Risk Of Overweight Research Articles

Effects of Highly Palatable Diet on motivation for food and resistance to punishment in rats: Role of sex and age of exposure

Exposure to highly palatable food is believed to induce behavioral and neurobiological changes that may produce addiction-like behavior and increase the risks of obesity and overweight. Studies in rodents have led to conflicting results suggesting that several factors such as sex and age of exposure contribute to the development of maladaptive behaviors towards food. In addition, it is not clear whether effects of exposure to highly palatable diets (HPD) persist after their discontinuation, which would indicate long-term risks to develop addiction-like behavior. In this study, we investigated the persistent effects of an intermittent 8-week exposure to HPD in male and female rats as a function of age of exposure (adult and adolescent). We found that intermittent exposure to HPD did not alter body weight, but it affected consumption of standard food during the time of exposure in all groups. In addition, in adults, HPD produced a decrease in the initial baseline responding in FR1 schedules, an effect that persisted for 4 weeks in males but not in female rats. However, we found that exposure to HPD did not affect resistance to punishment measured by progressive shock strength break points or motivation for food as measured by progressive-ratio break points regardless of sex or age of exposure. Altogether, these results do not provide support for the hypothesis that intermittent exposure to HPD produce persistent increases in the vulnerability to develop addiction-like behaviors towards palatable food.

Prevalence, determinants, intervention strategies and current gaps in addressing childhood malnutrition in Vietnam: a systematic review

BackgroundChildhood malnutrition in all forms is a major public health issue worldwide. This review systematically examined the prevalence and determinants and identify the potential interventions and current gap in addressing malnutrition including undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) in Vietnamese children aged 0–18 years old.MethodsEmbase, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were systematically searched through June 2022 to identify relevant articles published within the past 25 years. Study selection and data extraction were performed by one reviewer and checked for accuracy by the other two reviewers in accordance with PRISMA guideline. Risk of publication bias was assessed using American Dietetic Association Quality Criteria Checklist.ResultsSeventy-two studies that met the inclusion criteria were included. Undernutrition has decreased over time but still 22.4%, 5.2% and 12.2% of children under 5 were stunted, wasted and underweight, respectively. Anaemia, iron, zinc, and vitamin D deficiencies were the more common forms of MNDs, the prevalence varied by age, region, and socioeconomic group. Population-based surveys reported that 11% and 48% of children aged 0–11 years old were iron and vitamin D deficient, respectively. Zinc deficiency affected almost one-quarter of the children and adolescents. Retinol deficiency was of less concern (< 20%). However, more evidence on MNDs prevalence is needed. Overweight and obesity is now on the rise, affecting one-third of school-aged children. The key determinants of undernutrition included living in rural areas, children with low birth weight, and poor socio-economic status, whereas living in urban and affluent areas, having an inactive lifestyle and being a boy were associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity. Nutrition specific intervention studies including supplementation and food fortification consistently showed improvements in anthropometric indices and micronutrient biomarkers. National nutrition-sensitive programmes also provided nutritional benefits for children’s growth and eating behaviours, but there is a lack of data on childhood obesity.ConclusionThis finding highlights the need for effective double duty actions to simultaneously address different forms of childhood malnutrition in Vietnam. However, evidence on the potential intervention strategies, especially on MNDs and overnutrition are still limited to inform policy decision, thus future research is warranted.

IJCM_127A: A comparative study of knowledge and perception among school going adolescents regarding various food habits and prevalence of overweight and obesity in government and private schools in Mangalore

Background: Adolescence, 10-19 years is a vulnerable age where eating behaviours are inculcated. Adult health and size are determined by the adolescents dietary habits. The poor health &amp; diet choices by adolescents is a result of lack of knowledge about Glycemic Index, Trans Fats, etc. Thus, educating them at this mouldable age is important. Objectives: 1) To study the knowledge and its retention among adolescents of 8th-12th standard after interactive education about food habits and lifestyle changes. 2) To identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity among high school students in various private and government schools. Methodology: An intervention study was conducted in 441 adolescents of 8th- 12th standard in government and private schools. In first interaction BMI and questionnaire on awareness, perception and practise on diet was filled by participants and educational material on same was shared and their knowledge retention was assessed after 2 months and the results were compared between government and private schools. Results: In terms of age, the majority of subjects fall into the 14-year-old category (37.3%), and 15-year-old (33.2%). In terms of class, the largest proportion is in 9th and 10th class (36.4%). Gender distribution shows majority of females (57.5%). Father’s educational status reveals a significant percentage of graduates (48.4%), while mothers have a high school education (59.3%). Majority follow a non-vegetarian diet (64.3%) and reside in urban areas (54.8%). Lastly, the distribution of BMI categories indicates that a significant portion falls within the normal range (48.2%), with rest as overweight (30.2%), obese (20.7%), and underweight (0.9%). Mean scores of pre and post intervention were compared and statistically significant difference (p=&lt;0.001) was noted. Conclusion: Adolescents are at higher risk of overweight and obesity. Nutritional education reinforcement in this period has significant impact on reduction of Non-Communicable Diseases. Knowledge intervention in this study had similar result.

From brain to body: exploring the connection between altered reward processing and physical fitness in schizophrenia

Understanding the underlying mechanisms that link psychopathology and physical comorbidities in schizophrenia is crucial since decreased physical fitness and overweight pose major risk factors for cardio-vascular diseases and decrease the patients’ life expectancies. We hypothesize that altered reward anticipation plays an important role in this. We implemented the Monetary Incentive Delay task in a MR scanner and a fitness test battery to compare schizophrenia patients (SZ, n = 43) with sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 36) as to reward processing and their physical fitness. We found differences in reward anticipation between SZs and HCs, whereby increased activity in HCs positively correlated with overall physical condition and negatively correlated with psychopathology. On the other handy, SZs revealed stronger activity in the posterior cingulate cortex and in cerebellar regions during reward anticipation, which could be linked to decreased overall physical fitness. These findings demonstrate that a dysregulated reward system is not only responsible for the symptomatology of schizophrenia, but might also be involved in physical comorbidities which could pave the way for future lifestyle therapy interventions.

Lifestyle Practices Predictors of Nutritional Status among Basic Public-School Children in Aden, Yemen

Introduction: Since March 2015, children's nutrition in Yemen is increasingly threatened and acute malnutrition is now at serious levels across the country. This study aimed to determine the association between nutritional status and lifestyle practices of basic-public school children in Aden-Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2022 on a randomly selected basic public schools’ children aged 6-10 years. Lifestyle practices including breakfast consumption at home, physical activity, screen time and sleeping time were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire filled by the parents. Measurement of Z-score was done for height-for-age, weight-for-age and body-mass-index for-age to define stunting, underweight, thinness, overweight and obesity respectively. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS-25 and World Health Organization’s (WHO) Anthro plus program. Results: The study involved 930 students having the following prevalence: 26.9% for stunting; 32.5% for underweight and 23.1% for thinness. In addition, 1.2% were obese and 3.2% were overweight. According to the binary logistic regression, children aged &gt;8-10 years were more likely to be stunted (AOR=5.269; 95% CI:3.339-8.313), underweight (AOR=9.156; 95% CI: 5.631-14.890) and thin (AOR=3.901; 95% CI: 2.400-6.339) compared to younger age. Male children were more likely to be stunted (AOR= 1.496; 95% CI: 11.091-2.053), underweight (AOR=3.026; 95% CI: 2.195-4.172) and thin (AOR=8.001; 95% CI: 5.313-12.048) compared to female children. Less than daily consumption of breakfast increased the risk of stunting (AOR=1.505; 95% CI:1.109-2.042), underweight (AOR=4.724; 95% CI:3.421-6.524) and thinness (AOR=6.053; 95% CI:4.033-9.084) compared to daily breakfast consumption. Children sleeping &lt; 9 hours was associated with increased risk of stunting (AOR=1.479; 95% CI:1.093-2.001) and thinness (AOR=1.548; 95%CI:1.102-2.176) than sleeping ≥ 9 hours. Additionally, increasing likelihood of overweight (AOR= 50.848 ;95% CI: 6.211-416.301) and obesity (AOR= 8.977;95% CI: 1.098-73.422) was observed among children play outside &lt; 1 hour compared to playing ≥ 1 hour. Furthermore, increasing risk of overweight was associated with children’s screen time ≥ 2 hours compared to &lt; 1 hours (AOR=12.034 ;95% CI: 2.311-62.668). Conclusion: Stunting, underweight and thinness are major nutritional problems among basic public-school children in Aden. Unhealthy dietary and bad lifestyle practices associated with malnutrition indicators. This calls for attention by policymakers to address the challenges of malnutrition and implementing urgent intervention for awareness raising to maintain healthy lifestyle among school children.

Abstract P409: Maternal Macronutrient Intake at Pregnancy and Offspring Growth Trajectory Before Adulthood: A Prospective Analysis in the Growing Up Today Study 2 Cohort

Background: Childhood obesity has become a public health challenge globally, with increasing prevalence worldwide. Existing studies have indicated a potential link between maternal macronutrients intake and subsequent weight changes in their offspring during childhood. However, the long-term relationship between maternal macronutrient consumption at pregnancy and the growth trajectory of offspring into adulthood remains unclear. Objectives: We aim to investigate the relationship between maternal macronutrients intake at pregnancy and the trajectory of the offspring BMI z-score, as well as the risk of becoming overweight or obese before adulthood. Method: We included 5,700 children from the Growing Up Today Study 2 born to 4,697 mothers who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II . Diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire in 1991 approximately during or before the pregnancy at issue. Age- and gender-specific BMI thresholds described by the International Obesity Task Force were used to define overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Multivariable linear and log-binomial regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between maternal macronutrients intake at pregnancy and offspring BMI z-score trajectory and the risk of overweight or obesity. Results: During follow-up, 2145 (37.6%) GUTS2 participants met the criteria of overweight or obesity.After multivariate adjustment for maternal, offspring risk factors, total maternal total energy and carbohydrate percent energy, comparing to the 1 st quartile, the highest quartile of total protein consumption at pregnancy was associated with 0.14-unit [β: 0.14 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.26; P-trend = 0.03)] increase in BMI z-score, while no significant association was observed for the risk of offspring overweight or obesity [RR: 1.17 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.46; P-trend = 0.12)]. The relationship persisted for the top quartile of animal protein energy intake [β: 0.14 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.27; P-trend = 0.03)], but not for vegetable protein consumption. Intakes of dietary fats and carbohydrates were not associated with BMI z-score or risk of overweight or obesity. Furthermore, individual macronutrient subgroups, such as saturated fats, mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, or whole grains and refined grains, were not associated with the outcomes of interest, either. Conclusion: Maternal animal protein intake at pregnancy is positively associated with higher offspring BMI z-score before adulthood, but not the risk of developing overweight or obesity during childhood. Other macronutrients are not significantly associated with these childhood body weight outcomes. Overall, these data suggest that the macronutrient composition of maternal diet at peri-pregnancy period has minimal impact on offspring body weight in this well-nourished population.

Abstract MP47: Fetal Life Exposure to GDM and Postnatal Breastfeeding and Beverage Intake in the First Year Are Associated With Severe Child Obesity at 6 to 11 Years: The SWIFT Study in Youth

Objective: To evaluate associations between fetal exposure to GDM and postnatal breastfeeding (BF) and sugary beverages in the first year with risk of child overweight and obesity severity at 6-11 y. Methods: The sample included 850 children exposed to maternal GDM with BF and infant diet assessed by monthly surveys from birth to 1 y and weight and length/height measurements up to ages 6-11 y from electronic health records. Maternal GDM severity was classified by diagnosis time (Early &lt;24 wks or Standard ≥24 wks) and treatment type (Diet or Medication). Child BMI percentiles at 6-11 y were categorized as normal &lt;85 th (referent), overweight 85 th to &lt;95 th , moderate obesity 100 to &lt;120% of 95 th and severe obesity ≥120% of 95 th . Multinomial logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95%CI of child BMI categories associated with fetal GDM exposure (diagnosis time &amp; treatment) and postnatal diet; BF inadequate &lt;6 months or adequate &gt;6 months and sugary beverages (fruit juice or sugar added) adjusted for race/ethnicity, WIC recipient, pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain. Results: There were 480 (56.5%) children with normal weight, 150 (17.6%) with overweight, 155 (18.2%) with moderate obesity and 65 (7.6%) with severe obesity. Child average age (SD) at follow-up was 9.6 (1.4) y. Early GDM diagnosis was associated with aORs [95%CI] of severe obesity = 3.06 (1.33-7.04) with medication, and 2.61 (1.08-6.35) with diet and of moderate obesity = 1.93 (1.05-3.55) with diet vs. Standard diagnosis with diet. Inadequate BF with sugary beverage or fruit juice was associated with aOR [95%CI] of severe obesity = 3.06 (1.07-8.72) vs. adequate BF and no beverage. Conclusions: Earlier fetal exposure to maternal GDM and shorter BF combined with sugary beverages in the first postnatal year shows persistent higher risk of severe child obesity about 10 y later. These findings highlight pre-pregnancy screening to avert GDM and the importance of adequate BF and avoidance of sugary beverages and fruit juice among offspring exposed to GDM.

Associations between a paternal healthy lifestyle score and its individual components with childhood overweight and obesity.

Maternal healthy lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy have been associated with reduced risk of offspring overweight and obesity (OWOB). However, there has been little investigation, in the context of the Paternal Origins of Health and Disease (POHaD) paradigm, of the potential influence of the paternal lifestyle on offspring OWOB. To describe paternal healthy lifestyle factors around pregnancy and investigate their associations, individually and combined, with offspring risk of OWOB during childhood. Participants included 295 father-child pairs from the Lifeways Cross-Generation Cohort Study. A composite paternal healthy lifestyle score (HLS) based on having a high dietary quality (top 40% of the Healthy Eating Index-2015), meeting physical activity guidelines (≥450 MET-min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), having a healthy body mass index (BMI) (18.5-24.9kg/m2 ), being a non-smoker, and having no/moderate alcohol intake, was calculated (range 0-5). Paternal HLS (and individual components) associations with child BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) at age 5 and 9 years were assessed using linear (BMI z-scores and WHtR) and logistic (IOTF categories) regression analyses, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. At age 5 and 9 years, 23.5% and 16.9% of children were classified as living with OWOB, respectively. Of the 160 pairs with a complete HLS, 45.0% of the fathers had unfavorable lifestyle factors, determined by a low HLS between 0 and 2 points. Although a low paternal HLS was not significantly associated with a higher risk of childhood OWOB measured using either BMI z-scores and IOTF categories, it was associated with a greater child WHtR, an indicator of central adiposity, at 9 years of age (β [95% CI]=0.04 [0.01,0.07]). Almost half of the fathers had unfavorable lifestyle factors around pregnancy. A low paternal HLS was associated with a greater child WHtR at 9 years but not with a higher risk of childhood OWOB when measured by BMI z-scores or IOTF categories.

Patients Living With Arterial Hypertension in Mexico: First Insights of The Mexican Registry of Arterial Hypertension (RIHTA Study).

Arterial hypertension is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Mexico. However, there is limited evidence to understand blood pressure management and cardiometabolic profiles. Here, we aim to assess the prevalence of controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure, as well as the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among patients from the Mexican Registry of Arterial Hypertension (RIHTA). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of participants living with arterial hypertension registered on RIHTA between December 2021 and April 2023. We used both the 2017 ACC/AHA and 2018 ESC/ESH thresholds to define controlled and uncontrolled arterial hypertension. We considered eleven cardiometabolic risk factors, which include overweight, obesity, central obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C, high LDL-C, low-eGFR, and high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In a sample of 5,590 participants (female: 61%, n = 3,393; median age: 64 [IQR: 56-72] years), the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension varied significantly, depending on the definition (2017 ACC/AHA: 59.9%, 95% CI: 58.6-61.2 and 2018 ESC/ESH: 20.1%, 95% CI: 19.0-21.2). In the sample, 40.43% exhibited at least 5-6 risk factors, and 32.4% had 3-4 risk factors, chiefly abdominal obesity (83.4%, 95% CI: 82.4-84.4), high LDL-C (59.6%, 95% CI: 58.3-60.9), high CVD risk (57.9%, 95% CI: 56.6-59.2), high triglycerides (56.2%, 95% CI: 54.9-57.5), and low HDL-C (42.2%, 95% CI: 40.9-43.5). There is a high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension interlinked with a high burden of cardiometabolic comorbidities in Mexican adults living with arterial hypertension, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions and better healthcare policies to reduce the burden of the disease in our country.

Impact of prenatal maternal dietary exclusion on childhood obesity and overweight risk.

Child birthweight is a measure of fetal nutrition that is primarily determined by prenatal maternal (PM) diet. Child birthweight and child obesity/overweight risk are well established to be linked. Nevertheless, no studies have investigated the impact of PM dietary exclusion on child obesity/overweight risk or body mass index z-score (BMIz). The study aimed to determine whether PM dietary exclusion affected the child's BMIz, obesity/overweight risk, whether child birthweight serves as a mediator of this, and whether PM use of dietary supplements can protect against this. Waves within the years 2004-2019 from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a population-based cohort study, were analyzed. The participants were aged 0 to 15 years during these waves of the study. Analysis was conducted using logistic and linear models. A total of 5,107 participants were involved in the first wave of the study. The PM exclusion of fish was associated with a higher risk of being underweight at age 14 or 15 years and mild-to-moderate obesity at age 6 or 7 years. The PM exclusion of egg was associated with a higher risk of being overweight at age 14 or 15 years. The exclusion of dairy was associated with more mixed effects. Mediation effects did not reach statistical significance. Moderation effects involving PM dietary supplement use, when they did occur, were associated with higher child BMIz and usually a higher risk of obesity/overweight. Fish and eggs are likely important parts of PM diets for preventing childhood obesity and overweight. Further studies will be needed to determine reasons for this and the apparent adverse effects of dietary supplements on overweight/obesity risk.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of gut microbiome-associated childhood overweight and obesity

ABSTRACT Childhood obesity is linked to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Gut microbiota may partially mediate this association and could be potential targets for intervention; however, its role is understudied. We included 1,592 infants from the Canadian Healthy Infants Longitudinal Development Cohort. Data on environmental exposure and lifestyle factors were collected prenatally and throughout the first three years. Weight outcomes were measured at one and three years of age. Stool samples collected at 3 and 12 months were analyzed by sequencing the V4 region of 16S rRNA to profile microbial compositions and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify the metabolites. We showed that quitting smoking during pregnancy did not lower the risk of offspring being overweight. However, exclusive breastfeeding until the third month of age may alleviate these risks. We also reported that maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly increased Firmicutes abundance and diversity. We further revealed that Firmicutes diversity mediates the elevated risk of childhood overweight and obesity linked to maternal prenatal smoking. This effect possibly occurs through excessive microbial butyrate production. These findings add to the evidence that women should quit smoking before their pregnancies to prevent microbiome-mediated childhood overweight and obesity risk, and indicate the potential obesogenic role of excessive butyrate production in early life.

Body mass index as a dominant risk factor for metabolic syndrome among indonesian adults: a 6-year prospective cohort study of non-communicable diseases

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs), notably cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, are largely driven by metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of critical risk factors. Despite extensive research, the progression of MetS, especially in Indonesia, has received limited attention. This research tracks adult MetS risk dynamics in a populous Bogor District cohort, providing crucial insights into its evolving nature.MethodsThis prospective open cohort study analysed secondary data from the Special Research - Cohort Study of Non-Communicable Diseases by the Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia from 2011 to 2018. The final sample was 1,376 Indonesian adult participants, all residents of Bogor District. MetS outcome, dietary assessment, physical activity, and biomarkers were analysed every two consecutive years.ResultsThe risk of overweight and obese participants developing MetS was 2.4 and 4.4 times higher, respectively (95% CI: 1.176–3.320 and 3.345–5.740) than those with body mass index (BMI) in the normal range. Participants who reported less intentional physical exercise had a MetS risk 1.5 times higher (95% CI: 1.034–2.109) than those with more intentional physical exercise. The role of diet is also significant, evidenced by a 30% reduction in MetS risk for people with fat intakes in the 2nd quartile compared to the 1st quartile (95% CI: 0.505–0.972). Meanwhile, a carbohydrate intake in the 2nd quartile increased the risk of MetS 1.5 times (95% CI: 1.063–2.241) in comparison with the 1st quartile.ConclusionsNotably, participants with underweight BMI exhibited the highest cumulative survival of MetS, while those with obese BMI recorded the lowest cumulative survival. There is an urgent need for strategic interventions to enhance the existing early detection and NCD monitoring program. This involves a targeted focus on promoting a community-based healthy lifestyle in the Bogor District. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored public health measures to address specific risk factors identified in the local context, aiming to mitigate the prevalence and impact of MetS in the population.

Adverse birth outcomes and childhood overweight at age of 3–8 years in a prospective cohort study in Tianjin, China

ObjectivesTo explore associations between adverse birth outcomes and childhood overweight at 3–8 years of age.DesignA prospective cohort study.SettingSix central urban districts of Tianjin, China.Participants1681 woman–child pairs.Methods1681 woman–child pairs were followed...

Association of polymorphisms in SEC16B, DNAJC27, FTO and MC4R genes with overweight and obesity in Han preschool children

To investigate the association of polymorphisms in SEC16B rs633715, DNAJC27 rs713586, FTO rs11642015 and MC4R rs6567160 with overweight and obesity in Han Chinese preschool children. A total of 749 Han Chinese preschool children from Henan and Guizhou Province of Long-term Health Effects Assessment Project of Infants and Toddlers Nutritional Pack were selected for the study and divided into an overweight and obese group and a normal control group in 2022. rs633715, rs713586, rs11642015 and rs6567160 were genotyped using Kompetitive allele-specific PCR(KASP) technology. The distribution of genotypic polymorphisms was compared using the χ~2 test. The association between the four loci and overweight and obesity in preschool children was analyzed using a multifactorial logistic regression model. The statistical analysis revealed a significant disparity(P&lt;0.05) in the distribution of genotypic polymorphisms of rs633715 and rs6567160 among preschoolers in Henan and Guizhou Province. CC heterozygous mutant and recessive models at rs633715 locus were associated with susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children [OR and 95% CI 2.915(1.163-7.305), and 2.997(1.226-7.323), respectively, both P&lt;0.05]. TC heterozygous mutant and dominant models at rs713586 locus were also associated susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children(OR and 95% CI were 2.362(1.054-5.289)and 2.362(1.054-5.289), respectively, both P&lt;0.05). rs11642015 and rs6567160 loci were not associated with susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children(P&gt;0.05). The result of the analysis of the cumulative effect of rs633715 and rs713586 showed that the number of genotypes carrying the risk genotype was positively associated with the risk of overweight and obesity in preschool children(P_(trend)&lt;0.01). Among Han Chinese preschool children, SEC16B rs633715 and DNAJC27 rs713586 were associated with susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children. Moreover, rs633715 and rs713586 had a cumulative effect on susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children, the number of risk genotypes carried was positively associated with childhood overweight and obesity risk.

Early feeding and nutritional status of Portuguese children in the first 36 months of life: EPACI Portugal 2012-a national representative cross-sectional study.

Early feeding practices have a critical role in the future not only in health but also in modulating eating habits. This study aimed to assess breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and the nutritional status of Portuguese toddlers aged 0-36 months. EPACI Portugal 2012 is a cross-sectional study of a national representative sample. Trained interviewers collected data about early feeding practices and anthropometrics. Body mass index was classified according to World Health Organization criteria. Frequencies and survival analysis were used to characterize variables. More than 90% of children were initiated breastfeeding, around 20% were exclusively breastfed for six months, and about 20% were breastfed at 12 months while complementary feeding was taking place. Exclusive breastfeeding was determined by maternal prepregnancy body mass index (HR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00, 1.03, P=.03) and low birth weight (HR 1.61; IC 95% 1.21, 2.15, P=.001) of the infants. About 90% were initiated complementary feeding between four and six months, and almost 10% were introduced to cow's milk before 12 months. In the second year of life, 83.2% and 61.6% of toddlers have already consumed nectars and sweet desserts, respectively. About one-third of Portuguese toddlers showed a body mass index z-score >1, and 6.6% were overweight/obese (z-score >2). No association was found between the duration of breastfeeding or timing of complementary feeding and the body mass index z-score in children. Despite the low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at six months, Portuguese infants effectively comply with dietary recommendations during the first year of life. The transition to the family diet must be carefully made. There is a high prevalence of Portuguese toddlers at least at overweight risk. The duration of breastfeeding or timing of complementary feeding was not associated with the expression of overweight/obesity.

The Relationship between Birth Weight and the Risk of Overweight and Obesity among Chinese Children and Adolescents Aged 7-17 Years.

Obesity is a major public health issue in children and adolescents. Our study aimed to examine the impacts of birth weight on overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Using data from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers in 2016-2017, we included 10,041 participants aged 7-17 years. According to birth weight, participants were categorized into six groups, and the birth weight category of 3000 to 3499 g was chosen as the reference group, containing the largest number of children. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of birth weight with the risk of being obese at 7 to 17 years of age in multivariable-adjusted models. A restricted cubic spline was utilized to show the odds ratios (ORs) of obesity at different birth weight levels. The adjusted ORs for overweight were 0.98 (95%CI 0.63, 1.53), 1.02 (95%CI 0.84, 1.25), 1.34 (95%CI 1.16, 1.55), 1.72 (95%CI 1.35, 2.18), and 1.17 (95%CI 0.71, 1.96) in several birth weight groups, compared with group C (3000-3499 g). The adjusted ORs for obesity were 0.82 (95%CI 0.48, 1.40), 0.77 (95%CI 0.60, 0.98), 1.33 (95%CI 1.13, 1.57), 1.97 (95%CI 1.53, 2.53), and 2.01 (95%CI 1.27, 3.19). Furthermore, children in the post-pubertal stage had a slightly higher risk of overweight and obesity than those in the pre-pubertal and pubertal stage. Moreover, these associations were stronger among boys. The lower part of normal birth weight range is associated with a lower risk of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. However, higher levels of birth weight increase risk.

Comparison of anthropometric, metabolic, and body compositional abnormalities in Korean children and adolescents born small, appropriate, and large for gestational age: a population-based study from KNHANES V (2010-2011).

The impacts of growth restriction and programming in the fetal stage on metabolic and bone health in children and adolescents are poorly understood. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence for the relationship between current growth status and metabolic components. Herein, we compared the growth status, metabolic and body compositions, and bone mineral density in Korean children and adolescents based on birth weight at gestational age. We studied 1,748 subjects (272 small for gestational age [SGA], 1,286 appropriate for gestational age [AGA], and 190 large for gestational age [LGA]; 931 men and 817 women) aged 10-18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V (2010-2011). Anthropometric measurements, fasting blood biochemistry, and body composition data were analyzed according to birth weight and gestational age. The prevalence of low birth weight (14.7% vs. 1.2% in AGA and 3.2% in LGA, p<0.001) and current short stature (2.237 [1.296-3.861] compared to AGA, p=0.004) in SGA subjects was greater than that in other groups; however, the prevalence of overweight and obesity risks, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and MetS component abnormalities was not. Moreover, no significant differences were found in age- and sex-adjusted lean mass ratio, fat mass ratio, truncal fat ratio, bone mineral content, or bone density among the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups in Korean children and adolescents. Our data demonstrate that birth weight alone may not be a determining factor for body composition and bone mass in Korean children and adolescents. Further prospective and longitudinal studies in adults are necessary to confirm the impact of SGA on metabolic components and bone health.

Self-reported and tracked nighttime smartphone use and their association with overweight and cardiometabolic risk markers

Nighttime smartphone use is associated with sleep problems, which in turn have a bidirectional association with overweight. We aim to investigate whether nighttime smartphone use and sleep are related to overweight and metabolic dysfunction in adult populations. We used data from three population samples (aged 16–89) from the SmartSleep Study, which included survey data (N = 29,838), high-resolution tracking data (N = 3446), follow-up data (N = 1768), and cardiometabolic risk markers (N = 242). Frequent self-reported nighttime smartphone use was associated with 51% higher odds (95% CI: 1.32; 1.70) of overweight compared with no use. Tracked nighttime smartphone use was also associated with overweight. Similar results were found for obesity as an outcome. No consistent associations were found between nighttime smartphone use and cardiometabolic risk markers in a small subsample of healthy young women. Poor sleep quality (vs. good sleep quality) was associated with overweight (OR = 1.19, 85% CI: 1.10; 1.28). Overall, frequent nighttime smartphone use was consistently associated with overweight and a higher BMI across diverse population samples. The bidirectional interplay between nighttime smartphone use, sleep, and overweight may create a vicious circle of metabolic dysfunction over time. Therefore, nighttime smartphone use may be a potential target point for public health interventions to reduce overweight at the population level.

Association of healthy eating index and anthropometric indices among primary school girls in southeast of Iran: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe school-age period is marked by substantial advancements in physical and cognitive development, highlighting the importance of assessing the diet quality and its impact on body weight and height. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between diet quality and selected anthropometric indices of primary school girls in southeast of Iran using the healthy eating index-2015 (HEI-2015).MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 330 students aged 6–12 years from 10 primary schools in Kerman City. Standard protocols and a dish-based food frequency questionnaire were employed to evaluate anthropometric indices and dietary intake. The HEI-2015 was utilized to assess the quality of participants’ diets, with a total score ranging from zero to 100, based on thirteen food score components.ResultsIn the present study, older participants had higher HEI scores (p = 0.02). Additionally, participants in the highest tertile of HEI score had greaterodds of being overweight (OR: 2.13; CI = 1.17–3.85, P = 0.011) and had higher intakes of whole fruits, total fruits including fruit juice, whole grains, total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins, greens, and beans (p < 0.05). However, no significant association was found between HEI score and other anthropometric indices, obesity, and thinness.ConclusionsThe study found no significant association between HEI scores and the likelihood of being thin or obese. However, children with the highest HEI scores were more likely to beoverweight. Therefore, it is recommended to implement health programs for primary school girls in Kerman to improve their eating habits and reduce the risk of overweight and obesity.

Impact of household income on the risk of overweight and obesity over time among preschool-aged children: a population-based cohort study

BackgroundThe temporality of household income level with overweight/obesity in children has not been extensively studied. Little research has been conducted to determine the impact of household income on the risk of childhood overweight/obesity over time. This population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of household income on the risk of overweight/obesity over time among preschool-aged children in Taiwan.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2018, we recruited 1,482 preschool-aged children ( ≦ 7 y of age) from low-income households and selected age- and sex-matched controls from non-low-income households for comparison; All participants were selected from those who consistently participated in the Taipei Child Development Screening Program and were monitored for overweight/obesity using body mass index (BMI) until December 31, 2018. Low-income households were defined as those with an average monthly disposable income < 60% of the minimum standard of living expense in Taiwan. The primary outcome was childhood overweight or obesity in study participants, defined as BMI (kg/m2) ≥ 85th percentile or ≥ 95th percentile, respectively. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was used to determine the impact of low-income households on the risk of overweight/obesity in study participants.ResultsOver 21,450 person-years of follow-up, 1,782 participants developed overweight /obesity, including 452 (30.5%) and 1,330 (22.4%) children from low- and non-low-income households, respectively. The GEE model showed that the first group had a significantly higher risk of becoming overweight/obese than the other during the follow-up period (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.29–1.60). Moreover, children of foreign mothers had a higher risk of becoming overweight/obese than those of Taiwanese mothers during the follow-up period (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.24–1.8). The subgroup analysis revealed a significant association between low-income households and an increased risk of overweight/obesity in children aged 2–7 years (P =.01). However, this association was not observed in children aged 0–1 years (P >.999).ConclusionsDuring the follow-up period, there was a notable correlation between low-income households and an increased risk of preschool-aged children developing overweight or obesity. Implementing health promotion initiatives aimed at reducing overweight and obesity in this demographic is crucial.