Changes in Dietary Intake Patterns and Weight Status during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study Focusing on Young Adults in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation has altered individuals' food purchasing behaviour and dietary intake patterns. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the changes in dietary intake patterns and their impacts on the weight status of young adults in Malaysia during the COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 1045 young adults in Malaysia. The changes in dietary intake patterns were assessed using the Dietary Diversity Questionnaire with slight modifications, while anthropometric measurements including body height, body weight before the pandemic and current body weight were self-reported. RESULTS: Overall, nearly half of the respondents (48.8%) gained weight during the confinement, with an average increment of 4.06 ± 3.23 kg. Of 1045, 45.3% reported consuming more fruits and 60.2% had higher plain water intake during the pandemic. It is observed that 41.0% to 66.8% of the young adults changed their dietary intake patterns during the pandemic. Increased consumption in cereals and grains (ß = 0.084, p = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.017-0.160), as well as oils and fats (ß = 0.123, p = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.059-0.241), was positively associated with weight gain during the pandemic. On the contrary, an increased plain water intake was negatively associated with weight gain during the lockdown (ß = -0.100, p = 0.003, 95% CI = -0.171--0.034). Findings in the current study also suggested that cutting back cereals and grains (ß = 0.156, p < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.122-0.288), as well as oils and fats (ß = 0.091, p = 0.012, 95% CI = 0.022-0.183), contributed significantly to weight loss during the pandemic confinement. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) drove up the prevalence of overweight/obesity among young adults in Malaysia. Increased consumption of cereals and grains and oils and fats contributed to weight gain in the pandemic lockdown. Nonetheless, a noticeable proportion of young adults in Malaysia shifted to a healthier food choice by increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Lower insulin sensitivity in young adults born preterm in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported impaired glucose homeostasis among preterm survivors, but consisted almost exclusively of Caucasians. It is unknown whether Asians born preterm display similar impairments. AIM: To assess glucose homeostasis and other cardiometabolic outcomes among young adults born preterm in Thailand. METHODS: Participants were 575 young adult offspring of mothers from the Chiang Mai Low Birth Weight Study, born in 1989 to 1990 and followed up in 2010: 54.1% females, median age 20.6 years, including 33 individuals (5.7%) born preterm. After an overnight fast, participants underwent clinical assessments, including blood sampling (glucose, insulin, and lipid profile). Insulin sensitivity was assessed using HOMA-IR and insulin secretion estimated using HOMA-ß. RESULTS: In unadjusted analyses, young Thai adults born preterm were 3.2 cm shorter (P = .037), 6 kg lighter (P = .016), and had HOMA-ß 34% higher (P = .026) than those born at term. Adjusted analyses accounting for important confounders showed marked impairments in glucose homeostasis among preterm survivors: fasting insulin levels were 32% greater (P = .011), with HOMA-IR and HOMA-ß that were 31% (P = .020) and 43% higher (P = .005), respectively, compared to peers born at term. There were no other contrasting observations between groups, with anthropometric differences disappearing after adjustment for confounders. DISCUSSION: Young adults in Thailand born preterm were more insulin resistant than peers born at term. The observed impairments in glucose metabolism among young Thai adults born preterm corroborate findings reported mostly on Caucasians. The challenge for general practitioners and public health professionals is to encourage those born preterm to make healthier lifestyle choices early on.

[Psychosocial and developmental outcomes of TYAs with cancer: Are there any specific characteristics for the young adults?] / Aspects psychosociaux et développementaux des AJA atteints de cancer : existe-t-il des spécificités propres aux jeunes adultes ?

During the last few years, specific support devices and even dedicated units for teenagers and young adults (TYAs - patients grouped in the 15-25 years age group) appeared in oncology. If the existing literature review allows identifying many written work related to the experience of cancer during adolescence, resources about "young adults" are not only far less abundant, but rarely give the definition of what is a "young adult". Based on this observation, it appears necessary, at this stage of our practice, to question the definition and psychosocial outcomes of those psychiatrists and psychologists also call "young adults". Are they so different compared to teenagers? Do they have their own specificities? Based on the analysis of the general literature, we will seek to define the highlights of this moment of life and to identify their specific psychosocial and developmental outcomes. Thus, we will be able to study more accurately the experience of young adults facing cancer and the associated psychological side effects. Based on this analysis, we will present the issues which seemed to be specific in the psychological support of young adults and their relatives.

Over the hill at 24: persistent age-related cognitive-motor decline in reaction times in an ecologically valid video game task begins in early adulthood.

Typically studies of the effects of aging on cognitive-motor performance emphasize changes in elderly populations. Although some research is directly concerned with when age-related decline actually begins, studies are often based on relatively simple reaction time tasks, making it impossible to gauge the impact of experience in compensating for this decline in a real world task. The present study investigates age-related changes in cognitive motor performance through adolescence and adulthood in a complex real world task, the real-time strategy video game StarCraft 2. In this paper we analyze the influence of age on performance using a dataset of 3,305 players, aged 16-44, collected by Thompson, Blair, Chen & Henrey [1]. Using a piecewise regression analysis, we find that age-related slowing of within-game, self-initiated response times begins at 24 years of age. We find no evidence for the common belief expertise should attenuate domain-specific cognitive decline. Domain-specific response time declines appear to persist regardless of skill level. A second analysis of dual-task performance finds no evidence of a corresponding age-related decline. Finally, an exploratory analyses of other age-related differences suggests that older participants may have been compensating for a loss in response speed through the use of game mechanics that reduce cognitive load.

[Assessment of anaerobic capacity for subjects with short, normal and tall stature between 18-23 years of age]. / Ocena wydolnosci beztlenowej nisko-, normo- i wysokoroslych osób w wieku 18-23 lat.

INTRODUCTION: Until now it has not been established whether anaerobic capacity of subjects with short stature, statistically comprising 10% of the population, differs from those of normal and tall stature (> 90 centile). No results of studies comparing anaerobic capacity for subjects with a range of body heights have been published in literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 435 (women 57%, men 43%) healthy young adults ranging between 18-23 years of age. Physical parameters for anaerobic capacity (work, maximum generated power and duration) have been marked during a 10-second exercise burst carried out on a cycloergometer. Subjects were classified into three body height categories: < 10 centile (ct)--short stature; between 10-90 ct--normal stature; > 90 ct--tall stature. RESULTS: Short stature was noted in 5% subjects, with a height deficiency (≤ -2.0 SDS) noted in 0.7% subjects. Tall stature was noted among 22% subjects. In both sexes the cohort included a significantly greater than expected (p < 0.001) number of tall-statured subjects and a significantly lower number (p < 0.01) of short-statured subjects. No differences were found in the mean parameters of anaerobic capacity for subjects of short, normal and tall stature, with the exception of women of tall stature whose results were significantly better than those for women of normal stature. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in the capacities of subjects with short, normal and tall stature. However, with regard to women, in particular those of tall stature, a correlation between body height and anaerobic capacity was observed. It must be noted that the majority of the worst results were noted among the short-statured subjects, indicating that caution must be taken during interpretation of anaerobic capacity levels among this population. In order to correctly interpret results of anaerobic capacity studies, a standard needs to be put in place for the national population taking into regard sex and age, while for people of short stature the causes of their short stature must be established.

Temporal dynamics of memory-related effects in older and young adults: an event-related potential study.

Priming effects on the identification process were examined in young and older adults by using event-related potentials (ERPs). Animals and artifacts were presented in an ascending sequence of filtered images, half of which had been shown in their complete versions in a previous study phase. Each stimulus was represented by a progressively less filtered image (i.e., more complete) until the whole version was revealed in a sequence of frames. Such a paradigm allowed us to record ERPs prior to, and during, the identification of stimuli. Results showed a dynamic interplay between memory, category, and aging effects. At the moment of identification, young adults elicited larger positivity at parietal sites for previously studied stimuli and this effect was not observed for older adults. For stimuli previously studied, a striking effect was observed in both groups at the level just prior to overt identification. In addition, a frontally distributed priming effect was evident in the elderly. Category-related ERP differences emerged between the two age groups. In particular, younger participants elicited an early positive activation at anterior sites upon seeing stimuli of animals. These results are discussed in relation to current models of recognition memory, categorization, and age-related cognitive decline.

[Differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders in young adults]. / Differenzialdiagnosen zu neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen im jungen Erwachsenenalter.

Neurodegenerative diseases are relatively common and usually occur in older patients. In young adulthood, neurodegeneration is less common and more frequent due to underlying inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) that typically have a wide range of clinical presentations. In the following overview, we present a case of SSPE and NBIA. The main differential diagnoses, cardinal symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options of neurodegenerative-like disesase in young adults are presented.

Time course alterations of plasma obestatin and growth hormone levels in response to short-term anaerobic exercise training in college women.

Obestatin is a 23-amino-acid peptide encoded by the same gene as ghrelin. Because there is a paucity of data concerning the effects of exercise on obestatin, this study investigated the effect of anaerobic exercise training-detraining on obestatin and growth hormone (GH) plasma levels. Ten young female volunteers participated. Blood was collected 24 h before, and 24 h, 48 h and 7 days after the training. The data indicate that anaerobic training caused a significant reduction in GH levels but had no effect on plasma obestatin concentrations.