Effectiveness of parent‐centred interventions for the prevention and treatment of childhood overweight and obesity in community settings: a systematic review Systematic review of interventions in the management of overweight and obese children which include a dietary component Systematic review of interventions in the management of overweight and obese children which include a dietary component. Gut Microbiota in the First 2 Years of Life and the Association with Body Mass Index at Age 12 in a Norwegian Birth Cohort SPRING: an RCT study of probiotics in the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus in overweight and obese women Determinants of weight loss maintenance: a systematic review. Sleeve gastrectomy drives persistent shifts in the gut microbiome. Protocol for systematic reviews of determinants/correlates of obesity-related dietary and physical activity behaviors in young children (preschool 0 to 6 years): evidence mapping and syntheses Risk factors for overweight in 2- to 6-year-old children in Beijing, China. Tackling inequalities in obesity: a protocol for a systematic review of the effectiveness of public health interventions at reducing socioeconomic inequalities in obesity among adults Fighting Fatty Liver Diseases with Nutritional Interventions, Probiotics, Symbiotics, and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT). Energy balance-related behaviours associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children: a systematic review of prospective studies. Gastrointestinal microbiome modulator improves glucose tolerance in overweight and obese subjects: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Tackling inequalities in obesity: a protocol for a systematic review of the effectiveness of public health interventions at reducing socioeconomic inequalities in obesity amongst children Obesity in children. Part 2: Prevention and management The prevalence of overweight and obesity in relation to social and behavioral factors (Lithuanian health behavior monitoring). Overweight and obesity prevention for adolescents: a cluster randomized controlled trial in a school setting. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Induce Long-Term Changes on the Human Gut Microbiome Contributing to Fat Mass Regulation Effects of workplace-based dietary and/or physical activity interventions for weight management targeting healthcare professionals: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials Do sugar-sweetened beverages cause adverse health outcomes in children? A systematic review protocol Elevated circulating levels of succinate in human obesity are linked to specific gut microbiota Internet Based Obesity Prevention Program for Thai School Children- A Randomized Control Trial. The relative importance of predictors of body mass index change, overweight and obesity in adolescent girls.
Background Worldwide in 2000 , 10 % of children aged five to 17 years were reported as being overweight with an additional 2‐3 % being obese . Overweight and obesity in childhood can adversely impact on both physical and psychological health . The rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity is a complex issue but widely recognised contributors include increased energy intake , decreased levels of physical activity and greater time spent in sedentary pursuits . A large number of environmental and cultural factors have also been identified as contributing to the problem . Evidence to support an optimal approach to treating childhood obesity is limited with many studies showing only modest results at best in the long‐term . However , the importance of family‐based treatment that combines diet , physical activity and behavioral components has been acknowledged in a recent Cochrane Systematic Review . It has also been suggested that interventions offered in the community setting may help overcome barriers to participation , by making programs more accessible and allowing the targeting of specific sub‐groups of the population . Objectives The objective of this review was to identify the effectiveness of parent‐centred interventions implemented in the community setting in modifying eating and physical activity behaviors or weight‐related outcomes of children . Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review considered studies that included free‐living children of pre‐school , primary and secondary school age and /or their parents/guardians aged > 18 years . Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest Intervention programs were required to have a parental component , to target eating and /or exercise behaviors for the prevention or treatment of obesity , and child weight status reported . Types of studies All intervention studies were included in the review including : r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) ; non‐r and omized controlled trials , longitudinal studies , cohort ( both retrospective and prospect i ve ) , case control and time series studies which had been conducted in a community setting . Types of outcomes This review considered studies that included overweight/obesity related outcomes , eating behavior outcomes , physical activity behaviour outcomes , and sedentary behavior outcomes and constructs . Search strategy A literature search of community‐based parent‐centred intervention studies to promote nutrition and physical activity for the prevention and treatment and of childhood overweight and obesity was performed in eight electronic data bases dating from 1975 to April 2009 . Method ological quality Studies were critically appraised for method ological quality using st and ardized tools . Data collection Data was extracted by one review er using a st and ardized data extraction form developed by the research ers and checked for accuracy and consistency by a second review er . Data synthesis Data in relation to setting , methodology , intervention components and effect on weight , dietary intake and physical activity was extracted , and described in a narrative synthesis . Where possible a meta‐ analysis was undertaken . Results Of the home‐based interventions , five of nine studies reported statistically significant changes in anthropometric outcomes post intervention . Of the 10 studies in the before and after school care setting , seven reported a significant decrease in a weight‐related outcome post intervention , with only one reporting an increase . Conclusions Results from the review support the after‐school setting as the most promising for community intervention setting for targeting parents as agents of change within child obesity prevention and treatment programs . Implication s for practice At this stage , interventions to support parents should target the after‐school environment as opposed to being conducted in the home , summer camps , leisure centers or churches . Targeting a decrease in energy intake and sweetened beverages in parallel with increasing number of daily steps and decreasing screen time use . Implication s for research Future studies of high quality are needed across the full range of community setting s. Given that currently most of the higher quality RCTs and the studies showing positive impacts of weight change are in the after‐school setting , further studies in this area using similar method ologies to those already published will facilitate future meta‐analyses in this area Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate around the world and prevention has become a key public health objective . Treatment and management of those already overweight and obese must be aligned with the best available evidence on effectiveness , if the risk of obesity‐related morbidity and mortality is yet be reduced . Diet plays a pivotal role in successful treatment of obesity but to date , there is limited evidence on which to base practice . Objectives To identify and present the best available evidence on the optimal dietetic treatment and management of children and adolescent who are overweight or obese . Search strategy Published English language literature was search ed using the electronic data bases CINAHL , MEDLINE , PRE‐ MEDLINE , DARE , COCHRANE , EMBASE , AUSTROM , Current Concepts and Dissertation Abstract s. The data bases were limited to English Language from 1975 until 2003 . Government reports from the UK , USA and Australian were also search ed and a h and search performed for the Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia , International Journal of Obesity and the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and the bibliographies of retrieved articles . Selection criteria ( i ) Interventions that evaluated the effectiveness of nutrition or dietary interventions to treat or manage overweight and obesity ; ( ii ) Children aged less than 18 years ; and ( iii ) Participants were defined as overweight or obese by relative weight or a measure of body weight status , studies that reported body weight per se were excluded . Data collection and analysis An experienced professional librarian search ed the data bases , and two trained research assistants independently identified studies for retrieval and assessed each article for inclusion . The included studies were critically appraised for method ological quality by two people independently . Data were extracted from the appropriate articles and when a discrepancy arose , a third party would arbitrate . Main results There were 116 articles that met the inclusion criteria . While 49 articles described r and omised controlled trials , they arose from 37 separate studies . There were 67 non‐r and omised trials . Meta‐analyses were performed on eight studies that included both a dietary intervention component and an adequate control group and on four studies that had follow‐up data . There was a high degree of heterogeneity between studies and this made comparisons between studies problematic . Interventions that include diet therapy generally result in significant weight loss , at least in the short term . Many studies were poorly design ed and had no or only minimal follow up . The details of the dietary intervention were often inadequately described and dietary outcomes rarely reported , making repetition of the studies difficult . Review ers ' conclusions There is an urgent need for high quality studies investigating the optimal dietary approach to management of paediatric  overweight and obesity . These studies require adequate follow up to ascertain if weight loss can be sustained in the long term . Details of the dietary prescription , adherence to the dietary intervention and diet‐specific outcomes need to be reported in order to inform best practice Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate around the world and prevention has become a key public health objective . Treatment and management of those already overweight and obese must be aligned with the best available evidence on effectiveness , if the risk of obesity-related morbidity and mortality is yet be reduced . Diet plays a pivotal role in successful treatment of obesity but to date , there is limited evidence on which to base practice . Objectives To identify and present the best available evidence on the optimal dietetic treatment and management of children and adolescent who are overweight or obese . Search strategy Published English language literature was search ed using the electronic data bases CINAHL , MEDLINE , PRE- MEDLINE , DARE , COCHRANE , EMBASE , AUSTROM , Current Concepts and Dissertation Abstract s. The data bases were limited to English Language from 1975 until 2003 . Government reports from the UK , USA and Australian were also search ed and a h and search performed for the Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia , International Journal of Obesity and the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and the bibliographies of retrieved articles . Selection criteria ( i ) Interventions that evaluated the effectiveness of nutrition or dietary interventions to treat or manage overweight and obesity ; ( ii ) Children aged less than 18 years ; and ( iii ) Participants were defined as overweight or obese by relative weight or a measure of body weight status , studies that reported body weight per se were excluded . Data collection and analysis An experienced professional librarian search ed the data bases , and two trained research assistants independently identified studies for retrieval and assessed each article for inclusion . The included studies were critically appraised for method ological quality by two people independently . Data were extracted from the appropriate articles and when a discrepancy arose , a third party would arbitrate . Main results There were 116 articles that met the inclusion criteria . While 49 articles described r and omised controlled trials , they arose from 37 separate studies . There were 67 non-r and omised trials . Meta-analyses were performed on eight studies that included both a dietary intervention component and an adequate control group and on four studies that had follow-up data . There was a high degree of heterogeneity between studies and this made comparisons between studies problematic . Interventions that include diet therapy generally result in significant weight loss , at least in the short term . Many studies were poorly design ed and had no or only minimal follow up . The details of the dietary intervention were often inadequately described and dietary outcomes rarely reported , making repetition of the studies difficult . Review ers ' conclusions There is an urgent need for high quality studies investigating the optimal dietary approach to management of paediatric overweight and obesity . These studies require adequate follow up to ascertain if weight loss can be sustained in the long term . Details of the dietary prescription , adherence to the dietary intervention and diet-specific outcomes need to be reported in order to inform best practice Underst and ing the role of the early-life gut microbiota in obesity is important because there may be opportunities for preventive strategies . We examined the relationships between  infant gut microbiota at six times during the first two years of life and BMI at age 12 in a birth cohort of 165 children and their mothers . We found that the gut microbiota from early life to two years shows an increasingly strong association with childhood BMI . This study provides preliminary evidence that the gut microbiome at 2 years of age may offer useful information to help to identify youth who are at risk for obesity , which could facilitate more-targeted early prevention efforts . ABSTRACT Childhood obesity is a growing problem worldwide . Recent research suggests that the gut microbiota may play an important and potentially causal role in the development of obesity and may be one mechanism that explains the transgenerational transmission of obesity risk . Here we examine the early-life gut microbiota at days 4 , 10 , 30 , 120 , 365 , and 730 and the association with body mass index ( BMI ) z-scores at age 12 in a Norwegian prospect i ve cohort ( n = 165 ) , and evaluate how these BMI -associated taxa relate to maternal overweight/obesity ( Ow/Ob ) and excessive gestational weight gain ( GWG ) . We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the gut microbiota sample s. Taxonomic phylogeny at days 10 and 730 was significantly associated with childhood BMI , and the gut microbiota taxa at two years of age explained over 50 % of the variation in childhood BMI in this cohort . The subset of the early-life taxa within the gut microbiota that best predicted later childhood BMI showed substantial overlap with the maternal taxa most strongly associated with maternal Ow/Ob and excessive GWG . Our results show an association between the infant gut microbiota and later BMI , and they offer preliminary evidence that the infant gut microbiota , particularly at 2 years of age , may have potential to help identify children at risk for obesity . IMPORTANCE Underst and ing the role of the early-life gut microbiota in obesity is important because there may be opportunities for preventive strategies . We examined the relationships between  infant gut microbiota at six times during the first two years of life and BMI at age 12 in a birth cohort of 165 children and their mothers . We found that the gut microbiota from early life to two years shows an increasingly strong association with childhood BMI . This study provides preliminary evidence that the gut microbiome at 2 years of age may offer useful information to help to identify youth who are at risk for obesity , which could facilitate more-targeted early prevention efforts Background Obesity is increasing in the child-bearing population as are the rates of gestational diabetes . Gestational diabetes is associated with higher rates of Cesarean Section for the mother and increased risks of macrosomia , higher body fat mass , respiratory distress and hypoglycemia for the infant . Prevention of gestational diabetes through life style intervention has proven to be difficult . A Finnish study showed that ingestion of specific probiotics altered the composition of the gut microbiome and thereby metabolism from early gestation and decreased rates of gestational diabetes in normal weight women . In SPRING ( the Study of Probiotics IN the prevention of Gestational diabetes ) , the effectiveness of probiotics ingestion for the prevention of gestational diabetes will be assessed in overweight and obese women . Methods / design SPRING is a multi-center , prospect i ve , double-blind r and omized controlled trial run at two tertiary maternity hospitals in Brisbane , Australia . Five hundred and forty ( 540 ) women with a BMI > 25.0 kg/m2 will be recruited over 2 years and receive either probiotics or placebo capsules from 16 weeks gestation until delivery . The probiotics capsules contain > 1x109 cfu each of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 per capsule . The primary outcome is diagnosis of gestational diabetes at 28 weeks gestation . Secondary outcomes include rates of other pregnancy complications , gestational weight gain , mode of delivery , change in gut microbiome , preterm birth , macrosomia , and infant body composition . The trial has 80 % power at a 5 % 2-sided significance level to detect a > 50 % change in the rates of gestational diabetes in this high-risk group of pregnant women . Discussion SPRING will show if probiotics can be used as an easily implementable method of preventing gestational diabetes in the high-risk group of overweight and obese pregnant women BACKGROUND Discerning the determinants of weight loss maintenance is important in the planning of future interventions and policies regarding overweight and obesity . We have therefore systematic ally synthesized recent literature on determinants of weight loss maintenance for individuals with overweight and obesity . METHODS With the use of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review s and Meta-Analyses statement , prospect i ve studies were identified from search es in PubMed and PsycINFO from 2006 to 2016 . We included articles investigating adults with overweight and obesity undergoing weight loss without surgery or medication .  Included articles were scored on their method ological quality , and a best- evidence synthesis was applied to summarize the results . RESULTS Our search result ed in 8,222 articles of which 67 articles were selected . In total , 124 determinants were identified of which 5 were demographic , 59 were behavioural , 51 were psychological/cognitive and 9 were social and physical environmental determinants . We found consistent evidence that demographic determinants were not predictive of weight loss maintenance . Behavioural and cognitive determinants that promote a reduction in energy intake , an increase in energy expenditure and monitoring of this balance are predictive determinants . CONCLUSION This review identifies key determinants in weight loss maintenance . However , more research regarding cognitive and environmental determinants of weight loss maintenance is needed to advance our knowledge on determinants of weight loss maintenance BACKGROUND Changes in the gut microbiome following  bariatric surgery  have been causally linked to metabolic benefits . OBJECTIVES We sought to characterize and assess the stability of gut microbiome shifts following  sleeve gastrectomy ( SG ) . SETTING University laboratories . METHODS Diet-induced obese mice were r and omized to SG or sham surgery . Mice were housed individually or cohoused such that one SG mouse was housed with one weight-matched , sham-operated mouse . Fecal sample s were collected before and on postoperative days 7 and 28 . Bacterial composition in feces was characterized by using next-generation Illumina sequencing of 16 S rRNA . RESULTS SG mice  lost more weight and were more insulin sensitive than sham mice independent of housing status ( P<.05 ) . One week following surgery , fecal sample s from all mice showed shifts in the microbiome that only persisted in SG-operated mice . Cohousing did not alter the microbial composition of SG-operated mice . Cohoused sham-operated mice showed a unique shift in microbial composition on postoperative day 28 that differed from individually housed , sham-operated mice ( P<.001 ) . Cohousing did not affect metabolic outcomes of either SG or sham surgeries . CONCLUSION SG results in acute and sustained shifts in the gut microbiome . SG associated shifts are not altered by reexposure to obesity-associated gut microbiota Background The aim of these review s is to inform the design and content of interventions to reduce obesity in young children . The behaviors that are associated with obesity/overweight have been studied extensively ; however , the factors associated with these behaviors in young children ( 0 to 6 years ) have not been systematic ally review ed . Over the past few years the focus of obesity prevention has shifted to preschool children because of the high prevalence of obesity at school entry and recognition that habits formed in early life could track into adulthood . In order to develop effective interventions and change behavior , it is important to underst and the factors that are associated with those behaviors . For example , we need to underst and whether it would be more important to target the family , childcare setting s or the wider environment and identify the most effective way of changing these energy balance related behaviors . Methods / Design Quantitative ( intervention and observational ) and qualitative literature on determinants/correlates of fruit and vegetable intake , sugar sweetened beverage and other unhealthy diet intake , and physical activity and sedentary behaviors in young children will be systematic ally identified , mapped and review ed . A common search strategy ( no language or period restrictions ) will be used to identify papers from eight electronic data bases and this will be supplemented by h and - search ing . Next , studies in developed countries that examine the factors associated with these behaviors in children aged 0 to 6 years ( at baseline ) will be screened and mapped descriptively followed by in-depth data extraction , quality assessment and synthesis . Data from quantitative studies will be summarized using either forest plots or harvest plots and narrative synthesis , and qualitative studies using thematic analysis . Qualitative evidence will be integrated with the quantitative evidence , using a parallel synthesis approach , to provide a deeper underst and ing of effective strategies to influence these energy balance related behaviors . Discussion In addition to updating and mapping current research , these review s will be the first to comprehensively synthesize and integrate both the quantitative and qualitative evidence pertaining to determinants/correlates/barriers/facilitators of obesity related behaviors in this young age group ( 0 to 6 years ) with the aim of informing future interventions . Systematic review registration International Prospect i ve Register for Systematic Review s ( PROSPERO ) Registration number : OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of overweight among Chinese preschool children and to explore risk factors of childhood obesity focusing on parental characteristics , feeding practice and lifestyle . METHODS Data on 930 families with 2- to 6-year-old children in five kindergartens were obtained in a cross sectional study . Families were r and omly selected from two of all six urban districts in Beijing , China . Information on parental characteristics , dietary habits , lifestyle habits , and feeding practice was collected by parental self-report question naires . The children 's stature and weight were measured in light clothing and without shoes . Overweight and obesity were defined according to international cut-off values , as proposed by the International Obesity Task Force . Multivariate regression analysis was used to explore risk factors of child overweight . RESULTS The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 10.7 % and 4.2 % , respectively , and increased with age . The prevalence of child overweight was 14.1 % and 7.5 % in obese and non-obese families , respectively . Significant associations were observed between child and parent characteristics for overweight , frequency of eating in restaurant , television hours , and hours of physical activity . Child overweight was associated with parental overweight ( Odds Ratio [ OR ] 2.43 , 95 % CI 0.78 , 6.59 ) , low maternal education level ( OR 2.22 , 95 % CI 1.39 , 3.55 ) , food restriction ( OR 2.68 , 95 % CI 1.64 , 4.29 ) , and television watching > 2h/d ( OR 1.56 , 95 % CI 1.17 , 2.09 ) , after adjusting for sex , age , family income and kindergarten ( for cluster study design ) . CONCLUSIONS Overweight prevalence among Chinese preschool children in Beijing is comparable to some European countries . Prevention strategies should include identified lifestyle risk factors Background Socioeconomic inequalities in obesity and associated risk factors for obesity are widening throughout developed countries worldwide . Tackling obesity is high on the public health agenda both in the United Kingdom and internationally . However , what works in terms of interventions that are able to reduce inequalities in obesity is lacking . Methods / Design The review will examine public health interventions at the individual , community and societal level that might reduce inequalities in  obesity among adults aged 18 years and over , in any setting and in any country . The following electronic data bases will be search ed : MEDLINE , EMBASE , CINAHL , PsycINFO , Social Science Citation Index , ASSIA , IBSS , Sociological Abstract s , and the NHS Economic Evaluation Data base . Data base search es will be supplemented with website and gray literature search es . No studies will be excluded based on language , country or publication date . R and omized and non-r and omized controlled trials , prospect i ve and retrospective cohort studies ( with/without control groups ) and prospect i ve repeat cross-sectional studies ( with/without control groups ) that have a primary outcome that is a proxy for body fatness and have examined differential effects with regard to socioeconomic status ( education , income , occupation , social class , deprivation , poverty ) or where the intervention has been targeted specifically at disadvantaged groups or deprived areas will be included . Study inclusion , data extraction and quality appraisal will be conducted by two review ers . Meta- analysis and narrative synthesis will be conducted . The main analysis will examine the effects of 1 ) individual , 2 ) community and 3 ) societal level public health interventions on socioeconomic inequalities in adult obesity . Interventions will be characterized by their level of action and their approach to tackling inequalities . Context ual information on how such public health interventions are organized , implemented and delivered will also be examined . Discussion The review will provide evidence , and reveal any gaps in the evidence base , of public health strategies which reduce and prevent inequalities in the prevalence of obesity in adults and provide information on the organization , implementation and delivery of such interventions . Systematic review registration PROSPERO registration number : Pediatric obesity is rising worldwide leading the worrying phenomenon of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) to shift into one of the most frequent causes of chronic liver illness in childhood . Occurrence of NAFLD depends on several factors such as the geographical area and the diagnostic modalities used ; overall it ranges between 3 % and 10 % of pediatric population , increasing up to 70 % in patients with metabolic comorbidities ( Manco M , Bottazzo G , DeVito R et al , J Am Coll Nutr 27:667 - 676 , 2008).Recent findings have related the intestinal microbiota to a plethora of pathological conditions , including type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) , obesity , and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ( NASH ) . One of the emerging areas of the study is the link between liver diseases and gut microbiome , which has added new information to the underst and ing of the so-called gut-liver axis . In order to address the role of gut microbiome in NAFLD onset and progression , it is necessary to " decipher " operational codes for microbiome investigation within the context of advanced laboratory medicine to capture microbiome features and , hence , to address the function of the intestinal microbiome within the gut microbiota-liver axis . Results of these investigations have allowed the beginning of implementing the usage of probiotics and symbiotics in the medical approach of  obesity and NAFLD in adults and children . Several r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) have been already published on  fecal microbiota transplantation  ( FMT ) , T2D , NASH , and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).This review proposes to describe the current state of knowledge on the ways fatty liver diseases can be addressed with nutritional interventions , probiotics , symbiotics , and FMT The current review aim ed to systematic ally identify dietary , physical activity and sedentary behaviours in preschool children ( 4 - 6 years of age ) that are prospect ively related to overweight or obesity later in childhood . Prospect i ve studies published between January 1990 and June 2010 were selected from search es in PubMed , EMBASE , PsycINFO , CINAHL and Cochrane Library . Studies examining the prospect i ve association between at least one relevant behaviour measured during preschool period ( children aged 4 - 6 years at baseline ) in relation to at least one anthropometric measurement at follow-up ( age < 18 years ) were included . Harvest plots were used to summarize the results and draw conclusions from the evidence . Of the 8,718 retrieved papers , 23 papers reporting on 15 different study sample s were included in this review . Strong evidence was found for an inverse association between total physical activity and overweight . Moderate evidence was observed for a positive association between television viewing and overweight . Because of the heterogeneity in the assessed dietary behaviours , insufficient evidence was found for an association between  dietary intake or specific dietary behaviours and overweight . These results suggest that interventions aim ing to prevent overweight among preschool children should focus on promotion of total physical activity and limitation of screen time and that further research is needed to establish whether and which dietary behaviours are important for obesity prevention in this age group . However , despite the lack of evidence for dietary behaviours from the present review , future interventions may already target specific dietary behaviours that are highly prevalent and for which there a clear rationale as well as preliminary evidence that these behaviours are associated with overweight OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a gastrointestinal microbiome modulator ( GIMM ) containing inulin , β-glucan , blueberry anthocyanins , and blueberry polyphenols on metabolic parameters , fecal markers of gut microbiota , and satiety . DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty overweight or obese individuals aged 18 to 70years , were enrolled in a r and omized controlled trial . Participants consumed the test product or placebo daily for four weeks . Stool sample s were collected and blood was drawn at baseline and week four for assessment s of gut microbiota , satiety hormones , glucose control , and lipid measures . Subjective satiety was assessed weekly . Linear models were used to compare differences from baseline to week four . RESULTS GIMM consumption improved blood glucose tolerance ( p=0.008 ) , and increased satiety ( p=0.03 ) . There were no statistically significant differences in insulin sensitivity , fecal markers of gut microbiota , plasma satiety hormones , or serum lipid concentrations between the groups . However , plasma satiety hormones and fecal short chain fatty acid concentrations increased in the test group compared to the placebo . CONCLUSIONS GIMM consumption for four weeks , increases satiety , and improves glucose tolerance possibly through insulin-independent pathways Background There is growing evidence of the impact of overweight and obesity on short- and long-term functioning , health and well-being . Internationally , childhood obesity rates continue to rise in some countries ( for example , Mexico , India , China and Canada ) , although there is emerging evidence of a slowing of this increase or a plateauing in some age groups . In most European countries , the United States and Australia , however , socioeconomic inequalities in relation to obesity and risk factors for obesity are widening . Addressing inequalities in obesity , therefore , has a very high profile on the public health and health services agendas . However , there is a lack of accessible policy-ready evidence on what works in terms of interventions to reduce inequalities in obesity . Methods and design This article describes the protocol for a National Health Service Trust ( NHS ) National Institute for Health Research -funded systematic review of public health interventions at the individual , community and societal levels which might reduce socioeconomic inequalities in relation to obesity amongst children ages 0 to 18 years . The studies will be selected only if ( 1 ) they included a primary outcome that is a proxy for body fatness and ( 2 ) examined differential effects with regard to socioeconomic status ( education , income , occupation , social class , deprivation and poverty ) or the intervention was targeted specifically at disadvantaged groups ( for example , children of the unemployed , lone parents , low income and so on ) or at people who live in deprived areas . A rigorous and inclusive international literature search will be conducted for r and omised and nonr and omised controlled trials , prospect i ve and retrospective cohort studies ( with and /or without control groups ) and prospect i ve repeat cross-sectional studies ( with and /or without control groups ) . The following electronic data bases will be search ed : MEDLINE , Embase , CINAHL , PsycINFO , Social Science Citation Index , ASSIA , IBSS , Sociological Abstract s and the NHS Economic Evaluation Data base . Data base search es will be supplemented with website and grey literature search es . No studies will be excluded on the basis of language , country of origin or publication date . Study inclusion , data extraction and quality appraisal will be conducted by two review ers . Meta- analysis and narrative synthesis will be conducted . The main analysis will examine the effects of ( 1 ) individual , ( 2 ) community and ( 3 ) societal level public health interventions on socioeconomic inequalities in childhood obesity . Interventions will be characterised by their level of action and their approach to tackling inequalities . Context ual information on how such public health interventions are organised , implemented and delivered will also be examined . Discussion In this review , we consider public health strategies which reduce and prevent inequalities in the prevalence of childhood obesity , highlight any gaps in the evidence base and seek to establish how such public health interventions are organised , implemented and delivered . PROSPERO registration number : # # # # Summary points In the first part of this article we described how obesity in children is measured , its prevalence , whether children should be screened , and the risk factors for and consequences of obesity.1 In this part we review the current evidence on the prevention and management of childhood obesity . # # # # Sources and selection criteria This review draws on the Foresight report , guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the Australian National Health Medical Research Council , and Cochrane review . In April 2008 we search ed the Cochrane Library data base of review s and the Centre for Review s and Dissemination data bases using the search term “ obesity ” . We also conducted a Medline search ( ( Child$ or paediatric or pediatric or adolescent ) and ( Obes$ or overweight ) ) limited to 1 January 2005 to 6 May 2008 and “ review articles ” ; this identified 1105 articles . We read the abstract s of these articles and retrieved relevant papers . We also used articles from our own bibliographies collected over the past 10 years . The evidence to support the measurement , prevention , and management of obesity in children is still relatively weak , with few r and omised controlled trials or systematic review s. The strength of evidence is developing and the up date d Cochrane review that will be published in 2009 The aim of the study is to estimate the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Lithuanian adult population and to examine the association of social and health behavior factors with overweight and obesity . Since 1994 five cross-sectional surveys have been conducted among adult population aged 20 - 64 within the international FINBALT HEALTH MONITOR project . An independent national r and om sample of 3000 inhabitants of Lithuania was drawn from National Population Register for each survey . The data were collected through mailed question naires ( covering sociodemographic characteristics , health behaviors , and self-reported height and weight ) . Overweight was defined as BMI > 25 kg/m ( 2 ) and obesity - as BMI > 30 kg/m ( 2 ) . In 2002 the overall prevalence of obesity was 16 % and the prevalence of overweight - 49.1 % . Since 1994 both indicators have increased in men while in women the prevalence of overweight has decreased . The prevalence of obesity and overweight increased with age . Obesity and overweight were least prevalent among the highly educated women , but most prevalent among the highly educated men . Women living in cities were less obese and overweight than those living in towns and villages . Obesity and overweight were less prevalent among daily smokers and physically active persons . Women drinking beer at least once a week were less obese and overweight than those who consumed beer more rarely . There was no consistent association between nutrition habits and the prevalence of obesity and overweight . The National obesity control program aim ed at promotion of healthy nutrition and physical activity should be elaborated in order to decrease the prevalence of obesity and overweight  in Lithuanian population BACKGROUND Given the increasing prevalence of obesity among youth over the past decade , prevention has become an international public health priority . PURPOSE To evaluate the 2-year effectiveness of three strategies aim ed at preventing overweight and obesity among adolescents in a high school setting . DESIGN PRomotion de l'ALIMentation et de l'Activité Physique ( PRALIMAP ) is a school-based RCT . Each study high school was assigned to receive or not , over a 2-year period ( Grade s 10 and 11 ) , each of three prevention strategies according to a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial school r and omization . Data were collected in 2006 - 2009 and analyzed in 2009 - 2011 . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS A total of 3538 adolescents ( aged 15.6±0.7 years at baseline ) in 24 public high schools in Lorraine ( northeastern France ) completed the PRALIMAP trial . INTERVENTIONS The prevention strategies were education ( development of nutritional knowledge and skills ) ; environment ( creation of a favorable environment by improving availability of " healthy " dietary items and physical activity ) ; and screening and care ( detection of overweight/obesity and , if necessary , adapted care management ) . MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES The main outcome of interest was BMI ; BMI z-score and prevalence of overweight/obesity were considered as secondary outcomes . RESULTS Adolescents who completed the PRALIMAP trial were younger , less often suspected of having eating  disorders and depression , and came from a higher socioeconomic class than those who did not . The 2-year change of outcomes was more favorable in the 12 screening and care high schools compared to the no-screening ones : a 0.11 lower increase in BMI ( p=0.0303 ) ; a 0.04 greater decrease in BMI z-score ( p=0.0173 ) ; and a 1.71 % greater decrease in overweight/obesity prevalence ( p=0.0386 ) . Education and environment strategies were not more effective than no strategy intervention . CONCLUSIONS Although the screening and care strategy is an effective way to prevent , at 2 years , overweight and obesity among adolescents in a high school setting , its effects over and above no strategy intervention were small . TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered at www . clinical trials.govNCT00814554 Summary Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective procedure for the treatment of obesity . Given the role of the gut microbiota in regulating host metabolism and adiposity , we investigated the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on the microbiome of patients r and omized to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or vertical b and ed gastroplasty and matched for weight and fat mass loss . The two surgical procedures induced similar and durable changes on the gut microbiome that were not dependent on body mass index and result ed in altered levels of fecal and circulating metabolites compared with obese controls . By colonizing germ-free mice with stools from the patients , we demonstrated that the surgically altered microbiota promoted reduced fat deposition in recipient mice . These mice also had a lower respiratory quotient , indicating decreased utilization of carbohydrates as fuel . Our results suggest that the gut microbiota may play a direct role in the reduction of adiposity observed after bariatric surgery Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity is high amongst healthcare professionals and there is growing interest in delivering weight loss interventions in the workplace . We conducted a systematic review to ( i ) examine the effectiveness of workplace-based diet and /or physical activity interventions aim ed at healthcare professionals and to ( ii ) identify and describe key components of effective interventions . Seven electronic data bases were systematic ally search ed . Results Thirteen r and omised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria , of which seven had data available for meta- analysis . Where meta- analysis was possible , studies were grouped according to length of follow-up ( < 12 months and ≥12 months ) and behavioural target ( diet only , physical activity only or diet and physical activity ) , with outcome data pooled using a weighted r and om effects model . Nine studies reported statistically significant ( between-group ) differences . Four studies reported being informed by a behaviour change theory . Meta- analysis of all trials reporting weight data demonstrated healthcare professionals allocated to dietary and physical activity interventions lost significantly more body weight ( −3.95 Kg , [ 95 % CI −4.96 to- 2.95 Kg ] ) than controls up to 12 months follow up . Conclusions Workplace diet and /or physical activity interventions targeting healthcare professionals are limited in number and are heterogeneous . To improve the evidence base , we recommend additional evaluations of theory-based interventions and adequate reporting of intervention content Background Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are examples of chronic diseases that impose significant morbidity and mortality in the general population worldwide . Most chronic diseases are associated with underlying preventable risk factors , such as elevated blood pressure , high blood glucose or glucose intolerance , high lipid levels , physical inactivity , excessive sedentary behaviours , and overweight/obesity . The occurrence of intermediate outcomes during childhood increases the risk of disease in adulthood . Sugar-sweetened beverages are known to be significant sources of additional caloric intake , and given recent attention to their contribution in the development of chronic diseases , a systematic review is warranted . We will assess whether the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in children is associated with adverse health outcomes and what the potential moderating factors are . Methods / Design Of interest are studies addressing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption , taking a broad perspective . Both direct consumption studies as well as those evaluating interventions that influence consumption ( e.g. school policy , educational ) will be relevant . Non-specific or multi-faceted behavioural , educational , or policy interventions may also be included subject to the level of evidence that exists for the other interventions /exposures . Comparisons of interest and endpoints of interest are pre-specified . We will include r and omized controlled trials , controlled clinical trials , interrupted time series studies , controlled before-after studies , prospect i ve and retrospective comparative cohort studies , case – control studies , and nested case – control design s. The MEDLINE ® , Embase , The Cochrane Library , CINAHL , ERIC , and PsycINFO ® data bases and grey literature sources will be search ed . The processes for selecting studies , abstract ing data , and resolving conflicts are described . We will assess risk of bias using design -specific tools . To determine sets of confounding variables that should be adjusted for , we have developed causal directed acyclic graphs and will use those to inform our risk of bias assessment s. Meta- analysis will be conducted where appropriate ; parameters for exploring statistical heterogeneity and effect modifiers are pre-specified . The Grading of Recommendations Assessment , Development and Evaluation ( GRADE ) approach will be used to determine the quality of evidence for outcomes . Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42014009641 Gut microbiota-related metabolites are potential clinical biomarkers for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Circulating succinate , a metabolite produced by both microbiota and the host , is increased in hypertension , ischemic heart disease , and type 2 diabetes . We aim ed to analyze systemic levels of succinate in obesity , a major risk factor for CVD , and its relationship with gut microbiome . We explored the association of circulating succinate with specific metagenomic signatures in cross-sectional and prospect i ve cohorts of Caucasian Spanish subjects . Obesity was associated with elevated levels of circulating succinate concomitant with impaired glucose metabolism . This increase was associated with specific changes in gut microbiota related to succinate metabolism : a higher relative abundance of succinate-producing Prevotellaceae ( P ) and Veillonellaceae ( V ) , and a lower relative abundance of succinate-consuming Odoribacteraceae ( O ) and Clostridaceae ( C ) in obese individuals , with the ( P + V/O + C ) ratio being a main determinant of plasma succinate .  Weight loss  intervention decreased ( P + V/O + C ) ratio coincident with the reduction in circulating succinate . In the spontaneous evolution after good dietary advice , alterations in circulating succinate levels were linked to specific metagenomic signatures associated with carbohydrate metabolism and energy production with independence of body weight change . Our data support the importance of microbe – microbe interactions for the metabolite signature of gut microbiome and uncover succinate as a potential microbiota-derived metabolite related to CVD risk INTRODUCTION Internet based obesity prevention program is one approach in learning strategies to improve healthy behaviour . It has been advocated as one strategy to address the rising prevalence of childhood obesity ; however , their efficacy is not seen consistently . AIM The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of internet based obesity prevention program in Thai school children . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Healthy children study ing in public schools in one township of central Thail and were r and omly assigned to either the  intervention ( internet based ) program or the control group .  Anthropometric characteristics were recorded at baseline and for the next four following months at monthly intervals . Changes in the percentage of overweight/obese children and changes in BMI at the end of study were considered as the primary and secondary outcome , respectively . RESULTS A total of 217 children , mean age of 10.7 years , were included into the final analysis . Baseline anthropometric parameters and percentages of overweight/obesity were not significantly different between groups . At the end of the study , the control group had a higher percentage of overweight/obesity than the intervention group ( 56.6 % vs. 39.6 % , respectively ; p-value=0.009 ) . Children in the control group had a significantly higher increase in net BMI gains than those in the intervention group ( 1.24kg/m2 vs. 0.40kg/m2 , p-value=0.027 ) . The intervention group had no changes in BMI z-score ( -0.001 , 95%CI -0.19 to 0.18 , p-value=0.988 ) , contrary to those in the control group , which had significant gain of BMI z-score at the end of study ( 0.45 , 95%CI 0.27 to 0.63 , p-value<0.001 ) . CONCLUSION Internet the based obesity prevention program was effective in modifying anthropometric outcome and helped to address the rising prevalence of overweight and obese status in Thai children OBJECTIVE To determine the relative importance of familial , dietary , behavioral , psychological and social risk factors for predicting body mass index ( BMI ) change , and onset of  overweight and obesity among adolescent girls . METHODS Data from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study ( n = 2 150 ) , a longitudinal cohort of girls , were used to identify the most important predictors of change in BMI percentile between the ages of 9 and 19 years , and second , risk for becoming overweight and obese . Forty-one baseline predictors were assessed using a tree-based regression method ( R and om forest ) to rank the relative importance of risk factors . RESULTS The five factors that best predicted change in BMI percentile ( p < 0.05 ) were related to family socio-economic position ( income and parent education ) and drive to restrict eating and weight ( body dissatisfaction , drive for thinness and unhappiness with physical appearance ) . The factors that were statistically significant ( p < 0.05 ) predictors of both onset of overweight and obesity were income , ineffectiveness and race . CONCLUSIONS Family socio-economic position and emotion regulation appeared as the top predictors of both BMI change and onset of overweight and obesity . Our results build upon prior findings that policies to prevent the onset of obesity during adolescence be targeted towards girls from lower socio-economic position households . Our findings also suggest several novel psychological factors including ineffectiveness as predictors of obesity during adolescence . These predictive findings offer a direction for future inquiry into adolescent obesity etiology using causal methods
Conclusion This study suggests that the probiotics supplementation could potentially reduce the weight gain and improve some of the associated metabolic parameters , which may become an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity in adult individuals
Background The prevalence of overweight/obesity in adults is raised to 39 % , which is nearly tripled more than 1975 .
The alteration of the gut microbiome has been widely accepted as one of the main causal factors .
To find an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of overweight/obesity , a systematic review and meta- analysis were design ed .