The Effect of Ambient Temperature on Lipid Metabolism in Children: from a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is increasingly recognized as an essential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies illustrated the effects of ambient temperature exposure (TE) on lipid levels in children. The study aimed to examine the association between ambient TE and lipid levels in children. METHODS: Based on a prospective cohort, a total of 2,423 children (with 4,466 lipids measure person-time) were collected from 2014 to 2019. The meteorological observation data and adjusted variables were collected. Mixed-effect models and generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) were applied to investigate the association between ambient TE and lipid levels. RESULTS: A significant negative association was observed between TE and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or total cholesterol (TC) levels both in all children [LDL-C, ß(95%CI)= -0.350(-0.434,-0.265), P<0.001; TC, ß(95%CI)= -0.274(-0.389,-0.160), P<0.001] and by different sex group. However, no significant association was found in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) levels. The estimated optimal ambient TEs for LDL-C were 18.273 °C and 18.024 °C for girls and boys, respectively. For TC, the optimal ambient TEs were 17.949 °C and 18.024 °C, respectively. With ambient TE decreased, the risk of dyslipidemia increased for both boys [OR=0.032(0.006,0.179), P<0.001] and girls [OR=0.582(0.576,0.587), P<0.001]. CONCLUSION: This study provided a comprehensive illustration about the associations between ambient TE and lipid levels in different sex and ages from a prospective cohort study. The findings will provide evidence for the government to prevent dyslipidemia in vulnerable children through regulating TE.

Effect of physical activity on anxiety, depression and obesity index in children and adolescents with obesity: A meta-analysis.

FOR FULL-LENGTH ARTICLES: This study systematically identified the effects of physical activity (PA) on depression, anxiety and weight-related outcomes among children and adolescents with overweight/obesity. EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched from January 1, 2000 to August 1, 2022 for peer-reviewed papers. Meta-analyses were conducted to ascertain the effect of physical activity on symptoms of anxiety, depression and weight-related outcomes in overweight/obese children and adolescents. Twenty-five studies representing 2188 participants, with median age 12.08 years old (8.3 to 18.44 years) were included. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, BMI, BMI z-scores, weight, waist circumference and height were evaluated. After incorporating the effects of PA interventions on children and adolescents with overweight/obesity, PA could improve depressive and anxiety symptoms, but not obesity indexes except waist circumference. While, PA combined with other interventions have a significant effect both on anxiety symptoms and BMI compared to pure PA intervention. In terms of intervention duration, we observed that durations falling within the range of 8 to 24 weeks exhibited the most positive effects on reducing depressive symptoms. FOR SHORT COMMUNICATIONS: We included 25 articles on the effects of physical activity on psychological states such as depression and anxiety, weight, BMI and other weight-related indicators in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity. We attempted to determine the most appropriate type of physical activity intervention for children and adolescents with overweight/obesity, as well as the most appropriate population characteristics and duration by combining the outcome data from each article. This has a great enlightening effect for health workers to carry out corresponding strategies in the future.

The estimated effect of increasing fruit interventions on controlling body weight in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of increased fruit consumption on weight change remains a matter of debate. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of interventions targeted at promoting fruit consumption and managing body weight in children and adolescents. METHODS: Four electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, were searched from January 1, 2000, to October 10th, 2023, to identify Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed changes in fruit consumption and obesity indicators. RESULTS: A total of 22 trials including 12,678 participants who met our inclusion criteria were selected for this review. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the interventions increased fruit intake (MD = 78.58 g/day (95% CI 53.09 to 104.07), P < 0.001) in children and adolescents. The mean reduction of body mass index was 0.27 kg/m2 (95% CI -0.59 to 0.05 kg/m2, P = 0.101). And no significant decreases were observed in body mass index-z scores, but there was a significant decrease in waist circumference (MD = -0.65 cm (95% CI -1.15 to -0.05 cm), P < 0.05). Increased fruit intake was shown to be associated with a lower prevalence of obesity when compared to the control group (odds ratio [OR]: 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.90), P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provided evidence that interventions aimed at increasing fruit consumption were effective at reducing obesity prevalence.

Nuts consumption and hypertension risks in children: a mediating role of circulating lipid metabolites.

BACKGROUND: Although nuts play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease, the metabolic cues by which nuts regulate blood pressure have not been fully understood.Aims:We conducted a nested case-control study in a prospective cohort study of Southwest China children to explore the potential lipid metabolites related to the relationship between nut dietary and blood pressure. METHODS: Forty-three hypertension cases and 53 controls serum samples were obtained for lipidomic data analysis using a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry platform. RESULTS: We identified four lipid metabolites that are associated with nut intake by a generalized linear model and logistic regression analysis, including phosphatidylglycerol 43:6 [PG (43:6)], phosphatidylcholine 18:0/20:3 [PC (18:0/20:3)], and two phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) compounds [PE (P-16:0/20:4) and PE (P-22:0/18:2)]. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the levels of PG (43:6) and PE (P-16:0/20:4) were negatively associated with hypertension in children, which might be useful biomarkers for predicting childhood hypertension. Further mediation analysis revealed that PG (43:6) and PC (18:0/20:3) function as mediating variables between nut intake and blood pressure levels. CONCLUSION: This study provides scientific evidence that nut consumption induces some beneficial changes in lipid metabolism, which may reduce the risk of hypertension in children.

The policy implemented by the government and the protection effect of PM2.5 decreasing on blood pressure in adolescents: From a quasi-experimental study.

Background: High particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) exposure levels posed a great risk to human health, but the protection effects of environmental protection on cardiovascular disease have not been systematically evaluated. This study aims to illustrate the effect of the decreased concentration of PM2.5 on blood pressure level in adolescents after enacting the protection measures of environment from a cohort study. Methods: A quasi-experimental study including 2415 children from the Chongqing Children's Health Cohort, aged 7.32 ± 0.60 years with normal blood pressure at baseline, with 53.94% males, were analysed. Both the generalised linear regression model (GLM) and Poisson regression model were used to calculate the impact of the declining exposure level of PM2.5 on blood pressure and the incidence of prehypertension and hypertension. Results: The annual mean PM2.5 concentration in 2014 and in 2019 were 65.01 ± 6.46 µgmes per cubic metre (µg / m3), 42.08 ± 2.04 µg / m3 respectively, and the decreased PM2.5 concentration between 2014 and 2019 was 22.92 ± 4.51 µg / m3. The effect of decreased PM2.5 concentration by 1µg / m3 on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the difference of blood pressure (BP) indexes between 2014 and 2019 were all significant (P < 0.001). The absolute differences of SBP (-3.598 mmHg; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -4.47,-2.72 mm Hg), DBP (-2.052 mmHg; 95% CI = -2.80,-1.31 mm Hg) and MAP (-2.568 mmHg; 95% CI = -3.27,-1.87 mm Hg) in the group with a decreased level of ≥25.56 µg / m3 were more significant than those in a decreased concentration of PM2.5 for <25.56 µg / m3 (P < 0.001). And the incidence of prehypertension and hypertension for three occasions blood pressure diagnose was 2.21% (95% CI = 1.37%-3.05%, P = 0.001) in children with PM2.5 decreased level ≤25.56 µg / m3 (50%), which was significant higher than its' counterparts 0.89% (95% CI = 0.37%-1.42%, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Our study found the etiological relationship between the declining PM2.5 concentration and the BP values and the incidence of prehypertension and hypertension in children and adolescents, suggesting continuous environmental protection measures in China have achieved remarkable health benefits.

Relationship between dietary fruit intake and overweight and obesity in children / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between fruit intake and the risk of overweight with obesity in children, so as to provide references for the prevention of childhood obesity.@*Methods@#From September to November 2014, a stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 6 369 children aged 6-12 from two elementary schools of a country in rural Chongqing for physical examinations and questionnaire surveys, and 1 814 children in grades 1-2 at baseline were followed up from March to May 2019. The relationship between fruit intake and the prevalence of overweight and obesity was analyzed.@*Results@#According to the percentile of fruit intake, the 6 369 children at baseline were assigned to three groups: Q 1 (< P 33.3 , fruit intake <100 g/d), Q 2 ( P 33.3 - P 66.7 , fruit intake:100-214.3 g/d), and Q 3 (> P 66.7 , fruit intake >214.3 g/d). For the baseline survey results, children in the Q 2 group had a lower weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) ( P <0.05); the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in the Q 1 group was the highest (32.03%), and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among boys in the Q 2 group was the lowest (31.94%) after gender stratification ( P <0.05). The follow up survey results showed no significant differences between the three groups in terms of changes in height, weight, and BMI ( P >0.05); but the prevalence of obesity among youth in the Q 2 group was the lowest (5.07%, P <0.05). Compared with youth in the Q 2 group, the risk of obesity was higher among those in the Q 1 group at baseline survey ( OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.10-1.81, P <0.05), and was higher among those in the Q 3 group at follow up survey ( RR= 1.83, 95%CI=1.21-2.75, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#Deviating from moderate fruit intake may increase the likelihood of overweight and obesity in children, and it is recommended that children are encouraged to consume fruits as part of a well balanced diet to prevent the occurrence of obesity.

Association of decreases in PM2.5 levels due to the implementation of environmental protection policies with the incidence of obesity in adolescents: A prospective cohort study.

AIMS: To explore the association between decreased levels of particulate matter (≤2.5 µm; PM2.5) due to the implementation of environmental protection policies and the incidence of obesity in adolescents in Chongqing, China through a prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 2105 children (52.02% male; aged 7.33 ± 0.60 years at baseline) were enrolled from the Chongqing Children's Health Cohort. A mixed linear regression model was used to analyse the relationships of PM2.5 levels with obesity indicators after adjusting for covariates. Additionally, a Poisson regression model was used to determine the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and the incidence of overweight/obesity. RESULTS: The average PM2.5 exposure levels from participant conception to 2014, from 2015 to 2017, and from 2018 to 2019 were 66.64 ± 5.33 µg/m3, 55.49 ± 3.78 µg/m3, and 42.50 ± 1.87 µg/m3, respectively; these levels significantly decreased over time (P < 0.001). Throughout the entire follow-up period, the incidence of overweight/obesity after a ≥ 25 µg/m3 decrease in the PM2.5 level was 4.57% among females; this incidence was the lowest among females who experienced remarkable decreases in PM2.5 exposure. A 1-µg/m3 decrease in the PM2.5 level significantly decreased the body mass index (BMI), BMI z score (BMIz), and weight of adolescents (all P < 0.001). Compared with a < 20-µg/m3 decrease in the PM2.5 level, a ≥ 25-µg/m3 decrease protected against increased BMI (net difference= -0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: (-1.23,-0.63) kg/m2), BMIz (-0.28 (-0.39, -0.17)), weight (-1.59 (-2.44, -0.74) kg), and incidence of overweight/obesity (0.48 (0.37, 0.62), P < 0.001). Moreover, compared with a < 20-µg/m3 decrease in the PM2.5 level, a ≥ 25-µg/m3 decrease resulted in significant absolute differences in BMI (-1.26 (-1.56, -0.96) kg/m2), BMIz (-0.53 (-0.65, -0.40)) and weight (-3.01 (-3.8, -2.19) kg) (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the etiological relevance of declining PM2.5 concentrations for the incidence of obesity in children and adolescents, suggesting that controlling ambient air pollutants may prevent the development of obesity in this age group. Continuous implementation of environmental protection policies in China has led to substantial health benefits.

Effect of screen time intervention on obesity among children and adolescent: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

Several studies have investigated the effect of screen time interventions on obesity in children and adolescents, but the existing results were controversial. This study aimed to analyze the effect of screen time intervention on obesity in children and adolescents. PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase databases were searched through December 2020 to identify publications meeting a priori inclusion criteria and references in the published articles were also reviewed. Finally, 14 randomized controlled trials and 1894 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that interventions targeting screen time are effective in reducing total screen time (MD: -6.90 h/week, 95% CI: [-9.19 to -4.60], p < 0.001) and television time (MD: -6.17 h/week, 95% CI: [-10.70 to -1.65], p < 0.001) in children and adolescents. However, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in body mass index and body mass index-z score. In conclusion, there is no evidence that screen time interventions alone can decrease obesity risk in children and adolescents, though they can effectively reduce screen time.

Association Between Extraversion Personality With the Blood Pressure Level in Adolescents.

Purpose: The association between extraversion personality and high blood pressure (BP) has not been well-studied. This study aims to explore the association between extraversion personality and the BP level in a large sample of adolescents. Methods: As an ongoing study, 5,246 children aged 6-9 years were recruited using a stratified cluster sampling method in 2014. The extraversion personality trait, assessed by the Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ, answered by adolescents) in 2019, was used in the main analysis. A total of 3,407 participants were eligible and included in this analysis. Results: The EPQ extraversion score was negatively associated with a systolic BP, a diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a univariate analysis. After adjusting for other covariates, high extraversion score was negatively associated with systolic BP (ß = -0.026; 95% CI = -0.047, -0.004; p = 0.002). There was an interaction between regions and the extraversion score on systolic BP (P interaction = 0.037). The stratified analysis showed that, in rural areas, the extraversion score was negatively associated with systolic BP (ß = -0.050; 95% CI = -0.081, -0.016; p = 0.004). However, we did find an association between the extraversion score and systolic BP in urban areas (ß = 0.000; 95% CI = -0.028, 0.028; p = 0.996). Similar results were observed for the extraversion assessed by parents. Conclusions: We observed that extraversion personality was negatively associated with high BP in adolescents, especially for those who were living in rural areas. Our results suggested that a comprehensive intervention should be implemented to promote psychological health in adolescents.

The association between family impact and health-related quality of life of children with idiopathic central precocious puberty in Chongqing, China.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) reduces patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The impacts of disease and treatment on families are also an important concern. This study aimed to assess the association between family impact and HRQoL of children with ICPP. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in Chongqing, China. A case group of 134 children with ICPP aged 5-12 years and their caregivers was recruited from a children's hospital in Chongqing. A total of 210 gender- and age-matched subjects from two primary schools were selected as controls. PedsQLTM4.0 Generic Core Scales (GCS) and PedsQL™ Family Impact Module (FIM) were used in this study. RESULTS: Children with ICPP scored lower than controls in all HRQoL domains except physical functioning. In particular, the two groups were significantly different in emotional functioning scores (d = 0.414, P < 0.001). Compared with controls, ICPP families had lower scores in all dimensions of the FIM scale (d = 0.288-1.030, all P < 0.05). Factors associated with HRQoL of ICPP patients included: age of patients, type of medical treatment, employment status of caregivers, educational level of caregivers, parent HRQoL and family functioning (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children with ICPP demonstrated lower quality of life and greater family impact compared to healthy controls. In addition, less impact of disease on parent HRQoL and family functioning was associated with better HRQoL of ICPP patients, patients aged older, treated with drug combination, cared by employed or well-educated caregivers reported better HRQoL. Health care professionals should pay more attention to younger patients treated with GnRHa alone, and provide targeted interventions for caregivers depending on their demographic background to reduce family impact and thereby improve patient HRQoL.

The association of quality of life and personality characteristics with adolescent metabolic syndrome: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: An increased prevalence of adolescent metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with adulthood cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the potential relationship of quality of life (QoL) and personality traits with adolescent MS. METHODS: A total of 1961 participants from Chongqing with an average age of 11.68 years old from a cohort study established in 2014 and followed up through 2019 were included. QoL information, Eysenck's personality questionnaire and MS components were collected. RESULTS: A higher QoL domain score of physical activity ability (PAA) was a protective factor for both MS and MS score (all P < 0.01), which was mainly negatively correlated with the MS components of central obesity, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and triglyceride levels, as well as positively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level. The total QoL score was negatively correlated with triglyceride levels and positively correlated with DBP (all P < 0.01). High extraversion personality score was a protective factor against adolescent MS (P = 0.04) and MS score (P < 0.05), which were mainly negatively correlated with the MS components of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and TGs, and positively correlated with HDL-C (all P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: QoL score and extraversion personality score were independent protective factors against both MS prevalence and MS score, suggesting that community intervention to improve the QoL and psychological health of children are essential.

The relationship between socioeconomic status and childhood overweight/obesity is linked through paternal obesity and dietary intake: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in childhood has increased dramatically over the past decades globally. Thus, the risk factors of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents must be studied. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reveal the prevalence of childhood obesity and examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and z-body mass index (z-BMI) via parental obesity and dietary intake using path analysis. METHODS: Stratified cluster sampling was used to select 17,007 participants aged 6-12 years on two avenues per region in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Path analysis was conducted to examine the mediators between SES and z-BMI. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 13.36% and 8.60%, respectively, and were positively correlated with the father's education level, family income, a birth weight > 3000g, a parental obesity history, vegetable intake and red meat intake (all P < 0.05). Four mediators (paternal obesity history, red meat intake, vegetable intake, and nutritional supplements) were observed, and the four path analyses were significant (all P < 0.05). The adjusted total effects on z-BMI were significant for income (ßTot = 0.03; P < 0.01), father's education (ßTot = 0.05; P < 0.001), and region (ßTot = 0.11; P<0.001), and the total mediation effects were 20.69%, 16.67%, and 5.36%, respectively. All the variables accounted for 12.60% of the z-BMI variance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight/obesity in children was notable, and the relationship between SES and z-BMI was mediated by paternal obesity history and dietary intake.

[Survey on quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To survey the quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Ninety-eight children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who participated in Diabetes Summer Camp held in Chongqing, Wuhan and Cheng during 2012 April and December were recruited in the study. The American juvenile diabetes patients quality of life scale Diabetes Quality of Life for Youths was used to assess the quality of life and SPSS19.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The scale had satisfactory reliability and validity with a Cronbach's Alpha score of 0.942 and a validity score of 0.679. All three dimension of scales: scales of impact, scales of worries and scales of satisfaction were significantly correlated with self-health assessment (P<0.01). The scores of impact and worries accounted for >50% of total scores as the same for the self health assessment scores. The score of disease course, diet and blood glucose control were positive correlated with each other. Age and HbA1c were positively correlated with the scale of impact, while gender has negative correlation with satisfaction scale (P<0.05). The diabetes diet had significant effects on the quality of life. CONCLUSION: The quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is decreased, especially for those with longer disease course and female adolescents. The form of Diabetes Quality of Life for Youth used in the study has good reliability and validity, which can reflect the quality of life of Chinese diabetic children and adolescents.

Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio in Han Chinese children living in Chongqing, south-west China.

OBJECTIVE: To derive age- and sex-specific reference values for waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for Han Chinese children and adolescents and to establish the prevalence of excess central adiposity in our study population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of schoolchildren attending randomly selected primary and secondary schools in south-west China in October 2003 and April 2004. Anthropometry was measured using standard procedures. The LMS method was used to construct smoothed WC and WHtR percentile curves. Overweight and obesity were defined by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria and the Working Group on Obesity in Children. Excess central adiposity fat was defined by previously published WC cut-points and a WHtR ≥ 0.5. SETTING: Primary and secondary schools in Chongqing, south-west China. SUBJECTS: A total of 7326 (49.2 % boys) Han Chinese students at 5-17 years old. RESULTS: On the basis of the IOTF criteria, 26.4 % of boys were overweight or obese compared with 16.4 % of girls (P < 0.001). WC cut-points identified 31 % of boys and 28 % of girls as having excess central adiposity, whereas using the WHtR criterion, 14.8 % of boys and 5.6 % of girls were identified. Young boys (5-12 years) had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher WHtR than girls. CONCLUSIONS: We have constructed WC and WHtR percentile curves for Han Chinese children and adolescents living in Chongqing. Our measurements were based on a student population with a relatively high rate of overweight and obesity. These data will provide a point of reference for future studies measuring the prevalence of overweight and obesity in China.