UNASSIGNED: Gross motor coordination (GMC) plays a crucial factor in children\'s motor development and daily activities. It encompasses various sub-capacities, such as spatial orientation, rhythm, and motor reaction, collectively referred to as basic coordination capacities (BCC). However, children who are overweight and obese (OW/OB) often display poorer GMC. This study aims to examine the impact of gender and weight status (BMI categories) on children\'s GMC and BCC. It also seeks to investigate the impact of BCC and BMI on GMC.
UNASSIGNED: The study involved 266 participants, 135 in the NW group (boys: n = 75; girls: n = 60) and 131 in the OW/OB group (boys: n = 68; girls: n = 63). An NW status is defined by a BMI z-score between ≥-2SD to ≤1SD, while an OW/OB status corresponds to a BMI z-score > 1SD. Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children, developed by the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. We used six field tests to evaluate BCC, including single leg standing test (static balance), YBT (dynamic balance), rhythmic sprint test (rhythm), reaction time test (motor reaction), target standing broad test (kinesthetic differentiation), and numbered medicine ball running test (spatial orientation). GMC was evaluated with Kiphard-Schilling\'s Body Coordination Test (KTK).
UNASSIGNED: The motor quotient (MQ) was primarily affected by weight status (F = 516.599, p < 0.001; gender: F = 6.694, p = 0.01), with no significant interaction effect (F = 0.062, p = 0.803). In BCC, gender had a significant main effect on rhythm capacity (F = 29.611, p < 0.001) and static balance (F = 11.257, p = 0.001) but did not significant influence other sub-capacities (p > 0.05). Weight status impacted dynamic balance (F = 11.164, p = 0.001). The interaction of gender and weight status significantly impacted motor reaction (F = 1.471, p = 0.024) and kinesthetic differentiation (F = 5.454, p = 0.02), but did not affect other sub-capacities (p > 0.05). The physical activity was not significant affected by gender (F = 0.099, p = 0.753), weight status (F = 0.171, p = 0.679) and the interactions of two variables (F = 0.06, p = 0.806). In the regression analysis, except motor reaction (p > 0.05), other BCC sub-capacities influenced GMC to varying extents (β = -0.103-0.189, p < 0.05). Nonetheless, only two types of balance significantly mediated the relationship between BMI and GMC (BMI→MQ: β = -0.543, p < 0.001; BMI→YBT: β = -0.315, p < 0.001; BMI→SLS: β = -0.282, p < 0.001; SLS→MQ: β = 0.189, p < 0.001; YBT→MQ: β = 0.182, p < 0.001).
UNASSIGNED: Compared to gender, the main effect of weight status on most GMC and BCC\'s sub-capacities was more pronounced. OW/OB children exhibited poorer GMC, which is related to their reduced static and dynamic balance due to excess weight. Kinesthetic differentiation, spatial orientation, and rhythm capacity are not significantly associated with BMI, but these sub-capacities positively influence gross motor coordination (GMC), except for hand-eye motor reaction.

UNASSIGNED: First, to examine the relationship between primary school children\'s academic achievement and healthy lifestyle habits. Second, to evaluate the effectiveness of two different 5-month physical education interventions (traditional physical education vs. coordinative physical education) on children\'s academic achievement. Third, to examine whether variations of anthropometric variables, fitness level, gross motor coordination, physical activity level, sedentary time, attentional performance, fruit and vegetable consumption, meal frequency and type of physical education intervention could predict children\'s academic achievement variations.
UNASSIGNED: Before and after the intervention, Italian language and mathematics skills, anthropometric variables (weight, height, body fat percentage, BMI), physical fitness (aerobic fitness, muscular strength, flexibility), gross motor coordination, attentional performance (processing speed, concentration performance, performance accuracy, attentional and inhibitory control), physical activity level, sedentary time and eating habits (meal frequency, fruit and vegetable consumption) were assessed in 161 Italian primary school children, randomly assigned to a traditional physical education group or to a coordinative physical education group.
UNASSIGNED: Physical activity level, gross motor coordination and aerobic fitness moderately predicted mathematics skill (R2 = 17%). Moreover, physical activity level, aerobic fitness and muscular strength moderately predicted Italian language skill (R2 = 21%). Intervention type differently affected academic achievement. Specifically, Italian language and mathematics skills significantly improved only after traditional intervention. Fruit consumption increase was positively associated with the improvement in academic achievement. Coordinative physical education intervention was associated with a lower probability of improvement in Italian language and mathematical skills.
UNASSIGNED: Motor ability and lifestyle habits may have a positive influence on academic achievement in children. Unexpectedly, traditional physical education intervention resulted to be more effective on both Italian language and mathematical skills.

BACKGROUND: Despite the end of the COVID-19 lockdown and reopening of schools, the long-term effects of quarantine on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle of children and adolescents remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the long-term effects of the lockdown on the weight status, eating habits, and lifestyle changes of children and adolescents in Iran.
METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2022. The target population comprised one hundred students aged between 10 and 16 years old. Our study obtained students\' weight and height data from records maintained by school principals or physical education instructors before and after the quarantine period. The BMI z-score (zBMI) was calculated for each time point. The researchers also provided a questionnaire to collect the students\' demographic and lifestyle status changes during school closures.
RESULTS: We found that the zBMI increased significantly from - 0.02 ± 1.64 to 0.36 ± 1.12, and the number of individuals with overweight and obesity increased by 3% during quarantine (P ≤ 0.05). These changes were more pronounced in males and students aged 14-16 years old. We also found that eating habits, sleeping time, sleeping patterns, screen time (time spent on social media per day), and physical activity had significant negative changes during quarantine, and a significant increase in zBMI was observed among students who experienced negative eating behaviors, altered sleeping patterns, and decreased physical activity during school closures.
CONCLUSIONS: As prolonged school closures due to the COVID-19 lockdown aggravated students\' health and lifestyle status, our findings can aid in proper planning to establish an appropriate framework for the diet, physical activity, and sleeping quality of students during extended school closures.

Place of residence (urban versus rural) is a contextual determinant of health that has received less attention in the food insecurity literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the urban-rural disparity in the prevalence of food insecurity and weight status among US children. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016 with three age groups of children (2-5, 6-11, and 12-17 years old), the associations of weight status and child and household food security status by urban-rural residence were examined using Rao-Scott Chi-square tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Children living in urban areas were significantly more likely to experience household food insecurity (29.15%) compared to their rural counterparts (19.10%), among those aged 6-11 years. The associations between children\'s weight status and child and household food security status were significant for children living in urban areas overall and different age groups but not for children living in rural areas. These trends were more pronounced in older age groups. Given the link between food insecurity and higher obesity rates, particularly among urban children, this study highlights the importance of incorporating food security interventions into future obesity prevention programs.

BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight and obesity is a global concern and has increased in Spain over the last decades. Combinations of lifestyle behaviors (i.e., diet, sleep, and sedentarism) are highly related to weight status. Therefore, this study aimed to identify lifestyle patterns among children from Madrid City, and analyze associations with the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, considering socio-economic factors.
METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 4545 children from the ENPIMAD study with data on diet, sleep, anthropometric, and socio-economic variables. K-means cluster analysis was used to identify lifestyle clusters, and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between socio-economic indicators and cluster membership, and between clusters and weight status.
RESULTS: Findings show three lifestyle clusters (healthy, mixed, and unhealthy), with boys and older children more represented in the unhealthy cluster. Food insecurity and low socio-economic status were associated with unhealthier clusters in boys and girls. Children in unhealthier clusters were more likely to have obesity and abdominal obesity. However, these associations disappeared in girls after controlling for food insecurity.
CONCLUSIONS: These results provide insight into the combination of behaviors and socio-economic factors associated with childhood obesity that may aid in the design of future interventions.

BACKGROUND: The minority of people with an eating disorder receive treatment. Little is known about predictors of receiving treatment.
METHODS: Using data from the Growing Up Today Study we identified correlates of receiving treatment for an eating disorder among the 1237 U.S. women who answered questions on treatment history in 2013 and reported meeting criteria for subthreshold eating disorder in ≥ 1 year between 1996 and 2013. Logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the relative odds of receiving treatment.
RESULTS: Approximately 11% of the women reported receiving treatment for an eating disorder. Independent of type of eating disorder, those who had received a diagnosis of depression or anxiety were more likely (odds ratio (OR) = 3.05 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.87-4.97) to receive treatment for an eating disorder. Women with obesity were approximately 85% less likely to receive treatment (OR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.04-0.46) regardless of their type of eating disorder or history of depression of anxiety diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Most women meeting criteria for an eating disorder do not receive treatment. Women with BED or obesity are the least likely to receive treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Weight stigma has negative consequences for both physiological and psychological health. Studies on weight stigma in adolescence, particularly from general populations, are scarce in the Mediterranean area. The main aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of experienced and internalized weight stigma among a representative sample of adolescents from the Spanish city of Terrassa, and to determine its association with sociodemographic variables and weight status.
METHODS: Drawing on data from the initial assessment of a longitudinally funded project on weight stigma in adolescents, a cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted using random multistage cluster sampling. Weight stigma experiences, their frequency and sources, and weight bias internalization with the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBISM) were assessed in a sample of 1016 adolescents. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) between sociodemographic variables, weight status and having experienced weight stigma, and having reported high scores of WBISM (WBISM ≥ 4) were estimated by multiple logistic regression models.
RESULTS: The prevalence of weight-related stigma experiences was 43.2% in the sample (81.8 in adolescents with obesity) and the prevalence of high levels of weight bias internalization was 19.4% (50.7 in adolescents with obesity). Other kids and school were the most prevalent sources of weight stigma, with society and family being other significant sources of stigma reported by girls. A significantly higher risk of having experienced weight stigma was observed in girls (AOR = 2.6) and in older adolescents (AOR = 1.9). Compared to normal weight adolescents, all weight statuses showed higher risk, being 3.4 times higher in adolescents with underweight and reaching 11.4 times higher risk in those with obesity. Regarding high levels of weight bias internalization, girls had a risk 6.6 times higher than boys. Once again, a \"J-shaped\" pattern was observed, with a higher risk at the lowest and highest weight statuses. The risk was 6.3 times higher in adolescents with underweight, and 13.1 times higher in adolescents with obesity compared to those with normal weight.
CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high prevalence of experienced and internalized weight stigma among adolescents in Spain, especially in adolescents with obesity and girls, it seems important to implement preventive strategies in different settings and address all sources of stigma.

UNASSIGNED: To explore the association between VPA and weight status in adolescents.
UNASSIGNED: The 2017/2018 Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey (HBSC) targeted children and adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15. A systematic multistage stratified cluster randomized sampling method was used in each participating country. The 2017/2018 survey enrolled over 240,951 adolescents across 45 countries and regions. Frequency of VPA, weight status and confounding factors were collected using a self-reported questionnaire.
UNASSIGNED: Compared to daily VPA, less frequent VPA was linked to higher odds of obesity. For example, those who participating in VPA for 4-6 times a week (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06-1.13), 2-3 times a week (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.17-1.25), or once a week (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.16-1.25) all have higher odds of abnormal weight status. For boys, the frequency of 4-6 times a week (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04-1.13), 2-3 times a week (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.17-1.27), or once a week (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.19-1.32) were associated with higher odds of abnormal weight status. For girls, those who participating in VPA 4-6 times a week (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06-1.16), 2-3 times a week (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.14-1.25), or once a week (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.11-1.23) all have higher odds of abnormal weight status (i.e., overweight or obesity).
UNASSIGNED: This population-based study suggests that infrequent VPA participation is associated with unhealthy weight status in adolescents compared to their physically active counterparts. Additionally, this association remains consistent in both boys and girls.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity is a heightened concern among economically disadvantaged youth, and it may contribute to the atypical body mass index (BMI) patterns frequently observed in this group. Self-efficacy seems to intervene in the negative impacts of contextual restraints. This study investigated the relationship between food insecurity, self-efficacy, and BMI trajectory among economically disadvantaged Taiwanese youth.
METHODS: We utilized three-wave longitudinal data from the Taiwan Database of Children and Youth in Poverty. The Food Insecurity Score (FIS) assessed food insecurity with a 4-item scale measuring reduced meal frequency, hunger, skipping meals, and economic constraints. Moreover, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) assessed self-efficacy, showcasing the ability to handle stress effectively and envision success scenarios, contributing to positive outcomes. By employing latent growth modeling, we were able to delineate the impacts of baseline food insecurity and self-efficacy on initial BMI and its subsequent growth trajectory.
RESULTS: Elevated baseline FIS significantly predicted higher initial BMI (coefficient = 0.420, p = 0.042). Baseline GSES was negatively associated with initial BMI (coefficient = -0.093, p < 0.001) but positively predicted the BMI growth rate (coefficient = 0.023, p = 0.011).
CONCLUSIONS: Enhancing self-efficacy may be an effective multidisciplinary intervention to address psychosocial and socioeconomic factors when tackling weight problems in vulnerable youth groups.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown countermeasure may have significantly affected adolescents\' physical and mental health. This study aims to assess adolescents\' recollections of this period, also analyzing their current weight status along with factors they traced back to the epidemic phase and their current sports practice. A survey among 233 Italian adolescents aged 12.4 ± 0.9 years was conducted in October 2023. To achieve the research objectives, a new questionnaire was developed: the COVID-19 AdolesceNt/chilDren Lockdown Experience questionnaire (CANDLE). The new questionnaire was employed to gather data on the adolescents\' recollections of the lockdown situation they experienced. The stature and weight of participants were measured directly. The results indicated that middle schoolers remember both positive and negative experiences of the lockdown: the change perceived as the most positive was spending more time with family, while social detachment from peers represents the most negative aspect. According to multivariate regression analysis, certain behaviors they assumed during the lockdown, such as comfort food consumption in boys and sleeping disturbances in girls, in addition to their current sports practice, affected their actual Body Mass Index. This study supports the evidence that changes caused by the COVID-19 lockdown affected adolescents\' physical and mental health, albeit with sex differences.