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32.6: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    90768
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    adipose
    pertaining to fat; fatty
    body mass index (BMI)
    an index for estimating obesity obtained by dividing the weight in pounds/kilograms by height in inches/meters squared, following a formula
    cholelithiasis
    the presence or formation of gallstones
    circadian rhythm
    diverse yet predictable changes in physiological variables, including sleep, appetite, temperature, and hormone secretion, over a 24-hour period
    clean eating
    eating foods that are in their natural state with no chemical additives or preservatives
    food desert
    an area where the population/community has extremely limited access to healthy, affordable food
    ghrelin
    a polypeptide secreted by the stomach that increases appetite, participates in energy homeostasis, and regulates body weight
    glucagon
    a polypeptide hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreas that increases the blood glucose level by stimulating the liver to change stored glycogen to glucose (gluconeogenesis); glucagon opposes the action of insulin and can be administered as an injection to reverse hypoglycemia
    glycemic index (GI)
    a value between 0 and 100 that measures how a specific food increases the blood level of glucose. A score at the low end of the scale (less than 55) indicates a low glycemic index food that has a slow or minimal effect on the blood glucose level; this provides consistency in blood glucose levels.
    hyperplasia
    an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in an organ or tissue with no evidence of cancer
    hypertrophy
    an increase in the size of an organ, structure, or cellular component of the body
    insulin
    a hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas; a drug principally used to control diabetes mellitus
    insulin resistance
    a missing or lack of response of the muscle, fat, or liver cells to insulin that results in impaired glucose metabolism; also known as insulin sensitivity
    leptin
    a helical peptide hormone produced by adipose tissue that acts on cells in the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and increase metabolism in response to increases in body fat storage; also involved in the onset of puberty and pancreatic insulin secretion
    leptin resistance
    a decrease in the ability of leptin to suppress appetite or increase the body’s energy use
    lipase
    an enzyme that breaks down ingested fat into fatty acids in the GI tract
    lipase inhibitor
    substances used to reduce the activity of lipases found in the GI tract
    Mediterranean diet
    a well-tolerated, palatable diet modeled on the traditional cuisines of Italy, Greece, and the islands of the Mediterranean Sea that includes fish/seafood, wine, whole vegetables, nuts, seeds, and olive oil, deriving 25%–35% of calories from fat
    metabolic syndrome
    the presence of three or more interrelated atherosclerotic risk factors: insulin resistance, elevated fasting blood glucose, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoproteins, abdominal obesity, or increased waist circumference
    nutrient-dense foods
    foods rich in vitamins and minerals vital for health without saturated fats, sugars, and sodium
    obesity
    a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher; an unhealthy accumulation of body fat
    obesity hypoventilation syndrome
    a respiratory consequence of obesity that is characterized by alveolar hypoventilation during sleep and wakefulness.
    overweight
    a body mass index between 26 and 29 kg/m2; having a weight higher than what is expected for a person’s age, sex, height, and build
    serotonin deficiency
    a lack of serotonin, a neurotransmitter and vasoconstrictor with a vital role in cellular processes of sleep–wake cycles, intestinal motility, nausea, vomiting, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and eating; deficiency may play a role in increasing depression, anxiety, mania, and other health conditions, including weight gain
    sleep apnea
    the temporary cessation of breathing during sleep
    steatosis
    fatty degeneration
    thermogenesis
    the production of heat by the mitochondria within the cells that burn calories and adipose tissue
    thermogenic foods
    foods that if eaten cause a rise in the production of body heat (burns calories and adipose tissue)
    weight bias
    negative attitudes, beliefs, judgements, stereotypes, and discriminatory acts aimed at individuals because of their weight
    weight stigma
    the negative stereotyping of people with overweight or obesity as lacking self-discipline, being lazy or sloppy, and lacking intelligence

    This page titled 32.6: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

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