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- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Decreased exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in obese with asthma symptoms: Data from the population study INTERGENE/ADONIX
- 2011
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In: Chest. - : Elsevier BV. - 0012-3692. ; 139:5, s. 1109-1116
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated an association between obesity and asthma. However, it is uncertain if fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), which is used as a marker of airway inflammation, and atopy are associated with BMI. The aim was to examine if obese with asthma symptoms have a different phenotype of asthma than non-obese as indicated by FENO. METHODS: The subjects (n=2187) consist of women and men, aged 25-74, living in Gothenburg, Sweden, participating in the randomly selected INTERGENE study cohort. Measurements include anthropometric measures, bioelectric impedance, FENO, pulmonary function, blood samples for IgE and questionnaires including items on respiratory symptoms. Obesity was defined as BMI≥30 kg/m(2). In this cross-sectional analysis, general linear models were used to analyse how FENO was associated with anthropometry, body composition, wheezing and atopy. RESULTS: In non-obese subjects, wheezing was associated with raised FENO and atopy, whereas, in contrast, obese with wheezing had lower FENO than obese without wheezing (16.1 v.s. 19.1 ppb, p<0.01). The prevalence of atopy was similar in both those sub-groups (25.0 v.s. 20.7%, p=0.4). Similarly, in 395 subjects (19%) who reported wheezing, FENO was negatively associated with BMI, waist-hip ratio and percentage of body fat, while no significant relationships were observed in those without respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Wheezing was significantly associated with reduced FENO in obese subjects, whereas there was a positive association between wheezing and FENO among the non-obese, indicating a possible difference in asthma phenotype, based on body weight.
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- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Eating patterns and portion size associated with obesity in a Swedish population.
- 2009
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In: Appetite. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-8304 .- 0195-6663. ; 52:1, s. 21-6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of this study was to describe the association between meal pattern and obesity. The study is based on data from the INTERGENE research programme, and the study population consists of randomly selected women and men, aged 25-74, living in the V?stra G?taland Region in Sweden. A total of 3610 were examined. Participants with measured BMI>/=30 were compared with others (BMI<30) with respect to questionnaire data on habitual meal patterns and intake of energy estimated from food frequencies and standard portions. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were adjusted for age, sex, smoking and physical activity in logistic regression models. Being obese was significantly associated with omitting breakfast, OR 1.41 (1.05-1.90), omitting lunch OR 1.31 (1.04-1.66) and eating at night OR 1.62 (1.10-2.39). Obesity was also related to significantly larger self-reported portion sizes of main meals. No statistically significant relationship with intake of total energy was revealed. Thus, the results indicate that examination of meal patterns and portion sizes might tell us more about obesogenic food patterns than traditional nutrient analyses of food frequencies. Being obese was associated with a meal pattern shifted to later in the day and significantly larger self-reported portions of main meals.
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- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Food patterns and cardiovascular disease risk factors: the Swedish INTERGENE research program.
- 2008
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In: The American journal of clinical nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9165 .- 1938-3207. ; 88:2, s. 289-97
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Analyzing the impact of the intake of many foods simultaneously provides additional knowledge about analyses of nutrients and might make it easier to implement recommendations for the public. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine food patterns in a Swedish population and determine how they are related to metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: The study is based on data from the INTERGENE population study of women and men aged 25-74 y in western Sweden. Dietary patterns were identified with cluster analysis of 93 food frequencies reported by 3452 participants. Associations with features of the metabolic syndrome, including blood lipids, blood pressure, and anthropometric measures, were analyzed. RESULTS: Five distinct food patterns were identified, of which one was interpreted as a "healthy" reference pattern. This healthy cluster was distinguished by more frequent consumption of high-fiber and low-fat foods and lower consumption of products rich in fat and sugar. The 4 other clusters differed significantly from the reference cluster with respect to prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors and the metabolic syndrome. For example, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly higher in a cluster characterized by high consumption of energy-dense drinks and white bread and low consumption of fruit and vegetables (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to distinguish food patterns that are related to obesity and obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk factors in contrast with a more healthy pattern conforming with current dietary guidelines. Thus, the results indicate no reason for questioning the current recommendations.
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- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Normal weight adiposity in a Swedish population: how well is cardiovascular risk associated with excess body fat captured by BMI?
- 2015
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In: Obesity Science & Practice. - : Wiley. - 2055-2238. ; 1:1, s. 50-58
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective The aim of this study was to examine how well body mass index (BMI) reflects cardiovascular risk associated with excess adiposity in a Swedish population by examining the association between body fat, BMI and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods A total of 3,010 adults participated. Normal weight adiposity was defined as the combination of BMI<25 kg/m2 and percentage body fat ≥35% for women and ≥25% for men. Associations with blood pressure, blood lipids, apolipoproteins and C-reactive protein were analysed in age-adjusted regression models. Results The majority of the individuals with overweight and obesity were correctly classified to adiposity, while a wide range of body fat was observed among the normal weight subjects. In total, 9% of the participants were categorised as normal weight with adiposity. Compared with the normal weight leanness group, participants with normal weight adiposity had higher levels of serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, apolipoptotein B and the apolipoprotein B/A-I ratio. In normal weight men, adiposity was also associated with higher blood pressure and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions Higher percentage of body fat was associated with less favourable risk factor profile even in subjects who were normal weight. Thus, it might be relevant to screen for metabolic risk factors in the upper end of the normal weight category.
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- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Perceptions and reasons for choice of fat- and fibre-containing foods by Swedish schoolchildren
- 2003
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In: Appetite. ; 40, s. 61-67
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Department of Home Economics, Göteborg University, Box 122 04, SE 402 42, Göteborg, Sweden. christina.berg@ped.gu.se This study investigated schoolchildren's breakfast choices focusing on their reported usual intake and perceptions of fat-reduced or fibre-enriched alternatives. A total of 184 eleven- to fifteen-year-old were asked to participate, and 181 completed the study. Using pictures of food items, the children were instructed to reproduce their usual breakfast, and then breakfasts that would be: healthy, tasty, consumed by their parents, or approved by their parents. Participants' usual breakfast included breads and breakfast cereals containing a higher fibre content than that of the breakfast reported as most palatable. Their usual breakfast also contained products with less fibre than was the case for their healthy or perceived parental norm breakfasts. This may be interpreted as evidence that high-fibre bread and breakfast cereals are perceived as healthy but that consumption of these products is limited by palatability. In contrast to the ambivalence towards cereal products, corresponding disagreements between breakfasts were not observed for milk, and only a small systematic disagreement was observed for spread. Thus, the majority consumed the kind of milk and spread perceived as being healthy, tasty and parentally sanctioned despite the fact that full-fat products were frequently consumed. In conclusion, the results suggest that taste may be a barrier to consumption of high-fibre products, while consumption of low-fat products appears to be impeded by health beliefs. PMID: 12631506 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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- Berg, Christina, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Relation between breakfast food choices and knowledge of dietary fat and fiber among Swedish schoolchildren.
- 2002
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In: The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. - 1054-139X. ; 31:2, s. 199-207
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: To investigate dietary knowledge and beliefs of schoolchildren, in relationship to breakfast choices, with specific attention to fat and fiber content. METHODS: Food choice and perceptions were studied by interviews using the "stacking box methodology". Youth (n = 181) aged 11-15 years were instructed to select food items among photographs of breakfast foods. In addition to choosing their own typical breakfasts, they were asked to exchange foods in hypothetical breakfasts to create meals with less fat and more fiber. The interview also dealt with recent changes in breakfast habits, and perceptions of healthy breakfasts, dietary fat, and foods rich in fiber. Data were analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Knowledge concerning sources and health attributes of dietary fiber was associated with usual consumption of bread and breakfast cereals rich in fiber. In a similar way, a positive attitude toward limited fat intake predicted consumption of reduced-fat milk products. However, no association was observed between food choices and knowledge of a food-packaging symbol indicating low-fat and fiber-enriched foods. CONCLUSION: Lack of awareness of, and knowledge about, healthy eating may be important barriers to the development of health promoting food habits by schoolchildren.
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