Weight change and lifestyle modifications implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown are associated with the development of gastrointestinal symptoms.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Pandemic lockdown measures are a cause of concern, regarding their negative impact on the mental health of individuals. The results of numerous studies have associated the appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms with different psychologic disorders, such as stress, depression, and anxiety, due to gut-brain axis interaction. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, gastrointestinal symptom onset related to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and various lifestyle modifications. METHODS: An analytic, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted on an open population that agreed to participate within the time frame of January to May 2021. RESULTS: A total of 298 subjects, 165 of whom were women (55.4%), agreed to participate and the mean patient age was 36.1 ±â€¯12.6 years. There was a significant increase in the frequency of several gastrointestinal symptoms: epigastric burning, early satiety, heartburn, regurgitation, constipation, and diarrhea. Changes in weight and modifications in lifestyle were found to be associated variables. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed a significant increase in a wide variety of gastrointestinal symptoms related to lifestyle changes due to the pandemic lockdown. Weight change, supplement and multivitamin intake, and reduced physical activity were the main associated risk factors. Public healthcare systems should take a multidisciplinary approach into consideration for the care of affected individuals.

Effects of health at every size® interventions on health-related outcomes of people with overweight and obesity: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: The growing use of interventions based on the Health at Every Size® (HAES®) in obesity management. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to summarize the health-related effects of HAES®-based interventions on people with overweight and obesity. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Google Scholar, OpenGrey and Grey Literature Report. STUDY SELECTION: A systematic review of studies published until January 2017 reporting on HAES®-based randomized and non-randomized controlled trials in people with overweight and/or obesity. DATA EXTRACTION: Fourteen papers met the inclusion criteria. The assessed studies included the following tests: blood profile, blood pressure, anthropometry, eating behaviour, energy intake, diet quality, psychological and qualitative evaluations. RESULTS: The HAES® interventions benefited both the psychological and physical activity outcomes, besides promoting behavioural and qualitative changes in eating habits. On the other hand, the results regarding cardiovascular responses, body-image perception and total energy intake were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improving the cardiovascular status, eating behaviours, quality of life and psychological well-being in participants, other large long-term clinical trials should be performed to establish the effectiveness of HAES®-based interventions in improving health for people with overweight and obesity. PROSPERO registration 2017: CRD42017054857.

Regional variation in Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infections by age cohort and sex: effects of market integration among the indigenous Shuar of Amazonian Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection peaks during childhood and varies by sex. The impact of market integration (MI) (increasing production for and consumption from a market-based economy) on these infection patterns, however, is unclear. In this study, STH infection is examined by sex and age among indigenous Shuar inhabiting two regions of Amazonian Ecuador: (1) the modestly market-integrated Upano Valley (UV) and (2) the more traditional Cross-Cutucú (CC) region. METHODS: Kato-Katz fecal smears were examined for parasite presence and infection intensity. Factorial ANOVAs and post hoc simple effects analyses were performed by sex to compare infection intensity between regions and age categories (infant/child, juvenile/adolescent, adult). RESULTS: Significant age and regional differences in Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection were detected. Overall, infants/children and juveniles/adolescents displayed higher parasite loads than adults. CC females exhibited higher A. lumbricoides loads than UV females, while the opposite pattern was observed for T. trichiura infection in males. CONCLUSIONS: Regional infection patterns varied by sex and parasite species, perhaps due to MI-linked environmental and lifestyle changes. These results have public health implications for the identification of individuals at risk for infection and contribute to ongoing efforts to track changes and alleviate STH infection in indigenous populations undergoing MI.