Class of 2008 Abstract / Objectives: To assess the effect of treatment with placebo on weight loss in obese patients. Methods: The placebo groups from nine orlistat and three sibutramine weight loss studies, as identified from the Padwal meta-analysis, were analyzed for: weight loss in kilograms; change in BMI; type of nutrition and exercise interventions; and bias. The means and standard deviations for weight loss were entered into the Stata meta-analysis program to obtain a forest plot to determine an overall estimate of weight loss. The Potential for Methodological Bias Assessment Tool (PMBAT) was used to create a bias score for each study. Results: Overall, subjects in the placebo group lost 3.8 kg (p<0.001). Placebo subjects in the orlistat trials lost significantly more weight (4.3 kg) than did subjects in the sibutramine trials (1.1 kg, p=0.014). The subjects in the sibutramine studies did not lose a significant amount of weight (p=0.397). There were distinct differences between the sibutramine and orlistat studies with regard to nutrition and exercise interventions. The mean score on the PMBAT was 16.7 ± 3.6; and no study scored higher than 25 out of 45 total points. Conclusions: Overall subjects in the placebo group in the combined orlistat and sibutramine studies lost a significant amount of weight. Differences in study design, bias, and the Hawthorne effect may have contributed to this weight loss.

Obesity is an excess of body fat. A person is considered overweight if his/her Body Mass Index (BMI) ranges 26 - 30 kg/m². The prevalence of obesity in adult women rises significantly each decade, until it begins tapering off late in life. The years surrounding the climacteric are especially associated with weight gain, which poses a great health risk as it increases the incidence of hypertension, elevated blood lipid levels and insulin resistance. Dr Reckeweg R59® is a homoeopathically prepared complex remedy that is indicated for obesity. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of R59® weight loss treatment in women in the climacteric and menopause between the ages of 45 and 65 who are overweight or obese. The proposed study was a quantitative, double blind study. The study involved fifty female subjects between the ages of forty-five and sixty-five. The subjects were recruited using pamphlets, brochures and advertisements throughout the eastern Johannesburg district and the University of Johannesburg. Research took place at the University of Johannesburg Homoeopathy Day Centre and the East Side Medical Centre in Kensington. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of twenty-five each. Both groups received an eating plan. Group A received a placebo. Group B received R59®. Participants were required to take ten drops of the medicine three times a day for eight weeks. During the first consultation and final follow up, the subject’s vital signs, BMI and fat percentage were recorded. The participant’s body circumference measurements and weight in kilograms were recorded weekly. The participant was required to keep a simple daily diary recording what food was consumed each day. Data was analysed using the independent sample t-tests, repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and repeated measures ANOVA with between-subjects factor. From statistical evaluation, it was determined that R59® did not cause weight loss but was a factor in accelerating weight reduction. Both groups A and B experienced weight loss and size reductions. The statistics indicated that the results were statistically insignificant. / Dr. B. A. Saunders Mrs. H. L. Matthews

M.Tech. / It is estimated that 59% of South African adult women and 29% of South African adult men are overweight (Department of Health, 2004). Significant risks arise from being overweight including: elevated cholesterol and the development of cardiovascular disease which increases with a greater gain in weight (Duyff, 2006). There is a lack of sufficient evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of many of the herbal weight-loss products currently available thus indicating that more research on herbal products and their efficacy in weight-loss is required (Lenz and Hamilton, 2004). The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a herbal complex (Aloe ferox, Fucus vesiculosis, Taraxacum officinale and Trigonella foenum– graecum) as an aid in weight loss in females utilising comparative measurements of the participants’ weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage and circumferential measurements of their hips, waist, thighs, upper arms and abdomen. The study was a quantitative, double blind placebo controlled study. The study involved thirty overweight female participants (BMI 25.5 - 30 kg/m²) between the ages of twenty and thirty five. The participants were recruited by means of advertisement posters placed at the University of Johannesburg, Homoeopathy Health Centre. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of fifteen. One group received the herbal complex (Aloe ferox, Fucus vesiculosis, Taraxacum officinale and Trigonella foenum– graecum) and the other group received the placebo. Participants from both groups attended an initial interview where they were screened by means of a questionnaire and physical examination, including the measurement of their height and weight, calculation of their Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentage, as well as the circumferential measurement of their hips, waist, thighs, upper arms and abdomen. Each participant was given a weekly diary and instructed to take fifteen drops of the issued medication three times daily, after meals for the duration of the full eight week study. Participants were examined, weighed, and the measurement of their body circumference and fat percentage were recorded every second week for the duration of the eight week study. Data from each participant was collected and analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). From statistical evaluation, it was determined that the herbal complex (Aloe ferox, Fucus vesiculosis, Taraxacum officinale and Trigonella foenum– graecum) was ineffective as an aid in weight loss in females.

This short note reports the eighteenth-century account of Mademoiselle Lapaneterie, a French woman who started drinking vinegar to lose weight and died one month later. The case, which was first published by Pierre Desault in 1733, has not yet been reported by present-day behavioural scholars. Similar reports about cases in 1776 are also presented, confirming that some women were using vinegar for weight loss. Those cases can be conceived as a lesson from the past for contemporary policies against the deceptive marketing of potentially hazardous weight-loss products. / Revisión por pares

The problem of this research may be stated as a study of the relationship between successful weight reduction on the part of people involved in a group program, and the two variables of ego strength and social participation.

Farmers are limited in the amount of specialty crops they can plant, harvest and market without adequate cooling to preserve commodities before sale. A cooler available at a farm would allow the farmer to harvest his produce earlier and take it to market at a later time. Cooling available on the farm will help a farmer to harvest commodities during peak harvest times and store it for future sale at multiple farmers markets or over a period of a week or more at a farm market. A cooler will give a farmer more logistical options. An indirect-direct evaporative pad cooling can provide cooling with high humidity which is sufficient to prolong shelf life. A cool room with window air conditioning (AC) was modified by adding indirect-direct evaporative cooling. The cool room was used for comparative study of produce shelf life under AC (with CoolBot), indirect-direct evaporative cooling (EC), residential AC (RES), and farm building (FB) storage. Results showed that FB had a lower shelf life because of non-conditioned space. RES was a table in an office building with a temperature of about 22°C. For produce with medium temperature requirements such as tomato, cucumber, and green pepper the shelf life was prolonged more in the cooler room. Strawberry and blueberry had a much longer shelf life in a cooler. The shelf life of the blueberry stored at Cooler AC was longer about two and a half fold longer than Cooler EC and RES, and five and half fold longer than FB. The shelf life of the strawberry in Cooler AC was longer one-fold than Cooler EC, two and a half fold longer than RES, and five-fold longer than FB. The shelf life of green pepper stored in Cooler AC was longer fivefold than Cooler EC and nine and a half fold longer than RES and FB. The shelf life of cucumber stored at Cooler AC was longer two fold than Cooler EC and 3.3-fold longer than RES and four fold longer than FB. The shelf life of tomato stored at Cooler AC was longer 1.25-fold than Cooler EC, 1.75 fold longer than RES and two and a half fold longer than FB. Generally stored fruits and vegetables in Cooler AC was maintained quality with minimal weight loss that allows a farmer to store their produce while maintaining shelf life. Cooler EC can be used to store produce for a shorter time with higher weight loss. Finally, FB had a shorter shelf life due to the non-conditioned space.

Adult overweight and obesity is a life-threatening health concern worldwide. Bariatric surgery is a successful treatment for severely obese individuals however, there is a moderate risk for weight regain. This study evaluated perception of food, supportive resistance resources, and nutrition knowledge, which play important roles in successful weight loss post bariatric surgery. Participants completed a three-part questionnaire at three time intervals: prior to surgery, 2 months post-surgery, and 5 months post-surgery. Results show that bariatric patients’ eating behavior significantly changes post bariatric surgery, but a disordered perception of food remains. Bariatric surgery patients believe support from significant others and family are most important and physical activity will help prevent weight regain. Results indicate that bariatric patients’ nutrition knowledge decreases over time and additional nutrition education may be needed within the first-year post-surgery. More research should be conducted in the area of bariatric surgery and how to prevent weight regain.

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