Publications by authors named "Geoff D C Ball"

Background: Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are important determinants of cardiometabolic health in pediatric obesity. Psychological factors influence decision-making and may influence lifestyle behaviors. Decision-making can be assessed using the delay discounting (DD) method, which assesses the preference for immediate over delayed rewards.

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This study explored whether baseline body esteem predicted changes in eating behaviors, physical activity (PA), and health-related quality of life (QoL) over a 24-month period among youth with obesity enrolled in weight management programs. Utilizing data from the CANadian Pediatric Weight Management Registry, the study included 415 participants ( = 221 girls, = 194 boys) aged 10-17 years (mean = 13.2, standard deviation = 2.

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Background: Obesity is a complex, chronic, stigmatized disease whereby abnormal or excess body fat may impair health or increase the risk of medical complications, and can reduce quality of life and shorten lifespan in children and families. We developed this guideline to provide evidence-based recommendations on options for managing pediatric obesity that support shared decision-making among children living with obesity, their families, and their health care providers.

Methods: We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

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The World Health Organization recommends using + 2 SD of body mass index z-score (zBMI) to define overweight/obesity (OWO) in children ages 2 to 5 years whereas + 1 SD is used as cut-point from 5 years onwards. Empirical evidence for using different cut-points across childhood is lacking. Our objective was to compare the ability of OWO in early childhood defined using zBMI cut-points at + 2 SD and + 1 SD to predict obesity at 10 years.

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The purpose of this article, part 1 of 2 on randomised controlled trials (RCTs), is to provide readers (eg, clinicians, patients, health service and policy decision-makers) of the nutrition literature structured guidance on interpreting RCTs. Evaluation of a given RCT involves several considerations, including the potential for risk of bias, the assessment of estimates of effect and their corresponding precision, and the applicability of the evidence to one's patient. Risk of bias refers to flaws in the design or conduct of a study that may lead to a deviation from measuring the underlying true effect of an intervention.

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Objective: To summarize the literature on bariatric surgery for managing pediatric obesity, including intervention effects to improve patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), cardiometabolic risk factors, anthropometry, and assess adverse events (AEs).

Methods: Eligible studies were published between January 2012 and January 2022 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational (controlled and uncontrolled) studies before and after surgery with a mean age <18 years old. Outcomes and subgroups were selected a priori by stakeholders; estimates of effect for outcomes were presented relative to minimal important differences (MIDs) and GRADE certainty of evidence.

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Objectives: To examine individual, family, and program characteristics associated with changes in anthropometric and cardiometabolic health indicators in children with overweight or obesity after participating in multidisciplinary obesity management for 12 months.

Methods: Participants included children 2-17 years old with overweight or obesity enrolled in the CANadian Pediatric Weight Management Registry (CANPWR). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between individual, family, and program characteristics and changes in anthropometry (WHO BMI z-score) and cardiometabolic health indicators (systolic and diastolic blood pressure; fasting and 2-h glucose post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); high density lipoprotein- (HDL) and non-HDL cholesterol and fasting triglycerides).

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Objective: To summarize the literature on pharmacotherapy for managing paediatric obesity.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with <18-year-olds of pharmacotherapeutic agents published up to November 2022. Estimates of effect for outcomes were presented relative to minimal important differences and GRADE certainty of evidence.

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Although adolescents with obesity have an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease, a subset maintains a healthy cardiometabolic profile. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may determine cardiometabolic risk. We aimed to characterize the lifestyle behaviors of adolescents with obesity, compare differences between metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), and assess associations between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic profiles.

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The built environment can impact health outcomes. Our purpose was to examine relationships between built environment variables related to physical activity and excess weight in preschoolers. In this retrospective, population-level study of 4- to 6-year-olds, anthropometric measurements were taken between 2009 and 2017 in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Background: The metabolic load-capacity index (LCI), which represents the ratio of adipose to skeletal muscle tissue-containing compartments, is potentially associated with cardiometabolic diseases.

Objectives: To examine the associations between the LCI and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and youth with obesity.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including 10-18 years-old participants with a BMI of ≥95 .

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Objective: To assess the impact of reducing saturated fat or fatty foods, or replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat, carbohydrate or protein, on the risk of mortality and major cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes in adults.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and references of included studies for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies in adults published in the past 10 years. Eligible reviews investigated reducing saturated fat or fatty foods or replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat, carbohydrate or protein, on the risk of cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes and assessed the certainty of evidence for each outcome using, for example, the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) approach.

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Purpose: 1) To explore how children with spina bifida (SB) and their parents understand bodyweight, health and weight management; and 2) To identify what services and supports children with SB and their families feel are most appropriate to help them manage their health and weight.

Methods: The study used interpretive description within a qualitative design. Participants were children with SB (aged 10-18) attending two Canadian SB clinics and their parents.

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Background: Recruitment of participants continues to be a challenge that researchers must overcome to yield successful study results. Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of social media platforms to recruit research participants. We conducted a secondary analysis of the Aim2Be randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine if there was variability between participants recruited via social media versus pediatric obesity clinics.

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Introduction: Social determinants of health (SDH) may influence children's weight status. Our objective was to examine relationships between SDH and preschoolers' weight status.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 169 465 children (aged 4-6 years) with anthropometric measurements taken at immunization visits from 2009 to 2017 in Edmonton and Calgary, Canada.

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Children with disabilities are twice as likely to have overweight/obesity than their typically developing peers. Higher weights in these individuals may compound challenges already experienced with their disability, including mobility and activities of daily living. However, children with disabilities often find it challenging accessing weight management care.

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To examine the (i) relationships between various body mass index (BMI)-derived metrics for measuring severe obesity (SO) over time based the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) references and (ii) ability of these metrics to discriminate children and adolescents based on the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors. In this cohort study completed from 2013 to 2021, we examined data from 3- to 18-year-olds enrolled in the CANadian Pediatric Weight management Registry. Anthropometric data were used to create nine BMI-derived metrics based on the CDC and WHO references.

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Background: Patient-oriented research (POR) aligns research with stakeholders' priorities to improve health services and outcomes. Community-based health care settings offer an opportunity to engage stakeholders to determine the most important research topics to them. Our objectives were to identify unanswered questions that stakeholders had regarding any aspect of child and family health and prioritize their 'top 10' questions.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the occurrence of severe obesity (SO) and global developmental delay (GDD) in Canadian preschool children, focusing on incidence, onset age, risk factors, and healthcare utilization.
  • A total of 47 cases were identified, with an average age of 3.5 years; common issues included behavioral problems and respiratory concerns, and a significant percentage of affected children had mothers with obesity.
  • Findings emphasize the need for early identification and referral for affected children, along with potential genetic testing to exclude known syndromic obesity conditions.
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Background: Aim2Be is a gamified lifestyle app designed to promote lifestyle behavior changes among Canadian adolescents and their families.

Objective: The primary aim was to test the efficacy of the Aim2Be app with support from a live coach to reduce weight outcomes (BMI Z score [zBMI]) and improve lifestyle behaviors among adolescents with overweight and obesity and their parents versus a waitlist control group over 3 months. The secondary aim was to compare health trajectories among waitlist control participants over 6 months (before and after receiving access to the app), assess whether support from a live coach enhanced intervention impact, and evaluate whether the app use influenced changes among intervention participants.

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Background: The objectives of this systematic review were to synthesize qualitative evidence on the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity (PA) for children and youth, and explore factors perceived to influence those impacts.

Methods: Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, SPORTDiscus, ERIC, and CINAHL) were searched initially in June 2021 and updated in December 2021 to locate qualitative articles considering COVID-19 restrictions and PA for children and youth (≤18 y old), in any setting. Eligibility, quality assessments, and data extraction were completed by 2 independent reviewers.

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Objective: A systematic review of value and preference studies conducted in children and their caregivers related to the estimated benefits and harms of interventions for managing paediatric obesity.

Methods: We searched Ovid Medline (1946-2022), Ovid Embase (1974-2022), EBSCO CINAHL (inception to 2022), Elsevier Scopus (inception to 2022), and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (inception to 2022). Reports were eligible if they included: behavioural and psychological, pharmacological, or surgical interventions; participants between (or had a mean age within) 0-18 years old with overweight or obesity; systematic reviews, primary quantitative, qualitative, or mixed/multiple methods studies; and values and preferences as main study outcomes.

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Mobile health (mHealth) apps may support improved health behavior practice among youth living in larger bodies. However, long-term use is low, limiting effectiveness. This study evaluated whether youths' motivation, satisfaction, engagement with social features, or parent co-participation supported long-term use of an app named Aim2Be.

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