Body composition outcomes of Healthy Fit and the role of acculturation among low-income Hispanics on the US-Mexico border

Abstract Background Hispanic immigrants continue to experience higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Acculturation may contribute to unhealthy weight gain among immigrant populations by shifting dietary patterns from high fruit and vegetable consumption to unhealthier high fat diets. Healthy Fit, a culturally tailored community health worker (CHW) intervention, aims to reduce obesity related outcomes by providing physical activity and nutrition education and resources in a low-income Hispanic population. This study aims to evaluate outcomes of Healthy Fit participants and examine changes in body composition in relation to level of acculturation at baseline and follow-up. Method In this longitudinal observational study, CHWs recruited 514 participants from community events and agencies serving low-income Hispanic populations in El Paso, Texas from 2015 to 2016. Following an in-person health screening, eligible participants received nutrition and physical activity education guided by fotonovelas, comic-like educational books. Telephone follow-ups made at 1, 3, and 6 months by CHWs encouraged follow-through on referrals. 288 participants completed the screening again during the 12-month follow-up. Results The sample was predominantly Hispanic (96%), female (82%), uninsured (79%), had a household income of less than $19,999 (70%), foreign-born (79%), preferred Spanish (86%) and few rated themselves as good or excellent for English proficiency (27%). Overall, Healthy Fit participants significantly improved (i.e., decreased) BFP by 0.71% (t = 2.47, p = 0.01) but not BMI (b = .01, t = − 0.14, p = .89). Contrary to expectations, acculturation was not associated with lower BMI (b = 0.09, p = 0.84) or BFP (b = 0.13, p = 0.85) at baseline. However, acculturation predicted changes in both BMI (b = 0.30, p = 0.03) and BFP (b = 1.33, p = 0 .01) from baseline to follow-up. Specifically, the low acculturation group improved in body composition measures over time and the high acculturation group did not improve in either measure. Conclusion Findings suggest Healthy Fit was most effective among less acculturated individuals. The influence of acculturation on the efficacy of nutrition and exercise interventions suggests that Hispanics should not be treated as a homogenous subgroup.

Download Full-text

Fit “N” Cool Kids: The Effects of Character Modeling and Goal Setting on Children’s Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Clinical Medicine Insights Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/1179556518784296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 117955651878429 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessyka N Larson ◽

Timothy A Brusseau ◽

Heidi Wengreen ◽

Stuart J Fairclough ◽

Maria M Newton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Goal Setting ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Control Group ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Children’S Physical Activity ◽

Over Time

Efforts to decrease the risk of overweight and obesity should focus on children’s physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Within school-based interventions, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the use of character modeling and goal setting to determine changes in step counts, MVPA, and FV consumption. Study participants were 187 students in grades 4 and 5 from 2 Title 1 elementary schools in the Southwest United States. The intervention was a quasi-experimental character modeling and goal setting program. New Lifestyles NL-1000 activity monitors were used to assess number of steps taken and MVPA by the participants. Fruit and vegetable consumption was measured by direct observation. School day steps, MVPA, and FV consumption were recorded at baseline, intervention, and during a 10-week follow-up. There were not differences between groups at baseline. Steps and MVPA were statistically significantly ( P < .05; Δ = ~2500 steps and ~5 minutes of MVPA) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Fruit and vegetable consumption was not significantly ( P = .308) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Students in the intervention school were significantly more active than students in the control school during the intervention phase and at follow-up. The findings reported here would suggest that character modeling and goal setting can increase PA among elementary aged children but did not increase FV consumption.

Download Full-text

Caring for Overweight Children and Adolescents at a Reference Clinic in Nutrology: Habits and Attendance

International Journal of Nutrology ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1728678 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (01) ◽

pp. 006-010

Author(s):

Valeria Moro ◽

Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Dropout Rates ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Obesity Epidemic ◽

Study Population ◽

Municipal Health

Abstract Introduction The global obesity epidemic has mobilized health services to offer care at all levels, with reference outpatient clinics playing a prominent role in cases of greater complexity. Objectives The present study aimed to identify soft drinks consumption and physical activity habits among children and adolescents diagnosed with overweight and obesity during the first visit at a secondary level nutrology outpatient clinic, and to verify attendance at follow-up visits in a 2-year period from the first visit. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective, descriptive study based on data collection from medical records of overweighted or obese patients receiving first care at the Nutrology Clinic of the Municipal Health Secretariat from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. The study population included children and adolescents aged between 2 and 18 years old cared for from January 2, 2013 to December 30, 2017. Age, weight, height, soft drinks consumption, physical activity, and attendance in scheduled follow-up visits during a 2-year period were analyzed. Results During the study period, 316 patients were registered, including 302 (95.5%) diagnosed with obesity. Of these, 112 (35.4%) were children and 204 (64.6%) were adolescents. Only 2.0% of the children and adolescents did not consume soft drinks, while 23.5 and 26.2% of the children and adolescents, respectively, consumed them daily. Physical inactivity was reported by 31.8% of the children and by 35.8% of the adolescents. Among those who practiced some type of physical activity, 81.3% of the children and 78.2% of the adolescents did not meet the recommendation of moderate to vigorous activity for 60 minutes per day. Dropout rates within the 1st year were of 41.9% for children and of 34.3% for adolescents, increasing to 76.9% and 73.8%, respectively, within the 2nd year. Conclusion There was a high consumption of soft drinks and low adherence to physical activity among patients who started outpatient follow-up. A small adherence to the follow-up program was also identified, with high dropout rates within the 2-year period following the first visit.

Download Full-text

Body Composition, Psychological, Cardiovascular, and Physical Activity Factors Related with Academic School Performance

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13168775 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 8775

Author(s):

Laura Redondo-Flórez ◽

Domingo Jesus Ramos-Campo ◽

Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Body Composition ◽

Academic Performance ◽

Body Mass ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Motor Development ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

School Students

The aim of the present study was to analyse body composition, anxiety, cardiovascular, and physical activity factors related with academic performance of school students as well as to analyse differences, by age, in these factors. We analysed in 266 primary school students’ (8.81 ± 1.62 years, range: 5–13 years) heart rate, anthropometric variables to calculate body mass index, physical activity performance, anxiety levels and academic results by the average of marks. Students were divided in two different groups, firstly by their lower or higher academic performance, and secondly by age. Results showed a negative correlation between academic performance and age, weight, body mass index and trait anxiety variables. Additionally, significant differences were found by age, presenting older students higher scores in body mass index and lower physical activity, trait anxiety, heart rate and academic performance values than younger students. Overweight and obesity may have a great impact in academic performance in children and we pointed out the necessity to establish programs related with healthy habits which include improvements in physical activity and nutrition behaviours with the objective to enhance children’s health general status, psychological profile, cognitive and motor development, and academic performance.

Download Full-text

Physical activity, body composition and physical self-esteem: a 3-year follow-up study among adolescents in Sweden

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00483.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 258-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

A. Raustorp ◽

E. Mattsson ◽

K. Svensson ◽

A. Stahle

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Composition ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Follow Up Study

Download Full-text

Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211047781 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110477

Author(s):

Oscar H. Del Brutto ◽

Robertino M. Mera ◽

Denisse A. Rumbea ◽

Pedro Pérez ◽

Bettsy Y. Recalde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Body Composition ◽

Regression Models ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

The Body ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Information on the body composition of inhabitants of remote communities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is limited. Using a longitudinal population-based study design, we assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in body composition. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults living in a rural Ecuadorian village received body composition determinations before and 1 year after the pandemic as well as serological tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormalities in body composition at follow-up was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. Results: Of 327 enrolled individuals, 277 (85%) received baseline and follow-up body composition determinations, and 175 (63%) of them became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Overall, diet and physical activity deteriorated during the follow-up. Multivariate random-effects generalized least squares regression models that included the impact of time and seropositivity on follow-up body composition, showed that neither variable contributed to a worsening in body composition. Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed that the serological status at follow-up cannot be predicted by differences in body composition and other baseline covariates. Conclusions: Study results suggest no increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults with abnormal body composition and no significant changes as a result of worse physical activity and dietary habits or seropositivity during the length of the study. Together with a previous study in the same population that showed decrease in hand-grip strength after SARS-CoV-2, results confirm that dynapenia (and not sarcopenia) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults.

Download Full-text

Association Between Dietary Consumption, Anthropometric Measures And Body Composition Of Rural And Urban Ghanaian Adults; A Comparative Cross Sectional Study.

10.21203/rs.2.15678/v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Nana Ama Frimpomaa Agyapong ◽

Reginald Adjetey Annan ◽

Charles Apprey ◽

Linda Nana Esi Aduku ◽

Catherina Elizabeth Swart

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Composition ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

P Value ◽

Obesity Prevalence ◽

Anthropometric Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dietary Consumption ◽

Rural And Urban

Abstract Background: Overweight and obesity have become threats to public health in all regions across the globe. Policies to regulate the food environment and promote healthy food consumption can reduce the prevalence obesity but in Ghana there is not enough data to elicit a policy response. This study assessed the association between dietary consumption, anthropometric measures, body composition and physical activity among rural and urban Ghanaian adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 565 Ghanaian adults. Structured questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic information. Dietary consumption was assessed using household food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall. Height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and body composition of all participants were also measured. The World Health Organization’s Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to assess physical activity levels. Mann Whitney U test was used to analyze differences in anthropometric measurements, body composition and dietary consumption among rural and urban participants. Principal component analysis was used to analyze household food frequency data and nutrient analysis template was used to analyze 24-hour recall. Chi-square was used to measure differences in obesity prevalence by community and gender. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the risk factors associated with obesity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity using BMI were 29.9 and 22.9 respectively. The use of waist circumference measurement resulted in the highest overall obesity prevalence of 41.5%. Prevalence of obesity was higher among females compared to males across all measures with the exception of visceral fat that showed no significant difference. Four different patterns were derived from principal component analysis. Among urban participants, component 3 (staple pattern) showed a significant negative correlation with visceral fat (r -0.186, p-value 0.013) and BMI (r -0.163, p-value 0.029). Multinomial logistic regression showed that males (AOR 19.715, CI 9.723-39.978, p-value < 0.001) had higher odds of being of normal weight compared to females. Conclusion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity continue to rise in Ghana, especially among females. Public education and screening as well as interventions that regulate the food environment and make affordable and available healthy food options are needed to control the rise in obesity prevalence.

Download Full-text

Physical activity modifies the risk of atrial fibrillation in obese individuals: The HUNT3 study

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1177/2047487318784365 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (15) ◽

pp. 1646-1652 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Lars E Garnvik ◽

Vegard Malmo ◽

Imre Janszky ◽

Ulrik Wisløff ◽

Jan P Loennechen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Body Mass ◽

High Body Mass Index ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Increased Risk

Background Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder, and high body mass index is a well-established risk factor for atrial fibrillation. The objective of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity and body mass index and risk of atrial fibrillation, and the modifying role of physical activity on the association between body mass index and atrial fibrillation. Design The design was a prospective cohort study. Methods This study followed 43,602 men and women from the HUNT3 study in 2006–2008 until first atrial fibrillation diagnosis or end of follow-up in 2015. Atrial fibrillation diagnoses were collected from hospital registers and validated by medical doctors. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to assess the association between physical activity, body mass index and atrial fibrillation. Results During a mean follow-up of 8.1 years (352,770 person-years), 1459 cases of atrial fibrillation were detected (4.1 events per 1000 person-years). Increasing levels of physical activity were associated with gradually lower risk of atrial fibrillation ( p trend 0.069). Overweight and obesity were associated with an 18% (hazard ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.35) and 59% (hazard ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.37–1.84) increased risk of atrial fibrillation, respectively. High levels of physical activity attenuated some of the higher atrial fibrillation risk in obese individuals (hazard ratio 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.03–2.28 in active and 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.44–2.67 in inactive) compared to normal weight active individuals. Conclusion Overweight and obesity were associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Physical activity offsets some, but not all, atrial fibrillation risk associated with obesity.

Download Full-text

Effective Implementation of Culturally Appropriate Tools in Addressing Overweight and Obesity in an Urban Underserved Early Childhood Population in Pediatric Primary Care

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/0009922819832088 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 511-520 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rachel Becker Herbst ◽

Amrik Singh Khalsa ◽

Haley Schlottmann ◽

Mary Kathleen Kerrey ◽

Katherine Glass ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motivational Interviewing ◽

Low Income ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Obese Children ◽

Healthy Habits ◽

Culturally Tailored ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Urban Clinic

Overweight and obese children are at an increased risk of remaining obese. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends addressing healthy habits at well-child checks, but this poses challenges, especially in low-income populations. A clinical innovation project was designed to adapt recommendations in a busy urban clinic and consisted of motivational interviewing, culturally tailored tools, and standardizing documentation. A quasi-experimental design examined innovation outcomes. Of 137 overweight and obese children aged 24 to 66 months, providers’ documentation of weight during well-child check visits improved post-innovation ( P < .01), as did development of healthy habits goals ( P < .001). Families were more likely to return for visits post-innovation ( P = .01). A logistic regression analysis showed that adding body mass index to the problem list and establishing a specific follow-up timeframe most predicted follow-up visits to assess progress ( P < .001). Comprehensive innovations consisting of motivational interviewing, implementation of culturally tailored tools, and standardized documentation can enhance engagement in an urban clinic setting.

Download Full-text

Longitudinal changes in body composition and waist circumference by self-reported levels of physical activity in leisure among adolescents: the Tromsø study, Fit Futures

BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1186/s13102-019-0150-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nils Abel Aars ◽

Bjarne K. Jacobsen ◽

Bente Morseth ◽

Nina Emaus ◽

Sameline Grimsgaard

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Composition ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Lean Mass ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

First Year ◽

Fat Mass Index

Abstract Background It is not clear how physical activity affects body composition in adolescents. Physical activity levels are often reduced during this period, and the relative proportion of body fat mass and lean mass undergo natural changes in growing adolescents. We aimed to examine whether self-reported physical activity in leisure time at baseline or change in activity during follow-up affect changes in four measures of body composition; body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference, fat mass index (fat mass in kg/m2) and lean mass index (lean mass in kg/m2). Methods We used data from the Tromsø Study Fit Futures, which invited all first year students in upper secondary high school in two municipalities in northern Norway in 2010–2011. They were reexamined in 2012–2013. Longitudinal data was available for 292 boys and 354 girls. We used multiple linear regression analyses to assess whether self-reported level of physical activity in leisure time at baseline predicted changes in body composition, and analysis of covariance to assess the effects of change in level of activity during follow-up on change in body composition. All analyses were performed sex-specific, and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There were no associations between self-reported leisure time physical activity in the first year of upper secondary high school and changes in any of the considered measure of body composition after 2 years of follow up, with the exception of waist circumference in boys (p = 0.05). In boys, change in fat mass index differed significantly between groups of activity change (p < 0.01), with boys adopting activity or remaining physically active having less increase in fat mass index than the consistently inactive. In girls, change in lean mass index differed significantly between groups of activity change (p = 0.04), with girls adopting physical activity having the highest increase. Conclusions Self-reported leisure time physical activity does not predict changes in body composition in adolescents after 2 years of follow up. Change in the level of physical activity is associated with change in fat mass index in boys and lean mass index in girls.

Download Full-text