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Abstract Background Parents are responsible not only for the genetic structure of their children, but also for passing onto them their behaviours and attitudes toward life. The aim of this study was to analyse the connection between school-age children's obesity and that of their parents as well as between child obesity and parents' educational level, as a proxy indicator of the socio-economic status (SES) of families in Tuscany. Methods The children sample was selected from "OKkio alla Salute 2010" (a cross sectional survey carried out by the Italian Institute of Health) and consisted of 1,751 (922 males and 855 females) 8-9 year-old school children. Weight and height were measured by ad hoc trained personnel, and Body Mass Index (BMI) categories were calculated using Cole et al.'s cut-off. Parents' weight, height and educational level were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. The educational levels were classified as high, medium and low. Results The prevalence of obese children increased along the parents' BMI category: from 1.4% for underweight mothers to 30.3% for obese mothers and from 4% for under-normal-weight fathers to 23.9% for obese fathers (p < 0.001). An inverse relationship was observed between the parents' educational level and child obesity, the lowest educational level corresponding to the highest prevalence of obese children: 9.3% for mothers with a low educational level compared to 5.8% for mothers with a high educational level (p = 0.15); similarly, the corresponding prevalence for fathers was 9.5% compared to 4.5% (p = 0.03). Conclusion Parents' obesity and the cultural resources of the family, particularly the father's, seem to influence the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Tuscan children.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of 'graded thinness' in children aged 11, 13 and 15 years in eleven developed countries and to identify trends in the prevalence of 'thinness' (BMI < 17 kg/m2 at age 18 years) by age and gender.Design: Cross-sectional study using data collected through self-reported questionnaires.Setting: Data were taken from the 1997/1998, 2001/2002 and 2005/2006 surveys of the Health Behaviours in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study.Subjects: Children and adolescents from ten European countries and the USA (n 158 000).Results: Prevalence of grades 1, 2 and 3 of thinness was higher among 11-year-old students compared with the 13- and 15-year-olds in all countries. A higher prevalence of thinness was observed in girls than in boys. Since 1998 the prevalence of thinness decreased steadily in Czech boys and girls, while it increased for French girls. In the total European sample of females, thinness decreased from 1998 to 2006 (χ 2 for trend, P < 0·01). Age-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that Czech boys and girls, and Flemish and American girls were less likely to be thin in 2006 than in 1998; while a noteworthy increment, even if borderline significant, was observed for French girls with a 41% increase in the likelihood to be thin.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that thinness is an important overlooked phenomenon with wide variation in prevalence and trends across developed countries. It deserves further longitudinal studies in a multinational context that could increase the understanding of the factors associated with thinness and contribute to developing preventive and nutritional programmes targeted at controlling obesity and chronic diseases, while monitoring thinness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo test a surveillance system on diet and physical activity based on data gathered at well-child visits.DesignCross-sectional data collection on growth, diet, physical activity and sociodemographic variables.SettingOffices of 179 paediatricians in three Italian regions.Subjects26 898 children for a total of 32 915 well-child visits at 1, 3, 5–6, 8–9, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 60–72 months of age.ResultsThe BMI Z-score was lower than the WHO standard at 1 and 3 months but higher from 8–9 months onwards. The rates of breast-feeding at 1, 3, 5–6, 8–9 and 12 months were 88 %, 75 %, 64 %, 52 % and 32 %, respectively, with 5 % and 3 % continuing up to 24 and 36 months. Exclusive breast-feeding was 64 %, 54 % and 20 % at 1, 3 and 5–6 months, respectively; 57 % at 5 months and 85 % at 6 months were given complementary foods. Only 8 % and 10 % of children were taking five portions of fruit and vegetables daily, while 47 % and 51 % were consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at 36 and 60–72 months, respectively. At 60–72 months, less than 10 % reported at least 1 h of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on 5–7 d/week, and 32 % watched television or played videogames for more than 2 h/d, every day. The majority of paediatricians rated the surveillance system as reliable and feasible.ConclusionsSurveillance for diet and physical activity in pre-school children, with data gathered during well-child visits, is feasible and potentially useful to plan and evaluate activities for the prevention of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, characterized by increased mean temperatures and more frequent occurrence of extreme temperatures, may lead to adverse health effects through different and complex mechanisms due to substantial changes in the physical and social environment. The most easily measurable health effects of climate change in high-risk groups are the direct effects of excessively high temperatures. A literature review was performed to identify studies regarding heat waves, risk factors and prevention programmes. A large number of studies performed in Europe during the August 2003 heat wave, and previously in both Europe and North America, showed excess mortality during periods of extreme heat. The role of pollution as a confounding factor remains dubious. Groups at risk include the elderly, the urban population, individuals with impaired health and those with low income. Aging of the population (especially in industrialised nations) and increased urbanization (especially in developing countries) may further increase ill health effects of high temperatures.