Biomedical subjects

V Drapeau

Publications and source records attributed to V Drapeau.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Do 6-y changes in eating behaviors predict changes in body weight? Results from the Québec Family Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine changes in eating behaviors as assessed by the three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ) and to quantify the potential associations between these eating behaviors and body weight changes in a 6-follow-up study. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Prospective study performed in men and women who were tested twice (Visit 1=1989-1995 and Visit 2=6 y later) in the Québec Family Study (QFS). RESULTS: Women were more restrained and less hungry than men. To reduce food intake, women relied more on strategic dieting behavior and avoided more fattening food. However, they had higher emotional and situational susceptibility to eat than men. Significant decreases in the disinhibition score were noted over time in women (P<0.01), which resulted from a decrease in habitual susceptibility behavior to increase food intake. In men, we observed an increase in the avoidance of fattening food (P<0.05). In both genders, we found that the 6-y change in restraint behavior was negatively correlated with body weight changes (P<0.05). In women, a high restraint behavior seems to promote weight gain, whereas in men, it is associated with the opposite trend. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that variables reflecting some eating behaviors are associated with body weight changes in a free-living context. However, these behaviors are expressed differently between men and women. These behaviors should be considered in clinical interventions for individuals seeking a better body weight control.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Is visceral obesity a physiological adaptation to stress?

Visceral obesity represents an important risk factor associated with hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Since this condition is associated with a disruption of the functioning of the HPA axis, stress-induced HPA axis activation has been identified to play an important role in this preferential body fat accumulation. HPA axis activation increases cortisol (corticosterone) production which has been shown to exert hyperphagic and antithermogenic effects. Since abdominal adipose tissue has more cells per mass units, higher blood flow and more glucocorticoid receptors, glucocorticoids affect abdominal fat to a greater extent than subcutaneous adipose tissue. Cushing's syndrome in humans is the best evidence showing a link between hypercortisolemia and accumulation of central fat. The Hervey's hypothesis which suggests that fat cells take up and catabolize glucocorticoids is one of the possible regulatory effect that supports the adaptive role of visceral fat in response to stress. This is also supported by other evidence showing that abdominal obesity is associated with an increased cortisol clearance. Hormonal and enzymatic changes have been implicated in this preferential body fat accumulation in response to stress. Specific genetic background may also accentuate this visceral fat accumulation in some individuals exposed to stress. Alternatively, obesity could also be a source of stress promoting the visceral fat accumulation since visceral fat is able to release cytokines which stimulate the HPA axis. Even if the available literature does not permit to establish clearly which comes first, it suggests that visceral obesity could represent a non optimal physiological adaptation to stress. In this context, visceral obesity treatment should focus on stress management and weight loss strategies in order to stop this vicious circle.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2001

Combined effects of red pepper and caffeine consumption on 24 h energy balance in subjects given free access to foods.

The effects of red pepper and caffeine ingestion on energy and macronutrient balances were examined in eight Caucasian male subjects. All subjects participated in two randomly assigned conditions: control and experimental (red pepper and caffeine). After ingesting a standardized breakfast, subjects ate three meals ad libitum (lunch, dinner and breakfast) and snacks which were served approximately 2 h after the lunch and dinner over a 24 h period. Two appetizers with or without 3 g red pepper) were given before lunch and dinner, and a drink (decaffeinated coffee with or without 200 mg caffeine) was served at all meals and snacks except for the after-dinner snack. It is also important to note that on the experimental day, 8.6 and 7.2 g red pepper were also added to lunch and dinner respectively. Red pepper and caffeine consumption significantly reduced the cumulative ad libitum energy intake and increased energy expenditure. The mean difference in energy balance between both conditions was 4000 kJ/d. Moreover, the power spectral analysis of heart rate suggested that this effect of red pepper was associated with an increase in sympathetic:parasympathetic nervous system activity ratio. These results indicate that the consumption of red pepper and caffeine can induce a considerable change in energy balance when individuals are given free access to foods.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Physical activity and preference for selected macronutrients.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of physical exercise on macronutrient preferences was examined with a perspective to improve preventive and therapeutic strategies of obesity. DESIGN: The literature was reviewed pertaining to the acute effects of physical activity and the short-term and chronic effects of exercise training on macronutrient preferences. RESULTS: The presently available literature does not permit to establish a consensus regarding the impact of physical activity, be it acute or long-term, on macronutrient selection. However, one observation stands out and that is the fact that dietary fat intake needs to be controlled in order for exercise to produce a negative energy and fat balance. CONCLUSION: Because active individuals do not systematically choose foods that are low in fat content, it is important to provide nutritional guidelines in a context where physical activity aims at reducing or better controlling body weight.

Diet↗

PubMed1999

Effects of red pepper on appetite and energy intake.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of red pepper (capsaicin) on feeding behaviour and energy intake. In the first study, the effects of dietary red pepper added to high-fat (HF) and high-carbohydrate (HC) meals on subsequent energy and macronutrient intakes were examined in thirteen Japanese female subjects. After the ingestion of a standardized dinner on the previous evening, the subjects ate an experimental breakfast (1883 kJ) of one of the following four types: (1) HF; (2) HF and red pepper (10 g); (3) HC; (4) HC and red pepper. Ad libitum energy and macronutrient intakes were measured at lunch-time. The HC breakfast significantly reduced the desire to eat and hunger after breakfast. The addition of red pepper to the HC breakfast also significantly decreased the desire to eat and hunger before lunch. Differences in diet composition at breakfast time did not affect energy and macronutrient intakes at lunch-time. However, the addition of red pepper to the breakfast significantly decreased protein and fat intakes at lunch-time. In Study 2, the effects of a red-pepper appetizer on subsequent energy and macronutrient intakes were examined in ten Caucasian male subjects. After ingesting a standardized breakfast, the subjects took an experimental appetizer (644 kJ) at lunch-time of one of the following two types: (1) mixed diet and appetizer; (2) mixed diet and red-pepper (6 g) appetizer. The addition of red pepper to the appetizer significantly reduced the cumulative ad libitum energy and carbohydrate intakes during the rest of the lunch and in the snack served several hours later. Moreover, the power spectral analysis of heart rate revealed that this effect of red pepper was associated with an increase in the ratio sympathetic: parasympathetic nervous system activity. These results indicate that the ingestion of red pepper decreases appetite and subsequent protein and fat intakes in Japanese females and energy intake in Caucasian males. Moreover, this effect might be related to an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity in Caucasian males.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Fat balance and ageing: results from the Québec Family Study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in participation in physical activity and in fat and alcohol intake associated with ageing. This issue was examined in adults (n 207) who were tested between 1978 and 1982 and re-tested 12 years later. These adults were 42.3 (SD 4.9) years of age at baseline. Their children (n 122) were tested over the same follow-up period. They were, on average, 12.5 (SD 1.9) years at entry into the study. A decrease in the proportion of daily energy intake as fat and an increase in participation in vigorous physical activities were observed over the 12-year period in both groups. The proportion of dietary energy as alcohol remained stable in adults whereas it increased markedly in children. Correlation analyses between baseline and follow-up levels were significant for dietary fat and alcohol intake in adults. In children, the levels of these variables in the growing years did not predict the levels attained 12 years later. Even though the adults displayed changes in fat balance generally following current public health recommendations, a substantial increase in skinfold thicknesses was observed in these subjects during follow-up. This observation suggests that there is a strong effect of age-related factors on fat balance.

Adult↗