Quantity versus quality of objectively measured sleep in relation to body mass index in children: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Background/objectives: Although sleep duration is well established as a risk factor for child obesity, how measures of sleep quality relate to body size is less certain. The aim of this study was to determine how objectively measured sleep duration, sleep timing, and sleep quality were related to body mass index (BMI) cross-sectionally and longitudinally in school-aged children.

Subjects/methods: All measures were obtained at baseline, 12 and 24 months in 823 children (51% female, 53% European, 18% Māori, 12% Pacific, 9% Asian) aged 6-10 years at baseline.

Twenty-Four-Hour Diet recall and Diet records compared with 24-hour urinary excretion to predict an individual's sodium consumption: A Systematic Review.

This systematic literature review aimed to investigate whether 24 hour diet recall and diet records are reliable and valid ways to measure usual dietary sodium intake compared with 24 hour urinary assessment. We searched electronic databases Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Lilacs, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library using pre-defined terms Studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed adult humans in free-living settings, and if they included dietary assessment and 24 hours urinary collection for assessment of sodium intake in the same participants. Studies that included populations with an active disease state that might interfere with normal sodium metabolism were excluded.

Sleep patterns in children differ by ethnicity: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using actigraphy.

Objectives: To determine whether sleep patterns (duration, timing, efficiency) differ by ethnicity.

Design: Longitudinal study.

Setting: Dunedin, New Zealand.

Assessment of dietary sodium intake using a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour urinary sodium excretion: a systematic literature review.

Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are often used to assess dietary sodium intake, although 24-hour urinary excretion is the most accurate measure of intake. The authors conducted a systematic review to investigate whether FFQs are a reliable and valid way of measuring usual dietary sodium intake. Results from 18 studies are described in this review, including 16 validation studies.

Change of School Playground Environment on Bullying: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate whether increasing risk and challenge in primary school playgrounds influences interactions between children.

Methods: In a 2-year cluster-randomized controlled trial, 8 control schools were asked to not change their play environment, whereas 8 intervention schools increased opportunities for risk and challenge (eg, rough-and-tumble play), reduced rules, and added loose parts (eg, tires). Children ( = 840), parents ( = 635), and teachers ( = 90) completed bullying questionnaires at baseline, 1 (postintervention), and 2 (follow-up) years.

The stability of sleep patterns in children 3 to 7 years of age.

Objective: To determine the reliability and stability of sleep (duration and quality) over time in young children using repeated accelerometer estimates of sleep.

Study Design: One hundred ninety-four children wore Actical accelerometers for 5-day periods (24-hour monitoring) at 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6.

Do more active children sleep more? A repeated cross-sectional analysis using accelerometry.

Aim: To determine whether levels of daytime physical activity are associated with sleep duration and night waking in children assessed using accelerometry, and if these associations change over time.

Methods: 24-hour accelerometry data were obtained from 234 children at 3, 5 and 7 years of age for at least 5 days at each time. Sleep duration was estimated using the Sadeh algorithm.

Changes in physical activity over time in young children: a longitudinal study using accelerometers.

Previous research has suggested that marked declines in physical activity occur during the preschool years, and across the transition into school. However, longitudinal studies using objective measures of activity have been limited by sample size and length of follow-up. The aims of this study were to determine how overall activity and time in different intensities of activity change in children followed from 3 to 7 years.

School playgrounds and physical activity policies as predictors of school and home time activity.

Background: Previous work has suggested that the number of permanent play facilities in school playgrounds and school-based policies on physical activity can influence physical activity in children. However, few comparable studies have used objective measures of physical activity or have had little adjustment for multiple confounders.

Methods: Physical activity was measured by accelerometry over 5 recess periods and 3 full school days in 441 children from 16 primary schools in Dunedin, New Zealand.

The quality of diabetes care: a comparison between patients enrolled and not enrolled on a regional diabetes register.

Aims: To determine whether diabetic patients enrolled on a regional diabetes register that provides annual general practitioner audit and recall reports receive better care than diabetic patients not enrolled.

Methods: Regional diabetes register enrolment status, demographic, clinical and laboratory data for the 2005 year were collected for identified diabetic patients attending 108 of 123 participating general practitioners. Means and standard deviations, or frequencies and percentages were calculated for the two study populations.

Economic evaluation of a community-based obesity prevention program in children: the APPLE project.

Effective strategies are urgently required to reduce the prevalence of obesity during growth. Determining which strategies are most successful should also include analysis of their relative costs. To date, few obesity prevention studies in children have reported data concerning cost-effectiveness.

Determining optimal approaches for weight maintenance: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Weight regain often occurs after weight loss in overweight individuals. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of 2 support programs and 2 diets of different macronutrient compositions intended to facilitate long-term weight maintenance.

Methods: Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, we randomly assigned 200 women who had lost 5% or more of their initial body weight to an intensive support program (implemented by nutrition and activity specialists) or to an inexpensive nurse-led program (involving "weigh-ins" and encouragement) that included advice about high-carbohydrate diets or relatively high-monounsaturated-fat diets.

Sustainability of lifestyle changes following an intensive lifestyle intervention in insulin resistant adults: Follow-up at 2-years.

The objective of this study was to determine whether overweight insulin resistant individuals who lost weight and improved cardiovascular risk factors during a 4-month lifestyle intervention could sustain these lifestyle changes in the long-term. Seventy-nine insulin resistant adults were randomised to a control group or either a modest or intensive lifestyle intervention group for 4-months. Thereafter the two intervention groups were combined and all participants were followed-up at 8, 12 and 24 months.

Two-year follow-up of an obesity prevention initiative in children: the APPLE project.

Background: In a 2-y intervention targeting increased physical activity and healthy eating in primary school children, the adjusted body mass index (BMI) z score was 0.26 units (95% CI: 0.21, 0.