Overweight, obesity, weight-related behaviors, and health-related quality of life among high-school students in Turkey

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: is there a connection between the body mass indexes of adolescents and their parents?

OBJECTIVES

Adolescent cases suffering from obesity tend to increase in middle-income countries. This study focused on the relationship between adolescent obesity and parents body mass index (BMI) and the variables of satisfaction, diet implementation and sports promotion.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents living in the Mediterranean region (n=522, evaluated n=488). Anthropometric measurements were taken by expert researchers and data were collected using face-to-face survey technique.

RESULTS

The average BMI of the adolescents and parents' was found to be above normal values. In adolescents, there was a positive and very good correlation with maternal BMI (r=0.711, p<0.01), a positive and moderate correlation with paternal BMI (r=0.512, p<0.01); In girl adolescents, it was positively and very well with maternal BMI (r=0.731, p<0.01), positively and moderately with father BMI (r=0.549, p<0.01); In boy adolescents, a positive and good correlation was found with maternal BMI (r=0.698, p<0.01), and a positive and moderate correlation with paternal BMI (r=0.459, p<0.01). In the analyzes comparing those who thought obesity threatened them (group 1) and those who did not think it threatened them (group 2), there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of BMI distribution, satisfaction with body weight, diet program implementation, diet recommendation by the family and sports encouragement (p<0, 05).

CONCLUSIONS

In a cross-sectional perspective paternal obesity is also significant in adolescents and the correlation with maternal obesity is relatively more effective. Also includes evidence of individual efforts and parental contribution in adolescents who see obesity as a threat.

Tamoxifen Treatment for Pubertal Gynecomastia: When to Start and How Long to Continue

Introduction

Pubertal gynecomastia is a common clinical condition among male adolescents, and in most cases, it regresses spontaneously. However, tamoxifen treatment is recommended in selected cases. We aimed to evaluate the indications, safety, and efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia.

Methods

The data of 83 adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia who were treated with tamoxifen between 2006 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. The clinical and laboratory data, initial complaint, tamoxifen treatment indication, duration, and dose were recorded along with the treatment outcome.

Results

The gynecomastia disc diameter's monthly reduction rate was significantly higher in adolescents with an initial disc diameter ≥3 cm. The significant reduction of the disc started after the fourth month of tamoxifen treatment and continued to significantly reduce, extending to the sixth month.

Conclusion

Tamoxifen treatment in pubertal gynecomastia was found to be effective and safe. One of the current indications for tamoxifen treatment is having a disc size ≥4 cm, and the recommended treatment duration is 4-6 months. However, this study suggests that treatment should be continued for at least 6 months to achieve the optimal effect. In addition, we recommend that the disc diameter threshold for starting tamoxifen needs to be ≥3 cm.

Independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status with health-related quality of life among Brazilian adolescents

PURPOSE

To investigate the independent and joint associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index (BMI) with five dimensions of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a cross-sectional sample of Brazilian adolescents.

METHODS

619 Brazilian schoolchildren answered a survey, BMI categories (healthy weight and overweight/obesity) were assessed by their weight and height, and they participated in a 20-m shuttle run test. HRQoL was measured using the KIDSCREEN-27 across five dimensions: Physical Well-Being, Psychological Well-Being, Autonomy and Parent Relation, Peers and Social Support, and School Environment. Sex, age, maternal education, physical activity level, and habitual sedentary behaviour were assessed and used as adjusting variables. Cardiorespiratory fitness was categorized in tertiles and independent and joint associations were tested using mixed-effects linear regressions.

RESULTS

Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were favourably associated with the physical well-being, psychological well-being, and peer and social support dimensions of HRQoL. Adolescents with overweight/obesity presented higher scores on peer and social support dimensions when compared to healthy-weight adolescents. Independent of the adolescents' BMI categories, better cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with physical and psychological well-being when compared with the category of overweight/obesity and low cardiorespiratory fitness. In addition, adolescents with overweight/obesity combined with intermediate cardiorespiratory fitness or high cardiorespiratory fitness had higher scores on the peer and social support dimension.

CONCLUSION

Cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong correlate of HRQoL across most of the dimensions measured, while BMI was a correlate of one dimension of HRQoL. Future studies should evaluate these relationships prospectively and experimentally.

Examination of Predictive Factors Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours and Compare Coping Styles with Stress of Adolescents with and without Hearing Loss: A Comparative Study

Objective: Examination of predictive factors healthy lifestyle behaviours and compare coping styles with stress of adolescents with and without Hearing Loss (HL). Methods: A comparative cross‐sectional design was employed. The participants comprise high school students with (n= 272) and without (n= 272) HL. Participants completed questionnaires on coping styles with stress and Adolescent Lifestyle Profile Scale 2 (ALP‐R2). Descriptive statistics, chi‐square, t‐test, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the responses given to the above instruments. Results: Adolescents without HL (116.46±16.89) had significantly higher scores on the lifestyle profile scale than another group (113.68±16.12) (p

The association between the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and health-related quality of life: baseline results from the Dimini lifestyle intervention

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to analyse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its determinants in individuals with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

METHODS

We used pseudonymized baseline data collected between 2018 and 2020 as part of the Dimini project in Hesse and Schleswig-Holstein. HRQoL was measured by the mental and the physical component score of the validated instrument Short Form 12 and descriptively analysed followed by multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The Dimini population (n = 662) showed an average physical component score of 42.12 (SD 10.56) and a mental component score of 47.12 (SD 11.13). While men demonstrated both significantly higher physical and mental component scores than women, differences based on migration background were not observed. Younger age was associated with a higher level of the physical component score, whereas mental component scores linearly increased with age. Regarding indicators of T2D-risk, a significant influence of HbA1c on HRQoL was not confirmed. However, physical component scores are negatively related to Findrisk scores and BMI. Finally, study participants living alone and those with a handicap reported lower levels of HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Compared with a representative sample of the general German population (DEGS1), Dimini participants were characterized by a lower average HRQoL. The analysis showed a higher vulnerability to an impaired HRQoL within certain subgroups of the population and among participants with relatively higher levels of T2D-risk. As a result, tailored healthcare interventions are required to reach these target groups.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03482674.

Evaluation of body mass index and related lifestyle factors among 14-17-year-old Turkish adolescents

OBJECTIVE:

During adolescence, unhealthy body weight status is considered as a global concern as it may lead to adverse health consequences in adulthood, therefore evaluation of the risk factors is crucial. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of adolescents under the risk of being underweight, overweight, and obese among 14–17-year-old Turkish adolescents. In addition, we examined the association between unhealthy body weight categories and lifestyle factors.

METHODS:

This study was designed as cross-sectional study which included body weight status and associated parameters of 1561 adolescents aged between 14 and 17 who were registered 25 different high schools in Istanbul, Uskudar. Height and body weight of participants were measured and related factors were obtained through a questionnaire. Differences in distributions were analyzed using the Chi-square test and to control confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. As statistical significance limit of p<0.05 was determined.

RESULTS:

Body mass index (BMI) percentile analyses indicated that 3.6% of participants were underweight, 14.3% were overweight, and 13.8% were obese. We demonstrated that age, gender, and school types were statistically very significantly associated with BMI (p<0.001) and daily meal frequency, eating speed, and mealtime regularity were significantly related with BMI (p<0.05). In addition, according to multivariate analysis results, gender and school types were closely related with obesity among 14–17-year old Turkish adolescents.

CONCLUSION:

This study has been demonstrated that frequency of adolescent obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, has increased and obesity closely related to gender and type of school. Further educational and interventional studies should be organized in this region with consideration of relevant risk factors.