Risk Factors For Childhood Obesity Research Articles

Independent and Joint Effects of Prenatal Incense-Burning Smoke Exposure and Children's Early Outdoor Activity on Preschoolers' Obesity.

Incense burning is a significant source of indoor air pollution in many Asian regions. There is emerging evidence that maternal prenatal exposure to incense-burning smoke may be a risk factor for childhood obesity. We aimed to extend this new line of research by investigating the independent and joint effect of incense-burning smoke exposure, and children's outdoor activity in early life, on preschoolers' obesity. A total of 69,637 mother-child dyads were recruited from all kindergartens in the Longhua District of Shenzhen, China. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, maternal exposure to incense-burning smoke (IBS) during pregnancy, and frequency and duration of outdoor activity at the age of 1-3 years was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, the heights and weights of the children were measured by the research team. Logistic regression models and cross-over analyses were conducted to investigate the independent and combined effects of maternal exposure to incense-burning smoke during pregnancy and children's early outdoor activity on obesity in preschoolers. We found that prenatal exposure to incense-burning smoke increased the risk of the presence of obesity in preschoolers' (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.23). Additionally, lower frequencies (<3 times/week) or shorter durations (<60 min/time) of outdoor activity from the age of 1-3 years were significantly associated with the presence of obesity, with AORs of 1.24 (95% CI =1.18-1.32) and 1.11 (95% CI = 1.05-1.17), respectively. Furthermore, the cross-over analysis showed that prenatal exposure to IBS combined with a lower frequency of early outdoor activity (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.31-1.66) or a shorter duration of outdoor activity during ages of 1-3 years (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.07-1.39) increased the risk of obesity in preschoolers. Finally, additive interactions between prenatal exposure to IBS and postnatal outdoor activity on obesity were identified. Our study indicates that maternal exposure to incense-burning smoke during pregnancy and early lower postanal outdoor activity may independently and jointly increase the risk of obesity among preschoolers.

IJCM_187A: Prevalence and risk factors of childhood obesity among school-going children in a metropolitan city of india.

Background: Childhood obesity is a grave public health concern in the 21st century. It is becoming a widespread problem in low and middle-income countries, particularly in urban areas. Childhood obesity is a precursor to metabolic syndrome, poor physical health, mental disorders, respiratory problems, and glucose intolerance, which can all continue into adulthood. Developing countries like India face a unique problem of a ‘double burden’, where undernutrition and obesity co-exist. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight/ obesity among school-going children and to identify the modifiable risk factors associated with it. Methodology: An epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted in a private school located in the Western suburbs of Mumbai. The study included all students from the 1st to 10th standard of the secondary section, who were willing to participate. Before the study, necessary permissions were obtained from the school authorities and parental consent was taken. The study was conducted over 4 days in October 2023. Data was collected through interviews using a pre-structured questionnaire. The collected data will be analyzed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Among 521 participants, the Prevalence of Overweight is 14.77% and Obesity is 6.71% in our study. Statistical significance was found between BMI and Smartphone usage, BMI and Occupation of Mother. Conclusion: Dietary factors have always been associated with overweight &amp; obesity however our study reveals that other factors also play a pivotal role in development of obesity which is an important risk factor for Non- Communicable Diseases further in adulthood.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Childhood Obesity and Overweight in Erbil City, Kurdistan, Iraq: A Household Survey

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased dramatically during the last three decades. It is estimated that 170 million youngsters (under the age of 18) worldwide are overweight. Obesity is commonly regarded as one of the most significant public health problems of the early 21st century due to its rapid rise and severe public health consequences. According to previous research, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight increased in Erbil. This study aims to determine the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity rates in Erbil. This study was a household survey based on a cross-sectional study that was conducted, and a multi-stage sampling strategy was used to choose the study sample. A questionnaire was conducted to collect the data, SPSS was used for analysing the data, and Chi-square (X²), was used to identify any kind of association between different variables in the study, whereas the p-value was considered (0.05). Regarding ethical approval, the study was conducted under the guidelines of the ethical approval research committee in the College of Medicine. In this research, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight was 30.4%, 7.7% of them were obese, and 22.7% were overweight. The obesity rates between males and females were not different. Lifestyle and habit had an impact on increasing weight gain, though the number of meals, outside eating, fast foods, and snacks between meals were statistically not significant. However, eating without hunger was significant the p-value was (0.008). On the other hand, the children's habit of using electronic devices, smartphones, and other devices was significant, either using their mobile phone or their parent's phone. In conclusion, in Erbil city, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight was dramatically increased, as well as the lifestyle factor that contributed to the development of these conditions, especially among those children exposed to multi-screen devices. According to these results, families have to improve their lifestyles and decrease the use of electrical devices by children.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns on Body Mass Index of Primary School Children from Different Socioeconomic Backgrounds

BackgroundChildhood obesity is associated with various health outcomes. Restrictive measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, like lockdowns and school closures, affected children’s daily structure, physical activity, dietary habits, and sleep quality, possibly exacerbating risk factors for childhood obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) in children. Poor socioeconomic conditions may have led to relatively higher risk for elevated BMI levels following pandemic measures. In this study, the impact of measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the BMI of third graders was investigated regarding children’s socioeconomic background (SEB).MethodsData from 41,728 children (8.84 ± 0.56 years, 20,431 female) were collected in the context of a cohort study. Children were tested either before the pandemic (preCOVID: Sept2017–March2020, n = 26,314), or following the first (postLDI: Aug2020–Dec2020, n = 6657) or second lockdown in Germany (postLDII: Aug2021–Jan2022, n = 8757). SEB was based on the official school type classification of the state of Berlin. Outcome was BMI standard deviation scores (SDS).ResultsSignificant effects of Time and SEB revealed elevated BMIs in postLDI (M = 0.23, p = 0.011) and postLDII (M = 0.22, p = 0.011) compared to preCOVID (M = 0.17) cohorts and higher BMIs for children with lower SEB (b = − 0.13, p < 0.001). A significant Time × SEB interaction indicated that the effect of SEB on children’s BMI increased in response to lockdowns, especially in postLDII (b = − 0.05, p = 0.006). Results suggest that the COVID-19-related measures lead to increased BMI in children, and that children of lower SEB were at particular risk for higher BMIs following lockdowns.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the dependency of children’s BMI on societal circumstances. Over the course of two lockdowns in Germany, children have experienced BMI increments, particularly in low socioeconomic areas. Authorities are called into action to counteract increasing rates of childhood weight by promoting physical activity of children and establishing related post-pandemic offers.

Childhood obesity - risk factors and prevention strategies

Introduction and purpose: Obesity is one of the most serious health challenges in modern society. Over the last 40 years, the number of obese school-age children has increased tenfold. This not only has significant consequences for physical health, but also affects psychosocial aspects and the quality of life of the young generation. The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on obesity among children and adolescents, focused on identifying the main risk factors and analyzing effective forms of prevention. Materials and methods: A review of the literature available in the "PubMed" database and books was conducted. The search was performed by using the following keywords: "childhood obesity", "childhood obesity risk factors", “childhood obesity prevention” State of knowledge: The risk factors for obesity in children and adolescents include genetic factors, endocrine diseases, improper diet, low physical activity, low socioeconomic status, stress, psychological factors, short sleep time, medications, hypothalamic obesity and H. pylori. As part of the prevention of obesity in children and adolescents, it is recommended to develop appropriate habits in children and adolescents. The influence of parents on health behaviors in children is important. Top-down activities such as health campaigns and legal regulations also have a significant impact. Summary: Due to research conducted over the years, awareness of obesity risk factors has increased. To effectively prevent this disease, an integrated approach is necessary, taking into account both education and changes in the social environment. Implementing these strategies requires cooperation at local, regional, national and international levels.

Fibroblast growth factor-21 and Visfatin as potential predictors for metabolic risk factors in obese children

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and Visfatin are associated with obesity. However; reviewing the literature; no studies were found to assess their role as potential markers for the metabolic disorders related to obesity in children. Assess the relations between serum FGF-21 and Visfatin with obesity and its metabolic disorders, and their use as potential predictors for metabolic risk factors in a sample of Egyptian obese children. This cross-sectional study included 111 Egyptian children (45 males and 66 females); aged 6–10 years to avoid the effect of puberty (prepubertal). The exclusion criteria (by full History taking and clinical examination) were the presence of any sign of puberty according to Tanner stage, the presence of identified causes of obesity (genetic syndromes, chromosomal or endocrinal disorders), chronic diseases (cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory), or drug use like steroids; that would interfere with the type of obesity and affect the normal growth of the children. Also, any child with a BMI between 85 and 95th percentiles (overweight) was excluded from the study. All participating obese children were suffering from exogenous simple obesity. They were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) percentiles into 72 obese (BMI ≥ 95th), and 39 control non-obese ones (BMI > 15th to < 85th), based on the Egyptian Growth Charts for children and adolescents. Ethical approvals were granted from both the Ethics Committee of the “National Research Centre” and the “Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies” (Approval No. 17/125). Also, informed written consent was taken from either of the parents and assent from the participating children. They were subjected to blood pressure assessment, anthropometric measurements (weight [Wt], height [Ht], BMI, waist [WC], and hip [HC] circumferences), and laboratory evaluation (Visfatin, FGF-21, LDL, HDL, TG, cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, and calculation of HOMA-IR). Mann–Whitney test and Spearman’s correlation test were applied. Obese children had significantly higher values than control ones regarding all the studied clinical (SBP, DBP), anthropometric parameters (Wt, Ht, BMI, WC, and HC), FBG, Insulin, HOMA-IR, Visfatin, and FGF-21, and had significantly lower values regarding HDL and Cholesterol. Among obese children, both FGF-21 and Visfatin had significant negative correlations with BMI and HC. At the same time, serum FGF-21 had a highly significant positive correlation with HDL. Visfatin and FGF-21 had highly significant positive correlations with each other. In the control group, both serum Visfatin or FGF-21 had insignificant correlations with each other and with all the studied clinical and anthropometric parameters. FGF-21 and Visfatin are related to the obesity markers, but they cannot be used as potential predictors for metabolic disturbance in obese prepubertal children; both had insignificant correlations with the metabolic risk factors.

BMI Z-Score (SDS) versus Calculated Body Fat Percentage: Association with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obese Children and Adolescents

Introduction: BMI or BMI-standardized deviation score (SDS) in children and adolescents is still the standard for weight classification. [BMJ. 2019;366:4293] developed a formula to calculate body fat percentage (%BF) based on age, sex, height, weight, and ethnicity. Using data from the German/Austrian APV registry, we investigated whether the calculated %BF is superior to BMI-SDS in predicting arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and impaired glucose metabolism. Methods: 94,586 children and adolescents were included (12.5 years, 48.3% male). Parental birth country (BC) was used to depict ethnicity (15.8% migration background); 95.67% were assigned to the ethnicity “white.” %BF was calculated based on the Hudda formula. The relationship between BMI-SDS or %BF quartiles and outcome variables was investigated by logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and migration background. Vuong test was applied to analyse predictive power. Results: 58.4% had arterial hypertension, 33.5% had dyslipidaemia, and 11.6% had impaired glucose metabolism. Boys were significantly more often affected, although girls had higher calculated %BF (each p < 0.05). After adjustment, both models revealed significant differences between the quartiles (all p < 0.001). The predictive power of BMI-SDS was superior to %BF for all three comorbidities (all p < 0.05). Discussion: The prediction of cardiometabolic comorbidities by calculated %BF was not superior to BMI-SDS. This formula developed in a British population may not be suitable for a central European population, which is applicable to this possibly less heterogeneous collective. Additional parameters, especially puberty status, should be taken into account. However, objective determinations such as bioimpedance analysis may possibly be superior to assess fat mass and cardiometabolic risk than calculated %BF.

Use of the WHO Nutrient Profile Model for Food Marketing Regulation in Germany: Feasibility and Public Health Implications

Introduction: Exposure to marketing for foods high in sugar, salt, and fat is considered a key risk factor for childhood obesity. To support efforts to limit such marketing, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe has developed a nutrient profile model (WHO NPM). Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture plans to use this model in proposed new food marketing legislation, but it has not yet been tested in Germany. The present study therefore assesses the feasibility and implications of implementing the WHO NPM in Germany. Methods: We applied the WHO NPM to a random sample of 660 food and beverage products across 22 product categories on the German market drawn from Open Food Facts, a publicly available product database. We calculated the share of products permitted for marketing to children based on the WHO NPM, both under current market conditions and for several hypothetical reformulation scenarios. We also assessed effects of adaptations to and practical challenges in applying the WHO NPM. Results: The median share of products permitted for marketing to children across the model’s 22 product categories was 20% (interquartile range (IQR) 3–59%) and increased to 38% (IQR 11–73%) with model adaptations for fruit juice and milk proposed by the German government. With targeted reformulation (assuming a 30% reduction in fat, sugar, sodium, and/or energy), the share of products permitted for marketing to children increased substantially (defined as a relative increase by at least 50%) in several product categories (including bread, processed meat, yogurt and cream, ready-made and convenience foods, and savoury plant-based foods) but changed less in the remaining categories. Practical challenges included the ascertainment of the trans-fatty acid content of products, among others. Conclusion: The application of the WHO NPM in Germany was found to be feasible. Its use in the proposed legislation on food marketing in Germany seems likely to serve its intended public health objective of limiting marketing in a targeted manner specifically for less healthy products. It seems plausible that it may incentivise reformulation in some product categories. Practical challenges could be addressed with appropriate adaptations and procedural provisions.

Use of the WHO Nutrient Profile Model in Germany: feasibility and public health implications

Abstract Background Exposure to marketing for foods high in sugar, salt, and fat is considered a key risk factor for childhood obesity. To support efforts to limit such marketing, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe has developed a nutrient profile model (WHO NPM), published as second edition in March 2023. The German government plans to use this model in new food marketing legislation, but it has not yet been tested in Germany. Methods We applied the WHO NPM to a random sample of 660 food and beverage products across 22 product categories on the German market from Open Food Facts, a product database. We calculated the share of products permitted for marketing to children under current market conditions and for hypothetical reformulation scenarios. We assessed practical challenges in applying the WHO NPM and the effects of model adaptations. Results The median share of products permitted for marketing to children across the 22 categories was 20% (interquartile range (IQR) 3-59%) and increased to 38% (IQR 11-73%) with model adaptations proposed by the German government. With targeted reformulation (i.e. a 30% reduction in fat, sugar, sodium, and/or energy) the share increased substantially (defined as a relative increase by at least 50%) in several product categories (including bread, processed meat, yogurt, convenience foods, and savoury plant-based foods), but changed less in others. Practical challenges included the ascertainment of the trans-fatty acid content of products, among others. Conclusions The application of the WHO NPM in Germany was found to be feasible. Its use in the proposed legislation on food marketing in Germany seems likely to serve its intended public health objective of limiting marketing in a targeted manner specifically for less healthy products. It seems plausible that it may incentivise reformulation in some product categories. Practical challenges could be addressed with adaptations and procedural provisions. Key messages • The practical application of the WHO Europe Nutrient Profile Model 2023 edition to a random sample of food and beverage products on the German market was found to be feasible. • With targeted reformulation, the share of products permitted for marketing to children under the WHO Europe Nutrient Profile Model increases substantially.

Maternal distress and body mass index in preschoolers living in families experiencing low‐income

AbstractHealth disparities among children living in poverty underscore the importance of identifying risk and protective factors for childhood obesity. By applying a family stress framework with an equity lens, this study aimed to test the differential associations between maternal distress and child body mass index (BMI) in preschool‐age children living in low‐income families. Pre‐intervention data from an obesity prevention randomized controlled trial were used to assess mother‐reported parental distress and anthropometry collected from children and mothers in a diverse sample of 450 families enrolled in Head Start. Analyses examined associations between maternal distress and child BMI z‐score (BMIz) and moderation by child sex. The sample of children was 49% female, 42% White, 25% Black, 11% Hispanic and 33% had overweight status or obesity. Results indicated higher BMIz for girls compared to boys (β = 0.10, p = 0.03). Child sex modified the association between maternal distress and child BMIz (β = 0.12, p = 0.01). Greater maternal distress was associated with higher BMIz among girls but not boys. Among preschoolers, the maternal distress–BMIz association differed by child sex. Understanding individual differences in how maternal distress relates to childhood obesity may have important implications for obesity prevention efforts.

Infant Nutrition and Other Early Life Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity According to Disability Status.

One in five preschool-aged children in the United States is obese, and children with disabilities are significantly impacted. This study aimed to determine the association between age at solid food initiation and obesity prevalence in preschool-aged children while considering disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. Analysis was conducted on a sample of 145 children aged 2 to 5 years who were enrolled in ten childcare centers. Parents completed a survey assessing disability status, race and ethnicity, birth weight, gestational age, and age of solid food initiation. Height and weight were collected concurrently. Multivariable logistic regression models generated the odds of developing obesity based on age at solid food initiation, disability status, ethnicity, gestational age, and birth weight. There was no significant difference in the odds of being obese based on age at solid food introduction. Children with disabilities (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.6, p = 0.01) and children born preterm (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08-0.79, p = 0.03) had significantly lower odds of being obese. Hispanic children (OR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.91-15.32, p = 0.002) and children with higher birth weights (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.17-1.92, p = 0.002) were more likely to be obese. With pediatric obesity rates continuing to rise, these findings can inform future intervention efforts.

The built environment and child obesity: A review of Australian policies.

Child obesity is a serious public health challenge affected by both individual choice and societal and environmental factors. The main modifiable risk factors for child obesity are unhealthy eating and low levels of physical activity, both influenced by aspects of the built environment. Coordinated government policy across jurisdictions, developed using strong research evidence, can enable built environments that better support healthy lifestyles. This study reviewed current Australian and Western Australian government policies to understand if and how they address the impact of the built environment on child obesity, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet. Current government policy documents related to the built environment and child health were analyzed using the Comprehensive Analysis of Policy on Physical Activity framework. Ten Australian and 31 Western Australian government policy documents were identified. Most referred to the role of the built environment in supporting physical activity. Very few policies mentioned the built environment's role in reducing sedentary behaviors, supporting healthy eating, and addressing obesity. Few recognized the needs of children, and none mentioned children in policy development. Future government policy development should include the voices of children and child-specific built environment features. Inter-organizational policies with transparent implementation and evaluation plans are recommended.

Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!): A protocol for the co-design and evaluation of a healthy active living program among a newcomer community in Canada.

The burden of childhood obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors affecting newcomer Canadians living in lower socioeconomic circumstances is a concerning public health issue. This paper describes Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!), an academic-community research partnership to co-design interventions that nurture and optimize healthy activity living (HAL) among a community of children and families new to Canada in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Our overarching program is informed by a socio-ecological model, and will co-create HAL interventions for children and families new to Canada rooted in outdoor, nature-based physical activity. We will proceed in three phases: Phase 1) synthesis of existing evidence regarding nature based HAL interventions among children and families; Phase 2) program development through four data collection activities including: i) community engagement activities to build trustful relationships and understand barriers and facilitators, including establishing a community advisory and action board, qualitative studies including a photovoice study, and co-design workshops to develop programs; ii) characterizing the demographics of the community through a household survey; iii) characterizing the built environment and HAL programs/services available in the community by developing an accessible real-time systems map; and iv) reviewing municipal policies relevant to HAL and sustainability; leading to Phase 3) implementation and evaluation of the feasibility of co-designed HAL programs. The etiology of childhood obesity and related chronic diseases is complex and multifactorial, as are intervention strategies. The SCORE! program of research brings together partners including community members, service providers, academic researchers, and organizational leaders to build a multi-component intervention that promotes the health and wellness of newcomer children and families.

Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among preschool-aged children from migrant and socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts in Montreal, Canada

Among migrant and socioeconomically disadvantaged preschool-aged children followed in social perinatal primary care services in Montreal, Canada, we estimated the prevalence of overweight/obesity and identified determinants of body mass index z-score (zBMI) at 4–5 years old. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records of 275 child-mother dyads followed from birth to 4–5 years. Anthropometric measures and established maternal, perinatal and child risk factors for childhood obesity were examined. Age- and sex-specific zBMI at 4–5-years were computed and categorized according to WHO standards. Linear regression with model averaging was used to identify early life factors associated with zBMI. At 4–5 years, children’s weight status was classified as underweight (1.5%), normal weight (69.7%), at-risk-of-overweight (19.2%), overweight (6.9%), and obesity (2.7%). Primiparity (0.51, 95% CI 0.24; 0.78), higher birthweight (1.04, 95% CI 0.70; 1.37), accelerated weight gain in the first year of life (0.21, 95% CI 0.13; 0.31), and introduction to solid foods before 6 months (0.89, 95% CI 0.42; 1.36) were associated with a higher zBMI, while less than high school education (-0.50, 95% CI −0.95; −0.05) and higher gestational age (-0.14, 95% CI −0.21; −0.05) were associated with lower zBMI at 4–5 years. Overweight/obesity is prevalent among preschool-aged children from migrant and socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts and is associated with known risk factors. Future research is needed to better understand the role of social perinatal primary care services in promoting optimal weight gain among children living in contexts of vulnerability.

Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, offspring epigenome-wide DNA methylation, and childhood obesity: findings from the Boston Birth Cohort

BackgroundMaternal pre-pregnancy obesity is an established risk factor for childhood obesity. Investigating epigenetic alterations induced by maternal obesity during fetal development could gain mechanistic insight into the developmental origins of childhood obesity. While obesity disproportionately affects underrepresented racial and ethnic mothers and children in the USA, few studies investigated the role of prenatal epigenetic programming in intergenerational obesity of these high-risk populations.MethodsThis study included 903 mother–child pairs from the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly urban, low-income minority birth cohort. Mother-infant dyads were enrolled at birth and the children were followed prospectively to age 18 years. Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip was used to measure epigenome-wide methylation level of cord blood. We performed an epigenome-wide association study of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm). To quantify the degree to which cord blood DNAm mediates the maternal BMI-childhood obesity, we further investigated whether maternal BMI-associated DNAm sites impact birthweight or childhood overweight or obesity (OWO) from age 1 to age 18 and performed corresponding mediation analyses.ResultsThe study sample contained 52.8% maternal pre-pregnancy OWO and 63.2% offspring OWO at age 1–18 years. Maternal BMI was associated with cord blood DNAm at 8 CpG sites (genome-wide false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05). After accounting for the possible interplay of maternal BMI and smoking, 481 CpG sites were discovered for association with maternal BMI. Among them 123 CpGs were associated with childhood OWO, ranging from 42% decrease to 87% increase in OWO risk for each SD increase in DNAm. A total of 14 identified CpG sites showed a significant mediation effect on the maternal BMI-child OWO association (FDR < 0.05), with mediating proportion ranging from 3.99% to 25.21%. Several of these 14 CpGs were mapped to genes in association with energy balance and metabolism (AKAP7) and adulthood metabolic syndrome (CAMK2B).ConclusionsThis prospective birth cohort study in a high-risk yet understudied US population found that maternal pre-pregnancy OWO significantly altered DNAm in newborn cord blood and provided suggestive evidence of epigenetic involvement in the intergenerational risk of obesity.

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to NO2 and rapid infant weight gain - A population-based cohort study.

Childhood overweight and obesity is a global public health problem. Rapid infant weight gain is predictive of childhood overweight. Studies found that exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with childhood overweight, and have linked prenatal exposure to air pollution with rapid infant weight gain. To examine the association between prenatal and postnatal ambient NO2 exposure, a traffic-related marker, with rapid weight gain in infants. We carried out a population-based historical cohort study using data from the Israeli national network of maternal and child health clinics. The study included 474,136 infants born at term with birthweight ≥2500 g in 2011-2019 in central Israel. Weekly averages of NO2 concentration throughout pregnancy (prenatal) and the first 4 weeks of life (postnatal) were assessed using an optimized dispersion model and were linked to geocoded home addresses. We modelled weight gain velocity throughout infancy using the SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) method, a mixed-effects nonlinear model specialized for modelling growth curves, and defined rapid weight gain as the highest velocity tertile. Distributed-lag models were used to assess critical periods of risk and to measure relative risks for rapid weight gain. Adjustments were made for socioeconomic status, population group, subdistrict, month and year of birth, and the alternate exposure period - prenatal or postnatal. The cumulative adjusted relative risk for rapid weight gain of NO2 exposure was 1.02 (95% confidence intereval [CI] 1.00, 1.04) for exposure throughout pregnancy and 1.02 (95% CI 1.01, 1.04) for exposure during the first four postnatal weeks per NO2 interquartile range increase (7.3 ppb). An examination of weekly associations revealed that the critical period of risk for the prenatal exposure was from mid-pregnancy to birth. Prenatal and postnatal exposures to higher concentrations of traffic-related air pollution are each independently associated with rapid infant weight gain, a risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ФАКТОРОВ РИСКА РАЗВИТИЯ КАРДИОВАСКУЛЯРНЫХ ОСЛОЖНЕНИЙ ПРИ ОЖИРЕНИИ У ДЕТЕЙ

Introduction. The most common risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases are hypertension and obesity, which are formed in childhood, however, the most significant clinical and metabolic markers of cardiovascular risk have not yet been identified in pediatric practice. Aim. To study the characteristics and interrelations of cardiovascular risk factors in obese children and adolescents for planning correction at the stage of functional changes. Material and methods. The study included 141 obese children – 69 boys and 72 girls (in whom the degree of standard deviation of the body mass index was 2.88 [2.75; 3.41] and 2.93 [2.59; 4.05], respectively) and 78 healthy children (40 boys and 38 girls), comparable by sex and age. Results and discussion. In the examined children, there is an insufficient decrease in blood pressure at night from both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, in the absence of clinically and statistically significant deviations in single measurements. The triglyceride-glucose index and the N-terminal inactive peptide of natriuretic hormone demonstrated high concentrations in normoglycemia and the absence of dyslipidemia. Against the background of obesity, trimethylaminoxide concentrations were lower than in healthy children. Conclusion. In order to timely correct blood pressure, it is necessary to use daily monitoring in obese children, even against the background of the absence of signs of arterial hypertension with single measurements. Even against the background of lean normoglycemia in obese children and adolescents, it is advisable to diagnose the formation of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia using indicators of insulin levels, calculation of the HOMA-IR index, triglyceride-glucose index. Correction of blood pressure variability is possible with changes in certain parameters of body composition (decrease in fat mass and increase in muscle mass) and hormonal and metabolic parameters (decrease in glycemia, very low-density lipoproteins, insulin and increase in high-density lipoproteins). The level of trimethylaminoxide showed lower rates of obesity in children compared to healthy peers, which differs from the literature data on the adult population and limits its use as a biomarker for the development of cardiovascular complications in obesity in children

Physical activity and sedentary time across pregnancy and associations with neonatal weight, adiposity and cord blood parameters: a secondary analysis of the DALI study.

Obesity during pregnancy is associated with neonatal adiposity, which is a risk factor for childhood obesity. Maternal physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours during pregnancy might modify this risk. We therefore studied associations between maternal PA and sedentary time (ST) during pregnancy and neonatal anthropometry and cord blood parameters and investigated whether associations differed by offspring sex. Participants of the Vitamin D And Lifestyle Intervention for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention (DALI) study with a BMI ≥ 29 kg/m2 were analysed as a cohort. Maternal moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and ST were measured repeatedly with accelerometers across pregnancy. Associations between mean levels and changes in MVPA and ST and birthweight, neonatal adiposity (fat mass (FM)%) and cord blood parameters, including C-peptide, leptin and lipids, were analysed in 213 mother-child pairs with Bayesian multilevel models. Interactions with offspring sex were considered. Almost all women decreased MVPA levels and increased ST throughout gestation. Both higher maternal mean MVPA and increasing MVPA were associated with lower offspring FM% in males (-0.520%; 95% CI: -1.011%, -0.031% and -4.649%; -7.876%, -1.432% respectively). In female offspring, mean ST was associated with lower cord blood C-peptide (-0.145 µg/l; -0.279 µg/l, -0.005 µg/l). No associations were found with birthweight or other cord blood parameters. Maternal MVPA is associated with neonatal fat mass, but not birthweight, in male offspring. Our findings underline the importance of physical activity throughout pregnancy.

Passive and social screen time in children with autism and in association with obesity.

Screen time has been identified as a risk factor for childhood obesity, but the media landscape has evolved rapidly. Children with autism tend to be heavy users of screens and have an elevated prevalence of obesity. We know little about screen use patterns among children with autism vs. typically developing (TD) peers and in association with obesity. Baseline data from 10,842 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognition Development Study was used to characterize time spent with child-reported passive screen use (television/movies/watching videos), playing video games, and using social media. Duration of screen time by autism status and gender was summarized as mean time per day; obesity was defined using CDC/WHO criteria. A propensity score analysis was used to create a matched dataset for analysis. Overall, 1.7% of children were was identified as having autism. Significant mean differences were observed by autism status and gender for both passive viewing and playing video games. Compared to TD children, boys with autism spent more time (2.9 vs. 2.3 h, p < 0.001) watching TV, movies or videos, as did girls (3.0 vs. 2.0 h, p = 0.002). Compared to TD peers, boys with autism reported more video game time (102.7 vs. 77.5 min, p = 0.001), as did girls with autism (64.4 vs. 37.9 min, p = 0.03); girls with autism also spent more time on social media sites or video chat (45.5 vs. 21.9 min, p = 0.04). Overall, obesity prevalence increased with increasing screen time duration, significantly for passive screen time (p-value = 0.002) and texting (p-value = 0.02). Associations between obesity and screen time duration did not differ by autism status. Children with autism spend more time playing video games and on passive and social screen activities than their TD peers, with some variations by gender. High rates of social media use among girls with autism and multiplayer video game use among both boys and girls with autism may challenge the notion that the high levels of screen time reflect social isolation in the group. Given potential positive aspects of screen time in children with autism movement to focus on content and context is appropriate.

A prediction model for childhood obesity risk using the machine learning method: a panel study on Korean children

Young children are increasingly exposed to an obesogenic environment through increased intake of processed food and decreased physical activity. Mothers’ perceptions of obesity and parenting styles influence children’s abilities to maintain a healthy weight. This study developed a prediction model for childhood obesity in 10-year-olds, and identify relevant risk factors using a machine learning method. Data on 1185 children and their mothers were obtained from the Korean National Panel Study. A prediction model for obesity was developed based on ten factors related to children (gender, eating habits, activity, and previous body mass index) and their mothers (education level, self-esteem, and body mass index). These factors were selected based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The prediction model was validated with an Area Under the Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve of 0.82 and an accuracy of 76%. Other than body mass index for both children and mothers, significant risk factors for childhood obesity were less physical activity among children and higher self-esteem among mothers. This study adds new evidence demonstrating that maternal self-esteem is related to children’s body mass index. Future studies are needed to develop effective strategies for screening young children at risk for obesity, along with their mothers.