Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and obesity in the WAGR syndrome.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been found to be important in energy homeostasis in animal models, but little is known about its role in energy balance in humans. Heterozygous, variably sized, contiguous gene deletions causing haploinsufficiency of the WT1 and PAX6 genes on chromosome 11p13, approximately 4 Mb centromeric to BDNF (11p14.1), result in the Wilms' tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation (WAGR) syndrome.

Structure analysis of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test in overweight and at-risk for overweight children and adolescents.

Background: In school-based samples of children, the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT) has a four-factor structure; however, previous studies have not examined its factor structure in samples restricted to overweight youth.

Methods: The ChEAT was administered to 220 overweight (BMI>or=95th percentile) and 45 at-risk for overweight (BMI 85th-<95th percentile) children and adolescents. Factors were identified by a principal component analysis with varimax rotation.

Obesity-related hypoferremia is not explained by differences in reported intake of heme and nonheme iron or intake of dietary factors that can affect iron absorption.

Hypoferremia is more prevalent in obese than nonobese adults, but the reason for this phenomenon is unknown. To elucidate the role dietary factors play in obesity-related hypoferremia, the intake of heme and nonheme iron and the intake of other dietary factors known to affect iron absorption were compared cross-sectionally from April 2002 to December 2003 in a convenience sample of 207 obese and 177 nonobese adults. Subjects completed 7-day food records, underwent phlebotomy for serum iron measurement, and had body composition assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, during a 21-month period.

Validation of three food frequency questionnaires to assess dietary calcium intake in adults.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of three self-administered food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) to measure dietary calcium intake in healthy adults.

Design: Estimates of dietary calcium intake from one previously validated and two recently developed FFQs were compared with those from 7-day food records.

Subjects/setting: Healthy adults enrolled in an outpatient study of calcium supplementation completed the 36-page Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ), a 3-page Calcium Questionnaire, and a 1-page Short Calcium Questionnaire.

Differences between the perceived and actual age of overweight onset in children and adolescents.

Objective: Little is known about whether children or their parents can accurately recall the age at which they became overweight. DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We interviewed 64 overweight children (7-18 years old) about their weight history and compared reported age of overweight onset with actual onset, as determined by the age at which the child's measured BMI first exceeded the 95th percentile.

Results: Only 28% of children reported overweight onset within 1 year of actual overweight onset.