Influence Of Geographical Area And Living Setting On Weight Status, Gross Motor Coordination And Physical Activity Level Of Italian School Children: The Neighbourhood Walkability Approach

Abstract Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, particularly in industrialized countries. Walkability measurements can be collected using the free open software Walk Score® that permit the measure of estimating neighbourhood walkability in many geographic locations. This study was aimed i) to investigate whether differences between rural and urban settings in the North, Centre and South of Italy could influence body-weight status, motor competence and physical activity (PA) level in school-age children; ii) to analyse the walkability of different school areas, and iii) to examine the relationship of motor competence, PA level, geographical areas, living setting, and neighbourhood walkability with children’s body-weight status. Methods: We assessed anthropometric parameters, gross motor coordination and PA level in 1549 children aged between 8 and 13 year. Three geographical areas (North, Centre, South of Italy), two settings (urban and rural) and neighbourhoods’ walkability (Walk Score®) were considered in the analysis. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 22.0% and 9.9%, respectively; 47.9% of the total sample showed motor impairments and 29.0% was inactive. Central children had higher BMI than Northern and Southern children. Northern children showed the highest MQ and PA level, followed by Southern and Central children. Children from the South of Italy attended schools located in neighbourhoods with the highest Walk Score®. Urban children attended schools located in neighbourhoods with a higher Walk Score® than rural children. Lower MQ, lower PA level, living in rural setting and in a car-dependent neighbourhood were associated with a higher relative risk for obesity. Being a girl was associated with a lower relative risk for obesity.Conclusions: The alarming high percentage of overweight and obesity in children as well as motor coordination impairments revealed the urgent need of targeted PA interventions in paediatric population.

Download Full-text

Determinants of childhood overweight and obesity in China

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114507280559 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 97 (1) ◽

pp. 210-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Y. Li ◽

F. Zhai ◽

X. Yang ◽

E. G. Schouten ◽

X. Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Childhood Overweight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Cooking Oil ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Childhood Overweight And Obesity ◽

Body Weight Status

In order to investigate the determinants of childhood overweight and obesity in China, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was compared according to different dietary and physical activity patterns and parental body weight status. A total of 6826 children aged 7–17 years from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey were included in the study. Information for dietary intake was collected using three consecutive 24-h recalls by trained interviewers. The amounts of cooking oil and condiments consumed were weighed. An interview-administered 1-year physical activity questionnaire was used to collect physical activity information. The results showed that the heavier the parental body weight, the higher the overweight prevalence in children. The prevalence ratio increased if parent(s) were overweight and/or obese, up to 12·2 if both parents were obese. Overweight children consumed significantly more dietary energy, protein and fat, but less carbohydrate than their normal weight counterparts. On average, overweight children spent 0·5 h less on moderate/vigorous activities and 2·3 h more on low intensity activities per week. The following prevalence ratios were statistically significant: walking to and from school (0·6); moderate/vigorous activities ≥ 45 min/d (0·8); low intensity physical activities >2 h/d (1·3); the consumption of ≥ 25 g/d cooking oil (1·4); ≥ 200 g/d meat and meat products consumption (1·5); ≥ 100 g/d dairy products (1·8). After adjustment for parental body weight status and socioeconomic status, only cooking oil consumption and walking to and from school remained significantly related to child overweight. In conclusion, parental weight status is an important determinant. Fat intake, low intensity activities and active transport to/from school may be suitable entry points for overweight prevention among Chinese school children.

Download Full-text

Is overweight/obesity a risk factor for atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children? A case–control study

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1515/jpem-2021-0051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Aysel Vehapoglu ◽

Zeynep Ebru Cakın ◽

Feyza Ustabas Kahraman ◽

Mustafa Atilla Nursoy ◽

Ali Toprak

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Allergic Disease ◽

Weight Status ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

University Hospital ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Prepubertal Children ◽

Body Weight Status ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Objectives It is unclear whether body weight status (underweight/normal weight/overweight/obese) is associated with allergic disease. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between body weight status (body mass index; BMI) and atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children, and to compare children with atopic allergic diseases with non atopic healthy children. Methods A prospective cross sectional study of 707 prepubertal children aged 3–10 years was performed; the participants were 278 atopic children with physician-diagnosed allergic disease (allergic rhinitis and asthma) (serum total IgE level >100 kU/l and eosinophilia >4%, or positivity to at least one allergen in skin test) and 429 non atopic healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Data were collected between December 2019 and November 2020 at the Pediatric General and Pediatric Allergy Outpatient Clinics of Bezmialem Vakıf University Hospital. Results Underweight was observed in 11.6% of all participants (10.8% of atopic children, 12.2% of healthy controls), and obesity in 14.9% of all participants (18.0% of atopic children, 12.8% of controls). Obese (OR 1.71; 95% CI: 1.08–2.71, p=0.021), and overweight status (OR 1.62; 95% CI: 1.06–2.50, p=0.026) were associated with an increased risk of atopic allergic disease compared to normal weight in pre-pubertal children. This association did not differ by gender. There was no relationship between underweight status and atopic allergic disease (OR 1.03; 95% CI: 0.63–1.68, p=0.894). Conclusions Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased risk of atopic allergic disease compared to normal weight among middle-income and high-income pre pubertal children living in Istanbul.

Download Full-text

The Relationship between Obesity and Physical Activity of Children in the Spotlight of Their Parents’ Excessive Body Weight

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238737 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8737

Author(s):

Erik Sigmund ◽

Dagmar Sigmundová

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Cumulative Effect ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Regular School ◽

Body Weight Status ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity

Background: The study reveals the relationships between daily physical activity (PA) and the prevalence of obesity in family members separated according to the participation of their offspring in organized leisure-time physical activity (OLTPA), and answers the question of whether the participation of children in OLTPA is associated with a lower prevalence of obesity in offspring with respect to parental PA and body weight level. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1493 parent-child dyads (915/578 mother/father-child aged 4–16 years) from Czechia selected by two-stage stratified random sampling with complete data on body weight status and weekly PA gathered over a regular school week between 2013 and 2019. Results: The children who participated in OLTPA ≥ three times a week had a significantly lower (p < 0.005) prevalence of obesity than the children without participation in OLTPA (5.0% vs. 11.1%). Even in the case of overweight/obese mothers/fathers, the children with OLTPA ≥ three times a week had a significantly lower (p < 0.002) prevalence of obesity than the children without OLTPA (6.7%/4.2% vs. 14.9%/10.7%). Conclusions: The cumulative effect of regular participation in OLTPA and a child’s own PA is a stronger alleviator of children’s obesity than their parents’ risk of overweight/obesity.

Download Full-text

Perceived physical activity barriers related to body weight status and sociodemographic factors among Malaysian men in Klang Valley

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-13-275 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Suraya Ibrahim ◽

Norimah A Karim ◽

Ng Lai Oon ◽

Wan Zurinah Wan Ngah

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Body Weight Status ◽

Klang Valley

Download Full-text

Diet, physical activity, and television viewing in relation to the body weight status of West Virginia adolescents

10.33915/etd.2011 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

Kimberly M. Morris

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

West Virginia ◽

Weight Status ◽

Television Viewing ◽

The Body ◽

Body Weight Status

Download Full-text

Only children or children with siblings: who has greater physical activity and healthier weight?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-28327/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Erik Sigmund ◽

Dagmar Sigmundová

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Weight Status ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Chi Square ◽

Only Children ◽

Weight One ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Single Child

Abstract Background: The influence of parents on the physical activity (PA) and body weight of their children is confirmed by scientific studies. However, it is not known whether only children or those with siblings have a higher level of PA and healthier body weight. One aim of this study is to assess whether there are any differences in the achievement of the daily step count (SC) recommendation and in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between only children and children from families with multiple children. Another aim is to investigate whether the achievement of the daily SC recommendation by children/parents and parental overweight/obesity are associated with childhood obesity. Methods: The analysis included 566 families (10.6% with a single child, 89.4% with two or more children) with complete data of family members for weight status and ambulatory PA monitored with a Yamax pedometer during the spring and autumn in 2013-2019. The cut-point values of the daily SC recommendation amounted to ≥13,000/≥11,000 steps per day for 5-12-year-old sons/daughters and ≥10,000 steps per day for 12-16-year-old adolescents and adults. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to compare the achievement of the daily SC recommendation and the prevalence of overweight and obesity between only children and those with siblings. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate whether the achievement of the daily SC recommendation by children/parents and parental overweight/obesity were associated with obesity in their offspring. Results: A significantly higher proportion of children with siblings (p<0.01) achieved the recommended daily SC (51.8% vs. 31.7%) and showed a lower prevalence of overweight (16.2% vs. 20.0%) and obesity (7.1% vs. 20.0%) compared with only children. The achievement of the daily SC recommendation in children significantly (p<0.05) reduced the odds (OR) of obesity (OR=0.22-0.34). The children with siblings had lower odds (OR=0.41-0.54) of obesity than the only children. The overweight/obesity of mothers significantly increased (p<0.05) the odds of obesity (OR=2.07) in their children. Conclusion: Children with siblings achieve the daily SC recommendation more often at weekends and on average for the whole week and have a lower incidence of overweight and obesity than children from single-child families.

Download Full-text