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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Parental overweight as an indicator of childhood overweight: how sensitive?

This study determined the sensitivity and specificity of parental overweight from self-reported height and weight to identify families with overweight school age children. A cross sectional study was conducted among 3059 parents and their children (1558 boys and 1501 girls) aged 7-12 years in five primary schools of Busan, Korea. BMI was calculated from parental reported height and weight and from children's measured height and weight. Parents were considered overweight when their BMI was >25 kg/m2 (WHO, 2000). Children were considered overweight when their BMI was >95th percentile (CDC, 2000). Prevalence of overweight was calculated and logistic regressions were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of parental overweight were calculated. A total of 26% (805/3059) parents were overweight. Of the families with one overweight parent, 15% (N = 109) had an overweight child. When both parents were overweight, 17% (N = 9) had an overweight child. After adjusting for child's age and gender, parental education, family income, and spouse's BMI as required, the odds of having an overweight child were 2.5 [1.8, 3.3] for one overweight parent, and 3.2 [1.4, 7.1] for both overweight parents. While the sensitivity of one overweight parent to identify families with overweight school age children was 44%, specificity was 75%. The presence of both overweight parents provided a 3% sensitivity and 98% specificity for the identification of an overweight school age child. Although parental overweight was obtained from self-reported weight and height in Busan (Korea), it is a practical indicator to identify families with an overweight school age child, it has poor sensitivity.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2000

Childhood weight, stature, and body mass index among never overweight, early-onset overweight, and late-onset overweight groups.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of timing of onset of overweight (OW) on childhood anthropometric adiposity levels using long-term serial data from the Fels Longitudinal Study. CLASSIFICATION: OW was defined as body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) >25, and the age at first measurement of BMI >25 was the age of onset of OW. Early onset of OW (early-OW) and late onset of OW (late-OW) were defined as having onset of OW before and after 25 years of age, respectively, whereas never OW (never-OW) was defined as never having a BMI >25. SUBJECTS: Subjects consisted of 67 males and 47 females in early-OW groups, 62 males and 48 females in late-OW groups, and 80 males and 114 females in never-OW groups. RESULTS: Levels of weight and BMI in early-OW males and females were significantly greater than those in never-OW and late-OW males and females beginning at the time of adiposity rebound, which generally occurs between 4 and 8 years of age. Median BMI and weight patterns between never-OW and late-OW males were similar throughout childhood. However, significant differences in median levels of BMI for never-OW and late-OW females began at 11 years of age, although onset of OW was not until >25 years of age in the latter group. CONCLUSIONS: For both males and females, adiposity rebound is likely an effective time in a child's development to detect and initiate prevention for childhood and early adulthood onset of OW. Although later-onset OW needs additional study, puberty seems to be a critical phase in the development of later adult onset of OW in females.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Skeletal muscle metabolism in overweight and post-overweight women: an isometric exercise study using (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether skeletal muscle anaerobic metabolism, oxidative metabolism or metabolic economy during controlled sub-maximal and near-maximal exercises is altered in overweight women after diet-induced weight reduction, and whether these parameters are different between normal-weight, obesity-prone and normal-weight obesity-resistant women with similar physical fitness levels. DESIGN: A prospective weight loss study of overweight women and their comparison with never overweight controls. SUBJECTS: Thirty overweight, nondiabetic, premenopausal women and 28 never overweight controls were included in this analysis. All were participating in a longitudinal investigation of the role of energy metabolism in the etiology of obesity. The overweight women were recruited specifically to have a positive family history of obesity and have a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 30 kg/m(2) and were studied in the overweight state and after reduction to a normal weight. The never-overweight controls were recruited specifically to have no personal and family history of obesity and were group matched with the weight-reduced post-overweight subjects in terms of premenopausal status, age, BMI, race and sedentary lifestyle. MEASUREMENTS: All testing was performed following one month of weight maintenance and during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Hydrostatic weighing was performed to measure body composition and a whole-body maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) test was done to measure aerobic fitness. (31)P MRS was used to determine ATP production from oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos), 'anaerobic' glycolysis (AnGly), and creatine kinase (CK), as well as muscle metabolic economy. The time constant of ADP (TC(ADP)), V(PCr) (ie the initial rate of PCr resynthesis following exercise), and Q(max) (ie the apparent maximal oxidative ATP production rate) were also calculated as additional markers of mitochondrial function. RESULTS: Diet-induced weight loss did not have any effects on the anaerobic metabolism markers (AnGly and CK). The aerobic metabolism markers calculated from the initial recovery data (OxPhos and V(PCr)) were unaffected by diet-induced weight loss. However, diet-induced weight loss resulted in improvements in the TC(ADP) and Q(max) in the post-overweight state as compared to their overweight state. There were no differences in any of the anaerobic (AnGly and CK) or oxidative metabolism markers (OxPhos, V(PCr), Q(max) and TC(ADP)) between the post-overweight and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Once the overweight women were reduced to a normal-weight state, their skeletal muscle energy metabolism and economy was similar to the never overweight control women. In overweight women, oxidative metabolism or mitochondrial function may be limited by blood flow to the muscle following the cessation of exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Tracking of overweight from early childhood to adolescence in cohorts born 1988 and 1994: overweight in a high birth weight population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and tracking of overweight and obesity in childhood cohorts born 1988 and 1994 in a population of high birth weight. SUBJECTS: Icelandic cohorts born in 1988 and 1994. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 1328, 9- and 15-year-old children from 18 randomly selected schools all over Iceland, 934 participated (71%). Height and mass were measured by the investigators. Also, height and mass at birth, and at age 2.5, 6, 9, and 12 years, were collected from maternity wards and school health registers. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight children ranged from 10.1% for 2.5-year-olds to 18.7% for 9-year-olds. No difference was observed between the two cohorts or sex. The prevalence of obesity in the 1994 cohort (4.3%) was significantly higher (P = 0.01) at age 6 years, compared to the 1988 cohort (1.1%). The children who were overweight at age 2.5 years were more likely to be overweight at age 6 (OR=12.2) and 9 years (OR=4.9), but not significantly at age 12 or 15 years, compared with normal weight 2.5-year-olds. Overweight children at age 6 or 9 years were much more likely (OR 10.4 and OR 18.6, respectively) to be overweight at age 15 years compared to their normal weight peers. Of overweight 6-year-olds, 51% were overweight at 15 years, and were about one-third of all overweight children at that age. The children that weighed above the 85th percentile at birth were more likely than the other children to be overweight at the age of 6 years (OR = 1.8), 9 years (OR = 2.1), and 15 (OR = 2.0) years. CONCLUSION: The results show high prevalence of overweight and obesity even before the start of compulsory schooling. Approximately, 51% of overweight 6-year-olds were still overweight after puberty. Therefore, preschool overweight prevention, along with prevention at school age, seems to be of uttermost importance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The effects of yoghurt containing a novel fat emulsion on energy and macronutrient intakes in non-overweight, overweight and obese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a yoghurt containing a novel fat emulsion on energy and macronutrient intakes up to 8 h post-consumption in non-overweight, overweight and obese subjects, and to assess energy compensation over the following 24 h. DESIGN: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover design was used. Twenty (10 female, 10 male) non-overweight (body mass index (BMI) 20-24.9 kg/m(2)), 20 (10 female, 10 male) overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) and 20 (13 female, 7 male) obese (BMI>30 kg/m(2)) subjects participated in the study. Subjects were given in random order, 7 days apart, either a 200 g portion of a test (5 g of a novel fat emulsion+1 g milk fat) or control (6 g milk fat) yoghurt at 09:00 h. At 4 and 8 h post-consumption subjects were given ad libitum access to a range of foods. Amounts of food consumed were determined by pre and post-covert weighing of individual serving dishes. Over the following 24 h subjects weighed and recorded all food intakes. RESULTS: Mean energy intakes were significantly lower after the test yoghurt compared with the control yoghurt in non-overweight (3.79 vs 5.43 MJ; P<0.01) and overweight (4.43 vs 6.12 MJ; P<0.001) subjects 4 h post-consumption and in non-overweight (3.82 vs 5.38 MJ; P<0.001), overweight (3.94 vs 5.80 MJ; P<0.001) and obese (4.91 vs 6.26 MJ; P<0.01) subjects 8 h post-consumption. The corresponding macronutrient intakes were also significantly reduced in non-overweight and overweight subjects (P<0.01) at 4 h post-consumption and in all subjects 8 h post-consumption (P<0.01). In the total group, energy intakes over the following 24 h were also significantly reduced (6.35 vs 7.70 MJ; P<0.01) after the test yoghurt relative to the control yoghurt. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the effects of this novel fat emulsion are maintained at least up to 8 h and are evident in non-overweight, overweight and obese subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Why do some overweight children remain overweight, whereas others do not?

OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamics of childhood overweight and the influence of dietary intake on tracking of overweight. DESIGN AND SETTING: A follow-up study conducted in China. SUBJECTS: Ninety-five overweight children, 6-13 years old, identified from 1455 children at baseline, were followed over a 2-year period. METHODS: Data on anthropometry and 3-day dietary intake were collected at baseline and during follow-up. Overweight was defined using the International Obesity Task Force reference of body mass index (BMI)-for-age. Differences between groups were tested using analysis of variance and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. RESULTS: Of the 95 overweight children, 36.8% remained overweight 2 years later ('tracking group'). Urban boys were three times more likely than rural boys to remain overweight (63.2% vs. 21.9%). At baseline, the tracking group had higher BMI, body weight and fat intake (% of energy), and lower carbohydrate intake (% of energy), than the non-tracking group (who shifted from overweight to not overweight); they were more likely to have a high-fat or high-meat diet, but less likely to have a diet high in carbohydrate or vegetables and fruit. During the follow-up, the tracking group increased fat intake and reduced carbohydrate intake while the non-tracking group did not; and they also grew slower in height but faster in weight. Tracking of overweight seemed to be related to tracking of high-meat (relative risk (RR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-5.6, P < 0.05) and high-fat (RR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9-2.5, P < 0.1) diets. CONCLUSION: Considerable changes in children's overweight status during childhood and adolescence were observed in China, a transitional society. Dietary patterns, particularly dietary composition, seemed to influence the tracking patterns of overweight.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Differences in physical activity between non-overweight, overweight and obese children.

The purpose of the study was to find out differences in moderate to vigorous physical activity among non-overweight, overweight and obese children, and between boys and girls. The sample included 364 children (179 boys and 185 girls), aged 6.4 years (+/- 0.3 SD). Physical activity was assessed by 7-day questionnaire. Age adapted BMI was used as overweight and obesity indicator. The children were divided into non-overweight, overweight and obese groups. It was found out, that there are significant differences in non-overweight, overweight and obese children (p < 0.05). Boys were significantly (p < 0.05) less moderate to vigorous physical active than girls, especially in indoor activities. There were also significant differences (p < 0.05) in moderate to vigorous physical activity among non-overweight and obese boys and among overweight and obese boys in weekends and total weekly activity. In girls there are significant differences (p < 0.05) in non-overweight, overweight and groups in weekends and total weekly activity. It is possible to conclude, that obese boys and overweight and obese girls, are prone to less physical activity.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma total homocysteine in Brazilian overweight and non-overweight adolescents: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that overweight adolescents have higher plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels than non-overweight adolescents and to explore the association between plasma tHcy levels with folate, vitamin B12 and some risk factors for CVD in both groups. METHODS: A case-control study conductec with 239 adolescentes aged 15-19 years in the city of São Paulo, Brazil; 86 overweight and 153 non-overweight frequency matched by age, gender, pubertal and socioeconomic status. tHcy, folate, vitamin B12, lipid profile, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance were measured. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in tHcy, folate and vitamin B12 levels between overweight and non-overweight groups. The geometric means of tHcy were elevated in both groups (overweight: 11.8 micromol/L; non-overweight: 11.6 micromol/L) higher for boys than for girls (P < or = 0.001). Folate deficiency was identified in 68.6% of total studied population. Triacylglycerol, LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance were higher and HDL cholesterol was lower in overweight that non-overweight adolescents. In the multiple linear regression model, in overweight group, tHcy was independently associated with age (P = 0.041), sex (P = 0.004) and folate (P = 0.022) and in non-overweight group, with age (P = 0.049), sex (P < 0.001), folate (P = 0.018) and vitamin B12 (P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was not a determinant factor of tHcy levels. Age, sex and folate were independent determinants of plasma tHcy levels. The high prevalence of folate deficiency may have been responsible for the elevated tHcy levels in these adolescents, increasing the risk for future development of CVD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Overweight and obesity at school entry as predictor of overweight in adolescence in an Arctic child population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and in mean body mass index (BMI) among school children, and to analyse the predictive value of overweight and obesity at school entry to overweight and obesity in adolescence in an Arctic child population. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. A database was created on the basis of files from health examinations. Data on children aged 5-7 years and 13-17 years and the subsample of children followed from school entry to adolescence was analysed. RESULTS: During the years 1972-2002 the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly, and mean BMI rose by 5.6% at school entry and by 4.7% in adolescence. Sensitivity and specificity: Of the children being obese in adolescence, 56.3% were already obese at school entry; for the overweight children, 50.6% were also overweight or obese at school entry. Of the children with normal weight in adolescence, 91.9% were also normal weight at school entry. The positive predictive value of being overweight or obese combined at school entry was 59.5%, i.e. more than every second retained their overweight or obesity in adolescence. Only 10% of the obese school entry children had gained normal weight in adolescence. The negative predictive value for normal weight children at school entry was 91.3%. CONCLUSION: The study showed that during 30 years from 1972, overweight and obesity among school children in Greenland have increased dramatically. Overweight and obesity at school entry were shown to be a good predictor of overweight or obesity in adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Identification of overweight status is associated with higher rates of screening for comorbidities of overweight in pediatric primary care practice.

OBJECTIVES: The goals were to determine whether primary care provider identification of children as overweight was associated with additional screening or referrals and whether the types and numbers of visits to primary care differed for overweight and nonoverweight children. METHODS: Sequential parents/guardians at 13 diverse pediatric practices completed an in-office survey addressing health habits and demographic features. Medical records of each child from a sample of families were reviewed. Data were abstracted from the first visit and from all visits in the 14-month period before study enrollment. Analyses were limited to children > or = 2 years of age for whom BMI percentile could be calculated. RESULTS: The analytic sample included 1216 children (mean age: 7.9 years; 51% male) from 777 families (parents were 43% white, 18% black, 34% Hispanic, and 5% other; 49% of families had a child receiving Medicaid/uninsured). Among overweight children (BMI of > or = 95th percentile; n = 248), 28% had been identified as such in the record. Screening or referral for evaluation of comorbidities was more likely among overweight children who were identified in the record (54%) than among overweight children who were not identified (17%). Among children at risk of overweight (BMI of 85th to 94th percentile; n = 186), 5% had been identified as such in the record and overall 15% were screened/referred. In logistic regression modeling, the children identified as overweight/at risk of overweight had 6 times greater odds of receiving any management for overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Low rates of identification of overweight status and evaluation or referrals for comorbidities were found. Identification of overweight status was associated with a greatly increased rate of screening for comorbidities.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2006

Overweight and at-risk for overweight among Hawai'i public school students entering kindergarten, 2002-2003.

Recent studies have pointed to an increasing problem of overweight and obesity in children in Hawai'i, but all of these studies have been conducted in specific communities or special population groups. No broad population-based studies have been conducted to document the extent of overweight in the general population of children in Hawai'i. To provide a population based estimate of overweight in Hawai'i's children, this study examined Student Health Records for 10, 199 children entering kindergarten in public schools during 2002-2003. Data on age, gender, height, and weight were used to calculate BMI (body mass index) scores. Because records for all students entering public school kindergarten were available for analysis, the data presented here represents the broadest estimates of overweight and at risk for overweight in Hawai'i's children published to date. The results illustrate that almost one-third of the children aged 4-6 years old entering Hawai'i public schools are either overweight or at risk for overweight. Rates are higher in rural school complexes than urban ones. Compared to a 1984 study that found 'no significant under or over nutrition' in Hawai'i's school children, our results suggest that almost one-third of children aged 4-6 entering Hawai'i public schools are either overweight or at risk for overweight. Physicians should be aware of this growing problem, and seek to implement practices to combat overweight among their pediatric patients and families.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1996

Adolescent overweight is associated with adult overweight and related multiple cardiovascular risk factors: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

Overweight in adolescence is considered an important predictor of long-term morbidity and mortality. The impact of adolescent overweight on adult overweight and related multiple cardiovascular risk factors was examined in a biracial (black-white) cohort (N = 783) who participated in two cross-sectional surveys as adolescents aged 13 to 17 years and as young adults aged 27 to 31 years. The cohort was categorized as adolescent-onset adult overweight (N = 110) or lean (N = 81) according to age-, race-, and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) greater than the 75th percentile or between the 25th and 50th percentiles on both surveys. The risk for overweight adolescents to remain overweight as young adults ranged from 52% in black males to 62% in black females. As young adults, the overweight cohort showed adverse levels of body fatness measures, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, and glucose as compared with the lean cohort (P < .01 to P < .0001). The prevalence of clinically recognized hypertension and dyslipidemia increased 8.5-fold and 3.1- to 8.3-fold, respectively, in the overweight cohort versus the lean cohort (P < .05 to P < .0001). The prevalence of parental history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension increased 2.4-fold (P < .01) and 1.3-fold (P < .05), respectively, in the overweight cohort. Clustering of adverse values (> 75th percentile) for the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio, insulin level, and systolic blood pressure occurred only among the overweight cohort (P < .0001). Thus, excess weight in adolescence persists into young adulthood, and has a strong adverse impact on multiple cardiovascular risk factors, requiring primary prevention early in life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of dietary intake among overweight and non-overweight schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in dietary intake between overweight and non-overweight schoolchildren and differences in consumption during the day and in the course of the week. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Using a cross-sectional design, 32 schoolchildren (11-y-old) were selected at random. The parents of children recorded dietary intake for a week using the food weighing method. The children were considered to be overweight when the weight for height was higher than 90th percentile. RESULTS: Some 46.9% of examined schoolchildren were considered overweight. Percentage energy intake reported was significantly lower in the overweight group compared to the non-overweight children (8948.7 vs 9590.1 kJ/day; P<0.01). Carbohydrate intake was significantly greater in the non-overweight schoolchildren (250.9+/-58.8 vs 222.1+/-77.4 g/day; P<0.01). The difference in protein intake between week and weekend days was significant (81.6+/-25.5 in the week days vs 73.9+/-21.4 g/day in the weekend days; P<0.05). DISCUSSION: The data suggest the belief that overweight children eat more than non-overweight children is not correct. These findings suggest that the positive energy balance causing overweight is due possibly to a low energy output.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Validity of the body mass index as an indicator of the risk and presence of overweight in adolescents.

The validity of the body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of the risk of becoming overweight and of the presence of overweight was evaluated in 6 groups of adolescents comprising several ethnic groups (n = 1570, aged 9-19 y). With use of triceps skinfold thickness and estimated percentage body fat as the criteria for adiposity, BMI had high specificities (86.1-98.8% for risk of overweight and 96.3-100% for presence of overweight) and lower but variable sensitivities (4.3-75.0% for risk of overweight and 14.3-60% for presence of overweight). Thus, almost all adolescents who were not at risk for overweight or who were not overweight were classified correctly. In contrast, many adolescents who were at risk of overweight or who were overweight were not correctly identified as measured by BMI. Partial correlations, controlling for age, between BMI and the triceps skinfold thickness and estimated percentage body fat were generally moderate to moderately high, whereas BMI and triceps skinfold thickness appeared to be equally related to estimated total body fatness and percentage body fat in Mexican American and Austrian white males. BMI was better correlated with trunk skinfold thicknesses, but when relative subcutaneous fat distribu-tion was statistically controlled, the trunk-extremity contrast in the correlations was no longer apparent.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of dieting among overweight and non-overweight adolescents.

PURPOSE: To examine correlates of dieting behavior in overweight and non-overweight youth. METHODS: Data came from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a study of eating and weight-related attitudes, behaviors, and psychosocial variables among 4746 adolescents in public schools. Logistic regression was used to compare dieters and non-dieters, and to examine interactions of dieting and overweight status. RESULTS: Approximately one third (31.8%) of the sample was overweight. Dieting in the previous year was reported by 55.2% of girls and 25.9% of boys. Dieting was associated with similarly elevated rates of extreme weight control behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and depression in both the non-overweight and overweight groups for both boys and girls. Girls reporting dieting behavior in both the non-overweight and overweight groups had similarly elevated risk for cigarette use, alcohol use, and marijuana use. CONCLUSIONS: The negative correlates of dieting are similarly common among teens of varying weight status. These data suggest that dieting may not be a preferred method of weight management, even for overweight adolescents. Regardless of weight status, dieting may be a marker for other unhealthy behaviors and depressed mood in adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Childhood overweight and maturational timing in the development of adult overweight and fatness: the Newton Girls Study and its follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Although several studies have suggested that early menarche is associated with the development of adult overweight, few have accounted for childhood overweight before menarche. STUDY DESIGN: A 30-year follow-up of the original participants in the Newton Girls Study, a prospective study of development in a cohort of girls followed through menarche, provided data on premenarcheal relative weight and overweight (BMI >85th percentile), prospectively obtained age at menarche, self-reported adult BMI, overweight (BMI > 25), obesity (BMI > 30) and, for a subset of participants, percentage body fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Of the 448 women who participated in the adult follow-up at a mean age of 42.1 years (SD: 0.76 years), 307 had childhood data with which to characterize premenarcheal and menarcheal weight status and age at menarche. After a follow-up of 30.1 years (SD: 1.4 years), reported BMI was 23.4 (4.8), 28% were overweight, and 9% were obese. In multivariate linear and logistic-regression analyses, almost all of the influence on adult weight status was a result of premenarcheal weight status (model R2 = 0.199). Inclusion of a variable to reflect menarcheal timing provided very little additional information (model R2 = 0.208). Girls who were overweight before menarche were 7.7 times more likely to be overweight as adults (95% confidence interval: 2.3, 25.8), whereas early menarche (at < or = 12 years of age) did not elevate risk (odds ratio: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 2.43). A similar pattern of results was observed when percentage body fat in adulthood was evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent influence of early maturation on adult female overweight is largely a result of the influence of elevated relative weight on early maturation. Interventions to prevent and treat overweight should focus on girls before they begin puberty.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Are overweight children unhappy?: Body mass index, depressive symptoms, and overweight concerns in elementary school children.

BACKGROUND: It is commonly believed that overweight children are unhappy with their weight. However, population-based data addressing this association are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between obesity and depressive symptoms in a diverse, school-based sample of preadolescent children, and to examine whether overweight concerns play a role in this association. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Third-grade students (N = 868, mean age, 8.4 years) attending 13 public elementary schools in Northern California were measured for weight and height, and were asked to complete self-report assessments of depressive symptoms and overweight concerns. RESULTS: A modest association between depressive symptoms and body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) was found for girls (r = 0.14, P<.01), but not for boys (r = 0.01, P<.78). Among girls, depressive symptoms were strongly associated with overweight concerns (r = 0.32, P<.001). After controlling for level of overweight concerns, BMI was no longer significantly associated with depressive symptoms among girls. In contrast, after controlling for BMI, overweight concerns remained significantly associated with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides cross-sectional evidence for a relationship between depressive symptoms and BMI in preadolescent girls, but not in preadolescent boys. This relationship seems to be explained by an excess of overweight concerns. Assessing overweight concerns may be a useful method to identify those overweight girls who are at highest risk for associated depressive symptoms.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1998

Energy expenditure and physical fitness in overweight vs non-overweight prepubertal girls.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether overweight children have lower physical activity energy expenditure (EE) and fitness levels than non-overweight children. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-four healthy girls aged 7-10 y were divided into overweight (> 95th percentile weight-for-height) and non-overweight (10-90th percentile) groups. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), 24 h sedentary EE (SEE) and total EE (TEE) were measured by room respiration calorimetry and doubly labelled water. Physical activity EE and physical activity level (PAL) were calculated. Fitness (VO2peak) was measured by a treadmill exercise test. RESULTS: The overweight group had significantly higher body weight, percent fat, fat mass and fat-free mass (FFM) (P < 0.001). The overweight girls had higher BMR, SMR, SEE and TEE (P < 0.001), but not after adjustment for FFM. Physical activity EE and PAL were not significantly different between groups. After adjusting for FFM or weight, submaximal and peak VO2 were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that these overweight girls do not have lower physical activity EE or fitness levels than the non-overweight prepubertal girls, however, the rather high body fat of the non-overweight group may have precluded us from finding any differences between groups.

Basal Metabolism↗