Research Ethics and the CGIAR

This report was discussed at the 5th Meeting of the Science Council in April 2006. The report was prepared by an independent panel (see authors) led by Peter Sandoe. The present study is concerned with ethical issues relating to the process involved in the CGIAR mission: scientific research and research-related activities. Roughly, these ethical issues can be divided into three different categories: The first is about the implications of the CGIAR’s overall objective for the way the research activities are conducted, i.e. the requirements of ensuring that the end beneficiaries of the research actually are benefited through dissemination of research results, through empowerment and through participation in relevant parts of the research process. Another implication is the requirement of ensuring a stable and transparent research process through dialogue and communication with the relevant stakeholders. A second type of ethical issue is that relating to the parties affected by the research activities. These are, among others, human or animal research subjects, the environment and the general public. Important issues are concerned with ensuring that research results remain a public good and how to deal with intellectual property (IP) issues. Other important issues are biodiversity protection and biosafety. The third types of issue relate to the ethical requirements internal to the conduct of research activities. These requirements include norms of good scientific practice and norms concerning the handling of funding

Offspring consume a more obesogenic diet than mothers in response to changing socioeconomic status and urbanization in Cebu, Philippines

BACKGROUND: Overweight increased among Filipino mothers and offspring from 1994 to 2005 however, a higher rate of increase among mothers resulted in a prevalence 4 times higher than that among offspring in 2005. Our aim was to explore the differential effects of changing income, assets, maternal education, and urbanicity on dietary behaviors of mothers and offspring that may affect overweight risk. METHODS: The study included a cohort of Filipino offspring and their mothers participating in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey at four time points from 1994 (n = 1,885 pairs) to 2005 (n = 1,349 pairs). The effect of socioeconomic factors and urbanicity, on dietary behaviors including energy adequacy, percent fat and carbohydrates were examined using longitudinal random-effects regression models. RESULTS: Mothers and offspring were consistently more likely to consume more calories relative to basal needs as well as a higher percent of calories from fat and a lower percent from carbohydrates with higher socioeconomic status and urbanization. Despite the substantially higher rates of overweight among mothers compared to offspring, offspring consumed a significantly more obesogenic diet than mothers experiencing the same increases in wealth and urbanicity. CONCLUSION: Family-based interventions should be developed to counteract the shift towards a more obesogenic diet observed for both Filipino mothers and offspring

Offspring consume a more obesogenic diet than mothers in response to changing socioeconomic status and urbanization in Cebu, Philippines

Abstract Background Overweight increased among Filipino mothers and offspring from 1994 to 2005 however, a higher rate of increase among mothers resulted in a prevalence 4 times higher than that among offspring in 2005. Our aim was to explore the differential effects of changing income, assets, maternal education, and urbanicity on dietary behaviors of mothers and offspring that may affect overweight risk. Methods The study included a cohort of Filipino offspring and their mothers participating in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey at four time points from 1994 (n = 1,885 pairs) to 2005 (n = 1,349 pairs). The effect of socioeconomic factors and urbanicity, on dietary behaviors including energy adequacy, percent fat and carbohydrates were examined using longitudinal random-effects regression models. Results Mothers and offspring were consistently more likely to consume more calories relative to basal needs as well as a higher percent of calories from fat and a lower percent from carbohydrates with higher socioeconomic status and urbanization. Despite the substantially higher rates of overweight among mothers compared to offspring, offspring consumed a significantly more obesogenic diet than mothers experiencing the same increases in wealth and urbanicity. Conclusion Family-based interventions should be developed to counteract the shift towards a more obesogenic diet observed for both Filipino mothers and offspring

Prevalence and trends in the childhood dual burden of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries, 1990–2012

Abstract Objective To describe trends in country- and individual-level dual burden of malnutrition in children <5 years, and age-stratified (<2 years, ≥2 years) country-level trends, in thirty-six low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Design Using repeated cross-sectional nationally representative data, we calculated the prevalence of malnutrition (stunting, wasting, overweight) at each survey wave, annualized rates of prevalence change for each country over time, and trends before and after 2000, for all children <5 years and separately for those </≥2 years. We examined country- (ratio of stunting to overweight) and individual-level (coexistence of stunting and overweight) dual burden in children <5 years. Setting Demographic and Health Surveys from thirty-six LMIC between 1990 and 2012. Subjects Children <5 years. Results Overall malnutrition prevalence decreased in children <5 years, driven by stunting decreases. Stunting rates decreased in 78 % of countries, wasting rates decreased in 58 % of countries and overweight rates increased in 36 % of countries. Rates of change differed for children </≥2 years, with children <2 years experiencing decreases in stunting in fewer countries yet increases in overweight in more countries. Countries with nearly equal prevalences of stunting and overweight in children <5 years increased from 2000 to the final year. Within a country, 0·3–10·9 % of children <5 years were stunted and overweight, and 0·6–37·8 % of stunted children <5 years were overweight. Conclusions The dual burden exists in children <5 years on both country and individual levels, indicating a shift is needed in policies and programmes to address both sides of malnutrition. Children <2 years should be identified as a high-risk demographic

Childhood Dual Burden of Under- and Overnutrition in Low- and Middle-inCome Countries: A Critical Review

In low- and middle income countries, the distribution of childhood nutritional diseases is shifting from a predominance of undernutrition to a dual burden of under- and overnutrition. This novel and complex problem challenges governments and health organizations to tackle opposite ends of the malnutrition spectrum. The dual burden may manifest within a community, household, or individual, but these different levels have not been addressed collectively

Infant temperament contributes to early infant growth: A prospective cohort of African American infants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prospective studies linking infant temperament, or behavioral style, to infant body composition are lacking. In this longitudinal study (3 to 18 months), we seek to examine the associations between two dimensions of infant temperament (<it>distress to limitations </it>and <it>activity level</it>) and two anthropometric indicators (weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) and skin fold (SF) measures) in a population at high risk of overweight.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data are from the Infant Care and Risk of Obesity Project, a longitudinal study of North Carolina low income African American mother-infant dyads (n = 206). Two temperament dimensions were assessed using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. A high <it>distress to limitations </it>score denotes an infant whose mother perceives that s/he often cries or fusses, and a high <it>activity level </it>score one who moves his/her limbs and squirms frequently. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using ordinary least squares regression. Fixed effects longitudinal models were used to estimate anthropometric outcomes as a function of time varying infant temperament.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In longitudinal models, increased <it>activity levels </it>were associated with later decreased fatness and WLZ. In contrast, high levels of <it>distress to limitations </it>were associated with later increased fatness at all time points and later increased WLZ at 12 months.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Infant temperament dimensions contribute to our understanding of the role of behavior in the development of the risk of overweight in the formative months of life. Identification of modifiable risk factors early in life may help target strategies for establishing healthy lifestyles prior to the onset of overweight.</p

Screen time and physical activity during adolescence: longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The joint impact of sedentary behavior and physical activity on obesity has not been assessed in a large cohort followed from adolescence to adulthood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nationally representative longitudinal data from Waves II (1995; mean age: 15.9) and III (2001; mean age: 21.4) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 9,155) were collected. Sex-stratified multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the odds of obesity associated with Wave II MVPA and screen time, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and change in MVPA and screen time from Wave II to III. Obesity was defined using body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) International Obesity Task Force cut-points at Wave II and adult cut-points at Wave III (BMI ≥ 30).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In males, adjusted odds of prevalent obesity was strongly predicted by MVPA bouts [OR (95% CI): OR_{6 vs. 1 MVPA bouts}= 0.50 (0.40, 0.62); OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs screen time}= 0.83 (0.69, 1.00)]. In females, greater MVPA bouts and lower screen time correlated with lower prevalent obesity [OR (95% CI): OR_{6 vs. 1 MVPA bouts}= 0.67 (0.49, 0.91); OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs screen time}= 0.67 (0.53, 0.85)]. Longitudinally, adolescent screen time hours had a stronger influence on incident obesity in females [OR (95% CI): OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs}= 0.58 (0.43, 0.80)] than males [OR (95% CI): OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs}= 0.78 (0.61, 0.99)]. Longitudinal activity patterns were not predictive of incident obesity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Reducing screen time during adolescence and into adulthood may be a promising strategy for reducing obesity incidence, especially in females.</p

Screen time and physical activity during adolescence: longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The joint impact of sedentary behavior and physical activity on obesity has not been assessed in a large cohort followed from adolescence to adulthood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nationally representative longitudinal data from Waves II (1995; mean age: 15.9) and III (2001; mean age: 21.4) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 9,155) were collected. Sex-stratified multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the odds of obesity associated with Wave II MVPA and screen time, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and change in MVPA and screen time from Wave II to III. Obesity was defined using body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) International Obesity Task Force cut-points at Wave II and adult cut-points at Wave III (BMI ≥ 30).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In males, adjusted odds of prevalent obesity was strongly predicted by MVPA bouts [OR (95% CI): OR_{6 vs. 1 MVPA bouts}= 0.50 (0.40, 0.62); OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs screen time}= 0.83 (0.69, 1.00)]. In females, greater MVPA bouts and lower screen time correlated with lower prevalent obesity [OR (95% CI): OR_{6 vs. 1 MVPA bouts}= 0.67 (0.49, 0.91); OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs screen time}= 0.67 (0.53, 0.85)]. Longitudinally, adolescent screen time hours had a stronger influence on incident obesity in females [OR (95% CI): OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs}= 0.58 (0.43, 0.80)] than males [OR (95% CI): OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs}= 0.78 (0.61, 0.99)]. Longitudinal activity patterns were not predictive of incident obesity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Reducing screen time during adolescence and into adulthood may be a promising strategy for reducing obesity incidence, especially in females.</p

Parental compensatory behaviors and early child health outcomes in Cebu, Philippines

A dynamic optimization model of parents choosing investments in their children’s health motivates an empirical model of parents’ choices of health inputs for their children and the impacts of these decisions on their children’s subsequent health. Estimates of the child health input demand functions and the child health production functions from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey accord with the prediction that optimizing behavior results in higher levels of aggregate child health. Observable parental behaviors respond to the physical developmental status of their children. These parental responses appear to yield large and statistically significant improvements in children’s early physiological outcomes. However, because some health inputs choices are not observable, it is impossible to ascertain whether these measured effects are due solely to variations in the observed input choices