Iranian Journal of Diabetes and Obesity
Volume:16 Issue: 4, Winter 2024

Pediatric obesity is one of the most serious public health problems due to high prevalence and negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Pediatric overweight and obesity and some associated factors among students of elementary school in Yazd- Iran- 2016.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 1253 healthy elementary school students were selected by multistage sampling. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The diagnosis of childhood overweight and obesity was based on WHO criteria. The parents of the students had the consent to participate in the study. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16 software. Data were reported as mean ± standard deviation or frequency and analyzed by using chi-square test. P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

In this study 531 (42.4%) were male and 722 (57.6%) were female. In this study 11.5 % of the boys and 10.2 % of the girls were obese. Also, 10.2 % of the boys and 14.8% of the girls were overweight respectively. Relationship between gender and BMI was statistically significant (P< 0.0001). Obesity was more frequent in boys but overweight was more frequent in girls. The relationship between BMI and father's occupation (P= 0.03) and mother's occupation (P= 0.03) and mother's education (P= 0.02) was statistically significant.

Due to the high prevalence of obesity and overweight in primary school children, school-based interventions in this age group is necessary.

Obesity involves complex pathological mechanisms. Multi-herbal formulations targeting diverse pathways may provide synergistic therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of a standardized multi-herbal formulation (GUTAC), consisting of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Urtica dioica, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Artemisia persica and Camellia sinensis.

Obesity was induced in male Wistar rats (n= 30) via a high-fat diet (HFD) for three months. Subsequently, the rats were divided into three groups (n= 10 per group): (1) HFD alone, (2) HFD with GUTAC, and (3) standard diet (SD) with GUTAC, for an additional three months. Key parameters such as body mass index (BMI), blood biomarkers, and histopathological changes in the liver and kidney were evaluated.

BMI was significantly lower in both the HFD+GUTAC and SD+GUTAC groups compared to the HFD group (P< 0.05). Notably, the SD+GUTAC group exhibited a more pronounced BMI reduction, indicating that combining GUTAC with a standard diet yields greater benefits than its combination with a high-fat diet. GUTAC treatment significantly reduced blood glucose levels (P= 0.0013), liver enzyme activity (AST and ALT), and improved lipid profiles, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides, compared to the HFD group (all P< 0.05). Furthermore, GUTAC enhanced renal function markers (BUN and creatinine) and mitigated hepatic steatosis, as evidenced by histological analysis.

The standardized multi-herbal GUTAC formulation demonstrated significant anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective effects in a rat model. These benefits are likely mediated by the bioactive compounds’ modulation of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory pathways. These findings highlight GUTAC's potential as a multi-target therapeutic strategy for obesity, warranting further exploration in human clinical trials.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter -2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may improve lipid panels in addition to lowering blood sugar. This research examined how empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, affected triglycerides in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

This prospective study was conducted at the Endocrinology Clinic of Shahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad, Iran, in 2020. Thirty-eight patients were included using convenient sampling. The patients’ information including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), 2-hour postprandial blood sugar, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), serum insulin level, serum creatinine Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Blood pressure, and urine albumin before and three months after receiving empagliflozin 10mg tablets were collected from the clinic medical archives and compared using paired t-test in SPSS software version 22.

BMI, microalbuminuria, BUN, FBS, 2-hour postprandial blood sugar, and HbA1c were improved significantly (P< 0.05) after treatment with empagliflozin. In terms of lipid panels, triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL levels were improved significantly after treatment with empagliflozin (P< 0.05). HDL levels increased following the treatment but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no linear correlation between HbA1c and HDL (P= 0.183) or triglyceride (P= 0.947) levels.

Empagliflozin improves triglycerides and cholesterol levels in patients with T2DM in addition to its antihyperglycemic effects. It also reduces BMI, blood pressure, BUN, and microalbuminuria.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential association between peripheral blood parameters and the morphological characteristics of retinal imaging obtained via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with treatment-naïve diabetic macular edema (DME).

This cross-sectional study included 100 patients with treatment-naïve DME. All participants underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Optovue) and fundus photography. Peripheral blood samples were collected to assess complete blood count (CBC), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose, serum urea, serum creatinine, and lipid profile.

Central subfield thickness (CST) was significantly associated with serum HDL (P= 0.003). Intraretinal fluid (IRF) was linked to serum triglycerides (P=0.006), serum VLDL (P=0.001), and cholesterol-to-HDL ratio (P= 0.001). Subretinal fluid (SRF) showed an association with blood glucose (P= 0.028). Hyperreflective foci (HF) were related to total blood count (P= 0.001), monocyte count (P= 0.001), cholesterol-to-HDL ratio (P= 0.045), LDL-to-HDL ratio (P= 0.003), and serum urea (P= 0.051). Disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) correlated with total blood count (P=0.047), lymphocyte count (P= 0.008), blood glucose (P= 0.007), and LDL-to-HDL ratio (P= 0.046). Epiretinal membrane (ERM) was associated with blood glucose (P= 0.001), total cholesterol (P= 0.022), serum LDL (P= 0.025), cholesterol-to-HDL ratio (P= 0.013), and LDL-to-HDL ratio (P= 0.008). Ellipsoid zone (EZ) and external limiting membrane (ELM) disruptions were linked to blood glucose, serum LDL, and VLDL. Hard exudates correlated with blood cell counts, glucose, HbA1c, urea, and creatinine (P< 0.05).

Systemic factors are significantly associated with retinal morphological patterns in DME, highlighting the potential for modifying these factors to influence disease progression and treatment response.

This study aimed to examine the effect of physical activity at varying intensities on anxiety, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels in primiparous women aged 20-30 years.

The study population comprised 200 primiparous pregnant women. Data were collected using the Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire and a physical activity questionnaire. Pearson's correlation test was employed to analyze the relationships between physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose, and anxiety levels. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the effects of different physical activity intensities on these variables, with statistical significance set at P< 0.05.

The Pearson correlation test revealed a significant inverse relationship between physical activity and blood glucose (P= 0.011, r= -0.55) as well as between physical activity and blood pressure (P= 0.003, r= -0.62) in primiparous women. Similarly, an inverse and significant relationship was observed between physical activity and anxiety levels (P= 0.021, r= -0.47 for state anxiety; P= 0.001, r= -0.78 for trait anxiety). The ANCOVA results demonstrated significant differences in blood pressure and blood glucose levels among pregnant women across three levels of physical activity intensity (P= 0.001 for both).

The findings suggest that increased physical activity is associated with reductions in blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and anxiety in pregnant women. These results highlight the potential benefits of regular physical activity for managing these health indicators during pregnancy.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of rumination and alexithymia on the general self-efficacy of individuals with diabetes.

This correlational study targeted diabetic individuals aged 30–50 years residing in Bandargaz in 2023. A total of 217 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data collection instruments included the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, employing Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis.

The results revealed a significant negative relationship between alexithymia and general self-efficacy. In the first step of the regression analysis, the beta coefficient was -0.446, indicating that a one standard deviation increase in alexithymia was associated with a 0.446 standard deviation decrease in general self-efficacy. In the second step, the beta coefficient for rumination was -0.152, suggesting that a one standard deviation increase in rumination was associated with a 0.152 standard deviation decrease in general self-efficacy.

The findings demonstrate that higher levels of alexithymia and rumination negatively affect general self-efficacy in individuals with diabetes. Educational interventions and workshops focused on improving emotional regulation and cognitive coping strategies could enhance self-efficacy, enabling individuals to achieve personal goals and improve their overall well-being.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of continuous exercise combined with abdominal fat tissue massage on body composition in overweight individuals.

Twenty-two participants (mean (±SD) age 28(±3) years; BMI 27.5 (±1.7)) were randomly divided into three groups: continuous training (CT, N= 7), continuous training with massage (CT+MA, N= 8), and massage only (MA, N= 7). The massage groups received 15-minute abdominal massages three times a week. The CT+MA group performed moderate continuous training at 50-60% VO2peak for 45 minutes after the massage. The CT group followed the same training protocol without massage. Body composition was assessed before and after the intervention, measuring fat percentage, waist to hip ratio (WHR), abdominal hip circumference, weight, and abdominal skinfold thickness.

The PBF, WHR, and skinfold thickness values in the abdominal area of the CT+MA group had a significant decrease compared to MA and CT groups.

The results suggest that abdominal massage before exercise enhances lipolysis and spot fat reduction in the massage area, probably by increasing blood supply to subcutaneous fat tissue. This intervention could be a practical approach to boost lipolysis in future research.

It is well established that knowledge is the key factor in optimal diabetes control. Adherence to the medical treatment and the healthcare provider's advice is associated with the level of knowledge about the health issue. The diabetic patients with acceptable knowledge about diabetes achieve better glycemic control. Since diabetes cause is multifactorial, it is necessary for patients to have knowledge in various aspects of diabetes.
This review investigates the diabetes knowledge status in Iranian people with diabetes. Most of the previous studies were conducted on type 2 diabetes. Based on the topic, the studied conception was divided into three categories including general knowledge, nutrition and complications. According to the reports, Iranian diabetic people have inadequate knowledge about different aspects of diabetes. A number of factors such as age, educational level, job status and income had a significant relationship with patients' knowledge. Considering the central role of the educational level in improving the level of diabetes knowledge, it is necessary to plan educational programs as much as possible, especially for illiterate or less educated patients.