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Nutrition-related variables including lower body mass index (BMI), lower bone mineral density (BMD), altered body composition and hormone levels have been reported in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aims of this study were to determine if physiological and behavioral nutrition-related factors differ between people with and without AIS, and to quantify their relationship with AIS, in unbiased cohort sample. BMI, presence of an eating disorder, leptin, adiponectin, BMD, vitamin D, lean mass, and fat mass were compared between those with and without AIS at ages 8, 10, 14, 17, and 20 years, and multiple logistic regression was performed between these variables and AIS. Lower total body BMD (median, 1.0 g/cm2 vs 1.1 g/cm2; p = .03) and lean mass (median, 38.8 kg vs 46.0 kg; p = .04) at age 20 years were observed in those with AIS compared to those without scoliosis. At age 20, the odds of AIS were 3.23 times higher for adolescents with an eating disorder compared to those with no eating disorder (95% CI, 1.02–8.63) when adjusted for BMI. Every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI decreased the odds of AIS by 0.88 times (95% CI, 0.76–0.98), after adjusting for eating disorder diagnosis. In conclusion, lower BMI in mid-adolescence and presence of eating disorder outcomes, lower BMD, and lower lean mass in late adolescence were associated with the presence of AIS. Current data do not explain the mechanisms for these associations but suggest that serum leptin, adiponectin, and vitamin D are unlikely to be contributing factors. Conclusive determination of the prevalence of eating disorders in AIS will require further studies with larger sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusion So What? Parents commonly seek information to support the health and well‐being of their children. The increasing availability of health information online and social changes related to the COVID‐19 pandemic may have changed what information is sought, from whom, where, and why. This qualitative study explored parents' practices and perspectives on seeking health and digital technology use information for their young children.Twenty parents, living in Australia (7 rural, 3 remote, and 10 metropolitan), with children aged 0–36 months completed a semi‐structured interview.Parents commonly turned to friends and family and online sources to access health information for their young children. For all types of health information, including digital technology use, themes were identified surrounding aspects of information sources participants valued and accessibility of health services. Perceived credibility and trustworthiness, relatability with other parents, ease of accessibility and convenience, and actionable, bite‐sized information were valued. Reduced accessibility to health services due to COVID‐19 and geographical location, and need for agency in managing their child's health influenced parents' choice of source of information. Few participants actively sought information about digital technology use for their young child, with the main focus on screen time.Interactions with family and friends and online sources are important to parents when accessing health information for their child. Parents valued information sources which they considered trustworthy, credible, and relatable, as well as easily accessible and convenient.Dissemination of health information reflecting these values may empower parents during this early stage of parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine associations between three clinically significant sleep disorders (chronic insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome) and workplace productivity losses among young Australian adults. Design, setting: Prospective, observational study; 22‐year follow‐up of participants in the longitudinal birth cohort Raine Study (Perth, Western Australia). Participants: Currently employed 22‐year‐old Raine Study participants who underwent in‐laboratory sleep disorder screening for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (apnoea–hypopnea index of more than fifteen events/hour or obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome) and were assessed for insomnia and restless legs syndrome using validated measures. Main outcome measures: Total workplace productivity loss over twelve months, assessed with the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire. Results: Of 1235 contactable 22‐year‐old Raine Study cohort members, 554 people (44.9%; 294 women [53%]) underwent overnight polysomnography, completed the baseline sleep questionnaire, and completed at least three quarterly workplace productivity assessments. One or more clinically significant sleep disorders were identified in 120 participants (21.7%); 90 participants had insomnia (17%), thirty clinically significant obstructive sleep apnoea (5.4%), and two restless legs syndrome (0.4%). Seventeen people (14% of those with sleep disorders) had previously been diagnosed with a sleep disturbance by a health professional, including fourteen with insomnia. Median total workplace productivity loss was greater for participants with sleep disorders (164 hours/year; interquartile range [IQR], 0–411 hours/year) than for those without sleep disorders (30 hours/year; IQR, 0–202 hours/year); total workplace productivity loss was 40% greater for participants with sleep disorders (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.40; bias‐corrected and accelerated 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.76). The estimated population total productivity loss (weighted for disorder prevalence) was 28 644 hours per 1000 young workers per year, primarily attributable to insomnia (28 730 hours/1000 workers/year). Conclusion: Insomnia is a risk factor for workplace productivity loss in young workers. Tailored interventions are needed to identify and manage sleep disorders, particularly as most of the sleep disorders detected in the Raine Study had not previously been diagnosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Device‐assessed activity behaviours are a novel measure for comparing intervention outcomes in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Australasian Malignant PLeural Effusion (AMPLE)‐2 was a multi‐centre clinical trial where participants with MPE treated with an indwelling pleural catheter were randomized to daily (DD) or symptom‐guided (SGD) drainage for 60‐days. Our aim was to describe activity behaviour patterns in MPE patients, explore the impact of drainage regimen on activity behaviours and examine associations between activity behaviours and quality of life (QoL). Methods: Following randomization to DD or SGD, participants enrolled at the lead site (Perth) completed accelerometry assessment. This was repeated monthly for 5‐months. Activity behaviour outcomes were calculated as percent of daily waking‐wear time and compared between groups (Mann–Whitney U test; Median [IQR]). Correlations between activity behaviour outcomes and QoL were examined. Results: Forty‐one (91%) participants provided ≥1 valid accelerometry assessment (DDn = 20, SGD n = 21). Participants spent a large proportion of waking hours sedentary (72%–74% across timepoints), and very little time in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (<1% across timepoints). Compared to SGD group, DD group had a more favourable sedentary‐to‐light ratio in the week following randomization (2.4 [2.0–3.4] vs. 3.2 [2.4–6.1]; p = 0.047) and at 60‐days (2.0 [1.9–2.9] vs. 2.9 [2.8–6.0]; p = 0.016). Sedentary‐to‐light ratio was correlated with multiple QoL domains at multiple timepoints. Conclusion: Patients with MPE are largely sedentary. Preliminary results suggest that even modest differences in activity behaviours favouring the DD group could be meaningful for this clinical population. Accelerometry reflects QoL and is a useful outcome measure in MPE populations. Accelerometry is a novel patient‐centred outcome measure. Malignant pleural effusion patients are mostly sedentary. Those undergoing daily drainages of indwelling pleural catheter could have a better activity behaviour profile compared to those doing symptom guided drainages. A lower proportion of sedentary time was associated with better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate: (1) whether TV watching habits throughout childhood and adolescence, a proxy of sedentary behaviour, impacted cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adulthood, and (2) whether any potential impact of TV watching in childhood and adolescence on CRF in adulthood was changed by adult physical activity (PA) levels. A longitudinal study with questionnaire data available regarding TV watching collected at ages 5, 8, 10, 14, 17 and 20 yrs, allowed trajectories of TV watching to be developed. At age 28 yrs, participants completed a V̇O2peak test and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. General linear models tested for differences in CRF (time to exhaustion TTE and V̇O2peak mL·kg−1·min−1) between TV watching trajectories. The secondary analysis tested the potential effect current PA levels has on the relationship between TV trajectory and fitness. In total, 449 participants [male n = 255 (56.8%), 28.3 ± 0.5 yrs; female n = 194 (43.2%), 28.2 ± 0.4 yrs] were included in the study. Three distinct trajectories of TV watching were identified: High TV, Increasing TV and Low TV. CRF was lowest in the High TV watching trajectory and increased progressively from High to Increasing TV and Increasing to Low TV (all P <.05). Within each of the TV trajectories, those engaging in high levels of current PA had greater CRF than those engaging in low and moderate PA. TV watching in childhood and adolescence negatively impacts upon adult fitness at the age of 28 years. However, this negative impact of historical TV watching on CRF can largely be attenuated by engaging in higher levels of PA in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the evidence of children's agency in research about infants, toddlers and technologies. It finds that an implicit reliance on technological determinism as a theoretical perspective for positioning technologies relative to young children's development tends to shape research in terms of understanding the impact of technologies on young children. Drawing on critical constructivism as a philosophical stance on technologies, this paper argues that children's agency with technologies may be further investigated in terms of practice architectures to better understand the social mediation of infant and toddler interactions and engagements with technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal pain (SP), including neck and back pain, is common and often associated with poor mental health and reduced quality of life of adolescents. Contemporary understanding of SP favours a biopsychosocial approach, and emerging evidence suggests the stronger influence of psychological rather than other factors. Objectives: We aimed to investigate if experiencing psychological distress in early childhood increases the risk of spinal pain with impact during adolescence. Methods: 1175 adolescents from a prospective cohort study (Raine Study Gen2) were included. Psychological distress was assessed at ages 2, 5, 8 and 10 using Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL). CBCL total and subscale scores (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) were converted to age‐standardized scores and dichotomized according to t‐scores (>60=high distress). Life‐time spinal pain, including low back, mid back, or neck/shoulder, was measured at age 17. We were interested in adolescent SP with impact (care seeking, medication use, school absenteeism, daily activity interference, leisure activity interference) and defined cases as SP with impact (one or more) or greater impact (two or more) impacts. We investigated the longitudinal associations between childhood psychological distress and adolescent SP using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Psychological distress in childhood increased the odds of adolescent SP with impact by 33% (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.01–1.76), but not spinal pain with greater impact (OR 1.22; 95% 0.83–1.80). Internalizing symptoms were associated with SP with greater impact and externalizing symptoms with SP with impact after adjusting for a range of potential child and family confounders. Conclusion: Psychological distress in childhood increases the risk of SP with impact in adolescence and may be a promising prevention target. Significance: Our findings provide evidence that psychological distress early in life is an independent risk factor for spinal pain with impact during adolescence. As psychological distress during childhood is potentially modifiable, it may be a promising target for research on the prevention of consequential spinal pain in adolescence. Identifying and addressing psychological distress in children may be an important component of best practice to reduce consequential spinal pain in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cross‐sectional studies have variably reported that poor sleep quality may be associated with myopia in children. Longitudinal data, collected over the ages when myopia develops and progresses, could provide new insights into the sleep‐myopia paradigm. This study tested the hypothesis that 12‐year trajectories of sleep behaviour from childhood to adolescence is associated with myopia during young adulthood. Methods: At the 5‐, 8‐, 10‐, 14‐ and 17‐year follow‐ups of the longitudinal Raine Study, which has been following a cohort since their birth in 1989–1992, participants' parents/guardians completed the Child Behaviour Checklist questionnaire (CBCL), which collected information on their child's sleep behaviour and quality. The CBCL includes six questions measuring sleep behaviour, which parents rated as 0 = not true, 1 = somewhat/sometimes true, or 2 = very/often true. Scores were summed at each follow‐up to form a composite "sleep behaviour score". Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) was used to classify participants according to their 12‐year trajectory of sleep behaviour. At the 20‐year follow‐up, an eye examination was performed which included cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length measurement. Results: The LCGA identified three clusters of participants based on their trajectory of sleep behaviour: those with minimal' (43.6% of the total Raine Study sample), 'declining' (48.9%), or 'persistent' (7.5%) sleep problems. A total of 1194 participants had ophthalmic data and longitudinal sleep data available for analysis (47.2% female, 85.6% Caucasian). No significant differences were observed in regards to age, sex, ethnicity or ocular parameters between trajectory groups. Unadjusted and fully adjusted analyses demonstrated that sleep problem behaviour was not significantly associated with changes in refractive error, axial length or corneal radius. Conclusions: Our findings do not support the hypothesis that there is an association between sleep behaviour and myopia. Future longitudinal studies should explore sleep trajectory data pre‐ and post‐myopia diagnosis to confirm our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Sleep behaviour is correlated and causally related to physical and mental health. Limited longitudinal data exist on the associations of poor sleep behaviour in childhood and adolescence with adult health. Parent‐reported sleep behaviours from 1993 participants of the Raine Study (at ages 5, 8, 10, 14, 17) were used to determine sleep trajectories (using latent class growth analysis). Methods: Measures of physical and mental health were compared between sleep trajectories using generalised linear models (at age 20). Results: Three sleep trajectories were identified as follows: 43% of participants belonged to a trajectory with 'consistently minimal' sleep problems, 49% showed some 'declining' in reporting of sleep problems incidence and 8% had 'persistent' sleep problems. Participants in the 'consistently minimal' trajectory had better physical and mental health outcomes at age 20 compared to those in the 'declining' and 'persistent' trajectories. For example, 'consistently minimal' participants had significantly lower body fat percentage (mean difference: −3.89% (95% CI: −7.41 to −0.38)) and a higher (better) SF‐12 mental component score (mean difference: 4.78 (95% CI: 2.35–7.21)) compared to participants in the 'persistent' trajectory. Conclusion: Poor sleep behaviour across childhood and adolescent years is related to poorer physical and mental health in young adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Accelerometry is a low‐cost and noninvasive method that has been used to discriminate sleep from wake, however, its utility to detect sleep stages is unclear. We detail the development and comparison of methods which utilise raw, triaxial accelerometry data to classify varying stages of sleep, ranging from sleep/wake detection to discriminating rapid eye movement sleep, stage one sleep, stage two sleep, deep sleep and wake. First‐ and second‐order hidden Markov models (HMMs) with time‐homogeneous and time‐varying transition probability matrices, along with continuous acceleration observations in the form of a Gaussian‐observation HMM and K‐means classified acceleration in a discrete‐observation HMM were explored. In addition, generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) with binary and multinomial responses and logit link functions were considered as was whether incorporating adjoining acceleration information into the models improved prediction. Model predictions were compared to the reference‐standard in sleep detection (polysomnography) and outcome accuracies were calculated. Consistently, HMMs yielded greater sleep stage detection than GLMMs but there was little difference between first‐ and second‐order HMMs. Varying degrees of difference were observed when comparing Gaussian‐observation HMMs to discrete‐observation HMMs, and time‐varying HMMs yielded greater discrimination than time‐homogeneous HMMs, as did models which considered adjoining acceleration information. These results suggest that wrist‐worn accelerometry data may be able to detect sleep stages but that further investigation is required to optimise classification accuracy. Development and comparison of hidden Markov models and generalized linear mixed models which use raw, triaxial wrist accelerometry data to determine sleep stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a critical need for longitudinal cohort studies to consider the association of the cumulative exposure of physical activity during childhood and adolescence and bone mass. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between organized sports trajectories (that capture distinct and potentially meaningful patterns over critical developmental periods) and bone mass at age 20 years. Participation in organized sport was recorded by parental report at ages 5, 8, 10, 14, and 17 years in 984 offspring (48% female) of a pregnancy cohort (Raine Study). Latent class analysis identified three trajectory classes in each sex. In females, these were "consistent sport participators" (48%), "dropouts" (34%), and "non‐participators" (18%); in males, "consistent sport participators" (55%), "dropouts" (37%), and "sport joiners" (8%). Whole‐body bone mineral content (BMC) at age 20 years was assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). At age 20 years, after adjustment for covariates measured at age 20 years, including height, lean mass, physical activity, calcium intake, serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, alcohol, and smoking, males who were "consistent sport participators" had significantly greater whole‐body and leg BMC than those who dropped out of sport (p < 0.001), whereas males who joined sports had significantly greater leg BMC than those who dropped out of sport (p = 0.002). Females in the "consistent sport participator" trajectory had significantly greater leg BMC than those who dropped out (all p = 0.004). Participation in organized sport during childhood and adolescence is associated with bone mass at age 20 years. Because attainment of optimal peak bone mass in young adulthood is protective against osteoporosis in later life, this may have long‐term skeletal benefits. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite the high prevalence and burden of low back pain (LBP), understanding of its course during the transition from adolescence to adulthood is limited. The aim of this study was to identify and describe trajectories of LBP and its impact among a general population sample followed from adolescence to young adulthood.Methods: Data from followup assessments at years 17, 20, and 22 of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study were used (n = 1,249). Self-reported LBP and its impact on daily life were assessed, and latent class analysis was used to identify clusters. Resultant clusters were profiled on sex, waist circumference, diagnosed comorbid pain, and health-related quality of life.Results: Four clusters were identified: a cluster of participants with a consistently low prevalence of LBP and its impact (53%) during the period from adolescence to young adulthood, a cluster with an increase in the prevalence of LBP and its impact (22%), a cluster with a decrease in the prevalence of LBP and its impact (15%), and a cluster with a consistently high prevalence of LBP and its impact (10%). These clusters differed markedly on the profiling variables.Conclusion: The identified clusters provide unique information on LBP and its impact during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Consideration of these trajectories could be important in the design of early prevention and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Sedentary behaviors such as watching television (TV) are associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. The effects of TV watching during key developmental stages on skeletal health are uncertain. Hours of TV watching/week were recorded by parental or self-report at 5, 8, 10, 14, 17, and 20 years of age in 1181 members (48% female) of a pregnancy cohort (the Raine Study). Participants were classified into one of three TV-watching trajectories (using latent class analysis): low (consistently <14 h/week; 20.3%), high (consistently ≥14 h/week; 44.4%), or increasing (increased from <14 to ≥14 h/week during adolescence; 35.3%). General linear models tested associations between TV trajectory and bone mineral content (BMC) measured at age 20 years using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. After adjustment for height, body mass, physical activity, calcium intake, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, alcohol, and smoking (all at age 20 years), males in the low TV-watching trajectory had greater BMC for whole body (mean ± SEM, 3338 ± 59 g versus 3111 ± 31 g), legs (612 ± 12 g versus 569 ± 6 g), and arms (234 ± 5 g versus 214 ± 3 g) than those in the high TV-watching trajectory. Differences between low and high TV-watching trajectories were similar for females. BMC in the increasing TV-watching trajectory also differed for both sexes, for example males in the increasing TV-watching trajectory had greater whole-body BMC (3252 ± 38 g) than males in the high TV-watching trajectory (3111 ± 31 g) but less arm BMC (218 ± 3 g) than those in the low TV-watching trajectory (234 ± 5 g). In this community-based cohort, consistently high TV watching during childhood and adolescence independently predicted reduced peak bone mass at age 20 years. Because attainment of optimal peak bone mass is protective against osteoporosis in later life, reducing sedentary time in children may have long-term skeletal benefits. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) engage in low levels of physical activity ( PA). Given the evidence for the health benefits associated with participating in 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA each week, there is considerable interest in methods to increase PA in people with COPD. Studies to date have focused largely on exercise training and behavioural approaches, and many have demonstrated minimal, if any effect. An intermediate goal that focuses on reducing time spent in sedentary behaviour ( SB) and increasing participation in light intensity PA is a more realistic goal in this population and offers a gateway to higher intensity PA. Although strategies that are capable of reducing time spent in SB in COPD are unknown, studies that have shown some increase in PA in this population often provide individualized goal setting, motivational interviewing and frequent contact with health-care professionals to provide advice regarding strategies to overcome barriers. Therefore, these approaches should be considered in interventions to reduce time in SB. There are a range of devices available to monitor time in SB for use in both clinical and research settings. To move this area forward, a theoretically informed and systematic approach to behaviour change is needed. The theoretical model, the 'behaviour change wheel', is described and an example is provided of how it can be applied to a person with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the presence of possible bidirectional causal pathways between cigarette use and spinal pain in adolescents controlling for psychosocial functioning, using a prospective longitudinal research design. Design The data for this study was collected from a cohort of Australian adolescents at 14 (n = 1596) and 17 (n = 1291) years of age. Methods Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess i) if cigarette use at 14 predicted low back pain ( LBP), mid back pain ( MBP) or neck shoulder pain ( NSP) at 17 in those adolescents without each condition at 14, and ii) if back pain only ( BP), neck shoulder pain only ( NSP) or comorbid BP and NSP at 14 predicted cigarette use at 17 in those adolescents who did not smoke at 14. Results After controlling for psychosocial factors, cigarette use at 14 predicted MBP at 17 ( OR = 3.05, p = 0.049, 95% CI [1.01-9.24]). BP only at 14 was a significant risk factor for smoking at 17 ( OR = 1.84, p = 0.006, 95% CI [1.19-2.84]) after controlling for psychosocial factors. Conclusion The findings indicate that there are bi-directional relationships between cigarette use and spinal pain and that these relationships vary with pain location. Statement of contribution What is already known about the subject? Cigarette use, psychosocial problems and spinal pain are common in adolescents and evidence suggests bi-directional relationships. What does this study add? Cigarette use, psychosocial problems and spinal pain are correlated in adolescents., BP only at 14 years of age predicted cigarette use at 17 years of age after controlling for psychosocial factors., Cigarette use at 14 years of age predicted mid BP at 17 years of age after controlling for psychosocial factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Workplace practitioners are well placed to provide practical insights on sedentary behaviour issues in the workplace. This study consulted occupational health and safety (OHS) practitioners, examining their perceptions of sedentary health risks and views on strategies and influences to reduce and break prolonged occupational sitting.Methods: Three focus groups were conducted with convenience samples of OHS practitioners (n=34; 6 men; 46.4 ± 9.6 years) attending an Australian national conference in November 2010. Open-ended questions concerning health risks, sitting reduction strategies and influences were posed by lead researchers and practitioners invited to express opinions, viewpoints and experiences. Audio-recordings and summary notes of focus group discussions were reviewed by researchers to identify key response themes.Results: OHS practitioners were well informed about the chronic disease and musculoskeletal risks associated with prolonged occupational sitting, but noted the importance of not replacing one workplace health issue (too much sitting) with another (too much standing). Ideas for strategies were diverse and explored the dichotomy between providing choices for employees to stand and move more (e.g. sit-stand desks), as opposed to obligating change through adapting job and office design (e.g. centralising printers and scanners). Productivity concerns were cited as a major influence for change. OHS practitioners also highlighted the value of using cross-disciplinary expertise to bridge the gap between research and practice.Conclusions: This study identified that OHS practitioners in Australia have a good understanding of the risks of prolonged occupational sitting and potential strategies to manage these risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To identify distinct age-related trajectory classes of body mass index (BMI) z-scores from childhood to adolescence, and to examine the association of these trajectories with measures of standing sagittal spinal alignment at 14 years of age. Methods. Adolescents participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study contributed data to the study (n=1 373). Age- and gender-specific z-scores for BMI were obtained from height and weight at the ages of 3, 5, 10 and 14 years. Latent class group analysis was used to identify six distinct trajectory classes of BMI z-score. At the age of 14 years, adolescents were categorised into one of four subgroups of sagittal spinal posture using k-means cluster analysis of photographic measures of lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and trunk sway. Regression modeling was used to assess the relationship between postural angles and subgroups, and different BMI trajectory classes, adjusting for gender. Results. Six trajectory classes of BMI z-score were estimated: Very Low (4%), Low (24%), Average (34%), Ascending (6%), Moderate High (26%) and Very High (6%). The proportions of postural subgroups at age 14 were; Neutral (29%), Flat (22%), Sway (27%) and Hyperlordotic (22%). BMI trajectory class was strongly associated with postural subgroup, with significantly higher proportions of adolescents in the Very High, High and Ascending BMI trajectory classes displaying a Hyperlordotic or Sway posture than a Neutral posture at age 14. Conclusions. This prospective study provides evidence that childhood obesity, and how it develops, is associated with standing sagittal postural alignment in adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sedentary behavior in children is positively associated with an increased risk of both obesity and insulin resistance. Children spend a considerable portion of their awake time in sedentary behavior; however, the pattern of accumulation is not known. Thus the objective of this study was to describe the patterning of sedentary behavior of children at and away from school. Design and Methods: The patterns of sedentary time in a sample of 53 children (28 girls) aged 10-12 years during school-term time were examined. Children wore an accelerometer for 1 week. Total sedentary time, prolonged sequences (bouts) of sedentary time, and frequency of active interruptions to sedentary were examined on school days and weekends and within school time and non-school time on school days. Results: The data did not support our hypothesis that children accumulated more sedentary time on school days when compared with weekend days (mean [SD]: 64.4% [5.3] vs. 64.9% [9.0], P = 0.686). However, when comparing school time with non-school time on school days, children accumulated more sedentary time at school (66.8% [7.3] vs. 62.4% [5.2], P < 0.001) and spent more time at school in sustained sedentary sequences, that is, uninterrupted sedentary time for 30 min or more (75.6 min [45.8] vs. 45.0 min [26.8], P < 0.002). The children also recorded less breaks per sedentary hour within school time when compared with non-school time (8.9 h−1 vs. 10.2 h−1, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Reducing total sedentary time spent both in and out of school remains an important challenge. Interrupting sedentary time more often in the 'working' (school) day could also reap important musculoskeletal and metabolic health rewards for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restless legs syndrome has been associated with serum iron deficiency in clinical studies. However, studies investigating this relationship have had inconsistent results and there are no studies in young adults. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between serum measures of iron stores and restless legs syndrome in young adults in the community. Participants in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study answered questions on restless legs syndrome (n = 1,100, 54% female) at age 22 years, and provided serum measures of iron stores (ferritin and transferrin saturation) at ages 17 and 22 years. Restless legs syndrome was diagnosed when four International RLS Study Group criteria were met (urge to move, dysaesthesia, relief by movement, worsening during evening/night) and these symptoms occurred ≥5 times per month. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between serum iron stores and restless legs syndrome, adjusting for potential confounders. The prevalence of restless legs syndrome at age 22 years was 3.0% (n = 33, 70% female). Among those who provided restless legs syndrome and iron data at age 22 years (n = 865), the median (interquartile range) ferritin was not different between the restless legs syndrome (55 [29.5–103.5] µg L−1) and the non‐restless legs syndrome group (65.0 [35.0–103.3] µg L−1, p = 0.2), nor were there differences in iron deficiency prevalence (p = 0.36). There was no association between restless legs syndrome (22 years) and iron stores (17, 22 years) before or after adjustment for potential confounders. There was no association between restless legs syndrome at 22 years and iron stores at 17 or 22 years in this cohort. Serum iron stores may not be a useful indicator of restless legs syndrome risk in young adults in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues Addressed Methods Results Conclusions So What We aimed to identify latent health behaviour profiles of young adults and examine their associations with physical and mental health outcomes. We also characterised the profiles by socio‐demographic characteristics.Data were collected between 2012 and 2014. Participants (N = 476) were young adults (M age [SD] = 22.1 [.57] years) from Generation 2 of the Raine Study longitudinal cohort. Health behaviours were measured via ActiGraph GT3X waist monitors (physical activity, sedentary behaviour) and questionnaires (diet quality, alcohol, smoking and sleep). Physical and mental health were measured using clinical health assessments, blood biomarkers, and questionnaires. Latent Profile Analysis using Mplus (8.2) was employed to identify profiles.Four latent profiles were identified: ‘heavy drinkers with moderately unhealthy eating habits’ (high takeaway foods; n = 135), ‘unhealthy food abstainers’ (low takeaway foods; n = 138), ‘moderately sedentary alcohol abstainers’ (n = 139) and ‘physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits’ (high takeaway foods and sugary drinks; n = 64). ‘Physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits’ had the poorest (physical and mental) health outcomes, yet the lowest insulin resistance. ‘Unhealthy food abstainers’ had the most favourable health outcomes (adiposity, health perceptions, blood pressure). Sex differed among the profiles.The profiles identified among young adults are different to profiles with general adult populations. A novel finding was that ‘physically active drinkers with unhealthy eating habits’ had low insulin resistance. The findings also suggest that future interventions may need to be sex specific.Our findings suggest that health behaviour interventions for young adults should be targeted to distinct profile characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The authors discuss the negative impact of sedentary time, increased use of computers, and excessive occupational sitting on the health of employees. Topics include the estimated 5.5% of premature mortality due to physical inactivity, Australia's work health and safety laws which require employers to provide a work safe system, and the risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease due to excessive sitting time.