Evaluation of lean body mass in obese children

Multiple skinfold anthropometry (MSA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are useful as clinically non-invasive, inexpensive and portable techniques, although it is not clear if they can be used interchangeably in the same patient to routinely assess her/his body composition. In order to compare BIA, MSA and DXA in the estimation of lean body mass (LBM) of a pediatric obese population, 103 obese [body mass index (BMI) > 97th percentile] children (median age: 11 years; range: 5.4–16.7 years) underwent nutritional evaluation. After an overnight fast, the subjects’ anthropometric measurements were performed by the same investigator: body weight (BW), height, skinfold thickness (four sites); fat body mass (FBM) using Brook or Durnin equations and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BIA was performed using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer (Analicor-Eugedia, 50 kHz) and Houtkooper’s equation to calculate LBM. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the prediction of LBM by MSA, DXA and BIA. The differences between the three techniques were analysed using Student’s t-test for paired observations and the Bland and Altmann method. A considerable lack of agreement was observed between DXA- and BIA-LBM (δ = −4.37 kg LBM; δ−2σ = −11.6 kg LBM; δ+2σ = +2.8 kg LBM); between DXA- and MSA-LBM (δ = −1.72 kg LBM; δ−2σ = −8.2 kg LBM; δ+2σ = +4.8 kg LBM) and between BIA- and MSA-LBM (δ = −2.65 kg LBM; δ−2σ = −10.5 kg LBM; δ+2σ = +5.2 kg LBM). Conclusion: In obese children, DXA, BIA and MSA should not be used interchangeably in the assessment of LBM because of an unacceptable lack of agreement between them. The discrepancies between methods increase with the degree of obesity.     

The impact of eating habits on anthropometric characteristics in French primary school children

Background Obesity is increasing worldwide, reaching alarming proportions. Eating habits have changed over time and nowadays children and adolescents' environment favours the adoption of unhealthy eating behaviours leading to metabolic impairment. Objective To explore the impact of eating risk factors and their cumulative effect on anthropometric characteristics in French primary school children. Methods A total of 278 healthy French children (7.50 ± 0.67 years old) and their legal representatives agreed to take part in this study. Parents were asked to fill in an eating habits clinical questionnaire with questions about skipping breakfast, snacking between meals, eating in front of the TV and sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption. On the basis of the answers, children were classified into four categories as a function of the number of eating risk factors they presented. Body mass index (BMI), the sum of four skinfolds (Σ4 skinfolds: tricipital, bicipital, sub‐scapular and supra‐iliac) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. BMI was transformed into z‐BMI for each child. Results anova and unpaired t‐test provided significantly higher z‐BMI, Σ4 skinfolds and WC in children who were used to skipping breakfast, snacking, watching TV while eating and consuming sugar‐sweetened beverages. The more children accumulated eating risk factors, the higher were their z‐BMI, Σ4 skinfolds and WC (manova : P < 0.001). Conclusions Eating habits appear to be associated with anthropometric characteristics in French primary school children. Anthropometric values (z‐BMI, Σ4 skinfolds and WC) increased with the number of eating risk factors they presented.     

Nutritional status and cognitive performance of mother–child pairs in Sidama,Southern Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status and cognitive performance of women and their 5‐year‐old children using a cross‐sectional design. Cognitive performance of mothers and children was assessed with Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM) and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children‐II (KABC‐II). Demographic characteristics, food consumption patterns and anthropometry were also measured. Four rural districts in Sidama, southern Ethiopia served as the setting for this study. Subjects were one hundred women and their 5‐year‐old children. Mean ± standard deviation age of the mothers was 29 ± 6 years and family size was 7.0 ± 2.6. Maternal body mass index (BMI) ranged from 15.3 to 29.0 with 14% of the mothers having BMI < 18.5. Anthropometric assessment of children revealed 29% to be stunted (height‐for‐age z‐score < ?2) and 12% to be underweight (weight‐for‐age z‐score < ?2). Mothers' education significantly contributed to prediction of both mothers' and children's cognitive test scores. There were significant differences in mean cognitive test scores between stunted and non‐stunted, and between underweight and normal‐weight children. Height‐for‐age z‐scores were correlated with scores for short‐term memory (r = 0.42, P < 0.001), and visual processing (r = 0.42, P < 0.001) indices and weight‐for‐age z‐scores were also correlated with scores of short‐term memory (r = 0.41, P < 0.001) and visual processing (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) indices. Malnutrition in the community likely contributed to the cognitive performance of the subjects. Performance on memory and visual processing tasks was significantly lower in children with growth deficits suggesting that efficient and cost effective methods to alleviate malnutrition and food insecurity would impact not only child health but also cognitive function.