| 1. |
- Buck, Christoph, et al.
(author)
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Urban Moveability and physical activity in children : Longitudinal results from the IDEFICS and I.Family cohort
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. - : BioMed Central. - 1479-5868. ; 16:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Physical activity (PA) is one of the major protective behaviours to prevent non-communicable diseases. Positive effects of the built environment on PA are well investigated, although evidence of this association is mostly based on cross-sectional studies. The present study aims to investigate the longitudinal effects of built environment characteristics in terms of a moveability index on PA of children in their transition phase to adolescence using data of the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort. Methods: We used data on 3394 accelerometer measurements of 2488 children and adolescents aged 3 to 15 years old from survey centres of three countries, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, who participated in up to three surveys over 6 years. In network-dependent home neighbourhoods, a moveability index was calculated based on residential density, land use mix, street connectivity, availability of public transport and public open spaces such as green spaces and public playgrounds in order to quantify opportunities for PA of children and adolescents. Linear trajectories of light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were estimated using linear mixed models accounting for repeated measurements nested within individuals. Least squares means were estimated to quantify differences in trajectories over age. Results: LPA and MVPA declined annually with age by approximately 20 min/day and 2 min/day respectively. In girls, the moveability index showed a consistent significantly positive effect on MVPA (β $ \hat{\beta} $ = 2.14, 95% CI: (0.11; 4.16)) for all ages, while in boys the index significantly lessened the decline in LPA with age for each year. (β $ \hat{\beta} $ = 2.68, 95% CI: (0.46; 4.90)). Availability of public open spaces was more relevant for MVPA in girls and LPA in boys during childhood, whereas in adolescence, residential density and intersection density became more important. Conclusion: Built environment characteristics are important determinants of PA and were found to have a supportive effect that ameliorates the decline in PA during the transition phase from childhood to adolescence. In childhood environmental support for leisure time PA through public open spaces was found to be the most protective factor whereas in adolescence the positive influence of street connectivity and residential density was most supportive of physical activity. © 2019 The Author(s).
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| 2. |
- Cheng, Lan, et al.
(author)
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Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and bone stiffness index across weight status in European children and adolescents
- 2020
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In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. - : BioMed Central. - 1479-5868. ; 17:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and bone health may be differentially affected by weight status during growth. This study aims to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PA, SB and bone stiffness index (SI) in European children and adolescents, taking the weight status into consideration. Methods: Calcaneus SI was first measured by quantitative ultrasound among children aged 2-9 years old in 2007/08. It was measured again after 2 years in the IDEFICS study and after 6 years in the I. Family study. A sample of 2008 participants with time spent at sports clubs, watching TV and playing computer/games self-reported by questionnaire, and a subsample of 1037 participants with SB, light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) objectively measured using Actigraph accelerometers were included in the analyses. Weight status was defined as thin/normal and overweight/obese according to the extended International Obesity Task Force criteria. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PA, SB and SI percentiles, stratified by weight status. Results: The cross-sectional association between weekly duration of watching TV and SI percentiles was negative in thin/normal weight group (β =-0.35, p = 0.008). However, baseline weekly duration of watching TV (β =-0.63, p = 0.021) and change after 2 years (β =-0.63, p = 0.022) as well as the change in weekly duration of playing computer/games after 6 years (β =-0.75, p = 0.019) were inversely associated with corresponding changes in SI percentiles in overweight/obese group. Change in time spent at sports clubs was positively associated with change in SI percentiles after 2 years (β = 1.28, p = 0.001), with comparable effect sizes across weight status. In the subsample with accelerometer data, we found a positive cross-sectional association between MVPA and SI percentiles in thin/normal weight group. Baseline MVPA predicted changes in SI percentiles after 2 and 6 years in all groups. Conclusions: Our results suggested the beneficial effect of PA on SI. However, the increasing durations of screen-based SB might be risk factors for SI development, especially in overweight/obese children and adolescents. © 2020 The Author(s).
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| 3. |
- Cheng, Lan, et al.
(author)
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Sex differences in the longitudinal associations between body composition and bone stiffness index in European children and adolescents
- 2020
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In: Bone. - : Elsevier. - 8756-3282 .- 1873-2763. ; 131
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) may influence bone health differentially. However, existing evidences on associations between FM, FFM and bone health are inconsistent and vary according to sex and maturity. The present study aims to evaluate longitudinal associations between FM, FFM and bone stiffness index (SI) among European children and adolescents with 6 years follow-up. A sample of 2468 children from the IDEFICS/I.Family was included, with repeated measurements of SI using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound, body composition using skinfold thickness, sedentary behaviors and physical activity using self-administrated questionnaires. Regression coefficients (β) and 99%-confidence intervals (99% CI) were calculated by sex-specified generalized linear mixed effects models to analyze the longitudinal associations between FM and FFM z-scores (zFM and zFFM) and SI percentiles, and to explore the possible interactions between zFM, zFFM and maturity. Baseline zFFM was observed to predict the change in SI percentiles in both boys (β = 4.57, 99% CI: 1.36, 7.78) and girls (β = 3.42, 99% CI: 0.05, 6.79) after 2 years. Moreover, baseline zFFM (β = 8.72, 99% CI: 3.18, 14.27 in boys and β = 5.89, 99% CI: 0.34, 11.44 in girls) and the change in zFFM (β = 6.58, 99% CI: 0.83, 12.34 in boys and β = 4.81, 99% CI: -0.41, 10.02 in girls) were positively associated with the change in SI percentiles after 6 years. In contrast, a negative association was observed between the change in zFM and SI percentiles in boys after 6 years (β = -3.70, 99% CI: -6.99, -0.42). Besides, an interaction was observed between the change in zFM and menarche on the change in SI percentiles in girls at 6 years follow-up (p = .009), suggesting a negative association before menarche while a positive association after menarche. Our findings support the existing evidences for a positive relationship between FFM and SI during growth. Furthermore, long-term FM gain was inversely associated with SI in boys, whereas opposing associations were observed across menarche in girls.
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| 4. |
- Dello Russo, Marika, et al.
(author)
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Dietary Diversity and Its Association with Diet Quality and Health Status of European Children, Adolescents, and Adults : Results from the I.Family Study
- 2023
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In: Foods. - : MDPI. - 2304-8158. ; 12:24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dietary diversity (DD) plays a crucial role in fostering high-quality diets, but its association with health outcomes, particularly body adiposity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is inconsistent. This may be due to a lack of a standardized method for estimating DD. Our study investigates the association between two DD indices, namely the dietary diversity score (DDS) and food variety score (FVS), and anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, and diet quality in a large population sample from the I.Family study across research centers in eight European countries. In our cross-sectional analysis of 3035 participants, DDSs varied among countries, with a higher prevalence in the third DDS tertile among those with higher education. DDS showed a positive association with diet quality across all age groups. Higher DDS tertile individuals showed increased fiber, fruit, and vegetable intake, greater meal frequency, and lower ultra-processed food consumption. No relevant biochemical differences were observed across DDS tertiles, and a higher DDS was associated with lower overweight/obesity prevalence only in adults. No significant associations were found with FVS. Our findings emphasize the need to consider food groups for a more accurate estimation of diet quality. This aligns with studies suggesting DDS alone is not an independent risk factor for obesity in children and adolescents. Public health programs should prioritize food diversity to promote improved nutrition and overall well-being in communities.
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| 5. |
- Floegel, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Cohort-Based Reference Values for Serum Ferritin and Transferrin and Longitudinal Determinants of Iron Status in European Children Aged 3–15 Years
- 2024
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In: Journal of Nutrition. - : Elsevier. - 0022-3166 .- 1541-6100. ; 154:2, s. 658-669
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Reference values of ferritin and transferrin for European children do not exist. Objective: We aimed to provide sex-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-specific serum ferritin and transferrin reference percentiles of 3–15-y-old children based on cohort data and to investigate determinants of iron status. Methods: A total of 3390 ferritin and 3416 transferrin measurements from children residing in 8 European countries participating in the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN62310987) at baseline (W0) and 6 y later (W3) were used to estimate percentiles using the generalized additive model for location, scale and shape. Associations of serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations with total iron intake, total iron intake additionally adjusted for vitamin C intake, and iron from heme sources were investigated separately with adjustment for sex, age, country of residence, parental education, usual energy intake and BMI z-score in regression models using cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Results: The age-specific ferritin and transferrin 5th and 95th reference percentiles ranged from 10.9 to 81.1 μg/L and 2.23 to 3.56 g/L, respectively. A deficient iron status was observed in 3% of children at W0 and 7% of children and adolescents at W3, respectively. At both waves, a higher iron intake from heme sources was positively associated with serum ferritin {W0: β = 3.21 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71, 5.71]; W3: β = 4.48 [95% CI: 2.09, 6.87]}, that is, children consuming one mg more heme iron had a 3.21 and 4.48 μg/L higher ferritin concentration. Adherence to a mainly vegetarian diet was associated with a lower chance for sufficient serum ferritin cross-sectionally at W3 [odds ratio (OR) 0.40 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.81)] and longitudinally [OR 0.35 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.93)]. Conclusions: Age-, sex-, and BMI-specific reference percentiles of serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations based on cohort data are provided for European children aged 3–15 y and may be used in clinical practice.
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| 6. |
- González-Gil, Esther M., et al.
(author)
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Improving cardiorespiratory fitness protects against inflammation in children : the IDEFICS study
- 2022
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In: Pediatric Research. - : Springer Nature. - 0031-3998 .- 1530-0447. ; 91:3, s. 681-689
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness (MF and CRF) have been related to inflammation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between fitness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in European children both in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-seven children (46.2% males) aged 2–9 years with hs-CRP measured, data from MF and CRF, diet quality, objectively measured physical activity (PA) and screen time at baseline and follow-up after 2 years were included. Body mass index z-score (zBMI), waist circumference (WC) and fat mass index (FMI) were assessed. MF and CRF were also dichotomized as follows: low-medium quartiles (Q1–Q3) and highest quartile (Q4). Results: At follow-up, children with the highest CRF (Q4) showed a lower probability of having high hs-CRP. In the longitudinal analysis, children who improved their CRF over time showed a significantly lower probability (p < 0.05) of being in the highest hs-CRP category at follow-up, independently of the body composition index considered: odds ratio (OR) = 0.22 for zBMI, OR = 0.17 for WC, and OR = 0.21 for FMI. Conclusions: Improving CRF during childhood reduces the odds of an inflammatory profile, independently of body composition and lifestyle behaviours. These highlight the importance of enhancing fitness, especially CRF, to avoid an inflammatory state in children. Impact: Improvements in the cardiorespiratory profile during childhood could reverse an unfavourable inflammatory status.There is a longitudinal and inverse association between CRF and inflammation in children.This is the first longitudinal study assessing the relationship between fitness and inflammation during childhood that takes also into account the lifestyle behaviours.Results from the present study suggest a protective role of fitness already in childhood.Efforts to improve fitness in children should be aimed at as inflammation could trigger future cardiovascular disease.
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| 7. |
- Hense, Sabrina, et al.
(author)
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Sleep duration and overweight in European children: is the association modified by geographic region?
- 2011
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In: AMER ACAD SLEEP MEDICINE. - : AMER ACAD SLEEP MEDICINE. - 0161-8105 .- 1550-9109. ; 34:7, s. 885-890
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To investigate differences and a possible effect modification by geographical region in the association between sleep duration and overweight. Cross-sectional. Primary schools and preschools in 8 European countries. 7867 children aged 2 to 9 years. Not applicable. Nocturnal sleep duration was assessed as part of a parental 24-h recall. Height and weight were measured by standardized procedures across centers. Data on personal, social, environmental and behavioral factors were collected using a standardized parental questionnaire. Sleep duration differed (P < 0.001) between European regions and normal vs. overweight children. A dose-dependent inverse association between sleep duration and overweight could be seen, with crude odds ratios ranging from 1.73 (99% CI 1.33; 2.25) for sleeping between 10 and 11 h to 3.81 (99% CI 2.85; 5.09) for sleeping less than 9 h (reference category > 11 h). This persisted after adjustment, but remained significant only for sleeping less than 9 h per night (north: OR = 1.70; 99% CI 1.13; 2.58 vs. south: OR = 2.84; 99% CI 1.57; 5.12) if stratified by region. No effect modification by region could be found, but adjustment for region accounted for changes in the effect estimate for sleeping less than 9 h (OR = 2.22; 99% CI 1.64; 3.02). The association was stronger in school children than in preschool children. Geographic region and related aspects-even if they do not seem to modify the association between sleep and overweight-should in any case be taken in consideration as a confounding factor on this association.
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| 8. |
- Huang, Christina Y., et al.
(author)
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Pester power and its consequences : do European children's food purchasing requests relate to diet and weight outcomes?
- 2016
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In: Public Health Nutrition. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 19:13, s. 2393-2403
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective Children may influence household spending through pester power'. The present study examined pestering through parent-child food shopping behaviours in relation to children's diet and weight status. Design Cross-sectional and prospective analyses drawn from the IDEFICS study, a cohort study of parents and their children. Children's height and weight were measured and their recent diets were reported by parental proxy based on the Children's Eating Habits Questionnaire-FFQ at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Parents also completed questionnaires at both time points about pestering, including whether the child goes grocery shopping with them, asks for items seen on television and is bought requested food items. Setting Participants were recruited from eight European countries for the IDEFICS study (non-nationally representative sample). Subjects Study participants were children aged 2-9 years at enrolment and their parents. A total of 13 217 parent-child dyads were included at baseline. Two years later, 7820 of the children were re-examined. Results Most parents (63 %) at baseline reported sometimes' acquiescing to their children's requests to purchase specific foods. Pestering was modestly associated with weight and diet. At baseline, children whose parents often' complied consumed more high-sugar and high-fat foods. Children who often' asked for items seen on television were likely to become overweight after 2 years (OR=131), whereas never' asking protected against overweight (OR=072). Conclusions Pestering was modestly related to diet and weight in cross-sectional, but not longitudinal analyses. Asking for items seen on television had the most robust relationships across child outcomes and over time.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Mikkelsen, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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Blood fatty acid composition in relation to allergy in children aged 2–9 years: results from the European IDEFICS study
- 2017
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In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0954-3007 .- 1476-5640. ; 71, s. 39-44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/objectives: Blood polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are involved in allergy development, but the etiological role of n-6 and n-3 PUFA is still controversial. A European multicenter study of children (IDEFICS) provided the opportunity to explore the cross-sectional association between fatty acids (FA) and allergy. Subjects/methods: Blood FA levels were measured in 2600 children aged 2–9 years and were recorded as the percentage of weight of all FA detected. Logistic regression of allergy status on FA components was adjusted for age, sex, country, body mass index, family history of allergic disease, breast-feeding, and number of siblings. The results were given as odds ratios (OR) for current vs no allergy ever and an increase in FA by 1 s.d. Results: Overall, higher proportions of n-6 PUFA were associated with higher odds of allergy (OR=1.21 (1.05, 1.40)). Monounsaturated FA (MUFA) were associated with reduced risk for allergy (OR=0.75 (0.65, 0.87)), whereas saturated FA did not differ by allergy status. The strongest associations were observed in children <4 years old, with ORs of allergy given as 1.62 (1.15, 2.29) for n-3 PUFA and 0.63 (0.42, 0.95) for MUFA. With regard to individual FA, these associations were independently observed for docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 n-3) and oleic acid (18:1 n-9). Conclusions: Both PUFA subtypes were positively associated with allergy in an age-dependent manner, whereas MUFA was associated with less allergy. The observation of high proportions of n-3 PUFA in allergic children younger than 4 years might help to understand the nature of early onset of atopic disease.
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