Time of day differences in appetite and gut hormone responses to meal and stress challenges in adults with normal-weight and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle factors like time of eating and stress exposure may impact physiology to promote excess weight gain. To understand behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying these potential effects, we compared appetite and gut hormone responses to a series of meal and stress challenges beginning in the morning and the afternoon, in adults with normal-weight and obesity. METHOD: Thirty-two adults (16 with normal-weight, 16 with obesity) underwent the same test protocol on different days, each following an 8 h fast. On one day the protocol began in the morning (AM condition); on the other day it began in the late afternoon (PM condition). On each day they first received a standardized liquid meal (9:00am/4:00pm), then a stress test (Socially-Evaluated Cold Pressor Test, 11:10am/6:10pm), then an ad libitum buffet meal (11:40am/6:40pm). Appetite and stress ratings were obtained, and blood was drawn for measures of ghrelin, PYY, GLP-1, insulin, glucose, cortisol and leptin. Acetaminophen was administered as a tracer to assess gastric emptying of the liquid meal. RESULTS: Across all three challenges, AUC cortisol was lower in the PM vs. AM condition (all p<.001), and AUC insulin and leptin were higher in the obesity vs. normal-weight group (all p<.001). For the standardized liquid meal only, AUC hunger, desire to eat and ghrelin were greater in the PM vs. AM condition (all p<0.05), and AUC ghrelin was lower in the obesity vs. normal-weight group, even when controlling for baseline values (p<0.05). AUC glucose was higher in the evening for the normal-weight group only (condition x group interaction p<0.05). Post-liquid meal gastric emptying as indexed by AUC acetaminophen was slower in the PM vs. AM (p<.01). For the stress test, AUC cortisol was lower in the PM than the AM condition even when controlling for baseline values (p<.05). AUC leptin was lower in the evening in the obesity group only (condition x group interaction p<0.01). PYY showed an acute decrease post-stressor in the normal-weight but not the obesity group (p<.05). Post-stress ad libitum buffet meal intake was similar in the evening and morning conditions, and higher in the obesity group (p<0.05). Only among the obesity group in the evening condition, higher stressor-associated stress and cortisol were associated with greater meal-associated appetite (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Normal-weight individuals and those with obesity may be at risk of evening overeating as a result of differential appetite and gut hormone responses following meal intake and stress exposure.

Self and informant report across the borderline personality disorder spectrum.

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) features may be unaware of or unwilling to report their own personality or maladaptive behaviors, which complicates the assessment of BPD. Informants who know the individuals with BPD features may be uniquely suited to aid in the personality assessment of these individuals. The present study analyzed the comparative ability of individuals (targets) and informants to report BPD features across the continuum of BPD severity. The sample consisted of 1387 targets, ages 55 to 65 (56% women), who were recruited for an epidemiological longitudinal study examining the effects of PDs on health and social functioning. Each target nominated an informant who provided information about the target's personality. Results indicated relatively low levels of agreement between perspectives and that informants reported BPD symptoms with more precision and at lower levels of BPD severity than targets. The benefits of including an informant perspective when measuring the BPD continuum are discussed; these benefits may include gains in reliability and improvement in the prediction of outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record

Physiological and Psychological Changes Following Liposuction of Large Volumes of Fat in Overweight and Obese Women.

BACKGROUND: Liposuction can remove a substantial amount of body fat. We investigated the effects of liposuction of large volumes of fat on anthropometrics, body composition (BIA), metabolic hormones, and psychological measures in overweight/obese women. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine both physiological and psychological changes following liposuction of large volumes of fat in humans. METHOD: Nine premenopausal healthy overweight/obese women (age = 35.9 ± 7.1 SD, weight = 84.4 kg ± 13.6, BMI = 29.9 kg/m2 ± 2.9) underwent liposuction, removing 3.92 kg ± 1.04 SD of fat. Following an overnight fast, height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences were measured at baseline (one week pre-surgery) and post-surgery (wk 1,4,12). Blood samples were drawn for fasting concentrations of glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin. The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Examination Self-Report (BDDE-SR), and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZDS) were administered. RESULTS: Body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat consistently decreased over time (p < .05). Glucose did not change significantly, but insulin decreased from wk 1 to wk 12 (p < .05). Leptin decreased from baseline to wk 1 (p = .01); ghrelin increased but not significantly. Changes in body fat and waist circumference (baseline to wk 1) correlated positively with changes in insulin during that period, and correlated inversely with changes in ghrelin (p < .05). BSQ scores decreased significantly over time (p = .004), but scores for BDDE-SR (p = .10) and ZDS (p = .24) did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: Liposuction led to significant decreases in body weight and fat, waist circumference, and leptin levels. Changes in body fat and waist circumference correlated with concurrent changes in the adipose-related hormones, insulin and ghrelin (baseline to wk 1), and body shape perception improved. Thus, besides the obvious cosmetic effects, liposuction led to several positive body composition, hormonal, and psychological changes.

Supermarket discounts of low-energy density foods: effects on purchasing, food intake, and body weight.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a 50% discount on low-energy density (ED) fruits and vegetables (F&V), bottled water, and diet sodas on shoppers' purchasing, food intake, and body weight. DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted at two Manhattan supermarkets, in which a 4-week baseline period (no discounts) preceded an 8-week intervention period (50% discount), and a 4-week follow-up period (no discounts). Twenty-four hour dietary recall, as well as body weight and body composition measures were obtained every 4 weeks. Participants (n = 47, 33f; 14m) were overweight and obese (BMI ≥ 25) shoppers. RESULTS: Purchasing of F&V during intervention was greater in the discount group than in the control group (P < 0.0001). Purchasing of these items by the discount group relative to the control group during follow-up was reduced from intervention (P = 0.002), but still remained higher than during baseline (P = 0.01), indicating a partially sustained effect. Intake of F&V increased from baseline to intervention in the discount group relative to the control group (P = 0.037) and was sustained during follow-up. Body weight change did not differ significantly between groups, although post hoc analysis indicated a change within the discount group (-1.1 kg, P = 0.006) but not within the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Discounts of low-ED F&V led to increased purchasing and intake of those foods.