Risk Of Overweight Research Articles

Improvement of measured and perceived disability in overweight patients with Multiple Sclerosis trough different patterns of Mediterranean hypocaloric diet.

overweight and other cardiovascular risk factors are known contributors to disability accrual in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We aimed to explore the impact of three hypocaloric dietetic patterns, based on the Mediterranean diet, on cardiovascular risk and clinical status in overweight persons with MS (pwMS). overweight pwMS (body mass index-BMI ≥25 kg/m2) were prospectively enrolled, randomly allocated to three hypocaloric dietetic plans differing in macronutrients composition (carbohydrates/proteins/lipids: diet A 65 %/15 %/20 %; diet B 35 %/25 %/40 %; diet C 50 %/20 %/30 %) and followed-up for 1 year (6 months of dietetic intervention + 6 months of observation). The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test, a self-administered, iPad®-based system for quantifying cognition, upper and lower extremity motor function, and vision was performed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Questionnaires for the evaluation of sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, depression, stigma, social participation and satisfaction were administered. Information about cardiovascular risk parameters (BMI, waist circumference-WC, umbilical circumference-UC, hip circumference-HP, blood pressure, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia) were collected. Adherence to the dietetic plan was quantified as days of complete to insufficient adherence across the treatment period. Between-group comparisons were performed with Chi-square and ANOVA; longitudinal analyses with one-way ANOVA for repeated measures and mixed-design ANOVA. fifty-three patients completed the study (diet A n = 19, diet B n = 18, diet C n = 16). The three groups were well matched for sex, age, disease duration and EDSS. Along the 6 months of dietetic intervention, no difference in adherence was detected across the three dietetic plans (p = 0.84). Overall, patients showed a significant weight loss over time (p < 0.001) with no difference across diets (p = 0.34). BMI, WC, UC, HC and cholesterol improved over time (p ranging from 0.06 to 0.001), with no differences across diets (p ranging from 0.16 to 0.58). Among all tested clinical variables, fatigue, anxiety, information processing speed and manual dexterity improved significantly (p = 0.005, p = 0.012, p = 0.013, p = 0.005), with no differences across diets (p = 0.84, p = 0.89, p = 0.53, p = 0.72). dietetic interventions in overweight pwMS, irrespective of their specific macronutrients composition, are able to improve the cardiovascular profile, the perception of subjective symptoms as well as objective disability scores.

Associations between inflammation-related dietary patterns and obesity: A cohort study among Tibetan adults.

Substantial changes resulting from the interaction of environmental and dietary factors contribute to an increased risk of obesity, while their specific associations with obesity remain unclear. Identify inflammation-related dietary patterns (DPs) and explore their associations with obesity among urbanized Tibetan adults under significant environmental and dietary changes.Totally, 1826 subjects from the suburbs of Golmud City were enrolled in an open cohort study, of which 514 were followed up. Height, weight, and waist circumference were used to define overweight and obesity. DPs were derived using reduced rank regression with 41 food groups as predictors and hs-CRP and prognostic nutritional index as inflammatory response variables. Altitude was classified as high or ultra-high. Two DPs were extracted. DP-1 was characterized by having high consumptions of sugar-sweetened beverages, savory snacks, and poultry, and a low intake of tsamba. DP-2 had high intakes of poultry, pork, animal offal, and fruits, and a low intake of butter tea. Participants in the highest tertiles (T3) of DPs had increased risks of overweight and obesity (DP-1: OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.77; DP-2: OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.85) than those in the lowest tertiles (T1). Participants in T3 of DP-2 had an increased risk of central obesity (OR=2.25, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.39) than those in T1. The positive association of DP-1 with overweight and obesity was only significant at high altitudes, while no similar effect was observed for DP-2. Inflammation-related DPs were associated with increased risks of overweight and/or obesity.

Supermarkets, do they make the healthy choice the easy choice? A review of the healthfulness of the supermarket food environment.

The over consumption of high fat, sugar, and salt foods increases population risk of overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The food environment mediates consumer food choices and thus plays an important role in diet quality and related health outcomes. The built food environment, where most people in high income countries access their food, has been found to be obesogenic. The aim of this review was to investigate the healthfulness of the supermarket food environment. Supermarkets are an important source of healthy foods in the built food environment. However, there are disparities in access to supermarkets, and in several countries, supermarkets located in areas of higher deprivation have an unhealthier consumer food environment. This double burden limits access to healthy foods amongst lower socio-economic groups, contributing to widening disparities in food-related ill health. There is a strong body of evidence supporting improved purchase of healthy foods by increasing the healthfulness of the supermarket consumer food environment. Voluntary measures co-designed with retailers to improve the healthfulness of the supermarket consumer food environment through restriction of product placement and private label reformulation have led to an increase in healthier food purchases. However, evidence also shows that mandatory, structural changes are most effective for improving disparities in relation to access to healthy food and diet-related ill health. Future research and policy related to the supermarket food environment should consider equitable access to healthy sustainable foods in the context of growth in online supermarkets.

Breastfeeding and infant growth in relation to childhood overweight - A longitudinal cohort study.

Rapid infant growth is positively, and breastfeeding inversely, associated with childhood overweight. However, the interplay has only been sparsely investigated. We aimed to investigate how exclusive breastfeeding duration modify the effect of infant growth on childhood overweight. We included routinely collected data on duration of exclusive breastfeeding and child growth from Aarhus Municipality, Denmark, and on maternal health from the patient records at Aarhus University Hospital, 2008-2013. Infant growth was estimated using latent class analysis. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding was grouped in never, ≤4 months, and >4 months. Childhood overweight was defined as a BMI Z-score of >1 at age 5-9 years. We investigated the risk of overweight dependent on infant growth and breastfeeding duration both independently and combined using logistic regression and adjusting for potential confounders. In 7,074 infants we identified three growth patterns: average, accelerated, and decelerated. Never or ≤4 months of breastfeeding was associated with being overweight at 5-9 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.61 [95% CI: 1.27 -2.03] and aOR: 1.54 [95% CI: 1.28 - 1.85], respectively) compared to >4 months of breastfeeding. Accelerated, as compared to average, infant growth was associated with childhood overweight (aOR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.01 - 1.79]). In the combined analysis, accelerated infant growth showed no evidence of being associated with overweight if infants were exclusively breastfed >4 months (aOR: 1.20 [0.68-2.10]). Decelerated growth was not associated with overweight regardless of exclusive breastfeeding duration, compared to infants with average growth who were exclusively breastfed >4 months. Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with decreased risk of being overweight, while accelerated infant growth was associated with increased risk. Children with accelerated infant growth who were never breastfed had the highest risk of overweight at 5-9 years of age, while there was no association if the infants were exclusively breastfed >4 months.

Long-term follow-up of the impact of brief sleep and lifestyle interventions in infancy on BMI z-score at 11 years of age: The POI randomized controlled trial.

To determine whether BMI differences observed at 5 years of age, from early intervention in infancy, remained apparent at 11 years. Participants (n = 734) from the original randomized controlled trial (n = 802) underwent measures of body mass index (BMI), body composition (DXA), sleep and physical activity (24-h accelerometry, questionnaire), diet (repeated 24-h recalls), screen time (daily diaries), wellbeing (CHU-9D, WHO-5), and family functioning (McMaster FAD) around their 11th birthday. Following multiple imputation, regression models explored the effects of two interventions ('Sleep' vs. 'Food, Activity and Breastfeeding' [FAB]) using a 2 × 2 factorial design. Five hundred twelve children (48% female, mean [SD] age 11.1 [0.1] years) returned for the 11-year assessment (63% of original sample). Significant differences in BMI z-score (mean difference; 95% CI: -0.16; -0.41, 0.08) or the risk of overweight (including obesity) (odds ratio; 95% CI: 0.85; 0.56, 1.29) were no longer observed between children who had received the sleep intervention compared with those who had not. By contrast, children who had received the FAB intervention had greater BMI z-scores (0.24; 0.01, 0.47) and a higher risk of obesity (1.56; 1.03, 2.36) than children not enrolled in FAB. No significant differences were observed in any lifestyle variables nor wellbeing measures across all groups. Sustained reductions in BMI and obesity risk from an early sleep intervention were not apparent 9 years later, whereas a more traditional lifestyle intervention resulted in increased rates of obesity, not explained by any differences in lifestyle behaviours measured. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00892983, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00892983.

Socioeconomic status moderates the effect of physical education on overweight and obesity in children: a quasi-experimental trial.

A school-based physical activity intervention, delivered through a physical education program, effectively reduces overweight and obesity risk in disadvantaged primary school students and may address some of the adverse health-related impacts of living with low socioeconomic status. • School-based physical activity programs offer promising solutions for improving health-related physical activity in children. However, the impact of socioeconomic context on the effectiveness of these programs is unclear. • An intensive school-based physical activity intervention effectively reduces overweight and obesity risk in disadvantaged primary school students and may address some of the adverse health-related impacts of living with low socioeconomic status.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Hainan: a cross-sectional study in China's largest free-trade zone.

Childhood obesity leads to significant health risks, emphasizing the critical need for effective preventive measures during the preschool years. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on overweight and obesity among preschool children in Hainan Island, China's largest free-trade zone. Our study assessed the prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children across Hainan Island using Chinese, World Health Organization (WHO), and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. Additionally, the potential factors influencing overweight and obesity among preschool children in Hainan Island were further explored. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of children aged 3-6 years covering 18 cities and counties in China's largest free trade zone. The survey primarily involved anthropometric data collection and questionnaires on children's information and the sociodemographic characteristics of their parents or guardians. We recorded the height and weight of each child and calculated their body mass index (BMI). The z-score for BMI-for-age was calculated using the WHO-recommended Anthro and AnthroPlus software, and diagnoses of overweight and obesity were determined separately according to the Chinese, WHO, and IOTF criteria. The chi-squared test, t-test, or rank-sum test was applied to describe and statistically analyze the baseline characteristics of the participating children. Additionally, potential factors affecting overweight and obesity were analyzed using a multifactor binary logistic regression model. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Hainan Island was 11.30% based on the Chinese criteria, significantly higher than the rates of 5.80% and 5.40% observed according to the WHO and IOTF criteria, respectively (χ 2 = 12,870.368, P < 0.001). After multifactorial adjusted analyses, we found that according to the three growth criteria, having overweight fathers or mothers, family incomes of more than 100,000 Yuan, fully active eating, and higher birth weights increased the risk of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Hainan Island. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Hainan Island was lower compared to rates reported in other regions. Considering that the growth and development indicators for children under 7 years old in Hainan Island are generally lower than international standards, the use of Chinese standards may be more suitable for detecting overweight and obesity among preschool children in this area. Based on the risk factors identified in this study, preventive measures can be targeted in the future to reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in preschool children in Hainan Island.

The association between secondhand smoke exposure and overweight/obesity among children and adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the association between secondhand smoke exposure in different places and overweight/obesity among children and adolescents. Children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years old in Hunan Province were recruited for questionnaire surveys and physical examinations using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Secondhand smoke exposure was evaluated according to the answer to the question, "Has someone smoked in front of you in the last 7 days?". Overweight and obesity were determined using BMI-for-age and BMI-for-sex according to the national standard WS/T586-2018. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the association between secondhand smoke exposure in different places and overweight/obesity among children and adolescents. A total of 187 863 participants were included in this study, with a prevalence of overweight and obesity of 28.4%. The prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure at home, school and other public places was 25.5%, 12.6% and 32.3%, respectively. Children and adolescents with secondhand smoke exposure at home, school and other public places had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than those without exposure. After adjusting for confounding factors, secondhand smoke exposure was positively associated with overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, and exposure at home showed the closest association (OR=1.091; 95%CI: 1.066-1.117). In conclusion, secondhand smoke exposure, especially at home, significantly increases the risk of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Comprehensive strategies should be implemented to avoid secondhand smoke exposure and protect children and adolescents from overweight and obesity.

Interpretable machine learning for identifying overweight and obesity risk factors of older adults in China.

To estimate the importance of risk factors on overweight/obesity among older adults by comparing different predictive model. Survey data from 400 older individuals in China was employed to assess the impacts of four domains of risk factors (demographic, health status, physical activity and neighborhood environment) on overweight/obesity. Six machine learning algorithms were utilized for prediction, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was employed for model interpretation. The CatBoost model demonstrated the highest performance among the prediction models for overweight/obesity. Gender, transportation-related physical activity and road network density were top three important features. Other significant factors included falls, cardiovascular conditions, distance to the nearest bus stop and land use mixture. Insufficient physical activity, denser road network and incidents of falls increased the likelihood of older adults being overweight/obese. Strategies for preventing overweight/obesity should target transportation-related physical activity, neighborhood environments, and fall prevention specifically.

Level of dietary practices and frequency of physical activity

Introduction: dietary practices have been a fundamental issue in the area of public health, because they play a vital role in the prevention of deficiency or excess diseases.Objective: this research aims to determine the level of dietary practices and the frequency of physical activity in the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas - Ecuador 2021.Method: a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and correlational, and cross-sectional study was applied with a simple probabilistic sample of 692 inhabitants.Results: the majority of respondents are men (59.5%) and single (68.8%). Protein consumption is mostly medium (65.5%), while carbohydrate consumption is high (76.3%), which can increase the risk of being overweight. Vegetable consumption is medium (55.4%), and dairy consumption is also mostly medium (44.4%). Liquid consumption is similar between medium (41.5%) and high (42.1%) levels. As for fruit, 52.6% consume it regularly. Healthy eating habits are medium (40.9%), and 45.2% engage in physical activity, although there is a notable risk of sedentary lifestyle (36.7%).Conclusions: The study shows a male and single profile among the respondents. Although protein and vegetable intake is medium, high carbohydrate consumption and low fluid intake pose risks of overweight and dehydration. Most consume fruit, but eating habits are medium. It is recommended to promote healthier habits and increase physical activity

The unequal weight of COVID-19 pandemic: national trends in body mass index among Korean adolescents by immigrant-origin and gender from 2013 to 2022

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden due to school closures and stay-at-home orders, disrupting the community energy balance. This study examines rising obesity trends among Korean adolescents during school closures, focusing on gender differences and immigrant-origin youths – those of foreign descent or with at least one foreign-born parent. We analysed data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) (N = 539,187). The study aims to assess BMI trends between 2013 and 2022, examine the impact of school closures, and explore differential obesity risks among immigrant-origin youths by gender. Regression models with interaction terms were used to analyse BMI trends and pandemic effects on immigrant-origin youths compared to non-immigrant-origin youths, with gender subgroup analyses. Results show increased BMI for all adolescents, with a notable rise and higher overweight risks in immigrant-origin male adolescents during COVID-19. These findings highlight the need for gender-specific interventions in schools for immigrant-origin youths.

Association between BMI and outcomes in critically ill patients: an analysis of the MIMIC-III database

Obesity is a significant public health challenge, yet the link between BMI and mortality in critical illness remains unclear. This study analyzed 19,311 patients from the MIMIC-III database, categorized into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese groups. Using Cox models and restricted cubic splines, we explored the complex association between BMI and mortality. Finally, multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. The proportion of underweight patients (2.3%) was the lowest, while overweight (34.8%) and obese (34.5%) patients constituted a large proportion. Being underweight portended a greater risk, while being overweight or obese was associated with a lower risk of mortality, which is consistent with the sensitivity analysis. Moreover, we observed a typical L-shaped association between BMI and the risk of mortality with and without adjustment, with the lowest mortality occurring at approximately 32 kg/m2. The overall pattern of the nonlinear association between BMI and mortality was similar for most subgroup analyses. Underweight was associated with a greater risk of mortality, while obesity and overweight were both associated with a lower risk of mortality in critically ill patients. BMI had a typical L-shaped association with the risk of mortality.

Feasibility and preliminary effects of the mindful healthy family project among rural families

ABSTRACT Background/purpose: Rural adults and children are at higher risk for overweight and obesity. However, there are relatively few lifestyle modification programs available for these high-risk families, mainly because of the difficulty in reaching them. This mindfulness-based motivational interviewing (MM-based-MI) pilot aimed to improve parents’ healthy eating index (HEI), collective family efficacy, family satisfaction, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms as well as parent–child dyads’ eating patterns, physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI). Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in the Midwestern US to examine the feasibility (enrollment, attendance, and attrition), acceptability, and preliminary effects of an MM-based-MI intervention that contained nine sessions of health coaching (1-on-1), while the active-control included nine emailed health handouts sent over an 18-week period. Results: A total of 46 parents (29 intervention, 17 control; Mage = 38.5 years, 85% female) participated. The enrollment rate, intervention attendance rate, and attrition rate were 12.6%, 79.8%, and 23.9% respectively. Although not statistically significant, compared to the control, the MM-based-MI intervention showed positive effects on improving parents’ HEI in terms of increasing total HEI score (Cohen’s d = 0.43), vegetable intake (d = 0.41), greens/beans (d = 0.59), protein food (d = 0.82), and self-efficacy in exercise (d = 0.21), as well as decreasing total calories (Kcal, d = −0.58), added sugar (d = −0.50), and depressive symptoms (d = −0.42), while controlling for marital status. Controlling for age, sex, and marital status, intervention children had greater improvement in increasing fiber (d = 0.75) and protein (d = 0.72) intake compared to the active-control group. Moreover, parents in both groups reported improvement (small to large effects) in ↑mindful eating, ↑collective family efficacy, ↑family satisfaction, and ↓perceived stress over time. Conclusions: Despite some limitations (small sample size, virtual at home measurement), our results support the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of this Mindful Healthy Family program on potentially mitigating some obesogenic behaviors among rural parent–child dyads. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05324969.

Systematic Review of IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, and IL-18 Gene Polymorphisms and Meta-Analysis of IL-6 Variant and Its Association with Overweight and Obesity Risk in Men.

Obesity is a complex health risk influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This review systematically assessed the association between interleukin gene polymorphisms (rs16944, rs17561, rs1143623, rs1143633, rs1143634, rs1800587, rs2234677, and rs4848306), IL-4 (rs180275, rs1805010, IL-6 rs13306435, rs1800795, rs1800796, rs1800797, rs2228145, rs2228145, rs2229238, and rs4845623), IL-10 (rs1518110, rs1518111, rs1800871, rs1800872, rs1800896, rs1878672, rs2834167, rs3024491, rs3024496, rs3024498, and rs3024505), IL-15 (rs3136617, rs3136618, and rs2296135), and IL-18 (rs187238, rs1946518, rs2272127, rs2293225, and rs7559479) and the risk of overweight and obesity in adults, focusing on IL-6 rs1800795 through a meta-analysis. The focus on IL-6 in this review arises from its pleiotropic nature and unclear effect on obesity risk. The review included studies published from 1998 to 2023, sourced from Science Direct, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool, and funnel plots were used for publication bias. Results were synthesized into pooled odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). Thirty studies comprising approximately 29,998 participants were included. The selection criteria required that the articles include participants who were overweight or obese, and this condition needed to be linked to IL polymorphisms. In a meta-analysis, in the dominant model, the pooled OR was 1.26 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.47), indicating those with the GC/CC genotype for IL-6 rs1800795 are 1.26 times more likely to be overweight/obese than GG genotype carriers. For the recessive model, the OR was 1.25 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.51). The overdominant model showed no significant association (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.25). Interleukin gene variation, particularly the IL-6 rs1800795 variant, is modestly associated with obesity risk. This suggests that other factors, such as the environment, also play a role in obesity. Thus, individuals with this particular IL-6 variant may have a slightly higher likelihood of being overweight or obese compared to those without it, but this is just one of many factors influencing obesity risk.

From clicks to calories: Online-to-offline food consumption and overweight and obesity.

The rise in online-to-offline (O2O) take-out food consumption has become a global urban phenomenon. While links between general fast-food consumption and increased risks of overweight and obesity are well-documented, the specific relationship with O2O take-out food has not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the impacts of take-out food consumption on the risks of being overweight and obese among urban residents. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between April and July 2022. 716 adult respondents from the metropolitan areas of Shanghai and Suzhou were recruited. Being overweight and obese were measured using self-reported weight and height. Frequencies and preferences of O2O take-out food consumption behaviors were measured using the validated questions designed based on Food Frequency Questionnaires and Dietary Screeners, respectively. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire's short form measured the physical activity level. Cronbach's alpha and Expletory Factor Analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the O2O take-out food-related dietary questions. Binary logistic regression models are developed to examine associations between O2O take-out food consumption behaviors and being overweight or obese, adjusting for individual factors, physical activity level, and non-O2O take-out food consumption. The results indicated a direct correlation between frequent O2O take-out consumption and higher risks of overweight and obesity (odds ratio 1.087, 95%CI 1.068~1.106). The preference for ordering Western-style fast-food positively contributed to being overweight and obese (odds ratio 1.071, 95%CI 1.046~1.095). Conversely, a preference for Chinese-style fast food initially appeared to reduce these risks, although the association diminished when accounting for fruit and vegetable consumption. This study represents a pioneering exploration into the effects of O2O take-out food on overweight and obesity. The study results identified an association between the habitual use of O2O take-outs and an increased propensity for being overweight and obese.

The effect of Internet use on body weight in Chinese adolescents: Evidence from a nationally longitudinal survey.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents has been increasing steadily. This study aims to investigates the causal effect and underlying mechanisms between Internet use and body weight among Chinese adolescents. Using data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) spanning from 2004 to 2015, the analytical sample includes 3054 participants (aged 11-19, 48% females). We exploit ordinary least squares (OLS) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) models, obtained causal effect of Internet use on body mass index (BMI), overweight and obesity among adolescents. We find a significant positive effect of Internet use on BMI (β = 0.499, p < 0.05) and probability of overweight (β = 0.061, p < 0.05). Specifically, Internet use increases BMI by 2.56%, and increases the probability of being overweight by 6.1%. But no evidence shows that Internet use significantly increases the probability of obesity (p > 0.1). The mechanism is that Internet use increases sedentary activities (mainly screen time) and food consumption behavior, which results in an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure that in turn increases BMI and overweight. Furthermore, the longer the time spent playing games online, the greater the probability of adolescents being overweight (β = 0.012, p < 0.1), whereas time spent watching movies online, surfing online, and chatting online is not significantly associated with body weight. Heterogeneity analyses show that the adverse effects of Internet use on adolescents' body weight is more pronounced in rural areas and among the male group. This study suggests that reducing time spent playing games online, and increasing physical activity and cultivating healthy eating behaviour can reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in adolescents.

Dental caries and gingival health condition among secondary school adolescents in relation to the nutritional status in Kerbala City, Iraq

Background: Oral health as a part of general health is affected by various, factors including oral hygiene, smoking, age, nutritional status, and socioeconomic status. This study aims to measure the impact of nutritional status on the prevalence and severity of some oral health variables (dental caries and gingival health conditions) to develop plans for future reduction and prevention of both diseases. Materials and methods: The sample included a total of 500 male students aged 15 years old who were randomly selected from secondary schools in Karbala City, Iraq. Dental caries, and gingival health condition were recorded. Anthropometric measurements include measurement of weight and height to determine the BMI =Body weight / (height)2 = BMI kg/m2 and using the CDC growth chart to determine the nutritional status. Data analysis were done by using one-way analysis of variance and Games-Howell post hoc test. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was (95.60%). Caries (DS) and missing teeth (MS) are more prevalent in the underweight group, whereas filling (FS) is more prevalent in the normal-weight group. Caries-free percentages were higher in the group of risk of overweight (6.82%) compared with other nutritional groups. Meanwhile, the prevalence of gingivitis among the students was 100%, all students have had the moderate type of gingivitis (1.1–2). The highest mean of gingivitis belonged to the normal weight group (1.923) and there was a significant difference observed. Conclusion: In this study, dental caries experience was not significantly affected by nutritional status. Meanwhile, nutritional status had a significant impact on the gingival health condition which attracted attention to the importance of healthy nutrition concerning oral health and to develop of a good nutritional school program.

Nonattendance in preventive child health examinations associated with increased risk of school-aged obesity in Denmark.

The aim of this study is to investigate associations between attending routine preventive child health examinations in general practice and the risk of obesity and overweight at age six, focusing on psychosocial risk factors. Data from nationwide Danish registers on 725 926 children born between 2000 and 2012 were analysed. Information on examination attendance and BMI was obtained. Regression analyses assessed the association between examination attendance and obesity or overweight risk. Non-attendance in preventive child health examinations was associated with a risk of obesity of 18%-31% at age six. The highest risk was observed in children of parents with low educational attainment who missed all examinations, a four- to five-fold increase compared to children of parents with high educational attainment who attended all or missed only one exam. A smaller association of one to 2% was found between missing examinations and risk of overweight in the general population. However, children of parents with low educational attainment who did not attend were 8%-9% more likely to have overweight. Associations were found between obesity and overweight and not attending preventive child health examinations in general practice. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and develop targeted interventions to address health disparities in childhood obesity.

Associations of early life per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with body mass index and risk of overweight or obesity at age 2-18 years: Mixture analysis in the prospective Boston Birth Cohort.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of widespread persistent chemicals, which may have obesogenic effects during the fetal period. This study investigated the long-term association of maternal plasma PFAS concentrations at delivery and their mixture with child body mass index (BMI) and the risk of Overweight or Obesity (OWO) at the age of 2-18years. The study included 1189 mother-child dyads from the prospective Boston Birth Cohort. Eight PFAS were measured in maternal plasma samples collected 24-72h after delivery. Outcomes were BMI Z-score and OWO status of children at 2-18years. The exposure-outcome associations were evaluated with linear and modified Poisson mixed-effects regression for individual PFAS and Bayesian kernel machine regression and quantile-based g-computation models for PFAS mixture. We explored the effect modification by maternal pre-pregnancy OWO, child age, sex, and race. Maternal plasma samples had PFAS detection frequencies from 87% to 100% and geometric means ranging from 0.11 to 3.67ng/mL. PFHpS and PFHxS were associated with higher child BMI Z-score. Such associations were stronger in children aged 6-12years and 13-18years than in 2-5years. Stratified by maternal pre-pregnancy OWO, significant associations of the PFAS mixture with child BMI Z-score were only found in children of non-OWO mothers. In children aged 13-18years, children with both high maternal plasma PFDeA, PFNA, and PFOA concentrations and maternal OWO had the highest risks of OWO compared to children with either only. Such synergistic effects were not found in younger children. Early life exposure to individual PFAS and their mixture were associated with a higher risk of childhood OWO, with stronger associations observed in older child age groups and in children of non-OWO mothers. Synergistic effects of PFAS exposures and maternal pre-pregnancy OWO became evident in adolescence.

Evidence of a positive association between dietary exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and weight gain among women in the E3N prospective cohort

BackgroundPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dioxins are persistent organic pollutants found in food and known for their ability to bioaccumulate. Various animal studies have highlighted obesogenic effects related to the exposure to PCB and dioxins, nevertheless human studies have led to inconsistent results. The present study aims to investigate the associations between dietary intakes of PCB and dioxins and the risk of weight gain, overweight and obesity in the French E3N cohort (Étude Épidémiologique auprès de femmes de la mutuelle générale de l'Éducation Nationale). MethodsThe present study included 63,758 women with a mean age of 52.9 years, who completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1993 and were followed for 23 years. Dietary intakes to the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCB (DL-PCB) and to non-dioxin-like PCB (NDL-PCB) were estimated using food consumption data combined with food contamination levels from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES). Adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95 % confidence intervals for the risk of obesity, overweight and weight gain >10 kg during follow-up. ResultsOur results suggest a positive and linear association between dietary intakes of dioxins + DL-PCB and intakes of NDL-PCB and the risk of weight gain (HRdioxins+DL-PCB = 1.07 (1.05–1.1), HRNDL-PCB = 1.08 (1.06–1.1)), overweight (HRdioxins+DL-PCB = 1.03 (1.01–1.05), HRNDL-PCB = 1.05 (1.03–1.06)), and obesity (HRdioxins+DL-PCB = 1.08 (1.04–1.12), HRNDL-PCB = 1.09 (1.06–1.12)). In sensitivity analyses adjusting for diet, the association between dioxins + DL-PCB dietary intake and obesity was no longer observed. Results remained unchanged or were attenuated but still significant regarding the association between dietary intake of NDL-PCB and obesity risk in all sensitivity analyses. Similar results were observed for the risks of weight gain and overweight. DiscussionThis study suggests a positive and linear association between dietary intakes of NDL-PCB and the risk of obesity, a major risk factor for most non communicable diseases. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in other populations and to better understand the biological mechanisms underlying this association.