Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is an experimental psychological test that induces changes in autonomic, endocrinological and immunological activity. Two measures used to evaluate the inflammatory activity induced by this test are the interleukin 6 (IL-6), a cytokine sensitive to changes in sympathetic nervous activity, and the mean arterial pressure (MAP), a measure sensitive to changes in autonomic activity. This study had two goals: first, the study examined whether TSST increases IL-6 and MAP levels; second, pre- and post-TSST IL-6 levels were compared for participants whose IL-6 levels increased or decreased due to the TSST. Saliva samples of IL-6 and MAP were taken from 42 participants clinically healthy, without psychiatric history, and data were analysed via quantile comparisons. The results showed that TSST did not lead to an increase in sympathetic activity as indexed by IL-6. Instead, TSST led to increases in MAP. Also, there were significant differences between the IL-6 distributions of people whose IL-6 levels changed from low to high (63%) and from high to low (37%) before and after the TSST. These findings suggest that the TSST will not have the same effect on all participants; that is, individual differences can be assessed using a biomarker to identify people with specialized psychological care needs.

The assessment of eating and physical activity habits is an important step in promoting healthy behaviors among the adolescent population and is key in the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. For this purpose, reliable and valid measuring instruments are essential. In this context, the aim of this article is to present the validation of a self-report questionnaire on eating and physical activity habits among adolescents in Mexico City. In order to validate the questionnaire, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 2710 adolescents between 11 and 12 years of age, the piloting of the questionnaire was carried out in September 2022 with a focus group, and the programming of the anthropometric measurements was established with the Federal Educational Authority of CDMX, as well as the application of the questionnaire to 33 schools, with these activities being scheduled from 7 November 2022 to 3 February 2023 and having an application duration of 15–25 min for each of the groups to which it was applied; the questionnaire that was applied consists of 31 questions that refer to the frequencies, quantity, or performance of behaviors related to the frequency and type of food, type of physical activity and behaviors related to the act of eating referring to the place where it is carried out (home or away from home) and with whom it is carried out (alone or in company), and about the individual’s lifestyle. Subsequently, the reliability of the instrument was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the structure of the questionnaire. The results obtained showed that the questionnaire was adequately reliable (α = 0.778) with an eight-factor structure: four questions on mealtime frequencies, four questions on physical activity and lifestyles, six questions on the consumption of high-calorie foods, four questions on company and food consumption, four questions on the consumption of vegetables and fruits, four questions on the place of food consumption, two questions on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and three questions on the consumption of sugary drinks, plain water, and milk. In conclusion, the self-report questionnaire on eating and physical activity habits among adolescents in Mexico City is reliable, has adequate internal consistency, and can therefore be used as a useful tool for the evaluation of eating and physical activity habits in this population.

Artificial neural networks model: Neuropsychological variables and their relationship with body fat percentage in adults

Obesity is influenced by environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors; particularly genes related to the regulation of lipids and addictive behavior. Food craving (FC) is a physiological and behavioral response that triggers the intense desire to ingest food, particularly food with high energy, fat, and/or sweet content. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of FC in obese subjects and blood lipids as well as to determine the transcriptional modulation of CART, DRD2, and FTO. Method: Transverse, comparative, and randomized study including 21 obese participants (BMI, ≥30 kg/m2] and 20 normal weight participants (BMI, ≤25 kg/m2). We determined CART, DRD2, and FTO expressions; evaluated blood lipid levels; and obtained trait scores on the Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait, a multifactorial instrument validated for the Mexican population. Results: The DRD2 expression was significantly increased (p = 0.027) and the CART expression was significantly decreased (p = 0.001) in obese participants compared with normal weight participants. The FTO expression did not show significant differences. Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait showed scores of ≥72 in obese participants. Conclusions: Linear regression model analysis showed that FC is a predictor of atherogenic index (ATH), independently of BMI, and of the gene expression modulation of CART and DRD2.

Objective: To identify variables related to quality of life and sociodemographics that could explain the percentage of body fat, as well as low-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, all associated with obesity. Methods: This was a quantitative, non-experimental, convenience, and explanatory study. Participants included 320 adults with different body mass index levels, of both sexes, who were patients at the Higher School of Medicine of the National Polytechnic Institute from 2018 to 2020. We assessed and measured quality of life, lipoproteins, cholesterol, and body fat percentage. Linear regressions, categorical regressions, structural equations, and artificial neural networks were employed. Results: In the artificial neural network, the variables with the highest synaptic weight were marital status, occupation, and age; and in terms of quality of life, cognitive function, medical dependence, and physical performance. In linear models, explanatory factors included concerns, isolation, body perception, attitude towards treatment, leisure time, gender, and marital status. Conclusion: Body perception, age, medical dependence, marital status, and concerns were the input variables that explained the percentage of body fat and blood lipids related to obesity.

Existen evidencias de que la alteración de los ciclos vigilia sueño tienen una relación estrecha con un desbalance en el metabolismo y como consecuencia un aumento de grasa corporal (Escobar, Martínez-Merlos, Ángeles, & Mendoza, 2001). El objetivo del estudio fue identificar si la alteración en la cantidad y calidad del sueño está relacionada con el aumento de peso y con hábitos, pensamientos y emociones relacionados con la ingesta de alimentos. La muestra estuvo conformada por 45 personas con obesidad. A ellas se les realizaron mediciones antropométricas, se les pidió que respondieran un diario de sueño y el cuestionario de sobreingesta alimentaria. En el diario de sueño se encontró que el 60% tuvo una sensación de“algo renovado”. El total de horas promedio de sueño fue de 7. Los resultados mostraron una correlación negativa entre las horas de sueño y la baja ingesta alimentaria y la afectividad. Los resultados sugieren una relación entre menor cantidad de sueño y aumento de la ingesta alimentaria, así como del estado de ánimo negativo, que pueden conducir a una baja motivación para el cambio de hábitos alimentarios.