International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Number 3/4, 2014

156-162
Evaluation of an Afterschool Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Program

Authors: Chia-Liang Dai, Laura A. Nabors, Keith A. King, Rebecca A. Vidourek, Ching-Chen Chen, Nhung Hoang, Katherine G. Mastro

Abstract

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Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of the Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Program (CHEE) in an afterschool program of an elementary school. Methods:Students in a low-income elementary school were recruited to participate in the program. Thirty-three children were in the intervention group. Twenty-four children in the comparison group were recruited from after school clubs in the same elementary school.The CHEE Program consisted of 18 sessions, featuring nutrition (20 min) and physical activity (40 min) lessons. Nutrition lessons were adapted from the Traffic Light Diet. Other lessons included MyPlate, my refrigerator, my lunchbox, and a healthy foods tasting activity. Multiple physical activities were utilized in the program including soccer, dance, relay races, tag, and other fun games. Data were collected at the beginning and end of the program. Results: Children in both groups reported eating more vegetables at the post-intervention measurement. Children in the intervention group indicated that they learned about healthy eating and new physical activities due to their participation in the program. Conclusions: Future studies are needed to discover barriers to behavior change as well as apply a more rigorous design to examine the impact of the CHEE Program.

163-169
Experiences of those Taking Part in the BeeZee Bodies Family-Based Weight Management Intervention: A Qualitative Evaluation

Authors: Laurel D. Edmunds, Kirsten L. Rennie, Stuart King, Helen Mayhew

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The need for effective community, child weight management interventions continues. The BeeZee Bodies (BZB) family-based child weight management programme for 7-11-year-olds and 12-15–year-olds has been developed iteratively over five years, with quantitative and qualitative evaluations refining the programmes. The aim of this study was to present the experiences and opinions of those taking part in BZB programmes as part of a real world evaluation. Three focus groups, following a semi-structured protocol, were conducted with 20 participants (15 parents, 5 adolescents) 3 months post-intervention. Analyses were thematic, iterative and underpinned by Grounded Theory. Two themes emerged; (1) programme contents, (2) social interactions, with each sub-divided. Parents described increased appreciation of physical activity and dietary components, improvements in parenting and good relationships with personnel. A wide range of positive personal outcomes and changes within the family were perceived by parents and adolescents including: changes in physical activity take-up, eating habits, portion sizes, and an improved understanding of parenting an overweight child. The parenting skills element further enhanced the social cohesion fostered through attendance. There were opportunities to build new friendships for both parents and adolescents, and for parents to interact with their offspring in a different context, all of which supported behaviour change. The BZB programme was viewed by participants as successful and delivered by engaging personnel. Key strengths were social cohesion generated by including parenting sessions and inclusiveness of the physical activities on offer. BZB has been refined in response to qualitative evaluations and reviews and this process continues

170-178
Using the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Approach in Childhood Obesity Prevention

Authors: Janavi Kumar, Tandalayo Kidd, Yijing Li, Erika Lindshield, Nancy Muturi, Koushik Adhikari

Abstract

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Childhood and adolescent obesity has increased drastically in the past 30 years. While this is troubling, there is also evidence of large disparities among certain ethnic groups such as African American and Hispanic children and adolescents. The Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Model emphasizes a collaborative, co-learning, mutually beneficial, and community-partnered approach to research. Unique aspects of this model include viewing community members as equal partners in non-hierarchical teams, working together in a strengths-based, action oriented research process. This review consists of an investigation of the CBPR approach, its important tenets, and why such an approach may be more effective for childhood and adolescent obesity intervention program development, especially in stratified communities.

179-184
Influence of Soybean Oil or Non-Soybean Oil Based Lipid Emulsions on Parenteral Nutrition Associated Liver Disease in Late Preterm and Term Infants

Authors: Rachel S.H. Wong, Karen Walker, Robert Halliday, Amit Trivedi

Abstract

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Background: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a life-saving therapy given to neonates with intestinal failure. However, infants on long-term TPN may experience Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Disease (PNALD). New formulations for lipid emulsions are purportedly better than the traditional soy-based lipid emulsions (SLE). Our primary objective was to determine the prevalence of PNALD in infants who received non-soybean-based lipid emulsions (NSLE) or SLE. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of all infants admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unitfrom 2004 to 2013 were reviewed. Late preterm (34 -36 weeks of gestation) and term infants who were on TPN for more than two weeks were included. Their demographic data and clinical variables were collected. Results: 208 infants received SLE for more than two weeks. The prevalence rate of PNALD in those who received SLE was 21% while that of those who received the NSLE was 17%. No significant difference was found between the ‘Soy’ or ‘NonSoy’ subgroups (p = 0.315). Seventy infants received TPN for more than four weeks. The prevalence rate of PNALD in infants who received SLE and NSLE was 35% and 25% respectively. No significant statistical difference was found between the ‘Soy’ or ‘NonSoy’ subgroups (p = 0.132). Conclusions: The type of lipid emulsion does not significantly influence the rate of PNALD in late preterm and term infants on long-term TPN.

185-194
Iron Deficiency Anemia in Growing Years and its Effect on Cognition: A Review

Authors: S.N. Prabhavathi, Jamuna Prakash

Abstract

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Iron deficiency anemia is a widespread nutritional problem. Children are particularly vulnerable due to poor maternal iron status and inadequate diet. Since iron plays a vital role in neurological development, its deficiency in early life can lead to altered cognition and motor development. Severe iron deficiency during infancy can affect the major processes such as myelination, development of neurotransmitter pathways, neural metabolism and neural plasticity. The present review intends to provide information on the various effects of iron deficiency during different stages of life cycle. Clinical trials conducted on both humans and animals have established that infants who suffer iron deficiency during the early years of life are known to be under risk for experiencing the long lasting effect of early iron deficiency in future years also. Follow-up studies conducted on infants showed that the anemic children continued to exhibit lower cognitive development compared to their non-anemic counterparts and also had difficulty in the development of motor control tasks. Hence, there is a need to identify and correct iron deficiency anemia during the early years of life to prevent possible future complications.

195-203
Exploring the Relationship between Diet and TV, Computer and Video Game Use in a Group of Canadian Children

Authors: Dona Tomlin, Heather A. McKay, Martina Forster, Ryan E. Rhodes, Hannah Rose, Joan Wharf Higgins, Patti-Jean Naylor

Abstract

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Increased screen-time has been linked to unhealthy dietary practices but most studies have looked primarily at television viewing or an amalgam. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between specific screen-time (TV, computer, video game) and a selection of healthy dietary intake measures (calories, carbohydrate, fat, sugar, fruit, vegetables, fibre and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB)) in a group of Canadian children. We used single day sedentary and dietary recalls to assess sedentary behaviour and diet in 1423 children (9.90 (0.58) y; 737 girls, 686 boys) from the Action Schools! BC Dissemination study. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to explore sedentary behaviour-diet relationships. TV and video game use were correlated with higher calories, fat, sugar and SSB consumption (r = 0.07 to 0.09; p <.01) and lower fibre intake (r = -0.05 to -0.06; p <.05). TV use was also correlated with lower fruit and vegetable intake. Regression analyses showed that when controlling for other variables, only TV and video game use predicted sugar and SSB consumption ( =.06 to.08; p <.05). Computer use was correlated with calories but did not significantly predict any of the measures of dietary intake. Although screen time was significantly associated with less healthy eating profiles, it did not account for much variance in dietary behaviour of these children.

204-212
Assessment of Child, Mother, and Environmental Factors Associated with Undernutrition in Children Less than Five Years Old in a Maya Community in Yucatan, Mexico

Authors: Joelle C. Glenn, Heather S. Walden, Eugenia Guzmán-Marín, María del Refugio Gonzalez-Losa, Antoinette McIntosh, Alyson G. Young, Jorge A. Hernandez

Abstract

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The objective of this study was to examine child, mother, and environmental factors associated with undernutrition in children less than five years old in a Maya community in Yucatan, Mexico. This investigation was designed as a case-control study. All cases (n=42) of undernutrition were included, and a sample of 52 controls was randomly selected from the study population. The frequency of investigated exposure factors was compared between cases and controls by using logistic regression. Undernutrition was associated with child’s age (> 36 months old; OR = 3.53; 95% CI = 1.04, 18.40) and mother’s marital status (married; OR = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.09, 0.90). The odds of undernutrition were 2.81 times higher in children infected with Giardia spp, but this association was not significant (P = 0.18) after controlling for child’s age and mother’s marital status. In conclusion, child’s age and mother’s marital status were associated with child undernutrition in study subjects. Futures studies on undernutrition in children should examine more carefully how mother’s marital status alone or in combination with other factors (e.g. socio-economic, psychological factors) can influence child nutrition.