Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, up to age 14

Objectives. To explore associations between police stops, self-harm, and attempted suicide among a large, representative sample of adolescents in the United Kingdom. Methods. Data were drawn from the 3 most recent sweeps of the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), from 2012 to 2019. The MCS is an ongoing nationally representative contemporary birth cohort of children born in the United Kingdom between September 2000 and January 2002 (n = 10 345). Weights were used to account for sample design and multiple imputation for missing data. Results. Youths experiencing police stops by the age of 14 years (14.77%) reported significantly higher rates of self-harm (incidence rate ratio = 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35, 1.69) at age 17 years and significantly higher odds of attempted suicide (odds ratio = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.84, 2.76) by age 17 years. These patterns were largely consistent across examined features of police stops and generally did not vary by sociodemographic factors. In addition, 17.73% to 40.18% of associations between police stops and outcomes were explained by mental distress. Conclusions. Police-initiated encounters are associated with youth self-harm and attempted suicide. Youths may benefit when school counselors or social workers provide mental health screenings and offer counseling care following these events. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 23, 2021: e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306434 )

Download Full-text

Smoking uptake in UK children: analysis of the UK Millennium Cohort Study

Thorax ◽

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212254 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. 607-610 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Anthony A Laverty ◽

Filippos T Filippidis ◽

David Taylor-Robinson ◽

Christopher Millett ◽

Andrew Bush ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Dose Response ◽

Peer Group ◽

Millennium Cohort Study ◽

Response Effect ◽

Regional Estimates ◽

Smoking Uptake ◽

Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽

Dose Response Effect ◽

The Uk

We used data from 11 577 children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study, collected at approximately 14 years of age (early teens), to assess characteristics associated with smoking, and generated regional estimates of numbers of smokers. 13.8% of UK early teens studied had ever smoked; 1.9% were current smokers. This corresponds to 2 28 136 and 39 653 (13–14 year olds) in the UK, respectively. Ever smoking risk increased if caregivers (26.0% vs 10.9%) or friends smoked (35.1% vs 4.0%), with a dose–response effect for friends’ smoking. Caregiver and peer-group smoking remain important drivers of child smoking uptake and thus important targets for intervention.

Download Full-text

Impaired vision and physical activity in childhood and adolescence: findings from the Millennium Cohort Study

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-320315 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bjophthalmol-2021-320315

Author(s):

Lisanne Andra Horvat-Gitsels ◽

Mario Cortina-Borja ◽

Ameenat Lola Solebo ◽

Jugnoo Sangeeta Rahi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Millennium Cohort Study ◽

Impaired Vision ◽

Age Related ◽

High Participation ◽

The Uk ◽

Recommended Level

Background/aimsInvestigate if impaired vision is associated with reduced levels and differences in types of physical activity (PA) to identify barriers or enablers to achieving healthy PA levels.MethodsData from the Millennium Cohort Study of children born in the UK in 2000–2001 and followed-up to age 14 years (n=11 571). Using parental report on eye conditions coded by clinicians, children were categorised as having no, unilateral or bilateral impaired vision. Outcomes included objective accelerometer-derived time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and 16 PA types reported by parents, teachers and/or participants, covering physical education (PE), organised sports, self-organised sports and hobbies.ResultsOverall, 50% of 7-year-olds and subsequently 41% as 14-year-olds achieved the internationally recommended level of ≥60 MVPA min/day, irrespective of vision status, and mainly attributable to PE and organised sports. Bilateral impaired vision (vs none) was associated with parent-reported difficulties with PE (adjusted OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 2.31 to 9.41), self-rated poor ability in PE (3.21; 1.44 to 7.15) and not enjoy indoor PA (0.48; 0.26 to 0.88). Unilateral impaired vision was associated with both parent-rated difficulties (1.80; 1.26 to 2.59) and teachers’ perception of low ability in PE (2.27; 1.57 to 3.28), and reduced odds of high participation in organised sports (0.77; 0.59 to 0.99). Age-related trajectories showed suboptimal PA in childhood tracked into adolescence, with no difference by vision status.ConclusionPopulation-wide programmes to increase PA levels in children should pay special attention to those with impaired vision and include early interventions to encourage participation and confidence in PE and organised sports, starting in primary school and maintained afterwards.

Download Full-text

Maternal mental health and childhood injury: evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2017-313809 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 104 (3) ◽

pp. 268-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Steven Hope ◽

Jessica Deighton ◽

Nadia Micali ◽

Catherine Law

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Health Problems ◽

Millennium Cohort Study ◽

Childhood Injury ◽

Explanatory Factors ◽

Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽

The Uk

ObjectiveWe assessed whether maternal mental health problems increased rates for child injury during the preschool years and mid-childhood, and the extent to which associations could be accounted for by a range of potential explanatory factors.DesignWe analysed the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative sample with data collected throughout childhood. Multinomial regression was used to investigate whether two measures of maternal mental health (diagnosed depression/anxiety and psychological distress) were associated with subsequent childhood injury. Models adjusted for sociodemographics, parenting and child externalising behaviours.Main outcome measureMaternal report of unintentional injuries (none, 1, 2+) recorded at three data collection periods (3–5 years; 5–7 years; 7–11 years).ResultsThe analytic sample comprised n=9240 families who participated 3–11 years with complete data on exposures and outcomes (multiply imputing missing covariates). Exposure to maternal mental health problems was associated with increased rates of subsequent childhood injuries. Associations attenuated after adjustment for potential explanatory factors, although they remained elevated. For example, high maternal distress was associated with injuries 3–5 years (adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR): 1 injury=1.18, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.61; 2+ injuries=2.22, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.02); injuries 5–7 years (aRRR: 1 injury=1.31, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.76; 2+ injuries=1.84, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.09); and injuries 7–11 years (aRRR: 1 injury=1.03, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.31; 2+ injuries=1.33, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.81).ConclusionsChildren exposed to mothers with mental health problems had higher rates of childhood injury than those not exposed. If further investigation of this association suggests causality then it will be important to test measures that address mothers’ mental health issues with a view to reducing injuries among their children.

Download Full-text