Prevention of adolescent obesity: The global picture and an indian perspective

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Adolescent obesity is an increasing health burden with a growing prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this review is to assess and compare current best practice obesity prevention interventions for adolescents in developed nations and in India METHODS: Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus and Google Scholar electronic databases from 2000 to 2020 were searched using the key terms obesity, overweight, child and adolescent obesity, child and adolescent overweight, interventions for childhood and adolescent obesity and dietary interventions for adolescents, developed countries, and India.

RESULTS

Developed nations worldwide have formed and implemented policies and programs at national and local levels to attempt to minimize and manage adolescent obesity. In 2019, scientific and government consultation groups in India have recommended national cross-sectoral structures to action interventions to restrict high-fat food intake, increase physical activity in children and adolescents and to link current research and school-based interventions in a national framework.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity is a multifactorial problem, and multimodal interventions involving all Indian stakeholders, combined with government policy reform, are urgently needed.

The home food environment and associations with dietary intake among adolescents presenting for a lifestyle modification intervention

BACKGROUND

The home food environment may be an important target for addressing adolescent obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between aspects of the home food environment and the diets of adolescents who present for obesity treatment.

METHODS

Cross-sectional baseline data were collected from 167 overweight/obese adolescent-parent pairs participating in an e-health lifestyle modification intervention. Adolescent intake of specific foods (fruit and vegetables, total fat, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts/treats, and snacking occasions) was assessed by three 24-h dietary recalls, while household factors were collected from adolescent and parent questionnaires. Structural Equation Modeling, controlling for relevant covariates, was used to examine the relationship between adolescent diet and the following household factors: parent modeling, parenting style, family meal practices, and home food/beverage availability.

RESULTS

Findings reveal that few characteristics of the home food environment were associated with adolescent dietary intake. Greater home availability of high-fat foods was moderately associated with adolescent snack intake (β = 0.27, p < .001). Associations with fruit/vegetables and fat intake were small and some were in unexpected directions. Parent modeling of healthful food choices and healthier family meal practices were associated with lower availability of high-fat foods and treats in the home, but were not directly associated with adolescent diets.

CONCLUSIONS

Parent modeling of healthy foods and positive mealtime routines might contribute to the healthfulness of foods offered in the homes of adolescents who are overweight/obese. Additional research is needed to better characterize the complex aspects of the household environment that influence adolescent diet.

Anorexia nervosa versus bulimia nervosa: differences based on retrospective correlates in a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

This study is the result of two Portuguese case-control studies that examined the replication of retrospective correlates and preceding life events in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) development. This study aims to identify retrospective correlates that distinguish AN and BN METHOD: A case-control design was used to compare a group of women who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for AN (N = 98) and BN (N = 79) with healthy controls (N = 86) and with other psychiatric disorders (N = 68). Each control group was matched with AN patients regarding age and parental social categories. Risk factors were assessed by interviewing each person with the Oxford Risk Factor Interview.

RESULTS

Compared to AN, women with BN reported significantly higher rates of paternal high expectations, excessive family importance placed on fitness/keeping in shape, and negative consequences due to adolescent overweight and adolescent objective overweight.

DISCUSSION

Overweight during adolescence emerged as the most relevant retrospective correlate in the distinction between BN and AN participants. Family expectations and the importance placed on keeping in shape were also significant retrospective correlates in the BN group.