The role of fruit consumption in the prevention of obesity

Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its comorbidities: evidence report of independent panel to assess the role of physical activity in the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.

Recently, overweight and obesity among adolescents have become a growing concern, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of both preventive and effective management strategies. The present study aimed to assess knowledge and practices on the prevention of overweight and obesity among secondary school adolescents in Morogoro Municipality. An institutional‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from April to May 2023 among 253 randomly selected students studying in Form 1, Form 2, and 3 classes. Data were collected through face‐to‐face interviews using a semi‐structured questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 25 was used for descriptive statistics to describe the study variables and logistic regression to identify factors associated with knowledge and practices on prevention of overweight and obesity. Among 253 respondents, 129 (51.0%) were females. Approximately 30% (n = 75) of the students mentioned vegetables and fruits as healthy foods, while 20.6% (n = 57) of the students were not aware of unhealthy foods. Despite the small number of students knowing that fruits and vegetables are healthy, only 20.2% (n = 51) and 43.5% (n = 110) reported consuming them 7 days a week, respectively. Most of the participants (82.2%, n = 208) were aware of the causes of overweight and obesity, and increasing physical activity (51.8%, n = 131) was the most cited preventive measure. Being in a higher level of study, that is, Form 2 (AOR 9.33, 95% CI: 2.71–32.10) and Form 3 (AOR 5.02, 95% CI: 1.38–18.25) were significantly associated with increased knowledge and practices on prevention of overweight and obesity. Conclusively, knowledge and practices regarding the prevention of obesity and overweight among secondary school adolescents vary significantly. While some aspects showed good knowledge and practices, others were less understood and practiced. This suggests a need for implementing a comprehensive community‐based health education program focusing on adolescents as a window of opportunity for current and future prevention of overweight, obesity, and associated comorbidities.

Obesity in children and adolescents worldwide: current views and future directions--Working Group Report of the First World Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.

Sugar-sweetened beverages, milk intake, and obesity in children and adolescents

ObjectiveTo examine the effects of different nutritional intervention strategies in the school setting on anthropometric and quality of diet outcomes by comparing and ranking outcomes in a network meta-analysis.DesignSystematic review...

Background: Overweight and obesity are among the so-called epidemics of the 21st century. An increasing number of children and youth are also affected by them. According to the forecasts of the “Institute of Mother and Child”, over the next decade each year the number of overweight children will increase by 400 thousand, including approximately 80 thousand obese children. Overweight and obesity are particularly dangerous for children at preschool and school age as it increases the risk of numerous diseases as well as physical and emotional problems.Objective: The objective of this article is to present implementation of health policy programs concerning prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity among children and youth between 2009-2015 by local government units.Methods: The study was conducted based on desk research. Databases of the Ministry of Health prepared by each voivodeship containing information about implemented health policy programs with regards to overweight and obesity among children and youth were used.Results: Between 2009-2015, local government units at all levels implemented 215 health policy programs concerning overweight and obesity among children and youth. Most programs were implemented by municipalities and counties. The costs incurred by counties and voivodeships were significantly higher than costs incurred by municipalities. Most programs were implemented in the West Pomeranian, Silesian and Masovian Voivodeships. The most common activities included consultations with a dietician, group trainings for children within school classes and various competitions concerning healthy diet and physical activity. The Podlaskie and Świetokrzyskie Voivodeships implemented the smallest number of programs.Conclusion: Programs implemented by local government units were poorly adjusted to the actual health needs of children and youth in terms of prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. Local government units indicated insufficient engagement in prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity among children and youth. Programs implemented by local government units is have not any casual relationship on obesity prevalence. An insufficient number of program participants were observed. It demonstrates the need to evaluate the activities aimed at fighting overweight and obesity among children and youth. The number of health policy programs should be increased and the forms of program implementation should be more attractive-this will allow more people to be included in the activities.

This article reports on a systematic review of articles on food labeling and the prevention of obesity and overweight, in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Library Plus, Food Science and Technology Abstracts, LILACS, and CINAHL databases. The DeCS/MeSH descriptors were obesity and food labeling. 207 articles were retrieved. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were selected: 11 were on food labeling and its impact on final food product consumption; 2 were on fast food establishments; 1 on sensory attributes as compared to health recommendations; and 2 on follow-up of interventions. Labeling has a positive effect on final food product consumption, in contrast with fast food restaurants. Sensory attributes were more effective than recommendations on the labels. Follow-up of interventions confirmed the long-term effect of the target interventions.

Higher Intake of Fruit, but Not Vegetables or Fiber, at Baseline Is Associated with Lower Risk of Becoming Overweight or Obese in Middle-Aged and Older Women of Normal BMI at Baseline1-3

Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

The relation between habitual physical activity and the prevention of overweight and obesity in adults based on the evidence from the epidemiologic literature is described. Literature was reviewed of current findings from large population-based studies of forward directionality in which physical activity was considered as a primary study factor. The longitudinal evidence suggests that habitual physical activity plays more of a role in attenuating age-related weight gain, rather than in promoting weight loss. Moreover, recent data suggest that increasing amounts of physical activity may be necessary to effectively maintain a constant body weight with increasing age. Over decades, small savings in excess weight gain accumulate into net savings that may be quite meaningful with regard to minimizing the risk associated with obesity-related disorders. The question remains as to how important maintaining a constant body weight through middle age and into older age is to healthy, already-active people of normal body weight.

Obesity is considered a major public health issue in most developed countries nowadays. This paper provides an overview of current population data available in Spain and the approach to develop preventive strategies in the country. Review of population data available is based on individually measured weight and height as well as determinants. On this basis, the approach used in the country to develop preventive strategies is discussed. According to the DORICA study, the prevalence of obesity (BMI >or=30 kg m-2) is 15.5% in Spanish adults aged 25-60 years (13.2% in men and 17.5% in women). Obesity rates are higher among women aged 45 years and older, low social class, living in semi-urban places. Population estimates for the prevalence of obesity in Spanish children and young people based on the enKid study are 13.9% for the whole group. In this study, overweight and obesity is related to absence of breastfeeding, low consumption of fruit and vegetables, high consumption of cakes, buns, softdrinks and butchery products, low physical activity levels and a positive association with time spent watching TV. In 2005, the Spanish Ministry of Health jointly with the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition launched the multifaceted NAOS strategy for nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of obesity. The important role of the family and the school setting as well as the responsibility of the Health Administration and Pediatric Care in the prevention of obesity is highlighted in the document. The need for environmental actions is recognised. The PERSEO programme, a multicomponent school-based intervention project is part of the strategy currently in place. Obesity is a public health issue in Spain. A national multifaceted strategy was launched to counteract the problem. Environmental and policy actions are a priority. Young children and their families are among the main target groups.

Dietary determinants of obesity

Introduction: Adolescent obesity is a major public health challenge and it is a growing epidemic. Change in diet and physical inactivity are the key factors affecting weight among adolescents. Due to this, the prevalence of non communicable diseases and their risk factors are alarmingly high among them. To tackle this issue, early identification and effective health promotion strategies at a young age need to be adopted. Hence, there is a need for understanding the current trend in overweight and obesity among growing adolescents. Aim: To identify the lifestyle practices and to determine knowledge on prevention and control of overweight and obesity among overweight and obese adolescents in selected urban high schools at Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada (D.K.), India. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents at selected urban high schools of Mangaluru, D K, India. A sample of 360 adolescents were screened to identify the occurrence of overweight and obesity. Body Mass Index (BMI) was computed using the formula, BMI=weight (Kg)/ height (m2). A total of 65 overweight and obese adolescents were assessed for lifestyle practices and level of knowledge on prevention and control of overweight and obesity. Demographic proforma, a structured knowledge questionnaire, and a self-report lifestyle practice rating scale were used to collect data. Results: The occurrence of overweight and obesity among adolescents was 18%. According to their BMI status, 9.7% of adolescents were overweight and 8.3% of them were obese. Self- reported lifestyle practice scores depicted that most (86.2%) of the overweight and obese adolescents follow unhealthy lifestyle practices. Majority (66.1%) of the adolescents had only average knowledge on prevention and control of overweight and obesity. Conclusion: Though a maximum number of adolescents had average knowledge on prevention and control of overweight and obesity, unhealthy lifestyle practices are major risk factors for overweight and obesity among growing adolescents. Overweight and obese adolescents should strictly follow healthy lifestyle practices.

The rapid increase in overweight and obesity in children is a global public health problem. Interventions to reduce the prevalence of obesity before puberty are considered to be the most effective, but the results of trials are not consistent enough. We performed a meta-analysis of the efficacy of interventions to prevent or correct overweight and obesity in pre-pubertal children. Thirty-one Cochrane systematic reviews were analyzed, the results of 10 RCTs and two prospective comparative studies were extracted. All trials had an moderate or high risk of bias. According to the results of meta-analyzes, the prevention of overweight and obesity through recommendations of lifestyle modification is effective, the difference in a BMI decrease is -0.19, 95% CI [-0.35; -0.03], compared with the absence of intervention, in children 78 years old if applied within 24 years, but not within one year or less. The effect of non-drug interventions in children with overweight or obesity was not revealed.

In Norway, children and adolescents consume only about half of the national five-a-day recommendation. There are also rather large social inequalities in health, and in eating behaviours. In order to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, a subscription programme was initiated in 1996 and made nationwide in 2003, and a free programme (without parental payment) has been implemented nationwide from 2007. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of these efforts. Pupils in the sixth and seventh grades (age 10-12 years) at twenty-seven schools responded to a questionnaire in 2001 (n 1488, 85 %) and in 2008 (n 1339, 78 %). FV intake was measured by a 24-h recall. In 2001, none of the schools had any organised school fruit programme. In 2008, five schools participated in the free school fruit programme, ten schools participated in the subscription programme and twelve schools did not participate in any official programme. The increases in fruit intake at school were 0.49, 0.29 and 0.18 portions/school day, respectively, for the Free Fruit 08, Subscription 08 and No Programme 08 schools (time x group P < 0.001), and 0.74, 0.39 and 0.16 portions/d for fruit intake all day (time x group P = 0.04). No group effect was observed for vegetable intake. There has been an increase in pupils' fruit intake from 2001 to 2008 in Norway, and the school fruit programmes seem to have been effective. A great challenge remains in increasing vegetable intake.