To assess the association between indicators of psychosocial stress and central adiposity in adult users of the Unified Health System (SUS) from Southeast of Brazil. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 adults (20 to 59 years old) from the city of Alegre, Southeastern Brazil. The simple random sample represented the population using the public health system of the municipality. The prevalence of obesity was based on the Body Mass Index, and central adiposity (dependent variable) was measured by waist circumference in centimeters. The independent variables were the following indicators of psychosocial stress: food and nutrition insecurity (yes/no), serum cortisol (μg/dL), symptoms suggestive of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II ≥ 17 (yes/no), and altered blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg (yes/no). Univariate linear regression was performed between central adiposity and each stress indicator, and later the models were adjusted for socioeconomic, health, and lifestyle variables. All analyses were made separately by rural and urban location. The prevalence of weight excess, by the classification of the Body Mass Index ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, was 68.3% and, by waist circumference, 71.5% of individuals presented an increased risk for metabolic complications related to central adiposity. Mean waist circumference scores for the rural and urban population were 89.3 ± 12.7 cm and 92.9 ± 14.7 cm, respectively (p = 0.012). Indicators of stress that were associated with central adiposity were: cortisol in the rural population (β = -0.60; 95% CI = -1.09;-0.11) and altered blood pressure in the urban population (β = 6.66; 95% CI = 2.14;11.18). This occurred both in the raw analysis and in the models adjusted for confounding factors. Central adiposity was inversely associated with cortisol in the rural population and directly associated with higher arterial blood pressure in the urban population, suggesting a local influence on how individuals react to stress.

Resumo O glúten pode determinar a qualidade da farinha de trigo, conferindo às massas características como elasticidade e capacidade de absorver água, o que torna a elaboração de produtos de panificação isentos de glúten um desafio. Desse modo, o presente estudo buscou avaliar as características físico-químicas e sensoriais de biscoitos elaborados com ingredientes sucedâneos ao trigo, como fécula de mandioca, farinha de soja, de quinoa e de amaranto. Para a caracterização física foram determinados: peso, diâmetro, espessura, fator de expansão e volume específico. Quanto à composição química foram determinados: umidade, cinzas, proteínas, lipídios, fibras alimentares, carboidratos totais, energia, além de pH e acidez. A aceitabilidade foi determinada por meio de uma escala hedônica de nove pontos. As formulações contendo farinhas sucedâneas ao trigo apresentaram bom rendimento, maior teor de cinzas, de proteínas, de lipídios e de fibras alimentares. Também, essas apresentaram percentuais de aceitabilidade superiores a 70%, exceto para a avaliação do sabor da amostra com maior teor de soja (40 g/100g). Conclui-se que as formulações contendo farinhas sucedâneas ao trigo podem ser consideradas promissoras, disponibilizando alternativas alimentares àqueles que almejam produtos com valor nutricional superior e posicionamento único no mercado, visto que os produtos disponíveis muitas vezes possuem baixo valor nutritivo ao serem elaborados com farinhas amiláceas.

Introduction: epigenetic alterations in glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) have been associated with psychosocial stress, however, their potential role in obesity remains unclear. Objective: given the complex interplay between psychosocial stress, HPA axis dysregulation, and obesity, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between overweight status and NR3C1 DNA methylation in adults. Methods: this study was characterized as a cross-sectional analysis. Two hundred and eighty-two Brazilian adults aged between 20 and 59 years were recruited from a public primary health care service. Participants underwent an anthropometric assessment. Venous blood samples were collected and NR3C1 DNA methylation was quantified using pyrosequencing. The association between overweight and NR3C1 DNA methylation was assessed using Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation test and multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance (p<0,05). Results: the overweight group had lower DNA methylation levels than the non-overweight group for both total and CpG site-specific methylation (p <0.05 and p corrected= 0.037). Through factor analysis, two bins of CpGs were extracted, which were intercorrelated. The low methylation in these bins and in the total segment was explained by overweight status, controlled by confounding variables. Conclusion: this is one of the first studies to suggest an involvement between weight accumulation and methylation changes in NR3C1, a complex gene that encodes the glucocorticoid receptor and regulates stress responsiveness.

RESUMO As prevalências de depressão e ansiedade são elevadas entre universitários brasileiros. Este estudo avaliou a prevalência e os fatores associados aos sintomas sugestivos de depressão (SSDs) e de ansiedade (SSAs) entre servidores e estudantes de uma Universidade Federal brasileira no retorno das atividades presenciais após o isolamento social devido a pandemia de Covid-19. Utilizou-se um questionário autoaplicável, hospedado no Google Forms, com dados sociodemográficos, de hábitos de vida e acadêmicos, somado aos Inventários de Depressão e Ansiedade de Beck (BDI e BAI). Regressões de Poisson bivariadas e multivariadas investigaram os fatores associados. Dentre 354 participantes, 45,8% apresentaram SSDs e 42,4%, SSAs, enquanto entre estudantes especificamente, as respectivas prevalências foram de 52,3% e 48,8%. Apenas trabalhar e práticas de lazer ou integrativas foram fatores protetores contra SSDs e SSAs, respectivamente. Sexo feminino, menor renda, tabagismo e má qualidade de sono foram fatores de risco para ambos os transtornos. Os dados encontrados neste estudo reforçam a necessidade da busca por estratégias para tornar o ambiente universitário mais acolhedor e preparado para lidar com essa preocupante realidade. Mais estudos são necessários para identificar as variáveis acadêmicas associadas ao aumento significativo da prevalência de sintomas de depressão e ansiedade entre estudantes universitários.

There is a gap in knowledge regarding the school food environment in small-sized municipalities. Thus, this study aims to analyze the anthropometric status of schoolchildren and the school and community food environments in a small Brazilian municipality. This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and ecological study conducted in elementary schools and food retail outlets in Jerônimo Monteiro, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Anthropometric indicators were assessed using the students’ weight and height. The school food environment was analyzed by evaluating the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) menu using the IQ-COSAN index, classifying foods brought in lunchboxes and sold at schools according to the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines, and auditing food retailers outside schools using the ESAO-S and ESAO-R instruments. Food establishments were categorized according to the Locais-Nova classification and scored using the Healthy Food Store Index (HFSI) and Healthy Meal Restaurant Index (HMRI). The study included 2 schools and 266 schoolchildren (5–11 years), of whom 33.1% had excess weight. The PNAE menu was classified as “needing improvement,” and 81% of schoolchildren’s lunchboxes contained processed/ultra-processed foods. In the external food environment around schools, low levels of access to healthy foods and predominance of ultra-processed food sales were observed.