Influence of social factors on weight-related behaviors according to gender in the French adult population.

Although the prevalence of obesity is higher in low socioeconomic position (SEP), the relationship between SEP and body mass index (BMI) differs according to gender. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between BMI and SEP according to gender and explore the weight-related behaviors. In a cross-sectional survey, 1646 French adults were weighed and answered a questionnaire about eating behavior (DEBQ), SEP markers, ideal weight perception, physical activity and smoking.

Multiple effects of a short-term dexamethasone treatment in human skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

Glucocorticoids are frequently prescribed drugs with important side-effects such as glucose intolerance and tissue remodeling. The goal was to explore the molecular basis of the response of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue during a short-term dexamethasone treatment to better understand the induction of side-effects of glucocorticoids on these metabolic tissues. Fifteen healthy male subjects were assigned to a 4-day treatment with dexamethasone at 4 mg/day.

[Schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis].

Schizophrenia is one of the most severe and disabling psychiatric disease that affects about 1 % of the adult worldwide population. Aetiology of schizophrenia is still unknown but genetic and environmental factors are suspected to play a major role in its onset. Recent epidemiologic studies indicate that infectious agents may contribute to some cases of schizophrenia.

Gene expression profiling of human skeletal muscle in response to stabilized weight loss.

Background: Diet-induced weight reduction promotes a decrease in resting energy expenditure that could partly explain the difficulty in maintaining reduced body mass. Whether this reduction remains after stabilized weight loss is still controversial, and the molecular mechanisms are unknown.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the effect of a stabilized 10% weight loss on body composition, metabolic profile, and skeletal muscle gene expression profiling.

Impaired fat-induced thermogenesis in obese subjects: the NUGENOB study.

Objectives: To study energy expenditure before and 3 hours after a high-fat load in a large cohort of obese subjects (n = 701) and a lean reference group (n = 113).

Research Methods And Procedures: Subjects from seven European countries underwent a 1-day clinical study with a liquid test meal challenge containing 95% fat (energy content was 50% of estimated resting energy expenditure). Fasting and 3-hour postprandial energy expenditures, as well as metabolites and hormones, were determined.

Fat oxidation before and after a high fat load in the obese insulin-resistant state.

Background: Obesity may be associated with a lowered use of fat as a fuel, which may contribute to the enlarged adipose tissue stores.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to study fatty acid use in the fasting state and in response to a high fat load in a large cohort of obese subjects (n = 701) and a lean reference group (n = 113).

Methods: Subjects from eight European centers underwent a test meal challenge containing 95 en% fat [energy content 50% of estimated resting energy expenditure (EE)].

Comparison of two physical activity questionnaires in obese subjects: the NUGENOB study.

Purpose: Simple instruments are needed to assess habitual physical activity (PA) in obese subjects. In a multicenter European obesity project, we tested whether PA assessments by two questionnaires were correlated and similarly associated to selected obesity-related variables.

Methods: A total of 757 obese subjects (75% female; age 37.

In vivo epinephrine-mediated regulation of gene expression in human skeletal muscle.

The stress hormone epinephrine produces major physiological effects on skeletal muscle. Here we determined skeletal muscle mRNA expression profiles before and during a 6-h epinephrine infusion performed in nine young men. Stringent statistical analysis of data obtained using 43000 cDNA element microarrays showed that 1206 and 474 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively.

Emotional eating, alexithymia, and binge-eating disorder in obese women.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between alexithymia and emotional eating in obese women with or without Binge Eating Disorder (BED).

Research Methods And Procedures: One hundred sixty-nine obese women completed self-report questionnaires, including the Beck Depression Inventory, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Stress Perceived Scale, the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The presence of BED, screened using the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns, was confirmed by interview.

In vivo regulation of human skeletal muscle gene expression by thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormones are key regulators of metabolism that modulate transcription via nuclear receptors. Hyperthyroidism is associated with increased metabolic rate, protein breakdown, and weight loss. Although the molecular actions of thyroid hormones have been studied thoroughly, their pleiotropic effects are mediated by complex changes in expression of an unknown number of target genes.