The effect of equalizing task demands on sex differences in lower extremity energy absorption

Background: Less lean mass and strength may result in greater relative task demands on females compared to males when landing from a standardized height and could explain sex differences in energy absorption strategies. We compared the magnitude of sex differences in energy absorption when task demands were equalized relative to the amount of lower extremity lean mass available to dissipate kinetic energy upon landing.Methods: Male–female pairs (n = 35) were assessed for lower extremity lean mass with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Relative task demands were calculated when landing from a standardized height. Based on the difference in lower extremity lean mass within each pair, task demands were equalized by increasing the drop height for males. Joint energetics were measured while landing from the two heights. Multivariate repeated measures ANOVAs compared the magnitude of sex differences in joint energetics between conditions.Findings: The multivariate test for absolute energy absorption was significant (P < 0.01). The magnitude of sex difference in energy absorption was greater at the hip and knee (both P < 0.01), but not the ankle (P = 0.43) during the equalized condition compared to the standardized and exaggerated conditions (all P < 0.01). There was no difference in the magnitude of sex differences between equalized, standardized and exaggerated conditions for relative energy absorption (P = 0.18).Interpretation: Equalizing task demands increased the difference in absolute hip and knee energy absorption between sexes, but had no effect on relative joint contributions to total energy absorption. Sex differences in energy absorption are likely influenced by factors other than differences in relative task demands

Environmental Risk Factors in Psoriasis: The Point of View of the Nutritionist

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, immune-mediated skin disease with systemic pro-inflammatory activation, where both environmental and genetic factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Among the risk factors for psoriasis, evidence is accumulating that nutrition plays a major role, per se, in psoriasis pathogenesis. In particular, body weight, nutrition, and diet may exacerbate the clinical manifestations, or even trigger the disease. Understanding the epidemiological relationship between obesity and psoriasis is also important for delineating the risk profile for the obesity-related comorbidities commonly found among psoriatic patients. Moreover, obesity can affect both drug's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Additionally, the overall beneficial effects on the obesity-associated comorbidities, clinical recommendations to reduce weight and to adopt a healthy lifestyle could improve the psoriasis severity, particularly in those patients with moderate to severe disease, thus exerting additional therapeutic effects in the conventional treatment in obese patients with psoriasis. Education regarding modifiable environmental factors is essential in the treatment of this disease and represents one of the primary interventions that can affect the prognosis of patients with psoriasis. The goal is to make psoriatic patients and health care providers aware of beneficial dietary interventions. The aim of this review is to assess the relevance of the environmental factors as modifiable risk factors in psoriasis pathogenesis, with particular regard to the involvement of obesity and nutrition in the management of psoriasis, providing also specific nutrition recommendations

Psychosocial and Physiological Factors Affecting Selection to Regional Age-Grade Rugby Union Squads: A Machine Learning Approach

Talent selection programmes choose athletes for talent development pathways. Currently, the set of psychosocial variables that determine talent selection in youth Rugby Union are unknown, with the literature almost exclusively focusing on physiological variables. The purpose of this study was to use a novel machine learning approach to identify the physiological and psychosocial models that predict selection to a regional age-grade rugby union team. Age-grade club rugby players (n = 104; age, 15.47 ± 0.80; U16, n = 62; U18, n = 42) were assessed for physiological and psychosocial factors during regional talent selection days. Predictive models (selected vs. non-selected) were created for forwards, backs, and across all players using Bayesian machine learning. The generated physiological models correctly classified 67.55% of all players, 70.09% of forwards, and 62.50% of backs. Greater hand-grip strength, faster 10 m and 40 m sprint, and power were common features for selection. The generated psychosocial models correctly classified 62.26% of all players, 73.66% of forwards, and 60.42% of backs. Reduced burnout, reduced emotional exhaustion, and lower reduced sense of accomplishment, were common features for selection. Selection appears to be predominantly based on greater strength, speed, and power, as well as lower athlete burnout

Increased adiposity appraised with cun-bae is highly predictive of incident hypertension. The sun project

Overweight and obesity are growing worldwide and strongly associated with hypertension. The Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE) index is proposed as an optimal indicator of body fatness. We aimed to investigate the association of body fat as captured by the CUN-BAE index with incident hypertension in a Mediterranean population. We assessed 15,950 participants of the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) prospective cohort (63.7% women) initially free of hypertension. Participants completed follow-up questionnaires biennially. A validated 136-item food-frequency questionnaire was administered at baseline. We used Cox models adjusted for multiple confounders. Among 12.3 years of median follow-up (interquartile range: 8.3, 15.0 years), 2160 participants reported having received a diagnosis of hypertension. We observed a strong direct association between progressively higher the CUN-BAE index at baseline and incident hypertension during follow-up in multivariable-adjusted models for men and women, even after further adjustment for BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, showing a significant association also in non-obese participants. For each 2-unit increase in the CUN-BAE index, hypertension risk increased by 27% and 29% in men and women, respectively. The results remained significant when considering longitudinal repeated measures of changes in body fat assessed with the CUN-BAE index among the different biennial follow-up questionnaires. Our results emphasize the importance of reducing and maintaining a low body fat to prevent hypertension

Exploring the relationship between body mass index and skinfold thickness in children and adolescents

This study explored the relationship between body mass index and sum of two skinfolds (S2SF) in children and adolescents. Variables examined include age group, race/ethnicity, and sex. A sample of 5249 children and adolescents, 6-17 years old, from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were divided into four age-groups as follows: ages 6-8, ages 9-11, ages 12-14, and ages 15-17. A significant effect (p 2 = 0.723) ; S2SF and race/ethnicity (R2 = 0.724); S2SF and sex (R2 = 0.748); S2SF and age group (R2 = 0.795); S2SF, age group, and race/ethnicity (R2 = 0.796); S2SF, age group, and sex (R2 = 0.815). The relationship between BMI and S2SF was linear for all but two male groups, but varied by age group and race/ethnicity for females. Findings suggest that no single equation best fits all children and adolescents

Estudo transversal das proporções e da composição corporais de pacientes brasileiras com Sindrome de Turner

Orientadores: Gil Guerra Junior, Andre Moreno MorcilloDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências MédicasResumo: Avaliar a composição e as proporções corporais de um grupo de pacientes brasileiras com síndrome de Turner (ST) e comparar com os dados dinamarqueses de Gravholt e Naeraa (1997). Métodos: Estudo transversal de 50 pacientes com ST (5-43 anos), avaliando-se idade, cariótipo, desenvolvimento puberal, medidas corporais de estatura em pé (Epé) e sentada (Es), Epé/Es, envergadura (Env), peso (P), IMC, perímetro cefálico (PC), comprimento da mão, do pé e da perna, cintura (C), quadril (Q), C/Q, diâmetros biacromial (Dbia) e biilíaco (Dbii). A composição corporal foi avaliada por bioimpedância elétrica (BIA) e pelas medidas de perímetro braquial e prega cutânea triciptal com cálculo das áreas magra e gorda do braço (Cameron, 1978). Sempre que possível os dados foram transformados em z escore. Foi feita análise descritiva, aplicados o teste de Mann-Whitney e a análise de variância. Resultados: Praticamente não se observaram diferenças das variáveis em relação aos cariótipos. Vinte e duas pacientes eram impúberes e 28 púberes, e todas as variáveis foram significativamente maiores na puberdade. A (média + 1DP) foi: Epé 135,3 + 13,1 cm; Es 73,4 + 6,7; Epé/Es 0,54 + 0,07; Env 133,4 + 15,5; P 39,1 + 14,2 Kg; IMC 20,6 + 5,1 Kg/m2; PC 53,1 + 2 cm; C/Q 0,87 + 0,07; mão 15,7 + 1,8 cm; pé 20,7 + 2,2 cm; Dbia 31,3 + 4,1 cm e Dbii 22,8 + 3,2 cm. Com exceção da Epé, Es e Env, os escores de DP de todas as variáveis apresentaram médias acima de ¿2DP. O mesmo foi observado quando foram analisadas apenas as 15 pacientes com idade acima de 20 anos, sendo somente o P, o IMC e os Dbia e Dbii significativamente menores que os dados dinamarqueses. Em relação à composição corporal destas 15 pacientes, observou-se que todos os dados não diferem significativamente, com exceção da água corporal total em Kg e da massa magra em Kg. No entanto, é interessante observar que todos os valores deste estudo são menores em relação ao estudo dinamarquês, com exceção da % de massa magra e da relação entre massa magra e massa gorda.Conclusão: O comprometimento de crescimento na ST ocorre fundamentalmente no eixo longitudinal, e os resultados observados neste estudo são comparáveis aos dinamarqueses, o mesmo ocorrendo em relação à composição corporal. Estas pacientes tendem a apresentar uma deposição de gordura localizada, com predomínio abdominalAbstract: To evaluate body composition and proportions in Brazilians patients with Turner Syndrome (TS) and compare with Danish data published by Gravholt & Naeraa (1997). Methods: A cross sectional study with 50 patients with TS (5-43 years), evaluating age, karyotype, pubertal development and body measurements like height (H), sitting height (SH), arm span (AS), weight (W), BMI, head circumference (HC), length of hand, foot and leg, waist (W), hip (H), W to H ratio (W/H), biacromial diameter (BiaD), and biiliac diameter (BiiD). The body composition was measured by bioimpedance electrical (BIA) and arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness, calculating arm fat and lean mass area (Cameron, 1978). The data were changed in z score as it is possible. A descriptive analysis was done and Mann-Whitney test and variance analysis were applied. Results: There were no significant differences of the antropometric findings according to the karyotype. Twenty-two patients were nonpubertal and 28 pubertal, and all of the measurements were significantly increased in puberty. The Mean ± SD were: H 135.3 + 13.1 cm; SH 73.4 + 6.7 cm; H/SH 0.54 + 0.07cm; AS 133.4 + 15.5 cm; W 39.1 + 14.2 Kg; BMI 20.6 + 5.1 Kg/m2; HC 53.1 + 2 cm; W/H 0.87 + 0.07; hand 15.7 + 1.8 cm; foot 20.7 + 2.2 cm; BiaD 31.3 + 4.1 cm; and BiiD 22.8 + 3.2 cm. The standard deviation scores of all variables showed means above -2, except H, SH and AS. The same was observed when only the 15 patients above 20 years were analyzed, only W, BMI, BiaD, and BiiD were significantly smaller than the Danish one. Regarding body composition of these patients, the data are similar, except total body water (Kg) and lean body mass (Kg). However, all variables of this study are smaller than the Danish data, except % lean body mass and lean mass/fat mass. Conclusion: The retardation of growth in TS occurs mainly in the longitudinal axis, when compared to the horizontal axis. Our results are comparable to those of the Danish study, occuring the same for body composition. These patients tend to accumulate fat mass, mostly in abdominal regionMestradoSaude da Criança e do AdolescenteMestre em Saude da Criança e do Adolescent

Sensibilidade e especificidade do índice de massa corporal (IMC) no diagnóstico de obsidade em idosos: comparação com a absortometria por raio-x dupla energia (DEXA) e proposta de novos pontos de corte

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição.Durante o envelhecimento ocorrem diminuições da massa livre de gordura (MLG), água corporal total e densidade mineral óssea (DMO) e aumento da gordura corporal (GC). O excesso de GC, definida como obesidade, está associado a diversas patologias, entre elas: hipertensão, diabetes tipo II, dislipidemias e cardiopatias. O Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), comumente usado para diagnóstico de obesidade em populações adultas, não faz discriminação entre GC e MLG, sexo ou faixa-etária e por tais motivos apresenta limitações, principalmente em idosos. Deste modo, o presente estudo teve por objetivo geral verificar a correlação entre o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e o método da absortometria por raio-X de dupla energia (DEXA) em indivíduos com mais de 60 anos, de ambos os sexos, visando à determinação de pontos de cortes sensíveis e específicos para o diagnóstico de obesidade. A amostra foi composta por 60 homens e 120 mulheres, com idade entre 60 e 81 anos, selecionados de forma aleatória sistemática, a partir de lista nominal dos sujeitos, pertencentes a quatro Grupos de Terceira Idade de Florianópolis-SC. As variáveis estatura e peso corporal foram mensuradas no período da manhã, junto ao Centro de Desportos da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e as medidas da DEXA foram realizadas no período da tarde no Centro de Diagnóstico por Imagem - SONITEC . Os dados foram analisados por meio do programa SPSS versão 11.5, adotando-se um nível de significância de p<0,05. Foi verificada a sensibilidade e a especificidade dos pontos de corte propostos pela Organização Mundial de Saúde e pelo Nutrition Screening Initiative por meio da Curva ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) bem como a concordância dos diagnósticos por meio do teste kappa. Os homens apresentaram IMC médio de 26,5±2,8 kg/m2 e um %GC médio de 23,02±5,8 enquanto que as mulheres apresentaram 27,4 3,9 kg/m2 de IMC e 37,3 6,9 de %GC. O coeficiente de concordância ( ) demonstrou baixos valores para os pontos de corte estudados, onde o melhor resultado apresentado foi para o IMC de 27kg/m2 na população masculina ( = 0,426), contudo este resultado pode ser considerado regular. A sensibilidade do IMC de 30 kg/m2 foi de 31,6% e 28,9% enquanto que a especificidade foi de 97,5% e 100% para homens e mulheres respectivamente. Novamente o ponto de corte de 27 kg/m2 para homens foi o que apresentou melhores valores 73,7% e 72,5%, já para mulheres o IMC de 25 kg/m2 apresentou 76,3% e 100% de sensibilidade e especificidade, respectivamente. Baixos valores de sensibilidade para idosos foram encontrados na literatura, semelhantes aos deste estudo. Através da curva ROC determinaram-se os pontos de corte de 27,5 kg/m2 para homens e 23 kg/m2 para mulheres como valores de melhor sensibilidade (73,7% e 87,7% para homens e mulheres) e especificidade (82,5% e 100% para homens e mulheres) para o diagnóstico de obesidade. Desta forma conclui-se que os pontos de corte do IMC analisados possuem baixa sensibilidade, podendo oferecer diagnóstico incorreto quanto à obesidade. Os pontos de corte propostos são mais sensíveis e específicos para a população idosa, propiciando diferenciação quanto ao sexo, podendo ser adotados para o diagnóstico desta patologia, quando a população tiver características semelhantes à estudada. During the aging happen decreases on the fat free mass (FFM), total body water and bone mineral density (BMD) and increase of the body fat (BF). The excess of BF, defined as obesity, is associated with several diseases like: hypertension, diabetes type II, high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. The Body Mass Index (BMI), is commonly used to diagnose obesity in populations, however it doesn't make some discrimination between BF and FFM, gender or age and, for this reasons, can make some mistakes on the diagnoses, mainly in elderly people. The present study had as objective to verify the correlation between BMI and the Dual energy X-ray absortometry (DEXA) in the people over than 60 years old, of both gender, and to establish better cut-offs for this population. The study counted with 60 men and 120 women with age between 60 and 81 years, selected by systematic aleatory way, from a nominal list of the subjects by four groups of third age of Florianópolis-SC, Brazil. The variables stature and body weight were verify on the morning, on the Sports Center of Santa Catarina's Federal University and the DEXA were accomplished on afternoon, in the same day, on the Center of Images Diagnosis - SONITEC . The data were analyzed through statistical packages SPSS version 11.5, and was considered significant the confidence interval of 95% (p <0,05). The sensibility and specificity of the cuts-off, proposed by WHO (25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2) and the Nutrition Screening Institute - NSI, 1992 - (27 kg/m2) was verified through ROC curve (Receiver Operating Characteristic) as well as the agreement of the diagnoses through the kappa's test ( ). The men presented a BMI medium of the 26,5±2,8 kg/m2 and a %BF of the 23,02±5,8% while the women presented 27,4±3,9 kg/m2 of BMI and 37,3±6,9 of %BF. The Kappa's coefficient demonstrated low values for the studied cuts-off, and the best result was for the 27kg/m2 cut-off of BMI in the masculine population ( = 0,426). However, this result can only be considered as regular. The sensibility of the cut-off 30 kg/m2 was 31,6% and 28,9% for men and women while the specificity was 97,5% and 100%. The 27 kg/m2 cut-off for men presented better values again, 73,7% of the sensibility and 72,5% of specificity, but in the women, the 25 kg/m2 cut-off it presented 76,3% and 100% of sensibility and specificity respectively. Low values of sensibility for elderly were found on the literature, like this study. Using the ROC curve could be determined the cuts-off of BMI of the 27,5 kg/m2 for men and 23 kg/m2 for women as better values of the sensibility (73,7% and 87,7% for men and women) and specificity (82,5% and 100% for men and women) to discriminate obesity. For this way, could be concluded that the analyzed cuts-off of BMI had low sensibility and could offer incorrect diagnosis of obesity. The proposed cuts-off are more sensitive, and specific for the elderly people, and make differentiation between gender, so could be adopted for the diagnosis of this pathology when the population has characteristics similar to this studied

Three Essays Evaluating Health Impacts of the National School Lunch Program

This research focuses on the health impacts of participation in the National School Lunch Program, a program providing free and reduced-cost lunches for income-eligible students and minimally subsidizing lunches for income-ineligible students. In the past decade, increasing incidence of childhood obesity, particularly among low-income individuals has drawn scrutiny over the NSLP\u27s role in the health of student-aged children. The first chapter introduces the reader to the NSLP, providing a history of the program since its inception at the turn of the 20th century and addressing current issues in the economic literature regarding health impacts of program participation. The second chapter examines four econometric models estimating the effect of NSLP participation on obesity and finds mixed results. Much of the previous literature assumes that all NSLP participants receive nutritionally equivalent meals, regardless of school or student characteristics. The third and fourth chapters use novel datasets to investigate the validity of this assumption. Chapter Three examines menu offerings of the NSLP across school districts, highlighting variability in menu composition across income levels. Chapter Four addresses factors affecting students\u27 selection of the daily entrée, including race, gender, age, and income-eligibility. Key results include: 1) students attending wealthier school districts are offered more entrees, fruits and vegetable choices per week, possibly resulting in nutritionally superior meals; 2) students receiving free lunches are more likely than students purchasing paid-price lunches to choose entrees with more fat and carbohydrates and less protein