International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

Number 5/3, 2016

87-94
Comparing Two Waist-to-Height Ratio Measurements with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Youth with Diabetes

Authors: Lenna L. Liu, Henry S. Kahn, David J. Pettitt, Nora F. Fino, Tim Morgan, David M. Maahs, Nancy A. Crimmins, Archana P. Lamichhane, Angela D. Liese, Ralph B. D’Agostino Jr., Ronny A. Bell

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 42

Background: Waist circumference (WC) is commonly measured by either the World Health Organization (WHO) or National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) protocol. Objective:Compare the associations of WHO vs. NHANES WC-to-height ratio (WHtR) protocols with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in a sample of youth with diabetes.Methods: For youth (10–19 years old with type 1 [N=3082] or type 2 [N=533] diabetes) in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, measurements were obtained of WC (by two protocols), weight, height, fasting lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, Non-HDL cholesterol) and blood pressures. Associations of CMRFs with WHO and NHANES WHtR were modeled stratified by body mass index (BMI) percentiles for age/sex: lower BMI (<85th BMI percentile; N=2071) vs. higher BMI (≥85th percentile; N=1594). Results: Among lower-BMI participants, both NHANES and WHO WHtR were associated (p<0.005) with all CMRFs except blood pressure. Among higher-BMI participants, both NHANES and WHO WHtR were associated (p<0.05) with all CMRFs. WHO WHtR was more strongly associated (p<0.05) than NHANES WHtR with triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure in lower-BMI participants. Among high-BMI participants, WHO WHtR was more strongly associated (p<0.05) than NHANES WHtR with triglycerides and systolic blood pressure.Conclusion: Among youth with diabetes, WHtR calculated from either WC protocol captures cardiometabolic risk. The WHO WC protocol may be preferable to NHANES WC

95-104
BMI, Body Image, Emotional Well-Being and Weight-Control Behaviors in Urban African American Adolescents

Authors: Delenya Allen, Harolyn M.E. Belcher, Allen Young, Lillian Williams Gibson, Elizabeth Colantuoni, Maria Trent

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 40

Importance: While urban African American adolescents face significant health disparities associated with overweight and obesity that follow them into adulthood; there is limited data on body image, emotional well-being, and weight control behaviors in this population to design effective public health interventions.Objective: This study was designed to understand the association of weight status to adolescent weight control, body image, and emotional well-being responses, in African American high school students. Design/Setting/Participants: The study cohort consisted of 776 students, mean age 15.8 years (±1.2). Data from Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) student surveys and anthropometric studies were collected at School-Based Health Centers.Main Outcome Measures: Associations between adolescent responses on the GAPS and body mass index (BMI) status (healthy weight: 5th to less than 85th percentile, overweight: 85th to less than 95th percentile, obese: 95th percentile or greater) were estimated using logistic regression and dose- response plots.Results: There were statistically significant associations between BMI category and weight control (ranging from a mean 5.18 to 7.68 odds of obesity) and body image (3.40 to 13.26 odds of obesity) responses. Responses to weight control and body image questions exhibited a dose- response for odds of overweight and obesity. Feelings of depressed mood were associated with obesity (1.47 times the odds of obesity compared to students who did not endorse depressed mood; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.13) but not overweight status.Conclusion and Relevance: Overweight and obese urban African American adolescents are more likely to screen positively on weight control risk behaviors and negative body image questions than their normal weight peers. The weight control and body image measures on the GAPS may provide information to identify youth in need of services and those motivated for brief school-based weight control interventions.

105-111
Preventive Effects of Health-Food Drinks on the Obesity and DNA Damage of Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet under a Mild Stress

Authors: Minoru Higashimoto, Chikako Toda, Nao Tokumoto, Arinobu Yamauchi

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 47

The body weight gain of mice fed an obesity-inducing diet is suppressed by a mild restraint stress, but at the same time, as previously reported, the stress induces DNA damage in the cells of multiple organs. In the present study, we attempted to prevent not only the obesity but also the DNA damage of mice fed an obesity-inducing diet under a mild restraint with commercially available health-food drinks such as fruit and vegetable juices, soymilks, vinegars and lactic acid bacteria drinks, which are rich in antioxidants. The body weight gain of young female mice fed a high-fat diet containing 20% fat for 4 weeks was considerably inhibited by restraint for 15 min per day in weeks 2 to 4 of 4-week period. The inhibition was further promoted with the concomitant administration of health-food drinks noted above, and was accompanied by a decrease of periovular fat, a major abdominal fat in the female mice. The definite loss of energy intake in the mice given health-food drinks was approximately compensated by the energy of the drink administered. On the other hand, the increase of DNA damage generated by restraint in the cells of five organs – the liver, pancreas, spleen, heart and bone marrow – was markedly suppressed with the administration of these drinks. The results suggest that a combination of mild stress and intake of suitable health-food containing some antioxidants may inhibit lifestyle-related diseases including hyperlipidemia and obesity, which may contribute to the inhibition of metabolic syndrome and childhood obesity

112-120
Relationship between Ponderal Index, Mid-Arm Circumference/ Head Circumference Ratio and Clinical Assessment of Nutritional Status Score (CANSCORE) in the Determination of Nutritional Status of Newborn at Birth in Nigeria

Authors: Olufunke B. Bolaji, Olusegun J. Adebami, Olufunmilayo V. Adebara, Joshua A. Owa

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 46

Background:Early and accurate assessment of the nutritional status of newborns is important to many clinicians because of the potential immediate and late sequelae of malnutrition.Objective:To assess the relationship between different methods of assessing the nutritional status of neonates.Methods:Subjects were consecutive, live, singleton, full term neonates delivered in the hospital. The birth weights, Ponderal index, Mid arm circumference/head circumference ratio, birth weight for gestational age using intrauterine growth charts and Clinical Assessment of Fetal Nutritional Status Score (CANSCORE) were used to determine the nutritional status in the first 24 hours of life. Results:Of 386 subjects, 172 (44.6%) were males and 214 (55.4%) females. Nutritional status assessment using various indices showed the following prevalence of malnutrition: using birth weights, 54 (14.0%) were LBW; MAC/HC ratio showed 56 (14.5%), with PI, 64(16.6%), weight for gestational age,112(29.0%) were SGA and CANSCORE showed 90(23.3%) as malnourished among the babies.MAC/HC showed a better specificity and had a more positive correlation than PI when compared to CANSCORE whilst PI showed a better sensitivity than MAC/HC when evaluated against CANSCORE.Conclusions:Prevalence of FM is high in this study. Intrauterine growth charts and CANSCORE appeared to identify more babies with FM than other methods. CANSCORE in this study has revealed the rising trend in the prevalence of FM when compared with other studies with similar methodology. Early routine assessment of the nutritional status of newborns should be carried out so as to reduce the risk of increased morbidity and mortality associated with fetal malnutrition.

121-125
HIV Sero-Prevalence among Infants Attending Immunization Centers in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Southern, Nigeria

Authors: Venn J. Ifeoma, Ochigbo O. Sunday, Anah U. Maxwell, Asindi Asindi Asindi

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 42

Introduction:Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection accounts for over 2.3% of all pediatric infections. Many HIV-infected infants are not identified until they develop symptoms and present with illness at health facilities.However, the six weeks immunization visit provides an opportunity for HIV-infected mothers and their exposed infants to be identified before symptoms occur. This study was therefore conducted to determine the HIV status of infants attending immunization clinics in Calabar with a view to enrolling them into treatment. Subjects and Method:This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in two Local Government Areas of Calabar consisting 22 selected immunization centers. Using the multistage sampling method, 330 infants were screened. Ethical clearance was obtained from the supervising Ministry of Health. Rapid test was conducted, reactive specimens had Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase Chain Reaction (DNA PCR) done using Dried Blood Spots (DBS).Results:A total of 330 infants aged 6 to 14 weeks were recruited, 173 (52.4%) were males while 157(47.6%) were females giving male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Mean age of the infants was 9.20 ± 3.1 weeks. Twenty four (24) tested positive for HIV antibodies, after HIV DNA PCR test, 14(4.2%) infants were infected. Antenatal care registration (ANC) and maternal ANC HIV status were statistically significant P=0.03 and P= 0.02 respectively.Conclusion:HIV exposed and infected infants are still been missed and only diagnosed later in life. Therefore, maternal HIV status determination and early diagnosis at immunization centers is recommended to bridge the Prevention of Mother To child Transmission (PMTCT) gap