Child Development, Obesity, Childhood, Overweight and Obesity, Overweight, Childhood, Underweight
Conditions
Keywords
overweight, obesity, children, cognitive function, cognitive function and weight status
Brief summary
The study will determine the weight status in primary school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region in Germany and will analyse the development of height and weight in these children during the time of COVID-19 related restrictions by asking parents to provide data from childhood examinations. Additionally, interactions between cognitive abilities and weight-status will be studied.
Detailed description
The prevalence of obesity and overweight is increasing among both adults and children. School and kindergarten closings during the COVID-19 epidemic may have had an additional negative impact on the weight development of the affected children. This study aims to examine the post-lockdown prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children in the second grade in the Rhein-Neckar Region in Germany and look at possible lockdown effects. Additionally, interactions between cognitive abilities and weight-status will be studied. Anthropometric measurements, interviews as well as cognitive testing will be performed in schools in the summer of 2021 in children in the first grade (class 2020/2021). Parents will be asked to provide measurements from U-childhood-examinations and complete a 3-day food record. The local health authority (Gesundheitsamt) will assist in making a representative selection of schools from different socioeconomic areas and provide data from the pre-school examinations. Collected data will be analyzed and compared to national and international surveys, evaluating the trends of the children's height and weight development. Weight status will be assessed by calculating z-BMI standardized for age and compared with national and international growth charts using both national and WHO classification. Potential interrelation between weight-status, weight development with cognitive performance will be explored. The study will be able to deliver valuable insights in regards to the health of school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region as well as evaluate the effect of COVID-19 related lockdowns on their health.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Gesundheitsamt Heidelberg
starScience GmbH
Oatly AB
Adipositasnetzwerk Rhein-Neckar e.V.
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 8 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Written consent from parents and or guardians
Exclusion criteria
* Missing consent of parents or guardians
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BMI | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Overweight and obesity will be assessed based on the BMI of the children. |
| zBMI | Through study completion, an average of 4 months | zBMI will be calculated using German and WHO growth curves / distributions for evaluating child weight status. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| abdominal circumference in cm | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | abdominal circumference in cm during the study visit at schools |
| Upper arm circumference in cm | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Upper arm circumference in cm during the study visit at schools |
| Body weight at the time of the U8 physical examination | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents. |
| Height at the time of the U8 physical examination | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents. |
| BMI at the time of the U8 physical examination | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents. |
| Body weight at the time of the U9 physical examination | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents. |
| Height at the time of the U9 physical examination | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents. |
| BMI at the time of the U9 physical examination | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents. |
| Body weight in kg | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Body weight in kg during the study visit at schools |
| Height at the time of the S1 examination data | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | The S1 examination is an examination performed by the health authorities before a child starts goinig to a school. The records are kept by the health authorities. |
| BMI at the time of the S1 examination data | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | The S1 examination is an examination performed by the health authorities before a child starts goinig to a school. The records are kept by the health authorities. |
| Eating habits | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Eating habits will be evaluated using a 3-day food record and a questionnaire |
| Physical activity | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Physical activity will be assessed using a modified PAQ-C questionnaire as well as a questionnaire for parents |
| Cognitive testing: Distractibility | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Distractibility will be studied by a computer-based test from the KiTAP test battery developed by PSYTEST Psychologische Testsysteme, Herzogenrath, which will be administered to the children. |
| Cognitive testing: Cognitive flexibility | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Cognitive flexibility will be studied by a computer-based test from the KiTAP test battery developed by PSYTEST Psychologische Testsysteme, Herzogenrath, which will be administered to the children. |
| Cognitive testing: Alertness and reactions to multiple stimuli | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Alertness and reactions to multiple stimuli will be studied by a computer-based test from the KiTAP test battery developed by PSYTEST Psychologische Testsysteme, Herzogenrath, which will be administered to the children. |
| Body weight S1 examination data | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | The S1 examination is an examination performed by the health authorities before a child starts goinig to a school. The records are kept by the health authorities. |
| Height in cm | Between October 2021 and January 2022 | Height in cm during the study visit at schools |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed