Percentile curves for skinfold thickness for Canadian children and youth

Impact of Early Nutritional Intervention During Cancer Treatment on Dietary Intakes and Cardiometabolic Health in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Pediatric cancer survivors are at greater risk of cardiometabolic complications than their peers. This study evaluates the preliminary impact of the VIE (Valorization, Implication, Education) intervention, which integrates nutrition, physical activity, and psychological support, on dietary intake and cardiometabolic health among children and adolescents during cancer treatment.

METHODS

This comparative study includes pediatric cancer patients recruited to either the VIE intervention group or a control group receiving standard care. Post-treatment data on dietary intake, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters were compared between groups and stratified by level of involvement in the nutritional intervention and age at diagnosis (children and adolescents).

RESULTS

In the intervention group, 45 participants were included (51.1% male, mean age at evaluation 10.2 ± 4.5 years, mean time since end of treatment of 1.3 ± 0.8 years), and the control group comprised 77 participants (44.2% male, mean age at evaluation 12.0 ± 5.6 years, mean time since end of treatment of 1.4 ± 0.8 years). The intervention group had lower total caloric intake (mean: 1759 ± 513 vs. 1997 ± 669 kcal, p = 0.042) and higher calcium intake (mean: 567 ± 240 vs. 432 ± 197 mg/1000 kcal, p = 0.001). The participants who were highly involved in the nutritional intervention had greater protein-derived energy intake than the controls (mean: 17 ± 5 vs. 15 ± 4%, p = 0.029). While there was a tendency for a lesser proportion of cardiometabolic risk factors in the adolescents from the intervention group, the differences did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The VIE intervention improved some specific dietary intakes in the medium term after treatment completion but did not significantly impact cardiometabolic health outcomes. Additional strategies are needed to improve the diet of pediatric cancer patients, and further research is warranted to assess the long-term impact of such interventions.

Differences in physical activity, sedentary time, and anthropometric variables among children and adolescents: The TUBON project

BACKGROUND

Although physical inactivity may lead to increasing obesity prevalence, research on anthropometric variables changes based on physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents is limited. PA decreases with age, while sedentary behavior increases. The study aimed to examine differences in objectively measured sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) between children and adolescents, and the differences in the percentiles of anthropometric variables between physically active and inactive groups according to World Health Organization PA recommendations.

METHODS

A total of 759 participants aged 6-17 years (boys, n=358; girls, n=401) were included in the study. The ActiGraph wGT3x-BT accelerometer was used to measure sedentary time, LPA, and MVPA. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), triceps skinfold thickness (T-SFT), and medial-calf skinfold thickness (M-SFT) were measured. Body fat percentage (BF%) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated, and the percentiles of anthropometric variables were categorized.

RESULTS

The findings showed that children had less sedentary time and a higher LPA than adolescents for both genders (p<0.05). Children had a higher MVPA than adolescents in girls (p<0.05), but the difference was insignificant in boys (p>0.05). In boys, physically active children were in lower percentiles for T-SFT and BF% than those who did not (p<0.05). In boys, adolescents who were physically inactive were in higher percentiles for BMI, T-SFT, M-SFT, and BF% (p<0.05). In addition, in girls, adolescents who were physically active were in lower percentiles of BMI, M-SFT, and BF%, whereas children who were physically active were in lower percentiles of M-SFT and BF% (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sedentary time increases while PA decreases with age. Children and adolescents who met the WHO PA recommendation had lower percentiles of anthropometric variables, indicating the importance of PA in preventing obesity in these age groups.

Investigation of the Seasonal Variation in Fat Patterning of Ellisras Rural Children and Adolescents, in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

An increase in childhood obesity has become a global concern since childhood obesity often leads to adulthood obesity. This study aimed to investigate whether there is seasonal variation in fat patterning, and whether fat patterning is associated with seasons among the Ellisras population aged 5-15 years. A total of 1986 children and adolescents (1034 boys and 952 girls) aged 5-15 enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Skinfold measurements were obtained using standard procedures. Obesity prevalence was determined using frequency analysis. The correlation between obesity and two seasons was tested using multinomial regression analysis. The results showed that girls aged 11-15 years had significantly (p ≤ 0.03) larger median fat variables (triceps, biceps, and suprailiac) in spring compared to autumn. The prevalence of obesity ranged from 3-11% with boys being more obese (4-11%) than girls (3-7%) aged 5-15. Regression analysis showed a negative significant (p ≤ 0.001) correlation between autumn and obesity by the subscapular/(subscapular+triceps) (SST) ratio, both unadjusted -2.991 (95%CI -3.233:-2.803) and adjusted -2.897 (95% CI -4.331:-1.629). The findings of the study showed that there was seasonal variation in fat patterning among boys and girls in the Ellisras population and that fat patterning is associated with seasons.

Cardiometabolic Health After Pediatric Cancer Treatment: Adolescents Are More Affected than Children

This cross-sectional study aimed at comparing the cardiometabolic (CM) health of children and adolescents and identifying factors associated with CM complications shortly after cancer treatment. Cancer-related characteristics, blood pressure (BP), anthropometry, and biochemical parameters were collected in 80 patients (56.3% female, mean age: 11.8 years; range: 4.5 - 21.0) a mean of 1.4 years following therapy completion. Compared to children, adolescents had higher mean z-score of insulin (-0.47 vs. 0.20; P = 0.01), HOMA-IR (-0.40 vs. 0.25; P = 0.02), waist-to-height ratio (0.36 vs. 0.84; P = 0.01), subscapular skinfold thickness (-0.19 vs. 0.47; P = 0.02), total body fat (-1.43 vs. 0.26; P < 0.01), and lower mean z-score of HDL-C (0.07 vs. -0.53; P < 0.01). Adolescents were more likely to have high BP (42% vs. 15%; P < 0.01), dyslipidemia (64% vs. 15%; P < 0.001), and cumulating ≥ 2 CM complications (42% vs. 2%; P < 0.001) than children. Adiposity indices (z-scores) were associated with high BP [odds ratio (OR) ranging from 2.11 to 4.09] and dyslipidemia (OR ranging from 2.06 to 4.34). These results suggest that adolescents have a worse CM profile than children shortly after therapy and that adiposity parameters are associated with CM complications, highliting the importance to develop intervention strategies targeting this population.

Anthropometric Measures Correspond with Functional Motor Outcomes in Females with Rett Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To characterize growth and anthropometric measurements in females with Rett syndrome and compare these measurements with functional outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

We obtained longitudinal growth and anthropometric measurements from 1154 females with classic and atypical Rett syndrome seen between 2006 and 2019 in the US Natural History Study. We calculated the Clinical Severity Score, Motor Behavior Assessment score, and arm and leg muscle areas and recorded the functional assessments of arm and hand use and ambulation. We compared growth and anthropometric variables from females with Rett syndrome in regard to normative data. We analyzed Clinical Severity Score, Motor Behavior Assessment, and anthropometric measurements in regard to functional assessments.

RESULTS

Growth and anthropometric measurements were significantly lower in females with classic and severe atypical Rett syndrome compared with those classified as mild atypical Rett syndrome and deviated from normative patterns among all 3 groups. Suprailiac skinfold measurements correlated with body mass index measurements in each group. Lower leg muscle area measurements were significantly greater among females in all 3 Rett syndrome groups who ambulated independently compared with those who did not. In females with classic Rett syndrome, arm, thigh, and lower leg muscle area measurements increased significantly over time and were significantly greater among those who had purposeful arm and hand use and independent ambulation compared with those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of growth and anthropometric measures in females with Rett syndrome differs from normative data and demonstrates clear differences between classic and mild or severe atypical Rett syndrome. Anthropometric measures correspond with functional outcomes and could provide markers supporting efficacy outcomes in clinical trials.

Patterns of body mass index, percentage body fat, and skinfold thicknesses in 7- to 18-year-old children and adolescents from Indonesia

Background:

Body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness are widely used to evaluate body composition. Information on patterns of skinfold thickness may help to understand changes in body composition during growth. The objectives of this study were to observe patterns of BMI, percentage body fat (%BF), and skinfold thicknesses of Indonesian children and adolescents aged 7–18 years.

Methods:

Weight, height, and four skinfold thicknesses were measured in 2104 school children (924 boys, 1,180 girls) aged 7–18 years from Yogyakarta between 2015 and 2018. BMI and ratios between central and peripheral skinfold thicknesses were determined. %BF was predicted using the equation of Slaughter et al. Data were analyzed using analysis variance (ANOVA), independent sample t-test, and partial correlation (SPSS version 20.0).

Results:

At 7–18 years, boys and girls showed a comparable gain in BMI. The comparable gain in %BF between boys and girls only occurred till age 10 and total skinfolds till age 11 years. While, %BF and skinfold thicknesses were higher in girls at 12–17 years, central to peripheral skinfold ratio were higher in boys. Partial correlation analyses showed that all skinfold thickness parameters and %BF were significantly correlated with BMI (P < 0.001; r = 0.19–0.87).

Conclusions:

The gain in BMI and skinfold thickness between the ages of 7 and 18 years occurred in age- and sex-specific patterns. Instead of comparable BMI, girls showed higher means of total skinfold thickness from age 12 years, while boys had higher central to peripheral adiposity ratio.

Body fat accrual trajectories for a sample of Asian-Canadian and Caucasian-Canadian children and youth: A longitudinal DXA-based study

BACKGROUND

Body fat accrual trajectories can be used to monitor trends in body fat mass and identify potential health risks. Currently, no body fat percent (BF%) centile distance and velocity curves exist for Canadian youth.

OBJECTIVES

To develop sex-specific and ethnic-specific BF% centile distance and velocity curves for White and Asian-Canadian youth.

METHODS

We utilized 4734 observations from 944 participants (female = 487; Asian = 532) to create sex-specific BF% velocity curves for age 10 to 18 years and sex-specific and ethnic-specific BF% percentile distance curves for ages 9 to 18 years for White and Asian children. BF% was derived from whole body DXA scans.

RESULTS

BF% centile distance curves for Asian and White girls were similar. BF% at most centiles plateaued around age 16 for Asian but not for White boys. Velocity curves for boys declined from age 11 to 13 years and then increased until age 18 years. For girls from 10 to 15 years, velocity curves converged towards the 50th centile then remained flat from 16 to 18 years.

CONCLUSIONS

BF% distance and velocity centiles can be used to identify when an individual veers from an average BF% accrual trajectory. In future, these curves may be used to investigate differences in fat mass and accrual across Canada.

Age- and Sex-Related Percentiles of Skinfold Thickness, Waist and Hip Circumference, Waist-to-Hip Ratio and Waist-to-Height Ratio: Results from a Population-Based Pediatric Cohort in Germany (LIFE Child)

BACKGROUND

Skinfold thickness (ST), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) measurements are simple methods for assessing fat tissue at defined body parts. We examined these parameters in a cohort of healthy children and adolescents in Leipzig. Our study provides current percentile curves for biceps, triceps, subscapular and iliac crest ST, plus WC, HC, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio.

METHODS

6,344 visits were recorded involving 2,363 individuals from 3 to 16 years in age. Continuous age- and gender-related percentiles (3rd, 10th, median, 90th, 97th percentiles) were estimated using Cole's LMS method.

RESULTS

For biceps and triceps ST, boys show a peak at the beginning of adolescence with a subsequent decrease, while percentile values among girls rise across the age range. Subscapular and iliac crest percentiles also show increasing curves with disproportionately high values for P90 and P97. Boys show higher values of WC, girls have higher levels of HC. WC and HC median percentiles constantly increase in both sexes with a plateau at the age of 16 for girls.

CONCLUSION

Trends for all parameters of body fat are in line with other national and international studies. Unlike the KiGGS study, our study provides circumference data across the whole of our age range, i.e. from 3 to 16 years.