Normal Weight Children Research Articles

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Background -Continued advances in neonatal intensive care have led to increased rates of survival in ELBW children (gestational age (birth weight <1000gm respectively). However, the surviving ELBW cohorts are at higher risk than term-born normal birth weight (NBW ≥2500 g) children for neurodevelopment, behavior and motor problems. Aim -To evaluate motor, neurodevelopmental and behavior problems in a regional cohort of extremely low birth weight children during first four years of life.Methods –A Case Control study was done on 30 children aged between 3-4 years born ELBW attending neonatology OPD and they were compared with 30 age- matched controls for motor, neurodevelopment and behavioral problems using PBS, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third edition(Bayley-III) and CPMS.Results-Bayleys motor and cognition evaluation revealed that mean score was lower in ELBW as compared to NBW group (p-<0.05). Scores of Bayleys language component , however was not statistically different between two groups.The Paediatric Balance Scale ( PBS) and CPMS SCALE also revealed lower score in the ELBW group (p-<0.05)). Conclusion-ELBW children are a group of high-risk children who face multiple impairments, especially cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal challenges of the classroom and therefore need multidisciplinary follow-up and early developmental intervention for optimal outcome. Motor, neurodevelopment and behavioral problems of all ELBW infants must be monitored after discharge to ensure that families receive appropriate support and intervention services to optimize outcome potential.

Deriving Normative Data on 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for South Asian Children (ASHA): A Clinical Research Protocol.

Background:The global prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents has increased over the past 2 decades and is the strongest predictor of adult hypertension. South Asians have an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome associated risk factors including abdominal obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. All these factors contribute to their increased cardiovascular disease burden. Accurate and early identification of hypertension in South Asian children is a necessary aspect of cardiovascular disease prevention. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered the gold-standard for pediatric blood pressure (BP) measurement. However, its utilization is limited due to the lack of validated normative reference data in diverse, multiethnic pediatric populations.Objective:The primary objective is to establish normative height-sex and age-sex-specific reference values for 24-h ABPM measurements among South Asian children and adolescents (aged 5-17 years) in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. Secondary objectives are to evaluate differences in ABPM measurements by body mass index classification, to compare our normative data against pre-existing data from German and Hong Kong cohorts, and to evaluate relationships between habitual movement behaviors, diet quality, and ABPM measurements.Design:Cross-sectional study, quasi-representative sample.Setting:Participants will be recruited from schools, community centers, and places of worship in Southern Ontario (Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, including the Peel Region) and Greater Vancouver, British Columbia.Participants:We aim to recruit 2113 nonoverweight children (aged 5-17 years) for the primary objective. We aim to recruit an additional 633 overweight or obese children to address the secondary objectives.Measurements:Ambulatory BP monitoring measurements will be obtained using Spacelabs 90217 ABPM devices, which are validated for pediatric use. The ActiGraph GT3X-BT accelerometer, which has also been validated for pediatric use, will be used to obtain movement behavior data.Methods:Following recruitment, eligible children will be fitted with 24-h ABPM and physical activity monitors. Body anthropometrics and questionnaire data regarding medical and family history, medications, diet, physical activity, and substance use will be collected. Ambulatory BP monitoring data will be used to develop height-sex- and age-sex-specific normative reference values for South Asian children. Secondary objectives include evaluating differences in ABPM measures between normal weight, overweight and obese children; and comparing our South Asian ABPM data to existing German and Hong Kong data. We will also use compositional data analysis to evaluate associations between a child’s habitual movement behaviors and ABPM measures.Limitations:Bloodwork will not be performed to facilitate recruitment. A non-South Asian comparator cohort will not be included due to feasibility concerns. Using a convenience sampling approach introduces the potential for selection bias.Conclusions:Ambulatory BP monitoring is a valuable tool for the identification and follow-up of pediatric hypertension and overcomes many of the limitations of office-based BP measurement. The development of normative ABPM data specific to South Asian children will increase the accuracy of BP measurement and hypertension identification in this at-risk population, providing an additional strategy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Obesity and Bone: A Complex Relationship.

There is a large literature on the relationship between obesity and bone. What we can conclude from this review is that the increase in body weight causes an increase in BMD, both for a mechanical effect and for the greater amount of estrogens present in the adipose tissue. Nevertheless, despite an apparent strengthening of the bone witnessed by the increased BMD, the risk of fracture is higher. The greater risk of fracture in the obese subject is due to various factors, which are carefully analyzed by the Authors. These factors can be divided into metabolic factors and increased risk of falls. Fractures have an atypical distribution in the obese, with a lower incidence of typical osteoporotic fractures, such as those of hip, spine and wrist, and an increase in fractures of the ankle, upper leg, and humerus. In children, the distribution is different, but it is not the same in obese and normal-weight children. Specifically, the fractures of the lower limb are much more frequent in obese children. Sarcopenic obesity plays an important role. The authors also review the available literature regarding the effects of high-fat diet, weight loss and bariatric surgery.

Deviating glucose results in an international dual-center study. A root cause investigation.

During a dual-center study on obese and normal weight children and adolescents, focusing on glucose metabolism, we observed a marked difference in glucose results (N = 16,840) between the two sites, Salzburg, Austria and Uppsala, Sweden (P < 0.001). After excluding differences in patient characteristics between the two populations as cause of this finding, we investigated other preanalytic influences. Finally, only the tubes used for blood collection at the two sites were left to evaluate. While the Vacuette FC-Mix tube (Greiner Bio-One, Kremsmünster, Austria) was used in Uppsala, in Salzburg blood collections were performed with a lithium heparin tube (LH-Monovette, Sarstedt, Germany). To prove our hypothesis, we collected two blood samples in either of these tubes from 51 children (Salzburg N = 27, Uppsala N = 24) and compared the measured glucose results. Indeed, we found the suspected bias and calculated a correction formula, which significantly diminished the differences of glucose results between the two sites (P = 0.023). Our finding is in line with those of other studies and although this issue should be widely known, we feel that it is widely neglected, especially when comparing glucose concentrations across Europe, using large databases without any information on preanalytic sample handling.

The Effectiveness of Early Childhood Caries Treatment with MI Varnish Fluor in Obese Subjects: A Study from Vietnam.

Objective: We conducted this work to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for early childhood caries (ECC) using MI Varnish Fluor in obese children aged from 36 to 71 months. Methods: This study was conducted on 300 carious teeth of obese children and normal-weight children in Hanoi, Vietnam, over the period 2019–2020. Diagnodent KaVo 2190 laser equipment was used to diagnose ECC. The children in each group were selected on the basis of similarities in age, gender, and study location, and the teeth in the two groups were selected on the basis of similarities in damage level and jaw position. ECC treatment was performed once a week for four consecutive weeks with MI Varnish Fluor. The child, the child’s family, and the child’s teacher were consulted on diet and oral hygiene during the treatment. Children were examined and monitored throughout the treatment period. Children were re-examined after 3 and 6 months from the start time of treatment. The Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used, with statistical significance indicated at p < 0.05. Results: After six months of treatment with MI Varnish Fluor, the number of cases of code 0 damage recovery (D0) increased in both groups. The result showed that MI Varnish fluor was effective in ECC treatment. D0 damage recovery rates of 79.3% in obese children and 62.7% in normal-weight children were observed after six months of treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups according to age, tooth position, or tooth surface position in D0 damage recovery. Conclusions: MI Varnish Fluor was effective in ECC treatment, with D0 damage recovery rates of 79.3% in obese children and 62.7% in normal-weight children after six months of treatment.

Maternal perceptions and concerns about children's weight status and diet quality: a study among Black immigrant families.

To identify factors influencing Black immigrant mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight and to compare children's diet quality according to these perceptions and concerns. Mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight were assessed with sex-specific figure rating scales and the Child Feeding Questionnaire, respectively. Participants' weights and heights were measured and characterised using WHO references. Children's dietary intakes were estimated using a 24-h dietary recall. Children's diet quality was evaluated using the relative proportion of their energy intake provided by ultra-processed products, which were identified with the NOVA classification. χ2 tests, multivariate logistic regressions and t tests were performed. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Black immigrant mothers of Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean origin (n 186) and their 6-12-year-old children. Among mothers, 32·4 % perceived their child as having overweight while 48·4 % expressed concerns about child weight. Girls and children with overweight or obesity were significantly more likely to be perceived as having overweight by their mothers than boys and normal-weight children, respectively. Mothers of children living with obesity, but not overweight, were significantly more likely to be concerned about their child's weight than mothers of normal-weight children. Children's diet quality did not differ according to mothers' perceptions and concerns. Children's gender and weight status were major determinants of perceptions and concerns about child weight among Black immigrant mothers. Including knowledge about mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight will help nutrition professionals develop interventions tailored to specific family needs within the context of their cultural backgrounds.

481. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Hospitalized Children: An Elevated Body Mass Index is a Marker of Increased Risk of Acute Respiratory Failure

BackgroundSeveral risk factors are known to increase the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness in adults, including age and obesity. Specific comorbidities affecting COVID-19 outcomes in children are less well defined. MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of overweight and obese (OW) children compared to underweight and normal weight (NW) children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Children between 2 and 18 years of age who were admitted to Texas Children’s Hospital from April through December of 2020 with a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test were included. Asymptomatic patients undergoing surveillance testing for SARS-CoV-2 were excluded. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the Centers for Disease Control definition. Demographic and clinical information was obtained from the electronic medical record. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.0. ResultsWe identified 145 total children who met inclusion criteria. Fifty-five (38%) children were NW and 90 (62%) children were OW. Demographics and characteristics are shown (Figure 1). Underlying asthma or chronic lung disease was present in 13 (24%) vs 31 (34%) in the NW and OW groups respectively (P=0.17). OW children were more likely to have pneumonia than NW children [relative risk1.6 (CI 1.40-2.45)]. An elevated BMI was also associated with an increased risk of requiring oxygen [relative risk 1.4 (CI 1.03-1.96)]. The median length of hospitalization was 4 days for NW versus 5 days for OW children (P=0.6). Admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was similar between the groups (P=0.7). There was no significant difference in treatments administered to children in the two groups, although there was a trend towards increased steroid (29 (53%) vs 59 (67%), P=0.13) and remdesivir (12 (22%) vs 30 (33%), P=0.14) use in the OW children. Four children in each group died. Characteristics of Hospitalized Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Weight Category Abbreviations: ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; ICU, intensive care unit; MIS-C, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children; MV, mechanical ventilation; NC, nasal cannula *Denotes statistically significant P-value a. Calculated using chi-square or fisher exact unless otherwise noted. a. Calculated using chi-square or fisher exact unless otherwise noted. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. b. Calculated using Wilcoxon rank sum test. c. Includes patients with home noninvasive MV (2) or tracheostomy and home MV(4).ConclusionFor children admitted with symptomatic COVID-19, being overweight or obese was significantly associated with having pneumonia and with requiring oxygen. A difference in ICU admission, length of hospitalization, and mortality was not observed. Obesity prevention along with vaccination efforts may prevent COVID-19 related morbidity in this group. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate in obese adolescents

Background: Obesity in children has the potential to increase the risk of morbidity and even death in the future. One of the diseases that are at risk due to obesity is hypertension and also impaired kidney function. Glomerular filtration rate differences in obese and normal-weight children are somehow contradictory. This study aims to prove the difference in blood pressure and kidney function in adolescents with obese and non-obese.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among high school children in Denpasar. Subjects were classified as obese and non-obese. The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the mean difference of blood pressure, whereas the Independent t-test was used to determine the mean difference of GFR. Multivariate analysis was performed with logistic regression and ANCOVA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 for Windows.Results: A total of 68 subjects with obese and 52 subjects with non-obese were included in this study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the obese group was higher than in a non-obese group, with the mean difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 29 mmHg (P&lt;0.001) and 18 mmHg (P=0.002), respectively. Obesity increases the risk of hypertension 9.78 times (95% CI: 1.86-51.39; P=0.007), and obese adolescents have an average GFR of 11.51 lower than non-obese (95% CI: 17.32 – (-5.69); P&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Hypertension is higher in obese adolescents than non-obese, while glomerular filtration rate is lower than non-obese adolescents.

Salivary pH, dental caries and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the middle school students in Eastern Makassar

Objective: This study aimed to assess the association of salivary pH, dental caries and body mass index (BMI) in middle school students in eastern MakassarMaterial and Methods: This study included 60 middle school students from two schools in eastern Makassar. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire, weight and height measurement, dental examination, and saliva collection. Body mass index was calculated by dividing weight and height in kg/m2, saliva was collected by draining method, and salivary pH was measured with Saliva-Check Buffer (GC Japan). Decay Missing Filled-Teeth (DMF-T) indexes are used to assess dental caries. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square and ANOVA with a significance of 0.05.Results: This study showed that overweight and obesity are more prevalent in female students than male students. Salivary pH in underweight students and overweight and obese students were lower compared to normal BMI students, while DMF-T score in underweight, overweight, and obese students were higher than the normal BMI students.Conclusion: It can be concluded that BMI have a significant association with salivary pH and DMF-T score.1. Wang L, Zhou B, Zhao Z, et al. Body-mass index and obesity in urban and rural China: findings from consecutive nationally representative surveys during 2004–18. Lancet 2021;398: 53-63.2. Garrouste-Orgeas M, Troché G, Azoulay E, et al. Body mass index. Intensive Care Med 2004;30: 437-443.3. Barlian B, Azhari, Pramanik F. Correlation between mandibular trabeculae bone density on panoramic radiograph and body mass index of men aged 5-35 years old. J Dentomaxillofac Sci 2018;3: 166-168.4. Bellagambi FG, Lomonaco T, Salvo P, et al. Saliva sampling: Methods and devices. An overview. TrAC-Trends Anal Chem 2020;124: 115781.5. Zalewska A, Kossakowska A, Taranta-Janusz K,et al. Dysfunction of salivary glands, disturbances in salivary antioxidants and increased oxidative damage in saliva of overweight and obese adolescents. J Clin Med 2020;9: 548.6. Mosca AC, Stieger M, Neyraud E, et al. How are macronutrient intake, BMI, ethnicity, age, and gender related to the composition of unstimulated saliva? A case study. J Texture Stud 2019;50: 53-61.7. Pannunzio E, Amancio OMS, Vitalle MSDS, et al. Analysis of the stimulated whole saliva in overweight and obese school children. Rev Assoc Méd Bras 2010;56: 32-36.8. Primasari A, Hulu KP. Dryness of the oral cavity in the salivary status of overweight women. J Homeop Nat Med 2019;5: 50-53.9. Al-Hussaini A, Bashir MS, Khormi M, et al. Overweight and obesity among Saudi children and adolescents: Where do we stand today?. Saudi J Gastroenterol 2019;25: 229.10. Hruby A, Hu FB. The epidemiology of obesity: A big picture. Pharmaco Economics 2015;33: 673-689. 11. Alshihri AA, Rogers HJ, Alqahtani MA, et al. Association between dental caries and obesity in children and young people: A Narrative Review. Int J Dent 2019;2019: 1-8. 12. Groth SW, Morrison-Beedy D. Obesity risk in urban adolescent girls: nutritional intentions and health behavior correlates. J NY State Nurses Assoc 2011;42: 15-28.13. Baliga S, Muglikar S, Kale R. Salivary pH: A diagnostic biomarker. J Indian Soc Periodontol 2013;17: 461.14. Anamaria B, Eugen B, Daniela E, et al. Interrelation between salivary pH, buffer capacity and dental caries in underweight, normal weight and overweight children. Revista de Chimie 2017;68: 1353-1356.

Visceral adiposity index performed better than traditional adiposity indicators in predicting unhealthy metabolic phenotype among Chinese children and adolescents

The relationship between visceral adiposity index (VAI) and unhealthy metabolic phenotype remained unclear in children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate their association and compared the ability of VAI and traditional adiposity indicators (body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio) to predict metabolically unhealthy phenotype among normal-weight, overweight and obese children and adolescents. In this cross-sectional study, 1722 children and adolescents aged 12–18 years were selected by cluster random sampling, underwent a questionnaire survey, physical examination and biochemical tests. Participants were divided into four phenotypes according to the combination of the weight status determined by body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome components. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare the predictive capacity between VAI and traditional adiposity indicators and their relationship with metabolically unhealthy phenotype. We found that VAI had better performance in predicting metabolically unhealthy phenotype than traditional adiposity indicators, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.808 and 0.763 for boys and girls with normal-weight, 0.829 and 0.816 for boys and girls with overweight and obese (all P < 0.001). VAI was most strongly related to metabolically unhealthy phenotype whether or not to adjust the age, the adjusted OR and 95%CI was 6.15 (4.13–9.14) in boys with normal weight, and 5.90 (3.06–11.36), 4.95 (2.35–10.41) in boys and girls with overweight and obese, respectively (all P < 0.001). Our findings suggested VAI could be used as a comprehensive predictor to identify unhealthy metabolic phenotype in children and adolescents.

Assessment of Dysfunctional Movements and Asymmetries in Children and Adolescents Using the Functional Movement Screen-A Narrative Review.

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening tool that identifies dysfunctional movements in seven test items requiring an interplay of cognitive, perceptual, proprioceptive, and motor functions that involve muscular strength/endurance, flexibility, mobility, coordination, and balance. The results of the FMS include an overall composite score, scores on the individual test items, and identification of compensatory movement patterns and left-right asymmetries on 5 bilateral test items. Although there is a plethora of literature on the use of the FMS in adults, there is a growing body of evidence indicating its use in children. The available research in children involves school children and young athletes in at least 20 different sports in over 20 countries and comparisons between pre- and post-pubescent children, and normal weight, overweight, and obese children. Studies that include measures of adiposity and physical activity levels, or report prevalence of asymmetries and dysfunctional movement patterns are not well represented in the children’s literature. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the currently available literature in children and suggest potential uses of the FMS by coaches, physical educators, and other health/fitness professionals, appropriate interpretation of results, and future research in children.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviors associated with overweight and obesity among primary school children in Tanzania: a case-control study

PurposeThis study aims at determining the risk of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors on overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 10–13 years in Tanzania.Design/methodology/approachA case-control study was conducted from January to March 2020 involving 69 overweight/obese children as cases and 138 normal weight children as controls. Cases were identified as having body mass index-for-age ≥ +1 standard deviation (SD) and controls as those having BMI-for-age range between −2 SD to <+1 SD. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection on daily physical activities and sedentary behavior types, frequency duration and activity score. An independent sample t-test was used to compare means of activity score between cases and controls. Binary logistic regression was used to predict risk factors for overweight/obesity.FindingsRisk factors for overweight/obesity were listening to music and/or radio for >2 h/week (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.1) and walking for exercise <2 h/week (OR 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–4.1). On the other hand, rope skipping for >2 h/week (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03–0.7) was a protective factor against overweight/obesity. Controls had a significantly higher mean score of being active during lunch breaks compared to cases (p = 0.012). Cases had higher weight, height and percentage body fat than controls (p < 0.001). The home environment provided more avenues for physical activity than the school environment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is original research work and the first case-control study to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight and obesity in Tanzanian school children.

Polysomnographic comparison of sleep in children with obesity and normal weight without suspected sleep-related breathing disorder.

Short sleep and obstructive apneas/hypopneas have been shown to be associated with childhood obesity. Still, few studies have compared sleep in children with obesity, without suspected sleep disordered breathing and normal weight peers by objective sleep measures and compared results with subjective parent assessment of sleep. Children with obesity aged 7-13 years (N= 44) and a matched group of normal weight children (N= 42) completed clinical polysomnography (Embla A10 Recording System). Parents scored their children's sleep on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare groups. There was a higher obstructive apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) (median obesity=1.20 vs. median normal =0.66; z= -1.33, U= 560.50, p= 0.002) and number of oxygen desaturation events per hour (median obesity=0.7 vs. median normal =0.2; z= -3.45, U= 402.50, p= 0.001) in the children with obesity compared to children with normal weight. The children with obesity had a significantly longer sleep duration (median obesity 8:50 h=vs. median normal=8:32 h; z= -2.05, U= 687.00, p= 0.041), longer stage N2 sleep (median obesity=87 min vs. median normal=52 min; z= -2.87, U= 576.50, p= 0. 004) and shorter REM sleep (median obesity=94 min vs. median normal=121 min; z= 5.05, U= 1477.00, p≤ .001). No differences were observed for time in sleep stage N1 and N3, wake time after sleep onset or the total arousal index . Further, no group differences were found on the CSHQ sleep-disordered breathing sub-scale (p= 0.399). The children with obesity demonstrated significantly more mild to moderate sleep disordered breathing than children with normal weight, although this was not corroborated by parent report.

Dental Erosion Prevalence and Its Association With Obesity Among Children With and Without Special Healthcare Needs.

Dental erosion and childhood obesity are associated with a common risk factor, soft drink consumption. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of dental erosion and its association with obesity among children with and without special healthcare needs. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,200 school children (400 children with special needs (CSHN) and 800 children without special needs) in the age group of 6 to 16 years. Dental erosion was diagnosed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Body mass index (BMI; weight/height in kg/m2) was recorded for each child. The association of dental erosion and obesity was analysed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 331 (27.6%) children presented with dental erosion. Dental erosion prevalence among CSHN was 33.5% and among children without special needs was 24.6%. In the final fully adjusted model, children with obesity presented 2.32 times (95%CI 1.17-4.89, P = 0.001) higher odds ratio (OR) of having dental erosion than normal-weight children. Children who consumed soft drinks ≥ 1 time/day and 2-6 times a week presented with an OR of 2.65 (95%CI 1.23-5.21, P = 0.001) times of dental erosion. Children with chronic vomiting and bulimia presented with a 3.27 (95%CI 1.72-6.12, P = 0.001) times higher OR of dental erosion. Children with gastric reflux presented with a 3.21 (95%CI 1.52 - 5.86, P = 0.001) times higher OR of dental erosion. The prevalence of dental erosion was slightly higher for special needs children compared to children without special needs. The study outcome suggests that obesity, chronic vomiting, consumption of soft drinks, and gastric reflux are statistically significantly associated with dental erosion.

Analysis of developmental coordination disorder in Chinese children

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of children's developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its distribution based on different family socioeconomic characteristics in China, in order to provide a theoretical basis for early prevention, diagnosis, and intervention for DCD. Methods: From June to October, 2016, 1 887 children aged 3-10 years from 20 kindergartens and 10 elementary schools from 8 cities in seven geographic areas of China using a stratified cluster sampling method were recruited. With a cross-sectional design, parents were asked to report on their basic information. Children' s motor ability was assessed using the movement assessment battery for children-second edition (MABC-2). Children were grouped by age, sex, body mass index (BMI), one-child status, and family structure. Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare family socioeconomic characteristics of children between different groups. Results: Among the 1 887 children, there were 1 110 (58.8%) preschool children (3-6 years of age) and 777 (41.2%) school-aged children (7-10 years of age). There were 982 males (52.0%) and 905 females (48.0%). A total of 5.5% (104 cases) children were diagnosed with DCD, 10.4% (197 cases) with suspected DCD, and 84.1% (1 586 cases) as typical motor developing children. There were no significant differences in prevalence of diagnosed and suspected DCD among different regions (χ²=17.342 and 4.877, P=0.173 and 0.560), total motor coordination score (F=2.759, P<0.05), and the scores of all dimensions (manual dexterity, positioning and grabbing, balance: F=9.276, 5.277, 3.706, all P<0.01). The prevalence of DCD in preschool children was significantly higher than that in school-age children (χ²=11.891, P<0.01). Girls were significantly better than boys in total motor coordination, manual dexterity, and balance (all P<0.01). Boys were significantly better than girls in positioning and grabbing (P<0.01). The prevalence of DCD in boys was significantly higher than that in girls (70 boys (7.1%) and 34 girls (3.8%), χ²=28.508, P<0.01). The total motor coordination ability, manual dexterity and balance of children who are overweighted (BMI>18 kg/m2) were significantly lower than those of children of normal weight (BMI≤18 kg/m2) (all P<0.01). The prevalence of suspected DCD children who are overweighted was significantly higher than that of children of normal weight (χ²=4.369, P<0.05). The difference of total motor coordination ability (F=6.811, P<0.01) and the prevalence of DCD (χ²=14.902, P<0.01) among different family structures were statistically significant. The total motor coordination ability and balance ability of children from multi-child family were better than those of children from one-child family (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The motor coordination ability of Chinese children is well-developed, with differences among different regions, gender, age, BMI, and family structure.

A Multicenter Retrospective Study of Vancomycin Dosing by Weight Measures in Children.

Vancomycin carries risks of treatment failure and emergent resistance with underexposure and renal toxicity with overexposure. Children with overweight or obesity may have altered pharmacokinetics. We aimed to examine how body weight metrics influence vancomycin serum concentrations and to evaluate alternative dosing strategies. This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study across 3 large, academic hospitals. Patients aged 2 to 18 years old who received ≥3 doses of intravenous vancomycin were included. Weight metrics included total body weight, adjusted body weight, ideal body weight, body surface area, and allometric weight. Outcomes included vancomycin concentration and ratios of area under the curve (AUC) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Regression analyses were used to examine which body-weight identifier predicted outcomes. Of the 1099 children, 45% were girls, mean age was 9.0 (SD = 5.4) years, 14% had overweight, and 17% had obesity. Seventy-five percent of children had vancomycin concentrations in the subtherapeutic range by trough <10 µg/mL, and 63% had a ratio of AUC to MIC <400 μg-hr/mL. Three percent had a supratherapeutic initial trough >20 µg/mL or ratio of AUC to MIC >600 μg-hr/mL. Serum vancomycin concentrations were higher in children with overweight or obesity compared with children who were at a normal weight or underweight; the mean ratio of AUC to MIC also trended higher in the groups with overweight or obesity. Most children received vancomycin regimens that produced suboptimal trough levels. Children with overweight or obesity experienced higher vancomycin trough levels than children of normal weight despite receiving lower total body weight dosing. Using the ratio of AUC to MIC was a better measure of drug exposure.

Associations of Sleep Duration and Screen Time with Incidence of Overweight in European Children: The IDEFICS/I.Family Cohort

Introduction: Over the past decades, children have been increasingly using screen devices, while at the same time their sleep duration has decreased. Both behaviors have been associated with excess weight, and it is possible they act as mutually reinforcing behaviors for weight gain. The aim of the study was to explore independent, prospective associations of screen time and sleep duration with incident overweight in a sample of European children. Methods: Data from 4,285 children of the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort who were followed up from 2009/2010 to 2013/2014 were analyzed. Hours per day of screen time and of sleep duration were reported by parents at baseline. Logistic regression analyses were carried out in separate and mutually adjusted models controlled for sex, age, European country region, parental level of education, and baseline BMI z-scores. Results: Among normal weight children at baseline (N = 3,734), separate models suggest that every hour increase in screen time and every hour decrease in sleep duration were associated with higher odds of the child becoming overweight or obese at follow-up (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02–1.32 and OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05–1.43, respectively). In the mutually adjusted model, both associations were attenuated slightly ( screen time OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.99–1.28; sleep duration OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.40), being consistently somewhat stronger for sleep duration. Discussion/Conclusion: Both screen time and sleep duration increased the incidence of overweight or obesity by 13–20%. Interventions that include an emphasis on adequate sleep and minimal screen time are needed to establish their causal role in the prevention of overweight and obesity among European children.

Genetic variations in adiponectin levels and dietary patterns on metabolic health among children with normal weight versus obesity: the BCAMS study.

Adiponectin represents an important link between adipose tissue dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk in obesity; however, there is a lack of data on the effects of adiponectin-related genetic variations and gene-diet interactions on metabolic disorders in children. We aimed to investigate possible interactions between adiponectin-related genetic variants and habitual dietary patterns on metabolic health among children with normal weight versus overweight/obesity, and whether these effects in childhood longitudinally contribute to metabolic risk at follow-up. In total, 3,317 Chinese children aged 6-18 at baseline and 339 participants at 10-year follow-up from the Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome study cohort were included. Baseline lifestyle factors, plasma adiponectin levels, and six adiponectin-related genetic variants resulting from GWAS in East Asians (loci in/near ADIPOQ, CDH13, WDR11FGF, CMIP, and PEPD) were assessed for their associations with the metabolic disorders. Being metabolically unhealthy was defined by exhibiting any metabolic syndrome component. Among the six loci, ADIPOQ rs6773957 (OR 1.26, 95% CI:1.07-1.47, P = 0.004) and adiponectin receptor CDH13 rs4783244 (0.82, 0.69-0.96, P = 0.017) were correlated with metabolic risks independent of lifestyle factors in normal-weight children, but the associations were less obvious in those with overweight/obesity. A significant interaction between rs6773957 and diet (Pinteraction = 0.004) for metabolic health was observed in normal-weight children. The adiponectin-decreasing allele of rs6773957 was associated with greater metabolic risks in individuals with unfavorable diet patterns (P < 0.001), but not in those with healthy patterns (P > 0.1). A similar interaction effect was observed using longitudinal data (Pinteraction = 0.029). These findings highlight a novel gene-diet interaction on the susceptibility to cardiometabolic disorders, which has a long-term impact from childhood onward, particularly in those with normal weight. Personalized dietary advice in these individuals may be recommended as an early possible therapeutic measure to improve metabolic health.

Association between Parents' Perceptions of Preschool Children's Weight, Feeding Practices and Children's Dietary Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study in China.

Parental perception of children’s weight may influence parents’ feeding practices, and in turn, child dietary intake and weight status; however, there is limited evidence generated for preschoolers. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between Chinese parents’ perceptions of child weight, feeding practices and preschoolers’ dietary patterns. Participants (1616 parent-child pairs) were recruited from six kindergartens in Hunan, China. Parents’ misperception, concern, and dissatisfaction on child weight were collected through a self-administered caregiver questionnaire. Parental feeding practices and children’s dietary intake were, respectively, assessed using the Child Feeding Questionnaire and a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Linear regression models were applied to analyze associations between parental weight perceptions, feeding practices, and preschooler’s dietary patterns. Associations between parents’ weight perceptions and dietary patterns were significant only among underweight children. Regardless of child weight status, parental weight underestimation and preference for a heavier child were positively associated with pressure-to-eat. Parental weight concern was positively associated with restriction in normal weight child, but this was not found in other weight groups. In conclusion, Parents’ misperception, concern, and dissatisfaction about child weight are associated with parents’ feeding practices and may influence preschoolers’ dietary quality, but the relationships vary by children’s actual weight status.

Bullying and coping with bullying among obese\\overweight and normal weight children

This study aimed to determine the obese\\overweight and normal weight children's status of encountering and coping with bullying and the correlational factors. This case-control study was conducted with 1.680 students in the second level (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades) from September 24, 2018 to May 31, 2019 in the Mediterranean Region in Turkey. The data were collected using a personal information form, the Traditional Peer Victimization Scale and the Coping with Bullying Scale. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann–Whitney U test, Binary Logistic Regression, Backward Wald Elimination, and Simple Linear and Backward Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression analyses. This study indicated that the risk of becoming victims, bullies or bully-victims increases among boys and 8th grade students. It also found that the risk of being victims and bully-victims increases among children whose father is illiterate. There was no significant difference between obese\\overweight and normal weight children in terms of being victims, bullies and bully-victims. Grade level, academic performance, father's education level and awareness of reporting bullying were effective in coping with bullying among the children, while weight was not. Further studies are needed to determine different factors that affect children's coping strategies against bullying.