Waist-to-height ratio associated cardiometabolic risk phenotype in children with overweight/obesity.

BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight/obesity has been associated with an elevated risk of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disorders. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) may be a simple screening tool to quickly identify children at elevated risk for cardiometabolic disorders. The primary objective of the present study was to create sex-specific tertile cut points of WHtR and assess its association with Insulin resistance and elevated liver enzyme concentrations in children, factors using cross-sectional data from the randomized, controlled Family Weight Management Study. METHODS: Baseline data from 360 children (7-12 years, mean Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile for age and sex) were used to calculate WHtR tertiles by sex, male: ≤ 0.55 (T1), > 0.55- ≤ 0.59 (T2), > 0.59 (T3); female: ≤ 0.56 (T1), > 0.56- ≤ 0.6 (T2), > 0.6 (T3). The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to categorize participants as insulin-resistant (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.6) and insulin-sensitive (HOMA-IR < 2.6). Liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were categorized as normal vs. elevated (AST of < 36.0 µkat/L or ≥ 36.0 µkat/L; ALT of < 30.0 µkat/L or ≥ 30.0 µkat/L; ALT > 26 µkat/L males, > 22 µkat/L females). We examined differences in baseline cardiometabolic risk factors by WHtR tertiles and sex-specific multivariable logistic regression models to predict HOMA-IR and elevation of liver enzymes. RESULTS: Study participants had a mean WHtR of 0.59 ([SD: 0.06]). Irrespective of sex, children in WHtR T3 had higher BMIz scores, blood pressure, triglycerides, 2-h glucose, fasting 2-h insulin, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations than those in T2 and T1. After adjusting for covariates, the odds of elevated HOMA-IR (> 2.6) were over five-fold higher among males in T3 versus T1 [OR, 95%CI: 5.83, 2.34-14.52] and T2 [OR, 95%CI: 4.81, 1.94-11.92] and females in T3 [OR, 95%CI: 5.06, 2.10-12.20] versus T1. The odds of elevated ALT values (≥ 30) were 2.9 [95%CI: 1.01-8.41] fold higher among females in T3 compared to T1. CONCLUSION: In public health settings, WHtR may be a practical screening tool in pediatric populations to identify children at risk of metabolic syndrome.

Embedding weight management into safety-net pediatric primary care: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Implementing evidence-based recommendations for treating pediatric overweight and obesity is challenging in low-resource settings. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of implementing the American Academy of Pediatrics overweight/obesity recommendations using a Standard Care approach alone or with the addition of an enhanced program in a safety-net pediatric primary care setting (located in Bronx, New York, United States). METHODS: In a 12-month trial, families of children (age 7-12 years; body mass index ≥85th American percentile for age and sex; 74% self-identified as Hispanic/Latino; n = 360) were randomly assigned to receive Standard Care Alone or Standard Care + Enhanced Program. An English/Spanish bilingual staff provided the Standard Care Alone consisting of quarterly semi-structured pediatrician visits targeting family-based behavioral changes. The Standard Care + Enhanced Program was enriched with eight Skill-Building Core and monthly Post-Core Support sessions. RESULTS: The mean body mass index Z-score declined in both arms (P < 0.01) with no significant difference between the Standard Care Alone (0.12 kg [SE: 0.03]) and Standard Care + Enhanced Program (0.15 kg [SE: 0.03]) arm (P = 0.15). Compared to the Standard Care Alone, the Standard Care + Enhanced Program resulted in significantly greater improvements in total cholesterol (P = 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.04), aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.02), and alanine transaminase (P = 0.03) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Safety-net primary care settings can provide efficacious pediatric weight management services. Targeted family-based behavioral counseling helps overweight/obese children achieve a modest body mass index Z-score improvement. A more intensive lifestyle intervention program may improve some metabolic parameters. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00851201 . Registered 23 February 2009.

Spillover Effects of a Family-Based Childhood Weight-Management Intervention on Parental Nutrient Biomarkers and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Parental involvement has been shown to favorably affect childhood weight-management interventions, but whether these interventions influence parental diet and cardiometabolic health outcomes is unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate whether a 1-y family-based childhood weight-management intervention altered parental nutrient biomarker concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). METHODS: Secondary analysis from a randomized-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial (NCT00851201). Families were recruited from a largely Hispanic population and assigned to either standard care (SC; American Academy of Pediatrics overweight/obesity recommendations) or SC + enhanced program (SC+EP; targeted diet/physical activity strategies, skill building, and monthly support sessions). Nutrient biomarkers (plasma carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins, RBC fatty acid profiles) and CMRFs (BMI, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers, adipokines) were measured in archived samples collected from parents of participating children at baseline and end of the 1-y intervention. RESULTS: Parents in both groups (SC = 106 and SC+EP = 99) had significant reductions in trans fatty acid (-14%) and increases in MUFA (2%), PUFA n-6 (É·-6) (2%), PUFA n-3 (7%), and ß-carotene (20%) concentrations, indicative of lower partially hydrogenated fat and higher vegetable oil, fish, and fruit/vegetable intake, respectively. Significant reductions in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP; -21%) TNF-α (-19%), IL-6 (-19%), and triglycerides (-6%) were also observed in both groups. An additional significant improvement in serum insulin concentrations (-6%) was observed in the SC+EP parents. However, no major reductions in BMI or blood pressure and significant unfavorable trajectories in LDL-cholesterol and endothelial dysfunction markers [P-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM), thrombomodulin] were observed. Higher carotenoid, MUFA, and PUFA (n-6 and n-3) and lower SFA and trans fatty acid concentrations were associated with improvements in circulating glucose and lipid measures, inflammatory markers, and adipokines. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of a family-based childhood weight-management intervention can spill over to parents, resulting in apparent healthier dietary shifts that are associated with modest improvements in some CMRFs.

Effect of a Family-Based Intervention on Nutrient Biomarkers, Desaturase Enzyme Activities, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children with Overweight and Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Developing dietary strategies to prevent excess weight gain during childhood is critical to stem the current obesity epidemic and associated adverse cardiometabolic consequences. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess how participation in a family-based weight-management intervention affected nutrient biomarkers and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in children (7-12 y old; n = 321) with baseline BMI z score (BMIz) ≥85th percentile. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis from a randomized-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial. Families of children, recruited from a largely Hispanic population, were assigned to Standard Care (SC; American Academy of Pediatrics overweight/obesity recommendations), or SC + Enhanced Program (SC + EP; 8 skill-building cores, monthly support sessions, targeted diet/physical activity strategies). Nutrient biomarkers (plasma carotenoids, fat-soluble vitamins, RBC fatty acid profiles, desaturase indexes) and CMRFs were measured in archived blood samples collected at baseline and the end of the 1-y intervention. RESULTS: Children in both groups had significantly lower trans fatty acid and higher pentadecylic acid (15:0), PUFA n-3, and ß-carotene concentrations, indicative of decreased hydrogenated fat and increased dairy, vegetable oil, fish, and fruit/vegetable intake, respectively. Similar changes were seen in de novo lipogenesis and desaturase indexes, as well as CMRFs (BMIz, lipid profile, inflammation, adipokines, liver enzymes) in both groups. Using multiple logistic regression, increase in carotenoids and decrease in endogenously synthesized SFA, MUFA, PUFA n-6, and desaturase indexes were associated with improvements in BMIz, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose metabolism, inflammatory biomarkers, adipokines, and liver enzymes. Trans fatty acids were associated with improvements in BMIz, glucose metabolism, and leptin, with less favorable effects on inflammatory markers and adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: Providing targeted family-based behavioral counseling, as part of SC, can help overweight/obese children adopt healthier eating patterns that are associated with modest improvements in BMIz and several CMRFs. Limited additional benefit was observed with SC + EP. These results provide critical data to design subsequent interventions to increase the impact of family-based obesity prevention programs.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00851201.

Home Environment Factors and Health Behaviors of Low-income, Overweight, and Obese Youth.

Objectives: Home environment may influence children's health behaviors associated with obesity. In this study, we examined home environment factors associated with diet and physical activity behaviors of overweight or obese youth. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from child and parent/caregiver dyads enrolled in an urban family weight management program. Multivariable logistic regression examined how home environment (parenting practices, family meal habits, and home availability of fruits/vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), screen media, and physical activity resources) are related to children's intake of fruit, vegetables, and SSBs, and moderate-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time (ST) after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Children were more likely to consume fruit if their families frequently ate meals together and infrequently watched TV during meals, and more likely to consume vegetables with high fruit/vegetable availability and low SSB availability. Children were more likely to engage in ST if parents practiced monitoring and frequently watched TV during meals. Conclusions: Overweight or obese children appear to have healthier habits if their families eat meals together without watching TV and if healthy food choices are available in the home. Encouraging parents to focus these practices may promote healthier body weight in children.

The Role of Parenting Practices in the Home Environment among Underserved Youth.

BACKGROUND: The home environment, which includes parenting practices, is an important setting in which children develop their health behaviors. We examined the role of parenting practices in the home environment among underserved youth. METHODS: We examined baseline data of a family-focused pediatric obesity intervention. Parenting practices (monitoring, discipline, limit setting of soda/snacks [SS] and screen media [SM], pressure to eat, and reinforcement) and availability of fruits/vegetables (FV) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), family meals, television (TV) watching during meals, TVs in the home, owning active video games/sports equipment, and household food security were assessed in 301 parent/caregivers of overweight/obese children (ages 7-12 years; BMI≥85th percentile). Associations were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Parents/caregivers (ages 22-67 years) were largely Hispanic/Latino (74.1%), female (92.4%), and reported high levels of limit setting SS and low levels of pressure to eat. Parent age, gender, country of birth, and years living in the United States accounted for differences among several parenting practices. Adjusted logistic regression models identified several statistically significant associations, including: Monitoring was positively associated with availability FV (odds ratio [OR]=2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25, 3.82); limit setting SS was inversely associated with availability of SSBs (OR=0.40; 95% CI, 0.21, 0.75); and limit setting SM was inversely associated with TV viewing during family meals (OR=0.51; 95% CI, 0.31, 0.85). Nearly 40% of our population was food insecure, and food insecurity was positively associated with pressure to eat (OR=1.77; 95% CI, 1.01, 3.15). CONCLUSIONS: Parenting practices play an important role in the home environment, and longitudinal studies are needed to examine these associations in the context of family-focused pediatric obesity interventions.

Differences in Cardiometabolic Risk between Insulin-Sensitive and Insulin-Resistant Overweight and Obese Children.

BACKGROUND: It is known that 15-30% overweight/obese adults do not suffer cardiometabolic consequences. There is limited literature examining factors that can be used to assess cardiometabolic health in overweight/obese children. If such factors can be identified, they would aid in differentiating those most in need for aggressive management. METHODS: Baseline data from 7- to 12-year-old, overweight, and obese children enrolled in a weight management program at an urban hospital were analyzed. Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) <2.6 was used to define insulin-sensitive and HOMA-IR ≥2.6 was used to defined insulin-resistant participants. Demographics, physical activity measures, and cardiometabolic risk factors were compared between the two phenotypes. Odds ratios (ORs) examining the association between intermediate endpoints (metabolic syndrome [MetS], nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], systemic inflammation, and microalbuminuria) and the two metabolic phenotypes were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 362 overweight/obese participants, 157 (43.5%) were insulin sensitive and 204 (56.5%) were insulin resistant. Compared to the insulin-sensitive group, the insulin-resistant group was older (8.6±1.6 vs. 9.9±1.7; p<0.001) and had a higher BMI z-score (1.89±0.42 vs. 2.04±0.42; p=0.001). After multivariable adjustment, compared to the insulin-sensitive group, the insulin-resistant group had higher odds of having MetS (OR, 5.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72, 17.35; p=0.004) and NAFLD (OR, 8.66; 95% CI, 2.48, 30.31; p=0.001), but not systemic inflammation (OR, 1.06; 95% CI: 0.56, 2.03; p=0.86) or microalbuminuria (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 0.49, 6.04; p=0.403). CONCLUSIONS: Using a HOMA-IR value of ≥2.6, clinical providers can identify prepubertal and early pubertal children most at risk. Focusing limited resources on aggressive weight interventions may lead to improvement in cardiometabolic health.