Timing, velocity, and magnitude of pubertal changes in body composition: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Pubertal changes in body composition significantly influence future health, with links to various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the weight changes, fat-free mass (FFM), and body fat mass (BFM) during pubertal growth in Korean children and adolescents. METHODS: We utilized mixed longitudinal data, employing bioelectrical impedance analysis for 4641 height measurements (2204 boys, 2437 girls) from 361 individuals (170 boys, 191 girls) aged 7-18 years. Utilizing the Superimposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) model, a shape-invariant growth curve model, reference curves for height, weight, and body composition change velocities were estimated. RESULTS: Korean boys experience peak weight velocity (PWV) at an average age of 12.41 years, with a rate of 8.19 kg/year, peak fat-free mass velocity (PFFV) at 12.70 years (7.60 kg/year), and peak body fat mass velocity (PBFV) at 9.69 years (2.67 kg/year). Korean girls show PWV at 11.28 years (6.33 kg/year), PFFV at 11.13 years (4.86 kg/year), and PBFV at 12.33 years (2.72 kg/year). Positive correlations exist among the ages of peak height velocity, PWV, PFFV, and PBFV. CONCLUSIONS: This research represents the groundbreaking application of the SITAR model in analyzing changes in body composition during pubertal growth in Korean children and adolescents. IMPACT: This study utilized the SITAR model to analyze longitudinal changes in the body composition of the general pediatric population in Korea across pre- and post-pubertal stages, addressing overlooked aspects in cross-sectional studies. Examining growth parameters, including size (mean mass), tempo (timing), and velocity (compression and expansion) for each body component, revealed positive correlations among ages at peak velocities for various body composition parameters. This study can be employed for further investigations that compare the tempo, size, and velocity of various body composition parameters in pediatric disease cohorts and the general population.

Relationship between short stature at 3 years old and height, weight, and body mass index changes for 6 years after birth: a retrospective, nationwide, population-based study of children born 2011-2014 in Korea.

PURPOSE: Height at 3 years of age, when catch-up growth based on birth history is completed, is considered a major prognostic factor for predicting short stature, underweight, and growth faltering. However, too few large-scale studies have followed and analyzed height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) changes in children whose stature was short at 3 years of age. This study followed and compared the growth parameters (height, weight, and BMI) of children with short stature at 3 years of age and children with nonshort stature at 3 years of age for 6 years after birth using nationwide, population-based data. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed physical measurement data from the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children for people born in 2011-2014 in Korea and followed to 2020. The data were provided by the National Health Insurance Service's customized data service. Growth parameters were compared using chi-square tests, Student t-tests, analyses of variance, and linear regressions. RESULTS: Among 210,902 enrolled participants, 759 (0.4%) and 210,143 (99.6%) were in the short stature at 3 years group and the nonshort stature at 3 years group, respectively. In both sexes, height, weight, and BMI for 6 years after birth were significantly higher in the nonshort stature at 3 years group than in the short stature at 3 years group (P<0.0001). The BMI rebound was observed later than the standard period in the short stature at 3 years group. CONCLUSION: Early intervention and close follow-up are necessary to prevent persistent short stature and growth faltering in children with short stature at 3 years of age.

Introduction of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Korea and Their Role During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on the Ministry of Education Policy.

This study aimed to discuss mental health services for children and adolescents that are being implemented as initiatives of the Korean government and to review the functions and roles of these projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three government departments are in charge of providing mental health services for children and adolescents: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Ministry of Education has implemented several policies to facilitate the early detection of mental health issues among school students (from preventive interventions to selective interventions for high-risk students). The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family additionally serves out-of-school children and adolescents by facilitating early identification of adolescents in crises and providing temporary protection or emergency assistance (as required) through the Community Youth Safety-Net Project. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates relevant mental health agencies for individuals of all ages including children and adolescents. Any high-risk students who have been screened through the projects of the Ministry of Education are supported through referrals to the following institutions for appropriate treatment of their symptoms: specialized hospitals, the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the National Youth Healing Center, the Mental Health Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Suicide Prevention Center, and the Child Welfare Center. To assist students who are facing any psychological difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education has established a psychiatric support group for providing emergency mental health care; furthermore, schools are promoting psychological surveillance (e.g., provision of non-face-to-face counseling services that are centered around the Wee Center). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare have provided varied mental health support services in order to address the challenges faced by children and adolescents during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the mental health services operated by each ministry do show some limitations because their service provision system is insufficiently collaborative. The present study discussed the positive effects of each initiative as well as its limitations; furthermore, it suggested improvements for facilitating the healthy development of children and adolescents' mental health.

Risk of Dental Discoloration and Enamel Dysplasia in Children Exposed to Tetracycline and Its Derivatives.

PURPOSE: To examine the risk of dental abnormalities after exposure to tetracycline and its derivatives (TCs) in Korean children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children aged 0-17 years with a claim for prescriptions of TCs between 2002 and 2015 were identified from the Sample Research Database 2.0 of the National Health Insurance Service. Children not exposed to TCs were selected as the control group by matching sex and age (1:4). Cumulative incidence rate and relative risk of dental abnormalities after TCs exposure were investigated. RESULTS: The 10-year cumulative incidence rate in the 0-12 years group was 3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.3-3.9]. The 10-year cumulative incidence rates were 7.0%, 1.9%, and 1.6% in the 0-7, 8-12, and 13-17 years age groups (95% CI: 4.7-9.3, 1.2-2.6, and 1.3-1.9, respectively). There was no significant difference in the risk of dental abnormalities according to TC exposure among the age groups of 0-7 years [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=1.0], 8-12 years (aHR=1.1), and 13-17 years (aHR=1.2). CONCLUSION: Short-term exposure to TCs does not appear to increase the risk of dental abnormalities in children aged 0-7 and 0-12 years. Restrictions on the use of TCs in children aged 8-12 years, in some countries, may warrant consideration.