Overweight Adolescents Research Articles

Global Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence is a global health issue associated with adverse outcomes throughout the life course. To estimate worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from 2000 to 2023 and to assess potential risk factors for and comorbidities of obesity. MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane. The inclusion criteria were: (1) studies provided adequate information, (2) diagnosis based on body mass index cutoffs proposed by accepted references, (3) studies performed on general population between January 2000 and March 2023, (4) participants were younger than 18 years. The current study was performed in accordance with the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model with Free-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used for data analysis. Sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and subgroup analysis of obesity among children and adolescents were conducted. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents assessed by World Health Organization, International Obesity Task Force, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or other national references. A total of 2033 studies from 154 different countries or regions involving 45 890 555 individuals were included. The overall prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents was 8.5% (95% CI 8.2-8.8). We found that the prevalence varied across countries, ranging from 0.4% (Vanuatu) to 28.4% (Puerto Rico). Higher prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents was reported in countries with Human Development Index scores of 0.8 or greater and high-income countries or regions. Compared to 2000 to 2011, a 1.5-fold increase in the prevalence of obesity was observed in 2012 to 2023. Substantial differences in rates of obesity were noted when stratified by 11 risk factors. Children and adolescents with obesity had a high risk of depression and hypertension. The pooled estimates of overweight and excess weight in children and adolescents were 14.8% (95% CI 14.5-15.1) and 22.2% (95% CI 21.6-22.8), respectively. This study's findings indicated 1 of 5 children or adolescents experienced excess weight and that rates of excess weight varied by regional income and Human Development Index. Excess weight among children and adolescents was associated with a mix of inherent, behavioral, environmental, and sociocultural influences that need the attention and committed intervention of primary care professionals, clinicians, health authorities, and the general public.

The influence of skipping exercise to body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness index in overweight female adolescents

<p><strong><em>ABSTRACT</em></strong></p><p><strong><em><br />Background: </em></strong><em>The<strong> </strong>overweight prevalence of adolescents in Indonesia from 2013 to 2018 experienced a significant rising as seen in 13-15 years old age group (expressed in percentage of 8.3 % in 2013 to 11.2 % in 2018) also in the 16-18 years old age group (expressed in percentage of 5.7 % in 2013 to 9.5 % in 2018). An increase of physical activity and improvement of food intake become one solid strategy to reduce the obesity prevalence on female adolescents. Skipping exercise method is able to increase the physical activity level on female adolescents and able to promote the improvement of body composition as well as cardiorespiratory fitness on female adolescents. </em></p><p><strong><em>Objective: </em></strong><em>analyzes the effect of skipping exercise to changes of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness on overweight female adolescents by intervention method. </em></p><p><strong><em>Method: </em></strong><em>subjects in this study were 28 female students from Junior High which experiencing overweight status and have age ranging from 15-17 years old and willing to participate in this research. Design of this study was a quasi experimental applied to 14 subjects within 1 skiping group and 14 subjects within 1 control group. The intervention group received skipping exercise with 4-8 minutes time duration, 3 times in a week for 8 weeks. Prior to intervention and after the intervention, subjects underwent a body composition measurement (body weight, body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat free mass) by employing the BIA, and a cardiorespiratory fitness index measurement by employing a modified Harvard Step Test method. </em></p><p><strong><em>Result: </em></strong><em>according to statistical test, there are significant differences found on body composition (body weight, body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat free mass) also in the cardiorespiratory fitness index, in before and after intervention to skipping group (p<0.05), while no significant difference found in control group (p>0.05). Skipping exercise method able to influence the reduction of body composition and an increase to cardiorespiratory fitness index </em><em>(P<0.05: R<sup>2</sup>).</em><em></em></p><p><strong><em>Conclution: </em></strong><em>Skipping exercise program has a significant effect on the body composition and on the cardiorespiratory fitness index. The skipping exercise is effective for improving body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness index. </em></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>KEYWORDS</strong><strong><em>: </em></strong><em>Overweight; body composition; cardiorespiratory fitness; Skipping</em></p>

Case-Control Study: Evaluation of the Correlation between Obesity and Hypertension in South Jakarta Adolescents

Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension in adolescents has increased in recent years. Initially, hypertension was rare in adolescents, but now hypertension is showing a trend of prevalence at a younger. Hypertension in adolescents is multifactorial, and there is no single cause. However, some studies suggest that high blood pressure or hypertension is more common in overweight or obese adolescents. Objective: To determine the correlation between obesity and hypertension in adolescents in South Jakarta in 2023. Method: This research is an analytical study with a case-control design, using secondary data from the Non-Communicable Disease Information System (SIPTM) of DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office in 2023. The sample size used the Lemeshow formula, hypothesis tests for two proportions (two-sided test), with 1124 respondents divided by 562 cases and 562 controls, by purposive sampling technique. Statistical tests included univariate, stratification, and multivariate analysis (logistic regression causal model).. Result: The obesity proportion was 29.8%, primarily female, at 58.45%, with the highest being 16 years (25.8%). After evaluating confounding, found a significant correlation between obesity and hypertension in adolescents, namely aOR 3,6 (95% CI 2.72 - 4.73), which means that obese adolescents are statistically proven to have a 3,6 times greater risk of developing hypertension than non-obese adolescents. Conclusion: This finding indicates a prevalence increase of hypertension in the future if there is no obesity control in adolescents. Need screening or early detection in adolescents, especially in obese adolescents. Hypertension screening in adolescents to involve parents so that they get enough attention in the screening routine. In addition, there will be collaborative efforts between schools and healthcare providers to provide education and health promotion for school children, especially adolescents, to control hypertension and other non-communicable diseases.

Relationship between body mass index and fat mass percentage among adolescents from Constantine (Algeria)

Several references based on body mass index (BMI) have been used in Algeria to define adolescent obesity. No studies have been published to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these references. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and Algerian national data based on BMI to detect excess fat in adolescents. A cross sectional study of 257 adolescents aged 16-19 was conducted in Constantine, Algeria. The BMI was calculated from weight and height measurements. The body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated by impedancemetry (BIA). The IOTF and Algerian national data were evaluated for their sensitivity and specificity to detect excess body fat. The BF% thresholds used to define true positives were 25% for boys and 30% for girls. Body mass index was significantly associated with BF% in the whole population (r=0.759). Obesity is more common in girls (p<0.01), regardless of the reference used. The percentage of obesity among adolescents according to the IOTF, Algerian data and BF% was 5.84%, 5.45% and 20.62%, respectively. The obesity rate estimated by BF% was significantly higher (p<0.00001). Sensitivity of the evaluated criteria, IOTF and Algerian data, was high for males (83.3% and 100%, respectively) and low for females (19.2% for both IOTF and Algerian data). Specificity of the two criteria was high for both sexes (100%). Specificity was higher than sensitivity; therefore, the ability of BMI to detect non-obese adolescents was higher than its ability to identify obese adolescents. As BMI is an index of body weight rather than body fat, it can be a source of error. Local data and international references gave the same percentages of obesity. Body mass index is a very specific but less sensitive method to assess increased body adiposity in adolescents. It fails to identify excessive adiposity in a significant percentage of female teenagers. It seems necessary to measure body fat in addition to BMI in adolescent girls. Therefore, it is important to consider body fat mass when determining obesity in order to predict the consequences of obesity, which are mainly due to an increase in fat mass in the body. Key words: Adolescent, Obesity, BMI, Fat mass rate, IOTF, Impedancemetry, Algeria

The association between parental body mass index and the risk of adolescent obesity

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of adolescent obesity in urban areas and the potential association with parental body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional design was used and participants were selected from institutions of higher education in Jakarta City. Anthropometric data were obtained by trained volunteers while other variables were acquired through a self-administered questionnaire completed using a Google online form. Among the 420 questionnaires distributed, 370 (88%) were retrieved and completed. Data were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate analysis using chi-square and logistic regression adjusted for lifestyle covariates. The results showed that 59.65% and 63.16% of participants had a father or mother who was overweight and obese. The tendency to acquire obesity was higher when the father was obese compared to the mother (OR=1.42; 95% CI=0.92-2.19). A correlation was found between parental BMI and overweight/obesity in adolescents, with the father being a stronger predictor than the mother. Although there was no significant association, this study underscored the significance of adolescent obesity and overweight as a public health issue, suggesting the need for urgent preventive measures.

Overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Adolescent overweight and obesity are growing public health concerns in developing nations like Ethiopia. They are closely linked to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, a deterioration in health-related quality of life, subpar academic performance, and a decline in social and emotional well-being. There is, however, little research in this field. Thus, this study aimed to assess overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia. A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 781 secondary school adolescents in Harar city from February to March 2022. Multi-stage sampling was used to identify 781 study participants (586 in public and 195 in private schools). Anthropometric measures and self-administered structured questionnaires were used to obtain the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the association between independent variables and overweight and obesity. Statistical significance was declared at P < .05. The overall magnitude of overweight and obesity was 9.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.2-11.4%] with 16.2% in private schools. Being female [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.17-3.55], late adolescent age [AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31-0.90], bigger family size [AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.97], high paternal education level [AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.08-3.81], eating meat [AOR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.27-9.17] and not consuming breakfast daily [AOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.24-3.67] were factors associated with overweight and obesity among all secondary school adolescents. A high maternal educational level, not eating breakfast and dinner daily in private secondary school adolescents and having a feminine gender, eating eggs, and not walking or riding a bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously in public secondary school adolescents were factors associated with overweight and obesity. The extent of overweight and obesity was notably higher in the study area. Communities and educational institutions should work together to promote healthy lifestyle choices among adolescents, with a special emphasis on girls and students enrolled in private schools.

Barriers and Coping Strategies among Obese and Overweight Learners: Sequential Explanatory Study

his study aims to assess the key barriers to physical activity among overweight and obese adolescents, discovering that the most significant obstacles are a lack of time, different priorities, and a poor perception of one's body. A mixed method sequential explanatory design was used in the study which involves 50 respondents and 8 outliers in one of the public senior high schools in Cluster 1, Division of Pampanga. These findings are consistent with broader research, which shows that time constraints, low motivation, and self-consciousness pose typical challenges for those dealing with weight concerns. Interestingly, the study finds that social support from friends is the preferred coping strategy, implying a preference for emotional comfort over creative solutions. Despite exhibiting good internal problem-solving skills in planning and goal setting, there is a lack of confidence in execution. Furthermore, preferred avoidance coping mechanisms, such as daydreaming and fantasizing, indicate a preference for emotional distance and self-soothing over direct confrontation. The study underlines the value of building self-acceptance and engaging in the present moment as potential alternatives to daydreaming. It also identifies possible issues such as low self-esteem and a desire to escape reality. Notably, overweight and obese learners face different physical and psychological difficulties. The study points out the importance of peer support in coping techniques, as students rely greatly on peers for emotional support, which inspires emotions such as belonging and appreciation. Lastly, learners indicate a stronger willingness to get involved with organized activities such as sports, recognizing the potential benefits of improving physical fitness. It is recommended to further investigate the roles of peer support and sport program and how they affect obese and overweight students. Additionally, it is also recommended to explore the metal health aspects.

Impact of a nationwide school policy on body mass index in Danish school children: An interrupted time series analysis

ObjectivesA new school policy mandating 45 min physical activity daily during school was introduced in Denmark in 2014. We aimed to evaluate the effect of this policy on BMI in school-aged children. It was hypothesized that the school policy would decrease BMI, especially in the obese fraction of the population (90th percentile BMI). Study designThis register-based study was conducted as a natural experiment. MethodsAnalyses were based on data from The National Child Health Register that contains nationwide data on height and weight from mandatory preventive health examinations completed by school nurses or medical doctors during pre-preparatory classes (0th-3rd grade) and lower secondary education (7th-9th grade). A total of 401,517 children were included in the analyses with annual repeated cross-sectional data covering the period from 2012 to 2018. The effect of the school policy was evaluated using an interrupted time series approach comparing pre- and post-policy slopes in BMI, stratified by sex and age-group. ResultsIn boys, no significant differences were observed in mean BMI slopes from pre-to post-policy in either age-group. In girls, post-policy slopes were significantly higher compared to pre-policy in both age-groups (0th-3rd grade: β:0·034 kg/m2, 95%-CI: (0·024; 0·043), p-value: <0·001; 7th-9th grade: β:0·066 kg/m2, 95%-CI: (0·028; 0·103), p-value: 0·001). No significant differences in slopes were observed in BMI at the 90th percentile from pre-to post-policy for both sexes and across both age-groups. Adjustment for leisure-time physical activity as a potential time-varying confounder did not alter the findings. ConclusionsIn conclusion, we did not detect a significant decrease in BMI levels among school-aged children following the introduction of a nationwide school policy specifying daily physical activity in school. If anything, a small positive change in BMI was observed in girls. More research is needed to understand whether structural changes similar to this requirement are able to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Longitudinal analysis of vitamin D levels considering sunshine duration and suggestion for a standardised approach for vitamin D supplementation in children and adolescents with obesity

BackgroundChildren with obesity have low 25 hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-D3) levels compared to lean children. Recommendations on when to start vitamin D supplementation differ largely between countries. Longitudinal data on 25-OH-D3 levels to guide treatment decisions are scarce since they are largely influenced by solar radiation and are difficult to compare.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective analysis of multiple 25-OH-D3 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurements in a cohort of 543 patients without vitamin D supplementation. All measurements were taken at the local paediatric obesity clinic as documented in the German-Austrian-Swiss APV (Prospective Documentation of Overweight Children and Adolescents) registry from 2009 to 2019. Serial 25-OH-D3 and PTH levels were adjusted for sunshine duration over the last 30 days to account for seasonal variation, as well as for sex and body mass index (BMI). We further performed an exploratory analysis of the association of sunshine duration, sex, BMI SDS (standard deviation score), abnormal lipid levels or dysglycemia with the 25-OH-D3 trend.Results229 obese patients (mean BMI SDS: 2,58 (± 0,56), 53% females, mean age: 12 (± 3) years, range: 2–21 years) with two, 115 with three and 96 with four repeated 25-OH-D3 measurements were identified. Mean adjusted 25-OH-D3 (48.2 nmol/l) and PTH (34.9 ng/l) levels remained stable over 120 weeks. 5% of the patients had an elevated PTH > 65 ng/l. High total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dl and high triglycerides ≥ 130 mg/dl were associated with higher 25-OH-D3 levels.ConclusionWe propose a simple method to include sunshine duration in the analysis of 25-OH-D3 levels to minimise the bias of seasonal variation. Based on our data we established the pragmatic strategy of limiting vitamin D supplementation to patients with biochemical signs of mineralisation disorders such as elevated PTH and alkaline phosphatase (AP). In children with normal PTH and AP we recommend adjustment of calcium intake and increase of outdoor activity instead.

Modelling and assessment of glucose-lactate kinetics in youth withoverweight, obesityand metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A pilot study.

In this study, we investigated glucose and lactate kinetics during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 23 overweight and obese adolescents and assessed putative differences among participants with and without metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We enrolled 23 young people (six girls) with obesity [body mass index 33 (29-37)]. Glucose-lactate kinetics parameters (disposal glucose insulin sensitivity, SID; fraction of glucose converted into lactate, fr; fractional lactate clearance rate, kL) and lactate production rate (LPR) were estimated using the oral glucose-lactate minimal model. MASLD presence was assessed using the proton density fat fraction. We analysed glucose, lactate and LPR time to peak, peak values and area under the curve and evaluated differences using the Wilcoxon test. MASLD and no-MASLD participants were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Correlations between parameters were assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). We also tested the performance of two (4 or 3 h OGTT) protocols in estimating oral glucose-lactate minimal model and LPR parameters. Glucose peaks 30 min earlier than lactate (p = .0019). This pattern was present in the no-MASLD group (p < .001). LPR peaks 30 min later in the MASLD group (p = .02). LPR and kL were higher in MASLD, suggesting higher glycolysis and lactate utilization. SID and fr correlate significantly (ρ = -0.55, p = .008). SID and fr were also correlated with the body mass index, (ρ = -0.45, p = .04; and ρ = 0.45; p = .03). The protocol duration did not influence the estimates of the parameters. Youth with MASLD showed a delayed glucose metabolism, possibly because of greater utilization of the underlying substrates. A 3-h OGTT may be used to assess lactate metabolism effectively.

Association between more complex special care needs and overweight status and adolescents' difficulty with dental caries.

Little is known about dental caries experience in adolescents with overweight and complex special health care needs (SHCNs). Adolescent data (10-17 years) from the 2016-2020 National Survey of Children's Health (n = 91,196) was analyzed. The sample was grouped into the following: more complex SHCN and overweight, more complex SHCN without overweight, less complex SHCN and overweight, less complex SHCN without overweight, no SHCN but with overweight, and neither SHCN nor overweight. A multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model was conducted. Adolescents with more complex SHCNs with (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.44-2.30, p < 0.001) or without overweight (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.30-1.76, p < 0.001) were at higher odds of experiencing dental caries compared to healthy adolescents. No significant associations were observed between adolescents with less complex or no SHCN regardless of the overweight status with healthy adolescents. Adolescents with more complex SHCNs, irrespective of overweight status, experienced a higher caries severity than adolescents with no SHCNs or overweight.

ПРОБЛЕМА ОЖИРЕНИЯ У ДЕТЕЙ И ПОДРОСТКОВ

Currently, the problem of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents is a serious public threat, the prevalence of which continues to grow rapidly in many countries around the world. The occurrence of obesity depends on a combination of various and dangerous etiological factors. Obesity and overweight have many pathogenetic links that cause adverse and dangerous health effects, significantly impair the quality of life and reducing its duration. High prevalence, life-threatening consequences, unsuccessful therapy, large financial costs and social discrimination put obesity and overweight in a special place among modern problems of medicine and healthcare. This study is devoted to the study of etiology, pathogenesis and influence of overweight on human health, evaluating the outcomes in clinical studies of obesity in children and adolescents. The study of the problem of obesity in children and adolescents should be aimed at identifying the relationship between various components of pathogenesis and the development of adverse consequences of obesity, taking into account the role of etiology – genetic and environmental factors. It is necessary to systematically approach the treatment of obesity and its complications, taking into account the multifactorial etiology and pathogenesis of this condition. Such tactics will help to find potential targets for obesity therapy, individual approaches in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease, which is crucial in the fight against this global epidemic.

Review on Childhood Obesity: Discussing Effects of Gestational Age at Birth and Spotting Association of Postterm Birth with Childhood Obesity

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents and its negative effects on health, including increased risks of long-term diseases like type II DM, CVD, dyslipidemia, , stroke, hypertension, respiratory issues, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, along with certain malignancies, which are already identified during the perinatal and prenatal period is one of the most important worldwide health concerns of the twenty-first century. To overcome the current epidemic of overweight and obesity, obstructing their risk factors is important in an effort to prevent the development of obesity and overweight. Multiple epidemiological research studies have shown a connection between BMI acquired later in life and birth weight; however, the results are constrained by the absence of information on gestational age. Majority of studies reported relation of childhood obesity with the preterm born children in study of relation with the gestational age. Although more likely to become obese in later adulthood, preterm and low birth weight born child are small and/or lean at birth, whereas post-term usually not and above all, children born postterm showed signs of a rapid weight gain that led to obesity decades early. Thus, the purpose of this review study is to determine the impact of the gestational age at delivery and to provide an overview of the evidence supporting the link between childhood obesity and post-term birth.. Thorough systemic review conducted on online database Pubmed, Google Scholar and found only few studies on association with the post- term born children. Limited evidence necessitated the studying of additional adult post-term cohorts to accurately determine future risks to health and to investigate these potential metabolic alterations, as well as if the alterations in adiposity continue or get worse throughout adulthood, and how these correlations vary in adult born post-term in terms of pattern and amplitude.

Effect of Body Mass Index on Pedobarographic and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Adolescent Flexible Flat Feet.

Although adolescent flexible flatfoot deformity (FFD) is common, little is known regarding the effect of weight on associated symptomatology. This study uses pedobarography and patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) to determine if overweight adolescents with FFD have more severe alterations in dynamic plantar pressures than normal body mass index percentiles (wnBMI) with FFD and if such alterations correlate with pain and activity. A retrospective review of patients aged 10 to 18 years with nonsyndromic symptomatic FFD was performed. Overweight (BMI percentile ≥ 85%) patients were compared with wnBMI patients with regard to dynamic plantar pressure measures and PRO scores. Pedobarographic data were subdivided into regions: medial/lateral hindfoot and midfoot, and first, second, and third to fifth metatarsals. Plantar pressure variables were normalized to account for differences in foot size, body weight, and walking speed. Contact area (CA%), maximum force by body weight (MF%), and contact time as a percentage of the rollover process (CT%) were calculated. Two foot-specific PROs were assessed, including the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score and the Oxford Ankle Foot Measure for Children. Of the 48 adolescents studied, 27 (56%) were overweight and 21 (44%) were wnBMI. After normalization of the data, overweight patients had significantly greater medial midfoot MF%, whereas CT% was increased across the medial and lateral midfoot and hindfoot regions. Correlations showed positive trends: as BMI percentile increases, so will CA and MF in the medial midfoot, as well as CT in the medial and lateral midfoot and hindfoot. Significant differences were seen between groups, with the overweight group reporting lower sports and recreation subscores than the wnBMI group. No significant differences were seen in the pain and disability subscores. Although overweight adolescents with FFD exhibit greater forces and more time spent during the rollover process in the medial midfoot than normal-weight patients, they did not report worse pain or disability associated with their flat foot deformity. Therapeutic level 3.

Obesity and Sex as Determinants of Atherogenic Risk Associated with High-Density (HDL) and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Subfractions in Adolescents: A Population-based Study Based on Health Survey of Sao Paulo

Background: Worldwide, obesity in adolescents is an epidemiological concern. Overweight and obesity are associated with comorbidities in adult life, such as increased risk of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. This study investigated possible differences between traditional lipid markers and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions in a population-wide representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. Methods: The individuals included in the study comprise a subsample of the 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo (ISA-Capital 2015). LDL and HDL particle sizes were determined by the Lipoprint® System (Quantimetrix Corporation). Results: 272 Brazilian adolescents with a mean age of 15.2 ± 2.2 years, of which 47.8% (n = 130) are boys. Analysis of LDL subfractions showed an increase in LDL 2 content in girls (5.7% vs. 5.1%; p = 0.047). This result was associated with a higher content of large LDL in girls (17.8% vs. 13.5%; p &lt; 0.001) and a significant, lower content of small LDL (1.7% vs. 3.4%; p = 0.002). When obesity was considered, we observed that regardless of being overweight, girls had higher large and small LDL than boys. However, when a large to small LDL ratio was calculated, girls with no excess weight had higher values than boys with no excess weight (10.6 vs. 9.3; p = 0.038), and these had lower LDL ratio than overweight boys (9.3 vs. 13.5; p = 0.016). On the other hand, boys had higher HDL 2 content than girls (8.9% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.017), which was associated with increased large HDL values in boys (1.9% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.047). Regression analysis was performed according to gender, the sum of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) + intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) C + IDL B subfractions was adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), showing that girls had lower atherogenic lipid profile (β = 0.987; CI = 0.977-0.998; p = 0.017) than boys. When the regression analysis was performed according to BMI, large LDL in adolescents with no excess weight presented a lower atherogenic lipid profile (β = 1.040; CI = 1.000-1.082; p = 0.049), adjusted for age and sex, than overweight adolescents. Conclusion: Regardless of excess weight, girls showed a cardioprotective profile more associated with a favorable distribution of LDL subfractions than boys, reinforcing the relevance of evaluating qualitative aspects of lipoproteins in addition to the traditional cholesterol content.

Identification of important features in overweight and obesity among Korean adolescents using machine learning

Overweight and obesity in adolescents have been reported as one of the most serious threats worldwide including South Korea. This study aims to investigate the complex factors contributing to overweight and obesity in Korean adolescents using various machine learning methods. The research includes a dataset of 43,268 records from the 16th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey and explores 71 different factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, health, behavior problems, family, and peer and school-related factors. Our analysis encompassed an array of algorithms, including Logistic Regression, Ridge, LASSO, Elasticnet, Decision tree, Bagging, Random forest, AdaBoost, and XGBoost. A total of nine machine learning models exhibited accuracy levels within the range of 0.7662 to 0.8403. Based on the domains and sub-domains of factors, it was determined that domains including sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, physical health, psychological health, behavioral problems, family factor, and peer and school factors were deemed important. Additionally, it is suggested that attention be given to newly-emerged features indicated by machine learning techniques, including oral health, smartphone addiction, smoking, sexual behavior, school violence, and nationality of parents. The current study's findings emphasize the critical need for collective and customized prevention programs considering multi-facet features to prevent overweight and obesity among Korean adolescents.

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

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

Eight weeks of high-intensity interval vs. sprint interval training effects on overweight and obese adolescents carried out during the cool-down period of physical education classes: randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sprint interval training (SIT) and [high intensive interval training (HIIT)] carried out during the cool-down period of the physical education classes on body composition, blood pressure variables (BP) and pulse rate (PR), and cardiorespiratory fitness of adolescents who are overweight and obese, and to compare the differences in enjoyment in response to SIT vs. HIIT. For this randomized controlled trial, forty-five adolescents were recruited from a high school and were randomly placed into three groups. SIT and HIIT trained for 8 weeks, twice a week, for 12 min/session. Experimental group (EG) 3 was the control, and they maintained their regular physical education class schedule. The SIT group performed 6 sets of 60 s of work (90-95%HRmax) / 60 s of rest (50-55%HRmax), and the HIIT group performed 3 sets of 2 min of work (80-85%HRmax) / 2 min of rest (50-55%HRmax). Both experimental groups showed a significant improvement in fat mass (FM) (%) and trunk FM (kg). In addition, EG2 reported a significance improvement in lean mass (kg), blood pressure BP (mmHG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mmHg), PR (bpm), and VO2max (ml/kg/min). The present study found that a HIIT protocol performed during the cool-down period of the physical education classes generated adaptations such as improvement in body composition, BP variables and PR, and cardiorespiratory fitness, in overweight and obese adolescents. In contrast, the group of overweight and obese adolescents who performed SIT showed limited benefits, with changes in fat mass only.

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

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

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

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