Child Body Fat and Body Mass Index: Which Determinants are Most Important?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine child and parent determinants of children’s body fat percentage (BF%) along with their body mass index percentile (BMIp). Children’s BF% and BMIp auger lifelong health risks when elevated, and one in five children are affected. Participants ( N = 135) included 62% female children; 50.7% Caucasian, 31.7% Hispanic, and 8.5% African American. Children were aged 9–15 years (2% underweight, 47.9% normal weight, 19.7% overweight, and 24.6% obese). Parent BMI average was 30.67 (1.4% underweight, 20.4% normal weight, 23.9% overweight, 40% obese, and 7% extreme obesity); 77.5% of the participating parents were mothers. Following multiple imputations, path analyses were conducted of child and parent determinants of children’s BF% and BMIp. Children’s BF% and BMIp were related to parents’ concern about overweight and children’s perception of that concern. For children of overweight or obese parents, who are at highest risk for obesity, assessing the parents’ concern is the highest priority.

Body Mass Index and Gut Microbiome: A Cluster-Randomized, Controlled, Pilot Feasibility Study

“…Project FUN was used because it has been tailored and shown prior efficacy in the populations of interest as well as because fidelity to the intervention could be evaluated online and in workbooks. [15][16][17] The control group participated in usual school activities, only completing pre-and postmeasures, although no stool samples were collected.…”

“…11 High dietary fat (DF) has been associated with higher levels of Firmicutes (higher in those with obesity), while PA 12 has been associated with gut microbiota found with weight loss. 4 Although other factors such as structural racism and implicit bias may affect children with obesity, 13,14 it is important to examine whether administration of a prebiotic fiber and calcium along with Project FUN, a culturally tailored online nutrition and PA program, [15][16][17] is feasible and whether there are changes in stool microbiota and BC in groups at high risk for obesity.…”

“…Project FUN, an online Health Promotion/Transtheoretical Model intervention, has been shown to decrease intake of DF and increase PA among 4th-through 8th-grade, lowto middle-income, culturally diverse children. [15][16][17] School settings offer a feasible and cost-effective opportunity to help children mitigate the risk of obesity. [18][19][20] There is an urgent need to address the alarming rates of overweight and obesity in Hispanic and Black children.…”

When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity

“…Involving children in selecting after-school and summer physical activity programs are authoritative effective parenting strategies. Alternate strategies include regular family meals together at the table (Bohnert et al, 2002) and collaborating with school nurses to address their child's weight ( Frenn, Kaugars, Garcia, & Garnier-Villarreal, 2020 ).…”