Excess Body Weight In Children Research Articles

The Connection between Knowledge and the Nutritional Behaviour of Parents and the Occurrence of Overweight and Obesity among Preschool Children-A Pilot Study.

The phenomenon of overweight and obesity constitutes a threat for health and children's lives at preschool age. Eating habits formed during this period seriously affect not only future dietary preferences but also the development of diet-related diseases. The purpose of the present study was the assessment of the relationship between the state of knowledge of children's nutrition and parents' eating behaviour and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 4-6 years. The study was conducted using 200 parent-child pairs. The behaviour and nutritional knowledge of parents was assessed using a questionnaire method. In contrast, anthropometric measurements were taken among the children. Nutritional disorders were noted in 46.5% of children of whom 39.0% struggled with overweight and 7.5% with obesity. The study showed that the children of parents with higher levels of nutritional knowledge were more likely to develop overweight and obesity. It also proved that irregularity of parental food intake predisposed the development of excessive body weight in children (p = 0.0049). Therefore, it is reasonable to undertake further investigation into factors implying the development of nutritional disorders among those youngest. Early recognition of dietary mistakes can contribute to their elimination at an early age.

Protein Intake, Source and Effect on Children's Weight Status: An Epidemiological Study in Greece.

The development of overweight and obesity during late childhood and early adolescence is one of the most critical issues in public health. Additionally, over the past few years, the consumption of protein has tended to increase in both children and adults. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the protein type, either plant- or animal-sourced, as well as the quantity consumed, could potentially have a relationship with excess body weight in children. A total of 47 primary schools were selected, and 1728 students, aged 10-12 years, were enrolled for the purposes of this study, leading to our final sample of 712. Physical measurements, such as weight and height, were measured, and children were separated into two weight status categories according to their Body Mass Index, which was obtained through the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Students' diets were assessed through a questionnaire, and total, plant- and animal-derived protein intakes were calculated. Unadjusted analysis showed a statistically significant association between body weight and plant protein. After adjustment for overall energy intake, sex, age, and exercise, there was a statistically significant negative association between plant protein and excess body weight in children (OR: 0.964, 95% CI: 0.936; 0.992), but a lack of association for animal-sourced protein (OR: 1.002, 95% CI: 0.991; 1.013). Dietary plant-derived protein seems to have a positive effect on weight status in children, independently of total energy intake and physical activity; nevertheless, additional research is required in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

The effect of body weight on peak expiratory flow rate (pefr) among the adolescent rural school children, an observational study

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity in developing countries is a growing public health concern. Obesity has been linked to pulmonary dysfunction, including reduced peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). This study aimed to investigate the effect of body weight on PEFR among rural adolescent school children. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in schools located in and around Nagamangala Taluk, with a study duration of 18 months. The sample size was determined using a formula based on the prevalence of obesity in school-going children. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), were recorded. PEFR was measured using a peak flow meter. Statistical analysis, including correlation coefficient, t-test, and linear regression analysis, was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The study included 573 rural adolescent school children, with a majority aged between 13 and 15 years and a higher proportion of female participants. The prevalence of overweight based on WHtR was 29.7%. There was no significant difference in mean age between overweight and normal WHtR groups. However, a higher prevalence of overweight was observed among boys compared to girls. Higher consumption of sweets, soft drinks, and fast food was significantly associated with overweight, while a higher frequency of exercise showed an inverse association. Longer duration of TV viewing was also associated with overweight. Overweight children had a significantly higher mean BMI and lower mean PEFR compared to children with a normal WHtR. There was a significant inverse correlation between PEFR and both BMI and WHtR. Conclusion: The present study observed a significant inverse correlation between PEFR and both BMI and WHtR. The study findings support the negative impact of excess body weight on lung function, as evidenced by reduced PEFR among overweight rural adolescent school children. The results emphasize the need for interventions to address childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. Awareness among healthcare professionals, parents, and educators is crucial for early detection and management of pulmonary dysfunction associated with excess body weight in children.

The Association between Breakfast Macronutrient Composition and Body Weight, in Preadolescence: An Epidemiological Study among Schoolchildren.

Over the last few decades, childhood overweight and obesity tend to reach epidemic proportions. The present study aimed to examine whether the composition of breakfast, through the prism of its macronutrient content, could play a part in the development of excess body weight in children. A sample of 1728 Greek students from 47 primary schools was enrolled for the purposes of this study. Their weight and height were measured and their Body Mass Index was calculated and classified according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Their dietary habits, breakfast foods of choice, and physical activity were assessed through the use of a self-completed questionnaire. Further assessment of breakfast composition was carried out in order to evaluate its macronutrient content. Initial analysis, which was only energy-adjusted, showed a negative association between body weight and breakfast protein content and a positive association for lipid content. After further adjustment for age, sex, level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and physical activity, there was a significant negative association between breakfast protein and excess body weight in children (p = 0.029), as well as a significant positive association of breakfast lipid content (p = 0.028). Breakfast macronutrient content seems to have an effect on body composition in children, independently of overall adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity, however further research is needed in order to elucidate potential pathways.

Effects of 12-Month Interdisciplinary Interventions in 8- and 9-Year-Old Children with Excess Body Weight.

Childhood obesity remains one of the most serious medical challenges of the 21st century. The aim of the study was to obtain epidemiological data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 8- and 9-year-old children in Szczecin, and to evaluate the effectiveness of medical intervention in the form of a year of interdisciplinary work with children with excess body weight. The study consisted of two main stages: I-screening, II-intervention. The program was implemented for three consecutive years, starting in 2016-2018. The entire population of 8-9-year-olds in Szczecin is 11,494 children. In the screening part of the study, 4890 children took part, whose parent agreed to participate (42.54%). In the intervention part of the study, we analyzed a group of 515 children. Children were further divided into subgroups according to the number of visits completed. Anthropometric parameters were measured on each visit. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the screened population was 16.9% and 6.4%, respectively. Statistically significant changes were observed in BMI (Body Mass Index) percentiles and BMI z-scores, as well as WHR (Waist-Hip Ratio) during the one year observation time. The best effects were achieved by the 3rd visit (for the first 6 months of the program). Thereafter, the effects diminished due to the longer interval between the 3rd and 4th visits (6 months). There is the need for long-term programs for the prevention of excessive body weight in children and adolescents with frequent checkpoints.

Has the Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in Spain Plateaued? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The prevalence of excess body weight (overweight plus obesity) in children has risen during the last decades in many countries, but it is unclear whether it has reached a plateau in Spanish children. We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis for the prevalence of excess body weight in children from Spain, comparing the trends between 1999 and 2010 and 2011 and 2021. Data were reported in a prior meta-analysis, plus an updated search using the Web of Science, MEDLINE (via PubMed) and EMBASE databases for data from January 2018 until December 2021. Thirteen representative studies were identified (34,813 children aged 2 to 13 years), with sample sizes averaging 2678 (range: 396–16,665). The prevalence of excess body weight in Spanish children aged 2 to 6 years increased from 23.3% (95% CI, 18.5% to 25.5%) during the period 1999–2010 to 39.9% (95% CI, 35.4% to 44.7%) during 2011–2021. In children aged 7 to 13 years, the prevalence of excess body weight increased from 32.3% (95% CI, 29.1–35.6%) during the period 1999–2010 to 35.3% (95% CI, 32.9–37.7%) during 2011–2021. The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Spain has substantially increased in the last decade. New food policies to address the childhood obesity epidemic are urgently required to reverse current trends.

Fecal microbiota relationships with childhood obesity: A scoping comprehensive review.

Childhood obesity is a costly burden in most regions with relevant and adverse long-term health consequences in adult life. Several studies have associated excessive body weight with a specific profile of gut microbiota. Different factors related to fecal microorganism abundance seem to contribute to childhood obesity, such as gestational weight gain, perinatal diet, antibiotic administration to the mother and/or child, birth delivery, and feeding patterns, among others. This review reports and discusses diverse factors that affect the infant intestinal microbiota with putative or possible implications on the increase of the obesity childhood rates as well as microbiota shifts associated with excessive body weight in children.

Sleep habits and weight status in Brazilian children aged 4–6 years of age: the PREDI study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the association of sleep habits with the weight status of children aged 4–6 years. MethodsData were obtained from the PREDI Study, a Brazilian birth cohort study. The current study was carried out in the homes of the participants during two follow-ups: 2016/17 and 2018. The participants were submitted to anthropometric assessment and demographic, socioeconomic and sleep data were obtained. The child's sleep habits were self-reported by the mother or caregiver on the day of the visit and included information on the following sleep habits during the past week: bedtime routine, rhythmicity, and separation affect determined with the Sleep Habits Inventory for Preschool Children and the Sleep Habits Inventory. Logistic regression and gamma-log regression analyses were used to examine the association of sleep habits with excess body weight of children in the two follow-ups according to sex. ResultsOf the 217 and 185 children included in 2016/17 and 2018, respectively, 66 (30.6%) and 48 (25.9%) had a BMI >85th percentile at 4–6 years, respectively. The median rhythmicity score was higher in children with excess body weight (p = 0.05). Adjusted analysis showed that rhythmicity was associated with excess body weight of girls at ages 4–5 years (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.09–1.86, p = 0.009) and 6 years (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06–1.65, p = 0.015), even after adjustment for other important covariates. Additionally, the sleep habit “separation affect” was inversely associated with the child's BMI in boys (β = −0.005, 95% CI: −0.010–0.000, p = 0.037). ConclusionsIn the present study, rhythmicity problems were associated with increased odds of girls aged 4–6 years having excess body weight. These results are important from a public health perspective since strategies aimed at preventing excess body weight in children need to consider the child's sleep quality as a potential risk factor, especially rhythmicity.

Anthropometric indicators associated with childhood obesity. Is it time for a BMI successor?

Childhood obesity and overweight have a wide impact on physical and mental health, and affect adulthood. In the last decade, scientists have been looking with concern at the increasingly frequent excess body weight in children and adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial to estimate the scale of the problem, and thus to correctly assess the level of adipose tissue. In assessing the nutritional status of the young, anthropometric measurements and indicators are used. Despite the widespread use of BMI (body mass index), this indicator is often criticized. BMI is frequently recognized as an imprecise tool and its use often results in misleading classification. Therefore, the aim of this study is to present selected, non-invasive anthropometric indicators related to overweight/obesity in children.Anthropometric indicators are relatively simple tools used in public health. However, the search for a simple and useful indicator is still ongoing, which will enable the assessment of the nutritional status both in clinical practice and in population studies. The paper presents the most frequently described anthropometric indicators in the literature: body mass index (BMI) and BMIz score, relative fat mass pediatric (RFMp), tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), pediatric body adiposity fat index (BAIp) and the mid-upper arm circumference (MUCA). The possibilities of application and their effectiveness for the estimation of adipose tissue content and the risk of coexisting diseases are presented.Although there is no consensus on the best tool, it is known that BMI will remain the main parameter in assessing nutritional status. Nevertheless, the authors suggest the usefulness of tools such as RFMp, TMI and MUAC as a good complement to the imperfections ascribed to BMI.

Study of association of the rs5400 polymorphic locus in the SLC2A2 (GLUT2) gene and the rs4684677 polymorphic locus in the GHRL gene with excess body weight and preference for carbohydrates in preschool and primary school-aged children

Background. Today excess body weight and obesity are considered an epidemic affecting millions of people around the world. Excess body weight in children increases the risk of development of obesity in adult age. Food preferences are formed in childhood and influenced by environmental, cultural, and genetic factors; the latter remaining unclear.Objective. The study aimed at investigating the association of the rs5400 polymorphic locus of the SLC2A2 (GLUT2) gene and the rs4684677 polymorphic locus of the GHRL gene with excess body weight and preference for carbohydrates in preschool and primary school-aged children.Methods. The study enrolled 92 patients aged between 3 and 11 years; 56 patients gave consent for the assessment of their food preferences. Genotyping of polymorphic loci in the SLC2A2 and GHRL genes was carried out for all patients. Results. All patients were divided into groups depending on their eating habits (the ratio of dietary carbohydrates), as well as the presence of excess body weight. The probability of consumption of excessive amounts of carbohydrates appeared to be higher for carriers of the G/A genotype in the SLC2A2 gene as compared to the G/G carriers (odds ratio: 9.3; 95 % confidence interval [1.8–47.3]; p = 0.004). No statistically significant differences in the distribution of genotypes of the GHRL gene have been found between the group with carbohydrate overconsumption and the control group (p > 0.05). Likewise, no statistically significant differences were found in the evaluation of association of the rs5400 polymorphism in the SLC2A2 gene and the rs4684677 polymorphism in the GHRL gene with excess body weight in children (p > 0.05).Conclusion. There are genetic predictors of obesity in adult population. Thus, for example, the rs5400 polymorphism in the SLC2A2 gene and rs4684677 in the GHRL gene are the risk factors for excess body weight. Our study in a pediatric population did not reveal any association of the presence of polymorphic loci in the above-mentioned genes with obesity in children. The association of the G/A genotype of the SLC2A2 gene with excess carbohydrate consumption was revealed: the odds ratio for excess carbohydrate consumption was higher in the G/A carriers as compared to the G/G carriers: OR = 9.3; CI = [1.8–47.3]; p = 0.004. This finding is probably related to the fact that these genetic variants are not risk factors for obesity in childhood. These issues require further investigation within the framework of personalized medicine.

Adiponectin and leptin gene variants and their effects on body weight trajectories in children from birth to 6 years of age: the PREDI Study.

Excess body weight confers a high risk to human health. Body weight variation between subjects can be partially explained by genetic differences. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of genetic variants in the ADIPOQ (rs2241766) and LEP (rs7799039) genes with body weight trajectories in children from birth to 6 years of age. This was a prospective cohort (PREDI Study). Socio-economic, biological and anthropometric data were collected at four time points: at birth in the maternity unit; 1-2, 4-5 and 6 years old at the participants' homes. Genotyping was performed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Poisson regression and linear mixed-effect regression models were used to address the association of ADIPOQ and LEP genotypes with BMI. Excessive body weight at pre-pregnancy (β = 0·339, P = 0·01) and excessive gestational weight gain (β = 0·51, P < 0·001) were associated with children's BMI trajectory from birth to 6 years. The ADIPOQ-rs2241766 TG or GG genotype was associated with a higher risk of excess body weight in the first 6 years of life (both sexes relative risk 1·25, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·56; female relative risk 1·67, 95 % CI 1·20, 2·31). BMI increased over the years according to the presence of the TG or GG genotype (β = 0·01, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·02), particularly in females (β = 0·02, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·04). The ADIPOQ-rs2241766 TG and GG genotypes increased the risk of excess body weight in children from birth to 6 years of age and had a positive effect on body weight trajectories in girls. The LEP-rs7799039 genetic variant was not associated with body weight trajectory in children.

Causes of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents

Obesity is caused by positive energy balance. Excessive body weight in children is classified by using charts for body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of overweight and obesity is a growing public health problem worldwide. Excess body fat may lead to serious health problems in later life, so it is important to know the main reasons causing weight gain. Those could be classified as genetic and non-genetic factors. The second ones include medical problems (e.g. endocrine and neurological diseases), family and social impact, environmental influence, bad eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, cultural factors. There are two most important phases in life such as infancy and puberty, which may determine development of overweight or obesity. It is crucial to pay special attention on those periods to prevent weight gain development.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in 6-7-Year-Old Children-A Result of 9-Year Analysis of Big City Population in Poland.

Excess body weight is a serious public health problem, which affects both adults and children. Unfortunately, the prevalence of excess body weight in children in Poland is not subject to any regular screening. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6–7-year-old children in the municipality of Gdańsk in the years 2008–2016. The anthropometric parameters of 12,330 children (49.55% girls and 50.45% boys) with a mean age of 6.53 ± 0.38 years were analyzed. The prevalence of overweight was 7.49% (7.91% girls and 7.07% boys) and obesity 4.24% (4.47% girls and 3.99% of boys). There was no difference in the prevalence of neither overweight nor obesity between boys and girls (p = 0.076). However, the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined is higher in girls (12.38% vs. 11.06%, p = 0.023). There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity neither in the group of girls nor in the group of boys in children aged 6–7 years in yearly cohorts examined between 2008 and 2016. The prevalence of excess body weight in this population is at a stable level.

MODEL OF MANAGEMENT BY THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OBESE CHILDREN

The aim of the work is medical and social substantiation and development the model of management by the quality of life of obese children. Materials and methods: Material processing was performed by using of mathematic-statistical methods: variance, correlation and regression analysis, mathematical prediction, modelling; the relative, average values and their errors were calculated as well as the predictive coefficients, and the odds ratios, which made it possible to obtain reliable data. Results: It was found that the real prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in Kharkiv was significantly different from the official statistics in Kharkiv region (15,0 per 1,000 of infant population). The general level of excess weight in 2016 was 151,0±5,2‰. It was developed a technique for predicting the risk of excess body weight in children based on a heterogeneous sequential recognition procedure, which with 95% of probability can determine the patient's belonging to a particular risk group. Conclusions: The model of management by the quality of life for obese children was developed. Offered model of management allows to eliminate the managed factors of development of this pathology, to conduct comprehensive monitoring of the state of children's health, to eliminate certain shortcomings of the health care organization, in particular at the primary level, to raise the awareness of the population on methods of prevention, to apply innovative medical technologies, which in turn will help to improve the quality of life for obese children.

Symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety and their effect on the child's weight status four years after delivery

ABSTRACT We examined the association of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms with the weight status of children at preschool age. The current study is a cross-sectional study, which was carried out in the homes of the participants between July 2016 and August 2017. Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Of the 216 children included in the study, 69.4%, 21.3% and 9.3% were classified as ≤85th, >85th and <97th and >85th percentile, respectively. The prevalence of moderate/severe maternal depression and anxiety symptoms was 20.1% and 19.5%, respectively. Children whose mothers had moderate/severe symptoms of depression and minimal/mild symptoms of anxiety were more likely to have excess body weight at preschool age than children whose mothers had both minimal/mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. We found that maternal depression symptoms are associated with excess body weight in children at preschool age.

Physical Activity in the Prevention of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a public health concern that threatens the health and well-being of children worldwide and is associated with several of their chronic health conditions. Although a positive energy balance leads to excess body weight in children, there are several factors that influence their weight status. Dietary intake and physical activity greatly contribute to the energy balance in children. Mental health is also associated with their weight status and physical activity. Further, race and ethnicity, family structure, and the built environment contribute to the amount of physical activity achieved by children. One purpose of the current review is to summarize the connection between physical activity and weight status in children, and highlight key factors influencing this relationship, such as mental health and race, ethnicity, family structure and the built environment. Another purpose of this review is to highlight interventions and policies that may influence the relationship between physical activity and weight status in children. Policies that influence the surrounding environment may enhance children’s accessibility for physical activity and affect neighborhood safety, the density of supermarkets and commercial physical activity facilities available, as well as the provision of structured physical activity opportunities for children. Policies that influence the school environment also provide the opportunity to facilitate additional physical activity for students. Therefore, the overall purpose of this review is to discuss the many factors that influence weight status in children and provide ideas for future research.

Decreased serum level of nitric oxide in children with excessive body weight

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator involved in vascular homeostasis. Changes in NO level are considered to be associated with obesity and its clinical consequences. Previous studies on NO levels in obese children provided inconclusive results, so this issue requires clarification. One of the main goals of this study was to assess whether childhood excessive body weight (EBW) is associated with changes in serum NO level and whether features like age and gender are linked to NO levels in selected groups. In the present study, the serum NO levels were compared in 43 children with EBW and 37 ageand gender-matched children with normal weight. Moreover, in both groups, body measurements and various clinical parameters, including the serum concentrations of arginine (Arg), a precursor of NO, were determined. The mean serum NO level in EBW group (8.7 ±3.1 μmol/L) was significantly lower than in normal weight group (22.2 ±11.5 μmol/L). However, the serum Arg concentrations were higher in EBW children than in controls. Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels were higher in EBW group and inversely correlated with serum NO. The EBW female subgroup was characterized by slightly lower level of NO than the EBW male subgroup. There were no significant changes in serum NO level among different age subgroups in both groups. Our results revealed that EBW in children is associated with significantly decreased level of serum NO. The decreased serum NO level in EBW children is not a result of depleted Arg in the blood. Asymmetric dimethylarginine may at least partially contribute to decreased NO levels in children with EBW. A decreased level of NO could be a potential early marker of the risk of cardiovascular disorders developing in children with EBW.

Food Consumption as a Modifier of the Association between LEPR Gene Variants and Excess Body Weight in Children and Adolescents: A Study of the SCAALA Cohort.

No studies showing that food consumption is a modifier of the association of variants of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) with body weight have involved a Brazilian population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifying effect of dietary intake on the association between the LEPR gene and excess weight. In this study, 1211 children and adolescents aged 4–11 years were assessed. Participants were genotyped for 112 single-nucleotide variants of the LEPR gene. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and dietary data were obtained. Logistic regressions were used to study the associations of interest. Of the participants, 13.4% were overweight/obese. The risk allele (G) of the rs1137100 variant was associated with excess weight in individuals with fat consumption below the median (odds ratio OR = 1.92; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.18–3.14), with daily frequency of consumption of drink/artificial juice (OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.26–3.68) and refined cereals (OR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.31–3.62) above the median. The risk allele (G) of variant rs1177681 was also associated with excess weight (OR = 2.74; 95% CI = 1.65–4.57) in subjects with a daily frequency of refined cereal consumption above the median. The association between LEPR and excess weight can be modulated by the type and distribution of dietary fatty acids, sugary drinks, and refined cereals.

Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children

ENWEndNote BIBJabRef, Mendeley RISPapers, Reference Manager, RefWorks, Zotero AMA Pawelak A, Ornat M, Pachołek K, et al. Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children. Family Medicine & Primary Care Review. 2018;20(3):250-254. doi:10.5114/fmpcr.2018.78267. APA Pawelak, A., Ornat, M., Pachołek, K., Wróblewska, A., Jerczak, B., & Barski, P. et al. (2018). Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children. Family Medicine & Primary Care Review, 20(3), 250-254. https://doi.org/10.5114/fmpcr.2018.78267 Chicago Pawelak, Agnieszka, Maciej Ornat, Krzysztof Pachołek, Agnieszka Wróblewska, Bartosz Jerczak, Paweł Barski, and Angelika Saj et al. 2018. "Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children". Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 20 (3): 250-254. doi:10.5114/fmpcr.2018.78267. Harvard Pawelak, A., Ornat, M., Pachołek, K., Wróblewska, A., Jerczak, B., Barski, P., Saj, A., and Pirogowicz, I. (2018). Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children. Family Medicine & Primary Care Review, 20(3), pp.250-254. https://doi.org/10.5114/fmpcr.2018.78267 MLA Pawelak, Agnieszka et al. "Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children." Family Medicine & Primary Care Review, vol. 20, no. 3, 2018, pp. 250-254. doi:10.5114/fmpcr.2018.78267. Vancouver Pawelak A, Ornat M, Pachołek K, Wróblewska A, Jerczak B, Barski P et al. Assessment of anthropometric measurements in diagnosis and monitoring of excessive body weight in children. Family Medicine & Primary Care Review. 2018;20(3):250-254. doi:10.5114/fmpcr.2018.78267.

Assessment pf physical fitness of 8 and 9-year-old children from Szczecin,Poland, involved in the obesity prevention program - pilot study.

Increasing incidence of excess weight and poor physical fitness of children validates the need for preventive actions. The Szczecin municipality (gmina Szczecin) runs the "Odważna ósemka" ("The Brave Eight") program - Prevention of excess weight and obesity in 8 and 9-year-old children attending elementary school in Szczecin, Poland. The assessment of physical fitness as well as the prevalence and intensity of excess body weight and blood pressure rates among the 8 and 9-year-old children attending elementary school in Szczecin, Poland. Between 6th December 2016 and 3rd December 2017, 3407 8 and 9-year-old children were examined (1757 girls and 1650 boys). BMI (Body Mass Index) as well as WHR (Waist Hip Ratio) were calculated. All the children were assessed according to criteria established by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). The examination included basic anthropometric measurements, such as: body height and weight, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, body constitution analysis, and physical fitness assessment. Excess body weight was diagnosed in 822 patients, which is 24.1% of the examined population. 369 patients were diagnosed with elevated blood pressure (10.8%). Very poor physical fitness - test abandoned before the completion (HR>180/min), was diagnosed in 151 children (4.5%), very poor physical fitness was diagnosed in 234 children (7%), poor physical fitness was diagnosed in 827 children (24.9%), sufficient physical fitness was diagnosed in 961 children (29.2%), good physical fitness was diagnosed in 650 children (19.5%), very good physical fitness was diagnose in 428 children (12.8%) and excellent in 70 children (2.1%). The fact of unsatisfactory physical fitness and excess body weight in children from Szczecin is unsettling. There is ceratainly a need for preventive measures in the broad sense.