Association between The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool and cardiovascular disease risk factors in 10-year old children

Abstract

Objective. To examine the association of the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) screening tool with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in 10-year old children. Methods. A total of 119 children were assessed for body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, waist circumference, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL), and resting blood pressure. A continuous CVD risk score was created using total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio (TC:HDL), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and waist circumference. The FNPA survey was completed by parents. Results. The FNPA score was significantly correlated with adiposity measures (r = −0.35 to −0.43) and the continuous CVD risk score (r = −0.22) (p < 0.05) but not with TC:HDL or MAP. The prevalence of overweight and obese (43.1% vs. 14.9%) and the mean values for BMI (20.3 ± 4.3 vs. 18.0 ± 2.7 kg/m²) and percent body fat (24.8 ± 8.3% vs. 20.1 ± 5.7%) were significantly higher in children with a FNPA score ≤ 25 when compared to those with a FNPA score > 25 (median split) (p < 0.05). The continuous CVD risk score was not significantly different between these two groups. Overweight and obese children had a significantly lower mean FNPA score when compared to normal weight children. Conclusion. Children from a high-risk, obesogenic family environment (determined using the FNPA) have a higher level of adiposity and CVD risk factor profile than children from a low-risk family environment. The FNPA screening tool can help identify children that may be at risk for overweight and adverse CVD risk factor development.

Key words::

• Obesity
• nutrition
• exercise
• familial environment

Acknowledgements

This project was funded through grants from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and MSU Families and Communities Together Coalition (FACT) as well as from the MSU Food, Nutrition, and Chronic Disease Graduate Student Professional Development Fellowship Fund.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.