Background: Parents are increasingly pursuing weight loss in medical weight management programs, yet little is known about the presenting behaviors and practices of children who have parents initiating these programs.Objective: To describe congruence in weight control practices, sedentary and screen time behaviors, and family functioning and communication between parents initiating a medical weight management program and their children (ages 7-18). Methods: Twenty-three dyads were enrolled and had measured height/weight and research packets completed including perceived weight status, weight control practices, sedentary and screen-time behaviors, and family functioning and communication. Paired t-tests and intraclass correlations assessed congruence; independent t-tests determined differences based on child demographics (age, sex, and weight status). Results: Parents underestimated children's use of weight control practices compared to child reports. Children with overweight, males, and older in age had increased weight control practices and sedentary and screen-time behaviors. Children who perceived themselves to have overweight reported more impaired family communication than children perceived to be a healthy weight. Conclusions: This study highlights the discrepancy between dyads' reports of children's behaviors, and identifies that specific child populations with overweight, older in age, and males are at-risk of experiencing less healthy behaviors and impaired family communication. Future research should monitor changes over time in parental weight management programs to determine effects based on parental weight loss.

Background and Aim: The use of Mucuna flagellipes in recent time has been on the increase as a result of its speculated therapeutic effect mostly on the protein level of the body. And owing to the fact that there are no detailed reports on Mucuna flagellipes on its effect on neurobehavioral parameters, this work is therefore intended to investigate the possible effects of this herb on the exploratory behavior and body weight in Swiss white mice. Methods: Twenty (20) mice of mixed gender were randomly divided in to two groups of ten mice each. Group 1 served as the control, while group 2 received the Mucuna flagellipes diet. The feeding lasted for 31 days. The open field maze task was used to assess exploratory behavior. All mice were allowed free access to clean drinking water. Daily food intake, water intake and body weight change were measured. Results: The results showed that the Mucuna flagellipes diet fed mice had significantly increased (p<0.01; p<0.05) line crossings, close arm duration and Stretch Attend Posture (SAP) compared to control. There was an increase in food intake and water intake (p<0.001 and p<0.01) compared to control. However, the body weight change was statistically higher but not significant when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Therefore, consumption of Mucuna flagellipes improves exploratory behavior and body weight in mice. These may be has a result of an unknown phytochemical compound present in Mucuna flagellipes.

Background and Aim: Since there is an increasing demand by people for means of enhancing the neuro-cognitive functions of the brain and the side effects of many neuro-cognitive drugs which have left many persons with irreversible neurological damage. This situation has lead to our investigation of the neuro-cognitive properties (learning and memory) of the plant, Ficus thioningii (wild fig). Methods: 30 Adult Swiss mice weighing between 16-21g, were divided into 3 groups, 10 mice per group. Before the neurobehavioral parameters were assessed, the LD 50 , acute toxicological screenings of the plant were determined. Group A being the control, received rat feed with normal saline, group B being the low dose were administered with Ficus thoninngii extract at a dose of 10mg/kg and group C being the high dose were administered with Ficus thoninngii extract at a dose of 20mg/kg, this administration lasted for 14 days. All animals were allowed clean drinking water. Results: The data's were analyzed and the results showed that on days 1, 2 and 3 of acquisition training mice from low dose and high dose learned equally when compared to the control. In the reversal training, memory was improved in the low dose and high dose treated mice when compared to control at (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001). During the probe trial, the swim duration in the SouthEast quadrant was significantly higher for high dose and low dose compared to control (p<0.01 and at p<0.001). However, during the visible platform task, the swim latencies for the low dose and high dose group were also significantly lower compared to control (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that consumption of Ficus thoninngii extracts enhances learning and memory in mice, thus Ficus thoninngii containing diet may be beneficial in the improvement of learning and memory.

Background and Aim: The effects on body weight and exploratory behavior following acute administration of the leaves of Nymphaea lotus were determined using mice as experimental animals. Methods: Thirty Swiss white mice were randomly divided into group A, B and C. All the mice had access to clean drinking water ad libitum. Before the neurobehavioral parameters were assessed, the LD 50 and the phytochemical screening of the leaves of the plant were determined. The open field maze and the light/dark transition box apparatus were used to determine the level of exploratory behaviors in mice. Results: In the open field maze, the line crosses and rearing frequency were significantly different when compared to control (P<0.01). Stretch Attend Posture frequency (SAP) was significantly higher in the test groups when compared to control (P<0.01). It was also observed that the frequency of grooming in the light/dark transition box decreased in the treated groups when compared to the control group (P<0.05 and at P<0.01). Frequency of transition were significantly higher (P<0.01 and at P<0.001) compared to control. The body weight was significantly higher in the mice treated groups when compared to control (P<0.01). Conclusion: Thus, the leaves of Nymphaea lotus enhances exploratory behavior and increases body weight in mice.