Background: The BMI z-score is a standardized measure of weight status and weight change in children and adolescents. BMI z-scores from various growth references are often considered comparable, and differences among them are underappreciated. Methods: This study reanalyzed data from a weight management clinical study of liraglutide in pubertal adolescents with obesity using growth references from CDC 2000, CDC Extended, World Health Organization (WHO), and International Obesity Task Force. Results: BMI z-score treatment differences varied 2-fold from -0.13 (CDC 2000) to -0.26 (WHO) overall and varied almost 4-fold from -0.05 (CDC 2000) to -0.19 (WHO) among adolescents with high baseline BMI z-score. Conclusions: Depending upon the growth reference used, BMI z-score endpoints can produce highly variable treatment estimates and alter interpretations of clinical meaningfulness. BMI z-scores cited without the associated growth reference cannot be accurately interpreted.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of diabetes begins at a lower BMI among Asian adults. This study compares the prevalence of diabetes between the U.S. and China by BMI. METHODS: Data from the 2015-2017 China Nutrition and Health Surveillance (n=176,223) and the 2015-2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=4,464) were used. Diagnosed diabetes was self-reported. Undiagnosed diabetes was no report of diagnosed diabetes and fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5%. Predicted age-adjusted prevalence estimates by BMI were produced using sex- and country-specific logistic regression models. RESULTS: In China, the age-adjusted prevalence of total diabetes was 7.8% (95% CI=7.4%, 8.3%), lower than the 14.6% (95% CI=13.1%, 16.3%) in the U.S. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was also lower in China than in the U.S. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes between China and the U.S. The distribution of BMI in China was lower than in the U.S., and the predicted prevalence of total diabetes was similar between China and the U.S. when comparing adults with the same BMI. The predicted prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was higher in China than in the U.S. for both men and women, and this disparity increased with BMI. When comparing adults at the same BMI, there was little difference in the prevalence of total diabetes, but diagnosed diabetes was lower in China than in the U.S., and undiagnosed was higher. CONCLUSIONS: Although differences in BMI appear to explain nearly all of the differences in total diabetes prevalence in the 2 countries, not all factors that are associated with diabetes risk have been investigated.

Herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax, Merck & Co., Inc.) was licensed and recommended in 2006 for prevention of herpes zoster among adults aged 60 years and older. In March 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Zostavax in adults aged 50 through 59 years. In June 2011, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) declined to recommend the vaccine for adults aged 50 through 59 years and reaffirmed its current recommendation that herpes zoster vaccine be routinely recommended for adults aged 60 years and older.

BACKGROUND: Differences in nutrient intakes by urbanization level in the U.S. is not well understood. OBJECTIVE: Describe, by urbanization level: 1) intake of protein, fiber, percent of energy from added sugars (AS) and saturated fat (SF), calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, and vitamin D; 2) the percent of the population meeting nutrient recommendations. METHODS: 24-hour dietary recalls from 23,107 participants aged 2 years and over from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed. Usual intakes were estimated, and linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, and whether family income met the 130% threshold examined intake differences by urbanization levels-large urban areas (LUA), small to medium metro areas (SMMA), and rural areas (RA). RESULTS: A small percentage of the population met the nutrient recommendations, except for protein (92.8%) and iron (70.5%). A higher percentage of the population met recommendations than SMMA and RA for fiber (11.8% vs. 8.1% and 5.3%, p<0.001), AS (40.2% vs. 33.4% and 31.3%, p<0.001), SF (26.8% vs. 18.2% and 20.1%, p<0.001), and potassium (31.5% vs. 25.5% and 22.0%, p<0.001). Mean protein intake were also higher in LUA than RA (80.0g vs. 77.7g, p=0.003) and fiber intake higher in LUA than SMMA (16.5g vs. 15.9g, p=0.01) and RA (16.5g vs. 15.2g, p=0.001). Additionally, contributions to energy intake were lower in LUA than SMMA for AS (11.3% v 12.0%, p<0.001) and SF (11.5% v 11.7%, p<0.001), and for LUA than RA for AS (11.3% v 12.9%, p<0.001) and SF (11.5% v 11.8%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rural areas had some markers of poorer diet quality-lower protein and fiber intake and higher AS intake-compared to large urban areas, and these differences persisted in adjusted regression models. These results may inform public health efforts to address health disparities by urbanization levels in the U.S.

INTRODUCTION: Housing insecurity is associated with poor health outcomes. Characterization of chronic disease outcomes among adults with and without housing assistance would enable housing programs to better understand their population's health care needs. METHODS: We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005 through 2018 linked to US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administrative records to estimate the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension and to assess the independent associations between housing assistance and chronic conditions among adults receiving HUD assistance and HUD-assistance-eligible adults not receiving HUD assistance at the time of their NHANES examination. We estimated propensity scores to adjust for potential confounders among linkage-eligible adults who had an income-to-poverty ratio less than 2 and were not receiving HUD assistance. Sensitivity analysis used 2013-2018 NHANES cycles to account for disability status. RESULTS: Adults not receiving HUD assistance had a significantly lower adjusted prevalence of obesity (42.1%; 95% CI, 40.4%-43.8%) compared with adults receiving HUD assistance (47.5%; 95% CI, 44.8%-50.3%), but we found no differences for diabetes and hypertension. We found significant associations between housing assistance and obesity (adjusted odds ratio = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12-1.47), but these were not significant in the sensitivity analysis with and without controlling for disability status. We found no significant associations between housing assistance and diabetes or hypertension. CONCLUSION: Based on data from a cross-sectional survey, we observed a higher prevalence of obesity among adults with HUD assistance compared with HUD-assistance-eligible adults without HUD assistance. Results from this study can help inform research on understanding the prevalence of chronic disease among adults with HUD assistance.

In December 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Extended BMI-for-age growth charts1,2 for children and adolescents with high BMI values. These charts extend to a BMI of 60 and add 4 growth curves (98th, 99th, 99.9th, and 99.99th percentiles). Obesity among children and adolescents is defined as BMI ≥95th percentile of BMI-for-age and severe obesity as BMI ≥120% of the 95th percentile or ≥35.3 The recent American Academy of Pediatrics guideline for the treatment of obesity recommends using percentages of the 95th percentile of BMI-for-age to indicate different levels of severe obesity.4 This analysis compares CDC extended BMI-for-age percentiles with 120% and 140% of the 95th percentile and illustrates the differences between the prevalence of US children and adolescents 2 to 19 years of age with a BMI ≥ extended 98th percentile using the newly defined curve and those ≥120% of the 95th percentile using 2017 to March 2020 National Health and Nutritional Examination (NHANES) data.

Childhood obesity in the United States is a serious problem that puts children at risk for poor health. Effective state-wide interventions are needed to address childhood obesity risk factors. Embedding evidence-based initiatives into state-level Early Care and Education (ECE) systems has the potential to improve health environments and promote healthy habits for the 12.5 million children attending ECE programs. Go NAPSACC, an online program that was adapted from an earlier paper version of Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC or NAP SACC), provides an evidence-based approach that aligns with national guidance from Caring for Our Children and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This study describes approaches undertaken across 22 states from May 2017 to May 2022 to implement and integrate Go NAPSACC into state-level systems. This study describes challenges encountered, strategies employed, and lessoned learned while implementing Go NAPSACC state-wide. To date, 22 states have successfully trained 1,324 Go NAPSACC consultants, enrolled 7,152 ECE programs, and aimed to impact 344,750 children in care. By implementing evidence-based programs, such as Go NAPSACC, ECE programs state-wide can make changes and monitor progress on meeting healthy best practice standards, increasing opportunities for all children to have a healthy start.

BACKGROUND: Differences in food access, availability, affordability, and dietary intake are influenced by the food environment, which includes outlets where foods are obtained. These differences between food outlets within rural and urban food environments in the US are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this analysis was to describe the contribution of foods and beverages from six outlets - grocery stores, convenience stores, full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, schools, and other outlets - to total energy intake and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 scores in the US population, by urbanization level (non-metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), small to medium MSA, and large MSA). DESIGN: Data were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018. Dietary intake from one 24-hour dietary recall was analyzed by the outlet where a food or beverage was obtained and by urbanization. Linear regression, adjusted for sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, and family income, was used to predict the contribution of each food outlet to total energy intake and HEI-2015 total and component scores by urbanization level. RESULTS: During 2013-2018, foods and beverages from grocery stores, quick-service, and full-service restaurants provided 62.1%, 15.1% and 8.5% of energy intake, respectively. The percent of energy intake from full- and quick-service restaurants increased with increasing urbanization level. HEI-2015 total scores increased with increasing urbanization level overall (48.1 non-MSAs, 49.2 small to medium MSAs, and 51.3 large MSAs), for grocery stores (46.7 non-MSAs, 48.0 small to medium MSAs, and 50.6 large MSAs), and for quick-service restaurants (35.8 non-MSAs, 36.3 small to medium MSAs, and 37.5 large MSAs). CONCLUSION: Grocery stores and restaurants were the largest contributors of energy intake in urban and rural areas. Diet quality improved with increasing urbanization overall and for grocery stores and quick-service restaurants.

Obesity is associated with the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) through direct effects on the kidney as well as via intermediate diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.1 In light of obesity’s public health importance, the epidemiological relationship between obesity and CKD warrants further elucidation.1,2 We therefore compared the prevalence of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in US adults with and without obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. We also present the latest available estimates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension prevalence in US adults with and without reduced eGFR.

BACKGROUND: Firefighters perform strenuous work in hot environments, which may increase their risk of chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and types of ESRD among a cohort of US firefighters compared to the US general population, and to examine exposure-response relationships. METHODS: ESRD from 1977 through 2014 was identified through linkage with Medicare data. ESRD incidence in the cohort compared to the US population was evaluated using life table analyses. Associations of all ESRD, systemic ESRD, hypertensive ESRD, and diabetic ESRD with exposure surrogates (exposed days, fire runs, and fire hours) were examined in Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for attained age (the time scale), race, birth date, fire department, and employment duration. RESULTS: The incidence of all ESRD was less than expected (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 0.79; 95% confidence interval = 0.69-0.89, observed = 247). SIRs for ESRD types were not significantly increased. Positive associations of all ESRD, systemic ESRD, and hypertensive ESRD with exposed days were observed: however, 95% confidence intervals included one. CONCLUSIONS: We found little evidence of increased risk of ESRD among this cohort of firefighters. Limitations included the inability to evaluate exposure-response relationships for some ESRD types due to small observed numbers, the limitations of the surrogates of exposure, and the lack of information on more sensitive outcome measures for potential kidney effects.

Problem: COVID-19 has impacted United States workers and workplaces in multiple ways including workplace violence events (WVEs). This analysis scanned online media sources to identify and describe the characteristics of WVEs related to COVID-19 occurring in the United States during the early phases of the pandemic. Method: Publicly available online media reports were searched for COVID-19-related WVEs during March 1- October 31, 2020. A list of 41 keywords was used to scan four search engines using Natural Language Processing (NLP). Authors manually reviewed media reports for inclusion using the study definition and to code variables of interest. Descriptive statistics were calculated across three types of violence: non-physical, physical, and events with both physical and non-physical violence. Results: The search of media reports found 400 WVEs related to COVID-19 during March 1- October 31, 2020. Of the WVEs, 27% (n&#160;=&#160;108) involved non-physical violence, 27% (n&#160;=&#160;109) physical violence, and 41% (n&#160;=&#160;164) both physical and non-physical violence. Nineteen WVEs could not be assigned to a specific type of violence (5%). Most occurred in retail and dining establishments (n&#160;=&#160;192, 48%; n&#160;=&#160;74, 19%, respectively). Most WVEs related to COVID-19 were perpetrated by a customer or client (n&#160;=&#160;298, 75%), but some were perpetrated by a worker (n&#160;=&#160;61, 15%). Most perpetrators were males (n&#160;=&#160;234, 59%) and acted alone (n&#160;=&#160;313, 79%). The majority of WVEs were related to mask disputes (n&#160;=&#160;286, 72%). In 22% of the WVEs, the perpetrator coughed or spit on a worker while threatening infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Discussion: This analysis demonstrated that media scraping may be useful for workplace violence surveillance. The pandemic resulted in unique violent events, including those perpetrated by workers. Typical workplace violence prevention strategies may not be effective in reducing COVID-19-related violence. More research on workplace training for workers during public health crises is needed.

In this issue of Pediatrics, Cunningham et al1 explore obesity incidence trends in school-aged children from kindergarten through fifth grade in 2 cohorts of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS). The earlier cohort was followed from 1998 to 2004 and the later cohort from 2010 to 2016. The ECLS results show an increase in incidence of obesity in the 2010 cohort compared with the 1998 cohort. Moreover, among children who entered kindergarten without obesity, 29% more non-Hispanic Black children developed obesity by fifth grade in the later cohort compared with the earlier one, whereas obesity incidence remained unchanged or decreased in other race and ethnicity groups.

BACKGROUND: The association between body mass index (BMI) and adiposity differs by race/ethnicity. OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in adiposity by race/Hispanic origin among US youth and explore how those differences relate to differences in BMI using the most recent national data, including non-Hispanic Asian youth. METHODS: Weight, height and DXA-derived fat mass index (FMI) and percentage body fat (%BF) from 6923 youth 8-19years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018 were examined. Age-adjusted mean BMI, FMI and %BF were reported. Sex-specific linear regression models predicting %BF and FMI were adjusted for age, BMI category and BMI category*race/Hispanic origin interaction. RESULTS: %BF was highest among Hispanic males (28.2%) and females (35.7%). %BF was lower among non-Hispanic Black (23.9%) compared with non-Hispanic White (26.0%) and non-Hispanic Asian (26.6%) males. There was no difference between non-Hispanic Black females (32.7%) and non-Hispanic White (33.2%) or non-Hispanic Asian (32.7%) females. FMI was higher among Hispanic youth compared with non-Hispanic White youth. Among youth with underweight/healthy weight, predicted %BF and FMI were lower among non-Hispanic Black males (-2.8%; -0.5) and females (-2.0%; -0.3), compared with non-Hispanic White youth, and higher among Hispanic males (0.9%; 0.2) and females (2.0%; 0.5), while %BF but not FMI was higher among non-Hispanic Asian males (1.3%) and females (1.4%). Among females with obesity, non-Hispanic Asian females had lower %BF (-2.3%) and FMI (-1.7) than non-Hispanic White females. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in %BF and FMI by race/Hispanic origin were not consistent by BMI category among US youth in 2011-2018.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate trends in the use of obesogenic medications among adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on adults aged ≥20 years are from the 1999 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 52,340). Obesogenic medications were defined according to the 2015 Endocrine Society guidelines on the pharmacological management of obesity. Weight status was categorized according to BMI. Trends in prior 30-day use were evaluated. RESULTS: In NHANES 2017-2018, 20.3% of US adults used an obesogenic medication. Beta-blockers (9.8%) and antidiabetics (5.7%) were the most common; antipsychotics (1.0%) were the least common. Most common indications were disorders of glucose metabolism, hypertension, neuralgia or neuritis, heart disease, and musculoskeletal pain and/or inflammation. From 1999 to 2018, the proportional use of obesogenic medications increased for anticonvulsants (34.4% to 55.0%) but decreased for antidepressants (32.1% to 18.8%), antidiabetics (82.9% to 52.5%), and beta-blockers (83.9% to 80.7%). The proportional use of obesogenic medications was not associated with weight status, except for antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: Use of obesogenic medications was common. Differences in the proportional use of obesogenic medication may reflect changing availability of obesogenic versus nonobesogenic medications over time. The decision to prescribe a nonobesogenic alternative, if one exists, is guided by weighing the risks and benefits of available treatments.

We estimated the distributions of duration of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid shedding and time to reinfection among 137 persons with at least two positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) results from March to September 2020. We analyzed gaps of varying length between subsequent positive and negative NAAT results and estimated a mean duration of nucleic acid shedding of 30.1 (95% CI 26.3, 34.5) days. The mean time to reinfection was 89.1 (95% CI 75.3, 103.5) days. Together, these indicate that a 90-day period between positive NAAT results can reliably define reinfection in immunocompetent persons although reinfection can occur at shorter intervals.

BACKGROUND: Data from the NHANES indicate that BMI has increased in some subgroups of children and adolescents in the United States over the past 20 y; however, BMI is an indirect measure of body fatness. OBJECTIVES: We assessed changes in DXA-derived measures of adiposity in a nationally representative population of US children and adolescents aged 8-19 y from 1999-2006 to 2011-2018. METHODS: Using data from the NHANES, we compared the means and distributions of DXA-derived percentage body fat (%BF) and fat mass index (FMI; fat mass/height2 in kg/m2) between 1999-2006 (n = 10,231) and 2011-2018 (n = 6923) among males and females by age group, race and Hispanic origin, and BMI categories. Estimates were standardized by age and race and Hispanic origin. RESULTS: From 1999-2006 to 2011-2018, mean %BF increased from 25.6% to 26.3% (change in %BF: 0.7%; 95% CI: 0.2%, 1.2%; P < 0.01) among all males, whereas mean %BF increased from 33.0% to 33.7% (change in %BF: 0.7%; 95% CI: 0.2%, 1.2%; P = 0.01) and mean FMI increased from 7.7 to 8.0 fat mass kg/m2 (change in FMI: 0.3 fat mass kg/m2; 95% CI: 0.0, 0.6 fat mass kg/m2; P = 0.02) among all females. Changes were not consistent across all age, race and Hispanic origin, and BMI categories. Both %BF and FMI increased among Mexican-American children and adolescents, but not other race and Hispanic origin groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among US children and adolescents, DXA-derived measures of adiposity increased from 1999-2006 to 2011-2018, albeit not consistently in every age, race and Hispanic origin, and BMI subgroup. These data reinforce the need to consider other measures, besides BMI categories, when studying adiposity in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Prescription medications are used throughout the life course, including among children and youth. Prescribing practices may be influenced by emerging medical conditions, the availability of new medications, changing clinical practices, and evolving knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of medications. The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) provides national-level information to help monitor the use of prescribed medications in the population. DATA AND METHODS: Based on data from the CHMS (2012 to 2017), this article describes prescription medication use in the past month among those aged 3 to 19 years. Information on up to 45 prescription medications was recorded and classified according to Health Canada's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification. Frequencies and bivariate analyses examined medication use by sociodemographic and health-related factors. The most common medication classes were identified for each age group. RESULTS: An estimated 23% of Canadian children and youth (1.5 million) had used at least one prescription medication in the past month and 9% had used two or more prescription medications.Prescription medication use was more common among those who reported lower levels of general and mental health, as well as among those with asthma (51%), a mood disorder (71%), attention deficit disorder (60%) or a learning disability (43%). Medications for the respiratory and nervous systems were among those most commonly prescribed. Of youth aged 14 years or older, 4% had misused prescription medications for non-medicinal purposes, for the experience, for the feeling they cause or to get high. DISCUSSION: Prescription medication use among children and youth is common in Canada. It is associated with lower levels of self-reported health and the presence of chronic conditions. The estimates provide a benchmark to help monitor prescription drug use in Canada.

Dietary supplement use is common among children and adolescents. During 2013-2014, approximately one third of children and adolescents (persons aged ≤19 years) in the United States were reported to use a dietary supplement in the past 30 days, and use varied by demographic characteristics (1,2). Dietary supplements can contribute substantially to overall nutrient intake, having the potential to both mitigate nutrient shortfalls as well as to lead to nutrient intake above recommended upper limits (3). However, because nutritional needs should generally be met through food consumption according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, only a few dietary supplements are specifically recommended for use among children and adolescents and only under particular conditions (4). The most recently released data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2017-2018 were used to estimate the prevalence of use among U.S. children and adolescents of any dietary supplement, two or more dietary supplements, and specific dietary supplement product types. Trends were calculated for dietary supplement use from 2009-2010 to 2017-2018. During 2017-2018, 34.0% of children and adolescents used any dietary supplement in the past 30 days, with no significant change since 2009-2010. Use of two or more dietary supplements increased from 4.3% during 2009-2010 to 7.1% during 2017-2018. Multivitamin-mineral products were used by 23.8% of children and adolescents, making these the products most commonly used. Because dietary supplement use is common, surveillance of dietary supplement use, combined with nutrient intake from diet, will remain an important component of monitoring nutritional intake in children and adolescents to inform clinical practice and dietary recommendations.

BACKGROUND: The 2000 CDC growth charts are based on national data collected between 1963 and 1994 and include a set of selected percentiles between the 3(rd) and 97(th) and LMS parameters that can be used to obtain other percentiles and associated z-scores. Obesity is defined as a sex- and age-specific body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95(th) percentile. Extrapolating beyond the 97(th) percentile is not recommended and leads to compressed z-score values. AIM: This study attempts to overcome this limitation by constructing a new method for calculating BMI distributions above the 95(th) percentile using an extended reference population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data from youth at or above the 95(th) percentile of BMI-for-age in national surveys between 1963 and 2016 were modelled as half-normal distributions. Scale parameters for these distributions were estimated at each sex-specific 6-month age-interval, from 24 to 239 months, and then smoothed as a function of age using regression procedures. RESULTS: The modelled distributions above the 95(th) percentile can be used to calculate percentiles and non-compressed z-scores for extreme BMI values among youth. CONCLUSION: This method can be used, in conjunction with the current CDC BMI-for-age growth charts, to track extreme values of BMI among youth.

This study uses NHANES data to assess trends in obesity and severe obesity stratified by race and Hispanic origin among US residents from 1999 to 2018.

OBJECTIVES: To update the mortality experience of a previously studied cohort of 29 992 US urban career firefighters compared with the US general population and examine exposure-response relationships within the cohort. METHODS: Vital status was updated through 2016 adding 7 years of follow-up. Cohort mortality compared with the US population was evaluated via life table analyses. Full risk-sets, matched on attained age, race, birthdate and fire department were created and analysed using the Cox proportional hazards regression to examine exposure-response associations between select mortality outcomes and exposure surrogates (exposed-days, fire-runs and fire-hours). Models were adjusted for a potential bias from healthy worker survivor effects by including a categorical variable for employment duration. RESULTS: Compared with the US population, mortality from all cancers, mesothelioma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and cancers of the oesophagus, intestine, rectum, lung and kidney were modestly elevated. Positive exposure-response relationships were observed for deaths from lung cancer, leukaemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CONCLUSIONS: This update confirms previous findings of excess mortality from all cancers and several site-specific cancers as well as positive exposure-response relations for lung cancer and leukaemia. New findings include excess NHL mortality compared with the general population and a positive exposure-response relationship for COPD. However, there was no evidence of an association between any quantitative exposure measure and NHL.

In the U.S., 18.5% of U.S. youth aged 2–19 years have obesity.1 Since 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended measurement of weight and height at each preventive visit for all children and adolescents to screen for obesity; current guidelines apply to those aged ≥2 years.2–4 | | This study analyzed trends and differences by age in preventive visits of U.S. youth aged 2–19 years to pediatricians and family medicine physicians in which weight and height were recorded between 2005 and 2016.

Importance: Differences in obesity by sex, age group, race and Hispanic origin among US adults have been reported, but differences by urbanization level have been less studied. Objectives: To provide estimates of obesity by demographic characteristics and urbanization level and to examine trends in obesity prevalence by urbanization level. Design, Setting, and Participants: Serial cross-sectional analysis of measured height and weight among adults aged 20 years or older in the 2001-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized US population. Exposures: Sex, age group, race and Hispanic origin, education level, smoking status, and urbanization level as assessed by metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs; large: >/=1 million population). Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] >/=30) and severe obesity (BMI >/=40) by subgroups in 2013-2016 and trends by urbanization level between 2001-2004 and 2013-2016. Results: Complete data on weight, height, and urbanization level were available for 10792 adults (mean age, 48 years; 51% female [weighted]). During 2013-2016, 38.9% (95% CI, 37.0% to 40.7%) of US adults had obesity and 7.6% (95% CI, 6.8% to 8.6%) had severe obesity. Men living in medium or small MSAs had a higher age-adjusted prevalence of obesity compared with men living in large MSAs (42.4% vs 31.8%, respectively; adjusted difference, 9.8 percentage points [95% CI, 5.1 to 14.5 percentage points]); however, the age-adjusted prevalence among men living in non-MSAs was not significantly different compared with men living in large MSAs (38.9% vs 31.8%, respectively; adjusted difference, 4.8 percentage points [95% CI, -2.9 to 12.6 percentage points]). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was higher among women living in medium or small MSAs compared with women living in large MSAs (42.5% vs 38.1%, respectively; adjusted difference, 4.3 percentage points [95% CI, 0.2 to 8.5 percentage points]) and among women living in non-MSAs compared with women living in large MSAs (47.2% vs 38.1%, respectively; adjusted difference, 4.7 percentage points [95% CI, 0.2 to 9.3 percentage points]). Similar patterns were seen for severe obesity except that the difference between men living in large MSAs compared with non-MSAs was significant. The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity and severe obesity also varied significantly by age group, race and Hispanic origin, and education level, and these patterns of variation were often different by sex. Between 2001-2004 and 2013-2016, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity and severe obesity significantly increased among all adults at all urbanization levels. Conclusions and Relevance: In this nationally representative survey of adults in the United States, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity and severe obesity in 2013-2016 varied by level of urbanization, with significantly greater prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults living in nonmetropolitan statistical areas compared with adults living in large metropolitan statistical areas.

Importance: Differences in childhood obesity by demographics and urbanization have been reported. Objective: To present data on obesity and severe obesity among US youth by demographics and urbanization and to investigate trends by urbanization. Design, Setting, and Participants: Measured weight and height among youth aged 2 to 19 years in the 2001-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, which are serial, cross-sectional, nationally representative surveys of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population. Exposures: Sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, education of household head, and urbanization, as assessed by metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs; large: >/= 1 million population). Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] >/=95th percentile of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] growth charts) and severe obesity (BMI >/=120% of 95th percentile) by subgroups in 2013-2016 and trends by urbanization between 2001-2004 and 2013-2016. Results: Complete data on weight, height, and urbanization were available for 6863 children and adolescents (mean age, 11 years; female, 49%). In 2013-2016, the prevalence among youth aged 2 to 19 years was 17.8% (95% CI, 16.1%-19.6%) for obesity and 5.8% (95% CI, 4.8%-6.9%) for severe obesity. Prevalence of obesity in large MSAs (17.1% [95% CI, 14.9%-19.5%]), medium or small MSAs (17.2% [95% CI, 14.5%-20.2%]) and non-MSAs (21.7% [95% CI, 16.1%-28.1%]) were not significantly different from each other (range of pairwise comparisons P = .09-.96). Severe obesity was significantly higher in non-MSAs (9.4% [95% CI, 5.7%-14.4%]) compared with large MSAs (5.1% [95% CI, 4.1%-6.2%]; P = .02). In adjusted analyses, obesity and severe obesity significantly increased with greater age and lower education of household head, and severe obesity increased with lower level of urbanization. Compared with non-Hispanic white youth, obesity and severe obesity prevalence were significantly higher among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth. Severe obesity, but not obesity, was significantly lower among non-Hispanic Asian youth than among non-Hispanic white youth. There were no significant linear or quadratic trends in obesity or severe obesity prevalence from 2001-2004 to 2013-2016 for any urbanization category (P range = .07-.83). Conclusions and Relevance: In 2013-2016, there were differences in the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity by age, race and Hispanic origin, and household education, and severe obesity was inversely associated with urbanization. Demographics were not related to the urbanization findings.

Importance: Access to appropriate prescription medications, use of inappropriate or ineffective treatments, and adverse drug events are public health concerns among US children and adolescents. Objective: To evaluate trends in use of prescription medications among US children and adolescents. Design, Setting, and Participants: US children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years in the 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)-serial cross-sectional, nationally representative surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Exposures: Sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, household income and education, insurance status, current health status. Main Outcomes and Measures: Use of any prescription medications or 2 or more prescription medications taken in the past 30 days; use of medications by therapeutic class; trends in medication use across 4-year periods from 1999-2002 to 2011-2014. Data were collected though in-home interview and direct observation of the prescription container. Results: Data on prescription medication use were available for 38277 children and adolescents (mean age, 10 years; 49% girls). Overall, use of any prescription medication in the past 30 days decreased from 24.6% (95% CI, 22.6% to 26.6%) in 1999-2002 to 21.9% (95% CI, 20.3% to 23.6%) in 2011-2014 (beta = -0.41 percentage points every 2 years [95% CI, -0.79 to -0.03]; P = .04), but there was no linear trend in the use of 2 or more prescription medications (8.5% [95% CI, 7.6% to 9.4%] in 2011-2014). In 2011-2014, the most commonly used medication classes were asthma medications (6.1% [95% CI, 5.4% to 6.8%]), antibiotics (4.5% [95% CI, 3.7% to 5.5%]), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications (3.5% [95% CI, 2.9% to 4.2%]), topical agents (eg, dermatologic agents, nasal steroids) (3.5% [95% CI, 3.0% to 4.1%]), and antihistamines (2.0% [95% CI, 1.7% to 2.5%]). There were significant linear trends in 14 of 39 therapeutic classes or subclasses, or in individual medications, with 8 showing increases, including asthma and ADHD medications and contraceptives, and 6 showing decreases, including antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory combination medications. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study of US children and adolescents based on a nationally representative survey, estimates of prescription medication use showed an overall decrease in use of any medication from 1999-2014. The prevalence of asthma medication, ADHD medication, and contraceptive use increased among certain age groups, whereas use of antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory combination medications decreased.

This study uses National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data to characterize trends in obesity prevalence among US youth and adults between 2007-2008 and 2015-2016.

Obesity prevalence varies by income and education level, although patterns might differ among adults and youths (1-3). Previous analyses of national data showed that the prevalence of childhood obesity by income and education of household head varied across race/Hispanic origin groups (4). CDC analyzed 2011-2014 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to obtain estimates of childhood obesity prevalence by household income (</=130%, >130% to </=350%, and >350% of the federal poverty level [FPL]) and head of household education level (high school graduate or less, some college, and college graduate). During 2011-2014 the prevalence of obesity among U.S. youths (persons aged 2-19 years) was 17.0%, and was lower in the highest income group (10.9%) than in the other groups (19.9% and 18.9%) and also lower in the highest education group (9.6%) than in the other groups (18.3% and 21.6%). Continued progress is needed to reduce disparities, a goal of Healthy People 2020. The overall Healthy People 2020 target for childhood obesity prevalence is <14.5% (5).

Data from numerous longitudinal studies, including the Fels Longitudinal Study and the Bogalusa Heart Study, reveal that youth with higher BMI are more likely to have obesity in adulthood than youth with lower BMI.1 These studies have also revealed that although the positive predictive value of obesity in childhood and adolescence is high (typically >90%), most adults with obesity did not have obesity in childhood or adolescence. In this issue of Pediatrics, Buscot et al2 use an innovative statistical method, the Bayesian Hierarchical Piecewise regression,3 and data from the Young Finns Study between 1980 and 2011 to model BMI trajectories. Similar to other studies, the authors found that individuals with lower BMIs in young childhood, specifically age 6 years, were less likely to have obesity in adulthood. Perhaps more importantly, BMI trajectories in adolescence and early adulthood were important determinants of obesity status between the ages of 34 and 49 years. The unique contribution of the Buscot study is that the rate of BMI change in both childhood and early adulthood and the estimated age at which BMI begins to plateau (or the increases in BMI begin to slow) were associated with the final, adult BMI. Girls with normal weight who became adults with in both childhood and early adulthood, as well as an older mean age (30 vs 17 years) at which the rate of BMI change slowed in comparison with girls with normal weight who were not obese in adulthood.

Studies have suggested that obesity prevalence varies by income and educational level, although patterns might differ between high-income and low-income countries (1-3). Previous analyses of U.S. data have shown that the prevalence of obesity varied by income and education, but results were not consistent by sex and race/Hispanic origin (4). Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC analyzed obesity prevalence among adults (aged >/=20 years) by three levels of household income, based on percentage (</=130%, >130% to </=350%, and >350%) of the federal poverty level (FPL) and individual education level (high school graduate or less, some college, and college graduate). During 2011-2014, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among adults was lower in the highest income group (31.2%) than the other groups (40.8% [>130% to </=350%] and 39.0% [</=130%]). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among college graduates was lower (27.8%) than among those with some college (40.6%) and those who were high school graduates or less (40.0%). The patterns were not consistent across all sex and racial/Hispanic origin subgroups. Continued progress is needed to achieve the Healthy People 2020 targets of reducing age-adjusted obesity prevalence to <30.5% and reducing disparities.

OBJECTIVES: To examine intelligence, language, and academic achievement through 18 years of age among children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection identified through hospital-based newborn screening who were asymptomatic at birth compared with uninfected infants. METHODS: We used growth curve modeling to analyze trends in IQ (full-scale, verbal, and nonverbal intelligence), receptive and expressive vocabulary, and academic achievement in math and reading. Separate models were fit for each outcome, modeling the change in overall scores with increasing age for patients with normal hearing (n = 78) or with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) diagnosed by 2 years of age (n = 11) and controls (n = 40). RESULTS: Patients with SNHL had full-scale intelligence and receptive vocabulary scores that were 7.0 and 13.1 points lower, respectively, compared with controls, but no significant differences were noted in these scores among patients with normal hearing and controls. No significant differences were noted in scores for verbal and nonverbal intelligence, expressive vocabulary, and academic achievement in math and reading among patients with normal hearing or with SNHL and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection identified through newborn screening with normal hearing by age 2 years do not appear to have differences in IQ, vocabulary or academic achievement scores during childhood, or adolescence compared with uninfected children.