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The Association of Body Mass Index and Body Composition with Pain, Disease Activity, Fatigue, Sleep and Anxiety in Women with Fibromyalgia.
Correa-Rodríguez, M, Mansouri-Yachou, JE, Casas-Barragán, A, Molina, F, Rueda-Medina, B, Aguilar-Ferrandiz, ME
Nutrients. 2019;11(5)
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Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition causing symptoms such as widespread pain, fatigue, trouble sleeping and problems with memory and concentration. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between body mass index (BMI), body composition and fibromyalgia symptoms. 73 women with fibromyalgia and 73 healthy controls, matched on weight, were included in this cross-sectional study. Women with a higher BMI had more severe symptoms of fibromyalgia. Fat mass and visceral fat were associated with poorer quality sleep. The study’s authors concluded that promoting an ideal BMI may help to reduce some of the symptoms for women with fibromyalgia.
Abstract
The link between fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and obesity has not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among body mass index (BMI) and body composition parameters, including fat mass, fat mass percentage, and visceral fat, as well as FMS features, such as tender point count (TPC), pain, disease activity, fatigue, sleep quality, and anxiety, in a population of FMS women and healthy controls. A total of seventy-three women with FMS and seventy-three healthy controls, matched on weight, were included in this cross-sectional study. We used a body composition analyzer to measure fat mass, fat mass percentage, and visceral fat. Tender point count (TPC) was measured by algometry pressure. The disease severity was measured with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-R) and self-reported global pain was evaluated with the visual analog scale (VAS). To measure the quality of sleep, fatigue, and anxiety we used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire (PSQI), the Spanish version of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. Of the women in this study, 38.4% and 31.5% were overweight and obese, respectively. Significant differences in FIQ-R.1 (16.82 ± 6.86 vs. 20.66 ± 4.71, p = 0.030), FIQ-R.3 (35.20 ± 89.02 vs. 40.33 ± 5.60, p = 0.033), and FIQ-R total score (63.87 ± 19.12 vs. 75.94 ± 12.25, p = 0.017) among normal-weight and overweight FMS were observed. Linear analysis regression revealed significant associations between FIQ-R.2 (β(95% CI)= 0.336, (0.027, 0.645), p = 0.034), FIQ-R.3 (β(95% CI)= 0.235, (0.017, 0.453), p = 0.035), and FIQ-R total score (β(95% CI)= 0.110, (0.010, 0.209), p = 0.032) and BMI in FMS women after adjusting for age and menopause status. Associations between sleep latency and fat mass percentage in FMS women (β(95% CI)= 1.910, (0.078, 3.742), p = 0.041) and sleep quality and visceral fat in healthy women (β(95% CI)= 2.614, (2.192, 3.036), p = 0.008) adjusted for covariates were also reported. The higher BMI values are associated with poor FIQ-R scores and overweight and obese women with FMS have higher symptom severity. The promotion of an optimal BMI might contribute to ameliorate some of the FMS symptoms.
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Examining Weight Bias among Practicing Canadian Family Physicians.
Alberga, AS, Nutter, S, MacInnis, C, Ellard, JH, Russell-Mayhew, S
Obesity facts. 2019;12(6):632-638
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Weight bias represents negative attitudes and beliefs about individuals because of their weight. The aim of this study was to examine: a. weight bias in a national sample of family physicians in Canada, b. the relationships between weight bias, attitudes about treating patients with obesity, and how people with obesity are perceived as a burden to the public healthcare system. A probability sample of 400 currently practicing family physicians completed the survey by phone or online. Results show that most respondents were white (63.3%) men (61.3%) aged 45 years or older. The average total score of explicit weight bias was 2.95 (1.17) evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale. Furthermore, although weight bias was not present in the majority of the sample, it was present among some physicians. Authors conclude that future work is needed to investigate weight bias reduction techniques targeted at physicians.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of practicing Canadian family physicians about individuals with obesity, their healthcare treatment, and perceptions of obesity treatment in the public healthcare system. METHOD A national sample of Canadian practicing family physicians (n = 400) completed the survey. Participants completed measures of explicit weight bias, attitudes towards treating patients with obesity, and perceptions that people with obesity increase demand on the public healthcare system. RESULTS Responses consistent with weight bias were not observed overall but were demonstrated in a sizeable minority of respondents. Many physicians also reported feeling frustrated with patients with obesity and agreed that people with obesity increase demand on the public healthcare system. Male physicians had more negative attitudes than females. More negative attitudes towards treating patients with obesity were associated with greater perceptions of them as a public health demand. CONCLUSION Results suggest that negative attitudes towards patients with obesity exist among some family physicians in Canada. It remains to be determined if physicians develop weight bias partly because they blame individuals for their obesity and its increased demand on the Canadian public healthcare system. More research is needed to better understand causes and consequences of weight bias among health professionals and make efforts towards its reduction in healthcare.
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Is waist-to-height ratio the best predictive indicator of hypertension incidence? A cohort study.
Rezende, AC, Souza, LG, Jardim, TV, Perillo, NB, Araújo, YCL, de Souza, SG, Sousa, ALL, Moreira, HG, de Souza, WKSB, do Rosário Gondim Peixoto, M, et al
BMC public health. 2018;18(1):281
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A variety of methods of measuring body fat are used as tools to predict the risk of developing certain lifestyle-related diseases such as high blood pressure. It is not yet clear which of these methods is the most accurate. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of using different measures of body fat to predict high blood pressure. The study was performed in Brazil. Adult volunteers with normal blood pressure were assessed for body fat using waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and then followed-up 13 years later to find out whether they had developed high blood pressure. 44% of the participants developed high blood pressure during the study period. BMI, WC and WHtR were all associated with the risk of high blood pressure and had similar accuracy in predicting the disease. However, the associations were only significant for women. The cut-off points for predicting high blood pressure agreed with current recommendations, except for the WC in men. The results suggest that both overall obesity (BMI) and central obesity (WC and WHtR) indicators can be used in this population to evaluate the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The best anthropometric indicator to verify the association between obesity and hypertension (HTN) has not been established. We conducted this study to evaluate and compare the discriminatory power of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in relation to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in predicting HTN after 13 years of follow-up. METHODS This study was an observational prospective cohort study performed in the city of Firminópolis, in Brazilian's midwest. The cohort baseline (phase 1) was initiated in 2002 with the evaluation of a representative sample of the normotensive population (≥ 18 years of age). The incidence of HTN was evaluated as the outcome (phase 2). Sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle variables were used to adjust proportional hazards models and evaluate risk of HTN according to anthropometric indices. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the predictive capacity of these indices. The best HTN predictor cut-offs were obtained based on sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS A total of 471 patients with a mean age of 38.9 ± 12.3 years were included in phase 1. The mean follow-up was 13.2 years, and 207 subjects developed HTN. BMI, WC and WHtR were associated with risk of HTN incidence and had similar power in predicting the disease. However, the associations were only significant for women. The cut-off points with a better HTN predictive capacity were in agreement with current recommendations, except for the WC in men. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that both overall obesity (BMI) and central obesity (WC and WHtR) anthropometric indicators can be used in this population to evaluate the risk of developing hypertension.