Browsing by Subject "Childhood obesity"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- PublicationOpen AccessDynamics of the epigenome, microbiome, and metabolome in relation to early adiposity in the maternal–infant axis: protocol for a prospective, observational pilot study in the spanish NEMO cohort(MDPI, 2025-09-23) Suárez Cortés, María; Juan-Pérez, Almudena; Molina Rodríguez, Alonso; Araújo de Castro, Julia; Castaño Molina, María de los Ángeles; Fernández Ruiz, Virginia Esperanza; Jiménez-Méndez, Almudena; Pérez-Munar, Paula Martínez; Rico-Chazarra, Sara; Ramos-Molina, Bruno; Sánchez-Solís de Querol, Manuel; Blanco Carnero, José Eliseo; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Núñez-Sánchez, María Ángeles; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología; Facultad de BiologíaBackground: Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries and is an emerging concern in developing regions. Children with excess weight are more likely to maintain this condition over time into adulthood and face a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, and dyslipidemia. Early identification of obesity risk is, therefore, a key public health challenge. Methods: This is an observational, prospective, single-center cohort pilot study in 66 mother–infant dyads recruited at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital (Murcia, Spain). The primary objective is to identify early-life, non-invasive biomarkers associated with increased adiposity by integrating multi-omics approaches and analyzing maternal–infant interactions. Pregnant women will be enrolled during the third trimester and will undergo a baseline visit at 38 weeks of gestation for clinical and anthropometric assessment. Buccal swabs and fecal samples will be collected at baseline and in the peripartum period for epigenetic (DNA methylation), metagenomic, and metabolomic analyses. Infants will be evaluated at birth and followed at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. Each visit will include detailed anthropometric measurements, along with collection of buccal swabs and fecal samples for multi-omics profiling. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary study aims to assess how maternal factors influence infant epigenetic and microbial patterns, and their relation to adiposity development. Early identification of such biomarkers may guide personalized prevention strategies and reduce the long-term burden of obesity-related comorbidities.
- PublicationOpen AccessInherited epigenetic hallmarks of childhood obesity derived from prenatal exposure to obesogens(MDPI, 2023-03-07) Núñez-Sánchez, María Á.; Jiménez-Méndez, Almudena; Suárez Cortés, María; Martínez-Sánchez, María A.; Sánchez-Solís de Querol, Manuel; Blanco Carnero, José Eliseo; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Ramos-Molina, Bruno; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología; Facultad de BiologíaChildhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries and is becoming a major cause for concern in the developing world. The causes of childhood obesity are complex and multifactorial, involving the interaction between individual genetics and environmental and developmental factors. Among the environmental factors, there is a growing interest in understanding the possible relationship between the so-called environmental obesogens and the development of obesity in children. Exposure to these obesogens such as phthalates, bisphenol A, or parabens, has been identified as a promoter of obesity through different mechanisms such as the alteration of adipocyte development from mesenchymal progenitors, the interference with hormone receptors, and induced inflammation. However, less attention has been paid to the inheritance of epigenetic modifications due to maternal exposure to these compounds during pregnancy. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of epigenetic modifications due to maternal exposure to those obesogens during pregnancy as well as their potential implication on long-term obesity development in the offspring and transgenerational inheritance of epiphenotypes.
- PublicationOpen AccessIntensity of physical activity in physical education classes and school recesses and its associations with body mass index and global fitness score in Spanish schoolchildren(MDPI, 2021-11-30) López-Gil, José Francisco; Cavero-Redondo, Iván; Tárraga-López, Pedro Juan; Camargo, Edina María de; Sequí-Domínguez, Irene; Yuste Lucas, Juan Luis; Renato Cavichiolli, Fernando; García-Hermoso, Antonio; Expresión Plástica, Musical y Dinámica, ; Actividad Física y DeporteBackground: Examining the association between excess weight or physical fitness and intensity of physical activity (PA) during Physical Education (PE) classes or school recesses and in children could be of great interest and importance, especially for future intervention programs or public policies related to PA. The aim of this study was to explore the association between intensity of PA in PE classes or school recesses and excess weight or global physical fitness in a sample of Spanish schoolchildren. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). A final sample of 350 Spanish schoolchildren between 6 and 13 years of age was included from six different schools. Intensity of PA during PE classes and recesses was assessed by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). To assess physical fitness, the extended ALPHA fitness test battery was used. Body mass index (z-score) was calculated following the age- and sex-specific thresholds of the World Health Organization. Results: Both body mass index (z-score) and Global Fitness Score (z-score) were lower in schoolchildren engaging in high intensity of PA in both PE lessons and school (p < 0.05 for all). Lower odds of having excess weight were found in those who reported high intensity of PA in both PE classes and school recesses (OR = 0.54; CI 95%, 0.30–0.96). In these same participants, higher odds of being in the high Global Fitness Score tertile were found (OR = 1.96; CI 95%, 1.01–3.85). Conclusions: Our study showed that higher intensity of PA in PE classes and school recesses was associated with lower excess weight and higher global physical fitness.
- PublicationOpen AccessParental attitudes to childhood overweight: the multiple paths through healthy eating, screen use, and sleeping time(MDPI, 2020-10-28) García Conde, Miguel Giménez; Marín Rives, Longinos; Ruiz de Maya, Salvador; Cuestas Díaz, Pedro Jesús; Comercialización e Investigación de MercadosThe main goal of this paper is to examine how parental attitudes toward sleeping, screen use, and feeding their child influence the child’s body mass index (BMI) through the child’s behaviors related to time dedicated to sleep and television, and their healthy eating. Using survey data from 908 parents, results show that parental attitudes have a significant influence on children’s behavior and, more importantly, on their BMI. The three forms of a child’s behavior (sleeping, watching TV, and healthy eating patterns) are affected by what parents do and their attitudes toward these three behaviors at home. Results show how changes in parental attitudes are an interesting target to prevent the child’s overweight.