Weight loss
Association between HDL-cholesterol and the Taq1B polymorphism in the cholesterol ester transfer protein gene in obese women.

Heilbronn LK, Noakes M, Clifton PM.

Department of Physiology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. leonie.heilbronn hsn.csiro.au

Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates reverse cholesterol transport via HDL-C and this activity may be increased in obese subjects. In normal weight subjects the Taq1B variant of the CETP gene is associated with lower CETP activity and higher HDL-C. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the Taq1B polymorphism and HDL-C in obese women before and after weight loss. A total of 245 women (41 with type 2 diabetes) were genotyped for the Taq1B variant. Plasma lipids, insulin, glucose and oral glucose tolerance were also measured before and after weight loss. When all subjects were examined together the Taq1B genotype was not associated with HDL-C. However, when non-diabetic subjects were divided by median fasting insulin, a strong linear association was observed between Taq1B genotype and HDL-C in subjects below median for fasting insulin (B1B1 1.19+/-0.07 mmol/l, B1B2 1.35+/-0.06, B2B2 1.71+/-0.09, P<0.000). This association was not observed in subjects with fasting insulin above median or subjects with type 2 diabetes, either before or after weight loss. Therefore, the B2B2 genotype is associated with elevated HDL-C in obese women with low fasting insulin only. Improved insulin sensitivity during weight loss did not change this relationship in women with high fasting insulin or type 2 diabetes.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11996962&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Laparoscopic gastric banding in morbidly obese adolescents.

Dolan K, Creighton L, Hopkins G, Fielding G.

Department of Surgery, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, Australia. medkd leeds.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: 4% of adolescents in the U.S.A. are obese, 80% of whom will become obese adults. Obesity in adolescence is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in adulthood. Is laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding a safe and effective method of weight loss in morbidly obese adolescents? METHODS: Since 1996, data has been prospectively collected on all patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) by a single surgeon. Patients are reviewed at 6 and 12 weeks following surgery, then at 3 monthly intervals. Weight loss is measured in absolute terms, reduction in body mass index (BMI) and as percentage of excess weight loss. RESULTS: 17 patients with a median age of 17 (12 to 19) years underwent LAGB. Median follow-up was 25 (12 to 46) months. 2 complications occurred, 1 slipped band and 1 leaking port. BMI fell from a preoperative median of 44.7 to 30.2 kg/m2 at 24 months following surgery, corresponding to a median loss of 35.6 kg or 59.3% of excess weight. 13 of 17 patients (76.5%) lost at least 50% of their excess weight, and 9 of 11 patients (81.8%) had a BMI < 35 kg/m2 at 24 months following surgery. CONCLUSION: LAGB is a safe and effective method of weight loss in morbidly obese adolescents, at least in the medium term. Its role in preventing obesity and obesity-related disease in adulthood remains to be determined as part of our long-term study.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12630622&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Pork quality, processing, and sensory characteristics of dry-cured hams as influenced by Duroc crossing and sex.

Candek-Potokar M, Monin G, Zlender B.

Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana. meta.candek kis-h2.si

This study was designed to evaluate Duroc (DU) crossing for Carso dry-cured ham production. One hundred fifty-four pigs (81 females and 73 castrates) of four different genotypes, pure Landrace pigs (LAN), offspring of LAN females crossed with Large White (LW) males (LWxLAN), offspring of LAN females crossed with DU males (DUxLAN), and offspring of LWxLAN females crossed with DU males (DUx[LWxLAN]), were chosen in the weight range of 105 to 120 kg (112.7 +/- 0.4 kg). Raw material quality was evaluated for ham fatness (intra- and intermuscular and subcutaneous) and meat quality (pH, color, water-holding capacity) of longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris, and semimembranosus muscles. Ham weight losses were recorded at different stages of processing. The biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscles were analyzed for chemical composition before (lipid, moisture, total nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen) and after (moisture, salt, total nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen) processing. Chemical and sensory analyses were performed on 96 dry hams (12 castrates and 12 females per genotype). Biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscles were evaluated for color, saltiness, aroma, and texture. Pigs of the four genotypes had similar ham fatness as estimated by subcutaneous fat thickness. Duroc crosses exhibited higher intramuscular fat content, marbling, and intermuscular fat. Crossing with DU resulted in lower weight losses during ham processing. Castrates were fatter and had more intra- and intermuscular fat and lower ham processing weight losses than females. A strong negative relationship between ham fatness and ham processing losses was observed. Chemical and sensory traits of dry ham muscles were little affected by DU crossing. Lower salt content of biceps femoris was found in DU crosses. Dry hams from female pigs had higher total and nonprotein nitrogen, but drier, firmer texture and higher resistance to cutting force compared to dry hams from castrated pigs. Crossing with DU demonstrated some disadvantages (more intermuscular fat, more slice visible fat) and advantages (lower weight loss and salt intake) for the quality of dry-cured ham.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12002336&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Psychosocial consequences of weight loss following gastric banding for morbid obesity.

Kinzl JF, Traweger C, Trefalt E, Biebl W.

Department of Psychiatry, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria. johann.kinzl uklibk.ac.at

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine what consequences surgery for morbid obesity has on weight loss, problems in eating behavior, quality of life, physical appearance and mental state. METHOD: After a minimum follow-up of > 8 months (median follow-up 21 months, range 8-48 months), a questionnaire concerning extent of, satisfaction with and consequences of weight loss was mailed to 250 morbidly obese patients after laparoscopic Swedish adjustable gastric banding (SAGB). In addition, the partner's opinion regarding the operation was evaluated as well as the consequences of weight loss for partnership and sexual relationship. RESULTS: 160 patients (64%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Most patients (87%) were happy with the extent of weight loss. Weight loss, however, was connected with negative consequences for the body such as flabby skin (53%), abdominal skin overhang (47%) and pendulous breasts (42%). Patients who were satisfied with their postoperative physical appearance showed significantly less weight loss than did patients who were unhappy with their appearance (38 vs 54 kg). Most of the partners (91%) believed that the decision for SAGB was right. An improvement in partnership was reported by more than half of the partners (59%), and an improved sexual relationship by 45%. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic SAGB is an effective surgical treatment for morbid obesity. However, the consequences of excess and rapid weight loss for physical appearance are negative in many cases. Well-directed information about the consequences of excess weight loss before SAGB and the possibilities and limits of plastic surgery must be given preoperatively to offset high and often unrealistic expectations.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12630623&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Eggshell conductance, embryonic growth, hatchability and embryonic mortality of broiler breeder eggs dipped into ascorbic acid solution.

Shafey TM.

Department ofAnimal Production, University of King Saud, College of Agriculture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. tmshafey hotmail.com

1. Eggs from a broiler breeder flock between 25 and 29 weeks of age were dipped into solutions of various concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) for up to 2 min, in order to evaluate its effects on eggshell conductance (EC), amniotic fluid pH, albumen height and pH, embryonic weight and hatchability. 2. Three experiments were conducted and the following treatments were used: control, non-dipped (CND); control, water-dipped (CWD); 10 g AA/l (AA1); 20 g AA/l (AA2) and 30 g AA/l (AA3). Measurements of EC before and after dipping were made in experiments 1 and 2 in eggs from hens at 25 and 27 weeks of age, respectively. Albumen height and pH were measured after dipping the eggs in experiment 2. In experiment 3, egg weight loss, embryonic weight and amniotic fluid pH at 14 d of age, hatchability percentage (HP), and embryonic mortality were measured in eggs from hens at 29 weeks of age. 3. AA treatment of eggs and dipping period of time (1, 1.5 and 2 min) increased EC of eggs from hens at 25 and 27 weeks of age. 4. AA3 treatment for 2 min reduced albumen height and increased albumen pH of eggs when compared with the CND treatment in eggs from hens at 27 weeks of age. 5. HP of AA1-treated eggs from hens at 29 weeks of age was higher than that of the CND treatment. AA2 and AA3 treatments of eggs reduced HP and increased the percentage of non-pips when compared with any of the other treatments. 6. AA2 and AA3 treatments of eggs increased egg weight loss when compared with the control treatments (CND and CWD). Dipping treatment did not influence amniotic fluid pH or embryo weight expressed as a percentage of initial egg weight. 7. It is concluded that dipping hatching eggs into AA solution increased EC of eggs. Dipping eggs into 10 g AA/l for a period of 2 min increased HP in eggs from hens at 29 weeks of age, although this was not associated with a significant increase in egg weight loss.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12003330&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Postoperative management of laparoscopic gastric banding.

Busetto L, Segato G, De Marchi F, Foletto M, De Luca M, Favretti F, Enzi G.

Obesity Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. luca.busetto unipd.it

BACKGROUND: The authors investigated the postoperative management of morbidly obese patients treated by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) with the Lap-Band System. METHODS: The 3-year postoperative band management is presented in 379 morbidly obese patients, divided according to intra-operative band filling and quartiles of maximum postoperative band filling. RESULTS: LAGB resulted in a 40.8 +/- 24.5 percent excess weight loss (%EWL). Stoma stenosis occurred in 87 patients (23.0%), pouch dilatation in 52 (13.7%) and esophageal dilatation in 22 (5.8%). Most band-related complications were controlled by simple band deflation. The mean number of postoperative band adjustments was 2.3 +/- 1.7, and mean maximum band filling after surgery was 2.8 +/- 1.2 ml. Weight loss at 3 years was identical in 205 patients who had the band completely unfilled at surgery and in 174 patients who had the band filled with 1 to 3 ml of sterile saline. The rate of band-related complications was significantly lower in the first group. No differences in %EWL were observed between quartiles of maximum band filling after surgery. The rate of band-related complications increased with increasing levels of postoperative maximum band filling. In patients with the band filled with < 3.0 ml of sterile saline at 6 months, the inflation of further saline produced a dose-related increase in the rate of weight loss. In patients with the band filled with > 3.0 ml of sterile saline at 6 months, the inflation of further saline was associated with a reduced %EWL. CONCLUSION: Postoperative adjustability of the Lap-Band was useful in the treatment of band-related complications and was able to significantly influence the rate of weight loss. On the other hand, aggressive postoperative band filling was associated with an increased rate of complications.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12630626&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Muscle fiber type is associated with obesity and weight loss.

Tanner CJ, Barakat HA, Dohm GL, Pories WJ, MacDonald KG, Cunningham PR, Swanson MS, Houmard JA.

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. Tannerc mail.ecu.edu

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that muscle fiber type is related to obesity. Fiber type was compared 1) in lean and obese women, 2) in Caucasian (C) and African-American (AA) women, and 3) in obese individuals who lost weight after gastric bypass surgery. When lean (body mass index 24.0 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2), n = 28) and obese (34.8 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2), n = 25) women were compared, there were significant (P < 0.05) differences in muscle fiber type. The obese women possessed fewer type I (41.5 +/- 1.8 vs. 54.6 +/- 1.8%) and more type IIb (25.1 +/- 1.5 vs. 14.4 +/- 1.5%) fibers than the lean women. When ethnicity was accounted for, the percentage of type IIb fibers in obese AA was significantly higher than in obese C (31.0 +/- 2.4% vs. 19.2 +/- 1.9%); fewer type I fibers were also found in obese AA (34.5 +/- 2.8% vs. 48.6 +/- 2.2%). These data are consistent with the higher incidence of obesity and greater weight gain reported in AA women. With weight loss intervention, there was a positive relationship (r = 0.72, P < 0.005) between the percentage of excess weight loss and the percentage of type I fibers in morbidly obese patients. These findings indicate that there is a relationship between muscle fiber type and obesity.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12006347&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Weight loss expectations in patients with binge-eating disorder.

Masheb RM, Grilo CM.

Yale Psychiatric Research, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conneticut 06520-8098, USA. robin.masheb yale.edu

OBJECTIVE: To study weight loss expectations in patients with binge-eating disorder and to examine whether expectations differed by sex and motivation for treatment. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: One hundred and thirty patients (104 women and 26 men), aged 23 to 61 (mean age, 43.0 years), with BED completed a measure of desired weights that included their dream weight, happy weight, acceptable weight, and disappointed weight. In a structured interview, participants were asked their primary motivation for seeking treatment (appearance or health) and their lowest adult weight (LAW). RESULTS: The BED participants reported weight loss expectations that far exceeded expert and governmental guidelines. In this sample, desired dream body mass index (BMI), happy BMI, and acceptable BMI averaged reductions in current weight of 36%, 29%, and 23%, respectively. Even the "disappointed" BMI was an average 14% reduction in current weight, and was 1.5 to 3 times greater than the expert recommendation (5% to 10%). Comparisons of desired weights were significantly different for women and men, whereas percent reductions from current weight were not. Although weight goal expectations were significantly lower for those motivated by appearance, compared with those motivated by health, percent reductions for current weight were not. Desired dream weight correlated with reported LAW, and the mean difference between these weights was not significant. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that patients with BED have weight loss expectations that far exceed expert and governmental guidelines and that these expectations do not differ by sex or motivation for seeking treatment. One possible explanation for these unrealistic desired weights may be the patients' recollections of their LAWs.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12006629&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Liver volume and visceral obesity in women with hepatic steatosis undergoing gastric banding.

Busetto L, Tregnaghi A, De Marchi F, Segato G, Foletto M, Sergi G, Favretti F, Lise M, Enzi G.

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy. luca.busetto unipd.it

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between visceral obesity and hepatic steatosis in obese patients undergoing adjustable silicone gastric banding with the LAP-BAND. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Six premenopausal, morbidly obese women with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of liver steatosis were evaluated before surgery and 8 and 24 weeks after surgery. Liver volume and body fat distribution were simultaneously analyzed by total-body multislices magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Before surgery, the only variable found to be correlated with liver volume was visceral adipose tissue volume (r = 0.91; p < 0.01). Weight loss was 9.9 +/- 3.8 kg in the period from 0 to 8 weeks (p < 0.01) and 7.1 +/- 4.9 kg in the the period from 8 to 24 weeks (p < 0.05). Total fat showed a statistically significant reduction of 6.2 +/- 4.0 liters in the 0- to 8-week period and a further significant reduction of 7.7 +/- 3.9 liters in the 8- to 24-week period. Visceral adipose tissue showed a statistically significant reduction of 1.0 +/- 0.9 liters in the 0- to 8-week period (p < 0.05) but only a further, not significant reduction of 0.6 +/- 0.7 liters in the 8- to 24-week period. The relative reduction of visceral fat in the 0-to 8-week period was higher than the relative reduction of total fat. Liver volume also showed a statistically significant reduction of 0.24 +/- 0.26 liters in the first phase of weight loss (p < 0.05), corresponding to a relative reduction of 12.3 +/- 10.6%. During the 8- to 24-week period, liver volume was substantially stable. DISCUSSION: Hepatomegaly was associated with visceral obesity in morbidly obese women with liver steatosis. In the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric surgery, a preferential mobilization of visceral fat, compared with total adipose tissue, occurred. This preferential visceral fat loss was associated with a significant reduction in liver volume.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12006641&dopt=Abstract weight loss



Weight loss
Association between a polymorphism of the 5-HT2C receptor and weight loss in teenage girls.

Westberg L, Bah J, Rastam M, Gillberg C, Wentz E, Melke J, Hellstrand M, Eriksson E.

Department of Pharmacology, Goteborg University, Goteborg, Sweden. lars.westberg pharm.gu.se

Receptors of the 5-HT2C subtype are assumed to be involved in the influence of serotonin on food intake. A polymorphism in the coding region of the gene for this receptor, resulting in a cysteine to serine substitution, has been reported. Fifty-seven somatically healthy teenage girls displaying weight loss and 91 normal-weight girls of the same age, all recruited by means of a population-based screening study, were compared with respect to this polymorphism. Subjects in the weight loss group displayed a higher frequency of the serine allele than those in the comparison group (23.7% vs. 7.7%, p =.0001). Seventy-two percent of the weight loss girls fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa, whereas 28% did not; when these two groups were separately analyzed, both differed significantly from controls with respect to serine allele frequency. The results support the notion that the studied gene may be involved in the regulation of food intake in young women.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12007749&dopt=Abstract weight loss