Influence of urbanization on childhood obesity

Effects of social exclusion and maternal rejection on Children's high-caloric food consumption

Research has shown that the quality of interpersonal relationships plays an important role in influencing childhood obesity-risk behavior. However, studies conducted so far have focused mostly on self-report data. But they rarely control for the effect of experimentally-induced social rejection or perceived maternal rejection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the quality of the maternal relationships as well as experimentally-induced social rejection on children's motivation to consume high-caloric food. Eighty children (8-12 years of age) and their mothers participated in an experimental study. Participants were randomly assigned to a social inclusion (acceptance) or exclusion (rejection) condition in a computer-based ball-toss game (Cyberball). After completing the Cyberball game, children were presented with high-caloric food and were evaluated on the amount of the food they consumed. Participants also completed a self-report questionnaire assessing their perceptions of their mothers' acceptance-rejection. Further, mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess the tendency of mothers to regulate their child's stress with food. Results showed that the consumption of high-caloric food was directly influenced by the children's perceptions of maternal acceptance-rejection, and by the experience of brief, experimentally-induced social exclusion (rejection). Additionally, children's consumption of high-caloric food was related to their mothers' use of food to help regulate children's distress, and by the children's own BMI. The results document the importance of affective-relational experiences in the development of childhood obesity. The results also highlight the apparent fact that regardless of individual and family characteristics, the experience of even short-term social rejection can activate obesity-risk behaviors which deplete children's self-regulatory mechanisms, thereby resulting in more consumption of high-caloric food.

An exploratory spatial analysis of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong, China

OBJECTIVE

Identifying the spatial patterns of childhood overweight/obesity (OW/OB) can help to guide resource allocation for preventive intervention in China. This study aims to estimate rates of childhood OW/OB across counties within Shandong Province, using geographic techniques to identify sex-specific spatial patterns of childhood OW/OB as well as the presence of spatial clusters.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Shandong Province in China.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Data on 6 216 076 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from the Primary and Secondary Schoolchildren Physical Examination Database for Shandong Province were used in this study. Spatial patterns of sex-specific prevalence of childhood OW/OB were mapped. Global autocorrelation statistic (Moran's I) and the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) were applied to assess the degree of spatial autocorrelation.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of childhood OW/OB in Shandong province were 15.05% and 9.23%, respectively. Maps of the sex-specific prevalence of OW/OB demonstrate a marked geographical variation of childhood OW/OB in different regions. Prevalence of childhood OW/OB had a significant positive spatial autocorrelation among both boys and girls. LISA analysis identified significant clusters (or 'hot spots') of childhood OW/OB in the eastern coastal region, central region and southwestern region.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of childhood OW/OB is highly spatially clustered. Geographically focused appropriate intervention should be introduced in current childhood OW/OB prevention and control strategy.

Descriptive Epidemiological Analysis of Thyroid Cancer in the Saudi Population (2001-2013)

Objective: Thyroid cancer has one of the highest frequency rates among thyroid diseases, and ranks second for neoplasia in the Saudi female population. This paper concerns a comprehensive evaluation of increasing incidence trends and geographical distribution of different patterns of thyroid cancer among the Saudi Arabian population using the latest Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) reports. Methods: The analysis included a total of 7,670 thyroid cancer cases (1604 male and 6066 female) which were recorded in the SCR files for the period between January 2001 and December 2013. Results: The overall incidence of thyroid cancer increased during the period from 2001 to 2013. The most common age group affected was 35–39 years in both sexes. Najran recorded the highest differences in thyroid cancer rates with increase between 2001 and 2013. Controversially, other regions like Tabuk and the Northern provinces recorded obvious decreases in rates of thyroid cancer among females. Conclusion: Thyroid cancer is the second most common cancer among females in Saudi Arabia with incidence peaks in both genders aged 35–39 years and increase overtall in the country from 2001 to 2013. The specific causes of this upward trend are unknown. Further clinical and epidemiological research must be conducted for clarification, with an emphasis of causes of the variation in thyroid cancer prevalence between regions in Saudi Arabia.

Consumption of milk and dairy products: Facts and figures

OBJECTIVES

Consumption of milk has been declining sharply in recent decades, particularly in developed countries. One of the reasons for this decline is the diagnosis or perception of lactose intolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate average consumption of milk and dairy products in the Campania region of Italy, one of the main producers of dairy products in the country.

METHODS

Individuals aged 18 to 75 y and living in Campania were invited to answer an online questionnaire regarding their average consumption of milk and dairy products. The questionnaire was posted on the public access hospital site, as well as on several Facebook pages of friends and hospital personnel.

RESULTS

The study found that 22.2% (260 of 1173) of responders from Campania do not drink milk, and 18.1% (213 of 1173) drink lactose-free milk, mainly because of gastrointestinal symptoms. The vast majority of the sample population chose to avoid consuming milk without undergoing the breath test for lactose intolerance or consulting a doctor. Women and underweight people drink more lactose-free milk than milk containing lactose. The population sample does not avoid dairy products; rather, they seem to be consumed quite frequently.

CONCLUSION

The data support the need for mandatory implementation of a nutritional campaign to increase understanding regarding, for example, unnecessary avoidance of milk and excessive consumption of cheese.