Background/Aims: The identification of behavioural and metabolic risk factors of weight gain is a continuous challenge. This study wants to assess the predictive value of non-protein respiratory quotient (NPRQ) and resting energy expenditure (REE) on changes of body weight after a 3 years follow-up in overweight and obese young women. Methods: Thirty-four women of age 25.7±5.8 years and BMI of 31.06±3.72, which were measured weight, height, body composition, resting energy expenditure and nonproteic respiratory quotient, started a weight loss programme and they attended individual, monthly follow-up visits for an average time of 7 months. After 36 months from baseline, subjects were contacted and invited to the clinic for a set of new measurements. Results: After 36 months weight change (weight loss) was 3.08±9.8 kg. The NPRQ showed a significant increase at the follow up (p<0.05). Change (D) in body weight (BW) was significantly correlated with DNPRQ (p<0.01) and DREE (p<0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed that DBW was predicted by baseline NPRQ and high baseline values were associated with weight gain after 36 months. Conclusion: Baseline NPRQ was a significant predictor of weight change in overweight young women.
The protein and peptide fraction of human milk samples collected from mothers of pre- and full-term infants in the first week after parturition was analysed by use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry. By characterising the peptide sequence, we defined the pathway of casein hydrolysis which leads to the formation of small peptides through intermediate oligopeptides. It was found that the action of a plasmin-like enzyme acting on specific lysine residues is the primary step in casein degradation. This is followed by endopeptidases and/or exopeptidases mediated cleavage of the oligopeptides which, in turn, produces a multiplicity of short peptides differing by one or more amino acid residues. In this process, a series of potentially bioactive peptides (opioid, phosphopeptides) and their precursors are produced.
Dieting is a behavioral phenomenon which is becoming more frequent among adolescents and the search for weight loss, through dieting, may result in an unbalanced nutrition both quantitatively and qualitatively. Our study intended to look at the eating habits and behavior on a cohort of adolescent girls to verify the presence of unbalanced diets and the prevalence of eating disorders with particular attention to the partial syndromes (EDNOS).A cross-sectional double-stage study was carried out on a group of schoolgirls in the suburbs of Naples. We assessed anthropometrical measures, body composition (skinfolds and bioimpedance analysis), dietary intake by means of 3-day food records and we administered the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 and Psychosocial Factor Risk Questionnaire. A multidisciplinary and double-stage approach had been used to get a better diagnosis of eating disorders in our sample.156 adolescent girls, 14-18 years old, took part in our study. Height, weight, and BMI were 160.38 cm, 58 kg and 22.6, respectively. Analysis of food intake showed that all the values reported, with the exception of lipids and sodium, were below the recommendations by LARN. We observed a prevalence of 1.28% of bulimia nervosa, 1.28% of binge eating, and 10.25% of eating disorders not otherwise specified. EDI 2 and PRFQ confirmed how important drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction dimensions are when we deal with adolescent girls and with the phenomenon of dieting. The study confirmed the validity of the PRFQ questionnaire to evaluate mass media influence on body perception and eating behavior of adolescents.Multidisciplinary and well-designed studies are needed to systematically and accurately study eating habits and behavior of adolescents to tackle more efficiently the increasing spread of eating disorders and obesity.
To evaluate the eating behaviour in normal-weight, overweight, and obese women seeking participation in a diet-based programme of weight reduction or achievement of ideal body weight.Thirty-seven obese, 42 overweight, and 14 normal-weight subjects, seen at an Italian university outpatient clinic, were asked to complete the Stunkard and Messick three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ). The TFEQ is designed to evaluate three different factors in eating behaviour: restraint, disinhibition, and hunger. Forty-eight mothers of children attending public primary schools (25 normal weight and 23 overweight) served as controls.Significantly altered scores of cognitive restraint were observed both in normal-weight and in overweight subjects of the outpatient clinic as compared with normal-weight and overweight control women. Outpatient clinic overweight women scored significantly higher in terms of disinhibition as compared with overweight control subjects. Among outpatient clinic subjects, overweight women showed higher scores of disinhibition but similar values of cognitive restraint as compared with outpatient clinic normal-weight subjects. In obese patients, the scores of disinhibition and hunger were higher than those observed in outpatient clinic normal-weight subjects, whereas values of cognitive restraint were significantly lower. As compared with outpatient clinic overweight women, obese subjects showed significantly lower values of cognitive restraint.Alterations in TFEQ results are a frequent feature in subjects seeking participation in programmes of weight reduction or ideal body weight achievement. This may reflect a possible impairment in eating behaviour.
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