Differential effects of citalopram on the intake of high fat or high carbohydrates diets in female and male rats.

Chronic administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), usually prescribed as antidepressants, decreases total energy intake; however, at present the differential effect on the intake of distinct macronutrients and on female vs. male organisms is not clear. On this basis, female and male adult Wistar rats were exposed to two types of diets: (1) a standard balanced diet (BD); or (2) two types of diets simultaneously, (a) one high in carbohydrates (HC); the other (b) high in fat (HF). Both study groups were given a dose of 10 mg/kg/day i.p. of citalopram or a vehicle for 21 days. Food and water consumption and body weight were recorded daily at baseline (BL), during treatment (TX), and post-treatment (PTx1-PTx2). The male rats exposed to BD reduced total energy consumption during treatment with citalopram, but body weight gain decreased both females and males compared to BL. During exposure to the two types of diets, citalopram treatment reduced fat consumption with respect to BL and PTx1 only in the male group. This group also decreased its total energy consumption during TX compared to PTx1. Finally, the females gained less body weight in TX than PTx1, while weight gain in the males during TX decreased with respect to BL and PTx1. Results show a differential effect of citalopram on females vs. males that was dependent on the type of macronutrient administered.

Appetitive traits in children aged 6 to 12 years: association with obesity and differences by gender.

Background: Overweight and obesity in schoolchildren are a major public health problem in Mexico. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the association of appetitive traits with the presence of obesity and identify gender differences in children attending a university hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 176 children with obesity and 175 children with normal weight in the outpatient clinic of the Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara. The body mass index (BMI) of the participants was calculated. The parents completed the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire to measure eight appetitive traits. The mean appetitive trait scores were compared between children with obesity and normal weight, and between genders. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-tests for independent samples and regression analysis between appetite traits and BMI Z-scores. Results: The mean food responsiveness score (or food onset appetitive trait) was higher in children with obesity (p < 0.001), while the mean satiety responsiveness (or food offset trait) was higher in children with normal weight (p < 0.001). Normal weight males showed higher scores for Food responsiveness, Emotional over-eating, and Desire to drink (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Children with obesity show appetitive traits that could lead to higher food consumption. Normal weight males showed appetitive traits that could represent a risk of developing obesity.

Introducción: El sobrepeso y la obesidad en niños de edad escolar se consideran un problema de salud pública en México. El objetivo de este estudio fue demostrar la asociación entre los rasgos del apetito y la presencia de obesidad, e identificar diferencias por sexo en niños que acuden a un hospital universitario. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de diseño transversal en 176 niños con obesidad y 175 niños con normopeso, pacientes del Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara y se calculó el índice de masa corporal (IMC) de los participantes. Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Conductas Alimentarias del Niño a los padres para evaluar ocho rasgos del apetito y se comparó el promedio de la puntuación de los rasgos del apetito entre niños con obesidad y normopeso, y entre sexos. Se utilizó la prueba t de Student para muestras independientes y análisis de regresión con los rasgos del apetito y el puntaje Z del IMC. Resultados: El promedio de la puntuación de los rasgos del apetito que muestran inclinaciones positivas hacia los alimentos (proingesta) fue mayor en niños con obesidad (p < 0.001), mientras que el promedio de los que muestran inclinaciones negativas hacia los alimentos (antiingesta) fue mayor en niños con normopeso (p < 0.001). Los participantes de sexo masculino con normopeso presentaron mayor puntaje en los rasgos del apetito Respuesta a los alimentos, Sobrealimentación emocional y Deseo de beber (p < 0.05). Conclusiones: Los niños con obesidad muestran rasgos del apetito que pueden llevar a un mayor consumo de alimentos. Los participantes de sexo masculino con normopeso mostraron rasgos del apetito que podrían representar un riesgo de desarrollo de obesidad.