Excess body weight as a risk factor to well-being and performance of flight personnel : potential strategies of prevention

Flight personnel is at risk of excessive weight and obesity. This is due to, for instance, irregular work schedules, irregular nutritional habits, excessive workload, and an inability to plan regular physical exercise or recreation. These factors lead to excessive body weight gains, and hence to obesity. Obesity directly infl uences quality of life as well as readiness to fulfi ll duties by the aircraft maintenance personnel. Obesity is an independent risk factor for various diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, each of which can lead to a loss of medical licence. Obesity is associated with extensive caloric consumption that cannot be controlled by the aff ected person. State of the art research has demonstrated not only hormonal and neuronal changes associated with obesity, but also points to deterioration of cognitive functions; these changes are likely induced by suboptimal diets. Furthermore, we will review prevention strategies, as well as treatments aimed at losing weight in fl ight personnel already aff ected by obesity. Implementation of these programs may prolong the time a pilot is fi t to fl y and improve his/her performance

Real life changes in physical activity due to intragastric balloon therapy and their relationship to improving cognitive functions : preliminary findings

Background. We evaluated if the intragastric balloon (IGB) treatment leads to the increase in physical activity (PA) and whether they are related to cognitive improvements. Methods. Fourteen morbidly obese patients (151 ± 24 kg, BMI = 51.8 ± 6.5, 107 ± 26% excess weight, 43.3 ± 10.6 years) underwent 6-day-long, uninterrupted evaluations of PA 1 month before IGB insertion and 1 month after its removal. Results Active energy expenditure and physical activity duration increased by more than 80% (p < 0.001) whereas the number of steps per day by 20% (p = 0.016). There was a pattern of relationships between cognitive improvements and increases in PA (p < 0.05). In particular, working memory improvements correlated with the increase in time spent on light physical activities (r = 0.673, p = 0.004). Conclusion. The relationships suggest that an increase in physical activity mediates cognitive improvements in bariatric patients

Cognitive improvements following body mass reduction induced by intragastric balloon placement in morbidly obese patients : a preliminary study

Introduction: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with poorer cognitive performance. Reports suggest that bariatric surgery may lead to improvements in cognitive processes. However, the potential effects of mood improvements have not yet been evaluated. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of intragastric balloon (IGB) induced weight loss on cognitive performance in morbidly obese patients and relate them to changes in mood. Methods: Twenty four morbidly obese patients (43.9±12.0 years of age, 145.6±22.3kg, body mass index (BMI): 49.8±6.9, 11 females, 14 with T2DM), underwent tests of visual short-term memory (Benton Visual Retention Test), sustained and divided attention (Color Trail Test), and verbal short-term memory: (Digit Span from WAIS-R) 1) a month before IGB insertion, 2) three months after, 3) one month after IGB removal. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Significant cognitive improvement was observed over the first three months of IGB treatment in verbal short-term memory, visual short-term memory, and sustained and divided attention among all patients, regardless of their T2DM status. However, these changes correlated with weight loss only in patients without comorbid T2DM. The cognitive changes were not associated with changes in depressive symptoms. The improved cognitive performance was sustained over the last three months of the treatment. Conclusions: Morbid obesity treatment with an intragastric balloon leads to cognitive improvements. These improvements are not associated with mood changes

Does long-term high fat diet always lead to smaller hippocampi volumes, metabolite concentrations, and worse learning and memory? : a magnetic resonance and behavioral study in wistar rats

Background. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic with more than 600 million affected individuals. Human studies have demonstrated some alterations in brains of otherwise healthy obese individuals and elevated risk of neurodegenerative disease of old age; these studies have also pointed to slightly diminished memory and executive functions among healthy obese individuals. Similar findings were obtained in animal models of obesity induced by high fat diet. On the other hand, low carbohydrate high fat diets are currently promoted for losing weight (e.g., Atkin’s style diets). However, the long-term effects of such diets are not known. Additionally, high fat diets leading to (mild) ketonemia were shown to improve brain function in elderly humans and in some animal models. Aim. To evaluate the hypothesis that long-term use of a high fat diet was associated with decreases in spatial memory, smaller hippocampi and hippocampi metabolite concentrations in Wistar rats. Methods. Twenty five male Wistar rats were put on high fat diet (HFD; 60% calories from fat, 30% from carbohydrates) on their 55th day of life, while 25 control male rats (CONs) remained on chow. Adequate levels of essential nutrients were provided. Both groups underwent memory tests in 8-arm radial maze at 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th month. 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to measure concentrations of tNAA (marker of neuronal integrity) at one month and one year, whereas MRI was used to evaluate hippocampal volumes. Results. Obese rats (OBRs) consumed similar amount of calories as CONs, but less proteins. However, their protein intake was within recommended amounts. Throughout the experiment OBRs had statistically higher concentrations of blood ketone bodies than CONs, but still within normal values. At post-mortem assessment, OBRs had 38% larger fat deposits than CONs (p<0.05), as evaluated by volume of epididymis fat, an acknowledged marker of fat deposits in rats. Contrary to our expectations, OBRs had better scores of memory behavioral tasks than CONs throughout the experiment. At one year, their hippocampi were by 2.6% larger than in CONs (p = 0.05), whereas concentration of tNAA was 9.8% higher (p = 0.014). Conclusion. Long-term HFD in our study resulted in better memory, larger hippocampal volumes, as well as higher hippocampal metabolite concentrations, possibly due to increased levels of blood ketone bodies. The results should be interpreted with caution, as results from animal models do not necessarily directly translate in human condition

Body mass index is associated with brain metabolite levels in alcohol dependence : a multimodal magnetic resonance study

BACKGROUND: Recent studies demonstrated that alcohol dependence and excessive alcohol consumption are associated with increased rates of obesity. In healthy light-drinkers, we and others have observed associations between elevated body mass index (BMI) and reductions in brain volumes, lower concentrations of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA, marker of neuronal viability) and choline-containing compounds (Cho, involved in membrane turnover), and lower glucose utilization, particularly in frontal lobe – a brain region that is particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol dependence. Here, we evaluated whether BMI in alcohol dependent individuals was independently associated with regional measures of brain structure, metabolite concentrations, and neocortical blood flow. METHODS: As part of a study on the effects of alcohol dependence on neurobiology, we analyzed retrospectively data from 54 alcohol dependent males, abstinent from alcohol for about one month and with BMI between 20 and 37 kg/m(2) by structural MRI, perfusion MRI (blood flow) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. RESULTS: After correction for age, smoking status, and various measures of alcohol consumption, higher BMI was associated with lower concentrations of NAA, Cho, creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr, involved in high energy metabolism), and myoinositol (m-Ino, a putative marker of astrocytes) primarily in the frontal lobe, in subcortical nuclei, and cerebellar vermis (p<0.004). Regional brain volumes and perfusion were not significantly related to BMI. Furthermore, co-morbid conditions, clinical laboratory measures, and nutritional assessments were not significant predictors of these MR-based measures. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that BMI, independent of age, alcohol consumption and common comorbidities, is related to regional NAA, Cho, Cr, and m-Ino concentrations in this cohort of alcohol dependent individuals. Additionally, as some common co-morbid conditions in alcohol dependence such as cigarette smoking are associated with BMI, their associations with regional brain metabolite levels in alcohol-dependent individuals may also be influenced by BMI

Assessment of risk factors for development of overweight and obesity among soldiers of Polish Armed Forces participating in the National Health Programme 2016-2020

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish Armed Forces soldiers and to analyze risk factors impacting body mass. In total, 1096 male, Caucasian soldiers (36.31 ± 8.03 years) participated in this study. Anthropometric data were obtained, and questionnaires evaluated sociodemographic, environmental, behavioral and biological factors known to be associated with obesity. Only 33% of the total number of participants had normal body weight, and 17.3% were considered obese (according to WHO criteria). The results showed that being 40 years or older, sleeping six hours or less per day, more frequent reaching for food in stressful situations, having a mother with excessive body weight, not exercising or exercising at most two days per week, and spending two hours a day or more in front of the TV increase the risk of obesity. Taken together, the results show that factors such as family history of obesity, dietary habits, physical activity, length of sleep and ability to cope with stress could be used to identify soldiers at higher risk of developing obesity in order to provide them with personalized prevention programs

The prevalence of overweight and obesity vs. the level of physical activity of aviation military academy students

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate overweight, obesity and the level of physical activity in the study group of 100 cadets of the Air Force Military Academy in Dęblin (WSOSP). Material and Methods: Evaluation of overweight and obesity was based on body mass index (BMI) and body fat content. An accelerometer AiperMotion 500TM was used to measure the level of physical activity. There were marked such parameters as the average daily energy consumption, the average distance covered during the day and the whole week and the indicator of physical activity level (PAL). Results: Based on BMI indicators, 71.3% of the cadets had normal body weight, 25.3% were overweight and 3.4% were obese. Assessment of nutritional status showed significant differences between the 1st and 2nd vs. the 4th and 5th years of study. Normal BMI values showed 88% of the 1st and 2nd year students, while of the 4th and 5th years – only 48.6% (p < 0.05). Based on the body fat content, obesity was found only in a group of older students (16.2%) and overweight was 10 times higher in the 4th and 5th years (21.6%) in comparison to younger students (2%). The average distance covered during the day or during the whole week was significantly higher in the 1st and 2nd year students. Conclusions: It is necessary to implement appropriate measures in the field of nutrition and physical activity to prevent the development of excessive body weight during studies among the military cadets of the Air Force Military Academy in Dęblin. Med Pr 2015;66(5):653–66