Body Composition, Physical Activity and Fitness in Children with Moderate-to-Severe Intellectual Disability

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been rising in most parts of the world over the past two decades (1, 2). This rise could pose even a greater problem for people with intellectual disability (ID) because they are more likely to be obese than people without ID (3). Furthermore, research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle is more prevalent among people with ID than otherwise healthy people in modern society (4). In the general population, the adverse effects of obesity on health begin early in life and physical inactivity and adiposity are associated with metabolic diseases and cancers (5). In contrast, higher levels of physical activity and aerobic fitness have been associated with lower risk for metabolic diseases (6, 7). Although it is anticipated that children with ID experience the same adverse effects of health from obesity and lack of physical activity and aerobic fitness, it has not been comprehensively studied. In this context the purpose of this study was to investigate body composition, physical activity and fitness among children with moderate-to-severe ID

Screen Time and Body Image in Icelandic Adolescents : Sex-Specific Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations

Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by The University of Iceland Research Fund, grant number. HI16120043, and the Icelandic Centre for research (RANNIS), grant number 152509-051. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Studies of adolescent body image and screen use are mostly limited to girls, and longitudinal data are scarce. We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between these variables in mid-adolescent boys and girls. Data was collected when participants were at age 15 and 17, by questionnaire and objective measurements (n = 152 had complete data). Sex-specific linear regression was used to explore cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of self-reported screen use (total use, and time spent in gaming, TV/DVD/internet-based watching and internet use for communication) and body image, adjusting for vigorous physical activity, symptoms of depression, and body composition. Screen time was negatively associated with body image at both time points, although more strongly at age 15, and for girls only. Gaming and TV/DVD/internet watching was more strongly associated with body image than internet use for communication. Girls with above median screen time at both ages had 14% lower body image score at age 17 than girls with below median screen time at both time points. Our results suggest that screen use is likely to play a role in the development of body dissatisfaction among adolescent females. Limiting screen time may, therefore, help to mitigate body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls.Peer reviewe

Cross-sectional study of randomly selected 18-year-old students showed that body mass index was only associated with sleep duration in girls

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowAIM: This study investigated the associations, by sex, between sleep and adiposity, dietary habits, cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic risk in 18-year-old students. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 199 randomly chosen, healthy 18-year-old students (53% girls) in Iceland's capital region. The data collection took place in the winter months of 2012 to 2015. The anthropometric measurements were body mass index, waist circumference and body fat percentage. Sleep duration and dietary habits were self-reported. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured on a stationary bicycle. A subsample of 152 participants gave blood samples. RESULTS: A quarter of the adolescents failed to reach the minimum recommended sleep duration of seven hours per night on weekdays. In girls, the average sleep score was associated with body mass index and waist circumference, after adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness and unhealthy eating scores. In boys, the average sleep score was not associated with anthropometric measurements, but cardiorespiratory fitness was an independent predictor (p < 0.001). No associations were found between average sleep scores and metabolic profiles in either sex. CONCLUSION: Sleep duration and adiposity only appeared to be associated in girls and were independent of cardiorespiratory fitness and unhealthy eating. Sleep duration was not related to metabolic risk.University of Iceland Research Fund Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund Icelandic Sport Fund Public Health Fund of the Directorate of Healt

Health Behavior and Metabolic Risk Factors Associated with Normal Weight Obesity in Adolescents

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To explore health behaviors and metabolic risk factors in normal weight obese (NWO) adolescents compared with normal weight lean (NWL) peers.</p><p>Design and Methods</p><p>A cross-sectional study of 18-year-old students (n = 182, 47% female) in the capital area of Iceland, with body mass index within normal range (BMI, 18.5–24.9 kg/m²). Body composition was estimated via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, fitness was assessed with maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) during treadmill test, dietary intake through 24-hour recall, questionnaires explained health behavior and fasting blood samples were taken. NWO was defined as normal BMI and body fat >17.6% in males and >31.6% in females.</p><p>Results</p><p>Among normal weight adolescents, 42% (n = 76) were defined as NWO, thereof 61% (n = 46) male participants. Fewer participants with NWO were physically active, ate breakfast on a regular basis, and consumed vegetables frequently compared with NWL. No difference was detected between the two groups in energy- and nutrient intake. The mean difference in aerobic fitness was 5.1 ml/kg/min between the groups in favor of the NWL group (p<0.001). NWO was positively associated with having one or more risk factors for metabolic syndrome (Odds Ratio OR = 2.2; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.2, 3.9) when adjusted for sex. High waist circumference was more prevalent among NWO than NWL, but only among girls (13% vs 4%, p = 0.019).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>High prevalence of NWO was observed in the study group. Promoting healthy lifestyle with regard to nutrition and physical activity in early life should be emphasized regardless of BMI.</p></div

Characteristic of the 18-year-old participants and lifestyle factors.

<p>Characteristic of the 18-year-old participants and lifestyle factors.</p

Daily energy and nutrient intake using 24-hour dietary recall among 18-year-old students.

<p>Daily energy and nutrient intake using 24-hour dietary recall among 18-year-old students.</p

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among 18-year-old students who are normal weight obese or normal weight lean.

<p>Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among 18-year-old students who are normal weight obese or normal weight lean.</p

Normal weight obesity according to anthropometric, fitness and metabolic parameters– 18-year-old students.

<p>Normal weight obesity according to anthropometric, fitness and metabolic parameters– 18-year-old students.</p

The relation of fatness to insulin is independent of fitness in 9- but not 15-yr-olds

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldPURPOSE: To explore the relationship between varying aerobic fitness (fitness), fatness, and fasting insulin levels in healthy children. METHODS: A population-based sample of 9-yr-old (9YO, 47 boys, 56 girls) and 15-yr-old (15YO, 53 boys, 51 girls) Icelandic children. Body fatness was evaluated via body mass index, waist circumference adjusted for height (waist adj), and sum of four skinfolds. Fitness was assessed with a graded maximal cycle ergometer test. Fasting insulin was measured using an ECLIA. RESULTS: Fasting insulin correlated to all fatness measures (9YO, r = 0.43-0.46, P < 0.001; 15YO, r = 0.30-0.37, P < 0.003) and fitness (9YO, r = -0.29, P = 0.003; 15YO, r = -0.32, P = 0.001). Adjustment for fitness did not affect the relations between fatness and fasting insulin in 9YO (r = 0.33-0.37, P < 0.001); however, only waist adj remained significantly related to fasting insulin (r = 0.24, P = 0.016) in 15YO. Children in the upper half of fitness and fatness split on the median did not differ in fasting insulin from children in the upper half of fitness but lower half of fatness. Fatness was related to fasting insulin in 9YO (r = 0.51-0.54, P = 0.001) and 15YO (r = 0.31-0.35, P = 0.011-0.028) in the lower half of fitness, but no association was observed in the upper half of fitness in either group. CONCLUSION: Fatness has a greater association with fasting insulin than fitness, especially among 9YO; however, fitness attenuates the adverse relation of fatness to fasting insulin in 15YO but does not change it in 9YO. In both age groups, being fitter and fatter does not result in greater fasting insulin than being fitter and leaner, and fatness is primarily associated with fasting insulin in lower-fit children