Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight in Primary School Children in the Rhein-Neckar Region in Germany

Completed

• Conditions: Obesity, Childhood; Child Development; Overweight and Obesity; Overweight, Childhood; Underweight

• Registration Number: NCT05077059
• Lead Sponsor: Adipositasnetzwerk Rhein-Neckar e.V.

Brief Summary

The study will determine the weight status in primary school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region in Germany and will analyse the development of height and weight in these children during the time of COVID-19 related restrictions by asking parents to provide data from childhood examinations. Additionally, interactions between cognitive abilities and weight-status will be studied.

Detailed Description

The prevalence of obesity and overweight is increasing among both adults and children. School and kindergarten closings during the COVID-19 epidemic may have had an additional negative impact on the weight development of the affected children. This study aims to examine the post-lockdown prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children in the second grade in the Rhein-Neckar Region in Germany and look at possible lockdown effects. Additionally, interactions between cognitive abilities and weight-status will be studied.

Anthropometric measurements, interviews as well as cognitive testing will be performed in schools in the summer of 2021 in children in the first grade (class 2020/2021). Parents will be asked to provide measurements from U-childhood-examinations and complete a 3-day food record. The local health authority (Gesundheitsamt) will assist in making a representative selection of schools from different socioeconomic areas and provide data from the pre-school examinations. Collected data will be analyzed and compared to national and international surveys, evaluating the trends of the children's height and weight development. Weight status will be assessed by calculating z-BMI standardized for age and compared with national and international growth charts using both national and WHO classification. Potential interrelation between weight-status, weight development with cognitive performance will be explored.

The study will be able to deliver valuable insights in regards to the health of school children in the Rhein-Neckar Region as well as evaluate the effect of COVID-19 related lockdowns on their health.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-09-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-09-30
• Study Start: 2021-10-01
• Study First Posted: 2021-10-13
• Primary Completion: 2022-07-30
• Study Completion: 2022-07-30
• Status Verified: 2022-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-08-15
• Last Update Posted: 2022-08-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 250

Inclusion Criteria

• Written consent from parents and or guardians

Exclusion Criteria

• Missing consent of parents or guardians

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
BMI	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Overweight and obesity will be assessed based on the BMI of the children.
zBMI	Through study completion, an average of 4 months	zBMI will be calculated using German and WHO growth curves / distributions for evaluating child weight status.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Body weight at the time of the U8 physical examination	Between October 2021 and January 2022	U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents.
Height at the time of the U8 physical examination	Between October 2021 and January 2022	U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents.
Eating habits	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Eating habits will be evaluated using a 3-day food record and a questionnaire
Physical activity	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Physical activity will be assessed using a modified PAQ-C questionnaire as well as a questionnaire for parents
Height in cm	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Height in cm during the study visit at schools
abdominal circumference in cm	Between October 2021 and January 2022	abdominal circumference in cm during the study visit at schools
Upper arm circumference in cm	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Upper arm circumference in cm during the study visit at schools
Body weight at the time of the U9 physical examination	Between October 2021 and January 2022	U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents.
Height at the time of the S1 examination data	Between October 2021 and January 2022	The S1 examination is an examination performed by the health authorities before a child starts goinig to a school. The records are kept by the health authorities.
Cognitive testing: Distractibility	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Distractibility will be studied by a computer-based test from the KiTAP test battery developed by PSYTEST Psychologische Testsysteme, Herzogenrath, which will be administered to the children.
Cognitive testing: Alertness and reactions to multiple stimuli	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Alertness and reactions to multiple stimuli will be studied by a computer-based test from the KiTAP test battery developed by PSYTEST Psychologische Testsysteme, Herzogenrath, which will be administered to the children.
BMI at the time of the U9 physical examination	Between October 2021 and January 2022	U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents.
Body weight in kg	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Body weight in kg during the study visit at schools
BMI at the time of the U8 physical examination	Between October 2021 and January 2022	U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents.
Height at the time of the U9 physical examination	Between October 2021 and January 2022	U-Examinations are standard physical examinations available to all children in Germany at pre-specified timepoints. The results of these is recorded in special booklets, kept by the parents.
Body weight S1 examination data	Between October 2021 and January 2022	The S1 examination is an examination performed by the health authorities before a child starts goinig to a school. The records are kept by the health authorities.
BMI at the time of the S1 examination data	Between October 2021 and January 2022	The S1 examination is an examination performed by the health authorities before a child starts goinig to a school. The records are kept by the health authorities.
Cognitive testing: Cognitive flexibility	Between October 2021 and January 2022	Cognitive flexibility will be studied by a computer-based test from the KiTAP test battery developed by PSYTEST Psychologische Testsysteme, Herzogenrath, which will be administered to the children.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Adipositasnetzwerk Rhein-Neckar e.V.; 🇩🇪 Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany