The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of daily life. The purpose of this study was to identify how health behaviors, level of stress, financial and food security have been impacted by the pandemic among Canadian families with young children. Parents (mothers, n = 235 and fathers, n = 126) from 254 families participating in an ongoing study completed an online survey that included close and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the quantitative data and qualitative responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. More than half of our sample reported that their eating and meal routines have changed since COVID-19; most commonly reported changes were eating more snack foods and spending more time cooking. Screen time increased among 74% of mothers, 61% of fathers, and 87% of children and physical activity decreased among 59% of mothers, 52% of fathers, and 52% of children. Key factors influencing family stress include balancing work with childcare/homeschooling and financial instability. While some unhealthful behaviors appeared to have been exacerbated, other more healthful behaviors also emerged since COVID-19. Research is needed to determine the longer-term impact of the pandemic on behaviors and to identify effective strategies to support families in the post-COVID-19 context.

OBJECTIVE. To assess whether weight-related teasing predicts the development of binge eating, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and frequent dieting among male and female adolescents. METHODS.A prospective study was conducted with an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of 2516 adolescents who completed surveys at both time 1 (1998 -1999) and time 2 (2003-2004) of the Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) study.RESULTS. In 1998, approximately one fourth of participants reported being teased about their weight at least a few times a year. After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and BMI, boys who were teased about their weight were more likely than their peers to initiate binge eating with loss of control and unhealthy weight control behaviors 5 years later. The predicted prevalence for incident binge eating behaviors with loss of control among boys who were teased was 4.1% as compared with 1.4% for those who were not teased, after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, SES, and BMI. For unhealthy weight control behaviors at time 2, the predicted prevalence was 27.5% among boys who were teased and 19.3% for boys who were not teased, after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, SES, and BMI. Girls who were teased were more likely than their peers to become frequent dieters. The predicted prevalence for incident frequent dieting among girls who were teased was 18.2% as compared with 11.0% for those who were not teased, after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, SES, and BMI.CONCLUSIONS. Weight teasing in adolescence predicts disordered eating behaviors at 5-year follow-up. The patterns of these associations differ by gender. Reducing teasing through educational interventions and policies may reduce the level of disordered eating behaviors among youths. EIGHT-RELATED TEASING IS prevalent among adolescents, with overweight youths reporting higher levels of weight-related teasing compared with their average-weight peers. 1,2 Nineteen percent of average-weight adolescent girls and 13% of average-weight adolescent boys report being teased about weight at least a few times a year, whereas Ͼ45% of overweight girls and boys report this frequency of weight teasing. 1 An important question exists regarding the potential impact that this weight-related mistreatment may have on the weight-related behaviors of adolescents. Disordered eating behaviors have been shown to be prevalent among youths. The 2003 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, a national survey involving 15 240 students in 9th through 12th grades, found that almost 60% of female and 29% of male students were trying to lose weight. 3 More than 13% of students reported fasting for a period of 24 hours or more in the past month to lose weight, and Ͼ11% of girls and 7% of boys reported taking diet pills, powders, or liquids in the past month. 3 Eight percent of girls and close to 4% of boys reported vomiting or taking laxatives in the past month to lose weight. 3 Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a population-based survey ...

In response to the high prevalence of obesity, eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors among youth, researchers in both the obesity and eating disorders fields have proposed using an integrated approach to prevention that addresses the spectrum of weight-related disorders within interventions. The identification of risk factors that are shared between these weight-related disorders is an essential step to developing effective prevention interventions. This article provides preliminary support for the existence of shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders. Specifically, the authors examined and found preliminary evidence that dieting, media use, body image dissatisfaction and weight-related teasing may have relevance for the development of the spectrum of weight-related disorders. Future etiologic research designed to specifically test these and other potentially shared risk factors is needed and would provide important insights into the relevant factors to be addressed in interventions aimed at preventing a broad spectrum of weight-related disorders.

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Main Exposure: The number of major weight-forlength percentiles crossed during each of four 6-month intervals, that is, 1 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, and 18 to 24 months. Main Outcome Measures:Odds and observed prevalence of obesity (body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] Ն95th percentile) at ages 5 and 10 years.Results: Crossing upwards 2 or more weight-forlength percentiles was common in the first 6 months of life (43%) and less common during later age intervals. Crossing upwards 2 or more weight-for-length percentiles in the first 24 months was associated with elevated odds of obesity at ages 5 years (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.84-2.34) and 10 years (1.75; 1.53-2.00) compared with crossing less than 2 major percentiles. Obesity prevalence at ages 5 and 10 was highest among children who crossed upwards 2 or more weight-for-length percentiles in the first 6 months of life. Conclusions:Crossing upwards 2 or more major weightfor-length percentiles in the first 24 months of life is associated with later obesity. Upward crossing of 2 weightfor-length percentiles in the first 6 months is associated with the highest prevalence of obesity 5 and 10 years later. Efforts to curb excess weight gain in infancy may be useful in preventing later obesity.