obesity

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing in the last few decades, and it is regarded as one of the major health problems in the world. The rising prevalence of obesity in children and adults is a result of eating disorders and the changes related to the modern lifestyle. Obesity alters the adipocytes’ substance secretion, which affects the function of the immune system and leads to obesity-induced inflammation and the development of obesity-related cancers. Altered chemokines, adipokines, and conditions like insulin resistance are most likely related to the impaired immune system in the obesity state. The impaired secretion of adipokines, such as increased leptin and reduction in adiponectin, affects innate immune system antitumor responses after long-term exposure. In addition, changes in chemokines and, consequently, the promotion of insulin resistance create an immunosuppressive environment that debilitates the host to fight against tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. Accordingly, it may increase cancer susceptibility in obese individuals. Thereby, it can be concluded that treatment of obesity will greatly affect the improvement of immune system function and, as a result, may possibly reduce the risk of cancer. The aim of this study is to review the pathways resulting in impaired immune system and inflammation and their link to cancer progression in obesity. Several hypotheses have been proposed to have a critical contribution to the development of obesity-related cancers, such as the function of cytokines, insulin resistance, and NF-κB and senescence changes in obesity. These hypotheses will be discussed later in this article.

Obesity and overweight, acknowledged as health issues, which can lead to increased risk of physical and mental diseases and increased probability of sexual dysfunction. This systematic review examined the relationship of obesity and overweight with sexual function in women of reproductive age. 

This systematic review and meta-analysis searched articles in English databases of Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Google scholar search engine as well as Persian databases of SID and Magiran without time limitation until the end of 2024, utilizing English keywords of obesity, overweight, sexual function and their Persian equivalents. Observational and descriptive studies meeting the study objective was included in the review. The articles were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality review scale. The data analysis was done with STATA software (version 14/1) and the random effects model was used to pool the data for meta-analysis.

Fifteen articles consisting of 7370 participants were included in this systematic review from which five articles were included in the meta-analysis.  The random effects model demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between increase in obesity and overweight with decrease in sexual desire (P = 0.003, 95% CI: -0.03, -0.15; SMD = -0.09) and sexual satisfaction in women (P = 0.025; -0.01, -0.07: CI 95%; RR=1.95).

Obesity and overweight are associated with a decline in sexual desire and satisfaction in women. Policymakers should target this population and design preventive interventions such as education, counseling and lifestyle modification strategies to enhance women’s sexual function.

Surgical site infection (SSI) following Cesarean section (C-section) is a common cause of morbidity and imposes a significant load on the healthcare system. Therefore, the prevalence of factors that make individuals more susceptible to SSI after a C-section should be accurately assessed.

This study aimed to determine the frequency and risk factors for infection following C-section in women referred to the maternity ward of Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan, Iran, from 2020 to 2022.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on all women admitted to the maternity ward of Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan, whether undergoing elective or emergency C-sections. The patients were entered into the study with informed consent and were followed up to one month after surgery.

This study showed that approximately 5300 cases of C-sections were performed in Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital during the mentioned period, of which 120 patients were referred to this hospital again because of surgical site infections. The occurrence of SSI in the present study was 2.26%, and obesity and anemia were identified as the predominant risk factors. The findings showed that the incidence of patients with SSI following a C-section with obesity, anemia, skin scar of previous C-section, rupture of membranes before C-section (> 6 hours), and diabetes mellitus were 80, 76.8, 36.7, 33.3, and 24.2 %, respectively.

The recorded incidence of SSI following C-section was comparatively lower than findings from prior studies conducted in developing countries. Although the frequency of these complications is desirable, there are the same number of irreparable complications to mothers and infants and high costs for families and society.

Obesity, a rising global health issue, is linked to numerous disorders, including cognitive impairment.

This study investigates the effects of coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) on cognitive performance, antioxidant defense,cholinergic activity, and hippocampal neuron damage in rats rendered obese by monosodium glutamate (MSG) exposure.

Forty-eight neonatal male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Control, MSG, MSG + Q10-10,and MSG + Q10-20. Monosodium glutamate (4 g/kg BW) was administered subcutaneously into the cervical region frompostnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 10. Coenzyme Q10 (10 mg/kg BW and 20 mg/kg BW) was administered intraperitoneally from PND30 to PND 42. At the end of the treatment period, working memory and avoidance learning tests were conducted.Anthropometric data were collected, followed by evaluations of hippocampal catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD),acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The density of apoptotic/darkneurons (DN) in the CA₁ and CA₃ regions of the hippocampus was also assessed.

Monosodium glutamate treatment increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and Lee Index, impaired working memory andavoidance learning, and reduced CAT, SOD, and GPx activities. Additionally, MSG exposure led to elevated MDA levels, increasedAChE activity, and higher DN density in the CA₁ and CA₃ hippocampal regions. Treatment with Co-Q10 resulted in a decrease inBMI, enhanced memory and learning, noteworthy increases in CAT, SOD, and GPx activities in the hippocampus, and reductionsin MDA levels, AChE activity, and DN density in the CA₁ and CA₃ regions.

Coenzyme Q10 mitigates hippocampal neuronal damage and improves cognitive function in MSG-inducedobesity, primarily through its antioxidant and AChE inhibitory properties.

Sucrose is the most common sweetener used in food products. Nowadays, sugar consumption in all daily food items increases the incidence of various diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Due to its harmful effects on human health, the desire to reduce it in food products has increased. One of the ways to reduce sugar in food products is the use of sweeteners instead of sugar. There are different types of sugar substitutes, which are divided into natural, artificial, and semi-synthetic groups. The main purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the application of various sugar substitutes in food products with a focus on recent advances and outputs. Sweeteners used as sugar substitutes in food products may cause changes in the technological, organoleptic, or physicochemical properties of the new product. It may also cause nutritional challenges in the produced product. Therefore, challenges and future trends of sugar substitutes in food products are investigated in more detail.

Obesity is a major health issue, affecting over one billion people globally which leads to various health conditions and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Mental disorders also affect a significant portion of the global population impacting social relationships. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between anthropometric measurements and mental health indicators of non-Iranian Students of the Science and Research Branch of  Islamic Azad University.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 689 non-Iranian students. The participants underwent assessments for mental health using the GHQ questionnaire, anthropometric measurements using a body analyzer, and the level of their physical activity using the SF-IPAQ questionnaire. Data analysis was done by SPSS software including different statistical tests and correlation analysis. Also, a P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Based on the results, a correlation between mental health indicators and anthropometric and body composition variables was observed. BMI was positively related to anxiety/insomnia status in the men (r = 0.01, p = 0.03). General health score was negatively linked to SMM (r = -0.12, ρ = 0.002), SLM (r = -0.11, ρ = 0.002), TBW (r = -0.11, ρ = 0.003) and protein (r = -0.11, ρ = 0.002). Conversely, PBF was positively correlated with impaired general health (r = 0.08, ρ = 0.03) and social function status (r = 0.07, ρ = 0.04).

The analysis of this data indicated that individuals with abnormal anthropometric measures may be at a higher risk of certain mental health issues. This finding may warrant greater attention from, health policymakers regarding the potential need for increasing mental health service tariffs and health insurance coverage for certain individuals.

Clinical evidence has supported vascular endothelial dysfunction in the presence of obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of aerobic training on nitric oxide (NO) level, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and homocysteine as markers of vascular endothelial function in inactive adult obese females.

For this purpose, 26 sedentary adult obese females were randomly divided into of aerobic (8 weeks, 3days/weekly, n= 12) and control (no training, n = 12) groups. Fasting serum levels of NO, TAC and homocysteine were measured before training program and 48 hours after lasting exercise session in both groups. Independent t-test was used to compare the pre-tests (baseline) between two groups and paired t-test was used to determine intra-group changes.

No significant difference were observed in each variable between groups at baseline (p>0.05). Aerobic training resulted in significant decrease in homocysteine and increase in NO and TAC in aerobic group (p<0.05). All variables remained without change in control group (p>0.05).

Based on these results, it is concluded that regular aerobic exercise improves vascular endothelial function in obese adult women.

This study aims to assess the anthropometric and health characteristics of foreign students at the Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran, during the 2023-2024 period. A total of 400 non-Iranian students participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and body composition, were taken using standardized equipment. Physical activity levels, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and heart rate were also assessed. The results revealed a significant prevalence of overweight and obesity (21.75%), particularly among females (31.93%), and high rates of hypertension and prediabetes. The study found a high proportion of sedentary individuals (70.6%), which is a key contributor to the observed health risks. These findings highlight the importance of addressing obesity-related health issues, particularly in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and their economic impact. This data is crucial for the development of targeted health policies, such as medical tourism and insurance adjustments for individuals at higher health risks. The study concludes that proactive measures are essential to prevent and manage the health conditions prevalent in this population.

This study evaluated the effects of Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) N.Robson (GG) on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO)-induced in rats and its anti-obesity properties. Fifteen Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, 10 mg/kg Aqueous Extract of Garcinia gummi-gutta (AEGG), and 20 mg/kg AEGG. PCO was induced using Letrozole-oestradiol, confirmed by vaginal smear tests and weight gain. AEGG was screened for phenol (125.66±1.07 µg/mL) and flavonoid (102.66 ± 0.38 µg/ml) content, with its highest concentrations at 20 mg/mL. Pancreatic lipase inhibition showed AEGG’s anti-lipase effect (66.24%) at 100 μg/mL, compared to orlistat (98.7%) at 1 μg/ml. Rats received 20 mg/kg of AEGG demonstrated the highest significant reduction in body weight (203.8 g ±1.45 SD) and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (1.24 mIU/mL) compared to the 10 mg/kg group and control group. Anatomical examination showed a normal uterus and reduced ovarian cysts in both AEGG-treated groups compared to the control. AEGG, particularly at 20 mg/kg, significantly reduced body weight, LH levels, and reproductive anatomy in PCO-induced rats, while demonstrating potential anti-obesity effects despite lower lipolytic activity compared to orlistat. The study suggests that AEGG at 20 mg/kg offers benefits in managing PCO and preventing obesity.

Adipogenesis, the process of proliferation of adipocyte progenitor cells and their differentiation into mature adipocytes, plays a critical role in the development of obesity. In this context, exploring the effects of phytochemicals on adipogenesis is very promising, as nowadays, they are widely used as food, drink, or supplement and can significantly impact general health and obesity control. This systematic review attempts to evaluate new findings regarding the molecular mechanisms of different phytochemicals on adipogenesis in in vitro models. Between 2010 and July 2023, a comprehensive systematic search of PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted. The following keywords were used: (“adipogenic”) AND (“inhibit” OR “suppress” OR “reduce” OR “anti” OR “decrease”) AND (“cell” OR “cell line” OR “adipocyte”) AND (“phytochemical” OR “plant” OR “herb”). In this review, 109 studies were comprehensively analyzed, which provided important insights into the process of adipogenesis. Among the numerous transcription factors studied, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1c were found to be the most important regulators actively involved in adipocyte differentiation. These results highlight the critical role of these factors in the control of adipogenesis and suggest that they represent promising targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing the excessive lipid accumulation associated with obesity. This study provides a compelling rationale for further exploring phytochemicals as potential therapeutics for treating obesity. The potential benefits of using natural products to influence adipogenesis are evident, and future studies should focus on translating these findings into clinical applications.

Animal studies have revealed that lipid accumulation in obese mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) leads to alterations in the structural and functional properties of cardiovascular tissues. The current study aimed to investigate apoptosis/anti-apoptotic markers in the heart tissue of rats fed with a HFD.

Twenty-four male Wistar rats (weighing approximately 180 grams) were randomly divided into three groups (n=8 each group), including the control group (C), the high-fat diet group (HFD), and the high-fat diet + carvacrol group (HFD + Carva). Animals received a standard or HFD to induce obesity for three months. From day 61 to 90 in the HFD+Carva group, carvacrol was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg) every other day. At the end of the study, the heart tissue was examined for pathological changes and the mRNA levels of TNF-α, Bcl2, Bax, and caspase3 in the heart tissue by Real Time-PCR.

HFD-induced obesity led to increased TNF-α, caspase-3, and Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression levels in heart tissue. Furthermore, histopathological changes in intracytoplasmic vacuole accumulation were evident in the HFD-obese animals. Carvacrol treatment significantly decreased the expression of Bax, TNF-α, and caspase-3 and increased the expression of Bcl-2 in heart tissue.

In the findings, carvacrol was found to decrease the histopathological changes caused by HFD in heart tissue by suppressing the expression of genes involved in the apoptosis pathway.

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a widespread condition affecting children globally. This study aimed to assess the relationship between obesity in pediatric populations and the risk of developing OME.This retrospective observational study was performed in 2020 at Khalili and Dastgheib hospitals, affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Iran. The study included all children aged 2 to 15 years with a confirmed OME diagnosis. Participants in the non-OME group were chosen from children who did not have OME.A total of 148 healthy individuals were included in the non-OME group, while the OME group comprised 110 patients. Statistical analysis revealed that the mean age (p=0.040), weight (p<0.001), height (p=0.024), BMI (p=0.023), and BMI percentile (p=0.023) were significantly greater in the OME group compared to the non-OME group. Additionally, there was a higher proportion of males in the OME group (63.6%) compared to the non-OME group (44.0%), with this difference being statistically significant (p=0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that factors such as older age (p=0.023), male gender (p=0.001), and elevated BMI percentile (p=0.004) were significantly associated with the presence of OME.This research indicates that there is a correlation between obesity and a heightened risk of OME.

Studies show that caveolin genes are associated with metabolic disorders, so we aimed to systematically review the association between caveolin genes and metabolic syndrome in human studies. This systematic review is conducted based on the PRISMA 2020 checklist.

A systematic literature search was done on electronic databases including Embase, Scopus, Medline (PubMed), and Web of Science until September 2023 and updated until June 2024. Human studies that were published in English were included without restricting other variables such as time, age, and gender.

At the first step, 10313 papers were found, and at the final step, nine studies were included in the systematic review, and four studies entered the quantitative analysis. The result showed that metabolic syndrome is significantly associated with minor alleles in the following genes: CAV‑1 rs1997623 (OR = 1.44 (95% CI: 1.2, 1.86)), CAV‑1 rs11773845, 22375–22375 del AC, and CAV‑1 rs3807992. No significant association was found for CAV‑1 rs926198 (OR = 1.61 (95% CI: 0.89‑2.92)), and 22285 C>T. Caveolin mRNA level was increased in the cases of metabolic syndrome. CAV‑1 rs1997623 A allele changes the transcription factor binding site to increase the attachment of EBF1.

This results in the enhancement of promoter activity and further transcription of the caveolin‑1 gene. In conclusion, individuals carrying minor alleles for the CAV‑1 gene might have an increased risk for metabolic syndrome. With future studies focusing on the matter, this gene can be used as a screening tool for metabolic health to detect individuals with a higher genetic susceptibility to metabolic syndrome.

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease in which accumulated excess body fat leads to adverse effects on health. Obesity continues to accelerate, resulting in an unprecedented epidemic that shows no significant signs of slowing down any time soon. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and schema therapy in quality of life and general compliance in obese women.

In this study, we adopted a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group with a one-month follow-up. The research population consisted of obese women referring to Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital in Sari. Out of this population, 45 cases were selected by targeted non-random sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (ACT and schema therapy) and a control group. The data collection instruments were the Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36) and the General Adherence Scale. The first experimental group underwent intervention in eight 60-90-minute ACT sessions, the second experimental group underwent eight 90-minute schema therapy sessions, and the control group did not receive any intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 26) using the repeated measures ANOVA.

The findings demonstrated that ACT and schema therapy were effective in quality of life and overall compliance (P<0.05). Moreover, it was revealed that the schema therapy was more effective than ACT in overall compliance (P<0.05).

As evidenced by the results of this study, ACT and schema therapy are effective in improving quality of life and overall compliance in women with obesity, and schema therapy is more effective in overall compliance. Therefore, these approaches can be used in medical centers alongside medical interventions for treatment and care.