Association between lifestyle habits and adiposity values among children exposed and unexposed to gestational diabetes mellitus in utero

Determinants of Healthy Diet Among Children Exposed and Unexposed to Gestational Diabetes

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association between individual and environmental determinants of diet quality with diet quality of children exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM+) and unexposed (GDM-); to study the association between mother and child vegetables and fruit (VF) intakes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred forty-two children (104 GDM+; 38 GDM-) aged 6.2 ± 2.5 years.

VARIABLES

Canadian Healthy Eating Index 2007 (HEI-C) and VF were obtained with 2 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires in children. Maternal VF was obtained by a validated food frequency questionnaire, and weight and height were measured. Sociodemographic determinants were obtained by questionnaires.

ANALYSIS

Linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between individual and environmental determinants and the HEI-C score with interaction for GDM status.

RESULTS

Family meals were associated with HEI-C among GDM- but not GDM+ children (β = 9.97, P = 0.01 and β = -0.41, P = 0.84, respectively; P for interaction = 0.02). Children's age (β = -1.45; 95% confidence interval, -2.19 to -0.72; P < 0.001) was a determinant of HEI-C among all children. Maternal VF intakes were positively associated with children's VF intake (r = 0.30, P < 0.001, r² = 0.09), with association of larger variance among GDM- children (r = 0.38, r² = 0.14, P = 0.02) than GDM+ children (r = 0.23, r² = 0.05, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The food environment at home was associated differently with the diet quality of GDM+ and GDM- children. Whether targeting family meals and maternal diet quality is a good strategy to improve children's diet quality among GDM+ children needs to be further investigated.

Measurement of screen time among young children aged 0-6 years: A systematic review

The impact of screen-based devices on children's health and development cannot be properly understood without valid and reliable tools that measure screen time within the evolving digital landscape. This review aimed to summarize characteristics of measurement tools used to assess screen time in young children; evaluate reporting of psychometric properties; and examine time trends related to measurement and reporting of screen time. A systematic review of articles published in English across three databases from January 2009 to April 2020 was undertaken using PROSPERO protocol (registration: CRD42019132599) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Included articles measured screen time as outcome, exposure, or confounder in children 0-6 years. The search identified 35,868 records, 1035 full-text articles were screened for eligibility, and 622 met inclusion criteria. Most measures (60%) consisted of one to three items and assessed duration of screen time on a usual day. Few measures assessed content (11%) or coviewing (7%). Only 40% of articles provided a citation for the measure, and only 69 (11%) reported psychometric properties-reliability n = 58, validity n = 19, reliability and validity n = 8. Between 2009 and 2019, the number of published articles increased from 28 to 71. From 2015, there was a notable increase in the proportion of articles published each year that assessed exposure to mobile devices in addition to television. The increasing number of published articles reflects increasing interest in screen time exposure among young children. Measures of screen time have generally evolved to reflect children's contemporary digital landscape; however, the psychometric properties of measurement tools are rarely reported. There is a need for improved measures and reporting to capture the complexity of children's screen time exposures.

Prenatal exposure to gestational diabetes is associated with anxiety and physical inactivity in children during COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with adverse child mental health outcomes and reduced physical activity. Moreover, prenatal exposure to gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with increased risk for adverse psychological outcomes in children.

OBJECTIVES

Assess prenatal exposure to GDM on anxiety levels and physical activity in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Sixty-five children age 9 to 15 reported their physical activity and anxiety levels using the 24-hours physical activity recall and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children via phone or video meetings. Prenatal exposure to GDM was obtained from maternal electronic medical records.

RESULTS

The 38 GDM-exposed children reported significantly higher anxiety levels and were less likely to engage in any vigorous physical activity (VPA) (5% vs 30%) compared to the 27 GDM-unexposed children. Lower levels of physical activity were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety. Less engagement in VPA explained 75% of the association between GDM exposure and anxiety levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Engaging in physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic may be beneficial for reducing anxiety, particularly amongst GDM-exposed children.

Which healthy lifestyle habits mitigate the risk of obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in Caucasian children exposed to in utero adverse gestational factors?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study explored if lifestyle habits [physical activity (PA), sleep duration, intake of fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy products] can moderate the positive associations between prenatal exposure to suboptimal gestational factors (SGF: i.e. gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy) and obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data from the "Quebec Adiposity and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth" (QUALITY) study collected between 2005 - 2008 in Montreal and Quebec City, were used. Analyses included a sample of 619 children aged 8-10 years. Children's PA and sleep duration were obtained using an accelerometer and daily servings of food were assessed using three 24 h diet recalls. Moderation analyses were performed to investigate if each lifestyle habit, in all children, and in boys and girls, could reduce the positive associations between SGF, and obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors. High LPA duration was protective against low levels of HDL cholesterol in boys who were exposed to more than one SGF (p = 0.005). Sleep duration did not have a protective effect respectively against high waist circumference and obesity in children and girls who were prenatally exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Diet and MVPA did not moderate the positive associations between SGF, obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children.

CONCLUSION

Among the three lifestyle habits, only LPA had a protective effect against low levels of HDL-cholesterol in boys. More studies are needed to confirm these results to inform future lifestyle intervention in this population.