Factors Correlated with Body Image Dissatisfaction in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: The adverse effects of continuous use of antiretroviral therapy can generate dissatisfaction with body image in children and adolescents diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (HIV) infection. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence and factors associated with body image dissatisfaction (BI) in children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV infection; (2) This is a cross-sectional study with 60 children and adolescents (32 females; 28 males) aged 8-15 years diagnosed with HIV, carried out in Florianópolis, Brazil. Information on BI was collected through a silhouette scale, as well as sociodemographic information, biological maturation, lifestyle, self-esteem, adherence to antiretroviral treatment and aspects of HIV infection; (3) Results: The results indicated that 53.13% of female patients and 53.57% of male patients were dissatisfied with their BI. Lower subscapular skinfold and higher calf skinfold values were associated with BI dissatisfaction in females. Pre-pubertal maturation stage, higher economic level, lower concentrations of CD4+ lymphocytes, lower viral load, lower level of physical activity and longer time in front of the computer and/or video game were associated with BI dissatisfaction in males; (4) Conclusions: BI dissatisfaction was observed in more than half of patients and morphological, economic, behavioral and HIV infection aspects were associated with BI dissatisfaction.

Anthropometric measures associated with fat mass estimation in children and adolescents with HIV.

To verify the association between anthropometric indicators and body fat percentage estimated by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) in children and adolescents diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This cross-sectional study was carried out with 62 children and adolescents with HIV (aged 8 to 15 years). Body fat percentage was estimated by DXA and ADP. Anthropometric indicators were skinfolds (abdominal, triceps, subscapular, calf), perimeter relaxed arm (PRA), waist circumference (WC), perimeter neck, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio, conicity index, and body adiposity index. Linear regressions were performed with 5% significance level. In boys (adjusted R2 (R2adj) = 0.38 to R2adj = 0.67) and girls (R2adj = 0.41 to R2adj = 0.57), all anthropometric indicators were associated with body fat percentage estimated by DXA. For boys, skinfolds were associated with body fat percentage estimated by ADP (R2adj = 0.18 to R2adj = 0.35). In girls, skinfolds (R2adj = 0.27 to R2adj = 0.44, BMI (R2adj = 0.31), PRA (R2adj = 0.36), and WC (R2adj = 0.26) were associated to body fat percentage by ADP. Abdominal skinfold was the indicator that most explained the variation in body fat percentage measured by DXA and ADP in both sexes. Anthropometric indicators are strongly associated with body fat, measured by reference methods, and can assist health professionals in monitoring the health of children and adolescents with HIV.

Sex-specific genetic effects in physical activity: results from a quantitative genetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to present a model to estimate sex-specific genetic effects on physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour (SB) using three generation families. METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 families covering three generations from Portugal. PA and SB were assessed via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF). Sex-specific effects were assessed by genotype-by-sex interaction (GSI) models and sex-specific heritabilities. GSI effects and heterogeneity were tested in the residual environmental variance. SPSS 17 and SOLAR v. 4.1 were used in all computations. RESULTS: The genetic component for PA and SB domains varied from low to moderate (11% to 46%), when analyzing both genders combined. We found GSI effects for vigorous PA (p = 0.02) and time spent watching television (WT) (p < 0.001) that showed significantly higher additive genetic variance estimates in males. The heterogeneity in the residual environmental variance was significant for moderate PA (p = 0.02), vigorous PA (p = 0.006) and total PA (p = 0.001). Sex-specific heritability estimates were significantly higher in males only for WT, with a male-to-female difference in heritability of 42.5 (95% confidence interval: 6.4, 70.4). CONCLUSIONS: Low to moderate genetic effects on PA and SB traits were found. Results from the GSI model show that there are sex-specific effects in two phenotypes, VPA and WT with a stronger genetic influence in males.

Motor coordination, activity, and fitness at 6 years of age relative to activity and fitness at 10 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Health benefits of physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) are reasonably well established, but tracking studies of PA and PF in childhood have not ordinarily considered the role of motor coordination. OBJECTIVES: To compare the growth status, gross motor coordination (GMC), PA, and PF characteristics of children at 6 years of age relative to aerobic fitness (fit, unfit) and PA (active, sedentary) at 10 years. METHODS: 285 primary school children (142 girls, 143 boys) resident on the 4 main Azorean islands, Portugal, were measured annually (in the fall) from 6 to 10 years. ANOVA and t tests were computed with SPSS 17. RESULTS: Children with either high aerobic fitness or with high level of PA at 10 years of age tended to have a more favorable profile at 6 years compared with those with low fitness or low activity, respectively. Children who were both fit and active at 10 years of age had a more favorable activity and fitness profile and had better GMC at 6 years compared with children who were unfit and sedentary. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the need to consider not only PA, but also PF and GMC in health promotion through the primary school years.

Clustering of body composition, blood pressure and physical activity in Portuguese families.

AIM: The purposes of this study were: (i) to identify familial resemblances in body fat, blood pressure (BP) and total physical activity (TPA); (ii) to estimate the magnitude of their genetic and environmental influences; and (iii) to investigate shared familial aggregation among these phenotypes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 260 nuclear families from Portugal. Body fat was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. BP was measured by an oscillometric device. TPA was estimated by the Baecke questionnaire. Familial correlation analyses were performed using Generalized Estimating Equations. Quantitative genetic modelling was used to estimate maximal heritability, genetic and environmental correlations. RESULTS: Familial intra-trait correlations ranged from 0.15-0.38. Genetic and common environmental factors explained from 30%--44% of fat mass depots and BP and 24% of TPA. Genetic correlations were significant between BP and the fat mass traits (p < 0.05). Environmental correlations were statistically significant between diastolic BP and total body fat, trunk fat and arm fat (p < 0.05) and TPA and other phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest familial resemblance in the variation of body fat, BP and TPA, showing partial pleiotropic effects in the variation in body fat phenotypes and BP. TPA only shares common environmental influences with BP and body fat traits.