Search

Background: Approximately 20% of US children are obese and these rates are expected to increase. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides meals to millions of students and may influence their body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to investigate whether students who participate in the NSLP have a higher BMI when compared to those that do not. Methods: Secondary data from the US Census Bureau were analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis H tests were performed to find associations between NSLP participation and students' BMI. Race and economic stability were included as moderating variables. Results: NSLP participation and respondents that identified as White/Caucasian, African American, and Native American were positively associated with BMI. Lower economic stability was also positively associated with BMI. Conclusion: Participation in the NSLP was significantly associated with participants' BMI, race, and economic stability. While a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be determined, these results are important given their potential influence on students' long-term health.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare adherence and dropout rates in adolescents with obesity participating in a behavioral-counseling intervention with or without recreational physical activity (PA). Material and methods: Seventy-four adolescents (13 to 18y, 40 girls and 34 boys) with obesity (body mass index [BMI] z-score ≥ 2.0) were randomized into a counseling group (CG; n = 37) and a counseling + recreational physical activity group (CPAG; n = 37). Adolescents from both groups received behavioral counseling once a week for 12 weeks and monthly for an additional 12 weeks. CPAG adolescents participated in supervised recreational physical activity sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. Body composition, body image dissatisfaction, symptoms of depression, binge eating, bulimia, anorexia and quality of life were assessed at baseline and after 24-weeks. Result: The dropout rate was 2.73 times higher in adolescents from CG compared to CPAG (χ2 = 4.48; p =.034; R2McF = 0.044). Girls were 2.56 times more likely to withdraw when compared to boys (χ2 = 3.86; p =.049; R2McF = 0.038). Binomial logistic regression which incorporated sex, intervention group, BMI z-score and BSQ score at baseline (R2McF = 0.177) explained 75% of the dropout rate. Both interventions were effective in reducing waist circumference (p <.01) and improving quality of life, symptoms of depression, bulimia and binge eating (p <.01). Conclusion: Incorporating a recreational physical activity component to a non-intensive behavioral intervention may be a feasible strategy to reduce dropout rates in adolescents with obesity seeking treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Brazilian adolescents with obesity, and to compare anthropometric and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements in relation to the presence of MS. Methods: Sixty-seven adolescents (13–18 years, 36 girls) with obesity (body mass index z-score ≥2.0) were enrolled. The following were assessed for each participant: anthropometrics, body composition, lipid profile, glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance, blood pressure (BP), and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: The presence of MS was found in 47.76% of the sample. The following abnormal measurements were most frequently reported: waist circumference (WC) (100.0%), BP (85.07%), and triglycerides (TG) (50.75%). Boys with obesity were more likely to meet MS criteria when compared to girls (P = 0.040; odds ratio = 2.80 [1.04–7.56]). Conclusion: The presence of MS in Brazilian adolescents with obesity in this study was 47.76%. Among this sample, the most frequently reported MS variables above the established cutoffs were WC (100%), followed by altered BP (85%) and TG (50%). These data further support previously published studies that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness may increase the risk of MS among adolescents with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]