The Gene-Diet Attica Investigation on childhood obesity (GENDAI): overview of the study design
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Constantina Papoutsakis
Abstract
Background: There is limited evidence on the role of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of childhood obesity, a major health problem worldwide.
Methods: The Gene-Diet Attica Investigation on childhood obesity (GENDAI) evaluates the contributions to and pivotal interactions of genetic, dietary and physical activity variables on children's weight. We describe the design, methodology, and present preliminary data. So far, 920 participants have been enrolled and the final projected sample is 1000 fifth- and sixth-grade students from selected elementary schools in Attica (10–14 years). In this school-based cross-sectional study, more than 400 variables describing anthropometric, dietary, clinical, genetic, sociodemographic and other lifestyle characteristics were collected from participating children and their families.
Results: Increased body mass index was identified in 39.3% of subjects (30.5% overweight and 8.8% obese), with males presenting a more unfavorable metabolic profile, i.e., higher blood lipids, glucose, and insulin, compared to females. Normal-weight children had a significant advantage when compared to all children of increased weight in terms of lipid profile and insulin, as well as behaviors examined. Specifically, normal-weight children exhibited less skipping of meals and less sedentary activities.
Conclusions: The overall high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the current population is significant and underscores the need for environmental and genetic information that will shed light on the phenomenon of childhood obesity.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:309–15.
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©2007 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
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- Genotypes, obesity and type 2 diabetes – can genetic information motivate weight loss? A review
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Articles in the same Issue
- From human genetic variations to prediction of risks and responses to drugs and the environment
- Nutrigenomics – 2006 update
- How to comprehensively analyse proteins and how this influences nutritional research
- Genotypes, obesity and type 2 diabetes – can genetic information motivate weight loss? A review
- The Gene-Diet Attica Investigation on childhood obesity (GENDAI): overview of the study design
- Polymorphisms in the APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster and cholesterol responsiveness to dietary change
- Nutri-epigenomics: lifelong remodelling of our epigenomes by nutritional and metabolic factors and beyond
- Emerging role of cathepsin S in obesity and its associated diseases
- Association analysis of hepatitis virus B infection with haplotypes of the TBX21 gene promoter region in the Chinese population
- Multiplex polymerase chain reaction on FTA cards vs. flow cytometry for B-lymphocyte clonality
- Real-time multiplex PCR assay for genotyping of three apolipoprotein E alleles and two choline acetyltransferase alleles with three hybridization probes
- Immunomagnetic CD45 depletion does not improve cytokeratin 20 RT-PCR in colorectal cancer
- Analysis of the components of hypertransaminasemia after liver resection
- Fine characterization of mitral valve glycosaminoglycans and their modification with degenerative disease
- Oxidative stress evaluated using an automated method for hydroperoxide estimation in patients with coronary artery disease
- Secretory phospholipase A2 activity and release kinetics of vascular tissue remodelling biomarkers after coronary artery bypass grafting with and without cardiopulmonary bypass
- Clustered components of the metabolic syndrome and platelet counts in Japanese females
- International Standard for serum vitamin B12 and serum folate: international collaborative study to evaluate a batch of lyophilised serum for B12 and folate content
- Multicentre physiological reference intervals for serum concentrations of immunoglobulins A, G and M, complement C3c and C4 measured with Tina-Quant® reagents systems
- In vivo and in vitro allergy diagnostics: it's time to reappraise the costs
- Experience with post-market surveillance of in-vitro diagnostic medical devices for lay use in Germany
- Evaluation of the high-sensitivity, full-range Olympus CRP OSR6199 application on the Olympus AU640®
- How to improve the teaching of urine microscopy
- In vitro determination of allergen-specific serum IgE. Comparative analysis of three methods
- Efficacy of a new blocker against anti-ruthenium antibody interference in the Elecsys free triiodothyronine assay
- Clinical indications for plasma protein assays: transthyretin (prealbumin) in inflammation and malnutrition: International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC): IFCC Scientific Division Committee on Plasma Proteins (C-PP)
- Meeting Report: From human genetic variations to prediction of risks and responses to drugs and the environment
