Chronic Diseases in Canada

Volume 31, no. 2, March 2011

Using childhood Leg Length Index to predict development of adolescent overweight and obesity

https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.31.2.07

Akseer N. (1); Liu J. (2); Hay J. (3); Faught B. (4); Wade T. (4); Cairney J. (4)

Background/Purpose/Objectives: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity (OwOb) in pediatric populations is becoming a public health concern in many countries. Our purpose was to determine if childhood stature components, particularly the Leg Length Index (LLI = [overall height – sitting height]/ height), are useful in assessing risk of OwOb in adolescence.

Study design/Methods: Approximately 2360 Niagara Region students had their bodies measured to include sitting and standing height at baseline. Of these, 1167 children (573 girls, 594 boys) had their weight and height measured at the 5th year follow-up. OwOb was defined using age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) with cut-off points corresponding to adults’ BMI > 25.

Results: Overall, 34% (n = 298) of adolescents were considered as OwOb. The results from logistic regression analysis indicate that with 1 unit increase in LLI, odds of OwOb decreases 24% (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66–0.87) after adjusting for age, sex and baseline waist circumference. Further adjusting for early life confounders does not change the relationship.

Conclusions: LLI measured at childhood can be used to predict the OwOb risk in adolescents. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear and further study is needed. Mother’s BMI and smoking status can modify childhood LLI.

Characteristics associated with unmet support needs in families of school-aged children with an autism spectrum disorder

Brown H.K. (5); Ouellette-Kuntz H. (5); Hunter D. (5); Kelley E. (6)

Background/Purpose/Objectives: Due to the recognized strain on autism services, the objectives of this study were (1) to describe unmet support needs reported by parents of school-aged children with an autism spectrum disorder and (2) to examine these needs in relation to the child’s functional independence. We hypothesized that families of children with low or high functional independence would have a greater unmet support needs than families of children with moderate functional independence.

Study design/Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 77 families of children with an autism spectrum disorder using the Family Needs Questionnaire and the Scales of Independent Behaviour—Revised. Children’s functional independence was determined by their adaptive skills and problem behaviours. Their average age was 9.6 years (SD = 2.1), and 85.7% were male.

Results: Generalized linear modelling showed that, after controlling for other variables, differences in unmet needs between children with low versus moderate functional independence were not significant (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.67–2.38). Contrary to our hypothesis, children with high functional independence had a significantly lower risk for unmet needs compared to those with moderate functional independence (RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43–0.85).

Conclusions: Information about unmet needs may help policy makers and service providers effectively allocate limited resources.

Author References

1. Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
2. Department of Community Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
4. Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
5. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen’s University; Kingston, Ontario, Canada
6. Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada