Validation of the Childhood Family Mealtime Questionnaire in Mexican Adolescents with Obesity and Their Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern in Mexico, with far-reaching implications for the nation's healthcare system and economy. In light of this challenge, our study sought to validate the Childhood Family Mealtime Questionnaire (CFMQ) in Mexican adolescents living with obesity and their primary caregivers. METHODS: A sample of 56 adolescents ages 13 to 17 years and their primary caregivers from one pediatric obesity clinic participated in the study. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of the CFMQ's consistency, reliability, and construct validity among all participants. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's α, and the questionnaire's reliability was assessed through test-retest and intraclass correlation coefficients. Construct validity was assessed through an exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: Our findings confirmed strong internal consistency and reliability for both adolescents and caregivers. Construct validity was established through exploratory factor analysis, refining the questionnaire while preserving its original seven dimensions. This validation of the CFMQ highlights its applicability in evaluating family mealtime experiences in this context, providing valuable insights into the dynamics that influence adolescent nutrition and health. CONCLUSION: The CFMQ proves to be a reliable tool for assessing family mealtime experiences in Mexican adolescents living with obesity and their caregivers who seek care at third-level public hospitals.

Barriers in the Management of Obesity in Mexican Children and Adolescents through the COVID-19 Lockdown-Lessons Learned and Perspectives for the Future.

The COVID-19 lockdown caused health system issues, including the need for long-term care for patients with conditions like childhood obesity. We wanted to know how the lockdown had changed our patients' health and which variables had greater influence in preventing and managing overweight and obesity in kids and teens during and after the lockdown. METHODS: Our study comprised two phases. The initial descriptive cross-sectional phase included surveys of children who are overweight or obese and their parents/guardians from the Pediatric Obesity Clinic at the Child Welfare Unit (UBI, acronym in Spanish) in the Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga" (n = 129). The participants were studied to explore changes in lifestyle, physical activity, sleep patterns, eating behaviors, food consumption, anxiety, and depression. In the second phase, the biochemical, body composition, and anthropometric parameters of 29 pre-COVID-19 patients were compared before and after the lockdown. RESULTS: The survey showed more moderate anxiety and depression, alterations in sleep, physical inactivity, and an increase in the consumption of animal products, fruits, cereals, tubers, sugary drinks, and ultra-processed food. In the study's comparative phase, we observed a substantial increase in BMI z-score (p = 0.01), waist circumference (p < 0.001), fat mass (p < 0.001), percentage of adiposity (p = 0.002), and basal glucose (p = 0.047) and a drop in lean mass (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic led to a loss of routines and socioeconomic changes that made it difficult to address weight and obesity in young people. The results show that managing obesity in our patients involves considering both lifestyle and the social environment. This encourages us to consider a comprehensive and personalized approach.