Advertising, obesity and child health: the case of Spain

Role of Satisfaction with Life, Sex and Body Mass Index in Physical Literacy of Spanish Children

Physical activity (PL) is essential to achieve good health, prevent cardiovascular diseases, obesity and overweight, as well as to achieve a better quality of life. Therefore, PL could become the tool to increase the practice of physical activity among young people, thus increasing life satisfaction (LS) given its positive relationship with physical activity. A single-measure cross-sectional correlational study was carried out, involving 135 children aged 8-12 years from Extremadura. They were administered the SWLS questionnaire and the Canadian assessment of physical literacy (CAPL-2). Significantly higher levels of PL (p = 0.010) were found in normal-weight children compared to overweight and obese children, due to the physical competence domain score (p < 0.001). PL was directly related to SWLS (p < 0.001), but inversely related to BMI (p = 0.018). The daily physical activity behaviour domain was explained by SWLS (p < 0.001) and sex (p < 0.001). Physical competence was described by SWLS (p < 0.001) and BMI (p = 0.045). Finally, the motivation and confidence domain were only significantly associated with SWLS (p < 0.001). It was concluded that boys and girls of normal weight achieved higher levels of PL and LS than those with overweight and obesity, establishing a negative relationship of PL with BMI and positive with LS.

Environmental factors of obesity before and after COVID-19 pandemic: a review

In past decades the prevalence of overweight and obesity had grown rapidly. There are numerous factors contributing to this unfavorable change in people's health. This review article investigates the environmental factors which may play a role in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and additionally the novel factors which appeared after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the increase in BMI during the lockdown period. Most of the studies reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown contributed to the growth of BMI in numerous countries and, eventually the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased. Studies suggest that the physical activity was decreased while sleep time and screen time were increased and the amount of food consumed increased, additionally more processed food with long shelf life was consumed. The diverse environmental factors may have an impact on obesity and overweight development taking into account policy and local school policy issues, socioeconomic status, lifestyle including physical activity, diet habits, and amongst others, more trivial causes such as uninteresting neighborhoods, lack of sense of security outside the place of residence or a long distance from shops. Still, this is the object of debate if air pollution is an environmental risk factor influencing the unfavorable trends towards increasing body weight.

Independent and Joined Association between Socioeconomic Indicators and Pediatric Obesity in Spain: The PASOS Study

Childhood obesity is a public health problem worldwide. An important determinant of child and adolescent obesity is socioeconomic status (SES). However, the magnitude of the impact of different SES indicators on pediatric obesity on the Spanish population scale is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the association between three SES indicators and obesity in a nationwide, representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents. A total of 2791 boys and girls aged 8 to 16 years old were included. Their weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. SES was assessed using two parent/legal guardian self-reported indicators (educational level -University/non-University- and labor market status -Employed/Unemployed-). As a third SES indicator, the annual mean income per person was obtained from the census section where the participating schools were located (≥12.731€/<12.731€). The prevalence of obesity, severe obesity, and abdominal obesity was 11.5%, 1.4%, and 22.3%, respectively. Logistic regression models showed an inverse association of both education and labor market status with obesity, severe obesity, and abdominal obesity (all p < 0.001). Income was also inversely associated with obesity (p < 0.01) and abdominal obesity (p < 0.001). Finally, the highest composite SES category (University/Employed/≥12.731€ n = 517) showed a robust and inverse association with obesity (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16-0.48), severe obesity (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.81), and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.23-0.54) in comparison with the lowest composite SES category (Less than University/Unemployed/<12.731€; n = 164). No significant interaction between composite SES categories and age and gender was found. SES is strongly associated with pediatric obesity in Spain.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Physical Literacy Studies in Relation to Health of Children and Adolescents

Regular physical activity (PA) is an essential component of maintaining good health, thereby improving the physical and psychological well-being of the population. PA performed during childhood and adolescence can have repercussions in adulthood, contributing to the prevention of chronic activities and improving quality of life. Given its high relationship with PA, physical literacy could play a crucial role in valuing and participating in a physically active lifestyle, thus addressing low rates of PA participation from an early age. This bibliometric analysis provides a globalized view of physical literacy (PL) and its relationship with health, pathologies, prevention, or intervention among children and adolescents. Publications registered on Web of Science were analyzed using bibliometrics based on data from 141 documents published between 2014 and 2022, while the VOSviewer software v. 1.6.18. was used for the processing and visualization of the data and metadata. The results show an exponential growth in scientific research over the last 8 years, with an accumulation of documents in four journals and a distribution of publications spanning thirty-seven countries and regions. The network of researchers consists of 500 researchers, with the largest number of publications corresponding to 18 co-authors with at least 5 publications. The principal purpose of this research was to identify the most prolific co-authors, most-cited journals and co-authors, and the most relevant keywords.

The Role of Molecular and Hormonal Factors in Obesity and the Effects of Physical Activity in Children

Obesity and overweight are defined as abnormal fat accumulations. Adipose tissue consists of more than merely adipocytes; each adipocyte is closely coupled with the extracellular matrix. Adipose tissue stores excess energy through expansion. Obesity is caused by the abnormal expansion of adipose tissue as a result of adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia. The process of obesity is controlled by several molecules, such as integrins, kindlins, or matrix metalloproteinases. In children with obesity, metabolomics studies have provided insight into the existence of unique metabolic profiles. As a result of low-grade inflammation in the system, abnormalities were observed in several metabolites associated with lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid pathways. In addition, obesity and related hormones, such as leptin, play an instrumental role in regulating food intake and contributing to childhood obesity. The World Health Organization states that physical activity benefits the heart, the body, and the mind. Several noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, can be prevented and managed through physical activity. In this work, we reviewed pediatric studies that examined the molecular and hormonal control of obesity and the influence of physical activity on children with obesity or overweight. The purpose of this review was to examine some orchestrators involved in this disease and how they are related to pediatric populations. A larger number of randomized clinical trials with larger sample sizes and long-term studies could lead to the discovery of new key molecules as well as the detection of significant factors in the coming years. In order to improve the health of the pediatric population, omics analyses and machine learning techniques can be combined in order to improve treatment decisions.

Health Determinants Associated with the Mediterranean Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been shown to be a good tool for the prevention of obesity and other chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and to have a low environmental impact. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between declared morbidity, lifestyles and other sociodemographic factors with high adherence to the MD (AMD) in an adult population in southeastern Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of a sample (n = 2728) representative of a non-institutionalized population ≥16 years. The data corresponded to the 2010-11 Nutrition Survey of the Valencian Community. The AMD was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire. The association of variables and high AMD was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression determining crude and adjusted odds ratios.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that age 45 years or older, living with a partner, eating between meals, and not smoking were associated with high AMD. The age groups 45-64 years and 65 years or older showed the strongest association with high AMD in both sexes.

CONCLUSION

The investigation showed a generational loss of AMD. People older than 45 years and living in company are more likely to adhere to DM, the risk group being young people living alone and smokers.