Body image perceptions in Western and post-communist countries: a cross-cultural pilot study of children and parents.

The development of an unrealistic ideal body image and body size dissatisfaction among children is common in Western countries, including the USA and many European nations. However, little is known about children's body image perceptions in post-communist countries. This pilot study evaluated body image perceptions in a sample of Czech school-aged children and their parents and compared them with the perceptions of American children and parents. Ninety-seven Czech and 45 American 4th-6th graders and their parents from eight urban schools participated in this study. A previously developed silhouette body image instrument was utilized in a parent questionnaire and during child interviews to measure perceived and ideal body image perceptions of children and parents. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used to compare differences between children's and parents' perceived and ideal body image perceptions. Associations between body image perceptions and other variables were explored using bivariate correlations. American children had a thinner ideal body image compared with Czech children (P < 0.05). However, a larger proportion of Czech boys desired to be thinner compared with American boys (34.2% vs. 20%). Parent's ideal body image for their children did not differ by nationality (P = 0.858). While the pressure on children to look thinner was apparent among both American and Czech children, Czech children considered a larger body size as more ideal. A future study should evaluate body image perceptions and factors influencing these perceptions in a representative sample of Czech children and parents.

Social and physical environmental factors and child overweight in a sample of American and Czech school-aged children: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare environmental factors that influence body mass index for age (BMI-for-age) between a sample of American and Czech school-aged children. DESIGN: Pilot study. A parent questionnaire and school visits were used to collect data from parents and children. SETTING: Public schools in 1 American and 2 Czech cities. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five American and 97 Czech 4(th)- through 6(th)-graders and their parents. VARIABLES MEASURED: Parenting style, food socialization and preparation practices, healthful food availability, and children's BMI-for-age were measured. ANALYSIS: Factors from the parental scales were derived using factor analysis. Independent t tests compared environmental factors between American and Czech families. A regression model was used to identify environmental variables associated with BMI-for-age. RESULTS: American parents used authoritative parenting style and positive food socialization practices more often than Czech parents (P <.001). Availability of healthful food and parental involvement in food preparation were higher (P <.001) in Czech households. Positive encouraging socialization practices, less frequent use of negative explanations, and a greater availability of vegetables were associated with lower BMI-for-age in the Czech sample of children. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: A future study should focus on identifying environmental factors that influence children's BMI-for-age with a large sample of Czech and American parents and their school-aged children.

Dietary intakes, physical activity, and predictors of child obesity among 4-6th graders in the Czech Republic.

The prevalence of child obesity in the Czech Republic has increased in the last several years, especially among school-aged children. While obesity trends are closely monitored in the Czech Republic, very little is known about the dietary habits and exercise behaviors of Czech children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nutrient intakes and physical activity, as well as identify predictors of BMI-for-age in a sample of Czech school-aged children. Ninety-seven fourth, fifth and sixth graders and their parents from two large Czech cities participated in the study. Two 24-hour recalls provided total amount of energy, fat, percentage of energy derived from fat, dietary fiber, and servings of fruits and vegetables. Physical activity was measured by the Self-administered Physical Activity Checklist (SAPAC). Children consumed less energy and dietary fiber than suggested by Czech dietary recommendations. The proportion of energy that children consumed from fat was 28.5%. Children consumed 1.4 cups of fruit and 1.2 cups of vegetables. Children's physical activity levels fell within the current recommendations. Age was the only significant predictor of higher BMI-for-age. Poor dietary quality may be responsible for increasing rates of child obesity in the Czech Republic. Nutritional professionals in the Czech Republic should focus on increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and other high-fiber foods in order to reduce the risk for overweight among Czech children.

Relation between C-reactive protein and serum and dietary antioxidants in older adults at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between serum and dietary antioxidants, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in middle-aged and older individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease. We used data from adults aged > or = 40 at increased risk for cardiovascular disease selected from the NHANES III database. The relation between serum and dietary antioxidants, and CRP concentrations was examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Serum antioxidants and CVD risk factors were significant predictors of detectable CRP concentrations (R2 = 0.07; p < 0.001). Dietary antioxidants (except vitamin C) were not significant predictors of detectable CRP concentrations.