The impact of 12 modifiable lifestyle behaviours on depressive and anxiety symptoms in middle adolescence: prospective analyses of the Canadian longitudinal COMPASS study.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are becoming increasingly common and might contribute to the growing burden of mental disorders in adolescence. We examined the associations between a comprehensive set of lifestyle behaviours and depression and anxiety in middle adolescents. METHODS: School-based survey responses were collected from 24,274 Canadian high school students at baseline and 1-year follow-up (average age 14.8 and 15.8 years, respectively). Using linear mixed-effects models, we examined prospective associations of adherence to recommendations for vegetables and fruit, grains, milk and alternatives, meat and alternatives, sugar-sweetened beverages [SSB], physical activity, screen time, sleep, and no use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, cannabis, and binge drinking at baseline with the depressive and anxiety symptoms (measured by CESD-R-10 and GAD-7 scales, respectively) at follow-up. RESULTS: Adherence to recommendations was low overall, particularly for vegetables and fruit (3.9%), grains (4.5%), and screen time (4.9%). Students adhering to individual recommendations, particularly for meat and alternatives, SSB, screen time, sleep, and no cannabis use, at baseline had lower CESD-R-10 and GAD-7 scores at follow-up. Adhering to every additional recommendation was associated with lower CESD-R-10 (ß=-0.15, 95% CI -0.18, -0.11) and GAD-7 scores (ß=-0.10, 95% CI -0.14, -0.07) at follow-up. Assuming cumulative impact, this might translate into 7.2- and 4.8-point lower CESD-R-10 and GAD-7 scores, respectively, among students adhering to 12 vs. 0 recommendations over four years of high school. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the preventive potential of population-based approaches promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours, particularly those with the lowest prevalence, as a strategy to improve mental health in adolescence.

Exploring educational inequalities in hypertension control, salt knowledge and awareness, and patient advice: insights from the WHO STEPS surveys of adults from nine Eastern European and Central Asian countries.

OBJECTIVE: To inform strategies aimed at improving blood pressure (BP) control and reducing salt intake, we assessed educational inequalities in high blood pressure (HBP) awareness, treatment and control; physician's advice on salt reduction; and salt knowledge, perceptions and consumption behaviours in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. DESIGN: Data were collected in cross-sectional, population-based nationally representative surveys, using a multi-stage clustered sampling design. Five HBP awareness, treatment and control categories were created from measured BP and hypertension medication use. Education and other variables were self-reported. Weighted multinomial mixed-effects regression models, adjusted for confounders, were used to assess differences across education categories. SETTINGS: Nine Eastern European and Central Asian countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan). PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative samples of 30 455 adults aged 25-65 years. RESULTS: HBP awareness, treatment and control varied substantially by education. The coverage of physician's advice on salt was less frequent among participants with lower education, and those with untreated HBP or unaware of their HBP. The education gradient was evident in salt knowledge and perceptions of salt intake but not in salt consumption behaviours. Improved salt knowledge and perceptions were more prevalent among participants who received physician's advice on salt reduction. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong education gradient in HBP awareness, treatment and control as well as salt knowledge and perceived intake. Enhancements in public and patient knowledge and awareness of HBP and its risk factors targeting socio-economically disadvantaged groups are urgently needed to alleviate the growing HBP burden in low- and middle-income countries.

Suboptimal Intake of Fruits and Vegetables in Nine Selected Countries of the World Health Organization European Region.

The objective of this study was to characterize fruit and vegetable consumption in 9 selected countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. We analyzed data on fruit and vegetable intake and participant sociodemographic characteristics for 30,455 adults in 9 Eastern European and Central Asian countries via standardized STEPS survey methodology. Fruit and vegetable consumption across all countries was suboptimal, with a high percentage of populations not meeting the WHO-recommended intake of at least 5 servings (400 g) per day. Strengthened implementation of evidence-based policies to increase intake of fruit and vegetables is needed to reduce the burden of and disparities in NCDs.

Delivering health promotion during school closures in public health emergencies: building consensus among Canadian experts.

School-based health promotion is drastically disrupted by school closures during public health emergencies or natural disasters. Climate change will likely accelerate the frequency of these events and hence school closures. We identified innovative health promotion practices delivered during COVID-19 school closures and sought consensus among education experts on their future utility. Fifteen health promotion practices delivered in 87 schools across Alberta, Canada during COVID-19 school closures in Spring 2020, were grouped into: 'awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviours and mental wellness', 'virtual events', 'tangible supports' and 'school-student-family connectedness'. Two expert panels (23 school-level practitioners and 20 decision-makers at the school board and provincial levels) rated practices on feasibility, acceptability, reach, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and other criteria in three rounds of online Delphi surveys. Consensus was reached if 70% or more participants (strongly) agreed with a statement, (strongly) disagreed or neither. Participants agreed all practices require planning, preparation and training before implementation and additional staff time and most require external support or partnerships. Participants rated 'awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviours and mental wellness' and 'virtual events' as easy and quick to implement, effective and cost-effective, sustainable, easy to integrate into curriculum, well received by students and teachers, benefit school culture and require no additional funding/resources. 'Tangible supports' (equipment, food) and 'school-student-family connectedness' were rated as most likely to reach vulnerable students and families. Health promotion practices presented herein can inform emergency preparedness plans and are critical to ensuring health remains a priority during public health emergencies and natural disasters.

Re-referring Children for Multidisciplinary Obesity Management.

OBJECTIVES: To examine characteristics of children referred for obesity management based on referral frequency, child- and referrer-related variables associated with re-referral, and determine whether re-referral increased treatment initiation. STUDY DESIGN: This population-level, retrospective analysis included all 2- to 17-year-olds referred for obesity management to 1 of 3 multidisciplinary clinics in Alberta, Canada between April 2013 and December 2017. Children were dichotomized based on referral frequency, specifically once only or more than once (re-referred). Data were retrieved from standardized referral forms and patient registries. Analyses included logistic regression and generalized estimating equations models. RESULT: We analyzed data from 2745 children (47.2% female; mean age: 11.4 years; mean body mass index z score: 3.03) and 2705 physicians (60.2% female; 65.6% pediatricians). Overall, 300 (10.2%) children were re-referred with most (n = 276; 92.0%) being referred twice. Children were less likely to be re-referred if they were referred by a family physician (vs pediatrician) (aOR 0.62; 95% CI 0.46-0.84; P = .0018) or scheduled a clinic appointment following their index referral (aOR: 0.29; 95% CI 0.21-0.4; P < .001). Treatment initiation was higher in children who were referred once only (42.1%) vs their re-referred peers (18.0%; P < .0001); however, for children who were re-referred, they were more likely to initiate treatment following their second referral (aOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.22-4.31; P = .01). This improvement was not sustained on subsequent referrals (aOR 0.44; 95% CI 0.17-1.12; P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: Few children were re-referred for pediatric obesity management; however, for those children who were re-referred, being re-referred once only increased the likelihood of treatment initiation.

Towards refining World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake: insights from Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort.

Current cancer prevention recommendations advise limiting red meat intake to <500 g/week and avoiding consumption of processed meat, but do not differentiate the source of processed meat. We examined the associations of processed meat derived from red v. non-red meats with cancer risk in a prospective cohort of 26 218 adults who reported dietary intake using the Canadian Diet History Questionnaire. Incidence of cancer was obtained through data linkage with Alberta Cancer Registry with median follow-up of 13·3 (interquartile range (IQR) 5·1) years. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were adjusted for covariates and stratified by age and sex. The median consumption (g/week) of red meat, processed meat from red meat and processed meat from non-red meat was 267·9 (IQR 269·9), 53·6 (IQR 83·3) and 11·9 (IQR 31·8), respectively. High intakes (4th Quartile) of processed meat from red meat were associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 1·68 (95 % CI 1·09, 2·57) and colorectal cancers AHR: 1·90 (95 % CI 1·12, 3·22), respectively, in women. No statistically significant associations were observed for intakes of red meat or processed meat from non-red meat. Results suggest that the carcinogenic effect associated with processed meat intake may be limited to processed meat derived from red meats. The findings provide preliminary evidence towards refining cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake.

Social inequalities in availability of health-promoting interventions in Québec elementary schools.

Availability of health-promoting interventions (HPIs) may vary across schools serving students with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Our objectives were to describe social inequalities across elementary schools in: (i) level of importance that school principals attribute to 13 common health-related issues among students in their school; (ii) availability of HPIs within their school addressing eight health topics and (iii) (mis)alignment between perceived importance and HPI availability. Data were collected in telephone interviews with school principals in a convenience sample of 171 elementary schools (59% of 291 schools contacted). Schools were categorized as serving very advantaged, moderately advantaged or disadvantaged students. Principals reported how important 13 health issues were among students in their schools and provided data on HPI availability for 8 health issues, 4 of which required school action under government mandates. Higher proportions of principals in schools serving disadvantaged students (36% of all 171 schools) perceived most health issues as important. The mean number of HPIs in the past year was 12.0, 12.1 and 11.7 in schools serving very advantaged, moderately advantaged and disadvantaged students, respectively. Only availability of mental health HPIs differed by school deprivation (60, 43 and 30% in very, moderately and disadvantaged, respectively). Although most schools offered oral health HPIs, dental problems were not perceived as important. Smoking was perceived as not important and smoking-related HPIs were relatively rare (9%). Given rapid evolution in public health priorities, (mis)alignment between perceived importance of specific health issues and HPI availability in elementary schools warrants ongoing reflection.

Interventions that promote health may not be present in all schools. Our objectives were to describe differences across elementary schools in: (i) level of importance that school principals attribute to common health-related issues among students in their own school; (ii) the presence of interventions that address these health issues and (iii) (mis)alignment between perceived importance and presence of interventions. Telephone interviews were conducted with school principals in 171 elementary schools serving very advantaged, moderately advantaged or disadvantaged students. Principals reported how important 13 health-related issues (four of which required school action under government mandates) were among students in their schools and whether interventions were present for 8 of the 13 issues. Higher proportions of principals in schools serving disadvantaged students perceived most health issues as important. Intervention availability did not differ across schools, except that higher proportions of schools serving advantaged students reported mental health interventions. Most schools offered oral health interventions, but dental problems were not perceived as important. Smoking was also not perceived as important and interventions were relatively rare. (Mis)alignment between perceived importance of health issues and intervention availability calls for ongoing reflection.

Perceived changes in lifestyle behaviours and in mental health and wellbeing of elementary school children during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: The closure of schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 prompted concerns of deteriorating lifestyle behaviours, mental health, and wellbeing of children, particularly those in socioeconomically disadvantaged settings. We assessed changes in lifestyle behaviours (physical activity, screen time, eating habits and bed/wake-up times), mental health and wellbeing during the first lockdown in Spring 2020 as perceived by school children from disadvantaged settings, and examined determinants of these changes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: We surveyed 1095 grade 4 to 6 students (age 9-12 years) from 20 schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in northern Canada. Students reported on changes in lifestyle behaviours, mental health and wellbeing during the lockdown. Determinants of these perceived changes were examined in multivariable regression models. RESULTS: A majority of students reported declines in physical activity, having late bed/wake-up times, and modest improvements in mental health and wellbeing. Many students reported increases rather than decreases in screen time and snacking. Positive attitudes toward being active, eating healthy, going to sleep on time and being healthy were strongly associated with maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours during the lockdown. Positive attitudes toward active and healthy living and healthy lifestyle behaviours were associated with maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing during the lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: The considerable changes in lifestyle behaviors, superimposed on the pre-existing burden of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, put this generation of children at increased risk for future chronic disease. Findings call for effective health promotion of active and healthy lifestyles to benefit both physical and mental health.

Gaps in Nutrition Policy Implementation in Childcare Centres in The Edmonton Metropolitan Region: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: To describe (i) nutrition policies in childcare centres, (ii) the resources and processes used to enable policy implementation, and (iii) the association between policy implementation and childcare centres' or administrators' characteristics.Methods: Between October 2018 and June 2019 a web-based survey that addressed nutrition policy, policy implementation, and sociodemographic characteristics was sent to eligible childcare programs (centre-based and provided meals) in the Edmonton (Alberta) metropolitan region. The survey was pretested and pilot tested. Statistical tests examined the relationship between policy implementation with centres' and administrators' characteristics.Results: Of 312 childcare centres that received the survey invitation, 43 completed it. The majority of centres had a nutrition policy in place (94%). On average, centres had about 9 of the 17 implementation resources and processes assessed. Most often administrators reported actively encouraging the implementation of the nutrition policy (n = 35; 87%) and least often writing evaluation reports of the implementation of the nutrition policy (n = 9; 22%). Administrator's education level was associated with implementation total score (p = 0.009; Kruskal-Wallis).Conclusion: Most childcare centres had a nutrition policy in place, but many lacked resources and processes to enable policy implementation. Additional support is required to improve nutrition policy development and implementation.

Self-reported weight loss attempts and weight-related stress in childhood: Heightening the risk of obesity in early adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: Weight loss attempts occur as early as childhood. The impacts of weight loss attempts and weight-related stress on the occurrence of obesity during childhood remain unknown. We aimed to: (a) assess the prevalence of self-reported weight loss attempts and weight-related stress in 8-10 year-old children and (b) determine associations with adiposity 2 years later. METHOD: Data were collected from a cohort study of 564 Canadian children aged 8-10 years, having one or both biological parents with obesity (Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth cohort). Self-reported weight loss attempts and weight-related stress were assessed at baseline in the child's questionnaire. Adiposity was measured at baseline and 2 years later using body mass index z-scores (zBMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and percentage of body fat (%BF) obtained from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of children reported previous weight loss attempts and 20% reported weight-related stress. Self-reported weight loss attempts and weight-related stress were associated with higher zBMI, WHtR, and %BF 2 years later in adjusted models, although estimates were attenuated when including baseline adiposity measures. Self-reported weight loss attempts, but not weight-related stress, increased the risk of becoming overweight among children who were normal weight at baseline. DISCUSSION: Weight loss attempts are prevalent in children with parental obesity. Children reporting weight loss attempts and weight-related stress tend to have higher adiposity 2 years later and are more likely to become overweight.

Unhealthy food options in the school environment are associated with diet quality and body weights of elementary school children in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence links unhealthy food environments with diet quality and overweight/obesity. Recent evidence has demonstrated that relative food environment measures outperform absolute measures. Few studies have examined the interplay between these two measures. We examined the separate and combined effects of the absolute and relative densities of unhealthy food outlets within 1600 m buffers around elementary schools on children's diet- and weight-related outcomes. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study of 812 children from thirty-nine schools. The Youth Healthy Eating Index (Y-HEI) and daily vegetables and fruit servings were derived from the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire for Children and Youth. Measured heights and weights determined BMI Z-scores. Food outlets were ranked as healthy, somewhat healthy and unhealthy according to provincial paediatric nutrition guidelines. Multilevel mixed-effects regression models were used to assess the effect of absolute (number) and relative (proportion) densities of unhealthy food outlets within 1600 m around schools on diet quality and weight status. SETTING: Two urban centres in the province of Alberta, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Grade 5 students (10-11 years). RESULTS: For children attending schools with a higher absolute number (36+) of unhealthy food outlets within 1600 m, every 10 % increase in the proportion of unhealthy food outlets was associated with 4·1 lower Y-HEI score and 0·9 fewer daily vegetables and fruit. CONCLUSIONS: Children exposed to a higher relative density of unhealthy food outlets around a school had lower diet quality, specifically in areas where the absolute density of unhealthy food outlets was also high.

Cost-effectiveness and return on investment of school-based health promotion programmes for chronic disease prevention.

BACKGROUND: While school-based health prevention programmes are effective in addressing unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, little is known about their economic implications. We conducted an economic evaluation of the programmes that were previously identified as feasible, acceptable, and sustainable in the Canadian context. METHODS: This study builds on a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of feasible, acceptable, and sustainable school-based health promotion programmes. A micro-simulation model incorporated intervention effects on multiple risk factors to estimate incremental cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of comprehensive school health (CSH), multicomponent, and physical education (PE) curriculum modification programmes. Cost-effectiveness was expressed as the programme costs below which the programme would be cost-effective at a CA$50 000 threshold level. RESULTS: The estimated costs below which interventions were cost-effective per quality-adjusted life year gained were CA$682, CA$444, and CA$416 per student for CSH, multicomponent, and PE curriculum modification programmes, respectively. CSH programmes remained cost-effective per year of chronic disease prevented for costs of up to CA$3384 per student, compared to CA$1911 and CA$1987 for multicomponent and PE curriculum modification interventions, respectively. If the interventions were implemented at total discounted intervention costs of CA$100 per student, ROI through the avoidance of direct healthcare costs related to the treatment and management of chronic diseases would be 824% for CSH, 465% for multicomponent interventions, and 484% for PE curriculum modification interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas each examined intervention types showed favourable economic benefits, CSH programmes appeared to be the most cost-effective and to have the highest ROI.

Breastfeeding duration in infancy and dietary intake in childhood and adolescence.

Although several studies have focused on associations between breastfeeding and child obesity, few have focused on associations with dietary intake. We examined associations between breastfeeding duration in infancy and dietary intake in childhood and explored whether associations are still observed in adolescence. The QUALITY (QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth) cohort includes 630 children aged 8-10 years at baseline (T1) who have at least one parent with obesity. A follow-up assessment was done 7 years later (T2) when participants were aged 15-17 years (n=377). Non-exclusive breastfeeding duration was evaluated at T1 using a parent questionnaire (never, < 3 months, 3-6 months, > 6 months). Dietary intake was assessed at T1 and T2 using three 24-h diet recalls, namely daily servings of vegetables (≥ 2 vs < 2), fruits (≥ 2 vs < 2), vegetables and fruits combined (≥ 5 vs < 5), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (none vs any), and an overall diet quality index (DQI-I) (good vs poor). Multiple logistic regressions, adjusted for age, sex and total kilocalorie intake of the child, for age and body mass index of the mother, and for parental education and income were used. Compared to children breastfed > 6 months (reference group), those never breastfed or breastfed for 3-6 months were 42% (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.34-0.96) and 38% (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-1.00) less likely to consume ≥ 2 servings of vegetables per day at 8-10 years, respectively, while no association was found for those breastfed < 3 months. Compared to children breastfed > 6 months, those never breastfed were 1.8 times more likely to drink any SSB (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.03-3.22). No associations were found for other diet indicators, and associations observed in childhood were no longer found by adolescence. In this cohort, breastfeeding was associated with greater vegetable intake and the avoidance of SSB in childhood, but not in adolescence, nor were associations found for fruit intake or overall diet quality.

Tune out and turn in: the influence of television viewing and sleep on lipid profiles in children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Physical activity is beneficial to lipid profiles; however, the association between sedentary behavior and sleep and pediatric dyslipidemia remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether sedentary behavior or sleep predicted lipid profiles in children over a 2-year period. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Six hundered and thirty children from the QUALITY cohort, with at least one obese parent, were assessed prospectively at ages 8-10 and 10-12 years. Measures of sedentary behavior included self-reported TV viewing and computer/video game use. Seven-day accelerometry was used to derive sedentary behavior and sleep duration. Adiposity was assessed using DEXA scans. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls yielded estimates of carbohydrate and fat intake. Outcomes included fasting total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL-cholesterol. Multivariable models were adjusted for adiposity and diet. RESULTS: At both Visit 1 (median age 9.6 year) and Visit 2 (median age 11.6 year), children were of normal weight (55%), overweight (22%), or obese (22%). Every additional hour of TV viewing at Visit 1 was associated with a 7.0% triglyceride increase (95% CI: 3.5, 10.6; P < 0.01) and 2.6% HDL decrease (95% CI: -4.2, -0.9; P < 0.01) at Visit 2; findings remained significant after adjusting for adiposity and diet. Every additional hour of sleep at Visit 1 predicted a 4.8% LDL decrease (95% CI: -9.0, -0.5; P = 0.03) at Visit 2, after adjusting for fat intake; this association became nonsignificant once controlling for adiposity. CONCLUSIONS: Longer screen time during childhood appears to deteriorate lipid profiles in early adolescence, even after accounting for other major lifestyle habits. There is preliminary evidence of a deleterious effect of shorter sleep duration, which should be considered in further studies.

Adherence to Life-Style Recommendations and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Population-Based Study of Children Aged 10 to 11 Years.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and youth is high, and temporal increases have been paralleled by deteriorating life-styles. Poor diet quality, physical inactivity, poor sleep habits, and sedentary behaviors have all been associated with ADHD. However, no earlier prospective study has examined the independent and combined importance of meeting established life-style recommendations in childhood for ADHD in adolescence. We examined the associations of adherence to life-style recommendations with the incidence of ADHD and the utilization of health services associated with ADHD. METHODS: Life-style survey among 10- and 11-year-old students (N = 3436) was linked to administrative health data. Associations between adherence to nine established life-style recommendations with ADHD diagnosis and number of physician visits for ADHD until age 14 years were examined using Cox proportional hazard and negative binomial regression. RESULTS: Before age 14 years, 10.8% of students received an ADHD diagnosis. Meeting recommendations for vegetables and fruit, meat and alternatives, saturated fat, added sugar, and physical activity was associated with fewer ADHD diagnoses. Compared with children who met one to three recommendations, meeting seven to nine recommendations was associated with substantially lower incidence of ADHD and fewer physician visits related to ADHD (hazard ratio = 0.42 [95% confidence interval = 0.28-0.61]; rate ratio = 0.38 [95% confidence interval = 0.22-0.65]). CONCLUSIONS: Life-style recommendations exist to benefit development and physical health. Their promotion comes at no harm and may have benefits for ADHD. Experimental evidence is needed to clarify the potential bidirectional relationship between ADHD and adverse health behaviors.

A Nutrition Report Card on food environments for children and youth: 5 years of experience from Canada.

OBJECTIVE: In 2014, a Nutrition Report Card (NRC) was developed as a sustainable, low-cost framework to assess the healthfulness of children's food environments and highlight action to support healthy eating. We summarise our experiences in producing, disseminating, evaluating and refining an annual NRC in a Canadian province from 2015 to 2019. DESIGN: To produce the NRC, children's food environment indicator data are collected, analyzed and compiled for consensus grading by an Expert Working Group of researchers and practitioners. Knowledge translation activities are tailored annually to the needs of target audiences: researchers, practitioners, policymakers and the public. Evaluation of reach is conducted through diverse strategies, including tracking media coverage and website traffic. Assessment of impact on diets and health outcomes is planned. SETTING: Alberta, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: The grading process has facilitated refining the NRC to enhance its relevance and utility as a tool for its target audiences. Its public release consistently captures media interest and policymakers' attention. The importance of partnerships in revealing data sources and in strategising to enhance policy approaches to improve food environments is apparent. The NRC has benchmarked progress and stimulated dialogue regarding healthy food environments for children. CONCLUSIONS: The NRC may help to foster a supportive climate for improving the quality of children's food environments. As an engaging and accessible document, the NRC represents a key mechanism for collating data related to children's food environments and ensuring it reaches the audiences best positioned to use it. Efforts are underway to expand the NRC across Canada.

Alexander First Nations Parents' Perceptions of a School Nutrition Policy.

Purpose: A school nutrition policy (SNP) is one promising school-based health promotion strategy to improve the food environments of First Nations children. The aim of this study was to explore First Nations parents' perceptions of a SNP. Methods: A process evaluation of policy implementation was conducted using a mixed-methods design. Parents (n = 83) completed a 19-question survey to capture their perceptions of the policy. Survey responses informed questions in an 11-question semi-structured interview guide. Transcripts from interviews with parents (n = 10) were analyzed using content analysis to identify barriers and facilitators to policy implementation. Results: Parents were supportive of the SNP and the school's food programs, which they perceived as helping to address community concerns related to nutrition. However, some parents opposed the restriction of unhealthy foods at school celebrations and fundraisers. In addition, despite being aware of the SNP, parents were unable to demonstrate an understanding of the SNP content. Finally, parents struggled to provide their children with healthy foods to bring to school due to lack of affordable and accessible food in the community. Conclusions: Although SNPs may be well-received in First Nations communities, their implementation must be supported by parent involvement and consideration of wider socioeconomic conditions.

Publisher Correction: Pathways to eating in children and adolescents with obesity.

In the original version of this Article the following were listed as authors; however, they should have only been referred to in the Acknowledgments section and not listed in this way.

Pathways to eating in children and adolescents with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric obesity management remains generalised to dietary and exercise modifications with an underappreciation for the contributions of eating behaviours and appetitive traits in the development of obesity. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether treatment-seeking children and adolescents with obesity cluster into phenotypes based on known eating behaviours and appetitive traits ("eating correlates") and how socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associate with different phenotypes. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multi-centre questionnaire was administered between November 2015 and March 2017 examining correlates of eating in children and adolescents attending weight-management programmes in Canada. Latent profile analysis was used to cluster participants based on seven eating correlate scores obtained from questionnaires. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine phenotype differences on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression models assessed relative risk of specific characteristics associating with a disordered eating phenotype. RESULTS: Participants were 247 children and adolescents (45.3% male, mean BMI z-score = 3.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2) from six paediatric weight management centres in Canada. Seven eating correlates clustered into three distinct phenotypes: (1) loss of control eating, emotional eating, external eating, hyperphagia, impulsivity ("Mixed-Severe"; n = 42, 17%), (2) loss of control eating, emotional eating, external eating, hyperphagia ("Mixed-Moderate"; n = 138, 55.9%), and (3) impulsivity ("Impulsive"; n = 67; 27.1%). Social functioning scores and body esteem were significantly different across groups, with the Mixed-Severe participants having the poorest social functioning and lowest body esteem. Low body esteem indicated a greater risk of being in a multi-correlate group compared to the Impulsive group, while poor social function had a greater risk of clustering in the Mixed-Severe than Impulsive phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct eating phenotypes were found in treatment-seeking children and adolescents with obesity. Empirical evidence is needed, but these data suggest that tailored treatment approaches could be informed by these classifications to improve weight-management outcomes.

Predicting Enrollment in Multidisciplinary Clinical Care for Pediatric Weight Management.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the children who were referred, determine the proportion of referred children who enrolled, and examine factors associated with enrollment in multidisciplinary clinical care for pediatric weight management. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study included the population of children (2-17 years of age; body mass index of ≥85th percentile) referred to 1 of 3 hospital-based multidisciplinary weight management clinics in Alberta, Canada, from April 2013 to April 2016. Referral and enrollment data were obtained from Alberta Health Services databases. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the independent and combined effects of predictors of enrollment. RESULTS: Of the 2014 children (51.8% male; mean body mass index z-score: 3.42 ± 0.03) referred to multidisciplinary clinical care, 757 (37.6%) enrolled in care. Most referred children had severe obesity and were referred by physicians. Several factors independently predicted enrollment; however, in our most parsimonious multivariable model, only the time gap (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99; P = .03) between the attendance date of the orientation session and the booking date of initial appointment predicted enrollment for all children. Body mass index z-score (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-0.98; P = .03) and time gap (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85-0.99; P = .02) predicted enrollment in children with severe obesity exclusively. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than 40% of referred children enrolled in multidisciplinary clinical care. Reducing the duration of enrollment and providing additional support for treatment initiation to children with severe obesity may enhance treatment uptake for pediatric weight management.