Proposal of a Mathematical Model to Monitor Body Mass over Time in Subjects on a Diet.

Nowadays, slimming diet methodology works within a reduction of body mass using a decrease of dietary energy intake. However, there is no suitable method for understanding the dynamic process of body mass metabolic transformation over time. In the present paper, we have developed a biomathematic model to explain the temporal trend of body mass and its variations of people who have undergone a change in their diet using the solving equation of the model. Data relating to sex, age, body mass, and BMI were collected, and the compartmental model used to interpret the body mass trends was constructed by assuming that the mass results from the sum of the metabolic processes: catabolic, anabolic, distributive. The validation of the model was carried out by variance analysis both on the total and individual data sets. The results confirm that the trend of body mass and its variations over time depends on metabolic rates. These are specific to each individual and characterize the distribution of nutritional molecules in the various body districts and the processes catabolic, anabolic, distributive. Body mass and its variations are justified by the metabolic transformations of the nutritional quantities. This would explain why energetically equal diets can correspond to people of different body mass and that energy-different diets can correspond to people of body mass at all similar.

The BFMNU method as an alternative to the methods in use based on energy: study of the correlation between food energy and body mass.

INTRODUCTION: to establish slimming guidelines and any other changing treatments is useful to know the individual's energy expenditure due to the fact that, nowadays, the incidence of many diseases related to the loss of lean mass and the accumulation of adipose tissue has increased. The dietary treatments are carried out on calculating the energy contained in food, and then put in relation to the total energy expended by the body in order to produce changes in body mass. OBJECTIVE: the aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the food energy and body mass of different subjects in various pathophysiological conditions. METHODS: one hundred and twenty subjects (male and female, aged 7-78 years old) were studied in various pathophysiological conditions and previously treated with the BFMNU (Biologia e Fisiologia Modellistica della Nutrizione Umana)method. RESULTS: a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.1256 was found between food energy of the diet usually followed by the subjects and their body mass. The correlation between food energy and food mass was with R2 of 0.211. The correlation between Δ% of food energy and Δ% of body mass of the subjects, obtained through dietary treatment with the BFMNU method, was 95.77 percent. CONCLUSIONS: the correlation between food energy and body mass is not significant, being a critical point about the diets designed on an energy basis. However, the body mass of an individual is determined by mass balance, regulated by corresponding metabolic rate, calculated by the BFMNU method, thanks to which the macronutrients in the diet are absorbed, redistributed and eliminated. A significant correlation, although not straight, is demonstrated between Δ% of food energy, supplied after processing through the dietary BFMNU method, and the Δ% of body mass, obtained following the dietetic path.

The BFMNU method as an alternative to the methods in use based on energy: study of the correlation between food energy and body mass / El método BFMNU como alternativa a los métodos en uso basados en energía: estudio de la correlación entre la energía alimentaria y la masa corporal

Introduction: to establish slimming guidelines and any other changing treatments is useful to know the individual’s energy expenditure due to the fact that, nowadays, the incidence of many diseases related to the loss of lean mass and the accumulation of adipose tissue has increased. The dietary treatments are carried out on calculating the energy contained in food, and then put in relation to the total energy expended by the body in order to produce changes in body mass. Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the food energy and body mass of different subjects in various pathophysiological conditions. Methods: one hundred and twenty subjects (male and female, aged 7-78 years old) were studied in various pathophysiological conditions and previously treated with the BFMNU (Biologia e Fisiologia Modellistica della Nutrizione Umana) method. Results: a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.1256 was found between food energy of the diet usually followed by the subjects and their body mass. The correlation between food energy and food mass was with R2 of 0.211. The correlation between Δ% of food energy and Δ% of body mass of the subjects, obtained through dietary treatment with the BFMNU method, was 95.77 percent. Conclusions: the correlation between food energy and body mass is not significant, being a critical point about the diets designed on an energy basis. However, the body mass of an individual is determined by mass balance, regulated by corresponding metabolic rate, calculated by the BFMNU method, thanks to which the macronutrients in the diet are absorbed, redistributed and eliminated. A significant correlation, although not straight, is demonstrated between Δ% of food energy, supplied after processing through the dietary BFMNU method, and the Δ% of body mass, obtained following the dietetic path

Introducción: con el fin de establecer pautas de adelgazamiento es necesario conocer el gasto energético del individuo, sobre todo porque hoy en día la incidencia de muchas enfermedades relacionadas con la pérdida de masa magra y la acumulación de tejido adiposo ha aumentado. Por lo tanto, los tratamientos dietéticos se basan en el cálculo de la energía contenida en los alimentos y luego se ponen en relación con la energía total gastada por el cuerpo para producir cambios en la masa corporal. Objetivo: el objetivo del estudio fue analizar la correlación entre la energía alimentaria y la masa corporal de diferentes sujetos en diversas condiciones fisiopatológicas. Métodos: la muestra consistió en 120 sujetos, varones y mujeres, de 7 a 78 años de edad, en diversas condiciones fisiopatológicas, previamente tratados con el método BFMNU (Biología e Fisiología Modellistica della Nutrizione Umana). Resultados: se encontró un coeficiente de correlación R2 de 0,1256 entre la energía alimentaria de la dieta habitualmente seguida por los sujetos y su masa corporal. La correlación entre la energía alimentaria y la masa alimentaria fue de R2 de 0,211. La correlación entre el Δ% de la energía alimentaria y Δ% de la masa corporal de los sujetos, obtenida con el tratamiento dietético por el método BFMNU, ascendió a 95,77%. Conclusiones: la correlación no significativa entre la energía alimentaria y la masa corporal plantea una gran pregunta sobre las dietas diseñadas sobre una base energética. En su lugar, la masa corporal de un individuo está determinada por el balance de masa, regulado por la tasa metabólica correspondiente, calculado por el método BFMNU, gracias al cual los macronutrientes en la dieta son absorbidos, redistribuidos y eliminados. Se demuestra una correlación significativa, aunque no lineal, entre Δ% de la energía alimentaria, suministrada después del procesamiento a través del método BFMNU de la dieta, y el Δ% de la masa corporal, obtenido siguiendo la pauta dietética

Assessment of body composition, through anthropometric and non-anthropometric methods, of university students from valencia (Spain).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The valuation of anthropometric and nutritional status of the university population is important to detect risk groups and so make nutritional recommendations. The aim of the study was to analyze the body composition and the fat component in a group of university students and to evaluate their basal metabolism to see if there was a correlation with the body composition. The study was carried out through different methods, to determine if the results obtained are comparable. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The sample were 16 students (4 males and 12 females) from the University of Valencia, 20-33 years old. To all of them was carried out the study of body composition, and to 6 of them was carried out also a metabolic study. RESULTS: It was found that 75% of the studied subjects are normal weight, 12,5% are underweight and 12,5% are overweight. The percentage of subjects with body fat higher than the normal values are: 68,75% according to BFMNU, 25% through ISAK method and 7,69% with BIA. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reflected that the data obtained through the different methods are not directly comparable because they are based on different principles and assumptions. It was noticed the importance of considering not only fat mass, but the whole body composition to have a complete picture of the subject. Furthermore, we it was found that Indirect Calorimetry and the predictive equations are not able to estimate it correctly. In contrast BFMNU method is the one that gives more information and allows to thoroughly investigate the metabolism.

Introducción y objetivo: La valoración del estado antropométrico y nutricional de la población universitaria es importante para detectar grupos de riesgo y realizar recomendaciones nutricionales. El objetivo fue analizar la composición corporal y el porcentaje de grasa en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios y evaluar su metabolismo basal para ver si había una correlación con la composición corporal. El estudio se llevó a cabo a través de diferentes métodos, para determinar si los resultados obtenidos son comparables. Sujetos y método: La muestra fueron 16 alumnos (4 hombres y 12 mujeres) de la Universidad de Valencia, 20- 33 años de edad. A todos se hizo el estudio de la composición corporal y a 6 de ellos se hizo también un estudio metabólico. Resultados: Se encontró que el 75% de los sujetos estudiados tienen un peso normal, el 12,5% tienen bajo peso y 12,5% tiene sobrepeso. El porcentaje de sujetos con grasa corporal superior a los valores normales son: 68,75% según BFMNU, el 25% a través del método ISAK y 7,69% según BIA. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio mostró que los datos obtenidos a través de los diferentes métodos no son directamente comparables, ya que se basan en diferentes principios y supuestos. También se ha observado la importancia de considerar no sólo la masa grasa, si no toda la composición corporal para tener una visión completa del sujeto. Además, se ha podido notar que la calorimetría indirecta y las ecuaciones de predicción del metabolismo basal no son capaces de estimarlo correctamente. En cambio el método BFMNU es el que da más información y permite investigar a fondo el metabolismo.

Assessment of body composition, through anthropometric and non-anthropometric methods, of University students from Valencia (Spain) / Evaluación de la composición corporal, a través de métodos antropométricos y no antropométricos, de estudiantes de la Universitat de València (España)

Introduction and objective: The valuation of anthropometric and nutritional status of the university population is important to detect risk groups and so make nutritional recommendations. The aim of the study was to analyze the body composition and the fat component in a group of university students and to evaluate their basal metabolism to see if there was a correlation with the body composition. The study was carried out through different methods, to determine if the results obtained are comparable. Subjects and method: The sample were 16 students (4 males and 12 females) from the University of Valencia, 20-33 years old. To all of them was carried out the study of body composition, and to 6 of them was carried out also a metabolic study. Results: It was found that 75% of the studied subjects are normal weight, 12,5% are underweight and 12,5% are overweight. The percentage of subjects with body fat higher than the normal values are: 68,75% according to BFMNU, 25% through ISAK method and 7,69% with BIA. Conclusions: Our study reflected that the data obtained through the different methods are not directly comparable because they are based on different principles and assumptions. It was noticed the importance of considering not only fat mass, but the whole body composition to have a complete picture of the subject. Furthermore, we it was found that Indirect Calorimetry and the predictive equations are not able to estimate it correctly. In contrast BFMNU method is the one that gives more information and allows to thoroughly investigate the metabolism (AU)

Introducción y objetivo: La valoración del estado antropométrico y nutricional de la población universitaria es importante para detectar grupos de riesgo y realizar recomendaciones nutricionales. El objetivo fue analizar la composición corporal y el porcentaje de grasa en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios y evaluar su metabolismo basal para ver si había una correlación con la composición corporal. El estudio se llevó a cabo a través de diferentes métodos, para determinar si los resultados obtenidos son comparables. Sujetos y método: La muestra fueron 16 alumnos (4 hombres y 12 mujeres) de la Universidad de Valencia, 20- 33 años de edad. A todos se hizo el estudio de la composición corporal y a 6 de ellos se hizo también un estudio metabólico. Resultados: Se encontró que el 75% de los sujetos estudiados tienen un peso normal, el 12,5% tienen bajo peso y 12,5% tiene sobrepeso. El porcentaje de sujetos con grasa corporal superior a los valores normales son: 68,75% según BFMNU, el 25% a través del método ISAK y 7,69% según BIA. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio mostró que los datos obtenidos a través de los diferentes métodos no son directamente comparables, ya que se basan en diferentes principios y supuestos. También se ha observado la importancia de considerar no sólo la masa grasa, si no toda la composición corporal para tener una visión completa del sujeto. Además, se ha podido notar que la calorimetría indirecta y las ecuaciones de predicción del metabolismo basal no son capaces de estimarlo correctamente. En cambio el método BFMNU es el que da más información y permite investigar a fondo el metabolismo (AU)