Open Access
Effects of exercise on hepatic steatosis in children: role of fitness
(2019) Medrano Echeverría, María; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Los objetivos principales de esta Tesis Doctoral Internacional fueron: I) examinar si la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria se relaciona con la concentración plasmática de enzimas hepáticas en adolescentes europeos independientemente de la circunferencia de cintura, y testar si tener una mayor capacidad cardiorrespiratoria está asociada con un mejor perfil de enzimas hepáticas en aquellos adolescentes con una mayor circunferencia de cintura; II) explorar la asociación de los componentes de la condición física y la actividad física con el porcentaje de grasa hepática, las concentraciones plasmáticas de enzimas hepáticas, la resistencia a la insulina y el riesgo cardiometabólico en niñas y niños con sobrepeso u obesidad; III) analizar sistemáticamente el efecto del ejercicio físico supervisado en el porcentaje de grasa hepática y en la prevalencia de esteatosis hepática en niños y adolescentes; investigar el diseño de ejercicio más apropiado en términos de tipo, intensidad, volumen y frecuencia, para el manejo de la esteatosis hepática pediátrica; y explorar si existe una asociación entre las mejorar de la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria y la fuerza muscular con la reducción del porcentaje de grasa hepática en jóvenes; IV) determinar si un programa de intervención multicomponente de 22 semanas de duración, basado en educación familiar en estilos de vida saludable y psicoeducación que incluya además ejercicio físico supervisado, es más efectivo reduciendo el porcentaje de grasa hepática que solamente el programa educativo en niñas y niños con sobrepeso u obesidad; y V) analizar la variabilidad interindividual y comparar la prevalencia de respondedores en relación con el porcentaje de grasa hepática, la adiposidad total y abdominal y las concentraciones plasmáticas de gamma-glutamil-transferasa en los niñas y niños participantes en una intervención basada en educación familiar en estilos de vida saludable y psicoeducación de 22 semanas de duración, que incluya o no ejercicio físico.
Open Access
Associations of dietary energy density with body composition and cardiometabolic risk in children with overweight and obesity: role of energy density calculations, under-reporting energy intake and physical activity
(Cambridge University Press, 2019) Gómez Bruton, Alejandro; Arenaza Etxeberría, Lide; Medrano Echeverría, María; Mora González, José; Cadenas-Sánchez, Cristina; Migueles, Jairo H.; Muñoz-Hernández, Victoria; Merchán Ramírez, Elisa; Martínez Ávila, Wendy D.; Maldonado, José; Osés Recalde, Maddi; Tobalina, Ignacio; Gracia-Marco, Luis; Vicente Rodríguez, Germán; Ortega, Francisco B.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
This study examined (1) the association of dietary energy density from solid (EDS) and solid plus liquids (EDSL) with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) in children with overweight and obesity, (2) the effect of under-reporting on the mentioned associations and (3) whether the association between ED and body composition and CRF is influenced by levels of physical activity. In a cross-sectional design, 208 overweight and obese children (8-12-year-old; 111 boys) completed two non-consecutive 24 h recalls. ED was calculated using two different approaches: EDS and EDSL. Under-reporters were determined with the Goldberg method. Body composition, anthropometry and fasting blood sample measurements were performed. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was registered with accelerometers (7-d-register). Linear regressions were performed to evaluate the association of ED with the previously mentioned variables. Neither EDS nor EDSL were associated with body composition or CRF. However, when under-reporters were excluded, EDS was positively associated with BMI (P=0 019), body fat percentage (P=0 005), abdominal fat (P=0 008) and fat mass index (P=0 018), while EDSL was positively associated with body fat percentage (P=0 008) and fat mass index (P=0 026). When stratifying the group according to physical activity recommendations, the aforementioned associations were only maintained for non-compliers. Cluster analysis showed that the low-ED and high-MVPA group presented the healthiest profile for all adiposity and CRF. These findings could partly explain inconsistencies in literature, as we found that different ED calculations entail distinct results. Physical activity levels and excluding under-reporters greatly influence the associations between ED and adiposity in children with overweight and obesity.
Open Access
Walkability and socio-economic status in relation to walking, playing and sports practice in a representative Spanish sample of youth: the PASOS study
(Public Library of Science, 2024) Aznar, Susana; Jiménez-Zazo, Fabio; Romero-Blanco, Cristina; Gómez, Santiago F.; Homs, Clara; Wärnberg, Julia; Medrano Echeverría, María; Gusi, Narcís; González Gross, Marcela; Marín-Cascales, Elena; González Valeiro, Miguel A.; Serra-Majem, Lluis; Terrados, Nicolás; Tur, Josep A.; Segú, Marta; Lassale, Camille; Colom, Antoni; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Sánchez-Gómez, Jesús; Alcaraz, Pedro E.; Sevilla-Sánchez, Marta; Zapico, Augusto G.; Herrera-Ramos, Estefanía; Pulgar, Susana; Bibiloni, María del Mar; Sistac-Sorigué, Clara; Schröder, Helmut; Molina-García, Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Purpose Physical activity (PA) provides multiple health-related benefits in children and adolescents, however, at present, the majority of young people are insufficiently physically active. The aim of this study was to evaluate if neighborhood walkability and/or socio-economic status (SES) could affect the practice of walking, play outdoors and sports practice in a representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents. Methods A sample of 4092 youth (aged 8-16 years old) from 245 primary and secondary schools in 121 localities from each of the 17 Spanish autonomous communities participated in the study. Walk Score was used to evaluate walkability of the neighborhood and household income was used as an indicator of SES. A 7-item self-reported validated questionnaire, was used to assess PA levels, and in a subsample of 10% of the participants, randomly selected from the entire sample, PA was objectively measured by accelerometers. Results Youth from more walkable areas reported more minutes walking per day compared with those from less walkable neighborhoods (51.4 vs 48.8 minutes, respectively). The lowest average minutes spent in playing outdoors was found among participants from low-SES and low-walkable neighborhoods. Neighborhood SES influenced on the participation in team sports during the weekend, being this participation higher in high SES neighborhoods. Conclusion Providing high walkable environments seems a good strategy to promote PA regardless SES levels. It seems that improving the walkability is a key component to partially overcome the SES inequalities, especially in urban areas with low SES. High-SES environments can offer better sports facilities and more organized physical activities than low-SES ones.
Open Access
Changes in lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 confinement in Spanish children: a longitudinal analysis from the MUGI project
(Wiley, 2021) Medrano Echeverría, María; Cadenas-Sánchez, Cristina; Osés Recalde, Maddi; Arenaza Etxeberría, Lide; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, 2019 904 116
Background: Home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic could have affected lifestyle behaviours of children, however evidence about it is emerging and yet scarce. Objectives: To examine the effects of the COVID-19 confinement on lifestyle behaviours in Spanish children, and to assess the influence of social vulnerabilities on changes in lifestyle behaviours. Methods: Physical activity (PA), screen time, sleep time, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) and sociodemographic information were longitudinally assessed before (N = 291, 12.1 ± 2.4 years, 47.8% girls) and during the COVID-19 confinement (N = 113, 12.0 ± 2.6 years, 48.7% girls) by online questionnaires. Results: During the COVID-19 confinement, PA (−91 ± 55 min/d, P <.001) and screen time (±2.6 h/d, P <.001) worsened, whereas the KIDMED score improved (0.5 ± 2.2 points, P <.02). The decrease of PA was higher in children with mother of non-Spanish origin (−1.8 ± 0.2 vs −1.5 ± 0.1 h/d, P <.04) or with non-university studies (−1.7 ± 0.1 vs −1.3 ± 0.1 h/d, P <.005) in comparison to their counterparts. Conclusion: This study evidence the negative impact of the COVID-19 confinement on PA levels and sedentary behaviours of Spanish children. These findings should be taken into account to design and implement public health strategies for preserving children´s health during and after the pandemic, particularly, in children with social vulnerabilities.
Open Access
Parents' diet quality and physical activity are associated with lifestyle in spanish children and adolescents: the PASOS study
(MDPI, 2023) Monserrat-Mesquida, Margalida; Ródenas-Munar, Marina; Gómez, Santiago F.; Wärnberg, Julia; Medrano Echeverría, María; González Gross, Marcela; Gusi, Narcís; Aznar, Susana; Marín-Cascales, Elena; González Valeiro, Miguel A.; Serra-Majem, Lluis; Pulgar, Susana; Segú, Marta; Fitó, Montserrat; Según, Genís; Benavente-Marín, Juan C.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Zapico, Augusto G.; Sánchez-Gómez, Jesús; Jiménez-Zazo, Fabio; Alcaraz, Pedro E.; Sevilla-Sánchez, Marta; Herrera-Ramos, Estefanía; Schröder, Helmut; Tur, Josep A.; Bouzas, Cristina; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Background: Non-communicable chronic diseases are associated with a low-quality diet, low physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Objective: To assess how parents’ diet and physical activity habits were associated with their offsprings’ lifestyles. Study design: A cross-sectional analysis of 8–16-year-old children and adolescents (n = 2539; 51.9% girls) was carried out within the frame of the first edition of the Physical Activity, Sedentarism, Lifestyles, and Obesity in Spanish Youth study (PASOS-2019). Data on adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), daily moderate–vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and screen time per day (television, computer, video games, and mobile phone) were collected from children and adolescents, and data on parents’ diet quality and physical activity were compiled. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between parents’ lifestyles and those of children and adolescents. Results: High diet quality of parents was associated with higher adherence to the MedDiet of children and adolescents, as well as high consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, and legumes. The high physical activity level of parents was associated with the low consumption of fast foods, sweets, and candies in children and adolescents. Children with high levels of physical activity were those whose parents showed better diet quality and physical activity levels. Conclusions: Parents’ high diet quality and physical activity were associated with healthy lifestyles, higher adherence to the MedDiet, and physical activity of their offspring, mainly in adolescents.
Open Access
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells-expressed miRNA profiles derived from children with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and insulin resistance
(Wiley, 2022) Osés Recalde, Maddi; Medrano Echeverría, María; Margareto, Javier; Portillo, María P.; Aguilera, Concepción María; Altmäe, Signe; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Background: miRNA have been proposed as potential biomarkers of metabolic diseases. Objectives: To identify potential miRNA biomarkers of early metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and/or insulin resistance (IR) in preadolescent children. Methods: A total of 70 preadolescents, aged 8.5–12 years old participated in the study. Hepatic fat was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Fasting blood biochemical parameters were measured and HOMA-IR calculated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)-derived miRNA profiles associated with MAFLD (≥5.5% hepatic fat) and IR (HOMA-IR ≥2.5) were identified using untargeted high-throughput miRNAs sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: A total of 2123 PBMC-derived miRNAs were identified in children with (21.4%) or without MAFLD. Among them, hsa-miR-143-3p, hsa-miR-142-5p and hsamiR-660-5p were up-regulated, and p-hsa-miR-247, hsa-let-7a-5p and hsa-miR6823-3p down-regulated. Importantly, children with MAFLD had consistently higher miR-660-5p expression levels than their peers without it (p < 0.01), regardless of weight status. A total of 2124 PBMC-derived miRNA were identified in children with IR (28.6%) versus children without IR, where thirteen of them were dysregulated (p < 0.05) in children with IR. In addition, children with IR showed higher levels of miR-374a-5p and miR-190a-5p (p < 0.01) and lower levels of miR-4284 and miR4791 (p < 005), than their peers without IR in both the whole sample and in those with overweight or obesity. Conclusions: Our study results suggest circulating miR-660-5p as a potential biomarker of the presence of MAFLD in preadolescent children while circulating miR320a, miR-142-3p, miR-190a-5p, miR-374a-5p and let-7 family miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers of IR in children.
Open Access
Associations between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and cardiorespiratory fitness with total and central obesity in preschool children: the PREFIT project
(Springer, 2018) Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Arenaza Etxeberría, Lide; Medrano Echeverría, María; García, Natalia; Cadenas-Sánchez, Cristina; Ortega, Francisco B.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Purpose: Early recognition of risk factors associated with overweight/obesity is animportant step towards preventing long-term health consequences. The aim of the current study was to examine the associations of the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with adiposity in preschool children from thenorth of Spain. Methods: The adherence to the MDP (KIDMED), CRF (20-m shuttle run test), total (BMI) and central (waist circumference) adiposity and socio-demographic factors were assessed in 619 children (48.6% girls) who were on average 4.7 years old. Results: Higher MDP index (P < 0.05) and CRF levels (P < 0.01) were significantly related to lower waist circumference. CRF was inversely associated with BMI (P <= 0.001), yet no significant association was observed between MDP and BMI. Children not having high CRF levels and high MDP (i.e., non-upper sex-specific tertile of CRF or MDP, respectively) had the highest waist circumference. Conclusions: Our findings support that higher adherence to the MDP and higher CRF are associated with lower waist circumference in preschool children, pointing them as relevant modifiable factors to be targeted by educational strategies aiming to prevent central obesity and later obesity-related comorbidities.
Open Access
Effects of a family-based lifestyle intervention plus supervised exercise training on abdominal fat depots in children with overweight or obesity: a secondary analysis of a nonrandomized clinical trial
(American Medical Association, 2022) Cadenas-Sánchez, Cristina; Cabeza Laguna, Rafael; Idoate, Fernando; Osés Recalde, Maddi; Medrano Echeverría, María; Villanueva Larre, Arantxa; Arenaza Etxeberría, Lide; Sanz Muñoz, Aritz; Ortega, Francisco B.; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ciencias de la Salud; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Osasun Zientziak; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Importance Excess abdominal fat is a major determinant in the development of insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders. Increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) seems to precede the development of insulin resistance and is therefore a prime target of childhood lifestyle interventions aimed at preventing diabetes. OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of added exercise to a family-based lifestyle intervention program designed to reduce VAT plus subcutaneous (ASAT), intermuscular (IMAAT), and pancreatic (PAT) adipose tissue in children with overweight or obesity and to explore the effect of changes in VAT on insulin resistance. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This 2-group, parallel-design clinical trial was conducted in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. A total of 116 children with overweight or obesity participated and were assigned to a 22-week family-based lifestyle program (control group [n = 57]) or the same program plus an exercise intervention (exercise group [n = 59]). Data were collected between September 1, 2014, and June 30, 2017, and imaging processing for fat depot assessments and data analysis were performed between May 1, 2019, and February 12, 2021. INTERVENTIONS The compared interventions consisted of a family-based lifestyle and psychoeducation program (two 90-minute sessions per month) and the same program plus supervised exercise (three 90-minute sessions per week). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome of this study was the change in VAT between baseline and 22 weeks as estimated by magnetic resonance imaging. The secondary outcomes were changes in ASAT, IMAAT, and PAT. The effect of changes in VAT area on insulin resistance was also recorded. RESULTS The 116 participants included in the analysis (62 girls [53.4%]) had a mean (SD) age of 10.6 (1.1) years, and 67 (57.8%) presented with obesity. Significantly greater reductions were recorded for the exercise group in terms of reduction in VAT (−18.1% vs −8.5% for the control group; P = .004), ASAT (−9.9% vs −3.0%; P = .001), and IMAAT (−6.0% vs −2.6%; P = .02) fat fractions compared with the control group. Changes in VAT explained 87.6% of the improvement seen in insulin resistance (β = −0.102 [95% CI, −0.230 to −0.002]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that the addition of exercise to a lifestyle intervention program substantially enhanced the positive effects on abdominal fat depots in children with overweight or obesity. In addition, the reduction in VAT seemed to largely mediate the improvement of insulin sensitivity. These results highlight the importance of including exercise as part of lifestyle therapies aimed at treating childhood obesity and preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
Open Access
Perceived quality of life is related to a healthy lifestyle and related outcomes in spanish children and adolescents: The physical activity, sedentarism, and obesity in spanish study
(MDPI, 2023) Ródenas-Munar, Marina; Monserrat-Mesquida, Margalida; Gómez, Santiago F.; Wärnberg, Julia; Medrano Echeverría, María; González Gross, Marcela; Gusi, Narcís; Aznar, Susana; Marín-Cascales, Elena; González Valeiro, Miguel A.; Serra-Majem, Lluis; Pulgar, Susana; Segú, Marta; Fitó, Montserrat; Torres, Silvia; Benavente-Marín, Juan C.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Zapico, Augusto G.; Sánchez-Gómez, Jesús; Jiménez-Zazo, Fabio; Alcaraz, Pedro E.; Sevilla-Sánchez, Marta; Herrera-Ramos, Estefanía; Schröder, Helmut; Bouzas, Cristina; Tur, Josep A.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Background: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for safeguarding the well-being and quality of life perception, appropriate growth, and development of children and adolescents, while also mitigating the risk of future adult-onset diseases. Objective: To assess associations between perceived quality of life and healthy lifestyle and related outcomes in Spanish children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 8–16-year-old children and adolescents (n = 3534) were included in the nationwide study of Physical Activity, Sedentarism, and Obesity in Spanish Youth (PASOS). Data were collected through (1) questionnaires on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), healthy lifestyle outcomes (dietary intake, physical fitness, sleep, and screen time), and (2) anthropometric measurements for weight status assessment. Data were analysed by logistic regression, using the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as the grouping variable. Results: Participants with a lower HRQoL were those with a lower adherence to the MedDiet and lower achievement of the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables. They were also less likely to follow the recommendations for screen time and sleep (with the exception of the weekend) compared to participants with a higher HRQoL. Participants with a lower HRQoL showed a lower healthy weight status and poorer physical fitness than those with a higher HRQoL. Conclusions: Healthy eating habits, healthy weight status (normal weight), appropriate sleep time, physical fitness, and limited screen time play a crucial role in the perceived quality of life in children and adolescents.
Open Access
Prevention of diabetes in overweight/obese children through a family based intervention program including supervised exercise (PREDIKID project): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
(BioMed Central, 2017) Arenaza Etxeberría, Lide; Medrano Echeverría, María; Amasene, María; Rodríguez Vigil, Beatriz; Díez, Ignacio; Graña, Manuel; Tobalina, Ignacio; Maiz, Edurne; Arteche, Edurne; Larrarte, Eider; Huybrechts, Inge; Davis, Catherine L.; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Ortega, Francisco B.; Margareto, Javier; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: The global pandemic of obesity has led to an increased risk for prediabetes and type-2 diabetes (T2D). The aims of the current project are: (1) to evaluate the effect of a 22-week family based intervention program, including supervised exercise, on insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) risk in children with a high risk of developing T2D and (2) to identify the profile of microRNA in circulating exosomes and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in children with a high risk of developing T2D and its response to a multidisciplinary intervention program including exercise. Methods: A total of 84 children, aged 8–12 years, with a high risk of T2D will be included and randomly assigned to control (N = 42) or intervention (N = 42) groups. The control group will receive a family based lifestyle education and psycho-educational program (2 days/month), while the intervention group will attend the same lifestyle education and psycho-educational program plus the exercise program (3 days/week, 90 min per session including warm-up, moderate to vigorous aerobic activities, and strength exercises). The following measurements will be evaluated at baseline prior to randomization and after the intervention: fasting insulin, glucose and hemoglobin A1c; body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry); ectopic fat (magnetic resonance imaging); microRNA expression in circulating exosomes and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MiSeq; Illumina); cardiorespiratory fitness (cardiopulmonary exercise testing); dietary habits and physical activity (accelerometry). Discussion: Prevention and identification of children with a high risk of developing T2D could help to improve their cardiovascular health and to reduce the comorbidities associated with obesity.