Health Facts: For a Healthy Weight, Find Your Balance Between Food and Physical Activity

Abstract Less than 1% of children in the United States concurrently meet guidelines for fruit/vegetable intake, physical activity, screen time, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Prior evidence suggests that parents of this 1% potentially cope with stress differently. This qualitative study used a positive deviance-based approach to locate mothers whose children avoided negative feeding outcomes despite being ‘high-risk’ for obesity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Spanish for two groups: low-income, Hispanic mothers whose children were normal weight and met recommendations for fruits/vegetables and physical activity (n = 5); and a comparison group whose children had obesity and did not meet guidelines (n = 8). Topics included weight-related parenting practices, attitudes toward health, and stress management. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and coded using NVivo for theoretically driven thematic analysis. Results suggested that mothers viewed stress differently. Mothers of healthy weight children believed stress could be prevented, such as by paying children more attention or directing one’s attention away from stressors; comparison group mothers tended to report stress about managing their child’s eating and about financial worries. Future research is needed to understand the underlying sources of these differences (e.g. personality traits, coping practices) and test whether stress prevention interventions can promote healthy parental feeding practices.

Download Full-text

Feasibility of a Digital Intervention to Promote Healthy Weight Management among Postpartum African American/Black Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2178

Author(s):

Melissa A. Napolitano ◽

Cherise B. Harrington ◽

Loral Patchen ◽

Lindsey P. Ellis ◽

Tony Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

African American ◽

Black Women ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Future Research ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Weight Outcomes ◽

Postpartum Weight ◽

American Black

The study aim was to implement and evaluate the feasibility of a culturally informed (“BeFAB”) app for African American/Black women to address postpartum weight. Women (n = 136; mean age = 27.8 ± 5.4; mean BMI = 32.5 ± 4.3) were recruited from postpartum units, and randomly assigned to receive BeFAB (n = 65) or usual care (n = 71) for 12 weeks. App content included didactic lessons delivered via a virtual coach, app-based messages, goal setting and tracking, and edutainment videos. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention and engagement, and self-reported acceptability. Behavioral (i.e., diet, physical activity), psychosocial (i.e., stress, coping, support, self-efficacy) and weight outcomes were also examined. Recruitment goals were met, but attrition was high, with 56% retention at 12 weeks. Approximately half of participants accessed the app and set a goal ≥one time, but <10% reported achieving a nutrition or activity goal. Among study completers, ≥60% found the app content at least somewhat helpful. Within-group changes for BeFAB among completers were found for increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and decreased fruit/vegetable intake and weight. Findings indicate initial feasibility of recruiting postpartum women to participate in a digital healthy body weight program but limited use, reflecting low acceptability and challenges in engagement and retention. Future research is needed on strategies to engage and retain participants in postpartum interventions.

Download Full-text

Effect of Children’s Weight Status on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior during Physical Education, Recess, and After School

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9082651 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 2651

Author(s):

Zachary C. Pope ◽

Charles Huang ◽

David Stodden ◽

Daniel J. McDonough ◽

Zan Gao

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Elementary School ◽

Physical Education ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Body Mass ◽

Weight Status ◽

After School ◽

Healthy Weight

Children’s body mass index may affect physical activity (PA) participation. Therefore, this study examined the effect of children’s weight status on underserved elementary school children’s PA and sedentary behavior (SB) throughout the segmented day. Participants were 138 children (X¯age = 8.14 years). Children’s height and weight were measured with subsequent classification of children as healthy weight or overweight/obese. Durations of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), and SB during physical education (PE), morning recess, lunch recess, after school, and overall were assessed via accelerometry over three days. Independent t-tests evaluated differences in children’s MVPA, LPA, and SB during each daily segment by weight status. Significantly higher MVPA was observed for children of healthy weight status versus children with overweight/obesity during morning recess, t(136) = 2.15, p = 0.03, after school, t(136) = 2.68, p < 0.01, and overall, t(136) = 2.65, p < 0.01. Interestingly, comparisons of children of healthy weight status and children with overweight/obesity’s LPA and SB during the after-school segment revealed a trend wherein children with overweight/obesity participated in slightly greater LPA/less SB than children of healthy weight status. Higher MVPA was observed among children of healthy weight versus children with overweight/obesity during most daily segments. Concerted efforts should focus on increasing MVPA among children with overweight/obesity.

Download Full-text

Abstract MP018: Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity: Evidence for a Displacement Effect on Sedentary Behaviour

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.amp018 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Katya M Herman ◽

Gilles Paradis ◽

Marie-Eve Mathieu ◽

Jennifer O'Loughlin ◽

Angelo Tremblay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Video Game ◽

Parental Education ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Tanner Stage ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Obese Children ◽

Displacement Effect

Background: Sedentary behaviour has detrimental health consequences, distinct from those of physical inactivity. An individual can be both highly active and highly sedentary: While the displacement hypothesis proposes that time spent active displaces time that would otherwise be spent sedentary, the compensation hypothesis suggests that increased physical activity (PA) may be associated with increased sedentary behaviour (SED) in non-active time. Objectives: The aim was to assess whether higher levels of childhood participation in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) are associated with higher levels of SED, or whether time spent in SED is displaced by higher levels of MVPA. Methods: Participants were 290 boys and 245 girls aged 8–10 years in the QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth (QUALITY) study. PA and SED were assessed by accelerometer over a 1-week period (SED ≤ 100 cpm, MVPA ≥ 2296 cpm), and quantified as mean time spent per day. Total PA was the sum of light PA + MVPA. Self-reported data included sports participation (number of teams), television viewing and computer/video game use (hours/day). Spearman correlations and multiple linear regression (adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, Tanner stage, parental education, accelerometer wear-time) were used to assess associations between PA and SED variables. Results: Higher MVPA and VPA were negatively correlated with SED (r=−0.44 and −0.35; p<0.001), and positively correlated with total PA (r=0.58 and 0.45; p<0.001). SED was negatively correlated with TPA (r=−0.65, p<0.001). Only weak correlations were found between MVPA and sports participation, the latter not associated with SED. MVPA and VPA were not significantly correlated with TV, computer/video or total screen time; objectively measured SED was only weakly associated with specific sedentary behaviours. On average, for each additional 10 minutes of MVPA, children spent 14 minutes less in SED, or for each additional 5 minutes of VPA, 10 minutes less in SED. Associations were stronger in overweight/obese children compared to healthy weight children. Conclusions: Higher levels of MVPA in children displace SED, and are also associated with higher total PA over and above the additional amount of MVPA. The SED displacement benefits of higher MVPA may be greatest in overweight/obese children. Public health strategies should focus on both increasing PA and decreasing SED as essential targets to improve overall PA in children.

Download Full-text

Tweeting to Health

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/0009922816653385 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 26-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Arlene E. Chung ◽

Asheley C. Skinner ◽

Stephanie E. Hasty ◽

Eliana M. Perrin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Physical Activity Intensity ◽

Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽

Mhealth Intervention ◽

Activity Intensity

We developed and pilot tested a mHealth intervention, “Tweeting to Health,” which used Fitbits, Twitter, and gamification to facilitate support for healthy lifestyle changes in overweight/obese (OW) and healthy weight (HW) young adults. Participants tracked activity and diet using Fitbits and used Twitter for messaging for 2 months. Physical activity, dietary intake, and Tweets were tracked and participants completed surveys at enrollment, 1 month, and 2 months. Descriptive statistics were used to examine steps/day, physical activity intensity, lifestyle changes, and total Tweets. Participants were on average 19 to 20 years old and had familiarity with Twitter. OW participants had on average 11 222 daily steps versus 11 686 (HW). One-day challenges were successful in increasing steps. Participants increased fruit/vegetable intake (92%) and decreased their sugar-sweetened beverage intake (67%). Compliance with daily Fitbit wear (99% of all days OW vs 73% HW) and daily dietary logging (82% OW vs 73% HW) and satisfaction was high.

Download Full-text

Population-Based Estimates of Physical Activity for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cautionary Tale of Potential Confounding by Weight Status

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2011/561432 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽

Steven T. Johnson ◽

Constantinos A. Loucaides ◽

Adrian E. Bauman ◽

Nandini D. Karunamuni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Weight Status ◽

Large Population ◽

Population Sample ◽

Population Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Physical Activity Levels

At a population level, the method used to determine those meeting physical activity guidelines has important implications, as estimating “sufficient” physical activity might be confounded by weight status. The objective of this study was to test the difference between three methods in estimating the prevalence of “sufficient activity” among Canadian adults with type 2 diabetes in a large population sample (N=1614) while considering the role of weight status as a potential confounder. Our results revealed that estimates of physical activity levels vary by BMI categories, depending on the methods examined. Although physical activity levels were lower in the obese, their energy expenditure estimates were not different from those who were overweight or of a healthy weight. The implications of these findings are that biased estimates of physical activity at a population level may result in inappropriate classification of adults with type 2 diabetes as “sufficiently active” and that the inclusion of body weight in estimating physical activity prevalence should be approached with caution.

Download Full-text

Health/Service Providers’ Perspectives on Barriers to Healthy Weight Gain and Physical Activity in Pregnant, Urban First Nations Women

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/1049732315576497 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 5-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Francine E. Darroch ◽

Audrey R. Giles

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Health Service ◽

First Nations ◽

Service Providers ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Health Service Providers ◽

First Nations Women

Download Full-text

Relationships between physical activity, food choices, gender and BMI in Southern Californian teenagers

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2017-0067 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jaclyn B. Gaylis ◽

Susan S. Levy ◽

Shiloah Kviatkovsky ◽

Rebecca DeHamer ◽

Mee Young Hong

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Food Choices ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Red Meat ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Processed Meat ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Given the increased prevalence of pediatric obesity and risk of developing chronic disease, there has been great interest in preventing these conditions during childhood by focusing on healthy lifestyle habits, including nutritious eating and physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between PA, body mass index (BMI) and food choices in adolescent males and females. This cross-sectional study, using a survey questionnaire, evaluated 1212 Southern Californian adolescents’ self-reported PA, BMI and food frequency. Results revealed that even though males are more active than females, they have higher BMI percentile values (p < 0.05). Females consumed salad, vegetables and fruit more frequently than males (p < 0.05), where males consumed hamburgers, pizza, red meat, processed meat, eggs, fish, fruit juice, soda and whole milk more frequently than females (p < 0.05). Overweight/obese teens consumed red meat, processed meat and cheese more frequently than healthy weight teens (p < 0.05), yet there was no difference in PA between healthy and overweight/obese teens. These results demonstrate that higher levels of PA may not counteract an unhealthy diet. Even though PA provides numerous metabolic and health benefits, this study suggests that healthy food choices may have a protective effect against overweight and obesity. Healthy food choices, along with PA, should be advocated to improve adolescent health by encouraging maintenance of a healthy weight into adulthood.

Download Full-text

Achieving a Healthy Weight for Your Child: An Action Plan for Families

10.1542/9781610021555 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Sandra G. Hassink

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Action Plan ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Weight Concerns ◽

Clear Cut ◽

Diet And Physical Activity ◽

At Home

Help children with weight concerns by giving their parents the clear-cut information on nutrition and fitness that they need. Dr. Hassink's plan will help families meet their goals with details on diet and physical activity for at home, in school, and in the community.

Download Full-text