RESUMO
Aim: The aim of this study was to describe dietary practices of adult Egyptians, estimate changes in their body mass index (BMI), and identify possible determinants of such changes before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted during the nationwide COVID-19 partial lockdown. Data were obtained from 430 Egyptian adults regarding their personal and socio-demographic characteristics, routine daily physical activities, dietary patterns, practices related to food purchase and food handling, and weight and BMI before and during the lockdown using an online web-based questionnaire. Results: The number of daily meals and daily snacks significantly increased during the lockdown. Moreover, the consumption of all types of snacks increased, except for chocolate and sweets, whose consumption decreased. Eating of fast food decreased, whereas the number of individuals practicing indoor physical activities increased during the lockdown. During the lockdown, no significant changes in the mean BMI were observed. The mean weekly consumption of starch, meat, milk, fat, and free foods decreased, whereas the mean weekly consumption of fruits and vegetables increased. Food handling practices improved during the lockdown. Based on the results of the linear regression analysis, age, the number of daily meals, practicing of physical activities during lockdown, and mean weekly consumption of meat were the independent predictors of BMI during the lockdown. Conclusion: During the lockdown, no significant changes in the BMI of adult Egyptians were observed, whereas dietary practices and food handling practices changed.
RESUMO
The present study was to investigate the effective role of renewable sources of Ca+2 from eggshell (ES) with different doses to restrict obesity disorders. Rats were classified as follows, G1 : normal diet for 26 weeks; G2 : high-fat diet (HFD) for 26 weeks; G3 , G4 , and G5 were supplemented with HFD for 16 weeks and treated with 7.2 g Ca+2 ES/Kg rat chow, 18 g Ca+2 ES/Kg rat chow, and 2% diet containing fat (DCF), respectively, for the remaining 10 weeks. Results revealed a significant effect of the low dose of Ca+2 supplement in form of ES than high dose and 2% DCF; on basis of anthropometric parameters, lipid, leptin, adiponectin, thyroid hormones, Ca+2 , 25-hydroxyl vitamin-D, and oxidative and inflammatory parameters were regulated. Results were confirmed with the histopathological study. Therefore, it was concluded that Ca+2 supplementation can be used as a beneficial source for obesity management with anticholesterol actions. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Obesity represented public health hazards. The eggshell is one of the waste products that contain a high percentage of Ca+2 . The current data exposed using a low dose of ES as a new source of Ca+2 supplement for treatment of HFD rats leads to significant enhancement of lipid profiles, liver enzymes, kidney functions, leptin, adiponectin, Ca+2 , 25(OH)-D, TSH, fT4, and PTH levels. Also, there was a reduction in weight gain, Bwt, BMI, BG, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Moreover, the oxidant-pro-oxidant system was improved in both hepatic and adipose tissues where NO and TBARS concentrations were diminished, and SOD specific activity was elevated. Additionally, TNF-α and ADAM17 expression were downregulated. Hence, it was concluded that there was good evidence that diets supplemented with ES were associated with the reduction of obesity complications especially regulating fat processing and storage in the body.
