Changes in body mass index-z scores in 3-year-old children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 2-year retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Given how dramatically the pandemic has affected food systems, the economy, and the daily lives of children over the past 2 years, the potential impact of the pandemic on childhood obesity requires careful investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in body mass index z-score in 3-year-old children and the inducing factors during the pandemic period. METHODS: The body mass index z-scores of all children participating in the study were calculated at the beginning of the pandemic (3-year-old body mass index z-score) and in its second year (5-year-old body mass index z-score). RESULTS: This study, conducted during the 2-year pandemic period, found a strong association between the body mass index z-scores of children aged 3 and 5 years. The mean body mass index z-score increased between these time points for both boys and girls (p=0.013; p=0.034). In two different linear regression models created for the change in body mass index z score, gestational weight gain was found to be related. The regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals) and corresponding p-values were 0.580 (0.217-0.944) and p=0.002 for model 1, whereas they were 0.585 (0.217-0.961) and p=0.002 for model 2. CONCLUSION: This study showed an increase in body mass index z-scores in early childhood period during the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent this increase, new strategies should be developed by considering the changes brought by the pandemic period.

Changes in body mass index-z scores in 3-year-old children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 2-year retrospective cohort study

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Given how dramatically the pandemic has affected food systems, the economy, and the daily lives of children over the past 2 years, the potential impact of the pandemic on childhood obesity requires careful investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in body mass index z-score in 3-year-old children and the inducing factors during the pandemic period. METHODS: The body mass index z-scores of all children participating in the study were calculated at the beginning of the pandemic (3-year-old body mass index z-score) and in its second year (5-year-old body mass index z-score). RESULTS: This study, conducted during the 2-year pandemic period, found a strong association between the body mass index z-scores of children aged 3 and 5 years. The mean body mass index z-score increased between these time points for both boys and girls (p=0.013; p=0.034). In two different linear regression models created for the change in body mass index z score, gestational weight gain was found to be related. The regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals) and corresponding p-values were 0.580 (0.217-0.944) and p=0.002 for model 1, whereas they were 0.585 (0.217-0.961) and p=0.002 for model 2. CONCLUSION: This study showed an increase in body mass index z-scores in early childhood period during the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent this increase, new strategies should be developed by considering the changes brought by the pandemic period.

Maternal Gestational Diabetes and Early Childhood Obesity: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Recently, childhood obesity has become one of the most serious public health problems in the world. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered a risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity. The study aimed at investigating the relationship between maternal GDM and childhood obesity in children aged from 1 to 3 years. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 237 GDM and 296 non-GDM mothers and their offspring who were followed up by Family Medicine Clinics in Rize province of Turkey were assessed. World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were used for the diagnosis of maternal GDM. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were calculated for the association of gestational diabetes and childhood overweight/obesity. Gender and age-specific percentile tables were used for the categorization of BMI. Results: Statistical analysis carried out with adjustment for potential confounders (mother's age, educational status, smoking status, BMI, gestational weight gain, children's gender, and gestational birth weight) provided results with an odds ratio of 2.99; 95% CI 1.14-7.94 and 7.77; 95% CI 1.92-31.37 for the impact of gestational diabetes on childhood overweight and obesity at 2 and 3 years of age, respectively. Conclusions: This study found evidence for maternal GDM to cause the risk of early childhood obesity. Therefore, proper intervention strategies are required for this high-risk population.

Reversible immobilization of invertase on Cu-chelated polyvinylimidazole-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles.

Polyvinylimidazole (PVI)-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles (PVIgMNP) were prepared by grafting of telomere of PVI on the iron oxide nanoparticles. Different metal ions (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cr(2+), Ni(2+)) ions were chelated on polyvinylimidazole-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles, and then the metal-chelated magnetic particles were used in the adsorption of invertase. The maximum invertase immobilization capacity of the PVIgMNP-Cu(2+) beads was observed to be 142.856 mg/g (invertase/PVIgMNP) at pH 5.0. The values of the maximum reaction rate (V max) and Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) were determined for the free and immobilized enzymes. The enzyme adsorption-desorption studies, pH effect on the adsorption efficiency, affinity of different metal ions, the kinetic parameters and storage stability of free and immobilized enzymes were evaluated.