Anja Bosy-Westphal

• PhD, MD
• Professor at Kiel University

Background The effects of CFTR modulators, particularly elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), on exercise capacity in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) remain unclear, with no data available on their impact within the context of an exercise intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of an exercise intervention on exercise ca...

Objective The study investigated the diurnal variance in metabolic resilience (i.e., the robustness, the recovery and re-orientation of metabolism) and metabolic flexibility in glucose and fat oxidation rates to three identical test meals. Methods Eight young, healthy subjects consumed identical liquid mixed meals three times a day (33 % of energy...

Protein-enriched ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are generally perceived as a healthy and favourable dietary choice for weight management. However, compared with low-processed foods, the consumption of UPFs has been demonstrated to result in overfeeding and gains in body weight and fat mass. Here we investigate the short-term effects of protein-enrich...

Zusammenfassung Ernährungsforschung generiert Wissen und hinterfragt dieses. Hohe Investitionen in die Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung sollten den großen gesellschaftlichen, globalen und sich krisenhaft verdichtenden Herausforderungen im 21. Jahrhundert in den Bereichen Ernährung und Lebensmittel sowie deren Beziehungen zu Gesundheit der Mens...

The health benefits of a plant-based diet may be outweighed by an increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and plant-based alternatives. This study compares diet quality (intakes of protein, saturated fatty acids, sugar, fiber, and micronutrients) and nutritional status (prevalence of low holotranscobalamin and ferritin levels) among di...

Background Fat mass (FM) and fat‐free mass (FFM) are body composition estimates commonly reported in research studies and clinical settings. Recently, fat‐free mass indexed to height (fat‐free mass index; FFMI) has been shown to be positively associated with impaired insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance. Consequently, hypertrophic resistance t...

Objective The aim was to assess ultra‐processed food (UPF) consumption, its impact on overweight and its association with weight trends from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood. Methods Long‐term UPF consumption (13.3 years) by NOVA was analysed (children/adolescents and adults, n = 182) in the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS, n = 10...

Purpose According to the ‘constrained model’, there are compensations in resting metabolic rate (RMR) at high levels of physical activity (PA). Here, we have used a standardized combat-swimmer training protocol (CST) to investigate whether changes in RMR (i) confirm the ‘constraint model’, and (ii) differ between successful participants and dropout...

Objective To compare nutritional value and aspects with environmental impact of high-protein (HP) and ‘normal-protein’ (NP) ultra-processed foods (UPF). Design 299 HP and 286 NP products were evaluated regarding aspects of nutritional value, energy density, Nutri-Score, number of additives as well as hyper-palatability and price. Environmental imp...

Background: This study investigated potential subgroups of children within the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS) for differing treatment effects for the outcome measures of overweight or obesity at 4 years. The KOPS study delivered a multicomponent school intervention to cohorts of children in Kiel but found no overall effect on the weight statu...

Application of the physical laws of energy and mass conservation at the whole-body level is not necessarily informative about causal mechanisms of weight gain and the development of obesity. The energy balance model (EBM) and the carbohydrate-insulin model (CIM) are two plausible theories, among several others, attempting to explain why obesity dev...

Wir danken Herrn Wirth für seine kritischen Anmerkungen zu unserem Artikel. Die Diskussion hilft uns, Missverständnisse zu vermeiden und gibt uns Gelegenheit, unseren Standpunkt deutlicher zu erklären.

Plant extracts are increasingly recognized for their potential in modulating (postprandial) blood glucose levels. In this context, root extracts are of particular interest due to their high concentrations and often unique spectrum of plant bioactives. To identify new plant species with potential glucose-lowering activity, simple and robust methodol...

Obesity is fundamentally a condition where physiology and behavior of individuals meet the environment, and the emerging global obesity pandemic reflects the contribution of a wide range of cultural, societal, economic and systemic driving forces. Today, different areas of obesity research are relatively separated from each other in discrete silos,...

A profit-oriented economization of lifestyles and living environments is the basis of our prosperity, but it also influences health risks and the occurrence of diseases. Overnutrition, low physical activity, and inactivity characterize “unhealthy” lifestyles, which are promoted by a diverse range of energy-dense and processed foods, their constant...

Background Ahiflower oil from the seeds of Buglossoides arvensis is rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA) and stearidonic acid (SDA). ALA and SDA are potential precursor fatty acids for the endogenous synthesis of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are n3-long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-LC-PUFAS), in humans. Since...

This study examined the effect of exogenous ketones (KB) on oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 ), and glucose metabolism. The data were compared with the effects of endogenous ketonemia during both, a ketogenic diet or fasting. Eight healthy individuals (24.1 ±2.5 years, BMI 24.3 ±3.1 kg/m²) participated in a cross-over in...

Scope A long‐term vegan diet carries the risk of insufficient protein and micronutrient intake for older adults. However, even a short‐term (48 h) vegan diet exerts positive metabolic effects in younger adults. In this study, we investigate the feasibility and effects of a short‐term vegan challenge on metabolic and inflammatory markers in older ad...

Zusammenfassung Die Energiebilanz dient häufig zur Erklärung der Entstehung von Übergewicht sowie als Basis für konservative Therapiemaßnahmen. Dies impliziert, dass Übergewicht durch eine zu hohe Energieaufnahme und/oder einen Mangel an Bewegung erklärt ist und somit eine Verringerung der Energiezufuhr oder eine Erhöhung des Energieverbrauchs zu e...

Objective This study's objective was to develop models predicting the relative reduction in skeletal muscle (SM) mass during periods of voluntary calorie restriction (CR) and to validate model predictions in longitudinally monitored samples. Methods The model development group included healthy nonexercising adults ( n = 897) who had whole‐body SM...

A high consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) is a hallmark of Western diets that has been related to increased risk of non-communicable diseases. As an underlying mechanism, UPF may promote non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which is a key driver of metabolic impairment with extra-hepatic manifestations like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascul...

Adipositas ist ein pathophysiologischer Zustand, für den es technologische und personalisierte Lösungen gibt. Jedoch trifft dabei die Physiologie des einzelnen Menschen auf Verhalten und Umwelt. Da weder die Umwelt noch das Verhalten angemessen erfasst werden können, kann die biomedizinische Forschung allein keine universellen Erklärungen für Adipo...

Background Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a technique widely used for estimating body composition and health-related parameters. The technology is relatively simple, quick, and non-invasive, and is currently used globally in diverse settings, including private clinicians’ offices, sports and health clubs, and hospitals, and across a spec...

Research question: Do behavioral compensatory responses, such as decreases in physical activity and/or increases in sedentary time, occur as a response to a weight loss intervention? Key findings: This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial showed that no behavioral compensations occurred after the Champ4life intervention. However, an...

Whole-room indirect calorimeters (WRICs) provide accurate instruments for the measurement of respiratory exchange, energy expenditure, and macronutrient oxidation. Here, we aimed to determine the validity and reproducibility of a 7500 L WRIC for the measurement of ventilation rates and resting metabolic rate (RMR). Technical validation was performe...

Background & aims: Oral ketone supplements may mimic the beneficial effects of endogenous ketones on energy metabolism as β-hydroxybutyrate has been proposed to increase energy expenditure and improve body weight regulation. Therefore, our objective was to compare the effects of a one-day isocaloric ketogenic diet, fasting and supplementation with...

Lower bone mass in older adults may be mediated by the endocrine crosstalk between muscle, adipose tissue and bone. In 150 community-dwelling adults (59–86 years, BMI 17–37 kg/m²; 58.7% female), skeletal muscle mass index, adipose tissue and fat mass index (FMI) were determined. Levels of myokines, adipokines, osteokines, inflammation markers and i...

Adaptive thermogenesis (AT) is the mass‐independent decrease in energy expenditure (EE) in response to caloric restriction and weight loss. AT becomes manifest throughout all periods of weight loss and persists during subsequent weight maintenance. AT occurs in resting and nonresting energy expenditure as ATREE and ATNREE, respectively. ATREE appea...

Background & aims: Reference values for body composition parameters like skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) depend on age and BMI. To ensure reference intervals reflect these changes, they have traditionally been separated into groups of young adults based on sex and BMI. However, this static stratification oversimplifies the dynamic and gradual cha...

Sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, frailty, and cachexia have in common skeletal muscle (SM) as a main component of their pathophysiology. The reference method for SM mass measurement is whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) appendicular lean mass (ALM) serves as an affordable and practical SM sur...

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) launched the Sarcopenic Obesity Global Leadership Initiative (SOGLI) to reach expert consensus on a definition and diagnostic criteria for Sarcopenic Obesity (SO). The present paper describes the proceeding of the Sarcopen...

The use of indirect calorimetry to measure resting energy expenditure (mREE) is widely recommended as opposed to calculating REE (cREE) by predictive equations (PE). The aim of this study was to compare mREE with cREE in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients aged ≥ 75 years and a healthy control group matched by age, gender and body mass...

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the prevalence of which is rapidly rising due to an aging world population and westernization of lifestyles, are expected to put a strong socioeconomic burden on health systems worldwide. Clinical trials of therapies against PD and AD have only shown limited success s...

Background In humans, it is unclear how different estimates of energy balance (EB) compare with each other and whether the resulting changes in body weight (bw) and body composition (BC) are predictable and reproducible. Methods This is a secondary data analysis of effects of sequential 7d over- (OF), 21d under- (UF) and 14d refeeding (RF) on EB....

Due to the aging of the world population and westernization of lifestyles, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is rapidly rising and is expected to put a strong socioeconomic burden on health systems worldwide. Due to the limited success of clinical trials of therapies against n...

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate two new whole-room indirfect calorimeters according to Room Indirect Calorimetry Operating and Reporting Standards (RICORS 1.0). Methods: For technical validation, 16 propane combustion tests were performed to determine accuracy and precision of energy expenditure (EE) and ventilation rates of oxy...

Eine an Gewinnen orientierte Ökonomisierung von Lebensstilen und Lebenswelten ist Grundlage unseres Wohlstands, sie hat aber auch Einfluss auf Gesundheitsrisiken und das Auftreten von Krankheiten. Überernährung, geringe körperliche Aktivität und Inaktivität charakterisieren „ungesunde“ Lebensstile, welche durch ein vielfältiges Angebot energiedicht...

Obesity has been associated with increased mortality in epidemiological studies. Accordingly, the current paradigm relies on body mass index (BMI) for risk stratification. Since there is a considerable interindividual variance in the BMI-associated cardiometabolic risk, a low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) related to obesity may exert a different...

PurposeThe aim of this study was (1) to assess AT through 13 different mathematical approaches and to compare their results; and (2) to understand if AT occurs after moderate WL.Methods Ninety-four participants [mean (SD); BMI, 31.1 (4.3) kg/m2; age, 43.0 (9.4) years; 34% females] underwent a 1-year lifestyle intervention (clinicaltrials.gov ID: NC...

Background: Programming of body composition during intrauterine growth may contribute to the higher risk for cardio-metabolic disease in individuals born small or large for gestational age (SGA, LGA). Compensations of intrauterine growth by catch-up or catch-down postnatal growth may lead to adverse consequences like a thin-fat phenotype. Methods...

Background Fat-free mass (FFM) has been shown to be positively associated with hunger and energy intake, an association mediated by resting metabolic rate (RMR). However, FFM comprises a heterogeneous group of tissues with distinct metabolic rates, and it remains unknown how specific high-metabolic rate organs contribute to the degree of perceived...

Background: Body mass is the primary metabolic compartment related to a vast number of clinical indices and predictions. The extent to which skeletal muscle (SM), a major body mass component, varies between people of the same sex, weight, height, and age is largely unknown. The current study aimed to explore the magnitude of muscularity variation...

Objective: This study aimed to explore the following: 1) the impact of Champ4Life’s intervention on intuitive eating and food reward; and 2) associations between changes in eating behavior and changes in body composition. Methods: A total of 94 former athletes (BMI = 31.1 [4.3] kg/m2, age = 43.0 [9.4] y, 34% female) assigned to intervention (n = 49...

Zusammenfassung Hochverarbeitete Lebensmittel sind Teil eines modernen Lebensstils und machen in Deutschland ca. 46 % der täglichen Energieaufnahme aus. Querschnitts- und Kohortenstudien belegen Assoziationen zwischen dem Verzehr hochverarbeiteter Lebensmittel und nichtübertragbaren Erkrankungen (Übergewicht, Diabetes, Krebs, Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrank...

Die Festschrift zeichnet die Entwicklung der Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel von ihrer Vorgeschichte bis zur Gegenwart nach. Gezeigt wird der Wandel der Instituts- und Forschungsstruktur ebenso wie der Weg vom einstigen Landwirtschafts- zum heutigen Bachelor- und Masterstudium der Agrar-...

Coupling energy intake (EI) to increases in energy expenditure (EE) may be adaptively, compensatorily, or maladaptively leading to weight gain. This narrative review examines if functioning of the homeostatic responses depends on the type of physiological perturbations in EE (e.g., due to exercise, sleep, temperature, or growth), or if it is influe...

Introduction: Body composition assessment is superior to the use of body mass index (BMI) to characterize the nutritional status in pediatric populations. For data interpretation, suitable reference data are needed; hence, we aimed to generate age-dependent and sex-specific body composition reference data in a larger population of children and ado...

Zusammenfassung Übergewicht betrifft mehr als 50 % der Erwachsenen in Deutschland, 20 Millionen Menschen sind adipös, zwischen 10 und 30 % haben Stoffwechsel- und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen. Diese nicht übertragbaren Krankheiten („non-communicable diseases“, NCD) sind hochanteilig durch eine der Gesundheit abträgliche Ernährung verursacht und unnö...