Hypercaloric diet modulates effects of chronic stress: a behavioral and biometric study on rats.

Obesity is a chronic disease that has been associated with chronic stress and hypercaloric diet (HD) consumption. Increased ingestion of food containing sugar and fat ingredients (comfort food) is proposed to "compensate" chronic stress effects. However, this eating habit may increase body fat depositions leading to obesity. This study evaluated behavioral/physiological parameters seeking to establish whether there is an association between the effects of HD intake and stress, and to test the hypothesis that the development of anxious behavior and obesity during chronic stress periods depends on the type of diet. Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats (n = 100) were divided into four groups: standard chow, hypercaloric diet, chronic stress/standard chow and chronic stress/hypercaloric diet. Chronic stress was induced by restraint stress exposure for 1 h/day, for 80 d. At the end of this period, rat behavior was evaluated using open-field and plus-maze tests. The results showed that HD alone increased weight gain and adipose deposition in subcutaneous and mesenteric areas. However, stress reduced weight gain and adipose tissue in these areas. HD also increased naso-anal length and concurrent stress prevented this. Behavioral data indicated that stress increased anxiety-like behaviors and comfort food reduced these anxiogenic effects; locomotor activity increased in rats fed with HD. Furthermore, HD decreased corticosterone levels and stress increased adrenal weight. The data indicate that when rats are given HD and experience chronic stress this association reduces the pro-obesogenic effects of HD, and decreases adrenocortical activity.

Fatores que interferem na duração do aleitamento materno de crianças na Região Metropolitana do Cariri cearense / Factors that interfere in the duration of breastfeeding of children in the Metropolitan Region of Cariri, Ceará

Introdução: O Aleitamento Materno Exclusivo (AME) é uma prática alimentar fundamental para a promoção da saúde materno-infantil. Porém, os índices para o AME no Brasil ainda se encontram abaixo do recomendado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde. Objetivo: Analisar os fatores que interferem na duração do aleitamento materno de crianças situadas na Região Metropolitana do Cariri cearense. Método: Estudo transversal descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado na Região Metropolitana do Cariri cearense. A amostra foi composta por 177 crianças entre seis e 23 meses de idade. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários, contendo informações a respeito das condições socioeconômicas e demográficas da família e da saúde infantil. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, procedendo-se a análise descritiva dos dados e aplicação do teste Qui-Quadrado. Razões de Chance (RC), intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) e respectivos valores de p foram calculados pela regressão logística multinominal. Resultados: O tempo médio para o AME foi de 4,33 (±1,98) meses. Somente 38,9% das crianças avaliadas foram amamentadas, exclusivamente, até os seis meses de vida. Na análise de regressão logística multivariada verificou-se maior chance de tempo de AME adequado nas famílias com <1/4 salário mínimo (RC: 2,270 IC95% 1,104 - 4,666, p= 0,026). Conclusão: O AME, nos municípios avaliados, ainda é insatisfatório de acordo com as recomendações preconizadas pelas entidades de saúde. A baixa renda per capita foi o fator determinante para uma adequada prática do AME na vida dos lactentes. (AU)

Introduction: Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) is a fundamental dietary practice for the promotion of maternal and child health. Unfortunately, the rates for EBF in Brazil are still below that recommended by the World Health Organization. Objective: To analyze the factors that interfere in the duration of breastfeeding of children living in the metropolitan region of Cariri, Ceará. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, carried out in the Metropolitan Region of Cariri, Ceará. The sample consisted of 177 children between 6 and 23 months of age. The data were collected through questionnaires containing information about the socioeconomic and demographic conditions of the family and child health. Statistical analyses were performed using the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, proceeding to the data descriptive analysis, application of the Chi-Square test, Odds Ratios (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) and respective values of p were calculated by multinomial logistic regression. Results: The mean EBF length was 4.33 (± 1.98) months, only 38.9% of the evaluated children were exclusively breastfed until 6 months of life. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a greater chance of adequate EBF length was verified in families with <1/4 minimum wage (OR: 2.270 95% CI 1.104 - 4.666, p = 0.026). Conclusion: EBF in the municipalities evaluated is still unsatisfactory according to the recommendations recommended by health entities. Low per capita income was the determining factor for the proper practice of EBF in the lives of infants. (AU)