The relationship of female physical attractiveness to body fatness

Funding This work was supported by NSFC grant 91431102 from the National Science Foundation of China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Acknowledgements We are grateful to all the participants from all the countries and all the members of Molecular Energetics Group for their help on the investigation and discussion of the results.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Impact of frequency of application on the long-term efficacy of the biocontrol product Aflasafe in reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize

Aflatoxins, produced by several Aspergillus section Flavi species in various crops, are a significant public health risk and a barrier to trade and development. In sub-Saharan Africa, maize and groundnut are particularly vulnerable to aflatoxin contamination. Aflasafe, a registered aflatoxin biocontrol product, utilizes atoxigenic A. flavus genotypes native to Nigeria to displace aflatoxin producers and mitigate aflatoxin contamination. Aflasafe was evaluated in farmers’ fields for 3 years, under various regimens, to quantify carry-over of the biocontrol active ingredient genotypes. Nine maize fields were each treated either continuously for 3 years, the first two successive years, in year 1 and year 3, or once during the first year. For each treated field, a nearby untreated field was monitored. Aflatoxins were quantified in grain at harvest and after simulated poor storage. Biocontrol efficacy and frequencies of the active ingredient genotypes decreased in the absence of annual treatment. Maize treated consecutively for 2 or 3 years had significantly (p < 0.05) less aflatoxin (92% less) in grain at harvest than untreated maize. Maize grain from treated fields subjected to simulated poor storage had significantly less (p < 0.05) aflatoxin than grain from untreated fields, regardless of application regimen. Active ingredients occurred at higher frequencies in soil and grain from treated fields than from untreated fields. The incidence of active ingredients recovered in soil was significantly correlated (r = 0.898; p < 0.001) with the incidence of active ingredients in grain, which in turn was also significantly correlated (r = −0.621, p = 0.02) with aflatoxin concentration. Although there were carryover effects, caution should be taken when drawing recommendations about discontinuing biocontrol use. Cost–benefit analyses of single season and carry-over influences are needed to optimize use by communities of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

Physical activity and clustered cardiovascular disease risk factors in young children: a cross-sectional study (the IDEFICS study)

&lt;p&gt;Background The relevance of physical activity (PA) for combating cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in children has been highlighted, but to date there has been no large-scale study analyzing that association in children aged &#8804;9 years of age. This study sought to evaluate the associations between objectively-measured PA and clustered CVD risk factors in a large sample of European children, and to provide evidence for gender-specific recommendations of PA.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods Cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study in 16,224 children aged 2 to 9 were collected. Of these, 3,120 (1,016 between 2 to 6 years, 2,104 between 6 to 9 years) had sufficient data for inclusion in the current analyses. Two different age-specific and gender-specific clustered CVD risk scores associated with PA were determined. First, a CVD risk factor (CRF) continuous score was computed using the following variables: systolic blood pressure (SBP), total triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) ratio, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and sum of two skinfolds (score CRFs). Secondly, another CVD risk score was obtained for older children containing the score CRFs + the cardiorespiratory fitness variable (termed score CRFs + fit). Data used in the current analysis were derived from the IDEFICS (‘Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS’) study.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results In boys &#60;6 years, the odds ratios (OR) for CVD risk were elevated in the least active quintile of PA (OR: 2.58) compared with the most active quintile as well as the second quintile for vigorous PA (OR: 2.91). Compared with the most active quintile, older children in the first, second and third quintiles had OR for CVD risk score CRFs + fit ranging from OR 2.69 to 5.40 in boys, and from OR 2.85 to 7.05 in girls.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusions PA is important to protect against clustering of CVD risk factors in young children, being more consistent in those older than 6 years. Healthcare professionals should recommend around 60 and 85 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA, including 20 min/day of vigorous PA.&lt;/p&gt

Aerobic capacity, activity levels and daily energy expenditure in male and female adolescents of the kenyan nandi sub-group

The relative importance of genetic and socio-cultural influences contributing to the success of east Africans in endurance athletics remains unknown in part because the pre-training phenotype of this population remains incompletely assessed. Here cardiopulmonary fitness, physical activity levels, distance travelled to school and daily energy expenditure in 15 habitually active male (13.9±1.6 years) and 15 habitually active female (13.9±1.2) adolescents from a rural Nandi primary school are assessed. Aerobic capacity ([Formula: see text]) was evaluated during two maximal discontinuous incremental exercise tests; physical activity using accelerometry combined with a global positioning system; and energy expenditure using the doubly labelled water method. The [Formula: see text] of the male and female adolescents were 73.9±5.7 ml(.) kg(-1.) min(-1) and 61.5±6.3 ml(.) kg(-1.) min(-1), respectively. Total time spent in sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous physical activities per day was 406±63 min (50% of total monitored time), 244±56 min (30%), 75±18 min (9%) and 82±30 min (10%). Average total daily distance travelled to and from school was 7.5±3.0 km (0.8-13.4 km). Mean daily energy expenditure, activity-induced energy expenditure and physical activity level was 12.2±3.4 MJ(.) day(-1), 5.4±3.0 MJ(.) day(-1) and 2.2±0.6. 70.6% of the variation in [Formula: see text] was explained by sex (partial R(2) = 54.7%) and body mass index (partial R(2) = 15.9%). Energy expenditure and physical activity variables did not predict variation in [Formula: see text] once sex had been accounted for. The highly active and energy-demanding lifestyle of rural Kenyan adolescents may account for their exceptional aerobic fitness and collectively prime them for later training and athletic success

Acceptability of an adapted mindfulness and acceptance-based intervention to support adolescents with HIV: A qualitative study with Ugandan health care providers

While the adaptation of evidence-based psychosocial support tailors the intervention components to the targeted context, minimizing the associated costs of developing new interventions for low-income contexts, the acceptability of such adapted interventions is important for augmenting successful implementation and sustainability. Given that psychosocial support to persons living with HIV is mostly rendered by healthcare providers, their acceptance of adapted interventions before implementation is crucial. This study explored healthcare providers' acceptance of an adapted mindfulness and acceptance-based intervention supporting adolescents with HIV. Ten healthcare providers at two urban clinics in Kampala, Uganda attended a three-day training on using the adapted intervention and gave feedback on its appropriateness during in-depth interviews conducted thereafter. Semi-structured interviews were based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability and findings were analyzed abductively within the seven components of the framework. Overall, the adapted intervention was perceived to be acceptable and appropriate for use with adolescents. Benefits included the intervention offering support beyond a focus on adherence to drugs, refocusing adolescents on aspects in their lives that matter most, and being easy to integrate into providers’ work processes. Providers however expressed concern about the time the intervention requires and the possibility of increasing their workload. These findings will support further adaptation and implementation

Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of physical activity levels among South African adults in Cape Town and Mount Frere communities in 2008-2009

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has been linked to reduced risk of various cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and premature mortality. We investigated the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of physical activity among adults in urban and rural communities in South Africa. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey comprising 1733 adults aged ?35 years from the Cape Town (urban) and Mount Frere (rural) sites of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study. Physical activity was assessed using the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to relate physical activity with socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, 74% of participants engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In the adjusted regression models, women were 34% less likely to engage in vigorous physical activity (OR =0.66, 95%-CI = 0.47-0.93). Physical activity decreased with age, varied with marital status, education and occupation, always in differential ways between urban and rural participants (all interactions p ? 0.047). For instance, in urban settings, those with secondary education were more likely to engage in moderate physical activity (OR = 2.06, 95%-CI = 1.08-3.92) than those with tertiary education. Single people were more likely to engage in high physical activity (OR = 2.10, 95%-CI = 1.03-4.28) than divorced. Overall, skilled participants were more likely to engage in vigorous physical activity (OR = 2.07, 95%-CI = 1.41-3.05) driven by significant effect in rural area (OR = 2.70, 95%-CI = 1.51-4.83). Urban participants were more likely to engage in moderate physical activity (OR = 1.67, 95%-CI = 1.31-2.13) than rural participants. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent chronic diseases among South Africans, attention should be paid to specific policies and interventions aimed at promoting PA among young adults in rural and urban setting, and across the social-economic diversity

Human total, basal and activity energy expenditures are independent of ambient environmental temperature

Acknowledgments The DLW database, which can be found at https://www.dlwdatabase.org, is hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and generously supported by Taiyo Nippon Sanso and SERCON . We are grateful to the IAEA and these companies for their support. XYZ was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant CAS 153E11KYSB20190045 to J.R.S.), and the database was also supported by the US National Science Foundation (grant BCS-1824466 to H.P.). The funders played no role in the content of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Physical activity and fat-free mass during growth and in later life

Physical activity may be a way to increase and maintain fat-free mass (FFM) in later life, similar to the prevention of fractures by increasing peak bone mass.A study is presented of the association between FFM and physical activity in relation to age.In a cross-sectional study, FFM was analyzed in relation to physical activity in a large participant group as compiled in the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labeled Water database. The database included 2000 participants, age 3–96 y, with measurements of total energy expenditure (TEE) and resting energy expenditure (REE) to allow calculation of physical activity level (PAL = TEE/REE), and calculation of FFM from isotope dilution.PAL was a main determinant of body composition at all ages. Models with age, fat mass (FM), and PAL explained 76\% and 85\% of the variation in FFM in females and males &lt; 18 y old, and 32\% and 47\% of the variation in FFM in females and males ≥ 18 y old, respectively. In participants &lt; 18 y old, mean FM-adjusted FFM was 1.7 kg (95\% CI: 0.1, 3.2 kg) and 3.4 kg (95\% CI: 1.0, 5.6 kg) higher in a very active participant with PAL = 2.0 than in a sedentary participant with PAL = 1.5, for females and males, respectively. At age 18 y, height and FM–adjusted FFM was 3.6 kg (95\% CI: 2.8, 4.4 kg) and 4.4 kg (95\% CI: 3.2, 5.7 kg) higher, and at age 80 y 0.7 kg (95\% CI: −0.2, 1.7 kg) and 1.0 kg (95\% CI: −0.1, 2.1 kg) higher, in a participant with PAL = 2.0 than in a participant with PAL = 1.5, for females and males, respectively.If these associations are causal, they suggest physical activity is a major determinant of body composition as reflected in peak FFM, and that a physically active lifestyle can only partly protect against loss of FFM in aging adults