Timing of energy intake and BMI in children: differential impacts by age and sex.

Body weight regulation may be influenced by the timing of food intake. The relationship between children's BMI and their daily pattern of energy consumption was investigated using data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008-2019. The sample included 6281 children aged 4-18 years. Linear and logistic regression models investigated the timing of energy intake (103 kJ) as a predictor of BMI (kg/m2) and healthy weight status. The models showed that children aged 4-10 years who consume more energy content after 20:00, in comparison with less energy content, had a significantly higher BMI (young girls: ß = 0·159; 95 % CI 0·003, 0·315; P = 0·05; young boys: ß = 0·166; 95 % CI 0·028, 0·304; P = 0·02). Similar findings were also present for boys aged 11-18 years (ß = 0·091; 95 % CI 0·003, 0·180; P = 0·04), though logistic regression findings were contradictory (OR = 0·9566; 95 % CI 0·926, 0·989; P = 0·009). However, older girls who consumed more energy content in the morning had a significantly lower BMI (ß = -0·464; 95 % CI -0·655, -0·273; P < 0·001) and a lower probability of non-healthy weight (OR = 0·901; 95 % CI 0·826, 0·982; P = 0·02). Physical activity reduced the likelihood of unhealthy weight status. The data suggest that food consumption later in the day in childhood and into adolescence may increase the risk of a higher BMI, especially for less active children. Developing guidance on appropriate meal timings and recommended energy distribution throughout the day could promote healthier lifestyles. Doing so may help increase parental awareness of timing of food intake and its potential impact on BMI.

Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity within the Home Environment of Preschool Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing an increasing prevalence of young children being overweight and obese. Many feeding and physical activity-related behaviours are established at home during preschool years, yet the precise factors that contribute to preschool overweight and obesity have not been fully elucidated. This review aims to identify factors in the home environment associated with overweight and or obesity in preschool children in SSA. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa Journals Online (AJOL) and the African Index Medicus databases were systematically searched for qualitative and quantitative studies published between 2000 and 2021. Eleven studies (ten quantitative, one qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the results highlight the paucity of studies exploring factors in the home environment associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children in Sub-Saharan Africa. The home food environment and maternal BMI appear to be important factors associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children; however, the information for all other factors explored remains unclear due to the lack of evidence. For successful obesity prevention and treatment interventions to be developed, more research in this area is required to understand how different aspects of the home environment contribute to overweight and obesity in preschool Sub-Saharan African children.

Food Security in Ghanaian Urban Cities: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Urbanisation in Ghana could be negatively impacting the state of food security, especially in economically vulnerable groups. Food supply, safety, and quality are all aspects of food security which could be impacted. We conducted a scoping literature review to understand the nature and magnitude of evidence available on the urban food security situation in Ghana. A literature search was conducted in Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa Wide Information and Google Scholar to identify relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature. 45 studies, mainly cross-sectional surveys/food samples analysis, met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies were concentrated in the Greater Accra Region (n = 24). Most studies focused on food safety and quality (n = 31). Studies on supply and stability were, however, scarce. Qualitative research methods were uncommon in the included studies. The existing literature on food security are concentrated in two regions: The Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. Future studies exploring food security in urban Ghana should focus on exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of food insecurity and food stability by urban-dwellers using qualitative methods. The evidence suggesting that the safety/quality of foods sold in Ghanaian markets is poor should be a concern to consumers and policy makers.