Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 7735

Special Issue Editors

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Physical Education, Sports and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, 42132 Trikala, Greece
Interests: childhood obesity; dietary patterns; food consumption; wine; Mediterranean diet; NCDs
Laboratory of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (CND-Lab), Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Physical Education, Sport Science and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, 42132 Trikala, Greece
Interests: clinical nutrition; pediatric nutrition; obesity; obesity-related diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
2. Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
3. School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Interests: nutritional epidemiology; Mediterranean diet; lifestyle; cardiovascular disease; aging; healthy aging; successful aging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The prevalence of obesity across childhood and adolescence remains still an unresolved issue consisting of a major burden on public health. According to WHO, over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016. Obesity in children and adolescents has profound both immediate and long-term medical and psychosocial consequences as it is associated with a cluster of risk factors responsible for the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in later life. The multifaceted nature of obesity stems from the fact that no single factor causes this epidemic but it is rather the result of multiple bunches of intercorrelated interactions between genetic, biological, developmental, behavioral, and environmental factors. Beyond that, the recently emerging research findings highlight the contributory role of epigenetics and the gut microbiome, as well as intrauterine and intergenerational effects on the onset of obesity. The most crucial modifiable factor within this apparent complexity persists to be dietary habits shaped in early life in the frame of both family and community-based environments.

Thus, in this special issue original research papers, reviews, and meta-analytic studies are invited to shed further light on the role of nutrition on childhood and adolescent obesity in this complex grid of interrelated factors.

Dr. Rena Kosti
Dr. Odysseas Androutsos
Guest Editors

Dr. Alexandra Foscolou
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • children
  • adolescents
  • obesity
  • diet
  • patterns
  • family
  • perceptions
  • behavior
  • environment
  • lifestyle

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 192 KiB  
Editorial
Addressing a Growing Crisis: Exploring Novel Insights and Solutions in Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity
by Alexandra Foscolou, Odysseas Androutsos and Rena I. Kosti
Children 2023, 10(12), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10121883 - 30 Nov 2023
Viewed by 561
Abstract
Given the escalating global prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is consequently crucial to address childhood obesity by promoting lifestyle adjustments, as exemplified in the World Health Organization’s Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions for Primary Healthcare [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity)

Research

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11 pages, 458 KiB  
Article
Body Mass Trajectory Affects the Long-Term Occurrence of Metabolic Syndrome in Adult Patients with Severe Obesity
by Juliette Hazart, Florence Montel, Elodie Gentes, Clément Lahaye, Mélanie Pouget, Nicolas Farigon, Magalie Miolanne, Aurélien Mulliez and Yves Boirie
Children 2023, 10(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10010027 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1046
Abstract
Independently of absolute BMI values, the amount, onset date, and duration of early body weight gain may influence cardio-metabolic health later in adulthood. Values of cardiac and metabolic variables from a cohort study of morbidly obese patients were retrospectively analyzed to study the [...] Read more.
Independently of absolute BMI values, the amount, onset date, and duration of early body weight gain may influence cardio-metabolic health later in adulthood. Values of cardiac and metabolic variables from a cohort study of morbidly obese patients were retrospectively analyzed to study the association between early weight history and metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurrence in adults. Of 950 patients with severe morbid obesity (age 44.3 ± 13.8 y, BMI 42.5 ± 7.0 kg/m2), 31.4% had started excess weight gain in childhood (CH), 19.9% in adolescence (ADO), and 48.7% in adulthood (AD). Despite different BMI values, MetS prevalence (57.8%) was not significantly different in the three groups (54.4% CH vs. 57.7% ADO vs. 59.8% AD, p = 0.59). The overweight onset period was not significantly associated with the development of MetS in adults (ADO: OR = 1.14 [0.69–1.92], p = 0.60; AD: OR = 0.99 [0.62–1.56], p = 0.95) despite a higher BMI in the early obesity onset group. Weight gain of more than 50% after age 18 years significantly increased the risk of MetS (OR = 1.75 [1.07–2.88], p = 0.026). In addition to crude BMI values, analysis of body mass trajectories is a relevant clinical tool in the assessment of metabolic risk, suggesting that the magnitude of weight gain may be more important for metabolic syndrome progression than the period of obesity onset. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity)
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8 pages, 248 KiB  
Article
The Association between Breakfast Macronutrient Composition and Body Weight, in Preadolescence: An Epidemiological Study among Schoolchildren
by Stamatia Kokkou, Venetia Notara, Aikaterini Kanellopoulou, George Antonogeorgos, Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil, Ekaterina N. Kornilaki, Areti Lagiou and Demosthenes Panagiotakos
Children 2022, 9(12), 1960; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121960 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1304
Abstract
Over the last few decades, childhood overweight and obesity tend to reach epidemic proportions. The present study aimed to examine whether the composition of breakfast, through the prism of its macronutrient content, could play a part in the development of excess body weight [...] Read more.
Over the last few decades, childhood overweight and obesity tend to reach epidemic proportions. The present study aimed to examine whether the composition of breakfast, through the prism of its macronutrient content, could play a part in the development of excess body weight in children. A sample of 1728 Greek students from 47 primary schools was enrolled for the purposes of this study. Their weight and height were measured and their Body Mass Index was calculated and classified according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Their dietary habits, breakfast foods of choice, and physical activity were assessed through the use of a self-completed questionnaire. Further assessment of breakfast composition was carried out in order to evaluate its macronutrient content. Initial analysis, which was only energy-adjusted, showed a negative association between body weight and breakfast protein content and a positive association for lipid content. After further adjustment for age, sex, level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and physical activity, there was a significant negative association between breakfast protein and excess body weight in children (p = 0.029), as well as a significant positive association of breakfast lipid content (p = 0.028). Breakfast macronutrient content seems to have an effect on body composition in children, independently of overall adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity, however further research is needed in order to elucidate potential pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity)
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12 pages, 485 KiB  
Article
Lifestyle Risk Factors for Overweight/Obesity in Spanish Children
by María L. Miguel-Berges, Pilar De Miguel-Etayo, Alicia Larruy-García, Andrea Jimeno-Martinez, Carmen Pellicer and Luis Moreno Aznar
Children 2022, 9(12), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121947 - 12 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1551
Abstract
Childhood obesity is one of the main public health concerns in Europe. The aim was to identify possible risk factors associated with overweight/obesity in Spanish preschool and school-age children. The sample (1075 (50.7% girls) children aged 3 to 12) is part of the [...] Read more.
Childhood obesity is one of the main public health concerns in Europe. The aim was to identify possible risk factors associated with overweight/obesity in Spanish preschool and school-age children. The sample (1075 (50.7% girls) children aged 3 to 12) is part of the project ‘Alimentando el Cambio’ whose objective is to promote healthy lifestyles in schools. Child height and weight were measured, and parents filled out questionnaires related to the children’s lifestyle. There was a positive and significant association between sweetened beverage consumption and body mass index (BMI) z-score in both sexes and age groups. There was a negative and significant association between BMI z-score and dairy products in girls of both age groups. There was also a protective effect of regular nut consumption on overweight/obesity in girls 6–12 y. Night-time sleep during weekdays showed a negative association with BMI z-score for older boys and girls. A positive and significant association was found between total screen time and BMI z-score during weekdays. Regarding emotional well-being and self-esteem, having girls 6–12 y laughing and feeling happy and good about themselves in the last week was a protective factor against overweight/obesity. Childhood obesity prevention efforts may benefit from targeting these key risk factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity)
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10 pages, 419 KiB  
Article
Screening Questionnaire for Vitamin D Insufficiency in Children with Obesity
by Valeria Calcaterra, Hellas Cena, Ginevra Biino, Roberta Grazi, Giulio Bortoni, Valentina Braschi, Chiara Elena Tomasinelli, Laura Schneider and Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
Children 2022, 9(11), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9111685 - 02 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1322
Abstract
Non-invasive screening tools to identify children at high risk of vitamin D (VitD) deficiency are proactive measures in preventive care. Recently, a validated questionnaire (Evaluation dEficieNCy Questionnaire, EVIDENCe-Q) for identifying newly diagnosed VitD-insufficient adults has been developed. We tested the EVIDENCe-Q modified for [...] Read more.
Non-invasive screening tools to identify children at high risk of vitamin D (VitD) deficiency are proactive measures in preventive care. Recently, a validated questionnaire (Evaluation dEficieNCy Questionnaire, EVIDENCe-Q) for identifying newly diagnosed VitD-insufficient adults has been developed. We tested the EVIDENCe-Q modified for children with obesity and evaluated the correlation between VitD and questionnaire scores to adapt this tool to the pediatric population. We enrolled 120 children with obesity (BMI ≥ 2). Clinical evaluation and VitD levels were considered. The modified EVIDENCe-Q included information regarding factors affecting control of VitD, with scores ranging between 0 (best) and 36 (worst). VitD and adiposity indices were inversely correlated. The threshold values for identifying severe deficiency (<10 mg/dL), deficiency (<20 mg/dL) and insufficiency (<30 mg/dL) were scores of 21, 19 and 23, respectively. According to those thresholds, the prevalence of severe deficiency, deficiency and insufficiency was 47.5%, 69.2% and 23.3%, respectively; the best accuracy was obtained with a questionnaire score cut-off of 19 for the VitD deficiency level. A novel simple screening tool such as the modified EVIDENCe-Q would be useful in clinical practice to identify potential cases of hypovitaminosis D and select at-risk patients. Considering the limited accuracy and specificity of our results, for the pediatric population a dedicated tool should be created. Phases of childhood and the role of adipose tissue could be considered in the definition of a questionnaire intended for pediatric patients with obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity)
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Review

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13 pages, 586 KiB  
Review
Parental Misperceptions of Their Offspring’s Weight and Their Strategies for Child’s Eating Behavior: A Narrative Review of the Recent Evidence
by Ioannis Gketsios, Alexandra Foscolou, Tonia Vassilakou, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos and Rena I. Kosti
Children 2022, 9(10), 1565; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101565 - 16 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1150
Abstract
The aim of the present review was to explore the effect of parental misperceptions of their offspring’s weight status during childhood and early adolescence on weight control strategies and children’s eating behavior. Literature searching was limited to the PubMed database and to the [...] Read more.
The aim of the present review was to explore the effect of parental misperceptions of their offspring’s weight status during childhood and early adolescence on weight control strategies and children’s eating behavior. Literature searching was limited to the PubMed database and to the English language from January 2000 to August 2022. Eligible studies had clearly associated parental misperception of offspring’s weight with child eating habits or weight management and eating strategies in childhood to early adolescence. Sixteen studies (14 cross-sectional, 1 longitudinal and 1 with cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses) were included in the analysis. Weight loss attempts and child’s eating behavior were the main outcomes. Sixteen studies found significant associations. Parental misperceptions of their offspring’s weight status do influence their child’s weight and eating behavior, especially in overweight children. Parents tend to follow potentially harmful methods when they overestimate their children’s weight (food restriction) and when they underestimate their children’s weight (pressure to eat). However, additional longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the impact of parental weight status perception on health behaviors and children’s weight gain over time. The potential need for preventive intervention studies is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity)
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