Influence of leptin on changes in body fat during growth in African American and white children.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether initial levels or temporal changes in fasting leptin were associated with longitudinal changes in body-fat mass in children.

Research Methods And Procedures: The study group consisted of 85 children (42 white and 43 African American) with a mean initial age of 8.1 +/- 0.

Longitudinal changes in body fat in African American and Caucasian children: influence of fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity.

Obesity is associated with hyperinsulinemia and reduced insulin sensitivity, both risk factors for type 2 diabetes. However, it is not clear whether these risk factors occur as a result of obesity or whether they contribute to the development of obesity. The aims of this study were to determine whether baseline (first visit) or changes in insulin measures over time were associated with longitudinal changes in body fat mass during growth in children.

Growth of visceral fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat, and total body fat in children.

Objective: To examine the patterns of growth of visceral fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat, and total body fat over a 3- to 5-year period in white and African American children.

Research Methods And Procedures: Children (mean age: 8.1 +/- 1.

A longitudinal study of resting energy expenditure relative to body composition during puberty in African American and white children.

Background: Body composition and resting energy expenditure (REE) have not been examined longitudinally during puberty.

Objective: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the influence of pubertal maturation on REE relative to body composition in African American and white children.

Design: The study included 92 white and 64 African American children (mean age at baseline: 8.

Aerobic fitness, not energy expenditure, influences subsequent increase in adiposity in black and white children.

Background: Low levels of energy expenditure and aerobic fitness have been hypothesized to be risk factors for obesity. Longitudinal studies to determine whether energy expenditure influences weight gain in whites have provided conflicting results. To date, no studies have examined this relationship in blacks or whether aerobic fitness influences weight gain in white or black children.

Reliability of treadmill measures and criteria to determine VO2max in prepubertal girls.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to determine the reliability of measuring treadmill exercise economy (VO2submax) and the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in prepubertal girls tested twice, 6 wk apart. We also wanted to examine the percentage of young girls who were able to reach the criteria for achieving VO2max and to describe methods that would allow a high proportion of young children to achieve criteria for reaching a true VO2max.

Methods: We studied 61 normal-weight, prepubertal girls with a mean (+/- SD) age 7.

Paternal body fat is a longitudinal predictor of changes in body fat in premenarcheal girls.

Background: Longitudinal studies in infants and children suggest that low total energy expenditure (EE) (TEE) and parental body composition are important predisposing factors to obesity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine potential predictors of changes in total or percentage body fat over 2.7 y in premenarcheal girls.

Effects of strength training on intra-abdominal adipose tissue in obese prepubertal girls.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of strength training on fat distribution and its relationship to glucose tolerance in obese prepubertal girls.

Methods: A strength training intervention study was designed in which the children exercised three times per week for 5 months. Twelve healthy, obese prepubertal girls (ages 7-10 yr, > 95th percentile weight for height) were enrolled in the study.

Variability of abdominal adipose tissue measurements using computed tomography in prepubertal girls.

Objective: To determine the variability of measuring regional adipose tissue area using abdominal computed tomography (CT) in normal-weight, prepubertal girls.

Design: Measurements of abdominal CT were performed twice, 6 weeks apart.

Subjects: Sixty-one normal-weight, prepubertal girls (age: 4.

Body composition changes in Caucasian and African American children and adolescents with obesity using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements after a 10-week weight loss program.

Objective: Changes in body composition during a weight loss program have not been described in children. We wanted to test the hypothesis that weight loss can be achieved while maintaining total body fat-free mass.

Research Methods And Procedures: We determined body composition changes by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measured at baseline and after the first 10 weeks of a multidisciplinary weight loss program.

Reproducibility of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements in prepubertal girls.

Objective: Regulation of growth and development, clinical assessment, and obesity are among the areas of nutrition-related research, wherein accurate assessment of body composition is important. We want to test the hypothesis that dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements are reproducible in healthy girls.

Research Methods And Procedures: We determined total body composition measurements in healthy prepubertal girls using DXA twice, 6 weeks apart.

Fitness and energy expenditure after strength training in obese prepubertal girls.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a school-based, low-volume strength training program on energy expenditure, strength, and physical fitness in obese prepubertal girls.

Methods: A longitudinal, 5-month strength training exercise program was undertaken by healthy, obese (> 95th percentile weight-for-height, N = 11) girls age 7-10 yr. The following were measured: strength by the one-repetition maximum test; fitness (VO2peak) by a treadmill exercise test; resting metabolic rate (RMR), 24-h sedentary energy expenditure (SEE), and sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) by room respiration calorimetry; and total energy expenditure (TEE) by the doubly labeled water method.

Energy expenditure and physical fitness in overweight vs non-overweight prepubertal girls.

Objective: To determine whether overweight children have lower physical activity energy expenditure (EE) and fitness levels than non-overweight children.

Study Design: Twenty-four healthy girls aged 7-10 y were divided into overweight (> 95th percentile weight-for-height) and non-overweight (10-90th percentile) groups. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), 24 h sedentary EE (SEE) and total EE (TEE) were measured by room respiration calorimetry and doubly labelled water.

Prevalence of obesity with increased blood pressure in elementary school-aged children.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of obesity in school-aged children in Jefferson County, Alabama; to learn when school-aged children become obese; to determine the susceptible groups; and to study the association between obesity and blood pressure. During the school year, 5,953 children, ranging in age from 5 years to 11 years, were screened for weight, height, and blood pressure, using standardized techniques. We found that obesity, defined as > or = 120% of ideal body weight for height, is prevalent in 5-year-old to 11-year-old children.

Reproducibility of measurement of resting energy expenditure in prepubertal girls.

We determined the reproducibility of measuring resting energy expenditure (REE) and the effect on REE of spending the night before testing at home compared with in a clinical research center. We studied 19 prepubertal girls aged 6.0-10.

Feasibility of a clinic-based hypocaloric dietary intervention implemented in a school setting for obese children.

The objective of this study was to examine whether a protein-sparing modified fast diet and a hypocaloric balanced diet are effective in a clinic-based dietary intervention implemented in a school setting high-risk weight loss program for superobese (> or = 140% of their ideal body weight for height [IBW] children. A group of children from two suburban public schools in New Orleans, Louisiana were randomized to either dietary-intervention group and control group. Children were followed for 6 months.

Impact of intestinal lengthening on the nutritional outcome for children with short bowel syndrome.

Survival among children with short bowel syndrome has increased with the use of supportive nutritional techniques including parenteral and enteral nutrition. Further improvement in outcome has been sought by using intestinal lengthening procedures to lengthen the bowel, improve intestinal motility, initiate a progressive increase in intestinal mucosal mass, and thereby improve tolerance to enteral nutrition. The authors examine the growth parameters and the tolerance to enteral nutrition in children with refractory short bowel syndrome before and after intestinal lengthening procedures.

Chronic pulmonary aspiration in children.

According to established diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for chronic pulmonary aspiration, clinical suspicion is raised by coughing and choking with feeding, coughing during sleep, recurrent pneumonia, failure to thrive, and radiologic signs of chronic lung injury. The upper gastrointestinal series accurately defines anatomy and function, can differentiate between direct and reflux aspiration, and identifies conditions that predispose to aspiration. Gastroesophageal scintigraphy lacks anatomic detail but increases observation time, may differentiate between direct and reflux aspiration, and identifies delayed gastric emptying and gastroesophageal reflux.

Comparison of two hypocaloric diets in obese children.

Objective: To examine whether a protein-sparing modified fast diet and a hypocaloric balanced diet are safe and effective for children in an outpatient weight reduction program.

Design: Randomization of two groups to either diet, with follow-up at 14.5 months.

Gallbladder sludge and lithiasis in an infant born to a morphine user mother.

We report a 3-month-old boy with gallbladder sludge formation and lithiasis. The known associated factors causing cholelithiasis in infancy were not present. We postulate that maternal chronic use of morphine during pregnancy may result in biliary sludge formation in utero in the fetus with progression and manifestation of cholelithiasis at 3-months of age.

Failure to label baboon milk intrinsically with iron.

The widely held belief that 50% of the iron in human milk is absorbed is based on studies that have used an extrinsic radioactive iron tag. To determine the validity of an extrinsic tag, it is necessary to label the milk intrinsically with one isotope and to compare absorption of this isotope with absorption of another isotope added as the extrinsic tag. We chose the baboon as a model and infused 59Fe intravenously.

Effect of low zinc intake on absorption and excretion of zinc by infants studied with 70Zn as extrinsic tag.

The effect of low dietary intake of zinc was studied in six normal infants with the use of 70Zn as an extrinsic tag. Of the two study formulas, one provided a zinc intake similar to that of customary infant formulas ("high" intake), whereas the other provided a "low" zinc intake. Two zinc absorption studies were performed with each formula (sequence: high-low-low-high).

Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (Pi SZ) and biliary atresia.

We report an infant who presented at 2 days of age with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Serological, radiographic, and surgical investigations revealed the concurrence of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, protease inhibitor type SZ, and extrahepatic biliary atresia.

Solitary ulcer syndrome of the rectum in children.

We present two children with solitary ulcer syndrome of the rectum (SUSR): a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old. Although well recognized in the adult literature, the pediatric experience with this condition is limited. We review the clinicopathologic features of SUSR with emphasis on the pediatric experience.