Obesity is a significant global health concern that not only increases metabolic disorders risks but also impacts mental health, particularly affecting women due to hormonal fluctuations and societal pressures. This study investigated anti-obesity and anti-anxiety effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) extracts in female C57BL/6 mouse (n = 16, 17 weeks old) fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We compared 2 extracts method: distilled water (LBD, n = 5) and 80% ethanol (LBE, n = 6), administered via oral gavage (200 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks alongside HFD. Both extract groups showed lower weight increase ratio compared to the control group in experiment period (n = 5) (LBD: 27.74%, LBE: 29.71% vs. Control: 51.88%, p < 0.05). The extracts significantly decreased mesenteric white adipose tissue (mWAT) among WATs examined (mWAT and parametrial white adipose tissue [pWAT]). While both LBD and LBE reduced fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA expression in pWAT, only LBD reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and FAS mRNA expression in mWAT. In elevated plus maze behavioral experiments, the LBD group displayed reduced anxiety-like behavior, spending significantly more time and travelling greater distances in the open arms compared to other groups (p < 0.05), independent of brain inflammatory markers. Our findings demonstrate lemon balm extracts simultaneously address both obesity and anxiety-like behaviors in female mice, with extraction solvent-dependent variations in efficacy and mechanism of action. These results suggest potential therapeutic applications for lemon balm as a functional food ingredient, particularly for women experiencing concurrent obesity and anxiety symptoms.

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• Differential impacts of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on obesity-induced behavioral and biochemical dysregulation in male mice
  Hossein Nazari, Ayoob Sabaghi, Ershad Nedaei, Namdar Yousofvand
  Sport Sciences for Health.2025; 21(3): 1673.     CrossRef

This study was conducted to analyze the biochemical index, nutrient intakes, nutrition label use, diet-related factors and weight control behavior of Korean female adolescents at the age of 12 to 18 according to body mass index (BMI) by using the results of the 2010 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The obese group had higher waist circumference (p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01) than the normal group. In the biochemical index, the obese group had lower serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (p < 0.001), while their triglyceride level was higher than the normal group (p < 0.01). Nutrient intake according to BMI was not significantly different except carbohydrate, and calcium intake was about 53% of recommended nutrient intake in all study subjects. The nutrition label was recognized in more than 90% of all groups. But actual nutrition label use was below 50% in all groups and the underweight group was the lowest (p < 0.05). In the result for subjective body image perception, even in the group with normal BMI, 25.3% recognized themselves as obese, and 75.3% said they were trying to lose weight, indicating that many female teens actually think their bodies are obese. In conclusion, obese female adolescents have high systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride concentrations, which requires obesity prevention education. And a large number of female adolescents with normal BMI thought they were obese and tried to lose weight. Therefore, education on healthy weight and calcium intake is necessary.