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Promoting Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2023) | Viewed by 17620

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK
Interests: diets or nutritional supplements across the lifespan; lifestyle interventions, especially to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease; obesity prevention strategies in children and adolescents; cellular physiological mechanisms determining adaptations to exercise training or nutritional supplementation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There remains an unprecedented increase in lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Those are responsible for the increased burden on healthcare systems, decreased quality of life, reduced life expectancy, and increased mortality. Healthy living across the lifespan requires maintaining adequate nutrition and an active lifestyle. Preventative interventions across different populations groups and localised settings are needed. Large-scale interventions, epidemiological and experimental studies, and clinical and randomised trials have all demonstrated the effectiveness of physical activity, nutrition or combined multicomponent interventions on reducing secondary and primary outcomes of several diseases and also enhancing longevity outcomes. Lifestyle prevention can be applied at any stage, whether in the early phase such as in populations with obesity or at high risk or late phase for those with a known condition, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

This Special Issue focuses on bringing the latest evidence together from all types of studies involving any lifestyle component with a focus on studies involving physical activity, exercise or nutritional strategies. We particularly welcome studies which combine nutritional and exercise components’ mechanistic effects on various population groups (those at risk of with conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, novel nutraceuticals and/or novel applications of functional foods or nutraceuticals). Novel combinations of exercise and nutritional approaches involving healthy participants are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Alkhatib
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • lifestyle
  • physical activity
  • nutrition
  • nutraceuticals
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease
  • obesity
  • ageing
  • longevity

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

36 pages, 1426 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Lifestyle Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions for Childhood Obesity and Associated Comorbidities among Children from Minority Ethnic Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by George Obita and Ahmad Alkhatib
Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2524; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112524 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7995
Abstract
Lifestyle physical activity (PA) and nutrition are known to be effective interventions in preventing and managing obesity-related comorbidities among adult populations but less so among children and adolescents. We examined the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in children from minority ethnic populations in Western [...] Read more.
Lifestyle physical activity (PA) and nutrition are known to be effective interventions in preventing and managing obesity-related comorbidities among adult populations but less so among children and adolescents. We examined the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in children from minority ethnic populations in Western high-income countries (HICs). Our systematic review included 53 studies, involving 26,045 children from minority ethnic populations who followed lifestyle intervention programmes lasting between 8 weeks and 5 years with the aim of preventing and/or managing childhood obesity and associated comorbidities, including adiposity and cardiometabolic risks. The studies were heterogenous in terms of lifestyle intervention components (nutrition, PA, behavioural counselling) and settings (community vs. schools and after-school settings). Our meta-analysis included 31 eligible studies and showed no significant effects of lifestyle interventions when they focused on body mass index (BMI) outcomes (pooled BMI mean change = −0.09 (95% CI = −0.19, 0.01); p = 0.09). This was irrespective of the intervention programme duration (<6 months vs. ≥6 months), type (PA vs. nutrition/combined intervention) and weight status (overweight or obese vs. normal weight) as all showed nonsignificant effects in the sensitivity analysis. Nonetheless, 19 of the 53 studies reported reductions in BMI, BMI z-score and body fat percentage. However, the majority of lifestyle interventions adopting a quasi-design with combined primary and secondary obesity measures (11 out of 15 studies) were effective in reducing the obesity comorbidities of cardiometabolic risks, including metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure, in overweight and obese children. Preventing childhood obesity in high-risk ethnic minority groups is best achieved using combined PA and nutrition intervention approaches, which jointly target preventing obesity and its comorbidities, especially the outcomes of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, public health stakeholders should integrate cultural and lifestyle factors and contextualise obesity prevention strategies among minority ethnic groups in Western HICs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health)
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19 pages, 2877 KiB  
Article
Association of Bioelectrical Impedance Phase Angle with Physical Performance and Nutrient Intake of Older Adults
by Sandra Unterberger, Rudolf Aschauer, Patrick A. Zöhrer, Agnes Draxler, Mirjam Aschauer, Benno Kager, Bernhard Franzke, Eva-Maria Strasser, Karl-Heinz Wagner and Barbara Wessner
Nutrients 2023, 15(6), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15061458 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2416
Abstract
In recent years, the phase angle (PhA) as a raw bioelectrical impedance analysis variable has gained attention to assess cell integrity and its association to physical performance in either sports-related or clinical settings. However, data on healthy older adults are scarce. Therefore, data [...] Read more.
In recent years, the phase angle (PhA) as a raw bioelectrical impedance analysis variable has gained attention to assess cell integrity and its association to physical performance in either sports-related or clinical settings. However, data on healthy older adults are scarce. Therefore, data on body composition, physical performance and macronutrient intake from older adults (n = 326, 59.2% women, 75.2 ± 7.2 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Physical performance was evaluated by the Senior Fitness Test battery, gait speed, timed up and go and handgrip strength. Body composition was determined by the BIA and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (from a subgroup of n = 51). The PhA was negatively associated with the timed up and go test and age (r = −0.312 and −0.537, p < 0.001), and positively associated with the 6 min walk test, 30 s chair stand, handgrip strength, gait speed and physical performance score (r = 0.170–0.554, p < 0.05), but not protein intake (r = 0.050, p = 0.386). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that especially age, sex, BMI, but also the PhA predicted the performance test outcomes. In conclusion, the PhA seems to be an interesting contributor to physical performance, but sex- and age-specific norm values still need to be determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health)
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19 pages, 2510 KiB  
Article
Effects of Irvingia gabonensis Extract on Metabolism, Antioxidants, Adipocytokines, Telomere Length, and Aerobic Capacity in Overweight/Obese Individuals
by Rujira Nonsa-ard, Ploypailin Aneknan, Terdthai Tong-un, Sittisak Honsawek and Naruemon Leelayuwat
Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4646; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214646 - 3 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3391
Abstract
We investigated the effects of Irvingia gabonensis (IG) kernel extract on the metabolism, adiposity indices, redox status, inflammation, adipocytokines, blood leukocyte relative telomere length (RTL), and aerobic capacity of overweight/obese individuals. All participants used the first 12-week phase to monitor body weight. They [...] Read more.
We investigated the effects of Irvingia gabonensis (IG) kernel extract on the metabolism, adiposity indices, redox status, inflammation, adipocytokines, blood leukocyte relative telomere length (RTL), and aerobic capacity of overweight/obese individuals. All participants used the first 12-week phase to monitor body weight. They were then randomly divided into two groups: (1) 300 mg IG or (2) placebo (PLA). Both groups took one tablet per day for 12 weeks. The variables were measured before supplementation and after 3, 6, and 12 weeks of supplementation. RTL and aerobic capacity were measured before and after 12 weeks. Compared with the PLA, the IG increased plasma vitamin C after supplementation at 6 (p < 0.01) and 12 weeks (p < 0.05) and serum adiponectin after 3 weeks (p < 0.05). Compared with before supplementation, plasma malondialdehyde in the IG and serum leptin in the PLA were decreased after 12-week supplementation, without any differences between the groups. There were no differences between groups with respect to metabolism, inflammation, RTL, and aerobic capacity after the supplementation. We suggest that 12-week daily IG supplementation improved plasma vitamin C and adiponectin. The findings show the possible mechanism contributing to the effect of IG supplementation on a reduction in obesity-related complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health)
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11 pages, 2619 KiB  
Article
High-Dose Nitrate Supplementation Attenuates the Increased Blood Pressure Responses to Isometric Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Healthy Males
by Ozcan Esen, Ladislav Cepicka, Tomasz Gabrys and Raci Karayigit
Nutrients 2022, 14(17), 3645; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14173645 - 3 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2977
Abstract
The effect of nitrate (NO3) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) responses during large muscle mass isometric and ischaemic exercise in healthy young adults is unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 5-day supplementation of [...] Read more.
The effect of nitrate (NO3) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) responses during large muscle mass isometric and ischaemic exercise in healthy young adults is unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 5-day supplementation of NO3 on BP responses during a short isometric contraction and a sustained ischaemic contraction. In a randomised, double-blinded, crossover design, 14 healthy active young adults underwent BP measurements after 5 days of either NO3 (NIT) or placebo (PLA) supplementation. Beat-by-beat BP was measured at pre- and post-exercise rest, and during a short (20 s) isometric contraction at 25% maximal strength and throughout a sustained ischaemic contraction. Plasma nitrite (NO2) concentration increased significantly after NO3 supplementation compared to placebo (475 ± 93 nmol·L−1 vs. 198 ± 46 nmol·L−1, p < 0.001, d = 3.37). Systolic BP was significantly lower at pre- (p = 0.051) and post-exercise rest (p = 0.006), during a short isometric contraction (p = 0.030), and throughout a sustained ischaemic contraction (p = 0.040) after NO3 supplementation. Mean arterial pressure was significantly lower at pre- (p = 0.004) and post-exercise rest (p = 0.043), during a short isometric contraction (p = 0.041), and throughout a sustained ischaemic contraction (p = 0.021) after NO3 supplementation. Diastolic BP was lower at pre-exercise rest (p = 0.032), but not at post-exercise rest, during a short isometric contraction, and during a sustained ischaemic contraction (all p > 0.05). Five days of NO3 supplementation elevated plasma NO2 concentration and reduced BP during a short isometric contraction and a sustained ischaemic contraction in healthy adults. These observations indicate that multiple-day nitrate supplementation can decrease BP at rest and attenuate the increased BP response during isometric exercise. These findings support that NO3 supplementation is an effective nutritional intervention in reducing SBP and MAP in healthy young males during submaximal exercise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health)
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