Physical activity, fitness and the energy cost of activities: implications for obesity in children and adolescents in the tropics

Comparative mapping approach of energy intake and expenditure of obesity prevalence among school adolescents

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in an obesogenic environment among adolescents in the wilaya of Bejaia (eastern Algeria), and to assess their Physical Activity Level (PAL), Daily Energy Expenditure (DEE) and Total Energy Intake (TEI).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 3038 adolescents consisting of 1635 girls and 1403 boys in middle and high schools in 19 regions of Bejaia. The average age was 14.78 ± 2.53. Two questionnaires were assigned to collect data on their nutritional habits (24-h dietary call) and physical activity levels. BMI measurement was adopted in this study to determine the weight status of this sample and to assess the distribution of BMI, PAL, DEE, TEI over geographical areas of an administrative territory using the Student test descriptive statistical method (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The prevalence of obesity and overweight was equal to 3.3%, the physical activity level in adolescents was 1.72 ± 0.21, with boys more likely to participate in sports than girls (16.5% for boys and 6% for girls). However, energy intake (3775.44 ± 719.07 kcal/day), energy expenditure (3144.13 ± 850.54 kcal) and body mass index (30.51 ± 2.99 kg/m²) were high. Body mass index (BMI) is negatively correlated with PAL (r = -0.05) and positively correlated with TEI (r = 0.31) and DEE (r = 0.30), these results show that DEE and TEI factors play an important role in the prevalence of BMI with excessive consumption of high carbohydrate (614.55 g) and fat (98.9 g) foods, which is due to poor diet and are related to insufficient level of physical activity. The mapping shows that there is a disparity between the studied parameters: high BMI, low PAL and consumption of unhealthy foods (DEE, TEI).

CONCLUSION

The lack of physical activity and the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure are the main factors that could lead to an increased risk of obesity in adolescents.

Effect of Forest Biomass Pretreatment on Essential Oil Yield and Properties

Essential oils (EOs) are natural and economically valuable aromatic compounds obtained from a variety of crops and trees, including forest trees, which have different therapeutic and biological activities. This project aims to assess the impact of different residual forest biomass pretreatments on the yield and the properties of EOs, including their antibacterial and antioxidant characteristics. Forest biomass from black spruce (BS, Picea mariana Mill.), balsam fir (BF, Abies balsamea), and jack pine (JP, Pinus banksiana Lamb.) was processed mechanically by (i) shredding, (ii) grinding, (iii) pelletizing, and (iv) bundling. EOs were then extracted by hydro- and steam distillation. The densification into bundles was found to improve EOs yield compared to the other residual forest biomass pretreatments. For example, the yield of bundled BF was improved by 68%, 83%, and 93% compared to shredded, ground, and granulated biomass, respectively. The highest yield was obtained when densification into bundles was combined with extraction through hydrodistillation. As for EOs’ chemical composition, JP had the highest polyphenol content and consequently the greatest antioxidant activity. EOs derived from BS inhibited the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli bacteria. The densification of forest biomass into bundles did not affect the antioxidant capacity or the antibacterial activity of EOs, thereby preserving both properties. Thus, the pretreatment of forest biomass residue could have an impact on the volume and the transport costs and therefore improve the bioproducts market and the bioeconomy in Canada.

Pedometer-determined physical activity among primary schoolchildren in Kuala Lumpur

Objective:

The aim of this study was to objectively measure physical activity and its association with sociodemographic factors among Malaysian primary school-age children.

Methods:

A total of 111 primary school children in Kuala Lumpur were selected through random sampling. Activity pattern was determined using pedometers and differences by sex, ethnicity and body mass index categories were analysed. The relationship between pedometer-determined physical activity and sociodemographic factors were also studied.

Results:

Overall, boys attained significantly higher daily step counts than girls (9573 ± 4145 vs 7313 ± 2697). Significant difference in daily step counts between boys and girls were observed during weekdays ( p<0.01), weekends ( p<0.05) and total mean step counts ( p<0.01). Malay ethnicity showed higher daily step counts during weekdays than weekends ( p<0.05). Compared with boys, girls had higher odds (OR=5.58; 95% CI 1.12, 27.77) of not meeting the recommended daily step counts. Those who had low physical activity levels had higher odds (OR=15.75; 95% CI 1.78, 139.33) of not meeting recommended daily step counts than children who had moderate physical activity level.

Conclusion:

Boys were significantly more active than girls and physical activity was greater during weekdays than on weekends. The primary schoolchildren in Kuala Lumpur were sedentary, with minimum physical activity being observed. Differences in sexes and physical activity levels influenced pedometer step counts in children.

Physical Activity of Malaysian Primary School Children

This study describes the physical activity of primary school children according to sociodemographic characteristics and activity domains. Using the Malaysian South East Asian Nutrition Surveys data, 1702 children aged 7 to 12 years were included in the analysis. Physical activity was reported as a total score and categorized into low, medium, and high levels based on Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children. Higher overall activity scores were found in boys, younger age, non-Chinese ethnicity, and normal body mass index category. Sex, age, and ethnicity differences were found in structured or organized, physical education, and outside-of-school domain scores. Transport-related scores differed by age group, ethnicity, household income, and residential areas but not among the three physical activity levels. Participation of girls, Chinese, and older children were low in overall and almost all activity domains. Sociodemographic characteristics are important factors to consider in increasing the different domains of physical activity among Malaysian children.

The Efficacy of a Family-Based Intervention Program on Childhood Obesity: A Quasi-Experimental Design

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the efficacy of a family-based (FB) weight-loss and behavior-modification intervention among overweight/obese children (age 9-11 years) and their parents in Taiwan. The intervention group (52 child-parent dyads) participated in an FB program for 7 weeks. The control group (55 child-parent dyads) received an educational pamphlet about obesity prevention. The children's body mass index (BMI) z-scores were the primary outcome variable. The parents' BMI, high-calorie (HC) food-intake behaviors, screen-related behaviors, and restrictions on children's consumption of HC foods and screen-related behaviors and the availability of HC foods at home were the secondary outcome variables. Outcome variables were measured at baseline (T0), at the end of the intervention (T1), and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention (T2). A linear mixed model was used to assess the efficacy of the FB program. Results indicated that the children's BMI z-scores decreased significantly more from T0 to T2 in the experimental group than in the control group. The decreases in parents' HC food-intake behaviors and availability of HC foods at home and the increase in parental restrictions on children's consumption of HC foods were significantly greater in the experimental than in the control group from T0 to T1 and T0 to T2. The FB program was effective in modifying parental behaviors and the weight of overweight/obese children in a Taiwanese population.

Association between self-reported physical activity and indicators of body composition in Malaysian adolescents

BACKGROUND

Obesity and lack of physical activity are fast becoming a concern among Malaysian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess physical activity levels among Malaysian adolescents and investigate the association between physical activity levels and body composition such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and percentage of body fat.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

1361 school-going 13 year old multi-ethnic adolescents from population representative samples in Malaysia were involved in our study. Self-reported physical activity levels were assessed using the validated Malay version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Height, weight, body fat composition and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Data collection period was from March to May 2012.

RESULTS

10.8% of the males and 7.4% of the females were obese according to the International Obesity Task Force standards. A majority of the adolescents (63.9%) were physically inactive. There is a weak but significant correlation between physical activity scores and the indicators of obesity. The adjusted coefficient for body fatness was relatively more closely correlated to physical activity scores followed by waist circumference and lastly BMI.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that high physical activity scores were associated with the decreased precursor risk factors of obesity.

A policy-driven multifaceted approach for early childhood physical fitness promotion: impacts on body composition and physical fitness in young Chinese children

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obesity increased while certain measures of physical fitness deteriorated in preschool children in China over the past decade. This study tested the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention that integrated childcare center, families, and community to promote healthy growth and physical fitness in preschool Chinese children.

METHODS

This 12-month study was conducted using a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design with comparison group. The participants were 357 children (mean age = 4.5 year) enrolled in three grade levels in two childcare centers in Beijing, China. The intervention included: 1) childcare center intervention (physical activity policy changes, teacher training, physical education curriculum and food services training), 2) family intervention (parent education, internet website for support, and family events), and 3) community intervention (playground renovation and community health promotion events). The study outcome measures included body composition (percent body fat, fat mass, and muscle mass), Body Mass Index (BMI) and BMI z-score and physical fitness scores in 20-meter agility run (20M-AR), broad jump for distance (BJ), timed 10-jumps, tennis ball throwing (TBT), sit and reach (SR), balance beam walk (BBW), 20-meter crawl (20M-C)), 30-meter sprint (30M-S)) from a norm referenced test. Measures of process evaluation included monitoring of children's physical activity (activity time and intensity) and food preparation records, and fidelity of intervention protocol implementation.

RESULTS

Children in the intervention center significantly lowered their body fat percent (-1.2%, p < 0.0001), fat mass (-0.55 kg, p <0.0001), and body weight (0.36 kg, p <0.02) and increased muscle mass (0.48 kg, p <0.0001), compared to children in the control center. They also improved all measures of physical fitness except timed 10-jumps (20M-AR: -0.74 seconds, p < 0.0001; BJ: 8.09 cm, p < 0.0001; TBT: 0.52 meters, p < 0.006; SR: 0.88 cm, p < 0.03; BBW: -2.02 seconds, p <0.0001; 30M-S: -0.45 seconds, p < 0.02; 20M-C: -3.36 seconds, p < 0.0001). Process evaluation data showed that the intervention protocol was implemented with high fidelity.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated that a policy-driven multi-faceted intervention can improve preschool children's body composition and physical fitness. Program efficacy should be tested in a randomized trial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-ONRC-14004143.