Overweight Adolescents Research Articles

Clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with overweight in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A cross-sectional study

BackgroundOverweight has been increasing globally in various age groups, including children and adolescents. Despite efforts to reduce instances of childhood obesity, research has shown that children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to be overweight more often than the general population. In this context, the aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with overweight in children and adolescents with ADHD treated at a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 40 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years who were diagnosed with ADHD. Height/age and body mass index (BMI)/age indices were used for anthropometric assessment, and the percentages of fat mass (%FM) and fat-free mass (%FFM) were estimated using bioelectrical impedance. Clinical (lipid profile and comorbidities) and sociodemographic variables were also obtained. The association between clinical and sociodemographic variables and overweight status was investigated using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). The significance level was set at p < 0.05. ResultsExcessive weight occurred in 42.5% (n = 17) of the participants, 67% (n = 20) had inadequat% FM, and 27.5% (n = 11) had dyslipidemia. According to the MCA, “greater number of people in the family”, “lower maternal education”, “presence of comorbidities, and “generalized anxiety disorder” were more frequent among those with excess weight. ConclusionThe findings provide insights on the clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with being overweight in children and adolescents with ADHD, which may contribute to the early detection of possible inadequacies in anthropometric status.

Obesity in Children and Adolescents: 2022 Update of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has been gradually increasing in recent years and has become a major health problem. Childhood obesity can readily progress to adult obesity. It is associated with obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is important to make an accurate assessment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with consideration of growth and development. Childhood obesity can then be prevented and treated using an appropriate treatment goal and safe and effective treatment strategies. This article summarizes the clinical practice guidelines for obesity in children and adolescents that are included in the 8th edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.

Effects of Herbs on Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellitus, and Hyperlipidemia

Overweight and obesity in youth is a worldwide public health problem. Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescents have a substantial effect upon many systems, resulting in clinical conditions such as metabolic syndrome, early atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Obesity and the type of body fat distribution are still the core aspects of insulin resistance and seem to be the physiopathologic links common to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and T2D. In presence of high levels of blood LDL particles, free radicals (ROS), macrophages, cytokines, platelets, histamine, 5HT get involved in LDL oxidation, leading to formation of atherosclerotic plaques which get deposited in endothelium of coronary arteries causing coronary artery disease (CAD). Psyllium fibers and Ficus Carica (FC) are being considered to be useful in treating hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. This study was conducted to determine hypotensive, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic potential of Psyllium husk and FC. Study was conducted in National hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from January to April 2019. Seventy five hyperlipidemic, hypertensive and diabetic patients were enrolled selected from the hospital with their consent. They were divided in three groups ie 25 patients in each group. Group-1 was on placebo, group-2 was on 15 grams psyllium husk to be used in three divided doses. Group-3 was on 12 grams FC to be taken in three divided doses daily for two months. Their Lipid profile, FBS, and hypertension were determined before and after two months therapy by these two agents. Two analyze data we used SPSS version 10.01.001 2015 and t test was applied to determine changes in the tested parameters. In two months therapy by psyllium husk in 24 patients TG, TC, LDL-c was reduced 21.48, 10.09, 24.17 mg/dl respectively. HDL was increased 12.38 mg/dl in this group. FBS reduction was 28.66 mg/dl, systolic BP 6.30, and diastolic BP reduced in this group 7.52 mm of mg. We then concluded that FC and PH have good enough potential to normalize lipid profile, reduce BP, and FBS in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome.

Peak expiratory flow, core performance and physical activity in normal-weight, overweight, and obese adolescents.

The objectives of this study were to (1) compare peak expiratory flow (PEF), physical activity (PA), and core performance among normal-weight, overweight, and obese adolescents and (2) explore the relationships between PEF, physical activity, core performance, and anthropometric measurements across these groups. Ninety adolescents aged 10-13 yr were categorized based on BMI: normal weight (n = 30, 5th to < 85th percentile, BMI-Z score -2 to < 1), overweight (n = 30, 85th to < 95th percentile, BMI-Z score 1 to < 2), and obese (n = 30, > 95th percentile, BMI-Z score > 2). PEF and percent-predicted values ofPEF(PEF% pred) values were calculated. Waist and neck circumferences were measured. Physical activity levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), from which total and subscores were derived. Core performance was evaluated through modified push-up (MPU) and sit-up tests. The PEF% pred and PAQ-C scores showed no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). However, MPU repetition rates were significantly lower in obese adolescents compared to overweight (p = 0.019) and normal-weight peers (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between PEF% pred and PAQ-C total scores (p = 0.014), as well as out-of-school subscores (p = 0.039) in overweight adolescents. Similarly, PEF% pred was linked to MPU repetitions in obese adolescents (p = 0.029). Obese adolescents exhibited decreased core performance relative to their overweight and normal-weight counterparts, which correlated with the PEF% pred. Physical activity was associated with PEF% pred exclusively in overweight adolescents.

Research progress of Chinese and Western diet therapy for children and adolescent obesity and overweight

Childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity rates have been increasing year by year, becoming extremely common and posing serious health risks, making it a global epidemic. Childhood obesity should not be ignored, and in-depth prevention and treatment should be implemented to reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood and promote long-term health and physical development in children. Dietary therapy is beneficial for children to maintain a healthy weight, achieve nutritional balance, and prevent obesity. Additionally, specific nutritional requirements such as the ketogenic diet can be used in combination with dietary therapy to target the treatment of obese children. The traffic light diet plan can enhance children’s awareness of healthy eating and promote adherence to a balanced diet. However, childhood obesity is influenced by various factors. This article will analyze the causes of childhood obesity and incorporate the dietary concepts of ancient Chinese scholars. It will compare the different dietary treatment methods for childhood obesity in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, such as the Warm Gallbladder Decoction, and explore other complementary interventions such as medication. By comparing the similarities and differences between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, we can avoid their respective shortcomings and develop their advantages, combining them to provide feasible short-term and long-term treatment methods for obese children and adolescents. Furthermore, it can provide future research prospects for the development of dietary treatments specifically tailored to pediatric obesity patients.

Effectiveness of Nurse-led Yoga Intervention on Body Composition and Biochemical Parameters in Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Obesity in children has been on the rise globally, and India is no exception. Rapid urbanisation, changing dietary patterns, and sedentary lifestyles are contributing factors to this alarming trend. Understanding the prevalence and factors associated with childhood obesity in urban areas is crucial for developing targeted interventions and public health strategies. Aim: To investigate the effects of a nurse-led yoga intervention on body composition and biochemical parameters in overweight and obese adolescents (11-13 years) in schools. Materials and Methods: This pilot randomised controlled study used a true experimental study design, specifically the pretest and post-test control group design. Data collection was conducted in schools of Puducherry. A total of 18 overweight and obese adolescents, nine in the experimental group and nine in the control group, were included. The experimental group performed a nurse-led yoga intervention three times a week for 60 minutes for six months from March 2022 to August 2022. Study outcomes on body composition and biochemical parameters such as lipid profile, adiponectin, leptin, Apolipoprotein A, and Apolipoprotein B were measured at baseline and six months after the nurse-led yoga intervention. Data analysis was performed using Social Sciences Software {Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0}. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tests, such as the one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) F-test, repeated measures ANOVA F-test, and paired t-test, were conducted. Results: A significant difference was noted in fat percentage, water, intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, and body fat mass index between the pretest and post-test (p&lt;0.05), and no significant difference was observed in Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and fat-free mass index (p&gt;0.05) in the experimental group. The nurse-led yoga intervention significantly improved Lowdensity Lipoproteins (LDL), Apolipoprotein A, and adiponectin levels; however, there were no significant differences in Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), total cholesterol, High-density Lipoproteins (HDL), Apolipoprotein B, or LDL in the experimental group. The control group showed no significant difference between the pretest and post-test in FBS, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Apolipoprotein A, or Apolipoprotein B (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The nurse-led yoga intervention positively impacted body composition and biochemical indicators in overweight and obese adolescents.

Pediatricians’ Interventions Aimed to Reduce Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents in Primary Healthcare in Poland. A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are associated with serious health problems and a higher risk of obesity in adults. Objectives This study aimed to determine how often pediatricians identify the condition of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents based on anthropometric measurements. The researchers also wanted to obtain information on counseling provided by pediatricians regarding diet and physical activity in patients. Material and methods In 2022, an observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 55 pediatricians working in primary health care sector in the city of Lodz. An anonymous questionnaire consisted of sections regarding the characteristics of the treated patient population, barriers and improvements in the process of patient assessment, control, and management, as well as the health status and health behaviors of pediatricians. Results About 90.9% of the pediatricians declared that they measured body weight on a scale. Similarly, 89.1% of them measured body height. Among the surveyed doctors, 67.3% calculated waist circumference or the ratio of waist-to-hip ratio. All the pediatricians provided advice on diet/eating habits and physical activity to both healthy and overweight/obese patients. In most cases, the study participants indicated that this counseling was provided „often” (83.6%). Only every tenth pediatrician provided detailed dietary advice and every sixth detailed advice on physical activity at each patient visit. A higher chance of providing dietary advice to children and adolescents was observed among pediatricians providing ≤ 100 patient visits during a routine work week (OR = 5.13; p &lt; 0.05). Normal BMI (OR = 12.35; p &lt; 0.05) and having ≤ 100 patient visits per week during a routine work week (OR = 8.28; p &lt; 0.05) were significant correlates of physical activity advice. Conclusions Pediatricians should perform accurate anthropometric measurements to prevent obesity in children and adolescents. During each patient visit, the pediatrician should give advice on diet and physical activity.

Does Physical Exercise Improve Resting Autonomic Cardiac Modulation in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of interventions with physical exercise on cardiac autonomic modulation of overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. The present systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. Searches were performed in the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, SciELO, Scopus, CINAHL, SportDiscus, LILACS, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. A meta-analysis was performed using the standardized mean difference. The quality of evidence was rated by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. From 1866 records identified, 15 randomized clinical trials were included in the systematic review; however, only 4 randomized clinical trials were pooled in the meta-analysis (69 participants in the experimental group and 71 in the control group). The meta-analysis showed a positive effect on the experimental group for the high-frequency power (%; standardized mean difference = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.46-2.98; P < .01), and low-frequency power (%) was reduced after the intervention (standardized mean difference = -1.66; 95% CI, -2.19 to -1.12; P < .01). This study showed that interventions had a positive effect on frequency domain variables of cardiac autonomic modulation in overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. However, more studies with lower heterogeneity and higher quality evidence are needed.

Mid-range theory of the nursing diagnosis Overweight.

To build a mid-range theory for the nursing diagnosis Overweight in adolescents and young adults. A methodological study in the light of the theoretical frameworks of Roy and of Lopes, Silva and Herdman. A total of 3,925 articles were retrieved and assessed using the State of the Art Through Systematic Review software. The final sample consisted of 28 articles. The findings converged to 3 essential attributes, 13 antecedents, and 7 consequences. A mid-range theory was built consisting of an illustrated diagram, 11 propositions, and 12 causal relationships. From the creation of the theory, it was possible to better understand the nursing diagnosis Overweight within the context of adolescents and young adults. Understanding nursing phenomena contributes to nursing science's advancement and strengthening.

Thyroid function tests in overweight and obese children and adolescents with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Hypothyroidism can play an important role in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study compared the thyroid function tests in overweight and obese children and adolescents with and without NAFLD. This case-control study was conducted on 100 children and adolescents aged 4-18 years who referred to the endocrinology clinic of Amirkola Children's Hospital, Babol, Iran in 2021. 42 obese and overweight children with NAFLD were considered as case group and 56 persons without NAFLD as control group. They were selected after physical examination and body mass index (BMI) assessment. Then, TSH, T4, FBS, lipid profile, 25(OH) vit D3 (VD), AST and ALT levels were measured. Abdominal ultrasound was performed to survey fatty liver. T-test and Chi-score were used for analysis and p< 0.05 was considered significant. The mean age in both group was 11.63±2.55 and 10.07±2.61 years, respectively (P=0.004). Hypothyroidism was not seen in the groups. Two groups in terms of mean TSH (P=0.92), T4 (P=0.87), FBS (P=0.33), cholesterol (P=0.44), LDL (P=0.35), VD (P=0.07) had no significant difference. However, difference was found between the two groups in terms of the mean level of AST (P=0.003), ALT (P=0.001), TG (P=0.02), HDL (P=0.01) and BMI (P0.001). This study showed that the mean level of thyroid hormones in both groups did not have significant difference and hypothyroidism was not seen. Other studies with larger sample size and longer periods of time are suggested.

A meta-analysis of the therapeutic effect of probiotic intervention in obese or overweight adolescents.

Existing evidence on the possible effects of probiotics on obese or overweight adolescents has not been fully established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of probiotic supplementation on anthropometric indices, inflammatory markers and metabolic indices in obese or overweight adolescents. The literature up to March 2023 related to probiotic intervention in obese or overweight adolescents was searched and screened from multiple databases, including the CNKI(China national knowledge infrastructure), CBM(Chinese biomedical literature database), PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane library databases. All randomized controlled trials using probiotic supplements in obese or overweight adolescents were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of 8 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. There were 201 cases in the experimental group (probiotic treatment) and 190 cases in the control group. Compared to the control group, probiotic intervention in adolescents resulted in a decrease in body mass index, fasting blood glucose and C-reactive protein with WMD(Weighted mean difference) and 95% CI of -2.53 (-4.8 to -0.26) kg/m2, -0.80 (-1.13 to -0.47) mol/L and -0.24 (-0.43 to -0.05) mg/L, respectively. No significant changes were found in weight, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of insulin resistance, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and so on; however, an unfavorable elevated effect in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins was detected with WMD and 95% CI of 0.06 (0.02 to 0.09) mmol/L, 0.18 (0.14 to 0.21) mmol/L, and 0.19 (0.18 to 0.20) mmol/L, respectively. According to our results, probiotic supplementation was beneficial in managing metabolic indicators such as fasting blood glucose, body mass index and inflammation-related C-reactive protein in overweight or obese adolescents. Further large scale studies are warranted to confirm present findings and to identify the effects and mechanisms to provide more precise evidence for clinical intervention. doi: 10.37766/inplasy2024.1.0081, identifier INPLASY202410081.

Effect of Weight Control Intervention on Body Mass Index among Adolescents with Overweight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Due to the dramatic rise in overweight and obesity, adolescent weight management interventions are required. Therefore, this study aimed to study the components and the effect size of weight control programs for adolescents with overweight and obese. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, ThaiJo, ThaiLis, and Embase) through December 2021 published in English and Thai, samples aged 15-22 years, and presenting the mean, SD a sample size of both experimental and control groups. However, we excluded articles other than full-text articles. In addition, a risk of bias assessment was performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration's quality assessment tool. Finally, this meta-analysis included six studies that met the criteria. The meta-analysis used a fixed-effects model with a forest plot to compute effect sizes and Cochran's Q and I2 statistics as measures of heterogeneity. We found six primary studies which included 721 overweight adolescents. The analysis of the effectiveness of weight control programs for overweight adolescents revealed that 360 adolescents with overweight and obese (49.93%) who underwent the weight control programs changed body weight and body mass index values with the effect size of -0.80 (-1.03, -0.56) and I2 was 56.00%. The results indicate further studies should focus on constructing programs that consider adolescents' changes in technology and lifestyles. Additionally, social and mobile tools should motivate and educate adolescents about body weight control to help them adapt to a healthy lifestyle and maintain weight control over time.

Changes in the Morphological Development of Youth aged 16-18 from Eastern Poland in the Years 2006 - 2016 – 2021

On the one hand, the number of individuals with excess body weight is increasing, while on the other, the issue of malnutrition among adolescents is becoming increasingly noticeable. Aim: To determine differences in the magnitude of secular trends in height and body mass, BMI, and the occurrence of underweight, normal weight-to-height proportions, overweight, and obesity in adolescents. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from 2006 to 2021. Height and body mass were measured, and BMI was calculated. The results were statistically analyzed. Results: In the examined girls and boys in the decade from 2006 to 2016, a slowdown in height growth and slight positive changes in body mass and BMI were observed. The results from 2016 to 2021 confirmed a continued trend of increasing somatic characteristics, mainly body mass. Considering the BMI value in both observation periods, a slight decrease in the frequency of underweight and normal BMI was noted in all groups, while a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed. Conclusions: The temporal trends presented in this study emphasize the need for regular monitoring of the development of adolescents in eastern Poland, as well as the implementation of proactive public health strategies.

Associations of school physical activity environment with comorbid obesity and myopia in children and adolescents: Findings from a Chinese national follow-up study.

Overweight and obesity (OWOB) and myopia have become two of the most important issues affecting the health of children and adolescents worldwide. Despite the recognition that the school physical activity (PA) environment is a critical factor for preventing and controlling overweight, obesity (OWOB), and myopia in children and adolescents, research on OWOB and myopia as a comorbidity remains unexplored, with evidence for effective strategies still being inconclusive. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and progression of comorbid OWOB/myopia and each condition alone, and to explore the association with school PA environment. A total of 9814 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were included from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health follow-up survey conducted from November 2019 to November 2020 in China. Anthropometric measurements, unaided distance vision acuity and non-cycloplegic refraction data were collected to assess OWOB and myopia, while eight indicators from questionnaires for children and adolescents aged 9-18 years were investigated to assess school PA environment. We calculated the one-year incidence and progression rates of comorbid OWOB/myopia, OWOB alone, and myopia alone. Mixed effect logistic regression was evaluated the association between school PA environment and incidence and progression of comorbid OWOB/myopia, OWOB, and myopia. The prevalence of comorbid OWOB/myopia increased from 11.1% in 2019 to 17.9% in 2020, and the incidence of comorbid OWOB/myopia was 10.9%. Children and adolescents experiencing an unfavorable school PA environment had a higher risk of the incidence of comorbid OWOB/myopia compared to a favorable school environment (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.42-2.42). Similar findings were seen in the incidence of obesity (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.26-2.75). Children and adolescents in an unfavorable school PA environment had a higher risk of myopia progression (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01-1.65). Obesity and myopia and their comorbidity have been serious among children and adolescents in China. A favorable school PA environment might mitigate the risk of comorbid OWOB/myopia, OWOB, and myopia progression.

Association of Physical Activity and Physical Education With Overweight and Obesity Among School‐Aged Children and Adolescents in Pakistan: An Empirical Cross‐Sectional Study

Background: Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are pressing global public health concerns, including in Pakistan, where prevalence rates are rising. The long‐term health implications of these conditions underscore the need for targeted interventions during childhood and adolescence and periods when health behaviors are strongly influenced by external factors such as school, neighborhood, peers, and family.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity (PA), physical education (PE), and overweight/obesity in school‐aged children and adolescents (ages 9–17) in Pakistan and to investigate their impact on obesity within this population.Methods: A population‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted with a multistage random cluster sample of 4108 school‐aged children and adolescents from seven districts in Punjab, Pakistan. Overweight and obesity were assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Statistical analyses, including χ2 tests, Pearson correlation, linear regression, and logistic regression, were performed to examine the predictive characteristics and the impact of covariates on dichotomous outcomes. Statistical significance was set at p &lt; 0.05, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: The study included 4108 students (mean age = 13.92 years, 59.3% boys). The prevalence of obesity was 10.7% and overweight was 19.4%. A significant portion of students—83.8% of girls and 70.0% of boys—did not engage in at least 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on more than 2 days per week. Urban students (79.2%) and those in private schools (79.3%) were particularly inactive. PA two times a week or less was strongly associated with higher obesity risk (OR: 3.47, 95% CI: 2.28–5.30, p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: This study underscores the critical need to enhance PA opportunities in schools and communities in Pakistan, particularly for girls, to address the rising rates of overweight and obesity.

Triponderal Mass Index rather than Body Mass Index in discriminating high adiposity in Brazilian children and adolescents.

body mass index (BMI) is used worldwide to track excess weight; however, it has limitations in predicting body fat percentage (BF%). Triponderal mass index (TMI) has been studied as an alternative indicator to predict BF%. to compare BMI and TMI as predictors of BF% and develop TMI cutoff points for screening high adiposity in Brazilian children and adolescentes. a cross-sectional and multicenter study conducted with 226 individuals aged 5 to 17 years from two municipalities in the Southeast and South regions of Brazil. BF% was assessed by bioimpedancemetry. The association between BMI and TMI with BF% was assessed using generalized additive models. ROC curve analyzes were performed to verify the accuracy of BMI and TMI in detecting high adiposity. The areas under the curve (AUC) of BMI and TMI were compared using non-parametric analysis. The TMI cutoff points were obtained using Youden's J index. bioimpedancemetry detected high BF% in 54.1 % (95 % confidence interval [CI], 44.8-63.2) of boys and 63.5 % (95 % CI, 54.5-71.9) of girls. TMI was able to predict BF% better than BMI in males, presenting a higher R-square (0.737 versus 0.646, respectively). The TMI presented AUC significantly greater than BMI to indicate high adiposity in the entire population (p = 0.007) and in females (p = 0.014). TMI cutoff points for different age groups and sex were presented. TMI proved to be a better predictor of excess body fat than BMI in Brazilian children and adolescents.

Identification of risk factors, comorbidities and effects of life style interventions in sample of overweight and obese children and adolescents

Identification of risk factors, comorbidities and effects of life style interventions in sample of overweight and obese children and adolescents

Effects of aquatic and land high-intensity interval trainings on selected bio- and physiological variables among obese adolescents.

Obesity among adolescents have become a global public health problem. Exercises can effectively improve the bio-physiological factors of obese adolescents. High-intensive interval training (HIIT) has been applied to obese adolescents. Studies have reported that the Aquatic environment may bring the same or more positive exercise effects as the land environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aquatic and land interventions on selected bio-and physiological variables among obese adolescences. Twenty-eight obese adolescents who met the requirements participated in and completed this study. The participants were randomly assigned to Aquatic HIIT group (n=17) or Land HIIT group (n=11) for a four-week exercise intervention, 3 time/week. Each Intervention program was one-hour long, including 20 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of HIIT and 10 minutes of stretching and relaxation. Bio- and physiological variables including Anthropometry and body composition, Physical Function and blood pressure, and Lipid metabolism indexes were collected before and after the Aquatic and Land interventions. After four weeks of exercise interventions, the body mass, BMI, body fat rate, waist circumference, hip circumference and body water content were significantly reduced (p<0.05), and the lean body mass were significantly increased (p<0.05) in both groups. Both group exhibited significant effects in decreasing, systolic blood pressure (p<0.05), diastolic blood pressure (p<0.01), and increasing vital capacity and total energy consumption (p<0.05). The Aquatic HIIT group showed significant effects on reducing Rest heart rate (p<0.05), but no significant changes in Rest heart rate in Land HIIT group (p=0.364). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both groups was significantly decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, the Aquatic HIIT group had significant better improvements (p<0.05) in lean body mass, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, vital capacity and total energy consumption than Land HIIT group did. The results of the present study demonstrated that in a short-term (4 weeks) both Aquatic and Land HIIT interventions may improve the body composition, physical function, blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of overweight and obese adolescents. Furthermore, the Aquatic HIIT may be superior than the Land HIIT in weight control among the obese adolescents.

Clinical research of fibroscan ‒ TE-CAP at noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in children

Background & aimsThe authors assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Transient Elastography-Controlled Attenuation Parameter (TE-CAP) in children of Southern China. Methods105 obese or overweight children and adolescents were enrolled in the diagnostic test of TE-CAP assessment of hepatic steatosis using MRI-PDFF. Hepatic steatosis grades S0-S3 were classified. Statistical correlation, agreement and consistency between methods were evaluated. The diagnostic efficiency of TE-CAP was evaluated. The authors used the cutoff value of TE-CAP to detect hepatic steatosis in another 356 children. ResultsThe Area Under Curve (AUC) of TE-CAP for grade ≥ S1, ≥ S2, and ≥ S3 steatosis were 0.975, 0.984, and 0.997, respectively. For detecting ≥ S1 steatosis, TE-CAP had a sensitivity of 96 % and a specificity of 97 %. For detecting ≥ S2 steatosis, TE-CAP had a sensitivity of 97 % and a specificity of 93 %. For detecting ≥ S3 steatosis, TE-CAP had a sensitivity of 1 and a specificity of 94 %. TE-CAP and MRI-PDFF had a linear correlation (r = 0. 0.87, p < 0.001). The hepatic steatosis was identified in 40.2 % (143/356) of children in which the obesity and overweight were 69.8 % (113/162) and 40.0 % (18/45). ConclusionTE-CAP showed excellent diagnostic accuracy in pediatric hepatic steatosis.

Contradictions in Chilean public education policy: physical education and health case.

The purpose of this text is to point out the contradiction existing in Chilean educational public policy regarding the curricular reform that converted the subjects of Physical Education and Health, History, Arts, and Religion into optional subjects for the 3rd and 4th years of high school. As far as Physical Education is concerned, scientific evidence shows that such conversion to the status of optional subject goes against the policies of other executive ministries and against the possibilities of reversing the statistics that show Chile as one of the countries in America with the highest percentage of overweight and obese children and adolescents.