Atypical eating behaviors displayed by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) predispose them to unhealthy weight gain. We determined the factors associated with body weight status among 261 children with ASD (3-18 years) at nine autism intervention centers. Their mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how individuals with overweight and obesity living in the UK respond to the public health and media messaging surrounding COVID-19 and obesity. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative interview study with a think aloud protocol. A total of 10 participants self-reported to have overweight, obesity…

This study aimed at averting challenges of overweight and obesity among African Americans in rural Alabama. Focus group discussions and surveys were used to design a 12-week nutrition education and physical activity program. Results showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in participants' knowledge scores. Values for systolic blood pressure…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between physical and some motoric characteristics of university students who participate in regular sports training and those who do not. A total of 20 volunteer students, 10 students with an average age of 20.80 ± 1.69 and 10 students with an average age of 19.90 ± 1.45 without any…

Starting in 2009, the German state of Saxony distributed sports club membership vouchers among all 33,000 third graders in the state. The policy's objective was to encourage them to develop a long-term habit of exercising. In 2018, we carried out a large register-based survey among several cohorts in Saxony and two neighboring states. Our…

The NIEHS-sponsored "Appalachian Health & Well-Being Community Forum" held in Eastern Kentucky brought various community members together to communicate and establish better coordination of efforts to improve health and address regional environmental issues. The 2-hour forum discussion provided bi-directional feedback about the needs…

Background: Some studies suggest that children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) are at elevated risk of obesity. The objective was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with overweight and obesity among students attending special education schools in Cantabria, Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional design. A sample of n…

We analyze adolescent BMI and middle-age systolic blood pressure (SBP) repeatedly measured on women enrolled in the Fels longitudinal study (FLS) between 1929 and 2010 to address three questions: Do adolescent-specific growth rates in BMI and menarche affect middle-age SBP? Do they moderate the aging effect on middle-age SBP? Have the effects…

Background: Internationally 18% of youth are obese. Fitness testing can be used to establish fitness surveillance, which can inform policy and targeted interventions aimed at addressing obesity. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and low fitness in Idaho school-aged youth through a pilot study.…

There is now a wealth of research on obesity both from biomedical and socially critical perspectives. However, less research has focused on the lived experiences of young children and particularly those who are perceived as 'sedentary'. This paper critically examines the issue of obesity as related to children's experiences of physical…

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 allows school districts to provide free meals to all students if over 40 percent of them are directly certified as free-meal eligible. While emerging evidence documents positive effects on student behavior and academics, critics worry that CEP has unintended…

Background: Obesity is more prevalent in people with intellectual disabilities and increases the risk of developing serious medical conditions. UK guidance recommends multicomponent weight management interventions (MCIs), tailored for different population groups. Methods: An integrative review utilizing systematic review methodology was conducted…

Objective: To assess the role of body mass index (BMI) and exercise levels in self-perception of critical thinking skills. Participants: Three hundred forty-seven students from an upper-division nutrition class over two consecutive years. Methods: A pre/post survey with a 15-week intervention assessed perceived critical thinking skills in a…

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to identify the contribution of nutrition, physical activity (PA), and total energy intake and expenditure on body weight and composition in adolescents. Methods: Body composition, PA, and dietary intakes from 904 Greek adolescents (446 boys and 458 girls; Age: 14.6 ± 1.5 yrs), were evaluated. All…

Previous activity classification studies have typically been performed on normal weight individuals. Therefore, it is unclear whether a generic classification algorithm could be developed that would perform consistently across individuals who fall within different BMI categories. Acceleration data were collected from the hip and ankle joints of 50…