Biocultural determinants of overweight-obesity among adult women experiencing the nutritional transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: The African Great Lakes region is experiencing rapid urbanization, which is leading to a nutritional transition and its related chronic diseases. Similar to other Great Lakes countries, the nutritional transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is reflected by increased non-communicable diseases, including morbid obesity. The 2014 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) revealed a rising incidence of overweight among women, ranging from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2014.

Women´s experiences of menopause: A qualitative study among women in Soweto, South Africa.

Women today are experiencing menopause for decades more than in previous generations. This 'change of life' is defined by an entire stage of physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that accompany menstrual irregularity and the cessation of fertility, although limited medical research has focused on it. Yet, the inevitability of menopause is universal for all human females around 50 years old.

TRPV1 activation in human Langerhans cells and T cells inhibits mucosal HIV-1 infection via CGRP-dependent and independent mechanisms.

Upon its mucosal transmission, HIV type 1 (HIV-1) rapidly targets genital antigen-presenting Langerhans cells (LCs), which subsequently transfer infectious virus to CD4 T cells. We previously described an inhibitory neuroimmune cross talk, whereby calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide secreted by peripheral pain-sensing nociceptor neurons innervating all mucosal epithelia and associating with LCs, strongly inhibits HIV-1 transfer. As nociceptors secret CGRP following the activation of their Ca ion channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), and as we reported that LCs secret low levels of CGRP, we investigated whether LCs express functional TRPV1.

Direct and Indirect Determinants of Body Mass Index in Both Major Ethnic Groups Experiencing the Nutritional Transition in Cameroon.

In the context of rapid nutritional transitions in Africa, few studies have analyzed the etiology of obesity by considering the driver pathways that predict body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study is to innovatively identify these driver pathways, including the main sociodemographic and socioecological drivers of BMI. We conducted a rural-urban quantitative study in Cameroon ( = 1106; balanced sex ratio) to explore this issue.

CGRP inhibits human Langerhans cells infection with HSV by differentially modulating specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 entry mechanisms.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is widespread globally, with both HSV-1 and HSV-2 responsible for genital herpes. During sexual transmission, HSV targets epithelial cells, sensory peripheral pain neurons secreting the mucosal neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and mucosal immune cells including Langerhans cells (LCs). We previously described a neuro-immune crosstalk, whereby CGRP inhibits LCs-mediated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission.

Genetic loci implicated in meta-analysis of body shape in Africans.

Background And Aims: Obesity is one of the leading causes of non-communicable diseases (NCD). Thus, NCD risk varies in obese individuals based on the location of their fat depots; while subcutaneous adiposity is protective, visceral adiposity increases NCD risk. Although, previously anthropometric traits have been used to quantify body shape in low-income settings, there is no consensus on how it should be assessed.

Native CGRP Neuropeptide and Its Stable Analogue SAX, But Not CGRP Peptide Fragments, Inhibit Mucosal HIV-1 Transmission.

Background: The vasodilator neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays both detrimental and protective roles in different pathologies. CGRP is also an essential component of the neuro-immune dialogue between nociceptors and mucosal immune cells. We previously discovered that CGRP is endowed with anti-viral activity and strongly inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, by suppressing Langerhans cells (LCs)-mediated HIV-1 trans-infection and mucosal HIV-1 transmission .

Determinants of energy intake in Central African populations experiencing nutrition transition.

Central Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation, and this situation comes along with changes in food habits and an increased prevalence of obesity and associated health risks. Factors influencing dietary intake among the diverse African populations are not well understood. Our objective was to characterise the dietary intake and their determinants in the two main ethnic groups experiencing nutrition transition in Cameroon, the Bamiléké and the Béti.

The good life in rural and urban Senegal: A qualitative and quantitative study.

Very few studies have analyzed the influence of the environment, rural or urban, on the notion of good life and subjective well-being in sub-Saharan Africa and none, to our knowledge, has combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies for this purpose. The objectives of this interdisciplinary study were: a) to understand the emic representations of the good life in rural and urban Senegal and; b) to compare the levels and determinants of satisfaction with life between these two populations. This study was carried out in Dakar and in a very isolated rural area in the North East of Senegal: the sylvo-pastoral zone of Ferlo.

Body size preferences for women and adolescent girls living in Africa: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Objective: To synthesise evidence on body size preferences for females living in Africa and the factors influencing these.

Design: Mixed-methods systematic review including searches on Medline, CINHAL, ASSIA, Web of Science and PsycINFO (PROSPERO CRD42015020509). A sequential-explanatory approach was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings.

Development and validation of the body shape scale (BOSHAS) for assessing body shape perception in African populations.

Background: As a consequence of 'Western' acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations.

A qualitative study reporting maternal perceptions of the importance of play for healthy growth and development in the first two years of life.

Background: In order for infants and toddlers to meet recommended movement guidelines, their caregivers need to encourage play daily. This study used a qualitative approach to understand how mothers perceive and promote play and physical activity during the first 2 years of life.

Methods: Mothers with children between 0 and 24 months were recruited from the SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit in Soweto, South Africa.

Double-duty solutions for optimising maternal and child nutrition in urban South Africa: a qualitative study.

Objective: To obtain a community perspective on key nutrition-specific problems and solutions for mothers and children.

Design: A qualitative study comprising nine focus group discussions (FGD) following a semi-structured interview guide.

Setting: The township of Soweto in South Africa with a rising prevalence of double burden of malnutrition.

Maternal perspectives on infant feeding practices in Soweto, South Africa.

Objective: To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto and (ii) understand from the mothers' perspective what influences feeding practices.

Design: Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, and data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Setting: Soweto, South Africa.

Factors influencing dietary behaviours in urban food environments in Africa: a systematic mapping review.

Objective: To identify factors influencing dietary behaviours in urban food environments in Africa and identify areas for future research.

Design: We systematically reviewed published/grey literature (protocol CRD4201706893). Findings were compiled into a map using a socio-ecological model on four environmental levels: individual, social, physical and macro.

Body weight perceptions and obesity amongst university employed South African women.

This study aimed to rigorously assess body weight perceptions according to several body image dimensions in rural, employed African women. One hundred and thirty-two employed black African women were recruited at a rural South African university. Participants were asked to choose their 'ideal' and 'feel' perceived body size from nine standardized body image silhouettes, varying according to body size.

'I'd say I'm fat, I'm not obese': obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa.

Objective: In the past decade, South Africa's obesity epidemic has increased in both children and adults, and being overweight is becoming the norm. Several contributing factors lead to the normalisation of obesity. One of these is the culturally entrenched likeness of larger body sizes or shapes within a milieu of easily accessible unhealthy food and beverages.

Maternal religion and breastfeeding intention and practice in the US Project Viva cohort.

Background: Religion has rarely been studied as a determinant of infant feeding practices. We examined whether religious affiliation is associated with formula feeding vs breastfeeding intention and practice in women from the United States Project Viva cohort.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2002, 2128 pregnant women were recruited in the area of Boston, Massachusetts.

Relationships Between Maternal Factors and Weight Loss Attempts Among Urban Male and Female Adolescents Living in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Purpose: South Africa is undergoing rapid urban transition favoring ideals of thinness, which increases eating disorders risk for female adolescents, whereas older women continue to uphold corpulence as a female cultural value. This study aimed to assess the potential conflicting relationship between urban male and female adolescents' weight loss attempts (WLA) and maternal body image norms within households.

Methods: The study included a longitudinal sample of mother-daughter and mother-son pairs from the Birth to Twenty Plus Cohort (N = 1,613), using data collected at 13, 17, and 22 years.

Environmental, Social, and Structural Constraints for Health Behavior: Perceptions of Young Urban Black Women During the Preconception Period-A Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative.

Objective: Obesity and noncommunicable disease are rapidly increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. Prevention efforts are critical, particularly for women before conception to maximize intergenerational effects. The authors sought to examine perceptions of health and everyday factors that influenced nutrition, exercise, and other health behaviors to inform a novel community preconception intervention.

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Body Image Disturbances Among South African Mothers and Their Daughters Living in Soweto, Johannesburg.

In South African families, a phenomenon of mothers' acceptance of stoutness coexists with their daughters' appreciation for thinness. A sample of N = 615 mother-and-daughter pairs was recruited to conjointly identify the relationships toward body image and body mass index between both groups by assessing body weight satisfaction, body esteem, and eating disorders risk. We observed higher prevalence of obesity in mothers and higher eating disorders risk in daughters, while mother-daughter relationships were identified for body mass index and psychometric dimensions.

Biocultural determinants of overweight and obesity in the context of nutrition transition in Senegal: a holistic anthropological approach.

Senegal is experiencing a rising obesity epidemic, due to the nutrition transition occurring in most African countries, and driven by sedentary behaviour and high-calorie dietary intake. In addition, the anthropological local drivers of the social valorization of processed high-calorie food and large body sizes could expose the population to obesity risk. This study aimed to determine the impact of these biocultural factors on the nutritional status of Senegalese adults.

Examining the relationships between body image, eating attitudes, BMI, and physical activity in rural and urban South African young adult females using structural equation modeling.

The persistence of food insecurity, malnutrition, increasing adiposity, and decreasing physical activity, heightens the need to understand relationships between body image satisfaction, eating attitudes, BMI and physical activity levels in South Africa. Females aged 18-23 years were recruited from rural (n = 509) and urban (n = 510) settings. Body image satisfaction was measured using Stunkard's silhouettes, and the 26-item Eating Attitudes questionnaire (EAT-26) was used to evaluate participants' risk of disordered eating.

Prevalence of obesity and body size perceptions in urban and rural Senegal: new insight on the epidemiological transition in West Africa.

Background: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of obesity in Dakar and in Tessekere, a rural municipality in northern Senegal, and to compare ideal body size between these populations.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2015 on a representative sample of 1 000 adults, aged 20 years and older in Dakar, and 500 adults of the same age in Tessekere.

Results: The prevalence of obesity and overweight was higher in Dakar than in Tessekere.

Nutrition Transition and Biocultural Determinants of Obesity among Cameroonian Migrants in Urban Cameroon and France.

Native of rural West Cameroon, the Bamiléké population is traditionally predisposed to obesity. Bamiléké who migrated to urban areas additionally experience the nutrition transition. We investigated the biocultural determinants of obesity in Bamiléké who migrated to urban Cameroon (Yaoundé), or urban France (Paris).