Influence of weight gain rate on early life nutritional status and body composition of children

Socioeconomic status, screen time, and time spent at school, and children’s food consumption

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors and lifestyle with the consumption of in natura or minimally processed (INMP) foods, ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and fruits and vegetables. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 403 children, aged 4 to 7 years, from a retrospective cohort. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables were investigated using a sociodemographic questionnaire. Food consumption was assessed by three food records. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to analyze associations. Children with lower income had a higher consumption of INMP foods and a lower consumption of UPFs. A shorter time spent at school was associated with a lower consumption of INMP foods and a higher consumption of UPFs. Children with more screen time and less educated parents consumed less fruits and vegetables. Unfavorable sociodemographic factors were associated with a better profile of food consumption according to the level of processing, except for fruits and vegetables. The longer time spent at school and a shorter screen time contributed to a healthier diet.

Socioeconomic status, screen time, and time spent at school, and children's food consumption

The present study aimed to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors and lifestyle with the consumption of in natura or minimally processed (INMP) foods, ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and fruits and vegetables. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 403 children, aged 4 to 7 years, from a retrospective cohort. Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables were investigated using a sociodemographic questionnaire. Food consumption was assessed by three food records. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to analyze associations. Children with lower income had a higher consumption of INMP foods and a lower consumption of UPFs. A shorter time spent at school was associated with a lower consumption of INMP foods and a higher consumption of UPFs. Children with more screen time and less educated parents consumed less fruits and vegetables. Unfavorable sociodemographic factors were associated with a better profile of food consumption according to the level of processing, except for fruits and vegetables. The longer time spent at school and a shorter screen time contributed to a healthier diet.

Risk Factors for Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Ukraine and Germany

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence are rapidly increasing and influenced by genetic, familial, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural factors. The aim of the study was to compare risk factors for childhood obesity in Ukraine (UA) and Germany (DE) using comparable investigative tools.

METHODS

Two groups of children, aged 8 to 18 years, from DE (93 children) and UA (95 children) were divided into overweight and obese groups. Anthropometric data and detailed medical history were collected.

RESULTS

Risk factors in pregnancy (prematurity, weight gain >20 kg, early contractions) were equally frequent in both groups. Positive correlations of body mass index (BMI)-standard deviation score (SDS) between children and mothers were noted. The proportion of family members with diabetes mellitus was lower in the UA group. Obesity was more frequent at one year of age in DE children. The DE group also became overweight at an earlier age and remained overweight over a longer period of time compared to UA. The mean BMI-SDS of obese children was lower in the UA group. In both groups waist circumference to height ratio was >0.5, indicating presence of a cardiometabolic risk factor. About half of the patients in both groups had blood pressure values exceeding the 95^th percentile.

CONCLUSION

Similar risk factors for obesity were observed among two groups of children in UA and DE. Differences were observed regarding the prevalence of specific risk factors for childhood obesity. Population-specific distribution of risk factors needs to be considered in order to optimize prevention and treatment strategies.

Dietary patterns and body adiposity in children in Brazil: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Many factors are associated with the increase in total and central body adiposity in children, especially eating habits. This has led to an increasing number of studies analysing food patterns, which consider the synergistic effect of food and nutrient intake on the nutritional status. The objective of this study was to identify the dietary patterns of children aged 4-7 years and associate these with different indicators of total and central body adiposity.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study METHODS: The study consisted of 403 children from a retrospective cohort in Minas Geraes, Brazil. Four indicators of body adiposity were evaluated: body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and percentages of total and central body fat (assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). The dietary habits of the children were evaluated by identifying the dietary patterns using principal component analysis. The adjustment predictor variables were related to the socio-economic characteristics, lifestyle and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Food patterns were identified by factor analysis. Linear regression was used to estimate the regression coefficient and the confidence interval, considering statistical significance of α = 5%.

RESULTS

Five dietary patterns were identified, which explained 42.3% of the data variance: 'Traditional', 'Unhealthy', 'Milk and chocolate', 'Snack' and 'Healthy'. The multiple linear regression model showed that a greater adherence to the 'Traditional' and 'Unhealthy' patterns was related to higher BMI, WHtR, and total and central body adiposity.

CONCLUSION

Children with a higher intake of food from the 'Traditional' and 'Unhealthy' patterns showed an increase in total and central body adiposity.

Impact of nutrition and rotavirus infection on the infant gut microbiota in a humanized pig model

BACKGROUND

Human rotavirus (HRV) is a major cause of viral gastroenteritis in infants; particularly in developing countries where malnutrition is prevalent. Malnutrition perturbs the infant gut microbiota leading to sub-optimal functioning of the immune system and further predisposing infants to enteric infections. Therefore, we hypothesized that malnutrition exacerbates rotavirus disease severity in infants.

METHODS

In the present study, we used a neonatal germ free (GF) piglets transplanted with a two-month-old human infant's fecal microbiota (HIFM) on protein deficient and sufficient diets. We report the effects of malnourishment on the HRV infection and the HIFM pig microbiota in feces, intestinal and systemic tissues, using MiSeq 16S gene sequencing (V4-V5 region).

RESULTS

Microbiota analysis indicated that the HIFM transplantation resulted in a microbial composition in pigs similar to that of the original infant feces. This model was then used to understand the interconnections between microbiota diversity, diet, and HRV infection. Post HRV infection, HIFM pigs on the deficient diet had lower body weights, developed more severe diarrhea and increased virus shedding compared to HIFM pigs on sufficient diet. However, HRV induced diarrhea and shedding was more pronounced in non-colonized GF pigs compared to HIFM pigs on either sufficient or deficient diet, suggesting that the microbiota alone moderated HRV infection. HRV infected pigs on sufficient diet showed increased microbiota diversity in intestinal tissues; whereas, greater diversity was observed in systemic tissues of HRV infected pigs fed with deficient diet.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that proper nourishment improves the microbiota quality in the intestines, alleviates HRV disease and lower probability of systemic translocation of potential opportunistic pathogens/pathobionts. In conclusion, our findings further support the role for microbiota and proper nutrition in limiting enteric diseases.

Shape-Up and Eat Right Families Pilot Program: Feasibility of a Weight Management Shared Medical Appointment Model in African-Americans With Obesity at an Urban Academic Medical Center

OBJECTIVES

Disparities in obesity care exist among African-American children and adults. We sought to test the feasibility of a pilot program, a 1-year family-based intervention for African-American families with obesity [shape up and eat right (SUPER)], adopting the shared medical appointment model (SMA) at an urban safety net hospital.

OUTCOMES

Primary outcomes: (1) family attendance rate and (2) program satisfaction. Secondary outcomes: change in body mass index (BMI), eating behaviors, and sedentary activity.

METHODS

Adult parents (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) ≥18 years and their child(ren) (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) ages 6-12 years from adult or pediatric weight management clinics were recruited. One group visit per month (n = 12) consisting of a nutrition and exercise component was led by a nurse practitioner and registered dietitian. Height and weight were recorded during each visit. Participants were queried on program satisfaction, food logs and exercise journals, Food Stamp Program's Food Behavior, and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program food checklists.

RESULTS

Thirteen participants from lower socioeconomic zip codes consented [n = 5 mothers mean age 33 years, BMI of 47.4 kg/m² (31.4-73.6 kg/m²); n = 8 children; mean age 9 years, BMI of 97.6th percentile (94-99th percentile); 60% enrolled in state Medicaid]. Average individual attendance was 23.4% (14-43%; n = 13); monthly session attendance rates declined from 100 to 40% by program completion; two families completed the program in entirety. Program was rated (n = 5 adults) very satisfactory (40%) and extremely satisfactory (60%). Pre-intervention, families rated their eating habits as fair and reported consuming sugar-sweetened beverages or sports drinks, more so than watching more than 1 h of television (p < 0.002) or video game/computer activity (p < 0.006) and consuming carbonated sodas (p < 0.004). Post-intervention, reducing salt intake was the only statistically significant variable (p < 0.029), while children watched fewer hours of television and spent less time playing video games (from average 2 to 3 h daily; p < 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Attendance was lower than expected though children seemed to decrease screen time and the program was rated satisfactory. Reported socioeconomic barriers precluded families from attending most sessions. Future reiterations of the intervention could be enhanced with community engagement strategies to increase participant retention.

Infant adiposity at birth and early postnatal weight gain predict increased aortic intima-media thickness at 6 weeks of age: a population-derived cohort study

Infant body composition and postnatal weight gain have been implicated in the development of adult obesity and cardiovascular disease, but there are limited prospective data regarding the association between infant adiposity, postnatal growth and early cardiovascular parameters. Increased aortic intima-media thickness (aortic IMT) is an intermediate phenotype of early atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between weight and adiposity at birth, postnatal growth and aortic IMT. The Barwon Infant Study (n=1074 mother-infant pairs) is a population-derived birth cohort. Infant weight and other anthropometry were measured at birth and 6 weeks of age. Aortic IMT was measured by trans-abdominal ultrasound at 6 weeks of age (n=835). After adjustment for aortic size and other factors, markers of adiposity including increased birth weight (β=19.9 μm/kg, 95%CI 11.1, 28.6; P<0.001) and birth skinfold thickness (β=6.9 μm/mm, 95%CI 3.3, 10.5; P<0.001) were associated with aortic IMT at 6 weeks. The association between birth skinfold thickness and aortic IMT was independent of birth weight. In addition, greater postnatal weight gain was associated with increased aortic IMT, independent of birth weight and age at time of scan (β=11.3 μm/kg increase, 95%CI 2.2, 20.3; P=0.01). Increased infant weight and adiposity at birth, as well as increased early weight gain, were positively associated with aortic IMT. Excessive accumulation of adiposity during gestation and early infancy may have adverse effects on cardiovascular risk.