[Relationship of body mass index with psychological characteristics [on mmpi-2] in obese patients]

Obesity is an illness with destructive effects on health. Although psychological factors are important in the development of obesity, there is a little information about such factors because of limited data about psychological aspects of obesity in our society. To assess them in obese individuals. This research is carried out with 113 obese [94 women, 19 men] people in nutrition clinic of Rasht, northern Iran. They were selected based on Body Mass I ndex [BMI>25 kg/m[2]]. The instrument used was Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory [MMPI- 2]. Mean age of the samples was 31 years, and the range of BMI was 25/67 to 48/55. Data showed that scale hypochondriasis [Hs] in obese women and men, and scale psychasthenia [Pt] in men, are high. BMI was not correlated with the scales of MMPI-2. According to [MMPI-2] scales, the profile of obese men and women was normal. Since T scores in scales of Hs for obese women, and Hs and Pt scales in obese men were higher than 65, these cases are vulnerable for hypochondriasis and anxiety

[ factors associated with adult obesity in Iran: a review]

Over the last two decades a main focus in obesity research in Iran has been on finding variables associated with body weight. It is now clear that prevalence of obesity is not uniform in urban communities, its distribution being dependent to a large extent on such variables as age and gender, as well as socio-economic factors. More specifically, the available information indicates that in the adult population the main variables associated with this widespread disease include marital status, smoking habits, physical activity, family size, dietary pattern, and the area [urban/rural] where one lives. This paper reviews the published data on the determinants of obesity in Iranian adults and compares them with those reported from other countries. Knowledge of such determinants will help greatly health planners and policy-makers in designing and implementing effective targeted intervention programs aiming at controlling the obesity epidemic in Iran

[Prevalence of overweight and obesity among female medical students in Guilan-2003]

Urbanization, industrialization, and related lifestyle changes in and the dietary transition to high fat and calorie diets are leading causes of the worldwide obesity epidemic. The aims of this study was to assess prevalence of overweight and obesity among future physicians. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study involving 282 female students aged 18-26 years. Weight and height were measured to 0.1 kg and was 0.1 cm respectively. Other information regarding behavior and socioeconomic factors were obtained using a questionnaire during interviews. Physical activity was measured using the Bake questionnaire. Overweight was defined as BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2 and BMI >= 30.0 kg/m2 was defined as obese. A waist circumference [WC] of >= 80 cm or waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] of >=0.8 was considered to represent central obesity. Findings revealed that 12.8% of students were overweight, 0.4% obese and 8.1% underweight. Central obesity was 10.2% [using the WC] and 14.8% [using WHR] cut-offs. Over half the subjects lach understanding of appropriate weight for their age. History of obesity in childhood and adolescence were factors affecting current BMI. Results indicate a prevalence of both over weight and underweight exist in this student group, along with a lack of accurate information on appropriate weight ranges. Educational programes to increase awareness are recommended

Central obesity in women and its association with serum level of testosterone and estradiol

Central obesity is an important cause of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. The relationship between sex hormones, especially androgens, and body fat distribution in women is controversial. This study investigated the relationship between sex hormones, such as total testosterone. DHEA-S, LH, FSH, esteradiol and insulin, with Body Mass Index [BMI] and Waist to Hip Ratio [WHR] in 176 women with age: 25.8 +/- 6.0 years [18-43] and BMI: 27.3 +/- 4.4 [17-51 kg/m2]. Serum level of sex hormones including total testosterone, estradiol, FSH, LH, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate [DHEA-S] were measured by radio immuno assay. Our findings showed that WHR was positively correlated with serum level of testosterone [r = 0.15, P = 0.05] and it was negatively related to serum level of estradiol [r = -0.1, P = 0.05]. Sex hormone concentrations were not different in obese and normal weight women, but women with central obesity [WHR > 0.85] had significantly higher levels of testosterone [2.4 +/- 0.7 vs 2.1 +/- 0.7 nmol/L, P = 0.001] and lower levels of serum estradiol [24.1 +/- 8.7 vs 57.6 +/- 14.5 pmol/L, P = 0.009] than women with low WHR [WHR < 0.85]. In conclusion, these data showed that high serum testosterone and low serum estradiol levels were associated with upper body fat distribution in women. Serum level of estradiol versus testosterone possibly affects body fat distribution in women

Parity and its relation with upper body fat in women

Age, education and parity are interrelated with energy equation and body weight in women, however independent relation of parity with weight and fat distribution is not clear. In this cross sectional study, the relation of parity and level of education were investigated with body mass index [BMI] and waist to hip ratio [WHR] among 403 Iranian women, between 22-45 years old. Findings revealed, by controlling the age, women with higher education [12 years >] in compare with women with lower level of education [12 years<] had lower BMI [24.8 +/- 4.3 vs. 28.3 +/- 4.9, P < 0.01], Lower WHR [0.83 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.88 +/- 0.08, P < 0.01] and Lower Parity [0.19 +/- 0.59 vs. 0.59 +/- 1.03, P > 0.01]. Any significant relation was not observed between parity and body mass index by controlling the age and education, however there was significant relation between parity and WHR by controlling age, education and body mass index [P < 0.005, r = 0.14]. In multiple regression analysis also, age and education explained 43% of BMI variation and parity, BMI and education explained 51.2% of WHR variation. Present study indicated that high parity might be as a risk factor in increasing upper body fat, while it was not related to body mass index after controlling the age and education

[Sex hormones, leptin and anthropometric indices in men]

In this study, relationship of sex hormones, leptin and anthropometric indices in men were investigated and effect of average weight loss on these variances in obese individuals was assessed. In 186 adult men with median age 33 years [22-49], body mass index [BMI] 27 kg/m[2] [18-43] and weight of 80.1 +/- 13.8 kg, serum level of total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG], dehydroepiandrosterne sulfate [DHEA-S], Estradiol, LH,FSH, Insulin, leptin, DMI and waist to hip ratio [WHR] were measured and effect of weight toss on these variances in a group of 22 obese men with average weight of 88.7 +/- 14 kg were studied. Serum testosterone and SHBG levels were inversely related with BMI [r=0.18, P<0.05 and r=-0.33, p<0.001, respectively]. Serum level of SHBG was also negatively related to WHR [r=0.35, p<0.001]. Serum leptin levels were positively correlated with BMI [r=0.68, p<0.001] and were negatively related to serum level of testosterone [r=-0.57, p<0.009]. Serum level of testosterone and SHBG were significantly lower in obese than normal weight subjects [11.9 +/- 3.8 vs 13.9 +/- 4.2 nmol/l, p<0.009 and 17.0 +/- 13.9 vs 28.0 +/- 14.2 nmol/l, p<0.001 respectively]. Mean weight loss of 6.1 kg resulted in serum leptin reduction from 11.8 +/- 7.8 to 7.6 +/- 3 ng/ml [p<0.01]. In multiple regression analysis serum leptin levels were the only determinant of serum testosterone, while leptin variations were explained both by leptin and testosterone. In Conclusion, elevated serum leptin and low testosterone and SHBG levels were associated with high BMI in men. Low serum testosterone levels were related to high serum leptin, independent of BMI. Inverse relation between serum leptin and testosterone shows the role of leptin in reducing serum testosterone in obese men. In this study serum level of SHBG was negatively correlated with WHR

Acute acalculous cholecystitis: report of a case in a four year old boy and review of the literature

The presence of acalculous cholecystitis in pediatric patients is rare, although the incidence of this condition is higher in children than adults. Predisposing factors are frequently present, including systemic infection, [Salmonella, E. coli, Pseudomonas, ...] trauma, major operations, anatomical derangements, dehydration, and third-degree burns, parasitic infestation with ascaris or Giardia lamblia. Clinical features include right upper quadrant or epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and sometimes jaundice. Right upper quadrant guarding and tenderness are present. The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of acute acalculous cholecystitis is difficult and the reliability of various diagnostic imaging techniques has not been established. However, sonography and C.T. scan seem to be highly sensitive [62% and 100% respectively,] and specific [96% and 100% respectively]. The diagnosis is confirmed at laparotomy. Cholecystectomy and treatment of the systemic infection are required. A four-year old boy with acute acalculous cholecystitis is reported. In this case giardiasis was a predisposing factor, cholecystectomy and treatment of giardiasis were performed