Parental Body Mass Index Research Articles

Impact of unhealthy childhood and unfavorable parents' characteristics on adiposity in schoolchildren.

Childhood obesity is encouraged by low physical activity (PA), time spent using screens (screen time, ST), and by sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (SSBc). It is also influenced by unfavorable parents' characteristics, such as a high body mass index (BMI) and low education level (EL). Our aim was to evaluate the overall and specific influence of these factors on childhood adiposity. Anthropometric parameters including BMI z-score, waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WtHR), and fat mass were measured in a cohort of 1702 schoolchildren (6.0-14.5years, mean 10.7±1.8) and questionnaires concerning children's PA, ST, and SSBc, and parent's BMI and EL were administered to parents. Overweight/obesity prevalence was higher (P<.0001) in males (57%) than in females (43%). Less physically active children (28.9%) had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and higher BMI z-score, WC, WtHR, and fat mass relative to more physically active children (P<.05). PA was negatively associated with the BMI z-score (r=0.18, P<.0001) and fat mass percentage (r=0.18, P<.0001). Children with more ST had higher WC and WtHR than non-ST viewers (P<.05) but not BMI. Moreover, SSBc did not influence the anthropometric parameters. At multivariate analysis, male gender, less PA, and parental risk factors (parent's overweight/obesity and low/medium EL) were independently associated with overweight and obesity among childhood with a progressively increasing odds ratio (1.65, 1.40, and 1.80, respectively). Male gender, behavioral risk factors (particularly low PA), and parent's characteristics are important correlates of obesity in children.

Lifestyle Intervention Programs for Adults at High-Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: A Platform to Reach High-Risk Children?

Children of adults eligible for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention may themselves be high risk for type 2 diabetes development, and high-risk children may be reached through programs that target high-risk adults. To understand the potential multigenerational impact of family-oriented diabetes prevention programming, we explored the correlation between parental eligibility for the National DPP program and child weight status by using nationally representative data. We analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2016 and 2017, focusing on children ages 12 through 17 years of age for whom body mass index (BMI) data were available and who could be linked to 1 sample parent. We explored the association between parent and child weight status and parental DPP eligibility and child weight status using χ2 analyses. Our final sample consisted of 3,905 (unweighted) children, linked to either a mother or father. A total of 25.8% of children were overweight or obese; 68.1% of linked parents were overweight or obese, and child and parent weight status were correlated (Pearson's χ2, P < .001). A total of 9.5% of parents were likely eligible to participate in the National DPP. Parental program eligibility was positively correlated with child overweight/obese status (χ2, P < .001); over one-third of children with eligible parents were themselves overweight/obese. In this nationally representative sample, parental BMI and child BMI categories were positively correlated, as was parental eligibility for diabetes prevention programming and child BMI. This highlights the potential of leveraging the national platform for adult diabetes prevention to reach high-risk children through family-oriented programming.

Design and methods of the Healthy Kids & Families study: a parent-focused community health worker-delivered childhood obesity prevention intervention

BackgroundOne third of U.S. children and two thirds of adults are overweight or obese. Interventions to prevent obesity and thus avert threats to public health are needed. This paper describes the design and methods of the Healthy Kids & Families study, which tested the effect of a parent-focused community health worker (CHW)-delivered lifestyle intervention to prevent childhood obesity.MethodsParticipants were English or Spanish-speaking parent-child dyads (n = 247) from nine elementary schools (grades K-6) located in racial/ethnically diverse low-income communities in Worcester, Massachusetts. Using a quasi-experimental design with the school as the level of allocation, the study compared the lifestyle intervention vs. an attention-control comparison condition. The lifestyle intervention was guided by social cognitive theory and social ecological principles. It targeted the child’s social and physical home environment by intervening with parental weight-related knowledge, beliefs, and skills for managing child obesogenic behaviors; and addressed families’ needs for community resources supportive of a healthy lifestyle. The two-year CHW-delivered intervention was structured based on the 5As model (Agenda, Assess, Advise, Assist, Arrange follow up) and included two in person sessions and two telephone follow-ups per year with the parent, with a personalized letter and print materials sent after each contact. Parents also received quarterly newsletters, Facebook messages, and invitations to community events. The attention-control comparison condition used the same format and contact time as the intervention condition, but targeted positive parenting skills. Measurements occurred at baseline, and at 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month follow-up. Assessments included anthropometrics, accelerometry, global positioning system (GPS), and self-report surveys. The primary outcome was child body mass index (BMI) z score. Secondary outcomes were parent BMI; and parent and child diet, physical activity, sedentariness, and utilization of community resources supportive of a healthy lifestyle.DiscussionA CHW-delivered parent-focused lifestyle intervention may provide a translatable model for targeting the high priority public health problem of childhood obesity among low-income diverse communities. If demonstrated effective, this intervention has potential for high impact.Trial registrationClinicalTrials NCT03028233. Registered January 23,2017. The trial was retrospectively registered.

Family food environment factors associated with obesity outcomes in early childhood

BackgroundIn attempting to gain understanding of the family food environment (FFE), as a central context for the development of obesity and obesogenic eating behaviours during early childhood, attention has largely focused on the relationships of individual variables. This fails to capture the complex combinations of variables children are exposed to. To more authentically reflect the impact of the FFE on the development of obesity and obesogenic eating behaviours during early childhood, this study aims to derive composites of FFE variables using factor analysis.MethodsFFE and eating behaviour data were available from 757 Australian children (2.0–5.0 years) via a parent-completed online survey. Children were categorised as normal weight, overweight or obese, based on parent-reported anthropometry (underweight children were excluded).ResultsEight FFE factors were derived. Scores for factors ‘Negative Feeding Strategies’ and ‘Negative Nutrition Related Beliefs’ increased with child BMI category, while ‘Use of TV and devices’ and ‘Parent’s Nutrition Knowledge’ decreased. The FFE factor ‘Negative Feeding Strategies’ was positively associated with food fussiness, food responsiveness and slowness in eating, and negatively associated with parent body mass index (BMI) score. The FFE factor ‘Negative Nutrition Related Beliefs’ was positively associated with food responsiveness, as well as positively with parent BMI, male children, breastfeeding less than 6 months, and low-income status. The FFE factor ‘Television (TV) and devices’ was only positively associated with residing in a capital city. The FFE factor ‘Parent’s Nutrition Knowledge’ was negatively associated with slowness in eating, breastfeeding less than 6 months and low-income status, and positively with parent stress and residing in a capital city.ConclusionConsideration of the composite effect of FFE on child’s eating behaviours and obesity outcomes is important in guiding future research and obesity prevention initiatives by providing a more authentic picture of the FFE children are exposed to. Examining factors of FFE variables in conjunction with psycho-social variables, further articulates the reciprocal influence of these variables on environmental constructs thus assisting in understanding of inequitable distribution of obesity risk.*keywordschildhood obesity, eating behaviours, early childhood, Family Food Environment, Factor Analysis,

Predictors and Acceptability of Shared Physical Activity in Parent-Child Dyads

PURPOSE: To identify significant predictors and assess the acceptability of shared physical activity (PA) in young children and their parents. METHODS: Twenty-eight parent-child dyads (mean±SD; age, parents: 38.0±6.6, children: 6.0±1.7) completed sessions in a fitness center that included five different shared PAs (brisk walking, dancing, tag games, body-weight exercises, and jumping games) and were instructed to try to complete at least one PA per day in the following week at home. One week later, parents reported their dyad’s participation in the shared PAs. Parents reported demographic characteristics, family chaos, parent PA self-efficacy, parental PA self-efficacy for their child, and average min/week of shared PA. A forward stepwise regression was used to determine the optimal model to predict the total number of minutes parent-child dyads spent completing each PA together at home. McNemar’s test was used to determine differences between perceived acceptability and completion of the five PAs as a dyad during shared time. RESULTS: Lower family chaos (B=-19.41, p=0.034), higher parent body mass index (BMI) (B=7.65, p=0.003), and higher annual household income (B=11.85, p=0.023) significantly predicted minutes of shared PA at home. The proportion of parents who perceived brisk walking as an acceptable PA was not different (p=0.125) than those who briskly walked with their child. The proportion of parents who perceived jumping games, body-weight exercises, dancing, and tag games as acceptable PAs was greater than those who completed these PAs with their child (all, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Shared PA participation may be higher when participants have lower family chaos, higher parental BMI, and higher annual household income. Brisk walking could be considered in future family-based PA programs since it was perceived as acceptable and was completed in the home environment, whereas the other shared PAs were perceived as acceptable but not completed at home.

Obesity frequency and related risk factors in primary school children

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the obesity and overweight situations and related factors among the children between the ages of 6-11 studying in Rize, Turkey. Methods: The study included 180 pediatric patients (86 girls and 94 boys) applying to our policlinic, who born between 2006 and 2010. The age, height, weight and gender of children and their parents, physical activity status of children, frequency of convenience goods consumption, education and income status of parents and duration of children spent on television were evaluated. Body mass indexes of participants were measured and compared with their socio-demographic characteristics. Results: Obesity was found in 12.2% and overweight was found in 15% of all students participating the study. While a relation was found between being obese or overweight with gender, body mass index of parents, staying more than 2 hours a day in front of television, fast-food consumption and low physicial activity; no relation could be found between the educational status of parents, time of starting supplementary food during infancy and and the duration of total breastfeeding. Conclusions: The increase in frequency of childhood obesity has been particularly important for identifying risk factors associated with obesity and competing with these factors in the early period. Family physicians, the first contact points of the patients, are the most important part of the health system in preventing childhood obesity. A higher prevalence of childhood obesity than other studies in the literature may indicate that obesity will become an increasingly common problem.

The Effect of Ethnicity on Preterm Birth and its Influence on the Risk Factors for Prematurity

Preterm birth (PTB) affects 9.6% of pregnancies worldwide and is associated with a very high perinatal mortality that depends on the gestational age at delivery. As a result, PTB has a significant health and financial impact on health systems, families and societies. Its aetiology is not fully understood, but in most cases it is multifactorial, with several maternal, paternal, and epidemiological factors associated with increased risk. Other factors include parental ethnicity, maternal age and body mass index, socioeconomic status, and where the families live. This review examines the influence of ethnicity as an individual risk factor for PTB. It also explores its influence on the epidemiology of PTB and demonstrates that data on certain ethnicities are lacking, despite the fact that these ethnic clusters are within the very ‘high-risk groups’ that are adequately represented in some Western societies. This review examines the influence of ethnicity as an individual risk factor for PTB and also explores its influence on the different epidemiological aspects. A thorough revisit of the ethnic epidemiology unveiled other unnoticed risk factors that if addressed appropriately prematurity can be prevented. Moreover, certain ethnicities were not within the attention of researchers, despite the facts that they are very ‘high-risk groups’ and are also adequately represented in some Western societies.

Association of parental body mass index (BMI) with child\u2019s health behaviors and child\u2019s BMI depend on child\u2019s age

BackgroundParent’s and child’s body mass index (BMI) are strongly associated, but their relationship varies by child’s sex and age. Parental BMI reflects, among other factors, parents’ behaviors and home environment, which influence their child’s behaviors and weight. This study examined the indirect effect of parent’s BMI on child’s BMI via child health behaviors, conditional on child’s sex and age.MethodsData from 2039 children and 1737 parents from eight cities of the U.S. involved in the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project tested the association between parental BMI and child’s percentage of 95th BMI percentile (%BMIp95). A generalized structural equation modeling approach to path analysis was used to estimate and test simultaneously the associations among parental BMI and child’s health behaviors and BMI across three age groups (preschool 2-4 yr., elementary 5-10 yr., and middle school 11-12 yr). Child’s health behaviors were examined as mediators.ResultsParental BMI was related to %BMIp95 across all age groups, and was strongest in 11-12 yr. children. Parental BMI was positively associated with boys’ fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and girls’ sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake. Compared to 2-4 yr., older children had less FVs and physical activity, more screen time and SSB, and higher %BMIp95. Mediation effects were not significant.ConclusionsParental BMI was associated with child’s %BMIp95 and some child behaviors, and this association was stronger in older children; older children also exhibited less healthy behaviors. Age- and sex-specific interventions that focus on age-related decreases in healthy behaviors and parental strategies for promoting healthy behaviors among at-risk children are needed to address this epidemic of childhood obesity.

Relationships Among Parental Psychological Distress, Parental Feeding Practices, Child Diet, and Child Body Mass Index.

Parents often play a main role in establishing the dietary patterns of preschool children, but there is no clear understanding about the relationship between parental psychological distress and child diet and body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among parental psychological distress, parental feeding practices, child diet, and child BMI in families with young children. We conducted a mixed-methods study with families (parent-child dyad) of children aged 2-5 years. Measures included demographic data, parental general stress, parenting stress, parental sleep quality, parental depressive symptoms, social support for parents, mealtime environment, child feeding practice, child diet, and child BMI, with well-validated questionnaires completed by parents. Using structural equation models, we examined the path relationships of these factors. We also interviewed a subsample of 13 parents. A total of 256 families participated. Higher parental psychological distress was associated with higher parental unhealthy feeding practices (B = 0.31, p < .01). However, a parental unhealthy practice in feeding was not associated with child's unhealthy diet or BMI. There was no direct relationship between parental psychological distress and child BMI. Social support for parents was significantly inversely related to parental psychological distress (B = -11.59, p < .01), and the relationship between social support for parents and parental unhealthy feeding practices approached significance (B = 6.11, p = .05). A main theme from analysis of parent interview was that parent stress and fatigue influenced their feeding and food preparation. Parental psychological distress is a critical influential factor in parental feeding practices. This finding highlights potential foci in intervention programs to address parental psychological distress.

Abstract MP62: Associations of Timing of Complementary Feeding Introduction and Adiposity Throughout Childhood and Adolescence

Introduction: Complementary feeding includes introducing food or beverages other than breastmilk or formula to infants. We previously showed associations of early complementary feeding (&lt;4 months old) with higher obesity risk at 3 years old in formula-fed children only. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that associations with adiposity would persist into early adolescence. Methods: Among 991 children from Project Viva, a pre-birth prospective cohort, we examined associations of complementary feeding timing with later body mass index (BMI) z-scores, waist circumference, and dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry (DXA) measured adiposity in mid-childhood (mean: 7.8, SD 0.8 years old; N=681) and in early adolescence (mean: 13.2, SD 0.9 years old; N=637). We used linear regression models adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, parental BMI, and change in weight-for-age z-score from 0 to 4 months (as a marker of early infant growth); the reference group for all analyses was complementary feeding initiation between 4 to &lt;6 months. We ran separate models for infants who were breastfed for ≥4 months (breastfed) and infants who were never breastfed or weaned &lt;4 months of age (formula-fed). As a secondary analysis, we fitted individual BMI trajectories using mixed-effect models with natural cubic spline functions (N=952), and then examined the association of timing of complementary feeding with age at BMI rebound derived from the trajectories, using linear regression models, adjusting for previously listed covariates. Results: At 4 months of life, 66% (654 of 991) of children were breastfed and 34% (337 of 991) were formula-fed. Complementary feeding was introduced &lt;4 months for 19% (188 of 991), between 4 to &lt;6 months for 68% (674 of 991; reference group), and ≥6 months for 13% (129 of 991) of children. Complementary feeding &lt;4 months was associated with higher waist circumference in both formula-fed (β 2.60, 95% CI [0.35, 4.86] cm) and breastfed children (1.98 [0.07, 3.89] cm) in mid-childhood, while in early adolescence, it was associated with higher BMI z-score (0.36 [0.04, 0.68]) in formula-fed children, and with higher waist circumference in both formula-fed (4.99 [1.14, 8.84] cm) and breastfed children (3.12 [0.02, 6.21] cm). Complementary feeding &lt;4 months was additionally associated with an earlier age at BMI rebound (-7.6 [-12.6, -2.5] months) in breastfed children. Complementary feeding initiated ≥6 months was associated with higher BMI z-score (0.50 [0.04, 0.97]) in mid-childhood and with an earlier age at BMI rebound (-11.5 [-20.0, -2.9] months) in formula-fed children only. Conclusions: We found associations of both early and late introduction of complementary feeding with BMI z-score in formula-fed infants and with waist circumference in breastfed and formula-fed infants throughout childhood.

Relationship between abdominal adiposity, cardiovascular fitness, and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in British adolescents

BackgroundPuberty is a critical time in the development of overweight and obesity. The aim of this study was to examine relationships between measures of adiposity, cardiovascular fitness, and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in adolescents. MethodsIn a cross-sectional study design, 129 girls and 95 boys aged 12.9–14.4 years at various stages of puberty were included, along with their mothers (n = 217) and fathers (n = 207). Anthropometric assessments of adiposity were made, along with cardiovascular physical fitness, using the 20-m shuttle run test, and biomarkers associated with cardiovascular risk, including glucose, insulin, triglyceride, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. ResultsWaist-to-height ratio values were similar in boys and girls and correlated positively with diastolic blood pressure, insulin, triglyceride, fibrinogen, and CRP concentrations, and inversely with cardiovascular fitness scores. Skinfold thickness measurements were higher in girls. High-molecular-weight adiponectin concentrations were lower in boys than girls, particularly in late puberty, and CRP levels were higher. Cardiovascular fitness, maternal body mass index (BMI), and paternal BMI contributed independently to the variance in waist measurements in girls and boys. Gender, triceps skinfold thickness, and weight-to-height ratio, but not parental BMI, contributed independently to the variance in cardiovascular fitness. ConclusionThere is a relationship between measures of adolescent adiposity and parental weight that involves factors other than cardiovascular fitness. Adolescent boys have relatively more abdominal fat than girls and a tendency to have a proinflammatory profile of biomarkers. These observations suggest that family and social environmental interventions are best undertaken earlier in childhood, particularly among boys.

Unconditional cash transfers and parental obesity

In this study, we evaluate the impact of unconditional family cash transfers on the body mass index (BMI) and obesity of parents. Our approach is based on the implementation of the Universal Child Care Benefit in 2006 for all children in Canada under 6 years of age. We show that the reform caused decreases in BMI and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in mothers with young children. We also report larger changes at the upper tail of the distribution of BMI in both lower-educated mothers and single mothers. In terms of fathers, we find that the policy had no impact on weight outcomes.

Impact of school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention on body mass index eight years after cessation of randomized controlled trial (AVall study)

The prevalence of obesity and overweight among children is increasing, representing a new and pressing societal problem. Excess weight in childhood is an independent risk factor for adult obesity. Although school-based interventions are generally considered effective in the short term, few studies analyze their longterm impact. The aim of study was to assess if the effect of the intervention on body mass Index (BMI) immediately after the intervention remained eight years later (AVall Study). In 2006-2008, an intervention for primary school children promoted healthy eating habits and physical activity in the school setting using the Investigation, Vision, Action and Change (IVAC) educational methodology, which involves children as active participants in healthy change. At baseline, parents reported their weight, height and educational level by questionnaire. Children's weight and height were measured in situ in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016, and levels of physical activity were assessed by questionnaire. Multilevel mixed effects linear regression was used to assess changes in BMI over time. Increases in BMI from 2006 to 2016 were 0.68 kg/m2 (95% CI, 0.02, 1.34; P=0.045) higher in the control group than in the intervention group. The prevalence of obesity and overweight combined in 2006 and 2016 was 22.2% and 27.9%, respectively, in the control group and 25.6% and 21.2% respectively, in the intervention group. Changes in BMI in the intervention group were maintained from 2006 on: at the end of the intervention in 2008, -0.4kg/m2 (P=0.001); in 2010, -0.23g/m2 (P=0.012); in 2012, -0.63kg/m2 (P<0.001) and in 2016, -0.27kg/m2 (P=0.025). The child's BMI increased by 0.52kg/m2 (P=0.046) if the father was obese, by 1.26kg/m2 (p=0.011) if the mother was obese, and by 2.37kg/m2 (P<0.001) if both parents were obese. Parental education levels were not associated with childhood obesity. A school-based healthy eating habits and physical activity intervention using IVAC methodology contributed to lower increases in BMI among children in primary school. Although parental BMI also influenced children's BMI, the intervention was effective. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01156805.

Using parental active travel behavior and beliefs to predict active travel to school among children

Active travel (AT) is associated with improved health in adults and children, and children’s AT to school has steadily declined in recent years. Understanding influences on AT will inform intervention development to increase AT among youth. Therein, this study aimed to examine the relationship between AT of children to school and parental AT behavior and beliefs. This was a cross-sectional study of employed adults conducted via an online survey. Participants reported the number of times per week their children, themselves and their spouses actively traveled. Beliefs for AT were also measured. Logistic regressions predicted child AT to school based on parental AT behavior and beliefs. Parents (n = 344) were primarily white (85.8%), female (66.3%), overweight or obese (48.0%) and married (82.6%), with high levels of income and education and reported that 12.2% (n = 41) of their children were active travelers. Children had higher odds of AT to school if the parent actively traveled (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.23 [1.12–1.34], p<.001) or the spouse was an active traveler (OR = 1.28 [1.14–1.45], p<.001). Speaking with children about reasons for AT (OR = 1.61 [1.19–2.18], p=.002), children being eager to actively travel to school (OR = 4.20 [2.82–6.25], p<.001), and parental AT as a child (OR = 1.29 [1.03–1.60], p=.02) were associated with more AT, and odds of children actively traveling to school were lower with higher parent body mass index (OR = 0.87 [0.79–0.96], p=.005) and more cars in the household (OR = 0.47 [0.30–0.72], p=.001). These findings suggest that children’s AT to school is directly influenced by the travel behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of parents.

Social-ecological correlates of fundamental movement skills in young children

PurposeTo identify the social-ecological correlates associated with fundamental movement skills at the child, family, and environment levels in young children. MethodsPreschool children from 4 Colorado Head Start/preschool centers were recruited from 2010 to 2012. Two hundred twenty-eight children (128 girls; age = 56.08 ± 4.09 months; body mass index (BMI) z-score = 0.53 ± 1.12 (mean ± SD); 42.1% Hispanic/Latino) and 159 families were included in the final analysis. Children's perceived competence and fundamental movement skills were assessed via the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition. Data on the number of children in the family, parent age, BMI, education, employment status, family income, perception of child coordination, and home physical activity environment were collected via a questionnaire. Linear regressions adjusted for child BMI, age, sex, and school site were performed at each level. ResultsChild perceived cognitive competence was positively associated with locomotor skills (p = 0.04; adjusted R2 = 0.035) and object-control skills (p = 0.003; adjusted R2 = 0.083) at the child level. Parent education, BMI, and perception of child coordination were positively associated with locomotor skills and explained 8.8% of variance, but only parent education was significant (p = 0.04) at the family level. In addition, physical environment was positively associated with locomotor skills (p = 0.02) and explained 5.5% of variance at the environment level. ConclusionSocial-ecological correlates associated with young children's fundamental movement skills are multidimensional and differ according to skill category at the child, family, and environment levels.

Parental weight status and early adolescence body weight in association with socioeconomic factors.

BACKGROUND:Childhood obesity remains a major health issue. The understanding of the multifactorial nature of childhood obesity remains the cornerstone to eliminate the rising trends. This study aimed to examine the association between parental and childhood weight status, in relation to various socioeconomic (SE) factors.METHODS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted including 1190 children aged 10–12 years and their parents, during school years 2014–2016. Primary schools from five Greek counties (including Athens metropolitan area) were randomly selected. Parental and child data were collected through self-administered, anonymous questionnaires. Children's weight status was based on gender- and age-specific tables derived from the International Obesity Task Force body mass index (BMI) cut offs. General Linear Model (GLM), Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. Multiple logistic regressions was used to determine the association between children and parents’ weight status.RESULTS:Childhood prevalence of overweight and obesity was 25.9% (21.8% overweight and 4.1% obese), with prevalence being significantly higher in males (31.7% compared to 21.3%; P for gender differences < 0.001). The percent of overweight and obese male (34.4% and 43.1%) and female children (20.3% and 31.8%) significantly increased with paternal overweight and obesity status, respectively. The same relationship was observed between male children and maternal overweight and obesity status (43.4% and 65.7%). This was not evident among females (27% and 23.2%). Regression analysis showed a significant positive association with parental BMI, a negative association with both parental educational levels (low to high), living space, and parental age (P < 0.05, for all). Children's likelihood of being overweight or obese increased significantly with increasing parental weight status (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:Parental weight status remained the most significant predictive factor for early adolescence obesity among various SE factors. Health promotion strategies should consider parental education as an effective childhood obesity preventive measure.

Prediction of Larger-than-gestational Age Based on Weak Supervised Learning

Larger-than-gestational age prone to a variety of complications, and easy to produce all kinds of maternal injuries. It is of great significance to establish a prediction model for larger-than-gestational age for early diagnosis and intervention. In this study, data records of newborn fetuses collected between 2010 and 2013 were used as samples which included some unlabeled and inaccurately labeled records. Weak supervised learning technology in machine learning was used to predict diseases of larger-than-gestational age. The recall rate of the final prediction model was 0.82, the accuracy rate was 0.965, and the area under the curve was 0.89. Experimental results show that the proposed method is effective. In addition, this study verified that indicators such as parental body mass index, smoking status, creatinine, and hemoglobin were associated with larger-than-gestational age.

The Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analog and a Combination of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analog and Recombinant Human Growth Hormone on Adult Height in Girls with Early Puberty.

Background:Early puberty (EP) is due to the activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator in lower ages; EP may be a potential cause for impairment of adult height, leading to short stature. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of GnRH analog (GnRHa) and GnRHa plus recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment on final height in healthy girls with EP.Materials and Methods:Fifty EP girls (sexual maturity rating: 2–3) with chronological age (CA) 9.22 ± 0.56 and bone age (BA) 9.74 ± 0.59 years were treated with GnRHa (Triptorelin) at a dose of 100 μg/kg body weight (BW) as intramuscular every 28 days for 2.82 ± 0.57 years; 45 EP girls with CA 9.84 ± 0.57 and BA 10.14 ± 1.02 years were also treated with the same GnRHa plus rhGH (Norditropin) at a dose of 0.1 unit/kg BW daily for 6 days in a week for 2.55 ± 0.6 years. In the control group, 33 EP girls followed for the same period without treatment. Height, weight, and body mass index of girls and parents were assessed. Predicted adult height (PAH) at the start and the end of the study and target height were assessed.Results:PAH at the end of the study in the GnRHa group was not different with untreated girls. PAH at the end of the treatment in GnRHa plus rhGH group was significantly higher than both untreated and GnRHa group. PAH at the end of therapy in GnRHa plus rhGH group was significantly more than their target height.Conclusion:GnRHa therapy has a benefit effect in achievement of target height. Combination therapy with GnRHa plus rhGH increased their PAH more than both untreated and GnRHa groups.

Impact of Parental Feeding Practices upon Autistic Child's Body Mass Index at Autistic Centers in Baghdad City

The study aim to: Assess parental feeding practices of the children with autism. Creating new standard growth curve concerning BMI with reference to autistic child's body mass index. Identify the association between parental feeding practices and demographic variables of parents, and the association between parental feeding practices and demographic variables of children with autism. Investigating the relationship between parental feeding practices and body mass index (BMI) for autistic children. descriptive design was made on parents of autistic child in Baghdad city. In our study, out of n=100 autistic children with his parents in centers of autism, Analysis of such characteristics presents that most of the autism children are early school age males and they have not been diagnosed for longtime period. Those, who have first and second orders among their siblings, are accounted for almost one third of them. Their parents are middle age adults, who have marriage at the age of (30–34) years old. Throughout the course of data analysis, the study findings depict that healthy feeding practices are affected by father's and mother's age, married age, family type and mother's occupation.

Gehiegizko pisua 0-7 urteko adineko umeengan. Arrisku-faktoreak

kerketa honen helburua Gipuzkoako umeen pisuaren joera jaiotzetik 7 urtetara bitartean aztertzea zen, gurasoen ezaugarri soziodemografikoen eta antropometrikoen eragina aztertuz. INMA ikerketa multizentriko prospektiboko Gipuzkoako 450 ama-haur bikotek osatu zuten lagina. Jaiotzean, 1., 4. eta 7. urteetan neurtutako gorputz-masaren indizean (GMI) oinarrituz, jaiotzean ≥ 90eko pertzentilean eta gainerako adinetan ≥ 85eko pertzentilean izatea gehiegizko pisua (GP) bezala definitu zen, gainpisua eta obesitatea barne hartuz. Umearen eta gurasoen aldagai antropometrikoak, edoskitze mota, 4. urtean egindako elikagai-inkesta, gurasoen tabako-kontsumoa haurdunaldi garaian eta aldagai sozioekonomikoak aztertu ziren. Erregresio logistikoaren bitartez, aldagai bakoitzaren eragin zuzena ikertu zen. Jaiotzean umeen % 11k, 1. urtean % 49k, 4. Urtean %36k eta 7. urtean % 38k GPa zuten. Jaiotzean haurdunaldi-adinerako handia izatea eta lehen urtean pisu-hazkundea azkarra edukitzea ondorengo urteetako GParekin lotzen ziren. Neskek 4. eta 7. urteetan mutilek baino GP-arrisku handiagoa zuten. Edoskitzeak ez zuen GParekin lotura esanguratsurik adierazi. GPa 4. urtean proteinen eta karbohidratoen eta 7. urtean karbohidratoen eta gantz aseen zein poliasegabeen kontsumoarekin areagotzen zen. Paritateak jaiotzako GPa areagotzen zuen. Gurasoen GMIa umeen GParekin lotzen zen adin guztietan. Aitaren ikasketa-maila baxua jaiotzako GParekin eta ama atzerritarra izatea umeen 4. urteko GParekin erlazionatzen ziren. Aita erretzaileen umeek GPa edukitzeko arrisku handiagoa zuten 4. eta 7. urteetan, baina amaren tabako-kontsumoak ez zuen arriskua areagotzen. Lan honetan jaiotza eta 7 urte bitarteko GParen prebalentzia oso altua dela aurkitu da. Osasun-arazo garrantzitsu horri aurre egiteko neurri eraginkorrak hartu beharko lirateke, eta neurri horiek maila sozial guztietara iristen direla egiaztatu, maila sozial baxuetan arazo hau larriagoa baita.