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Challenges Faced by Adolescents and Youth in Order to Deal with the Increasing Risk of Obesity and the Growing Epidemic of Non-communicable Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 6481

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nelia Steyn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division Human Nutrition, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, P/Bag X3, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Interests: dietary methodology; non-communicable diseases; type 2 diabetes; obesity and the double burden of malnutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marjanne Senekal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Interests: dietary intake; obesity; behaviour change intervention design for weight management Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently both WHO and UNICEF have turned their attention to adolescents and their risk factors which make them susceptible to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in later life. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of diet and physical activity and in including adolescents and youth in committees which develop guidelines and policies aimed at their health. Adolescence and youth are recognised as being critical stages in prevention of obesity and related conditions in leading to the development of NCDs in later life.

“The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) envisions a world in which every woman, child and adolescent in every setting realises their rights to physical and mental health and well-being, has social and economic opportunities, and is able to participate fully in shaping prosperous and sustainable societies.” A high-level Steering Group of WHO have identified seven areas of focus with one of these being adolescent health.

Additionally, WHO and UNCEF have developed global lists of indicators to measure adolescent health.

 Do we know what the main drivers and barriers of diet and physical activity are during this critical period?  Which interventions can make a difference to improving dietary intake and in increasing physical activity during this vulnerable period?

Emeritus P Nelia Steyn
Prof. Dr. Marjanne Senekal
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Diet intake
  • Physical activity
  • Barriers
  • Challenges
  • NCDs
  • Overweight/obesity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 374 KiB  
Article
Physical Activity and Related Factors in Pre-Adolescent Southern African Children of Diverse Population Groups
by Adeline Pretorius, Paola Wood, Piet Becker and Friede Wenhold
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9912; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169912 - 11 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Tailored obesity management includes understanding physical activity (PA) and its context, ideally in childhood before the onset of health risk. This cross-sectional study determined, by sex and population, the PA of Southern African pre-adolescent urban primary school children. PA was measured objectively (step [...] Read more.
Tailored obesity management includes understanding physical activity (PA) and its context, ideally in childhood before the onset of health risk. This cross-sectional study determined, by sex and population, the PA of Southern African pre-adolescent urban primary school children. PA was measured objectively (step count: pedometer) and subjectively (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children [PAQ-C]), taking confounders (phenotype, school-built environment, and socio-economic environment) into account. Body composition was measured with multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (Seca mBCA). PA was adjusted for phenotypic confounders (body size and composition) using multivariate regression. Sex and population differences in PA were determined with two-way ANOVA. Ninety-four healthy pre-adolescents (60% girls, 52% black) with a similar socio-economic status and access to PA participated. Amidst phenotypic differences, average steps/day in girls (10,212) was lower than in boys (11,433) (p = 0.029), and lower in black (9280) than in white (12,258) (p < 0.001) participants. PAQ-C scores (5-point rating) were lower for girls (2.63) than boys (2.92) (p < 0.001) but higher for black (2.89) than white (2.58) (p < 0.001) participants. Objective and subjective measurements were, however, not significantly (r = −0.02; p = 0.876) related and PAQ-C failed to identify reactive changes in the step count. Objectively measured PA of black participants and of girls was consistently lower than for white participants and boys. Target-group specific interventions should therefore be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges Faced by Adolescents and Youth in Order to Deal with the Increasing Risk of Obesity and the Growing Epidemic of Non-communicable Diseases)
15 pages, 5034 KiB  
Article
Adolescents’ Perspectives on the Drivers of Obesity Using a Group Model Building Approach: A South African Perspective
by Gaironeesa Hendricks, Natalie Savona, Anaely Aguiar, Olufunke Alaba, Sharmilah Booley, Sonia Malczyk, Emmanuel Nwosu, Cecile Knai, Harry Rutter, Knut-Inge Klepp and Janetta Harbron
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042160 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4001
Abstract
Overweight and obesity increase the risk of a range of poor physiological and psychosocial health outcomes. Previous work with well-defined cohorts has explored the determinants of obesity and employed various methods and measures; however, less is known on the broader societal drivers, beyond [...] Read more.
Overweight and obesity increase the risk of a range of poor physiological and psychosocial health outcomes. Previous work with well-defined cohorts has explored the determinants of obesity and employed various methods and measures; however, less is known on the broader societal drivers, beyond individual-level influences, using a systems framework with adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore the drivers of obesity from adolescents’ perspectives using a systems approach through group model building in four South African schools. Group model building was used to generate 4 causal loop diagrams with 62 adolescents aged 16–18 years. These maps were merged into one final map, and the main themes were identified: (i) physical activity and social media use; (ii) physical activity, health-related morbidity, and socio-economic status; (iii) accessibility of unhealthy food and energy intake/body weight; (iv) psychological distress, body weight, and weight-related bullying; and (v) parental involvement and unhealthy food intake. Our study identified meaningful policy-relevant insights into the drivers of adolescent obesity, as described by the young people themselves in a South African context. This approach, both the process of construction and the final visualization, provides a basis for taking a novel approach to prevention and intervention recommendations for adolescent obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges Faced by Adolescents and Youth in Order to Deal with the Increasing Risk of Obesity and the Growing Epidemic of Non-communicable Diseases)
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