Associations of birth weight with serum long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in adolescents; the HELENA study.

Objectives: Nutritional factors in early life may have long-term physiologic effects in humans. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play important roles in protecting against cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Our aim was to examine the association of birth weight (BW) with serum long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) profile in adolescents.

Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in European adolescents: the HELENA study.

The authors' aim in this cross-sectional study was to characterize levels of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents from 9 European countries. The study comprised 2,200 European adolescents (1,184 girls) participating in the HELENA cross-sectional study (2006-2008). Physical activity was measured by accelerometry and was expressed as average intensity (counts/minute) and amount of time (minutes/day) spent engaging in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA).

Possible site-specific effect of an intervention combining nutrition and lifestyle counselling with consumption of fortified dairy products on bone mass: the Postmenopausal Health Study II.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether a holistic approach combining nutrition and lifestyle counselling with the consumption of milk and yoghurt enriched with calcium, vitamin D(3) and phylloquinone (vitamin K(1)) or menaquinone (vitamin K(2)) would have any additional benefit on bone mineral density (BMD) indices measured at various skeletal sites using two different techniques, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and quantitative ultrasonography (QUS). A sample of 115 postmenopausal women were randomized to three intervention groups, receiving daily via fortified milk and yoghurt and for 12 months, 800 mg calcium and 10 μg vitamin D(3) (CaD group, n = 26); 800 mg calcium, 10 μg vitamin D(3) and 100 μg vitamin K(1) (CaDK1 group, n = 26); 800 mg calcium, 10 μg vitamin D(3) and 100 μg vitamin K(2) (CaDK2 group, n = 24); and a control group (CO group, n = 39) following their usual diet. All three intervention groups attended biweekly nutrition and lifestyle counselling sessions.

Comparison of the IPAQ-A and actigraph in relation to VO2max among European adolescents: the HELENA study.

The purpose was to compare data obtained from a modified, long, self-administered version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-A) with objective data obtained in parallel from Actigraph accelerometers, and VO(2)max in adolescents. The study comprised a total of 2018 adolescents (46% male) from ten European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Physical activity was assessed over seven consecutive days by accelerometry and expressed as min/day of moderate, vigorous, and moderate to vigorous (MVPA) physical activity (PA).

The International Fitness Scale (IFIS): usefulness of self-reported fitness in youth.

Background: We examined: (i) the usefulness of the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) to correctly rank adolescents into physical fitness levels; (ii) the capacity of the IFIS for predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; and (iii) the reliability of the IFIS in adolescents.

Methods: The study comprised 3059 adolescents (aged 12.5-17.

Study protocol of physical activity and sedentary behaviour measurement among schoolchildren by accelerometry--cross-sectional survey as part of the ENERGY-project.

Background: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour among children should be measured accurately in order to investigate their relationship with health. Accelerometry provides objective and accurate measurement of body movement, which can be converted to meaningful behavioural outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best evidence for the decisions on data collection and data processing with accelerometers among children resulting in a standardized protocol for use in the participating countries.

Pilot evaluation of the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Food-O-Meter, a computer-tailored nutrition advice for adolescents: a study in six European cities.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and impact of the Food-O-Meter, an Internet-based computer-tailored nutrition intervention in adolescents.

Design: Participants in the intervention condition received the computer-tailored advice at baseline and at 1 month, those in the control condition received standardised advice. Effects were evaluated at 1 month (n 621) and at 3 months (n 558) using multi-level modelling.

EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth (ENERGY) project: Design and methodology of the ENERGY cross-sectional survey.

Background: Obesity treatment is by large ineffective long term, and more emphasis on the prevention of excessive weight gain in childhood and adolescence is warranted. To inform energy balance related behaviour (EBRB) change interventions, insight in the potential personal, family and school environmental correlates of these behaviours is needed. Studies on such multilevel correlates of EBRB among schoolchildren in Europe are lacking.

Breastfeeding in infancy is not associated with inflammatory status in healthy adolescents.

It has been suggested that breast-feeding (BF) may be associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. A low-grade inflammation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in apparently healthy children. The objective of this study was to assess the potential modulating effect of BF on the inflammatory status of healthy adolescents.

Evaluation of iron status in European adolescents through biochemical iron indicators: the HELENA Study.

Background/objectives: To assess the iron status among European adolescents through selected biochemical parameters in a cross-sectional study performed in 10 European cities.

Subjects/methods: Iron status was defined utilising biochemical indicators. Iron depletion was defined as low serum ferritin (SF<15 μg/l).

Seasonal variations of vitamin D status in Greek postmenopausal women receiving enriched dairy products for 30 months: the Postmenopausal Health Study.

The effectiveness of a 30-month dietary intervention on vitamin D status of Greek postmenopausal women was examined. Sixty-six postmenopausal women (55-65 years old) were randomized into an intervention group (IG), receiving a daily dose of 7.5 μg of vitamin D₃ for 12 months that increased to 22.

Excessive sedentary time and low cardiorespiratory fitness in European adolescents: the HELENA study.

Background: The aims of this study were to examine what amount of sedentary time is associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adolescents and whether this association is independent of physical activity.

Methods: The study comprised 1808 adolescents aged 12.5-17.

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation through fortified dairy products counterbalances seasonal variations of bone metabolism indices: the Postmenopausal Health Study.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of a dietary intervention combined with fortified dairy products on bone metabolism and bone mass indices in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Forty postmenopausal women (55-65 years old) were equally randomized into a dietary group (DG), receiving daily and for 30 months, 1,200 mg of calcium and 7.5 μg of vitamin D(3) for the first 12 months that increased to 22.

Comparison of several anthropometric indices with insulin resistance proxy measures among European adolescents: The Helena Study.

The aim of the current study was to compare the association of several anthropometric indices, with insulin resistance (IR) proxy measures in European adolescents. The present study comprises 1,097 adolescents aged 12.5-17.

Social, economic and demographic correlates of overweight and obesity in primary-school children: preliminary data from the Healthy Growth Study.

Objective: To record the prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban primary-school children in relation to several socio-economic and demographic factors.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting/subjects: A representative sample of 729 schoolchildren (379 male and 350 female), aged 9-13 years, stratified by parental educational level, was examined in the urban region of Athens.

Determinants of childhood obesity and association with maternal perceptions of their children's weight status: the "GENESIS" study.

Prevention of early childhood obesity requires a clear understanding of its determinants. This study examined perinatal, parental, and lifestyle determinants of childhood obesity and how these factors are associated with maternal misperceptions of their children's weight status. The current work presents a cross-sectional analysis of 2,374 children, age 1 to 5 years, living in Greece (April 2003 to July 2004).

Does a short breastfeeding period protect from FTO-induced adiposity in children?

Context: A number of studies have reported replicable associations between common genetic loci and obesity indices. One of these loci is the fat mass and obesity associated locus (FTO). We aimed to assess whether breastfeeding mediated the known association between FTO and indices of body fatness.

Longer breastfeeding is associated with increased lower body explosive strength during adolescence.

Our aim in this study was to examine the association between breastfeeding duration and cardiorespiratory fitness, isometric strength, and explosive strength during adolescence. A total of 2567 adolescents (1426 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) cross-sectional study aged 12.5-17.

Comparison of two methods for identifying dietary patterns associated with obesity in preschool children: the GENESIS study.

Background/objectives: The aim of this work was to identify dietary patterns based on reduced rank regression (RRR) and principal component analysis (PCA) and to evaluate the association of these patterns with the prevalence of childhood obesity.

Subjects/methods: A sample of 2317 toddlers and preschoolers from Greece (Growth, Exercise and Nutrition Epidemiological Study In preSchoolers) was used. In total, 12 food groups were used as predictors of RRR and PCA.

Development of a lifestyle-diet quality index for primary schoolchildren and its relation to insulin resistance: the Healthy Lifestyle-Diet Index.

Objective: The aim of this work was to develop an index that evaluates the degree of adherence to existing dietary and lifestyle guidelines for primary school-aged children (Healthy Lifestyle-Diet Index (HLD-Index)) and examine its relationship with selected nutrient intake and insulin resistance (IR).

Methods: Ten components were used to develop the HLD-Index. Scores from 0 to 4 were assigned to all components.

Recommended levels and intensities of physical activity to avoid low-cardiorespiratory fitness in European adolescents: The HELENA study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the sex-specific physical activity (PA) intensity thresholds that best discriminate between unhealthy/healthy cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

Methods: Participants included 1,808 adolescents (964 girls), aged 12.5-17.

FTO genotype and adiposity in children: physical activity levels influence the effect of the risk genotype in adolescent males.

Studies of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene provide compelling evidence of genetic variation in the general population that influences fat levels and obesity risk. Studies of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors such as physical activity (PA) will promote the understanding of how lifestyle can modulate genetic contributions to obesity. In this study, we investigated the effect of FTO genotype, and interactions with PA or energy intake, in young children and adolescents.

Recommended levels of physical activity to avoid an excess of body fat in European adolescents: the HELENA Study.

Background: It is unclear how much physical activity is necessary to prevent obesity during adolescence.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the current physical activity guidelines for youth are associated with a lower risk of excess of body fat in European adolescents.

Methods: A sample of 2094 adolescents from the HELENA cross-sectional study was selected.

Television food advertising to children: a global perspective.

Objectives: We compared television food advertising to children in several countries.

Methods: We undertook a collaboration among 13 research groups in Australia, Asia, Western Europe, and North and South America. Each group recorded programming for 2 weekdays and 2 weekend days between 6:00 and 22:00, for the 3 channels most watched by children, between October 2007 and March 2008.

An age-dependent diet-modified effect of the PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism in children.

Variation in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ gene alters the risk for adiposity in adults, with evidence of interaction with diet. We investigated the age-related association between the Pro12Ala variant (rs1801282) and diet in obesity-related traits in children. The Pro12Ala variant was assayed in 2102 young children aged 1 to 6 years and in 794 periadolescent children aged 10 to 12 years of Greek origin.