The Support Matrix for Mental Health Diagnostics

The world has a lot to say about binge eating. Sometimes the search for a more precise definition leads off into fascinating side roads.

In its 5th edition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders decided to file BED, or Binge Eating Disorder, under OSFED, or “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder.” Additionally, BED itself has been broken down into “low frequency and/or limited duration” and “higher frequency and duration;” and then it might be further categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.

Within those parameters, it is still important to understand that not all obese people suffer from BED, nor are all people with BED obese. But they do mostly tend to be moody and anxious.

Classification problems have haunted the field for a long time — not just in the realm of eating disorders, but in everything connected with mental health. To get a grip on this topic, it is apparently necessary to keep track of a lot of initials. For instance, the cluster of letters DSM-ICD. Spelled out, that stands for “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases.”

A 2016 paper explicated the basis of that school of thought, classified as “an Aristotelian view.” From this angle, mental disorders are seen as “largely discrete entities that are characterized by distinctive signs, symptoms, and natural histories.”

And, as far back as 1989, there had been mumbles and grumbles, an example of which came from psychiatrist R. E. Kendell:

One important possibility is that the discrete clusters of psychiatric symptoms we are trying to delineate do not actually exist.

Then, along came a contrary modality, in fact, a paradigm shift, described as “a Galilean view of psychopathology as the product of dysfunctions in neural circuitry.” This is the RDoC (Research Domain Criteria) initiative, which strives to make sense of what were called the “accumulating anomalies” that troubled professionals when contemplating the older system. Many factors contributed to the restlessness that inspired leaders in the field to call for change.

Remedies made to order

For instance, the authors cited “precision medicine” or “personalized medicine” which translates lab results directly into an individually tailored plan of action. As an example, they mentioned a targeted drug treatment that works for 4% of cystic fibrosis patients, and went on to describe another advance that has “stirred hopes for a similar revolution in psychiatry and clinical psychology.”

Also in the conversation is Oncotype testing, which has revolutionized the treatment of breast cancer by “permitting physicians to move from a ‘one size fits all’ intervention approach to treatment geared to specific genetic profiles.”

They go on to explain the analogy to the Research Domain Criteria:

Rather than base psychiatric diagnosis on presenting signs and symptoms […] RDoC strives to anchor psychiatric classification and diagnosis in a scientifically supported model of neural circuitry. RDoC conceptualizes mental disorders as dysfunctions in brain systems that bear important adaptive implications, such as systems linked to reward responsiveness and threat sensitivity.

Of course, this fundamental declaration branches out into several “crucial assumptions,” some of which are explained in detail. Other experts added depth and breadth to the many dimensions of this expanded worldview.

One was neuroscientist and psychiatrist Thomas R. Insel, who was for more than a decade in charge of the National Institute of Mental Health. Even though in most areas of medicine the public has come to expect a high degree of specificity, he warned, we might as well not anticipate anything of the sort in the field of psychiatric diagnostics.

Because behavioral symptoms are multidetermined (our old friend “multifactorial“), he wrote, “[…] diagnoses based only on presenting complaints are unavoidably heterogeneous in terms of pathophysiology.” Along with this unavoidable truth comes a danger:

[W]hen diagnosis is limited to symptoms, treatments may be limited to symptom relief, precluding cures or preventive interventions.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Clashing Diagnostic Approaches: DSM-ICD versus RDoC,” NIH.gov, 02/03/16
Source: “The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Project: Precision Medicine for Psychiatry,” PsychiatryOnline.org, 04/01/14
Image by Tatinauk/CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED

Some Binge-Eating Basics

In the dawning days of civilization, there were different kinds of shelters, various food sources, and many ingenious ways to get hold of edible plant and animal products. The inhabitants of this Colorado cliff dwelling ate rice, maize, pine nuts, squash, beans, seeds, berries, nuts, and roots. Vegetables were sun-dried so they would last. Of course, the residents availed themselves of fish and small game, both of which would have been very difficult and labor-intensive to obtain even in the best weather, let alone when the ground was frozen and covered with snow for months on end.

Our source says, “Food was stored in large pits, often sealed in baskets or pottery for protection from insects, animals and moisture.”

But what about people? If binge eating existed then, that would make it one of the most ancient bad habits on Earth. Also, the earlier in human history it happened, the more serious the infraction would have been. In much of North America, early communities had one thing in common. When cold weather set in, sure, the occasional animal could be caught — but there were no guarantees. There was only a certain amount of stored food, and it had to be enough to last through the winter, for everybody.

One binge-eating episode, committed by one individual, could seriously affect the whole settlement. Of course, a factor in the community’s favor was the difficulty of sneaking food. In long-term storage, few casual munchies would be available. By and large, whatever you hoped to eat would need to be shelled, ground, parched, peeled, chopped, pitted, boiled, or in some other way prepared, as a prerequisite to consumption. This would not be easily accomplished on the down-low. In a small, close-knit population, sneaking food would be difficult, if not impossible.

More modern times

We will review (not in the sense of critical judgment, but in the sense of taking another look at) previous Childhood Obesity News posts that mentioned binge eating. For instance, it is a startling fact that some binge eaters don’t even get fat!

Some “make up for” binges by eating very frugally the rest of the time, to find a crude kind of balance and maintain normal weight. This can backfire — and usually does — because the enforced hunger is just as likely to trigger another binge.

How might you know if your consumption is at binge level?

Do you have episodes of eating a lot in a short time frame? Of eating until you are uncomfortably or even painfully stuffed? Does this happen once or twice a week? Do you hide food, or furtively consume it alone? Do you feel embarrassed and ashamed? Does this habit interfere with other aspects of your life? Do you feel like you just can’t stop, as if you are the pawn of some ungovernable force?

Binge-eating seems to run in families, although that could just be the “monkey-see, monkey-do” effect, rather than anything anatomically genetic. When kids grow up watching parents self-medicate with a particular substance, it should come as no surprise if they continue the family tradition.

Another thing about binge eating is how very easy it is for a person to rationalize, justify, defend, self-excuse, self-extenuate, self-validate, and self-vindicate. Even after seeking professional help, this is the sort of problem that a patient can waste a whole lot of time exploring the details of, rather than healing from.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Agriculture and Other Food Sources,” CliffDwellingsMuseum.com, undated
Image by Boston Public Library/CC BY 2.0 DEED

Will the Cheaper Weight Loss Regimens Replace GLP-1 Drugs?

When patients start on the latest obesity drugs, they often experience reduced food cravings and significant weight loss. However, discontinuing these drugs usually reverses these effects: cravings return, and so does the weight. For instance, within a year of stopping semaglutide — known as Wegovy or Ozempic — people typically regain about two-thirds of the weight they lost. Tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound or Mounjaro, shows similar patterns. This has led to the medical consensus that these obesity drugs need to be taken indefinitely, perhaps for life.

For pharmaceutical companies selling these blockbuster drugs, collectively known as GLP-1 drugs after the hormone they mimic, this is a lucrative prospect. For patients, who might be paying over $1,000 a month out of pocket, it’s a different story. Most Americans simply can’t afford such ongoing expenses, as a recent article in The Atlantic outlines.

Finding cheaper alternatives

This financial burden has prompted some doctors to get creative, developing regimens that substitute cheaper, though less well-known, alternatives. GLP-1 drugs are highly effective, promoting more rapid weight loss than any other obesity medications currently available.

However, some doctors are exploring whether these drugs need to be used permanently. “What if we use them short-term, for six months to a year, to lose 50 pounds?” asks Sarah Ro, an obesity-medicine doctor and director of the University of North Carolina Physicians Network Weight Management Program. She and other doctors are investigating transitioning patients to older, less expensive drugs for long-term maintenance.

Dr. Ro has already helped hundreds of patients make this switch out of necessity. Many of her patients in rural North Carolina lack insurance coverage for the new obesity drugs and can’t afford them out of pocket. When North Carolina’s state employee health insurance cut off coverage for GLP-1 drugs in April, Ro transitioned her patients to older medications like topiramate, phentermine, metformin, and bupropion/naltrexone, coupled with lifestyle counseling. These alternatives are generally less effective, leading to about half the weight loss of GLP-1 drugs, but are far more affordable, costing as little as $10 a month when prescribed as generics.

Retirees on Medicare lose GLP-1 drug coverage

Jamy Ard, an obesity medicine doctor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, also had to adjust his approach for patients who lost GLP-1 drug coverage upon retiring and switching to Medicare, which currently does not cover obesity treatments. Doctors like Ard see the need for research on transitioning from GLP-1 drugs to older ones, as many patients will lose coverage at retirement age. “Now I’ve got to figure out, well, how do I treat them?” he said.

Are the alternatives safe?

Long-term data on older drugs are sparse, largely because obesity drugs weren’t profitable enough to justify expensive, long-term studies until recently. Switching from GLP-1 drugs to older medications is largely anecdotal at this point, with varying outcomes. A small minority can maintain their weight with just diet and exercise, while others find the older drugs ineffective. Dr. Ro’s experience suggests that 50% to 60% of her patients have successfully maintained weight loss using older drugs alongside lifestyle changes like cutting out fast food and sugary drinks.

A tailored trial-and-error approach is the way to go

The choice of alternative medication depends on the patient. Different drugs target different biological pathways. For example, the combination of naltrexone and bupropion reduces the pleasure of eating and is particularly effective for emotional eaters. Topiramate makes carbonated drinks unpleasant, which can help soda drinkers. Each drug has different side effects, requiring a tailored approach and sometimes trial and error to find the best fit.

Doctors are also finding that some patients can maintain their weight on lower or less frequent doses of GLP-1 drugs. Lowering the dose doesn’t save money since the pens cost the same regardless of dosage, but extending the time between doses can help stretch supplies.

Stopping completely might be a challenge

Complete discontinuation of obesity medications, GLP-1 or otherwise, is unlikely for most patients. Weight loss triggers compensatory mechanisms in the body, evolved to prevent starvation, making long-term maintenance a constant challenge. Susan Yanovski, co-director of the NIH’s Office of Obesity Research, describes long-term weight maintenance as the “holy grail” of obesity treatment.

The best maintenance strategy — whether it involves GLP-1 drugs, and at what dose — remains an individual question needing further study. “These are really good research questions,” Yanovski said, though they might not align with the pharmaceutical companies’ focus on developing new drugs.

Compounded semaglutide is announced

Hims & Hers company announced last week that it will be selling compounded semaglutide for weight loss at prices significantly lower than Wegovy and Ozempic, addressing a gap in supply. However, it’s important to note that compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and undergoes less extensive testing than brand-name drugs.

This compounded GLP-1 drug will be prescribed by physicians through their telehealth platform. Prices start at $79 per month for oral medication kits and $199 per month for injections, much lower than the list prices of Ozempic ($935.77) and Wegovy ($1,349.02).

However, compounded semaglutide differs from FDA-approved drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic in several key ways. Compounded medications do not undergo the rigorous FDA approval process, which ensures safety, efficacy, and quality through extensive testing. This lack of testing can lead to concerns about inconsistent potency, bioavailability, and safety.

Also, these drugs can vary in how they are absorbed and utilized by the body, potentially leading to unpredictable therapeutic outcomes. Safety concerns also arise from the sterility and cleanliness of the compounding process, which might introduce harmful contaminants if not properly managed.

The BrainWeighve app would be an ideal off ramp…

The ability to rechannel displacement into less harmless activities rather than succumbing to urges is behind the behavior modification app, BrainWeighve, currently ramping up for a trial through the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The trial focuses on weight loss for obese teens using a self-directed, physician-supervised program withdrawing from one problem food at a time.”

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Ozempic Patients Need an Off-Ramp,” The Atlantic, 5/22/24
Source: “Hims & Hers Selling GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Like Wegovy for 85% Less: What to Know,” Healthline.com, 5/22/24
Image by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Binge-Eating Self-Talk

You’re out of balance, and definitely out of control. You want — no, you need — to eat ALL the food. A whole lot of it at once, until it hits the button that says “Enough!” Except, when is that going to happen? And then you coast through a good patch, where you seem to have some semblance of control, and everything just rolls along merrily for a while. Maybe that whole ghastly chapter of your life is over. Maybe you’ve outgrown it, or discovered some more healthy obsession to take its place. For a while, there is a degree of relief. Until…

And you know what? So what. Even at the best of times, the body doesn’t look that great, and maybe it’s time to just stop caring about that. It’s the mind that really matters, and the spirit. There is no real health problem going on, and instead of fretting and beating yourself up about the occasional food orgy maybe you should just sit back and be grateful that you’re not one of the millions of people on earth who are still starving.

Maybe it’s simply time to stop feeling “depressed, disgusted, ashamed, guilty or upset,” to quote the Mayo Clinic’s list of negative emotions. After all, it’s not like you’re vomiting the food up after you eat it. That would be really disgusting, and you’re not there yet. Not even close! You don’t dabble in laxatives, you’re not that far gone. You’re not out there compulsively exercising for six hours every day.

Okay, once in a while you get a little crazy and “put away” a whole bag of groceries, but not in the cupboard. There was that time last week when after about five minutes, you weren’t even hungry anymore, and you kept on eating for — what, two hours? Not quite two hours.

So what? Take a look at the world. People are out there shooting up schoolrooms full of kids, right in front of God and everybody. At least I keep my problems to myself. The door is closed, the shades are down, I’m eating a whole large pizza with breadsticks and dipping sauce on the side, and not hurting another soul. So, all you haters out there, just deal with it.

And what’s the big deal? Once in a while I slip up and eat too much. And okay, it’s been going on for decades, but here I still am, standing upright and able to tell the tale. Thanks for pointing out that my jeans don’t zip up all the way, but you know what? I have others. And if I still need some new ones, with an even bigger waist, I can afford another pair of pants. I got that stuff handled. I’m doing fine at my job, no complaints. Yeah, that one boss keeps looking at me sideways, but he’s retiring next year anyhow.

Anyway, my best friend growing up had monstrous eating orgies. Maybe I caught it from her. And she got over it. At least I think she did. I haven’t seen her in a few years, but I’m sure she’s fine. She did graduate, after all. Oh wait, I wasn’t going to think about how I lost that scholarship anymore. It’s making me think about that bag of chips I stashed in the basement to make it harder to get to. But you know what? Maybe I’ll just take a little walk down there right now. Stairs are good exercise.

I’m taking care of business. Sure, I have stress and maybe a negative self-image, but who doesn’t? None of us are perfect, and at least I’m not out there attacking strangers or dynamiting power stations. I get bored, sometimes I eat too much. At least I don’t drink. Shoot, I know people who should be institutionalized, and I’m nowhere near as crazy. Sure, I have anxiety and depression, who doesn’t? I don’t have insomnia or diabetes or sleep apnea. I’m not socially isolated, I got plenty of friends, and most of them are in worse shape than me…

And blah-blah blah, blahblah blah blah blah blah, and blah, blah-blah, blah-blah blah, blahblah blah blah blah blah, blah, and blah-blah, and blah-blah blah, blahblah blah blah blah blah, blah, blah-blah…..

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Binge-Eating Disorder,” MayoClinic.org, undated
Image by Pat Hartman

A Very Heterogeneous Group

The description of obese individuals as a very heterogeneous group is quoted from correspondence between Dr. Pretlow and another professional. That is Adrian Meule, Ph.D., who researches “eating behavior, eating disorders, obesity, and other topics in health and clinical psychology,” to the point where his published articles and book chapters number more than 200, in addition to two entire books.

Of course that is not all. His credits also include reviews, for scientific journals, of over 150 manuscripts. On the more active side of both mental health and obesity science, he is certified in the fields of nutritional counseling, personal training, and fitness instruction.

Dr. Meule has said a lot about the danger of making unwarranted assumptions, for instance, about certain eating disorders and their relation to classically-framed addiction. He has spoken with Dr. Pretlow about W8loss2go and opined that, although people who do not self-identify as addicted might disagree, the app would be a helpful intervention for many.

He pointed out, for instance, that bulimia nervosa patients and binge-eating disorder patients are also drawn to addictive drugs…

He also went on to note other interesting similarities between the two populations, stemming from the fact that “…eating patterns can show addictive qualities, with similarities to substance use disorders on behavioral and neurobiological levels.” Patients with anorexia nervosa, on the other hand, do not tend to be on board with addictive drugs.

Dr. Meule mentioned to Dr. Pretlow the tendency of obese people to manifest at least three symptoms identified with food addiction. But (among other reasons) because food is not an illegal substance, the abuse of it is often not so destructive to the quality of life. These patients do not meet the “significant impairment” requirement of the official description, and therefore are excluded from the ranks of bona fide addicts.

He also cited the “many obese who are not concerned about their eating behavior,” (and who, presumably, do not know or care if they are some variety of junkie.) He endorsed the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) “as a standardized measuring device,” but with some reservations:

When I administered the YFAS to obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery, I experienced that — although some 40% received a diagnosis — many persons told me that all those questions did not apply to them at all.

In 2020 Dr. Meule published The Psychology of Food Cravings: the Role of Food Deprivation, which concerns the science behind dieting and other things, and a main point here is that…

[…] experimental studies also show that food craving can be understood as a conditioned response that, therefore, can also be unlearned.

Can be unlearned! And what happens then? Intervention studies indicate that “long-term energy restriction results in a reduction of food cravings in overweight adults.” More recently, Dr. Meule was editor of the 2023 publication Assessment of Eating Behavior, described as…

[…] essential reading for researchers working in clinical and health psychology, consumer psychology, psychiatry, and nutrition science as well as practitioners, including psychotherapists, physicians, nutrition counsellors, who assess eating behavior and related aspects in their daily work.

The book’s contents include an exploration of such abstruse topics as intuitive and mindful eating, food neophobia, disgust sensitivity, and orthorexia nervosa. The descriptive paragraph uses quotation marks for food “addiction.”

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “The Psychology of Food Cravings: the Role of Food Deprivation,” NIH.gov, September 2020
Source: “Assessment of Eating Behavior,” BarnesAndNoble.com, 05/08/23
Image by Johan Söderqvist/CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED

Study Finds That Severe Childhood Obesity Can Cut Life Expectancy in Half

Severe childhood obesity can drastically reduce life expectancy, cutting it nearly in half, according to a recent global study conducted by Stradoo GmbH, a life sciences consultancy in Munich. This research provides detailed insights into how the age of onset, severity, and duration of childhood obesity affect long-term health and life expectancy.

Long-term impact of childhood obesity

Presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy, the study findings quantified the impact of various aspects of childhood obesity on long-term health for the first time. It was led by Dr. Urs Wiedemann along with colleagues from universities and hospitals across Europe and the United States.

The researchers found that the earlier a child develops obesity, the more severe the long-term effects. For instance, a child living with severe obesity at age four, who does not lose weight, has a life expectancy of just 39 years — about half the average life expectancy.

The findings in detail

“While it’s widely accepted that childhood obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), and that it can reduce life expectancy, evidence on the size of the impact has been patchy,” said Dr. Wiedemann. She added:

A better understanding of the precise magnitude of the long-term consequences and the factors that drive them could help inform prevention policies and approaches to treatment, as well as improve health and lengthen life.

The researchers developed an early-onset obesity model to estimate the effect of childhood obesity on cardiovascular disease, related conditions like T2D, and life expectancy. This model included four key variables: age of obesity onset, obesity duration, irreversible risk accumulation (a measure of irreversible health effects even after weight loss), and severity of obesity.

Critical factors

The severity of childhood obesity was measured using BMI Z-scores, which indicate how much an individual’s Body Mass Index (BMI) deviates from the norm for their age and sex. For example, a four-year-old boy with a BMI Z-score of 3.5, indicating severe obesity, has a life expectancy of just 39 years if he does not lose weight.

Data for the model were drawn from 50 existing clinical studies on obesity and related comorbidities, involving over 10 million participants worldwide. Approximately 2.7 million of these individuals were between two and 29 years of age.

The risks of severe childhood obesity

The model shows that earlier onset and more severe childhood obesity elevate the likelihood of developing related health issues later in life. For instance, a child with a BMI Z-score of 3.5 at age four has a 27% likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by age 25 and a 45% chance by age 35. In contrast, a child with a BMI Z-score of 2 at age four has a 6.5% chance of developing type 2 diabetes by age 25 and 22% by age 35.

Higher BMI Z-scores at an early age also lead to a lower life expectancy. For instance, a BMI Z-score of 2 at age four without subsequent weight reduction reduces life expectancy from about 80 years to 65 years. The life expectancy drops further to 50 years for a BMI Z-score of 2.5 and 39 years for a BMI Z-score of 3.5.

Implications for early weight loss

Comparisons with other studies and expert opinions confirmed the model’s accuracy. Moreover, the model demonstrated the positive impact of weight loss on life expectancy and long-term health. For example, a child with severe early onset obesity (BMI Z-score of 4 at age four) has a life expectancy of 37 years and a 55% risk of developing T2D by age 35. If the child loses weight, reducing the BMI Z-score to 2 by age six, life expectancy increases to 64 years, and the risk of T2D drops to 29 percent.

“The early onset obesity model shows that weight reduction has a striking effect on life expectancy and comorbidity risk, especially when weight is lost early in life,” said Dr. Wiedemann.

Addressing childhood obesity

The model has some limitations. It does not account for the causes of obesity, genetic risk factors, ethnic or sex differences, or the interactions between different comorbidities. However, the impact of childhood obesity on life expectancy is profound.

Dr. Wiedemann said:

It is clear that childhood obesity should be considered a life-threatening disease. It is vital that treatment isn’t put off until the development of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or other ‘warning signs’ but starts early. Early diagnosis should and can improve quality and length of life.

The bottom line

The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for early intervention in cases of childhood obesity. Preventative measures and timely treatments are crucial to improving the long-term health and life expectancy of affected children. As our understanding of the long-term consequences of childhood obesity deepens, so too must our commitment to tackling this critical public health issue from an early age.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Severe childhood obesity can cut life expectancy in half,” Earth.com, 05/16/24
Source: “Young children with persistent severe obesity could have half average life expectancy, study finds,” The Guardian, 05/14/24
Image by Christopher Williams on Unsplash

Fooling the Body With Filler

While bariatric surgery makes the stomach smaller, so less food will fit inside, a patient dedicated to non-compliance can definitely stretch that pouch back out again. Another method seeks to reduce the space available for food, not by tailoring the stomach itself into a smaller receptacle, but instead by filling it with non-food.

This work was done at Peking University First Hospital in Beijing, China:

Oral intragastric expandable capsules taken twice daily before meals reduce body weight in adults with overweight or obesity…

The tactic can cause “mild gastrointestinal adverse events,” but it has the advantage of being a non-invasive, non-permanent intervention. Another desirable feature is a lack of the many side effects that pharmacological methods too often trigger. Oral and intragastric, the capsule enters the mouth and lands in the stomach where it “expands to fill about one quarter of average stomach volume and then passes through the body.”

In the Chinese study, it took 24 weeks (six months, or half a year) for study participants to lose as little as 5% of baseline body weight, which seems paltry compared to some other methodologies.

Much more remains to be discovered about this way of doing things, because of the limitations of this small study in which only fewer than 4% of the subjects had type 2 diabetes. Also, they are characterized as “relatively young,” so they did not experience metabolic or cardiovascular effects that might kick in later. Here is an interesting detail:

Gastrointestinal disorders were reported in 25.0% of participants in the intragastric expandable capsule group compared with 21.9% in the placebo group, with most being transient and mild in severity.

To put it another way, a quarter of the participants taking the real stuff experienced unpleasant side effects — and so did almost as many of the subjects taking imaginary medicine. When people ingest something that is totally inert and inactive, and yet are visited by adverse results, that is the nocebo effect. “A nocebo effect can occur if a person takes a real or active medicine, and can also occur if they are given a placebo.”

Both placebo and nocebo effects are fascinating areas in which a whole lot of additional investigation is obviously needed. There is a lot going on in this realm, including controversy over the ethics. One article says,

Unfortunately, guidance for informing trial participants about trial intervention harms, in a way that is ethical, understandable, and does not produce nocebo effects, is currently under-researched. A recent study suggested that information provided to trial participants often fails to tell them what they wish to know, and that it is presented in a way that is difficult to understand.

What is this stuff, anyway?

Intragastric expandable capsules consist of two naturally derived components, food-grade carboxymethylcellulose cross-linked with citric acid, forming a three-dimensional polymer matrix that rapidly absorbs water and occupies the volume of the stomach and small intestine when administered orally with water before a meal, subsequently producing satiety. Each capsule contains no less than 10 000 highly absorbent cellulose-based hydrogel particles…

Dietary fiber comes in two varieties: soluble and insoluble. Soluble dietary fiber has long been recommended for its stomach-filling effect. It has been found to slow gastric emptying, increase perceived satiety, and significantly aid in appetite regulation. But its usefulness appears to depend on such variables as molecular size and solubility, and food matrix.

In addition, “Viscous soluble dietary fibres are believed to be more capable of inducing satiety compared to non-viscous soluble dietary fibres.” So apparently, “soluble fibres are not all created equal.” One vital area for additional research is the possibility that combinations of soluble fibers might be even more effective than any single type.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Premeal Stomach-Filling Capsule Effective for Weight Loss,” MDedge.com, 02/13/24
Source: “Placebo effect,” Vic.gov.au, undated
Source: “Harmful placebos,” Ox.ac.uk, 12/11/18
Source: “Efficacy and safety of intragastric expandable oral capsules in adults with overweight or obesity,” Doi.org 01/22/24
Source: “Unravelling the Effects of Soluble Dietary Fibre Supplementation on Energy Intake and Perceived Satiety in Healthy Adults,” NIH.gov, 01/06/19
Image by Edward Russell/CC BY 2.0 DEED

Upgrade the Parenting Tools

We have been exploring the realm of role modeling, also known as setting a good example. Anyone who tries it will discover that the magic word really is “example,” as in “Show, don’t tell.” Not nagging, not preaching, not blaming others for their lax habits. The more you talk about it, the less effective the lesson is. A good habit is to be quietly demonstrated over and over again, and eventually, a parent can be pleasantly surprised at what a young person has incorporated into his or her own life.

If there is a discussion about why the family is going on a three-mile hike, it’s better to keep it general. We don’t have to make a big deal out of how the excursion is supposed to help prevent a certain family member from getting fat. Not everything that can be said ought to be said.

Sometimes, we become exasperated with adult friends, for being so sloppy, careless, and neglectful of their health. But if their parents didn’t teach them good ways, how are they supposed to know? Let’s not let our kids grow up to be bad examples! Who wants that? Nobody.

Help is out there

It’s always a good idea to look around and learn what sort of free educational help is available from churches, schools, institutions, universities, and government bodies. Depending on the program and its intended audience, parents might learn how to cook basic healthful meals, how to prepare homemade “baby food,” how to understand the nutrition labels on food products, how to accurately judge whether a child is hungry or just bored or seeking attention, and many other very useful skills.

There are some things that many of us just never had the opportunity to hear about — for instance, as previously mentioned, it might require a dozen failed introduction attempts before a child will accept a new food. But the mere awareness of such a random fact can be incredibly encouraging.

Here is a thoughtful quotation from a pediatrician:

As parents, we have to set an example and to promote within our families healthy eating and healthy exercise. However, children are beset on all sides by their non-parental environment as well, which includes access to cheap, high-caloric foods; glitzy advertisements; a raft of screen and video entertainment; low-nutritional value school lunches; and on and on. Parents can be perfect role models, and still lose in this effort. But at least they stack the odds more favorably for their kids.

And we are reminded that when it comes to role models, kids are much more likely to be influenced by their own contemporaries:

Whether it is reassessing what foods we offer in vending machines, in the school cafeteria or at school celebrations, we need to set up the school environment so that the healthy choice becomes the “easy” choice and the “cool” choice. When kids see their peers and role models eating healthy, hydrating, and exercising, they are more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves.

That was educator Crystal Lim on the role that can and should be played by school districts and administrators, in creating a healthy school environment.

The astonishing track record of P.E.T.

Dr. Thomas Gordon’s Parent Effectiveness Training has been an incredible benefit to millions of families. With luck, a class might be found, but all the material is online for free anyway. P.E.T. examines the limitations of control, the power of attention, the difference between being authoritative and authoritarian, the emotional climate of the home, and a whole lot of other concepts that are equally valid whether the offspring are infants or teenagers.

Responsibility, labeling, genuine needs, rewards, responsibility, acceptance, problem ownership, active listening, conflict resolution, and many other topics are covered while the ideas around them are shown to be actionable and effective.

It is quite possible that the word “obesity” is never mentioned in any of the Gordon material. What you get instead is the map to a doable lifestyle, where many of the conditions that lead to childhood obesity simply don’t exist.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “69% of Doctors Say Parents are Completely or Mostly to Blame for Childhood Obesity,” PRNewswire.com, 08/26/15
Source: “This Childhood Obesity School Program Works Best,” Futurity.org, 02/20/23
Source: “Free Parent Resources,” GordonTraining.com, undated
Image by Frédérique Voisin-Demery/CC BY 2.0 DEED

New Research Highlights Importance of Sugar Source in Childhood Obesity

New research presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy, has shed light on a critical aspect of childhood nutrition: the source of sugar. The study, conducted by Junyang Zou and colleagues from the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, challenges conventional wisdom regarding sugar consumption and its relationship to childhood obesity.

The type of sugar might matter more than the amount

The study, which examined data from the GEKCO Drenthe study, a longitudinal investigation tracking children born in the northern Netherlands, scrutinized the impact of sugar consumption from various sources on weight gain and the development of obesity. Surprisingly, the research suggests that the type of sugar consumed may be more influential than the total amount.

Contrary to common assumptions, the study found that the overall quantity of sugar consumed during early childhood did not correlate with weight status at age 10 or 11. However, the source of sugar emerged as a significant factor.

Zou elaborated:

The high consumption of sugary foods is considered a risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity and so children are advised to consume less sugar-rich foods, such as confectionery, cakes and sugar-sweetened drinks, and eat more fruit and unsweetened dairy products, such as milk and yogurt.

But while fruit and unsweetened dairy products are considered healthy, they contain high amounts of intrinsic sugars — sugar that occurs naturally in the food, rather than being added. We wanted to know if the source of sugar, added versus intrinsic, as well as the amount, affects the likelihood of developing overweight or obesity.

The research underscores the importance of distinguishing between intrinsic sugars and added sugars found in processed treats and beverages. While both fruit and unsweetened dairy products contain intrinsic sugars, they also offer essential nutrients and may confer protective effects against obesity.

Study results in more detail

Drawing upon data from the GECKO Drenthe study — an extensive longitudinal investigation tracking children born between 2006 and 2007 in the northern Netherlands — Zou and colleagues meticulously analyzed the dietary habits of 817 children who maintained a healthy weight at age 3. The findings yielded compelling insights into the diverse sources of sugar and their distinct effects on weight status.

On average, these children consumed 112 grams of sugar daily, comprising a blend of natural and added sugars. Among the primary sources identified were sugar-sweetened beverages, dairy products, sugary snacks, and fruits. Surprisingly, while total sugar intake at age 3 did not exhibit a significant correlation with BMI at ages 10 and 11, the source of sugar emerged as a critical determinant of weight status.

Notably, children who derived a higher proportion of their sugar intake from whole fruits demonstrated lower BMI scores and experienced less weight gain as they approached adolescence. Similarly, those who consumed more sugars from unsweetened liquid dairy products, such as milk, exhibited a reduced risk of developing obesity or overweight status.

Conversely, sugar intake from sugary snacks was associated with higher BMI scores, underscoring the detrimental impact of added sugars found in processed foods. Despite the study’s observational nature, the findings offer valuable insights into the nuanced relationship between sugar consumption and childhood obesity.

The bottom line

The research presented at the ECO highlights the critical role of sugar sources in the development of obesity during childhood. It also underscores the imperative of reevaluating dietary recommendations to prioritize nutrient-rich sources of sugar, such as fruits and unsweetened dairy products, while minimizing the consumption of sugary snacks and beverages. By empowering parents, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with evidence-based insights, we can chart a course toward a healthier future for our children — one sweet choice at a time.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Understanding the role of sugar sources in development of childhood obesity,” News-Medical.net, 05/13/24
Source: “Kids’ Obesity Risk Depends on Source of Sugar, Not the Amount,” Newsweek, 05/13/24
Image by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Be a Role Model Every Day

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that fact is both one of the most destructive and one of the most redemptive features of human nature. So we need to take the advice of Julia Olech, who wrote,

Be a role model: Children often mimic adults, so show them you also choose healthy options. When you make good food choices and limit your junk food intake, they’re more likely to do the same.

Parenting is difficult, so hard sometimes that parents conveniently forget the basic “home truths.” One of those inconvenient verities is that our children watch our every move. Not only that, but all too often, they imitate what we do. How else are they supposed to learn to be human? From the media? Really? Don’t we believe that we present a better example than some of the nonsense that appears on TV and in video games?

To be fair, a lot of parents do a pretty good job of keeping their kids separated from random violence, irresponsibility, stupidity, and other undesirable traits. If you are one of those conscientious citizens, congratulations. There is, however, another very important principle involved. In addition to protecting kids from bad influences, you — yes you, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, older sibling, etc. — need to provide the counterbalancing good influences.

Who is that in the mirror?

A now-defunct website called BlissTree.com once published a piece claiming that 75% of parents ignore the problem of overweight in their children. Doubtless, other authors would find research claiming different percentages. At any rate, that writer made the argument that 50 years ago, there were bakeries and fast-food outlets and television, but the childhood obesity rate was less than one-third of today’s, so how can we blame “society” for making our kids fat?

That argument of course is not sturdy, because a lot of things are here now that were not present then, like antibiotics in the water and plastic in the food. At any rate, the point the author mainly intended to make was that no matter how much we would like to blame “society” for everything that goes wrong, eventually, we have to ‘fess up and acknowledge that society is us. We are a society, especially at home. After all, who do our kids see the most, especially in the early years? Their caregiving relatives, aka role models.

What ought we to demonstrate?

Corny as it sounds, a daily workout of some kind is something it wouldn’t hurt for children to witness their parents doing. Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., R.D., says, for example,

Moderate-intensity exercise actually decreases appetite by increasing the hormone that suppresses appetite and decreasing the hormone that triggers hunger… A strenuous workout frames the next 24 to 36 hours in a positive health perspective, meaning you’re more likely to make good food choices, monitor portions, and resist temptations.

But it doesn’t have to be all noisy and sweaty, it can be as gentle as a regular session of chair yoga — as long as the young’uns catch some kind of a notion. The subliminal messages are,

— You are valuable, and the physical machine that you live inside of deserves good care.
— Your routine does not need to be strenuous or lengthy.
— Just do this nice thing for yourself every day.

An area worth putting some effort into

What really needs to be nipped in the bud is the whole picky-eater scene. Dr. Suanne Kowal-Connelly told The New York Times,

Children look up to us, they model our behavior and notice what we enjoy. Parents should serve children the same foods they eat, though in smaller portions, and not offer something else saying, for example, “There are chicken nuggets in the freezer if you don’t like the broccoli I made.”

Parents can talk about the beautiful colors of various foods and why they’re good for us — make it a learning game. A new food may have to be introduced many times — 12 or 13 — just to get children to try it.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Junk Food Marketing Study: What Are Kids Being Fed?,” CyberGhostVPN.com, 02/13/24
Source: “To End Childhood Obesity, Parents Need To Learn To Say ‘No’,” BlissTree.com, 01/04/12
Source: “9 Things That Make You Eat More,” Yahoo.com, 05/05/16
Source: “Using Shelter-in-Place Time to Foster Better Family Food Habits,” NYTimes.com, 04/06/20
Image by It’s No Game/CC BY 2.0 DEED

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Profiles: Kids Struggling with Weight

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The Book

OVERWEIGHT: What Kids Say explores the obesity problem from the often-overlooked perspective of children struggling with being overweight.

About Dr. Robert A. Pretlow

Dr. Robert A. Pretlow is a pediatrician and childhood obesity specialist. He has been researching and spreading awareness on the childhood obesity epidemic in the US for more than a decade.
You can contact Dr. Pretlow at:

Presentations

Dr. Pretlow’s invited presentation at the American Society of Animal Science 2020 Conference
What’s Causing Obesity in Companion Animals and What Can We Do About It

Dr. Pretlow’s invited presentation at the World Obesity Federation 2019 Conference:
Food/Eating Addiction and the Displacement Mechanism

Dr. Pretlow’s Multi-Center Clinical Trial Kick-off Speech 2018:
Obesity: Tackling the Root Cause

Dr. Pretlow’s 2017 Workshop on
Treatment of Obesity Using the Addiction Model

Dr. Pretlow’s invited presentation for
TEC and UNC 2016

Dr. Pretlow’s invited presentation at the 2015 Obesity Summit in London, UK.

Dr. Pretlow’s invited keynote at the 2014 European Childhood Obesity Group Congress in Salzburg, Austria.

Dr. Pretlow’s presentation at the 2013 European Congress on Obesity in Liverpool, UK.

Dr. Pretlow’s presentation at the 2011 International Conference on Childhood Obesity in Lisbon, Portugal.

Dr. Pretlow’s presentation at the 2010 Uniting Against Childhood Obesity Conference in Houston, TX.

Food & Health Resources