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This paper is the first to use the individual level, longitudinal catch-up growth of boys and girls in a historical population to measure their relative deprivation. The data is drawn from two government schools, the Marcella Street Home (MSH) in Boston, MA (1889–1898), and the Ashford School of the West London School District (1908–1917). The paper provides an extensive discussion of the two schools including the characteristics of the children, their representativeness, selection bias and the conditions in each school. It also provides a methodological introduction to measuring children’s longitudinal catch-up growth. After analysing the catch-up growth of boys and girls in the schools, it finds that there were no substantial differences between the catch-up growth by gender. Thus, these data suggest that there were not major health disparities between boys and girls in late-nineteenth-century America and early-twentieth-century Britain.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the screen time used by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children and its association with their physical activity and weight status.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 purposive sampled children registered under the National Autism Society of Malaysia centres in Kuala Lumpur. Parents-administered questionnaire composed of socio-demographic, anthropometric data (height and weight of the children), Autism Severity Questionnaire, Screen Time Questionnaire and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) was used in this study.

Respondents in this study were categorised as having mild ASD (55%). Most of the respondents had higher screen time (78%), with average (4.14 ± 3.19) h spent using the devices. The respondents had low physical activity level (54%), with average PAQ-C scores of (2.38 ± 0.79). Average BMI-for-age z-scores was 1.06 ± 2.15, which was in the normal category. Approximately, 34% of the respondents were overweight and obese. BMI-for-age was positively associated with screen time during weekdays (χ² = 11.06; p < 0.05) but not during weekend (χ² = 3.14; p > 0.05). Spearman correlation test showed negative relationships between screen time on weekdays (rs = −0.30 and p < 0.01) and weekend (rs = −0.21 and p < 0.05) with PAQ-C of this group of ASD children.

Screen time was directly associated with the BMI-for-age z-score but was inversely associated with physical activity. Future studies could implement a structured physical activity intervention among children with ASD, which may increase physical activity and decrease screen time behaviours while addressing the overweight/obesity and cognitive aspects of these ASD children.

This study measured the amount of screen time, level of physical activity and weight status but not dietary intake of autistic children.

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether an in-service life teacher training program can improve boarding students’ health, behavior, and academic performance.

The authors conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial to measure the effect of life teacher training on student health, behavior, and academic performance among 839 boarding students in ten central primary boarding schools in Shaanxi. And the authors also tried to identify why or why not life teacher training works. Both descriptive and multivariate analysis are used in this paper.

The authors find significant improvements in health and behavior. Specifically, compared to boarding students in control schools, 15 percent fewer students in treatment schools reported feeling cold while sleeping at night. The results also showed that student tardiness and misbehaviors after class declined significantly by 18 and 78 percent, respectively. However, the in-service life teacher training program had no measurable impact on boarding students’ BMI-for-age Z-score, number of misbehaviors in class, and academic performance. The analysis suggests that improved communication between life teachers and students might be one mechanism behind these results.

This is the first empirical work which explored how to improve the welfare of boarding students via their life teachers. Because of the sudden increase in boarding students in rural China, it is almost certain that school personnel lack experience in managing boarding students. As such, one promising approach to improving student outcomes might be in-service training for life teachers.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of a modified HBM-based intervention to reduce body mass index (BMI) for age in overweight junior high school students.

A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in the first and second years of a junior high school in the center of Thailand. In total, 24 classrooms were randomly assigned to a modified health belief model intervention arm (HBMIA), and 24 classrooms were randomly assigned to a traditional school health education arm (control). In total, 479 students who were overweight (BMI forage = median +1 SD, aged 12–15 years) participated in the study. The HBMIA used the health belief model (HBM) as a motivator for behavioral strategies that included modifying diet and participating in physical activity. BMI, health knowledge and behavior for preventing obesity were recorded at baseline and at six months. A multilevel regression model was performed to calculate mean difference between HBMIA and control group.

The students who participated in the HBMIA showed a decrease in BMI of 1.76 kg/m², while those who participated in the control showed an increase in BMI of 1.13 kg/m², with a mean difference of –2.88 kg/m² (95% CI =–3.01 to –2.75), an improvement in health knowledge (mean difference 27.28; 95% CI =26.15–28.41) and an improvement in health behavior (mean difference 23.54; 95% CI =22.60–24.48).

A modified HBM-based intervention to reduce BMI for age is effective in overweight junior high school students.

Identifying and addressing poor nutritional status in school-aged children is often not prioritized relative to HIV/AIDS treatment. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the benefits of integrating nutrition (assessment and culturally acceptable food supplement intervention) in the treatment strategy for this target group.

The authors conducted a randomized, double blind pre-/post-intervention trial with 201 HIV-positive children (six to 15 years) in Botswana. Eligibility included CD4 cell counts < 700/mm3 (a marker for the severity of HIV infection), documented treatment with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, and no reported evidence of taking supplemental food products with one or more added nutrients in the six-month period prior to the study. The intervention (12 months) consisted of two food supplements for ethical reason, one with a higher protein content, bean (bean-sorghum based) group (n=97) and a cereal (sorghum) group (n=104) both of which contained added energy- and micro- nutrients. Anthropometric and biochemical nutritional status indicators (stunting, wasting, underweight, skinfolds for fat and muscle protein reserves, and hemoglobin levels) were compared within and between the bean and the cereal groups pre- and post-intervention separately for children six to nine years and ten to 15 years.

Older children (ten to 15 years) fared worse overall compared to those who were younger (six to nine years) children in anthropometric and protein status indicators both at baseline and post-intervention. Among children six to nine years, the mid arm circumference and blood hemoglobin levels improved significantly in both the bean and cereal groups (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Although the BMI for age z-score and the triceps skinfold decreased significantly in the bean group, the post-intervention subscapular skinfold (fat stores) was significantly higher for the bean group compared to the cereal group (p < 0.05). Among children ten to 15 years, both the bean and the cereal groups also showed improvement in mid arm circumference (p < 0.001), but only those in the bean group showed improvement in hemoglobin (p < 0.01) post-intervention.

Similar significant nutritional status findings and trends were found for both food interventions and age within group pre- vs post-comparisons, except hemoglobin in the older children. Post-intervention hemoglobin levels for the type food supplement was higher for the “bean” vs the “cereal” food in the younger age group. The fact that all children, but especially those who were older were in poor nutritional status supports the need for nutrition intervention in conjunction with ARV treatment in children with HIV/AIDS, perhaps using a scaled up future approach to enhance desired outcomes.

The purpose of this paper is to assess nutritional status among children with extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO).

Forty six children with documented EHPVO with age and sex matched siblings and controls were selected from the Department of Gastroenterology, Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur. Nutritional assessment was done by anthropometry and dietary recall method (24-h dietary recall method). Height for age and BMI for age were compared with WHO standards.

An equal percentage of EHPVO patients, siblings and controls (4.34 percent) were stunted. Nearly 23.9 percent EHPVO patients and their siblings and 30.4 percent of controls were severely wasted. Similar proportion of subjects had MAMA<5th percentile. Dietary intake was similar between the study groups. Growth velocity was similar among the groups after one-year follow-up.

Data from India regarding EHPVO are very scarce from India. One study from Sarin et al. in 1992 reported EHPVO-affected children to be growth retarded. The present study, in contradiction to this study postulates that the affected children may not be growth retarded because of the disease but heredity and environmental factors may play a role.

Frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) not only contribute to the incidence of dental caries but also a substantial risk for metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and arthritis. Therefore, this study aims to compare the ready-to-drink SSB (RTD-SSB) consumption frequency, choice and sugar intake across gender and body weight status.

This cross-sectional study involved 126 adolescents from two primary schools in Shah Alam, Selangor. Adolescents aged between 9-11 years old were enrolled using convenience sampling method. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess socio-demographic and RTD-SSB consumption of the adolescents. The RTD-SSB consumption was assessed with 2-day 24-hour dietary recalls (single weekend and single weekday recalls), whereas body weight and height were assessed using TANITA weighing scale and stadiometer, respectively. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0, while BMI-for-age (BAZ) z-score was determined using the World Health Organization (WHO) AnthroPlus software version 1.0.4.

The mean age of 126 adolescents was 10.82 ± 0.93 years old. The frequency of SSB consumption was 1.77 ± 1.25 times/day, whereas the average daily sugar intake was 6.3 teaspoons (26.61 ± 22.18 g) from RTD-SSBs. Flavoured milk emerged as the most frequent consumed beverage among adolescents, regardless of gender and weight status. No association was observed between the RTD-SSB consumption frequency and weight status (χ² = 0.953, p > 0.05) as well as sugar intake and weight status (χ² = 1.202, p > 0.05). Emerging findings demonstrated that the RTD-SSB consumption frequency, choice and sugar intake were similar across gender and weight status.

This was the first study that compares RTD-SSB consumption frequency, choice and sugar intake across gender and different body weight status.

This study aims at determining the risk of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors on overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 10–13 years in Tanzania.

A case-control study was conducted from January to March 2020 involving 69 overweight/obese children as cases and 138 normal weight children as controls. Cases were identified as having body mass index-for-age ≥ +1 standard deviation (SD) and controls as those having BMI-for-age range between −2 SD to <+1 SD. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection on daily physical activities and sedentary behavior types, frequency duration and activity score. An independent sample t-test was used to compare means of activity score between cases and controls. Binary logistic regression was used to predict risk factors for overweight/obesity.

Risk factors for overweight/obesity were listening to music and/or radio for >2 h/week (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.1) and walking for exercise <2 h/week (OR 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–4.1). On the other hand, rope skipping for >2 h/week (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03–0.7) was a protective factor against overweight/obesity. Controls had a significantly higher mean score of being active during lunch breaks compared to cases (p = 0.012). Cases had higher weight, height and percentage body fat than controls (p < 0.001). The home environment provided more avenues for physical activity than the school environment.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is original research work and the first case-control study to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight and obesity in Tanzanian school children.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between parental child feeding practices with growth status of Orang Asli (OA) children in Negeri Sembilan.

This is a cross-sectional study conducted amongst 190 OA children aged 4–6 years studying at Tabika KEMAS OA in Negeri Sembilan. Mothers were interviewed to obtain socio-demographic information while feeding practices were assessed using Malay version of Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ-M). Growth status of the children were determined using WHO ANTHRO Plus software. Three indicators of growth status assessed were weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI)-for-age (BAZ) z-scores.

The mean score for feeding practices used by the mothers while feeding their child showed that most of the mothers practiced modelling (3.71 ± 0.82), encouraging balance and variety (3.52 ± 0.76) and environment (3.66 ± 0.66) while the practice of restriction to weight (1.85 ± 0.79) and emotional regulation (2.20 ± 0.96) were low. Most of the OA children had normal WAZ (70.0%), HAZ (71.1%) and BAZ (84.2%). Amongst the three indicators of growth status, BAZ was used to study the relationship with feeding practices. The use of feeding practices such as pressure (r = −0.34, p < 0.01), food as a reward (r = −0.23, p=<0.01), child control (r = −0.18, p = 0.01) and restriction to weight (r = 0.19, p = 0.01) were associated with BAZ.

This study only focussed on OA children of Temuan and Semelai sub-ethnics studying at kindergarten specific for OA children, thus findings could not be generalised to the entire OA population in Malaysia.

There is a need to address the OA population as they continue to be amongst the most disadvantaged population often affected with poor health and social outcomes.

In this study, a wide range of scales in that represents different feeding practices in CFPQ-M was assessed instead of focussing on limited type of feeding practices. Thus, a better understanding was observed regarding the healthy and unhealthy feeding practices. The result of this study could be useful to update the existing literature of OA research, and to plan suitable interventions with regards to feeding practices and growth status of the children, especially amongst this vulnerable community.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between calorie and macronutrients intake and the growth status of Aboriginal children based on gender and age group.

This was a cross-sectional study participated by 85 school-aged Aboriginal children at Labu, Negeri Sembilan. The dietary intake and socioeconomic status data were collected from the parents using an interviewer administrated structured-questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. WHO AnthroPlus software was used to determine the z-score of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI) for age (BAZ).

The mean fat intake was significantly higher among younger children (i.e. 7–9 years old) as compared to elder children (i.e. 10–12 years old) (40.7 ± 17.3 g vs 32.0 ± 13.8 g; t = 2.496, p = 0.015) but not for the mean intake of calorie (1816.1 ± 979.9 kcal vs 1566.3 ± 808.7 kcal; t = 1.248, p = 0.216), protein (50.13 ± 20.08 g vs 44.94 ± 16.45 g; t = 1.269, p = 0.208) and carbohydrates (198.0 ± 63.0 g vs 190.8 ± 66.1 g; t = 0.513, p = 0.609). The majority of the respondents did not meet recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for the calorie (65.9%) and fat (75.3%). A significantly higher proportion of elder children did not meet RNI for fat as compared to younger children (88.8% vs 65.3%; X² = 6.21, p = 0.021). The HAZ showed that 28.2% (n = 24) of the Aboriginal children were stunted, while WAZ showed that 14.8% (n = 9) of the Aboriginal students were underweight, and 8.2% of them were overweight. Based on BAZ classification, 15.4% (n = 6) of boys and 2.2% (n = 1) of girls were overweight. There is no significant correlation between calories and macronutrients and growth status of the children.

Although the under-nutrition status among Aboriginal children is still a highlighted issue, the few over-nutrition statuses among Aborigines should be taken into count, especially in term of energy and macronutrient intake.