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Purpose: Investigate whether obesity risk and current weight status are independently associated with physical activity (PA) and whether PA is associated with adiposity and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance) among children with high versus low obesity risk based on in utero exposure to maternal overweight/obesity with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM; high risk) or without GDM (overweight/obesity; high risk) or maternal normal weight without GDM (low risk). Method: Secondary analysis of data from children born to women with overweight/obesity and GDM, overweight/obesity without GDM, or normal weight without GDM. PA was assessed with accelerometry, percentage of body fat derived from anthropometrics, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance calculated from glucose and insulin. Results: Among 4- to 10-year-old children (N = 163), analyses of covariance showed that children with a current BMI ≥85th percentile had less vigorous PA than those with BMI <85th percentile, but in utero exposure was not an independent predictor of PA. In linear regression modeling, moderate to vigorous PA was inversely associated with percentage of body fat and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance independent of age, Tanner stage, and accelerometer wear time, with stronger associations in high-risk groups. Conclusions: Children's PA is related to current weight status but not underlying risk for obesity but may be especially important to reduce obesity and insulin resistance in high-risk children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimThis study aims to examine the comparative risk of obesity in the FTO rs9939609 genotype in multiethnic groups in Asia, considering that obesity has become a global disease.Data synthesisData searches were carried out in several electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, ClinicalTrials.gov and NCBI. The search involved a combination of keywords related to genetics and obesity risk. Pooled Odds Ratio (POR) with 95% CI was calculated based on the pooled data. Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4.1 were used to analyze the data.ResultsFrom 18 studies, the results of the dominant genetic model AA vs. TT showed POR 95%Cl = 1.95 (1.36–2.80); p

Rationale Clinical research has shown that prenatal exposure to nicotine may result in increased obesity risk later in life. Preclinical research has corroborated this finding, but few studies have investigated inhaled nicotine or the interaction with diet on obesity risk. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on both direct and indirect obesity measures, with both sex and diet as factors. Methods Pregnant rats were exposed to either vehicle or nicotine vapor (24 mg/mL or 59 mg/mL) throughout the entire gestational period. Offspring from each treatment group were given either a normal diet or a high fat diet starting at postnatal day 22. Caloric intake, body weight, spontaneous locomotion, sleep/wake activity, and voluntary exercise were measured throughout adolescence. Pregnancy weight gain and pup birthweights were collected to further measure developmental effects of prenatal nicotine exposure. Results Both maternal weight gain during pregnancy and pup weight at birth were decreased with prenatal nicotine exposure. Early adolescent males showed increased spontaneous activity in the open field following prenatal nicotine exposure compared to vehicle counterparts, particularly those given high-fat diet. Additionally, high dose nicotine prenatal treated males ran significantly less distance on the running wheel in late adolescence compared to vehicle counterparts, in the normal diet group only. Conclusion The results presented here show decreased birthweight, hyperactivity, and decreased voluntary exercise in adolescence following prenatal nicotine exposure in dose, sex, and diet dependent manners, which could lead to increased obesity risk in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between individual, household, and community-level factors with obesity-related health behaviors. Households (n = 6110) were enumerated, and participants (>18 years) reported their screen time and how many sugar-sweetened beverages they consumed per day. Individuals from food insecure and higher SES households were more likely to report higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Screen time was negatively associated with age (p <.01), and being female was associated with 35 minutes more screen time per day (p <.01). Community and household factors were independent drivers of behavior that need to be incorporated into individual level interventions, or considered in analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of the association between dietary habits and long-term body weight status is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate changes in Mediterranean-type diet (MTD) adherence in relation to body weight during 20 years of follow-up. Data from n = 1582 participants from the ATTICA cohort study (2002–2022) were used. MTD adherence was assessed via MedDietScore, and body weight status via body mass index (BMI) by 3 different measurements. We found that MTD adherence and changes in this adherence were inversely related to BMI at 20 years and the mean BMI during the 20-year follow-up. In multi-adjusted linear regression models, a 1/55 increase in baseline, 10-year, and 20-year MedDietScore was associated with a decrease of 0.05–0.13 kg/m2 in BMI at 20 years and of 0.08–0.09 kg/m2 in the mean BMI. Being consistently close to the MTD for 20 years was associated with a >90% decreased risk of maintaining overweight/obesity during the 20-year period. Strong, protective, long-lasting effects of the MTD were observed, even in those who deviated from the MTD in the follow-up (41% of the sample). Our results highlight the need to focus on the overall diet quality to minimize the risk of maintaining an excessive body weight during the life-course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few short, validated tools to assess young children's obesity‐related dietary behaviours, limiting the rapid screening of dietary behaviours in research and practice‐based early obesity prevention. This study aimed to develop and assess the reliability and validity of a caregiver‐reported short dietary questionnaire to rapidly assess obesity‐related dietary behaviours in children aged 6 months to 5 years. The Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood Dietary Questionnaire (EPOCH‐DQ) was developed using a rigorous process to determine content and structural validity. Three age‐appropriate versions were developed for (1) infants, aged 6–12 months, (2) toddlers, aged 1–2.9 years and (3) pre‐schoolers, aged 3–5 years. The questionnaire (7–15 items) measures dietary behaviours, including diet risk from non‐core food and beverage intake, diet quality from vegetable frequency, bread type and infant feeding practices. Test–retest reliability was assessed from repeated administrations 1 week apart (n = 126). Internal consistency, concurrent validity (against a comparison questionnaire, the InFANT Food Frequency Questionnaire), construct validity and interpretability were assessed (n = 209). Most scores were highly correlated and significantly associated (p < 0.05) for validity (rs: 0.45–0.89, percentage agreement 68%–100%) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.61–0.99) for diet risk, diet quality and feeding practice items. The EPOCH‐DQ shows acceptable validity and reliability for screening of obesity‐related behaviours of children under 5 years of age. The short length and, thus, low participant burden of the EPOCH‐DQ allows for potential applications in various settings. Future testing of the EPOCH‐DQ should evaluate culturally and socio‐economically diverse populations and establish the predictive validity and sensitivity to detect change. Key messages: Accurate measurement of obesity‐related dietary behaviours is essential for the evaluation of early obesity prevention programmes and monitoring population trends.The 7–15 item Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood Dietary Questionnaire (EPOCH‐DQ) was shown to have acceptable validity and reliability for assessing obesity‐related behaviours of children aged 6 months to 5 years of age.The short length and thus low participant burden of the EPOCH‐DQ allows for potential applications in various settings, including research, population health monitoring and use by health professionals.Future testing of the EPOCH‐DQ should include evaluation across culturally and socio‐economically diverse populations and determine the predictive validity and sensitivity to detect change of the EPOCH‐DQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) aggregate the effects of genetic variants across the genome and are used to predict risk of complex diseases, such as obesity. Current PRSs only include common variants (minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥1%), whereas the contribution of rare variants in PRSs to predict disease remains unknown. Here, we examine whether augmenting the standard common variant PRS (PRScommon) with a rare variant PRS (PRSrare) improves prediction of obesity. We used genome-wide genotyped and imputed data on 451,145 European-ancestry participants of the UK Biobank, as well as whole exome sequencing (WES) data on 184,385 participants. We performed single variant analyses (for both common and rare variants) and gene-based analyses (for rare variants) for association with BMI (kg/m2), obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), and extreme obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). We built PRSscommon and PRSsrare using a range of methods (Clumping+Thresholding [C+T], PRS-CS, lassosum, gene-burden test). We selected the best-performing PRSs and assessed their performance in 36,757 European-ancestry unrelated participants with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. The best-performing PRScommon explained 10.1% of variation in BMI, and 18.3% and 22.5% of the susceptibility to obesity and extreme obesity, respectively, whereas the best-performing PRSrare explained 1.49%, and 2.97% and 3.68%, respectively. The PRSrare was associated with an increased risk of obesity and extreme obesity (ORobesity = 1.37 per SDPRS, Pobesity = 1.7x10-85; ORextremeobesity = 1.55 per SDPRS, Pextremeobesity = 3.8x10-40), which was attenuated, after adjusting for PRScommon (ORobesity = 1.08 per SDPRS, Pobesity = 9.8x10-6; ORextremeobesity= 1.09 per SDPRS, Pextremeobesity = 0.02). When PRSrare and PRScommon are combined, the increase in explained variance attributed to PRSrare was small (incremental Nagelkerke R2 = 0.24% for obesity and 0.51% for extreme obesity). Consistently, combining PRSrare to PRScommon provided little improvement to the prediction of obesity (PRSrare AUC = 0.591; PRScommon AUC = 0.708; PRScombined AUC = 0.710). In summary, while rare variants show convincing association with BMI, obesity and extreme obesity, the PRSrare provides limited improvement over PRScommon in the prediction of obesity risk, based on these large populations.

Background: Obesity prevalence is significantly higher among Latino boys than girls. Weight status at 12 mo, a significant predictor of childhood obesity, is associated with feeding practices during infancy. Objectives: The objectives were to examine breastfeeding and formula-feeding practices overall and by infant gender and to examine relations among infant gender, milk-feeding practices, and obesity risk among Latino infants over the first year of life. Methods: Latino mother-infant dyads (n = 90) were recruited from a pediatric clinic. Mothers were interviewed at regular intervals (infants aged 2, 4, 6, and 9 mo), and 24-h feeding recalls were conducted when infants were aged 6 and 9 mo. Infants' lengths and weights were retrieved from clinic records to calculate weight-for-length percentiles. A bivariate analysis was conducted to compare feeding practices by gender and mediation analysis to test whether feeding practices mediated the relation between gender and obesity risk. Results: The majority (80%) of mothers were born outside the United States. In early infancy, mixed feeding of formula and breastfeeding was common. At 6 and 9 mo of age, milk-feeding practices differed, with formula feeding more common for boys than girls. At 12 mo, 38% of infants experienced obesity risk (-85th weight-for-length percentile). Infants' obesity risk increased by 18% per 1 oz increase in powdered formula intake. Formula intake among boys was on average 1.42 oz (in dry weight) higher than that among girls, which, in turn, mediated their increased obesity risk (IERR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.90). Conclusions: The increased obesity risk among Latino boys compared with girls at 12 mo was explained by higher rates of formula feeding at 6 and 9 mo of age. Future investigations of cultural values and beliefs in gender-related feeding practices are warranted to understand the differences in obesity risk between Latino boys and girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: In this study, we introduce an approach for quickly profiling the nutritional content of fruit juices by using a portable Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR) device. This method enables real-time prediction and simultaneous analysis of key components, such as sugars and acids in fruit juices, addressing concerns about obesity and other health risks. The portability of the FT-IR sensor makes it a valuable tool for food processors, providing a convenient out-of-the-laboratory solution. This application detects deviations in sugar and ascorbic acid levels compared to nutritional labels, helping consumers to make healthier decisions. Furthermore, applying portable FT-IR devices by the fruit juice industry will streamline quality control processes and represents a shift towards more efficient, non-destructive, and high-throughput analytical methods. Fruit juices (FJ) have gained widespread global consumption, driven by their perceived health benefits. The accuracy of nutrition information is essential for consumers assessing FJ quality, especially with increasing concerns about added sugars and obesity risk. Conversely, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), found in nature in many fruits and vegetables, is often lost due to its susceptibility to light, air, and heat, and it undergoes fortification during FJ production. Current analytical methods for determining FJ components are time-consuming and labor-intensive, prompting the need for rapid analytical tools. This study employed a field-deployable portable FT-IR device, requiring no sample preparation, to simultaneously predict multiple quality traits in 68 FJ samples from US markets. Using partial least square regression (PLSR) models, a strong correlation (RCV ≥ 0.93) between FT-IR predictions and reference values was obtained, with a low standard error of prediction. Remarkably, 21% and 37% of FJs deviated from nutrition label values for sugars and ascorbic acid, respectively. Portable FT-IR devices offer non-destructive, simultaneous, simple, and high-throughput approaches for chemical profiling and real-time prediction of sugars and acid levels in FJs. Their handiness and ruggedness can provide food processors with a valuable "out-of-the-laboratory" analytical tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purpose: Endometrial cancer [EC] is the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Obesity is a prominent risk factor associated with its incidence and progression. The aim of study: The article aims to provide a thorough explanation of the mechanisms through which obesity can contribute to the development of EC. Additionally, it emphasizes the crucial role of combating excess adipose tissue as a significant component of cancer prevention specifically targeting endometrial cancer. Material and method: The literature review applied standard criteria and focused on PubMed articles using keywords: Endometrial cancer, Obesity, Mortality, Prevention, Pathogenesis. Description of the State of Knowledge: Obesity significantly impacts EC development and prognosis, particularly in Type I cases. It modifies adipose tissue metabolism, affecting the release of various substances linked to tumor growth and mortality risk. The relative risks escalate with increasing BMI. Following an EC diagnosis, higher BMI, especially =40, significantly associates with increased overall mortality risk. On a preventive front, exercise showcases its potential in reducing EC risk by moderating insulin and estrogen levels. Summary: These findings underscore the critical role of obesity in both EC development and prognosis, emphasizing the potential for preventive measures. Without proactive measures, the worldwide obesity epidemic will persist, exerting a substantial effect on EC occurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Possible mechanisms behind the association of breastfeeding with a lower risk of later obesity are unknown but one possibility is the unique composition of human milk. Here, we systematically reviewed the evidence linking breast-milk macronutrient and hormonal composition with later obesity. Methods We searched 7 databases for studies that included infants predominantly breast-fed for the first 3 months and which analysed associations between a measure of breast-milk composition and later (> 6 months) measures of obesity or body composition. Results 47 publications were identified for full-text screening, of which 10 were eligible and only 3 found significant associations. Higher leptin concentration in breast milk at age 1 month was associated with lower infant BMI at 12, 18 and 24 months of age (1 study). Higher breast-milk adiponectin concentration at 6 weeks and 4 months were associated with adiposity at age 12 and 24 months (1 study). In 1 study, breast-milk carbohydrate content was positively associated, and fat content negatively associated, with adiposity at age 12 months. No significant associations were found between other hormones or macronutrients in human milk and later risk of obesity or body composition. Conclusions The evidence linking breast-milk composition with later obesity was inconsistent and confined to single, individual studies. Our review highlights the methodological limitations of previous studies and the need for further research in this area.

Introduction and purpose: Endometrial cancer [EC] is the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Obesity is a prominent risk factor associated with its incidence and progression. The aim of study: The article aims to provide a thorough explanation of the mechanisms through which obesity can contribute to the development of EC. Additionally, it emphasizes the crucial role of combating excess adipose tissue as a significant component of cancer prevention specifically targeting endometrial cancer. Material and method: ​​The literature review applied standard criteria and focused on PubMed articles using keywords: Endometrial cancer, Obesity, Mortality, Prevention, Pathogenesis Description of the State of Knowledge: Obesity significantly impacts EC development and prognosis, particularly in Type I cases. It modifies adipose tissue metabolism, affecting the release of various substances linked to tumor growth and mortality risk.The relative risks escalate with increasing BMI. Following an EC diagnosis, higher BMI, especially ≥40, significantly associates with increased overall mortality risk. On a preventive front, exercise showcases its potential in reducing EC risk by moderating insulin and estrogen levels. Summary: These findings underscore the critical role of obesity in both EC development and prognosis, emphasizing the potential for preventive measures. Without proactive measures, the worldwide obesity epidemic will persist, exerting a substantial effect on EC occurrences.

Pediatric obesity is a major public health concern. Genetic susceptibility and increased availability of energy-dense food are known risk factors for obesity. However, the extent to which these factors jointly bias behavior and neural circuitry towards increased adiposity in children remains unclear. While undergoing fMRI, 108 children (ages 5-11y) performed a food-specific go/no-go task. Participants were instructed to either respond ("go") or inhibit responding ("no-go") to images of food or toys. Half of the runs depicted high-calorie foods (e.g., pizza) whereas the other half depicted low-calorie foods (e.g., salad). Children were also genotyped for a DNA polymorphism associated with energy intake and obesity (FTO rs9939609) to examine the influence of obesity risk on behavioral and brain responses to food. Participants demonstrated differences in behavioral sensitivity to high- and low-calorie food images depending on task demands. Participants were slower but more accurate at detecting high- (relative to low-) calorie foods when responding to a neutral stimulus (i.e., toys) and worse at detecting toys when responding to high-calorie foods. Inhibition failures were accompanied by salience network activity (anterior insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex), which was driven by false alarms to food images. Children at a greater genetic risk for obesity (dose-dependent model of the FTO genotype) demonstrated pronounced brain and behavioral relationships such that genetic risk was associated with heightened sensitivity to high-calorie food images and increased anterior insula activity. These findings suggest that high-calorie foods may be particularly salient to children at risk for developing eating habits that promote obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Possible mechanisms behind the association of breastfeeding with a lower risk of later obesity are unknown but one possibility is the unique composition of human milk. Here, we systematically reviewed the evidence linking breast-milk macronutrient and hormonal composition with later obesity. Methods: We searched 7 databases for studies that included infants predominantly breast-fed for the first 3 months and which analysed associations between a measure of breast-milk composition and later (> 6 months) measures of obesity or body composition. Results: 47 publications were identified for full-text screening, of which 10 were eligible and only 3 found significant associations. Higher leptin concentration in breast milk at age 1 month was associated with lower infant BMI at 12, 18 and 24 months of age (1 study). Higher breast-milk adiponectin concentration at 6 weeks and 4 months were associated with adiposity at age 12 and 24 months (1 study). In 1 study, breast-milk carbohydrate content was positively associated, and fat content negatively associated, with adiposity at age 12 months. No significant associations were found between other hormones or macronutrients in human milk and later risk of obesity or body composition. Conclusions: The evidence linking breast-milk composition with later obesity was inconsistent and confined to single, individual studies. Our review highlights the methodological limitations of previous studies and the need for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep is fundamental for adolescents' healthy development but undergoes dramatic changes in quantity and quality due to the conflict between biological and social rhythms. Insufficient sleep has been associated with worse physical health status and irregular eating behaviors in adolescents. This review aims to systematically synthesize the longitudinal associations between adolescents' sleep dimensions (i.e., duration, timing, quality, and insomnia symptoms) and physical health indicators (i.e., anthropometric indices, fat percentage, and risk of obesity), eating behaviors, and nutritional aspects (i.e., type of diet related to the intake of specific foods and nutrients, amount and timing of food consumption, energy expenditure). A total of 28 longitudinal studies were included. The meta-analytic results showed that longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, and lower insomnia symptoms were associated with lower BMI and fat percentage and that shorter sleep duration (<7 h) and lower sleep quality were associated with a higher risk of obesity. Conversely, anthropometric indices were not related to sleep over time. Limited literature examined the bidirectional association between adolescents' sleep and their eating behaviors and nutritional aspects. Such knowledge sheds new light on the role of sleep for adolescents' health, highlighting the need to examine further the interplay between these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult survivors of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors are at the highest risk for morbidity and late mortality among all childhood cancers due to a high burden of chronic conditions, and environmental and lifestyle factors. This study aims to epidemiologically characterize young adult survivors of pediatric CNS tumors using body mass index (BMI) to assess risk factors for obesity. Using a cross-sectional design, young adults (18–39 years) previously treated for pediatric CNS tumors and followed in a survivorship clinic during 2016–2021 were examined. Demographic, BMI, and diagnosis information were extracted from medical records of the most recent clinic visit. Data were assessed using a two-sample t-test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariable logistical regression. 198 survivors (53% female, 84.3% White) with a BMI status of underweight (4.0%), healthy weight (40.9%), overweight (26.8%), obesity (20.2%), and severe obesity (8.1%) were examined. Male sex (OR, 2.414; 95% CI, 1.321 to 4.414), older age at follow-up (OR, 1.103; 95% CI, 1.037 to 1.173), and craniopharyngioma diagnosis (OR, 5.764; 95% CI, 1.197 to 27.751) were identified as significant (p < 0.05) obesity-related (≥25.0 kg/m2) risk factors. The majority of patients were overweight or obese. As such, universal screening efforts with more precise determinants of body composition than BMI, risk stratification, and targeted lifestyle interventions are warranted during survivorship care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While the existence of a healthy migrant effect remains controversial, overweight and obesity are considered a global pandemic. Migrants seem to be affected more often, however most of the few existing studies did not differentiate a first-generation from a second-generation migration background and/or did not control common socio-demographic confounders. This study aims at examining the influence of first- and second-generation migration on body mass index (BMI) and obesity in Germany.Subjects and Methods: We conducted a controlled observational study based on a survey of n = 64,089 participants of the German Socio-Economic-Panel. Missing values were multivariate imputed via chained equations (MICE). The influence of migration on BMI and obesity was assessed by comparing first-generation, second-generation and non-migrants to each other. Pairwise statistical testing was done by t tests and Fisher's exact tests. For the multivariate analysis, OLS and logistic regression models and its coefficients (beta, odds ratio) were used. Targeting multiple testing, Holm-correction was utilized.Results: Within the bivariate analysis, all three group-specific mean BMI-values differ significantly from each other (P < .001). The pairwise differences regarding the obesity risk are also significant (P < .001). Within the multivariate analysis, only second-generation migration reveals an influence on BMI compared to first-generation migration (ß = 0.297; 97.5% CI: 0.127-0.467) and non-migrants (ß = 0.366; 98.33% CI: 0.103-0.628). This is equivalent to its influence on obesity versus first-generation (odds ratios = 1.220; 98.33% CI: 1.045-1.423) and non-migrants (odds ratios = 1.134; 97.5% CI: 1.018-1.262).Conclusions: After controlling socio-demographic confounders, a second-generation migration background but not a first-generation migration background is associated with a higher BMI and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity, reflecting a household’s low ability to purchase healthy food, is a public health concern that is associated with poor diet and obesity. Poor food environments, characterized as a neighborhood with low access to healthy, affordable food, may amplify the negative impact of food insecurity on diet and obesity. This study aims to investigate whether food insecurity and food environments are jointly associated with an increased risk of poor diet quality and obesity. We used data from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults in the Health and Retirement Study Health Care and Nutrition Survey and the National Neighborhood Data Archive to investigate the role of household and neighborhood characteristics on diet and obesity. Weighted regression models were estimated to examine the relationship between food insecurity and food environments as well as their interaction with diet quality and obesity. Food insecure respondents had lower Healthy Eating Index scores and were more likely to be obese than food secure respondents. Living in a poor food environment was associated with lower Healthy Eating Index scores, but not with obesity. We did not find any interaction between food insecurity and food environment in determining either healthy eating or obesity. Reducing food insecurity and increasing access to healthy food environments may encourage healthier eating among older adults, while alleviating food-related hardship may also reduce their obesity risk.

• Individuals who felt greater objectification were more likely to consume indulgent foods. • A mixed-method approach was used with a longitudinal survey and controlled experiments. • Emotional distress mediated the link between objectification and a preference for indulgent foods. • This research contributes to objectification, indulgent eating, and health fields. Overweight or obesity, often linked to excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, increases the risk of developing various chronic diseases. The present study aims to systematically investigate the effect of suffering from objectification on a preference for indulgent food. We found across five studies (Chinese participants, N = 1011) that individuals who endure a higher level of objectification exhibit a greater intention to consume indulgent foods, employing a longitudinal survey (Study 1) and a series of fully controlled experiments (Studies 2a-3). Specifically, Study 1 revealed a positive association between experiencing objectification and the consumption of indulgent foods. Studies 2a-2c further demonstrated a causal relationship between experiencing objectification and a preference for indulgent food using different manipulation paradigms and measurements. In Study 3, we replicated this effect and further tested the mediating role of emotional distress in the process. Taken together, our findings suggest that objectification, as an inconspicuous interpersonal maltreatment, heightens individuals' emotional distress and then fosters their preference for indulgent food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of diet quality with depression among the pediatric age group has been inconsistent. This may be due, in part, to varying dietary assessment methods. The current study sought to examine this association, and its reliability, using four dietary measures previously studied in children and adolescents. Dietary habits among 139 children and adolescents (10–18 years, 66% female) with major depressive disorder [MDD (n = 77)], non-MDD psychiatric conditions (PSYCH; n = 31), or without psychiatric illness (healthy controls [HC]; n = 31) were examined. Using self-reported dietary intake, diet quality was characterized using the Youth Healthy Eating Index (YHEI), Dietary Questionnaire (DQ), Health Behaviour of Teenagers (HBT), and the Healthy Eating Habits Scale (HEHS). Multivariate Analysis of Covariances examined the association between depression status and dietary habits across measures controlling for participant age. The multivariate effect was significant by diet measures, F (16, 256) = 1.9, p =.02, partial η2 = 0.12, with significant differences across groups on consumption of healthy dietary practices and minimal variability across measures. In subgroup analyses, MDD children had decreased consumption of healthy foods compared with PSYCH and HC children on three out of four measures. There was no difference in consumption of unhealthy foods across diagnostic groups. Cross-sectional design. Children with MDD consume fewer healthy foods than non-MDD children, with little variation by dietary measure. Research examining the directionality of this association and specific dietary deficits among MDD youth is needed to elucidate potential preventative targets for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral health is composed of various oral health indices (OHIs), such as oral self-care habits, oral hygiene, oral function, and mastication ability. Oral self-care habits have frequently been examined for obesity risk. This study aimed to comprehensively clarify the association between OHIs and obesity risk.Methods: We collected data for 15 questions on the four OHIs and measured the body mass index of 3494 men and 2552 women aged 35-79 years. Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2. The four OHIs were scored by the corresponding questions (good as "reference"), and the summed score was defined as "comprehensive OHI", that is, the fifth OHI. Each lowest tertile score was used as "reference". Using multiple logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values for trends were estimated.Results: In the men and women, the ORs were 1.37 (1.11-1.67, < 0.01) and 2.48 (1.80-3.42, < 0.01) for oral self-care habits, and 1.78 (1.42-2.24, < 0.01) and 3.06 (2.12-4.43, < 0.01) for tooth brushing frequency, respectively. Moreover, in men, a significant trend was found for "harder rinsing out your mouth", related to "oral function". In women, the ORs were 1.74 (1.28-2.36, < 0.01) and 1.43 (1.00-2.06, < 0.01) for "comprehensive OHI" and "longer meal time" related to "mastication ability", respectively.Conclusions: Our findings showed that obesity risk was associated with poor of oral health, which were comprehensively composed of various OHIs, among middle-aged and older Japanese men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Introduction: although in Chile 75 % of obese preschool children participate in a primary health intervention, obesity rates have increased. Objective: to determine the risk of children being obese in 5th grade (10 yrs), according to biological and social attributes observed when they attended prekindergarten (PK) at 4 yrs, to determine which preschoolers should be prioritized for targeting. Method: a retrospective cohort study including 55,623 participants. The variables collected when children attended PK were age, sex, weight, height, maternal educational level and employment status, the child´s relationship with persons living at home, person in charge of the child after school, and number of household members, plus weight, height, and age in 5th grade. To determine the risk of being obese in 5th grade we did two logistic regression models-the first one included all PK children and the above variables, while the second model considered additionally the presence of obesity in PK. The rest of the variables were the same. Results: the risk of children being obese in 5th grade (10 yrs) was 1.43 times higher if their mothers had ≤ 8 yrs of schooling, 1.13 times higher if they lived with a grandparent, and slightly higher if their mothers had an occupation (1.04 times). Boys had a significantly higher risk (1.74 times). Obesity at 4 yrs constituted the highest obesity risk later on (5.3 times). Conclusions: targeting obese 4-year-old boys who participate in a primary health intervention, whose mothers have low education and who live with a grandparent, may lower obesity rates in mid-childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) aggregate the effects of genetic variants across the genome and are used to predict risk of complex diseases, such as obesity. Current PRSs only include common variants (minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥1%), whereas the contribution of rare variants in PRSs to predict disease remains unknown. Here, we examine whether augmenting the standard common variant PRS (PRScommon) with a rare variant PRS (PRSrare) improves prediction of obesity. We used genome-wide genotyped and imputed data on 451,145 European-ancestry participants of the UK Biobank, as well as whole exome sequencing (WES) data on 184,385 participants. We performed single variant analyses (for both common and rare variants) and gene-based analyses (for rare variants) for association with BMI (kg/m2), obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), and extreme obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2). We built PRSscommon and PRSsrare using a range of methods (Clumping+Thresholding [C+T], PRS-CS, lassosum, gene-burden test). We selected the best-performing PRSs and assessed their performance in 36,757 European-ancestry unrelated participants with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. The best-performing PRScommon explained 10.1% of variation in BMI, and 18.3% and 22.5% of the susceptibility to obesity and extreme obesity, respectively, whereas the best-performing PRSrare explained 1.49%, and 2.97% and 3.68%, respectively. The PRSrare was associated with an increased risk of obesity and extreme obesity (ORobesity = 1.37 per SDPRS, Pobesity = 1.7x10-85; ORextremeobesity = 1.55 per SDPRS, Pextremeobesity = 3.8x10-40), which was attenuated, after adjusting for PRScommon (ORobesity = 1.08 per SDPRS, Pobesity = 9.8x10-6; ORextremeobesity= 1.09 per SDPRS, Pextremeobesity = 0.02). When PRSrare and PRScommon are combined, the increase in explained variance attributed to PRSrare was small (incremental Nagelkerke R2 = 0.24% for obesity and 0.51% for extreme obesity). Consistently, combining PRSrare to PRScommon provided little improvement to the prediction of obesity (PRSrare AUC = 0.591; PRScommon AUC = 0.708; PRScombined AUC = 0.710). In summary, while rare variants show convincing association with BMI, obesity and extreme obesity, the PRSrare provides limited improvement over PRScommon in the prediction of obesity risk, based on these large populations.

Background The prevalence of obesity has increased over the years, resulting in multiple physical and psychological health issues that impact the quality of human life. Numerous Western studies have linked obesity and depression, but few studies have investigated this correlation among the Saudi population. Hence, this study assesses the correlation between obesity and depression among the general population of Saudi Arabia. Methods To conduct this cross-sectional study, we used an electronic questionnaire obtained from previous studies and included the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess the study sample for depression. We enrolled 766 Saudi adults in our study. The data obtained from the participants was analyzed with IBM SPSS software using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression. Results The majority of the participants were female (n = 391, 51%), aged between 18 and 25 years (n = 498, 65.0%). In terms of BMI, 18.3% were obese (n = 140). Regarding depressive symptoms assessment, 30% showed mild depression, making this the most prevalent category. Moderate depression was represented by 22.6% of the participants. The highest mean depressive symptom score was seen in the obese group (BMI ≥ 30.0), with a mean score of 10.04 (SD = 6.9). Conclusion A significant correlation was detected between the highest mean depressive symptom score and obesity, and psychological disorders or chronic disease also showed a significant association with depression., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia issued approval HAPO-02-K-012-2024-10-2218. The study was conducted in July 2024 after receiving ethical approval from the Biomedical Ethics Committee at the College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia (Approval number: HAPO-02-K-012-2024-10-2218). Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Al Shanbari et al.)

Background: Thirty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are commonly found in ADIPOQ . APN levels are decreased in obesity, and SNPs of the ADIPOQ gene affecting APN have varying associations with the development of obesity in different populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association of SNPs in ADIPOQ with the risk of obesity development in various populations., Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist date up to Feb 2023. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to find out if a study fit the main criteria for submission and to assess the data quality of the articles included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated via Review Manager (RM) V.5.4 to estimate the connection between ADIPOQ polymorphic qualities of a gene and the risk of developing obesity., Results: The present study analysed the association between ADIPOQ polymorphisms (rs1501299, rs2241766, rs266729, rs822393, and rs822396) and obesity risk and suggested that APN is partially responsible for the emergence of obesity and increases its risk., Conclusion: It is important to take into account several limitations of this meta-analysis when evaluating the findings. First off, even though we looked through numerous databases for all relevant papers, there is a chance we overlooked some. Our capacity to arrive at more firm conclusions was further hampered by the small number of papers that made up our meta-analysis. The most current data, however, are presented in this study since it used newly published data to perform a meta-analysis and evaluate the relationship between ADIPOQ polymorphisms and obesity., (Copyright© 2024 Sikhayeva et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

To identify possible mechanisms by which maternal consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners increases obesity risk in offspring, we reconstructed the major alterations in the cecal microbiome of 3-week-old offspring of obese dams consuming high fat/sucrose (HFS) diet with or without aspartame (5–7 mg/kg/day) or stevia (2–3 mg/kg/day) by shotgun metagenomic sequencing (n = 36). High throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing (n = 105) was performed for dams, 3- and 18-week-old offspring. Maternal consumption of sweeteners altered cecal microbial composition and metabolism of propionate/lactate in their offspring. Offspring daily body weight gain, liver weight and body fat were positively correlated to the relative abundance of key microbes and enzymes involved in succinate/propionate production while negatively correlated to that of lactose degradation and lactate production. The altered propionate/lactate production in the cecum of weanlings from aspartame and stevia consuming dams implicates an altered ratio of dietary carbohydrate digestion, mainly lactose, in the small intestine vs. microbial fermentation in the large intestine. The reconstructed microbiome alterations could explain increased offspring body weight and body fat. This study demonstrates that intense sweet tastants have a lasting and intergenerational effect on gut microbiota, microbial metabolites and host health.

Study Objectives: Using data from a large, prospective study of sleep in first-year college students, we examined whether students' sleep regularity is associated with body mass index (BMI) and BMI change (ΔBMI) during their first college semester. In a subset of participants, we also tested whether dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) phase and DLMO-bedtime phase angle are associated with BMI and ΔBMI. Methods: Analyses included data from 581 students (mean age = 18.7 ± 0.5 years; 58% female; 48% non-white) who had their height and weight assessed at the start of classes (T1) and end of 9 weeks. Participants completed online daily sleep diaries from which total sleep time (TST) and the sleep regularity index (SRI) were calculated. Among participants who completed a DLMO protocol (n = 161), circadian phase was quantified by DLMO and circadian alignment by DLMO-bedtime phase angle. Data were analyzed with linear regressions that controlled for sex and average TST. Results: Average SRI was 74.1 ± 8.7 (range: 25.7; 91.6). Average BMI at T1 was 22.0 ± 3.5 and participants gained 1.8 ± 2.4 kg (range: -7.2; 11.4); 39% gained 2-5 kg, 8% gained >5 kg. Lower SRI was associated with greater BMI at T1 (B = -0.06 [95% CI: -0.09; -0.02], p = 0.001) but not with ΔBMI (p = 0.062). Average TST was not significantly associated with BMI or ΔBMI, nor were circadian phase and alignment in the subsample (p's > 0.05). Conclusions: Sleep regularity is an understudied but relevant sleep dimension associated with BMI during young adulthood. Our findings warrant future work to examine longer-term associations between sleep regularity and weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern times, obesity has become a significant threat all over the world. Obesity means an unnatural or excessive amount of fat that is present in our bodies. People are constantly moving towards an unhealthy lifestyle, eating excessive junk food, late-night sleep, spend a long time sitting down. Especially, adolescents are being affected because of their unconscious attitudes. It is a medical problem known as a very complex disease. It promotes the spread of complex illnesses, stroke, heart disease, liver cancer. Consequently, as an aware multitude of Bangladesh, we have to move forward to prevent this risk of obesity. The purpose of this paper is to move towards a machine-learning-based pathway for predicting the risk of obesity using machine-learning algorithms. The great thing about this paper is that people will know the risk of obesity and the reasons behind their obesity. We collect more than 1100 data from many varieties of people of different ages and collect information from both are suffering obesity and non-obesity. For this research, we apply nine prominent machine learning algorithms. We used the algorithm of k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), random forest, logistic regression, multilayer perceptron (MLP), support vector machine (SVM), naïve Bayes, adaptive boosting (ADA boosting), decision tree, and gradient boosting classifier, and we have measured the performance of each of these classifications in terms of some prominent performance metrics. From the experimental results, we determine the obesity of high, medium, and low. The Logistic Regression Algorithm achieves the highest accuracy of 97.09% as compared to the other classifiers. In addition, the gradient boosting algorithm gave the poorest accuracy of 64.08% as well as the lowest metric values.

Background: Inadequate physical activity (PA), excess screen time (ST), and sub-optimal sleep quality tend to co-occur during adolescence. Yet, little is known about the associations of these behaviors as a cluster with adiposity indicators in Indian adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the independent and combined influences of PA, ST, and sleep quality on body mass index (BMI) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) in 10-15 years old adolescents in Mumbai, India. A secondary aim was to explore if these influences vary between sexes.Methods: Cross-sectional study. Adolescents (n = 772, mean age 13.2 (1.4) years) reported frequency and duration of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and time spent using screens on a previously validated instrument. Sleep quality was estimated using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. Mixed effect logistic regression analyses were performed to explore associations between adiposity indicators (BMI z scores > +1SD and WHtR > 0.5) and unhealthy behaviors (PA < 60 min/d, ST > 120 min/d and PSQI scores > 5), stratified by sex.Results: The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 38.3%. Overall, 62.0 and 85.0% reported MVPA< 60 min/d and ST > 120 min/d respectively. Girls reported higher ST (218.21 (69.01) min/d) as compared to boys (165.3 (101.22) min/d, p < 0.001). Clustering of low PA and excess ST was observed in 69.2% and of all three unhealthy behaviors in 18.8%. Among girls, MVPA < 60 min/d (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.54-1.92, p < 0.001) and PSQI scores > 5 (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.78-2.25, p < 0.001) predicted increased BMI. The odds of overweight/obesity were 2.10 times higher in boys reporting low PA and 4.13 times higher in those with low PA+ ST > 120 min/d. Clustering of all three unhealthy behaviors increased prevalence of obesity in both sexes.Conclusions: The results indicated a co-existence of multiple unhealthy lifestyle factors of obesity and that clustering of these behaviors can further aggravate obesity risk as compared to their independent effects. Integrated interventions that leverage the cumulative benefits of being active, less sedentary and sufficient sleep are warranted to facilitate greater improvements in obesity risk behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neighborhood context impacts health. Using an index of geospatial disadvantage measures to predict neighborhood socioeconomic disparities would support area-based allocation of preventative resources, as well as the use of location as a clinical risk factor in care of individual patients. This study tested the association of the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a neighborhood-based index of socioeconomic contextual disadvantage, with elderly obesity risk. We sampled 5066 Medicare beneficiaries at the University of Missouri between September 1, 2013 and September 1, 2014. We excluded patients with unknown street addresses, excluded body mass index (BMI) lower than 18 or higher than 62 as probable errors, and excluded patients with missing BMI data. We used a plot of simple proportions to examine the association between ADI and prevalence of obesity, defined as BMI of 30 and over. We found that obesity was significantly less prevalent in the least-disadvantaged ADI decile (decile 1) than in all other deciles (p

Objective: Food insecurit (FI) has been considered as reason for childhood and adolescent overweight/obesity (OW/OB). Hence, this study was undertaken to assess these relationships. Design: Related articles were found by searching the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Embase databases until October 2019. Odds ratio (OR) was analized by a random-effects model. Standard methods were used for assessment of heterogeneity and publication bias. Data were available from 32 studies. The risk ratios of 139,762 participants were pooled from these articles for the meta-analysis. Results: This study domenstrated that children and adolescents in food-insecure condition are not at risk of OW/OB (OR = 1.02 95% CI: 0.99, 1.05). However, subgroup analysis indicated that FI related with inhanced risk of OW/OB in adolescents living in developed countries (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.27). Other subgroup analysis indicated that severe FI increased the risk of OW/OB among adolescents (OR = 1.24 95% CI: 1.03-1.49). In addition, we found that lower economic development significantly decreased risk of OW/OB among under 6 year children (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.84, 0.93). Conclusions: Our results showed that higher FI degrees were related with more risks of OW/OB among adolescents (12-18 years). Moreover, the country economic levels had effect on the association between FI and risk of OW/OB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prior research on the restaurant environment and obesity risk is limited by cross-sectional data and a focus on specific geographic areas.Objective: To measure the impact of changes in chain restaurant calories over time on body mass index (BMI).Design: We used a first-difference model to examine whether changes from 2012 to 2015 in chain restaurant calories per capita were associated with percent changes in BMI. We also examined differences by race and county income, restaurant type, and initial body weight categories.Setting: USA (207 counties across 39 states).Participants: 447,873 adult patients who visited an athenahealth medical provider in 2012 and 2015 where BMI was measured.Main Outcomes Measured: Percent change in objectively measured BMI from 2012 to 2015.Results: Across all patients, changes in chain restaurant calories per capita were not associated with percent changes in BMI. For Black or Hispanic adults, a 10% increase in exposure to chain restaurant calories per capita was associated with a 0.16 percentage-point increase in BMI (95% CI 0.03, 0.30). This translates into a predicted weight increase of 0.89 pounds (or a 0.53% BMI increase) for an average weight woman at the 90th percentile of increases in the restaurant environment from 2012 to 2015 versus an increase 0.39 pounds (or 0.23% BMI increase) at the 10th percentile. Greater increases in exposure to chain restaurant calories also significantly increased BMI for Black or Hispanic adults receiving healthcare services in lower-income counties (0.26, 95% CI 0.04, 0.49) and with overweight/obesity (0.16, 95% CI 0.04, 0.29).Limitations: Generalizability to non-chain restaurants is unknown and the sample of athenahealth patients is relatively homogenous.Conclusions: Increased exposure to chain restaurant calories per capita was associated with increased weight gain among Black or Hispanic adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite emerging research about the role of the family and home environment on early childhood obesity, little is known on how weight-related behaviors, parent practices and the home environment influence overweight/obesity in older children and adolescents. Methods This analysis used data from a cross-sectional, representative population survey of Australian children age 5–16 years conducted in 2015. Data included measured anthropometry to calculate body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR; waist circumference/height). Information on home-based weight-related behaviors (individual eating and screen time behaviors, parent influences including rules and home environment factors) were measured using established short questions, with parental proxy reporting for children in up to grade 4, and self-report for students in grades 6, 8 and 10. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between weight status and home-based weight-related behaviors. Results Both children and adolescents who did not consume breakfast daily were more likely to be overweight/obese OR (95% CI) = 1.39 (1.07–1.81) p = 0.015, OR (95% CI) =1.42 (1.16–1.74) p = 0.001, respectively, adjusted for age, gender, socio-economic status, rural/urban residence and physical activity. There was also a significant positive association with higher waist-to-height ratio in both children and adolescents. Among children, having a TV in the bedroom was also associated with overweight and obesity OR (95% CI) = 1.54 (1.13–2.09) p = 0.006 and higher waist-to-height ratio. For adolescents, parenting practices such as having no rules on screen-time, OR (95% CI) = 1.29 (1.07–1.55) p = 0.008, and rewarding good behavior with sweets, OR (95% CI) = 2.18 (1.05–4.52) p = 0.036, were significant factors associated with overweight and obesity. The prevalence of these obesogenic behaviors were higher in certain sub-groups of children and adolescents, specifically those from social disadvantage and non-English-speaking backgrounds. Conclusions Interventions to reduce the prevalence of obesity and overweight should include promoting daily breakfast, reducing screen-time, and encouraging health-promoting parenting practices. Interventions should particularly focus on those at some social disadvantage and from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of obesity and the physical activity, sitting time, and eating behaviours associated with BMI in a group of undergraduate female students at a South African university. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 110 female undergraduate students, registered at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Validated self-reported questionnaires were used for physical activity and eating behaviours; and body mass index (BMI) was collected using standardised methods. Results: The presence of obesity in the sample was 17.3%, with a mean BMI of 25.4 ± 4.63 kg/m2. Those with BMIs ≥ 25 kg/m2 were less likely to be physically active and purchase fruits than those with normal BMIs. Close proximity to food vendors (≤500m) (β: 0.25), peer influence (β: 0.26), sitting time (β: 0.20) and purchasing fried foods ≥ 4 times/week (β: 0.87) were positively associated with BMI (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Given the period of susceptibility and potential for shaping healthy behaviour, public health initiatives addressing obesity should target the high sitting times of students and eating behaviour, particularly during the period of transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Purpose/Aim: So far no research concerning the omentin-1 (ITLN1) rs2274907 and vaspin (SERPINA12) rs2236242 polymorphisms has been carried out in a healthy pediatric population. We analyzed associations of these polymorphisms with anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, as well as adiponectin, leptin and soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) levels in prepubertal healthy children, to search for their possible role in the risk of obesity and obesity-related disorders. Materials and Methods: Frequencies of these polymorphisms were analyzed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism in 89 normal-weight children. The body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum levels of adipokines were measured using ELISA methods. Results: We observed differences in values of HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.002) and triglycerides (p = 0.039) in children carrying different genotypes of the ITLN1 rs2274907 polymorphism. In children carrying different genotypes of the SERPINA12 rs2236242 polymorphism differences in BMI (p =0.025) and BMI Z-score (p = 0.01) values were found. Significant relations between anthropometric parameters and levels of HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were associated with minor alleles of the studied polymorphisms. In addition, leptin/sOB-R ratio was related to HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.004) and triglycerides (p = 0.03) levels in children carrying minor allele of the SERPINA12 rs2236242 SNP. Conclusions: We suggest that both ITLN1 rs2274907 and SERPINA12 rs2236242 polymorphisms influence body composition and lipid profile in prepubertal healthy children. Relations between anthropometric parameters, lipid and adipokine levels may be associated with minor alleles of the studied polymorphisms. The possible role of these polymorphisms in the modulation of the risk of obesity and obesity-related disorders in the later life might be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recommendations for the timing and type of complementary foods to introduce to infants have recently changed. These changes are due to increased understanding of how these foods affect the development of food allergies, risk for obesity and other chronic diseases, and infant neurodevelopment. This article brings the current recommendations and recent research together and organizes them for clinicians in pediatrics to enable them to understand and convey this information to parents of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, overweight and obesity have increased dramatically, not only in high income countries. Clearly, unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyle are important drivers of the increased obesity rates, but increasing evidence indicates that the vulnerability for later life non-communicable diseases is set during the first 1000 days, the period from conception until 2 years of age. The growth during this period is faster than during any other period in life. Dietary fats provide energy for growth, but also supply essential fatty acid (FA) precursors for long chain polyunsaturated FA that are building blocks and signals for adipose tissue development. Both epidemiological and experimental data support the notion that specific improvements in dietary fat quality, e.g. specific changes in the fatty acid composition as well as the structural organization of dietary lipids, may reduce the risk of obesity and other adverse outcomes in later life, but clinical evidence is limited and largely inconclusive. We anticipate that effects of such relatively small improvements in nutrient quality may be difficult to measure on the short term and have limited impact in healthy children. However, for children that already experience challenging conditions in the womb and have a higher risk profile based on deviations in birthweight and postnatal growth, the potential protective effects of improved dietary lipid quality in early life could be more substantial. Results from randomized clinical studies testing improved lipid quality concepts will help to develop specific strategies to adapt infant nutrition based on the need with the aim to improve long term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Obesity is a major public health problem that continues to be one of the leading risk factors for premature death. Early life is a critical period of time when the gut microbiota and host metabolism are developing in tandem and significantly contribute to long-term health outcomes. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, particularly in early life, can have detrimental effects on host health and increase the susceptibility of developing obesity later in life. Antibiotics are an essential lifesaving treatment; however, their use in early life may not be without risk. Antibiotics are a leading cause of intestinal dysbiosis, and early life administration is associated with obesity risk. The following review explores the relevant literature that simultaneously examines antibiotic-induced dysbiosis and obesity risk. Current evidence suggests that disruptions to the composition and maturation of the gut microbiota caused by antibiotic use in early life are a key mechanism linking the association between antibiotics and obesity. Without compromising clinical practice, increased consideration of the long-term adverse effects of antibiotic treatment on host health, particularly when used in early life is warranted. Novel adjunct interventions should be investigated (e.g., prebiotics) to help mitigate metabolic risk when antibiotic treatment is clinically necessary.