This review analyzes the prevalence of obesity among the adult population in the Russian Federation. The data of various studies, including large international projects (WHO MONICA 1985–1995, HAPIEE 2003–2005), all-Russian screenings (RLMS - HSE 1993, Federal monitoring of arterial hypertension 2003, ESSE-RF 2013 — present.), as well as selected regional studies. In some regions, the long-term dynamics of obesity has been studied. The history of studying the epidemiology of obesity in Russia has more than thirty years. According to the data obtained, the prevalence of obesity throughout the country remains high and continues to increase. Thus, among men, the prevalence increased from 10.8% in 1993 to 27.9% in 2017, among women — from 26.4% to 31.8%, respectively. In all regions where it was possible to assess long-term trends, the prevalence of obesity among adults increased (maximum — 48.5% in the Belgorod region). In the adult population, obesity is more common in women (maximum — 47.0% in the Novosibirsk region) than in men (maximum — 30.0% in Ivanovo and Voronezh regions). It is necessary to expand the number of regions in Russia in which studies of the prevalence of obesity are carried out, as well as to strengthen measures to combat overweight and obesity in all age groups throughout the country.

Objective: To investigate whether bright light treatment can reduce body mass in overweight subjects irrespective of their seasonal (= light) dependence. Methods: A crossover, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed between November and April in Novosibirsk, Russia (55° N). The trial comprised a 3-week in-home session of morning bright light treatment using a device of light-emitting diodes and a 3-week placebo session by means of a deactivated ion generator, separated by an off-protocol period of at least 23 days. The number of placebo and light sessions was matched with respect to season. Data were obtained from 34 overweight women, aged 20-54 years, 10 were seasonal-dependent according to the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. Weekly measures included body weight, percentage body fat by bioimpedancemetry, and subjective scores (appetite, mood, energy levels). Results: Motivation and expectation towards weight loss were similar for the two intervention sessions. With light, compared to the placebo session, weight did not reduce significantly, but percentage fat, fat mass, and appetite were significantly lower (average fat reduction 0.35 kg). The latter two results remained significant after excluding seasonal-dependent subjects from the analysis. Irrespective of the type of intervention, seasonal-dependent subjects had greater weight and fat mass changes during treatment (decline p < 0.036) or between sessions (regain p < 0.003). Photoperiod (p = 0.0041), air temperature to a lesser extent (p = 0.012), but not sunshine (p = 0.29) was associated with the weight change (greater weight reduction if the second session was in spring). Conclusion: Morning bright light treatment reduces body fat and appetite in overweight women and may be included in weight control programs.

Background. The COVID-19 lockdown has had a significant impact on mental health. Patients with eating disorders (ED) have been particularly vulnerable. Aims. (1) To explore changes in eating-related symptoms and general psychopathology during lockdown in patients with an ED from various European and Asian countries; and (2) to assess differences related to diagnostic ED subtypes, age, and geography. Methods. The sample comprised 829 participants, diagnosed with an ED according to DSM-5 criteria from specialized ED units in Europe and Asia. Participants were assessed using the COVID-19 Isolation Scale (CIES). Results. Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) experienced the highest impact on weight and ED symptoms in comparison with other ED subtypes during lockdown, whereas individuals with other specified feeding and eating disorders (OFSED) had greater deterioration in general psychological functioning than subjects with other ED subtypes. Finally, Asian and younger individuals appeared to be more resilient. Conclusions. The psychopathological changes in ED patients during the COVID-19 lockdown varied by cultural context and individual variation in age and ED diagnosis. Clinical services may need to target preventive measures and adapt therapeutic approaches for the most vulnerable patients.

The article presents the most relevant data of the world literature on the problem of iodine status. The problem of iodine deficiency still remains unresolved on the territory of the former Soviet Union (the median urinary iodine was 29.1 μg/l in Abkhazia, and almost 30% of the examined had the level of ioduria below standard values in Kazakhstan), although some countries have been successful in dealing with iodine deficiency (the median urinary iodine is 191 μg/l in Belarus, 169 μg/l in Ukraine). On the rest of the Eurasian continent, the picture is also different: among the total mass of countries with normal median urinary iodine, there are territories with both iodine deficiency (the median of ioduria ranges from 80 to 138 μg/l in the UK, the median of ioduria is 63 μg/l in France) and its excessive consumption (the median of ioduria is 330.0 μg/l in China). On the territory of America, in 2016, the elimination of iodine deficiency was announced (the median of ioduria ranged from 123 μg/l (Argentina) to 415 μg/l (Colombia)), and Haiti was the only country with a fixed iodine deficiency – 84 μg/l. Research data from different years in the following regions of the Russian Federation are presented: Moscow (the median of ioduria 67.0 μg/l), St. Petersburg (66.0–86.0 μg/l), Tyumen region (106.9 μg/l), Novosibirsk region (93.0 μg/l), Republic of Bashkortostan (70.3 μg/l), Republic of Dagestan (65.8 μg/l), Kemerovo region (90.0 μg/l), Saratov region (59.0–106.0 μg/l), Tomsk region (94 μg/l), Far Eastern region (58.0–74 μg/l), Chelyabinsk region (92.0–164.5 μg/l), Chuvash Republic (72.0 μg/l), Perm region (100.0 μg/l). Almost throughout the Russian Federation, iodine deficiency of mild severity was noted.

Aim. A validation of the Finnish diabetes risk score (FINDRISC) was conducted among the Siberian population. FINDRISC was used to study the prevalence of risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to estimate the incidence of T2DM in high-risk groups during a 10-year observation period. Materials and methods. A total of 9,360 subjects aged between 45 and 69 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional, population-based study. FINDRISC was used to group 8,050 people without diabetes according to their risk for T2DM. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results. When a cutoff point of 11 was used to identify those with diabetes, sensitivity was 76. 0% and specificity was 60. 2%. The area under the receiver operating curve for diabetes was 0. 73 (0. 73 for men and 0. 70 for women). More than one-third (31. 7%) of the adult population of Novosibirsk was estimated to have medium, high or very high risk of developing T2DM in the next 10 years. Cases of T2DM estimated to occur during the 10 years of follow-up had significantly higher incidence of risk factors such as BMI ≥30 kg/m2, waist circumference 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women and a family history of T2DM and were more likely to take drugs to lower blood pressure. Conclusion. FINDRISC provided good results in our sample, and we recommend its use in the Siberian population.

The aim of this study is to investigate the 14-year risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and develop a risk score for T2DM in the Siberian cohort. A random population sample (males/females, 45–69 years old) was examined at baseline in 2003–2005 (Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) project, n = 9360, Novosibirsk) and re-examined in 2006–2008 and 2015–2017. After excluding those with baseline T2DM, the final analysis included 7739 participants. The risk of incident T2DM during a 14-year follow-up was analysed using Cox regression. In age-adjusted models, male and female hazard ratios (HR) of incident T2DM were 5.02 (95% CI 3.62; 6.96) and 5.13 (95% CI 3.56; 7.37) for BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²; 4.38 (3.37; 5.69) and 4.70 (0.27; 6.75) for abdominal obesity (AO); 3.31 (2.65; 4.14) and 3.61 (3.06; 4.27) for fasting hyperglycaemia (FHG); 2.34 (1.58; 3.49) and 3.27 (2.50; 4.26) for high triglyceride (TG); 2.25 (1.74; 2.91) and 2.82 (2.27; 3.49) for hypertension (HT); and 1.57 (1.14; 2.16) and 1.69 (1.38; 2.07) for family history of diabetes mellitus (DM). In addition, secondary education, low physical activity (PA), and history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were also significantly associated with T2DM in females. A simple T2DM risk calculator was generated based on non-laboratory parameters. A scale with the best quality included waist circumference >95 cm, HT history, and family history of T2DM (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.71). The proposed 10-year risk score of T2DM represents a simple, non-invasive, and reliable tool for identifying individuals at a high risk of future T2DM.