Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI.

BACKGROUND: Increases in portion size are thought by many to promote obesity in children. However, this relationship remains unclear. Here, we explore the extent to which a child's BMI is predicted both by parental beliefs about their child's ideal and maximum portion size and/or by the child's own beliefs. METHODS: Parent-child (5-11 years) dyads (N = 217) were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (n = 69) and an interactive science centre (n = 148). For a range of main meals, parents estimated their child's 'ideal' and 'maximum tolerated' portions. Children completed the same tasks. RESULTS: An association was found between parents' beliefs about their child's ideal (ß = .34, p < .001) and maximum tolerated (ß = .30, p < .001) portions, and their child's BMI. By contrast, children's self-reported ideal (ß = .02, p = .718) and maximum tolerated (ß = -.09, p = .214) portions did not predict their BMI. With increasing child BMI, parents' estimations aligned more closely with their child's own selected portions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that when a parent selects a smaller portion for their child than their child self-selects, then the child is less likely to be obese. Therefore, public health measures to prevent obesity might include instructions to parents on appropriate portions for young children.

'I just can't help myself': effects of food-cue exposure in overweight and lean individuals.

OBJECTIVE: Even brief exposure to the sight and smell of food has been shown to increase reported appetite, initiate 'cephalic phase responses,' and increase planned and actual consumption. This experiment tested the hypothesis that overweight individuals are especially sensitive to these established effects of food-cue exposure. DESIGN: Overweight (n = 52) and normal-weight (n = 52) participants were exposed to the sight and smell of a 'cued' food (pizza) for 60 s. Before and after this period, we assessed salivation, prospective (planned) portion size, and desire to eat pizza and other 'non-cued' foods. Participants were then offered ad libitum access to pizza. RESULTS: Consistent with previous studies, food-cue exposure increased rated hunger and desire to eat, increased prospective portion size of all savory foods, and increased salivation. In overweight individuals, cue exposure (i) elicited a significantly greater salivary response and, (ii) evoked a significantly greater increase in desire to eat both the cued food and another non-cued food. CONCLUSION: After cue exposure, overweight individuals experience a greater motivation to consume food but do not desire or consume greater amounts of food. These findings are consistent with evidence that snacking and meal variability predict weight gain and they expose 'cue reactiveness' as a potential predisposing factor for overweight.

Cognitive functioning in polycystic ovary syndrome.

To date there have been no published studies of cognitive functioning in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This large internet-based study compared neuropsychological functioning in right-handed women with (minimum n=135) and without PCOS (minimum n=322), stratified according to use of anti-androgen medication and level of depression. Women with PCOS are thought to have hyperandrogenism and hyperestrogenism which was hypothesized to differentially influence cognitive function across cognitive domains. Performance did not differ according to diagnosis on mental rotation and spatial location tasks. Hence, no evidence to support the view that women with PCOS display a more masculine cognitive profile due to hyperandrogenism. Despite presumed hyperestrogenism, women with PCOS demonstrated impaired performance in terms of speed and accuracy, on reaction time and word recognition tasks. These findings are intriguing given the well-documented roles of estrogen and testosterone in cognitive function. Overall, these findings suggest that PCOS is not associated with masculinized cognitive functioning, and, although associated with impaired performance on tasks considered to demonstrate female-advantage, such impairments are subtle and are unlikely to affect daily functioning.

Quality of life and psychological well being in polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and high levels of depression. Existing research is confounded by small sample sizes and inconsistent use of control groups. METHODS: Depression and QoL were assessed in women with PCOS and healthy controls (n = 1359). The polycystic ovary syndrome health-related QoL questionnaire (PCOSQ) was modified to include an acne subscale. RESULTS: Seventy-one percentage of women with PCOS who were taking anti-androgen (AA) medication and 67% not taking AA medication were classified as depressed. Women with PCOS had lower QoL on all seven factors of the modified PCOSQ (emotional disturbance, weight, infertility, acne, menstrual symptoms, menstrual predictability and hirsutism). Weight was the largest contributor to poor QoL for women taking and not taking AA medication. Women taking AA medications, independent of diagnosis, generally had better QoL than women not taking them. CONCLUSIONS: This large study refines our understanding of depression and QoL in PCOS and demonstrates the need to regularly review the psychological health of women with PCOS.

The use and cost of first aid in the food and drink manufacturing industry.

The Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require all companies to consider the provision of first-aid care at work. Information was obtained by postal questionnaires returned by 36 food and drink manufacturing companies on the provision and cost of the first-aid care they provide, as well as the types of treatment that their first aiders administer. Almost all of the companies complied with the legislation by providing trained first aiders and adequate treatment equipment and facilities. The average cost of first-aid provision was 16.00 pounds per worker per year. The majority (93%) of the first-aid treatment provided was of a minor nature. The study demonstrates that first aiders only infrequently use their specialist knowledge and skills for the management of serious or life-threatening medical emergencies. Based on the results of the study, and on the results of previous studies concerning the provision of first-aid care and the training requirements for first aiders, it is concluded that the present emphasis on the provision of minor treatment and the current first-aid training system have resulted in first aiders not being adequately trained to save life, the main objective of first-aid care. A case is made for first-aid training to be reduced in content, but undertaken more frequently, to ensure that first aiders can adequately manage an acute, life-threatening medical emergency.