Prevalence of overweight and obesity in child population. A study of a cohort in Castile and Leon, Spain

Changes in objectively measured sleep after a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention in children with abdominal obesity: A randomized trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

childhood obesity and sleep disorders have a well-established cross-sectional association, but lifestyle interventions' effects on sleep quality remain under-researched. This study aimed to evaluate the sleep quality of 122 participants (7-16 years) with abdominal obesity after a 2-year necessary lifestyle intervention.

PATIENTS/METHODS

participants were assigned to either the intervention group (moderate hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet) or the usual care group (standard recommendations on a healthy diet). Sleep was objectively assessed using triaxial accelerometry, and sleep parameters analyzed included latency, efficiency, wake after sleep onset, total time in bed, total sleep time, number of awakenings, and awakening duration.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

the results showed that the intervention group significantly improved sleep latency at 12 and 24 months and improved sleep efficiency at 2 and 12 months, compared to the usual care group. Wake after sleep onset and the number of awakenings were significantly reduced at 24 months in the intervention group. Wake after sleep onset and leptin levels were positively associated in all participants. Total time in bed was inversely associated with triglycerides and metabolic score, and total sleep time was inversely associated with leptin, triglycerides, and metabolic score after the 2-month intervention. Triglyceride levels were inversely associated with total time in bed and total sleep time at one year, while the metabolic score was directly associated with wake after sleep onset and the number of awakenings and inversely associated with efficiency. In conclusion, the multidisciplinary intervention in children and adolescents with abdominal obesity reduced anthropometric parameters and improved sleep habits.

Sociocultural differences in the development of obesity in adolescents in Murcia

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity presents alarming numbers in our country, being even higher in the population of immigrant origin. The main objective was to analyse the excess weight numbers both in native adolescents and in those children of immigrants and to determine the ethnic influence on lifestyle habits that could condition these differences in weight overload.

METHODS

Adolescents from 1st year of Obligatory Secondary Education (E.S.O.) participated; somatometry was determined and classified according to BMI (with WHO references) and parental origin. Parents completed the survey on healthy habits (ENHASA). An analysis of variance was performed for each of the 4 dimensions of the questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 416 adolescents participated (12.8±0.62 years). Excess weight was detected in 41.2% of the participants, with significant differences between groups (p 0.018): 36.7% in Spanish, 42.9% in North Africa and 58.2% in South America. The ANOVA analysis showed differences in the section "physical activity" (p 0.003), highlighting the maximum disparity in the performance of extracurricular sports activities, with a lower score in both non-native groups.

CONCLUSION

We found significant differences according to ethnic origin in the number of overweight children and the amount of physical activity they do; South American adolescents are the most sedentary. We must design interventions that guarantee the access of all adolescents to sports activities to prevent the development of obesity.

Gender differences in the development of childhood obesity in young teenagers in Murcia, Spain

BACKGROUND

The number of overweight children is increasing at an alarming rate. This issue requires effective action plans, as childhood obesity has become a problem in which addressing environmental factors is decisive. Significant differences have also been shown in lifestyle habits that determine overweight based on sex. This study therefore aimed to examine these risk factors according to sex.

METHODS

The sample included first-year high school students from Murcia, Spain. Information was collected through the "Questionnaire on Healthy Habits in Adolescents," validated for this age range, and the weight, height, and waist circumference of the participants were obtained. Data were analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling to determine which modifiable risk factors promoted the appearance of excess weight and in what magnitude.

RESULTS

A total of 421 students participated in the study, and 40.6% of overweight patients were detected according to their body mass index. No differences were found between the sexes and weights. The environment and the use of new technologies that do not involve sitting were significant only in girls (P < 0.05). Conversely, physical activity was significantly higher in boys (P < 0.05). Dietary factors and sedentary activities did not differ according to sex.

CONCLUSIONS

The social and school environment, the use of new technologies (for girls), and physical activity (for boys) condition nutritional status. Identifying gender disparities in behaviors that involve health should be a priority for new prevention programs. Targeting young people's health from a gender perspective has considerable potential to reduce overweight problems in adulthood.