Does the FTO gene interact with the socioeconomic status on the obesity development among young European children? Results from the IDEFICS study.

BACKGROUND: Various twin studies revealed that the influence of genetic factors on psychological diseases or behaviour is more expressed in socioeconomically advantaged environments. Other studies predominantly show an inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and childhood obesity in Western developed countries. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene interacts with the SES on childhood obesity in a subsample (N = 4406) of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) cohort. METHODS: A structural equation model (SEM) is applied with the latent constructs obesity, dietary intakes, physical activity and fitness habits, and parental SES to estimate the main effects of the latter three variables and a FTO polymorphism on childhood obesity. Further, a multiple group SEM is used to explore whether an interaction effect exists between the single nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 within the FTO gene and SES. RESULTS: Significant main effects are shown for physical activity and fitness (standardised [betacrc ](s) = -0.113), SES ([betacrc ](s) = -0.057) and the FTO homozygous AA risk genotype ([betacrc ](s) = -0.177). The explained variance of obesity is ~9%. According to the multiple group approach of SEM, we see an interaction between SES and FTO with respect to their effect on childhood obesity (Δχ(2) = 7.3, df = 2, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Children carrying the protective FTO genotype TT seem to be more protected by a favourable social environment regarding the development of obesity than children carrying the AT or AA genotype.

Overweight in singletons compared to children with siblings: the IDEFICS study.

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of overweight in only children to those with siblings and to explore potential behavioral mediating factors. This study relies upon cross-sectional data collected at survey centers in eight European countries participating in Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS (IDEFICS). The present analysis is based on measured anthropometry and parent or guardian-reported socio-demographic characteristics. Subjects include 12 720 children aged 2-9 years for whom number of siblings was known. Singletons were more likely (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.34-1.72) to be overweight than their peers with siblings when controlling for factors related to childhood overweight, including survey country, parental education, parental weight, maternal age, child's age, birth weight and gender. The three southernmost countries have over threefold risk of overweight, dominated by Italy, compared with the north-central countries, which is not explained by the prevalence of singleton children. The excess risk of overweight among children without siblings was robustly observed even when considering behavioral mediating factors (playtime, screen time per day, dietary propensities for sugar or fat, parental attitudes towards food rewards and television in the child's bedroom). Among singletons aged 6-9 years, the excess risk of overweight was 1.70 (95% CI: 1.44-2.01) compared with 1.32 (95% CI: 1.10-1.60) in younger singletons.

Instruments for analysing the influence of advertising on children's food choices.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this report was to present methodological aspects of assessing the effects of advertising on children's food choices and preferences. METHODS: Two instruments have been used: first, a choice experiment on children's food knowledge and preferences, and second, a questionnaire on children's knowledge about and attitudes towards advertising. The choice experiment employed 10 matched pairs of food items, each represented in two magazines, one that tested knowledge and the other food preferences. The children's questionnaire contained four dimensions that tested children's credibility and suspiciousness of, as well as entertainment by, advertising. Although based on already developed tools, both instruments were modified to suit the young target group and ensure cross-cultural comparability. The questionnaire was validated via Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis. SUBJECTS: A total of 393 children aged 5-11 years from seven European countries participated in the study. RESULTS: Both instruments proved to be valid and reliable to analyse the food knowledge and preferences of children, as well as knowledge about and attitudes towards advertising. While 92.2% of the children predominantly recognised the healthier food, only 33.2% also preferred the healthier food. The Cronbach's alpha values for the dimensions were 0.470 for credibility, 0.409 for suspiciousness and 0.295 for entertainment factor. The gathered data revealed that children are rather critical and suspicious of advertising and only moderately entertained. CONCLUSION: Both instruments are applicable for the 5- to 11-year-old age group in different European countries. Descriptive results indicate additional insights into the effects of advertising on children's food knowledge, preferences and food choice.

[The impact of consumer behavior on the development of overweight children. An overview]. / Einfluss des Konsumverhaltens auf die Entwicklung von Ubergewicht bei Kindern. Ein Uberblick.

The goal of this article is to provide an overview of internal and external factors influencing childhood obesity. Overweight and obese children are more likely to become overweight and obese adults with the well-known negative psychological, social, and economic consequences. Politics and research are searching for efficient prevention and intervention strategies. Consumer research helps to better understand the underlying mechanisms and feedback loops. Increasingly, children's complex and multilayered "obesogenic" environment is held responsible for the increasing number of overweight children. Based on an ecological model, the paper explores the scientific evidence of these environmental factors on an individual, an interpersonal (i.e., family, peers), as well as on a community level (i.e., the physical environment). Furthermore, it looks at societal factors, such as media influence, advertising, product offers, and consumer policies. It concludes that access, affordability, and availability of healthy diets and lifestyles are crucial factors to develop and sustain healthy lifestyles. Implications for consumer and corporate policy are drawn.