Nutrients

Editorial

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5 pages, 204 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Obesity in Early Life: Its Causes, Prevention and Risks in Later Life

by Pieter Sauer

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2999; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132999 - 30 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1829

Abstract

Being overweight or obese at the end of the first year of life is associated with an increased risk of obesity in later life and an increased risk of developing other diseases, like type 1 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders and psycho-social problems [...] [...] Read more.

Being overweight or obese at the end of the first year of life is associated with an increased risk of obesity in later life and an increased risk of developing other diseases, like type 1 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders and psycho-social problems [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

Research

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14 pages, 346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Context Matters: Preliminary Evidence That the Association between Positive Affect and Adiposity in Infancy Varies in Social vs. Non-Social Situations

by Alexis C. Wood, Shabnam R. Momin, MacKenzie K. Senn and David J. Bridgett

Nutrients 2022, 14(12), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14122391 - 9 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2048

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that infants high in negative affect have higher levels of adiposity, arising in part via changes in nutrition (e.g., “feeding to soothe”). Few studies have examined whether positive affect shows similar or inverse associations with adiposity. The current study [...] Read more.

Previous studies have suggested that infants high in negative affect have higher levels of adiposity, arising in part via changes in nutrition (e.g., “feeding to soothe”). Few studies have examined whether positive affect shows similar or inverse associations with adiposity. The current study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between adiposity and observations of positive affect in both a social and a non-social context, using data from infants at four (n = 125) and 12 (n = 80) months of age. Our analyses did not find any cross-sectional associations between positive affect and adiposity (all p > 0.05). However, in the longitudinal analyses, positive affect in a non-social context, when observed at four months of age, was positively associated with weight-for-length at 12 months of age (zWFL; ß = 1.49, SE = 0.67, p = 0.03), while positive affect observed at four months of age in a social context was inversely associated with body fat percentage at 12 months of age (ß = −11.41, SE = 5.44, p = 0.04). These findings provide preliminary evidence that the p positive affect is related to adiposity in infancy and suggest that the direction of association (i.e., direct or inverse) may be specific to the context in which positive affect is measured. Future research should examine the role of nutritional status in any relationships between adiposity and emotion at this early stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

13 pages, 728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prenatal Environmental Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Indices of Overweight and Cardiovascular Risk in Dutch Adolescents

by Sietske A. Berghuis, Arend F. Bos, Pieter J. J. Sauer and Gianni Bocca

Nutrients 2022, 14(11), 2269; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14112269 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3196

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may have obesogenic effects. Knowledge about the effects of prenatal exposure to POPs on anthropometric measurements and metabolic parameters into adolescence is limited. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine whether prenatal environmental exposure to several [...] Read more.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may have obesogenic effects. Knowledge about the effects of prenatal exposure to POPs on anthropometric measurements and metabolic parameters into adolescence is limited. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine whether prenatal environmental exposure to several POPs is associated with indices of overweight and cardiovascular risk in 13–15-year-old children. In this Dutch observational cohort study, 194 mother–infant pairs were included (1998–2002). Maternal pregnancy serum levels of PCBs, OH-PCBs, PBDEs, and other POPs were measured. At follow-up (2014–2016), levels of cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were measured in their children. The children’s height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure were measured. In total, 101 adolescents (14.4 ± 0.8 years; 53.7% of invited) participated of which 55 were boys. Mean BMI was 19.1 ± 3.6 kg/m² and mean BMI z-score 0.13 ± 1.14. Higher prenatal levels of PCBs were associated with lower levels of HDL-C and adiponectin in boys and higher levels of PBDEs with higher triglycerides in girls. We found significant differences by sex in the associations with OH-PCBs, with lower HDL-C and adiponectin, higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, fasting glucose, HOMA2-IR, height, and weight for boys. Our study indicates that higher prenatal exposure to PCBs, OH-PCBs, and PBDEs was associated with adolescent levels of some metabolic cardiovascular risk markers and hormones associated with the development of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

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15 pages, 572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insufficient Physical Fitness and Deficits in Basic Eating Habits in Normal-Weight Obese Children Are Apparent from Pre-School Age or Sooner

by Martin Musálek, Petr Sedlak, Hana Dvořáková, Anna Vážná, Jan Novák, Jakub Kokštejn, Šárka Vokounová, Adéla Beránková and Jana Pařízková

Nutrients 2021, 13(10), 3464; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103464 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3750

Abstract

Normal-weight obesity appears to be an extended diagnosis/syndrome associated with insufficient physical fitness levels and inadequate eating habits at least from school years. However, its relation to long term health parameters in pre-school children remains unknown, even though pre-school age is crucial for [...] Read more.

Normal-weight obesity appears to be an extended diagnosis/syndrome associated with insufficient physical fitness levels and inadequate eating habits at least from school years. However, its relation to long term health parameters in pre-school children remains unknown, even though pre-school age is crucial for the determining healthy lifelong habits. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the differences in physical fitness level and basic eating habits between normal-weight obese, normal-weight non-obese, and overweight and obese preschoolers. The research sample consisted of 188 preschoolers aged 4.0–6.9 years (M_age = 5.52 ± 0.8 year), normal-weight obese = 25; normal-weight non-obese = 143, overweight and obese = 20. Body composition was measured using bio-impedance InBody230. Six tests assessed the physical fitness level: sit-ups; standing long jump; shuttle running 4 × 5 meters; throwing with a tennis ball; multistage fitness tests; sit and reach. A four-item eating habits questionnaire for parents focusing on breakfast regularity, consumption of sweet foods and drinks, selection of food and attitude towards eating was used. A non-parametric analysis of variance and Fisher’s exact test along with suitable effect sizes were used for data processing of physical fitness tests and the basic eating habits questionnaire, respectively. Normal-weight obese children performed significantly worse (from p = 0.03 to p < 0.001, ES ω2-G = low to medium) in muscular fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness and running agility compared to normal-weight non-obese counterparts and did not significantly differ in the majority of physical fitness performance tests from overweight and obese peers. In basic eating habits, normal-weight obese boys preferred significantly more sweet foods and drinks (p = 0.003 ES = 0.35, large), while normal-weight obese girls had significantly more negative attitude towards eating (p = 0.002 ES = 0.33, large) in comparison to their normal-weight non-obese peers. Normal-weight obesity seems to develop from early childhood and is associated with low physical fitness and deficits in eating habits which might inhibit the natural necessity for physically active life from pre-school age or sooner. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

17 pages, 1523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future on Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Preferences, Familiarity and Intake

by Marla T. H. Hahnraths, Maartje Willeboordse, Patricia van Assema, Bjorn Winkens and Constant P. van Schayck

Nutrients 2021, 13(9), 3241; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093241 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3059

Abstract

Mere exposure is an often-described strategy to increase children’s food familiarity, preferences, and intake. Research investigating this method in less controlled settings is scarce. This study investigates the effects of repeated fruit and vegetable (FV) exposure through the Healthy Primary School of the [...] Read more.

Mere exposure is an often-described strategy to increase children’s food familiarity, preferences, and intake. Research investigating this method in less controlled settings is scarce. This study investigates the effects of repeated fruit and vegetable (FV) exposure through the Healthy Primary School of the Future (HPSF) on children’s FV familiarity, preferences, and intake. The study had a longitudinal quasi-experimental design comparing two full HPSFs (focus: nutrition and physical activity) with two partial HPSFs (focus: physical activity) in the Netherlands. Annual measurements (child-reported questionnaires) were conducted during 2015–2019 in 833 7–12-year-old children. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02800616). After correction for baseline, full HPSFs had, on average, a lower number of unfamiliar vegetable items after one (effect size (ES) = −0.28) and three years (ES = −0.35) and a higher number of disliked vegetable items after one year (ES = 0.24) than partial HPSFs. Unfavorable intervention effects were observed for fruit intake after one (odds ratio (OR) = 0.609) and four years (OR = 0.451). Repeated FV exposure had limited effects on children’s FV familiarity, preferences, and intake, likely due to insufficient taste exposure. Considering the widespread implementation of school-based mere exposure efforts, it is highly relevant to further investigate under which circumstances mere exposure effectively contributes to improvements in (determinants of) FV intake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

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Review

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12 pages, 1196 KiB

Open AccessReview

Low-Protein Infant Formula and Obesity Risk

by Stefanie M. P. Kouwenhoven, Jacqueline Muts, Martijn J. J. Finken and Johannes B. van Goudoever

Nutrients 2022, 14(13), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132728 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5699

Abstract

Infant formulas have been designed to mimic human milk for infants who cannot be breastfed. The overall goal is to establish similar functional outcomes to assure optimal growth, development, maturation of the immune system, and programming of the metabolic system. However, after decades [...] Read more.

Infant formulas have been designed to mimic human milk for infants who cannot be breastfed. The overall goal is to establish similar functional outcomes to assure optimal growth, development, maturation of the immune system, and programming of the metabolic system. However, after decades of improving infant formula, growth patterns and body composition development are still different in formula-fed infants compared to breastfed infants, which could contribute to an increased risk of obesity among formula-fed infants. It has been hypothesized that the lower protein concentration of breast milk compared to infant formula influences infants’ growth and body composition. Thus, several trials in formula-fed infants with different protein intake levels have been performed to test this hypothesis. In this review, we discuss the current evidence on low-protein infant formula and obesity risk, including future perspectives and implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

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15 pages, 1044 KiB

Open AccessReview

Perinatal Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status and Obesity Risk

by Hans Demmelmair and Berthold Koletzko

Nutrients 2021, 13(11), 3882; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113882 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3112

Abstract

High obesity rates in almost all regions of the world prompt an urgent need for effective obesity prevention. Very good scientific evidence from cell culture and rodent studies show that the availability of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives, [...] Read more.

High obesity rates in almost all regions of the world prompt an urgent need for effective obesity prevention. Very good scientific evidence from cell culture and rodent studies show that the availability of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives, namely, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, influence adipogenesis; for this reason, early life status may influence later obesity risk. The respective PUFA effects could be mediated via their eicosanoid derivatives, their influence on cell membrane properties, the browning of white adipose tissue, changes to the offspring gut microbiome, their influence on developing regulatory circuits, and gene expression during critical periods. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies show divergent findings in humans, with mostly null findings but also the positive and negative effects of an increased n-3 to n-6 PUFA ratio on BMI and fat mass development. Hence, animal study findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans. Even though the mechanistic data basis for the effects of n-3 PUFA on obesity risk appears promising, no recommendations for humans can be derived at present. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

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13 pages, 583 KiB

Open AccessReview

Precision Food Parenting: A Proposed Conceptual Model and Research Agenda

by Tom Baranowski, Debbe Thompson, Sheryl O. Hughes and Teresia M. O’Connor

Nutrients 2021, 13(10), 3650; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103650 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3197

Abstract

Precision medicine, nutrition and behavioral interventions are attempting to move beyond the specification of therapies applied to groups, since some people benefit, some do not and some are harmed by the same therapy. Instead, precision therapies are attempting to employ diverse sets of [...] Read more.

Precision medicine, nutrition and behavioral interventions are attempting to move beyond the specification of therapies applied to groups, since some people benefit, some do not and some are harmed by the same therapy. Instead, precision therapies are attempting to employ diverse sets of data to individualize or tailor interventions to optimize the benefits for the receiving individuals. The benefits to be achieved are mostly in the distant future, but the research needs to start now. While precision pediatric nutrition will combine diverse demographic, behavioral and biological variables to specify the optimal foods a child should eat to optimize health, precision food parenting will combine diverse parent and child psychosocial and related variables to identify the optimal parenting practices to help a specific child accept and consume the precision nutrition specified foods. This paper presents a conceptual overview and hypothetical model of factors we believe are needed to operationalize precision food parenting and a proposed research agenda to better understand the many specified relationships, how they change over the age of the child, and how to operationalize them to encourage food parenting practices most likely to be effective at promoting healthy child food choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in the Beginning of Life, Causes, Prevention and Risks for Later Life)

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