Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 100 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-55). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Wesley Lynch. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-36).

Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2005. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3227732. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-41)

White adipocytes surround almost all blood vessels in the human body. It was thought previously that these cells merely provide mechanical support for the adjacent small vessels and are little more than fat storage units. Recent studies have identified these cells as metabolic and vasoactive engines that produce and secrete molecules that can affect the function of their adjacent small vessels. The adipocytes and a number of other cell types (including inflammatory cells) surrounding the vessels are collectively termed the PeriVascular Adipose Tissue (PVAT). Work from our group has shown previously that, in health, PVAT conveys a vasorelaxant effect on adjacent small arteries and that this effect is not observed in obesity thus the vessels must exist at an elevated level of basal tone. It is plausible that increased basal vessel constriction can explain the elevated blood pressure amongst the obese population and a better understanding of the obesity-induced PVAT damage may lead to clues to a new approach in the treatment of the condition which burdens its sufferers with a greater cardivascular risk profile. In this thesis we have studied individuals with morbid obesity at baseline and six months following surgery and observed that PVAT function following dramatic weight loss restores the PVAT vasorelaxant effect close to that observed in lean patients. Moreover, we have concluded that inflammation plays a significant role in this process and indeed using protocols with antioxidant enzymes we were able to restore the damaged PVAT function at baseline. We have have shown also that in health, PVAT vasorelaxant function is independent of the endothelium, and that obesity-induced PVAT damage and its reversal following weight loss and ex-vivo anti-oxidant treatment are both independent of the endothelium and at least in part due to nitric oxide bioavailability. Finally, we have observed that in sleep apnoea, which often coexists with morbid obesity and hypertension, there is a greater degree of PVAT inflammation.

Obesity increases the risk for the development of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other co-morbid conditions. Type 2 diabetes also is often associated with excessive visceral abdominal fat. Weight loss in obese individuals decreases the risk for developing the co-morbid conditions. Individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a greater difficulty in controlling these complications compared to individuals without type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate adherence to a medically-supervised low-energy diet (LED) weight loss program and changes in body composition and metabolic parameters after weight loss in women with and without type 2 diabetes. Subjects consisted of Caucasian women, between the ages of 40 to 65 years, with BMIs between 30 and 45 kg/m2. There was no significant difference in BMI between the groups at study initiation (38.1 kg/m2, diabetics (DM) and 36.0 kg/m2, non-diabetics (NDM), p=0.2314). All subjects participated in the HMR Program for 16 weeks. Twenty-nine subjects completed the weight loss phase (18 diabetics, 11 non-diabetics) and were evaluated for change in weight, body composition, and blood parameters. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures ANCOVA and students t-tests using SAS version 8.02. DM and NDM lost 11.7% and 16% of body weight, respectively (p=0.6474). Results indicate DM has more total lean tissue (p=0.004), more total body fat (p=0.04), more total abdominal tissue (p=0.001), more visceral adipose tissue (p=0.001) and lost less percent body fat (p=0.04) than NDM after 16 weeks of weight loss. After weight loss there was no significant difference in leptin, ghrelin or adiponectin levels. DM had greater insulin (p=0.05), HOMA-IR (pandlt;0.0001), glucose (pandlt;0.0001), HbA1c (pandlt;0.0001), resistin (p=0.04) and PAI-1 (p=0.02). There were no differences after weight loss in lipid levels, blood pressure, diet compliance or exercise. The data show that medically-supervised LEDs are safe and effective for treating obesity in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular risk factors improved in both NDM and DM subjects with weight loss. The findings also suggest that insulin and metabolically dysfunctional lean tissue may play a critical role in the complex axes affecting changes in body composition and inflammation in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

While the excess accumulation of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (abdominal SAT and VAT, respectively), is independently associated with increased health risk, the relative amount of lower body SAT is associated with an improved health profile. In contrast to the established metabolic benefit of reducing VAT and abdominal SAT, the first study in this thesis investigated whether loss of lower-body SAT during diet and/or exercise induced weight-reduction resulted in a deterioration of metabolic profile in a sample of obese men (n = 58) and women (n = 49). After control for potential confounders, reductions in VAT, abdominal and lower body SAT were all associated with improvements in certain metabolic risk factors. However, only reductions in VAT and abdominal SAT remained associated with improvement in risk factors independent of changes in other AT depots. Recently, it was suggested that a large breast size among women may predict type-II diabetes risk independent of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. While the mechanism is unknown, a large breast size may predict health risk by indicating fat deposition in ectopic depots such as VAT or inter-muscular AT (IMAT). The second study investigated the independent associations between breast volume with metabolic risk and regional fat distribution in 92 overweight or obese premenopausal women. Although breast volume was not significantly associated with metabolic risk, after control for age, BMI and waist circumference level, women with the highest breast volume had approximately 1.1 and 1.3 kg more VAT and IMAT, respectively, by comparison to women with the smallest breast volume. In contrast to the metabolic benefits of weight loss among metabolically-abnormal obese (MAO) individuals, weight loss among metabolically healthy obese (MHO) individuals may be unnecessary or even harmful. In the third study, 63 MHO and 43 MAO men and women participated in an exercise or diet weight-loss intervention. In response to similar weight loss, MHO and MAO men and women showed significant improvements in insulin sensitivity. However, significant improvements in other metabolic variables (triglycerides, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, and total cholesterol) were only observed among MAO, but not MHO subjects. / Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-29 20:55:08.67

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

There is significant research evidence to demonstrate that physical activity can produce weight loss, weight maintenance and positive health effects in the overweight and obese. However, it can be difficult to get this population sufficiently active to achieve these benefits. This thesis reports on a series of studies that explore physical activity used alone and in conjunction with other weight management strategies. The primary aim was to gain a greater understanding about how weight loss and continued long term weight maintenance could be achieved. The first study was a systematic review on the dose of physical activity associated with weight loss and weight maintenance, it investigated if the current treatment dose was appropriate. The findings correlated with the recently published new CDC guidelines. In the second study, semi-structured interviews were employed to explore the attitudes and experiences of overweight and obese individuals towards weight loss and health. It was reported by participants that they prefer autonomy and personalisation to tailor weight loss and health strategies to their own lifestyles. It was also found that their knowledge base was confused and outdated. In the final study, a sample of overweight and obese adults took part in participatory action research with the aim to design and assess their own weight management programme. A multi-strategy weight management programme emerged that could be tailored to individual lifestyle. Tips and ideas were also devised to aid weight maintenance. This thesis found that the overweight and obese appeared to favour a multi-strategy weight management intervention that could be incorporated, personalised and tailored to their everyday lives. Physical activity (that was enjoyable, lifestyle or accomplished through accumulated bouts), dietary changes, education/improved knowledge base, support and weight monitoring all appeared to be important factors to aid weight management.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 23, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-59).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 10, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 160-172).