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Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 22642

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amelia Brunani

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Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo, Italy
Interests: endocrinology of obesity; diabetes; related obesity disabilities

Dr. Paolo Capodaglio

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Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Strada Luigi Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, VB, Italy
Interests: IMU; physical and rehabilitation medicine; functional evaluation and instrumental assessment; ageing and pathological conditions; spinal cord injuries; musculoskeletal disorders; obesity and metabolic conditions; monitoring physical work load in health workers and other occupational activities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Raffaella Cancello

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Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
Interests: nutrition; genetic engineering; metabolism; molecular biology; genetics; insulin resistance; metabolic diseases; lipid metabolism; glucose metabolism; nutritional and metabolic diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the present issue, we want to underline the relevance of nutritional intervention combined with physical activity in the delayed development of obesity and different health benefits for individuals who are affected by overweight and obesity, such as reduction in the risk of development of comorbidities. People respond differently to an obesogenic environment; various genetic variations and responses to certain foods may explain this heterogeneity. Another variable involved is the total daily energy expenditure (“total expenditure”) that reflects daily energy needs and is a critical variable in human health and physiology, but its trajectory over the life course is poorly studied. An important aspect is childhood obesity prevention; as recommended by the WHO, we need to improve early childhood diet and physical activity, healthy nutrition, and physical activity for school-aged children, and community-based weight management. Old people also need particular attention, and to prevent sarcopenia, a combination with diet and exercise interventions is recommended to improve body muscle strength and performance in weight loss. Many areas are not completely clear again: Does diet-induced weight loss and increased cardiorespiratory fitness modify the obesity paradox? After bariatric surgery, patients present an increased risk for malnutrition and disability. Can preventing nutritional deficiencies and exercise improve short- and long-term mortality? In the future, we need to translate clinical guidelines into practice prevention programs and eHealth behavioral interventions with the primary aim of changing nutrition, physical activity, and sedentary behavior or treating or preventing overweight and obesity. Additionally, scientists and physicians must try to influence policy makers through their professional organizations to affect national health systems.

Dr. Amelia Brunani
Dr. Paolo Capodaglio
Dr. Raffaella Cancello
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Discriminant Power of Specific Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors to Distinguish between Lean, Normal and Excessive Fat Groups in Late Adolescents

by Jarosław Domaradzki

Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051230 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1120

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) and dietary behaviors (DBs) are crucial determinants of body mass composition. This work is a continuation of the previous study of PA and DBs patterns in late adolescents. The main aim of this work was to assess the discriminant power of PA and dietary behaviors and to identify the set of variables that discriminated participants with low, normal, and excessive fat the most. The results were also canonical classification functions that can allow the classification of individuals into adequate groups. A total of 107 individuals (48.6% male) participated in examinations, which used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Questionnaire of Eating Behaviors (QEB) to assess PA and DBs. The participants self-reported body height, body weight, and BFP, with the accuracy of the data confirmed and empirically verified. Analyses included the metabolic equivalent task (MET) minutes of PA domains and intensity, and indices of healthy and non-healthy DBs, calculated as a sum of the intake frequency of specific food items. At the beginning, Pearson’s r-coefficients and chi-squared tests were calculated to study various relationships between variables, while the main considerations were based on discriminant analyses conducted to determine the set of variables with the most power to distinguish between lean, normal, and excessive body fat groups of participants. Results showed weak relationships between PA domains and strong relationships between PA intensity, sitting time, and DBs. Vigorous and moderate PA intensity related positively to healthy behaviors (r = 0.14, r = 0.27, p < 0.05), while sitting time related negatively to unhealthy DBs (r = −0.16). Sankey diagrams illustrated that lean persons displayed healthy DBs and low sitting time, while those with excessive fat had non-healthy DBs spent more time sitting. The variables that effectively distinguished between the groups include active transport and leisure time domains alongside low-intensity PA, represented by walking intensity and healthy dietary behaviors. The first three variables participated significantly in the optimal discriminant subset (p = 0.002, p = 0.010, p = 0.01, respectively). The discriminant power of the optimal subset (contained four above-mentioned variables) was average (Wilk’s Λ = 0.755) and determined that weak relationships between PA domains and DBs resulted from heterogeneous behaviors and mixed patterns of behaviors. Identifying the trajectory of the frequency flow through specific PA and DBs allowed for well-designed tailored intervention programs to improve healthy habits in adolescents. Therefore, identifying the set of variables that discriminate the most between lean, normal, and excessive fat groups is a suitable target for intervention. The practical achievements are canonical classification functions that can be used to classify (predict) participants in groups based on the three the most discriminating PA and DB variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications)

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16 pages, 803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediating Role of Eating Attitudes in Sociocultural Attitudes toward the Body in Predicting Obligatory Exercise among Young People: A Polish and Chinese Comparison

by Shuai Guo, Agata Kamionka, Bernadetta Izydorczyk, Malgorzata Lipowska, Sebastian Lizinczyk, Bartosz M. Radtke, Urszula Sajewicz-Radtke and Mariusz Lipowski

Nutrients 2023, 15(4), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040952 - 14 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1658

Abstract

The main aims of this study were to determine which sociocultural predictors of obligatory exercise are universal for young men or women and which are specific to particular cultural conditions (Polish or Chinese culture) and to examine the mediating role of eating attitudes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Poles (n = 259) and Chinese (n = 208) aged 18 to 30. Descriptive and comparative statistics, Spearman’s rho, and multiple regression analysis were used. The main analyses showed that Internalization—Athlete was a common positive direct predictor of obligatory exercise among young Polish and Chinese women; Information and Internalization—Athlete were only specific direct positive predictors of obligatory exercise in young Chinese men; some variables in eating attitudes mediated the development of obligatory exercise in young Polish and Chinese men and women and indicated that there were cross-cultural differences. In understanding obligatory exercise among young people, attention should be paid to their sociocultural attitudes toward the body and eating, and cultural and gender differences need to be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications)

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11 pages, 589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age Influences on Lifestyle and Stress Perception in the Working Population

by Daniela Lucini, Eleonora Pagani, Francesco Capria, Michele Galiano, Marcello Marchese, Stefano Cribellati and Gianfranco Parati

Nutrients 2023, 15(2), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020399 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1557

Abstract

Workplace health promotion programs and services offered by insurers may play a fundamental role to foster health/well-being and to prevent chronic diseases. To this end, they should be tailored to companies/employees’ requirements and characteristics. In particular, age needs to be taken into account, considering both that young age workers are generally healthy, and that young age is the best period in lifespan to address prevention and instilling healthy behaviors. We employed an anonymous, simple web-based questionnaire (filled out by 1305 employees) which furnishes data regarding lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, smoking, stress, sleep, etc.), some of which were used to build a unique descriptor (Lifestyle Index; 0–100 higher scores being healthier). We considered three subgroups accordingly to age: ≤30; between 30 and 50; >50 years. This study showed age influences lifestyle and stress perception in the working population: the youngest employees (both men and women) presented the worst lifestyle index, particularly in its stress component. This observation may potentially be useful to tailor workplace health promotion programs and to personalize insurance protocols and services offered to employees. The practical message of our study is that in healthy young people focusing only on medical parameters (frequently within normal ranges in this cohort), albeit important, may be not sufficient to foster proactive actions to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases in adult life. Vice versa, driving their attention on current behaviors might elicit their proactive role to improve lifestyle, getting immediate advantages such as well-being improvement and the possibility to best manage stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications)

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Review

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16 pages, 350 KiB

Open AccessReview

Genetics: A Starting Point for the Prevention and the Treatment of Obesity

by Giuseppe Novelli, Carmen Cassadonte, Paolo Sbraccia and Michela Biancolella

Nutrients 2023, 15(12), 2782; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122782 - 17 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3162

Abstract

Obesity is a common, serious, and costly disease. More than 1 billion people worldwide are obese—650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children. The WHO estimates that, by 2025, approximately 167 million people—adults and children—will become less healthy because they are overweight or obese. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. These are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was nearly $173 billion in 2019 dollars. Obesity is considered the result of a complex interaction between genes and the environment. Both genes and the environment change in different populations. In fact, the prevalence changes as the result of eating habits, lifestyle, and expression of genes coding for factors involved in the regulation of body weight, food intake, and satiety. Expression of these genes involves different epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, or non-coding micro-RNA synthesis, as well as variations in the gene sequence, which results in functional alterations. Evolutionary and non-evolutionary (i.e., genetic drift, migration, and founder’s effect) factors have shaped the genetic predisposition or protection from obesity in modern human populations. Understanding and knowing the pathogenesis of obesity will lead to prevention and treatment strategies not only for obesity, but also for other related diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications)

19 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Metabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Narrative Review

by Valeria Calcaterra, Hellas Cena, Vittoria Carlotta Magenes, Alessandra Vincenti, Giulia Comola, Alice Beretta, Ilaria Di Napoli and Gianvincenzo Zuccotti

Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030702 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 9766

Abstract

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are major contributors of free sugars to the diet. A strong relationship between SSB intake and weight gain is described. Methods: we performed a narrative review to present an overview of the role of SSBs as a pivotal contributor in the development of obesity and metabolism-related complications. Results: different factors influence SSB consumption in children, including economic variables, individual attributes and behaviors to environmental factors, parent features and parents’ behaviors. Data suggest that SSB intake has a negative effect on weight and obesity-related diseases. The leading mechanism linking SSB intake to the risk of gaining weight is decreased satiety and incomplete compensatory reduction in energy intake at meals following ingestion of liquid calories. Additionally, the effects of SSBs on gut microbiota and on eating behaviors were also reported. An association between SSB intake, weight gain and cardiometabolic risks is evident. Consumption of SSBs had a significant impact on the prevalence of obesity and related metabolic risks, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Limiting consumption of SSBs and increasing knowledge of the effect of SSBs on early metabolic and cardiovascular disorders will be useful in developing strategies to counteract the problem and to prevent obesity and related complications.Key future research areas for which further studies are needed include investigating the long-term effects of SSBs on health outcomes as well as analyzing the health effects of sugar consumed in solid compared to liquid forms and further elucidating the biological mechanisms of sugar addiction and energy compensation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications)

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29 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Effect of Healthy Lifestyle Strategies on the Management of Insulin Resistance in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Narrative Review

by Valeria Calcaterra, Elvira Verduci, Matteo Vandoni, Virginia Rossi, Giulia Fiore, Giulia Massini, Clarissa Berardo, Alessandro Gatti, Paola Baldassarre, Alice Bianchi, Erika Cordaro, Caterina Cavallo, Cristina Cereda, Alessandra Bosetti and Gianvincenzo Zuccotti

Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4692; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214692 - 06 Nov 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4461

Abstract

Childhood obesity is characterized by an increased risk of several metabolic derangements including insulin resistance (IR). The strongest recommendations to prevent obesity and related complications are a balanced and adequate diet and practicing physical activity from early childhood. In this review, we propose to present the effects of healthy lifestyle strategies, including physical exercise and dietary approaches, on the management of IR and related metabolic derangements. All types of exercise (aerobic, resistance and combined training) effectively reduce IR in pediatric patients with obesity; it seems that aerobic and combined training stimulate greater improvements in IR compared to resistance training. Balanced normocaloric or hypocaloric dietary approaches are also valid strategies to address IR; it is not possible to assess the long-term impact of varying macronutrients on cardiometabolic risk. The glycemic index/load evaluation is a useful dietary approach to glucose metabolism control. Similarly, they should adopt the principle of the Mediterranean diet. Randomized studies with longer monitoring are needed to define the benefits of nutritional supplementation on IR. Considering that healthy style acquisition could track to later ages, programs of healthy lifestyle starting with children offer a better preventive strategy to preserve metabolic control and children’s health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Physical Activity for Preventing Overweight, Obesity and Related Complications)

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