The adaptation and translation of the PEACH™ RCT intervention: the process and outcomes of the PEACH™ in the community trial.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process and report selected outcomes of translating an effective child weight management initiative (PEACH™) from a randomised controlled trial intervention to a community health programme. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Pre-post study design utilising the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) evaluation framework. Adaptation of PEACH™ required significant promotional activity and consideration of legal, ethical and financial issues. PEACH™ components were revised and an evaluation design based on the RE-AIM framework was developed. Facilitator training workshops were made available to South Australian health or education professionals initially, then opened up to new graduates, interstate dietitians and others interested in professional development. Facilitators completed pretraining and post-training questionnaires and a third questionnaire following programme delivery. Data were collected from families by facilitators and returned to university staff for assessment of change (baseline to programme end) in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) z-scores. RESULTS: Changes to organisational and political environments prevented maximum programme reach and adoption. Nonetheless, data indicated that PEACH™ was effective at improving facilitators' confidence (P < 0.05) and children's (n = 37) BMI z-score (-0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03:0.30, P = 0.016), WC z-score (-0.14, 95% CI: -0.02:0.30, P = 0.09) and lifestyle behaviours. Collection of maintenance data was prevented due to time and financial constraints. CONCLUSIONS: Translational research needs to develop ways to effectively and efficiently bridge the gap between behavioural research and practice to improve the adoption of evidence-based approaches to child weight management. Nutrition educators and researchers can drive these nutrition-focussed translational research efforts forward. Funding bodies and health service organisations are encouraged to provide financial and structural support for such activity.

Dietary intake in Australian children aged 4-24 months: consumption of meat and meat alternatives.

Meat/meat alternatives (M/MA) are key sources of Fe, Zn and protein, but intake tends to be low in young children. Australian recommendations state that Fe-rich foods, including M/MA, should be the first complementary foods offered to infants. The present paper reports M/MA consumption of Australian infants and toddlers, compares intake with guidelines, and suggests strategies to enhance adherence to those guidelines. Mother-infant dyads recruited as part of the NOURISH and South Australian Infants Dietary Intake studies provided 3 d of intake data at three time points: Time 1 (T1) (n 482, mean age 5·5 (SD 1·1) months), Time 2 (T2) (n 600, mean age 14·0 (SD 1·2) months) and Time 3 (T3) (n 533, mean age 24 (SD 0·7) months). Of 170 infants consuming solids and aged greater than 6 months at T1, 50 (29%) consumed beef, lamb, veal (BLV) or pork on at least one of 3 d. Commercial infant foods containing BLV or poultry were the most common form of M/MA consumed at T1, whilst by T2 BLV mixed dishes (including pasta bolognaise) became more popular and remained so at T3. The processed M/MA increased in popularity over time, led by pork (including ham). The present study shows that M/MA are not being eaten by Australian infants or toddlers regularly enough; or in adequate quantities to meet recommendations; and that the form in which these foods are eaten can lead to smaller M/MA serve sizes and greater Na intake. Parents should be encouraged to offer M/MA in a recognisable form, as one of the first complementary foods, in order to increase acceptance at a later age.

Maternal feeding practices and feeding behaviors of Australian children aged 12-36 months.

To explore parents' perceptions of the eating behaviors and related feeding practices of their young children. Mothers (N=740) of children aged 12-36 months and born in South Australia were randomly selected by birth date in four 6-month age bands from a centralized statewide database and invited to complete a postal questionnaire. Valid completed questionnaires were returned for 374 children (51% response rate; 54% female). Although mothers generally reported being confident and happy in feeding their children, 23% often worried that they gave their child the right amount of food. Based on a checklist of 36 specified items, 15% of children consumed no vegetables in the previous 24 h, 11% no fruit and for a further 8% juice was the only fruit. Of 12 specified high fat/sugar foods and drinks, 11% of children consumed none, 20% one, 26% two, and 43% three or more. Six of eight child-feeding practices that promote healthy eating behaviors were undertaken by 75% parents 'often' or 'all of the time'. However, 8 of 11 practices that do not promote healthy eating were undertaken by a third of mothers at least 'sometimes'. In this representative sample, dietary quality issues emerge early and inappropriate feeding practices are prevalent thus identifying the need for very early interventions that promote healthy food preferences and positive feeding practices. Such programs should focus not just on the 'what', but also the 'how' of early feeding, including the feeding relationship and processes appropriate to developmental stage.

Minimizing random error in dietary intakes assessed by 24-h recall, in overweight and obese adults.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the minimum number of days of dietary intake interviews required to reduce the effects of random error (day-to-day variability in dietary intake) when using the multiple-pass, multiple-day, 24-h recall method. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University research department. SUBJECTS: A total of 50 healthy non-smoking overweight and obese (body mass index=26-40 kg/m2) adult men and women aged 39-45 years completed the study. Participants were randomly selected from volunteers for a larger unrelated study. INTERVENTIONS: Each participant completed 10, multiple-pass, 24-h recall interviews on randomly chosen days over 4 weeks. The minimum number of record days was determined for each macronutrient (carbohydrate, fat, protein) and energy, for each gender, to obtain a 'true' (unobservable) representative intake from reported (observed) dietary intakes. RESULTS: The greatest number of days required to obtain a 'true' representative intake was 8 days. Carbohydrate intakes required the greatest number of days of dietary record among males (7 days), whereas protein required the greatest number of days among females (8 days) in this cohort. Sunday was the day of the week that showed greatest variability in macronutrient intakes. Protein (P<0.05) and fat (P<0.001) intakes were significantly more variable than carbohydrate on Sundays compared with weekdays, for both men and women. CONCLUSION: A logistically achievable 8 days of dietary intake interviews was sufficient to minimize the effect of random error when using the multiple-pass, 24-h recall dietary intake method. Sunday should be included among the dietary interview days to ensure a 'true' representation of macronutrient intakes. This method can be confidently applied to small cohort studies in which dietary intakes from different groups are to be compared or to investigations of associations between nutrient intakes and disease.

Contribution of 'noncore' foods and beverages to the energy intake and weight status of Australian children.

OBJECTIVES: The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is based on five core food groups and water. Foods or beverages that do not fit into these groups are considered extra or 'noncore'. We tested the hypotheses that noncore foods and beverages make a greater proportional contribution to mean daily energy intakes of: (1) children, compared with other age groups; and (2) overweight and obese children, compared with healthy weight children. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: We used data from 13 858 participants aged 2 to 80+ y who had 24-h dietary recall data collected in the 1995 cross-sectional Australian National Nutrition Survey. ANOVA was used to compare the percentage of energy provided by noncore foods and beverages by age and weight status. RESULTS: Children (5 to 12 y) and adolescents (13 to 18 y) obtained significantly more (P < 0.001) of their daily food energy from noncore foods (41.5 and 43.4%, respectively) than all other age groups. These age groups also obtained significantly more (P < 0.001) of their daily beverage energy from noncore beverages (30.7 and 36.9%, respectively). Results were not consistent with weight status, although very young (2-4 y) obese children obtained significantly more energy (P < 0.05) from noncore beverages than children in a healthy weight range. Younger children may also have consumed a greater quantity of foods and beverages. Under-reporting may have obscured similar results for older children. CONCLUSIONS: By definition, noncore foods and beverages are surplus to the requirements of a healthy diet. We found that Australian children consume these foods and beverages in excess.

Association of lipoprotein(a) with puberty in IDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To determine serum lipoprotein(a) in a large sample of IDDM and control children and to examine a possible association with puberty. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum lipoprotein(a), apoB-100, and apoA-I were measured under identical conditions in 170 Caucasian children with IDDM aged 12.3 +/- 3.59 yr and 233 Caucasian control children aged 13.6 +/- 1.12 yr. Patients with persistent microalbuminuria were excluded. Lipoprotein(a), apoB-100, and apoA-I were measured by nephelometry using a specific monoclonal antibody. Pubertal assessment was performed using Tanner staging and testicular volume measurement. RESULTS: Lipoprotein(a) was higher in the IDDM than control group (geometric mean 237 mg/L, 25-75th percentile 134-465 vs. 172 [99-316] mg/L, P = 0.0008). When analyzed according to pubertal stage, only pubertal and postpubertal patients had higher levels than control subjects (265 [148-560] vs. 174 [101-320] mg/L, P = 0.0001), with prepubertal patients showing no difference. Pubertal and postpubertal patients showed both higher lipoprotein(a) (P = 0.01) levels and higher albumin excretion rates (P = 0.02) than prepubertal patients, correcting for the other variable. Lipoprotein(a) was not related to HbA1c, albumin excretion rate, duration, age, sex, mean arterial pressure, or a family history of premature coronary artery disease in the IDDM group. Lipoprotein(a) was not higher in patients with overnight albumin excretion rate above the 95th percentile but below the microalbuminuric range. ApoB-100 did not differ between IDDM and control children. ApoA-I was significantly lower in the IDDM group (1.04 [0.94-1.17] vs. 1.21 [1.10-1.31] g/L; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pubertal and postpubertal IDDM patients have higher serum lipoprotein(a) than Caucasian control subjects. Our findings suggest a rise in lipoprotein(a) may occur during puberty in IDDM. Longitudinal studies are required to clarify the relationship between lipoprotein(a), albumin excretion rate, and puberty.

Does fat intake predict adiposity in healthy children and adolescents aged 2--15 y? A longitudinal analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between food energy and macronutrient intake and body fatness assessed up to seven times between 2 and 15 y of age. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. Generalised linear estimating equations were used to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between body fatness and macronutrient intake. Regression analysis was used to assess whether body fatness at a particular age was predicted by intake at any of the previous ages. SETTING: Community-based project in Adelaide, South Australia. SUBJECTS: In all 143--243 subjects from a representative birth cohort of healthy children recruited in 1975 and followed over 15 y. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The dependent variables were body mass index (BMI), triceps (TC) and subscapular (SS) skinfolds, expressed as standard deviation (s.d.) scores at each age. The predictor variables were energy-adjusted macronutrient intake and total energy intake, estimated from a 3--4 day diet diary, the previous corresponding measure of body fatness, sex and parental BMI, TC or SS. RESULTS: Across 2--15 y energy-adjusted fat and carbohydrate intakes were respectively directly and inversely related to SS skinfold measures but not to either BMI or TC skinfold. The best predictor of fatness was previous adiposity, with the effect strengthening as the age interval shortened. Parental BMI, maternal SS and paternal TC contributed to the variance of the corresponding measure in children at some but not all ages. CONCLUSIONS: The current level of body fatness of the child and parental adiposity are more important predictors than dietary intake variables of risk of children becoming or remaining overweight as they grow.

Evaluation of micronutrient intakes of older Australians: The National Nutrition Survey--1995.

PURPOSE: To determine the proportion of Australian adults >65 years with nutrient intakes less than 70% of the current national RDIs and investigate associated differences in both diet quality and quantity. METHOD: Intake data were collected as part of the National Nutrition Survey 1995 representing all areas of Australia. Dietary intake of 1960 (902 males) adults >65 years was assessed using a structured 24-hour diet recall. Intakes of 12 micronutrients were compared with current Australian recommended dietary intakes (RDIs) and assessed as > RDI, < RDI but > 70% RDI, and < 70% RDI. RESULTS: Intakes of vitamin A, magnesium, potassium and calcium were < 70% RDI in 12-24% males and 14-61% females. In addition 10% and 43% females had low intakes of folate and zinc respectively. None of the participants had intakes of niacin or vitamin C < 70% RDI, and few males had low thiamin intakes. Specific nutrient density and energy intake (kJ/kg) were significantly less in those with intakes < 70% RDI for eight of the 12 nutrients studied. CONCLUSIONS: In general the low nutrient intakes reported here can be attributed to diets of poor quality, in terms of low nutrient density, and quantity of food eaten. Age-specific targeted nutrition promotion strategies are required to improve overall health of older Australians.

Dietary patterns of Australian children aged 14 and 24 months, and associations with socio-demographic factors and adiposity.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown, in predominantly European populations, that dietary patterns are evident early in life. However, little is known about early-life dietary patterns in Australian children. We aimed to describe dietary patterns of Australian toddlers and their associations with socio-demographic characteristics and adiposity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Principal component analysis was applied to 3 days (1 × 24-h recall and 2 × 24-h record) data of 14 (n=552)- and 24 (n=493)-month-old children from two Australian studies, NOURISH and South Australian Infant Dietary Intake (SAIDI). Associations with dietary patterns were investigated using regression analyses. RESULTS: Two patterns were identified at both ages. At 14 months, the first pattern was characterised by fruit, grains, vegetables, cheese and nuts/seeds ('14-month core foods') and the second pattern was characterised by white bread, milk, spreads, juice and ice-cream ('basic combination'). Similarly, at 24 months the '24-month core foods' pattern included fruit, vegetables, dairy, nuts/seeds, meat and water, whereas the 'non-core foods' included white bread, spreads, sweetened beverages, snacks, chocolate and processed meat. Lower maternal age and earlier breastfeeding cessation were associated with higher 'basic combination' and 'non-core foods' pattern scores, whereas earlier and later solid introduction were associated with higher 'basic combination' and '24-month core foods' pattern scores, respectively. Patterns were not associated with body mass index (BMI) z-score. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns reflecting core and non-core food intake are identifiable in Australian toddlers. These findings support the need to intervene early with parents to promote healthy eating in children and can inform future investigations on the effects of early diet on long-term health.

Comparison of metabolic syndrome prevalence using six different definitions in overweight pre-pubertal children enrolled in a weight management study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the implications of variation in Metabolic Syndrome (MS) definition (biochemical and anthropometric indicators) on MS prevalence estimates in a population of overweight and mildly obese children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Ninety-nine (64 girls) overweight or mildly obese, but otherwise healthy, pre-pubertal 6-9-year olds recruited for a randomized controlled trial of weight management. MEASURES: Height, weight and waist circumference were measured with BMI and waist z-scores calculated. Fasting cholesterol and fractions, glucose and insulin were measured, together with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). Anthropometric and metabolic indicators were classified as normal or elevated using adult- or child-specific cut points with clustering of MS indicators also assessed using two adult and three child-specific definitions. RESULTS: A total of 0-4% of subjects were classified with MS when adult definitions were applied. This increased to between 39 and 60% using child-specific definitions, varying according to whether hyperinsulinaemia was central to the MS classification. Systolic BP, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and waist z-score increased across insulin quartiles (P<0.05). The use of body mass index and waist circumference in the MS definition classified the same subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The classification of MS in children depends strongly on the definition chosen, with MS prevalence estimates higher if insulin is part of the definition and child-specific cut points for metabolic indicators are used. Hyperinsulinaemia and MS are common consequences of childhood obesity but they are not commonly part of the assessment or management plan for weight management in children. There is a need for the establishment of normal insulin ranges and consistent definition of MS in childhood and adolescence.

Food-based recommendations to reduce fat intake: an evidence-based approach to the development of a family-focused child weight management programme.

OBJECTIVES: To develop food-based recommendations to lower fat and energy intake for use in a family-focussed weight management programme for 6-9 year old children. METHODS: Secondary analysis of the 1995 National Nutrition Survey (NNS95) informed the development of food-based recommendations aiming to reduce fat and energy intake. Each recommendation was used to progressively modify a model 3-day high fat dietary intake with the accumulative effect on energy and nutrient intake of each recommendation assessed. RESULTS: Six to nine-year-olds in the NNS95 consuming 35-45% energy as fat (n= 280) consumed more total energy (mean +/- SD, 8671 +/- 2741 vs. 7571 +/- 2328 kJ/day) than children consuming a 'low fat' (23-27% energy as fat, n= 85) diet (P < 0.002). Food-based recommendations found to be most effective for reducing energy and fat intake included; changing to reduced fat milk, reducing intake of cereal-based and snack foods and replacing juice or soft drink with water. These changes, together with avoiding adding fat to vegetables and using sources of lean meat, reduced energy intake by approximately 10%, total fat intake by approximately 30% and saturated fat intake by 53%. CONCLUSIONS: Modifying six areas of food choices results in a moderate reduction in fat and energy intake. An eating pattern that is consistent with Australian dietary guidelines and uses foods commonly eaten by children is achievable for children aged 6-9 years. These food-based recommendations provide an evidence-based dietary framework for prevention and management of overweight in children.

Effects of differences in dietary fat on growth, energy and nutrient intake from infancy to eight years of age.

We report the results of food energy and nutrient intake, and somatic growth measured at intervals throughout infancy to 8 years of age in children from the Adelaide nutrition study cohort. At each age the sample was divided into three groups according to the percentage energy as fat: < 30%, 30-34.9% and > 34.9%. There were no clinically significant differences in height, weight or skinfold thickness according to the proportions of fat in the diet, although the high fat intake group had a higher food energy intake at 2, 4 and 8 years of age. The low fat group had a greater proportion of energy as sugar at 4, 6 and 8 years of age, and as starch at 4 and 6 years. At some ages there were differences in calcium, iron, thiamine and vitamin C intakes. There were minor differences in nutrient intake in children at 8 and 15 years of age according to their fat intake at 1 and 2 years. Boys in the lower fat intake group at 2 years of age were slightly shorter and lighter at 15 years of age than those who had been in higher fat intake groups. We conclude that the contemporary shift to a lower fat diet in early childhood is unlikely to have deleterious effects on growth and nutrient intake if eaten in the context of a family eating pattern, which meets current guidelines.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian children and adolescents: reassessment of 1985 and 1995 data against new standard international definitions.

OBJECTIVE: To review the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australian children and adolescents in two national samples, 10 years apart, using the new standard international definitions of the International Obesity Task Force Childhood Obesity Working Group. DESIGN: Body mass index (BMI) cut-off points defining overweight and obesity were applied to the individual BMI values in the two cross-sectional samples. SETTING: Australian community. PARTICIPANTS: 8,492 schoolchildren aged 7-15 years (Australian Health and Fitness Survey, 1985) and 2,962 children aged 2-18 years (National Nutrition Survey, 1995). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence of overweight and obesity. RESULTS: In the 1985 sample, 9.3% of boys and 10.6% of girls were overweight and a further 1.7% [corrected] of boys and 1.6% [corrected] of girls were obese. In the 1995 sample, overall 15.0% of boys (varied with age from 10.4% to 20.0%) and 15.8% of girls (varied with age from 14.5% to 17.2%) were overweight, and a further 4.5% of boys (2.4%-6.8%) and 5.3% of girls (4.2%-6.3%) were obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the 1995 sample peaked at 12-15 years in boys and 7-11 years in girls. In schoolchildren aged 7-15 years, the rates represent a relative risk of overweight in 1995 compared with 1985 of 1.79 (95% CI, 1.59-2.00) and of obesity of 3.28 (95% CI, 2.51-4.29). Compared with previous estimates from these samples, the revised prevalence data are slightly higher for the 1985 data and considerably higher for the 1995 data. CONCLUSION: The secular trend of increasing overweight and obesity in the decade from 1985 and the high prevalence rates in Australian children and adolescents are a major public health concern.

Cholesterol in childhood: how high is OK? Recommendations for screening, case-finding and intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To develop guidelines for screening and case-finding of children with raised serum cholesterol levels and to determine realistic cut-points for intervention and management. DESIGN: The percentiles for serum cholesterol selected by authoritative US bodies for intervention were applied to the available Australian data on serum cholesterol levels in children. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this information we recommend a serum cholesterol level of 4.5 mmol/L as the target ceiling for Australian children; 5.5 mmol/L as the cut-point for active dietary intervention; and 6.0 mmol/L as the cut-point for specialist referral. A dual approach to intervention is recommended: population intervention through health promotion; and at a family level case-finding with individual intervention targeted to children with a serum cholesterol level greater than 5.5 mmol/L, with emphasis on dietary change in both cases.

Serum lipids and apolipoproteins from 1 to 15 years: changes with age and puberty, and relationships with diet, parental cholesterol and family history of ischaemic heart disease.

We describe the pattern of change for serum lipids and apolipoproteins from 1 to 15 years of age in a cohort of 128 children, supplemented with 215 children from 11 years of age and 243 at 13 years of age. Total cholesterol (TC) decreased after infancy, increased in early puberty and then decreased to 15 years of age. Reciprocal changes in high (HDLC) and low (LDLC) density lipoprotein cholesterol occurred during each interval, with HDLC increasing from 13 to 15 years in both sexes. The correlation for TC between children of both sexes and mothers and fathers varied from 0.1 to 0.28 at 2-13 years. At 15 years of age the correlation between mothers: daughters increased to 0.31, decreased to 0.19 for fathers: daughters, but no association was present between either parent and their sons. There were no differences in mean lipid values for the sample grouped according to the extent of family history of early ischaemic heart disease (before 60 years of age). There were few significant associations between serum lipids, energy and nutrients. At 15 years of age inverse associations were present between TC and energy, protein, sugar, starch and fibre intakes, and a positive association with total fat intake.

Tracking of serum lipids and dietary energy, fat and calcium intake from 1 to 15 years.

We describe the results of tracking serum lipids, and dietary intake of energy, fat and calcium in a cohort of 106 children in the Adelaide Nutrition Study who were followed to 15 years of age together with an additional 123 children recruited from 11 years of age. Measures of energy, fat and calcium intakes were obtained from analyses of 4-day weighed records. The pattern and level of tracking were similar for males and females. The tracking coefficient for total cholesterol was 0.28-0.49 between 1 and 15 years of age, 0.3-0.64 between 2-8 and 15 years of age adn 0.71-0.78 between 13 and 15 years of age. The pattern was similar for low density lipoprotein cholesterol, but lower for high density lipoprotein cholesterol. For mean daily energy, fat and calcium intake, tracking coefficients were low below 4 years of age, but from then on were 0.46-0.64 for energy intake, 0.38-0.51 for fat (g) and 0.51-0.62 for calcium (mg).

Predicting obesity in early adulthood from childhood and parental obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of tracking of adiposity from childhood to early adulthood, and the risk of overweight in early adulthood associated with overweight in childhood and parental weight status in a cohort of children born in the mid-1970s. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SUBJECTS: Approximately 155 healthy boys and girls born in Adelaide, South Australia, 1975-1976 and their parents. MEASUREMENTS: Height and weight of subjects at 2 y, annually from 4 to 8 y, biennially from 11 to 15 y and at 20 y, and of parents when subjects were aged 8 y. Body mass index (BMI) of subjects converted to standard deviation scores and prevalence of overweight and obesity determined using worldwide definitions. Parents classified as overweight if BMI> or =25 kg/m(2). Tracking estimated as Pearson's correlation coefficient. Risk ratio used to describe the association between weight status at each age and parental weight status and weight status at 20 y and weight status at each earlier age, both unadjusted and adjusted for parental weight status. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight/obesity increased with age and was higher than that reported in international reference populations. Tracking of BMI was established from 6 y onwards to 20 y at r-values >0.6, suggesting that BMI from 6 y is a good indicator of later BMI. Tracking was stronger for shorter intervals and for those subjects with both parents overweight compared with those with only one or neither parent overweight. Weight status at an earlier age was a more important predictor of weight status at 20 y than parental weight status, and risk of overweight at 20 y increased further with increasing weight status of parents. CONCLUSION: Strategies for prevention of overweight and targeted interventions for prevention of the progression of overweight to obesity are urgently required in school-aged children in order to stem the epidemic of overweight in the adult population.

A profile of heart disease risk factors and their relation to parents' education, fathers' occupation and family history of heart disease in 843 South Australian families: the Adelaide Children's WHO Collaborative Study.

OBJECTIVE: A study was conducted to determine whether the prevalence of risk factors among pre-adolescent children is associated with their parents' risk factor status and what influence family history of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and socio-economic status (SES) had. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study of 856 children, mean age 8.6 years, and their parents who underwent the World Health Organization and National Heart Foundation protocols for the study of arteriosclerosis precursors. Historical, demographic, anthropometric, clinical and biochemical outcome measures were used. RESULTS: There was the expected burden of illness reported for the grandparents and parents, with the latter conforming to their expected age group's heart disease risk factor status. The mean serum total cholesterol (TC) level for boys was 4.43 (+/- 0.79) mmol/L and girls 4.62 (+/- 0.84) mmol/L, with the 95th percentile for boys and girls combined being 5.88 mmol/L. The level corresponding to two standard deviations above the mean was 6.0 mmol/L. Childrens' IHD risk factor status reflected their parents' with TC, skin fold thickness and body mass index most closely correlated, followed by blood pressure. The greatest correlation was between the childrens' TC and their mothers'. Socio-economic status as assessed by the parents' education level and fathers' occupational status produced differences in their childrens' risk factors, with mother's level of education having the major influence. There was no impact of family history of IHD. CONCLUSIONS: From these results it would appear that screening of the pre-adolescent may be appropriate but longitudinal study will be important to establish this by documenting persistence of risk factor status. Also, it would appear that a child's future risk from IHD morbidity may be due to environmental influences mediated through differences in SES. As the level of IHD risk factors is reduced within the community, the extent of parent-child transmission of measurable IHD risk factors in families of high IHD risk may be reduced.

Familial and environmental influences on bone growth from 11-17 years.

The influences on bone growth of familial factors, nutrition and physical activity are described in a cohort of 108 children (56M, 52F). Distal forearm bone width, mineral content and volumetric density, anthropometry, pubertal status, nutritional intake and physical activity were measured at ages 11, 13, 15 and 17 y. Parental forearm bone status was also determined. Both mothers' and fathers' bone variables were significant predictors of the respective children's bone variables, but heritability estimates were greater between mothers and their children than between fathers and their children. By age 17 y boys had attained 101%, 85% and 89% of their fathers' height, bone mineral content and volumetric density, respectively; girls had attained 103%, 95% and 98% of their mothers' height, bone mineral content and volumetric density, respectively. There were no consistent associations among nutrient variables and bone status or rate of change in bone status. However, there was a significantly greater increase in bone mineral content and density from 11-17 y in those girls with consistently high calcium intake. There were no significant correlations between physical activity and bone values or rate of change of bone values. Age, gender, pubertal status, height, weight and parental bone values accounted for 80%, 71% and 49% of the variance of bone mineral content, bone width and volumetric density, respectively and 52%, 55% and 58% respectively of the variance of change in these variables. After age, gender, sexual maturity and body size, heritability accounts for the greatest variance in bone values through adolescence.

Nutrition in early life: somatic growth and serum lipids.

This paper addresses the questions of whether early nutritional experience affects later somatic growth, the growth of the adipose tissue, or the levels of serum lipids among well-nourished children. The analyses are based on data from three prospective studies. Postnatal nutrition and growth: there were differences in growth between breast-fed and formula-fed children. There was no association between linear growth and differences in food energy or macronutrient intake. Birth size and postnatal growth: there was no association between ponderal index (PI) at birth and body mass index (BMI) in the second year. For boys, the PI at 3 and 6 months of age was significantly positively correlated with BMI at the ages of 8 and 15 years, but not for girls. Childhood growth and lipids: there was no association between lipids at the age of 8 years and either birth weight or length, but children who had had a low PI at birth had higher lipid levels at the age 8 years. A positive association was found between serum lipids and abdominal fat and BMI. We conclude that, although early diet may influence growth rate beyond infancy, the evidence for fat patterning resulting from differences in fetal or early postnatal nutrition is still open to question.