Introduction Body weight perception (BWP) is associated with health behaviors. Current evidence points to an increase over time in both actual and perceived weight status among adolescents, however there is limited evidence on time trends in BWP in cross-national samples of adolescents. Therefore, the aims of this study were to examine time trends in BWP between 2002 and 2018 among adolescents from 41 countries and regions, including gender and country differences and to explore the role of changes over time in country-level overweight/obesity prevalence in these trends.Methods Data were used from five cycles (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) of the repeated cross-sectional Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study (n = 746,121; mean±standard deviation age 13.7 ± 1.6 years, 51.0% girls). Multilevel logistic models estimated cross-national linear time trends in adolescent BWP (correct perception, underestimation, or overestimation), adjusted for gender, age, and family affluence. Next, we tested whether country-level changes over time overweight/obesity prevalence could explain these trends in BWP among adolescents.Results Correct weight perception increased over time among girls, while it decreased among boys. Underestimation of weight status increased, and overestimation of weight status decreased over time among both genders, with stronger trends for girls. Furthermore, country differences in trends in both BWP and overweight/obesity were found. Changes over time in country-level overweight/obesity prevalence could not explain these trends.Conclusion The linear increase over time in correct weight perception and the decrease in overestimation may have a positive effect on unhealthy weight reduction behaviors among adolescents. However, the increase in underestimation could signal a need for interventions to strengthen correct weight perception among adolescents. Several implications for policy and practice are discussed.
ABSTRACTBackground Adolescence is a critical time for establishing behaviors. 24-hour movement behaviors, including physical activity, sleep, and sedentary time, are likely to influence obesity, cardiovascular, and cognitive health. The aim was to examine associations between 24-hr movement behaviors, cardiometabolic health and cognitive functions in adolescents with and without obesity.Methods This was a cross-sectional study that included adolescents (n = 30, ages 12–16) with obesity and normal weight controls matched on age and sex. 24-hr movement behaviors of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep were assessed using waist-worn accelerometers. Cardiometabolic health was measured using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery, body composition via dual x-ray absorptiometry, blood pressure, and blood analyses of cholesterol, glucose, and insulin. Cognitive health was assessed using two computer-based tasks. Linear regressions were used to examine associations between 24-hr movement behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and cognition.Results In examining relationships between 24-hr movement behaviors and cardiometabolic health, when adjusted for body fat percentage, MVPA was positively associated with cardiovascular health (FMD log difference 0.1, 95%CI: 0.003, 95%CI: .001, .01, p = .020), sedentary time was negatively associated (−0.7, 95%CI: −1.3, −0.2, p = .016), and total sleep time was negatively associated with HDL cholesterol (−0.1, 95%CI: −0.2, −0.005, p = .039). There were no statistically significant associations between 24-hr movement behaviors and cognitive outcomes, except sleep and reactive control. When examining relationships between cardiometabolic and cognitive outcomes, higher HDL was associated with improved cognitive accuracy and higher insulin was associated with slower reaction times.Conclusions 24-hour movement behaviors of MVPA, sedentary time, and sleep time were associated with cardiometabolic measurements in a small sample. 24-hr movement behaviors, particularly MVPA and sedentary time, may be important behaviors for cardiometabolic health in adolescents, independent of body composition. Additional research is needed on the triadic relationship between 24-hr movement behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and cognitive performance.
Background Childhood obesity prevention is crucial. This study aimed to assess the effect of a 6-month intervention with nutritional training and physical activity education on body fat, BMI-SDS, and consumption of sugary drinks and sweets in a sample of 69 Viennese schoolboys aged 8–11 years.Methods The "EDDY-Kids" study was a prevention project in a Viennese elementary school aiming to prevent excessive weight gain and obesity by increasing nutrition knowledge and daily physical activity. During the school year 2018/2019, 69 boys were recruited; weight, height, fat mass, and consumption of sugary drinks and sweets were examined at the beginning (December 2018) and at the end of the project (June 2019). Only the intervention group received nutrition lessons and physical activity education once and twice weekly, respectively.Results At baseline, 19/36 boys in the intervention group had overweight/obesity and 11/33 in the control group (p = 0.14). After the intervention, no significant differences in changes in BMI-SDS between the intervention and the control group were observed (p = 0.35). Body fat percentage changed from 30.5% (25.8–31.7%) to 29.4% (24.3–30.4%) in the intervention group, and from 23.3% (22.0–27.0%) to 23.7% (21.7–26.8%) in the control group (p = 0.013). At baseline, there were no differences in the consumption of sugary drinks and sweets between the intervention and the control group. After 6-months of intervention, the median consumption of sugary drinks and sweets remained similar in the intervention and the control group, and no differences between groups (p > 0.40) were found.Conclusion A 6-month combined intervention promoting healthier dietary and physical activity habits in schoolboys from Vienna positively and modestly affected the percentage of body fat. Reduced body fat may be beneficial independently of changes in BMI-SDS.
Background Earlier timing, and possibly faster tempo, of puberty is associated with overweight and obesity (Ow/Ob). However, most studies consider these concepts separately when investigating the implications to adolescent weight gain.Aim To assess pubertal timing and tempo associations with weight gain over early-mid adolescence.Subjects and methods This study analyzed data from 263 healthy adolescents (10–13y at recruitment) who were followed annually for three years. Growth models were employed to estimate timing and tempo of peak height growth and self-reported Tanner stage (TS) change. Timing and tempo variables were assessed against anthropometry and body composition change via mixed models (data: estimate [95% confidence interval]).Results In girls, earlier height and TS change were associated with higher BMI z-score (height: −0.51 [−0.85, −0.17], p = 0.004; TS: −0.43 [−0.67, −0.20], p < 0.001) and waist-to-height ratio (height: −0.02 [−0.04, −0.00]) 0.025; TS: −0.01 [−0.03, −0.00]; p = 0.028). There were no consistent findings for pubertal tempo among girls. In boys, earlier timing and slower tempo of height growth consistently related to higher adiposity across all anthropometric and body fat variables (all p < 0.01). Timing and tempo of TS change showed no consistent findings among boys.Conclusion Relative to pubertal tempo, girls with earlier height and TS change exhibited significantly higher BMI z-score and waist-to-height ratio. This finding corroborates strong evidence linking earlier female puberty with elevated adiposity. In boys, timing and tempo of height growth showed independent but compensatory relationships with anthropometry and body composition. This suggests the risk of excess weight gain in boys may be less attributable to puberty compared to other risk factors.
Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is still widely regarded as a cosmetic or optic problem. This is not only true for parents, who frequently do not recognise, that a child is or becomes obese, it is also true for many physicians, paediatricians, general practitioners, teachers and so on. The reason for their refusal to believe overweight that obesity is present in a particular child is manifold: some parents/grandparents think that a baby/child with overweight is healthier than a child which looks undernourished. The other reason is the fact that a majority of parents do not want to realize that their child is overweight or obese, because they are suppressing their feelings to be responsible for this fact. The only consequence of these facts is that the scientific and medical community must increase all supreme efforts to improve information, education both on a medical and on a psychological basis. In this regard, the psychological problems of children suffering from obesity is also widely underestimated many obese children and adolescents report that they are being mocked and disrespected from their peers in school and in their social environment. Some of them have severe problems to maintain social contacts which often follows isolation and depression (Rankin 2016; Smith and Kobayashi 2020). The other side of the coin is the economic damage and injury of obesity in the young population. A recent publication of OECD describes clearly that children pay a large price being overweight or obese. They have poorer success in their schools and less possibilities for a higher education. They have less “life satisfaction”. OECD countries spend 8,4% of their budget for the treatment of obesity and follow-up diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, joint problems, liver damages. Psychological problems, etc.). Overweight is responsible for approximately 70% of the costs for diabetes, 23% cardiovascular diseases and 9% for cancer. The experts of OECD conclude, that prevention of obesity is the best method to avoid most of these medical, psychological and economic problems (OECD 2019). They have calculated that 1 USD spent on prevention is accompanied by an economic return of 6 USD. CHILD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY 2022, VOL. 5, NO. 1, 1–2 https://doi.org/10.1080/2574254X.2021.2019556
INTRODUCTION:A few studies have identified childhood animal exposure as associated with adiposity, but results are inconsistent and differ in timing.METHODS:We conducted an observational cohort study of children ages 4-8 in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes [ECHO] study. The main exposure was having a dog in the home and/or regular contact with farm animals during the first year of life. Outcomes of interest were child BMI percentile (adjusted for gender and age) categorized as normal/underweight (<85th percentile), overweight (85th to <95th), and obese (≥95th), and percent fat mass (continuous). Associations were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression and multivariable linear regression, respectively, with and without multiple imputation.RESULTS:First year animal exposure occurred in 245 of 770 (31.8%) children. Children with early animal exposure had 0.53 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.997) times the odds of being in the obese BMI category compared to those exposed to animals after controlling for covariates: maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, race/ethnicity, reported child activity level, receiving food assistance, age child began daycare (<1 year vs 1+), exclusively breastfed x6 months, and NICU admission (n=721). Children with early animal exposure had, on average, 1.5% (95% CI: -3.0, -0.1) less fat mass than exposed children after adjustment for maternal BMI, race/ethnicity, activity, food assistance, breastfeeding, and maternal education (n=548). Multiple imputation did not alter either result.CONCLUSION:These results provide evidence that exposure to dogs or farm animals in the first year of life is associated with lower odds of obesity and lower percent fat mass in childhood.
Background:Malta is an obesogenic country with low levels of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reported amongst Maltese children. Schools play a significant cost-effective role in delivering and encouraging physical activity and thus contributing to population health. So far, there were no specific school-based physical activity interventions in Malta. This creates a public health action gap. The study will assess the feasibility of Maltese children engaging in MVPA in more than 50% of Physical Education lesson time through an evidence-based PE curriculum. Its longitudinal effects on school children's anthropometric factors, cardiorespiratory fitness and biomechanical variables are evaluated.Methods:One-hundred twenty 9-to-10-year-old children, attending state primary schools, participated in a time-series study design over one scholastic year. The intervention group (n = 76) had Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) PE curriculum. The control group (n = 44) was taught the national PE curriculum. The functional outcome measures included vertical jump height and posturography. Lesson MVPA levels were measured with the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT). Other measurements included: BMI z-scores, waist circumference and resting heart rate (RHR).Results:Achievement of >50% of PE lesson time in MVPA intensity is feasible through an evidence-based PE curriculum (60.43% from a baseline of 36.43% in intervention group vs 39.06% from a baseline of 39.89% in control). The intervention group reported improvements in BMI z-scores (p = 0.007; CI = 0.02, 0.15), RHR (p = 0.009; CI = 1.10, 7.46), balance parameters and jump height (p = 0.020; CI = −2.42, −0.23).Conclusions:MVPA levels were successfully increased through the evidence-based physical education curriculum with resultant positive health effects. Force platform analysis allows objective fitness monitoring in schoolchildren. This study recommends the integration of evidence-based PE curricula as a public health initiative against childhood obesity.
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Several studies have analyzed the role of antioxidant minerals as positive modulators of the immune system in facing viral infections. We discuss their possible protective role in Sars-Cov 2 infection selecting minerals for which literature provides most evidences, such as zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and selenium (Se).DISCUSSION: All these minerals have a role in modulating antiviral and antibacterial immunity and to regulate the inflammatory response. Their deficiency is associated with a higher prevalence of respiratory tract infections andendothelial dysfunction. These features are related to COVID-19 pathophysiology.CONCLUSIONS: It seems that an optimal micronutrient status in terms of Zn, Mg and Se, is able to effectively strengthen the immune system during the COVID-19 infection. Anyway, further studies are necessary.
ABSTRACT Objective: To identify dietary patterns (DP) of children enrolled in the Family Weight Management Study (FWMS) and to examine relationship between the identified DP with demographics. Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 332 children (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex and 7–12 years old) who were enrolled in the FWMS. The Block Kids Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Principal component analysis was conducted to identify DPs. Setting: Participants were recruited from Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY from July 2009 – December 2011. Results: The mean age of the children was 9.3 (±1.7 SD) years; about half were female and 75% self-identified as Hispanic/Latino. The majority of parents/guardians were born outside of the mainland USA and half had less than a high school education. We identified a “pizza-pasta” DP (high loadings of pizza, pasta, red meat, chicken, fries, sweets, processed meat, and sweet breads) and a “snacks-dessert” DP (high loadings of snacks, desserts, soft drinks, and bread and refined grains) but no healthy patterns with high loadings of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products. The “pizza-pasta” pattern was associated with parents/guardian being born in the mainland USA and having a higher educational level (p < 0.05) whereas the “snack-dessert” pattern was not significantly associated with any of the demographic variables. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that poor DP is common among second-generation immigrant Hispanic/Latino children who are obese/overweight. Future research needs to address how parental education and acculturation status are related to DP to inform future directions for preventing childhood obesity.
