Nutritional Status Assessment in Children and Adolescents with Various Levels of Physical Activity in Aspect of Obesity

Effects of a Nonlinear Program on Different Health Parameters in the Elderly

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of a nonlinear training program on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, as well as the response of biochemical parameters such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG).

HYPOTHESIS

The nonlinear periodized program would produce greater improvements in outcomes than the linear periodized training program.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized cross-sectional design.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

METHODS

Older adults with no previous training experience (10 male and 8 female [age, 64 ± 2.1 years; height, 165.12 ± 7.5 cm; body mass, 72.5 ± 11.4 kg; body max index, 26.5 ± 3.2 kg/m2]) were randomized to linear (n = 9, TT) or undulating (n = 9, UT) periodization. After a 3-week familiarization period, all participants performed 3 sessions of resistance training per week; 8 weeks of training were conducted for each group. Dual x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure VAT, and SBP and DBP were measured using an OMRON M3 digital automatic blood pressure monitor. Blood samples were collected between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. after 12-hour overnight fasting.

RESULTS

Both interventions significantly (P < 0.05) decreased FPG, TC, LDL-C, and TG. A significant decrease in SBP and DBP was observed only in the UT group (P < 0.05). No significant between-group differences in outcomes were observed (P > 0.5). However, the effect size was marginally more pronounced for all outcomes in the UT group.

CONCLUSION

An undulating periodization program was effective in improving VAT, TC, LDL-C, FPG, HDL-C, TG, and blood glucose levels in older adults.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Resistance training can be programmed in an undulating or traditional way in older adults based on improvements in health parameters, considering adherence and individual preferences.

Relationship of Functional Constipation and Growth Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Functional constipation (FC) and malnutrition are 2 of the most common diseases affecting children worldwide with long-term consequences. We hereby performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the relationship between these 2 entities.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, American Academics of Pediatrics (AAP), Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov (from inception to December 11, 2021) using "constipation," "growth," and "children" as the keywords. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used as the risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis using the random-effects model was done.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies involving 33,410 children were chosen in this study. Meta-analysis of all the studies showed statistically significant relationship between FC with both overweight/obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-2.76; P = 0.02], in Asian countries subgroup, and undernutrition (OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.43-3.97; P < 0.001) in Asian countries using ROME criteria's subgroup. Normal weight patients were also more prevalent in non-FC patients in Asia (OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.38-0.76; P < 0.001). The relationship between FC and short stature is still inconclusive.

CONCLUSIONS

FC is correlated with the prevalence of both overweight/obesity and undernutrition. Future studies should evaluate the causal relationship and whether FC treatment could help.

The Impact of Physical Activity at School on Body Fat Content in School-Aged Children

(1) Background: Excessive amounts of adipose tissue is a health risk. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of increased physical activity (PA) at school on body fat content in children aged 10 to 12 years over a 2-year follow-up. (2) Methods: Children born in 2007 (n = 245) in two groups, (1) standard PA and (2) increased PA at school, 4 and 10 h of physical education lessons per week, respectively. BIA measurements of body fat content were taken twice a year. Results were interpreted based on children's fat content reference curves. (3) Results: During 2 years of observation, the percentage of children with excessive fat mass (overweight and obese) increased by one-third (from 28.11% to 39.67%) in the group of standard PA, while decreased by one-third in the increased PA one (from 28.92% to 21.00%); with normal fat content increased by one-quarter in the increased PA group (from 59.86% to 76.26%) and decreased by one-tenth in the standard PA one (from 61.61% to 56.29%). (4) Conclusions: An increase in PA at school has a positive impact on children's body fat content. It is recommended to increase the number of physical education lessons at school, which has a positive effect on children's health, reducing the risk of obesity.

Adult patients with allied disorders of Hirschsprung’s disease in emergency department: An 11-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND

In the past years, only a few studies with a limited number of adult patients analyzed clinical features of allied disorders of Hirschsprung’s disease (ADHD), most of which were individual case reports or lacked detailed clinical information. Although many studies have reported patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with recurrent abdominal symptoms for a number of disorders, there are few data involving ADHD. However, owing to a lack of awareness of the disease, misdiagnoses and mistreatments are common. Severe complications such as perforation, bleeding, malabsorption, and even death in ADHD had been reported by many studies.

AIM

To assist ED clinicians in having a more comprehensive understanding of this disease and making an early suspected diagnosis of ADHD more effectively.

METHODS

We enrolled 53 patients who visited the ED and were eventually diagnosed with ADHD over the past 11 years in our hospital. Their basic information, clinical manifestations, and imaging findings were analyzed. Blood indices were compared between the ADHD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) groups.

RESULTS

Adult patients with ADHD had a mean age of 48.8 ± 14.3 years, and 77.4% had been treated before admission. The transverse colon was the most common dilated part (73.6%), and constipation (67.9%) was the most common symptom. ADHD patients can present with uncommon symptoms and false-negative imaging findings. Logistic regression analysis indicated that body mass index (BMI) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.786, P = 0.013], cholinesterase (per 1000 units; OR = 0.693, P = 0.008), and blood chlorine (OR = 0.816, P = 0.022) were determined to be independent related factors between the ADHD and IBS groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of these three indices combined was 0.812 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Emergency physicians should be vigilant regarding patients with chronic constipation, abdominal pain, or abdominal distension, and consider the possibility of ADHD despite its rarity. Abdominal computed tomography examination is recommended as a useful tool in the suspected diagnosis of ADHD. BMI, cholinesterase, and blood chlorine have good discriminative abilities between ADHD and IBS. The nutritional status of adult patients with ADHD is worthy of further attention. Surgical treatment for adult patients with ADHD is important and inevitable.

Juvenile obesity in terms of various evaluation methods

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a civilization disease of the 21st century. The prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents is constantly increasing. BMI (body mass index) and WHR (waist to hip ratio) are methods of obesity assessment recommended by the WHO. Also, the WtHR (waist to height ratio), which takes into account height, is one of the most popular methods of diagnosing childhood obesity. A more recent diagnostic indicator is the FMI (fat mass index), which considers the percentage of the patient's body fat.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

was to compare the methods of assessing obesity in children and adolescents using the following indicators: BMI, WHR, WtHR, and FMI and to determine the consistency of the results obtained with them.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 195 children aged 11-18 years, from whom the following data were collected: height, weight, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat. The calculated indices (BMI, WHR, WtHR, FMI), expressed in SDS, were compared using the Bland-Altman test, Passing-Bablok regression, and the slope chart.

RESULTS

The fewest diagnoses of obesity were shown by FMI SDS (15.9%) and the highest by WHR SDS (28.7%). WHR SDS showed the least consistent results with BMI SDS. Significant statistical differences were found between BMI SDS and both FMI SDS and WtHR SDS.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI, as the most acceptable obesity indicator, can be used as a screening method for assessing obesity. However, patients with boundary BMI values should be examined more precisely, using more than one index. FMI is recommended.

Nutritional Status Influences Oxidative Stress and Insulin Resistance in Preschool Children

Background: Child malnutrition represents a major public health problem with physiological, psychological, and social short- and long-term implications. Objective: To compare the influence of nutritional status on oxidative stress (OS) markers in children aged 3-6 years. Methods: Children were categorized into four groups: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Glucose (Glu), cholesterol (Chol), high-density lipoproteins, insulin, triacylglycerols (TG), triacylglycerols/glucose (TyG) index, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were analyzed. In addition, OS [malondialdehyde (MDA) and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT)] and antioxidant defense markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG)] were quantified. Results: Children with obesity showed significantly higher levels of MDA and 3-NT, and increased SOD activity compared with normal weight children. Glu, Chol, TG levels, TyG indexes, HOMA-IR, MDA, 3-NT, and SOD positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention percentiles (CDC PC). However, CAT concentration and the GSH/GSSG ratio correlated negatively with BMI and CDC PC. In children with underweight, we found a positive correlation of TG levels and TyG indexes with BMI, whereas both markers positively correlated with BMI and CDC PC in children with overweight. MDA negatively correlated with BMI in children with underweight, while a positive association was observed in children with overweight. Finally, SOD, CAT, and GSH/GSSG negatively correlated with both BMI and CDC PC in children with overweight. Conclusions: Malnutrition, especially obesity, is associated with metabolic and OS disturbances in preschool children. It is urgent to design strategies to prevent malnutrition in this age group since this stage of development is crucial to potentially avoid future co-morbidities.

Eating Behaviour and Physical Fitness in 10-Year-Old Children Attending General Education and Sports Classes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the body mass index (BMI), selected eating behaviour and physical fitness of children aged 10 years attending general education and sports classes in Siedlce. Subject children were 272 girls and boys mean aged 10.8-years attending general education (GC) and sports classes (SC). Survey questionnaires consisted of 18 questions about eating behaviour and physical activity. The BMI was determined for each child and compared with reference percentile charts. Eurofit testing was used to measure physical fitness. Increased physical fitness was positively correlated with beneficial eating behaviour among children. SC children showed significantly more frequent dietary intakes of milk, dairy products, poultry, fish, wholegrain bread, groats and vegetables when compared to GC ones. However, significantly more GC children ate red meat more frequently along with snacking on confectionery and savouries than SC ones. Most subjects fell within correct BMI percentile ranges. Underweight was more frequent in SC children at 12.85% than in GC children 9.88%. Overweight and obesity was most often observed in GC children (respectively 19.73% and 5.51%) compared to SC ones (respectively 14.37% and 3.8%). SC children achieved significantly better results in the Eurofit tests. The highest levels of physical fitness and most favourable BMIs and eating behaviour were observed more often among SC children than GC ones. The results confirmed the beneficial health effects of physical fitness for children.