Variations in the Prevalence of Obesity Among European Countries, and a Consideration of Possible Causes

Over the last 10 years the prevalence of obesity across the European continent has in general been rising. With the exception of a few countries where a levelling-off can be perceived, albeit at a high level, this upward trend seems likely to continue. However, considerable country to country variation is noticeable, with the proportion of people with obesity varying by 10% or more. This variation is intriguing and suggests the existence of different profiles of risk or protection factors operating in different countries. The identification of such protection factors could indicate suitable targets for interventions to help manage the obesity epidemic in Europe. This report is the output of a 2-day workshop on the ‘Diversity of Obesity in Europe'. The workshop included 14 delegates from 12 different European countries. This report contains the contributions and discussions of the materials and viewpoints provided by these 14 experts; it is not the output of a single mind. However, such is the nature of scientific analysis regarding obesity that it is possible that a different set of 14 experts may have come to a different set of conclusions. Therefore the report should not be seen as a definitive statement of a stable situation. Rather it is a focus for discussion and comment, and a vehicle to drive forward further understanding and management of obesity in Europe

Relative validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire designed for schoolchildren in western Greece

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) has become increasingly important in epidemiologic studies. During the past few decades, a wide variety of nutritional studies have used the semiquantitative FFQ as a tool for assessing and evaluating dietary intake. One of the main concerns in a dietary analysis is the validity of the collected dietary data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This paper discusses several methodological and statistical issues related to the validation of a semiquantitative FFQ. This questionnaire was used to assess the nutritional habits of schoolchildren in western Greece. For validation purposes, we selected 200 schoolchildren and contacted their respective parents. We evaluated the relative validity of 400 FFQs (200 children's FFQs and 200 parents' FFQs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The correlations between the children's and the parents' questionnaire responses showed that the questionnaire we designed was appropriate for fulfilling the purposes of our study and in ranking subjects according to food group intake.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study shows that the semiquantitative FFQ provides a reasonably reliable measure of dietary intake and corroborates the relative validity of our questionnaire.</p

Variants in CUL4B are Associated with Cerebral Malformations

Variants in cullin 4B (CUL4B) are a known cause of syndromic X-linked intellectual disability. Here, we describe an additional 25 patients from 11 families with variants in CUL4B. We identified nine different novel variants in these families and confirmed the pathogenicity of all nontruncating variants. Neuroimaging data, available for 15 patients, showed the presence of cerebral malformations in ten patients. The cerebral anomalies comprised malformations of cortical development (MCD), ventriculomegaly, and diminished white matter volume. The phenotypic heterogeneity of the cerebral malformations might result from the involvement of CUL-4B in various cellular pathways essential for normal brain development. Accordingly, we show that CUL-4B interacts with WDR62, a protein in which variants were previously identified in patients with microcephaly and a wide range of MCD. This interaction might contribute to the development of cerebral malformations in patients with variants in CUL4B

Fat distribution in European women: a comparison of anthropometric measurements in relation to cardiovascular risk factors

In this study in 437 women born in 1948 selected from five European towns we show that several anthropometric measurements are consistently and significantly associated with a metabolic risk profile in premenopausal women of 38 years of age. Among the circumferences, breast and waist circumference were, after adjustment for body mass index positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (negative associations), serum triglycerides, and serum insulin. The optimal level for measuring waist circumference was determined as being midway between the lower rib margin and the superior anterior iliac crest. Circumference ratios generally did show less consistent and similar or lower correlations with diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and serum insulin. Waist/thigh circumference ratio showed the strongest partial associations with HDL-cholesterol and serum triglycerides among all anthropometric variables studied. The authors conclude that, independently of the degree of fatness, indicators of truncal fat distribution (in the region of the breast as well as the abdomen) are related to an unfavourable risk profile in European premenopausal women. The study gives a rationale for selecting the most informative anthropometric measurements to be added to height and weight in epidemiological studies

Serum LP(A) levels in randomized healthy men from different European countries

Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], blood lipids, serum insulin and anthropometric parameters were determined in randomized samples of 38-year-old men living in six European cities: Ede (The Netherlands), Deinze (Belgium), Warsaw (Poland), Lumiar (Portugal), Verona and Naples (respectively in northern and in southern Italy). In total, 406 healthy men were studied. Serum Lp(a), blood lipids and serum insulin were measured in one laboratory. All the anthropometric and metabolic variables considered were statistically different among the participating sites, with the exception of Lp(a) serum levels. In spite of the lack of overall significant inter-center differences (Kruskal-Wallis test), the subjects from the two Italian cities had significantly lower Lp(a) serum levels than the subjects from Belgium and Portugal (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.01). In all cities the distribution of serum Lp(a) levels were highly skewed; the percentage of subjects with serum Lp(a) levels higher than 30 mg/dl (i.e., the commonly accepted risk level of cardiovascular disease) was 6% in both Verona and Naples (Italy), 12% in The Netherlands, 16% in Poland, 18% in Belgium and 19% in Portugal (for the last two cities, respectively, p < 0.02 and p < 0.01 vs Italian cities, chi-square test). Neither anthropometric (body mass index, waist/hip circumference ratio) nor metabolic (serum lipids and insulin) parameters showed any significant relationship with serum Lp(a) levels in any of the sites (Spearman's rank correlation). These data support the possibility of a difference in serum Lp(a) levels among different European countries