BMI Risk: 19th vs. 20th Century
Experts should periodically revise the risk limits for body mass index among ethnically similar populations, as well as among different populations and ethnicities, to keep abreast of changing height, weight, and nutritional intake, reported R. Max Henderson of the University of Chicago.
Among 9,509 white Civil War veterans of the Union Army, the healthiest range of body mass index (BMI) was approximately 2 kg/m
Union Army veterans with BMIs in the range of 20–26 kg/m
Anger, Eating Disorders, and College
Anger management may help in treating eating disorders in obese, college-age students of both sexes, reported Jeanne L. Edman, Ph.D., of Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, Calif.
Compared with the 88 male subjects, the 102 female subjects reported higher levels of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and self-dissatisfaction and more frequent dieting, while males reported higher activity levels (Eat Behav. 2005; 6:308–17).
Multiple regression analyses were used to determine which variables best predicted subjects' drive for thinness and interoceptive awareness. Anger discomfort and dieting significantly predicted drive for thinness in males, accounting for 46% of the variance.
Among females, anger discomfort and self-dissatisfaction were significant predictors of the drive for thinness, accounting for 47% of the variance. The only predictor of interoceptive awareness in both males and females was anger discomfort, accounting for 28% and 36% of the variance, respectively.
Weight Loss in Fibromyalgia
Behavioral weight loss treatment benefited overweight and obese women with fibromyalgia syndrome, reported Jennifer R. Shapiro, Ph.D., and her colleagues at the University of Albany, State University of New York.
In a 20-week pilot study, 31 overweight or obese Caucasian women with fibromyalgia syndrome lost an average of 9.2 lbs, or more than 4% of their initial body weight. Most who lost weight shed at least 5% of their initial body weight (J. Psychosomatic Res. 2005;59:275–82).
The intervention entailed small group meetings every week for 1.5 hours, along with use of guidelines for diet and exercise.
Weight loss treatment at week 20 was significantly associated with improvements in depression, anxiety, pain, body concerns, support, and quality of life, the investigators said. “The amount of weight loss, as opposed to both absolute weight and treatment participation in general, is a better predictor of pain improvement,” the researchers said.
Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery
Women who have undergone laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding have similar pregnancy outcomes as women in their general community, and they have better outcomes than severely obese women, reported John B. Dixon, MBBS, Ph.D., of the Monash Medical School, Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Dixon and his associates prospectively examined 79 consecutive pregnancies in women who had had laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and compared the data with these patients' previous pre-LAGB pregnancies (n = 40); pregnancies in 79 matched, severely obese subjects; and community outcomes in Victoria (n = 61,000).
In LAGB subjects, the mean maternal weight gain was 9.6 kg, versus 14.4 kg for the 40 pre-LAGB pregnancies and 15.5 kg for the matched obese controls. Birth weights were similar after LAGB (3,397 g) and before LAGB (3,350 g), and both were within the normal range of community birth weights (Obstet. Gynecol. 2005; 106:965–72).
The rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension was similar after LAGB and in the community (10% and 10%–13%, respectively), but was much higher in pre-LAGB pregnancies (45%) and in matched, obese controls (38%).
Rates of gestational diabetes were nearly the same in women who underwent LAGD (6.3%) and in the community (5.5%), but were 19% in the obese controls and 15% in pre-LAGB pregnancies. Neonatal outcomes were also similar for LAGB subjects and the overall community.