FDI World Dental Federation and Unilever: a 15-year partnership
In 2005, FDI World Dental Federation joined forces with Unilever in a landmark partnership to implement oral health education programmes across the globe. Since then, the FDI‐Unilever Brush Day & Night project has had a significant impact on children worldwide, specifically through innovative programmes in schools that promote oral health education and oral disease prevention. These programmes have mostly been implemented in resource-poor settings where levels of oral disease are disproportionately high, driven in part by poor access to information and health care services among children, their families, and teachers. Poor oral health can result in pain, school absences, and decreased well-being, exacerbating the challenges already faced by disadvantaged children. In such settings, school programmes offer an effective vehicle for improving children's oral health, reaching them at an age when habits are most likely to be formed and taking advantage of existing structures to deliver information and resources to those who may not access it elsewhere. Brush Day & Night supports sustainable behaviour change
Brush Day & Night advocates twice-daily toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste as 1 of the most important habits for good oral health and overall health. For the past 15 years, the project has been teaching children how to brush their teeth and reinforcing the benefits of good oral hygiene. The project also encourages children to become community advocates and spread oral health messages to their families and friends, again demonstrating the potential of such initiatives in areas where access to care is limited.
Brush Day & Night is unique, innovative, and delivers a significant impact. Throughout their partnership, FDI and Unilever have:
•
implemented sustainable oral health education and promotion programmes worldwide; •
positively impacted the oral health of target populations; •
engaged the dental community and general public in oral health education activities; •
trained and included dentists in public health programmes; and •
contributed to national and global oral health advocacy efforts by providing hard evidence and data.
For more than a decade, the partners have observed measurable, positive effects of the partnership on the lives of children worldwide. Brush Day & Night Phase III results show promising improvements in oral health habits
Between 2014 and 2016, thanks to school programmes and World Oral Health Day (WOHD) activities in 22 countries, more than 4 million people received oral health education and prevention messages.
Throughout this 3‐year period, the Brush Day & Night Phase III expert advisors evaluated the effectiveness of the 21-day toothbrushing programme in Bangladesh, Chile, Greece, Indonesia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Turkey, and Vietnam. The results of the evaluation revealed a 25% increase in the number of schoolchildren who brushed their teeth twice a day following the first 21-day intervention. Furthermore, this improvement was observed to be generally sustained over 6-12 months. The results showed that the programme was most effective in children between the ages of 7 and 9. The potential of the project was clear: By having a real, sustained effect on toothbrushing habits, Brush Day & Night can make a significant positive impact on the oral health and well-being of children. Brush Day & Night Phase IV results reinforce positive impact on quality of life
Between 2017 and 2019, Brush Day & Night continued to implement oral health education programmes for children, running simultaneously in Indonesia and Nigeria. The programme evaluation now included clinical and well-being measures and adopted a strengthened methodology, with randomization of schools and control groups. The results of Phase IV, presented in this supplement and outlined here, build on those from Phase III, confirming the effectiveness of the programme, demonstrating how the improved behaviours and knowledge relate to improved health outcomes, and providing a solid evidence base on which to roll the programme out more broadly to the potential benefit of even more children worldwide.
In Nigeria, the evaluation showed that children who followed the school programme were 11 times more likely to have good oral hygiene after 21 days. In Indonesia, children in the intervention group had a 45% higher probability of seeing no worsening in their levels of decay. What's more, the evaluation highlighted the long-term effects of the programme: After 24 weeks, a 30% improvement in twice-daily toothbrushing behaviour persisted in children in Indonesia, and a 73% improvement was seen in the number of children using a fluoride toothpaste in Nigeria.
Importantly, the programme also looked at how improved oral health may benefit quality of life. Indeed, an essential goal of Brush Day & Night is to improve quality of life in addition to raising awareness about the importance of twice-daily toothbrushing and improving oral hygiene. Oral health, which is often a neglected health issue, can in fact have severe consequences on well-being1 and other important facets of daily life, such as school and work attendance.2 Although a longer-term study is required to fully evaluate Brush Day & Night's impact on quality of life, the project's ultimate aim is to reinforce the value of improving children's oral health to ensure they can fully enjoy life and learning. What's next? A consolidated effort to roll out Brush Day & Night more broadly
FDI and Unilever are proud to be part of this unique public-private partnership that has been proven to benefit children's oral health on a global scale. Brush Day & Night's value in improving children's oral health is well understood; now is the time to ensure that these benefits can be enjoyed by as many children as possible. The next phase of the partnership aims to implement the programme as broadly as possible in close collaboration with FDI member national dental associations and local Unilever teams. Moving forward on this successful journey, all partnership stakeholders look forward to continuing to teach children to brush their teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and instil lifelong good oral hygiene habits. Brush Day & Night will continue to engage the dental profession to achieve the partnership's goals and actively include the general public and policy makers to improve oral health worldwide. Funding
This article is published as part of a supplement sponsored by Unilever. Medical writing assistance, in the form of preparation and revision of the manuscript, as well as support of the conduct of the research, was supported financially by Unilever. Conflict of interest
Mariano Sempietro is employed by Unilever Oral Care. He reports no other conflicts of interest regarding the work under consideration for publication or relevant financial activities outside the submitted work, and no patents or copyrights. Gerhard Seeberger reports no conflicts of interest regarding the work under consideration for publication, no relevant financial activities outside the submitted work, and no patents or copyrights. References
1 M Glick, DM Williams, DK Kleinman, M Vujicic, RG Watt, RJ Weyant A new definition for oral health developed by the FDI World Dental Federation opens the door to a universal definition of oral health Int Dent J, 66 (2016), pp. 322-324
View PDFView articleCrossRefView in ScopusGoogle Scholar2 SL Jackson, WF Vann Jr., JB Kotch Impact of poor oral health on children's school attendance and performance Am J Public Health, 101 (10) (2011), pp. 1900-1906
KEYWORDS International recruitment ethical recruitment dental volunteers CONTEXT
FDI recognizes the important contribution of volunteers to socio-economic, medical, dental and intellectual developments worldwide. Their engagement in addressing disparities in health status, economic status and in bridging gaps between different populations and countries are highly valued and encouraged wherever possible. SCOPE
This FDI Policy Statement covers the principles of ethical conduct for volunteer dentists and organizations employing volunteers who are urged to adapt them to their respective context and to promote them among other volunteers and organizations.1 DEFINITION
Dental volunteer: A qualified and registered/licensed dentist who provides time and work free of charge. PRINCIPLES
To ensure that any volunteer dentist's activity related to oral health should be to evaluate and improve the oral health status of the population served within available means and to promote the availability of oral healthcare on a continuing basis through sustained activities. POLICY
FDI calls upon all stakeholders to uphold the following:
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Encourage volunteers to work in an established programme or project, i.e.one that is integrated into the host community and recognized by national governments, the national dental association or other health professional organizations. •
To provide appropriate professional indemnity for volunteers and insurance against public liability, personal loss or injury.
Proper planning, reporting and evaluation are essential for the success of a project and need to be respected. •
When establishing a new project, support and guidance by experienced colleagues or experts, preferably from the local region, should be obtained. •
Volunteer programmes should ensure appropriate follow-up arrangements are in place for any patients to receive dental treatment subsequent to emergency care and service provision. Follow-up arrangements are important aspects of volunteer activities and unrealistic expectations should not be encouraged. •
Volunteer programmes should ensure their long-term impact and sustainability, e.g. through training local personnel and the introduction of preventive measures.
Volunteer dentists are called upon:
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to be aware of the Code of Ethics for the Dental Profession2 and to apply it in every situation and every setting; •
to be ambassadors of goodwill and to represent the dental profession as a whole; •
to display professional behaviour and maintain ethical conduct; •
never to act alone, outside a known or established programme of care, or fail to notify the appropriate authorities; •
to comply with the legal requirements for the practice of dentistry in the selected jurisdiction including the holding of required qualifications; •
to consult with the local professional body or public health service prior to introducing new materials and equipment, as these may not be useful in a particular context, may not meet local or national standards, and may not be possible to maintain; •
to respect the regulations and culture of the host community; •
to refer for advice/treatment when any patients present requiring a level of competence beyond that held or in need of treatment beyond the possibilities of the volunteer service.
DISCLAIMER
The information in this Policy Statement was based on the best scientific evidence available at the time. It may be interpreted to reflect prevailing cultural sensitivities and socio-economic constraints. REFERENCES
. Accessed 26 July 2021. Google Scholar [2] W Brands, S Naidoo, S Porter, M Sereny, W van Dijk, J. Welie FDI Dental Ethics Manual 2 Quintessence Publishing, London (2018) Available from: https://www.fdiworlddental.org/resources...ethics-manual-2 Accessed 26 July 2021 Google Scholar
Ethical Recruitment of Dental Volunteers: Revised version adopted by the FDI General Assembly: 27–29 September 2021, Sydney, Australia. Original version adopted by the FDI General Assembly: 2005, Montreal, Canada
esearch article Effectiveness of an oral health promotion training program among school nurses in India Author links open overlay panel , , , , , , , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105989
Background
Schools are a valuable platform for oral health promotion and the role of school nurse is critical in promoting oral health of children. A training program was carried out to assess its effectiveness in promoting oral health among school nurses of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), one of the largest groups of central schools in India.
Methodology.
A total of 557 school nurses of Navodaya Vidyalaya schools participated in the training program. The training was delivered virtually using didactic teaching methods based on a conceptual framework. Pre and post knowledge scores were assessed for all the participants. Results
A total of 451 pre-post complete responses were received during training program, with a response rate of 81 %. There was significant improvement in the overall knowledge scores (p < 0.001) of school nurses. After the training program was completed, oral health screening and education for students was conducted by these trained nurses in coordination with teachers in their respective schools. Conclusion
The present training program was effective in addressing the gaps in oral health knowledge of the school nurses and significantly improving their oral health knowledge.
Shorter sleep duration is associated with greater visceral fat mass in US adults: Findings from NHANES, 2011-2014 Panagiotis Giannos 1 , Konstantinos Prokopidis 2 , Darren G Candow 3 , Scott C Forbes 4 , Kamil Celoch 5 , Masoud Isanejad 6 , Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan 6 , Oliver C Witard 7 , Brendan M Gabriel 8 , David Scott 9 Affiliations
PMID: 36966579 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.03.013
Free article Abstract
Habitual declines in sleep duration and increased rates of obesity are public health concerns worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests a prominent link between reduced sleep duration and weight gain. Our cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between sleep duration and body fat distribution in US adults. We extracted data for 5151 participants (2575 men and 2576 women) aged 18-59 years from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. Weekday or workday night-time sleep duration was estimated using an in-home interview questionnaire. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans were used to determine regional body fat mass (arms, legs, trunk [android and gynoid], and abdominal [subcutaneous and visceral]). Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed after adjusting for several demographic, anthropometric, and nutritional covariates. There was a significant negative association between sleep duration and visceral fat mass overall (β: -12.139, P < 0.001) and by sex (men: β: -10.096, P < 0.001; women: β: -11.545, P = 0.038), after adjusting for age, ethnicity, body mass index, total body fat mass, daily energy and alcohol intake, sleep quality and sleep disorder status. Sleep duration and visceral fat appeared to plateau at ≥ 8 h of daily sleep. Sleep duration is negatively associated with visceral fat mass accumulation during adulthood with possibly no benefits beyond 8 h of sleep per day. Mechanistic and prospective studies are required to confirm the effect of sleep duration on visceral adiposity and determine its causes.
Keywords: Body composition; Fat distribution; Obesity; Sleep duration; Visceral fat.
Habitual declines in sleep duration and increased rates of obesity are public health concerns worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests a prominent link between reduced sleep duration and weight gain. Our cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between sleep duration and body fat distribution in US adults. We extracted data for 5151 participants (2575 men and 2576 women) aged 18–59 years from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012 and 2013–2014. Weekday or workday night-time sleep duration was estimated using an in-home interview questionnaire. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans were used to determine regional body fat mass (arms, legs, trunk [android and gynoid], and abdominal [subcutaneous and visceral]). Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed after adjusting for several demographic, anthropometric, and nutritional covariates. There was a significant negative association between sleep duration and visceral fat mass overall (β: −12.139, P < 0.001) and by sex (men: β: −10.096, P < 0.001; women: β: −11.545, P = 0.038), after adjusting for age, ethnicity, body mass index, total body fat mass, daily energy and alcohol intake, sleep quality and sleep disorder status. Sleep duration and visceral fat appeared to plateau at ≥ 8 h of daily sleep. Sleep duration is negatively associated with visceral fat mass accumulation during adulthood with possibly no benefits beyond 8 h of sleep per day. Mechanistic and prospective studies are required to confirm the effect of sleep duration on visceral adiposity and determine its causes.
Previous article in issue Next article in issue Keywords Sleep duration Visceral fat Obesity Fat distribution Body composition 1. Introduction
Obesity is a global health challenge, affecting approximately 600 million adults worldwide. In the United States alone, more than two-thirds of adults are considered obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2), which contributes to substantial metabolic and financial burden [1]. Increased adiposity throughout the lifespan is linked with several metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, cardiovascular disease, and cancer [2]. The rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity may be associated with intrinsic (i.e. genetics) and extrinsic factors, including physical inactivity and over-nutrition [3]. Accumulation of adipose tissue is sex-specific and interindividual differences in body fat distribution are linked to sex hormone profiles, genetics, and epigenetic mechanisms [4].
Emerging evidence suggests that sleep deprivation may be an important regulator in metabolic health. In the United States, sleep disorders affect approximately 70 million people, a critical issue that may be manifested due to physiological, psychological, and environmental factors [5]. Sleep is regulatory for metabolic function, including immune and hormonal status [6,7]. Specifically, sleep can modulate appetite and thus plays an important role in reducing obesity [8]. Additionally, research has also demonstrated a pronounced effect of sleep regulation on body fat distribution, which may further exacerbate metabolic health [9]. Indeed, sleep disorders and insufficient sleep can alter neuroendocrine system activity, a major mediator of whole-body metabolism [10]. Interestingly, a bidirectional relationship between sleep and body weight changes has been proposed given that weight loss strategies may promote better sleep quality [11] and decrease wakefulness after sleep onset [12]. However, considering the impact sleep disruption may impose on metabolic health, the majority of research has focused on elucidating its influence on body weight regulation.
At present, a plethora of studies have explored the relationship of sleep duration with regional body fat mass, without accounting for whole-body adiposity and the concurrent effect of other regions of adipose tissue. The purpose of this observational study was to comprehensively investigate the potential association between sleep duration with regional body fat mass in US adults. 2. Methods 2.1. Study design and participants
Data from study participants aged 18–59 years were collected from two consecutive survey cycles in NHANES: 2011–2012 and 2013–2014. The cut-off age was selected based on data availability for sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep disorder status, and body fat distribution. 2.2. Sleep duration and regional body fat mass assessment
Quantity of sleep, in terms of duration during the night on weekdays or workdays, was assessed through an in-home interview questionnaire, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system. Responses ranged from 1 to 12, with 1 indicating 1 h of sleep to 12 indicating ≥12 h of sleep. Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were administered to assess regional body fat mass using Hologic Discovery model A densitometers. Regional body fat mass areas included the limbs, trunk (android and gynoid), and abdominal (subcutaneous and visceral). Fat mass was quantified in grams (g). Participants with no information on any of the above measures, were excluded from the study. 2.3. Covariates
Age (years), ethnicity (race), BMI (kg/m2), total fat mass (g), daily energy (kcal), and alcohol intake (g) were classified as covariates alongside sleep quality and sleep disorder status. These variables were considered to be potential confounders in the relationship between body fat mass and sleep duration. With the exception of total fat mass, all covariates were considered as categorical data.
Participants were categorized by age into the following groups: 18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59 years. Ethnic groups consisted of Mexican American, other Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian and other (multi) race. Energy and alcohol intake were computed through the average of the 24-h dietary recalls and categorized as low, moderate, or high. Low energy intake in men was considered <2000 kcal/d, moderate as 2000–3000 kcal/d, and high >3000 kcal/d. Low energy intake in women was considered <1600 kcal/d, moderate as 1600–2400 kcal/d, and high as > 2400 kcal/d. Low alcohol intake in men was considered <15 g/d, moderate as 15–30 g/d, and high as > 30 g/d. Low alcohol intake in women was considered <10 g/d, moderate as 10–20 g/d and high as > 20 g/d. A BMI of <18 kg/m2 was classified as low, 18–24.9 kg/m2 as moderate, and ≥25 kg/m2 as high. Sleep quality was categorized as Yes/No responses based on self-reported difficulties in sleeping as reported to a general practitioner or other health professional. Sleep disorder status was classified as a Yes/No response based on diagnosis by a doctor or other health professional. 2.4. Statistical analyses
Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between daily sleep duration and body fat mass by adipose tissue region upon adjustment of all covariates. Sleep duration was treated both as a continuous (Model 1) and as a categorical (Model 2) variable. For the categorical variable, individuals were categorized into four groups by the amount of reported daily sleep: ≤6, 7–8, 9–10 or ≥11 h. Restricted cubic splines were employed to model the non-linear and dose-response relationship between sleep duration and regional body fat mass with three knots after adjustment. Results from the multiple regression analyses were described by sleep duration as a continuous variable. Additional confirmation of the effect and of the dose-response relationship in terms of significance was established using sleep duration as a categorical variable and by assessing the subgroup effect of sex. Collinearity in terms of linear intercorrelation between the explanatory and covariate variables in the multiple regression model was assessed using the variance inflation factor. Statistical significance was established as p < 0.05. Statistical analysis was ensued using IBM SPSS Statistics v28. 3. Results 3.1. Characteristics of study population
Data for sleep duration and regional body fat mass were available for 5151 participants. Baseline characteristics of socio-demographic, anthropometric, and nutritional relevance amongst all participants are outlined in Table 1 and by sex in Tables S1 and S2. When sleep duration was considered as a continuous variable, the study cohort consisted of 5125 participants and excluded 26 individuals with a reported scores of 12 or more hours of sleep duration (Table S3). The total cohort had a mean age of 37.4 years and was composed equally based on sex (≈50%). Participants were primarily non-Hispanic white (38%) and Black (22%). Participants had an energy intake that was primarily within the recommended range of consumption (44%), with low alcohol intake (81%), and high BMI (73%). The majority of participants reported no trouble sleeping (78%) and were mainly free of any sleep disorders (85%).
Table 1. Socio-demographic, anthropometric and nutritional characteristics of all participants (n = 5151). Values are expressed as count (percentage) unless otherwise specified. Characteristics Age 18-29 1658 (32) 30-39 1153 (22) 40-49 1198 (23) 50-59 1142 (22) Sex Male 2575 (50) Female 2576 (50) Ethnicity Mexican American 698 (14) Other Hispanic 489 (10) Non-Hispanic White 1963 (38) Non-Hispanic Black 1121 (22) Non-Hispanic Asian 676 (13) Other Race - Including Multi-Racial 204 (4) Body mass index Low 72 (1) Normal 1676 (33) High 3403 (66) Energy intake Low 1809 (35) Moderate 2262 (44) High 1080 (21) Alcohol intake Low 4153 (81) Moderate 412 (8) High 586 (11) Arm fat (g) Minimum 319.4 Average 1667.1 (12) Maximum 7248.0 Leg fat (g) Minimum 574.5 Average 4890.5 Maximum 20863.1 Trunk fat (g) Minimum 2283.1 Average 12889.8 Maximum 47541.6 Abdominal fat (g) Minimum 241.4 Average 2070.4 Maximum 5893.1 Visceral fat (g) Minimum 26.8 Average 469.9 Maximum 1918.7 Subcutaneous fat (g) Minimum 111.0 Average 1600.5 Maximum 5264.6 Android fat (g) Minimum 296.6 Average 2352.1 Maximum 10626.5 Gynoid fat (g) Minimum 659.7 Average 4591.0 Maximum 16843.6 Total fat (g) Minimum 4902.0 Average 27173.9 Maximum 102288.7 Sleep duration (hr) Minimum 2.0 Average 6.8 Maximum 12.0 0–6 h 2064 (40) 7–8 h 2751 (53) 9–10 h 304 (6) 11–12+ hours 32 (1) Sleep quality Trouble sleeping 1157 (23) No trouble sleeping 3994 (78) Sleep disorder status Yes 792 (15) No 4359 (85) 3.2. Sleep duration and regional body fat mass
Sleep duration was negatively associated with visceral fat mass when expressed as a continuous (Model 1: β = −12.139, P < 0.001) and categorical (Model 2: β = −26.661, P = 0.002) variable after adjustment for all covariates (Table 2). A difference of 1 h in daily sleep duration corresponded to an increase of 12.1 g in visceral fat mass (Model 1). No associations with limb (arms: P = 0.992; legs: P = 0.074), trunk (P = 0.051) (android [P = 0.157] and gynoid [P = 0.600]), and abdominal (P = 0.166) [subcutaneous (P = 0.471)] fat mass were found following adjustment. Subgroup analysis based on sex after adjustment of covariates revealed a significant negative association between sleep duration and visceral fat mass in men (β: −10.096, P < 0.01) and women (β: −11.545, P = 0.038), even after adjustment for covariates (Table 3, Table S4). Dose-response curves indicated a linear relationship between sleep duration and visceral fat mass, following adjustment for covariates (Fig. 1). A plateau in visceral fat mass changes was observed over 8 h of sleep duration per day in the restricted cubic spline of Model 2. No signs of linear multi-intercorrelation between the effect of sleep duration against other covariates on visceral fat mass were observed (Table S5).
Table 2. Multiple linear regression analysis of the association between sleep duration and regional body fat mass after covariate adjustment of age, ethnicity, BMI, total fat mass, daily energy, and alcohol intake, sleep quality and sleep disorder status. Sleep duration was treated both as a continuous (Model 1) and as a categorical (Model 2) variable. Regional Body Fat Mass Model 1 Model 2a β P R2 β P R2 Arms 0.025 0.992 0.917 1.785 0.756 0.917 Legs −14.674 0.074 0.884 −23.537 0.194 0.884 Trunk 30.019 0.051 0.951 46.951 0.166 0.951 Abdominal 4.221 0.166 0.924 9.531 0.155 0.924 Visceral −12.139b <0.001∗∗ 0.624 −26.661b 0.002 0.624 Subcutaneous −1.777 0.471 0.926 −2.997 0.581 0.926 Android 5.888 0.157 0.919 14.172 0.122 0.919 Gynoid −3.138 0.600 0.918 −4.452 0.736 0.918
∗∗P = 0.000828.
a
Participants were categorized in to four groups by the amount of reported daily sleep: ≤6, 7–8, 9–10 or ≥11 h. b
Unstandardized simple linear regression coefficient of sleep duration against predicted visceral fat mass following multiple linear regression analysis.
Table 3. Multiple linear regression analysis of the association between sleep duration and regional body fat mass after covariate adjustment of age, ethnicity, BMI, total fat mass, daily energy, and alcohol intake, sleep quality and sleep disorder status. Sleep duration was treated both as a continuous (Model 1) and as a categorical (Model 2) variable. Visceral Fat Mass Model 1 Model 2a βb P R2 βb P R2 Men −10.096 <0.001∗∗ 0.640 −23.379 0.003 0.639 Women −11.545 0.038 0.617 −24.177 0.033 0.617
∗∗P = 0.000548.
a
Participants were categorized in to four groups by the amount of reported daily sleep: ≤6, 7–8, 9–10 or ≥11 h. b
Unstandardized simple linear regression coefficient of sleep duration against predicted visceral fat mass following multiple linear regression analysis.
Der Bierbauch ist als Risikofaktor für Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen lange bekannt. Umso wichtiger ist es, gegen das übermäßige Bauchfett, sogenanntes viszerales Fett, vorzugehen. Als Ursache für einen Bierbauch gilt neben Bewegungsmangel und ungesunder Ernährung auch schlechter Schlaf. Das bestätigte nun eine aktuelle Studie.
Dafür hat das internationale Forscherteam die Gesundheitsdaten von mehr als 5.100 Frauen und Männern aus den USA verglichen. Sie alle waren im Alter zwischen 18 und 59 Jahren und nahmen zwischen 2011 und 2014 an einer Umfrage zu ihrem Ernährungsverhalten teil (US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). Auch die Schlafdauer unter der Woche sowie am Wochenende wurde abgefragt. Wenig Schlaf erhöht das Bierbauch-Risiko
Das Ergebnis der Wissenschaftler: Wer weniger als acht Stunden am Tag schläft, hat ein höheres Risiko für mehr Bauchfett. So war bereits eine Stunde weniger Schlaf mit einer Zunahme von 12,1 Gramm viszeraler Fettmasse verbunden – sowohl bei Männern als auch bei Frauen. Mehr als acht Stunden täglich zu schlafen, scheint das Bauchfett jedoch nicht weiter zu reduzieren. Acht Stunden Schlaf ist demnach das Optimum.
Andere Lebensumstände, die das Ausmaß des Bauchfetts ebenfalls beeinflussen können, wie die Kalorienaufnahme, Alkoholkonsum oder das Alter, wurden bei der Auswertung berücksichtigt. Mittels Röntgenverfahren wurde zudem untersucht, ob sich neben dem Bauchfett auch die Fettverteilung an Armen und Beinen oder unter der Haut (sogenanntes Subkutanfett) durch die Schlafdauer verändert. Das sei jedoch nicht zu beobachten gewesen, erklären die Autoren der Studie. Ursache ist möglicherweise eine veränderte Gehirnaktivität
Warum es bei Schlafmangel gerade zu einem Anstieg des Bauchfetts kommen kann, ist möglicherwiese auf eine veränderte Gehirnaktivität zurückzuführen. Auch ein gestörtes Gleichgewicht von sogenannten Neurohormonen, also Hormonen, die von Nervenzellen zur Kommunikation genutzt werden, vermuten die Autoren der Studie als möglichen Auslöser. Weitere Studien seien jedoch nötig, um die Mechanismen gänzlich zu verstehen und den Zusammenhang eindeutig zu beweisen. Darum ist Bauchfett gefährlich
Ein wenig Fett anzulagern ist nicht schädlich. Im Gegenteil: Körperfett erfüllt wichtige Funktionen. Es isoliert gegen Kälte, polstert und schützt Organe und ist wichtiger Energielieferant in Zeiten knapper Nahrung.
Zu viel Fett, insbesondere in der Bauchregion, ist allerdings schädlich für die Gesundheit. Der Grund: Zu viel viszerales Fett produziert Entzündungsstoffe. Das kann verschiedene Folgen haben:
Erhöhtes Risiko für Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen wie Thrombose, Herzinfarkt oder Schlaganfall durch Anstieg des Blutdrucks und eine verstärkte Neigung zu Blutgerinnseln. Das Risiko für Diabetes Typ 2 und das Metabolische Syndrom steigt, weil Entzündungsstoffe und freie Fettsäuren (reaktive Bestandteile von Fetten) die Insulin-Empfindlichkeit der Zellen herabsetzen. Das führt zu dauerhaft hohen Blutzuckerwerten. Entzündungsstoffe und freie Fettsäuren gelangen über die Blutbahn in die Leber. Dort können sie die Produktion von Blutfetten beeinflussen und so zu höheren Cholesterinwerten führen. Viszerales Fettgewebe bildet appetitsteigernde Hormone, was Übergewicht weiter begünstigt.
Ein Bauchumfang ab 88 Zentimetern bei Frauen beziehungsweise 102 Zentimetern bei Männern gilt als Risikofaktor. Mehr Informationen, warum Bauchfett so gefährlich ist und wie Sie erkennen, ob Sie zur Risikogruppe gehören, finden Sie hier.
Fett verbrennen: Die beste Sportart zum Abnehmen am Bauch Risiko für viele Krankheiten: Waist-to-Height-Ratio – was sich dahinter verbirgt Wunschfigur erreichen: Schnell abnehmen am Bauch: Geht das?
Das hilft gegen Bauchfett
Um das Gesundheitsrisiko "Bierbauch" zu minimieren, muss in der Regel der Lebensstil geändert werden. Dazu gehört:
Eine gesunde und ausgewogene Ernährung mit viel frischem Obst und Gemüse, Vollkornprodukten, einem Mix aus pflanzlichen und tierischen Proteinen sowie gesunden Fetten, etwa aus Rapsöl oder Nüssen. Mehr Sport oder Bewegung im Alltag einbauen. Experten empfehlen, sich täglich 30 bis 60 Minuten zu bewegen. Das kann eine Sporteinheit im Fitnessstudio sein oder ein Spaziergang in der Mittagspause. Ausreichender Schlaf – im besten Fall acht Stunden täglich.
Auch wenn der Bierbauch also nicht nur vom Bier kommt, spielt Alkohol dennoch eine wichtige Rolle bei dessen Entstehung. Der Grund: Alkohol hat viele Kalorien und fördert den Appetit. Auf ihn zu verzichten, kann also auch dazu beitragen, übermäßiges Bauchfett zu verhindern oder zu reduzieren. Lesen Sie hier, welche Vorteile es noch auf Ihre Gesundheit hat, wenn Sie auf Alkohol verzichte
Die berufliche Chance ihres Lebens führt die Partnerin in eine weit entfernte Stadt? Ist das nicht der Anfang vom Ende der Liebe? Warum man manchmal loslassen muss, um sich fester zu halten - und was das Ganze mit Macht zu tun hat.
Die Schlussszene in Woody Allens "Manhattan" ist nur schwer anzuschauen: In dem Kultfilm von 1979 steht der schon damals mittelalte Allen in der Lobby eines New Yorker Hochhauses und hält seiner eben erst 18 gewordenen Geliebten einen Vortrag über die vermeintlichen Nachteile Londons. Dahin will Tracy (Mariel Hemingway) nämlich für ein Studiensemester ziehen, und zwar allein. Isaac (Allen) zählt auf, wen sie da alles Gefahr läuft kennenzulernen, wie sie sich verändern würde. Und immer wieder sagt er: "Ich fände es besser, wenn du nicht fährst" oder "Ich denke nicht, dass du nach London gehen solltest".
Man sieht in Tracys Gesicht, wie sie hin- und herschwankt zwischen dem Wunsch, ihre eigenen Ziele und Träume zu verfolgen und der Angst, ihren Geliebten zu verlieren - der sie, ganz nebenbei bemerkt, erst kurz zuvor noch gegen eine andere austauschen wollte. Es ist ein Riesendruck, den Isaac auf Tracy ausübt - und der statistisch gesehen eher früher als später genau zu dem Ergebnis führen wird, dass er mit allen Mitteln verhindern möchte: die Trennung.
US-Forschende haben dem Phänomen in einer Zusammenführung unterschiedlicher Studien zum Thema einen Namen gegeben, der hängengeblieben ist: Der "Manhattan-Effekt" bezeichnet die Situation, in der ein Partner aus Angst um die Beziehung den anderen in seiner Entfaltung einschränkt oder nicht genügend unterstützt und damit genau das Gegenteil bewirkt.
Warum das so ist, haben Wissenschaftler und Wissenschaftlerinnen der Unis Bamberg und Halle-Wittenberg in einem gemeinsamen Forschungsprojekt herausgefunden: "Macht spielt auch in romantischen Beziehungen eine Rolle: Das Gefühl, Entscheidungen […] bestimmen zu können, hat einen entscheidenden Einfluss auf die erlebte Qualität der Beziehung", sagt Robert Körner vom Institut für Psychologie der MLU. Am glücklichsten mit ihrer Beziehung waren von den 181 Befragten jene Paare, bei denen beide Partner über ein hohes Maß an persönlichem Machtgefühl berichteten. "Offenbar sind vor allem die subjektiv erlebte Macht und das Gefühl, frei handeln zu können, für die Beziehungsqualität bedeutsam."
Das heißt natürlich nicht, dass alle, deren Partner gerade darüber nachdenken, einen Job in einer anderen Stadt anzunehmen oder auf unbestimmte Zeit aus Gründen der Selbstfindung eine Höhle im Bayerischen Wald zu beziehen, still dabei zusehen müssen. Im Gegenteil, Kommunikation ist wie so oft der Schlüssel: Über die eigenen Ängste und Sorgen zu sprechen erzeugt Verständnis füreinander und hilft dabei, sich ins Gegenüber hineinzuversetzen. Wer das schafft, hat einen wichtigen Baustein dafür in der Hand, die Beziehung weiterzuentwickeln - und nur Beziehungen, die miteinander wachsen, haben eine Chance, dauerhaft zu bestehen. Oder, wie es Tracy in "Manhattan" formuliert: "Was sind schon sechs Monate, wenn wir uns lieben?"
Selbsterkenntnis statt Konventionen, Intuition statt Tradition. Datet die Gen Z ganz anders, als es bisher der Fall war? Welche Auswirkungen hat dieser Wunsch nach Individualität beim Dating? Wir horchten nach bei einer Person, die es aus erster Hand weiß. Nati ist Single, 23 Jahre alt, lebt in Berlin und datet vor allem über oben genannte App. 81 Prozent der Gen Z gibt an, von Gesellschaftsnormen weniger gebunden zu sein als frühere Generationen und 71 Prozent glauben, dass sie den Grundstein für eine ehrliche Beziehung legen, wenn sie sich selbst treu bleiben. Das ergab zuletzt eine Studie der Dating-App Bumble (Befragung: 2.000 Deutsche im Alter von 18-34 Jahren). https://www.watson.de/leben/nah%20dran/8...-dating-suenden
05.11.2023 13:16
