Greater Improvement in Obesity Among Children With Prediabetes in a Clinical Weight Management Program.

Background: There is a range of responses among individuals seen for medical management of their obesity. This retrospective analysis of longitudinal data considers the relationship between identified prediabetes and subsequent weight change among children (8-17 years) in a weight management clinic. Methods: Analysis included 733 patients (2687 visits in 2008-2016) with overweight and obesity (but not diabetes) whose referral laboratories included a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) within 90 days. Mixed-effects modeling examined the association between baseline prediabetes (serum HbA1c 5.7%-6.4%) and growth curve of percentage of the 95th percentile for BMI (%BMIp95). Random effects (individual growth curves) and fixed effects (prediabetes status, starting age and %BMIp95, sex, race/ethnicity, and linear slope and quadratic term of months since the initial visit) were modeled. Interactions between prediabetes and elapsed time estimated the influence of a recent prediabetic-range HbA1c on weight during the subsequent 12 months. Results: Mean %BMIp95 was 125.5% (SD 22.5), corresponding to severe obesity, and 35% had prediabetes. Adjusted monthly decrease in %BMIp95 was stronger for children with prediabetes compared with the peers in this clinic (slope: -0.62, standard error 0.10, p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was greater weight improvement among children with prediabetes compared with their peers with normal HbA1c.

Addressing food insecurity and chronic conditions in community health centres: protocol of a quasi-experimental evaluation of Recipe4Health.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and depression, are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur with food insecurity in communities served by community health centres in the USA. Community health centres are increasingly implementing 'Food as Medicine' programmes to address the dual challenge of chronic conditions and food insecurity, yet they have been infrequently evaluated. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The goal of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Recipe4Health, a 'Food as Medicine' programme. Recipe4Health includes two components: (1) a 'Food Farmacy' that includes 16 weekly deliveries of produce and (2) a 'Behavioural Pharmacy' which is a group medical visit. We will use mixed models to compare pre/post changes among participants who receive the Food Farmacy alone (n=250) and those who receive the Food Farmacy and Behavioural Pharmacy (n=140). The primary outcome, fruit and vegetable consumption, and secondary outcomes (eg, food security status, physical activity, depressive symptoms) will be collected via survey. We will also use electronic health record (EHR) data on laboratory values, prescriptions and healthcare usage. Propensity score matching will be used to compare Recipe4Health participants to a control group of patients in clinics where Recipe4Health has not been implemented for EHR-derived outcomes. Data from surveys, EHR, group visit attendance and produce delivery is linked with a common identifier (medical record number) and then deidentified for analysis with use of an assigned unique study ID. This study will provide important preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of primary care-based strategies to address food insecurity and chronic conditions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Stanford University Institutional Review Board (reference protocol ID 57239). Appropriate study result dissemination will be determined in partnership with the Community Advisory Board.

Food Insecurity Influences Weight Trajectory in Children with Obesity.

Background: Social disadvantage is associated with children's risk of being overweight or obese, but little is known about how it impacts weight trajectory. This longitudinal analysis examines food insecurity and weight change over time among low-income children in a multidisciplinary weight management clinic. Methods: Food insecurity was assessed between 2008 and 2016 among 794 low-income patients (household income <$60k/year) who attended 3234 visits. Mixed-effects growth curve modeling was used to examine the association between baseline food security status and weight trajectory, using percentage of the 95th percentile for BMI (%BMIp95). Random effects (each child's growth curve) and fixed effects (food insecurity, starting age and %BMIp95, demographics, and months since the initial visit) were modeled, and interactions between food insecurity and elapsed time estimated the influence of food insecurity on weight trajectory. Results: Mean %BMIp95 was 129% (SD 24%), corresponding to severe obesity. Thirty percent of patients were food-insecure at baseline. After adjusting for other factors, monthly change in %BMIp95 was significantly smaller for food-insecure children compared to food-secure peers (difference in the coefficients for slope: 0.13, SE 0.05, p = 0.009). The modeled 12-month change in %BMIp95 was significant for food-secure children (-2.28, SE 0.76, p = 0.0026), but not for food-insecure children (-1.54, SE 1.22, p = 0.21). Conclusion: Household food insecurity was associated with a less optimal weight trajectory among children with obesity.

Fiber-rich foods delivered to Low-Income Households: A feasibility study of children with prediabetes and spillover effect on their caregivers.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of pediatric prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing, with those from low socioeconomic status (SES) households at increased risk. Dietary fiber (e.g., whole grains) is shown to improve glucose control and there is need for innovative strategies that address barriers to consumption (e.g., limited availability). METHODS: Food Overcoming our Diabetes Risk (FoodRx) was a pre-post study (N = 47) that provided 16 weeks of home-delivered whole grains, vegetables, and beans/legumes to households of low-income children in [blinded for submission] who had obesity and prediabetes. Child liking and intake (24-hour diet recalls) was evaluated. Anthropometrics and T2DM-related laboratory measurements (e.g. glycated hemoglobin) were measured for children, and for caregivers to evaluate potential spillover effect. RESULTS: Post-intervention, children increased liking of whole grains, vegetables, and beans/legumes (P < 0.05 for all). Child whole grain intake increased from 1.7 to 2.5 oz-equivalent servings/day (P < 0.001), and the percent of total grain intake that were whole increased from 30% to 44% (P < 0.001). Children's body mass index, blood pressure, and serum triglyceride levels increased (+14.6 mg/dl, P = 0.04). Caregivers fasting glucose (-7.5 mg/dl; P = 0.03), fasting insulin (-2.5 µIU/ml, P = 0.0009) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) decreased (-0.8, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Home deliveries of fiber rich foods improved liking and intake among children at risk for T2DM. There was spillover effect on caregivers, who demonstrated improvement in T2DM-related laboratory measurements instead of the children.

Facilitators and barriers to preparing and offering whole grains to children diagnosed with prediabetes: qualitative interviews with low-income caregivers.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of U.S. youth with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing, with those from racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds at greater risk. Dietary fiber (e.g., whole grains and vegetables) is shown to be inversely associated with T2D risk, yet dietary recommendations are not being met. Caregivers play an important role in home food availability, but low SES neighborhoods are shown to have limited access to fiber-rich foods such as whole grains. The overall aim of this qualitative study was to assess caregiver perceptions about facilitators and barriers to preparing and offering whole grains that they received as part of the 16-week Food Overcoming Our Diabetes Risk (FoodRx) pilot study. METHODS: A convenience sample of 60 youth (8-17 years) with obesity and prediabetes were recruited from an urban pediatric weight management clinic to participate in the FoodRx pilot study. Caregivers accompanied youth to a baseline clinic visit and completed a survey that asked about individual and household characteristics. Exit interviews were conducted at the follow-up clinic visit with caregivers of all youth who completed the study (n = 48) in order to assess facilitators and barriers experienced when preparing and offering whole grains. Interview transcripts were coded using the constant comparative method and grounded theory approaches. RESULTS: Caregivers (n = 48) had a mean age of 43 years and were primarily female (n = 46) and Hispanic (71%). Main facilitators to preparing and offering whole grains in the home were caregivers' improved knowledge of whole grain health benefits and the development of strategies to encourage their children to consume whole grains (i.e., pairing whole grains with another liked food). A main barrier for caregivers was the lack of resources available to identify and prepare the novel whole grains that they received. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that caregivers are receptive to incorporating more whole grains into home-prepared meals, but they may need additional nutrition and cooking education to improve their self-efficacy.

Perceptions of SNAP and Stocking Standards: A Qualitative Study of California Small Food Store Owners and Managers.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is critical to alleviating food insecurity, but low diet quality among program participants is a concern. Nutrition-related interventions have focused on SNAP-authorized food retailers, but the perspectives of small food store owners and managers have not been represented in national policy discussions. This study aimed to explore the opinions of store owners/managers of SNAP-authorized small food stores about their overall perceptions of the program and the stricter stocking standards previously proposed in 2016. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 33 small food store owners and managers in San Francisco and Oakland, California in 2016. Interviews were analyzed for thematic content using the general inductive approach. Four themes emerged from owners/managers' discussion of their overall perceptions of SNAP: the beneficial impact of SNAP on their business, how SNAP enables them to connect with the broader community, the importance of SNAP in preventing hunger, and the nutrition-related struggles that SNAP participants face. Store owners/managers had a generally favorable response towards the proposed stricter stocking standards. Additional themes discussed pertained to the concern about whether stocking changes would lead SNAP participants to purchase more healthful food and some logistical challenges related to sourcing and storing perishable foods.

Food Insecurity and Pediatric Obesity: a Double Whammy in the Era of COVID-19.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines the current evidence about the ways in which food insecurity relates to obesity in children and adolescents, examining diet and diet-related behaviors, and taking into consideration the role of stress. RECENT FINDINGS: While living with food insecurity impacts stress and diet-related behaviors in children and adolescents, it is not clear whether food insecurity is associated with obesity above and beyond the influence of poverty. However, strategies to mitigate food insecurity and obesity are inherently connected, and recent examples from clinical practice (e.g., screening for food insecurity among patients) and advocacy (e.g., policy considerations regarding federal food programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) are discussed. Food insecurity and obesity coexist in low-income children and adolescents in the USA. The COVID-19 pandemic exerts disproportionate burden on low-income children and families, magnifying their vulnerability to both food insecurity and pediatric obesity.

Whole Grain Intake and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Adolescents, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2014.

INTRODUCTION: Large prospective cohort studies show a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes among adults with higher whole grain consumption. Less is known about the relationship between whole grain consumption and precursors for diabetes risk in adolescents. We examined whether intake of whole grains was associated with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed data on dietary intake from an average of two 24-hour diet recalls from fasting, nondiabetic adolescents aged 12-18 years (N = 2,286) across 5 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005-2014). We used logistic regression to calculate the odds of having IFG (100-125 mg/dL) with respect to servings of whole and refined grains, as well as percentage of whole grains, adjusting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, annual household income, obesity, total energy, and diet quality. RESULTS: IFG was present in 17% of participants. After adjusting for covariates, number of servings per day of whole grains was significantly associated with lower odds of IFG, but there was no relationship between IFG and servings of refined grains or percentage of whole grains. Consuming at least 1 ounce-equivalent serving (16 g) of whole grains daily, compared with consuming no whole grains, was associated with a 40% reduction in the adjusted odds of having IFG (adjusted odds ratio = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38-0.93). CONCLUSION: Analysis of 10 years of national cross-sectional data suggests that US adolescents whose daily diets consist of a minimum threshold amount of whole grains may be less likely to have IFG, a finding that has implications for diabetes prevention in adolescents.

The Association between Food Insecurity and Diet Quality Varies by Race/Ethnicity: An Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 Results.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity is believed to influence the quality and quantity of foods consumed; however, studies examining food insecurity and diet quality have been inconclusive and few studies have explored variability in these associations by sex and race/ethnicity. OBJECTIVE: This study examined associations between food insecurity and diet quality, and variations by sex and race/ethnicity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. PARTICIPANTS: The study population was composed of 4,393 adults (aged 20 to 65 years) with family incomes ≤300% of the federal poverty level with complete data on household food security and dietary intake via two 24-hour dietary recalls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Associations between food insecurity and Healthy Eating Index-2015 total and component scores were examined using linear regression models and generalized linear models. Models adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. RESULTS: Compared with food-secure adults, food-insecure adults reported a 2.22-unit lower Healthy Eating Index-2015 score (95% CI -3.35 to -1.08). This association was most pronounced among non-Hispanic whites and adults of Asian or other races/ethnicities. There were no associations among non-Hispanic black or Hispanic adults, and no differences by sex. Among non-Hispanic whites, food insecurity was associated with lower scores for total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins, and added sugar. Among Asians, food insecurity was associated with lower scores for whole fruit. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity was associated with lower diet quality primarily among non-Hispanic whites; Asians; and other adults, a group composed of American Indian or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and multiracial adults. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of this association among understudied racial/ethnic groups.

A Narrative Review of Medical and Genetic Risk Factors among Children Age 5 and Younger with Severe Obesity.

Severe obesity defined as an age- and gender-specific body mass index ≥120% of the 95th percentile in children younger than 5 years is well recognized as a significant challenge for prevention and treatment. This article provides an overview of the prevalence, classification of obesity severity, patterns of weight gain trajectory, medical and genetic risk factors, and comorbid disorders among young children with an emphasis on severe obesity. Studies suggest rapid weight gain trajectory in infancy, maternal smoking, maternal gestational diabetes, and genetic conditions are associated with an increased risk for severe obesity in early childhood. Among populations of young children with severe obesity seeking care, co-morbid conditions such as dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease are present and families report behavioral concerns and developmental delays. Children with severe obesity by age 5 represent a vulnerable population of children at high medical risk and need to be identified early and appropriately managed.

Characteristics of Children 2 to 5 Years of Age With Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As a distinct group, 2- to 5-year-olds with severe obesity (SO) have not been extensively described. As a part of the Expert Exchange Workgroup on Childhood Obesity, nationally-representative data were examined to better characterize children with SO. METHODS: Children ages 2 to 5 (N = 7028) from NHANES (1999-2014) were classified as having normal weight, overweight, obesity, or SO (BMI ≥120% of 95th percentile). Sociodemographics, birth characteristics, screen time, total energy, and Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores were evaluated. Multinomial logistic and linear regressions were conducted, with normal weight as the referent. RESULTS: The prevalence of SO was 2.1%. Children with SO had higher (unadjusted) odds of being a racial and/or ethnic minority (African American: odds ratio [OR]: 1.7; Hispanic: OR: 2.3). They were from households with lower educational attainment (OR: 2.4), that were single-parent headed (OR: 2.0), and that were in poverty (OR: 2.1). Having never been breastfed was associated with increased odds of obesity (OR: 1.5) and higher odds of SO (OR: 1.9). Odds of >4 hours of screen time were 1.5 and 2.0 for children with obesity and SO. Energy intake and Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores were not significantly different in children with SO. CONCLUSIONS: Children ages 2 to 5 with SO appear to be more likely to be of a racial and/or ethnic minority and have greater disparities in social determinants of health than their peers and are more than twice as likely to engage in double the recommended screen time limit.

Recent Uptrend in Whole-Grain Intake Is Absent for Low-Income Adolescents, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2012.

INTRODUCTION: Whole-grain consumption reduces risk of chronic disease, yet adolescents consume suboptimal amounts. It is unclear whether trends in consumption of whole grains have been positive among adolescents, and research assessing disparities by socioeconomic status is limited. The objective of our study was to evaluate recent trends in whole-grain consumption by US adolescents. METHODS: We examined data on 3,265 adolescents aged 13 to18 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2012. Intake of whole and refined grains was analyzed by using generalized linear models, and odds of no whole-grain intake were examined with logistic regression, adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors. We evaluated trends and examined heterogeneity of trends with respect to annual household income. RESULTS: Daily whole-grain consumption among adolescents increased overall by about a quarter-ounce-equivalent per day (oz-eq/d) (P trend <.001). We found a significant relationship between whole-grain intake and income. Daily whole grains (recommended as ≥3 oz-eq/d), increased (0.6 to 1.0 oz-eq/d) among high-income adolescents (P trend < .001) but remained at 0.5 oz-eq/d for low-income adolescents. The ratio of whole grains to total grains (recommended to be at least 50%) rose from 7.6% to 14.2% for high-income adolescents (P trend < .001), with no significant trend for the low-income group. Consumption of refined grains did not change. Odds of having no whole grains trended downward, but only for the high-income adolescents (P trend = .01). CONCLUSION: These data show significant (albeit modest) trends toward increased intake of whole grains among high-income adolescents nationwide that are absent among low-income peers. Future interventions and policies should address barriers to whole-grain consumption among this vulnerable group.

Biobehavioral Factors That Shape Nutrition in Low-Income Populations: A Narrative Review.

Although evidence exists for an association between income level and diet quality, a causal relationship has not been established. A number of studies found that the price of nutritious food and the time cost to prepare foods are economically driven reasons for this relationship. However, in addition to economic constraints, low-income individuals and families face a number of additional challenges linked with food choice, eating behaviors, and diet-related chronic conditions that contribute to diet quality and health. Low-income individuals have a higher burden of employment-, food-, and housing-related insecurity that threaten the livelihood of their household. Poverty and exposure to these insecurities are hypothesized to activate biobehavioral and psychological mechanisms-endocrine, immune, and neurologic systems-that influence food choice and consumption. Examples of biobehavioral and psychological factors that influence diet are stress, poor sleep, and diminished cognitive capacity. High levels of stress, poor sleep, and cognitive overload compound the challenges of economic constraints, creating a mentality of scarcity that leads to poor diet quality.

SNAP Participation and Diet-Sensitive Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research suggests participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is associated with poorer adult cardiometabolic health; the extent to which these associations extend to adolescents is unknown. Differences in diet quality, obesity, and cardiometabolic risk factors were examined among SNAP participants, income-eligible nonparticipants, and higher-income adolescents. METHODS: The study population comprised 4,450 adolescents ≤300% federal poverty level from the 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations between SNAP participation and the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between SNAP participation, obesity, and risk factors comprising the metabolic syndrome. Data were analyzed in 2015. RESULTS: All surveyed adolescents consumed inadequate amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and long-chain fatty acids, while exceeding limits for sugary beverages, processed meats, and sodium. Although there were few dietary differences, SNAP participants had 5% lower Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 scores versus income-eligible nonparticipants (95% CI=-9%, -1%). SNAP participants also had higher BMI-for-age Z scores (ß=0.21, 95% CI=0.01, 0.41), waist circumference Z scores (ß=0.21, 95% CI=0.03, 0.39), and waist-to-height ratios (ß=0.02, 95% CI=0.00, 0.03) than higher-income nonparticipants. SNAP participation was not associated with most cardiometabolic risk factors; however, SNAP participants did have higher overall cardiometabolic risk Z scores than higher-income nonparticipants (ß=0.75, 95% CI=0.02, 1.49) and income-eligible nonparticipants (ß=0.55, 95% CI=0.03, 1.08). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent SNAP participants have higher levels of obesity, and some poorer markers of cardiometabolic health compared with their low-income and higher-income counterparts.

Revised WIC Food Package and Children's Diet Quality.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In October 2009, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) food package was revised to include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lower-fat milk. We examined the impact of the WIC food package revisions on the diet quality of children in households using WIC. METHODS: A total of 1197 children aged 2 to 4 years from low-income households were studied from before and after the policy implementation (using the 2003-2008 and 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) was calculated using two 24-hour diet recalls. Linear regression was used to examine the difference in HEI-2010 score attributable to the food package change, adjusting for baseline and secular trends among WIC participants and nonparticipants, as well as child and household characteristics. Component scores of the HEI-2010 index were analyzed with generalized linear models. RESULTS: Average HEI-2010 scores for participants and nonparticipants were 52.4 and 50.0 at baseline, and 58.3 and 52.4 after the policy change, respectively. The WIC food package revisions were associated with an adjusted average of 3.7 additional HEI-2010 points (95% confidence interval, 0.6-6.9) for WIC participants compared with nonparticipants. In particular, the revisions were associated with a 3.4-fold relative increase (95% confidence interval, 1.3-9.4) in the Greens and Beans component score for WIC participants compared with nonparticipants. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this national sample indicate that the WIC food package revisions were associated with higher diet quality for children participating in WIC.

Dyslipidemia and Food Security in Low-Income US Adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2010.

INTRODUCTION: Low levels of food security are associated with dyslipidemia and chronic disease in adults, particularly in women. There is a gap in knowledge about the relationship between food security among youth and dyslipidemia and chronic disease. We investigated the relationship between food security status and dyslipidemia among low-income adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed data from adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (N = 1,072) from households with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2010. We used logistic regression to examine the relationship between household food security status and the odds of having abnormalities with fasting total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TG/HDL-C ratio, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B). Models included age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, partnered status in the household, and maternal education, with additional adjustment for adiposity. RESULTS: Household food security status was not associated with elevated TC or LDL-C. Adolescents with marginal food security were more likely than food-secure peers to have elevated TGs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-3.05), TG/HDL-C ratio (OR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.11-2.82), and Apo B (OR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.17-3.36). Female adolescents with marginal food security had greater odds than male adolescents of having low HDL-C (OR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.14-6.37). No elevated odds of dyslipidemia were found for adolescents with low or very low food security. Adjustment for adiposity did not attenuate estimates. CONCLUSION: In this nationally representative sample, low-income adolescents living in households with marginal food security had increased odds of having a pattern consistent with atherogenic dyslipidemia, which represents a cardiometabolic burden above their risk from adiposity alone.

Disordered eating behaviours and food insecurity: A qualitative study about children with obesity in low-income households.

BACKGROUND: While there is information in the literature describing the poor nutritional intake of food-insecure youth, eating behaviours among food-insecure children - particularly, obese children are less well-described. We conducted focus groups with family members of low-income children who were initiating care in a paediatric obesity clinic. Food hiding emerged as a theme, and generated the motivation for this analysis. METHODS: Between April 2012 and December 2013, a total of 7 focus groups were conducted (4 food-insecure groups and 3 food-secure). Based on recruitment from 37 index patients, the focus groups were attended by a total of 47 participants. Participant responses about eating behaviours were evaluated using a combination of inductive codes derived from the data and deductive codes informed by criteria for diagnosis of disordered eating. RESULTS: While participants from food-secure and food-insecure households all had anecdotes about their children overeating, respondents in two of the food-insecure groups described episodes that resemble binge eating. The topic of hiding food emerged in the food-insecure groups, though was not endorsed in the food-secure groups despite probing. Night-time eating arose spontaneously in two of the food-insecure groups, but not in the food-secure groups. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the presence of food hiding, binge eating, and night-time eating in food-insecure children with obesity. These factors would further compound their health burden, and the relationship between disordered eating and food insecurity in children with obesity warrants further study.

Gender differences in prediabetes and insulin resistance among 1356 obese children in Northern California.

AIMS: While it has been shown that there are gender differences in prediabetes and insulin resistance among adults, less is known about whether these differences exist in children. Obese children have elevated risk for developing metabolic dysfunction, and this analysis was conducted to compare obese boys and girls. METHODS: Biomarkers of prediabetes (IFG and HbA1c) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were examined for 1356 obese children (2-19 years) who presented to a pediatric weight management clinic between 2008 and 2012. Gender differences were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Boys were more likely than girls to have IFG (adjusted OR: 1.68; CI: 1.06-2.65), but less likely to have elevated HOMA-IR (adjusted OR 0.71; CI: 0.52 -0.97). The female predominance of insulin resistance was present at younger ages than the male predominance of IFG. There were no gender differences with respect to HbA1c. Elevated HbA1c identified 20.7% of the sample as prediabetic whereas IFG identified 7.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to findings in adults, obese children appear to exhibit more impaired fasting glucose among boys and a higher predominance of insulin resistance among girls. However, HbA1c identified a larger proportion of these high-risk, obese youth as prediabetic than IFG.

Using mobile fruit vendors to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables for schoolchildren.

This study explored the extent to which schoolchildren purchased precut and bagged fruits and vegetables from a mobile fruit vendor (frutero). During 14 days in fall 2008, a frutero sold fruits and vegetables at the entrance of an elementary school; 59% of the frutero's 233 consumers of 248 items were elementary-school students. With each successive day, an average of 1 additional bag of fruits and vegetables was sold by the frutero and 1.5 fewer nonnutritious foods by a competing vendor. Policies encouraging the sale of nutritious foods from mobile food vendors may increase access for schoolchildren.