Relationships between time use and obesity in a representative sample of Americans

Adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle pattern is associated with favorable weight loss outcomes: the MedWeight study

Individual lifestyle targets have been associated with weight loss outcomes, yet few studies have examined associations of one's total lifestyle with weight loss maintenance. We aimed to examine the relationship between lifestyle patterns and weight loss outcomes in weight loss maintainers and regainers. We hypothesized that higher adherence to a broader healthy lifestyle favors maintenance (over regain). This is a cross-sectional analysis of 470 adults (62% women) with a history of overweight/obesity and significant weight loss 12 months before study entry. Participants were classified as maintainers (current weight ≤90% maximum weight) or regainers. They were asked to fill in a series of questionnaires on demographics and lifestyle habits (dietary intake and eating behaviors through two 24-hour recalls, physical activity, and sleep). A total Mediterranean Lifestyle Index (total-MLI, range 0-13) was generated by summing up ratings in the lifestyle domain quartiles (diet quality, physical activity, and sleep habits) and dietary behaviors (seasonal food and vegetable intake, intake of traditional foods, responsibility for food preparation, conviviality). Maintainers scored higher in the total-MLI than regainers (6.93 ± 2.31 vs 5.78 ± 2.49, P < .001). Adherence to the total-MLI was associated with 28% higher odds for weight loss maintenance (per unit increment) in linear analyses. Being in the highest total-MLI quartile was associated with 5.27 (95% CI, 2.77-10.02) odds for maintenance. Higher adherence to a comprehensive Mediterranean lifestyle pattern was associated with higher odds for weight loss maintenance. Our findings suggest that even modest shifts toward a healthier living may contribute to favorable weight loss outcomes.

Time spent exercising and obesity: An application of Lewbel's instrumental variables method

This paper examines the role physical activity plays in determining body mass using data from the American Time Use Survey. Our work is the first to address the measurement error that arises when time use during a single day-rather than average daily time use over an extended period-is used as an explanatory variable. We show that failing to account for day-to-day variation in activities results in the effects of time use on a typical day being understated. Furthermore, we account for the possibility that physical activity and body mass are jointly determined by implementing Lewbel's instrumental variables estimator that exploits first-stage heteroskedasticity rather than traditional exclusion restrictions. While averaging 30 min of transportation-related biking or walking per day lowers the BMI of men by 1.5, we find no effect of physically active leisure on the BMI of men in our sample. In contrast, 30 min of per day of either type of physical activity lowers the BMI of women by 1.

Demographic, Anthropometric and Food Behavior Data towards Healthy Eating in Romania

Background: Each country has specific social, cultural, and economic characteristics regarding the motivations for improving health. The aim of this study was to evaluate demographic characteristics, anthropometric data, and elements related to food behavior and health, as well as Romanians’ motivations towards healthy eating. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire based study enrolling 751 Romanian participants, which was carried out in in 2017–2018. Results: We obtained a positive correlation between age and Body Mass Index, and this was maintained also when we analyzed the two genders separately, being, however, even stronger for women. The number of hours/day spent watching TV or in front of the computer was positively correlated with both age and BMI. In general, with aging, there is an increasing concern regarding the practice of a healthy diet. The higher education level was significantly associated with healthier choices. Conclusions: The study of the three dietary dimensions, food properties, health attitudes, and dietary behavior, vis-à-vis various disorders revealed that the group most concerned of their diet was those who suffered from cardiovascular disorders.

Association between weekend catch-up sleep and executive functions in Chinese school-aged children

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Although weekend catch-up sleep is common among children, the association between weekend catch-up sleep and executive functions remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether weekend catch-up sleep was related to executive functions in school-aged children.

METHODS

We analyzed data for 4,699 children (9.00 years ± 1.73 years old, 52.9% boys) from 5 primary schools in Guangzhou, China. Executive functions performance was examined by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Parent Form. Validated self-report questionnaires were used to assess sleep status, socioeconomic status, and health behaviors. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the association of weekend catch-up sleep duration with executive functions.

RESULTS

Weekday sleep was negatively associated with scores on three composite indices (Behavioral Regulation Index, Metacognition Index, Global Executive Composite), while weekend catch-up sleep was positively associated with them. Children with < 9 hours weekday sleep duration had higher scores in all indices, and there was no correlation between weekend catch-up sleep and scores of all indices (P > .05). For children who slept ≥ 9 hours on weekdays, weekend catch-up sleep of more than 1 hour was associated with increased scores of Behavioral Regulation Index, Metacognition Index, and Global Executive Composite (P < .05). There was no interaction between sex, age, and weekend catch-up sleep and executive functions (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Weekend catch-up sleep could not restore the executive functions deficits related to short weekday sleep. Weekend catch-up sleep over 1 hour may have adverse effects on executive functions in school-aged children.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Title: Prospective Cohort Study on Cognition and Cardiovascular Disease of Sedentary Behaviors in Children; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03582709; Identifier: NCT03582709.

Visualising Combined Time Use Patterns of Children's Activities and Their Association with Weight Status and Neighbourhood Context

Compositional data techniques are an emerging method in physical activity research. These techniques account for the complexities of, and interrelationships between, behaviours that occur throughout a day (e.g., physical activity, sitting, and sleep). The field of health geography research is also developing rapidly. Novel spatial techniques and data visualisation approaches are increasingly being recognised for their utility in understanding health from a socio-ecological perspective. Linking compositional data approaches with geospatial datasets can yield insights into the role of environments in promoting or hindering the health implications of the daily time-use composition of behaviours. The 7-day behaviour data used in this study were derived from accelerometer data for 882 Auckland school children and linked to weight status and neighbourhood deprivation. We developed novel geospatial visualisation techniques to explore activity composition over a day and generated new insights into links between environments and child health behaviours and outcomes. Visualisation strategies that integrate compositional activities, time of day, weight status, and neighbourhood deprivation information were devised. They include a ringmap overview, small-multiple ringmaps, and individual and aggregated time⁻activity diagrams. Simultaneous visualisation of geospatial and compositional behaviour data can be useful for triangulating data from diverse disciplines, making sense of complex issues, and for effective knowledge translation.

Geographic Association Between Income Inequality and Obesity Among Adults in New York State

Introduction

In addition to economic factors and geographic area poverty, area income inequality — the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner across a population — has been found to influence health outcomes and obesity. We used a spatial-based approach to describe interactions between neighboring areas with the objective of generating new insights into the relationships between county-level income inequality, poverty, and obesity prevalence across New York State (NYS).

Methods

We used data from the 2015 American Community Survey and 2013 obesity estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for NYS to examine correlations between county-level economic factors and obesity. Spatial mapping and analysis were conducted with ArcMap. Ordinary least squares modeling with adjusting variables was used to examine associations between county-level obesity percentages and county-level income inequality (Gini index). Univariate spatial analysis was conducted between obesity and Gini index, and globally weighted regression and Hot Spot Analysis were used to view spatial clustering.

Results

Although higher income inequality was associated with lower obesity rates, a higher percentage of poverty was associated with higher obesity rates. A higher percentage of Hispanic population was associated with lower obesity rates. When tested spatially, higher income inequality was associated with a greater decrease in obesity in southern and eastern NYS counties than in the northern and western counties, with some differences by sex present in this association.

Conclusion

Increased income inequality and lower poverty percentage were significantly linked to lower obesity rates across NYS counties for men. Income inequality influence differed by geographic location. These findings indicate that in areas with high income inequality, currently unknown aspects of the environment may benefit low-income residents. Future studies should also include environmental factors possibly linked to obesity.

Weighed down by discriminatory policing: Perceived unfair treatment and black-white disparities in waist circumference

Police maltreatment, whether experienced personally or indirectly through one’s family or friends, represents a potentially harmful stressor, particularly for minority populations. We address this issue by investigating: (1) how waist circumference (WC) varies by personal and vicarious exposure to unfair treatment by police (UTBP); and (2) to what extent exposure to UTBP explains the black-white disparity in WC. We employed data collected from a community-based sample of black (n = 601) and white (n = 608) adults living in Nashville-Davidson county Tennessee to address these questions. Results from our final linear regression model showed that those who reported vicarious UTBP had WCs that were approximately 2 in. greater than those who did not (b = 2.03; p = 0.003). While personal UTBP was not linked to higher WC, a post-hoc analysis suggested that our ability to detect an association was complicated by selection. Binary mediation analysis revealed that differential exposure to vicarious UTBP accounted for approximately 12% of the black-white WC disparity among women. We found no black-white differences in WC among men. The association between vicarious UTBP and WC did not vary by age, race, or gender. Overall, our findings point toward the role of discriminatory policing as a potential upstream contributor to racial disparities in health.

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Unfair treat by police (UTBP), whether experienced personally or vicariously, is a stressor that disproportionately affects minority populations

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Exposure to vicarious UTBP is linked with higher waist circumferences (WCs)

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Black women have larger WCs than white women

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Exposure to vicarious UTBP explains 12% of the black-white disparity in WC among women