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Data from the First Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES), 1971-1974, were used to examine the relationship between blood pressure and the distribution of subcutaneous body fat in 5506 survey participants, ages 30-59. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds were used as approximations of peripheral and centrally located body fat. The effects of race, sex and age on the obesity-blood pressure relationship were analyzed. Subscapular skinfold was the better predictor of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in each race-sex group, sharing all of the association of triceps with blood pressure and having significant predictive power unshared by triceps. The slopes of regression of subscapular skinfolds with systolic blood pressure for each race-sex group were not significantly different. A 1 mm increase in skinfold thickness increased the predicted mean systolic blood pressure by 0.63 +/- 0.03 mmHg (F = 519). Mean diastolic blood pressure rose 0.43 +/- 0.02 mmHg per unit increase of skinfold in whites (F = 549), and 0.14 +/- 0.04 mmHg less in blacks (F = 13), indicating a significant racial difference. Age and subscapular skinfold contributed independently to the variability in blood pressure in each race-sex group. These results demonstrate that the blood pressure of middle-aged Americans is more directly associated with centrally deposited body fat. This finding is true across race and sex groups, and is independent of age.

SUMMARYThe aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not known. However, it has been suggested that CFS may be associated with underlying immune activation resulting in a Th2-type response. We measured intracellular production of interferon (IFN)-g and interleukin (IL)-2; type 1 cytokines), IL-4 (type 2) and IL-10 (regulatory) by both polyclonally stimulated and non-stimulated CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes from patients with CFS and control subjects by flow cytometry. After polyclonal activation we found evidence of a significant bias towards Th2-and Tc2-type immune responses in CFS compared to controls. In contrast, levels of IFN-g , IL-2 and IL-10-producing cells were similar in both study groups. Non-stimulated cultures revealed significantly higher levels of T cells producing IFN-g or IL-4 in CFS patients. Concluding, we show evidence for an effector memory cell bias towards type 2 responsiveness in patients with CFS, as well as ongoing type 0 immune activation in unstimulated cultures of peripheral blood cells.

Contemporary globalized food systems add new dimensions to the conceptualization of "healthy" food. The need to address biophysical, social, and environmental aspects of food systems is internationally recognized. In a survey of 265 dietetics programs, 68% of 145 educators were interested in sustainability education techniques yet felt inadequately prepared. We report on survey results and provide strategies for sustainability education (1) conceptually, as sustainable food system action goals; and (2) pedagogically, as didactic approaches to teaching that promote the sustainability goals, examples of teaching methods, and a selected reference list on sustainable food issues linked with the goals.

There is mild hypocortisolism in chronic fatigue syndrome. Whether a primary feature or secondary to other factors, hypocortisolism may be one factor contributing to the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Concern with pesticide use is a major issue for consumers. The present paper examines changes over time in consumer attitudes toward pesticide use. The study also examines the relationship between socioeconomic factors and consumer concern with pesticide use. Findings suggest that consumers were more concerned with pesticide issues in 1984 than in 1965. Concern has increased in terms of the impact of pesticides on wildlife, on farmers, and on individual health. Concern about pesticides is widespread and is not centered in any particular population group.

In this paper, we redefine the term luxus consumption to mean food waste and overconsumption leading to storage of body fat, health problems, and excess resource utilization. We develop estimates of the prevalence of luxus consumption and its environmental consequences using US food supply, agricultural, and environmental data and using procedures modeled after energetics analysis and ecological footprint analysis. Between 1983 and 2000, US food availability (food consumption including waste) increased by 18% or 600 kcal (2.51 MJ) per person. This luxus consumption required 0.36 hectares (ha) of land and fishing area per capita, 100.6 million ha for the US population, and 3.1% of total US energy consumption. Luxus consumption increased more for particular foods, such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), 22% of which was used in carbonated beverages. As an example, the luxus consumption of sweetened soda, 31.8 l per capita, used 0.8% of the US corn crop (230,555 ha of land); 33.6 million kg of nitrogen fertilizer; 175,000 kg of Atrazine herbicide; 34 million kg of nitrogen fertilizer; 2.44 trillion kcal (10.2 PJ) for production inputs and post-harvest handling; and led to 4.9 million metric tons of soil erosion. Diet soft drink luxus consumption was 43.9 l/capita. Assuming half of US soft drink luxus consumption was bottled in plastic, the energy cost for plastics would have been 2.49 trillion kcal (10.4 PJ) in 2000. Total HFCS availability above baseline in 2000 required 4.6 times the resources used for soft drinks alone. This analysis suggests the utility and applicability of the concept of luxus consumption to environmental analysis and for estimating the effects of excess food utilization. received her master's and doctoral degrees in Human Nutrition from Cornell University and is currently a faculty member in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Science, Technology, and Society Program at Pennsylvania State University. Her research and teaching focus on food ecology, food and culture, and the food system both nationally and internationally. She has published articles on obesity, energy expenditure, agriculture and food system issues, and community food security.Jeffery Sobal, PhD, earned a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently a faculty member in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. His research and teaching focus on the application of social science theories and methods to food, eating, and nutrition. He has published material on social patterns and consequences of body weight, the conceptualization of the food and nutrition system, and the process of making food choices.