Report on childhood obesity in China (9): sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and obesity as well as obesity-related cardiometabolic disorders among children in China. METHODS: A total of 6974 (boys 3558, girls 3412) children aged 6-13 years participated in the study. Each participant's height, weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured. The type of beverage consumption was determined using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: SSBs were consumed regularly by 46.1% of the children. The prevalence [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence internal (CI)] of obesity was 7.6% [as the reference group (ref.)], 10.1% [1.36(1.07, 1.74)], and 11.6% [1.46(1.21, 1.75)], among children who regularly drank milk, other beverages and SSBs, respectively. Regularly drinking SSBs elevated the likelihood of abdominal obesity [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI): 1.36 (1.17, 1.59)]. The prevalence [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)] of obesity among children who regularly drank sports/caloric beverages, carbonated beverages, sweet tea, and plant protein beverages was 16.8% [2.00(1.31, 3.07)], 12.7% [1.52(1.23, 1.88)], 11.5% [1.52(1.18, 1.95)], and 10.4% [1.41(1.03, 1.94)], respectively, which was higher than that of regular milk drinkers [7.6 % (ref.)]. The prevalence [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)] of abdominal obesity among children who regularly drank sweet tea, fruit/vegetable juices, and carbonated beverages was 17.7% [1.55(1.26, 1.90)], 16.2% [1.36(1.09, 1.70)], and 15.3% [1.24(1.03, 1.50)], respectively, which was much higher than that of regular milk drinkers [12.8% (ref.)]. CONCLUSIONS: Regular SSB consumption was positively related to obesity and abdominal obesity. This relationship should be investigated further using a longitudinal study design.

Report on childhood obesity in China (10): association of sleep duration with obesity.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association of sleep duration with obesity among children in urban areas of China. METHODS: A total of 6 576 children (3 293 boys and 3 283 girls) aged 7-11 years were randomly selected from 36 primary schools in 6 metropolitan cities in China. A 7-day Physical Activity Recall was used to assess the sleep duration and physical activity level. The height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and percentage of body fat (%BF, as determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis technique) were measured by following the standardized operation procedures. The information on demography, lifestyle and eating habits was collected with a self-administered questionnaire from participants and their parents. RESULTS: The average sleep duration per night in the children was 9.7 h with the decreasing trends along with the increase of age (P < 0.05). The sleep duration was negatively associated with body mass index (BMI) and WC in both boys and girls after adjustment for confounders (beta value -0.23 and -0.82 for boys, -0.24 and -0.91 for girls, respectively, P < 0.01). However, no significant association of sleep duration with %BF was found. Children who slept less than 9.0 h per night had a higher risk for overweight and obesity (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.64) and abdominal obesity (OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.83) as compared with those who slept for 10.0-10.9 h. CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep duration is associated with obesity. It is important to ensure adequate sleep duration of children and foster their healthy lifestyle at an early stage of life.

[Protective effect of dietary monounsaturated fatty acid on cardiovascular system].

Monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA) is a sort of fatty acids, including a double bond in its carbon chain. Substantial evidence exists to suggest that MUFA can positively regulate the metabolism of serum lipids, decrease the susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification, protect the artery endothelium, and decrease prothrombotic environment. The protective effect of MUFA to the cardiovascular system was introduced in the paper.

[Advances on the determination of resistant starch].

The present situation and prospect of studies on resistant starch home and abroad are introduced briefly and systemically. The determination of resistant starch should reflect the real condition in humans. The optimal method in vitro may be chosen by comparing the data from the ileac effluence using ileostomy. The intention is to measure the content of resistant starch in familiar food and supply the base for the dietary intake of resistant starch in humans.

[Study on serum leptin level of urban resident and the relationship between body mass index, blood lipid, insulin and leptin level].

OBJECTIVE: To measure serum leptin concentration of urban residents and investigate the relationship between serum leptin concentration and body mass index(BMI), blood lipid, insulin. METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight men and women ages 18-72 years were initially drawn from a community in Ji'nan City. The parameters measured included height, weight, waist and hip circumference, insulin, blood lipid and leptin concentrations. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS11.5. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of leptin was (17.47 +/- 13.52)ng/ml, in male subjects was (8.38 +/- 6.31)ng/ml, in female subjects it was (24.98 +/- 13.29)ng/ml. Serum level of leptin was significantly positively correlated with BMI, waist and hip circumference, not correlated with WHR. Serum leptin level in females was positively correlated with WHR. There was no association between serum level of leptin and insulin. Serum leptin level in males was positively correlated to apo B, in females was positively correlated to TC, LDL-c. CONCLUSION: BMI is an important factor to determine serum leptin level. The relationships between plasma glucose, insulin, blood lipids and serum leptin are affected by gender. In males serum leptin level was positively correlated to apo B, in females was positively correlated to TC, LDL-c. We need further research to explain this difference.