Sitting/lying time is associated with waist-to-hip increase but not with body weight increase or blood cardiovascular risk factors changes in adult women living in social vulnerability: A 2-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine whether physical activity and energy intake are associated with the anthropometric and blood cardiovascular risk factors alterations in women living in social vulnerability for a period of 2 years. METHODS: The study was carried out with women residing in the outskirts of Maceió-AL, aged between 19 and 45 years. We characterized the socioeconomic and biochemical profile (glucose, insulin, and blood lipids) at the beginning and at the end of the study. Anthropometric evaluation was performed in three moments: at the beginning, and after 1 and 2 years of follow-up. Energy expenditure, measured by doubly labeled water, physical activity, measured by 7-day triaxial accelerometry, and energy intake, measured by 3-day 24-hour food recall, were collected at baseline. RESULTS: After 2 years, 34 women were completely assessed, with a mean age of 33.7 years. Women spent around 16 hours of the day sitting/lying down. There was an increase in body weight (from 64.61 ± 11.69 to 66.37 ± 13.26 kg, P < .01), which was not associated with any of the predictors. There was also an increase in waist/hip ratio (WHR) (from 0.84 ± 0.07 to 0.87 ± 0.05, P < .01), which was positively associated with the amount of sitting/lying time per day. There were no significant alterations in blood cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: Energy intake did not predict anthropometrical changes. Sitting/lying time was associated with an increase in WHR, but not in body weight or blood cardiovascular risk factors in low-income women.

Effectiveness of a stunting recovery program for children treated in a specialized center.

BackgroundStunting is still very prevalent in many poor and developing regions in the world. This study assessed the effectiveness of a stunting recovery program in children and its associated factors.MethodsThe retrospective study was conducted in a center of stunting recovery. There, children stayed in a day-hospital system (9 h per day; 5 days per week), and received five meals per day, providing 80% of their energetic daily needs. The main outcome was the stunting recovery rate (i.e., the child present a height-for-age index (HAZ) >-1.0 at the time of data collection). A total of 75 children treated for at least 24 months, aged between 6 and 48 months and with an HAZ <-2.0 at the time of admission were included.ResultsThe average treatment time was 41 months. About 18 children (24.0%) recovered from stunting. The variable "age at admission >24 months" (prevalence rate (PR)=0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.99; P=0.04) and the variable "Household crowding index" (PR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.44-0.95; P=0.03) were associated with the success of the treatment.ConclusionThe environmental conditions in which the children live in their households and late admission to the center negatively influenced the success of stunting recovery, even with an intensive treatment.

Dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols versus long-chain triacylglycerols for body composition in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of replacing dietary long-chain triacylglycerols (LCTs) with medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) on body composition in adults. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to determine whether individuals assigned to replace at least 5 g of dietary LCTs with MCTs for a minimum of 4 weeks show positive modifications on body composition. We systematically searched, through July 2013, the CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS, and MEDLINE databases for RCTs that investigated the effects of MCT intake on body composition in adults. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated for net changes in the outcomes. We assessed heterogeneity by the Cochran Q test and I(2) statistic and publication bias with the Egger's test. Prespecified sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: In total, 11 trials were included, from which 5 presented low risk of bias. In the overall analysis, including all studies, individuals who replaced dietary LCT with MCT showed significantly reduced body weight (WMD, -0.69 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.1 to -0.28; p = 0.001); body fat (-0.89 kg; 95% CI, -1.27 to -0.51; p < 0.001), and WC (-1.78 cm; 95% CI, -2.4 to -1.1; p < 0.001). The overall quality of the evidence was low to moderate. Trials with a crossover design were responsible for the heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Despite statistically significant results, the recommendation to replace dietary LCTs with MCTs must be cautiously taken, because the available evidence is not of the highest quality.

Short stature and food habits as determining factors for the low productivity of sugarcane labourers in the State of Alagoas, north-eastern Brazil.

Undernutrition, especially in the prenatal period and/or until 5 years of age, can cause stunting. Adults with short stature resultant from this process show a series of functional deficits, amongst which is a reduced capacity to do physical work. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the dietary pattern, nutritional status and stature of sugarcane cutters, and to determine possible associations with worker productivity. Sixty-two male sugarcane cutters (18-50 y) were selected randomly from a population of 600 workers from a plantation in Alagoas (Brazil), and classified as underweight, normal weight or overweight according to BMI (BMI = 21.5, 21.5 to = 25 and >25 kg/m2, respectively). Body fat composition (%) was estimated by electrical bioimpedance and dietary intake by the direct weighing of food consumed. Whilst the average productivity was 8.13 ton/day, labourers with normal BMI values were more productive (9.12 ton/dia) and ingested significantly (p<0.05) greater amounts of energy (16506.4 kJ/dia) than their underweight (7.48 +/- 1.5; 12380.7 +/- 4184.1) or overweight (9.12 +/- 1.5; 16506.4 +/- 6360.0) counterparts, respectively. There were associations (p<0.05) between productivity, stature, energy intake and age. The tallest individuals (= 170 cm) had higher productivity and tended to have a higher energy intake, whilst those with the shortest stature (= 160 cm), had a significantly lower productivity, however ingested a similar quantity of energy, and tended to have a large accumulation of body fat. Multiple regression analysis identified stature as the parameter most associated with productivity, independent of age and body fat percentage. Productivity of the tallest individuals was 1.87 ton/day higher than that of the shortest individuals. The results emphasise the importance of good nutritional status throughout life for full development of working productivity.

Short stature and food habits as determining factors for the low productivity of sugarcane labourers in the State of Alagoas, north-eastern Brazil

Undernutrition, especially in the prenatal period and/or until 5 years of age, can cause stunting. Adults with short stature resultant from this process show a series of functional deficits. amongst which is a reduced capacity to do physical work. The aim of this investigationwas to evaluare the dietary pattern, nutritional status and stature of sugarcane cutters, and to determine possible associations with worker productivity. Sixty-two male sugarcane cutters (18-50 y) were selected randomly from a population of 600 workers from a plantation in Alagoas (Brazil), and classified as underweight, normal weight or overweight according to BMI (BMI =21.5, 21.5 to = 25 and >25 kg/m², respectively). Body fat composition (percent) was estimated by electrical biompedance and dietary intake by the direct weighing of food consumed. Whilist the average productivity was 8.13 ton/day,m labourers with normal BMI values were more productive (9.12 ton/day) and ingested significantly (p<0.05) greater amounts of energy (16506.4 kJ/dia) than their underweight (7.48 ± 1.5; 12380.7 ± 4184.1) or overweight (9.12 ± 1.5; 16506.4 ± 6360.0) counterparts, respectively. There were associations (p<0.05) between productivity, stature, energy intake and age. The tallest individuals (= 170 cm) had higher productivity and tended to have a higher energy intake, whilst those with the shortest stature (= 160 cm), had a significantly lower productivity, however ingested a similar quantity of energy, nd tented to have a large accumulation of body fat. Multiple regression analysis indetified stature as the parameter most associated with productivity, independent of age and body fat percentage. Productivity of the tallest individuals. The results emphasise the importance of good nutritional status throughghout life for full development of working productivity

Short stature, abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and alterations in lipid profile in very low-income women living in Maceió, north-eastern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that short stature is associated with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and lipid profile changes. METHODS: Anthropometric data were collected from 237 women (18-60 years old), residents of a shantytown in Maceió. Biochemical profiles of 60 individuals drawn from this population were determined. RESULTS: Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and insulin resistance rose with increasing waist : hip circumference ratio, particularly in women. Short, overweight individuals exhibited larger biochemical alterations than overweight individuals of average stature. CONCLUSION: Short stature, when associated with overweight, is a risk factor for increased insulin resistance and alterations in lipid profile.

Long-term effects of early malnutrition on body weight regulation.

Malnutrition is still highly prevalent in developing countries. Studies have shown an increase in the number of obese individuals in very poor urban communities. This review shows a co-existence between malnutrition and obesity in households of slums in Brazil and a higher prevalence of stunted/overweight or obese individuals (30%) in comparison with stunted/underweight (16%). These conditions are associated with important metabolic changes. Results from stunted children showed higher susceptibility to the effects of higher fats diets, lower fat oxidation, higher central fat, and higher body fat gain. A model to explain how early malnutrition alters energy balance in adults is outlined. In the presence of a relative food intake insufficiency, a higher cortisol:insulin ratio, associated with lower levels of IGF-1 will lead to lower muscle gain and linear growth, impaired lypolysis and fat oxidation. When these hormonal changes are combined with a higher fat/carbohydrate and/or marked decreased in physical activity, obesity with short stature will occur.