Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with overweight in a representative sample of 11-15 year olds in France: results from the WHO-Collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) cross-sectional study

Correlates of weight gain in German children attending elementary school

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of physical fitness, sports participation, physical activity and sedentary behavior as well as dietary patterns and family background with weight gain in non-overweight elementary school children, independent of absolute body weight.

METHODS

Height, weight, and physical fitness were assessed in 1249 (51% male) children in south-west Germany during the fall of 2010 and 2011 (age at baseline: 7.0±0.6years). Based on changes in body mass index percentiles children were classified into a weight loss, constant weight, or weight gain group. Health behavior and family background were assessed via parent questionnaire. Group differences were examined via analysis of variance and multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

Weight gain was associated with low physical activity, lack of active transport, and lack of regular breakfast at follow-up. Children in the weight gain category also displayed lower fitness during baseline and follow-up, but differences were more pronounced during follow-up. TV time, migration background or parental education was not associated with weight gain.

CONCLUSION

Ensuring adequate physical activity and high fitness is an important aspect in the prevention of excessive weight gain during childhood. In addition to sports participation active transport should be emphasized in future weight management programs in children.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban elementary school children in northeastern Romania: its relationship with socioeconomic status and associated dietary and lifestyle factors

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of obesity and to identify its potential determinants to optimize the methods of prevention to combat further increases in childhood overweight. The study was carried out on 3444 school children of 6–10 years of age attending 30 schools in northeast Romania. Schools were classified by geographical location and socioeconomic status (SES). Overweight and obesity status were determined using IOTF BMI cut-off points. Prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was found to be 24.6% among boys and 22.6% among girls, whereas the prevalence of obesity was 7.8% in boys and 6.3% in girls. High SES (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.10–1.93) and eating French fries and chips (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.24–2.67) were associated with increased risk of overweight. In high- and medium-SES children, overweight was positively associated with the consumption of French fries and chips (2.93, 95% CI: 1.54–5.60 and 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04–3.21). In low-SES children, overweight was associated with low fruit consumption (0.21, 95% CI: 0.05–1.00) and sedentary behavior (3.37, 95% CI: 1.13–10.05). Therefore, the social and environmental determinants should be considered when constructing and implementing preventive measures regarding overweight and obesity.

Relative contribution of physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and dietary habits to the prevalence of obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents

BACKGROUND

The increasing rate of obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents is associated with immediate and long term-risks to their health and well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To update data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents and to examine the relative contribution of selected lifestyle factors to overweight and obesity in this population.

METHODS

The present study is part of the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS). A total of 906 adolescents (463 boys and 443 girls) aged between 14 and 19 years were selected from Kuwaiti schools by a multistage stratified randomization process. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and eating habits. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutoff values for adolescents under 18 years of age were used to define overweight and obesity. Total energy expenditure was calculated using metabolic equivalent-minutes per week. A general linear model was used to establish the proportion of the variance (expressed in partial eta squared) in excess weight attributable to differences in eating habits and physical activity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 50.5% in boys and 46.5% in girls. Among boys, moderate and vigorous activities were found to be significantly negatively associated with overweight and obesity (p < .05), whereas in girls, only those with not less than moderate activities were negatively associated with overweight and obesity (p < .05). Sedentary behaviors, time spent watching television, and time spent working on the computer were not significantly associated with obesity in either sex. Consumption of breakfast, vegetables, and fast foods (boys and girls) and potatoes, cakes and doughnuts, and sweets (girls only) was significantly associated with overweight and obesity (p < .05). In general, the partial eta square explained by physical activity was less than 3.6% in boys compared with less than 1.0% in girls, and eating habits explained less than 1.8% in boys compared with 2.5% in girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity explains a greater proportion of variation in body mass index than do eating habits, particularly in boys. Eating habits explain a greater proportion of variation in body mass index than does physical activity in girls. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the relative effects of sedentary behaviors on overweight in adolescents.

Relationships between health behaviors and weight status in American Indian and white rural children

PURPOSE

Preventing obesity in childhood is an increasingly important public health goal. Prevention efforts can be improved by better understanding relationships between health behaviors and overweight and obesity. This study examined such relationships in young American Indian and white children living in the rural United States.

METHODS

Self-report measures of diet, screen time (passive and active), and physical activity were combined with cardiovascular fitness in cross-sectional analyses to predict weight categories based on body mass index percentiles in 306 American Indian and white children (aged 8-9 years) from a rural area in the upper Midwestern United States.

FINDINGS

Multinomial logistic regression models were statistically significant for girls (χ2 [20] = 42.73, P < .01), boys (χ2 [20] = 50.44, P < .001), American Indian (χ2 [20] = 36.67, P < .05), and white children (χ2 [20] = 55.99, P < .001). Obesity was associated with poorer cardiovascular fitness in girls (OR = 0.82), boys (OR = 0.83), American Indian (OR = 0.79), and white children (OR = 0.85), and with passive screen time in girls (OR = 1.69), boys (OR = 2.1), and white children (OR = 1.81). Overweight was associated with passive screen time (OR = 2.24) and inversely with active screen time (OR = 0.54), but only in boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Logistic regression models were more successful at predicting obesity than overweight in all groups of participants. Poorer cardiovascular fitness showed the strongest and most consistent association with obesity, but passive screen time was also a significant and important contributor to the prediction of obesity in most prediction models. Prediction models were similar in girls, boys, American Indian, and white children.

The association between skipping breakfast and biochemical variables in sedentary obese children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between skipping meals and biochemical variables in obese children and adolescents.

STUDY DESIGN

The sample was composed of 174 obese children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 16 years (80 male and 94 female). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile were measured after 12 hours fasting. The frequency of skipping breakfast, lunch, or dinner was assessed through a face-to-face interview carried out with the parents.

RESULTS

The prevalence of eating breakfast daily was low in boys (47.5%) and girls (44.7%). A higher frequency of eating breakfast was negatively correlated with glucose (r = -0.16; P = .026), triglycerides (r = -0.19; P = .011), and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.21; P = .005). In the multivariate model, the weekly frequency of eating breakfast remained negatively associated with glucose (β = -0.975; P = .017), triglycerides (β = -7.792; P = .017), and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = -1.870; P = .009) independent of age, sex, trunk fatness, and parents' education.

CONCLUSION

Skipping meals, mainly breakfast, is associated with glucose and lipid levels in obese children and adolescents.

Variação do diâmetro da artéria braquial em crianças obesas: presente e futuro

OBJETIVO: Revisão da literatura acerca do uso da medida da variação do diâmetro da artéria braquial por ultrassonografia de alta resolução (dilatação mediada por fluxo) como preditor de risco para doença cardiovascular em crianças e adolescentes obesos. FONTES DE DADOS: Levantamento de publicações indexadas no Medline/PubMed de trabalhos publicados entre 2002 e 2011, rastreadas com a combinação dos descritores: "endothelium", "child", "ultrasonography" e "obesity", além de estudos e textos clássicos sobre o tema. Foram encontradas 54 publicações e 32 delas foram incluídas na presente revisão do tema. SINTESE DOS DADOS: O estudo da disfunção endotelial tem sido empregado como preditor de risco para doenças cardiovasculares, tais como aterosclerose e doença cardíaca coronariana, visto que a lesão endotelial é um importante evento na fisiopatologia de tais doenças. CONCLUSÕES: A dilatação mediada por fluxo da artéria braquial mostra-se importante como ferramenta diagnóstica e prognóstica na avaliação da função endotelial de crianças e adolescentes com excesso de peso por ser um método não invasivo, com boa aplicabilidade quanto ao custo, à inocuidade e ao benefício.

Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents

Background

A better understanding of the relationships between obesity and lifestyle factors is necessary for effective prevention and management of obesity in youth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between obesity measures and several lifestyle factors, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents aged 14–19 years.

Methods

This was a school-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in three cities in Saudi Arabia (Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh). The participants were 2906 secondary school males (1400) and females (1506) aged 14–19 years, who were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), screen time (television viewing, video games and computer use), physical activity (determined using a validated questionnaire), and dietary habits (intake frequency per week). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between obesity and lifestyle factors.

Results

Compared with non-obese, obese males and females were significantly less active, especially in terms of vigorous activity, had less favorable dietary habits (e.g., lower intake of breakfast, fruits and milk), but had lower intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and sweets/chocolates. Logistic regression analysis showed that overweight/obesity (based on BMI categories) or abdominal obesity (based on WHtR categories) were significantly and inversely associated with vigorous physical activity levels (aOR for high level = 0.69, 95% CI 0.41–0.92 for BMI and 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.89 for WHtR) and frequency of breakfast (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.44; 95% CI 1.20–1.71 for BMI and 1.47; 95% CI 1.22–1.76 for WHtR) and vegetable (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.29; 95% CI 1.03–1.59 for WHtR) intakes, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.32; 95% CI 1.08–1.62 for BMI and 1.42; 95% CI 1.16–1.75 for WHtR).

Conclusions

The present study identified several lifestyle factors associated with obesity that may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents. Primary prevention of obesity by promoting active lifestyles and healthy diets should be a national public health priority.

Breakfast consumption and meal frequency interaction with childhood obesity

OBJECTIVES

Increased meal frequency and daily breakfast consumption have been inversely associated with childhood obesity. The purpose of the study was to examine the possible interaction effect between meal frequency and breakfast consumption on childhood obesity.

METHODS

Seven hundred children (323 boys) aged 10-12 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Several lifestyle, dietary and physical activity characteristics were recorded with food frequency and physical activity questionnaires. Body height and weight were measured and body mass index was calculated in order to classify children as overweight or obese (International Obesity Task Force classification). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used in order to evaluate the interaction between daily breakfast intake and more than three meals per day consumption with overweight or obesity.

RESULTS

Of the children, 27.6% and 9.0% were overweight and obese, respectively. Moreover, 60.2% consumed three or more meals per day and 62.7% consumed breakfast in a regular daily basis. Children who consumed more than three meals per day and also consumed breakfast daily, were two times less likely to be overweight or obese (adjusted odds ratio: 0.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.88).

CONCLUSION

A combined higher meal frequency and daily breakfast consumption dietary pattern may prevent overweight and obesity in children.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents relative to age, gender and region

BACKGROUND

Few lifestyle factors have been simultaneously studied and reported for Saudi adolescents. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to report on the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents and to examine the interrelationships among these factors using representative samples drawn from three major cities in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the years 2009-2010 in three cities: Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh. The participants were 2908 secondary-school males (1401) and females (1507) aged 14-19 years, randomly selected using a multistage stratified sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, sedentary behaviors (TV viewing, playing video games and computer use), physical activity using a validated questionnaire and dietary habits.

RESULTS

A very high proportion (84% for males and 91.2% for females) of Saudi adolescents spent more than 2 hours on screen time daily and almost half of the males and three-quarters of the females did not meet daily physical activity guidelines. The majority of adolescents did not have a daily intake of breakfast, fruit, vegetables and milk. Females were significantly (p < 0.05) more sedentary, much less physically active, especially with vigorous physical activity, and there were fewer days per week when they consumed breakfast, fruit, milk and diary products, sugar-sweetened drinks, fast foods and energy drinks than did males. However, the females' intake of French fries and potato chips, cakes and donuts, and candy and chocolate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the males'. Screen time was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated inversely with the intake of breakfast, vegetables and fruit. Physical activity had a significant (p < 0.05) positive relationship with fruit and vegetable intake but not with sedentary behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of sedentary behaviors, physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits among Saudi adolescents is a major public health concern. There is an urgent need for national policy promoting active living and healthy eating and reducing sedentary behaviors among children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

The fault, dear viewer, lies not in the screens, but in ourselves: relationships between screen media and childhood overweight/obesity

This article summarizes recent findings about associations between electronic screen media and childhood overweight/obesity, hypothesized mechanisms, and mediators. Recommendations are made for parents and clinicians.

Overweight and obesity and associated factors among school-aged adolescents in Ghana and Uganda

The aim of this study was to assess overweight and obesity and associated factors in school-going adolescents in low income African countries (Ghana, Uganda). The total sample included 5,613 school children aged 13 to 15 years from nationally representative samples from two African countries. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between dietary behavior, substance use, physical activity, psychosocial factors and overweight or obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined based on self-reported height and weight and the international child body mass index standards. Results indicate a prevalence of overweight or obesity of 10.4% among girls and 3.2% among boys, and 0.9% and 0.5% obesity only among girls and boys, respectively. Among girls smoking cigarettes and loneliness and among boys smoking cigarettes were found to be associated with overweight or obesity in multivariable analysis. Overweight status was not associated with the intake of fruits, vegetables, and sedentary behavior. Low prevalence rates of overweight or obesity were found in Ghana and Uganda. Smoking cessation and social programs could be integrated into strategies to prevent and treat overweight and obesity in youth.