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PubMed1999

Can mothers influence their child's eating behavior?

This study examined the relationship between general maternal parenting style, maternal eating cues, and a child's eating behavior during mealtime. We expected that the general style would relate to the number of specific eating cues and that mothers who used more eating prompts would have children that ate more and at a faster rate. Seventy-seven children (39 girls, 38 boys), aged 3.5 years, visited the laboratory with their mothers for a videotaped lunch. Videotapes of each laboratory visit were coded for the child's eating rate and maternal parenting style, which was measured as the level of maternal control and support and the number and type of eating prompts given during a meal. Caloric intake was also calculated. The number and rate of verbal and physical encouragements and discouragements were significantly related to measures of general maternal parenting style and meal duration. The rates of food offers, food presentations, and total prompts were all significantly related to the child's rate of calorie intake. However, a mother's level of support or control was not related to the child's eating behavior. Although general maternal parenting style did not predict the child's eating behavior, these behaviors were related to the frequency of maternal eating prompts, which in turn were significantly related to the number of calories eaten and the time spent eating by the child. Children who ate the fastest had mothers who delivered eating prompts at a higher frequency. These findings may have implications for the development of obesity later in childhood, as a function of rapid eating or of poor self-regulation.

Child Behavior↗

PubMed2006

Body image, binge eating, and bulimia nervosa in male bodybuilders.

OBJECTIVE: Male bodybuilders (MBB) exhibit more severe body dissatisfaction, bulimic eating behaviour, and negative psychological characteristics, compared with male athletic and nonathletic control subjects, but few studies have directly compared MBB and men with eating disorders. This study compared men with bulimia nervosa (MBN), competitive male bodybuilders (CMBB), and recreational male bodybuilders (RMBB) on a broad range of eating attitudes and behaviours and psychological characteristics to more accurately determine similarities and differences among these groups. METHOD: Anonymous questionnaires, designed to assess eating attitudes, body image, weight and shape preoccupation, prevalence of binge eating, weight loss practices, lifetime rates of eating disorders, anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use, and general psychological factors, were completed by 22 MBN, 27 CMBB, and 25 RMBB. RESULTS: High rates of weight and shape preoccupation, extreme body modification practices, binge eating, and bulimia nervosa (BN) were reported among MBB, especially among those who competed. CMBB reported higher rates of binge eating, BN, and AAS use compared with RMBB, but exhibited less eating-related and general psychopathology compared with MBN. Few psychological differences were found between CMBB and RMBB. CONCLUSIONS: MBB, especially competitors, and MBN appear to share many eating-related features but few general psychological ones. Longitudinal research is needed to determine whether men with a history of disordered eating or BN disproportionately gravitate to competitive bodybuildin and (or) whether competitive bodybuilding fosters disordered eating, BN, and AAS use.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Eating patterns in morbidly obese patients before and after a gastric restrictive operation.

BACKGROUND: The present study was set up to analyze the relationships between eating patterns in morbidly obese patients who had undergone an adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) followed for at least 2 years and morbidly obese patients without a gastric restrictive procedure. METHODS: Eating pattern was monitored by using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire in 99 morbidly obese patients (BMI > or = 35 kg/m2) preoperatively and in 31 patients who had undergone a stomach reduction by the Lap-Band followed at least 2 years. Both groups were compared to the Dutch normative scores. RESULTS: In the preoperative group, the scores on emotional eating and external eating were significantly higher than the Dutch normative scores. The scores on restrained eating were preoperatively equal to the Dutch normative scores. Although not significant, the scores in the postoperative group on external eating were lower than the Dutch normative scores and equal on emotional eating. The variable restrained eating postoperatively was significantly higher compared with the preoperative group. On emotional and external eating, the scores postoperatively were significantly lower compared with the preoperative group. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, surgical treatment using an ASGB or another gastric restrictive operation could be the right solution in patients with an emotional and external eating behavior. Placement of the ASGB has a negative effect on restrained eating behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: a series of 35 patients.

BACKGROUND: Binge-eating disorder is a newly recognized eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating without extreme weight loss behaviors. It commonly co-occurs with overweight and obesity. To preliminarily explore the effectiveness and tolerability of venlafaxine in binge-eating disorder, we retrospectively reviewed the response of 35 consecutive overweight or obese outpatients with binge-eating disorder presenting at the University of Cincinnati Physicians Weight Management Program, Cincinnati, Ohio, to clinical treatment with venlafaxine. METHOD: The medical charts of 35 consecutive outpatients with binge-eating disorder (DSM-IV criteria) and overweight (body mass index [BMI] = 25.0-29.9) or obesity (BMI > or = 30.0) who received clinical treatment with venlafaxine at a weight management program were reviewed. Response of binge-eating disorder symptoms was assessed by weekly binge frequency (the number of binges reported by the patient the week before the clinic appointment), the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) scale, and categorical response (no response, mild, moderate, marked, or remission). Weight, BMI, waist circumference, comorbid Axis I diagnoses, vital signs, and side effects also were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (83%) received venlafaxine as monotherapy and 6 (17%) received the drug adjunctively for a median of 120 days (range, 28-300 days). The mean +/- SD venlafaxine treatment dose was 222 +/- 63 mg/day (range, 75-300 mg/day). In the 33 patients who were actively binge eating at the time venlafaxine was begun, weekly binge frequency, severity of binge-eating and mood symptoms as measured by the CGI-S scale, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure all showed statistically significant decreases over time (p < .05). Of these 33 patients, 29 (88%) displayed a moderate (50% reduction) or better response of binge-eating episodes. Fifteen (43%) of the 35 patients lost 5% or more of their baseline weight. In general, venlafaxine was well tolerated, with dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and nausea being the most frequently reported side effects. Sustained increases in blood pressure seen in 6 patients (17%) were considered clinically insignificant. No patients discontinued the drug. CONCLUSION: Venlafaxine may be an effective treatment for binge-eating disorder associated with overweight or obesity. Controlled studies of venlafaxine in binge-eating disorder appear warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Predicting factors of eating disorders and general psychological symptoms in female college students].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and determine the relative effects of six of the variables (family functioning, self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depressive symptoms, locus of control and Body Mass Index-BMI) related to the etiology of eating disorders in predicting eating disorder symptoms and the general symptom index. METHOD: Two hundred and ninety-two female college students completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Eating Attitude Test (EAT), the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R), Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (RIELCS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Multiple regression analysis was employed, and scores of the obsessive-compulsive subscale of SCL-90-R, BMI, RSES, FAD, BDI and RIELCS were used as predictors of EAT total scores. The second multiple regression analysis was employed with the same independent variables as predictors of the General Symptom Index (GSI) of SCL-90-R. RESULTS: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were the best predictor of the total score of EAT, and the second was the BMI scores. Depressive symptoms and self-esteem scores were significantly correlated with EAT scores but these variables were not chosen for inclusion in the regression equation. There was a strong relation between scores on BMI and scores on EAT. BMI scores were correlated nonsignificantly with the scores of the other variables. RIELCS and FAD scores were not significantly correlated with EAT scores. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were also the best predictor of GSI of SCL-90-R and the second best predictor was the RSES. FAD was significantly correlated with SCL-90-R GSI scores, depression and obsessive compulsive scores. CONCLUSION: It appears that obsessive-compulsive symptoms were the best predictor of pathologic eating behavior. BMI was the second predictor of EAT scores. Locus of control and family functioning were not correlated with eating pathology. Family functioning scores were significantly correlated with the GSI scores, and depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were also the best predictor of the GSI scores.

English Abstract↗

PubMed1998

Risk factors for binge eating disorder: a community-based, case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Many risk factors have been implicated for eating disorders, although little is known about those for binge eating disorder. METHODS: A community-based, case-control design was used to compare 52 women with binge eating disorder, 104 without an eating disorder, 102 with other psychiatric disorders, and 102 with bulimia nervosa. RESULTS: The main risk factors identified from the comparison of subjects with binge eating disorder with healthy control subjects were certain adverse childhood experiences, parental depression, vulnerability to obesity, and repeated exposure to negative comments about shape, weight, and eating. Compared with the subjects with other psychiatric disorders, those with binge eating disorder reported more childhood obesity and more exposure to negative comments about shape, weight, and eating. Certain childhood traits and pronounced vulnerability to obesity distinguished the subjects with bulimia nervosa from those with binge eating disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Binge eating disorder appears to be associated with exposure to risk factors for psychiatric disorder and for obesity. When compared with the wide range of risk factors for bulimia nervosa, the risk factors for binge eating disorder are weaker and more circumscribed. Pre-morbid perfectionism, negative self-evaluation, and vulnerability to obesity appear especially to characterize those in whom bulimia nervosa subsequently develops.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Eating and emotional disorders in adolescent obese girls with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To study eating and emotional disorders in adolescent insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) girls. METHODS: 98 adolescent girls, aged 13-19 years, were studied: 15 obese and 37 non-obese IDDM girls, 22 obese non-diabetic and 24 non-obese girls, DSM-III-R eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, eating disorders NOS) and eating habits (snacking, sweet compulsions) were evaluated by a semi-structured diagnostic interview (Kiddie-SADS-E and Eating Habits Interview). Emotional disorders were assessed using self-questionnaires (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Beck Depression Inventory, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory). Psychological characteristics were correlated with BMI and, for IDDM girls, with HbA1C. RESULTS: IDDM and non-diabetic obese girls showed high rates of eating disorders NOS (sub-clinical bulimia: 60 and 41%, respectively) and they had more extra-snacks than non-obese girls, suggesting that obesity was the main risk factor for additional eating disorders. However, non-obese IDDM girls had more eating disorders NOS (sub-clinical bulimia: 27%) than did the normal girls (4%). Three IDDM girls had typical bulimia nervosa, while none of the non-diabetic did. The risk of depression was increased by both IDDM and obesity (16 and 18% dysthymia, respectively; 8% in normal girls); both factors cumulated in obese IDDM girls (47% dysthymia). Obesity was linked to marked changes in self-esteem scores and mild effects on anxiety. IDDM had little effect on anxiety and none on self-esteem; it even seemed to preserve the self-esteem of obese girls. Patients with bulimia nervosa had poorer metabolic control than other girls with IDDM. There was no correlation between HbA1C and eating or emotional disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent IDDM girls are at increased risk of eating and emotional disorders. Obesity appears to be an important factor for psychiatric complications; more obese IDDM girls suffered from eating disorders NOS sub-clinical bulimia), dysthymia, anxiety disorders, depression and low self-esteem (Family Satisfaction SEI sub-score) than did non-obese IDDM girls.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Prevalence of abnormal eating behaviours and inappropriate methods of weight control in young women from Brazil: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this epidemiological investigation was to study the prevalence of abnormal eating behaviours in a community sample of young women from Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. METHODS: The research team visited 1524 randomly selected households in Porto Alegre and invited all of the women aged 12-29 years to participate in the study: 513 women subsequently completed a socio-economic and demographic questionnaire, the Bulimic Investigatory Test (BITE) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). RESULTS: Clinically significant disturbed eating behaviour was revealed in the 16.5% of women who had EAT scores above the cut-off point of 21; 2.9% also had BITE symptom scores of > or = 20. The participants were categorised into three groups on the basis of a new variable combining both instruments: those with abnormal eating behaviours (10.9%), those with unusual eating patterns (23.8%), and those with normal eating behaviours (60.2%). Abnormal eating behaviours were significantly more prevalent in the 16-19 year age range (p = 0.007) and were also more prevalent among overweight/obese women (p = 0.009). Laxative use was reported by 8.5% of the women, followed by fasting (3.1%), use of diuretics (2.8%) and vomiting (1.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal eating behaviours are fairly common among young women in Brazil. In comparison with other population studies, this survey showed a similar use of laxatives, less self-induced vomiting and a greater use of diet pills (probably because they are less strictly controlled in Brazil). Educational programmes aimed at preventing abnormal eating behaviours and developing healthy weight control practices among children and young adolescents should become public health priorities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

The accuracy of symptom recall in eating disorders.

The purpose of this study was to assess how accurately patients with eating disorders recall their symptoms after 6 to 12 months, to evaluate whether more recent symptoms are remembered more accurately, and to determine the extent to which the accuracy of recall impacts diagnostic classification. Seventy women who were enrolled in a longitudinal study of eating disorder symptoms were asked to recall their eating patterns, behaviors, and attitudes from 6 or 12 months earlier using semistructured interviews (Eating Disorders Examination and McKnight Longitudinal Follow-up Interview for Eating Disorders). Results indicated that correlations between the original and recalled data for frequency of objective binge eating episodes and vomiting ranged from r = .534 to .898 (average, r = .772), with lower correlations for subjective binge eating episodes (average, r = .335). Attitudes toward shape and weight were recalled more accurately at 6 months (average, r = .907) than 12 months (average, r = .620). kappa Coefficients were higher for eating disorder diagnoses using broad than narrow definitions, with no differences between 6- and 12-month recall. Overall, agreement for depression recall was low but better at 6 months (kappa = .423) than 12 months (kappa = .296). These findings suggest that patients with eating disorders are at least moderately accurate when recalling most symptoms from 6 to 12 months earlier. Although broadly defined eating disorder diagnoses remained consistent, depression and narrower eating disorder diagnostic classifications showed more variability.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Rapid screening for disordered eating in college-aged females in the primary care setting.

PURPOSE: To identify an efficient, valid, and reliable instrument for use by primary care physicians during clinical encounters to screen female adolescents at risk for eating disorders. METHODS: We created a survey of 36 questions, including the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and additional test questions identified through focus groups and literature review. The EAT-26 is a valid and reliable tool to identify individuals with eating disorders (1). We randomly distributed the survey to 865 college freshman women residing in dormitories at the University of Florida. The EAT-26 portion of the survey was scored according to established protocol. A score of > or =20 identified individuals likely to have an eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. RESULTS: 402 women completed surveys for a response rate of 47%. Based on the EAT-26 scores greater than 20, 17% of our population had scores predictive of an eating disorder. Four test questions correlated with positive EAT-26 scores: "How many diets have you been on in the past year?"; "Do you feel you should be dieting?"; "Do you feel dissatisfied with your body size?"; and "Does your weight affect the way you feel about yourself?" CONCLUSIONS: These four test questions in written format screen for disordered eating among female college students in primary care settings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Serum leptin and short-term regulation of eating in obese women.

1. Leptin is generally thought to play a key role in the regulation of eating. However, its real role in human eating behaviour is still poorly known. Therefore, the role of leptin in the regulation of eating was examined in obese binge- and non-binge-eating women during exposure to food and food-related stimuli. 2. Eleven binge- and ten non-binge-eating obese women took part in the study. In addition to serum leptin, serum insulin, non-esterified fatty acids, plasma glucose, salivation, the feeling of hunger and the desire to eat were repeatedly measured during the experiment. 3. Serum leptin levels did not differ between the binge- and non-binge-eating women. Neither were leptin levels associated with the feeling of hunger or the desire to eat food, nor with the amount or composition of food eaten. During food exposure leptin levels did not change, whereas at the same time serum insulin levels increased and serum non-esterified fatty acid levels decreased. The change in salivation during food exposure was inversely associated with the fasting leptin level. 4. This study indicates that serum leptin does not play a role in the regulation of eating in obese women, at least not in the short term. Furthermore, leptin levels are not different in obese binge-eating women as compared with obese non-binge-eating women. Interestingly, high fasting leptin levels may be associated with a decreased salivation response in the presence of food and food-related stimuli.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Gastrointestinal and nutritional aspects of eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are potentially fatal eating disorders which primarily affect adolescent females. Differentiating eating disorders from primary gastrointestinal (GI) disease may be difficult. GI disorders are common in eating disorder patients, symptomatic complaints being seen in over half. Moreover, many GI diseases sometimes resemble eating disorders. Inflammatory bowel disease, acid peptic diseases, and intestinal motility disorders such as achalasia may mimic eating disorders. However, it is usually possible to distinguish these by applying the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders and by obtaining common biochemical tests. The primary features of AN are profound weight loss due to self starvation and body image distortion; BN is characterized by binge eating and self purging of ingested food by vomiting or laxative abuse. GI complications in eating disorders are common. Recurrent emesis in BN is associated with dental abnormalities, parotid enlargement, and electrolyte disturbances including metabolic alkalosis. Hyperamylasemia of salivary origin is regularly seen, but may lead do an erroneous diagnosis of pancreatitis. Despite the weight loss often seen in eating disorders, serum albumin, cholesterol, and carotene are usually normal. However, serum levels of trace metals such as zinc and copper often are depressed, and hypophosphatemia can occur during refeeding. Patients with eating disorders frequently have gastric emptying abnormalities, causing bloating, postprandial fullness, and vomiting. This usually improves with refeeding, but sometimes treatment with pro-motility agents such as metoclopromide is necessary. Knowledge of the GI manifestations of eating disorders, and a high index of suspicion for one condition masquerading as the other, are required for the correct diagnosis and management of these patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Risk for disordered eating relates to both gender and ethnicity for college students.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of disordered eating behaviors among college students and associations by gender, ethnicity, participation in social organizations and college athletics and to determine whether responses to eight health behavior and attitude questions and body weight predicted a high score on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-26, a screening instrument used to identify risks of developing an eating disorder. METHODS: Subjects were a convenience sample of 1,899 college students (cleaned to 1620) who attended four classes, were members of 14 sororities or lived in five residence halls. Students reported height and weight and responded to the EAT-26 and eight items regarding health behaviors and attitudes. RESULTS: Among women and men, 4.5% and 1.4%, respectively, reported previous treatment for an eating disorder, and 10.9% of women and 4.0% of men were at risk for eating disorders (scores > or = 20 on EAT). Among African-Americans, 8.3% of women were at risk. One group of women who lived separately in a social sorority had the highest risk of 15%. The frequency of "weight concerns interfering with academic performance" and "eliminating high fat foods" was moderately correlated to risk for disordered eating for both genders. Body mass only weakly related to risk for disordered eating and the association varied by subgroup. CONCLUSION: Students at risk for disordered eating report weight concerns interfering with their academic performance and include both men and African-Americans, as well as Caucasian American women. Sorority women living in separate residences might be at increased risk.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Genetic and environmental influences on eating behavior: the Swedish Young Male Twins Study.

BACKGROUND: Eating behavior may be implicated in the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, presumably in relation to easy access to energy-dense and highly palatable foods. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on eating behavior in a population-based cohort of male twins. DESIGN: The study included 326 dizygotic and 456 monozygotic male twin pairs aged 23-29 y from Sweden. The revised 21-item version of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) was used to assess eating behavior. This validated instrument consists of 3 dimensions: cognitive restraint, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the heritability of eating behavior. RESULTS: Cognitive restraint was the only TFEQ-R21 scale that significantly correlated with BMI (r = 0.39, P < 0.0001). The best-fitted models gave a heritability of 59% (95% CI: 52%, 66%) for cognitive restraint, 60% (95% CI: 52%, 67%) for emotional eating, and 45% (95% CI: 36%, 53%) for uncontrolled eating. CONCLUSIONS: These results show the great importance of genetic factors in the eating behavior of a large, unselected population of young adult male twins. Nonshared environmental factors were also important, whereas shared environmental factors did not contribute to eating behavior.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Development of the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire.

Individual differences in several aspects of eating style have been implicated in the development of weight problems in children and adults, but there are presently no reliable and valid scales that assess a range of dimensions of eating style. This paper describes the development and preliminary validation of a parent-rated instrument to assess eight dimensions of eating style in children; the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). Constructs for inclusion were derived both from the existing literature on eating behaviour in children and adults, and from interviews with parents. They included responsiveness to food, enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating. fussiness, emotional overeating, emotional undereating. and desire for drinks. A large pool of items covering each of these constructs was developed. The number of items was then successively culled through analysis of responses from three samples of families of young children (N = 131; N = 187; N = 218), to produce a 35-item instrument with eight scales which were internally valid and had good test-retest reliability. Investigation of variations by gender and age revealed only minimal gender differences in any aspect of eating style. Satiety responsiveness and slowness in eating diminished from age 3 to 8. Enjoyment of food and food responsiveness increased over this age range. The CEBQ should provide a useful measure of eating style for research into the early precursors of obesity or eating disorders. This is especially important in relation to the growing evidence for the heritability of obesity, where good measurement of the associated behavioural phenotype will be crucial in investigating the contribution of inherited variations in eating behaviour to the process of weight gain.

Body Constitution↗

PubMed2004

Disability associated with community cases of commonly occurring eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To examine disability associated with community cases of the more commonly occurring eating disorders and with particular eating disorder behaviours. METHOD: Self-report questionnaires, which included measures of eating disorder symptoms and impairment in everyday functioning, were completed by 495 female residents of the Australian Capital Territory region aged between 18 and 45 years. A structured interview for the assessment of eating disorders was completed by a subgroup (n = 208) of participants. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify cases of eating disorders in the total sample (n = 495) based on the characteristics of individuals interviewed. Impairment in functioning, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, was compared among eating disorder cases and non-cases, among subgroups of participants engaging in particular eating disorder behaviours, and among community cases of anxiety and affective disorders identified from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. RESULTS: Community cases of eating disorders (n = 31; 6.3%) were associated with substantial impairment in functioning, comparable with that of community cases of anxiety and affective disorders. Among eating disorder behaviours, the use of extreme weight-control behaviours, in particular self-induced vomiting, was associated with the highest levels of impairment, although the occurrence of regular episodes of overeating was also associated with considerable impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The burden on the community of the more commonly occurring eating disorders may be substantial. Improving women's recognition of the adverse effects of eating disordered-behaviour on functioning, as well as their knowledge of effective treatments, will be important in reducing this burden.

Australian Capital Territory↗

PubMed2002

Food choices and eating difficulty among elderly edentate patients in Greece.

AIMS: To evaluate food choice and eating difficulty experienced by older Greek edentate patients. SUBJECTS: Three samples of patients seeking provision of replacement dentures were studied. A primary study of urban mainland U1 (n=54) and island rural R1 samples (n=84) was followed by a mainland urban U2 sample (n= 19) in the Secondary study. SETTING: Greek dental clinics. INTERVENTION: Semi-structured interviews (SSI) were employed, using both open and closed questions. DESIGN: The primary study used SSI to identify eating difficulty experienced by two culturally different Greek groups. The secondary study established patterns of difficulty for comparisons between an urban Greek population and northern European urban studies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of eating difficulty, the degree of difficulty eating specified foods and the exclusion of foods because difficult. RESULTS: Most patients expressed difficulty eating at least one type of food, a high percentage of these patients were willing to eat foods found difficult, while others use particular methods of food preparation that make food easier to eat. Chicken illustrated the importance of specifying the method of cooking when questioning eating difficulties. Roast meats provided insight into the more difficult end of the food range. Raw vegetables were rated difficult. Apples and oranges were also food of particular interest. CONCLUSIONS: The semi-structured interview method provides a successful method to identify eating difficulty and food choices by older Greek complete denture wearers. Differences, probably largely cultural, were identified between Greek island rural and mainland urban communities. Greek food choices differed favourably from an English sample, strikingly in that Greek patients report continuing to eat difficult foods despite difficulty eating them. This may be relevant to health data on Greek populations that show better mortality statistics despite adverse factors such as high prevalence of smoking.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Changes in renal sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate and arterial blood pressure associated with eating in cats.

1. Renal sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate and arterial blood pressure were simultaneously measured in thirteen awake cats before, during and after eating which was evoked by presenting food for a period of 10-15 s. 2. With food presentation, eating behaviour occurred in 93% (191) of 205 trials, and renal sympathetic nerve activity significantly increased in 65% of the 191 trials. On the other hand, in many of food presentation trials when no eating occurred, or with presentation of an empty food box, renal sympathetic nerve activity did not change significantly. 3. Eating started 1-8 s after the food presentation. The increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity was closely related to the beginning of eating but not to the onset of food presentation. Renal sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate increased with a slight time lag of 0.5-1.5 s from the onset of eating, whereas an increase in arterial blood pressure followed the onset of eating by 5.5 s. After the beginning of eating, renal sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate and arterial blood pressure increased at a maximum of 61 +/- 18% (mean +/- S.E. of mean), 26 +/- 4.0 beats/min, and 17 +/- 4.9 mmHg from the control values at 1.0, 5.5 and 11.5 s, respectively. 4. Cardiac-related grouped discharges of renal sympathetic nerve activity, which were observed at rest, increased during eating. 5. When arterial blood pressure was elevated by noradrenaline (2-5 micrograms/kg I.V.), renal sympathetic nerve activity during resting was almost completely inhibited and the increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity during eating was not induced. 6. We conclude that renal sympathetic nerve activity increases in association with eating behaviour but not as firmly with the food presentation, and that the increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity is initiated by descending input from the higher central nervous system rather than either by the viscero-autonomic reflex due to food intake or by the baroreflex due to a decrease in arterial blood pressure.

Action Potentials↗