Higher weight and weight gain after 4 years of age rather than weight at birth are associated with adiposity, markers of glucose metabolism, and blood pressure in 5-year-old Ethiopian children

BACKGROUND: Fetal and early life growth is associated with adult risk of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. However, little is known about the relative importance of birth weight and successive periods of weight gain on markers of cardiometabolic risk in childhood in low-income populations. // OBJECTIVES: The objective was to study associations of birth weight and weight gain velocities in selected age intervals from birth to 60 mo with height, fat-free mass (FFM), and markers of adiposity and cardiometabolic risk at 60 mo. // METHODS: In a prospective cohort study of 375 Ethiopian children aged 60 mo, we estimated individual weight gain velocities in the periods between birth and 3, 6, 24, 48, and 60 mo using linear-spline mixed-effects modeling. Subsequently, we analyzed associations of birth weight, weight gain velocities, and current weight with height, FFM, and markers of adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. // RESULTS: Weight gain from 48 to 60 mo and weight at 60 mo rather than birth weight were the strongest correlates of insulin, C-peptide, HOMA-IR, blood pressure, height, FFM, waist circumference, and fat mass at 60 mo. For instance, 1 SD higher (1 SD = 50 g/mo) weight accretion from 48 to 60 mo was associated with a higher insulin of 23.3% (95% CI: 9.6%, 38.8%), C-peptide of 11.4% (2.7%, 20.8%), systolic blood pressure of 1.4 mm Hg (0.6, 2.3 mm Hg), fat mass of 0.72 kg (0.59, 0.85 kg), and FFM of 0.70 kg (0.56, 0.85 kg). Weight gain from 0 to 3 mo was positively associated with LDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, height, and the body composition indices, and weight gain from 24 to 48 mo was inversely associated with blood glucose. // CONCLUSIONS: In 60-mo-old Ethiopian urban children, weight gain and weight after 48 mo rather than weight at birth may represent a sensitive period for variations in markers of adiposity and glucose metabolism. The birth cohort is registered at https://www.isrctn.com/ as ISRCTN46718296

Screening for type 2 diabetes and hypertension in seafarers' medical examinations

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study are: 1) to replace the urine glucose test for diabetes with more than 50% false negatives, with an accurate screening for type 2 diabetes and hypertension in the mandatory biannual fit-for-duty medical examinations of seafarers; 2) to produce data driven "Green Ship" health pro-motion in the ships. A new health promotion and disease prevention public health intervention programme integrated in the fit-for-duty medical examinations for seafarers is being developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lack of an accurate diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is replaced by accurate HbA1c and/or fasting glucose tests and the test for hypertension in various disease stages is based on the International Associations' Guidelines. A "Green Ship" health promotion programme is proposed for all on board, not only for diseased crew members. RESULTS: A protocol for an accurate biannual screening for diabetes and hypertension is presented. Educational programmes for medical doctors and seafarers on the management of hypertension and diabetes on board will be developed. Presuming that all crew members are potentially on their way to be pre-diseased or are diseased, the "Green Ship" health promotion programme is implemented for the whole crew. CONCLUSIONS: The International Labour Organization and the National Maritime Authorities are prompted to revise the International and the National Guidelines for Seafarers Medical Examinations, respectively. Con-certed actions are requested to implement public health promotion projects in shipping. Maritime medical doctors are prompted to use health dialogues and to report the clinical data in the Excel file. Sustainability is obtained by complying with the Sustainable Development Goals (3, 4, 8, 10, and 17)