Food parenting practices (FPPs) have an important role in shaping children's dietary behaviors. This study aimed to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations over a two-year follow-up ...between FPP and dietary intake and compliance with current recommendations in 6- to 11-year-old European children. A total of 2967 parent-child dyads from the Feel4Diabetes study, a randomized controlled trial of a school and community-based intervention, (50.4% girls and 93.5% mothers) were included. FPPs assessed were: (1) home food availability; (2) parental role modeling of fruit intake; (3) permissiveness; (4) using food as a reward. Children's dietary intake was assessed through a parent-reported food frequency questionnaire. In regression analyses, the strongest cross-sectional associations were observed between home availability of 100% fruit juice and corresponding intake (β = 0.492 in girls and β = 0.506 in boys,
< 0.001), and between parental role modeling of fruit intake and children's fruit intake (β = 0.431 in girls and β = 0.448 in boys,
< 0.001). In multilevel logistic regression models, results indicated that improvements in positive FPPs over time were mainly associated with higher odds of compliance with healthy food recommendations, whereas a decrease in negative FPP over time was associated with higher odds of complying with energy-dense/nutrient-poor food recommendations. Improving FPPs could be an effective way to improve children's dietary intake.
Abstract
Context
Circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Objective
We examined to what extent lifestyle intervention aiming to prevent ...T2D interacts with this association and how BCAA concentrations change during the intervention.
Methods
We computed trajectory clusters by k-means clustering of serum fasting BCAAs analyzed annually by mass spectrometry during a 4-year intervention. We investigated whether baseline BCAAs, BCAA trajectories, and BCAA change trajectories predicted T2D and whether BCAAs predicted T2D differently in the intervention (n = 198) and control group (n = 196).
Results
Elevated baseline BCAAs predicted the incidence of T2D in the control group (hazard ratio HR 1.05 per 10 μmol/L, P = 0.01), but not in the intervention group. BCAA concentration decreased during the first year in the whole cohort (mean −14.9 μmol/L, P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the groups. We identified 5 BCAA trajectory clusters and 5 trajectory clusters for the change in BCAAs. Trajectories with high mean BCAA levels were associated with an increased HR for T2D compared with the trajectory with low BCAA levels (trajectory with highest vs lowest BCAA, HR 4.0; P = 0.01). A trajectory with increasing BCAA levels had a higher HR for T2D compared with decreasing trajectory in the intervention group only (HR 25.4, P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Lifestyle intervention modified the association of the baseline BCAA concentration and BCAA trajectories with the incidence of T2D. Our study adds to the accumulating evidence on the mechanisms behind the effect of lifestyle changes on the risk of T2D.
This study aimed to investigate the association of breakfast consumption frequency (BCF) with glycemic control indices in a cross-sectional sample of adults from families at high risk for type 2 ...diabetes mellitus (T2DM), exploring the role of sex and socioeconomic status (SES).
In 2370 adults (40.8 ± 5.6 years) from 6 European countries, sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric and biochemical characteristics were assessed through standardized procedures. Multivariable regression models were used to examine the association between fasting glucose (FG), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (dependent variables) with BCF (independent variable) controlling for multiple possible confounders.
A linear association of BCF with FG (β = -0.557, 95% CI (-0.834, -0.280)) and a quadratic association with FI and HOMA-IR with the highest point of curve observed at BCF = 2.989 (times/week) and at BCF = 2.746, respectively, independent of the used covariates. In males and in participants of high SES, BCF was linearly and inversely associated with FG, while with FI and HOMA-IR there was an association with BCF in quadratic function. In females, BCF was linearly and inversely associated with FG and HOMA-IR, and there was a quadratic association with FI. In low SES there was only a linear association with FG, yet with no statistically significant findings for FI and HOMA-IR.
Regular breakfast consumption, especially >3 times/week is associated with improved indices of glycemic control. This association was diminished in low SES participants in the presence of the used covariates.
Parental health is associated with children’s health and lifestyles. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess lifestyle behaviours of children of parents with insulin resistance (IR) and at ...risk of type 2 diabetes. 2117 European families from the Feel4Diabetes-study were identified as being at risk for diabetes with the FINDRISC questionnaire and included in the present study. One parent and one child per family were included. Parental IR was considered when homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was equal or higher than 2.5. Children’s screen-time, physical activity and diet were assessed and clustered by
K
-means. Weight and height were measured and children’s body mass index (BMI) was calculated. For children, a Healthy Diet Score (HDS) was calculated. Linear regression and multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between parental IR and children’s lifestyle behaviours in 2021. Children of parents with IR had higher BMI (
p
< 0.001) and spent more screen time (
p
= 0.014) than those of non-IR parents. Children of parents with IR had a lower value in the breakfast and vegetable components of the HDS (
p
= 0.008 and
p
= 0.05). Four lifestyle clusters were found. Children of IR parents had higher odds of being in a non-healthy cluster (OR: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.001–1.437).
Conclusion
: Having an IR parent was associated with a high screen time and an increased probability of having an unhealthy lifestyle pattern in children. These data point out that children’s lifestyles should be assessed in families with IR parents to provide tailored interventions.
What is Known:
• Children with diabetic or insulin-resistant parents could also develop this condition.
• Unhealthy lifestyles are directly related with insulin resistance even in children.
What is New:
• Children from parents with insulin resistance have higher chances of unhealthy lifestyles.
• A higher BMI was found for those children with an insulin-resistant parent.
Comprehensive assessment of metabolism in maternal obesity and pregnancy disorders can provide information about the shared maternal-fetal milieu and give insight into both maternal long-term health ...and intergenerational transmission of disease burden.
To assess levels, profiles, and change in the levels of metabolic measures during pregnancies complicated by obesity, gestational diabetes (GDM), or hypertensive disorders.
A secondary analysis of 2 study cohorts, PREDO and RADIEL, including 741 pregnant women.
We assessed 225 metabolic measures by nuclear magnetic resonance in blood samples collected at median 13 interquartile range (IQR) 12.4-13.7, 20 (IQR 19.3-23.0), and 28 (27.0-35.0) weeks of gestation.
Across all 3 time points women with obesity body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30kg/m2 in comparison to normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.99 kg/m2) had significantly higher levels of most very-low-density lipoprotein-related measures, many fatty and most amino acids, and more adverse metabolic profiles. The change in the levels of most metabolic measures during pregnancy was smaller in obese than in normal weight women. GDM, preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension were associated with metabolic alterations similar to obesity. The associations of obesity held after adjustment for GDM and hypertensive disorders, but many of the associations with GDM and hypertensive disorders were rendered nonsignificant after adjustment for BMI and the other pregnancy disorders.
This study shows that the pregnancy-related metabolic change is smaller in women with obesity, who display metabolic perturbations already in early pregnancy. Metabolic alterations of obesity and pregnancy disorders resembled each other suggesting a shared metabolic origin.
This study investigated the effect of the Feel4Diabetes-intervention, a 2-year multilevel intervention, on energy balance-related behaviors among European families at risk for developing type 2 ...diabetes. Intervention effects on self-reported physical activity, sedentary behavior and eating behaviors were investigated across and within the participating countries: Belgium, Finland, Greece, Spain, Hungary and Bulgaria.
Families were recruited through schools, located in low socio-economic status areas. In total, 4484 families at risk for developing type 2 diabetes were selected using the FINDRISC-questionnaire. Parents' and children's energy balance-related behaviors data were collected by questionnaires at three time points (baseline, mid- and post intervention). Families assigned to the intervention group were invited to participate in a 2-year school-, community-, and family-based intervention to promote a healthier lifestyle, including counseling sessions (first intervention year) and text messages (second intervention year). Families assigned to the control group received standard care, including medical check-up results and recommendations and tips regarding a healthy lifestyle. To assess the intervention-effects, Mixed Models were conducted using the R-Package "lmer "with R v3.2.
Significant intervention effects were found on a certain number of families' lifestyle behaviors. Significant favorable intervention effects were detected on parents' water consumption and consumption of fruit and vegetables, and on children's consumption of sweets and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Analyses by country revealed significant favorable intervention effects on water consumption and on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Belgian parents and on fruit and vegetable consumption among Belgian children, on sweets consumption among Spanish parents and children, and on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among Finnish children. Unfavorable intervention effects were found on the consumption of soft drinks and sugar-containing juices among Hungarian children and parents, while when examining the intervention effects for the overall population and per country, 10 from the 112 investigated outcome variables were improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (9%).
The Feel4Diabetes-intervention managed to improve a certain number of targeted lifestyle behaviors while the intervention was not effective on a large number of targeted lifestyle behaviors. The findings of the current study are encouraging, but further research is needed on how we can further improve effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes in families at risk.
The Feel4Diabetes-study is registered with the clinical trials registry http://clinicaltrials.gov , ID: 643708.
Abstract Aim s Community‐ and school‐based lifestyle interventions are an efficient method of preventing type 2 diabetes in vulnerable populations. Many participants, however, fail to complete the ...necessary follow‐ups. We investigated factors affecting the continuous participation in follow‐up evaluations during the Feel4Diabetes‐study, a multilevel intervention programme implemented across Europe. Methods Socioeconomic, sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed for 2702 participants within six participating countries: Bulgaria and Hungary (low‐to‐middle‐income countries, LMIC), Belgium and Finland (high‐income countries, HIC) and Greece and Spain (high‐income countries under austerity measures, HICAM). Results Statistically significant differences were detected with respect to sex, control group, education level, employment status, BMI and blood pressure measurements (systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences within socioeconomic regions. Higher levels of education were associated with significantly lower attrition in HIC ( p < 0.05) and HICAM ( p < 0.001), higher employment status was associated with lower attrition in HICAM ( p < 0.001) and being female was associated with lower attrition in LMIC ( p < 0.001). Surprisingly, the intervention group exhibited higher‐than‐expected attrition in HIC ( p < 0.001) and HICAM ( p = 0.003), and lower attrition in LMIC ( p = 0.007). When tested together in the same multivariable predictive model, all sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables along with higher BMI retained their statistical significance, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure failed to remain significant. Conclusions Key socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors along with BMI play a significant role in determining continuous participation in follow‐up evaluations during school‐ and community‐based intervention programmes.
Abstract
Background
A healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The current cross-sectional study aimed to describe self-reported lifestyle behaviours and compare ...them to current health guidelines in European Feel4Diabetes-families at risk for developing type 2 diabetes across six countries (Belgium, Finland, Spain, Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria).
Methods
Parents and their children were recruited through primary schools located in low socio-economic status areas. Parents filled out the FINDRISC-questionnaire (eight items questioning age, Body Mass Index, waist circumference, PA, daily consumption of fruit, berries or vegetables, history of antihypertensive drug treatment, history of high blood glucose and family history of diabetes), which was used for the risk assessment of the family. Sociodemographic factors and several lifestyle behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, water consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, soft drink consumption, sweets consumption, snack consumption, breakfast consumption) of both adults and children were assessed by parental questionnaires. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to investigate families’ lifestyle behaviours, to compare these levels to health guidelines and to assess potential differences between the countries. Analyses were controlled for age, sex and socio-economic status.
Results
Most Feel4Diabetes-families at risk (parents and their children) did not comply with the guidelines regarding healthy behaviours, set by the WHO, European or national authorities. Less than half of parents and children complied with the physical activity guidelines, less than 15% of them complied with the fruit and vegetable guideline, and only 40% of the children met the recommendations of five glasses of water per day. Clear differences in lifestyle behaviours in Feel4Diabetes-families at risk exist between the countries.
Conclusions
Countries are highly recommended to invest in policy initiatives to counter unhealthy lifestyle behaviours in families at risk for type 2 diabetes development, taking into account country-specific needs. For future research it is of great importance to focus on families at risk in order to counter the development of type 2 diabetes and reduce health inequity.
The optimal nutritional treatment for gestational diabetes (GDM) is still a matter of debate. With increasing rates of GDM and potential negative consequences for the health of mother and child, the ...best treatment should be established. The Nordic diet with emphasis on plant-based protein show promising health outcomes in other populations but has yet to be investigated in GDM population. The aim of this study, which is part of the "Effect of plant-based Nordic diet versus carbohydrate-restricted diet on glucose levels in gestational diabetes" (eMOM) pilot study was to compare the short-term effects of healthy Nordic diet (HND) and the currently recommended moderate restriction of carbohydrates diet (MCRD) on glucose and lipid metabolism in women with GDM.
This was a randomized crossover where each of the diet interventions (HND and MCRD) were consumed for 3 days with a 3-day wash-out period in between. In total, 42 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM (< 29 + 0 gestational week) were randomized. Glucose data was collected by continuous glucose monitors (CGM, Freestyle Libre®, Abbott, USA) worn for 14 days, and participants gave blood samples before and after diet interventions. The primary outcome was time spent in glucose target range (TIR, < 7.8 mmol/L). TIR, 3-day mean tissue glucose as well as changes in fasting glucose, homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and blood lipids were analyzed with paired samples statistical analyses.
Thirty-six women with complete 14 days CGM data were analyzed. Both diet interventions produced a high degree of TIR (99% SD 1.8), without a difference between the diets (p = 0.727). The 3-day mean glucose was significantly lower in HND than in MCRD (p = 0,049). Fasting insulin (p = 0,034), insulin resistance (p = 0,030), total and LDL cholesterol (p = 0,023 and 0,008) reduced more in the MCRD diet than the HND. NS differences in any other measure of CGM or blood tests.
HND and MCRD did not differ in terms of their short-term effect on TIR. A larger study with sufficient power is needed to confirm the differences in short-term mean glucose, insulin resistance and lipid metabolism.
Registered in clinicaltrials.gov (21/09/2018, NCT03681054).
Adoption of healthy dietary and snacking habits could support optimum physical and mental development in children as they define health in adulthood. This study assessed parameters associated with ...children’s snacking such as food home availability, parenting practices, and parents’ health beliefs. In this cross-sectional study 12 039 children, 49·4% boys 5–12 years, participating in the European Feel4Diabetes-Study were included. Children’s weekly consumption of sweets and salty snacks, home availability of snacks, food parenting practices, and health beliefs were assessed via questionnaires. Logistic regression was applied to explore associations of a) home availability of snacks, b) food parenting practices (permissiveness and rewarding with snacks) and c) parent’s opinions on deterministic health beliefs with children’s consumption of sweets and salty snacks. Results showed that home availability (sweets: ORadj: 4·76, 95 % CI: 4·32, 5·23; salty snacks: ORadj: 6·56, 95 % CI: 5·64, 7·61), allowing to consume (sweets: ORadj: 3·29, 95 % CI: 2·95, 3·67; salty snacks: ORadj: 3·41, 95 % CI: 2·98, 3·90) and rewarding with sweets/salty snacks (sweets: ORadj: 2·69, 95 % CI: 2·23, 3·24; salty snacks: ORadj: 4·34, 95 % CI: 3·57, 5·28) ‘sometimes/or less frequently’ compared to ‘always/or often’ were associated with lower weekly consumption of sweets and snacks. Parents’ disagreement compared to agreement with deterministic health beliefs and inattentive eating were associated with lower consumption of salty snacks and sweets in children. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that attempts to promote healthy snacking habits in children should aim to improve parental dietary habits, food parenting practices, health beliefs, and reducing home availability of unhealthy foods and snacks.