Developing self-regulation for dietary temptations: intervention effects on physical, self-regulatory and psychological outcomes

We aimed to investigate whether a self-regulatory skills intervention can improve weight loss-related outcomes. Fifty-five participants (M BMI = 32.60 ± 4.86) were randomized into self-regulation training and advice groups and received two training workshops and weekly practice tasks. The self-regulation training group was trained to use six self-regulatory skills: Delayed gratification, thought control, goal setting, self-monitoring, mindfulness, and coping. The advice group received dietary and physical activity advice for weight loss. Physical, self-regulatory, and psychological measures were taken at baseline, end of intervention (week 8) and at follow-up (week 12). Using intention-to-treat analysis, weight, waist circumference, body fat and body mass index (BMI) were significantly reduced at follow-up for both groups. There were significant increases in all six self-regulatory skills and the psychological measures of self-efficacy, self-regulatory success, and physical self-worth for both groups. Results indicate that self-regulatory skills training might be as effective as dietary and physical activity advice in terms of weight loss and related outcomes

Differing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health: combined population and clinical study

Background: Identifying youths most at risk to COVID-19-related mental illness is essential for the development of effective targeted interventions. Aims: To compare trajectories of mental health throughout the pandemic in youth with and without prior mental illness and identify those most at risk of COVID-19-related mental illness. Method: Data were collected from individuals aged 18-26 years (N = 669) from two existing cohorts: IMAGEN, a population-based cohort; and ESTRA/STRATIFY, clinical cohorts of individuals with preexisting diagnoses of mental disorders. Repeated COVID-19 surveys and standardised mental health assessments were used to compare trajectories of mental health symptoms from before the pandemic through to the second lockdown. Results: Mental health trajectories differed significantly between cohorts. In the population cohort, depression and eating disorder symptoms increased by 33.9% (95% CI 31.78-36.57) and 15.6% (95% CI 15.39-15.68) during the pandemic, respectively. By contrast, these remained high over time in the clinical cohort. Conversely, trajectories of alcohol misuse were similar in both cohorts, decreasing continuously (a 15.2% decrease) during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic symptom severity predicted the observed mental health trajectories in the population cohort. Surprisingly, being relatively healthy predicted increases in depression and eating disorder symptoms and in body mass index. By contrast, those initially at higher risk for depression or eating disorders reported a lasting decrease. Conclusions: Healthier young people may be at greater risk of developing depressive or eating disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted mental health interventions considering prior diagnostic risk may be warranted to help young people cope with the challenges of psychosocial stress and reduce the associated healthcare burden

Digital health behaviour change interventions targeting physical activity and diet in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: The number of cancer survivors has risen substantially due to improvements in early diagnosis and treatment. Health behaviours such as physical activity (PA) and diet can reduce recurrence and mortality, and alleviate negative consequences of cancer and treatments. Digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) have the potential to reach large numbers of cancer survivors. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of relevant studies identified by a search of Medline, EMBASE, PubMed and CINAHL. Studies which assessed a DBCI with measures of PA, diet and/or sedentary behaviour were included. Results: 15 studies were identified. Random effects meta-analyses showed significant improvements in moderate-vigorous PA (7 studies; mean difference (MD) = 41 minutes per week; 95% CI: 12, 71) and body mass index (BMI)/weight (standardised mean difference (SMD) = -0.23; 95% CI: -0.41, -0.05). There was a trend toward significance for reduced fatigue and no significant change in cancer-specific quality of life (QoL). Narrative synthesis revealed mixed evidence for effects on diet, generic QoL and self-efficacy and no evidence of an effect on mental health. Two studies suggested improved sleep quality. Conclusions: DBCIs may improve PA and BMI among cancer survivors and there is mixed evidence for diet. The number of included studies is small and risk of bias and heterogeneity was high. Future research should address these limitations with large, high-quality RCTs, with objective measures of PA and sedentary time. Implications for cancer survivors: Digital technologies offer a promising approach to encourage health behaviour change among cancer survivors

Has Motivational Interviewing fallen into its own Premature Focus Trap?

Since the initial conception of the behaviour change method Motivational Interviewing, there has been a shift evident in epistemological, methodological and practical applications, from an inductive, process and practitioner-focussed approach to that which is more deductive, research-outcome, and confirmatory-focussed. This paper highlights the conceptual and practical problems of adopting this approach, including the consequences of assessing the what (deductive outcome-focussed) at the expense of the how (inductively process-focussed). We encourage a return to an inductive, practitioner and client-focussed MI approach and propose the use of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Systems such as NVivo in research initiatives to support this aim

Retrospective evaluation of blood copper stable isotopes ratio Cu-65/Cu-63 as a biomarker of cancer in dogs

International audiencePrevious studies in humans with breast, colorectal or liver cancer showed that neoplasia was associated with a modification of the blood ratio between Cu-65 and Cu-63 (partial derivative Cu). The aim of the present study was to compare the blood partial derivative Cu of dogs with cancer to healthy controls or dogs with non-oncologic disease. One hundred and seventeen dogs were included in the study (35 dogs with cancer, 33 dogs with non-neoplastic disease, and 49 healthy controls). The partial derivative Cu of dogs with cancer was significantly lower than the ratio of healthy controls (P \textless 0.0001) but not significantly different from dogs with non-oncologic disease. Six dogs with lymphoma were also evaluated after they achieved clinical remission and five out of six had an increase of partial derivative Cu. Further studies are warranted but these results suggest that partial derivative Cu could help in the diagnosis of cancer in a controlled clinical context, and may be a potential biomarker for the follow-up of cancer