Magdalena Zielińska

Background/Objectives: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders in primary care. The global lifetime prevalence of GAD is estimated at 3.7%, ranging from 1.6% in low-income countries to 5.0% in high-income countries, underscoring its widespread impact. Given the frequent co-occurrence of GAD with obesity, this association has important clinical implications, particularly for screening, prevention, and treatment strategies. The aim of this review is to identify potential biological mechanisms linking obesity and GAD, summarize the current state of knowledge in this area, and highlight existing research gaps, as well as directions for future research. Methods: This narrative review is based on the literature published between 2015 and 2025 concerning the co-occurrence of GAD and obesity, with a focus on potential shared mechanisms including HPA axis dysregulation, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, gut–brain axis and microbiota dysbiosis, sleep disturbance, and maladaptive eating behaviors. Results/Conclusions: A growing body of evidence suggests an important, albeit still ambiguously defined, relationship between obesity and GAD. GAD and obesity may reinforce each other, leading to a mutually reinforcing relationship. Despite growing interest, high-quality prospective and interventional studies focusing specifically on GAD are lacking. A potentially effective therapeutic approach should be integrated and multidisciplinary, combining psychological, pharmacological, and lifestyle interventions. It may also be beneficial for clinicians to consider routine assessment of anxiety in patients with obesity and, conversely, to monitor metabolic risk in individuals with GAD. Such an approach, targeting both mental and metabolic domains, holds promise for improving outcomes.

Background: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide is one of the most serious public health challenges, reaching epidemic proportions. Excessive body weight is often accompanied by metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidaemia and hypertension—collectively known as metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify predictors of metabolic syndrome in women using logistic regression analysis based on selected sociodemographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle variables. Methods: The study included 250 women aged 23–85 recruited in the Podkarpackie region of Poland. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and smoking status were collected via a questionnaire. Physical activity and sedentary behaviours were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Fasting capillary blood samples and blood pressure measurements were obtained by qualified medical staff in accordance with standard procedures. Results: Obesity was strongly associated with metabolic syndrome components, particularly abnormal blood pressure (66.3%) and fasting glucose (64%), both of which were statistically significant (p < 0.01). Age was a significant predictor of metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.06; p < 0.01) and its components, including hypertension, dysglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Waist-to-hip ratio was strongly linked to metabolic syndrome (OR = 356.97; p < 0.01) and obesity (OR = 5.89 × 10³⁰; p < 0.001); however, these exceptionally high values should be interpreted with caution, as they may reflect statistical artifacts due to model instability or sample characteristics, rather than a meaningful or generalizable association. Higher body fat mass was associated with an increased risk of obesity, hypertension and dysglycaemia (OR = 1.42, 1.06 and 1.06 respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusions: These results emphasise the significant role of obesity as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome in women, highlighting the need for personalised preventive strategies that consider lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, such as targeted health education, promotion of physical activity, and dietary counselling adapted to the needs of women at risk.

Background/Objectives: Nurses play a vital role in healthcare, yet their demanding working conditions, including long hours, shift work, and stress, can negatively impact health behaviors. In Poland, empirical data on nurses’ eating habits and body composition remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate body composition and dietary habits among nurses, and to identify significant relationships and associations between these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 460 Polish nurses. The mean age of the respondents was 45.07 years (SD ± 11.98). Body composition was assessed using the Tanita MC-780 PLUS MA analyzer, and eating behaviors were measured with the standardized My Eating Habits questionnaire (MEH). Advanced statistical analyses including k-means clustering, ANOVA, chi-square tests, Spearman’s correlation, ROC curves, decision tree modeling, and heatmap visualization were used to identify associations. Results: The MEH scores among nurses indicated average eating behavior. However, excess body fat, overweight/obesity, shift work, and holding multiple jobs were significantly associated with emotional overeating, habitual overeating, and restrictive eating. Decision tree analysis identified Body Mass Index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM) and comorbidities as key predictors of problematic eating patterns. Interaction effects showed that shift work combined with higher BMI further increased the risk of maladaptive behaviors. Heatmaps confirmed the strongest MEH scores in participants with elevated BMI and FFM. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for targeted workplace interventions promoting healthy eating and weight control among nurses. Recognizing risk factors such as excess weight or multiple job holding can aid in designing effective prevention and health promotion strategies tailored to healthcare professionals.

The role of soy isoflavones, which are an example of functional food, is increasingly emphasised in the context of multiple diseases, including those related to fertility. One of the most common causes of female infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which, in addition to hormonal disorders, is usually accompanied by metabolic and systemic disorders. Soy isoflavones may be helpful in treating conditions such as insulin resistance, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and intestinal dysbiosis. The current article is a narrative review aimed at summarizing the available scientific reports on the impact of soy isoflavones on endocrine and metabolic mechanisms in women with PCOS. Despite the limitations, current scientific evidence suggests that soy isoflavones can significantly contribute to lowering metabolic risk and affect hormonal balance in women with PCOS. Promising results have come from studies on PCOS and the gut microbiota, where a bidirectional relationship is suggested: the influence of the gut microbiota on the bioavailability of soy isoflavones and the modulation of microbiota composition by these compounds. However, further interventional studies involving humans are needed to better understand the endocrine and metabolic relationships regarding the role and importance of soy isoflavones in the pathomechanisms of the development and treatment of these disorders.

Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between age, degree of overweight and obesity, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women with excess body weight. The study also examined age-related differences in anthropometric parameters, body composition, and lifestyle factors. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Poland to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and MetS in women with overweight and obesity. Patients and Methods: A total of 141 women aged 23– 85 years with overweight or obesity were included. The study was conducted in 2023 in south-eastern Poland. Participants were divided into two age groups: under 65 years and 65 years and older. Anthropometric, biochemical and blood pressure measurements were taken. The lifestyle analysis included frequency of food consumption, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, sleep duration, smoking and alcohol consumption. Results: The prevalence of MetS was higher in women with obesity, especially in women aged 65 years and older. Older women had a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and a lower fat-free mass (FFM) with no significant differences in body fat percentage. The younger women were more physically active. Women aged 65 years and older consumed honey more frequently. They were less likely than younger women to consume fresh legumes and canned vegetables, nuts and seeds, wholemeal bread, as well as sugar-sweetened beverages, energy drinks, and mayonnaise and dressings. No significant age-related differences were found in smoking, alcohol consumption, or sleep duration. Conclusion: The study suggests that obesity has a stronger impact on MetS prevalence than age alone. Differences in body composition and lifestyle patterns between age groups highlight the need for early, targeted interventions aimed at weight management and healthy behaviours, especially in younger women. Preventive strategies should be tailored to age-specific needs to effectively address metabolic risk.

Background: Overweight and obesity now affect more than a third of the world’s population. They are strongly associated with somatic diseases, in particular increasing the risk of many metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, but also with mental disorders. In particular, there is a strong association between obesity and depression. As a result, more attention is paid to the neurobiological, behavioural, and psychological mechanisms involved in eating. One of these is food addiction (FA). Research comparing lifestyle elements, physical and mental health problems of excess body weight and individuals with FA is limited and has focused on younger people, mainly students. There is also a lack of studies that relate actual metabolic parameters to FA. To better understand the problem of FA also in older adults, it is important to understand the specific relationships between these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 172 adults with overweight and obesity (82% female) aged 23–85 years. The mean age of all subjects was M = 59.97 years (SD = 11.93), the mean BMI was M = 32.05 kg/m² (SD = 4.84), and the mean body fat was M = 39.12% (SD = 6.48). The following questionnaires were used: Food Frequency Questionnaire-6 (FFQ-6), Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (TFEQ-R18), Yale Food Addiction Scale 2. 0 (YFAS 2.0), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Body composition, anthropometry, fasting glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure were measured. Results: A total of 22.7% of participants with overweight and obesity had symptoms of depression according to the SDS, and 18.6% met the criteria for FA according to YFAS 2.0. FA was statistically significantly more common among people up to 50 years. BMI, body fat mass, diastolic blood pressure and sedentary behaviour were statistically significantly higher in people with FA symptoms. Those who were sedentary for 301–450 min per day were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms, and those who were sedentary for more than 450 min per day were significantly more likely to have FA symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings complement the current literature on FA, particularly in older adults and metabolic parameters, and suggest further research directions. Although our cross-sectional study design does not allow causal interpretations, increasing physical activity appears to be particularly important in the management of people with overweight or obesity and FA. This may be even more important than for people with depression alone, but future research is needed to explore these relationships further.

Depression and obesity are two diseases that have a profound impact on global health. The relationship between obesity and depression is strongly comorbid, tending to exacerbate metabolic and depressive symptoms. Research also shows that there are complex interactions between obesity, depression symptoms, and food addiction (FA). The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), self‐rated depression, and FA. The study sample consisted of 735 subjects (90.2% female, M_BMI = 27.58 kg/m², standard deviation (SD)_BMI = 6.58 kg/m²) aged 18–70 years (M = 39.01, SD = 14.07). The prevalence of FA symptoms was measured using the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 and self‐rated depression was assessed using the Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale. The prevalence of FA in the group was 41% and self‐rated depression was present in 34.1% of the participants. It was found that the higher the BMI of the subjects, the higher the severity of FA, but the BMI was not significantly correlated with the severity of depression. In addition, the greater the severity of self‐rated depression, the greater the severity of FA. This correlation was stronger for men than for women in the 18–30 and 31–45 age groups. The severity of self‐rated depression and FA was significantly higher in people with an eating disorders. This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the presence and severity of FA are associated with the severity of self‐rated depression, particularly in younger adults. In addition, people with a high BMI, indicating obesity, are more likely to have FA, especially severe FA.

Depression is classified as one of the most common mental disorders. Its prevalence has recently increased, becoming a growing public health threat. This review focuses on clarifying the role and importance of individual nutrients in the diet and the impact of nutrient deficiencies on the risk of depression. Deficiencies in nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids have a significant impact on brain and nervous system function, which can affect the appearance of depressive symptoms. However, it is important to remember that diet in itself is not the only factor influencing the risk of or helping to treat depression. There are many other aspects, such as physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social support, that also play an important role in maintaining mental health. The data review observed that most of the available analyses are based on cross-sectional studies. Further studies, including prospective cohort, case-control studies, are recommended to draw more reliable conclusions.

Nigella sativa L. (family Ranunculaceae), also known as black cumin, has been used in cuisine around the world for many years. Due to its health-promoting properties, it can be used not only in the food industry but also in medicine. The main bioactive compound contained in the black cumin extract is thymoquinone (TQ), which has a special therapeutic role. The results of research in recent years confirmed its hypoglycemic, hypolipemic, and hepatoprotective effects, among others. In addition, the results of laboratory tests also indicate its immunomodulatory and anticancer effects, although there is still a lack of data on the mechanisms of how they are involved in the fight against cancer. Including this plant material in one’s diet can be both an element of prophylaxis and therapy supporting the treatment process, including pharmacological treatment. However, attention should be paid to its potential interactions with drugs used in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Purpose The main aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the dietary patterns studied in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS), including anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean diet (MD), Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND), intermittent fasting (IF),...