FTO and PLAG1 Genes Expression and FTO Methylation Predict Changes in Circulating Levels of Adipokines and Gastrointestinal Peptides in Children

Adipokines and gastrointestinal tract hormones are important metabolic parameters, and both epigenetic factors and differential gene expression patterns may be associated with the alterations in their concentrations in children. The function of the FTO gene (FTO alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase) in the regulation of the global metabolic rate is well described, whereas the influence of protooncogene PLAG1 (PLAG1 zinc finger) is still not fully understood. A cross-sectional study on a group of 26 children with various BMI values (15.3–41.7; median 28) was carried out. The aim was to evaluate the dependencies between the level of methylation and expression of aforementioned genes with the concentration of selected gastrointestinal tract hormones and adipokines in children. Expression and methylation were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear DNA by a microarray technique and a restriction enzyme method, respectively. All peptide concentrations were determined using the enzyme immunoassay method. The expression level of both FTO and PLAG1 genes was statistically significantly related to the concentration of adipokines: negatively for apelin and leptin receptor, and positively for leptin. Furthermore, both FTO methylation and expression negatively correlated with the concentration of resistin and visfatin. Cholecystokinin was negatively correlated, whereas fibroblast growth factor 21 positively correlated with methylation and expression of the FTO gene, while FTO and PLAG1 expression was negatively associated with the level of cholecystokinin and glucagon-like peptide-1. The PLAG1 gene expression predicts an increase in leptin and decrease in ghrelin levels. Our results indicate that the FTO gene correlates with the concentration of hormones produced by the adipose tissue and gastrointestinal tract, and PLAG1 gene may be involved in adiposity pathogenesis. However, the exact molecular mechanisms still need to be clarified.     

The role of the genetic variants IRX3 rs3751723 and FTO rs9939609 in the obesity phenotypes of children and adolescents

ObjectiveWe investigated the association of IRX3 SNP rs3751723 with anthropometric characteristics related to adiposity and potential relationships with FTO SNP rs9939609 in a population of Brazilian children and adolescents.MethodsA total of 871 children and adolescents between 7 and 17 years of age were recruited. Adiposity measurements and biochemical parameters were assessed. The variants were genotyped by real-time PCR. Analysis of multiple linear regression, multiple logistic regression, and generalised multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) adjusted for sex, age and ethnicity were applied to test the polymorphisms association with obesity-related phenotypes and the interaction between them.ResultsThe analyses showed that IRX3 was associated with obesity and fat percentage (BF%). An association of FTO rs9939609 with body mass index (BMI) Z-Score and with waist circumference (WC) was detected. The odds ratios (OR) showed that IRX3 rs3751723 was associated with risk of obesity in additive model (p = 0.017), recessive model (p = 0.016) and with high BF% in all models. FTO rs9939609 was associated with risk of obesity in additive model (p = 0.031), recessive (p = 0.033) and with altered WC in all models. GMDR-based predictive models for the risk of obesity, altered WC and high BF% adjusted by age, ethnicity and sex suggested no interaction of the two loci.ConclusionsThe genetic variants rs3751723 and rs9939609 have an influence on the characteristics of adiposity; however, the effects of IRX3 and FTO investigated polymorphisms are independent in relation to adiposity parameters.     

Impact of obesity and body fat distribution on cardiovascular risk factors in Hong Kong Chinese

OBJECTIVE: Body fat distribution has been reported to differentially contribute to the development of cardiovascular risk. We report the relative associations between general and central obesity and risk factors in 2893 Chinese subjects recruited from the Hong Kong population. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Anthropometric parameters [waist circumference (WC) and BMI], surrogate measures of insulin resistance (fasting plasma glucose and insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, 2 hours glucose and insulin), fasting lipids (total, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglycerides) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. General obesity was classified as BMI > or =25.0 kg/m(2) and central obesity as a WC > or =80 or > or =90 cm in women and men, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 39.2% of the population was found to be obese. Obesity per se increased the levels of the risk factors, but central adiposity contributed to a greater extent to adverse high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin resistance levels. There was a continuous relationship between increasing obesity, both general and central, and cardiovascular risk, with lowest risk associated with the lowest indices of obesity. In the 1759 nonobese subjects divided into quartiles of BMI or WC, the levels of the cardiovascular risk factors still significantly increased with increasing quartiles of adiposity. DISCUSSION: Central adiposity appears to contribute to a greater extent than general adiposity to the development of cardiovascular risk in this population. The relationship between obesity parameters and risk is a continuum, with risk factors significantly increasing even at levels usually considered nonobese. These observations support the proposed redefinition of overweight and obesity in Asian populations using lower cut-off points.     

No Influence of the Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene rs9939609 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism on Blood Lipids in Young Males

The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) rs9939609 A-allele is linked to obesity and dyslipidemia, yet the independent influence of this polymorphism on blood lipids remains equivocal. We examined the influence of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on fasting and postprandial blood lipids in individuals homozygous for the risk A-allele or T-allele with similar anthropometric and demographic characteristics. 12 AA and 12 TT males consumed a standardized meal after fasting overnight. Blood samples were collected at baseline (−1.5 h), before the meal (0 h), and for five hours postprandially to measure lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations. Time-averaged total area under the curve (TAUC) values (0–5 h) were calculated and compared between genotypes. Fasting triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose, and insulin concentrations were similar between groups (p ≥ 0.293). TAUC for TG was similar in AAs and TTs (95% confidence interval (CI) −0.52 to 0.31 mmol/L/h; p = 0.606). Likewise, TAUC values were similar for NEFA (95% CI −0.04 to 0.03 mmol/L/h; p = 0.734), glucose (95% CI −0.41 to 0.44 mmol/L/h; p = 0.951), and insulin (95% CI −6.87 to 2.83 pmol/L/h; p = 0.395). Blood lipids are not influenced by the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism, suggesting the FTO-dyslipidemia link is mediated by adiposity and weight management is important in preventing FTO-related lipid variations.     

Dairy Foods and Dairy Protein Consumption Is Inversely Related to Markers of Adiposity in Obese Men and Women

A number of intervention studies have reported that the prevalence of obesity may be in part inversely related to dairy food consumption while others report no association. We sought to examine relationships between energy, protein and calcium consumption from dairy foods (milk, yoghurt, cheese, dairy spreads, ice-cream) and adiposity including body mass index (BMI), waist (WC) and hip circumference (HC), and direct measures of body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (% body fat and abdominal fat) in an opportunistic sample of 720 overweight/obese Australian men and women. Mean (SD) age, weight and BMI of the population were 51 ± 10 year, 94 ± 18 kg and 32.4 ± 5.7 kg/m², respectively. Reduced fat milk was the most commonly consumed dairy product (235 ± 200 g/day), followed by whole milk (63 ± 128 g/day) and yoghurt (53 ± 66 g/day). Overall dairy food consumption (g/day) was inversely associated with BMI, % body fat and WC (all p < 0.05). Dairy protein and dairy calcium (g/day) were both inversely associated with all adiposity measures (all p < 0.05). Yoghurt consumption (g/day) was inversely associated with % body fat, abdominal fat, WC and HC (all p < 0.05), while reduced fat milk consumption was inversely associated with BMI, WC, HC and % body fat (all p < 0.05). Within a sample of obese adults, consumption of dairy products, dairy protein, and calcium was associated with more favourable body composition.     

Waist circumference, dual-energy X-ray absortiometrically measured abdominal adiposity, and computed tomographically derived intra-abdominal fat area on detecting metabolic risk factors in obese women

OBJECTIVES: We investigated which abdominal adiposity measurements, waist circumference (WC), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-measured abdominal fat, and computed tomography (CT)-derived intra-abdominal fat areas (IAF), were the most predictive in identifying metabolic risk factors. METHODS: Ninety-five Korean women (body mass index 27.5 +/- 3.2 kg/m(2), WC 90.2 +/- 6.8 cm, age 42 +/- 10.6 y) with abdominal obesity (WC > or = 80 cm) were examined in this study. Abdominal adiposity was assessed using DXA (absolute values and percentages of trunk and android fat, trunk-to-leg fat ratio, and android-to-gynoid fat ratio) and CT (IAF and ratio of IAF to subcutaneous abdominal fat [SAF]). Metabolic indicators were blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, fasting glucose, insulin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined as the presence of at least two of the following: triacylglycerol level > or = 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level <50 mg/dL, blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg, and/or fasting glucose level > or = 100 mg/dL. RESULTS: The correlations between adiposity measurements and metabolic indicators were stronger in premenopausal compared with postmenopausal women. Areas under the curve for MS and all abdominal adiposity measurements (WC, DXA-measured abdominal fat, and CT-derived IAF) were significant. Areas under the curve were not significantly different among measurements. The sensitivity and specificity at the threshold value of each abdominal adiposity measurement to predict MS were 38-93% and 34-96%, respectively. Women with 1 SD higher abdominal adiposity were 1.6-3.4 times more likely to have MS. CONCLUSION: No single abdominal adiposity measurement, i.e., WC, DXA-measured abdominal fat, and CT-assessed IAF, was a stronger predictor of metabolic risk factors than the other.     

Time-Restricted Feeding during Puberty Ameliorates Adiposity and Prevents Hepatic Steatosis in a Mouse Model of Childhood Obesity

Background: Time restricted feeding (TRF) refers to dietary interventions in which food access is limited during a specific timeframe of the day. TRFs have proven useful in improving metabolic health in adult subjects with obesity. Their beneficial effects are mediated, in part, through modulating the circadian rhythm. Nevertheless, the translation of these dietary interventions onto obese/overweight children and adolescents remains uncharacterized. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of temporal dietary interventions for improving metabolic health in the context of childhood obesity. Methods: We have previously developed a mouse model of early adiposity (i.e., childhood obesity) through litter size reduction. Mice raised in small litters (SL) became obese as early as by two weeks of age, and as adults, they developed several obesity-related co-morbidities, including insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis. Here, we explored whether two independent short-term chrono-nutritional interventions might improve metabolic health in 1-month-old pre-pubertal SL mice. Both TRFs comprised 8 h feeding/14 h fasting. In the first one (TRF1) Control and SL mice had access to the diet for 8 h during the dark phase. In the second intervention (TRF2) food was available during the light:dark transitions. Results: TRF1 did not alter food intake nor ameliorate adiposity in SL-TRF1. In contrast, SL-TRF2 mice showed unintentional reduction of caloric intake, which was accompanied by reduced total body weight and adiposity. Strikingly, hepatic triglyceride content was completely normalized in SL-TRF1 and SL-TRF2 mice, when compared to the ad lib-fed SL mice. These effects were partially mediated by (i) clock-dependent signals, which might modulate the expression of Pparg or Cpt1a, and (ii) clock-independent signals, such as fasting itself, which could influence Fasn expression. Conclusions: Time-restricted feeding is an effective and feasible nutritional intervention to improve metabolic health, namely hepatic steatosis, in a model of childhood obesity. These data open new avenues for future safe and efficient chrono-nutritional interventions aimed to improve metabolic health in children with overweight/obesity.     

Urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Childhood Obesity: NHANES (2001–2006)

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known carcinogens and suspected endocrine disruptors. Prenatal exposure to PAHs has been associated with obesity in early childhood.Objective: We examined the association of urinary PAH metabolites with adiposity outcomes [body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist circumference (WC), and rate of obesity] in children and adolescents.Methods: We performed whole-sample analyses of 3,189 individuals 6–19 years of age who participated in the 2001–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We performed multivariate linear and logistic regression to analyze the association of BMI z-score, WC, and obesity with concentrations of single urinary PAH compounds and the sum of PAHs. Furthermore, the analyses were stratified by developmental stage [i.e., children (6–11 years) and adolescents (12–19 years)].Results: BMI z-score, WC, and obesity were positively associated with the molecular mass sum of the PAHs and the total sum of naphthalene metabolites. Most associations increased monotonically with increasing quartiles of exposure among children 6–11 years of age, whereas dose–response trends were less consistent for adolescents (12–19 years of age). Neither total PAHs nor total naphthalene metabolites were associated with overweight in either age group, and there was little evidence of associations between the outcomes and individual PAHs.Conclusions: Total urinary PAH metabolites and naphthalene metabolites were associated with higher BMI, WC, and obesity in children 6–11 years of age, with positive but less consistent associations among adolescents.Citation: Scinicariello F, Buser MC. 2014. Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and childhood obesity: NHANES (2001–2006). Environ Health Perspect 122:299–303; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307234     

The Association between Peptide Hormones with Obesity and Insulin Resistance Markers in Lean and Obese Individuals in the United Arab Emirates

Peptide hormones play a crucial role in body weight and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we aimed to explore this association and recruited 43 obese and 31 age- and sex-matched lean participants. We assessed their body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), percentage body fat (PBF), fasting blood levels of peptide hormones (GLP-1, GLP-2, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, CCK, and PYY), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). We tested the associations between peptide hormones and markers of obesity and insulin resistance (IR) by using the Independent-Samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, partial correlation, and logistic regression. FBS, insulin, HOMA-IR, GLP-1, GLP-2, and leptin were significantly higher in the obese group; ghrelin and CCK were significantly higher in lean participants, and no difference was seen for PYY. Controlling for BMI, GLP-1 was positively correlated with WtHR, while ghrelin was inversely correlated with WtHR. GLP-1 was correlated with HOMA-IR. GLP-1 was associated with obesity and IR markers in the regression model. Our results show that obese and lean adults display significant differences in plasma peptide hormone levels. GLP-1 levels were independently associated with markers of obesity and IR. Restoring the appetite hormone balance in obesity may represent a potential therapeutic target.     

High Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Hispanic Adolescents: Correlations with Adipocytokines and Markers of Inflammation

This study assessed the association of cardiometabolic risk factors with systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and adypocytokines in a Hispanic adolescent subgroup. A clinic-based sample of 101 Puerto Rican adolescents, 48 of whom were overweight or obese based on body mass index percentiles for age and sex, was recruited during 2010. Data were collected through interviews, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and blood drawing. Overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 16.8 % and increased to 37.5 % among overweight/obese youth. The overweight/obese group exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher values for abdominal obesity measures, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin resistance, C peptide, high-sensitivity C reactive protein, fibrinogen, leptin, and IL-6 and lower levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, adiponectin, and IGF-1. Total adiponectin significantly correlated with most cardiovascular risk factors independent of sex, Tanner stage, and adiposity. Altered cardiometabolic and adipocytokine profiles were present in this Hispanic subgroup, reinforcing the need to strengthen strategies addressing childhood obesity.     

Development of insulin resistance and its relation to diet in the obese child

The incidence rate of obesity in youth has continued to increase worldwide and about 30% of obese children display insulin resistance (IR) and other metabolic abnormalities. The present study reviews the mechanisms for development of IR in the obese child and possible links between IR and dietary factors in childhood and adolescence. Although increased concentrations of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and their counter part at intracellular level, long-chain acyl-coenzyme A (LC acyl-CoA), have been related to the early onset of IR in childhood obesity, a new endocrine paradigm states that adipose tissue secretes a wide variety of hormones and cytokines that regulate lipid energy metabolism. These hormonal changes precede any changes in metabolites such as FFA and glucose and appear to be associated with early IR in childhood. Excessive caloric intake increases IR in children; opposite, substantial reduction of overweight achieved by a hypocaloric diet decreases it. Elevated consumption of animal protein, particularly in early life, as well as diets rich in saturated, trans, and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and diets with a high carbohydrate to fat ratio, besides a high glycaemic and low-fiber diet also appear to exacerbate adiposity and IR.     

Interaction effects of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and lifestyle factors on obesity indices in early adolescence

BackgroundThe rs9939609 SNP in fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene influence obesity, whose effects might be mediated by lifestyle factors. However, evidence was lacked in early adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the interactions effects of FTO rs9939609 and lifestyle factors on obesity indices in early adolescence.MethodsThe study included 1149 children aged 10–12 years. Their body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) were measured, and lifestyle factors were surveyed through questionnaires. The rs9939609 SNP in the FTO gene was genotyped.ResultsSignificant associations were found between FTO rs9939609 and obesity indices after adjusting for confounding factors. An interaction effect between rs9939609 and soft drinks was observed with p = 0.019 for BMI after adjustment for confounding factors. The children carrying risk allele A had a significantly higher mean BMI (mean=19.67kg/m²) than those carrying only the wild allele T (mean = 17.987 kg/m²) when they reported a higher intake of soft drinks (≥3 times/week), but the association was not observed among children with a lower intake of soft drinks. No significant interactions were established between appetite, weekday TV viewing, sleep, exclusive breast feeding in the first four months and FTO rs9939609 on BMI or BF%. Bioinformatics revealed that rs9939609 and its linkage disequilibrium (LD) SNPs are potentially implicated in the regulation of gene expression in blood, pancreatic and brain tissue cells.ConclusionFTO rs9939609 had an obvious and independent effect on obesity-related indices in early adolescents. Soft drinks may exert a modifying effect on the relationship between FTO rs9939609 and BMI.     

Body mass index and waist circumference both contribute to differences in insulin-mediated glucose disposal in nondiabetic adults

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obese individuals are more likely to be insulin resistant and at increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Questions remain as to whether waist circumference (WC) or body mass index (BMI) most effectively identifies insulin-resistant individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study quantified insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU) in 330 apparently healthy volunteers and compared the relation between this value and measurements of WC and BMI. DESIGN: IMGU was quantified via determination of the steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentration during the insulin-suppression test. Differences in SSPG concentrations due to variations in WC within a given BMI category, as well as those due to differences in BMI within a given WC classification, were then compared. RESULTS: BMI and WC correlated with each other (r = 0.78, P < 0.001) and equally with SSPG concentrations (r = 0.58 and 0.57, respectively; P < 0.001). When stratified by BMI, abdominally obese subjects within the overweight BMI category had higher SSPG concentrations than did those with a normal WC (P < 0.05). When classified by WC, subjects in the overweight BMI category had greater SSPG concentrations than did subjects in the normal BMI category within the normal WC category (P < 0.01), as did subjects in the obese BMI category in comparison with subjects in the overweight BMI category within the obese WC category (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The more overweight or obese a person, the greater the degree of insulin resistance; differences in adiposity accounted for approximately one-third of the variation in IMGU, irrespective of the index used. Furthermore, there was no difference in the relation between the degree of insulin resistance and either index of adiposity.     

Dietary,Lifestyle and Socio-Economic Correlates of Overweight,Obesity and Central Adiposity in Lebanese Children and Adolescents

The Eastern Mediterranean region is characterized by one of the highest burdens of paediatric obesity worldwide. This study aims at examining dietary, lifestyle, and socio-economic correlates of overweight, obesity, and abdominal adiposity amongst children and adolescents in Lebanon, a country of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was conducted on 6–19-year-old subjects (n = 868). Socio-demographic, lifestyle, dietary, and anthropometric data (weight, height, waist circumference) were collected. Overweight and obesity were defined based on BMI z-scores. Elevated waist circumference (WC) and elevated waist to height ratio (WHtR) were used as indices of abdominal obesity. Of the study sample, 34.8% were overweight, 13.2% were obese, 14.0% had elevated WC, and 21.3% had elevated WHtR. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that male gender, maternal employment, residence in the capital Beirut, sedentarity, and higher consumption of fast food and sugar sweetened beverages were associated with increased risk of obesity, overweight, and abdominal adiposity, while regular breakfast consumption, higher intakes of milk/dairies and added fats/oils were amongst the factors associated with decreased risk. The study’s findings call for culture-specific intervention strategies for the promotion of physical activity, healthy lifestyle, and dietary practices amongst Lebanese children and adolescents.     

Minor alleles in the FTO SNPs contributed to the increased risk of obesity among Korean adults: meta-analysis from nationwide big data-based studies

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESMany studies have revealed an association between fat mass and the obesity-related gene (FTO) and obesity. On the other hand, no meta-analysis was conducted with data from only Koreans. Therefore, this study performed a meta-analysis using Korean data to provide evidence for the association between FTO single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of obesity among Korean adults.SUBJECT/METHODSMeta-analysis was finally conducted with data extracted from seven datasets of four studies performed on Korean adults after the screening passed. Five kinds of FTO SNPs (rs9939609, rs7193144, rs9940128, rs8050136, and rs9926289) were included, and the relationship between FTO SNPs and body mass index (BMI) was investigated using linear regression with an additive model adjusted for covariants, such as age, sex, and area.RESULTSThe minor alleles of FTO SNPs were associated with increased BMI (odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.42). In sub-group analysis, FTO rs9939609 T>A was significantly associated with BMI (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.06–1.42). The other FTO SNPs together were significantly associated with BMI (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25–1.49). The publication bias was not observed based on Egger’s test.CONCLUSIONSThis meta-analysis showed that minor alleles in the FTO SNPs were significantly associated with an increased BMI among Korean adults. This meta-analysis is the first to demonstrate that minor alleles in the FTO SNPs contribute significantly to the increased risk of obesity among Korean adults using data from a Korean population.     

Secular trends in adiposity in Norwegian 9-year-olds from 1999-2000 to 2005

Background  

Due to the negative health consequences of childhood obesity monitoring trends in body mass and adiposity is essential. The purpose of this study was to describe secular trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 9-year-old children, and to study changes in adiposity and fat distribution by investigating changes in waist circumference (WC) and skinfold thicknesses.     

The Role of BMI,Body Fat Mass and Visceral Fat in Executive Function in Individuals with Overweight and Obesity

Evidence accumulated to date suggests that excess weight in the adult population is associated with a wide range of impairments in executive function. However, most studies have only examined the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the cognitive function of individuals with overweight and obesity. This study examined the potential associations of markers of adiposity (BMI, body fat, and visceral fat) with five domains of executive function including cognitive flexibility, inhibition, monitoring, planning, and working memory in a sample of 87 adult with overweight (n = 34) and obesity (n = 53). The results show that obese people had poorer working memory than those with overweight. After controlling for educational levels and physical activity, the results suggest that neither the waist–hip index not visceral fat were associated with cognitive function. In overweight, body fat was negatively associated with executive components of inhibition (p = 0.05) and monitoring (p = 0.02). In the obesity subgroup, body fat was negatively associated with inhibition (0.02) and working memory (0.04). The results provide evidence of the importance of adiposity for cognitive function. The implications for understanding the influence of markers of adiposity in adults with overweight and obesity are discussed.     

Dietary behaviors throughout childhood are associated with adiposity and estimated insulin resistance in early adolescence: a longitudinal study

Background

Despite the growing prevalence of excess weight and prediabetes in children, the contributing role of dietary behaviors throughout childhood remains poorly understood. We examined longitudinal associations of dietary behaviors throughout childhood with adiposity and estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in adolescence.

Methods

Among 995 children from Project Viva, a pre-birth cohort, we examined associations of child dietary behaviors (frequency of eating breakfast, fast food, family dinner, and eating meals while watching television) reported annually throughout childhood (from ages 4 to 11?years) with body mass index z-score (BMI-z; n?=?991), waist circumference (WC; n?=?995), DXA overall and central adiposity measurements (n?=?721), and HOMA-IR (n?=?579) in early adolescence (13.2?±?0.9?years old). We used mixed effects models adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

Eating breakfast daily throughout childhood was associated with lower BMI-z and DXA-measured overall and central adiposity in boys and girls (e.g. for whole-body fat %: β ??1.43% [95% CI: -2.42, ??0.45] and???1.47% [??2.25, ??0.68]), and with lower HOMA-IR in boys (% difference???15.6% [??22.7, ??7.9]). Daily family dinner and eating fast food less than once per week throughout childhood were both associated with lower BMI-z and adiposity in girls (for BMI-z: β ??0.17?units [??0.24, ??0.11] and β ??0.09?units [??0.17, ??0.02]) and lower insulin resistance in boys (% difference???7.3% [??12.4,??1.8] and???7.6% [??13.2, ??1.7]). Finally, eating meals while watching television <?1/week throughout childhood was associated with lower adolescent adiposity (e.g. WC: ??1.55?cm [??2.39, ??0.71]) and HOMA-IR (% difference: ??10.7% [??15.8, ??5.2]) in boys.

Conclusion

Healthful dietary behaviors throughout childhood are associated with less adiposity and lower estimated insulin resistance in early adolescence.

Trial registration

NCT02820402

     

The Effect of Maternal Overweight and Obesity Pre-Pregnancy and During Childhood in the Development of Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Maternal overweight/obesity has been associated with an increased risk of obesity in childhood. We investigated the effect of maternal overweight/obesity during pre-pregnancy and whether it is a stronger predictor of child obesity, compared to maternal overweight/obesity during childhood. Prospective or retrospective cohort studies published in English, reporting on obese children and adolescents (2–18 years), with overweight/obese mothers in either pre-pregnancy or during childhood were included. A search was conducted from 2012 to April 2022 in MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EMBASE, followed by screening, data extraction, quality assessment and narrative synthesis. Eleven eligible studies (9 prospective and 2 retrospective cohort studies; total sample, n = 27,505) were identified. Eight studies examined maternal overweight/obesity in pre-conception, presenting consistent positive associations with childhood obesity, three reported positive associations between childhood obesity and maternal overweight/obesity during childhood, and one presented positive associations between both maternal exposures. The narrative synthesis failed to identify which maternal exposure is the strongest predictor of childhood obesity, with studies reporting significant associations between maternal overweight/obesity and child obesity in both time points. Intervention programs aiming to reduce childhood obesity should focus on supporting women of childbearing age with weight management from preconception and throughout their life-course.