Maternal serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances and birth size in British boys

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used in commercial and industrial manufacturing processes since the 1950s. Inverse associations between prenatal exposure to PFAS and birth size have been found in populations around the globe. This study examined the association of prenatal maternal serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and birth size in British boys. The study included 457 mother-son dyads participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Birth weight (g), crown to heel length (cm), and head circumference (cm) were collected at delivery. PFAS were detected in all maternal serum samples during pregnancy (median: 30 weeks gestation (interquartile range: 12–33)). Median concentrations (interquartile range) were 13.8 ng/mL (11.0, 17.7), 3.0 ng/mL (2.3, 3.8), 1.9 ng/mL (1.4, 2.5), and 0.4 ng/mL (0.3, 0.5) for PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA, respectively. In multivariable linear regression models, inverse associations were detected between PFOS (continuous) and birth weight (β = ?8.50 g, 95% CI = ?15.93, ?1.07 g), crown to heel length (β = ?0.04 cm, 95% CI = ?0.08, ?0.01 cm), and head circumference (β = ?0.02 cm, 95% CI = ?0.04, ?0.002 cm). In conclusion, prenatal exposure to high levels of PFOS may be associated with reduced birth size in male infants.     

Impact of portion-control plates (PCP) on weight reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies

BackgroundThe purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess whether the available research to date supports the use of portion-controlled plate (PCP) and leads to reductions in body weight and improvements in other anthropometric and biochemical parameters. The systematic review summarizes existing PCPs and their impact on anthropometric and metabolic changes.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed®, Web of Science®, Scopus®. Data were pooled using random or fixed effects meta-analysis.ResultsFrom 426 potentially relevant articles, 5 publications were included in this review, and 4 of which reported four different PCPs. All five studies reported a positive effect of PCP on obesity and metabolic parameters. PCP significantly reduced body weight (BW) by 2.02 kg (95% CI, ?3.03 to ?1.01, p < 0.0001), body mass index (BMI) by 0.87 kg m^?2 (95% CI, ?1.28 to ?0.47, p < 0.0001) and waist circumference (WC) by 2.28 cm (95% CI, ?4.57 to 0.01, p = 0.05). A non-significant reduction was observed for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (?0.01, 95% CI, ?0.03 to 0.01, p = 0.35) during the three-month intervention period. PCP significantly decreased both BW (?1.66 kg; 95% CI, ?2.69 to ?0.62, p = 0.002) and percentage body weight (% BW) (?1.64%; 95% CI, ?2.69 to ?0.58, p = 0.002) when the intervention was undertaken for a 6-month period.ConclusionsOverall, results showed that portion control intervention significantly reduced BW, BMI and WC, along with a positive trend for WHR, plus biochemical and blood pressure reduction.     

Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Childhood Body Size in an Urban Cohort

Background:

Phthalate exposures are hypothesized to increase obesity; however, prior research has been largely cross-sectional.

Objective:

We evaluated associations between prenatal phthalate exposures and body mass index (BMI) at child ages 5 and 7 years.

Methods:

Nine metabolites of six phthalates—di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl-, di-iso-butyl-, di-n-butyl-, butylbenzyl-, and diethyl phthalates—were measured in spot urine samples collected from pregnant African-American and Dominican women during their third trimester, and from their children at ages 3 and 5 years. To reduce multiple comparison issues, we initially used principal component analysis (PCA) to identify major patterns of natural log (ln)-transformed metabolite concentrations. Height and weight were assessed at ages 5 and 7 years, and fat mass and waist circumference at age 7. Linearized generalized estimating equation analyses related maternal component scores to child anthropometric outcomes at ages 5 (n = 326) and 7 (n = 330) years.

Results:

PCA identified a DEHP component and a non-DEHP component. In boys, higher maternal non-DEHP, but not DEHP, component scores were associated with lower BMI z-score (β = –0.30; 95% CI: –0.50, –0.10, n = 156), lower fat percentage (β = –1.62; 95% CI: –2.91, –0.34, n = 142), and smaller waist circumference (β = –2.02; 95% CI: –3.71, –0.32, n = 124). No significant associations with anthropometric outcomes were seen in girls (for BMI z-score, β = 0.07; 95% CI: –0.18, 0.31, n = 181). Interactions between sex and non-DEHP component association with outcomes were statistically significant (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Contrary to hypotheses, prenatal non-DEHP phthalate exposures were associated with lower BMI z-score, waist circumference, and fat mass in boys during early childhood.

Citation:

Maresca MM, Hoepner LA, Hassoun A, Oberfield SE, Mooney SJ, Calafat AM, Ramirez J, Freyer G, Perera FP, Whyatt RM, Rundle AG. 2016. Prenatal exposure to phthalates and childhood body size in an urban cohort. Environ Health Perspect 124:514–520; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408750     

Prenatal Bisphenol A exposure and early childhood neurodevelopment in Shandong,China

BackgroundSeveral epidemiological studies suggest that prenatal exposure to BPA may interfere with the neurodevelopment of pre-school and school-age children. However, a limited number of studies are available for effects during children at a younger age, especially in China.MethodsBased on Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort (LWBC), BPA concentrations were measured in urine among 506 pregnant women during their hospital admission for delivery and neurodevelopment of their children was assessed using the Gesell Development Schedules at 12 months (n = 368) and 24 months (n = 296). Linear regression and generalized linear models were used to analyze the association between prenatal BPA exposure and the children's developmental quotient scores (DQs).ResultsThe median of maternal BPA concentration was 0.48 μg/L or 1.05 μg/g creatinine. Maternal BPA concentrations were adversely associated with children DQs at 12 months of age, with a 10-fold increase in prenatal BPA concentrations correlated to 1.43-point decrease in DQs in the adaptive domain (β = ?1.43; 95% CI: ?2.30 to ?0.56, p = 0.001). When stratified by gender, prenatal BPA concentrations were adversely associated with the adaptive domain DQs among boys (p-trend = 0.012) and girls (p-trend = 0.028) and the social domain DQs (p-trend = 0.019) only among girls. At 24 months of age, the significant adverse association was only found in the language domain among girls (β = ?1.69; 95% CI: ?3.23 to ?0.15, p = 0.032).ConclusionBased on a Chinese population, we found potential impacts of prenatal BPA exposure on childhood neurodevelopment at 12 and 24 months of age, especially among girls.     

Differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women with breast cancer for clinical characteristics and their correlates

PurposeBody size and ethnicity may influence breast cancer tumor characteristics at diagnosis. We compared Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) cases for stage of disease, estrogen receptor (ER) status, tumor size, and lymph node status, and the associations of these with body size in the 4-Corners Breast Cancer Study.MethodsOne thousand five hundred twenty-seven NHW and 798 Hispanic primary incident breast cancer cases diagnosed between October 1999 and May 2004 were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multiple logistic regression.ResultsHispanic women were more likely to have larger (>1 cm) ER? tumors and more than four positive lymph nodes (P < .003). Lymph node status was not associated with body size. However, among NHW women, obesity (body mass index >30) and increased waist circumference (>38.5 inches) were significantly positively associated with ER? tumor status (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.24–2.81 and OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.58–4.22, respectively). In contrast, among Hispanic women, obesity and waist circumference had inverse associations with ER? tumor status (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29–0.84 and OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.30–1.05, respectively).ConclusionsHispanic ethnicity may modify the association of body size and composition with ER? breast cancer. This finding could have relevance to clinical treatment and prognosis.     

Waist circumference and cardiovascular risk factors in prepubertal children

OBJECTIVE: Intra-abdominal fat has been identified as being the most clinically relevant type of fat in humans. Therefore, an assessment of body-fat distribution could possibly identify subjects with the highest risk of adverse lipid profile and hypertension. Few data on the relationship between body-fat distribution and cardiovascular risk factors are available in children, especially before puberty. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This cross-sectional study was undertaken to explore the relationship between anthropometric variables, lipid concentrations, and blood pressure (BP) in a sample of 818 prepubertal children (ages 3 to 11 years) and to assess the clinical relevance of waist circumference in identifying prepubertal children with higher cardiovascular risk. Height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, waist circumference, and BP were measured. Plasma levels for triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were determined. RESULTS: Females were fatter than males (5.8 [3.5] vs. 4.8 [3.3] kg of fat mass; p < 0.01). Males had higher HDL cholesterol and ApoA1/ApoB plasma concentrations than females (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Waist circumference had a higher correlation with systolic and diastolic BP (r = 0.40 and 0.29, respectively; p < 0.001) than triceps (r = 0.35 and 0.21, respectively; p < 0.001) and subscapular (r = 0.28 and 0.16, respectively; p < 0.001) skinfolds and relative body weight (0.33 and 0.23, respectively; p < 0.001). Multivariate linear model analysis showed that ApoA1/ApoB, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, and systolic as well as diastolic BP were significantly associated with waist circumference and triceps and subscapular skinfolds, independently of age, gender, and body mass index. DISCUSSION: Waist circumference as well as subscapular and triceps skinfolds may be helpful parameters in identifying prepubertal children with an adverse blood-lipids profile and hypertension. However, waist circumference, which is easy to measure and more easily reproducible than skinfolds, may be considered in clinical practice. Children with a waist circumference greater than the 90th percentile are more likely to have multiple risk factors than children with a waist circumference that is less than or equal to the 90th percentile.     

Cord Blood Manganese Concentrations in Relation to Birth Outcomes and Childhood Physical Growth: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Gestational exposure to manganese (Mn), an essential trace element, is associated with fetal and childhood physical growth. However, it is unclear which period of growth is more significantly affected by prenatal Mn exposure. The current study was conducted to assess the associations of umbilical cord-blood Mn levels with birth outcomes and childhood continuous physical development. The umbilical cord-blood Mn concentrations of 1179 mother–infant pairs in the Sheyang mini birth cohort were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The association of cord-blood Mn concentrations with birth outcomes, and the BMI z-score at 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 years old, were estimated separately using generalized linear models. The relationship between prenatal Mn exposure and BMI z-score trajectory was assessed with generalized estimating equation models. The median of cord-blood Mn concentration was 29.25 μg/L. Significantly positive associations were observed between Mn exposure and ponderal index (β, regression coefficient = 0.065, 95% CI, confidence interval: 0.021, 0.109; p = 0.004). Mn exposure was negatively associated with the BMI z-score of children aged 1, 2, and 3 years (β = −0.383 to −0.249, p < 0.05), while no significant relationships were found between Mn exposure and the BMI z-score of children at the age of 6, 7, and 8 years. Prenatal Mn exposure was related to the childhood BMI z-score trajectory (β = −0.218, 95% CI: −0.416, −0.021; p = 0.030). These results indicated that prenatal Mn exposure was positively related to the ponderal index (PI), and negatively related to physical growth in childhood, which seemed most significant at an early stage.     

Cross-sectional versus prospective associations of sleep duration with changes in relative weight and body fat distribution: the Whitehall II Study

A cross-sectional relation between short sleep and obesity has not been confirmed prospectively. The authors examined the relation between sleep duration and changes in body mass index and waist circumference using the Whitehall II Study, a prospective cohort of 10,308 white-collar British civil servants aged 35-55 years in 1985-1988. Data were gathered in 1997-1999 and 2003-2004. Sleep duration and other covariates were assessed. Changes in body mass index and waist circumference were assessed between the two phases. The incidence of obesity (body mass index: > or =30 kg/m(2)) was assessed among nonobese participants at baseline. In cross-sectional analyses (n = 5,021), there were significant, inverse associations (p < 0.001) between duration of sleep and both body mass index and waist circumference. Compared with 7 hours of sleep, a short duration of sleep (< or =5 hours) was associated with higher body mass index (beta = 0.82 units, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38, 1.26) and waist circumference (beta = 1.88 cm, 95% CI: 0.64, 3.12), as well as an increased risk of obesity (odds ratio(adjusted) = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.24). In prospective analyses, a short duration of sleep was not associated with significant changes in body mass index (beta = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.26, 0.14) or waist circumference (beta = 0.44, 95% CI: -0.23, 1.12), nor with the incidence of obesity (odds ratio(adjusted) = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.60, 1.82). There is no temporal relation between short duration of sleep and future changes in measures of body weight and central adiposity.     

Dietary fiber and associations with adiposity and fasting insulin among college students with plausible dietary reports

ObjectiveWe examined dietary fiber intake, food sources of dietary fiber, and relation of dietary fiber to body composition and metabolic parameters in college students with plausible dietary reports.MethodsStudents (18–24 y of age) provided data on anthropometry, fasting blood chemistries, and body composition (bioelectric impedance). Diet and physical activity were assessed with the Diet History Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Plausible dietary reporters were identified (±1 SD cutoffs for reported energy intake as a percentage of predicted energy requirement). Multiple regression analyses were conducted with the total (n = 298) and plausible (n = 123) samples, adjusting for age, race, sex, smoking status, physical activity, energy intake, and fat-free mass (where applicable).ResultsFood sources of dietary fiber were similar in men and women. In the plausible sample compared with the total sample, dietary fiber was more strongly associated with fat mass (β = ?0.24, P < 0.001), percentage of body fat (β = ?0.23, P < 0.001), body mass index (β = ?0.11, P < 0.01), waist circumference (β = ?0.67, P < 0.05), and fasting insulin (β = ?0.15, P < 0.001). When the effect of sex was investigated, dietary fiber was inversely related to fasting insulin and fat mass in men and women and inversely related to percentage of body fat, body mass index, and waist circumference in men only (P < 0.05).ConclusionInclusion of implausible dietary reports may result in spurious or weakened diet–health associations. Dietary fiber is negatively associated with fasting insulin levels in men and women and consistently associated with adiposity measurements in men.     

Interrelationship Between Alcohol Intake and Endogenous Sex-Steroid Hormones on Diabetes Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: We examined whether circulating concentrations of sex hormones, including estradiol, testosterone, sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), were associated with alcohol intake or mediated the alcohol–type 2 diabetes (T2D) association.

Methods: Among women not using hormone replacement therapy and free of baseline cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes in the Women's Health Study, 359 incident cases of T2D and 359 matched controls were chosen during 10 years of follow-up.

Results: Frequent alcohol intake (≥1 drink/day) was positively and significantly associated with higher plasma estradiol concentrations in an age-adjusted model (β = 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03, 0.26), compared to rarely/never alcohol intake. After adjusting for additional known covariates, this alcohol–estradiol association remained significant (β = 0.19, 95% CI, 0.07, 0.30). Testosterone (β = 0.13, 95% CI, ?0.05, 0.31), SHBG (β = 0.07, 95% CI, ?0.07, 0.20), and DHEAS (β = 0.14, 95% CI, ?0.04, 0.31) showed positive associations without statistical significance. Estradiol alone or in combination with SHBG appeared to influence the observed protective association between frequent alcohol consumption and T2D risk, with a 12%–21% reduction in odds ratio in the multivariate-adjusted models.

Conclusions: Our cross-sectional analysis showed positive associations between alcohol intake and endogenous estradiol concentrations. Our prospective data suggested that baseline concentrations of estradiol, with or without SHBG, might influence the alcohol–T2D association in postmenopausal women.     

Obesity and the risk of Parkinson's disease

Dopamine is involved in the regulation of food intake, and obese persons have decreased dopamine D2 receptor availability in the striatum. Furthermore, midlife triceps skinfold thickness has been found to be positively associated with the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) among Japanese-American men in Hawaii. The authors prospectively investigated whether obesity was associated with PD risk in two large cohorts of US men and women. They documented 249 cases of PD in men (1986-2000) and 202 cases in women (1976-1998). Neither baseline body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)) nor early adult body mass index was associated with PD risk. The multivariate relative risk for a baseline body mass index of > or = 30 versus <23 was 0.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6, 1.2; p for trend = 0.3). Overall, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were not related to PD risk. However, among never smokers, both variables showed significantly positive associations with PD risk. The relative risks for comparisons of extreme quintiles were 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0, 3.4; p for trend = 0.03) for waist circumference and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.1, 3.6; p for trend = 0.03) for waist-to-hip ratio. The results do not support a role of overall obesity in PD pathogenesis; however, central obesity may be associated with higher PD risk among never smokers, and this finding merits further investigation.     

Urinary triclosan concentrations are inversely associated with body mass index and waist circumference in the US general population: Experience in NHANES 2003–2010

BackgroundHumans are extensively exposed to triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent. Triclosan's effects on human health, however, have not been carefully investigated.ObjectiveTo examine whether triclosan exposure is associated with obesity traits.MethodsThis study included 2898 children (6–19 years old) and 5066 adults (20 years or older) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003–2010 and had a detectable level of urinary triclosan. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the association between urinary triclosan and both body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.ResultsEach standard deviation increase in urinary triclosan was associated with a 0.34 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.05, 0.64) kg/m² lower level of BMI (P = 0.02) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.09, 1.74) cm smaller waist circumference (P = 0.03) in boys, and a 0.62 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.94) kg/m² lower level of BMI (P = 0.0002) and 1.32 (95% CI: 0.54, 2.09) cm smaller waist circumference in girls (P = 0.001); a 0.42 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.77) kg/m² lower level of BMI (P = 0.02) and 1.35 (95% CI: 0.48, 2.22) cm smaller waist circumference (P = 0.003) in men, and a 0.71 (95% CI: 0.34, 1.07) kg/m² lower level of BMI (P = 0.0002) and 1.68 (95% CI: 0.86, 2.50) cm smaller waist circumference (P = 0.0001) in women. In both children and adults, there was a consistent trend for lower levels of BMI and smaller waist circumference with increasing levels of urinary triclosan, from the lowest to the highest quartile of urinary triclosan (P ≤ 0.001 in all cases).ConclusionTriclosan exposure is inversely associated with BMI and waist circumference. The biological mechanisms linking triclosan exposure to obesity await further investigation.     

Association of Binge Eating Behavior with Total and Abdominal Adipose Tissue in a Large Sample of Participants Starting a Weight Loss or Maintenance Program

ABSTRACT

Objective: It is not clear whether binge eating (BE) behavior is associated with body composition independently of body mass index (BMI). Our aim has been to evaluate the BMI-independent contribution of BE severity and BE status on the total amount of fat mass and abdominal fat distribution in a large sample of participants.

Method: We performed a cross-sectional study among 8524 participants followed at a nutritional center. BMI and waist circumference (WC) were measured, body fat (BF) was estimated by skinfold measurement, and abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues were measured by ultrasonography. BE was assessed using the Binge Eating Scale (BES). The association between the continuous BES score (BE severity) and adiposity was assessed in the whole sample after adjustment for BMI and other confounders. The effect of BE status on adiposity was also assessed by matching binge eaters (BES ≥ 18), for sex, age, and BMI, with non-binge eaters (BES < 18).

Results: We found that 17.7% of the participants were binge eaters. Continuous BES score was associated with increasing WC (0.03 cm, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02 to 0.05 every 1 BES unit, p < 0.001) and decreasing BF (0.01%, 95% CI, ?0.02 to ?0.00 every 1 BES unit, p = 0.003). No association was found between BE severity and VAT and SAT. After matching, the BF of binge eaters was 0.29% (95% CI, ?0.50 to ?0.07, p = 0.01) lower than that of non-binge eaters.

Conclusions: Given the very small effect size, BE severity and status are not associated in a biologically meaningful manner with BF content and distribution.     

The role of protein intake in the relationship between egg consumption and body composition in young adults. A mediation analysis

Background & aimsTo date, the literature examining the effects of whole-egg consumption on health outcomes focuses primarily on cardiovascular health markers; however, a significant gap exists in the literature about how egg consumption may influence body composition indicators. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between egg consumption and body composition indicators and to examine whether this relationship is mediated by protein intake in young adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving 355 first-year university students (aged 18–30 years) from a Spanish public university. Body composition was measured using bioimpedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and fitness components were determined using the course-navette test. Egg consumption and protein intake (both in g/day/kg of body weight) were determined using a 137-item Food-Frequency Questionnaire. ANCOVA models were used to test the mean differences in body composition indicators (body mass index [BMI], ratio waist circumference/height [WC/height], body fat mass percentage, and body lean mass percentage) by egg consumption categories (<1 egg/week, 1–4 eggs/week, ≥5 eggs/week). Hayes's PROCESS macro was used for mediation analyses.ResultsParticipants reporting high egg consumption (≥5 eggs/week) showed significantly lower BMI, WC/height and body fat mass percentage values and higher body lean mass percentage values than those reporting low egg consumption (<1 egg/week) (p < 0.05). However, these relationships were not maintained after adjusting for protein intake. Protein intake acted as a full mediator of the relationships of egg consumption with BMI (indirect effect [IE] = ?1.19; 95% CI [?3.33; ?0.36]), WC/height (IE = ?0.01; 95% CI [?0.04; ?0.01]) and body lean mass percentage (IE = 2.99; 95% CI [1.26; 5.73]) as a partial mediator of the relationship be-tween egg consumption and body fat mass percentage (IE = ?2.19; 95% CI [?4.92; ?0.46]).ConclusionsThe association between egg consumption and body composition is mediated by protein intake. This finding is important from a public health perspective, suggesting that higher egg consumption (≥5 eggs/week) may lead to a healthier body composition, especially due to higher protein intake.     

Effect of adiposity and fat distribution on endometrial cancer risk in Shanghai women

The authors conducted a population-based case-control study of 832 endometrial cancer cases and 846 frequency-matched controls in Shanghai, China (1997-2001), to examine the association of overall adiposity and body fat distribution with disease risk. Overall adiposity was estimated using weight and body mass index (BMI); upper body fat distribution was evaluated using waist circumference and waist:hip ratio. Overall and upper-body obesity were both associated with an elevated risk of endometrial cancer. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for highest-versus-lowest quartile comparisons were 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0, 3.5) for weight, 2.9 (95% CI: 2.2, 3.9) for BMI, 4.7 (95% CI: 3.4, 6.4) for waist circumference, and 3.5 (95% CI: 2.6, 4.8) for waist:hip ratio. The positive associations with weight and BMI vanished after results were controlled for waist circumference, while associations with waist circumference and waist:hip ratio persisted after adjustment for BMI. The positive association with upper-body obesity was more pronounced among younger women, women who had never used oral contraceptives, and women with a history of diabetes mellitus (p for multiplicative interaction < 0.05). Upper-body obesity was related to increased risk among women with low BMI. These results suggest that obesity, particularly upper-body fat deposition, is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.     

Efficacy of a Home-Based Parent Training-Focused Weight Management Intervention for Preschool Children: The DRIVE Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

ObjectivesTo pilot-test a home-based parent training intervention aimed at maintaining body weight among children at risk for obesity (> the 75th body mass index percentile).MethodsSixteen parent–child dyads were randomized to a health education or Developing Relationships that Include Values of Eating and Exercise (DRIVE) intervention arm. The DRIVE curriculum was a structured parenting program to promote healthy weight in children by relying on behavioral principles to promote skill acquisition in the family's natural setting. Body weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline and weeks 9 and 19.ResultsBody mass index z-score, body weight, and percent body weight increased in children in the health education arm vs DRIVE at weeks 9 and 19. Body weight, percent body weight, and waist circumference decreased in parents in DRIVE vs the health education arm at week 19, whereas no differences were shown at week 9.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe DRIVE program mitigated weight gain in a small sample of at-risk children and showed promising results in reducing weight in parents. Home-based interventions emphasizing parent–child interactions are indicated as a practical model to deliver weight management in children.     

Association of body composition and weight history with breast cancer prognostic markers: divergent pattern for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women

Body composition and weight gain are breast cancer risk factors that may influence prognosis. The Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Study was designed to evaluate the relations of body composition, weight history, hormones, and lifestyle factors to prognosis for women with breast cancer. In the cross-sectional analysis of this cohort study specific to 150 Hispanic and 466 non-Hispanic White women in New Mexico diagnosed between 1996 and 1999, the authors hypothesized that obesity measures are associated with baseline prognostic markers and that these associations are modified by ethnicity. Ethnic-stratified multiple logistic regression analyses showed divergent results for a tumor size of 1.0 cm or more and, to a lesser extent, positive lymph node status. Among Hispanics, the highest quartile for body mass index (29.5 vs. <22.5 kg/m2: odds ratio (OR) = 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03, 0.84) and for waist circumference (> or =95.0 vs. <78.5 cm: OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.78) was significantly associated with a reduced tumor size. In contrast, for overweight and obese non-Hispanic White women, there was an increased association with obesity-related measures, particularly striking for the highest quartile of waist circumference (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.45, 5.26). These findings suggest that Hispanics may have a different breast cancer phenotype than non-Hispanic Whites, which associates differently with body composition and weight history.     

Parabens and measures of adiposity among adults and children from the U.S. general population: NHANES 2007–2014

Background

Emerging experimental studies suggest that parabens could affect metabolism by altering the microbiome or signaling pathways involved in adipocyte differentiation. While human exposure to parabens is widespread, epidemiologic studies assessing the role of these chemicals on adiposity measures are scarce.

Longitudinal associations of neighborhood environment features with pediatric body mass index

IntroductionIt has been posited that policies to promote child health and prevent obesity should target neighborhood environments but evidence on the impact of neighborhoods on child weight is conflicting and longitudinal studies (which have benefits for causal inference) are scarce.MethodsWe used electronic health records (2007–2016) from an urban, pediatric integrated delivery system and linked children (N = 51,873, ages 6–19 years, 77% African American) to neighborhood-level data to investigate how changes in neighborhood environments relate to changes in body mass index (BMI). Measures of neighborhood environment were resources for healthy foods and physical activity (‘resources’), greenness, violent crime rate, perceived safety and social cohesion. Fixed effects models estimated associations between changes in neighborhood environment exposures and changes in BMI z-score and whether effects differed by sex, baseline age, neighborhood socioeconomic status and population density.ResultsApproximately 22% of the cohort was obese (BMI z-score ≥ 95th percentile). In adjusted models, increases in neighborhood greenness and perceived safety were associated with decreases in BMI z-score (mean change in BMI z-score for 1-SD increase for both: -0.012; 95% CI= (−0.018, −0.007)). Increases in neighborhood safety had a stronger effect in children ages 6–10 years than in older children. Increases in social cohesion were associated with increases in BMI z-score (mean change: 0.005 95% CI = (0.003, 0.008)) especially in boys. Increases in food and physical activity resources were not associated with changes in BMI.ConclusionsThis study suggests that increasing neighborhood greenness and safety are potential approaches to reduce children's BMI.     

Fish consumption does not prevent increase in waist circumference in European women and men

Fish consumption is the major dietary source of EPA and DHA, which according to rodent experiments may reduce body fat mass and prevent obesity. However, human studies have suggested that fish consumption has no appreciable association with body-weight gain. We investigated the associations between fish consumption and subsequent change in waist circumference. Sex, age and waist circumference at enrolment were considered as potential effect modifiers. Women and men (n 89?432) participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) were followed for a median of 5·5 years. Mixed-effect linear regression was used to investigate the associations between fish consumption and subsequent change in waist circumference. Among all participants, the average annual change in waist circumference was -?0·01?cm/10?g higher total fish consumption per d (95?% CI -?0·01, 0·00) and -?0·01?cm/10?g higher fatty fish consumption per d (95?% CI -?0·02, -?0·01), after adjustment for potential confounders. Lean fish consumption was not associated with change in waist circumference. Adjustment for potential over- or underestimation of fish consumption measurements did not systematically change the observed associations, but the 95?% CI became slightly wider. The results in subgroups from analyses stratified by sex, age or waist circumference at enrolment were not systematically different. In conclusion, the present study suggests that fish consumption does not prevent increase in waist circumference.