Unintended consequences of measuring gestational weight gain: how to reduce weight stigma in perinatal care.

In this commentary, we discuss how the practice of measuring gestational weight gain may perpetuate weight stigma and resultant discrimination if not thoughtfully assessed. We offer suggestions to reduce the likelihood of weight stigma and discrimination in perinatal care settings.

Evaluation of Protein Cards: A nutrition education tool for metabolic bariatric surgery.

Background: Metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is a safe, effective treatment for severe obesity and its associated comorbidities. However, adherence to postoperative guidelines, particularly dietary protein intake remains a challenge. This study examined the suitability of the Protein Cards, a protein-focused nutrition education tool developed to support individuals meet their protein requirements during the postoperative diet stages: fluid, purée, soft, and regular.

Missing the Target: A Scoping Review of the Use of Percent Weight Loss for Obesity Management.

Introduction: To co-create comprehensive targets for obesity management, we need to understand the genesis and current use of percent weight loss targets in research. The goals of our scoping review are to (1) synthesize the literature on percent weight loss targets for adults with obesity and (2) discuss the percent weight loss targets in context with their health benefits.

Methods: We searched Cochrane, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for English language, pharmaceutical, and/or behavioral intervention studies in adults with obesity where the explicit aim of the study was weight reduction defined as a percent of body weight.

Weight bias: relationships with physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

The majority of Canadian adults are not meeting the recommended physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines. Previous studies have highlighted experiences of weight bias as a potential barrier to physical activity and an enabler of sedentary behaviours. Few studies have examined whether endorsing or internalizing weight bias is associated with these health behaviours.

Managing obesity in children: a clinical practice guideline.

Background: Obesity is a complex, chronic, stigmatized disease whereby abnormal or excess body fat may impair health or increase the risk of medical complications, and can reduce quality of life and shorten lifespan in children and families. We developed this guideline to provide evidence-based recommendations on options for managing pediatric obesity that support shared decision-making among children living with obesity, their families, and their health care providers.

Methods: We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and health-related quality of life in youth with obesity.

The brain derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism causes functional changes in BDNF, and is associated with obesity and some psychiatric disorders, but its relationship to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unknown. This study examined, in youth with obesity, whether carriers of the BDNF Val66met polymorphism Met-alleles (A/A or G/A) differed from noncarriers (G/G) on HRQoL. The participants were 187 adolescents with obesity.

Weight bias among Canadians: Associations with sociodemographics, BMI and body image constructs.

This cross-sectional study examined the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, BMI, and body image constructs (body satisfaction and weight bias internalization; WBI) and explicit weight bias. A near-representative sample of 995 English-speaking Canadian adults (52% Female) completed a survey which assessed explicit weight bias (Anti-Fat Attitudes questionnaire), body satisfaction (Body Shape Satisfaction Scale), WBI (Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale), and self-reported height and weight. Multiple linear regression analyses were run.

Exploring the association between internalized weight bias and mental health among Canadian adolescents.

Background: Internalized weight bias (IWB) has been identified as a correlate of higher depressive and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with higher weights. However, there has been limited investigation into how IWB relates to positive mental health and whether these associations differ across genders.

Objectives: To examine the associations between IWB and mental health (depression, anxiety, flourishing) in adolescents with higher weights, and to test the potential moderating role of gender.

A qualitative exploration on the needs of health care providers working with adolescents who are undergoing bariatric surgery.

Background: With increasing prevalence of severe obesity in youth, more adolescents are becoming candidates for bariatric surgery. In Canada, bariatric surgery in adolescents is in its infancy, and long-term health outcomes are not well known. It is unknown what health care providers (HCPs) are using to prepare and guide their adolescent patients for bariatric surgery.

Compensatory health motivations and behaviors scale: Development, evaluation, psychometric properties and a preliminary validation.

The "Compensatory Health Beliefs" scale assesses the degree to which one believes that unhealthy behaviours can be compensated through healthier ones. However, no validated scale to assess compensatory weight-related behaviors exists. The study's objective was to develop (Study 1) and validate (Study 2) a questionnaire measuring compensatory health motivations and behaviors (CHMB) and to assess their associations with body mass index (BMI) and psychological weight-related measures.

Weight bias internalization and beliefs about the causes of obesity among the Canadian public.

Background: Explicit weight bias is known as negative attitudes and beliefs toward individuals due to their weight status and can be perpetuated through misconceptions about the causes of obesity. Individuals may also experience weight bias internalization (WBI) when they internalize negative weight-related attitudes and self-stigmatize. There is a paucity of research on the beliefs about the causes of obesity and the prevalence of WBI among public Canadian samples.

Assessment of electronic patient education materials for adolescent bariatric surgery candidates: An environment scan.

Objective: Adolescents who opt for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) will use the internet to learn about the procedure. The objective of this study is to assess the suitability of electronic patient education materials (ePEM) of North American centers that perform adolescent bariatric surgery.

Methods: Canadian and American bariatric centers that perform adolescent MBS were identified from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program and Google web-based searches.

Predictors of support for anti-weight discrimination policies among Canadian adults.

Introduction: Weight discrimination of individuals with overweight or obesity is associated with adverse mental and physical health. Weight discrimination is prevalent in many sectors such as within workplaces, where individuals with overweight and obesity are denied the same opportunities as individuals with lower weight status, regardless of performance or experience. The purpose of this study was to understand the Canadian public's support or opposition of anti-weight discrimination policies and predictors of support.

Effects of the HEARTY exercise randomized controlled trial on eating behaviors in adolescents with obesity.

Background: There are well-recognized benefits of behavioral interventions that include exercise for children and adolescents with obesity. However, such behavioral weight management programs may precipitate unintended consequences. It is unclear if different exercise modalities impact eating behaviors differently in youth with obesity.

Exploring weight bias internalization in pregnancy.

Background: Recent research has shown that pregnant individuals experience weight stigma throughout gestation, including negative comments and judgement associated with gestational weight gain (GWG). Weight bias internalization (WBI) is often a result of exposure to weight stigma and is detrimental to biopsychological health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore WBI in pregnancy and compare scores based on maternal weight-related factors including pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), obesity diagnosis and excessive GWG.

The relationship between weight bias internalization and healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviours.

Purpose: Weight bias internalization (WBI) is associated with disordered eating symptomology and motivation to control weight. The relationship between WBI and specific weight control behaviours and how these behaviours differ between men and women is not well understood. The objectives of this study are to determine (1) the relationship between WBI and weight control behaviours, (2) whether weight perception is independently associated with weight control behaviours, and (3) whether these relationships differ between men and women.

Associations of the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism With Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, and Energy Intake in Youth With Obesity: Findings From the HEARTY Study.

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is functionally related to BDNF, and is associated with obesity and metabolic complications in adults, but limited research exists among adolescents. This study comparatively examined carriers and non-carriers of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on body composition, energy intake, and cardiometabolic profile among adolescents with obesity. The sample consisted of 187 adolescents with obesity; 99 were carriers of the homozygous Val (G/G) alleles and 88 were carriers of the Val/Met (G/A) or Met (A/A) alleles.

Predictors of Weight Bias in Exercise Science Students and Fitness Professionals: A Scoping Review.

Background: Although previous studies have reported weight bias among students and professionals in exercise science, physical education, kinesiology, and fitness instruction, predictors of weight bias in these professions have not been extensively reviewed.

Aim: The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the available literature on predictors of weight bias in exercise science students and fitness professionals to identify key concepts and research gaps.

Methods: PubMed and ERIC were searched from January 1990 to May 2019.

Weight bias and support of public health policies.

Objectives: Public health policies have been proposed to help address prevalent Canadian obesity rates. Along with the increase in obesity prevalence, explicit weight bias is also rampant in Western society. This paper aimed to assess the association between explicit weight bias attitudes and Canadian public support of these policy recommendations.

Screen time is independently associated with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in youth with obesity.

Low levels of brain derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and excessive screen exposure are risk factors for neurocognitive deficits and obesity in youth, but the relationship between screen time and BDNF remains unknown. This study examined whether duration and/or type of sedentary screen time behaviour (TV viewing, video games, recreational computer use) are associated with serum BDNF levels in youth with obesity. The sample consisted of 250 inactive, postpubertal adolescents with obesity (172 females/78 males, aged 15.