Anorexigenic neuropeptides have the potential to decrease food intake and ameliorate obesity and its complications such as high blood glucose or high blood pressure. However, they are not able to cross the blood-brain barrier after peripheral application. Recently, we have designed and synthesized lipidized analogs of prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), which resulted in stabilization of the molecule and allowed us to apply the peptide to the periphery to achieve its central biological effect, as it was demonstrated by increased neuronal activity shown by c-Fos in particular hypothalamus nuclei. The aim of this study was to choose the effective dose in acute food intake experiments and then to characterize the subchronic effect of palmitoylated PrRP analogs in mouse and rat models of obesity and diabetes. Several animal models were used: diet-induced obese (DIO) mice (C57Bl/6J), DIO Sprague-Dawley rats, and two rat models with leptin receptor-deficiency: Zucker diabetic (ZDF) rats and spontaneously hypertensive (SHROB) rats. Consumption of a high-fat diet in DIO mice and rats increased their body weight and blood pressure. Two-week intraperitoneal treatment with palmitoylated PrRP31 lowered the food intake, body weight, and returned the blood pressure to normal levels. This treatment also improved...

The diploma thesis is focused on orthorexia nervosa in connection with OCD. Theoretical part contains introduction, diagnostic criteria and methods of measuring. Increasing attention is given to risk groups and factors, which can affect the development of both disorders. Moreover, treatment options and comparison with other mental disorders are presented. The last part of theoretical part is focused on athletes in fitness centers, which are research subjects in the practical part of the thesis. The main goal of practical part is to find out connection between orthorexia nervosa and OCD in selected group of respondents (N=203). Main research survey has quantitative design. The ORTO-15 and Obsessive - Compulsive Inventory (OCI) surveys are used. Statistical analysis shows statistically significant correlation between orthorexia symptoms and obsessive - compulsive disorder symptoms. There is not any significant correlation between orthorexia and training frequency. However, there is statistically significant correlation between orthorexia symptoms and training frequency. The results also show that the occurrence of orthorexia is not sex-linked. Interviews with some responders have been added to research survey (N = 6). The gathered data were processed open coding and presented card unloading...

The diploma thesis is focused on orthorexia nervosa in connection with OCD. Theoretical part contains introduction, diagnostic criteria and methods of measuring. Increasing attention is given to risk groups and factors, which can affect the development of both disorders. Moreover, treatment options and comparison with other mental disorders are presented. The last part of theoretical part is focused on athletes in fitness centers, which are research subjects in the practical part of the thesis. The main goal of practical part is to find out connection between orthorexia nervosa and OCD in selected group of respondents (N=203). Main research survey has quantitative design. The ORTO-15 and Obsessive - Compulsive Inventory (OCI) surveys are used. Statistical analysis shows statistically significant correlation between orthorexia symptoms and obsessive - compulsive disorder symptoms. There is not any significant correlation between orthorexia and training frequency. However, there is statistically significant correlation between orthorexia symptoms and training frequency. The results also show that the occurrence of orthorexia is not sex-linked. Interviews with some responders have been added to research survey (N = 6). The gathered data were processed open coding and presented card unloading...

The main goal of the thesis is to find out whether there is a connection between Instagram usage and a change in the perception of one's own body image, more specifically an increase in dissatisfaction with one's own physical appearance. The supporting goals are to map the individual factors arising from this dissatisfaction and to describe the solutions that Instagram users have adopted to achieve the dream appearance. Through qualitative research, specifically by analysing in-depth interviews with bloggers presenting extreme slenderness on social networks, the life stories of respondents are analysed in order to reveal how interest in body shape developed in the presence of social networks and new media. The interviews reveal the interest of Instagram users in watching and sharing photos presenting extreme slenderness and clarify their connection to eating disorders. Instead of triggering such diseases, Instagram manifests itself as a tool for maintaining and remaining in a new mental and physical condition. By publishing photographs showing a very thin body, women assure themselves of their own attractiveness, and thus also influence their self-presentation, which results in an equivalent relationship of satisfaction from slenderness and satisfaction from their self presentation.

Title: Risky eating behaviour in synchronised swimming. Objectives: The objective of this diploma thesis is to find out what is the prevalence of risky eating behaviour in synchronised swimming by means of the EAT - 26 and ORTO - 15 questionnaires. Methods: The theoretical part of the diploma thesis deals with theoretical knowledge about synchronised swimming, diagnostic criteria of eating disorders and disturbed eating behaviour as well as eating disorders in water sports. The research group consists of 133 respondents, who are further divided into two primary groups, namely the group of synchronised swimmers, which includes 72 respondents, and the control group, which includes 61 respondents. The control group is further divided into two subgroups, depending on whether the respondent is registered in a sports club or not. Standardized questionnaires EAT - 26 and ORTO - 15 were used for the research. The questionnaires were completely anonymous and in an electronic form. The results were evaluated quantitatively and processed in the form of graphs in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet editor. Results: The prevalence of risky eating behaviour when using the EAT - 26 questionnaire is lower in the group of synchronised swimmers (8.31 %) compared to the control group (24.58 %). In the control group, the...

The thesis is focused on the effect of ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonists and antagonist on food intake regulation. Ghrelin is the only known periferally produced orexigenic hormone and the only known acylated hormone. GHS-R1a agonists and antagonists could be useful in the treatment of cachexia and obesity, respectively. In the first part of the thesis, newly designed peptidic GHS-R1a agonists were characterized. The agonists were stabilized by replacing octanoylated Ser3 with a fatty acid coupled to diaminopropionic acid by a stable amide bond. Other noncoded amino acids were also incorporated. Ghrelin analogs were modified by replacing the octanoyl group with another fatty acid, incorporation of the second fatty acid or shortening the peptide chain. Most of the tested GHS-R1a agonists were found to possess high affinities for GHS-R1a (Ki = 10-9 - 10-10 nM) and to activate signaling pathways of ghrelin. After subcutaneous (SC) administration to mice, agonists showed significant and prolonged orexigenic effect. In the second part of the thesis, acute and long-term effects of pseudopeptide GHS-R1a agonist JMV1843 were tested in lean C57BL/6 mice. Acute SC administration of JMV1843 to fed mice increased food intake in a dose-dependent manner (ED50 = 1.94 mg/kg). JMV1843 was stable in blood serum in...

(in English) Nowadays various formerly silenced topics have appeared under the spotlight of public's attention: specifically, mental health awareness has put forward body image concerns as being an incentive for most lethal forms of mental distress such as eating disorders. Despite body image issues are the subject of research for various academic fields, mainly psychology, this thesis attempts to study body image from a different point of view. That is in relation to contemporary diet culture; the thesis focuses on the application of Michel Foucault's theoretical concepts of disciplinary power and "care of the self" practice on the contemporary diet culture. Hence, discovery and review of diet culture controlling mechanisms that might be later internalized by individuals will be in the scope of this work, alongside with the study of diet culture discourse reinforced by influential YouTube content creators. Mainly, the thesis is focused on how dietary practices refer to disciplinary practices, conceptualized by Foucault, while, simultaneously, act as enabling for the subject, mimicking Foucauldian "care of the self" practices. Key words: Michel Foucault, diet, diet culture, care of the self, eating disorder, self- transformation.

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of eating disorders in the school environment. The aim is to find out what preventive activities are implemented in this area at selected primary schools in Prague 8. The thesis introduces the reader to the issue of risky behavior, the work of prevention methodist, including the creation of the minimal prevention program and prevention itself. These chapters summarize the basic aspects of the professional work of prevention methodists and their multidisciplinary focus. The theoretical part of the work also includes an overview of the most common eating disorders, including possible circumstances of their origin, consequences, methods of treatment and cooperating subjects. The key part of the work is a chapter dealing with real research in a selected sample of a team of school prevention methodists. To obtain information, the method of anonymous questionnaire survey was chosen, the results of which showed the types of preventive activities implemented as well as the methods of their implementation. The questionnaire also found out the general awareness of prevention methodists on the issue of eating disorders. The results of the questionnaire survey are evaluated with respect to the theoretical part of the work. The survey showed that preventive activities in...

The main goal of the diploma thesis is to examine the issue of psycho-social contexts of eating habits and their experience in athletes. The theoretical part summarizes the findings to date on the issue of nutrition and eating disorders in athletes and possible preventive measures. The empirical part presents qualitative research on a sample of six Czech and Slovak athletes. The research is carried out through a semi-structured in-depth interview and three diagnostic questionnaires. The information obtained is processed into individual case studies and an overall summary. Due to the size of the research population and the nature of the study, it is not possible to generalize the results to the entire population of athletes. In a specific research cohort, all respondents had a negative comment related to body weight or physical appearance as a risk factor leading to nutritional problems. The main protective factor for all respondents was social support and support from their relatives. The outputs provide many recommendations for athletes, coaches and other specialists who work with athletes. Keywords psycho-social factors of eating habits, disordered eating, eating disorders in sport, female athlete triad, relative energy deficiency in sport, LMI, prevention of eating disorders in sport

This study aimed to evaluate otter predation on stocked trout and grayling. The diet composition of piscivorous Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) was studied on the stream Chotýšanka in central Bohemia using spraint (otter faeces) analysis during one winter period (90 days). Stocking took place mostly in the second half of 2005. Around 5000 hatchery-reared brown trouts (Salmo trutta m. fario) of size about 10 cm, 600 graylings (Thymallus thymallus) of the same size and 480 rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of size about 30 cm were stocked into the stream. Spraints were collected in December 2005 and January 2006. We found and identified 1531 fish in the spraints. The primary food source of otters was fish (almost 85 % of biomass). The main fish prey was small - sized, below 20 g in weight and 13 cm in length. The bulk of otter's diet consisted of less - valued species, especially the gudgeon (Gobio gobio). Other frequently consumed fish species were the European chub (Squalius cephalus), the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), the European perch (Perca fluviatilis), the brown trout and the rainbow trout. Consumption of stocked brown trout was 1,80 %, while cosumption of stocked rainbow trout was 10,90 % of biomass. Otters in this area consumed about 723 - 1446 brown trouts and 72 - 144 rainbow trouts...