Impact of rocker sole footwear on plantar pressure distribution during standing and walking in adult obese women.

Obesity increases the stresses applied to the foot. Ergonomic rocker sole shoes increase energy expenditure of standing and walking in obese individuals but could potentially alter plantar pressure distribution. The aim of this study was to compare plantar pressure distribution during standing and walking between rocker sole and flat-bottomed shoes in obese subjects.

Cardiometabolic risk factors differ among adolescents with obesity in three European countries - a cross-sectional study.

Aim: We aimed to compare modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors among treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity in Italy, Germany and Norway.

Methods: This retrospective, registry-based, cross-sectional cohort study included 2,327 (59% girls) 12-18 year-old adolescents with obesity from three tertiary care outpatient clinics in Europe, between 1999 and 2015. The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors was compared between clinics, and multivariate logistic regression models including gender, age, waist circumference and body mass index were used to assess the associations between population and cardiometabolic risk.

Ergogenic effects of beetroot juice supplementation during severe-intensity exercise in obese adolescents.

Previous studies showed a higher O cost of exercise, and therefore, a reduced exercise tolerance in patients with obesity during constant work rate (CWR) exercise compared with healthy subjects. Among the ergogenic effects of dietary nitrate ([Formula: see text]) supplementation in sedentary healthy subjects, a reduced O cost and enhanced exercise tolerance have often been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of beetroot juice (BR) supplementation, rich in [Formula: see text], on physiological variables associated with exercise tolerance in adolescents with obesity.

Feasibility, Validity, and Reliability of the Italian Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale for Adults in Inpatients with Severe Obesity.

Objective: This study was aimed to examine the feasibility, validity, and reliability of the Italian Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL™ MFS) for adult inpatients with severe obesity.

Methods: 200 inpatients (81% females) with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) completed the PedsQL MFS (General Fatigue, Sleep/Rest Fatigue and Cognitive Fatigue domains), the Fatigue Severity Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale immediately after admission to a 3-week residential body weight reduction program. A randomized subsample of 48 patients re-completed the PedsQL MFS after 3 days.

External validation of equations to estimate resting energy expenditure in 14952 adults with overweight and obesity and 1948 adults with normal weight from Italy.

Background & Aims: We cross-validated 28 equations to estimate resting energy expenditure (REE) in a very large sample of adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: 14952 Caucasian men and women with overweight or obesity and 1498 with normal weight were studied. REE was measured using indirect calorimetry and estimated using two meta-regression equations and 26 other equations.

Reproducibility of clinician-friendly physical performance measures in individuals with obesity.

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility (reliability and agreement) of different physical performance measures in individuals with obesity.

Methods: Forty subjects (20 men, 20 women), mean age 29 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 42 kg/m2 completed several clinician-friendly performance-based tests (walking, stair-climbing, sit-to-stand, static balance, flexibility and strength) on 2 different occasions (test-retest design). Intraclass correlation coefficients (reliability) and smallest detectable changes (agreement) were calculated for each outcome measure.

Respiratory muscle endurance training reduces the O cost of cycling and perceived exertion in obese adolescents.

In obesity, the increased O cost of breathing negatively affects the O cost of exercise and exercise tolerance. The purpose of the study was to determine whether, in obese adolescents, the addition of respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) (isocapnic hyperpnea) to a standard body mass reduction program decreases the O cost of exercise and perceived exertion. Nine male obese adolescents [16.

GH Responsiveness to Combined GH-Releasing Hormone and Arginine Administration in Obese Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Reportedly, fibromyalgia (FM) is frequently associated with reduced IGF-1 levels and GH hyporesponsiveness to different GH stimulation tests. Since there is a high prevalence of obesity in FM, and obesity itself is characterized by hyposomatotropism, the aim of this study was to assess IGF-1 levels and GH responsiveness in sixteen severely obese women suffering from FM, who, subdivided into two subgroups on the basis of their age-dependent IGF-1 values (> or <-2 SDS), underwent the combined GHRH plus arginine test. Four out of 16 obese women with FM (25%) had low IGF-1 SDS values, 2 cases of this subgroup (12.

Effects of a multidisciplinary body weight reduction program on static and dynamic thoraco-abdominal volumes in obese adolescents.

The objective of this study was to characterize static and dynamic thoraco-abdominal volumes in obese adolescents and to test the effects of a 3-week multidisciplinary body weight reduction program (MBWRP), entailing an energy-restricted diet, psychological and nutritional counseling, aerobic physical activity, and respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET), on these parameters. Total chest wall (VCW), pulmonary rib cage (VRC,p), abdominal rib cage (VRC,a), and abdominal (VAB) volumes were measured on 11 male adolescents (Tanner stage: 3-5; BMI standard deviation score: >2; age: 15.9 ± 1.

Anticipatory and consummatory effects of (hedonic) chocolate intake are associated with increased circulating levels of the orexigenic peptide ghrelin and endocannabinoids in obese adults.

Background: Hedonic hunger refers to consumption of food just for pleasure and not to maintain energy homeostasis. Recently, consumption of food for pleasure was reported to be associated with increased circulating levels of both the orexigenic peptide ghrelin and the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) in normal-weight subjects. To date, the effects of hedonic hunger, and in particular of chocolate craving, on these mediators in obese subjects are still unknown.

Assessment of fat-free mass from bioelectrical impedance analysis in obese women with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Background: Fat-free mass (FFM) is lower in obese subjects with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) than in obese subjects without PWS. FFM prediction equations developed in non-PWS subjects may, thus, not work in PWS subjects.

Aim: To test whether the estimation of FFM from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in PWS subjects requires population-specific equations.

Acute respiratory muscle unloading by normoxic helium-O₂ breathing reduces the O₂ cost of cycling and perceived exertion in obese adolescents.

Purpose: In obesity, an increased work of breathing contributes to a higher O2 cost of exercise and negatively affects exercise tolerance. The purpose of the study was to determine whether, in obese adolescents, acute respiratory muscle unloading via normoxic helium-O2 breathing reduces the O2 cost of cycling and perceived exertion.

Methods: Nine males [age 16.

Relationship between glucose metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease severity in morbidly obese women.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction are involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Insulin resistance is associated with NAFLD but little is known about beta-cell dysfunction and NAFLD.

Is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease less frequent among women with Prader-Willi syndrome?

Objective: Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have been hypothesized to be at lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) because of higher insulin sensitivity. However, PWS patients have a peculiar body composition, i.e.

Severely obese adolescents and adults exhibit a different association of circulating levels of adipokines and leukocyte expression of the related receptors with insulin resistance.

Obese adults frequently exhibit a low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance, which have been hypothesized to be established early in childhood. Aim of this study was to evaluate the age-dependent relationships between inflammatory state and insulin resistance in obese adolescents and adults. Clinical and metabolic parameters, circulating adipokines (TNF- α , adiponectin, and leptin), ghrelin, their leukocyte receptors (TNFR1, ADIPOR2, OBRL and GHSR1a), and acute phase reactants (CRP and white blood cells) were assessed in lean and obese adolescents compared with the adult counterparts.

Skeletal muscle oxygen uptake in obese patients: functional evaluation by knee-extension exercise.

We hypothesized, in a group of obese women (OB), a more significant impairment of aerobic metabolism during knee extension (KE) exercise vs. that described during cycle ergometer exercise, lending support to the role of skeletal muscles in limiting exercise tolerance in OB. Eleven OB (age 29.

Psychometric properties of the Fatigue Severity Scale in obese patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) to verify whether this instrument is a valid tool to measure fatigue in obese patients, and to examine the prevalence of fatigue in obese patients.

Methods: Before and after a three-week residential multidisciplinary integrated weight reduction program, 220 patients were asked to fill in the questionnaires: FSS, Profile of Mood States (Fatigue-Inertia subscale, POMS-Fatigue, and Vigor-Activity subscale, POMS-Vigor), and the Obesity-Related Well-Being (ORWELL-97). A subsample of 50 patients completed the questionnaire within two days.

Feasibility study of detecting surface electromyograms in severely obese patients.

The aims of this study were to examine if surface EMG signals can be detected from the quadriceps femoris muscle of severely obese patients and to investigate if differences exist in quadriceps force and myoelectric manifestations of fatigue between obese patients and lean controls. Fourteen severely obese patients (body mass index, BMI, mean±SD: 44.9±6.

Growth hormone-releasing effects of whole body vibration alone or combined with squatting plus external load in severely obese female subjects.

Background: Whole body vibration (WBV) has been reported to exert growth hormone(GH)-releasing effects in healthy subjects. Despite the potential of WBV to positively affect body composition changes via lipolytic effects, few studies have been performed in obese subjects to date.

Methods: This study evaluated the acute effects of WBV alone or in combination with squatting plus external load (WBV+S) on serum GH levels and blood lactate concentrations in 7 severely obese women (age 22 ± 5 years; BMI 39.

Unstable shoes increase energy expenditure of obese patients.

Background: Ergonomic unstable shoes, which are widely available to the general population, could increase daily non-exercise activity thermogenesis as the result of increased muscular involvement. We compared the energy expenditure of obese patients during standing and walking with conventional flat-bottomed shoes versus unstable shoes.

Methods: Twenty-nine obese patients were asked to stand quietly and to walk at their preferred walking speed while wearing unstable or conventional shoes.

Energetics and mechanics of running men: the influence of body mass.

We investigated the relationship between mechanical and energy cost of transport and body mass in running humans. Ten severely obese (body mass ranging from 108.5 to 172.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components among obese men and women in Italy.

Objective: Assessment of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in Italian obese individuals.

Methods: Cross-sectional estimate of MetS prevalence using the IDF definition in 635 obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2)) individuals (286 men, 349 women) aged 19-78 years hospitalised for mass excess treatment.

Results: MetS prevalence was significantly (p < 0.

Effect of gender and obesity on electrical current thresholds.

Introduction: In this study we investigated the influence of gender and obesity on electrical current thresholds in an attempt to optimize the application of skeletal muscle electrical stimulation (ES) in clinical practice.

Methods: Thirty-two obese and 35 age-matched, non-obese men and women received graded ES to the quadriceps muscle for sensory (detection) and motor (contraction) threshold assessment. Concomitant pain and tolerance to ES were recorded.

Effect of somatostatin infusion on peptide YY secretion: studies in the acute and recovery phase of anorexia nervosa and in obesity.

Objective: Changes in many gastrointestinal peptides, including the anorexigenic peptide YY (PYY), which is produced by L cells, occur in both anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity (OB). High PYY levels are present in AN, whereas in morbid OB fasting and postprandial PYY secretion is blunted. Somatostatin (somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF)) reportedly inhibits plasma PYY concentrations in animals and healthy humans, but the effect of a SRIF infusion on spontaneous PYY secretion in AN and OB is unknown.

Gas exchange kinetics in obese adolescents. Inferences on exercise tolerance and prescription.

A functional evaluation of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism was performed in a group of obese adolescents (OB). The various components of pulmonary O(2) uptake (Vo(2)) kinetics were evaluated during 10-min constant-load exercises (CLE) on a cycloergometer at different percentages of Vo(2max). The relationships of these components with the gas exchange threshold (GET) were determined.