Journal of epidemiology and community health
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Oct 2014
Developmental trajectories of Body Mass Index from infancy to 18 years of age: prenatal determinants and health consequences.
Knowledge on the long-term development of adiposity throughout childhood/adolescence and its prenatal determinants and health sequelae is lacking. We sought to (1) identify trajectories of Body Mass Index (BMI) from 1 to 18 years of age, (2) examine associations of maternal gestational smoking and early pregnancy overweight with offspring BMI trajectories and (3) determine whether BMI trajectories predict health outcomes: asthma, lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio), and blood pressure, at 18 years. ⋯ Maternal prenatal exposures show prolonged effects on offspring's propensity towards overweight-obesity. Distinct morbid BMI trajectories are evident during the first 18 years of life that are associated with higher risk of asthma, reduced FEV1/FVC ratio, and elevated blood pressure.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Oct 2014
Influence of paternal and maternal ethnicity and ethnic enclaves on newborn weight.
The association between maternal ethnicity and newborn weight is understood. Less is known about the additional influence of paternal ethnicity and neighbourhood ethnic composition. ⋯ Paternal and maternal ethnic origin influence newborn weight, which is modified by settlement in a high same-ethnic concentration area only among parents of mixed union.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Oct 2014
Psychosocial and behavioural factors in the explanation of socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health: a multilevel analysis in 28 European and North American countries.
The relative contribution of different pathways leading to health inequalities in adolescence was rarely investigated, especially in a cross-national perspective. The aim of the study is to analyse the contribution of psychosocial and behavioural factors in the explanation of inequalities in adolescent self-rated health (SRH) by family wealth in 28 countries. ⋯ More than half of the inequalities by family affluence in adolescent SRH were explained by an unequal distribution of psychosocial and behavioural factors. Combining both approaches showed that the contribution of psychosocial factors was higher due to their direct (independent) and indirect impact through behavioural factors.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Sep 2014
Fruit and vegetable consumption and all-cause, cancer and CVD mortality: analysis of Health Survey for England data.
Governments worldwide recommend daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. We examine whether this benefits health in the general population of England. ⋯ A robust inverse association exists between fruit and vegetable consumption and mortality, with benefits seen in up to 7+ portions daily. Further investigations into the effects of different types of fruit and vegetables are warranted.