1.
Weight-based teasing in youth: Associations with metabolic and inflammatory markers.
Schvey, NA, Shank, LM, Tanofsky-Kraff, M, Ramirez, S, Altman, DR, Swanson, T, Rubin, AG, Kelly, NR, LeMay-Russell, S, Byrne, ME, et al
Pediatric obesity. 2021;(3):e12729
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Research among adults suggests that weight stigma is associated with worsened cardiometabolic health. However, these relationships have not been examined among youth. OBJECTIVE Assess associations between weight-based teasing (WBT) and metabolic and inflammatory markers among two samples of youth: (1) a non-treatment-seeking sample and (2) a weight loss treatment-seeking sample with obesity. METHOD Weight, height, adiposity, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected for metabolic (triglycerides, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and inflammatory analytes (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in Study 1 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both studies). Youths completed the Perception of Teasing Scale, a measure of WBT. Metabolic and inflammatory indices were compared between those with and without teasing, adjusting for demographics and body composition. RESULTS Study 1 enrolled 201 non-treatment-seeking youth (Mage = 13.1y; 54.2% female; 44.8% non-Hispanic White; 32.8% with overweight/obesity); 15.4% reported WBT. Study 2 enrolled 111 treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity (Mage = 14.0y; 66.7% female; 37.8% non-Hispanic White); 73.0% reported WBT. Adjusting for covariates, WBT was not associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in either study. CONCLUSIONS WBT was not associated with worsened cardiometabolic health. Longitudinal research is needed to elucidate associations between WBT and health in youth.
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Extensive Phenotyping for Potential Weight-Inducing Factors in an Outpatient Population with Obesity.
Savas, M, Wester, VL, Visser, JA, Kleinendorst, L, van der Zwaag, B, van Haelst, MM, van den Akker, ELT, van Rossum, EFC
Obesity facts. 2019;(4):369-384
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity has been associated with miscellaneous weight-inducing determinants. A comprehensive assessment of known obesity-related factors other than diet and physical activity within one cohort is currently lacking. OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of potential contributors to obesity and self-reported triggers for marked weight gain in an adult population with obesity and between obesity classes. METHODS In this observational cohort study, we assessed 408 persons with obesity (aged 41.3 ± 14.2 years, BMI 40.5 ± 6.2) visiting our obesity clinic. They were evaluated for use of weight-inducing drugs, hormonal abnormalities, menarcheal age, (high) birth weight, sleep deprivation, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We additionally assessed self-reported triggers for marked weight gain and performed genetic testing in patients suspected of genetic obesity. RESULTS Nearly half of the patients were using a potentially weight-inducing drug, which was also the most reported trigger for marked weight gain. For the assessed hormonal conditions, a relatively high prevalence was found for hypothyroidism (14.1%), polycystic ovary syndrome (12.0%), and male hypogonadism (41.7%). A relatively low average menarcheal age (12.6 ± 1.8 years) was reported, whereas there was a high prevalence of a high birth weight (19.5%). Sleep deprivation and OSAS were reported in, respectively, 14.5 and 13.7% of the examined patients. Obesity class appeared to have no influence on the majority of the assessed factors. Of the genetically analyzed patients, a definitive genetic diagnosis was made in 3 patients (1.9%). CONCLUSIONS A thorough evaluation of patients with obesity yields a relatively high prevalence of various potentially weight-inducing factors. Diagnostic screening of patients with obesity could therefore benefit these patients by potentially reducing the social stigma and improving the outcomes of obesity treatment programs by tackling, where possible, the weight-inducing factors in advance.
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A mixed methods analysis of maternal response to children's consumption of a palatable food: differences by child weight status.
Pesch, MH, Viechnicki, GB, Appugliese, DP, Kaciroti, N, Rosenblum, KL, Miller, AL, Lumeng, JC
Pediatric obesity. 2019;(3):e12474
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how mothers respond to their child eating palatable foods. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study are to examine maternal behaviours when children are presented with a large portion of energy-dense palatable food in an experimental setting and to examine differences by child weight status. METHODS Mother-child dyads (N = 37) (mean child age 70.8 months) participated in a videotaped eating protocol with cupcakes. Anthropometrics were measured. Videos were analysed using discourse analysis and were reliably coded for the presence or absence of the most salient theme. Analysis of variance examined theme presence by child and mother weight status. RESULTS Mothers disavowed responsibility for their child's eating. Mothers were observed to roll their eyes at the child, throw their hands up in exasperation and distance themselves both physically and emotionally when the child ate the cupcakes voraciously or with high enjoyment. Mothers of children with obesity (vs recommended weight) engaged in more counts of disavowal (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Mothers of children with obesity distanced themselves from their child, seeming to disavow responsibility for the child's eating of 'junk food'. Mothers may respond to their child's seemingly gluttonous eating by disavowing responsibility due to the stigma of being a parent of a child with obesity.