Prevalence Of Childhood Obesity Research Articles

Role of physical activity and coping up with childhood obesity during COVID-19 global pandemic: A systematic review

Abstract The widespread school closures during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, aimed at curbing transmission, had unintended consequences on children’s physical and mental health. These measures, effective in reducing infection rates, limited normal activities, including physical activity (PA) and exercise access, exacerbating childhood obesity. This study seeks to explore the impact of these closures on children’s PA levels and exercise accessibility, assessing the resulting effects on both physical and mental well-being, with a specific emphasis on the worsening of childhood obesity. A systematic review. A comprehensive search of electronic databases from January 2020 to January 2022 was conducted, yielding 11 relevant studies. Primary outcomes included changes in PA, sedentary behavior (SB), and weight gain, assessed through various measures. Bias was assessed using the Robvis score. Most studies (out of 7231 screened) observed reduced PA and increased SB during lockdowns, often accompanied by overeating. These changes culminated in a higher prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. COVID-19 restrictions disrupted children’s routines, influencing their activity levels and dietary habits. Healthcare providers should educate on obesity risks and implement preventive measures, while also involving parents in these efforts.

MDPAO1 peptide from human milk enhances brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and mitigates obesity.

The regulatory effect of breastfeeding on offspring metabolism has garnered significant attention as an effective strategy in combating childhood obesity. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Through integrated analysis of multiple human milk peptide databases and functional screening, MDPAO1 (milk-derived peptide associated with obesity 1) was identified as having potential activity in promoting the expression of thermogenic genes. In lactating mice, intervention with MDPAO1 enhanced the thermogenic phenotype of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and overall metabolic activity. Moreover, MDPAO1 intervention led to reduced body weight gain, increased brown fat mass, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in a mouse model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. RNA-seq analysis of BAT post-MDPAO1 intervention revealed close association with mitochondrial oxidative respiratory chain and mitophagy. Subsequent in vitro experiments conducted on primary brown adipocytes confirmed that MDPAO1 inhibited mitophagy, increased mitochondrial mass, and elevated levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of MDPAO1, a peptide enriched in breast milk, in activating the thermogenic phenotype of brown adipose tissue and mitigating obesity, thus offering novel insights into the mechanisms underlying breastfeeding's role in preventing childhood obesity.

Involving national stakeholders in a systems approach to map drivers of childhood obesity and actions to prevent childhood obesity in Denmark: the Generation Healthy Kids Study

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a preventable global public health challenge, increasingly recognized as a complex problem, stemming from complex drivers. Obesity is characterized by multiple interdependencies and diverse influences at different societal levels. Tackling childhood obesity calls for a holistic approach that engages with complexity and recognizes that there is no single “magic bullet” intervention to prevent obesity. To facilitate a shared understanding of the complex structures and relationships that determine children’s weight development, systems approaches have shown promising potential. However, systems approaches require more development and research in public health.AimThis paper describes the processes of gathering national stakeholders to create a system map of childhood obesity drivers in Denmark to map existing obesity prevention initiatives and define real-world actions to prevent childhood obesity in local communities in Denmark. The system map and action ideas will inform the development of community-based activities in a large-scale national study, the Generation Healthy Kids Study.MethodsDuring two workshops in the autumn of 2022, national stakeholders (n = 45) were involved in generating and revising a system map. We used a scripted approach inspired by group model building and community-based systems dynamics methods to engage stakeholders, collect and visualize their knowledge on childhood obesity, create consensus on the drivers of childhood health, identify local and national intervention opportunities for prevention of childhood obesity and develop actions to create system changes.ResultsThe study identified the following six sub-systems of factors influencing childhood obesity: (1) family; (2) diet and dietary habits; (3) physical activity and active living; (4) mental health and wellbeing; (5) screen, media and sleep; and (6) competencies of professionals.ConclusionsA systems approach to childhood obesity was useful to generate a shared understanding of the underlying drivers of childhood overweight and obesity and has potential for informing initiatives at local and national level in Denmark. However, challenges were experienced regarding the usefulness of the system mapping process, with a tension between the map as a step in a shared process towards actions and the map as means to gain a deeper understanding of the complex system of childhood overweight and obesity and how to change the system.

Quality of life in overweight and obese children

Background. The prevalence of childhood obesity has reached concerning levels worldwide, posing a pressing and serious public health issue. The objective of this study is to examine the quality of life (QoL) in children with elevated body weight and obesity. Materials and methods. The study involved 151 children (71 girls and 80 boys) aged 12 to 17 years. The assessment included measurements of body weight, height, and calculation of body mass index, adjusted for age and sex. Based on body mass index, the children were categorised into three groups: 1 — normal weight; 2 — overweight; 3 — obese. The quality of life of participants was evaluated using the PedsQL™ 4.0 questionnaire. Results. The findings reveal a marked reduction in QoL among obese children, with the extent of QoL decline correlating with the degree of excess weight. The overall QoL score, based on the children’s self-assessment, was significantly lower in higher body weight categories: obesity — 55.96 ± 0.59 points; overweight — 78.97 ± 1.08 points; control group — 84.42 ± 1.69 points. Children in the obesity group reported the greatest reduction in the physical functioning scale, scoring an average of 54.40 ± 3.56 points. In questionnaires completed by parents, the overall QoL scores were as follows: obesity — 56.60 ± 0.77 points; overweight — 79.97 ± 1.11 points; control group — 85.22 ± 2.15 points. Parents identified the largest QoL reduction in the social functioning scale for children with obesity (54.28 ± 2.65 points). Conclusions. The study highlights a direct relationship between increased body weight and reduced QoL. Children’s self-reports indicate the most significant decline in physical functioning, while parents noted a substantial drop in social functioning of children with obesity.

Prenatal, birth, and postnatal mediators of maternal education level and childhood obesity at five years.

To establish which prenatal, birth, and postnatal characteristics mediate the association between maternal educational level and having a child with obesity at five years. This is a sub analysis of a longitudinal study nested in the BMInForma (Bambini Molto In Forma) program. BMInForma is an ongoing public health multilevel intervention started in 2013 to prevent childhood obesity. A cohort of 4835 children born from 1.7.2010 to 31.12.2011 and who received well-health visit at three and five years of age in Reggio Emilia, Italy were included in the study. Maternal and child anthropometric and lifestyle data were linked with routinely collected birth data. A series of simple and multiple mediation analyses were performed. There were 232 (4.8 %) children with obesity at five year visit. Low maternal educational level was significantly associated with children's obesity at 5 years of age (Odds ratio for the total effect 1.8, 95 %CI 1.4 - 2.5), and with almost all prenatal, birth, postnatal and 3-years-old behaviors. Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity (OW/OB) and hours in front of TV at three years were two significant mediators that explained 32 % of the total effect of maternal educational level on children with obesity at five years of age (Odds ratio for the indirect effect 1.17, 95 %CI 1.10 - 1.24). Nine percent of this effect was evinced through LGA and gestational diabetes (Odds ratio for the indirect effect 1.07, 95 %CI 1.01 - 1.13). Pre-pregnancy OW/OB was the most important mediator of the effect of maternal educational level on childhood obesity at five years. Interventions are needed to increase awareness of unhealthy behaviors in early pregnancy.

The Effect of Body Composition on Aerobic Fitness Levels and Hemodynamic Factors in Children: A Review of Literature

The benefits of physical activity (PA) are well established. However, the majority of children worldwide fail to meet the recommended weekly requirements for PA, which are essential for enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and maintaining a healthy weight for their age. The present review evaluated published work in an effort to study the effects of body composition on aerobic fitness levels and hemodynamic factors in children. Studies were retrieved from the following databases: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed (2013-June 2024), Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, EBM Reviews, Current Contents, CISTI Source (2011-June 2024), Sports Discuss (2019-June 2024), and international e-catalogues. Search analysis from these periods represents recent developments, ensuring that the review reflects up-to-date understanding in the field. This helps incorporate the latest methodologies, findings, and technological advancements, and strengthens the validity of this review. The population consists of children from both industrialized and developing nations. The selected study designs were cross-sectional, longitudinal, cohort, review, and systematic review. The analysis of research entailed reading titles, abstracts, and complete texts. Following these processes, thirty articles were considered for review. The broad investigation aims to reveal the effects of body composition on aerobic fitness levels and hemodynamic parameters in preventing childhood obesity. The search strategy, as well as Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) phrases and keywords, were used to effectively route significant papers addressing childhood obesity. The relevant terms were “body composition,” “overweight,” “obesity,” “physical activity,” “heart rate,” “blood pressure,” “aerobic fitness”, “nutrition,” “cardiovascular disease,” and “children aged 10-18 years old.” We discovered 12972 publications related to childhood obesity, hemodynamic variables, physical activity (PA), and aerobic fitness; however, 9194 articles were deleted due to duplication. The number of studies left after removing duplicates was 3778. Furthermore, 1657 articles were removed because they were not in English, 1240 articles had no full text available, and 809 articles only included abstracts. Moreover, the full text was reviewed for eligibility, which included 42 reference reviews and 18 titles. Finally, 30 articles were deemed eligible for review The existing literature suggests that additional investigation is warranted to delineate a precise course of action for mitigating the risks associated with childhood obesity. This entails placing a heightened emphasis on the significance of children engaging in aerobic fitness activities.

3D genomic features across >50 diverse cell types reveal insights into the genomic architecture of childhood obesity.

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide, along with the associated common comorbidities of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Motivated by evidence for a strong genetic component, our prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) efforts for childhood obesity revealed 19 independent signals for the trait; however, the mechanism of action of these loci remains to be elucidated. To molecularly characterize these childhood obesity loci, we sought to determine the underlying causal variants and the corresponding effector genes within diverse cellular contexts. Integrating childhood obesity GWAS summary statistics with our existing 3D genomic datasets for 57 human cell types, consisting of high-resolution promoter-focused Capture-C/Hi-C, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq, we applied stratified LD score regression and calculated the proportion of genome-wide SNP heritability attributable to cell type-specific features, revealing pancreatic alpha cell enrichment as the most statistically significant. Subsequent chromatin contact-based fine-mapping was carried out for genome-wide significant childhood obesity loci and their linkage disequilibrium proxies to implicate effector genes, yielded the most abundant number of candidate variants and target genes at the BDNF, ADCY3, TMEM18, and FTO loci in skeletal muscle myotubes and the pancreatic beta-cell line, EndoC-BH1. One novel implicated effector gene, ALKAL2 - an inflammation-responsive gene in nerve nociceptors - was observed at the key TMEM18 locus across multiple immune cell types. Interestingly, this observation was also supported through colocalization analysis using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) derived from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) dataset, supporting an inflammatory and neurologic component to the pathogenesis of childhood obesity. Our comprehensive appraisal of 3D genomic datasets generated in a myriad of different cell types provides genomic insights into pediatric obesity pathogenesis.

3D genomic features across >50 diverse cell types reveal insights into the genomic architecture of childhood obesity

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide, along with the associated common comorbidities of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Motivated by evidence for a strong genetic component, our prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) efforts for childhood obesity revealed 19 independent signals for the trait; however, the mechanism of action of these loci remains to be elucidated. To molecularly characterize these childhood obesity loci, we sought to determine the underlying causal variants and the corresponding effector genes within diverse cellular contexts. Integrating childhood obesity GWAS summary statistics with our existing 3D genomic datasets for 57 human cell types, consisting of high-resolution promoter-focused Capture-C/Hi-C, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq, we applied stratified LD score regression and calculated the proportion of genome-wide SNP heritability attributable to cell type-specific features, revealing pancreatic alpha cell enrichment as the most statistically significant. Subsequent chromatin contact-based fine-mapping was carried out for genome-wide significant childhood obesity loci and their linkage disequilibrium proxies to implicate effector genes, yielded the most abundant number of candidate variants and target genes at the BDNF, ADCY3, TMEM18, and FTO loci in skeletal muscle myotubes and the pancreatic beta-cell line, EndoC-BH1. One novel implicated effector gene, ALKAL2 – an inflammation-responsive gene in nerve nociceptors – was observed at the key TMEM18 locus across multiple immune cell types. Interestingly, this observation was also supported through colocalization analysis using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) derived from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) dataset, supporting an inflammatory and neurologic component to the pathogenesis of childhood obesity. Our comprehensive appraisal of 3D genomic datasets generated in a myriad of different cell types provides genomic insights into pediatric obesity pathogenesis.

Effects of MyBFF@school, a multifaceted obesity intervention program, on anthropometry and body composition of overweight and obese primary schoolchildren

BackgroundRecently, there has been an increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Malaysia, raising concerns about increased cardiometabolic morbidity. MyBFF@school is a multifaceted program comprising physical activity, nutritional education, and psychological empowerment introduced to combat childhood obesity in Malaysia. The efficacy of a six-month intervention on the body composition of overweight and obese primary schoolchildren was evaluated.MethodsThis is a school-based, cluster randomized controlled trial involving selected primary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. A total of 1,397 primary-school students aged 9–11 with a body mass index (BMI)z-score (corrected for age) greater than + 1 standard deviation based on the World Health Organization 2007 Growth Reference were assigned to intervention (n=647) and control (n=750) groups. BMI z-score, waist circumference (WC), percentage body fat (PBF), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were assessed at baseline and after three and six months of the study. Analyses of all outcomes except for the baseline characteristics were conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle.ResultsAfter three months, there was no significant difference in the BMI z-score or PBF between the control and intervention groups, but SMM and WC were significantly higher in the intervention group versus the control group with mean difference of 0.15 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.07–0.22, p < 0.001 and mean difference of 1.53 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21- 1.85, p < 0.001 for SMM and WC respectively. After six months, the intervention group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in PBF compared to the controls (% mean difference: 0.43%, 95% CI: − 0.73 to − 0.12, p < 0.001) as well as a greater increase in SMM (mean difference: 0.28 kg, 95% CI: 0.18–0.37, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the BMI z-score or WC between the intervention and control groups at six months.ConclusionsThe multicomponent MyBFF@school intervention significantly improved body composition among obese primary schoolchildren in terms of percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass compared to the control after six months. However, BMI z-score and waist circumference measures did not reflect the benefits of this program.Trial registrationClinical trial number: NCT04155255, November 7, 2019 (Retrospective registered). National Medical Research Register: NMRR-13–439-16,563. Registered July 23, 2013. The intervention program was approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia and the Educational Planning and Research Division (EPRD), Ministry of Education Malaysia. It was funded by the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Using group model building to frame the commercial determinants of dietary behaviour in adolescence – findings from online system mapping workshops with adolescents, policymakers and public health practitioners in the Southwest of England

BackgroundIn England, 23% of children aged 11 start their teenage years living with obesity. An adolescent living with obesity is five times more likely to live with obesity in adult life. There is limited research and policy incorporating adolescents’ views on how they experience the commercial determinants of dietary behaviour and obesity, which misses an opportunity to improve services and policies that aim to influence the prevalence of childhood obesity. This study reports the findings from online Group Model Building system mapping workshops in which we explored the mechanisms by which commercial drivers influence adolescents’ dietary behaviour.MethodsWe ran a series of 3 online Group Model Building workshops with adolescents and one Group Model Building workshop with policymakers and public health practitioners. Adolescents portrayed their views on how food and beverage industries influence what they choose to buy and eat in a system map, and then proposed a set of policy actions to promote healthier food environments. We shared the system map created by adolescents with policymakers and public health practitioners to reflect on how current policy interventions match adolescents’ views on the most influential factors.ResultsThe system map contains 37 elements connected by 70 hypothesised causal links and five feedback loops. These elements were grouped into six themes that portray the complexity of factors that influence adolescents’ food choices in their physical and digital environments, disproportionately encouraging the consumption of unhealthy products. Policymakers and public health practitioners reflected on the power and the deep level of influence food companies exert on adolescents’ behaviour. They recognised that the coexisting influence of food marketing and social media on mental health and body image is not well reflected in current policy and research efforts.ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for public health policymaking processes to provide youth with a space to voice influential elements and consequences, thereby co-creating policies and designing interventions to buffer risk factors and increase well-being in this critical transitional stage.

Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight and Obesity Among School-Aged Children in the Country of Georgia: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2022

Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight and Obesity Among School-Aged Children in the Country of Georgia: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2022

Nutritional strategies for childhood obesity treatment and prevention without counting calories—A narrative review

Nutritional strategies for childhood obesity treatment and prevention without counting calories—A narrative review

The prevalence of obesity in children with CHD: what has changed over the past decade in Southwestern Ontario?

To assess the prevalence of obesity and investigate any changes in body mass index in children with CHD compared to age-matched healthy controls, in Southwestern Ontario. The body mass index z-scores of 1259 children (aged 2-18) with CHD were compared with 2037 healthy controls. The body mass index z-scores of children who presented to our paediatric cardiology outpatient clinic from 2018 to 2021 were compared with previously collected data from 2008 to 2010. A longitudinal analysis of patients with data in both cohorts was also completed. In total, 21.4% of patients with CHD and 26.6% of healthy controls were found to be overweight or obese (p < 0.001). The 2018-2021 cohort of CHD patients and controls had significantly higher body mass index z-scores compared to the 2008-2010 cohort (p < 0.001). Longitudinal analysis showed that body mass index z-scores significantly increased over time for CHD patients with data in both cohorts (2018-2021: M = 0.59, SD = 1.26; 2008-2010: M = -0.04, SD = 1.05; p < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity in all children, irrespective of CHD, is rising. The coexistence of obesity and CHD may pose additional cardiovascular risks and complications.

Genetic and Epigenetic Risk Factors for the Development of Simple Obesity in Children: a Literature Review

Childhood obesity can be persisted into adulthood with a significant degree of probability. The origins of childhood obesity are multifaceted and continue to be intensively studied. Its massive spread over the past decades is primarily due to a violation of the balance between incoming and outgoing energy. The combination of genetic and epigenetic factors that can influence the formation of obesity is an interesting and developing area of research. A systematic review of the literature for 2013–2023 was conducted using eLibrary and PubMed. It has been found that the increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in recent decades is associated with changes in human lifestyle, which lead to epigenetic changes in the genome. Decoding the interaction of genes with the environment, along with an individual genotype, will allow personalized prediction of obesity associated with a specific genome, epigenome and lifestyle, and the development of targeted preventive measures starting from the antenatal age.

A Scale-Out Study of an Evidence-Based Family Meals Program Delivered in the Head Start Setting: Results, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Background: There is need to identify evidence-based early childhood obesity prevention programs that are feasible and demonstrate cost-effectiveness for a broader health impact. This scale-out study leveraged community-engaged principles to compare the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of three delivery modes of a childhood obesity prevention family meals program (Simple Suppers) that demonstrated positive impacts on child and caregiver diet/nutritional health-related outcomes in a previous experimental trial tested among elementary-aged children. Methods: This three-arm (in-person, online, hybrid) pre-(T0) and post-(T1)-test study included families recruited from Head Start. Forty-five families (45 caregivers; 55 children) completed the study. The program was adapted to families with younger children (3-5 years). During the 8-week program, participants received weekly group education and meals through in-person, online, or hybrid format. Feasibility outcomes were attendance, acceptability (post-test survey; focus groups), fidelity, and cost (food; staff). Participant outcomes were related to diet/nutritional health. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare T0 to T1 differences in participant outcomes across delivery modes. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Cost-effectiveness was calculated as the net-cost of the program by changes in outcomes. Results: Overall attendance was 51.2%, and higher for in-person (72.0%) and hybrid (59.7%). Program satisfaction rate was highest for hybrid (93.0%), as well as program fidelity (96.7%). Focus group results revealed areas of program improvement, behavior change, and program approval. Cost was lowest for hybrid ($17.09/family). Children in the hybrid group had a reduced waist circumference (p = 0.02) versus in-person and online groups. Conclusion: The hybrid mode of Simple Suppers demonstrated the greatest scaling potential for a broader public health impact.

Effects of the MyBFF@school obesity intervention program with nutrition education intervention on nutrition knowledge and attitude of secondary schoolchildren: a cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe increasing global and national prevalence of childhood obesity particularly among schoolchildren has warranted a more viable school-based obesity intervention. Apart from physical activity, nutrition is important in any obesity intervention package. This study examined the effects of the MyBFF@school program with nutrition education intervention (NEI) on nutrition knowledge and attitude of overweight and obese secondary schoolchildren.MethodsThis is a cluster randomized controlled trial which involved schoolchildren aged 13, 14 and 16 years old from 15 out of 415 government secondary schools in central Peninsular Malaysia which were randomly assigned into six intervention (N = 579 schoolchildren) and nine control (N = 462 schoolchildren). The intervention group was given NEI consisting of a nutrition education module carried out by trained personnel for 24 weeks on top of the existing curriculum while the control group only followed the existing school curriculum by the Ministry of Education. The primary outcomes were the nutrition knowledge and attitude score. The mixed effect model taking into consideration the cluster effect was used to assess the changes of nutrition knowledge and attitude scores from baseline until 6 months.ResultsOverall, there was no significant increase in the adjusted mean difference (AMD) of nutrition knowledge score (AMD = 0.33%, Confident Interval (95 CI): -4.35% to 5.01) between the intervention and control group after 6 months of intervention after controlling for nutrition knowledge score at baseline, gender, location and ethnicity. Similarly, after controlling for the nutrition attitude score at baseline, ethnicity, location and gender as well as taking into account the cluster effects, there was no significant increase on the AMD of nutrition attitude score in the overall (AMD = 0.194, (95 CI): -1.17 to 1.56) and also among girls, location (urban vs rural) and Malays. There was also no significant reduction of AMD in the nutrition attitude score among boys and non-Malays.ConclusionMyBFF@school with NEI resulted with no significant improvement for nutrition knowledge and attitude among older schoolchildren. Therefore, to effectively impart the nutrition knowledge and change their nutrition attitude requires an in-depth study and multi-pronged and customized approach.Trial registrationClinical trial number: NCT04155255, November 7, 2019 (Retrospective registered). National Medical Research Register: NMRR-13–439-16563. Registered July 23, 2013. The intervention program was approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia and Educational Planning and Research Division (EPRD), Ministry of Education Malaysia. It was funded by the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Dietary Beliefs and Their Association with Overweight and Obesity in the Spanish Child Population.

Childhood obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease that represents one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes how nutritional beliefs influence eating habits and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spanish children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 35 educational centers in 12 Spanish provinces, with a sample of 1131 children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected, and dietary habits were assessed by means of questionnaires. Statistical analyses were used to identify associations between dietary beliefs and body mass index. In total, 29.5% of participants were overweight or obese. Two groups of beliefs were identified: healthier beliefs and less healthy beliefs. Children with less healthy dietary beliefs had a significantly higher BMI (22.16 kg/m2) compared to those with healthier beliefs (17.2 kg/m2). False nutritional beliefs, influenced by advertising and the family environment, contribute to overweight and obesity. Dietary beliefs play a crucial role in determining eating habits and, therefore, the health of children. Nutrition education and public policies that promote healthy eating habits are essential to prevent childhood obesity. It is important to involve the family, the school, and the media in these efforts. Despite efforts, many children continue to hold erroneous nutritional beliefs that contribute to the rise in overweight and obesity. This study highlights the importance of addressing dietary beliefs and promoting appropriate nutrition education to prevent childhood obesity. It is recommended to implement educational strategies and public policies that regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods and promote healthy eating habits.

Home Visitation as an Intervention Opportunity to Prevent Childhood Obesity Within the First 2000 Days: A Scoping Review.

Home visitation programs are uniquely positioned to reach young children during the first 2000 days of life (ages 0 to 5 years), a critical time period to prevent childhood obesity. This scoping review aimed to identify early childhood obesity prevention interventions implemented within home visitation during the first 2000 days of life, summarize outcomes assessed, and examine if and how nonmaternal caregivers and technology were included. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews, three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL) were searched from January 1980 to June 2023 for obesity prevention interventions that utilized home visitation as a treatment modality, targeted children ≤5 years old, reported on child weight outcomes, were experimental or quasi-experimental designs with a control or comparison arm, and had full-text available in English. The quality and risk of bias of included studies were rated using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Quality Criteria Checklist for Primary Research. Of the 871 identified articles, 21 met inclusion criteria, and all reported at least one obesogenic behavioral outcome in the intervention group compared to the control group. Intervention duration ranged from 4 months to 3 years, and frequency of home visits varied from weekly, biweekly, monthly, or a designated number of home visits within a defined time frame. Three interventions partnered with an established home visiting program, but home visits in all interventions were conducted by either professional or paraprofessional individuals. Nine of the 21 studies targeted other caregivers in addition to the mother and 12 of 21 incorporated a form of technology. Several different early childhood obesity prevention interventions have been implemented within home visitation during the first 2000 days of life. Future research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of these interventions on weight- and behavioral-related outcomes, as well as explore the impacts of the interventionist type, program duration, inclusion of nonmaternal caregivers, and use of technology on childhood obesity-related outcomes.

Maternal Perception and Childhood Overweight: Examining Parenting Styles and Eating Behaviors Among Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Samsun, Türkiye

Background: Accurate maternal perceptions of children’s weight status are crucial for early childhood obesity prevention, with evidence suggesting that maternal misperception may delay timely interventions. This study investigated the accuracy of maternal perceptions of child weight and examined associations with parenting styles and children’s eating behaviors and demographic factors among preschool-aged children in Samsun, Türkiye. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 318 mother–child pairs recruited from preschools in socio-economically diverse areas of Samsun. Maternal perceptions of child weight status were assessed using a visual scale, while children’s anthropometric measurements (height, weight) were recorded to calculate BMI-for-age Z-scores. Parenting styles and children’s eating behaviors were evaluated using the Parental Attitude Scale (PAS) and the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ), respectively. Data analysis involved chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression to explore associations between maternal perception accuracy, parenting styles, and children’s eating behaviors. Results: Among 318 mother–child pairs, 59.7% underestimated their child’s weight status, with this figure being 84.9% among overweight children. Authoritative parenting was the most common style (78%); no significant association was found between parenting style and maternal perception accuracy. Accurate estimators showed significantly higher scores for food responsiveness (median: 9 (7–12), p = 0.028) and the enjoyment of food (mean: 16.3 ± 4.8, p = 0.003), whereas underestimators scored higher for satiety responsiveness (mean: 23.2 ± 5.7, p = 0.042) and slowness in eating (mean: 11.2 ± 4.2, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Maternal underestimations of child weight are prevalent, particularly for overweight children, are associated with children’s specific eating behaviors. Targeted educational interventions focusing on improving maternal awareness and promoting responsive feeding practices are essential to combat childhood obesity.

Insights from a codesigned dynamic modelling study of child and adolescent obesity in Australia

IntroductionChild and adolescent obesity is associated with a range of immediate health issues and influences obesity in adulthood. The complex nature of health determinants that contribute to obesity makes it...