Cognition and the risk of eating disorders in Spanish adolescents: the AVENA and AFINOS studies.

UNLABELLED: Eating disorders (ED) can arise from a combination of biological and psychological factors. Some studies suggest that intellectual factors might be important in the development of ED, although the evidence is still scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the association between cognition measurements (cognitive performance and academic achievement) and the risk of developing ED in adolescents considering their weight status. The sample consisted of 3,307 adolescents (1,756 girls), aged 13-18.5 years, who participated in the AVENA (n = 1,430; 783 girls) and AFINOS (n = 1,877; 973 girls) studies. Cognitive performance was measured by the TEA test in the AVENA study, and academic achievement was self-reported in the AFINOS study. ED risk was evaluated in both studies by using the SCOFF questionnaire. Body mass index was calculated to classify adolescents as non-overweight or overweight (including obesity). Overweight adolescents showed a higher risk of developing ED than non-overweight ones in both studies. In the AVENA study, overweight boys with low performance in reasoning ability showed increased risk of ED (p = 0.05). In the AFINOS study, overweight boys with low academic performance in physical education and non-overweight girls with low academic achievement in all the areas analyzed showed higher risk of ED than their peers (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: No association between cognitive performance and ED risk was found in adolescents, while academic achievement was associated with ED risk, especially in non-overweight girls. The non-cognitive traits that accompany academic achievement could influence the likelihood of developing ED in these girls.

Catalytic pyrolysis of wood biomass in an auger reactor using calcium-based catalysts.

Wood catalytic pyrolysis using calcium-based materials was studied in an auger reactor at 450°C. Two different catalysts, CaO and CaO·MgO were evaluated and upgraded bio-oils were obtained in both cases. Whilst acidity and oxygen content remarkable decrease, both pH and calorific value increase with respect to the non-catalytic test. Upgrading process was linked to the fact that calcium-based materials could not only fix the CO2-like compounds but also promoted the dehydration reactions. In addition, process simulation demonstrated that the addition of these catalysts, especially CaO, could favour the energetic integration since a lowest circulation of heat carrier between combustor and auger reactor should be needed. An energy self-sustained system was obtained where thermal energy required for biomass drying and for pyrolysis reaction was supplied by non-condensable gas and char combustion, respectively.

Physical fitness, overweight and the risk of eating disorders in adolescents. The AVENA and AFINOS studies.

UNLABELLED: What is already known about this subject Eating disorders are among the public health issues facing adolescents. An excess of body fat has been associated with an increased risk of these disorders. The association of physical fitness with eating disorders has not yet been analysed in adolescents. What this study adds This study confirms that the overweight and obesity increase the risk of developing eating disorders. The present study shows that there is an inverse association between physical fitness levels and the risk of eating disorders. This study suggests that physical fitness might attenuate the influence of overweight on the development of eating disorders in adolescents. BACKGROUND: Eating disorders together with the overweight and obesity are important health concerns in adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the individual and combined influence of overweight and physical fitness on the risk of developing eating disorders in Spanish adolescents. METHODS: The sample consisted of 3571 adolescents (1864 females), aged 13 to 18.5 years, from Spain who participated in the AVENA and AFINOS studies. The risk of eating disorders was evaluated using the SCOFF questionnaire. Body mass index was calculated and the adolescents were classified into two groups: overweight (including obesity) and non-overweight according to Cole's cut-off points. Cardiorespiratory fitness in the AVENA Study was assessed by the 20-m shuttle-run test and the overall physical fitness level was self-reported in the AFINOS Study. RESULTS: Overweight adolescents had a higher risk of developing eating disorders than non-overweight adolescents (odds ratio [OR] = 4.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.63-6.61 in the AVENA Study and OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.83-3.22 in the AFINOS Study). Also, adolescents with medium and low levels of physical fitness had a higher risk of developing eating disorders (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.05-2.16, and OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.60-3.19, respectively, in the AVENA Study, and OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.37-2.17, and OR = 4.11 95% CI: 2.98-5.65, respectively, in the AFINOS Study) than adolescents with high levels of physical fitness. In both studies, the combined influence of overweight and physical fitness showed that adolescents with lower levels of physical fitness had an increased risk of developing eating disorders in both non-overweight and overweight groups. CONCLUSIONS: Physical fitness might attenuate the influence of overweight on the development of eating disorders in adolescents.

Potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption: current perspectives in research.

The benefits of moderate amounts of alcohol for a better health and longer life expectancy compared with abstinence have been suggested by the findings of numerous studies. However, controversies have emerged regarding the influence of confounding factors and the systematic errors that might have been inadvertently disregarded in the early studies. This review includes a description of the findings of those research studies published in the last 5 years on the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on all-cause mortality, CVD and inflammation, the immune system, insulin sensitivity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cancer. Promising evidences exist from both animal studies and human clinical trials regarding intermediate end-points of CHD and insulin sensitivity, such as HDL, adiponectin or fibrinogen. However, controversies and inconsistent findings exist regarding many of these diseases and related functions and biomarkers. Further research and human randomised-controlled trials with adequate standardisation of the study conditions are necessary in order to draw a comparison between studies, establish the causal effect of moderate alcohol intake on disease protection and reach consensus on the circumstances that allow the recommendation of moderate alcohol habitual intakes as a strategy for health maintenance.

Associations of physical activity and fitness with adipocytokines in adolescents: the AFINOS Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Adipocytokines may have a key role in the development of atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and joint associations of physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF) with adiponectin and leptin in adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: A sample of 198 adolescents (96 girls), aged 13-17-year, was selected. Participants completed anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and waist circumference) and percentage of body fat (%BF) was estimated by bioelectrical impedance. PA was measured by accelerometer for 7-day. The 20-m shuttle-run test was used to assess CRF and two MF tests (handgrip strength and standing broad jump) were used to create an MF score. A cluster score of health status (0-3 risks) was created. Serum adiponectin and plasma leptin were also determined. Regression analyses controlling for age, sex, pubertal status and waist circumference showed that PA was not significantly associated with adiponectin and vigorous PA showed a significant inverse association with leptin. Both CRF and MF were significantly and inversely associated with adiponectin and leptin. Further analyses revealed that the 'healthy' group (0 risks) had significantly lower adiponectin and leptin than 'medium-healthy' (1 risk) and 'unhealthy' (2-3 risks) status groups. CONCLUSIONS: PA, CRF and MF are inversely and jointly associated with adiponectin and leptin concentrations in adolescents.

Associations of physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and fatness with low-grade inflammation in adolescents: the AFINOS Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and fatness with low-grade inflammatory markers in adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in Spain. SUBJECTS: A sample of 192 adolescents aged 13-17 years. MEASUREMENTS: PA was assessed with an accelerometer for 7 days. A 20-m shuttle-run test was used to assess CRF. Skinfold thicknesses at six sites and WCs were measured. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and complement factors C3 and C4 were assayed. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated from glucose and insulin. Regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders and HOMA-IR was used to determine the associations between PA, CRF and fatness with low-grade inflammatory markers. RESULTS: Total PA, vigorous PA and MVPA were positively associated with CRF (r=0.25-0.48), whereas vigorous PA was negatively associated with skinfolds (r=-0.27). CRF was inversely associated with fatness, (r=-0.30 to -0.48). CRF and fatness were inversely and positively associated with HOMA-IR (r=-0.16 and 0.21, respectively). PA variables were not independently associated with inflammatory markers. CRF and fatness were inversely and positively associated with CRP, C3 and C4, respectively. Only body fat explained a relevant amount of the variance of the model in CRP (4%) and C4 (19%), whereas CRP and body fat jointly explained the variance in C3 (25%). All these observations were independent of HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the key role of CRF and fatness on low-grade inflammation, as well as the possible indirect role of habitual PA through CRF and body fat in adolescents.