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An international comparison of women's occupational health issues in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore: the CIDA-SEAGEP study

Choi BC

Occup Med (Lond), 2005 Oct;55(7):515-22.
PMID: 16174662

An international comparison study of women's occupational health issues was carried out in 2000 for the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. The study was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency's Southeast Asia Gender Equity Program.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/epidemiology
Slimming and Appetite-Suppressing Effects of Caraway Aqueous Extract as a Natural Therapy in Physically Active Women

Kazemipoor M, Hamzah S, Hajifaraji M, Radzi CW, Cordell GA

Phytother Res, 2016 Jun;30(6):981-7.
PMID: 26988309 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5603

Following the current 'Globesity' trend, there is an increasing demand for alternative natural therapies for weight management. Numerous phytoconstituents reduce body weight through suppressing appetite and reducing food intake. Caraway (Carum carvi L.) is one of the medicinal plants that is traditionally used for weight loss. In this study, the appetite-suppressing effects of caraway aqueous extract (CAE) on 70 aerobically trained, overweight, and obese women were examined in a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study. Subjects were randomly allocated into placebo and experimental groups and consumed either 30 mL/day of CAE or placebo without changing their diet or physical activity over a period of 90 days. Calorie and macronutrient intake and anthropometric indices were measured before and after the intervention. In addition, appetite changes were assessed through a visual analog scale and an ad libitum pizza test. After the intervention, the results showed a significant reduction in appetite levels and carbohydrate intake of the experimental group compared with the placebo group. All of the anthropometric indices were reduced significantly in CAE compared with placebo group (p

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/drug therapy*
The Effect of Breakfast Type on Total Daily Energy Intake and Body Mass Index Among Thai School Children

Purttiponthanee S, Rojroongwasinkul N, Wimonpeerapattana W, Thasanasuwan W, Senaprom S, Khouw I, et al.

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 07;28(5 Suppl):85S-93S.
PMID: 27183975 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516647774

The study investigated the association between breakfast types consumed, daily energy intake, and body mass index for age Z-score (BAZ). Cross-sectional data from 1258 children aged 7 to 12.9 years were analyzed for breakfast type, nutrient intakes, BAZ, and proportion of overweight or obesity. Analysis of covariance was used to compare energy and nutrient intakes, BAZ, and proportion of overweight/obese children between breakfast groups. Only 19% of children had adequate energy intake from breakfast. Those consuming snacks had a significantly lower BAZ (Z = -0.73), with 5% of them being overweight/obese. Those consuming beverages and desserts had the lowest total daily energy intake (1314 kcal) and lowest protein intake (8.4 g). The results suggest that breakfast type is associated with daily energy intake and BAZ. Most breakfasts are not adequate. School-based nutrition education programs involving families, teachers, and health professionals can contribute to improve this situation.

Matched MeSH terms: Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology*
Triglyceride glucose index as a surrogate measure of insulin sensitivity in obese adolescents with normoglycemia, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes mellitus: comparison with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp

Mohd Nor NS, Lee S, Bacha F, Tfayli H, Arslanian S

Pediatr Diabetes, 2016 09;17(6):458-65.
PMID: 26251318 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12303

BACKGROUND: There is a need for simple surrogate estimates of insulin sensitivity in epidemiological studies of obese youth because the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp is not feasible on a large scale.
OBJECTIVE: (i) To examine the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index (Ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]) and its relationship to in vivo insulin sensitivity in obese adolescents (OB) along the spectrum of glucose tolerance and (ii) to compare TyG index with triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein TG/HDL and 1/fasting insulin (1/IF ), other surrogates of insulin sensitivity.
PATIENTS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional data in 225 OB with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes (preDM), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who had a 3-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and fasting lipid measurement.
RESULTS: Insulin-stimulated glucose disposal (Rd) declined significantly across the glycemic groups from OB-NGT to OB-preDM to OB-T2DM with a corresponding increase in TyG index (8.3 ± 0.5, 8.6 ± 0.5, 8.9 ± 0.6, p

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/blood*
Metabolomics - the complementary field in systems biology: a review on obesity and type 2 diabetes

Abu Bakar MH, Sarmidi MR, Cheng KK, Ali Khan A, Suan CL, Zaman Huri H, et al.

Mol Biosyst, 2015 Jul;11(7):1742-74.
PMID: 25919044 DOI: 10.1039/c5mb00158g

Metabolomic studies on obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus have led to a number of mechanistic insights into biomarker discovery and comprehension of disease progression at metabolic levels. This article reviews a series of metabolomic studies carried out in previous and recent years on obesity and type 2 diabetes, which have shown potential metabolic biomarkers for further evaluation of the diseases. Literature including journals and books from Web of Science, Pubmed and related databases reporting on the metabolomics in these particular disorders are reviewed. We herein discuss the potential of reported metabolic biomarkers for a novel understanding of disease processes. These biomarkers include fatty acids, TCA cycle intermediates, carbohydrates, amino acids, choline and bile acids. The biological activities and aetiological pathways of metabolites of interest in driving these intricate processes are explained. The data from various publications supported metabolomics as an effective strategy in the identification of novel biomarkers for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Accelerating interest in the perspective of metabolomics to complement other fields in systems biology towards the in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the diseases is also well appreciated. In conclusion, metabolomics can be used as one of the alternative approaches in biomarker discovery and the novel understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in obesity and type 2 diabetes. It can be foreseen that there will be an increasing research interest to combine metabolomics with other omics platforms towards the establishment of detailed mechanistic evidence associated with the disease processes.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/metabolism*
Obesity depresses baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in Sprague Dawley rats: role of the renal innervation

Khan SA, Sattar MZ, Abdullah NA, Rathore HA, Abdulla MH, Ahmad A, et al.

Acta Physiol (Oxf), 2015 Jul;214(3):390-401.
PMID: 25846561 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12499

AIM:
This study investigated the role of the renal innervation in arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and heart rate (HR) in rats fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity.

METHODS:
Rats received either a normal (12% kcal) or high (45% kcal) fat diet for 60 days. On day 61, rats were anesthetized and prepared for recording left RSNA. In one group, the renal nerves remained intact, while in the other, both kidneys were denervated. Baroreflex gain curves for RSNA and HR were generated by increasing and decreasing blood pressure. Low-pressure baroreceptors were challenged by infusing a saline load.

RESULTS:
Mean blood pressure was 135 mmHg in the fat-fed and 105 mmHg (P < 0.05) in normal rats. Weight gain, adiposity index and creatinine clearance were 37, 82 and 55% higher (P < 0.05-0.001), but urine flow rate and fractional sodium excretions were 53 and 65% (both P < 0.001) lower, respectively, in the fat-fed compared to normal rats. In fat-fed rats with innervated kidneys, RSNA and HR arterial baroreflex sensitivities were reduced by 73 and 72% (both P < 0.05) but were normal in renally denervated rats. Volume expansion decreased RSNA by 66% (P < 0.001) in normal rats, but not in the intact fat-fed rats and by 51% (P < 0.01) in renally denervated fat-fed rats.

CONCLUSION:
Feeding a high-fat diet caused hypertension associated with dysregulation of the arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreflexes which was dependent on an intact renal innervation. This suggests that in obese states neural signals arising from the kidney contribute to a deranged autonomic control.

KEYWORDS:
baroreflex gain curves; cardiopulmonary reflex; high-fat diet

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/physiopathology*
Association of UCP1 -3826A/G and UCP3 -55C/T gene polymorphisms with obesity and its related traits among multi-ethnic Malaysians

Lee KH, Chai VY, Kanachamy SS, Say YH

Ethn Dis, 2015;25(1):65-71.
PMID: 25812254

Our study investigated the association of UCP1 -3826A/G and UCP3 -55C/T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with obesity and its related traits among multi-ethnic Malaysians.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/ethnology*
The nutrition and health transition in Malaysia

Noor MI

Public Health Nutr, 2002 Feb;5(1A):191-5.
PMID: 12027284

The accelerated phase of industrialisation and urbanisation in recent decades has inevitably brought about changes in the lifestyle of Malaysians. Changes in dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles are known to be associated with changes in health and increased prevalence of chronic diseases in the population. The objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the link between demographic variables and food consumption patterns related to the nutrition transition in Malaysia. This review uses various reports and publications from several ministries and selected local studies. The statistics compiled over the last two decades have shown that as the population achieves affluence, intakes of calories, fats and sugars increase, which may account for the substantial increase in food importation bills over the same period. Similarly, the rapid growth of the fast food industry during the last decade has added another dimension to the change in food consumption patterns of Malaysians. With the exception of a study on adolescents, the prevalences of overweight and obesity in children and adults are not strictly comparable due to the difference in body mass index (BMI) cut-off points in children and the study protocol in adults, and hence should not be misinterpreted as trends. The recent recommendation to lower the BMI cut-off points for Asians would only increase the magnitude of the existing prevalence among adults. The need to promote healthy nutrition for the population must be pursued vigorously, as the escalation of nutrition-related chronic degenerative diseases - once an urban phenomenon--has now spread to the rural population at an alarming rate. This paper indicates that the problem is real and needs urgent attention because it may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/epidemiology
Fulltext Serum lipid & lipoprotein profiles of obese Chinese children

Ho TF, Paramsothy S, Aw TC, Yip WC

Med J Malaysia, 1996 Mar;51(1):68-74.
PMID: 10967982

The serum lipid and lipoprotein levels of 59 obese Chinese children with a mean age of 13.0 years and mean relative weight of 164.2% were analysed. Between 40% to 54% of these children had elevated lipid and lipoprotein levels and about 78% had reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL) level when compared to healthy American and Japanese children. The obese children also had higher mean levels of total cholesterol (TC) and lower HDL compared to male adults in the local population. Those with elevated TC had higher mean relative weight (170% vs 159%, p < 0.05). In view of the close association between hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis, obese children should be carefully screened and managed to prevent long term morbidity and mortality of coronary artery disease.
Study site: Obesity clinic, School Health Services, Ministry of Health, Singapore

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/blood*
Obesity and body mass indices in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore

Hughes K, Yeo PP, Lun KC, Thai AC, Wang KW, Cheah JS

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1990 May;19(3):333-8.
PMID: 2393232

A population based cross-sectional survey has measured body mass indices (BMIs) in Singapore and compared their means and the proportions who are overweight and obese amongst Chinese, Malays and Indians. For males there was little ethnic differences; for the 18-69 age group, the age-adjusted mean BMIs being Chinese 22.3, Malays 23.1 and Indians 22.5. However for females, Malays and Indians were considerably more obese than Chinese; for the 18-69 age group the age-adjusted mean BMIs in Malays (25.1) and Indians (24.6) were significantly greater (p less than 0.001) than in Chinese (22.2). The proportions categorised as overweight or obese (BMI equal to or more than 26 in males and 25 in females) were males (Chinese 16.7%, Malays 22.4%, and Indians 14.0%) and females (Chinese 21.2%, Malays 51.5%, and Indians 42.0%). Health education on the harmful effects of obesity should be targeted especially on Malay and Indian females.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/ethnology*
Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in a high-risk dextrocardia patient: a case report

Abdullah F, Mazalan SL

Heart Surg Forum, 2004;7(3):E186-8.
PMID: 15262598

We present an interesting but high-risk case of an obese male patient aged 56 years with dextrocardia and a left diaphragmatic hernia. Anterior myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 1994, and the patient later presented with a history of unstable angina. The diagnosis for this chronic smoker was triple-vessel disease, impaired left ventricular function, chronic renal failure, chronic bronchitis, impaired lung function, pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic active gastritis (EuroSCORE of 10). The patient underwent successful off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with 3 saphenous vein grafts to the left anterior descending, obtuse marginal, and right posterior descending arteries. He was discharged home 8 days later.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/complications*
Waist circumference as a screening tool for weight management: evaluation using receiver operating characteristic curves for Malay subjects

Moy FM, Atiya AS

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2003;15(2):99-104.
PMID: 15038683

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most established anthropometric indicator used for assessment of nutritional status. Other anthropometric indicators which are related closely to BMI are waist hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference. In this paper, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the value of waist circumference and waist hip ratio as a screening measure for the need of weight management using BMI as the reference test. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated at several cut-offs. The areas under the ROC curve calculated by comparing waist circumference with BMI were high (0.70 - 0.86) while the areas calculated for WHR were low (0.46 - 0.67). Sensitivities of 0.745 and 0.800 were observed at cut-off points of waist circumference at 90cm and 80cm for males and females respectively, while the false positive rates were 0.233 for males and 0.250 for females. These cut-off points could be considered as a fair trade-off. Therefore it is concluded that waist circumference performed better than WHR as a screening test. It is indicative that waist circumference could be used as a tool in raising awareness of weight management in this population.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/prevention & control
Comparative study of the prevalence of adult obesity in the three racial groups of Kuala Lumpur

Jones JJ

Med J Malaysia, 1976 Jun;30(4):256-60.
PMID: 979725
Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/epidemiology*
Fulltext Prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia among the rural community of Inanam sub-district in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia: a health screening program findings

Khairul Anwar Zarkasi, Nur Zuliani Ramli, Vennila Gopal, Sadia Choudhury Shimmi, Anne Lolita Miranda, Wan Salman Wan Saudi, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):93-93.
MyJurnal

Introduction:Malaysia has the highest prevalence of obesity among the Southeast Asian nations which increases the risk for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Since rural communities regularly face challenges in receiving medical services, regular health screening programs targeting these communities are necessary for early diagnosis and intervention to prevent complications as well as preserve the patients’ quality of life. Methods: A community health screening program was performed in the Inanam sub-district of Kota Kinabalu, Sa-bah, Malaysia. A total of 50 participants via convenience sampling were examined for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to determine their general and central obesity status. Estimation of body fat percentage (Fat%) and body fat mass was conducted by using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Addition-ally, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and capillary blood glucose were also measured. Results: The participants had a median age of 39.50 years. The prevalence of general obesity was 28%, while the prevalence of central obesity was 78% (based on WC) and 74% (according to WHR). Hypertension and hyperglyce-mia prevalence was reported at 24% and 20%, respectively. BIA showed that both Fat% and fat mass had positive associations with BMI (r=0.656, p=0.001 for Fat%; r=0.868, p=0.001 for fat mass) and WC (r=0.505, p=0.001 for Fat%; r=0.761, p=0.001 for fat mass). The DBP had positive associations with the BMI (r=0.390, p=0.005), WC (r=0.467, p=0.001), and WHR (r=0.331, p=0.019), while the SBP had a positive association with the WC alone (r=0.341, p=0.015). Conversely, there were no significant associations between capillary blood glucose and BMI, WC, or WHR. Conclusion: The rural community of Inanam sub-district had a higher prevalence of central obesity than the national level. This should raise concern among healthcare professionals regarding future hypertension and hyperglycemia risk in this community.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity; Obesity, Abdominal
Fulltext Positive association between metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density among Malaysians

Chin KY, Chan CY, Subramaniam S, Muhammad N, Fairus A, Ng PY, et al.

Int J Med Sci, 2020;17(16):2585-2593.
PMID: 33029101 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.49030

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that elevates the individual risk of cardiovascular diseases. These abnormalities are also known to alter bone remodelling. Therefore, MetS may be associated with osteoporosis. This study aims to determine the association between MetS and its components and bone mineral density (BMD) assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) among Malaysians. Methods: 400 Malaysians aged ≥ 40 years (52.5% women) residing in Klang Valley, Malaysia, were recruited. Subjects' demographic and lifestyle details were collected using a questionnaire, and blood pressure and body anthropometry were measured. Subjects' lumbar spine and total hip BMD were measured by DXA. Their fasting blood was collected for blood glucose level and lipid profile analysis. Regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between MetS or its components and BMD. Results: Subjects with MetS had higher BMD compared to subjects without MetS in models unadjusted for BMI (spine p=0.008; hip p<0.001). This difference was attenuated with BMI adjustment (spine p=0.625; hip p=0.478). Waist circumference was associated positively with BMD in models unadjusted for BMI (spine p=0.012; hip p<0.001), but the association became negative with BMI adjustment (spine p=0.044; hip p=0.021). Systolic blood pressure was associated positively with total hip BMD (p=0.019) but BMI adjustment attenuated the relationship (p=0.080). Triglyceride level was associated with osteoporosis in a fully adjusted model (p=0.001). Overall, MetS was associated with osteoporosis (p=0.019) but lifestyle (p=0.188) and BMI adjustment attenuated the relationship (p=0.904). Conclusion: MetS is positively associated with BMD, and this relationship is predominantly mediated by BMI. Although MetS is not a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, the inverse relationship between waist circumference, a marker of central obesity, and BMD highlights the need to prevent adiposity to improve metabolic and skeletal health.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity; Obesity, Abdominal
Obesity, cardiovascular disease, and role of vitamin C on inflammation: a review of facts and underlying mechanisms

Ellulu MS

Inflammopharmacology, 2017 Jun;25(3):313-328.
PMID: 28168552 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-017-0314-7

Obesity means the accumulation of excessive fat that may interfere with the maintenance of optimal state of health. Obesity causes cardiac and vascular disease through well-known mediators such as hypertension, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, but there are evidences for other mediators such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and thrombosis. The decreased levels of antioxidants factors and nitric oxide predispose to further cardiovascular adverse events. To reduce the risks, antioxidants can help by neutralizing the free radicals and protecting from damage by donating electrons. Having the capacity, vitamin C protects from oxidative stress, prevention of non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins, and enhances arterial dilation through its effect on nitric oxide release. It also decreases lipid peroxidation, and alleviates inflammation. The anti-inflammatory property of vitamin C could be attributed to ability to modulate the NF-kB DNA binding activity and down-regulation in the hepatic mRNA expression for the interleukins and tumor factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/physiopathology*
Fulltext Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle associated with poor executive function among Malaysian adolescents

Tee JYH, Gan WY, Tan KA, Chin YS

PLoS One, 2018;13(4):e0195934.
PMID: 29664932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195934

The understanding on the roles of obesity and lifestyle behaviors in predicting executive function of adolescents has been limited. Low executive function proficiency may have adverse effects on adolescents' school academic performance. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between BMI-for-age and multiple lifestyle behaviors (operationalized as meal consumption, physical activity, and sleep quality) with executive function (operationalized as inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) on a sample of Malaysian adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years (N = 513). Participants were recruited from two randomly selected schools in the state of Selangor in Malaysia. Using a self-administered questionnaire, parent participants provided information concerning their sociodemographic data, whereas adolescent participants provided information regarding their meal consumptions, physical activity, and sleep quality. The modified Harvard step test was used to assess adolescents' aerobic fitness, while Stroop color-word, digit span, and trail-making tests were used to assess adolescents' inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, respectively. Three separate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for each outcome namely, inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. After adjusted for sociodemographic factors and BMI-for-age, differential predictors of inhibition and working memory were found. Habitual sleep efficiency significantly and positively predicted inhibition. Regular dinner intakes, physical activity levels, and sleep quality significantly and positively predicted working memory. Household income emerged as a consistent predictor for all executive function domains. In conclusion, an increased trend of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents were found to be associated with poorer executive function. Regular dinner intakes, higher physical activity levels and better sleep quality predicted better executive function despite the inverse relationship between obesity and executive function. Future studies may explore how lifestyle modifications can optimize the development of executive function in adolescents as well as relieve the burden of obesity.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/epidemiology*
Fulltext Effect of national culture on BMI: a multilevel analysis of 53 countries

Masood M, Aggarwal A, Reidpath DD

BMC Public Health, 2019 Sep 03;19(1):1212.
PMID: 31481044 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7536-0

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between national culture and national BMI in 53 low-middle- and high-income countries.
METHODS: Data from World Health Survey conducted in 2002-2004 in low-middle- and high-income countries were used. Participants aged 18 years and over were selected using multistage, stratified cluster sampling. BMI was used as an outcome variable. Culture of the countries was measured using Hofstede's cultural dimensions: Uncertainty avoidance, individualism, Power Distance and masculinity. The potential determinants of individual-level BMI were participants' sex, age, marital status, education, occupation as well as household-wealth and location (rural/urban) at the individual-level. The country-level factors used were average national income (GNI-PPP), income inequality (Gini-index) and Hofstede's cultural dimensions. A two-level random-intercepts and fixed-slopes model structure with individuals nested within countries were fitted, treating BMI as a continuous outcome variable.
RESULTS: A sample of 156,192 people from 53 countries was included in this analysis. The design-based (weighted) mean BMI (SE) in these 53 countries was 23.95(0.08). Uncertainty avoidance (UAI) and individualism (IDV) were significantly associated with BMI, showing that people in more individualistic or high uncertainty avoidance countries had higher BMI than collectivist or low uncertainty avoidance ones. This model explained that one unit increase in UAI or IDV was associated with 0.03 unit increase in BMI. Power distance and masculinity were not associated with BMI of the people. National level Income was also significantly associated with individual-level BMI.
CONCLUSION: National culture has a substantial association with BMI of the individuals in the country. This association is important for understanding the pattern of obesity or overweight across different cultures and countries. It is also important to recognise the importance of the association of culture and BMI in developing public health interventions to reduce obesity or overweight.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/epidemiology*
The effects of green tea on lipid metabolism and its potential applications for obesity and related metabolic disorders - An existing update

Dinh TC, Thi Phuong TN, Minh LB, Minh Thuc VT, Bac ND, Van Tien N, et al.

Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2019 03 15;13(2):1667-1673.
PMID: 31336539 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.03.021

Obesity is one of the top global issues, which induces several serious health consequences both physically and mentally, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, eating disorders, depression and stress. However, the effective therapy to prevent and treat obesity and overweight, up to now, cannot be found nowadays. Several methods/medicines namely diet control, energy balance, environmental changes, genetic and stem cell therapies, new drugs/chemicals have been extensively studied to enhance the ability to control bodyweight and prevent obesity. Of all the aforementioned methods, green tea, used as a daily beverage, has shown beneficial impacts for the health, especially its anti-obesity effects. Available evidence shows that green tea can interrupt lipid emulsification, reduce adipocyte differentiation, increase thermogenesis, and reduce food intake, thus green tea improves the systemic metabolism and decreases fat mass. Here, we highlight and sum up the update investigations of anti-obesity effect of green tea as well as discuss the potential application of them for preventing obesity and its related metabolic disorders.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/prevention & control*
Fulltext Socio-Demographic Factors and Body Image Perception Are Associated with BMI-For-Age among Children Living in Welfare Homes in Selangor, Malaysia

A Rahim NN, Chin YS, Sulaiman N

Nutrients, 2019 Jan 11;11(1).
PMID: 30641864 DOI: 10.3390/nu11010142

Considering the double burden of malnutrition in Malaysia, data on malnourished children living in welfare homes are limited. This study aimed to determine the body weight status of children living in welfare homes and its associated factors. A total of 307 children aged 7⁻17 years old living in 15 selected welfare homes completed a standardized questionnaire, and their body weight and height were measured by trained researchers. There were 54.4% orphans, 23.8% abandoned children, and 21.8% children from problematic families. There were 51.5% boys and 48.5% girls; 52.4% were Malays, followed by 31.3% Indians, 12.7% Chinese, and 3.6% from other ethnic groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity (23.1%) was higher than the prevalence of thinness (8.5%). In bivariate analyses, socio-demographic factors of age (p = 0.003), sex (p = 0.0001), ethnicity (p = 0.001), and welfare home enrollment status (p = 0.003), and psychological factors of self-esteem (p = 0.003), body shape dissatisfaction (p = 0.0001), and underestimation of body weight status (p = 0.002), were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI)-for-age. In the multiple linear regression analysis, children who were either Malays (β = 0.492) or Chinese (β = 0.678), with a status of being abandoned (β = 0.409), with body shape dissatisfaction (β = 0.457), and underestimated body weight status (β = 0.628) significantly explained 39.7% of the variances in higher BMI-for-age (F = 39.550; p < 0.05). Besides socio-demographic background, the current findings emphasized the importance of incorporating body image perception in an obesity prevention intervention program in welfare homes.

Matched MeSH terms: Obesity/epidemiology*

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