Umbilical cord plasma and salivary insulin and leptin concentrations in AGA neonates: a preliminary report.

UNLABELLED: Background and objective: Insulin and leptin hormones are important regulators of food intake and energy balance. There is limited information about insulin and leptin hormones in neonates. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the concentrations of insulin and leptin in umbilical cord plasma and neonate's saliva and their relationships. METHODS: Umbilical cord plasma and salivary samples were obtained from 13 healthy, appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates. Insulin and leptin concentrations in umbilical cord plasma and saliva were measured using the MILLIPLEX MAP® Human Metabolic Hormone Magnetic Bead Panel. RESULTS: Insulin concentrations in umbilical cord plasma correlates positively and significantly with leptin concentrations in umbilical cord plasma (r = 0.55, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to explore the relationships between insulin and leptin hormones in neonate's saliva.

Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Feeding Practices in Relation to Infants' Growth.

Obesity has now emerged as 1 of the most serious public health problems facing American Indian (AI) children and adolescents. However, little is known about what factors contribute to the early development of obesity in AI children. This study explored the relationships between maternal prepregnancy BMI, feeding practices, and growth in AI infants. The findings of this study highlight the need for nurse midwives and pediatric nurse practitioners to increase AI mothers' awareness about their feeding practices, exclusive breastfeeding, and timing for solid food introduction.

Developing healthy childhood behaviour: outcomes of a summer camp experience.

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the short-term effects of the Wellness Summer Camp (WSC) on changes in children's knowledge of healthy foods and healthy snacks, physical activity and eating behaviours, and self-perception of competence in school-age children. The WSC programme activities were developed based on age-appropriate developmental theory, including healthy behaviour developmental skills and reinforcement for effective behaviour choices and action patterns. A total of 18 children who participated in the 10 day WSC were evaluated using a pretest-posttest evaluation design. The results revealed that at post-intervention, children significantly improved their knowledge about healthy foods and healthy snacks. Based on paired t-test analyses, the mean posttest scores of healthy eating behaviours and self-perception of competence were statistically significantly higher than the mean pretest scores. The mean posttest score of physical activity also increased but not statistically significant. Introducing children to the WSC programme could help maximize their opportunities to build confidence and self-competence to improve their knowledge of healthy foods and healthy snacks as well as motivate them to engage in healthy behaviours.

Correlates of the FTO gene variant (rs9939609) and growth of American Indian infants.

AIM: Obesity is a global, growing public-health problem. The detrimental health consequences of obesity are significant and include co-morbidities such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some types of cancer. To date, findings relating the A allele of the FTO variant rs9939609 to increased energy intake and risk for obesity have been fairly consistent across multiple populations. However, it is not known whether that relationship is also present in American Indian (AI) populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the minor allele frequency of the FTO variant rs9939609 and its associations with birth weight, weight for length (WFL) Z score, and amount of formula intake in AI infants. DESIGN: A cross-sectional exploratory descriptive design was applied with a sample of 49 AI mother-infant dyads. RESULTS: Mothers with an A allele had higher prepregnancy body mass index than those without an A allele, though difference was not statistically significant (p=0.08). Infants with an A allele tended to have higher birth weights, WFL Z score at age 14 to 20 weeks, and 24-h formula consumption compared with infants without an A-allele, though those differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Neither maternal nor infant A alleles were statistically significantly associated with birth weight, WFL Z score, and amount of formula intake in AI infants (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings do not confirm the association of the A allele of the FTO variant rs9939609 with birth weight, amount of formula intake, and WFL Z score in AI infants.

Using Evidence to Recommend Interventions for Long-term Weight Control in Overweight Children.

Childhood obesity can lead to later life-threatening conditions that impact negatively on quality of life, morbidity and mortality outcomes. There are a considerable number of research studies, specifically interventions that have been conducted the last 2 decades with overweight children and their families. Yet, there is variability in the methodological rigor of the studies, and some of the more rigorous designs reported in meta-analyses are a challenge to implement in practice. Therefore, nurse practitioners who work with these children find it challenging to make feasible and effective recommendations. This paper describes a method that can be used to evaluate individual interventions that have been found effective for long-term weight control in children and adolescents. The RCTs from a 2009 meta-analysis of interventions for treating obesity in children and adolescents were evaluated for external validity using a generalizability assessment framework by Green and Glasgow. Pediatric nurse practitioners who deal with the complicated health challenges of obesity in children are best positioned to use evidence-based interventions to guide their recommendations to children and families. The framework presented in this paper will help guide their decisions on which interventions should be implemented.

Introduction to genetics and childhood obesity: relevance to nursing practice.

PURPOSE: The aims for this article are to provide an overview of the current state of research on genetic contributions to the development of childhood obesity and to suggest genetic-focused nursing practices to prevent childhood obesity. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCTS: Genetic epidemiology of childhood obesity, modes to identifying obesity genes, types of human obesity genes, and nursing implications are discussed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The successful integration of genetics into nursing practice will provide opportunities for nurses to participate fully as major agents and collaborators in the health care revolution. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing nurses across the profession will need to become knowledgeable about genetics and take part in obesity prevention through genetic assessment of susceptibility and appropriate environmental interventions.

Preventing tobacco and drug use among Thai high school students through life skills training.

Tobacco and drug use remain major public health concerns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a school health intervention program using life skills training (LST) to reduce tobacco and drug use among Thai high school students. A randomized pretest and post-test comparative design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the LST program. A total of 170 Thai students in grades 7-12 were randomly selected. The students in the control group received the tobacco and drug education curriculum normally provided; the intervention group received a LST program that provided information and skills specifically related to drug and tobacco use. Students in the school health intervention program had statistically significant positive effects regarding knowledge level, attitudes, and the development of refusal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. The results showed that a LST program was effective for preventing tobacco and drug use in Thai high school students.