| 1. |
- Bornhorst, C., et al.
(author)
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Early Life Factors and Inter-Country Heterogeneity in BMI Growth Trajectories of European Children: The IDEFICS Study
- 2016
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In: Plos One. - San Francisco : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Starting from birth, this explorative study aimed to investigate between-country differences in body mass index (BMI) trajectories and whether early life factors explain these differences. The sample included 7,644 children from seven European countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden) participating in the multi-centre IDEFICS study. Information on early life factors and in total 53,409 repeated measurements of height and weight from 0 to <12 years of age were collected during the baseline (2007/2008) and follow-up examination (2009/2010) supplemented by records of routine child health visits. Country-specific BMI growth curves were estimated using fractional polynomial mixed effects models. Several covariates focussing on early life factors were added to the models to investigate their role in the between-countries differences. Large between-country differences were observed with Italian children showing significantly higher mean BMI values at all ages >= 3 years compared to the other countries. For instance, at age 11 years mean BMI values in Italian boys and girls were 22.3 [21.9; 22.8; 99% confidence interval] and 22.0 [21.5; 22.4], respectively, compared to a range of 18.4 [18.1; 18.8] to 20.3 [19.8; 20.7] in boys and 18.2 [17.8; 18.6] to 20.3 [19.8; 20.7] in girls in the other countries. After adjustment for early life factors, differences between country-specific BMI curves became smaller. Maternal BMI was the factor being most strongly associated with BMI growth (p<0.01 in all countries) with associations increasing during childhood. Gestational weight gain (GWG) was weakly associated with BMI at birth in all countries. In some countries, positive associations between BMI growth and children not being breastfed, mothers' smoking during pregnancy and low educational level of parents were found. Early life factors seem to explain only some of the inter-country variation in growth. Maternal BMI showed the strongest association with children's BMI growth.
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| 2. |
- Lauria, F., et al.
(author)
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A common variant and the transcript levels of MC4R gene are associated with adiposity in children: The IDEFICS study
- 2016
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In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 101:11, s. 4229-4236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context: The melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of body fat and food and energy intake. Objectives: The objectives of the study were as follows: 1) to evaluate the association of variants rs17782313 and rs17700633 near the coding region of MC4R and 2) to evaluate the association of the transcript levels of MC4R with adiposity indices and percentage of energy from fat, carbohydrates, and protein in children. Design: The Identification and Prevention of Dietary-and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) cohort was used, with examinations at baseline (T0) and after 2 years (T1). Setting and Participants: A total of 16 228 schoolchildren (2-9 y) from eight European countries participated in the study. A random sample of 4381 children genotyped for MC4R variants and a subsample of 410 children with MC4R expression data in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) were included in the analyses. Main Outcome Measures: Anthropometric measures and energy intake (total and from fat, carbohydrates, and protein) served as outcomes for adiposity status and for dietary behavior, respectively. Results: At T0, the C allele of rs17782313 (minor frequency allele 23%) was significantly associated with higher values of adiposity indices (all P<.001).Noassociation was found between rs17700633 (minor frequency allele 28%) and the variables under study. At T1, the C allele of rs17782313 was associated with a significantly higher increase in the adiposity indices over time (all P < .05). The MC4R expression levels in PBCs were inversely associated with body fat and energy intake from carbohydrates and directly with energy from fat (all P ≤ .05) but were not influenced by variants rs17782313 and rs17700633. Conclusions: The common variant rs17782313 near MC4R was cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with body mass index and measures of body fatness in children aged 2-9 years. We showed, for the first time in humans, that MC4R expression levels in PBCs are related to body fat distribution and percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates and fat. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101: 4229-4236, 2016). Copyright © 2016 by the Endocrine Society.
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| 3. |
- Bel-Serrat, S, et al.
(author)
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Clustering of multiple lifestyle behaviours and its association to cardiovascular risk factors in children: the IDEFICS study.
- 2013
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In: European journal of clinical nutrition. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5640 .- 0954-3007.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:Individual lifestyle behaviours have independently been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors in children. This study aimed to identify clustered lifestyle behaviours (dietary, physical activity (PA) and sedentary indicators) and to examine their association with CVD risk factors in children aged 2-9 years.SUBJECTS/METHODS:Participants included 4619 children (51.6% boys) from eight European countries participating in the IDEFICS cross-sectional baseline survey (2007-2008). Insulin resistance, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, sum of two skinfolds and systolic blood pressure (SBP) z-scores were summed to compute a CVD risk score. Cluster analyses stratified by sex and age groups (2 to <6 years; 6-9 years) were performed using parental-reported data on fruit, vegetables and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption, PA performance and television video/DVD viewing.RESULTS:Five clusters were identified. Associations between CVD risk factors and score, and clusters were obtained by multiple linear regression using cluster 5 ('low beverages consumption and low sedentary') as the reference cluster. SBP was positively associated with clusters 1 ('physically active'; β=1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02, 2.67), 2 ('sedentary'; β=1.84; 95% CI: 0.57, 3.11), 3 ('physically active and sedentary'; β=1.45; 95% CI: 0.15, 2.75) and 4 ('healthy diet'; β=1.83; 95% CI: 0.50, 3.17) in older boys. A positive association was observed between CVD risk score and clusters 2 (β=0.60; 95% CI: 0.20, 1.01), 3 (β=0.55; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.97) and 4 (β=0.60, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.02) in older boys.CONCLUSIONS:Low television/video/DVD viewing levels and low SSB consumption may result in a healthier CVD profile rather than having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables or being physically active in (pre-)school children.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 1 May 2013; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2013.84.
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| 4. |
- Coumans, J M J, et al.
(author)
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The association of emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility and decision-making with weight status in European adolescents.
- 2018
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In: International journal of obesity (2005). - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5497 .- 0307-0565. ; 42, s. 655-661
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- to explore the association between emotion-driven impulsiveness, cognitive inflexibility, decision-making and with weight status as reflected in BMI z-score (zBMI) in European adolescents.In total 3 354 adolescent aged between 12 and 18 years from the I.Family cohort completed the questionnaire based negative urgency subscale from the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale to measure emotion-driven impulsiveness in 2013/2014. Furthermore, 1 584 adolescents completed the computer-based Bergs Card Sorting Test to measure cognitive inflexibility, and 1 780 adolescents completed the Hungry Donkey Test to assess decision-making ability. Anthropometric variables were measured objectively; confounding variables (age, sex, socioeconomic status and country) were assessed using a questionnaire. Mixed-effect regression analyses were conducted for each outcome of the test or questionnaire as a predictor with standardised body mass index (zBMI) as the dependent variable in order to investigate association between markers of cognitive functioning and zBMI.After controlling for confounders, results showed that emotion-driven impulsiveness (β=0.18, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.24, P<0.001), and cognitive inflexibility (β=0.01, 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.02, P=0.016) were positively associated with zBMI. However, decision-making ability was not significantly related to zBMI (β=0.00, 95% CI: -0.001 to 0.003, P=0.47).More emotion-driven impulsiveness and reduced cognitive flexibility were associated with a higher zBMI in adolescents across Europe. These results may indicate that being impulsive in negative situations and having difficulties changing mental sets increase the susceptibility for unhealthy weight development. Reducing impulsivity and training cognitive flexibility seem promising targets for the prevention and intervention programs of obesity.International Journal of Obesity accepted article preview online, 01 November 2017. doi:10.1038/ijo.2017.270.
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| 5. |
- Dello Russo, M, et al.
(author)
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Gestational weight gain and adiposity, fat distribution, metabolic profile, and blood pressure in offspring: the IDEFICS project.
- 2013
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In: International Journal of Obesity. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0307-0565 .- 1476-5497. ; 37, s. 914-919
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective:To investigate the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and total adiposity, body fat distribution, blood pressure (BP), and metabolic profile in offspring.Design:Cross-sectional study.Methods:Body mass index (BMI), waist, subscapular and tricipital skinfolds, and BP were measured and blood samples drawn in 12775 children (aged 2-9 years) from the IDEFICS cohort. Overweight/obesity was defined by IOTF criteria. Parents filled in a questionnaire investigating child and familiar medical history and lifestyle. A section was dedicated to pregnancy history (including GWG).Results:Anthropometric indices linearly and significantly increased across GWG tertiles (BMI z-score: tertile I =0.08, 0.03-0.13; tertile II =0.16, 0.12-0.21; tertile III =0.34, 0.28-0.40, P<0.01, mean, 95% CI) by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted by child sex, age and practice of sport, birth weight, current maternal BMI, parental education, gestational age, age at delivery, alcohol and smoking during pregnancy, maternal diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, and breastfeeding duration. After inclusion of BMI z-score among covariates, HbA1c significantly increased across tertiles (P=0.009) while no differences were observed for BP, serum insulin, HOMA index, blood glucose and lipids. The adjusted risk of overweight/obesity significantly increased by 14 and 22% in tertiles II and III respectively, in comparison with tertile I by logistic regression analysis controlling for covariates.Conclusion:Maternal GWG is an independent predictor of total adiposity and body fat distribution in offspring during infancy. Exposure to perinatal factors should be taken into account for early prevention of overweight and obesity.
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| 6. |
- Fernaandez-Alvira, J. M., et al.
(author)
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Prospective associations between dietary patterns and body composition changes in European children: the IDEFICS study
- 2017
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In: Public Health Nutrition. - : Cambridge University Press (CUP). - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 20:18, s. 3257-3265
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To describe dietary patterns by applying cluster analysis and to describe the cluster memberships of European children over time and their association with body composition changes. Design: The analyses included k-means clustering based on the similarities between the relative frequencies of consumption of forty-three food items and regression models were fitted to assess the association between dietary patterns and body composition changes. Setting: Primary schools and pre-schools of selected regions in Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, Germany and Spain. Subjects: Participants (n 8341) in the baseline (2-9 years old) and follow-up (4-11 years old) surveys of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) study. Results: Three persistent clusters were obtained at baseline and follow-up. Children consistently allocated to the 'processed' cluster presented increased BMI (beta=0.050; 95 % CI 0.006, 0.093), increased waist circumference (beta=0.071; 95 % CI 0.001, 0.141) and increased fat mass gain (beta=0.052; 95 % CI 0.014, 0.090) over time v. children allocated to the 'healthy' cluster. Being in the 'processed'-'sweet' cluster combination was also linked to increased BMI (beta=0.079; 95 % CI 0.015, 0.143), increased waist circumference (beta=0.172; 95 % CI 0.069, 0.275) and increased fat mass gain (beta=0.076; 95 % CI 0.019, 0.133) over time v. the 'healthy' cluster. Conclusions: Children consistently showing a processed dietary pattern or changing from a processed pattern to a sweet pattern presented the most unfavourable changes in fat mass and abdominal fat. These findings support the need to promote overall healthy dietary habits in obesity prevention and health promotion programmes targeting children.
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| 7. |
- Gwozdz, W., et al.
(author)
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Peer effects on obesity in a sample of European children
- 2015
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In: Economics & Human Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1570-677X .- 1873-6130. ; 18, s. 139-152
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study analyzes peer effects on childhood obesity using data from the first two waves of the IDEFICS study, which applies several anthropometric and other measures of fatness to approximately 14,000 children aged two to nine participating in both waves in 16 regions of eight European countries. Peers are defined as same-sex children in the same school and age group. The results show that peer effects do exist in this European sample but that they differ among both regions and different fatness measures. Peer effects are larger in Spain, Italy, and Cyprus - the more collectivist regions in our sample - while waist circumference generally gives rise to larger peer effects than BMI. We also provide evidence that parental misperceptions of their own children's weight goes hand in hand With fatter peer groups, supporting the notion that in making such assessments, parents compare their children's weight with that of friends and schoolmates.
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| 8. |
- Hebestreit, A., et al.
(author)
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Dietary Patterns of European Children and Their Parents in Association with Family Food Environment: Results from the I.Family Study
- 2017
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 9:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to determine whether an association exists between children's and parental dietary patterns (DP), and whether the number of shared meals or soft drink availability during meals strengthens this association. In 2013/2014 the I. Family study cross-sectionally assessed the dietary intakes of families from eight European countries using 24-h dietary recalls. Usual energy and food intakes from six-to 16-year-old children and their parents were estimated based on the NCI Method. A total of 1662 child-mother and 789 child-father dyads were included; DP were derived using cluster analysis. We investigated the association between children's and parental DP and whether the number of shared meals or soft drink availability moderated this association using mixed effects logistic regression models. Three DP comparable in children and parents were obtained: Sweet & Fat, Refined Cereals, and Animal Products. Children were more likely to be allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP when their fathers were allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP and when they shared at least one meal per day (OR 3.18; 95% CI 1.84; 5.47). Being allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP increased when the mother or the father was allocated to the Sweet & Fat DP and when soft drinks were available (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.80; 4.28 or OR 4.26; 95% CI 2.16; 8.41, respectively). Availability of soft drinks and negative parental role modeling are important predictors of children's dietary patterns.
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| 9. |
- Herrmann, D., et al.
(author)
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Repeatability of maternal report on prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal factors : findings from the IDEFICS parental questionnaire
- 2011
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In: International Journal of Obesity. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0307-0565 .- 1476-5497. ; 35, s. S52-S60
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the repeatability of maternal self-reported prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal factors within the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary-and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study. Design: Data are from the baseline survey of the longitudinal cohort study IDEFICS in eight European countries. Subjects: A total of 420 parents from eight countries (43-61 per country) were asked to complete the parental questionnaire (PQ) twice at least 1 month apart. Measurements: The PQ assesses prenatal (maternal weight gain), perinatal (child's birth weight and length, Caesarean (C)-section, week of delivery) and early postnatal factors (exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding, introduction of solid food). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to compare maternal reports on prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal factors between the first and second PQ. Results: In total, 249 data sets were considered for the analyses. Overall, maternal reports for prenatal and perinatal factors showed higher repeatability (ICC = 0.81-1.00, P <= 0.05 for all) than those for early infant nutrition (ICC = 0.33-0.88, P <= 0.05 for all). Perfect agreement was found for parental reports on C-section (ICCall = 1.00, P <= 0.05). There was stronger agreement for duration of breastfeeding (ICC = 0.71, P <= 0.05) compared with exclusive breastfeeding (ICC = 0.33, P <= 0.05). Maternal reports showed moderate correlation for the introduction of several types of food (cereals ICC = 0.64, P <= 0.05; fruits ICC = 0.70, P <= 0.05; meat ICC = 0.83, P <= 0.05; vegetables ICC = 0.75, P <= 0.05), and high correlation (ICC = 0.88, P <= 0.05) for cow's milk. Conclusion: Maternal reports on pregnancy and birth were highly reproducible, but parental recall of early infant nutrition was weaker and should be interpreted more cautiously. International Journal of Obesity (2011) 35, S52-S60; doi:10.1038/ijo.2011.35
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| 10. |
- Hunsberger, Monica, 1973, et al.
(author)
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Dietary Carbohydrate and Nocturnal Sleep Duration in Relation to Children's BMI: Findings from the IDEFICS Study in Eight European Countries
- 2015
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 7:12, s. 10223-10236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Previous research has found an association between being overweight and short sleep duration. We hypothesized that this association could be modified by a high carbohydrate (HC) diet and that the timing and type (starch or sugar) of intake may be an important factor in this context. Participants in the prospective, eight-country European study IDEFICS were recruited from September 2007 to June 2008, when they were aged two to nine years. Data on lifestyle, dietary intake and anthropometry were collected on two occasions. This study included 5944 children at baseline and 4301 at two-year follow-up. For each meal occasion (morning, midday, and evening), starch in grams and sugar in grams were divided by total energy intake (EI), and quartiles calculated. HC-starch and HC-sugar intake categories were defined as the highest quartile for each meal occasion. In a mutually adjusted linear regression model, short sleep duration as well as HC-starch in the morning were positively associated with body mass index (BMI) z-scores at baseline. HC-starch at midday was positively associated with body mass index (BMI) z-scores in children with short sleep duration, and negatively associated with BMI z-scores in those with normal sleep. After adjustment for baseline BMI z-scores, associations between total HC from starch or sugar and high BMI z-scores at two-year follow-up did not persist. Our observations offer a perspective on optimal timing for macronutrient consumption, which is known to be influenced by circadian rhythms. Reduced carbohydrate intake, especially during morning and midday meals, and following nocturnal sleep duration recommendations are two modifiable factors that may protect children from being overweight in the future.
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