Bente Øvrebø

• Totland, Torunn Holm; Øvrebø, Bente; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Holvik, Kristin; Bere, Elling Tufte & Torheim, Liv Elin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Development and evaluation of an index assessing adherence to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines: the Norwegian Dietary Guideline Index (NDGI). BMC Nutrition. ISSN 2055-0928. 10. doi: 10.1186/s40795-024-00900-7. Show summary

  Background Monitoring adherence to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) could provide valuable insight into current and future diet-related health risks. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an index measuring adherence to the Norwegian FBDGs to be used as a compact tool in nutrition surveillance suitable for inclusion in large public health surveys. Methods The Norwegian Dietary Guideline Index (NDGI) was designed to reflect adherence to the Norwegian FBDGs on a scale from 0–100, with a higher score indicating better adherence. Dietary intakes were assessed through 19 questions, reflecting 15 dietary components covered by the Norwegian FBDGs. The NDGI was applied and evaluated using nationally representative dietary data from the cross-sectional web-based Norwegian Public Health Survey which included 8,558 adults.​ Results The population-weighted NDGI score followed a nearly normal distribution with a mean of 65 (SD 11) and range 21–99. Mean scores varied with background factors known to be associated with adherence to a healthy diet; women scored higher than men (67 vs. 64) and the score increased with age, with higher educational attainment (high 69 vs. low 64) and with better self-perceived household economy (good 67 vs. restricted 62). The NDGI captured a variety of dietary patterns that contributed to a healthy diet consistent with the FBDGs. Conclusion The NDGI serve as a compact tool to assess and monitor adherence to the Norwegian FBDGs, to identify target groups for interventions, and to inform priorities in public health policies.​ The tool is flexible to adjustments and may be adaptable to use in other countries or settings with similar dietary guidelines.

• Olsen, Thomas; Vinknes, Kathrine Jørgensen; Barvíková, Kristýna; Stolt, Emma Theresia Kjelland; Lee-Ødegård, Sindre & Troensegaard, Hannibal [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2024). Dietary sulfur amino acid restriction in humans with overweight and obesity: Evidence of an altered plasma and urine sulfurome, and a novel metabolic signature that correlates with loss of fat mass and adipose tissue gene expression. Redox Biology. ISSN 2213-2317. 73. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103192.
• Olsen, Thomas; Stolt, Emma Theresia Kjelland; Øvrebø, Bente; Elshorbagy, Amany; Tore, Elena C. & Lee-Ødegård, Sindre [Show all 20 contributors for this article] (2024). Dietary sulfur amino acid restriction in humans with overweight and obesity: a translational randomized controlled trial. Journal of Translational Medicine. ISSN 1479-5876. 22(1). doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04833-w.
• Stea, Tonje Holte; Vettore, Mario Vianna; Øvrebø, Bente & Abildsnes, Eirik (2023). Changes in dietary habits and BMI z-score after a 6-month non-randomized cluster-controlled trial among 6–12 years old overweight and obese Norwegian children. Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). ISSN 1654-6628. 67, p. 1–15. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v67.9617. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Effective prevention programs to address the high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity and the concomitant health consequences have been warranted. Objective: To improve dietary habits and weight status among Norwegian children with overweight/obesity in the primary care setting. Design: A 6-month non-randomized cluster-controlled intervention among 137 children, aged 6–12 years, with overweight/obesity and their parents. Intervention and control groups were recruited by public health nurses and followed-up by 12 Healthy Life Centers across Norway. The intervention group received individual family counseling and participated in nutrition courses and physical activity groups. A frequency questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and dietary habits was completed by the parents. Trained public health nurses measured height and weight using standardized methods to calculate body mass index (BMI) and BMI z-scores. Results: The intervention resulted in an increased odds of consuming evening meals (OR: 3.42), a decreased availability of salty snacks (β = –0.17), a decreased intake of salty snacks (−0.18), an increased consumption of water (β = 0.20), and a decreased estimated total intake of energy (β = –0.17), carbohydrates (β = –0.17), mono- and disaccharides (β = –0.21), sucrose (β = –0.24), and saturated fatty acids (β = –0.17). The intervention directly predicted lower BMI z-score (β = –0.17), and post-treatment levels of energy (β = –0.65), saturated fat (β = 0.43), and total carbohydrates (β = 0.41) were directly linked to BMI z-score after intervention. Age and sex were indirectly associated with BMI after intervention through energy and saturated fat intake. Conclusions: The intervention had a beneficial impact on nutrient intake and weight status among children with overweight/obesity. These findings provide support for implementing complex intervention programs tailored to local primary care settings.

• Øvrebø, Bente; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Lund-Iversen, Kaja; Andersen, Lene Frost; Paulsen, Mari Mohn & Hope Abel, Marianne (2023). How does the updated Nutri-Score discriminate and classify the nutritional quality of foods in a Norwegian setting? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 20. doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01525-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Øvrebø, Bente; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Stea, Tonje Holte; Wills, Andrew Keith; Bere, Elling Tufte & Magnus, Per Minor [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). The influence of immigrant background and parental education on overweight and obesity in 8-year-old children in Norway. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 23. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16571-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Little is known about the prevalence of overweight/obesity and socio-economic position (SEP) in children with immigrant background in Scandinavia. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of overweight/obesity by immigrant background among children in Norway and to explore the role of SEP in explaining diferences in weight status. Methods Anthropometric data from 8,858 children (age 8.3 years) from the population-based Norwegian Childhood Growth Study were used. Information about immigrant background, country of origin, and parental education (used as an indicator of SEP) were provided by Statistics Norway. For children with immigrant background, regional background was determined based on country of origin. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated for overweight/obesity and weight-to-height-ratio (WHtR)≥0.5 by immigration and regional background, using generalized estimating equation log-binominal models adjusting for sex, age, survey year (model 1), residential area, population density (model 2) and parental education (model 3). Results Children with immigrant background had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and WHtR≥0.5 than non-immigrant background children. Adjusted for parental education, children with an immigrant background from Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia except South-Asia, and Africa had a higher prevalence of overweight/ obesity [PR: 1.37 (95% confdence interval (CI): 1.10–1.72), 1.28 (1.05–1.57), 1.47 (1.13–1.91), respectively] than children with a non-immigrant background. Children originating from Asia except South-Asia had a higher prevalence of WHtR≥0.5 (PR: 1.64, CI: 1.25–2.15) compared to non-immigrant background children. The adjustment for parental education did not substantially change the results. Conclusion Children with immigrant background had higher prevalence of overweight/obesity than non-immigrant background children. The diference varied according to region of origin but not substantially according to parental education. There is a need for culturally acceptable preventative measures targeting the parents of immigrant background children.

• Pitt, Stephanie; Julin, Bettina; Øvrebø, Bente & Wolk, Alicja (2023). Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels: Comparing the Nordic Keyhole and Nutri-Score in a Swedish Context. Nutrients. ISSN 2072-6643. 15(4), p. 1–16. doi: 10.3390/nu15040873. Full text in Research Archive
• Valsdottir, Thorhildur Ditta; Øvrebø, Bente; Kornfeldt, Thea Martine; Litleskare, Sigbjørn; Johansen, Egil Ivar & Henriksen, Christine [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Effect of aerobic exercise and low-carbohydrate high-fat diet on glucose tolerance and android/gynoid fat in overweight/obese women: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Physiology. ISSN 1664-042X. 14. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1056296. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The study was designed to compare the effects of weight loss induced by a low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet or a normal diet, with and without exercise, on glucose tolerance measured as area under the curve (AUC), and android (A) and gynoid (G) fat distribution. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov; NCT04100356. In total, 57 women classified as overweight or obese (age 40 ± 3.5 years, body mass index 31.1 ± 2.6 kg/m2) were randomly assigned and completed a 10-week intervention using a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet or a normal diet, with or without aerobic interval exercise. An equal deficit of 700 kcal/day was prescribed, either restricting the diet only, or moderately restricting diet and including three 50-min high-intensity bicycle sessions per week. There were thus four groups: normal diet (NORM); low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet (LCHF); normal diet with exercise (NORM-EX); and low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet with exercise (LCHF-EX). Linear mixed models was used to assess differences between groups. With all groups pooled, the intervention resulted in a weight loss of 6.7 ± 2.5% (p < 0.001). The intervention did not result in differences between groups in AUC glucose, nor in fasting glucose or indicis for insulin resistance such as Homeostatic Model Assessment, Matsuda Insulin Sensitivity Index, insulinogenic index and disposition index. Post-intervention android fat was lower in LCHF than NORM (3,223 ± 727 vs. 2,533 ± 535 g, p = 0.041). LCHF reached a lower A/G ratio than NORM (0.94 ± 0.12 vs. 1.04 ± 0.09, p = 0.011) and LCHF-EX (0.94 ± 0.12 vs. 1.09 ± 0.09, p < 0.001) after the intervention. LCHF resulted in lower android fat mass compared to NORM and the lowest A/G ratio compared to the other matched groups, but with no accompanying improvement in AUC glucose. In conclusion, although all groups achieved improvements in glucose tolerance, no superior effect was observed with the LCHF diet, neither with nor without exercise.

• Elshorbagy, Amany; Bastani, Nasser Ezzatkhah; Lee-Ødegård, Sindre; Øvrebø, Bente; Haj Yasein, Nadia & Svendsen, Karianne [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2022). The association of fasting plasma thiol fractions with body fat compartments, biomarker profile, and adipose tissue gene expression. Amino Acids. ISSN 0939-4451. doi: 10.1007/s00726-022-03229-2. Full text in Research Archive
• Nichenametla, Sailendra N.; Mattocks, Dwight A.L.; Cooke, Diana; Midya, Vishal; Malloy, Virginia L. & Mansilla, Wilfredo [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2022). Cysteine restriction-specific effects of sulfur amino acid restriction on lipid metabolism. Aging Cell. ISSN 1474-9718. 21(12). doi: 10.1111/acel.13739. Full text in Research Archive
• Øvrebø, Bente; Stea, Tonje Holte; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Bere, Elling Tufte; Suren, Pål & Magnus, Per Minor [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). A nationwide school fruit and vegetable policy and childhood and adolescent overweight: A quasi-natural experimental study. PLoS Medicine. ISSN 1549-1277. 19(1). doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003881. Full text in Research Archive
• Øvrebø, Bente; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Stea, Tonje Holte; Bere, Elling; Surén, Pål & Magnus, Per Minor [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Overweight, obesity, and thinness among a nationally representative sample of Norwegian adolescents and changes from childhood: Associations with sex, region, and population density. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 16(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255699. Full text in Research Archive
• Stolt, Emma Theresia Kjelland; Olsen, Thomas; Elshorbagy, Amany; Kozich, Viktor; Van Greevenbroek, Marleen M.J. & Øvrebø, Bente [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2021). Sulfur amino acid restriction, energy metabolism and obesity: a study protocol of an 8-week randomized controlled dietary intervention with whole foods and amino acid supplements. Journal of Translational Medicine. ISSN 1479-5876. 19. doi: 10.1186/s12967-021-02824-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Thomas; Øvrebø, Bente; Turner, Cheryl; Bastani, Nasser Ezzatkhah; Refsum, Helga & Vinknes, Kathrine (2021). Effects of short-term methionine and cysteine restriction and enrichment with polyunsaturated fatty acids on oral glucose tolerance, plasma amino acids, fatty acids, lactate and pyruvate: results from a pilot study. BMC Research Notes. ISSN 1756-0500. 14(43). doi: 10.1186/s13104-021-05463-5. Full text in Research Archive
• Valsdottir, Thorhildur Ditta; Øvrebø, Bente; Falck, Thea Martine; Litleskare, Sigbjørn; Johansen, Egil Ivar & Henriksen, Christine [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet and Exercise: Effect of a 10-Week Intervention on Body Composition and CVD Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Women—A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. ISSN 2072-6643. 13(1). doi: 10.3390/nu13010110. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We assessed the effect of weight-loss induced with a low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet with and without exercise, on body-composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 57 overweight and obese women (age 40 ± 3.5 years, body mass index 31.1 ± 2.6 kg∙m−2) completed a 10-week intervention using a low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet, with or without interval exercise. An equal deficit of 700 kcal∙day−1 was prescribed, restricting diet only, or moderately restricting diet and adding exercise, producing four groups; normal diet (NORM); low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet (LCHF); normal diet and exercise (NORM-EX); and low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet and exercise (LCHF-EX). Linear Mixed Models were used to assess between-group differences. The intervention resulted in an average 6.7 ± 2.5% weight-loss (p < 0.001). Post-intervention % fat was lower in NORM-EX than NORM (40.0 ± 4.2 vs. 43.5 ± 3.5%, p = 0.024). NORM-EX reached lower values in total cholesterol than NORM (3.9 ± 0.6 vs. 4.7 ± 0.7 mmol/L, p = 0.003), and LCHF-EX (3.9 ± 0.6 vs. 4.9 ± 1.1 mmol/L, p = 0.004). Post intervention triglycerides levels were lower in NORM-EX than NORM (0.87 ± 0.21 vs. 1.11 ± 0.34 mmol/L, p = 0.030). The low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet had no superior effect on body composition, V˙O2peak or cardiovascular risk factors compared to a normal diet, with or without exercise. In conclusion, the intervention decreased fat mass, but exercise improved body composition and caused the most favorable changes in total cholesterol and triglycerides in the NORM-EX. Exercise increased cardiorespiratory fitness, regardless of diet.

• Øvrebø, Bente; Halkjelsvik, Torleif Bjordal; Meisfjord, Jørgen Rajan; Bere, Elling Tufte & Hart, Rannveig Kaldager (2020). The effects of an abrupt increase in taxes on candy and soda in Norway: an observational study of retail sales. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 17, p. 1–9. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01017-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Thomas; Turner, Cheryl; Øvrebø, Bente; Bastani, Nasser Ezzatkhah; Refsum, Helga & Vinknes, Kathrine (2020). Postprandial effects of a meal low in sulfur amino acids and high in polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to a meal high in sulfur amino acids and saturated fatty acids on stearoyl CoA-desaturase indices and plasma sulfur amino acids: a pilot study. BMC Research Notes. ISSN 1756-0500. 13. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05222-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Thomas; Øvrebø, Bente; Haj Yasein, Nadia; Lee-Ødegård, Sindre; Svendsen, Karianne & Hjorth, Marit [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2020). Effects of dietary methionine and cysteine restriction on plasma biomarkers, serum fibroblast growth factor 21, and adipose tissue gene expression in women with overweight or obesity: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Translational Medicine. ISSN 1479-5876. 18(122). doi: 10.1186/s12967-020-02288-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Øvrebø, Bente; Stea, Tonje Holte; te Velde, Saskia J.; Bjelland, Mona; Klepp, Knut Inge & Bere, Elling Tufte (2019). A comprehensive multicomponent school-based educational intervention did not affect fruit and vegetable intake at the 14-year follow-up. Preventive Medicine. ISSN 0091-7435. 121, p. 79–85. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.02.015. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Thomas; Øvrebø, Bente; Turner, Cheryl; Bastani, Nasser Ezzatkhah; Refsum, Helga & Vinknes, Kathrine (2018). Combining Dietary Sulfur Amino Acid Restriction with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake in Humans: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Nutrients. ISSN 2072-6643. 10(12), p. 1–15. doi: 10.3390/nu10121822. Full text in Research Archive
• Øvrebø, Bente; Strømmen, Magnus; Kulseng, Bård Eirik & Martins, Catia (2017). Bariatric surgery versus lifestyle interventions for severe obesity: 5-year changes in body weight, risk factors and comorbidities. Clinical Obesity. ISSN 1758-8103. 7(3), p. 183–190. doi: 10.1111/cob.12190. Full text in Research Archive

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• Øvrebø, Bente; Abel, Marianne Hope; Brantsæter, Anne Lise & Andersen, Lene Frost (2023). Evaluation of the updated Nutri-Score algorithm in a Norwegian setting.
• Elshorbagy, Amany; Bastani, Nasser Ezzatkhah; Lee-Ødegård, Sindre; Øvrebø, Bente; Haj Yasein, Nadia & Svendsen, Karianne [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2023). Correction to: The association of fasting plasma thiol fractions with body fat compartments, biomarker profile, and adipose tissue gene expression (Amino Acids, (2022), 10.1007/s00726-022-03229-2). Amino Acids. ISSN 0939-4451. 55, p. 547–548. doi: 10.1007/s00726-023-03244-x.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2022). NewTools for sustainable food systems.
• Stea, Tonje Holte; Vettore, Mario Vianna; Øvrebø, Bente & Abildsnes, Eirik (2022). Changes in dietary habits after a six-months intervention study among overweight and obese children.
• Øvrebø, Bente; Lund-Iversen, Kaja; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Andersen, Lene Frost & Abel, Marianne Hope (2022). Ernæringsprofiler – estimerer matvarers ernæringsmessige kvalitet. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. 20(4), p. 39–46. doi: 10.18261/ntfe.20.4.5.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2022). Nutrient profiling - what, why and how?
• Øvrebø, Bente; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Stea, Tonje Holte; Wills, Andrew Keith; Bere, Elling Tufte & Suren, Pål [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Prevalence of overweight, obesity and central adiposity among children with immigrant background in Norway.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2022). Evaluering av gratis skolefrukt.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2022). Skolefrukt. [Radio]. NRK Sørlandssendinga.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2022). Fedme frukt. [TV]. NRK Dagsrevyen.
• Kubens, Valerie & Øvrebø, Bente (2022). Har skolefrukt påvirket vekta til norske barn? [Newspaper]. Fædrelandsvennen.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2021). 2021 - Det internasjonale året for frukt og grønnsaker - med fokus på Norge. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. doi: 10.18261/ntfe.19.4.16.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2020). Disputassammendrag: Effekten av gratis skolefrukt. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034.
• Øvrebø, Bente & Helleve, Arnfinn (2020). The Norwegian industry-led scheme restricting marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2019). Avgifter på mat- og drikkevarer som folkehelsetiltak – noe å vurdere? Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034.
• Øvrebø, Bente & Eskerud, Mari Borge (2018). Når magen sier nei, hvorfor sier hjernen «spis»? Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. p. 18–20.
• Olsen, Thomas; Øvrebø, Bente; Arnesen, Erik & Lysne, Vegard (2018). Ikke skrot BMI! NRK Ytring.
• Øvrebø, Bente (2018). Utdrag fra European Congress on Obesity, 23-26. mai 2018. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034.
• Øvrebø, Bente; Olsen, Thomas & Vinknes, Kathrine (2017). Stearoyl-CoA desaturase og energimetabolisme – et prosjekt ved Universitetet i Oslo. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. p. 20–22.
• Abel, Marianne Hope; Øvrebø, Bente; Brantsæter, Anne Lise & Torheim, Liv Elin (2022). Preliminary assessment of the revised NutriScore algorithm. - Do the proposed revisions contribute to solve the challenges that previously have been identified in the Nordic countries for the existing Nutri-Score? Brief assessment for The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services . Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Full text in Research Archive
• Øvrebø, Bente; Bere, Elling Tufte & Stea, Tonje Holte (2022). Evaluations of school-based and fiscal efforts on diet-related behaviors and weight, emphasizing fruit, vegetables, candy, and soda. University of Agder. ISSN 9788284270647.
• Øvrebø, Bente & Helleve, Arnfinn (2020). Evaluering av Matbransjens faglige utvalg. En evaluering av den norske selvreguleringsordningen som begrenser markedsføring av usunn mat og drikke rettet mot barn og unge. Folkehelseinstituttet. ISSN 978-82-8406-055-2. Full text in Research Archive

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