Validation of the Family Health Behavior Scale for the Brazilian population

Abstract Objective: To validate the Family Health Behavior Scale (FHBS) for Brazilian families. Methods: The sample included 272 children aged 5 to 12 years old. Caregivers and their healthy answered the FHBS and questions about physical activity. In addition, anthropometric measurements of the children's weight and height were performed, as well as the bioimpedance exam. The scale was translated and the following validities were assessed: content (qualitative analysis and content validity index), construct (factor analysis) and concurrent validity (difference between domains and the total score with the categories of BMI, fat percentage and physical activity). Reliability (Cronbach's alpha, ceiling-floor effect, two-half test, intraclass correlation and Bland - Altman) was also assessed. Results: FHBS instrument performed well with regard to the psychometric properties in the Brazilian population. The content validity index was 0.987. Fit indices of the factor analysis were considered satisfactory, according to Bartlett's sphericity test (χ 2 = 1927, df = 351; p < 0.001) and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index (KMO = 0.789). Concurrent validity, the differences between the mean of the domains and the total score between the categories of BMI (p = 0.011), percentage of fat (0.004) and physical activity (p < 0.001) were all significant. The reliability results were Cronbach's alpha internal consistency = 0.83, adequate ceiling-floor effect, 0.8105 (0.09 SD) two-half test, 0.626 intraclass correlation (95% CI: 0.406 to 0.777) and Bland - Altman -0.840 (-22.76 to 21.07). Conclusion: The FHBS adapted for the Brazilian population showed evidence of adequate psychometric performance.

Validation of the Family Health Behavior Scale for the Brazilian population.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Family Health Behavior Scale (FHBS) for Brazilian families. METHODS: The sample included 272 children aged 5 to 12 years old. Caregivers and their healthy answered the FHBS and questions about physical activity. In addition, anthropometric measurements of the children's weight and height were performed, as well as the bioimpedance exam. The scale was translated and the following validities were assessed: content (qualitative analysis and content validity index), construct (factor analysis) and concurrent validity (difference between domains and the total score with the categories of BMI, fat percentage and physical activity). Reliability (Cronbach's alpha, ceiling-floor effect, two-half test, intraclass correlation and Bland - Altman) was also assessed. RESULTS: FHBS instrument performed well with regard to the psychometric properties in the Brazilian population. The content validity index was 0.987. Fit indices of the factor analysis were considered satisfactory, according to Bartlett's sphericity test (χ 2 = 1927, df = 351; p < 0.001) and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index (KMO = 0.789). Concurrent validity, the differences between the mean of the domains and the total score between the categories of BMI (p = 0.011), percentage of fat (0.004) and physical activity (p < 0.001) were all significant. The reliability results were Cronbach's alpha internal consistency = 0.83, adequate ceiling-floor effect, 0.8105 (0.09 SD) two-half test, 0.626 intraclass correlation (95% CI: 0.406 to 0.777) and Bland - Altman -0.840 (-22.76 to 21.07). CONCLUSION: The FHBS adapted for the Brazilian population showed evidence of adequate psychometric performance.

Spanish Version of the Family Health Behavior Scale: Adaptation and Validation.

Different studies around the world indicate that the percentages of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence are high. In this context, it would be useful to have a common, valid, and reliable instrument to assess health behaviors of families that allows comparisons of data from different countries. The objective is the adaptation of a Spanish version of the Family Health Behavior Scale (FHBS). The questionnaire originally developed by Moreno group was translated and adapted following the International Test Commission protocol. Its psychometric properties were evaluated through analysis of internal consistency, factor analysis and other evidences of validity. The Spanish version of the FHBS demonstrated adequate reliability coefficients, and its factor structure sufficiently replicated that obtained by the original measurement. The results suggested that the adapted version of the questionnaire was an adequate and valid measure for the evaluation of family health behaviors related to the prevention of overweight and obesity.

Behavioral interventions to promote adequate sleep among women: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Short and poor sleep have been associated with adverse health outcomes in adults, such as overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes, especially among women. Women therefore represent an important target for interventions aimed at improving sleep and such interventions have been advocated to enhance maternal, fetal, and infant health. This systematic review will assess the efficacy or effectiveness of behavioral interventions aimed at promoting adequate sleep among women. The primary outcomes will be changes in sleep duration and/or sleep quality from baseline to post-intervention and to the last available follow-up measured either through self-reports or objectively. Secondary outcomes will be assessing the behavior change techniques that are responsible for the changes in sleep duration and quality among women. METHODS: Behavioral interventions that are non-pharmacological and target either sleep directly or sleep hygiene behaviors will be included. Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and one-group pre-post studies will be included, but treated separately in the analyses, given that a limited number of studies on the topic of sleep is expected. MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Proquest Dissertations and Theses will be investigated. There will be no restriction on the year of publication of the articles, but we will include only the ones written in English or French. Two authors will independently assess articles for eligibility and will extract data using a standardized data extraction form that will have been previously pilot-tested. The quality of the studies will be assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool for quantitative study designs. The intervention procedures will be classified according to the latest validated taxonomy of behavior change techniques. If there is a sufficient number of studies (k > 5), a meta-analysis of the results will be performed with a random-effect model. If the heterogeneity is high (I 2 ≥ 75%), it will be investigated through sensitivity analyses and meta-regression. DISCUSSION: This review will provide valuable information to those interested in promoting adequate sleep among women and, hopefully, encourage additional research in this important field to promote maternal, fetal, and infant health. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO in October 2016 (CRD42016049538).

Peanut consumption in adolescents is associated with improved weight status.

Studies have shown an association between nut consumption and health benefits in adults such as lower lipid levels, lower body mass indices, and reduced risk of coronary artery disease. Few studies have demonstrated these health benefits in children. To determine the association between peanut consumption and weight, intake of nutrients of concern, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol in Mexican American children, baseline data from 262 sixth-grade students (48% female) in a school-based weight management program were analyzed to compare differences between peanut and non-peanut eaters. It was hypothesized that Mexican American children who consume peanuts will be less overweight and have a better nutrient and lipid profile when compared to those who do not eat peanuts. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire as a baseline dietary assessment before beginning the program. Children were identified as either a peanut consumer (n = 100) or non-peanut consumer (n = 162). Body mass index measurements were taken on all participants. A smaller sample of participants submitted blood for lipid analysis. Analyses revealed that children in the peanut consumer group were less likely to be overweight or obese than children in the non-peanut consumer group (χ(2) = 13.9, P = .001), had significantly higher intakes of several vitamins and micronutrients (i.e., magnesium, vitamin E), and had lower low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels. These results illustrate that consumption of peanuts and/or peanut butter is associated with lower weight status, improved diet, and lipid levels among Mexican American children. Future research is needed to clarify the role of peanut consumption in children's overall health.

The application of the Yerkes-Dodson law in a childhood weight management program: examining weight dissatisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of dissatisfaction with one's weight on outcomes in a weight management program. METHODS: Participants included 149 children between the ages of 11 and 14 years who were enrolled in an intensive weight loss intervention. All participants had a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile. Children were divided into tertiles based on their level of weight dissatisfaction as assessed by the Kids' Eating Disorder Survey. RESULTS: Analysis revealed significant differences across levels of weight dissatisfaction categories for weight loss. Specifically, children in the moderate dissatisfaction group lost weight while participants in low and high groups gained weight over 6 months. CONCLUSION: As the Yerkes-Dodson law would predict, these findings suggest that moderate levels of weight dissatisfaction are associated with improved outcomes in a weight management program.

Evaluation of treatment effects in obese children with co-morbid medical or psychiatric conditions.

The need for effective treatments for pediatric overweight is well known. To evaluate the applicability of an evidence-based treatment in an applied clinic setting that includes children with severe obesity and comorbid medical or psychiatric conditions. Forty-eight overweight children and their families were provided an evidence-based intervention at a for-profit clinic. Unlike typical lab-based samples, participants were self-selected and included children who were very overweight and/or had comorbid conditions. Change in standardized BMI was assessed. Overall, participants demonstrated a significant reduction in standardized BMI, t (40)=6.6, p<.001. Further analyses indicated that participants who were severely obese and children with a comorbidity significantly reduced their zBMI (t (11)=4.0, p<.01; t (14)=3.9, p<.01, respectively). Children who were severely obese reduced their BMI percentile by .2 (SD=.2) and those with a comorbidity reduced their BMI percentile by .6 (SD=.9). Nonsignificant interaction effects indicated comparable weight reductions in severely obese and overweight/obese participants, F (1,39) = 1.49, ns. Also, those with comorbidities and those without comorbidities experienced similar weight reductions, F (1,39)=.7, ns. This study provides promising evidence for the applicability of an evidence-based treatment for weight management in clinical practice.

Development and validation of the Family Health Behavior Scale.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to develop a psychometrically sound, parent-report measure of family and child behaviors related to obesity in children between 5- and 12-years-old. METHODS: Item generation, item selection, and initial exploratory factor analysis yielded a 27-item measure called the Family Health Behavior Scale (FHBS). RESULTS: The FHBS contains four subscales measuring health-promoting family behaviors, obesogenic behaviors, meal-time routines, and family physical activity habits. Parent ratings on the FHBS were shown to predict their child's weight classification. The FHBS also demonstrated adequate internal consistency and temporal stability. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that the FHBS is a promising measure of family eating and physical activity habits related to obesity in children.