D (duration ≥1 yr) and 136 healthy controls, aged 10-30 yr. Within each group, we investigated associations between 1,5-AG and clinical characteristics, HbA1c and random plasma glucose. For patients with T1D, 1,5-AG was further analyzed according to HbA1c strata: <8, 8-9, and >9%. RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients with T1D had higher HbA1c (8.5 ± 1.6 vs. 5.1 ± 0.4%, p < 0.0001), lower 1,5-AG (4.0 ± 2.0 vs. 24.7 ± 6.4 µg/mL, p < 0.0001), and higher glucose (11.1 ± 5.2 vs. 5.1 ± 0.9 mmol/L, p < 0.0001). Males had higher 1,5-AG than females within patients (4.5 ± 2.3 vs. 3.4 ± 1.6 µg/mL, p = 0.003) and controls (26.0 ± 6.6 vs. 23.5 ± 6.0 µg/mL, p = 0.02). 1,5-AG was not correlated with glucose in either group. 1,5-AG was significantly correlated to HbA1c in patients, but not controls. For patients with HbA1c < 8%, 1,5-AG demonstrated the widest range and was not predicted by HbA1c; 1,5-AG levels were narrowly distributed among patients with HbA1c ≥ 8%. CONCLUSIONS: Youth and young adults with T1D demonstrate similar 1,5-AG levels which are distinct from controls. 1,5-AG assessment may provide unique information beyond that provided by HbA1c in the mid-term assessment of glycemic control in young patients with T1D and HbA1c < 8%.

Comparative analysis of adult versus adolescent sexual assault: epidemiology and patterns of anogenital injury.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the characteristics of sexual assault in pubertal girls (<18 years old) and adults in a community-based population of women presenting to an urban sexual assault clinic. METHODS: This case-series analysis evaluated consecutive female patients presenting to a sexual assault clinic during a three-year study period. The clinic is associated with a university-affiliated emergency medicine residency program and is staffed by forensic nurses trained to perform medicolegal examinations using colposcopy with nuclear staining. Patient demographics, assault characteristics, and injury patterns were recorded using a standardized classification system. Data from the two patient groups (adolescents vs. women > or =18 years of age) were analyzed using chi-square test and t-test. RESULTS: A total of 766 cases were identified: 43% of the victims were 13 to 17 years old (mean 15.0 years old), and 57% were older than 17 years old (mean 30.8 years old). Adolescents were more likely to be assaulted by an acquaintance or relative (84% vs. 50%, p < 0.001) and to delay medical evaluation (17 hours vs. 12 hours, p < 0.001) than were older women. Adolescent sexual assault was less likely to involve weapons or physical coercion (29% versus 57%, p < 0.001) and was associated with fewer nongenital injuries (33% vs. 55%, p < 0.001). Adolescents had a greater frequency of anogenital injuries (83% vs. 64%, p < 0.001), however, compared with older women. Common sites of injury in adolescents were posterior, including the fossa navicularis, hymen, fourchette, and labia minora. The injuries showed consistent topologic features, varying with the site and nature of tissue. Adult victims of sexual assault had a less consistent pattern of anogenital injuries with fewer hymenal injuries, greater injury to the perianal area, and widespread erythema. CONCLUSIONS: Of women presenting to an urban sexual assault clinic, 43% were adolescents. The epidemiology of sexual trauma and the pattern of anogenital trauma in this age group are unique and may pose special challenges to emergency health care providers.