We thank Drs Burns and Stensel for their interest in our work. We agree that the published articles on the delayed effect of resistance exercise (RE) on postprandial lipaemia (PL) provide controversial results. Three studies1–3 employed comparable methodologies in terms of exercise protocol and feeding plan of the subjects, that is, two to four sets of eight to eleven exercises at relatively similar intensities (about 10–12 repetitions maximum (RM)) with 1·5–2·0 min of rest between sets and a standardised meal on the night prior to the fat tolerance test. These studies reported a decrease1,3 or no change2 in the postprandial lipaemic response. A fourth study4 employed a similar RE protocol but focused on maintaining the subjects in a state of energy balance by increasing food intake up to two-fold after RE v. control on the night prior to the fat tolerance test. This study found no significant effect of RE on PL.

In the present study the relationship between the consumption of different beverage groups and body-weight status in 5 years of study participation in German adolescents was investigated. We used anthropometric and dietary data from 3 d weighed records of 244 subjects between 9 and 18 years of age participating in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study. Only subjects with at least four out of six possible weighed dietary records were considered. A repeated-measures regression model (PROC MIXED) was used to analyse the effect of beverage consumption on body-weight status. BMI standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) and body fat percentage (%BF) were chosen as the dependent variables. In boys, energetic beverage consumption was not associated with BMI-SDS or %BF, neither cross-sectionally nor prospectively. In girls, baseline consumption of energetic beverages did not predict baseline BMI-SDS, baseline %BF, or change in either variable over the study period. However, an increase in energetic beverage consumption over the study period was associated with an increase in BMI-SDS (+0.070 SDS/MJ increase in energetic beverage consumption; P = 0·01). Separate consideration of regular soft drinks and fruit juices revealed that, in girls, BMI-SDS increased with increased fruit juice consumption (+0·096 SDS/MJ increase in fruit juice consumption; P = 0·01), and to a lesser extent with regular soft drink consumption (+0·055 SDS/MJ increase in regular soft drink consumption; P = 0·08). In conclusion, these results suggest that an increase in energetic beverage consumption may result in weight gain, at least in adolescent girls.

The objective was to compare measures from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry with a reference four-compartment model to estimate fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) changes in overweight and obese women after a weight-loss programme. Forty-eight women (age 39.8 ± 5.8 years; weight 79·2 ± 11·8 kg; BMI 30·7 ± 3·6 kg/m2) were studied in an out-patient weight-loss programme, before and after the 16-month intervention. Women attended weekly meetings for the first 4 months, followed by monthly meetings from 4 to 12 months. Body composition variables were measured by the following techniques: DXA, anthropometry (waist circumference-based model; Antrform), BIA using Tanita (TBF-310) and Omron (BF300) and a reference four-compartment model. Body weight decreased significantly ( − 3·3 (sd 3·1) kg) across the intervention. At baseline and after the intervention, FM, percentage FM and FFM assessed by Antrform, Tanita, BF300 and DXA differed significantly from the reference method (P ≤ 0·001), with the exception of FFM assessed by Tanita (baseline P = 0·071 and after P = 0·007). DXA significantly overestimated the change in FM and percentage FM across weight loss ( − 4·5 v. − 3·3 kg; P < 0·001 and − 3·7 v. − 2·0 %; P < 0·001, respectively), while Antrform underestimated FM and percentage FM ( − 2·8 v. − 3·3 kg; P = 0·043 and − 1·1 v. − 2·0 %; P = 0·013) compared with the four-compartment model. Tanita and BF300 did not differ (P>0·05) from the reference model in any body composition variables. We conclude that these methods are widely used in clinical settings, but should not be applied interchangeably to detect changes in body composition. Furthermore, the several clinical methods were not accurate enough for tracking body composition changes in overweight and obese premenopausal women after a weight-loss programme.

The objective of the present study was to compare the percentage of body fat (%BF), BMI, and central fat distribution anthropometric measures as indices of obesity and to assess the respective associations with cardiovascular risk factors in young female students. Subjects were 220 healthy Greek female students. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to estimate %BF, anthropometric measurements were obtained and blood samples were analysed for CVD risk factors. Results showed that 48·6 % of students had increased adiposity, while a considerable proportion was characterised by central fat distribution irrespective of the anthropometric index used. The proportion of subjects with at least one metabolic risk factor present was 60·4 %. Although %BF was not associated with any of the CVD risk factors, waist circumference, waist:hip ratio and waist:height ratio were all associated with CVD risk factors. Higher levels of these anthropometric variables demonstrated higher prevalence of CVD risk factors. The lack of association between %BF and CVD risk factors could be attributed to the fact that females with undesirable adiposity had a tendency for the gynaecoid type of obesity. In contrast, the present results suggest that central body fat distribution in young women may reflect increased risk due to high visceral and particularly intra-abdominal fat levels. Recent epidemiological data from Greece show a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in young adults. Therefore, assessing the risk for the presence of CVD risk factors is of particular importance. Central obesity anthropometric indices seem to be valuable screening tools for young women.

Energy utilization in broilers as influenced by supplementation of enzymes containing phytase or carbohydrase activities was investigated. Day-old male broilers (480) were allocated to four slaughter groups, thirty broilers in the initial slaughter group and 150 broilers in each of the final slaughter groups on days 7, 14 and 21. Broilers in each of the final slaughter groups were allocated to five treatments in a randomized complete block design, each treatment had six replicate cages of five broilers per replicate cage. The diets were maize–soyabean based with wheat as a source of NSP. The treatments were: (1) positive control that met nutrient requirements of the day-old broiler chick; (2) negative control (NC) deficient in metabolizable energy and P; (3) NC plus phytase added at 1000 FTU/kg; (4) NC plus cocktail of xylanase, amylase and protease (XAP); and (5) NC plus phytase and XAP. Gain and gain:food were depressed (P < 0·05) in the NC diet. Phytase improved (P < 0·05) gain at all ages and gain:food at days 0–14 and days 0–21. There was improvement (P < 0·01) in net energy for production, energy retained as fat and protein from days 0 to 14 and from days 0 to 21 in phytase-supplemented diet compared with the NC diet. Net energy for production was more highly correlated with performance criteria than metabolizable energy and may be a more sensitive energy utilization response criterion to use in evaluating broiler response to enzyme supplementation.

Both in man and in animal models, changes in food intake and body composition in later life have been reported after alterations in perinatal nutrition. Therefore, we hypothesised that early postnatal undernutrition in the rat induces permanent changes in energy balance. Food restriction (FR) during lactation was achieved by enlarging litter size to twenty pups, whereas control animals were raised in litters containing ten pups. Energy intake and resting energy expenditure were determined in adult males. Early postnatal FR resulted in acute growth restriction followed by incomplete catch-up in body weight, body length and BMI. At the age of 12 months, middle-aged FR males had significantly lower absolute resting energy expenditure (200 v. 216 kJ/24 h, P = 0·009), absolute energy intake (281 v. 310 kJ/24 h, P = 0·001) and energy intake adjusted for BMI (284 v. 305 kJ/24 h, P = 0·016) than controls, whereas resting energy expenditure adjusted for BMI did not differ significantly between the groups (204 v. 211 kJ/24 h, P = 0·156). The amount of energy remaining for other functions was lower in FR males (80 v. 94 kJ/24 h, P = 0·044). Comparable data were obtained at the age of 6 months. These results indicate that in rats energy balance can be programmed by early nutrition. A low early postnatal food intake appears to programme these animals for a low energy intake and to remain slender in adult life.

The objective was to assess weight-loss maintenance in individuals who successfully completed a commercial weight-loss programme at multiple sites in the United States. A total of 699 lifetime members of Weight Watchers represented the national sample and 217 additional lifetime members served as an oversample. Lifetime members were asked to self-report their current weight 1, 2, and 5 years after they had successfully completed the programme. Additional lifetime members served as an oversample whose weights were measured. The discrepancy between reported and measured weight in the oversample was used to adjust the self-reported weights of the national sample. Seventy-one percent of participants were middle-aged or older and 95·3 % were female; their mean starting BMI was 27·6 (sd 3·6) kg/m2. The percentage of Weight Watchers lifetime members who maintained at least 5 % of their weight loss 1, 2 and 5 years after successful completion of the programme was 79·8, 71·0, and 50·0, respectively. The percentage of participants who remained below their goal weight 1, 2 and 5 years after completion of the programme was 26·5, 20·5, and 16·2, respectively. Results obtained with this group of successful Weight Watchers members are not directly comparable to those obtained with clinical samples of obese dieters because the current sample comprises only the most successful Weight Watchers participants. However, these results provide further evidence that maintenance of weight loss in those who successfully lose weight in one commercial weight-loss programme is more feasible than data from clinical populations have suggested.

Two studies were conducted to compare characteristics of consumers and non-consumers of vitamin and/or dietary supplements (study 1) and to assess the effect of a multivitamin and mineral supplementation during a weight-reducing programme (study 2). Body weight and composition, energy expenditure, and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores were compared between consumers and non-consumers of micronutrients and/or dietary supplements in the Québec Family Study (study 1). In study 2, these variables and appetite ratings (visual analogue scales) were measured in forty-five obese non-consumers of supplements randomly assigned to a double-blind 15-week energy restriction ( − 2930 kJ/d) combined with a placebo or with a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Compared with non-consumers, male consumers of vitamin and/or dietary supplements had a lower body weight (P < 0·01), fat mass (P < 0·05), BMI (P < 0·05), and a tendency for greater resting energy expenditure (P = 0·06). In women, the same differences were observed but not to a statistically significant extent. In addition, female supplements consumers had lower disinhibition and hunger scores (P < 0·05). In study 2, body weight was significantly decreased after the weight-loss intervention (P < 0·001) with no difference between treatment groups. However, fasting and postprandial appetite ratings were significantly reduced in multivitamin and mineral-supplemented women (P < 0·05). Usual vitamin and/or dietary supplements consumption and multivitamin and mineral supplementation during a weight-reducing programme seems to have an appetite-related effect in women. However, lower body weight and fat were more detectable in male than in female vitamin and/or dietary supplements consumers.

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the administration of a mixture of fibres on body weight-loss, satiety, lipid profile and glucose metabolism. We included 200 overweight or obese patients in a parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, who were randomised to receive, in the context of an energy-restricted diet for a period of 16 weeks, a mixed fibre dose (3 g Plantago ovata husk and 1 g glucomannan) twice (b.i.d. group) or three times daily (t.i.d. group) or placebo. Weight change was the primary efficacy endpoint. Satiety, dietary compliance, lipid profile, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were secondary endpoints. Weight loss tended to be higher after both doses of fibre ( − 4·52 (sd 0·56) and − 4·60 (sd 0·55) kg) than placebo ( − 0·79 (sd 0·58) kg); the differences in changes between groups were not statistically significant. Postprandial satiety increased in both fibre groups compared to the placebo. The differences between groups in LDL-cholesterol levels were significant (P = 0·03), with greater reductions in the two fibre-supplemented groups ( − 0·38 (sd 0·10) and − 0·24 (sd 0·09) mmol/l in the b.i.d. and t.i.d. groups v. − 0·06 (sd 0·09) mmol/l in placebo group). A similar pattern was observed for changes in total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol:LDL-cholesterol ratios. Interventions were well tolerated and had no effects on HDL-cholesterol, glucose and insulin concentrations, glucose tolerance or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. In conclusion, a 16-week dietary supplement of soluble fibre in overweight or obese patients was well tolerated, induced satiety and had beneficial effects on some CVD risk factors, the most important of which was a significant decrease in plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the prevalence and time trends of the subjects in a Mediterranean population meeting the criteria for weight loss treatment according to the National Institutes of Health (US) treatment algorithm proposed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Obesity Education Initiative Expert Panel. A random sample of the 25–74 year old population (n 4908) of Gerona, Spain, was examined in 1994–1995 and 1999–2000 in two independent population-based cross-sectional surveys. Cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle measures and anthropometric variables were analysed. The prevalence of subjects meeting the criteria for weight loss treatment according to the National Institutes of Health algorithm significantly increased from 46·4 to 52·9 % in men and from 35·1 to 40·4 % in women from 1995 to 2000. Stratifying this analysis for age groups revealed a significant increase among women aged 25 to 39 years and the older age group (60 to 74 years) of both genders. This increase was mainly observed in men and women with primary school education. The high prevalence of subjects meeting the criteria for weight loss treatment and the increasing secular trend is an important issue for health policy. This trend is more pronounced in older age groups and among the population with a basic educational level.

Concerning the effects of oat and barley β-glucan and molecular weight on blood lipids

Both Wood and Tosh and the editorial that accompanied the original paper raise important issues regarding the characteristics of soluble fibres that affect their efficacy in reducing cholesterol and CVD risk.