Increase In Girls Research Articles

Secular Changes in Growth in the Maya Village of Yalcoba: 1986-2023.

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo analyze the changes in children's height, weight, BMI and rates of stunting and overweight and obesity over three periods: 1986–1987, 1996–1998, and 2023 for the community of Yalcoba in the Yucatan Peninsula.Material and MethodsFour hundred forty (6‐to‐15 years) children measured in 2023 were compared with data obtained in 1986–1987 (n = 675) and 1996–1998 (n = 628). Z‐scores of height and BMI were calculated to estimate percentages of stunting and high BMI‐for‐age (overweight and obesity). Comparisons of anthropometric parameters by sex and age groups between years of measurement were performed through one way ANOVAs.ResultsDifferences in anthropometric parameters were significant in all age groups of both sexes. Boys measured in 2023 were, on average, 6.4 and 3.3 cm taller than boys measured in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively. Increases in girls were 12 and 7.3 cm, respectively. Average increases in weight of boys measured in 2023 were 7.9 kg compared to the 1980s and 5.8 kg compared to 1990s. Average increases in girls measured in 2023 were 11.3 kg compared to the 1980s, and 7.6 kg compared to the 1990s. Stunting between the 1980s and 1990s decreased by 15 percentage points and between the 1990s and 2023 decreased by 47 percentage points. The percent of children deemed overweight/obese during these periods increased from 8 to 12–50 by 2023.ConclusionResults reflect the overall trends seen in the Yucatan where stunting has decreased substantially but the numbers of overweight/obese youths have increased dramatically in the past 30 years.

Identification of sensitive endpoints for the assessment of phthalates-induced reproductive and developmental toxicity: A literature mining study

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), two common types of phthalates, are known to cause reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals and humans. The reference doses (RfD) of DBP and DEHP should be determined by sensitive endpoints. We here aimed to identify sensitive endpoints for DBP- and DEHP-induced such toxicity using published literatures. By examining the impacts of maternal exposure to DBP or DEHP on anogenital distance (AGD) and semen quality of offspring, we discovered that DBP or DEHP caused AGD decline in boys but increase in girls with DBP being more potent and the first 14weeks of pregnancy being more susceptible, suggesting a chemical- and time-dependent phenomenon. We also identified AGD shortening and total sperm count reduction as two sensitive endpoints for DBP- or DEHP-induced reproductive and developmental toxicity, respectively. Based upon these two endpoints and the employment of the Bayesian benchmark dose approach with an uncertainty factor of 3,000, we estimated the RfD values of DBP and DEHP were 15 μg/kg/day and 36 μg/kg/day, respectively. Thus, we uncover previously unrecognized phenomena of DBP- or DEHP-induced reproductive and developmental toxicity and establish new and comparable or more conservative RfDs for the risk assessment of phthalates exposure in humans.

Determinants of private-sector antibiotic consumption in India: findings from a quasi-experimental fixed-effects regression analysis using cross-sectional time-series data, 2011–2019

The consumption of antibiotics varies between and within countries. However, our understanding of the key drivers of antibiotic consumption is largely limited to observational studies. Using Indian data that showed substantial differences between states and changes over years, we conducted a quasi-experimental fixed-effects regression study to examine the determinants of private-sector antibiotic consumption. Antibiotic consumption decreased by 10.2 antibiotic doses per 1000 persons per year for every ₹1000 (US$12.9) increase in per-capita gross domestic product. Antibiotic consumption decreased by 46.4 doses per 1000 population per year for every 1% increase in girls’ enrollment rate in tertiary education. The biggest determinant of private sector antibiotic use was government spending on health—antibiotic use decreased by 461.4 doses per 1000 population per year for every US$12.9 increase in per-capita government health spending. Economic progress, social progress, and increased public investment in health can reduce private-sector antibiotic use.

Imitation fidelity increases with age in boys, but not in girls: An intriguing finding in a cohort of children aged 3 to 6 years

Imitation that entails faithful reproduction of demonstrated behavior by reenacting a sequence of actions accurately is a fast and efficient way to acquire new skills as well as to conform to social norms. Previous studies reported that both culture and gender might impinge on young children’s fidelity of imitation. We analyzed the imitative behavior of 87 children whose ages ranged from 3 to 6 years. An instrumental task was administered that offered partial (opaque apparatus) or total (transparent apparatus) information about causal connection between the demonstrated actions and their effect in achieving a desired reward. Imitative fidelity (imitating the actions that were demonstrated by an adult model yet were unnecessary for achieving the instrumental goal) increased as a function of age in boys, whereas no differences were found in girls. This lack of increase in girls can be ascribed to their displaying higher degrees of imitation fidelity at an earlier age.

Multidimensional school features associated with physical activity among youth at risk of obesity: an exploratory principal component and generalized estimating equation analysis

BackgroundSchools may be high-leverage points for the promotion of physical activity (PA), yet little is known about school built and social environments among youth at high risk of obesity.PurposeTo characterise school built and social environments that may be salient for PA and to examine associations between school PA environments and PA in youth at risk of obesity.MethodsData from youth attending 206 schools (314 youth in 2005–2008, and 129 youth in 2008–2010) within the QUALITY cohort study, a longitudinal investigation of youth at high risk of obesity were used. Features of schools, based on built, policy/programming and social environments were identified using principal components (PC) analysis. Gender-stratified generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to explore associations between school features and accelerometer measured mean counts per minute (MCPM), mean daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the odds of meeting MVPA guidelines cross-sectionally and prospectively using 90% confidence intervals.ResultsNine PCs were identified. Associations were observed between PA and 7 of the 9 PCs. The social environment seemed to be particularly important. Social Norms to Promote PA was associated with an increase in girls’ baseline MCPM and MVPA. High Willingness to Promote PA was associated with boys’ MCPM, MVPA, and odds of meeting MVPA guidelines, at both baseline and follow-up.ConclusionSchool built and social contexts may be associated with PA cross-sectionally and over time. Further studies are necessary to confirm the direction and magnitude of effects and to establish their relevance to school-based health promotion efforts.

Centile reference curves of the ultrasound-based characteristics of the rectus femoris muscle composition in children at 4-11 years old.

Quantitative diagnostic ultrasound has been proposed as a way to characterize muscle structure, but there is a lack of normative data for children. This study aims to establish age-specific normal ranges for echo-intensity (EI), cross-sectional area (CSA), muscular thickness (MT), and subcutaneous adipose thickness (SAT) values of the rectus femoris muscle in typically developing children. The study recruited 497 children (288 boys and 209 girls) aged 4-10.9 years (mean age 7.39 years), and muscle parameters were measured using 2D B-mode ultrasound. Percentile values and reference curves were calculated using the Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method (LMS). The results showed small variation between measurements for boys compared to girls, with the most significant difference in EI, CSA, and MT values. EI decreased with age, with the most pronounced curve in boys. SAT increased in both sexes, with a slightly higher increase in girls after the age of 9.0 years. This study provides the first age-specific reference norms for the rectus femoris muscle architecture in children, and further research is needed to validate these curves and determine their clinical utility.

Understanding Female Labour Force Participation and Domestic Work in India: The Role of Co-residence and Household Composition

Despite a remarkable increase in girls’ educational enrolment and a significant decline in fertility over the last few decades, India witnessed a substantial decline in women’s labour force participation. This article investigates the nexus between family composition and women’s participation in domestic work and the labour force in India overtime. Domestic work participation of women with secondary and middle level of education has increased; however, it has declined among women with graduate degrees. This study finds evidences that the presence of the elderly women, not the elderly men, encourages other adult women’s engagement in labour force participation as against their domestic participation. This analysis also observes that the gender composition of elderly members within the household influence women’s labour force participation. It is also observed that higher educational level among women counters the adverse effect of family care burden and creates a supportive environment for women’s participation in the labour force.

The role of dieting, happiness with appearance, self-esteem, and bullying in the relationship between mental health and body-mass index among UK adolescents: a longitudinal analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study.

Mental illness and obesity are among the biggest challenges to population health, they are linked, and may be modifiable during adolescence. We aimed to determine intervening pathways between mental health and BMI z-score symptoms across adolescence. In this longitudinal cohort study, we used path models to examine self-reported dieting, happiness with appearance, self-esteem and bullying at 14 years as potential mediators of the cross-lagged relationship between mental health (via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score at 11 and 17 years by sex in the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a prospective cohort study of 18,818 children born in the UK between September 1st, 2000, and January 31st, 2002. Full, incomplete data on all singleton children still participating in the study by age 11 years were analysed in GSEM via maximum likelihood estimation (N=12,450). We found happiness with appearance and self-esteem, but not dieting or bullying, mediated the relationship between BMI age 11 and mental health age 17. Each increase in BMI z-score at 11 years was associated with 0.12 increase for boys and a 0.19 increase for girls in scores of unhappiness with appearance (boys: b 0.12, 95% C.I.; girls b 0.19, C.I. 0.14 to 0.23) and a 16% increase for boys and a 22% increase for girls in odds of low self-esteem (boys OR 1.16, 95% C.I. 1.07 to 1.26; girls: OR 1.22, 95% C.I. 1.15 to 1.30) at 14 years. In turn, for both boys and girls, being unhappy with appearance and low self-esteem at 14 years were associated with a greater likelihood of emotional and externalizing symptoms at 17 years. Early prevention strategies to encourage healthy physical and mental development of children need to focus on the promotion of positive body-mage and self-esteem. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR).

Does the Absence of Men from the Household Increase Girls’ Shares in EducationExpenditures? Evidence from Rural Pakistan

This article investigates the impact of men’s migration on expenditure by left-behind households on children’s education, focusing on the gendered distribution of this expenditure. Using longitudinal survey data of rural households in Pakistan, the effect of men’s migration on the share of households’ education expenditure spent on girls is estimated using the fixed-effects model (FEM). Results suggest that in households from which men migrate for periods longer than six months, the share of education expenditures spent on girls is up to 31 percent higher than that of the average household in the sample. There is no evidence of a significant impact on households’ total education expenditure due to this migration. Overall, in households where men are absent, the distribution of education expenditure tilts in favor of girls. A possible mechanism behind the increase in girls’ shares is the greater participation of women in household decisions in the absence of men. HIGHLIGHTS In Pakistan, rural households from which men have migrated have higher expenditure on girls’ schooling. Men’s outmigration plausibly expands women’s participation in household decisions. Women’s role in expenditure decisions may improve and increase investments in girls’ education. Higher participation of women in household decisions potentially reduces gender inequality.

Increase in the number of consultations for early telarche and the subsequent diagnosis of early or early puberty in pediatric endocrinology in Alava, after the confinement suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and home confinement measures, many of our routines and daily habits have been both affected and modified. Have these factors conditioned a real increase in precocious (PP) and accelerated puberty (AP)? Objectives: This is an observational and retrospective study in which the incidence of medical consultations due to premature thelarche is compared between March to December 2019 and 2020. The medical consultations occurred in the Pediatric Endocrinology (PE) consultation of our hospital. Patients and methods: The analysis involved 75 cases of young girls consulted with premature thelarche in 2019 and 97 girls which were consulted in 2020. From each patient, different variables were analyzed, such as somatometry, hormones, eco, and treatment. Results: In 2019, 75 first visits of PE were due to premature thelarche in young girls (accounting for 2.46% of the total number of first visits carried out in Pediatrics Outpatient Clinics (POC) and 16.77% of PE first visits). However, in 2020, 97 first visits were due to PE (3.52% of the total first-time visits of OC and 23.3% in PE). It was found that in 2020 the number of first-time visits due to premature thelarche increased by 28% compared to 2019 (p: 0.0001 mean comparison). In 2019, out of the 75 consultations due to premature thelarche, 40% were diagnosed with an earlier physiological puberty. Conversely in 2020, out of the 97 consultations, 61.77% had normal physiological puberty. These figures represent an OR of 1.54 (p: 0.02 t Student for independent samples). It was evaluated whether the patients had experienced > 3kg weight gain above 6 months prior to the medical visit. In 2020, 31.57% of patients experienced weight gain, whereas 68.42% did not. In 2019 patients who experienced weight gain accounted for 12.16% and 87.83% did not experience significant weight gain (p: 0.01 t Student for independent samples). Conclusion: Our data demonstrates there has been an increase in the incidence of referrals from Primary Attention to Pediatric Endocrinology to examine advanced thelarche during the period of lockdown measures (2020), in addition to an increase in the number of diagnostics of PP and AP in young girls in our hospital when compared to figures for 2019. Furthermore, in 2020 there was a greater number of patients who experienced a weight gain increase 6 months prior to the medical consultations. We hypothesize that the lockdown inflicted sedentary lifestyles together with changes in dietary habits, promoting weight gain in patients. This effect could have caused a body fat mass increase in girls, suggesting a “trigger effect” in the activation of the gonadal axis, causing a rise in the number of early puberty cases. IRB: CIEC 01/2017.

Boys demonstrate greater knee frontal moments than girls during the impact phase of cutting maneuvers, despite age-related increases in girls

PurposeAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rate is low among children, but increases during adolescence, especially in girls. Increases in the knee valgus moment within 70 ms of contact with the ground (KFM0-70) may explain the sex-specific increase in the risk of ACL injury. The purpose of the study was to investigate sex-dependent changes in the KFM0-70 from pre-adolescence to adolescence during a cutting maneuver (CM).MethodsKinematic and kinetic data during the CM task, performed before and after physical exertion, were recorded using a motion capture system and a force plate. A total of 293 team handball and soccer players, aged 9–12 years, were recruited. A number of those who continued sports participation (n = 103) returned five years later to repeat the test procedure. Three mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures tests were used to determine the effects of sex and age period on the KFM0-70 (1: with no adjustment, 2: adjusted for repeated measurements, and 3: additionally adjusted with hip and knee joint frontal plane kinematics).ResultsBoys had significantly higher KFM0-70 than girls at both age periods (p < 0.01 for all models). Girls, not boys, demonstrated significantly increased KFM0-70 from pre-adolescence to adolescence. Importantly, this was fully explained by kinematic variables.ConclusionAlthough the marked increase in KFM0-70 seen in girls may play a role in their risk of ACL rupture, the higher values demonstrated by boys during CM reflect the complexity of multifactorial biomechanical risk factor analysis. The role of kinematics in mediating the KFM0-70 provides means for modification of this risk factor, but as boys had higher joint moments, continued investigation into sex-dependent biomechanical risk factors is warranted.Level of evidenceII.

Mixed exposure to phthalates and organic UV filters affects Children's pubertal development in a gender-specific manner

BackgroundPrevious studies showed phthalates and UV filters are endocrine-disruptive and associated with puberty. However, few studies have examined effects of mixed exposure. MethodsSix phthalate metabolites and 12 organic UV filters were detected among 223 school-age children. Puberty development was evaluated at baseline and after 18 months of follow-up. Ordered logistic regression models, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) were used to evaluate relationships between phthalate metabolites or UV filters exposure and pubertal development. ResultsSix phthalate metabolites and 5 UV filters were detectable in urine samples. In boys, BP-3 and 4′-MAP were negatively associated with genital (ORBP-3 = 0.52, (0.27, 0.93), OR4′-MAP = 0.45, (0.25, 0.74)) and pubic hair development (ORBP-3:0.24, (0.05, 0.76), OR4′-MAP:0.24, (0.05, 0.77)). In girls, MEP levels were associated with advanced breast development (OR: 1.29, (1.04, 1.64)). LASSO regression identified BP-3, 4′-MAP, and OD-PABA for inverse associations with pubertal development in boys. MEP was related to an increase in girls' breast development (OR: 1.64, (1.08, 2.63)). Overall mixture was related to a 70% reduction in boys' genital development stage, with a larger effect size than a single chemical in qgcomp. Mixed exposure was associated with girls' earlier puberty onset (OR: 2.61, (1.06, 6.42)). ConclusionsOur results suggested higher levels of phthalate metabolites and UV filters were associated with delayed pubertal development in boys but with earlier puberty in girls. Higher effect size of joint exposure than single chemicals suggested phthalates and UV filters might have synergistic effects on puberty and distort adolescent endocrine function together.

Increase of Consultations for Premature Thelarche and the Post-Diagnostic of Precocious and Accelerated Puberty in Pediatric Endocrinology in Alava, due to the Confinement Measures Endured in 2019 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Due to the COVID 19 pandemic and home confinement measures, many of our routine and daily habits have been both affected and modified. Have these factors conditioned a real increase in Precocious (PP) and Accelerated Puberty (AP)? Objectives: This is an observational and retrospective study in which the incidence of medical consultations due to Premature Thelarche is compared between March to December 2019 and 2020. The medical consultations occurred in the Pediatric Endocrinology (PE) consultation of our hospital. Patients and Methods: The analysis involved 75 cases of young girls consulted with Premature Thelarche in 2019 and 97 girls which were consulted in 2020. From each patient different variables were analyzed, such as somatometry, hormones, eco and treatment. Results: In 2019, 75 first visits of PE were due to Premature Thelarche in young girls (accounting for 2.46% of the total number of first visits carried out in Pediatrics Outpatient Clinics (POC) and 16.77% of PE first visits). However, in 2020, 97 first visits were due to PE (3.52% the total first time visits of OC and 23.3% in PE). It was found that, in 2020 the number of first time visits due to Premature Thelarche increased by 28% compared to 2019 (p = 0.0001 mean comparison). In 2019, out of the 75 consultations due to premature Thelarche, 40% were diagnosed with an earlier physiological puberty. Conversely in 2020, out of the 97 consultations, 61.77% had a normal physiological puberty. These figures represent an OR of 1.54 (p = 0.02 t Student for independent samples). It was evaluated whether the patients had experienced &gt; 3 kg weight gain above 6 months prior to the medical visit. In 2020, 31.57% of patients experienced weight gain, whereas 68.42% did not. In 2019 patients who experienced weight gain accounted for 12.16% and 87.83% did not experience significant weight gain (p = 0.01 t Student for independent samples). Conclusion: Our data demonstrates there has been an increase in the incidence of the referrals from Primary Attention to Pediatric Endocrinology to examine advanced Thelarche during the period of lockdown measures (2020), in addition to an increase in the number of diagnostics of PP and AP in young girls in our hospital when compared to figures of 2019. Furthermore, in 2020 there was a greater number of patients who experienced weight gain increase 6 months prior to the medical consultations. We hypothesize that lockdown inflicted sedentary lifestyles together with changes in dietary habits, promoting weight gain in patients. This effect could have caused a body fat mass increase in girls, suggesting a “trigger effect” in the activation of the gonadal axis, causing a rise in the number of early puberty cases.

Imagining the Sun: using comparative judgement to assess the impact of cross-curricular solar physics workshops

This paper describes a school intervention focused on visual art and solar physics using science capital and STEAM methodologies to develop STEM engagement activities. Data from 40 children (aged 8–11) in two primary schools in the North East of England are presented, using pre- and post-intervention surveys which contained free-response and likert-scale questions. The paper presents a novel, and transferable, method of evaluating children’s drawings using online comparative judgement marking software, particularly suited to those without a background in qualitative research. Using comparative judgement this paper shows that the intervention led to a moderate increase in girls’ knowledge of solar physics.

Children’s school attendance, work, health and rainfall shocks in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The relationship between rainfall and primary-school-age children’s school attendance, school absence, work and health in rural Ethiopia is investigated. The focus is on how these relationships may differ by children’s gender. An increase in rainfall relative to longer-term average rainfall is associated with increased school attendance by girls and decreased school attendance by boys. An increase in rainfall is associated with increased probability of working by boys and decreased probability of working by girls; no significant change in weekly hours worked by boys and decreased work hours by girls. The implication for boys is that more of them work when there is more rainfall, but those already working work fewer hours. An increase in rainfall frees girls’ time, so they can potentially devote more attention to their schooling. An increase in rainfall is associated with lower school enrolment by boys but fewer hours of work for those already working. In terms of human capital acquisition, these two forces work in opposite ways for boys. An implication of these findings is that policies that offset income shocks arising from reduced rainfall are expected to result in increase in girls’ human capital and potentially reduce future gender economic disparities.

S07 How do sports clubs contribute to health? From theory to interventions

Abstract The symposium presents last findings on health promotion interventions in sports clubs. After a short introduction about the health promoting sports clubs (HPSC), five presentations (France, Sweden, Ireland, Finland and Netherlands) will reflect upon how sports clubs can be health promoting: in theory, from youth perspectives, by increasing physical activity level as outcome or enhancing sustainability of interventions, before opening the discussion with academic experts. Presentation 1 describes an iterative international process, implicating three groups (French sport students, French and Swedish experts) to create an intervention theory, based on the HPSC model. Presentation 2 focuses on a cross-sectional study investigating 123 Swedish youth's representation of sports clubs' role towards health promotion, identifying social dimension, environment, coaches, amount and ambition of practice as key factors. Presentation 3 is a longitudinal study among 366 adolescents, followed from age 15 to age 19, questioning the participation to organised sport practice and their orientation (leisure or competitive). Results have shown that by the age of 19, 33% of boys and 43% of girls have dropped out of organised sport, where 45% of boys and 26% of girls continued participation. Adolescents with a competitive goal orientation were more likely to continue participation. Presentation 4 is a longitudinal study among 131 youth measuring objective physical activity before and in the middle of a sport season. Principal results showed a significant change across time point, as well as differences between gender (a decrease in moderate to vigorous physical activity during games for boys and an increase for girls). Presentation 5 examined factors that influenced the sustainability of 14 Dutch sporting program aimed at increasing physical activity among inactive people 6.5 years after their implementation. Interviews with representatives of Dutch National Sports Federations and sports clubs helped to identify facilitating and impeding factors, like program adaptation, evaluation, financing and factors related to human resources. Question and Answer will be organised around the key ingredients and challenges facing the development of HPSC interventions, such as implementation of theoretical background, sport participants need consideration, complexity of outcomes evaluation of HPSC and program sustainability.

The Influence of a School Social Network Intervention on Adolescent's Health Behaviors: A Gender-Specific Agent-Based Model.

IntroductionAdolescence is a crucial stage for health behavior development, which is associated with health in adulthood. School closures caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have exposed adolescents to an increased risk of obesity due to a lack of physical activity. Although social network interventions provide an effective approach for promoting health-related behavior, current practices neglect gender differences in adolescent behavioral patterns and emotional preferences. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of centrality-based methods integrated with of gender contexts in a social network intervention to improve adolescent's health behavior.MethodsWe developed an agent-based model (ABM) that supports the small-world characteristics of adolescent social networks. Health-related data for junior middle school students (n = 234, 48% girls) were collected in November 2018, 2019 and 2020 in Tianjin, China. We simulated multiple network-based interventions with different criteria for influential agents (i.e., betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, eigenvector centrality, and PageRank) and a random condition. The rules for generating peer influence and accelerating behavioral changes were based on the diffusion of innovations theory, with gender specifications.ResultsAfter the school closures, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents, with a greater increase in girls than in boys (+8.85% vs. +1.65%, p < 0.001). Simulations showed that centrality-based network interventions were more effective than the random condition (average 6.17% per tick vs. 5.22% per tick, p < 0.05), with a higher efficiency in girls than boys (average 3.68% vs. 2.99% per tick, p < 0.05). PageRank outperformed other centrality conditions at the population level (6.37% per tick, p < 0.05). In girls, betweenness centrality was the best method (3.85% per tick, p < 0.05), while in boys, PageRank still had the greatest efficiency (3.21% per tick, p < 0.05).ConclusionsWe found evidence for gender differences in the negative impact of COVID-19-related school closures and the potential for centrality-based social network interventions to affect adolescent health behavior. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of gender-specific targeting strategies to further promote health-related school programs in the post-pandemic era.

Acceleration in BMI gain following COVID-19 restrictions. A longitudinal study with 7- to 10-year-old primary school children.

SummaryBackgroundThe ramifications of COVID‐19 restrictions might accelerate the already rising proportion of children with overweight or obesity.ObjectivesTo assess the association between COVID‐19 restrictions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of children with overweight or obesity.MethodsCohort study with baseline measurements in September 2019 (prior to COVID‐19 restrictions) and follow‐up in June 2020, September 2020, and March 2021 at 12 primary schools in Austria. The height and weight of 738 children aged 7 to 10 years were measured and age‐ and sex‐specific national and international standardized values were calculated. Changes over time were analysed by analysis of variance.ResultsMean BMIIOTF standard deviation scores (SDS) increased by 0.24 (95% CI, 0.21–0.28) between September 2019 and March 2021. The proportion of children with overweight or obesity increased from 20.7% to 26.2% during this period (p < 0.001) using national reference values—EQUI BMIAUT—comparable results were observed. Simultaneously, the heightAUT SDS increased by 0.06 (95% CI, 0.05–0.08) with a larger increase in girls (+0.11; p < 0.001) than in boys (+0.03; p = 0.19).ConclusionsCOVID‐19 restrictions were associated with accelerated increases in mean BMI and the proportion of children with overweight or obesity. The increase in height SDS in girls calls for further investigations.

Oxytocin genetic pathway (CD38) and SDQ psychosocial characteristics in adolescent schoolchildren

To determine an effect of CD38 on the regulation of oxytocin (OT) production and to identify psychosocial characteristics according to the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in adolescent schoolchildren. The study included 308 adolescents, aged 11-18 years, of an unbiased school sample from three large cities of Central Siberia (Krasnoyarsk, n=194; Abakan, n=76; Kyzyl, n=38). All participants were Russian. The ethnicity was determined by mother's descent. Psychological study using SDQ and analysis of gene polymorphisms in DNA from saliva samples were carried out. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan allele discrimination technology with TaqMan probes (DNA synthesis, Russia) using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Rotor-Gene 6000 (Corbett Life Science, Australia). Data were analyzed using Statistica v.10 software. In adolescence, the high activity of the OT pathway can cause a number of negative effects, such as emotional instability («Emotional problems» (p=0.048), «Goodman total score» (p=0.057), «Hyperactivity» (p=0.075). The differences are statistically significant (p≤0.05)) in young (11-14 years old) adolescent girls who carry the A allele for rs3796863 polymorphism. Similar gender differences are characteristic and have been described for other populations. The distribution of the CD38 rs3796863 genotypes was similar to that in Caucasians. In adolescence, OT production decreases in comparison with the prepubertal period, and there are gender differences in its concentration in biological liquids towards an increase in girls compared to boys. In addition, the medians of individual SDQ scales differed significantly between boys and girls in our sample. Our results support the hypothesis of excessive social sensitivity mediated by OT, which may lead to some gender- and age-dependent psychosocial problems.

Pengaruh Pendidikan Kesehatan terhadap Tingkat Pengetahuan Remaja tentang Dismenore dan Penanganan Non Farmakologi di SMAN 3 Kupang

Menstruation is the periodic production of blood, mucus and epithelial cells from uterus. Some women feel pain in the abdomen that comes from the uterine cramps that can spread to the lower back and limbs. This condition is known as dismenorrhea and occurs before and during menstruation. Dismenorrhea is thought to be derived from uterine contractions stimulated by prostaglandin. The purpose of the study was to analyze the influence of health education on the level of knowledge of the teenagers in SMAN 3 Kupang. This kind of research is quasi-experimental with one group pra post test design. The subjects for this experimental study will be 521 girls at Grade X and XI in SMAN 3 Kupang. The sampling techniques are using proposional stratified random sampling with the number of samples of 84 girls. The variables studied are using wilcoxon test. The result showed that there was an increase in girls' knowledge after being given a health knowledge, with the avarage score for 69,26 at pretest increased to 88,9 in the post test, with significant value of ρ = 0,000 or smaller value is α = 0,05, so health education affects to the improvement of adolescent knowledge about dismenorrhea and non-pharmacological treatment.