Nucleus Accumbens Fractional Anisotropy and Children’s Body Mass Index: Moderating Role of Race and Family Income

The nucleus accumbens' (NAc) size, function, and density influence individuals' body mass index (BMI). However, little is known about racial and socioeconomic status (SES) differences in the role of NAc density as a predictor of childhood BMI. We used the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) data to investigate racial and SES differences in the effect of NAc density on childhood BMI. This cross-sectional study included 9497 children between ages 9 and 10. Mixed-effects regression models were used to analyze the data. The predictor variable was NAc density measured using diffusion MRI (dMRI). The outcome variable was BMI, operationalized as a continuous variable. Covariates included sex, age, ethnicity, family structure, and parental education. Race (White, African American, Asian, and Other/mixed) and household income (< 50k, 50-100 k, and 100+ k) were the moderators. High NAc diffusion tension (density) was predictive of higher BMI, net of covariates. However, the positive association between NAc density and BMI was stronger in African Americans than in White, and in low-income than in high-income children. Our findings suggest that although high NAc has implications for children's BMI, this effect varies across racial and SES groups. More research should be performed on the role of obesogenic environments in altering the effect of NAc on childhood BMI.

Background: There is mixed literature on the association between cerebral cortex morphometry and body mass index (BMI), with only some but not all studies documenting an inverse association between cortical thickness (CT) and BMI. As the association between CT and BMI is inconsistent in the literature, we propose that racial and socioeconomic status (SES) differences may exist in this regard. Objectives: We borrowed the adolescent brain cognitive development (ABCD) data to investigate racial and SES differences in CT and childhood BMI associations. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 10,185 children between ages 9 and 10. Mixed-effects regression was used to analyze the data. The independent variable was CT measured using structural MRI. The dependent variable was BMI treated as a continuous variable. Covariates included ethnicity, sex, age, family structure, parental education, and intracranial volume. Race (White, Black, Asian, and Other/mixed) and household income levels (&lt; 50 k, 50 - 100 k, and 100 + k) were the effect modifiers. Results: High CT was predictive of lower BMI (b for main effect of CT on BMI = -3.134; P &lt; 0.001). However, the inverse association between CT and BMI was stronger in Black than White (b for interaction between race and CT = -2.39; P = 0.01255), and low-income than high-income children (b for interaction between income 50 - 100 k = 1.86; P = 0.02906; for interaction between income 100 + k b = 3.77; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that although high CT is associated with lower BMI in children, this association varies across racial and SES groups. More research is needed on obesogenic environments’ role in altering the salience of cerebral cortex morphometry as a risk factor for high BMI.

To evaluate the dependence of body mass index (BMI) values on pubertal stage in subjects similar in age. Height and weight were recorded cross-sectionally in school subjects from three provinces in central Italy. The subjects were subdivided into three groups: (1) 4271 school subjects (2125 males and 2146 females; 8.5-15.5 y old), in whom the pubertal development was also recorded, were selected to subdivide BMI values according to pubertal stage and age; (2) 6345 females (10.5-14.5 y old), who were asked whether or not they had had their first menstrual period, were selected to subdivide BMI values according to age in pre-menarche and post-menarche girls, separately; and (3) 1919 females (10.5-14.5 y old), who had presented their menarche within the previous 6 months, were selected to subdivide short-term post-menarche BMI values according to age. The medians and interquartile ranges of BMI varied according to age and pubertal stage. Kruskall-Wallis test performed in subjects similar in age demonstrated that significant differences existed among the medians of BMI values of subjects at different pubertal stages in 12-14-y-old males (P<0.05), and in 11-14-y- old females (P<0.001). The difference also proved to be significant between stage I and stage II (P<0.05) in 10-y-old females, but not in 10-11-y-old males. The Kruskal-Wallis test performed in subjects similar in pubertal stage demonstrated that significant differences among the medians of BMI at different ages existed only in females at stages II and III. A significant positive trend was observed in both genders according to pubertal stage for BMI values of subjects similar in age (z-test for trend, P<0.01). On the contrary, a negative age trend proved to be significant in females at stages I (P<0.01), II (P<0.01) and III (P<0.001), but not in males when the subdivision of BMI was made according to age in subjects similar in pubertal stage. BMI values were significantly higher in post-menarche girls as compared to pre-menarche girls similar in age (P<0.001). However, at partial regression analysis BMI values were influenced by pubertal stage and, to a lesser extent, by age, but not by menarcheal status. An inverse association between short-term post-menarche BMI and age was observed, with the highest values in girls presenting menarche at 11 y of age (P<0.05). The negative trend was demonstrated at the z-test for trend (P<0.001). BMI values depend on pubertal degree of maturation, especially in girls. This influence should be taken into account when BMI is evaluated in adolescents. University of Perugia, Region of Umbria.

Purpose: Physical inactivity and overweight status has been linked to low socioeconomic status (SES) in youth. Parents are known to influence both their child’s weight and physical activity (PA). The relationship between parent and child PA is of interest to many researchers; however, previous research typically relies on self-reported measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parent and child moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of children (4–11 years old) using wrist-worn accelerometers and to explore mediating processes by which SES influences child MVPA and BMI through their parents MVPA and BMI. Methods: Parent and child dyads (n = 174) wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist for 7 days. Mediation analyses were conducted to understand the indirect relationships between SES and child MVPA and BMI. Results: Weekend parent and child MVPA was significantly related (p < .01). Parent and child BMIs were also significantly related (p < .001). There was a significant negative direct effect of SES on child BMI (p < .05). Additionally, we observed a significant negative indirect effect of SES on child BMI via their parents BMI (B = −.04, SE .02, 95% CI = −.07 to −.01). Conclusions: Whilst parent and child MVPA were significantly related during the weekend, there were no associations between SES and MVPA. Future interventions aiming to improve health outcomes in children should consider the influence SES can have as well as parental activity on children’s weekend MVPA.

Mendelian randomization analysis separated the independent impact of childhood obesity and adult obesity on socioeconomic status, psychological status, and substance use

BMI: Does it really reflect body fat mass?

The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children and investigate if allergenic rhinitis demonstrated any effects on developmental growth levels and body mass indexes (BMI) in children. 651 students, between 3-15 years of age who were randomly selected from four elementary schools located at Kartal, Istanbul were assessed according to symptoms and the presence of AR by nasal examination with the aid of a 0 degree 2.7 mm hand rigid endoscope. Height and weight percentile values of students regarding growth according to age and their BMI were calculated and statically assessed. Results obtained are presented. Findings obtained from a questionnaire and clinical examination does not allow us to perform a definite differentiation regarding in school children at age 3-5. The prevalence of AR in girls is higher. However, there are no any significant differences regarding BMIs in children with or without AR (p < 0,142). But there are statistically significant differences regarding height and weight percentiles in children with and without AR. Accordingly, there was a tendency in children diagnosed with AR to display low values related with height and weight percentiles. In Pearson chi-square testing, p values of percentile values related with weight (p < 0,032) and p values of percentiles related with height (p < 0,001) were determined. AR prevalence was higher in girls independently from BMI values. We determined a strong relationship between BMI values and AR dependant to age and gender.

The gold standard for categorisation of weight status is clinically measured body mass index (BMI), but this is often not practical in large epidemiological studies. To determine if a child's weight perception or a mother's perception of a child's weight status is a viable alternative to measured height and weight in determining BMI classification. Secondary outcomes are to determine the influence of a mother's BMI on her ability to categorise the child's BMI and a child's ability to recognise his/her own BMI. Cross-sectional analysis of the growing up in Ireland cohort study, a nationally representative cohort of 8568 9-year-old children. The variables considered for this analysis are the child's gender, BMI (International Obesity Taskforce grade derived from measured height and weight) and self-perceived weight status, and the mother's weight perception of the child, BMI (derived from measured height and weight) and self-perceived weight status. Cohen's weighted-kappa was used to evaluate the strength of the agreement between pairwise combinations of the BMI variables. Cumulative and adjacent categories logistic regression were used to predict how likely a person rates themselves as under, normal or overweight, based on explanatory variables. Mothers are more accurate at correctly classifying their child's BMI (κ=0.5; confidence intervals (CI) 0.38-0.51) than the children themselves (κ=0.25; CI 0.23-0.26). Overweight mothers are better raters of their child's BMI (κ=0.51; CI 0.49-0.54), compared with normal (κ=0.44; CI 0.41-0.47) or underweight mothers (κ=0.4; CI 0.22-0.58), regardless of whether the mother's BMI is derived from measured height and weight or self-perceived. The mother's perception of the child's weight status is not an influencing factor on the child's ability to correctly classify him/herself, but the child's self-perceived weight status influences the mother's ability to correctly classify the child. A mother's BMI classification of her child is a viable alternative to BMI measurement in large epidemiological studies.

Beyond Our Pages

The relative contribution of childhood and pubertal body mass index (BMI) for the risk of adult colorectal cancer is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent associations for childhood BMI and pubertal BMI change with risk of colorectal cancer in men. We included 37,663 men born in 1946 to 1961 who had weight and height measured at 8 (childhood) and 20 (young adult age) years of age available from the BMI Epidemiology Study. Information on colorectal cancer was retrieved from the Swedish National Patient Register (257 cases of colon cancer and 159 cases of rectal cancer). Childhood BMI at 8 years of age [HR, 1.19 per SD increase; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.33], but not pubertal BMI change (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.90-1.15), was associated with increased risk of colon cancer. Due to a significant interaction between childhood BMI and pubertal BMI change (P < 0.001), we stratified the analyses according to the median of pubertal BMI change. Childhood BMI was associated with risk of colon cancer in individuals with a pubertal BMI change above, but not below, the median (above: HR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.26-1.74; below: HR = 0.95, 95% CI, 0.80-1.12). Neither childhood BMI nor pubertal BMI change was associated with rectal cancer. High childhood BMI was associated with increased risk of colon cancer only if it was followed by a pubertal BMI increase above the median. Further studies should evaluate prepubertal childhood BMI in relation to pubertal BMI change and BMI in middle age for the risk of colon cancer.

Background and aimThe independent effects of childhood and adult body mass index (BMI) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are lacking assessment. We aimed to separate the effects of childhood and adult BMI on NAFLD, cirrhosis, and HCC. MethodsGenetic variants associated with childhood and adult BMI were selected as instrumental variables. Two-sample univariable and multivariable MR estimated the total and direct effect of childhood and adult BMI on NAFLD, cirrhosis, and HCC. ResultsGenetically predicted each 1-SD increased childhood BMI (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.12 to 1.51, P = 0.001) and adult BMI (OR = 1.57 95 % CI = 1.33 to 1.84, P = 5.49E-08) was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. The association between childhood BMI (OR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.77 to 1.24, P = 0.825) and NAFLD did not remain significant after adjusting for adult BMI (OR = 1.64, 95 % CI = 1.23 to 2.20, P = 0.001). The direct effects of childhood and adult BMI on cirrhosis and HCC were insignificant after considering their relationship. ConclusionMaintaining a normal BMI in adulthood significantly reduces the adverse effect of a higher childhood BMI on NAFLD. Further investigation is required to clarify the presence of this effect in cirrhosis and HCC.

SAT0681 The causal association between childhood and adulthood body mass index and osteoarthritis: a mendelian randomizationstudy

Background and Study Aim. This study aims to examine the relationship between the development of motor skills and the socio-economic status of families with body mass index (BMI) of children with autism disorder. Material and Methods. To this end, 68 children with autism at the age range of 6-13 years old were selected for the study. Their parents completed Family Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire. The motor skills level of children was measured by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). The height and weight of children were measured to calculate their BMI. Results. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed that there is a significant and negative relationship between the development of motor skills and the socioeconomic status of families with BMI of children with autism. The results of the linear regression test also indicated that motor development and family socioeconomic status are predictors of BMI in people with autism (P&lt;0.05). Conclusions. It is concluded that the socioeconomic status of the family and the motor development of children with autism are the determinants of their overweight and obesity and these factors should be considered in the interventions for children and families.

This study investigated secular trends in socio-economic status (SES) differentials in Australian suicide (1979-2003), which includes overall declines in male suicide from 1998. Suicide rates were stratified by approximate equal-population quintiles of area-based SES for the period 1979-2003 and examined across five quinquennia, centred on each Australian Census from 1981 to 2001, to determine if (1) SES differentials in suicide have persisted over time, and (2) if SES differentials have widened or narrowed. Suicide rates (per 100,000) were adjusted for confounding by sex, age, country-of-birth, and urban-rural residence using Poisson regression models, and secular changes in SES differentials were assessed using trend tests on suicide rate ratios (low to high SES quintiles). Socio-economic status (SES) differentials persisted across the study period for both males and females after adjusting for the effects of age, migrant status, and urban-rural residence, with the largest differences between low and high SES groups evident in males, and especially young males (20-34 years). For males, suicide rates increased significantly in all SES groups until 1998, before diverging significantly in the most recent 5-year period, particularly in younger males (P<0.0001). In young males, suicide rates in the most recent period increased in the low SES group from 44.8 in 1994-1998 to 48.6 in 1999-2003 (an 8% increase). In contrast, suicide rates in the middle SES group decreased from a peak of 37.3 to 33.5 (a 10% decrease), and in the high SES group from a peak of 33.0 to 27.9 (a 15% decrease). A similar statistically significant divergence of a lesser magnitude was also evident in all age males and younger females (20-34 years). This study shows that SES differentials in suicide persisted in Australia for most of the period 1979-2004. The decline in suicide in young males in the most recent quinquennium was limited to middle and high SES groups, while the low SES group displayed a continued increase. The continued increase in suicide in low SES males has implications for social and economic intervention and suicide control programs.

ObjectiveTo determine whether gestational weight gain (GWG) was associated with increased odds of childhood overweight after accounting for pre-pregnancy BMI.MethodsIn a prospective cohort study based on a premarital and perinatal health care system in China, data of 100 612 mother-child pairs were obtained. The main exposure was GWG as both a continuous and categorical variable. The outcome measure was overweight, defined by age- and sex-specific cutoff values for body mass index (BMI) in children aged 3–6 years.ResultsA 1-kg increase in maternal GWG was associated with an increase of 0.009 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.007–0.010, P < 0.001) in children’s mean BMI; in the subgroup of pre-pregnancy overweight/obese mothers, the increase in children’s BMI was 0.028 (95% CI, 0.017–0.039, P < 0.001). Excessive GWG played an important role in childhood overweight when adequate GWG was used as the reference, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.21 (95% CI, 1.12–1.29). The risk was highest (OR 2.22; 95% CI, 1.79–2.76) in the children of mothers who were overweight/obese before pregnancy and gained excessive weight during pregnancy.ConclusionsGreater maternal GWG was associated with greater offspring BMI, and the risk of overweight was doubled in children whose mothers were overweight/obese before pregnancy and gained excessive weight during pregnancy. As a result, maintenance of appropriate weight gain during pregnancy and prophylaxis of maternal overweight/obesity before pregnancy should be a strategy for preventing childhood overweight/obesity.