@article {4406, title = {Municipal health promotion programs: Is childhood obesity a concern at local level in Portugal?}, journal = {Health Promotion International}, volume = {37}, year = {2022}, chapter = {daab044}, keywords = {Child, Health Promotion, Humans, Local Government, Pediatric Obesity, Portugal, Quality of Life}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daab044}, author = {Margarida Pereira and Cristina Padez and Helena Nogueira} } @article {4438, title = {The economic crisis impact on the body mass index of children living in distinct urban environments}, journal = {Public Health}, volume = {196}, year = {2021}, note = {Pereira, Margarida
Nogueira, Helena
Gama, Augusta
Machado-Rodrigues, Aristides
Rosado-Marques, Vitor
G Silva, Maria-Raquel
Padez, Cristina
eng
Netherlands
2021/06/18
Public Health. 2021 Jul;196:29-34. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.030. Epub 2021 Jun 16.}, month = {Jul}, pages = {29-34}, edition = {20210616}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the impact of the 2008 global economic recession on childhood obesity in Portugal. Thus, this study{\textquoteright}s goals were to compare weight status of children during and after the economic crisis according to their neighbourhood environment features and to assess changes in specific dietary habits during the economic crisis. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data including weight, height, residence address to allow its geocoding and dietary habits changes during the crisis from children living in Lisbon municipality were collected in 2009 (N = 929) and in 2016 (N = 1751). A multidimensional environment index, with data of both built and socioeconomic nature collected at the statistical section level (areas comprised 300 dwellers) in the 2011 census, was used to characterize neighbourhoods. RESULTS: Overall, the proportion of children who are overweight or obese living in the socioeconomically vulnerable areas decreased in 2016. Families living in the latter areas stopped buying some food items, started to buy cheaper food items, cooked more meals at home and ate less in restaurants. In 2016, the risk for overweight and obesity increased in children who lived in the least advantageous areas. Living in areas with high socioeconomic status or most advantageous areas no longer represented a decreased risk of being overweight or obese in children in 2016 as it did in 2009. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the economic crisis enhanced the social inequalities regarding childhood obesity. These results aid the development of evidence-based strategies to lessen the social inequities in health outcomes created by the crisis.}, keywords = {*Economic Recession, *Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology, Body Mass Index, Child, Childhood obesity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Global economic crisis, Humans, Multidimensional environment index, Residence Characteristics, Socioeconomic Factors}, isbn = {1476-5616 (Electronic)
0033-3506 (Linking)}, author = {Margarida Pereira and Helena Nogueira and Gama, A. and Machado-Rodrigues, A. and Rosado-Marques, V. and M. R. Silva and Cristina Padez} } @article {4431, title = {The environment contribution to gender differences in childhood obesity and organized sports engagement}, journal = {Am J Hum Biol}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, year = {2020}, note = {Nogueira, Helena
Costeira E Pereira, Margarida M
Costa, Diogo
Gama, Augusta
Machado-Rodrigues, Aristides
Silva, Maria-Raquel
Marques, Vitor R
Padez, Cristina M
eng
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t
2019/09/11
Am J Hum Biol. 2020 Mar;32(2):e23322. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23322. Epub 2019 Sep 9.}, month = {Mar}, pages = {e23322}, edition = {20190909}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze gender-specific associations between sports activity outside of school and obesity, observing to what extent the local built environment contributes to the patterns found. METHODS: A total of 2253 children aged 6.0-11.0 years were assessed: 49.3\% girls and 50.7\% boys. Children{\textquoteright}s weight and height were measured, age and sex-specific BMI cut-off points were used to define normal vs overweight/obesity. Children{\textquoteright}s organized sports (OS) activity was assessed by questionnaire, and local facilities for children{\textquoteright}s engagement in OS were analyzed. Logistic regression models were computed, adjusted for confounding variables. RESULTS: Results showed greater overweight and obesity (25.1\% vs 20.1\%) and lower OS engagement (66.5\% vs 73.8\%) in girls as well as greater impact of OS engagement on weight status in girls (OR for having a normal weight = 1.434 in girls vs 1.043 in boys). Additionally, opportunities to engage in OS were scarce for girls. CONCLUSIONS: The gender gap in children{\textquoteright}s weight status and OS engagement might be enhanced by an environmental mismatch that undermines girls{\textquoteright} opportunities to play sports. There should be more opportunities for girls to engage in their favorite sports as a means to tackle the obesity epidemic and to promote gender equality.}, keywords = {*Environment, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Overweight/epidemiology/etiology, Pediatric Obesity/*epidemiology/etiology, Portugal, Regression Analysis, Sex Factors, Youth Sports/*statistics \& numerical data}, isbn = {1520-6300 (Electronic)
1042-0533 (Linking)}, author = {Helena Nogueira and Margarida Pereira and Costa, D. and Gama, A. and Machado-Rodrigues, A. and M. R. Silva and Marques, V. R. and Cristina Padez} } @article {4441, title = {The role of urban design in childhood obesity: A case study in Lisbon, Portugal}, journal = {Am J Hum Biol}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, year = {2019}, note = {Pereira, Margarida
Nogueira, Helena
Padez, Cristina
eng
SFRH/BD/133140/2017/Foundation for the Science and Technologies/International
PTDC/DTP-SAP/1520/2014/Foundation for the Science and Technologies/International
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t
2019/03/15
Am J Hum Biol. 2019 May;31(3):e23220. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23220. Epub 2019 Mar 14.}, month = {May}, pages = {e23220}, edition = {20190314}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that physical features of the urban environment might enhance or prevent childhood obesity. Thus, this study{\textquoteright}s main goal was to verify if there is an association between the neighborhood urban design and childhood obesity-independent of well-known childhood obesity determinants, such as, father{\textquoteright}s level of schooling (as a proxy for socioeconomic status), and parent{\textquoteright}s weight status. METHODS: This study classifies neighborhoods according to land use and building features using hierarchical clusters analysis and examines their association with childhood obesity through logistic regression models. RESULTS: Four clusters resulted from the analysis: Cluster 1 represents areas with older buildings and mixed land use, cluster 2 is an area with small rented buildings and urban areas, cluster 3 comprises newer buildings with parking and urban green space, and cluster 4 is a forest area. Living in cluster 3 protects from childhood obesity, even when adjusting for father{\textquoteright}s level of schooling or parent{\textquoteright}s weight status. CONCLUSIONS: There are distinct urban configurations in Lisbon{\textquoteright}s municipality and children who live in Cluster 3 (more recent and greener neighborhoods) seem to be protected from obesity. Therefore, public policy should focus on healthy urban planning at the neighborhood level, to promote positive impacts on peoples{\textquoteright} health.}, keywords = {Built Environment/*statistics \& numerical data, Child, Child, Preschool, Cities, Female, Humans, Male, Pediatric Obesity/*etiology, Portugal, Residence Characteristics/*statistics \& numerical data}, isbn = {1520-6300 (Electronic)
1042-0533 (Linking)}, author = {Margarida Pereira and Helena Nogueira and Cristina Padez} } @article {4442, title = {Describing studies on childhood obesity determinants by Socio-Ecological Model level: A scoping review to identify gaps and provide guidance for future research}, journal = {International Journal of Obesity}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, year = {2019}, note = {Pereira, Margarida Miguel Costeira E
Padez, Cristina Maria Proenca
Nogueira, Helena Guilhermina da Silva Marques
eng
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t
Scoping Review
England
2019/07/10
Int J Obes (Lond). 2019 Oct;43(10):1883-1890. doi: 10.1038/s41366-019-0411-3. Epub 2019 Jul 8.}, pages = {1883-1890}, edition = {20190708}, abstract = {

Childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and is a major public health concern once children with obesity are at higher risk for several diseases and are often stigmatized. Children with obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity with greater needs of healthcare. Determinants of childhood obesity might be grouped in five levels according to the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM): individual, interpersonal, institutional, community and policies. This scoping review emerged from the need to identify which determinants of childhood obesity have been more frequently studied (and how) and which require more investigation. The main objectives were to quantify studies on the determinants of childhood obesity by SEM level addressed, to identify gaps in the literature regarding the studied SEM level(s), to describe the studies{\textquoteright} characteristics and to provide guidance for SEM levels that need further investigation. This scoping review follows the five-stage protocol methodology proposed by Arksey and O{\textquoteright}Malley in 2005. PubMed database was systematically searched, and hand-searches also took place. The search yielded 975 results from which 552 were excluded after title and abstract reading. The remaining 423 results were fully read and information about methodologic aspects, namely study design, sample size, sample constitution (children, dyads or/and parents) and children{\textquoteright}s age as well as the SEM level determinants addressed was retrieved. Despite the consensus about the appropriateness of SEM as a framework to comprehensively examine childhood obesity determinants, studies addressing all SEM levels determinants jointly or the policies level determinants alone were not found. Other gaps shown were: the small number of studies that included the policies level determinants alongside determinants from other levels (N = 10) and studies using cohorts study design (ranging from 2 to 28 per SEM level). These gaps should be considered when planning future research.

}, keywords = {Child, Chronic Disease/*prevention \& control/psychology, Comorbidity, Guidelines as Topic, Health Promotion/*organization \& administration, Humans, Needs Assessment, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/*statistics \& numerical data, Pediatric Obesity/complications/*prevention \& control/psychology, Public Health, Social Determinants of Health, Social Stigma}, isbn = {1476-5497 (Electronic)
0307-0565 (Linking)}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0411-3}, author = {Margarida Pereira and Cristina Padez and Helena Nogueira} }