Risk Of Overweight Research Articles

Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Its Role in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Development

This article examined the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and obesity, as well as metabolic syndrome, through a systematic review approach. UPFs were known to contain salt, sugar, oils, fats, and other additives mimicking natural foods' sensory qualities. Research indicated that diets high in UPF were nutritionally unbalanced and promoted excessive consumption, which was detrimental to health. Data from various studies showed that increased UPF consumption was linked to a higher risk of obesity and related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Cross-sectional studies indicated that UPF consumption correlated with a higher risk of overweight in men compared to women. This research utilized diverse data sources that used methods such as semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires and prospective analysis to evaluate this relationship. Results showed that high UPF consumption significantly contributed to obesity and metabolic disorders, affecting metabolic profiles and overall diet quality, highlighting the need for better dietary policies to mitigate the adverse impacts of ultra-processed foods.

Premodulator microbiome alterations associated with postmodulator growth outcomes in pediatric cystic fibrosis: Can we predict outcomes?

The gut microbiota plays an important role in childhood growth. Our longitudinal cohort includes children with cystic fibrosis (CwCF) treated with highly effective modulator therapy. We aimed to elucidate early premodulator microbial signatures associated with postmodulator weight for CwCF later in childhood. Stool samples were collected from CwCF at 13 days to 60 months. Metagenomic sequencing determined differentially abundant taxa. Children with body mass index or weight for length Z-scores within 1 standard deviation of the mean (SD) were considered normal weight, those >1 SD were classified as risk of overweight while children <1 SD were considered undernourished, although no CwCF met this latter criterion here. Multivariate regression models were applied to identify significant associations between metadata and microbial taxonomic relative abundances. One hundred and eighty-nine stool samples were analyzed from 39 CwCF. We identified statistically significant differences in early microbiome patterns among those at risk of being overweight compared to those who were normal weight when adjusted for age, sex, CF mutation, and early feeding method. Early microbiome was a stronger driver of growth status than current modulator use. Among those at risk of overweight, several taxa that were consistently in lower abundance included Eggerthella lentha, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, with increase in abundance of Bacteroides stercoris. The early microbiome strongly predicts growth in the setting of modulator use for CwCF and we identify microbiome signatures associated with risk of being overweight. We highlight the possibility for interventions or early alternations to nutritional guidance for prevention of comorbid complications.

Diet Quality at 3 Years of Age Relates to Lower Body Mass Index but Not Lower Blood Pressure at 10 Years of Age.

A healthy diet prevents overweight problems and hypertension. We investigated the associations of a healthy diet with the body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) in early childhood. In the GECKO birth cohort, height, weight, and BP were measured at 5 and 10 years of age. Diet was evaluated at 3 years using three diet scores: the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and the Lifelines Diet Score (LLDS). Linear and logistic regression models assessed the associations of diet scores with the BMI and BP. Of the 1077 children included, 10.8% were overweight or obese at 5 years. That number was 16.5% at 10 years. In addition, 34.5% had elevated BP at 5 years. That number was 23.9% at 10 years. Higher DASH, MDS, and LLDS, which indicate healthier diets, were all associated with lower BMI z-scores at 10 years of age. Higher DASH is related to lower overweight risk at 10 years. None of the diet scores were associated with BP or elevated BP at either 5 or 10 years. Also, in an overweight subset, diet was not related to BP. A healthy diet in early childhood is related to children being less overweight but not having lower BP at 10 years of age.

Sleep duration, overweight status, and the modifying role of food insecurity in a sample of 10- to 14-year-old Mexican early adolescents

ObjectivesShort sleep duration has been associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight and obesity in high-income countries, but data from low- and middle-income countries are scarce. Independently, short sleep and food insecurity may increase the risk of overweight/obesity, but it is unknown whether they concurrently affect it. MethodsWe included 3350 adolescents aged 10-14 from the 2012 and 2016 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. Short sleep was categorized as less than 9 hours for ages 10-12 and less than 8 hours for ages 13-14. Overweight/obesity was assessed via anthropometry. Modified Poisson regression models assessed prevalence ratios between short sleep and overweight, examining effect modification by food security status. Results86% met sleep duration recommendations. Short sleep was associated with an increased prevalence of overweight/obesity (prevalence ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05, 1.31). Multiplicative interaction was found between low and very low food security status and short sleep: adolescents in low food secure households with short sleep had 1.38 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.75) times the prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to adequate sleepers. Very low food secure households had 1.16 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.31) times the prevalence compared to adequate sleepers. This association was not significant in fully or marginally food secure households. ConclusionsShort sleep is associated with an increased obesity risk among Mexican adolescents 10-14years, particularly in the context of low and very low food security. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both sleep hygiene and food security in strategies to reduce obesity risk.

The association between food preferences, eating behavior, and body weight among female university students in the United Arab Emirates.

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between lifestyle, eating habits, food preferences, consumption patterns, and obesity among female university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Approximately 4,728 participants, including both Emirati and Non-Emirati students (International Students). Data collection involved face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements, showing an interrelated relationship between food preferences and obesity among female university students. While sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits contribute to obesity, this study uniquely focuses on the role of food preferences and food consumption patterns in body weight status. The findings reveal a significant correlation between the intake of high-sugar beverages-such as milk, juices, soft drinks, and energy drinks-and an increased risk of overweight and obesity among both Emirati and Non-Emirati populations. Notably, milk consumption was particularly associated with obesity in non-Emirati populations (F = 88.1, p < 0.001) and with overweight status in Non-Emiratis (F = 7.73, p < 0.05). The consumption of juices and soft drinks was linked to obesity. Additionally, a significant preference for fruits and vegetables among overweight and obese students was observed, indicating a trend toward healthier food choices. However, there was also a clear preference for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods such as processed meats, sweets, and salty snacks. Fast food items like burgers, fried chicken, fries, pizza, shawarma, chips, and noodles were significantly correlated with increased body weight status, especially shawarma, which showed a notably high correlation with both obesity and overweight statuses (F-values of 38.3 and 91.11, respectively). The study indicated that food choices shape weight-related outcomes is important for designing effective strategies to promote healthier dietary patterns.

Association of household food insecurity with sociodemographic factors and obesity in US youth: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018.

The objective is to determine the prevalence of household food insecurity (HFI) based on sociodemographic factors and their relationship to obesity in youth. The study included a sample of 1,962 youth (aged 6-18) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The US Household Food Security Survey Module is used to measure food security over the past 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) while controlling for covariates. In total, 27.4% of the individuals surveyed experienced HFI. Youth from food insecure households were more likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.59 [95% confidence interval: 1.19-2.13]) and also having abdominal obesity (aOR: 1.56 [95% CI: 1.19-2.03]). however, factors such as non-Hispanic ethnicity, having a Head of household with a college degree, and households with an income exceeding 350% of the poverty line were associated with a reduced risk of facing HFI. Hispanic individuals, households with lower parental education levels, and lower family incomes, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. Furthermore, HFI has been associated with an increased risk of overweight and abdominal obesity among youth. Addressing FI requires targeted policies and interventions that prioritize vulnerable groups.

Physical Activity Behaviors of Female Adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest childhood obesity rates worldwide. The primary factor associated with the high prevalence of obesity among adolescents is a lack of physical activity (PA). Compared to male adolescents, very few Saudi female adolescents meet the World Health Organization recommendation of achieving 60 min of moderate to vigorous PA per day, putting them at a higher risk of overweight and obesity. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between the theory of planned behavior and psychosocial factors, including attitude toward PA, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), PA intention, and self-reported PA among Saudi female adolescents. A convenience sample of 329 Saudi female adolescents was recruited from all-female public intermediate and high schools in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using online self-administered questionnaires. The theoretical model was examined using structural equation modeling. The findings revealed a higher prevalence of overweight compared to obesity among participants. About half the participants were from families with a medium monthly income. The mean PA score indicated a low level of PA. The model demonstrated significant explanatory power for both PA intention and PA behavior, respectively. The strongest predictor of adolescents' intention was attitude, followed PBC.Moreover, the female adolescents' attitudes and PBC had significant indirect effects on self-reported PA through intention, while intention had a direct effect on PA. The model did not support a direct or indirect relationship between subjective norms and PA. The findings provide essential support for targeting attitude and perceived behavior control of female adolescents in order to enhance their PA intention. This theoretical understanding can help design effective theory-based interventions that promote PA among Saudi female adolescents.

The effects of artificial sweeteners on body weight, body fat, and energy intake: A meta-analysis of meta-analyses

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are prevalent worldwide and hence it can be considered as a global epidemic. Artificial sweeteners (ASs) are suggested to decrease energy intake and prevent obesity, however, the results of meta-analyses are inconsistent. Therefore, this umbrella meta-analyses was conducted to resolve these discrepancies and offer definitive evidence on the impact of ASs on body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and energy intake. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception up to March 2023. Meta-analyses studies investigating the effect/association of AS on/with BW, BMI, and energy intake were included. Random-effects model was used for performing a meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were carried out based on various independent variables. The quality of the included meta-analyses was evaluated using the AMSTAR2 questionnaire. Results: In this umbrella review, 12 meta-analyses were included. The findings from the umbrella meta-analysis of interventional studies showed that AS consumption significantly reduced BW according to standardized mean difference (SMD) analysis (ES=-0.38; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.20, P≤0.001), but not when using the weighted mean difference (WMD) (ES=-0.45; 95% CI: -1.15, 0.24, P=0.20). Also, AS did not affect the energy intake (ES=-0.28; 95% CI: -1.15, 0.59, P=0.59) based on WMD. However, AS significantly reduced BMI (ES=-0.28; 95% CI: -0.40, -0.15, P≤0.001) based on WMD analysis. Conversely, the umbrella meta-analysis of observational studies found that consuming ASs was associated with a 61% augmented risk of obesity and overweight. (ES=1.61; 95% CI: 1.36,1.87, P≤0.001). Conclusion: Despite observational studies, interventional studies show the benefits of ASs consumption. Future studies should be conducted focusing on the dose, types, and formulations of ASs, and more importantly, short-term and long-term consumption of ASs.

Long-Term Impact of Nutritional Intervention with Increased Polyphenol Intake and Physical Activity Promotion on Oxidative and Inflammatory Profiles in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

Obesity and overweight pose significant risks to health, contributing to the prevalence of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The current study aimed to assess the impact of a 6-year nutritional and lifestyle intervention on oxidative and inflammatory markers in individuals aged 55 to 75, specifically those at high risk of CVD. A study was carried out in a group of 80 participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS) residing in Mallorca, Spain, who underwent nutritional intervention based on a low-calorie Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and promotion of physical activity. Before and after the intervention, several parameters including anthropometric data, haematological factors, blood pressure, and physical activity level were measured. Oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in plasma were analysed. After the 6-year intervention, participants who managed to reduce their body mass index (BMI) had greater reductions in abdominal obesity, waist to heigh ratio (WHtR), diastolic blood pressure, and glucose levels, and increased high density protein cholesterol (HDL-c) compared to those who did not reduce BMI. This higher reduction in BMI was related to reduced energy intake and increased adherence to MedDiet, with greater polyphenol intake, and total physical activity (PA). Furthermore, improvements in oxidative stress and proinflammatory status were observed in participants who reduced their BMI. Significant reductions in the activity of the prooxidant enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), levels of the lipid oxidation marker, malondialdehyde (MDA), and the proinflammatory chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1,) were found in those who reduced their BMI. In contrast, participants who did not improve their BMI exhibited higher levels of proinflammatory markers such as MCP-1 and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), as well as increased activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT). Current findings suggest that an effective way to reduce BMI is a hypocaloric MedDiet combined with tailored physical activity to improve oxidative stress and proinflammatory status, and potentially reducing the risk of CVD.

Magnitudes of overweight and obesity among adult and associated factors in jigjiga town, Somali region, Ethiopia

Overweight and obesity are major worldwide health concerns, with serious consequences for mortality and morbidity. Overweight and obesity rates are frighteningly high in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ethiopia, due to a variety of causes such as urbanization, greater affluence, and bad food habits. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among people in Jigjiga Town, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia, as well as to investigate related factors in order to inform treatments and policy. A cross-sectional survey was done among persons aged 20 to 64 working in the government, non-governmental, and commercial sectors. Socio-demographic information, food habits, physical activity, and anthropometric measures were all recorded. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was shown to be 42.4 %, with significant correlations identified with profession and TV viewing habits. Employed people were less likely to be overweight or obese than those in commerce/trade, and those who watched TV for 2–3 h had a reduced risk than those who watched less than 2 h. The study found that khat chewing is significantly associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity, with chewers being 1.56 times more likely to be overweight or obese compared to non-chewers. Additionally, there is an inverse relationship between snacking frequency and overweight/obesity risk; participants who snacked once a day were 2.5 times more likely to be overweight or obese than those who snacked three or more times a day. These findings highlight that khat chewing and snacking patterns are important modifiable risk factors for overweight and obesity in the studied population. These findings highlight the need of focused treatments targeting food choices, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in combating overweight and obesity in Eastern Ethiopia. Collaboration among academics, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders is critical for developing successful methods for promoting healthy lifestyles and lowering the region's overweight and obesity burden.

HUBUNGAN ASUPAN PROTEIN DENGAN STATUS GIZI PADA REMAJA PUTRI DI PONDOK PESANTREN, KABUPATEN TUBAN

Introduction : Nutritional problems are health problems that can occur at all ages. Adolescents are one of the groups that easily experience nutritional problems. Nutritional status is a description of the body's condition as a result of the utilization of nutrients from food consumed daily. One of the nutrients, protein, is an important nutrient for growth, repair, maintenance of body tissues and maintaining physiological balance. The aim of this research was to investigate the correlation between protein consumption and nutritional status among teenage girls. Method: This was an analytic research with a cross sectional approach. The sample of this study was 200 female students of islamic boarding school, aged 15-19 years old. Independent variable of protein intake was collected using Recall-24 hour method, dependent variable of nutritional status was measured based on IMT/U indicator, and analyzed statistically with spearman correlation. Result: The results of spearman correlation test showed a p-value=0.000 for the relationship between protein intake and the nutritional status of adolescent girls, there was a tendency for respondents with more protein intake to overweight, while respondents with normal protein intake have normal nutritional status. Conclusion: Protein intake affects nutritional status, the higher the protein intake, the higher the risk of overweight. Suggestions for further research could involve studying the improvement of knowledge and skills of pesantren administrators in preparing balanced nutritional meals for students.

Food Resource Management and Healthy Eating Focus Associates with Diet Quality and Health Behaviors in Low-Income Adults.

Nutrition education and food resource management (FRM) can assist food-insecure individuals in acquiring healthy and affordable food. We aimed to assess the relationships between FRM skills and healthy eating focus with diet quality and health-related behaviors in low-income adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey of 276 low-income adults living in a low-food-access community in Northeast Connecticut. Through analysis of covariance, adults who usually or always had a meal plan, considered reading nutrition labels important, made a grocery list, were concerned about their food healthiness, and rated their diet quality as very good/excellent reported higher diet quality (frequency-based and liking-based scores) (p < 0.05 for all). Individuals who considered reading food labels very important and reported having a good diet reported less frequent pandemic-related unhealthy behaviors (consumption of candy and snack chips, soda or sugary drinks, weight gain, smoking) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, higher-frequency-based diet quality was associated with lower risk of overweight or obesity (OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.76; p-trend < 0.01). Thus, FRM skills and healthy eating focus were associated with higher diet quality and healthier self-reported changes in diet, weight, and smoking behaviors during the pandemic.

Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Childhood Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Objectives: The repercussions of childhood overweight and obesity are multifaceted, extending beyond the realm of physiology and giving rise to psychological and emotional disturbances in affected children. The precise effects of gestational physical activity (PA) on parameters related to childhood overweight and obesity remain inadequately understood. The aim of this study (Registration CRD42022372490) was to evaluate the literature regarding the influence of PA during pregnancy on the risk of childhood overweight and obesity. Materials and Methods: Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered for inclusion. Determinant parameters of childhood obesity were analyzed. A total of 30 studies involving 16,137 pregnant women were examined. Five meta-analyses about the effects of PA during pregnancy on determinants of childhood overweight and obesity were conducted. Results: Although favorable trends were observed, Meta-Analyses showed no statistical differences in the effects of PA on weight at birth (Z = 0.03, p = 0.97), Ponderal Index at birth (Z = 0.64, p = 0.52), Macrosomia and Large for Gestational Age at birth (Z = 0.93, p = 0.35), children's BMI (Z = 0.78, p = 0.44), weight (Z = 0.50, p = 0.62), and skinfold thicknesses (Z = 0.45, p = 0.65). Conclusions: The engagement in physical activity during pregnancy exhibits a favorable trend in parameters associated with childhood overweight and obesity while presenting no adverse effects on such outcomes.

Association between protein-to-energy ratio and overweight/obesity in children and adolescents in the United States: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES.

The dietary protein proportion may be crucial in triggering overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Cross-sectional data from 4,336 children and adolescents who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and March 2020 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Restricted cubic splines assessed the nonlinear relationships between dietary protein intake and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Adjusted logistic regression models showed that each 1% increase in dietary protein proportion was associated with a 4% higher risk of overweight and obesity (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07). A nonlinear relationship was noted in children aged 6-11 years (P < 0.05), as demonstrated by restricted cubic spline analysis. After dividing dietary protein intake into quartiles, the highest quartile had an adjusted OR of 2.07 (95% CI: 1.35, 3.16, P = 0.001) compared to the lowest, among children aged 6-11 years. Dietary protein intake is positively linked to overweight and obesity in American children, irrespective of individual characteristics and total energy consumption.

Effect of gestational diabetes on fetal growth rate and later overweight in the offspring.

Children of women with gestational diabetes (GDM) are often born with a higher birthweight and have an increased risk of overweight during childhood. High fetal growth rate is also associated with being overweight in childhood. To examine excessive fetal growth rate as a mediator between GDM and overweight in the offspring. This was a longitudinal cohort study, using routinely collected data on children born 2008-2014 in Aarhus, Denmark. Fetal biometrics were extracted from the patient records at Aarhus University Hospital and childhood weight from the health records at Aarhus Municipality Healthcare Service. We calculated growth trajectories for fetuses affected by GDM and for unaffected fetuses using cubic mixed model regression. We extracted individual fetal growth rate and estimated the contributing effect of fetal growth rate on the risk of being overweight in the 5-9 year-old offspring. We included 6794 mother-child pairs, 295 with GDM. Fetal growth was higher in women with GDM from week 25, and the offspring had an increased risk of being overweight (OR: 2.02 (95%CI: 1.44 - 2.84)). When adjusting for fetal growth rate in week 28 the effect attenuated by 15%, and to 1.10 (95%CI: 0.76 - 1.60) when further adjusting for pre-pregnancy BMI. Pregnancies affected by GDM had higher fetal growth rate and the offspring had a higher risk of being overweight at 5-9 years. Fetal growth rate in early third trimester was a mediator of up to 15% of this association, but pre-pregnancy BMI contributed strongly as well.

Associations of Maternal Breastmilk microRNAs and Infant Obesity Status at 1 Year.

Infant consumption of human milk (HM) is associated with a reduced risk of overweight and obesity, but the reasons for this relationship are not completely understood. There is emerging evidence that micro RNAs (miRNAs) regulate infant development and metabolism, but the associations between HM miRNAs and infant growth remain poorly understood. We examined the relationship between HM miRNA consumption and infant obesity in 163 mother-infant dyads to determine (1) if miRNA profiles differentiate infants with obesity, and (2) if individual miRNAs accurately predicted infant obesity status at one year of age. Infant obesity was categorized as weight-for-length (WFL) Z scores or conditional weight gain (CWG) in the 95th percentile. HM miRNA profile was associated with infant age (r2 = 6.4%, p = 0.001), but not maternal obesity status (r2 = 1.5%, p = 0.87) or infant weight status (WFL Z-score) at birth (r2 = 0.6%, p = 0.4), 1 month (r2 = 0.5%, p = 0.6), or 4 months (r2 = 0.8%, p = 0.2). Nine HM miRNAs were associated with either 12-month CWG or 12-month WFL Z scores. Among these 9 miRNAs, miR-224-5p remained significant in a logistic regression model that accounted for additional demographic factors (estimate = -27.57, p = 0.004). These findings suggest involvement of HM miRNAs and particularly miR-224-5p in infant growth, warranting further investigation. To our knowledge, this is the largest study of HM miRNAs and early-life obesity and contributes to the understanding of the relationship between HM miRNAs and infant growth.

BODYFAT: a new calculator to determine the risk of being overweight validated in Spanish children between 11 and 17 years of age

The assessment of body fat of children in primary care requires consideration of the dynamic changes in height, weight, lean mass, and fat mass during childhood growth. To achieve this, we aim to develop a predictive equation based on anthropometric values, with optimal diagnostic utility. This is a cross-sectional observational study, involving schoolgoers aged 11–17 years in the Vigo metropolitan area. Out of 10,747 individuals, 577 were randomly recruited. Variables: age, sex, ethnicity/country of origin, weight, height, 8 skinfolds, 3 diameters, 7 perimeters, and 85% percentile of body fat mass as the gold standard. Generalized additive regression was selected by cross-validation and compared using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, true positive and true negative values, false positive and false negative values, accuracy, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. Two models were identified. The optimal model includes sex, weight, height, leg perimeter, and arm perimeter, with sensitivity of 0.93 (0.83–1.00), specificity of 0.91 (0.83–0.96), accuracy of 0.91 (0.84–0.96), and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.957 (0.928–0.986). The second model includes sex, age, and body mass index, with sensitivity of 0.93 (0.81–1.00), specificity of 0.90 (0.80–0.97), accuracy of 0.90 (0.82–0.96), and an AUC of 0.944 (0.903–0.984).Conclusion: Two predictive models, with the 85th percentile of fat mass as the gold standard, built with basic anthropometric measures, show very high diagnostic utility parameters. Their calculation is facilitated by a complementary online calculator.What is Known:• In routine clinical practice, mainly in primary care, BMI is used to determine overweight and obesity. This index has its weaknesses in the assessment of children.What is New:• We provide a calculator whose validated algorithm, through the determination of fat mass by impedanciometry, makes it possible to determine the risk of overweight and obesity in the community setting, through anthropometric measurements, providing a new practical, accessible and reliable model that improves the classification of overweight and obesity in children with respect to that obtained by determining BMI.

Determinants of unhealthy BMI among women of childbearing age in Bangladesh

This paper investigated the determinants of unhealthy BMI categories, namely underweight, overweight, and obesity, for urban and rural women of childbearing age in Bangladesh. Multilevel nested logistic models were estimated using data from multiple waves (2004–18) of the Demographic and Health Surveys of Bangladesh. After controlling for community and regional effects, the underweight status showed an inverse relationship with years of education for urban and rural women. Conversely, the fitted model estimates revealed a positive association between overweight risk and education for both urban and rural women populations. However, the association between obesity and education was significant for only urban women. Employment status appeared to be negatively associated with the risks of being overweight and obese in both population groups. Moreover, the women were found less likely to be underweight and more likely to be overweight and obese when their household socio-economic status improved. Study findings have the potential to inform a wide range of interventions, policies and programs that simultaneously address the adverse consequences of underweight, overweight, and/obese population health conditions in rural and urban Bangladesh.

Associations between paediatric obesity, chemical mixtures and environmental factors, in a national cross-sectional study of Canadian children.

Whilst single chemical exposures are suspected to be obesogenic, the combined role of chemical mixtures in paediatric obesity is not well understood. We aimed to evaluate the potential associations between chemical mixtures and obesity in a population-based sample of Canadian children. We ascertained biomonitoring and health data for children aged 3-11 from the cross-sectional Canadian Health Measures Survey from 2007 to 2019. Several chemicals of interest were measured in blood or urine and paediatric obesity was defined based on measured anthropometrics. Using quantile-based G computational analysis, we quantified the effects of three chemical mixtures selected a priori. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and environmental factors identified through a directed acyclic graph. Results are presented through adjusted relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). We included 9147 children. Of these, 24.1% were overweight or obese. Exposure to the mixture of bisphenol A, acrylamide, glycidamide, metals, parabens and arsenic increased the risk of childhood overweight or obesity by 45% (95% CI 1.09, 1.93), obesity by 109% (95% CI 1.27, 3.42) and central obesity by 82% (95% CI 1.30, 2.56). Our findings support the role of early childhood chemical exposures in paediatric obesity and the potential combined effects of chemicals.

Maternal concern and perception about child overweight risk, maternal feeding practices, and child eating behaviors: A cross-sectional study.

Abundant efforts have been directed to understand the global obesity epidemic and related obesogenic behaviors. However, the relationships of maternal concern and perception about child weight with child eating behaviors in Saudi Arabia have not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the associations of maternal concern and perception about child overweight risk with maternal feeding practices and child eating behaviors among mothers and their children in Saudi Arabia. Mothers of 115 children aged 3-5 years old were recruited from eight preschools. Child eating behaviors (enjoyment of food, responsiveness to foods, food fussiness, satiety responsiveness, and slowness in eating) and maternal feeding practices (restriction, monitoring, and using food as a reward), maternal concern about child weight, and maternal perception about child overweight risk were assessed using validated questionnaires. Multiple linear regression models, adjusted for maternal body mass index (BMI) and child's BMI-z score and sex, were tested to examine the independent associations of maternal concern and perception about child overweight risk with child eating behaviors and maternal feeding practices. Maternal concern about child weight was positively associated with food enjoyment in children (B = 0.14 [95% confidence intervals = 0.02,0.27]) and responsiveness to food (B = 0.16 [0.03,0.29]), whereas a negative association with child food fussiness was observed (B = -0.19 [-0.33, -0.04]). Maternal perception about child overweight risk and child slowness in eating were negatively associated (B = -0.72 [-0.16 to -0.28]). Maternal concern and perception about child overweight risk were not associated with maternal feeding practices. In conclusion, maternal concern and perception about child overweight risk were found to be associated with food approach eating behavior traits but not with maternal feeding practices. Mothers who are concerned about child weight or perceive their children as overweight may need guidance and support to promote healthy eating behaviors among their children. Future cross-cultural studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms for the influence of maternal concern and perception about child overweight risk on maternal feeding practices, child eating behaviors, and weight status of children.