Trends and correlates of overweight and Obesity among adolescents from 2002 to 2010: A three-cohort study based on a representative sample of Portuguese adolescents

Does spending more time on electronic screen devices determine the weight outcomes in obese and normal weight Saudi Arabian children?

Objectives:

To gather data and investigate if ownership and duration of using electronic devices determines the weight status in an urban Saudi school-aged child.

Methods:

A multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between December 2015 and March 2016. A total of 1023 child were randomly selected, aged 9.00 to 11.99 years. The participants were divided into 2 groups (normal weight and obese), and further stratified by gender. As self-paced questionnaire was used to collect sedentary behaviors data, in addition to the anthropometric measurements and body fat composition of the participants.

Results:

Hours spent watching TV/DVD/videos were not significantly different between the participating groups or both genders, be it during weekdays (p=0.75) or on weekends (p=0.93). Electronic device utilization hours were significantly different between the groups, specifically in boys. Obese children, particularly during weekdays, had higher utilization rates of tablets and mobile phones at p<0.01 in weekdays and weekends. The most popular electronic device owned was a tablet (67.1% among normal weight and 70.2% obese groups). This was followed by gaming consoles owned, predominantly by boys rather than girls. Ownership of a smartphone was significantly higher in the obese group p=0.01), especially in boys (p=0.01).

Conclusion:

Using modern electronic screen devices has begun to replace TV viewing. Excessive use of internet, and watching electronic screen devices, especially mobiles and tablets, have been associated with the increasing risk of obesity in urban Saudi school-aged child.

The influence of socioeconomic status and age on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 5 to 10-year-old children in Curitiba, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the socioeconomic status (SES) and age on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 5 to 10-year-old children from Brazil.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 80 782 (41 063 boys) students aged 5 to 10-year-old. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. SES was self-reported by parents when registering for school in the same year as the assessment.

RESULTS

An increasing trend in the prevalence of obesity, for boys and girls, and overweight, for girls, as they got older was observed. The prevalence of obesity was greater among medium SES boys, 18.1% (95% CI: 17.7, 18.6), and girls, 18.1% (95% CI: 17.7, 18.6), compared with low SES. For each year boys and girls get older their odds of being underweight, overweight and obese increase. Medium and high SES boys were 23% (95% CI: 1.14, 1.32) and 25% (95%CI: 1.03, 1.52) more likely to be obese than low SES boys. Girls with high SES were 20% (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.31) more likely of being obese than girls with low SES. Furthermore, age and being in the medium SES for both sexes and in the high SES for boys was positively related to the BMI z-score.

CONCLUSION

Both age and SES were factors associated with obesity among Brazilian children. For public health policies to be effective, it is necessary to understand why higher SES children and older children have higher risk and prevalence of obesity and overweight.

Trends and correlates of overweight/obesity in Czech adolescents in relation to family socioeconomic status over a 12-year study period (2002-2014)

Background

This study examined a) trends in overweight/obesity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and screen time (ST) among Czech adolescents over a 12-year study period (2002–2014) in relation to family affluence (FA) and b) correlates of adolescent overweight/obesity from different FA categories.

Methods

A nationally representative sample of 18,250 adolescents (51.4% girls) aged 10.5–16.5 years was drawn from the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children questionnaire-based surveys in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. Using the FA scale, the socioeconomic status (SES) of the respondents’ families was assessed. SES-stratified trends in the prevalence of overweight/obesity meeting the MVPA (≥60 min/day), and ST (≤2 h/day) recommendations were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

A trend-related significant increase (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of overweight/obesity was observed in low−/medium-FA boys and medium−/high-FA girls. Unlike in high-FA adolescents, a significant decrease was revealed in the rates of meeting the MVPA recommendation in low-FA boys (28.9%₂₀₀₂ → 23.3%₂₀₁₄, OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59–0.95, p < 0.05) and girls (22.3%₂₀₀₂ → 17.3%₂₀₁₄, OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.57–0.92, p < 0.01). A significant (p < 0.001) trend-related increase in excessive ST was evident in adolescents regardless of gender and FA category. Generally, girls and older adolescents had lower odds of overweight/obesity than boys and 11-year-old adolescents. While in the high-FA category of adolescents, achieving 60 min of MVPA daily and the absence of excessive ST on weekdays significantly (p < 0.01) reduced their odds of being overweight/obese, in low-FA adolescents this was not the case.

Conclusions

High rates of overweight/obesity and a poor level of daily MVPA among low-FA children provide disturbing evidence highlighting the necessity of public health efforts to implement obesity reduction interventions for this disadvantaged population.

The Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Adolescents from 1988 to 2014: Results from the HBSC Portuguese Survey

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Using a national representative sample of Portuguese adolescents, this study aimed to report the prevalence of overweight and obesity over 16 years, from 1998 to 2014. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The total sample comprised 26,479 adolescents (12,711 boys and 13,768 girls) aged 11–16 years (mean age ± SD = 13.5 ± 1.7) from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Portuguese survey cohorts from 1998 (<i>n</i> = 5,999), 2002 (<i>n</i> = 5,454), 2006 (<i>n</i> = 4,430), 2010 (<i>n</i> = 4,702), and 2014 (<i>n</i> = 5,894). Weight and height were self-reported. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was calculated along with a 95% confidence interval (CI). <b><i>Results:</i></b> The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was achieved in 2010 (20.5%; 95% CI: 19.5, 21.9) and the lowest in 1998 (17.8%; 95% CI: 16.8, 18.8). The results of trend tests between 1998 and 2014 show that there was no significant change in overweight and obesity prevalence. Although the prevalence of obesity increased from 1998 to 2014 for the entire sample (0.8%; 95% CI: –5.5, 7.0), for boys (1.1%; 95% CI: –4.1, 6.3), and girls (0.5%; 95% CI: –4.5, 5.4), there were no significant changes in obesity prevalence. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Portuguese adolescents was around 20% between 1998 and 2014. The extent of overweight and obesity seems to have stabilized over time.

Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth: an update

This systematic review is an update examining the relationships between objectively and subjectively measured sedentary behaviour and health indicators in children and youth aged 5–17 years. EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Medline were searched in December 2014, and date limits were imposed (≥February 2010). Included studies were peer-reviewed and met the a priori-determined population (apparently healthy children and youth, mean age: 5–17 years), intervention (durations, patterns, and types of sedentary behaviours), comparator (various durations, patterns, and types of sedentary behaviours), and outcome (critical: body composition, metabolic syndrome/cardiovascular disease risk factors, behavioural conduct/pro-social behaviour, academic achievement; important: fitness, self-esteem) study criteria. Quality of evidence by outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. Due to heterogeneity, a narrative analysis was conducted. A total of 235 studies (194 unique samples) were included representing 1 657 064 unique participants from 71 different countries. Higher durations/frequencies of screen time and television (TV) viewing were associated with unfavourable body composition. Higher duration/frequency of TV viewing was also associated with higher clustered cardiometabolic risk scores. Higher durations of TV viewing and video game use were associated with unfavourable behavioural conduct/pro-social behaviour. Higher durations of reading and doing homework were associated with higher academic achievement. Higher duration of screen time was associated with lower fitness. Higher durations of screen time and computer use were associated with lower self-esteem. Evidence ranged from “very low” to “moderate” quality. Higher quality studies using reliable and valid sedentary behaviour measures should confirm this largely observational evidence.

Health Outcomes of Information System Use Lifestyles among Adolescents: Videogame Addiction, Sleep Curtailment and Cardio-Metabolic Deficiencies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Obesity is a rising problem among adolescents in modern societies; it results in long-term cardio-metabolic problems. Possible overlooked drivers of obesity and its consequent cardio-metabolic deficits include videogame addiction and the resulting curtailed sleep; both are growing problems among adolescents. The objective of this study is to examine possible associations among these concepts in adolescents, as a means to point to plausible interventions.

METHODS

Data were collected from 94 adolescents who play videogames and are enrolled in outpatient clinics, using surveys, wearable sleep monitors (FitBit), physical exams, and blood tests at three points in time. These data were subjected to structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses and bootstrapping-based mediation testing procedures.

RESULTS

Videogame addiction among adolescents was negatively associated with sleep duration (β = -0.24). Sleep duration was negatively associated with obesity (β = -0.30), which in turn was associated with elevated blood pressure (β = 0.26), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = -0.18), high triglycerides (β = 0.61), and high insulin resistance (β = 0.39). The model explained 36.2% of the variation in sleep duration, 32.7% of the variation in obesity, and between 12.8% and 28.1% of the variation in cardio-metabolic indicators. Post-hoc analyses indicated that curtailed sleep is a possible full mediator of the association between videogame addiction, abdominal obesity and the associated cardio-metabolic deficits.

CONCLUSION

The findings point to possible information systems use lifestyle-health links, which behooves researchers and practitioners to pay closer attention to possible adverse health outcomes of technology-related addictions. Interventions that target problematic video-gaming and sleep should be devised as a possible means for improving adolescents' long-term cardio-metabolic health.

Temporal Trends in Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity and Screen Time among Czech Adolescents from 2002 to 2014: A National Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study

This study examines trends in overweight and obesity, physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) among Czech adolescents over a recent 12-year study period. Nationally representative samples consisted of 19,940 adolescents (9760 boys and 10,180 girls) aged 10.5-16.5 years from the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire-based surveys conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. Trends in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, meeting the recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (≥60 min per day of MVPA) and excessive ST (>2 h per day) were estimated using logistic regression. Significant increases (p < 0.001) in the prevalence of overweight/obesity between the years 2002 and 2014 were evident for both adolescent boys (18.3%(2002)-24.8%(2014)) and girls (8.3%(2002)-11.9%(2014)). Compared to 2002, in 2014 significant decreases (p < 0.001) in meeting MVPA recommendations were observed among boys (32.2%(2002)-25.6%(2014)) and girls (23.2%(2002)-19.2%(2014)). Moreover, in boys we observed significant increases (p < 0.001) in excessive ST on weekdays (75.1%(2002)-88.8%(2014)), as well as on weekends (78.3%(2002)-91.9%(2014)) between the years 2002 and 2014. Increases in overweight/obesity with concomitant decreases in PA provide evidence in support of the current and upcoming efforts of government and commercial organizations in implementing interventions aimed at reducing excessive body weight among Czech adolescents.

Health complaints among adolescents: Associations with more screen-based behaviours and less physical activity

In this study, we investigated the relationship between screen-based behaviours, physical activity, and health complaints (headaches, feeling low, irritability, and nervousness). Screen-based behaviour included TV viewing, computer use, and time spent playing video games. Data were collected from 4462 Portuguese adolescents (2394 girls) aged 11-16 years. Girls who reported engaging in more screen-based behaviour (hours/day) also reported having more headaches, feeling lower, being more irritable, and feeling more nervous. Boys who reported more screen time were more irritable. Physical activity (times/week) was negatively associated with reports of feeling nervous among girls, and with headaches, feeling low, irritability, and feeling nervous among boys. Considering that time spent using the computer is related with more health complaints, and physical activity was related with fewer health complaints among boys, it is important to develop strategies to reduce adolescents' computer screen time, and to promote physical activity.

Modeling the dynamics of BMI changes during adolescence. The Oporto Growth, Health and Performance Study

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were twofold: (i) to model changes in body mass index (BMI) of 10-18-year-old adolescents, and (ii) to investigate the effects of total physical activity (TPA), physical fitness (PF), sleep duration and fruit/vegetable consumption in BMI trajectories across time.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Oporto Growth, Health and Performance Study and comprised 6894 adolescents (3418 girls) divided into four age cohorts (10, 12, 14 and 16 years) measured annually for 3 years. BMI was computed using the standard formula (kg m(-2)); TPA was estimated with the Baecke questionnaire; PF measures included 1-mile run/walk, 50 yard dash (50YD), standing long jump (SLJ), handgrip strength (HGr) and agility shuttle run. Longitudinal changes in BMI were analyzed using the multilevel modeling approach.

RESULTS

The average BMI at age of peak of height velocity was 20.7±0.07 kg m(-2) for girls (P<0.001) and 20.58±0.06 kg m(-2) for boys (P<0.001). The annual increment in BMI was 1.36±0.04 kg m(-2), P<0.001 and 1.23±0.03 kg m(-2), P<0.001 for girls and boys, respectively. PF were related to BMI trajectories in both sexes (Girls: β1mile=0.12±0.02, P<0.001; βSLJ=-0.01±0.00, P<0.001; β50YD=0.28±0.05, P<0.001; βHGr=-8.91±0.54, P<0.001; Boys: β1mile=0.18±0.02, P<0.001; βSLJ=-0.01±0.00, P<0.001; β50YD=0.26±0.04, P<0.001; and βHGr=-8.15±0.45, P<0.001). TPA only showed significant, but positive, association with girls' BMI trajectories (β=0.10±0.03, P=0.001). After adjusting for the covariates, sleep duration and fruit/vegetable intake did not show any significant association with BMI trajectories either sex.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI increased linearly with age in both gender. PF levels are negatively associated with BMI across time in both boys and girls. Therefore, promotion of PF in the adolescent years seems to be effective in the early prevention of obesity.