An Overweight Preventive Score associates with obesity and glycemic traits

To develop a multidimensional, simple index which incorporates targeted dietary and lifestyle behaviors for the prevention and evaluation of treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity.

A total of 1072 (53.8% females) healthy children and 857 (54.8% females) adolescents from GENDAI and TEENAGE studies respectively were included in the analysis. Both studies are cross-sectional, population-based studies. Dietary and lifestyle behaviors - either with negative or positive impact on obesity, based on the recommendations of Barlow and the Expert Committee - were assessed with use of two non-consecutive 24-h recalls and a dietary questionnaire. For each individual, cumulative exposures to 6 of these obesity-related behaviors, namely consumption of fruits and vegetables, breakfast and family meals, consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and fast-food meals, and screen time, were assessed through calculation of the Overweight Preventive Score. Obesity and glycemic control traits were also available for all individuals from both cohorts.

Overweight Preventive Score was significantly associated (P<0.05) with all obesity traits and with decreased likelihood of becoming overweight [OR (95% CI): 0.90 (0.84, 0.97), P=0.003] in all individuals after adjustment for potential confounders and exclusion of low-energy reporters. Associations were also significant in stratified analyses by sex (P<0.05). The score was also associated with glycemic control traits in all individuals independently of body mass index, but these associations remained significant (P<0.05) only in males and after adjustment for potential confounders and exclusion of low-energy reporters.

The proposed Overweight Preventive Score is a simple index and could be proven as a useful tool for the assessment of preventive and therapeutic interventions in child and adolescent overweight and insulin resistance.