RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between excess weight (overweight and obesity) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of secondary school children in Fiji, by gender, age and ethnicity. METHODS: The study comprised 8947 children from forms 3-6 (age 12-18 years) in 18 secondary schools on Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured height and weight, and weight status was classified according to the International Obesity Task Force recommendations. HRQoL was measured by the self-report version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0. RESULTS: HRQoL was similar in children with obesity and normal weight. Generally, this was replicated when analyzed separately by gender and ethnicity, but age stratification revealed disparities. In 12-14-year-old children, obesity was associated with better HRQoL, owing to better social and school functioning and well-being, and in 15-18-year olds with poorer HRQoL, owing to worse physical, emotional and social functioning and well-being (Cohen's d 0.2-0.3). Children with a BMI in the overweight range also reported a slightly lower HRQoL than children with a BMI in the normal weight range, but although statistically significant, the size of this difference was trivial (Cohen's d <0.2). DISCUSSION: The results suggest that, overall there is no meaningful negative association between excess weight and HRQoL in secondary school children in Fiji. This is in contradiction to the negative relationship between excess weight and HRQoL shown in studies from other countries and cultures. The assumption that a large body size is associated with a lower quality of life cannot be held universally. Although a generally low HRQoL among children in Fiji may be masking or overriding the potential effect of excess weight on HRQoL, socio-economic and/or socio-cultural factors, may help to explain these relationships.
Asunto(s)
Conducta del Adolescente/psicología , Sobrepeso/psicología , Calidad de Vida , Adolescente , Conducta del Adolescente/etnología , Composición Corporal , Índice de Masa Corporal , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Características Culturales , Femenino , Fiji/epidemiología , Estado de Salud , Humanos , Masculino , Sobrepeso/epidemiología , Sobrepeso/etnología , Aptitud Física , Instituciones Académicas , Autoimagen , Autoinforme , Factores SocioeconómicosRESUMEN
Four biogenetically related benzophenones have been isolated from the Fijian Garcinia pseudoguttifera. They are: 6-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy-3,5-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzophenone (myrtiaphenone-A); 2,2-dimethyl-8-benzoyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzopy ran (myrtiaphenone-B); 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-3,5-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzophenone (vismiaphenone-C) and a new benzophenone, 2,2-dimethyl-8-benzoyl-3,7-dihydroxy-5-methoxy- 6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-3,4-dihydrobenzopyran (pseudoguttiaphenone-A). Pseudoguttiaphenone-A could be biogenetically derived from vismiaphenone-C. The major component of G. pseudoguttifera was identified as eupha-8,24-dien-3 beta-ol.
Asunto(s)
Benzofenonas/química , Plantas Medicinales/química , Benzofenonas/aislamiento & purificación , Fiji , Conformación Molecular , Estructura MolecularRESUMEN
DNA mapping studies in Fijians have enabled the identification of rearrangements and RFLPs involving the alpha-, zeta-, and gamma-globin genes. Comparisons of these data with corresponding gene markers in Polynesians and Melanesians of Papua New Guinea show considerable overlap between the three population groups. The utility of globin genes as population markers is further confirmed.
Asunto(s)
Etnicidad , Genes , Marcadores Genéticos , Globinas/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Polimorfismo de Longitud del Fragmento de Restricción , Adulto , Mapeo Cromosómico , Fiji , Humanos , Melanesia , PolinesiaRESUMEN
In June 1979, 245 Hindu and 240 Moslem women of childbearing age (14-45 yr) living in a semi-rural area north of Lautoka were tested for anemia and for iron-deficiency. Ninety-six (39%) of the 245 Hindu women and 77 (32%) of the 240 Moslem women were anemic according to World Health Organization criteria. Most of the cases of anemia were due to iron-deficiency. The prevalence of anemia did not change significantly with advancing age or increasing parity. Hookworm ova were found on examination of a single specimen of feces in 27 (14%) of 195 Hindu and 50 (24%) of 209 Moslem women. The presence of hookworm did not correlate with anemia. The red cell folate level was less than 160 micrograms/l in 117 (24%) of 478 women and the serum vitamin B12 level was less than 100 ng/l in 47 (10%) of 476 women. Subnormal levels of these vitamins did not correlate with anemia. The serum ferritin was determined to assess tissue iron stores. Two-hundred-and-twenty-four (46%) of 484 Indian women tested had serum ferritin values of less than 10 microgram/l; 400 (83%) had ferritin values of less than 26 microgram/l. The high prevalence of iron deficiency appears to be due predominantly to dietary factors.