Examining the impact of obesity on infertility among women. Via eleven biochemical parameters, such as progesterone, estrogen, Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating-Hormone, Prolactin, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, Thyroid-Stimulating-Hormone, Very-Low-Density-Lipoprotein, High-Density-Lipoprotein, and Low- DensityLipoprotein, were tested in 107 women with infertility and 54 control group. The Results showed There was a significant elevation in the concentration of estrogen, LH, prolactin, TSH, cholesterol, TG, VLDL and LDL in infertile women, compared to the healthy women at a significant level of P = 0.025 (72.1 ± 30.9 pg/mL), P = 0.016 (6.19 ± 3.0 mlU/mL), P = 0.02 (32.7 ± 21.5 pg/mL), P = 0.0013 (2.09 ± 1.04 µlU/mL), P = 0.001(186.3 ± 34.1mg/dL), P = 0.001 (162.5 ± 83.7 mg/dL), P = 0 008 (32.5 ± 16.6 mg/dL) and P = 0.007 (113.3 ± 34.4 mg/ dL), respectively. Obesity had a strong positive relationship with LH, cholesterol, TG, VLDL, and LDL, whereas an unwanted correlation with HDL was noted. Also, an association has been found between hormonal and biochemical parameters, and WHR and BMI. WHR demonstrated a significant negative correlation to HDL. Finally, the study showed that obesity is a new indicator of increasing the infertility risk for women of all ages through BMI and WHR.
Infertility ; Obesity ; Body Mass Index ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between serum microRNA-122 (miR-122) and insulin resistance in obese children. METHODS: Forty-seven children with severely obesity aged 7-14 years and 45 age- and gender matched healthy children with normal weight (control group) were enrolled. The levels of height, weight, waistline, hip circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and miR-122 in the two groups were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the height, weight, BMI, WHR, FINS, HOMA-IR, TG, FFA, IL-6, and miR-122 levels in the obese group were significantly increased (P<0.05). MiR-122 levels in the obese group were positively correlated with FINS, HOMA-IR and IL-6 levels (r=0.408, 0.442, and 0.464 respectively, P<0.05). The changes of miR-122 have a linear regression relationship with IL-6 (b'=0.318, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The elevated serum miR-122 levels may be correlated with insulin resistance in obese children. The mechanism needs to be further studied.
Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Obesity ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The etiology of colon diverticulosis is related to a range of genetic, biological, and environmental factors, but the risk factors for asymptomatic diverticulosis of the colon are unclear. This study examined the risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.METHODS: This retrospective study included examinees who underwent a colonoscopy for screening at the health check-up center of SAM Hospital between January 2016 and December 2016. The examinees with colon diverticulosis found by colonoscopy were compared with those without diverticulosis. The comparison factors were age, gender, alcohol consumption, smoking status, medical history, lipid profile, body mass index, visceral fat area, waist-hip ratio, and severity of a fatty liver.RESULTS: This study included 937 examinees and the overall prevalence of diverticulosis was 8.1% (76/937). Fatty liver was found in 69.7% (53/76) in cases of colon diverticulosis and 50.3% (433/861) in the control group (p=0.001). The average waist-hip ratio was 0.92±0.051 in colon diverticulosis and 0.90±0.052 in the control group (p=0.052). Multivariate analysis revealed the waist-hip ratio (OR=1.035, 95% CI 1.000–1.070, p=0.043), moderate fatty liver (OR=2.238, 95% CI 1.026–4.882, p=0.043), and severe fatty liver (OR=5.519, 95% CI 1.236–21.803, p=0.025) to be associated with an increased risk of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.CONCLUSIONS: The waist-hip ratio, moderate fatty liver, and severe fatty liver are risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. Central obesity, which can be estimated by the waist-hip ratio, and fatty liver might affect the pathogenesis of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulum ; Fatty Liver ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVES: Although the number of laboratory workers is constantly increasing every year, few studies have been conducted on the health and nutritional status of these research workers. This study determined the health status of laboratory workers by analyzing their anthropometric indices, dietary life, vitamin D status and blood clinical indices. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 100 female laboratory workers. This study investigated their diet, anthropometric indices, vitamin D status and blood clinical indices. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their duration of working in a laboratory (<1 year,≥1 year). RESULTS: The average age and body mass index (BMI) of subjects were 23.18 years and 21.51 kg/m2, respectively Those subjects with over 1 year employment (≥1 year) had a significantly higher waist-hip ratio than that of the subjects with the less than 1 year employment (<1 year). The mean serum vitamin D level of all the subjects was 10.04 ng/mL, which is close to a level of vitamin D deficiency. There was a significantly higher average intake of calories in the over 1 year employment group as compared to that of the less than 1 year employment group. The frequency of eating sweet snacks was significantly higher for the over 1 year employment group. The correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the serum 25-(OH)-vitamin D level and the time of exposure to sunlight, while dietary intake of vitamin D did not show correlation with the serum 25-(OH)-vitamin D level. However, the serum 25-(OH)-vitamin D level was also negatively correlated with both the percentage of body fat and visceral fat. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory workers are a very high risk group in terms of their nutritional status of vitamin D. Therefore, they need greater time of exposure to sunlight as well as increasing their dietary consumption of vitamin D. In addition, it is important for laboratory worker to practice regular and balanced dietary habits in order to maintain a healthy life.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Diet ; Eating ; Employment ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Nutritional Status ; Snacks ; Sunlight ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To compare five indices of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) among adults living in the Mediterranean region. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 100 healthy Lebanese adults aged between 18 and 65 years. Face-to-face interviews to collect sociodemographic and medical information, to take anthropometric measurements, and to fill a validated, culturally adapted, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The score for each item was calculated following the recommendations for each corresponding index. The five MD indices were Mediterranean Diet Scale (MDScale), Mediterranean Food Pattern (MFP), MD Score (MDS), Short Mediterranean Diet Questionnaire (SMDQ), and the MedDiet score. RESULTS: Significant correlations were detected between items with P-values < 0.001. Minimal agreement was seen between MDScale and MedDiet score and maximal agreement between MDS and MedDiet score. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that MDS and MedDiet scores had significant correlations with fiber and olive oil intake, main components of the MD. MDScale showed a significant correlation with waist-to-hip ratio and with total energy intake but none of the five indices was correlated to body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSIONS: The indices that showed the highest correlation with variables related to the MD are the MDScale and the MedDiet score; therefore, they can be used to assess our future study populations. Based on the current results, more than half of the study population was non-adherent to the MD and adherence to this diet did not appear to protect against being overweight (BMI ≥ 30).
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Diet ; Diet, Mediterranean ; Energy Intake ; Humans ; Mediterranean Region ; Multivariate Analysis ; Olive Oil ; Overweight ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVE: To determine the activities of oxidative stress markers and lipid profiles of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a nested case-control study consisting of 50 PCOS patients and 50 healthy women of the same age range without any evidence of PCOS. The study measured the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (TAC); concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) using standard spectrophotometric methods. Anthropometric indices were also assessed. P-values of <0.05 were taken to be statistically significant. RESULTS: There were significantly higher levels of MDA (P=0.002), lower activity of SOD (P<0.001), and lower TAC (P=0.001) in PCOS patients when compared with the controls. There were higher concentrations of TC (P=0.017) and LDL-C P=0.012) in PCOS patients than in controls. Significant differences were not observed between the 2 groups in terms of the activity of GSH-Px, as well as the concentrations of HDL-C and TG. The body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio were all significantly higher in PCOS patients. CONCLUSION: This study revealed higher levels of MDA, as well as lower activity of SOD and TAC, among PCOS patients. Furthermore, there were higher levels of TC and LDL-C among the PCOS patients. Hence, monitoring these parameters may improve the clinical management of PCOS.
Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Malondialdehyde ; Nigeria ; Obesity ; Oxidative Stress ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The etiology of colon diverticulosis is related to a range of genetic, biological, and environmental factors, but the risk factors for asymptomatic diverticulosis of the colon are unclear. This study examined the risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. METHODS: This retrospective study included examinees who underwent a colonoscopy for screening at the health check-up center of SAM Hospital between January 2016 and December 2016. The examinees with colon diverticulosis found by colonoscopy were compared with those without diverticulosis. The comparison factors were age, gender, alcohol consumption, smoking status, medical history, lipid profile, body mass index, visceral fat area, waist-hip ratio, and severity of a fatty liver. RESULTS: This study included 937 examinees and the overall prevalence of diverticulosis was 8.1% (76/937). Fatty liver was found in 69.7% (53/76) in cases of colon diverticulosis and 50.3% (433/861) in the control group (p=0.001). The average waist-hip ratio was 0.92±0.051 in colon diverticulosis and 0.90±0.052 in the control group (p=0.052). Multivariate analysis revealed the waist-hip ratio (OR=1.035, 95% CI 1.000–1.070, p=0.043), moderate fatty liver (OR=2.238, 95% CI 1.026–4.882, p=0.043), and severe fatty liver (OR=5.519, 95% CI 1.236–21.803, p=0.025) to be associated with an increased risk of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. CONCLUSIONS: The waist-hip ratio, moderate fatty liver, and severe fatty liver are risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. Central obesity, which can be estimated by the waist-hip ratio, and fatty liver might affect the pathogenesis of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulum ; Fatty Liver ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between changes in anthropometric indices and fasting insulin levels among healthy adolescents and whether the association differed by baseline obesity status. METHODS: This analysis was based on data collected for the JS High School study; 884 healthy adolescents aged 15 to 16 years followed up for 24 to 30 months were included. Changes in anthropometric indices and fasting insulin levels were computed as the difference between baseline and follow-up values. Multivariate linear regression models were used to determine the association between changes in anthropometric indices and fasting insulin levels. Based on body mass index (BMI)-for-age and waist circumference (WC)-for-age percentiles, participants were classified as normal weight (<85th percentile), overweight (85th percentile to <95th percentile), or obese (≥95th percentile). RESULTS: Changes in BMI, WC, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio were significantly associated with changes in fasting insulin levels in both sexes (P<0.05). In analyses stratified by baseline obesity status, the association between change in BMI and change in fasting insulin was significantly stronger in overweight (males: standardized β=1.136; females: standardized β=1.262) and obese (males: standardized β=1.817; females: standardized β=2.290) participants than in those with normal weight (males: standardized β=0.957; females: standardized β=0.976) at baseline. Results were similar for changes in WC. CONCLUSION: Changes in anthropometric indices were positively associated with fasting insulin level increases. Moreover, those who were overweight or obese at baseline had a higher absolute increase in fasting insulin levels per one standard deviation unit increase in anthropometric indices than adolescents with normal weight.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Fasting ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insulin ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Height Ratio ; Waist-Hip Ratio

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a daily life-based physical activity enhancement program performed by middle-aged women at risk for cardiovascular disease. METHODS: This study used a randomized control group pretest-posttest design. Middle-aged women aged 45 to 64 were recruited from two outpatient cardiology departments, and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=28) and a control group (n=30). For the experimental group, after providing one-on-one counseling and education, we provided customized text messages to motivate them in daily life. To monitor the practice of physical activity, they also used an exercise diary and mobile pedometer for 12 weeks. Subjects' physical activities (MET-min/week) were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Their physiological data were obtained by blood tests using a portable analyzer, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0/WIN program. RESULTS: There were significant differences in exercise self-efficacy, health behavior, IPAQ score, body fat, body muscle, and fasting blood sugar between the two groups. However, there were no significant differences in total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and waist-to-hip ratio. CONCLUSION: Strengthening physical activity in daily life without being limited by cost burden and time and space constraints. Therefore, it is essential to motivate middle-aged women at risk for cardiovascular disease to practice activities that are easily performed in their daily lives.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Counseling ; Education ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Motor Activity ; Outpatients ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Efficacy ; Text Messaging ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Objective: To investigate the associations of obesity and physical activity with cognition in the elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2009 to June 2010 among people aged ≥50 years selected through multistage random cluster sampling in Shanghai. The subjects' body weight, body height, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), and the data on self-reported physical activity level were collected through questionnaire survey. A comprehensive battery of cognitive tests was conducted to assess subjects' cognitive functions, including verbal recall, forward digit span (FDS), backward digit span (BDS), and verbal fluency (VF). General linear model was used to examine the associations of BMI, WHR and physical activity with cognition. Results: A total of 7 913 participants were included, with a median age of 60 years. Age, sex, education level, income level, BMI, WHR and physical activity level were significantly associated with cognitive scores in univariate analysis. After adjusted for age, sex, education level and income level, BMI was no longer significantly associated with cognitive scores in all cognitive functions (all P>0.01). WHR was significantly associated with VF score (P<0.01). Abdominally obese participants had lower VF score than non-abdominally obese participants (P<0.01). Physical activity level was significantly associated with all cognitive functions (P<0.01). Compared with participants with moderate physical activity level, participants with low physical activity level had lower scores in all cognitive functions (P<0.01). Conclusion: Abdominal obesity and low physical activity level were negatively associated with cognition level in the elderly, suggesting that waist circumference control and physical activity might help maintain cognition in the elderly.
Aged ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; China ; Cognition/physiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exercise ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio