A Pilot Randomized Trial of Oral Magnesium Supplementation on Supraventricular Arrhythmias.

Low magnesium may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. We conducted a double-blind pilot randomized trial to assess adherence to oral magnesium supplementation (400 mg of magnesium oxide daily) and a matching placebo, estimate the effect on circulating magnesium concentrations, and evaluate the feasibility of using an ambulatory heart rhythm monitoring device (ZioPatch) for assessing premature atrial contractions. A total of 59 participants were randomized; 73% were women, and the mean age was 62 years.

Impact of explained v. unexplained front-of-package nutrition labels on parent and child food choices: a randomized trial.

Objective: The present study investigated whether parent/child pairs would select more healthful foods when: (i) products were labelled with front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels relative to packages without labels; (ii) products were labelled with colour-coded Multiple Traffic Light (MTL) FOP labels relative to monochromatic Facts up Front (FuF) FOP labels; and (iii) FOP labels were explained via in-aisle signage v. unexplained.

Design: Participants were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: (i) FuF labels with in-aisle signs explaining the labels; (ii) FuF labels, no signage; (iii) MTL labels with in-aisle signage; (iv) MTL labels, no signage; (v) control group, no labels/signage.

Measuring perceived barriers to healthful eating in obese, treatment-seeking adults.

Objective: To characterize perceived barriers to healthful eating in a sample of obese, treatment-seeking adults and to examine whether changes in barriers are associated with energy intake and body weight.

Design: Observational study based on findings from a randomized, controlled behavioral weight-loss trial.

Participants: Participants were 113 women and 100 men, mean age 48.

Sex-specific HDL cholesterol changes with weight loss and their association with anthropometric variables: the LIFE study.

Decrease in the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) has been observed in women who start dieting, but not in men. Patterns of HDLC change during intentional weight loss through 30-months of follow-up, and their association with changes in anthropometric measurements were examined in obese women (N = 112) and men (N = 100). Missing HDLC values at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 30-month follow-up (N = 16, 34, 55, and 50, respectively) due to dropout were imputed by multiple imputation.

Maintenance-tailored therapy vs. standard behavior therapy for 30-month maintenance of weight loss.

Objective: To assess differences in weight regain one year after an 18-month obesity treatment with standard behavior therapy (SBT) or maintenance-tailored therapy for obesity (MTT).

Method: 213 obese adult volunteers were treated for 18 months using SBT with fixed behavioral prescriptions or MTT that employed varied behavioral prescriptions with treatment breaks. Follow-up analysis focused on weight maintenance after a year of no contact.

Energy density and weight change in a long-term weight-loss trial.

Background: Health risks linked to obesity and the difficulty most have in achieving weight loss underscore the importance of identifying dietary factors that contribute to successful weight loss.

Methods: This study examined the association between change in dietary energy density and weight loss over time. Subjects were 213 men and women with BMI of 30-39 kg/m2 and without chronic illness enrolled in 2004 in a randomized trial evaluating behavioral treatments for long-term weight loss.

Mood, Weight, and Physical Activity Among Obese Individuals Enrolled In a Long-term Weight-loss Program: Trajectories and Associations with Gender.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the trajectories of mood, weight and physical activity, and associations between mood, weight, and gender, among 213 obese individuals. METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal design. Assessments at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months of Profile of Mood States, Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire, and weight.