PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that influence university women with eating problems. METHODS: Study participants were 307 women from two universities. Self-report questionnaires which included items on eating problems, satisfaction with body shape, self-esteem, body mass index, and weight control methods were used. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi2 tests, and a multiple binary logistic regression. RESULTS: About 20% of the undergraduate women were experiencing eating problems. The problematic eating group showed more dissatisfaction with body shape than the normal eating group, and used more diets, fasting, diet-products, and uretics/laxatives to control body weight. Significant predictors for the problematic eating group were diets, diet-products, BMI, self-esteem and dissatisfaction with body shape. The strongest predictors were diets; risk for women university students who had been on a diet was 15 times higher than their counterparts. CONCLUSION: It is pertinent for health professionals to start intervention programs to educate university women with eating problems. The contents should include information on healthy weight control methods, improving satisfaction with body shape and self esteem, as well as creating social atmosphere about healthy body shape for women.
Atmosphere ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Eating* ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Concept

Menopause is a turning point in women that is based on the sex hormone change. Many women are very conscious about the postmenopausal period. After menopause, women complain about vasomotor symptoms, night sweat, psychological problems, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and urogenital symptoms. Nowadays, food and alternative treatment for postmenopausal symptoms are introduced. The average life span is now increasing, and postmenopausal care is important for public health. Long chain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are known as essential fatty acids, however, all mammals, including humans, should obtain them from their diet. Omega-3 fatty acids have emerged as an adjuvant and alternative source for relieving postmenopusal complains or disease. Among alternative treatment or food behavior change for postmenopusal symptoms, we will review the current issues on the relationship between the role and the effect of omega-3 fatty acids in relieving postmenopausal symptoms.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diet ; Fatty Acids, Essential ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 ; Female ; Humans ; Mammals ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis ; Postmenopause ; Public Health ; Sweat

OBJECTIVES: Phytoestrogen-containing pulse supplements have beneficial effects on postmenopausal symptoms, but how such effects are achieved is unclear. This study investigates the effects of pulse consumption on the menopausal changes in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were either sham operated (Sham; n = 3) or surgically ovariectomized (n = 13). The Sham group was fed the regular AIN-93M diet. Ovariectomized group was divided into 3 sub-groups and fed AIN-93M containing soybean (n = 5), mung bean (n = 3), or cowpea (n = 5) for 10 weeks. At the end of the experiment, all rats were sacrificed, and the uterus was harvested, rinsed, and weighed. Expressions of vitamin D receptor (VDR), estrogen receptor (ER) beta, and ezrin in uterus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: VDR was highly expressed in the uterus of rat, irrespective of ovariectomized state. VDR was more definitely expressed in the uterus of ovariectomized groups than the sham-operated group. There were no significant differences in expression of ER beta. However the expression of ezrin was highly expressed in the cowpea group compared to sham group (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that legumes diet may concern menopausal changes via VDR and ezrin. The result may partly explain the beneficial effects of VDR on menopausal symptoms. Further study is necessary to study the detailed mechanisms of VDR and ezrin on the menopausal changes in the uterus.
Animals ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; Diet ; Estrogens ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Mice ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; Salicylamides ; Soybeans ; Uterus ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVES: To see the effect of dietary administration of omega 3-fatty acid formula on the vaginal cells of postmenopausal rats. METHODS: Three-week-old female Wistar/ST rats were raised after one week of adjustment period. The rats were then divided into three groups, for three different kinds of diet; general diet, 1% omega-3 fatty acid diet, and 2% omega-3 fatty acid diet. After eight weeks of having assigned diet, after the oophorectomy, with the same diet previously they had Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, and Western Blot about ezrin, merlin were done. RESULTS: In immunohistochemistry, estrogen injection group revealed thicker and well differentiated features. In Immunofluorescence, Omega-3 fatty acid composition in diet did not effect expression of ezrin and merlin in rat vagina in estrogen injection group, their vaginal epithelium showed full layers (from basal to apical layer). In Western Blot analysis, Omega-3 fatty acid composition in diet did not affect expression of ezrin and merlin in rat vagina estrogen presented significant impact on expression of ezrin and merlin. CONCLUSION: Although omega-3 fatty acid composition changed in diet, vaginal epithelial morphology unchanged. Estrogen did effect on vagina cell, but omega-3 fatty acid did not effect on ezrin and merlin in vagina.
Animals ; Atrophic Vaginitis ; Blotting, Western ; Diet ; Epithelium ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurofibromin 2 ; Ovariectomy ; Rats* ; Vagina*