SEX- AND AGE-RELATED MORTALITY PROFILES DURING FAMINE: TESTING THE ‘BODY FAT’ HYPOTHESIS

2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 823-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN R. SPEAKMAN

SummaryDuring famines females generally have a mortality advantage relative to males, and the highest levels of mortality occur in the very young and the elderly. One popular hypothesis is that the sex differential in mortality may reflect the greater body fatness combined with lower metabolism of females, which may also underpin the age-related patterns of mortality among adults. This study evaluated the ‘body fat’ hypothesis using a previously published and validated mathematical model of survival during total starvation. The model shows that at a given body weight females would indeed be expected to survive considerably longer than males in the absence of food. At a mass of 70 kg for example a female aged 30 would survive for 144 days compared with life expectancy of only 95 days for a male of the same age and weight. This effect is contributed to by both the higher body fatness and lower metabolism of the females at a given body weight. However, females are generally smaller than males and in addition to a sex effect there was also a major effect of body size – heavier individuals survive longer. When this body size effect was removed by considering survival in relation to BMI the sex effect was much reduced, and could be offset by a relatively small difference in pre-famine BMI between the sexes. Nevertheless, combining these predictions with observed mean BMIs of males and females across 48 countries at the low end of the obesity spectrum suggests that in the complete absence of food females would survive on average about 40% longer (range 6 to 64.5%) than males. The energy balance model also predicted that older adult individuals should survive much longer than younger adult individuals, by virtue of their lower resting metabolic rates and lower activity levels. Observations of the female survival advantage in multiple famines span a much wider range than the model prediction (5% to 210%). This suggests in some famines body fatness may be a significant factor influencing the mortality differential between the sexes, but in other famines other factors are likely to be more important. Moreover, the pattern of mortality in relation to age is completely opposite that predicted. These data emphasize the complex nature of famine mortality and suggest that a simple model of energy utilization alone is inadequate to explain the major aspects of this phenomenon.

1969 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary W. Marshall ◽  
Barbara P. Smith ◽  
Arvid W. Munson ◽  
Richard P. Lahmanhn

1. Individual body fat and body measurements such as lengths, girths and selected skinfold thicknesses were determined in our laboratory strain (BHE), a highly inbred strain (IN) of BHE rats and in a strain of Wistar rats. Measurements were made on unconscious rats in less than 5 min per rat just before autopsy; body fat content was determined in individual rats of both sexes at 50, 100 and 300 days of age.2. Among the strains, mean total body fat was highest in BHE rats at each age; IN rats of similar average body size were leanest. Statistically significant differences in body fat among the strains were due primarily to differences among the male rats at 300 days. Total protein and skeletal mass increased with increases in age and body size, as did body fat in rats after maturity. IN rats had the largest fat-free weights. Although significant age differences in body fat and body measurements occurred, they were in part dependent upon changes in body- weight, sex and strain of the animals. Female rats had more fat per unit body-weight than males at each age studied. Females, though fatter than males, had smaller skinfold thicknesses, indi- cating that female fat increases are primarily in visceral fat.3. Large variation in fat among individuals within strains of the same body-weight and age suggests a genetic influence in fat potential in rats not associated with age or body-weight.4. Results from multiple regression analyses showed differences among adjusted means and partial regression coefficients due to strain and sex of the animals. Although final body-weight was the predictor common to all equations, body length, abdominal girth and subscapular skinfold were common to all but one set of equations. Chest girth, tibia length, triceps and abdominal skinfolds decreased in frequency of appearance in that order. Some of the measurements were more effective predictors at one age than at another. It was clearly necessary to take into account body dimensions other than weight to obtain an optimal prediction of body fat.5. Differences in characteristics of the rats support the concept of genetic influences in fat deposition in individuals and indicate the complex nature of these influences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1270-1277
Author(s):  
Hiba F. Al-Sayyed ◽  
Hamed R. Takruri ◽  
Nawal A. Bakir ◽  
Dima H. Takruri

Background : Female menstrual changes in hormone concentration influence appetite and eating behavior. As well, eating pattern has some influences on menstrual hormonal status. Feeding date palm fruit has been found in our previous report to affect menstrual hormones and some menstrual parameters. Objective: The aim of this research is to study the effect of feeding dates on energy, macronutrient, and fiber intakes, body weight, and body fat%. Additionally, this study aims to find any correlation between menstrual hormone concentration and the above-mentioned parameters. Methods: A convenient sample (n=37) of not-sexually active females aged 20-30 were divided into two groups; one group (dates group) was fed 7 dates and the other served as a control group. The participants of the control group were exposed to the same experimental conditions except for eating dates. Throughout the feeding trial, the volunteers filled a 3-day food record; one menses day and two non-menses days. Results: There was a significant effect of the menstrual status-feeding duration interaction in terms of protein and fat intakes. Additionally, menstrual status, as well as feeding duration, affected energy and macronutrient intakes significantly. Furthermore, feeding duration affected fiber intake significantly. Despite the above-mentioned differences in energy and macronutrient intakes, these effects didn’t affect the body weight and body mass index of the study participants, neither their body fat%. Moreover, we have found significant correlations between nutrient intakes and menstrual hormone concentration. Conclusion : Feeding dates affected energy, macronutrient, and fiber intakes significantly. These effects were related to the changes in menstrual hormone concentration.


1971 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. HUGHES ◽  
R. GAYMER ◽  
MARGARET MOORE ◽  
A. J. WOAKES

1. The O2 consumption and CO2 release of nine giant tortoises Testudo gigantea (weight range 118 g-35·5 kg) were measured at a temperature of about 25·5°C. Four European tortoises Testudo hermanni (weight range 640 g-2·16 kg) were also used. The mean RQ values obtained were 1·01 for T. gigantea and 0·97 for T. hermanni. These values were not influenced by activity or size. 2. The data was analysed by plotting log/log regression lines relating body weight to O2 consumption. Both maximum and minimum metabolic rates recorded for each individual T. gigantea showed a negative correlation with body weight. For active rates the relation was O2 consumption = 140·8W0·97, whereas for inactive animals O2 consumption = 45·47W0·82. 3. The maximum rates were obtained from animals that were observed to be active in the respirometer and the minimum rates from animals that remained quiet throughout. The scope for activity increased with body size, being 82 ml/kg/h for animals of 100 g and 103 ml/kg/h for 100 kg animals. The corresponding ratio between maximum and minimum rates increases from about 2 to 6 for the same weight range. 4. Values for metabolic rate in T. hermanni seem to be rather lower than in T. gigantea. Analysis of the relative proportion of the shell and other organs indicates that the shell forms about 31% of the body weight in adult T. hermanni but only about 18% in T. gigantea of similar size. The shell is not appreciably heavier in adult T. gigantea (about 20%). 5. Data obtained for inactive animals is in good agreement with results of other workers using lizards and snakes. Previous evidence suggesting that chelonians show no reduction in metabolic rate with increasing size is not considered to conflict with data obtained in the present work.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu_an Zhang ◽  
Zijie Sun ◽  
Chen Zhang ◽  
Shujun Yin ◽  
Wenzhi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract In stock farming, the body size parameters and weight of yaks can reasonably reflect the growth and development characteristics, production performance and genetic characteristics of yaks. However, it is difficult for herders to measure the body size and weight of yaks by traditional manual methods. Fortunately, with the development of edge computing, herders can use mobile devices to estimate the yak’s body size and weight. The purpose of this paper is to provide a machine vision-based yak weight estimation method for the edge equipment and establish a yak estimation comprehensive display system based on the user’s use of the edge equipment in order to maximize the convenience of herdsmen’s work. In our method, a set of yak image foreground extraction and measurement point recognition algorithm suitable for edge equipment were developed to obtain yak’s measurement point recognition image, and the ratio between body sizes was transmitted to the cloud server. Then, the body size and weight of yaks were estimated using the data mining method, and the body size estimation data were constantly displayed in the yak estimation comprehensive display system. 25 yaks in different age groups were randomly selected from the herd to perform experiments. The experimental results show that the foreground extraction method can obtain segmentation image with good boundary, and the yak measurement point recognition algorithm has good accuracy and stability. The average error between the estimated values and the actual measured values of body height, oblique length, chest depth, cross height and body weight is 1.95%, 3.11%, 4.91%, 3.35% and 7.79%, respectively. Compared with the traditional manual measurement method, the use of mobile end to estimate the body size and weight of yaks can improve the measurement efficiency, facilitate the herdsmen to breed yaks, reduce the stimulation of manual measurement on yaks, and lay a solid foundation for the fine breeding of yaks in Sanjiangyuan region.


1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Gu ◽  
W Danthanarayana

Effects of rearing conditions of larvae on the body weight and flight duration of the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), were evaluated in the laboratory. The body weight of both male and female moths at emergence decreased with increasing temperature from 15 to 28-degrees-C during larval stages; in contrast, flight duration increased with rising temperature. There was no effect of larval density on flight duration, although the body weight of moths decreased as density increased. Variation in water content of artificial diet showed a significant influence on flight duration of female moths, but not on body weight in either sex. Flight duration was different only for females when their larvae were reared on young leaves of four host plants. Female moths from larvae on Rumex crispus and Plantago lanceolata flew for significantly longer periods than those from larvae on Trifolium repens and Pyrus malus. Larvae fed on young leaves yielded adults that flew for longer periods than those fed on senescent leaves. Inconsistency in relationships between body weight and flight duration of moths with respect to influences of different environmental factors during the larval stages indicates that flight capacity is unlikely to be influenced by body size in this species.


1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Hayward

The body composition in terms of fat, water, and protein has been determined for 115 deer mice (genus Peromyscus) of six racial stocks. The changes in composition that are characteristic of seasonal extremes and that accompany laboratory acclimation are presented. The composition of the fat-free body exhibits the constancy which has been found in other mammals. Body protein averaged 22.97% and body water 69.71% of the fat-free body weight. Body fat levels are shown to vary considerably among individuals and races. The highest fat levels occurred in the desert-adapted race (P. m. sonoriensis). The importance of considering body composition in comparative studies of metabolic rate is discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu_an Zhang ◽  
Zijie Sun ◽  
Chen Zhang ◽  
Shujun Yin ◽  
Wenzhi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract In stock farming, the body size parameters and weight of yaks can reasonably reflect the growth and development characteristics, production performance and genetic characteristics of yaks. However, it is difficult for herders to measure the body size and weight of yaks by traditional manual methods. Fortunately, with the development of edge computing, herders can use mobile devices to estimate the yak’s body size and weight. The purpose of this paper is to provide a machine vision-based yak weight estimation method for the edge equipment and establish a yak estimation comprehensive display system based on the user’s use of the edge equipment in order to maximize the convenience of herdsmen’s work. In our method, a set of yak image foreground extraction and measurement point recognition algorithm suitable for edge equipment were developed to obtain yak’s measurement point recognition image, and the ratio between body sizes was transmitted to the cloud server. Then, the body size and weight of yaks were estimated using the data mining method, and the body size estimation data were constantly displayed in the yak estimation comprehensive display system. 25 yaks in different age groups were randomly selected from the herd to perform experiments. The experimental results show that the foreground extraction method can obtain segmentation image with good boundary, and the yak measurement point recognition algorithm has good accuracy and stability. The average error between the estimated values and the actual measured values of body height, oblique length, chest depth, cross height and body weight is 1.95%, 3.11%, 4.91%, 3.35% and 7.79%, respectively. Compared with the traditional manual measurement method, the use of mobile end to estimate the body size and weight of yaks can improve the measurement efficiency, facilitate the herdsmen to breed yaks, reduce the stimulation of manual measurement on yaks, and lay a solid foundation for the fine breeding of yaks in Sanjiangyuan region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Suci Eka Putri ◽  
Adelina Irmayani Lubis

Body mass index (BMI) is to monitor nutritional status adults, especially those related to deficiency and overweight. Body fat percentage can describe the risk of degenerative diseases.This study was conducted to measure the relationship between BMI and body fat percentage. Methods An analytical study was conducted to 41 male and 51 female participant from Universitas Teuku Umar. The body weight was measured using scales, whereas the body height was measured using microtoise. The body fat percentage was measured using Karada Scan. The BMI was calculated by dividing the body weight in kilogram divided by body height in meter square. Data was collected from 16-18th February 2021 and analyzed by Pearson’s correlation test. The results showed BMI underweight, normal, and overweight were 10,9, 57,6, and 31,5. High body fat percentage in men were 75,6% and in women were 35,5%. There is a relationship between the nutritional status of the women group and the body fat percentage with p-value is obtained = 0.021. Furthermore, for men, there is no relationship between nutritional status in the men group and the body fat percentage. There is a relationship between nutritional status and body fat percentage in women. Among this population, BMI can still be used to determine body fat percentage


2021 ◽  
pp. 345-352

Background. Body weight or BMI do not provide any information about the content of muscle tissue, water content, body fat and its distribution in the body. Thyroid dysfunction is associated with a change in body weight, but also its composition regardless of physical activity. Objective. The aim of the study was to compare the body composition of female patients diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease (HD) and the body composition of healthy women who have never been treated before due to thyroid diseases. Materials and methods. The study involved 47 women diagnosed with Hashimoto disease (HD) and 65 women declaring good health. Body mass and height and body composition analysis using bioelectrical impedance analysis were performed using the TANITA multi-frequency segmental body composition analyzer. Variables having a distribution similar to the normal distribution were analyzed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA), otherwise the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. Results. Women with Hashimoto disease were characterized by significantly higher values of body weight, and thus BMI index, than healthy women (respectively 73.64 kg vs. 64.36 kg, p <0.0001; 27.65 kg/m2 vs. 23.95 kg/m2, p <0.001).The problem of excess body fat in the body statistically significantly more often affected women with Hashimoto disease than healthy women (44.7% vs. 13.8%, p <0.001). Conclusions. The results regarding the weight and composition of the patients treated for thyroid disease indicate the need for further in-depth analyses. Even small abnormalities of the thyroid function in the range of reference values may result in the development of many adverse changes in the body.


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