Study protocol: effects of the THAO-child health intervention program on the prevention of childhood obesity - the POIBC study.

BACKGROUND: The speeding increase and the high prevalence of childhood obesity is a serious problem for Public Health. Community Based Interventions has been developed to combat against the childhood obesity epidemic. However little is known on the efficacy of these programs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to determine the effect of community based intervention on changes in lifestyle and surrogate measures of adiposity. METHODS/DESIGN: Parallel intervention study including two thousand 2249 children aged 8 to 10 years ( 4th and 5th grade of elementary school) from 4 Spanish towns. The THAO-Child Health Program, a community based intervention, were implemented in 2 towns. Body weight, height, and waist circumferences were measured. Children recorded their dietary intake on a computer-based 24h recall. All children also completed validated computer based questionnaires to estimate physical activity, diet quality, eating behaviors, and quality of life and sleep. Additionally, parental diet quality and physical activity were assessed by validated questionnaires. DISCUSSION: This study will provide insight in the efficacy of the THAO-Child Health Program to promote a healthy lifestyle. Additionally it will evaluate if lifestyle changes are accompanied by favorable weight management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial Registration Number ISRCTN68403446.

Tobacco smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, and asthma and wheezing in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To analyse the association between tobacco smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) and reports of wheezing and asthma in a sample of schoolchildren. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to 1766 students (7th grade, aged 12-13 years) at 25 schools in Terrassa, Spain (2006). We determined the prevalence of active smoking, exposure to SHS and reports of wheezing and asthma, and their association by means of prevalence odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: 97.5% of children were nonsmokers, 1.5% were experimental smokers and 1% were regular smokers. 41.1% of children reported exposure to SHS at home, 40.0% at school, 53.9% in their leisure time and 33.2% while using private or public transportation. Wheezing was reported by 9.2% of children, and 9.2% reported asthma. A significant association was found between smoking tobacco and wheezing: OR in experimental smokers = 3.0 (95% CI 1.2-7.7), and OR in active smokers = 4.2 (95% CI 1.4-12.5). Exposure to SHS while using transportation was associated with wheezing (OR = 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-2.0). Tobacco smoking and exposure to SHS were not associated with asthma. CONCLUSION: Active and experimental smokers, and those who reported exposure to SHS while using public or private transportation, had higher likelihood of reporting wheezing. No association between active or passive smoking and asthma was observed.

Secondhand smoke in hospitals of Catalonia (Spain) before and after a comprehensive ban on smoking at the national level.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in secondhand smoke exposure by means of airborne nicotine concentrations in public hospitals of Catalonia (Spain) before and after a comprehensive national smoking ban. METHODS: We monitored vapor-phase nicotine concentrations in 44 public hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) before the smoking ban (September-December 2005) and one year after (September-December 2006). We installed 5-7 sampling devices per hospital for 7 days in different places (228 pairs of samples), and 198 pairs of samples were available for the final analysis. RESULTS: The median nicotine concentration declined from 0.23 microg/m(3) (interquartile range: 0.13-0.63) before the law to 0.10 microg/m(3) (interquartile range: 0.02-0.19) after the law (% decline=56.5, p<0.01). We observed significant reductions in the median nicotine concentrations in all hospital locations, although secondhand smoke exposure was still present in some places (main hospital entrance, emergency department waiting rooms, fire escapes, and cafeterias). CONCLUSIONS: Secondhand smoke in hospitals has decreased after the ban. Assessment of airborne nicotine concentrations appears to be an objective and feasible system to monitor and reinforce the compliance of smoke-free legislations in this setting.