Understanding how urbanization reshapes the human gut microbiome requires studying populations currently undergoing lifestyle transitions, not only comparisons between hunter-gatherers and industrialized groups. The Turkana of Northern Kenya, a community spanning traditional nomadic pastoralism to urban living, provide a unique opportunity for disentangling the effects of diet and lifestyle on host–microbe interactions within a genetically homogenous group. We generated 16S and shotgun metagenomic profiles from 150 individuals alongside detailed dietary and environmental metadata. Pastoralist microbiomes exhibited higher alpha diversity (Shannon index) than both urban (p = 0.05) and rural (p = 0.03) counterparts, the latter showing the lowest diversity (despite higher fiber intake). Beta diversity analysis (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) showed that microbial community structures differed significantly across lifestyle groups (PERMANOVA, p<0.001). Despite these differences we identified 106 species forming a core microbiome signature across lifestyles composed primarily of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. Differential abundance analysis revealed enrichment of Clostridium species in pastoral microbiomes (LFC =2.005, FDR=0.003) and depletion in urban and rural samples (LFC =-5.563, FDR=0.003) consistent with differential protein intake. Serum metabolomic data mirrored these patterns, revealing clear clustering by lifestyle. Several differentially abundant metabolites including short-chain fatty acids, bile acid conjugates, 8-Amino-7-oxononanoic acid, Ginsenoside Rh3 and indole-3-lactate, known to be microbiome-derived, suggest coordinated host–microbial metabolic shifts accompanying urbanization. Together, these findings highlight how rapid lifestyle change reshapes both gut microbial ecology and systemic metabolism underscoring the importance of examining diverse traditional lifestyles to better understand how urbanization reshapes the human gut microbiome in context-specific ways.

We analyzed the effect of diet change on microbiota composition on Maya mother infant pairs from rural Yucatan, Mexico. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from stool samples, collected twice from 14 individuals, once during each agricultural season, nine from the abundance season only and 11 exclusively from the scarcity season, and sent to Novogene Co. for shotgun sequencing. A 24-hour diet recall was applied whenever a sample was collected. Households were classified into those that depended mostly on a harvested diet (HD), and those on a store-bought diet (SBD). Microbiome species composition didn´t show any seasonal differences, but two significantly different clusters were identified (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix and NMDS). Cluster 1 grouped infants under 12 months of age with children between 12 and 36 months from SBD households. Cluster 2 put together children 12 and 36 months old from HD households with all mothers. Cluster 1 was less diverse than Cluster 2 (Shannon Index range 3.08- 3.671 vs. 3.642- 3.786) and was ecologically less complex (12% vs. 18% of all possible interactions in a Lotka-Volterra model). This makes children from SBD households as vulnerable to environmental disturbance as babies, and more vulnerable than HD children. Finally, Cluster 1 showed a significant association with carbohydrate and fiber intake not found in Cluster 2. This suggests that in SBD households, an infant’s strong dependence on a rich carbohydrate diet extended well into the third year of life. This may explain the origin of a thrifty phenotype in households abandoning food production.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a central feature of human disease and is strongly modulated by diet–microbiome interactions. We evaluated whether combining structurally distinct fibers can modulate the human gut communities toward profiles associated with reduced inflammatory potential. Anaerobic batch fermentations inoculated with fecal samples from two healthy adults compared a β-glucan/mannan control matrix with the same matrix supplemented by inulin (fructan), pectin (heteropolysaccharide), or dextran (α-1,6-glucan). Microbiome composition (16S rRNA V4–V5) and diversity were profiled over 0–48 h; community change was assessed via alpha diversity, beta diversity and differential relative abundance. All treatments showed an early, sucrose-driven Proteobacteria increase with a transient drop in α-diversity at ~8 h, followed by fiber-specific recovery. Dextran enriched Bacteroides and suppressed Proteobacteria; inulin promoted Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and butyrate-associated Firmicutes; pectin supported broad cross-feeding consortia (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Eubacterium). Trajectories converged across donors by 24–48 h, indicating that fiber complexity can reduce inter-individual variation in community structure. The results suggest that multi-fiber strategies can reproducibly shift microbiomes away from an inflammatory state. These findings suggest that policy and health recommendations aimed at reducing the chronic disease risk through diet should consider specific multi-fiber food supplements rather than broadly promoting single soluble fiber products.

Food security has four dimensions, availability, access, utilization, and stability. Research in the social and health sciences emphasizes the access and utilization dimensions of food security. To measure these dimensions, researchers often use standardized measures of diet quality such as Food Variety Score (FVS) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). Previous studies have found associations between household economic factors, which serve as proxies for food access, and lower FVS/HDDS scores. However, a growing body of work argues that interhousehold food sharing may be an important, yet under-explored, strategy for ensuring long-term food security. We explore associations between food sharing and diet quality (HDDS/FVS) in a multiethnic, predominantly Indigenous peri-urban community in the Brazilian Amazon. We used 24-hour dietary recall interviews to measure the FVS and HDDS in 106 households, tracking the source of each food item reported. Mean FVS was 11.4 (3.4) and mean HDDS was 5.8 (1.3). Using Bayesian regressions and controlling for household demographic and economic factors, our findings indicate that while increased food sharing demonstrated a positive effect on FVS (β=0.19, 89% CI [ 0.07, 0.30]) and HDDS (β=0.37, 89% CI [ 0.24, 0.50]), greater reliance on shared food had a negative association with FVS (β=-0.57, 89% CI [-0.69, -0.44]) and HDDS (β=-0.50, 89% CI [-0.63, -0.36] ). These findings suggest that while sharing enhances dietary outcomes, over-reliance may indicate underlying vulnerability. Understanding the social processes that drive both increased sharing and dependence on shared food is thus essential for community-level food security engagement.

Evolutionary models propose that in contexts of Perceived Economic Insecurity (PEI) and Food Insecurity (FI), the activation of chronic stress mechanisms associated with unpredictability modifies dietary patterns and affects metabolic function, leading to obesity. To date, this hypothesis has not been empirically tested in Low-and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) settings. This study uses a mixed-methods biocultural approach to explore associations between PEI, FI, chronic stress, dietary patterns, and obesity among vulnerable populations. Participants were recruited through a food bank in Minatitlán, Mexico. Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional survey (n= 216) to assess PEI, FI, perceived chronic stress, dietary patterns, and anthropometric measurements. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample (n=16) were conducted to document the lived experiences of PEI. The findings indicate a positive association between PEI, FI, and elevated levels of perceived chronic stress, as well as between PEI and obesity. Regarding dietary patterns, there was a negative relationship between PEI and diet diversity and the consumption of ultra-processed. Participant narratives suggest that PEI and FI are experienced as significant stressors, associated not only with resource scarcity but also with increased exposure to pollution and barriers to adequate healthcare. The findings partially support the evolutionary model by suggesting that PEI may be an important factor in the development of obesity among adults experiencing FI, though the interactions with dietary patterns and other environmental factors are complex. These results underscore the need for structural interventions to enhance economic stability for vulnerable households, aiming to reduce obesity-related inequalities.

Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (2018-2019) data on health trends in the Yucatan reported a doubling of obesity rates in a generation, from 15% in 2000 to 32% in 2018. Type 2 diabetes prevalence has similarly risen from 3% in the 1950s to current estimates of 22% among Maya adults - exceeding Mexico’s national average of ~13%. This study is a biocultural examination of how ongoing socioeconomic transformations are impacting the health and well-being of Yucatec Maya communities. By harnessing the Two-Eyed Seeing approach, which values both Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, we gain insight into the rapidly changing environmental challenges and rising cardiometabolic diseases facing Yucatec Maya communities. A key factor in this community-based approach was implementing the Go-Along Method, which involves performing daily tasks with interlocutors – including activities like laboring in fields, chopping firewood, and cooking. Working with community members, I developed a Traditional Food Diversity Score (TFDS) that accounts for adherence to and access to traditional foods. This study co-creates knowledge with Yucatec Maya community members (n = 188), incorporating these ethnographic data with point-of-care biomarker data and anthropometrics to assess the possible health-protective role of TFDS. In the communities I work with, there is a strong inverse relationship between TFDS and cardiometabolic health outcomes: higher TFDS predicts lower blood pressure, reduced waist circumference, and lower incidence of Type 2 diabetes. These data thus suggest that maintaining access to traditional foods may be one means of reducing the rising burden of cardiometabolic diseases in the Yucatan region.

The world is increasingly urban, households are increasingly market-oriented, and individuals are larger and more hypertensive than ever. There is debate over the extent to which the obesity epidemic is causally associated with these factors and to what extent individual-level variables drive the recent increase. Here we rely on Hackman and Hruschka’s newly developed wealth index to explore how changes in achievement in agricultural vs. market-oriented wealth are associated with individual body mass index, how this varies by sex/gender, and what role individual level variables play in explaining individual body mass index. Our results from three countries (Albania, Bangladesh, and Namibia) and ~25,000 men and women suggest that while achievement in market and agricultural activities are both positively associated with body mass index, the effect of market wealth is much greater, and this is particularly true for women. For instance, in Namibia, a 1SD increase in a household’s market achievement is associated with a 4 point in increase in men’s BMI but an 8 point increase in women’s. Interestingly, few variables other than age predicted blood pressure. In this talk, we will expand our analysis to 18 additional countries, and include country-level policy and food availability and price data. This allows us to understand how and why men’s and women’s bodies respond to the changing household and economic and food price landscape.

Background: Obesity and normal weight central obesity (NWCO) are significant risk factors for cardiometabolic disorders. BMI alone may overlook individuals at risk due to central adiposity. This study examined risks posed by obesity and NWCO on hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,349 adults (≥18 years) in Mansa district, Punjab. Data collection included interviews, anthropometry, blood pressure, and lipid profile assessments. Obesity was categorised in participants as BMI <23 kg/m², BMI <23 kg/m² with central obesity, and BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity based on waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio. Hypertension was classified per JNC 7. Dyslipidaemia was defined by abnormal total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, or triglycerides. Logistic regression adjusted for age and sex estimated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for risk of hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

Results: About 69.5% had BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity, and 25.5% had NWCO (BMI <23 kg/m² with central obesity). Stage 1 hypertension prevalence was highest in NWCO, while stage 2 hypertension and abnormal HDL prevalence were highest in the BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity group (36.2% & 24.3%). Both NWCO and BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity significantly increased risk for Stage 1 hypertension (2.87, p=0.008 and 3.43, p=0.001, respectively). BMI ≥23 kg/m² with central obesity also showed a higher risk of abnormal triglycerides (1.62, p=0.029) and low HDL (1.72, p=0.087).

Conclusion: Both NWCO and obesity with central adiposity substantially increase risks for hypertension and dyslipidaemia markers. Waist-based measures should be used alongside BMI for comprehensive cardiometabolic risk assessment.

Hypertension remains a significant public health challenge in India, with suboptimal treatment outcomes despite widespread availability of antihypertensive medications. Emerging evidence suggests that genetic and micronutrient factors may influence drug response, yet their roles in community settings are not well understood. This study investigated the contribution of One Carbon Metabolic Pathway (OCMP) genes and micronutrient status to uncontrolled hypertension among regular users of antihypertensive drugs in rural Punjab.

A total of 2,328 adults aged 30–75 years were recruited from Mansa district, Punjab and screened for hypertension. Data were collected through a pretested interview schedule, and blood pressure was measured using a digital sphygmomanometer. Venous blood samples were analyzed for serum folate and vitamin B12 levels, and OCMP gene polymorphisms were identified through RFLP-based genotyping.

Among participants on regular medication, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) were most commonly used. Analyses revealed trends indicating that OCMP genetic variants, MTHFR C677T (T), MTR A2756G (G), and MTRR A66G (A), were associated with higher odds of uncontrolled hypertension among CCB and ARB users. Low folate levels further increased the risk of uncontrolled hypertension, and gene–environment interactions demonstrated synergistic effects, when combined with folate deficiency. Beta-blocker users showed no such associations.

Although statistical significance was not reached, these findings highlight a potential pharmacogenetic influence of OCMP genes and folate status on antihypertensive efficacy. They emphasize integrating folate assessment and supplementation into hypertension care to improve drug response and overall blood pressure control at the population level.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally and are especially prevalent in low-resource communities. However, the extent of disease prevalence varies between communities because of structural factors and environmental differences. In this study, we investigated the effects of different sociodemographic factors on cardiovascular disease prevalence and systemic inflammation in two low-resource communities with poor water infrastructure in the United States (U.S.). We predicted that CVD prevalence would be associated with older age and lower socioeconomic status. To test this prediction, we collected survey data, dried blood spots, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels using a point of care device in two low-resource communities located in southwest IL and the Mississippi Delta across four study years (total = 316, age range = 18-85 years). We defined CVD as reporting a diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition (high blood pressure or cholesterol), measured blood pressure or cholesterol that was above clinical recommendations, or reporting taking a medication for a cardiovascular condition. Dried blood spots were analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of systemic inflammation, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Linear regression models tested whether socioeconomic status defined by self-reported income was associated with cardiovascular health or inflammation, controlling for age, sex, education, self-reported race, and household smoking. We found that lower income (B= -0.03, p = 0.03) and older age (B = 0.01, p <0.001) were associated with CVD and higher CRP. Notably, income had a greater effect size than age.

Hypertension among young adults is an emerging public health concern influenced by modifiable metabolic and anthropometric factors. This study aimed to examine the association between obesity indices, lipid parameters, and blood pressure status among Indian adolescents aged 18–19 years.A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,457 adolescents enrolled in various educational institutions across the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). Anthropometric assessments included Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR). Blood pressure was measured using a validated Omron digital sphygmomanometer following standard protocols. Venous blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of serum lipids, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TRG). A significant association was observed between blood pressure categories and BMI, WC, WHtR, HDL, and TRG (p < .001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased progressively with higher blood pressure stages—obese individuals comprised 13.8% of the normotensive group and 31.1% of those with stage II hypertension. Similarly, participants with high WC increased from 13.4% in the normal BP group to 27.7% in stage II hypertension. Elevated WHtR was more prevalent among hypertensives (38.3%) compared to normotensives (19.0%). Dyslipidemia, particularly low HDL and high triglyceride levels, was more common among elevated and hypertensive categories. The findings underscore a significant relationship between central obesity, dyslipidemia, and elevated blood pressure among adolescents. Early screening and targeted lifestyle interventions addressing obesity and lipid abnormalities are essential to prevent the early onset of hypertension in this population.

We use biological normalcy to understand the relationships between weight status, weight perception, school-level overweight/obesity prevalence, and depressive symptoms among adolescents participating in the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). We predict (1) adolescents with high weight status will have lower weight perception if they attend schools with a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and (2) weight perception and weight status will be positively associated with depression, with effect sizes varying by overweight/obesity prevalence. School overweight/obesity prevalence was calculated for each school. Weight status was classified as overweight or not overweight using BMI-percentile CDC cutoffs. Weight perception was categorized as high (“slightly overweight”, “very overweight”) or low (“about right”, “slightly underweight”, “very underweight”). Depression was a yes/no response. Logistic regression models adjusted for weight status, gender, grade, and race/ethnicity. 10,448 adolescents across 76 schools were included. For every 10% increase in overweight/obesity prevalence, the odds of describing oneself as overweight were 15% lower among all students (p=0.01) and 29% lower among students with high weight status (p=0.019). High weight perception was associated with 76% increased odds of experiencing depression among all students (p<0.0001) and two times higher among students with high weight status (p<0.0001). In stratified analyses, schools in the lowest tertile of obesity prevalence had the strongest associations between depression and weight status (OR:1.49 vs. 1.28) and weight perception (OR:2.22 vs. 1.68). High weight status and high weight perception were associated with higher risk of depressive episodes. These relationships were strongest in schools where overweight and obesity are less common.