Editorial: Reducing Diets

No Abstrac

Effects of weight loss interventions for adults who are obese on mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer : a systematic review and meta-analysis

We thank Associate Professor Andrew Grey for helping to resolve discrepancies in data extraction and interpretation for cardiovascular events and cancer events. We thank trialists from 16 studies for clarifying or providing additional information for this review [Andrews 2011, Aveyard 2016, Bennett 2012, de Vos 2014, Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study 2009, Goodwin 2014, Green 2015, Horie 2016, Hunt (FFIT) 2014, Katula 2013, Li (Da Qing) 2014, Logue 2005, Ma 2013, O’Neil 2016, Rejeski (CLIP) 2011, Uusitupa 1993] and also others who provided information, but their trials were later found not to fulfil our inclusion criteria. Funding: The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Pre-service health and physical education teachers’ obesity-related nutrition knowledge and food habits

This study aimed to quantify the levels of nutrition knowledge of pre-service health and physical education teachers as well as their ability to provide suitable weight-based advice to overweight adolescents. The influence of degree progression, gender and their own food habits on knowledge and ability was also assessed. Pre-service health and physical educators (n=72) were surveyed at three consecutive points in their degree with a questionnaire designed to extract information on demographics, food habits, nutrition knowledge related to obesity and knowledge about obesity counselling. Degree progression resulted in improvements to nutrition knowledge, as expected. When surveyed just prior to degree completion, scores on repeated measures reflect inaccuracies in obesity related nutrition knowledge and the propensity to advocate inappropriate weight-control advice to future overweight students. Females had higher levels of obesity-related nutrition knowledge than males. Gender was also significantly associated with obesity counselling knowledge among students in their second and fourth years of study and with dieting behaviours in second- and third-year students, with female students more likely to diet for weight control than their male peers. These results identify the need for further research into methods of increasing nutrition knowledge and obesity counselling skills in pre-service health and physical education teachers

Reducing diets by adolescents from chosen schools

Katedra pedagogikyFaculty of EducationPedagogická fakult

Low carbohydrate versus balanced carbohydrate diets for reducing weight and cardiovascular risk

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the effects of low carbohydrate weight‐reducing diets to weight‐reducing diets with balanced ranges of carbohydrates, in relation to changes in weight and cardiovascular risk, in overweight and obese adults without type 2 diabetes (comparison 1) and with type 2 diabetes (comparison 2)

Compliance Rates in Overweight Subjects Following Low Sucrose and Sucrose Containing Diets

Clinical obesity in the U.K. today is escalating despite continual attempts to reduce it (Prentice and Jebb, 1995). Compliance is central to successful weight loss and is influenced by many factors including dietary composition. It is postulated that deviations from reducing diets may be due to the exclusion of particular foods such as those containing added sucrose. Traditionally this type of sugar has been excluded from weight reducing diets and blamed as a significant contributor to obesity. However, evidence to justify the removal of it is sparse. Westenhoefer et al, (1993) suggest that the avoidance of sucrose offers no advantages in weight-reducing diets, yet it is still routinely excluded in dietetic practice. The present study compares the rates of weight loss of overweight individuals on two energy reduced diets in which the amounts of commercially added sucrose are varied. Compliance may also be affected by behavioural Actors. Attitudes and beliefs about different foods are important determinants as to whether a particular food is consumed (Shepherd, 1989) and therefore, whether prescribed diets are adhered to.The present crossover study evaluated compliance rates, weight loss and dietary beliefs of subjects on two isoenergetic energy reduced diets, containing quantifiable differences in added sucrose. Sixty-eight subjects were randomly allocated to either a Low Sucrose Diet (LSD, providing no more than 5% energy from added sucrose) or a Sucrose Containing Diet (SCD, providing 10% energy from added sucrose) for eight weeks and then switched to the alternate diet for 8 weeks. A questionnaire to explore attitudes and beliefs towards the diet was completed at weeks 0, 8 and 16. Weight was measured every fortnight and food record diaries were completed at baseline and weeks 2, 4 and 8 of each diet.Weight loss at eight weeks was 2.2kg (LSD) and 3.0kg (SCD). During weeks 9-16 minimal weight loss occurred. Interpretation of nutrient data after "switch over" was not possible due to under-reporting. Added sucrose levels at week 8 were 5% (LSD) and 9.0% (SCD) energy. Fat was lower on the SCD than on the LSD at this time. Both groups had positive attitudes towards reducing sucrose in their diets.In conclusion, weight loss can occur on a weight reducing diet which contains added sucrose. However preexisting negative attitudes towards the inclusion of added sucrose and foods containing it could create barriers to compliance using this approach

Editor’s note

No Abstract

Evaluation of Diets in Paperback Books and Popular Magazines for the Nutritional Adequacy of Teenage Girls

The purpose of this study is to provide a resource which can guide media specialists an the selection and use of diet programs found in paperback books and popular magazines. The media specialist can use the results directly as well as use the criteria to evaluate new diets as they appear. The study will evaluate the diets according to the Basic 4 food guide and the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). The results are expected to show that one fourth or less of the diets found in paperback books will meet all the criteria. It is expected that the diets found in magazines will do slightly better. Still over one half will be lacking in one or more of the major nutrients. If the above statements are true, the media specialist has a responsibility to provide wise selection and guidance in the use of such diets found in the media center materials