BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is to investigate differences in diets of families in intervention versus control communities 5 years after the Identification and Prevention of Dietary‐ and ...Lifestyle‐Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants intervention ended. METHODS: Altogether, 4,691 families from the I.Family study with at least one participating parent and one child are included in this analysis. Diet quality indicators, defined as propensities to consume fat, sugar, water and fruit and vegetables, are calculated from a 59‐item food frequency questionnaire. Multilevel linear models with random intercepts for study centre are used to determine whether mean diet indicators, calculated at the family level, differed as a function of previous exposure to the intervention. RESULTS: Families in the intervention communities reported a significantly lower sugar propensity (19.8% vs. 20.7% of total food items, p < 0.01) and a higher water propensity (47.3% vs. 46.0% of total beverages, p < 0.05) compared with families in the control communities, while fat and fruit and vegetables propensities were similar. No significant diet differences between intervention and control children were present at the Identification and Prevention of Dietary‐ and Lifestyle‐Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants baseline. DISCUSSION: This result indicates better diet quality in intervention families, which was not present in children when their diets were assessed before the intervention, and gives some cause for optimism regarding the sustainability of some aspects of the diet intervention.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is involved in a wide range of diseases. It is a powerful marker for inflammatory processes used for diagnostic and monitoring purposes. We aimed to establish reference ...values as data on the distribution of serum CRP levels in young European children are scarce.
Reference values of high-sensitivity CRP concentrations were calculated for 9855 children aged 2.0-10.9 years, stratified by age and sex. The children were recruited during the population-based European IDEFICS study (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health Effects in Children and infantS) with 18 745 participants recruited from 2007 to 2010.
In 44.1% of the children, CRP values were below or equal the detection limit of 0.2 mg/l. Median CRP concentrations showed a slight negative age trend in boys and girls, whereas serum CRP values were slightly higher in girls than in boys across all age groups.
Our population-based reference values of CRP may guide paediatric practice as elevated values may require further investigation or treatment. Therefore, the presented reference values represent a basis for clinical evaluation and for future research on risk assessment of diseases associated with increased CRP levels among children.
Various twin studies revealed that the influence of genetic factors on psychological diseases or behaviour is more expressed in socioeconomically advantaged environments. Other studies predominantly ...show an inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and childhood obesity in Western developed countries. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene interacts with the SES on childhood obesity in a subsample (N = 4406) of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) cohort.
A structural equation model (SEM) is applied with the latent constructs obesity, dietary intakes, physical activity and fitness habits, and parental SES to estimate the main effects of the latter three variables and a FTO polymorphism on childhood obesity. Further, a multiple group SEM is used to explore whether an interaction effect exists between the single nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 within the FTO gene and SES.
Significant main effects are shown for physical activity and fitness (standardised betacrc (s) = -0.113), SES (betacrc (s) = -0.057) and the FTO homozygous AA risk genotype (betacrc (s) = -0.177). The explained variance of obesity is ~9%. According to the multiple group approach of SEM, we see an interaction between SES and FTO with respect to their effect on childhood obesity (Δχ(2) = 7.3, df = 2, P = 0.03).
Children carrying the protective FTO genotype TT seem to be more protected by a favourable social environment regarding the development of obesity than children carrying the AT or AA genotype.
Limited data exist regarding breakfast consumption and its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This study investigates the relationship between breakfast routine and CVD risk ...factors in a multinational sample.
Cross-sectional data from eight European countries participating in the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) survey (2007-2008) were used. The sample included ;children 2 to <10 years of age (n=8863, 51.2% boys). The Mann-Whitney ;U-test and logistic regression were used to assess CVD risk factors ;among ;no breakfast (NBrH), occasional breakfast and daily breakfast at home (DBrH) consumption.
Male school-aged NBrH consumers, ;compared with ;DBrH consumers, ;were more likely to be overweight/obese (odds ratio (OR): 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.05-1.79), to have higher risk for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels lower than 40 mg/dl (OR: 1.69, 95% CI=1.24-2.30), triglycerides (TG) above 75 mg/dl (OR: 1.65, 95% CI=1.24-2.19) and sum of skinfolds greater than the 90th percentile (OR: 1.32, 95% CI=1.0-1.76). Female school-aged NBrH consumers ;compared with ;DBrH consumers ;had a higher risk for waist circumference greater than the 90th percentile (OR: 1.70, 95% CI=1.14-2.51), HDL cholesterol levels lower than 40 mg/dl (OR: 1.65, 95% CI=1.23-2.21), TG above 75 mg/dl (OR: 1.65, 95% CI=1.26-2.17) and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio >3.5 (OR: 1.39, 95% CI=1.09-1.77). RESULTS remained significant after adjusting for daily physical activity in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) periods (in min/day). Male DBrH consumers, 6 to <10 years of age, had longer daily periods of MVPA compared with ;NBrH consumers ;(32.0±21.4 vs 27.5±18.8, P<0.05). For preschoolers, breakfast consumption was negatively associated with ;CVD risk factors but results of regression models were mostly insignificant.
Daily breakfast consumption contributes to controlling school-aged children's weight ;and lipid profile and promotes higher PA.
By investigating differences in lifestyle behaviours and BMI in sibling pairs, family-level confounding is minimized and causal inference is improved, compared to cross-sectional studies of unrelated ...children. Thus, we aimed to investigate within-sibling pair differences in different lifestyle behaviours and differences in BMI z-scores in children and adolescents.
We examined three groups of sibling pairs 1) all same-sex sibling pairs with maximum 4 years age difference (n = 1209 pairs from 1072 families in 8 countries, mean age 10.7 years, standard deviation 2.4 years), 2) sibling pairs discordant for overweight (n = 262) and 3) twin pairs (n = 85). Usual dietary intake was estimated by 24-h recalls and time spent in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured by accelerometers. Screen time, sleep and dieting for weight loss were assessed by questionnaires.
Within all 3 groups of sibling pairs, more time in MVPA was associated with lower BMI z-score. Higher energy intake was associated with higher BMI z-score within twin pairs and within all sibling pairs who were not currently dieting for weight loss. Regarding LPA, screen time or sleep duration, no or inconsistent associations were observed for the three groups of sibling pairs.
MVPA and energy intake were associated with BMI differences within sibling and twin pairs growing up in the same home, thus independent of family-level confounding factors. Future studies should explore whether genetic variants regulating appetite or energy expenditure behaviours account for weight differences in sibling pairs.
•Some lifestyle behaviours are associated with BMI differences within sibling pairs.•More time in MVPA was associated with lower BMI z-score within sibling pairs.•Higher energy intake was associated with higher BMI z-score within twin pairs.•Sibling pairs discordant for overweight during childhood differ in MVPA.•Weight loss attempts are more common among siblings with overweight.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore whether the IDEFICS intervention had a differential effect on 11,041 children's weight trajectories depending on their baseline body mass index ...status. METHODS: Two subgroups of children are considered in the present analysis: those who were overweight or obese prior to the intervention and those who were neither overweight nor obese. RESULTS: Among children in all eight countries who did not have prevalent overweight or obesity (OWOB) at baseline, 2 years later, there was no significant difference between intervention and control groups in risk of having developed OWOB. However, we observed a strong regional heterogeneity, which could be attributed to the presence of one distinctly outlying country, Belgium, where the intervention group had increased risk for becoming overweight. In contrast, among the sample of children with prevalent OWOB at baseline, we observed a significantly greater probability of normalized weight status after 2 years. In other words, a protective effect against persistent OWOB was observed in children in intervention regions compared with controls, which corresponded to an adjusted odds ratio of 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.58, 0.98). DISCUSSION: This analysis thus provided evidence of a differential effect of the IDEFICS intervention, in which children with overweight may have benefited without having been specifically targeted. However, no overall primary preventive effect could be observed in children without initial overweight or obesity.
The objective of the present study was to investigate the relation between adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids, an index of long-term or habitual fatty acid dietary intake, and depression. The ...sample consisted of 247 healthy adults (146 males, 101 females) from the island of Crete. The number of subjects with complete data on all variables studied was 139. Subjects were examined at the Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic of the University of Crete. Depression was assessed through the use of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale. Mildly depressed subjects had significantly reduced (−34.6%) adipose tissue docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels than non-depressed subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that depression related negatively to adipose tissue DHA levels. In line with the findings of other studies, the observed negative relation between adipose tissue DHA and depression, in the present study, appears to indicate increasing long-term dietary DHA intakes with decreasing depression. This is the first literature report of a relation between adipose tissue DHA and depression. Depression has been reported to be associated with increased cytokine production, such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, INF-γ and INF-α. On the other hand, fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids have been reported to inhibit cytokine synthesis. The observed negative relation between adipose DHA and depression, therefore, may stem from the inhibiting effect of DHA on cytokine synthesis.
Summary Objective To assess the eating attitudes and behaviours of the Cypriot adolescent population at national level, and evaluate secular trends between 2003 and 2010. Study design A ...representative sample of children and adolescents aged 10–18 years participated in a school-based, cross-sectional study during the academic years 2003–2004 and 2009–2010. Methods Participants completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) questionnaires at school. Results Almost one in three females and one in five males scored above normal (≥20) on the EAT-26. No change in the frequency of pathological scoring was found for the drive for thinness or body dissatisfaction subscales of the EDI-3 between 2003 and 2010. However, there was a significant increase in the frequency of pathological scoring for the bulimia subscale for both genders. Females consistently scored higher than males on most scales. Conclusion Disordered eating attitudes are common, with a worrisome increasing trend in bulimia among adolescents in Cyprus. There is an urgent need for intervention.
Summary
What is already known about this subject
Few studies addressing the relationship between food consumption and cardiovascular disease or metabolic risk have been conducted in children. ...Previous findings have indicated greater metabolic risk in children with high intakes of solid hydrogenated fat and white bread, and low consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
What this study adds
In a large multinational sample of 2 to 9 years old children, high consumption of sweetened beverages and low intake of nuts and seeds, sweets, breakfast cereals, jam and honey and chocolate and nut‐based spreads were directly associated with increased clustered cardiovascular disease risk. These findings add new evidence to the limited literature available in young populations on the role that diet may play on cardiovascular health.
Objective
To investigate food consumption in relation to clustered cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Methods
Children (n = 5548, 51.6% boys) from eight European countries participated in the IDEFICS study baseline survey (2007–2008). Z‐scores of individual CVD risk factors were summed to compute sex‐ and age‐specific (2–<6 years/6–9 years) clustered CVD risk scores A (all components, except cardiorespiratory fitness) and B (all components). The association of clustered CVD risk and tertiles of food group consumption was examined.
Results
Odds ratio (OR) of having clustered CVD risk A increased in older children with higher consumption of chocolate and nut‐based spreads (boys: OR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.32–0.69; girls: OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.42–0.86), jam and honey (girls: OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.26–0.78) and sweets (boys: OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.48–0.98). OR of being at risk significantly increased with the highest consumption of soft drinks (younger boys) and manufactured juices (older girls). Concerning CVD risk score B, older boys and girls in the highest tertile of consumption of breakfast cereals were 0.41 (95% CI = 0.21–0.79) and 0.45 (95% CI = 0.22–0.93) times, respectively, less likely to be at risk than those in tertile 1.
Conclusions
High consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages and low intake of breakfast cereals, jam and honey, sweets and chocolate and nut‐based spreads seem to adversely affect clustered CVD risk.
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