Overweight Children Research Articles

Association Between Sociodemographic Status and Physical Functioning of Obese School Going Children- A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Obesity is major non-communicable disease (NCD) all over the world affecting both children & adult. More than 30 million overweight children are living in developing countries & 10 million in developed countries. Childhood obesity leads to a significant reduction in health-related functioning. So, the negative effects of childhood obesity on quality of life (QoL) have to be determined to combat the problem. Objective: To determine the association between sociodemographic status and physical functioning of obese school going children. Methods: This was a cross sectional type of descriptive study conducted at different schools of Rajshahi city from June 2015 to September 2015. Four (4) schools were selected- a) Govt. Laboratory High School, Rajshahi b) Rajshahi Collegiate School c) River view Collectorate School, Rajshahi and d) Rajshahi University School. The study population were 5 to 15 years old obese school children. A total number of 221 children were interviewed. Results: The ages of the respondents were between 4 to 15 years, and the mean age was 7.83±3.058 years. Among the 221 respondents more than half (56.6%) were in 4-7 years of age group, another 24.0% belonged to the age group of 8- 11 years and only 19.5% were 12- 15 years age group. Weight of the respondents was from 20 to 65 kg and mean weight of the respondents was (41.64±10.75). Here, 36.2% weight was from 37-47 kg and 29.0% weight was from 26-36 kg. Another 23.1%, 7.7% and 4.1% weight was from 48-58 kg, 59-69 kg and 15-25 kg respectively. There was no significant relationship with respondent age and sex with physical functioning (p ≥ 0.05). There was a significant relationship with weight and physical functioning (p≤0.05). Conclusions: The sociodemographic status may influence the physical functioning of the obese school going children. Their lifestyle must be modified in this early life otherwise they will be affected by different non communicable disease J Rang Med Col. March 2024; Vol. 9, No. 1: 71-76

Gut Mycobiome in Atopic Dermatitis and in Overweight Young Children: A Prospective Cohort Study in Finland.

Gut bacterial alterations have been previously linked to several non-communicable diseases in adults, while the association of mycobiome is not well understood in these diseases, especially in infants and children. Few studies have been conducted on the association between gut mycobiome and non-communicable diseases in children. We investigated gut mycobiome composition using 194 faecal samples collected at birth, 6 months after birth, and 18 months after birth in relation to atopic dermatitis (AD) and overweight diagnoses at the age of 18 or 36 months. The mycobiome exhibited distinct patterns, with Truncatella prevalent in the meconium samples of both overweight and non-overweight groups. Saccharomyces took precedence in overweight cases at 6 and 18 months, while Malassezia dominated non-overweight samples at 6 months. Saccharomyces emerged as a consistent high-abundance taxon across groups that had dermatitis and were overweight. We found a weak association between gut mycobiome and AD at birth and overweight at 18 months when using machine learning (ML) analyses. In ML, unidentified fungi, Alternaria, Rhodotorula, and Saccharomyces, were important for classifying AD, while Saccharomyces, Thelebolus, and Dothideomycetes were important for classifying overweight. Gut mycobiome might be associated with the development of AD and overweight in children.

Standardized diagnosis and assessment of overweight or obesity in children

Standardized diagnosis and assessment of overweight or obesity in children

Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension in Obese Children

The prevalence of hypertension in overweight and obese children is 14% and 33%, respectively. Additional information such as age, gender, and height needed to define hypertension in children. In addition, blood pressure measurement in obese children faces many challenges. Therefore, the diagnosis of hypertension in obese children needs to be carefully considered. Body weight reduction through diet management and physical activity remain the main management strategy for hypertension in obese children. Persistent hypertension after 6-12 months despite a healthy lifestyle needs additional medication.

Prevalence and Determinants of Obesity and Overweight Among Children and Adolescents in the Middle East and North African Countries: An Updated Systematic Review.

In recent years, the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have experienced alarming increases in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. This updated systematic review sought to measure the prevalence and determinants of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents in MENA countries. A literature search for relevant observational studies published in English was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Saudi Digital Library. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Twenty-one published articles during the past five years were included in the systematic review. Varied approaches were used to diagnose childhood overweight and obesity, including the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF), Centre for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Saudi Growth Pattern Curves. We found that the combined prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in the Middle East is up to 49.4%, depending on the methods applied in their studies. Risk factors identified were age, male gender, lack of sufficient physical activity, consumption of fried food, perceived stress level, number of family members, family size, mother's occupation, education level, family history of obesity, high energy consumption from carbohydrates, ≥2 hours spent on watching television on weekend days with overweight, and always eating breakfast while watching television with obesity. The results of this review indicate that the issue of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in the Middle East is substantial and concerning. Most of the risk factors identified are modifiable and, if given appropriate attention, could significantly reduce the burden of associated chronic complications.

The Associations between Neighborhood Characteristics and Childhood Overweight and Obesity in a National Dataset

BackgroundNational child obesity rates continue to climb. While neighborhood factors are known to influence childhood weight, more work is needed to further our understanding of these relationships and inform intervention and policy approaches reflective of complex real-world contexts. MethodsTo evaluate the associations between neighborhood components and childhood overweight/obesity, we analyzed sequential, cross-sectional data from the National Survey of Children’s Health collected annually between 2016 and 2021. To characterize the complexity of children’s neighborhood environments, several interrelated neighborhood factors were examined: amenities, detractions, support, and safety. We used ordinal logistic regression models to evaluate the associations between these exposures of interest and childhood weight status, adjusting for potential confounders. ResultsOur analytic sample contained 96,858 children representing a weighted population of 28,228,799 children ages 10–17 years. Child weight status was healthy in 66.5%, overweight in 16.8%, and obese in 17.2%. All four neighborhood factors were associated with child weight status. The odds of overweight or obesity generally increased with a decreasing number of amenities and increasing number of detractions, with the highest adjusted odds ratio seen with no amenities and all three possible detractions (1.71; 95% confidence interval [1.31, 2.11]). ConclusionsMultiple factors within a child’s neighborhood environment were associated with child weight status in this sample representative of the US population aged 10–17 years. This suggests the need for future research into how policies and programs can support multiple components of a healthy neighborhood environment simultaneously to reduce rates of childhood overweight/obesity.

Congenital epiblepharon in Chinese school-age children: a cross-sectional study

PurposeTo investigate the prevalence and body mass index (BMI) associations of congenital lower epiblepharon in children in China and the difference in the refractive errors between children with and without epiblepharon. MethodsChildren 6-12 years of age in Beichen District of Tianjin were screened for congenital epiblepharon from September to October 2017. All children underwent slit-lamp examination, strabismus screening, visual acuity examination and refraction. Weight and height were also recorded. The prevalence of lower epiblepharon in school-age children was evaluated, and its association with age, sex, BMI, and refractive error was analyzed. ResultsA total of 28,225 children were examined; 564 had epiblepharon. The prevalence of epiblepharon was found to be, for 6-year-olds, 2.50%; for 7-year-olds, 2.13%; for 8-year-olds, 2.10%; for 9-year-olds, 1.97%; for 10-year-olds, 1.85%; for 11-year-olds, 1.67%; and for 12-year-olds, 1.19% (P < 0.05). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with epiblepharon was found to be 16.7% and 47.2%, respectively. The prevalence and degree of astigmatism was higher than in nonepiblepharon children. We found a possible association between severity of astigmatism and severity of epiblepharon. ConclusionsIn our study, the prevalence of epiblepharon decreased with advancing age, and the majority of children with epiblepharon were found to be overweight or obese. Epiblepharon was associated with astigmatism.

Effectiveness of a Smartphone App (Heia Meg) in Improving Decisions About Nutrition and Physical Activity: Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Obesity is a prevalent and serious chronic condition associated with abnormal or excessive fat buildup that poses significant health risks. The rates of overweight and obesity in adults and children continue to rise, with global rates of children with overweight or obesity aged 5-19 years growing from 4% to 18% between 1975 and 2016. Furthermore, in 2017, nearly 4 million people died due to complications arising from being overweight or obese. This study aims to investigate the potential impact of the mobile app Heia Meg on promoting healthier lifestyle choices regarding nutrition and physical activity. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Participants were recruited through the Heia Meg app and were asked to complete a questionnaire before and after using the app. A total of 199 responses were included in the first (preintervention) questionnaire, while 99 valid responses were obtained in the second (postintervention) questionnaire. The majority (159/199, 79.9%) of participants were female, and their age ranged from 18 years to 70 years and older. The results show a reduction in BMI after the digital intervention. However, some variables influence the BMI reduction effect: sex, age, education, and smoking. The group that obtained the most benefit from the intervention consisted of those who were male, aged 30-39 years, highly educated, and nonsmokers. Although positive, some of the findings are slightly above the statistical significance threshold and therefore should be interpreted carefully. Our study found weak evidence to support the effectiveness of the Heia Meg app in promoting healthier lifestyle choices. However, limitations and confounding factors suggest that further research in different populations with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm or disprove our findings.

HEALTH STATUS, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND CORRELATES TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF CHILDREN IN SOUTH ITALY

The inverse relationship between sedentary habits, physical fitness, self-perception, and enjoyment during physical activity (PA) has been widely demonstrated by international literature. Furthermore, according to recent epidemiological report, Italy is one of the European countries with the highest prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents. The present study aims to assess physical fitness levels, self-perception and enjoyment in a sample of 3676 primary school children (M = 1861, F = 1815, mean age = 9-10 years) attending the SBAM! project in Apulia, Southern Italy. The objective is to provide epidemiological data of the health status of children through the assessment of BMI Z-scores, physical fitness and factors related to the practice of PA. The following physical fitness test were proposed: standing long jump, (SLJ), shuttle run 10x4, (10x4), and 6 minutes walk test (6MWT), to assess lower limb explosive strength, agility and coordination, and aerobic endurance, respectively. Two validated questionnaires were used to assess self-perception and enjoyment. Results showed a large percentage of children that were overweight/obese or underweight, and a negative relation with physical fitness test and questionnaires. Moreover, normal weight sample had better motor performance, self-perception, and enjoyment during PA than underweight or overweight/obese groups. These results confirm the needs to promote and develop projects and institutional interventions aimed at enhancing physical activity and healthy lifestyles in Southern Italy.

Overweight and Obesity in 10-Year-Old Children in Danang City, Vietnam

Aims This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of childhood overweight and obesity among 10-year-old schoolchildren in Hoavang, Danang City. Methods From January to May 2023, a cross-sectional study was carried out utilizing a structured self-administered questionnaire to collect data. The height and weight measurements of 518 children were recorded. Body mass index for age Z scores (BAZs) were employed to classify children’s nutritional status following the World Health Organization criteria. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results The study encompassed a cohort of 518 students, 110 (21.2%) classified as overweight and 64 (12.4%) as obese. Significantly, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) demonstrated that male subjects exhibited a 3-fold higher risk of overweight and obesity than female subjects (aOR = 2.9, P &lt; .0001). Skipping breakfast and confectionery/sweet food consumption were defined, demonstrating significant associations with elevated odds of being overweight and obese. Conclusion The findings revealed that approximately one-third of primary schoolchildren in Hoavang, Danang City, were affected by overweight and obesity. This alarming prevalence underscores the urgent need for interventions.

Evaluating the Effect of Childhood Obesity on Choroidal Structures

Aim: To evaluate the effect of childhood obesity on choroidal structures with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Material and Methods: A total of 80 children (20 children per each group; healthy, overweight, obese, and morbid-obese) were included in the study. Accompanying comorbidities such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome were recorded. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) measurements were obtained from SD-OCT images and compared between groups. Results: No notable differences were found between groups regarding the means of age and axial length (p=0.504, and p=0.805, respectively). The SFCT medians (min-max) of healthy, overweight, obese, and morbid-obese children were 398.5 (319.0-453.5) μm, 299.0 (274.7-387.0) μm, 295.5 (257.0-385.0) μm, and 304.5 (272.2-386.0) μm respectively. Overweight and obese children had thinner choroid than non-obese healthy children (p=0.032). Besides, no significant correlation was observed between the severity of obesity and SFCT (p=0.722). In terms of CVI, total choroidal area, luminal area, and stromal area; no significant differences were found between groups (p=0.710, p=0.452, p=0.221, and p=0.863, respectively). Obese children with dyslipidemia had thinner SFCT than those not have dyslipidemia (292.0 (166-431)μm vs 348.0(173-491)μm, p=0.003), while insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome had no effect on SFCT (p=0.336, and p=0.211, respectively). Conclusion: Childhood obesity and accompanying dyslipidemia led to a decrease in SFCT without any significant change in the CVI. However, the severity of obesity and having insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome had no effect on either SFCT or CVI. The thinning in the SFCT may be related to microvascular disorders due to childhood obesity and dyslipidemia

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in School Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To identify the characteristics of age groups of children from 10 to 14 years old in terms of the ratio of body weight and length, in particular, the relative number of children with overweight and obesity, and to develop recommendations for reducing body weight for children 10-14 years old. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional survey of the health status (overweight and obesity) of school children was conducted on sample 500 school children from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republic Srpska entity), which included 246 boys and 254 girls, aged 10 to 14 years. Anthropometric data including Body height (BH), Body weight (BW) and age were collected from all elementary school children. Body mass index (BMI) is an anthropometric index of weight and height that is calculated by dividing a person's weight (kg) by the square of their height (m^2). BMI participants was estimated with the Percentile BMI calculator for children and teens aged 2-19 years. The studied children were defined as underweight, normal (healthy)-weight, overweight and obese according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) child growth characteristics for age, sex, and BMI. Basic central and dispersion parameters (Mean, Min., Max., Range, SD, CI 95%, CV%, Skew., Kurt.) were calculated for each variable. To confirm normality, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied (p&gt;0.05). The homogeneity of variance was tested with Levene's test. The nutritional status of the subjects was assessed using percentile values on the basis of which the percentile categories are calculated. Statistical procedures and analyzes were performed using the statistical package STATISTICA 10.0 for Windows. Results: The dynamics of changes in the relative number of children with overweight and obesity from 10 to 14 years old was revealed. The lowest number of overweight and obese students was recorded at the age of 14 (1% &lt;). The results of malnutrition in boys point to the conclusion that it is present in a smaller percentage, from 1.96% (age 14) to 6.12% (age 12). The largest number of girls at the age of 13 were overweight, 10 (19.23%) and obese (2%&lt;), and then at the age of 10 and 11 (overweight 15.68% vs. 13.72%, and obesity 1.96% vs 3.92%). Malnutrition as a category is in a slightly higher percentage than for boys, ranging from 3.92% (11 and 12 years) to 7.84% (10 years). Conclusions: If a child is overweight at any age, this should be an alarming signal, as it can provoke weight gain in adulthood or with the slightest decrease in self-control. Therefore, the best strategy would be to create conditions for a child's development in which he will receive joy from other sources, and not just from food and activities that do not require physical activity. Finding even a relatively small number of overweight and obese children is not a benign problem. It requires its own solution, helping such children understand their problem and overcome it.

Changes in Body Weight and Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity in 5-6-Year-Old Children Attending School in Geneva.

Background: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children is increasing in industrialized countries. Monitoring the evolution of these phenomena is essential for understanding prevention and health promotion programs. This study aims to present the analysis of anthropometric data collected by school nurses from the School Health Service of Geneva (Service de santé de l'enfance et de la jeunesse) for children aged 5 to 6 years during the 2021-2022 school year, as well as describe the trends in overweight and obesity from 2003-2004 to 2021-2022. Risk factors were also assessed in the 2021-2022 sample. Methods: This study included a random sample of 958 (479 girls and 479 boys) primary school pupils aged 5 to 6 years in Geneva. Data on weight, height and socioeconomic status were collected. BMI was analyzed using the Cole standard. A multivariate analysis was conducted to assess the influence of socioeconomic factors on overweight and obesity. We compared these results with BMI trends in students of the same age since 2003. Results: In 2021-2022, overall prevalence of overweight was 12.73%, and obesity was 5.64%. Girls had higher rates of overweight (14.20%) and obesity (6.68%) compared to boys (11.27% and 4.59%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Overweight in boys significantly increased since the 2013-2014 and 2019-2020 measurements (p = 0.003). The trend for girls was similar but not statistically significant. Obesity rates have not significantly increased since 2019-2020 in both genders, but there is a significantly increasing trend for girls since 2013-2014 p = 0.045). Socioeconomic factors, particularly the socioeconomic class of parents, played a predictive role in overweight and obesity. Conclusions: The School Health Service of Geneva and the Directorate General of Health have a crucial role in monitoring and preventing childhood obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has remained high since 2010, justifying continuous efforts for prevention. A significant increase in prevalence has been observed since 2020, particularly among overweight boys, and could be related to COVID-19 confinement measures.

Profile of Schoolchildren with Different Nutritional Status After Social Isolation: Sedentary Behavior, Aerobic Fitness, Secretory Immunoglobulin-A, and Anxiety Symptoms

ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 pandemic imposed social isolation measures, which impacted the child population, especially regarding physical and mental health aspects. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior, cardiorespiratory fitness, immunoglobulin -A secretion, and anxiety symptoms in 267 children aged 6–11 years, eutrophic or overweight. Methods Sedentary behavior was evaluated by the time of exposure to screens. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the 6-minute run/walk test and immunoglobulin-A by salivary samples. Anxiety symptoms were reported by the SCAS-version for parents. Results It was observed that after a period of confinement, overweight in children had a negative impact on cardiorespiratory performance and sedentary behavior. Differences were also observed in the concentration and secretion rate of SIgA in the overweight group compared to the normal weight group. Discussion The return to face-to-face classes brought a high proportion of overweight students, who showed lower aerobic performance. Considering sedentary behavior, all groups presented values greater than 2 hours of daily exposure to screens. Translation to Health Education Practice Special attention is needed from health professionals and teachers in relation to reducing sedentary behavior and improving cardiorespiratory fitness in schoolchildren.

Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity in Later School-Aged Children: Focus on Lifestyle Behaviours and Psychosocial Characteristics.

The study analysed the 12th wave (2019) of data from the Panel Study on Korean Children conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. A total of 1174 children were selected as the subjects of the study. The results concerning the identifying factors influencing overweight and obesity in later school-aged children revealed that when compared to boys, girls were 1.66 times more likely to be overweight or obese. Moreover, for every one-hour increase in media usage time, the likelihood of being overweight or obese increased by 1.23 times, and for every one-point increase in body dissatisfaction, the probability of being overweight or obese increased by 2.07 times. However, among personality traits, neuroticism was associated with a 0.96 times lower likelihood of being overweight or obese. These findings underscore the significance of considering not only lifestyle factors but also psychosocial characteristics such as body dissatisfaction and neuroticism as predictive factors for overweight and obesity in later school-aged children, providing a basis for intervention.

Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract in overweight and obese children

Obesity and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are widespread among the children and have common developmental mechanisms. The article provides a literature review on the relationships between certain pathological conditions of the digestive system (gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, functional intestinal disorders, Crohn’s disease, diverticular disease) in children with overweight and obesity. Excess body weight and obesity can become risk factors for the development of gastrointestinal pathology. The data available in modern literature on changes in the composition of the intestinal and stomach microbiocenosis with increasing body weight are summarized (changes in enterotype, increase in the Firmicutеs/Bacteroides ratio, increase in the number of bacteria Methanobrevibacter, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus reuteri). The strains of bacteria that contribute to the anorexigenic effect are considered: Lactobacillus gasseri, some strains of Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus and Enterococcus. The pathogenetic aspects of obesity and overweight caused by microbiota are presented: activation of lipid synthesis, breakdown of polysaccharides, absorption of mono- and disaccharides, development of metabolic endotoxemia, etc. Features of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system in obesity in children are presented, indicating the predominance of the hypersympathicotonic variant of autonomic reactivity.

Body mass composition analysis as a predictor of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Body mass composition is directly related to health and its disorders are correlated with diseases such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The purpose of this study was to analyze body mass composition among traditional elementary school students and ballet school students. A total of 340 students participated in the study, 95 of whom attended ballet school and 245 elementary school students. A Tanita BC-418 MA analyzer was used to analyze body mass composition. Such body composition indices as BMI (Body Mass Index), muscle mass, fat mass, lean body mass and water content were evaluated. The results show statistical significance for BMI between high school ballet students and elementary school ballet students, as well between high school ballet students and elementary school students. Comparisons in relation to gender and schools BMI, statistical significance was obtained for: BHSw (ballet high school women) and EBSw (elementary ballet school women), BHSw and ESw (elementary school women), BHSm (ballet high school men) and EBSm (elementary ballet school men), and between BHSm and ESw. Comparing muscle mass index (kg) between ballet high school and elementary school, between ballet high school and elementary school, and between ballet high school and elementary school - statistical significance was obtained for all comparisons. Analyzing in pairwise comparisons by gender and school achieved a statistically significant difference for: BHSw and EBSw, BHSm and EBSw, EBSw and ESm. Comparing the fat mass index (kg), no significant differences were observed between the analyzed schools and the school and gender of the children studied. The value of the lean body mass index differed significantly between groups by school and gender. Comparing the water content index, statistically significant differences were obtained for school and gender. The body mass composition of ballet school students differs from that of standard school students.

Examining parents’ experiences and challenges of feeding preschool children with avid eating behaviour

Avid eating behaviours, including greater responsiveness to food cues and emotional over-eating, have been linked to child overweight and obesity. Parental feeding practices are modifiable components of a child's food environment and may be key levers for behaviour change in tailored interventions to support parents of children with avid eating behaviour. However, there is a lack of research examining parents' experiences in this context. This study aimed to explore parents' experiences of feeding children with avid eating behaviour and to understand any challenges experienced in this context. Semi-structured interviews with parents (N = 15) of a preschool child (3–5 years) identified as having an avid eating behaviour profile explored how children's avid eating manifests, the parental feeding practices used to manage avid eating, and the perceived effectiveness of these strategies. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four core themes were generated. Theme one, ‘Have they got worms? Children's insatiable hunger’, captures parents' interpretation of the complex ways in which avid eating behaviour manifests. Theme two, ‘Parenthood as a duty’, illustrates how parents' perceived responsibilities shape their feeding practices. Theme three, ‘Lifelong habits’, captures parents' use of responsive feeding practices to support children's healthy relationship with food. Theme four, ‘Picking battles’, captures the structure- and coercive-based feeding strategies commonly used to manage children's avid eating. This novel study provides an in-depth understanding of the complex ways that children's avid eating behaviour manifests, and the strategic and creative parental feeding practices used to manage these behaviours. Such findings are valuable for informing the development of future support resources for parents/caregivers to help their children with avid eating behaviours to develop a healthy relationship with food.

How Does a 12-Week Physical Exercise Program Affect the Motor Proficiency and Cognitive Abilities of Overweight and Normal-Weight Preschool Children?

The objective of this research was to examine a 12-week exercise program and its impact on the motor proficiency and cognitive abilities of preschool children with overweight and normal weight. The study involved a total of 71 participants who were preschool children enrolled in a longitudinal study. Body mass index (BMI) was determined by measuring body height and weight, and the nutritional status of the children was assessed using the World Health Organization's (WHO) criteria. Motor proficiency encompasses both motor abilities and motor skills, and the assessment of motor abilities was conducted using subtests from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). These subtests measured fine motor integration, manual dexterity, balance, and bilateral coordination. The evaluation of motor skills involved the utilization of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2), which examines both locomotor skills and manipulative skills. Cognitive abilities were assessed using the School Maturity Test (TZS). All participants, regardless of weight status, took part in a 12-week physical exercise program. According to the World Health Organization's criteria, 52 children (73.2%) were categorized as having a normal weight, while 19 children (26.8%) were classified as overweight. These findings indicate that every fourth child in the study was overweight. Using a statistical analysis called SPANOVA (2 × 2, group × time), differences were observed in three out of eleven variables. Specifically, there were significant differences in two motor skill variables: manipulative skills (p = 0.006) and total movement skills (p = 0.014). Additionally, there was a significant difference in one cognitive ability variable: visual memory (p = 0.010). No significant differences were found in the remaining variables. The findings of this study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the potential benefits of regular exercise on motor and cognitive development in preschool children, specifically examining the differences between overweight and normal-weight children. By investigating these effects, the study could provide valuable insights for educators, parents, and health professionals involved in promoting the overall well-being of preschool-aged children. Regular physical exercise has been found to have positive effects on motor and cognitive abilities in both overweight and normal-weight preschool children.

Relationship between 24-h activity behavior and body fat percentage in preschool children: based on compositional data and isotemporal substitution analysis

ObjectiveThis study aims to elucidate the dose‒response relationship between 24-h activity behaviors and body fat percentage (BFP) in Chinese preschool children using a compositional isotemporal substitution model (ISM).MethodsIn a cross-sectional design, 881 children aged 3–6 from urban and rural areas of Jiangxi Province were sampled. Activity behaviors, including sedentary behavior (SB), low-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate- to high-intensity physical activity (MVPA), were measured using accelerometers. Sleep patterns were assessed through questionnaires, and BFP was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The study employed compositional data analysis (CoDA) and ISM to estimate the impact of reallocating durations of different activity behaviors on BFP.ResultsHigher BFP was found in urban vs. rural children, decreasing with age. Overweight and obesity rates were 10.6% and 7.6%, respectively, above national averages. MVPA and LPA were negatively correlated with BFP, while SB was positively correlated.A 30-min MVPA reduction significantly increased zBFR, particularly in overweight children. Gender-specific nuances revealed that boys' MVPA negatively influenced zBFP (β = -0.155), P < 0.05), while girls' SB positively impacted zBFP (β = 0.636, P < 0.01). Isotemporal simulations emphasized amplified effects in overweight children, with boys' zBFR rising rapidly when MVPA was substituted and girls displaying a notable substitution effect between SB and LPA.ConclusionBFP is closely linked to 24-h activity behaviors, notably in overweight and obese preschoolers. ISM identified MVPA as a critical influencer, with a 30-min reduction substantially increasing BFP. Gender disparities were evident, implicating MVPA in boys and LPA and SB in girls.