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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 15315

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Dr. Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco

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Guest Editor

Graduate Program in Health Promotion, Cesumar University (UniCesumar), Maringá 87050-900, Brazil
Interests: aerobic training; patient care team; primary prevention; exercise therapy; remedial exercises; resistance training
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Pablo Valdés-Badilla

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Guest Editor

Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3530000, Chile
Interests: obesity in the elderly; health-related physical fitness interventions for overweight or obesity in the life cycle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue has the objective of discussing environmental and physiopathological aspects linked to obesity in the life cycle. Thus, considering this thematic Special Issue, “Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues”, we would like to receive articles concerning biological, social, environmental, and behavioral determinants of health, especially those related to obesity and comorbidities in the life cycle. Despite all the efforts of governmental and non-governmental agencies, in addition to the thousands of pieces of research published, the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and correlated comorbidities has been increasing day-by-day. Given this, we think about how people living with obesity can be healthy and live well. Other aspects related to obesity and COVID-19, obesity and mental health, obesity and sedentarism, and obesity and technologies are welcome in this Special Issue. This Special Issue will invite papers addressing these aspects, combining networking and multicenter studies.

Dr. Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco
Dr. Pablo Valdés-Badilla
Guest Editors

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Keywords

obesity paradox
morbid obesity
pediatric obesity
obesity, hyperphagia, and developmental delay
patient care team

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 886 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the HealthyWEY E-Learning Toolkit for Promoting Healthy Weight in the Early Years

by James E. Harrison, Julie Abayomi, Shaima Hassan, Lawrence Foweather, Clare Maxwell, Deborah McCann, Sarah Garbett, Maria Nugent, Daisy Bradbury, Hannah Timpson, Lorna Porcellato, Marian Judd, Anna Chisholm, Nabil Isaac, Beth Wolfenden, Amy Greenhalgh and Paula M. Watson

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(2), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020137 - 21 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1434

Abstract

Despite being well-positioned to promote healthy lifestyles in young children, early years practitioners often face barriers to supporting child weight management. This mixed-methods study aimed to assess the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of an e-learning toolkit (HealthyWEY) designed to upskill and support multi-agency professionals to promote healthy weight in early childhood. A total of 54 health visitors/community nursery nurses, 38 children’s centre staff and 17 other health professionals engaged with the HealthyWEY e-learning, which drew on self-determination theory and consisted of nine modules that were completed over 7–10 weeks. Non-parametric statistical analysis using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank tests were used to explore participants’ practice-based knowledge, psychological needs satisfaction and motivations for prioritising pre-school child weight from pre- to post-intervention. Focus groups (n = 11) were conducted with a sub-sample of multi-agency professionals (n = 39) to explore the process of implementation across sites, while interviews were also conducted with two parents/carers who took part in consultations with HealthyWEY-trained practitioners. After completing the HealthyWEY e-learning, participants perceived fewer barriers to pre-school child weight management (median change = −0.7; p < 0.001), greater autonomy (median change = 0.7, p < 0.001), competence (median change = 0.8, p < 0.001) and relatedness (median change = 0.4, p < 0.001) and a higher autonomous motivation towards promoting healthy weight (median change = 0.3, p < 0.001). E-learning was perceived to be highly relevant to participants’ roles and congruent with local child weight strategies. Challenges to implementation included time constraints and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for a better user experience were offered by enhancing the toolkit’s design and interactivity. Engagement with the HealthyWEY e-learning led to promising changes in perceived barriers and motivational variables. The toolkit was perceived to be acceptable amongst multi-agency workforces, albeit challenging to prioritise within time-pressured health and early years settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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9 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship Among Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Blood Pressure in Portuguese Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Edmar Mendes, Paulo Farinatti, Alynne Andaki, André Pereira dos Santos, Jéssica Cordeiro, Susana Vale, Andreia Pizarro, Maria Paula Santos and Jorge Mota

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010020 - 28 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1092

Abstract

This study examined the associations between age, adiposity, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and elevated blood pressure (BP) in 2901 Portuguese children and adolescents aged 2–18. BP, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), physical activity, and sedentary behavior were measured. Elevated BP was defined as a BP above the 90th percentile for age, sex, and height. Multivariable analyses assessed the prevalence ratios (PR) of elevated BP across age groups, BMI, WHtR, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Results showed that older age, especially among middle schoolers, was associated with a 1.8 times higher risk of elevated BP than preschoolers. Participants with a higher BMI (overweight/obese) and a WHtR ≥ 0.50 had a 1.49- and 1.4-times higher risk of elevated BP, respectively. Those who did not meet the recommended 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day showed a 1.63 times higher risk of elevated BP, whereas the association between sedentary behavior and BP was not significant after adjustment. These findings highlight age, higher BMI, central obesity, and insufficient physical activity as key factors associated with elevated BP, underscoring the need for early monitoring and intervention to prevent hypertension in this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

14 pages, 727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on the Birth Weight of Children Born in a Brazilian Metropolis

by Beatriz Cardoso Armani, Rafaela Cristina Vieira e Souza, Fernanda Penido Matozinhos and Luana Caroline dos Santos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(12), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121702 - 20 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1103

Abstract

Objective: To assess the birth weight of newborns whose mothers gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on data collected from medical records and through postnatal interviews to assess maternal and neonatal health outcomes (n = 470) during the pandemic. All participants were assisted in three Brazilian public hospitals in 2020. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess factors associated with birth weight. Results: Low and insufficient birth weight reached 9.8% and 25.7% prevalence, respectively. COVID-19 symptoms were reported by 8% of participants. Low birth weight was more often observed in premature children (OR: 70.9; 95% CI: 16.4–305.8) delivered by cesarean sections (OR: 7.70; 95% CI: 2.33–25.4). Insufficient weight was more frequent in premature children (OR: 5.59; 95% CI: 1.53–20.4) and children whose mothers did not exercise during pregnancy (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.38–5.89). Women presenting higher gestational weight gain had a lower chance of delivering babies with insufficient weight (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90–0.99). Conclusions: Inadequate birth weight was associated with prematurity, delivery type, lower gestational weight gain, and maternal physical inactivity during the pandemic. According to the results, it is necessary to have adequate prenatal care and promote a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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10 pages, 662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obesogenic Environment in a Minas Gerais State Metropolis, Brazil: Analysis of Crime Rates, Food Shops and Physical Activity Venues

by Monique Louise Cassimiro Inácio, Luana Caroline dos Santos, Olívia Souza Honório, Rafaela Cristina Vieira e Souza, Thales Philipe Rodrigues da Silva and Milene Cristine Pessoa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(12), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121700 - 20 Dec 2024

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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to identify obesogenic environment profiles to find the obesogenic environment pattern for Belo Horizonte City. The current research followed the ecological approach and was substantiated by data from food shops, public sports venues, crime rates (homicides and robberies) and the rate of accidents with pedestrians. Descriptive analyses and principal component analysis (PCA) were conducted in Stata software, version 14.0. Georeferencing and map plotting were carried out in Qgis software, version 2.10. All neighborhoods in Belo Horizonte City (n = 486) were included in the study. The obesogenic pattern comprised the highest mean number of shops selling ultra-processed food, crime rates, and accidents with pedestrians. The generated latent variable was divided into tertiles, and the second and third tertiles represented the most obesogenic environments. Neighborhoods accounting for the highest obesogenic profile also recorded the largest number of shops selling all food types. Furthermore, neighborhoods in the third tertile recorded the highest mean income (BRL 2352.00) (p = 0.001) and the lowest Health Vulnerability Index (HVI = 54.2; p = 0.001). These findings point towards the need for developing actions, policies and programs to improve these environments, such as tax incentives to open healthy food retailers and public sports venues to promote healthier lifestyles and to prevent diseases in the middle and long term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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10 pages, 305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Screen Exposure in 4-Year-Old Children: Association with Development, Daily Habits, and Ultra-Processed Food Consumption

by Gabriela M. D. Gomes, Rafaela C. V. Souza, Tamires N. Santos and Luana C. Santos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111504 - 13 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1491

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between child development, daily habits, and ultra-processed food consumption with screen exposure in 4-year-old children. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire that included sociodemographic data, the child’s daily habits, and screenings for child development and eating habits. The daily screen exposure time (cell phone, computer, television, and/or tablet) was measured in minutes and classified as inadequate if >60 min. We conducted bivariate analyses and a generalized linear model. Overall, 362 caregivers–children pairs were investigated. The average screen time per child was 120 min (IQR: 120), and most of the children (71%) showed inadequate screen time for the age group. The longest screen time was associated with the lowest score in child development (β = −0.03; p = 0.01), an increased habit of eating in front of screens (β = 0.34; p < 0.001), and the highest score of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) (β = 0.05; p = 0.001). The sample showed a high prevalence of inadequate screen time, and this has been associated with the lowest score in child development, an increased habit of eating in front of screens, and the highest score of UPFs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

23 pages, 2026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of 12 and 24 Weeks of Interdisciplinary Interventions on Health-Related Physical Fitness, Biochemical Markers, and Level of Food Processing in Overweight or Obese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

by Lilian Rosana dos Santos Moraes, Natalia Quevedo dos Santos, Déborah Cristina de Souza Marques, Marilene Ghiraldi de Souza Marques, Marielle Priscila de Paula Silva Lalucci, Victor Augusto Santos Perli, Paulo Vitor Suto Aizava, Jordan Hernandez-Martinez, Pablo Valdés-Badilla and Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1406; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111406 - 24 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1255

Abstract

Background: The aim was to investigate the effects of 12 and 24 weeks of interdisciplinary interventions on health-related physical fitness, biochemical markers, and food processing levels in overweight or obese adolescents. Methods: Thirty-one adolescents completed 24 weeks of nutritional, psychoeducational, and physical activity interventions in addition to assessments and tests carried out before, at 12 weeks, and after 24 weeks. Results: There were increases in lean mass (p = 0.003) and decreases in absolute and relative fat mass (p < 0.001) for both sexes, as well as increases in flexibility on the right and left sides (p < 0.001), maximum oxygen consumption (p < 0.001) increased after the interventions, time spent in isometric exercises on the plank increased (p > 0.05), total cholesterol after 12 weeks decreased (p = 0.014), triglycerides were reduced (p = 0.002), low-density lipoproteins were reduced (p < 0.001), consumption of more processed foods after 24 weeks decreased (p < 0.001), consumption of fresh foods in grams and kilocalories increased (p < 0.001), and, in addition, the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods was reduced (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The 24-week interventions promoted superior benefits for adolescents’ physical, nutritional, and biochemical health, although the dropout rate was high (~50%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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11 pages, 442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Long-Term Effect of Weight Loss on the Prevention of Progression to Cirrhosis among Patients with Obesity and MASH-Related F3 Liver Fibrosis

by Jiafei Niu, Wael Al-Yaman, Kanokwan Pinyopornpanish, Ji Seok Park, Miguel Salazar, Huijun Xiao, James Bena, Ruishen Lyu, Gianina Flocco, Shilpa R. Junna, Talal Adhami, Omar T. Sims and Jamile Wakim-Fleming

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060708 - 30 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4222

Abstract

This multi-center retrospective study examined the effect of weight loss on the prevention of progression to cirrhosis in a sample exclusively composed of patients with obesity and MASH-related F3 liver fibrosis. Adult patients with obesity and biopsy-confirmed MASH-related F3 liver fibrosis (n = 101) from two liver transplant centers in the US were included in the study. A higher proportion of patients who did not progress to cirrhosis achieved >5% weight loss at follow-up (59% vs. 30%, p = 0.045). In multivariable analysis, patients with >5% weight loss at follow-up had a lower hazard of developing cirrhosis compared to patients with no weight loss or weight gain (HR: 0.29, 95%, CI: 0.08–0.96); whereas, diabetes (HR: 3.24, 95%, CI: 1.21–8.67) and higher LDL levels (HR: 1.02, 95%, CI: 1.01–1.04) were associated with higher hazards of progression to cirrhosis. Weight loss >5% has the potential to prevent disease progression to cirrhosis in patients with obesity and MASH-related F3 liver fibrosis. The realization of this benefit requires weight loss maintenance longer than one year. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine how weight loss impacts other patient-centered outcomes such as mortality, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with obesity and MASH-related F3 liver fibrosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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Review

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19 pages, 5709 KiB

Open AccessReview

Global Perspectives on Obesity and Being Overweight: A Bibliometric Analysis in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

by Natália Ueda Yamaguchi, Letícia de Almeida, Rúbia Carvalho Gomes Corrêa, Rute Grossi Milani and Mirian Ueda Yamaguchi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020146 - 22 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

Obesity and being overweight are significant risk factors for diseases and disabilities, making it crucial to address malnutrition in all its forms to ensure health and well-being for all, as well as to achieve sustainable development. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of research on obesity in relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using data from the Web of Science database from 2015 to 2024 and the VOSviewer software. The findings revealed that while research on obesity and SDGs has grown slowly, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) is predominant in the literature. This study highlighted the fragmentation of research due to the complex, multifactorial nature of obesity, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach. Furthermore, international collaborations were found to be vital for advancing research and formulating effective public policies. This analysis also identified gaps in the research related to several SDGs, including education (SDG 4), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and partnerships (SDG 17), suggesting the need for a broader, more holistic approach. Additionally, emerging research related to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) underscores the importance of urban environments in tackling obesity. In conclusion, future research should adopt an interdisciplinary approach to address these gaps and contribute to advancing the 2030 Agenda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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Other

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23 pages, 4615 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Obesity and Associated Factors in Brazilian Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Representative Studies

by Cecilia Alcantara Braga Garcia, Karina Cardoso Meira, Alessandra Hubner Souza, Ana Laura de Grossi Oliveira and Nathalia Sernizon Guimarães

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081022 - 2 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1783

Abstract

To review the literature and select population-based studies that are representative of Brazilian capitals or Brazil as a whole to estimate the prevalence of obesity among Brazilian adults. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were used. The search was conducted in six databases and reference lists of included studies. We included observational studies but excluded interventional studies, reviews, in vitro studies, and editorials. The study population consisted of young adults and adults (18 to 59 years old). Adolescents, infants, children, the elderly, and pregnant women were excluded. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of obesity among Brazilian adults, both men and women. The secondary outcomes were factors associated with obesity. The meta-analysis was performed using Rstudio software, version 4.1.0, by using the ‘Meta’ package, version 5.0-0. The search strategy identified 5634 references, of which 19 studies and 21 national surveys were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of obesity in Brazilian adults was 20.0% (95% CI: 14.0–25.0%) while in the capitals it was 17.0% (95% CI: 16.0–19.0%). Across the regions of Brazil, the prevalence ranged from 11.0% to 17.0%, with the highest frequency in the south. Increases in obesity prevalence were observed for both sexes in almost all periods, with consistently higher rates among women in most cases. The prevalence of obesity among Brazilian adults is high, with no statistically significant differences found in the subgroup analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition-, Overweight- and Obesity-Related Health Issues)

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