INTRODUÇÃO: O aumento mundial da prevalência de obesidade atribui-se principalmente a mudanças nos hábitos alimentares e na prática de atividade física, que afetam indivíduos predispostos geneticamente. Alterações genéticas podem provocar desequilíbrio na regulação homeostática afetando sinalizadores periféricos e centrais. Um componente do controle central fica no núcleo arqueado hipotalâmico, sendo o receptor tipo 4 de melanocortina (MC4R) de suma importância. Mutações no MC4R têm sido relatadas como causa mais frequente de obesidade monogênica. Há evidência de que polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNP) localizados próximos ao MC4R possam estar relacionados ao aumento do risco para obesidade, porém estudos de variantes nesse gene avaliando o consumo alimentar são escassos e controversos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência de variantes alélicas no MC4R sobre consumo alimentar, presença de compulsão alimentar periódica (CAP), composição corporal e perfil clínico e metabólico em crianças e adolescentes obesos. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com crianças e adolescentes obesos. Foram avaliados parâmetros antropométricos, metabólicos e fatores de risco cardiometabólicos, incluindo hipertensão arterial sistêmica, glicemia de jejum alterada, hipertrigliceridemia e HDL-colesterol baixo. A CAP foi avaliada utilizando a Escala de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica e o consumo alimentar por meio do Recordatório de 24 horas, analisando consumo calórico total, percentual de macronutrientes e fibras, além da frequência na omissão do café da manhã, adequação de macronutrientes, frações lipídicas e colesterol. Para verificar o efeito dos SNPs no risco para a obesidade foi incluído um grupo controle composto por 137 crianças e adolescentes eutróficos. Foi realizado o sequenciamento do gene MC4R e a genotipagem por PCR em tempo real das variantes rs17782313 e rs12970134, adotando-se o modelo recessivo para a análise. A análise estatística para comparação dos grupos foi conduzida por meio dos Testes T de Student ou Mann-Whitney U. Para avaliar a magnitude do risco, foi realizada regressão logística ajustada para Z-IMC, idade e gênero, com o nível de significância fixado em 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 536 obesos (52,1% meninas; 12,7 ± 2,7 anos; Z-IMC 3,24 ± 0,57). A frequência dos SNPs foi semelhante entre os grupos de obesos e controle. Os portadores do polimorfismo rs17782313 apresentaram maior nível de triglicérides (108 ± 48 vs.119 ± 54, p=0,034)e maior risco para hipertrigliceridemia (OR=1,985; IC95% 1,288-3,057; p=0,002). Não houve associação do rs12970134 com os parâmetros clínicos, metabólicos ou alimentares. No gene MC4R foram identificados 10 polimorfismos já descritos e uma variante nova, Asn72Ser (A/G), sendo 8 mutações do tipo missense e 3 sinônimas. CONCLUSÕES: Os SNPs rs17782313 e rs12970134 não influenciam o consumo alimentar nem a presença da CAP. O SNP rs17782313 está associado a maior risco de hipertrigliceridemia e maior nível sérico de triglicérides em crianças e adolescentes obesos. A presença de mutações que resultem na perda de função no gene MC4R é rara nessa coorte / INTRODUCTION: The global increase in the prevalence of obesity is attributed mainly to changes in dietary habits and physical activity, which affects genetically predisposed individuals. Genetic alterations can cause imbalance in the homeostatic regulation affecting peripheral and central signals. One component of the central control is the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and the melanocortin type 4 receptor (MC4R) is of outstanding importance. Mutations in MC4R have been reported as the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity. Studies indicate that polymorphisms located near the MC4R may be related to increased risk for obesity, but the studies of variations in this gene and its relation to food intake are scarce and controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of allelic variants of MC4R in food intake, binge eating behavior (BE), body composition, clinical and metabolic profile in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with obese children and adolescents. Anthropometric, metabolic parameters and cardiometabolic risk factors including hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol were evaluated. The BE was evaluated through the Binge Eating Scale, and to analyze the dietary intake 24 hour recall was used, evaluating total caloric intake, percentage of macronutrients, fiber, omission of breakfast, adequacy of macronutrients, lipid fractions and cholesterol. To investigate the effect of SNPs on obesity risk, a control group of 137 eutrophic children and adolescents was enrolled. The MC4R gene was sequenced and genotyping was performed by real-time PCR of the variants rs17782313 and rs12970134, adopting the recessive model for the analysis. Statistical analysis for group comparison was conducted using the Student T test or Mann-Whitney U test. To assess the magnitude of risk, logistic regression adjusted for Z-BMI, age and gender was performed, with the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 536 subjects (52.1% girls, 12.7 ± 2.7 years-old, Z-BMI = 3.24± 0,57). The frequency of SNPs was similar between the obese and control groups. The C allele carriers for the rs17782313 polymorphism had increased triglyceride levels (108 ± 48 vs.119 ± 54, p = 0.034) and increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.985, 95% CI 1.288-3.057, p = 0.002). There was no association of the SNP rs12970134 with clinical, metabolic or nutritional parameters. Ten polymorphisms already described and a new variant, Arn72Ser (A/G), were identified in the MC4R gene, with 8 missense mutations and 3 synonymous. CONCLUSIONS: The SNPs rs17782313 and rs12970134 did not influence food intake or the presence of BE. The SNP rs17782313 is associated with increased risk of elevated triglycerides and higher serum triglyceride levels in obese children and adolescents. The presence of mutations resulting in loss of function in the MC4R gene is rare in this cohort

Introdução: O excesso de peso destaca-se como importante problema de saúde na atualidade e sua prevenção desde a primeira infância é essencial para a promoção da saúde da população. O uso de material didático e instrucional, como o álbum seriado, contribui para a prática do processo educativo em saúde na rotina dos serviços. Objetivo: Construir e validar um Álbum Seriado sobre prevenção do excesso de peso infantil na atenção básica. Método: Estudo descritivo que foca o desenvolvimento e a validação de um instrumento para intervenção educativa. Integra investigação mais ampla desenvolvida no município de Itupeva, Estado de São Paulo, aprovada por Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa e autorizada pela Diretoria de Saúde do município. Foi desenvolvida em três etapas: 1) Oficinas de escuta com mães e profissionais de saúde da atenção básica; 2) Construção do álbum seriado; 3) Validação do álbum seriado. Com base no referencial teórico da educação crítica, três oficinas com duração de 90 minutos cada, foram realizadas no período de abril a junho de 2015: duas com 10 mães e uma com 14 profissionais da atenção básica. As oficinas foram gravadas, transcritas e submetidas à análise de conteúdo. Os temas extraídos das oficinas, documentos técnicos do Ministério da Saúde e figuras disponíveis no banco de imagens da web foram utilizados na construção do Álbum Seriado. O Álbum Seriado foi validado por oito juízes, profissionais vinculados à Diretoria de Saúde e Educação do município, que avaliaram conteúdo e aparência mediante preenchimento de uma ficha de validação, durante discussão em grupo. Analisou-se a porcentagem de concordância dos juízes. Resultados: A construção do Álbum Seriado teve como base os temas extraídos das oficinas realizadas com mães e profissionais de saúde, porém para uma sequência lógica de apresentação, o material foi organizado de acordo com os temas reconhecimento do excesso de peso/obesidade, consequências para a saúde da criança e estratégias para prevenção e promoção da saúde infantil. O Álbum Seriado foi constituído por 27 folhetos com frente (figura) e verso (ficha-roteiro). Houve 99% de concordância dos juízes quanto ao tema proposto, 96% com relação à clareza/compreensão dos folhetos, 94% quanto à importância de cada uma das figuras para o álbum seriado e 47% quanto à necessidade de ajustes ou exclusão de folhetos. Melhorias na resolução e substituição de algumas figuras foram as principais sugestões para o ajuste do material apresentado para validação. Conclusões: A construção e validação do álbum seriado, com base na educação crítica, envolve os participantes, facilita o uso dessa tecnologia pelos profissionais de saúde no processo educativo na atenção básica e favorece a compreensão e incorporação de passos importantes para a prevenção do excesso de peso infantil, contribuindo para a promoção da saúde da criança. / Introduction: Weight excess stands out as a major health problem today and its prevention since early childhood is essential for the population health. The use of instructional teaching materials such as flip chart in the educational process in health contributes to the effectiveness of this practice in the service routine. Objective: To develop and validate a flip chart on prevention of childhood weight excess in primary care. Methods: Descriptive study that focuses on the development and validation of an instrument for educational intervention. Honest and wide investigation was developed in the city of Itupeva, State of São Paulo, approved by the Research Ethics Committee and authorized by the city\'s Health Board. It was developed in three steps: 1) Listening workshops with mothers and health professionals in primary care; 2) Development of a flip chart; 3) Flip chart validation. Based on the theoretical framework of critical education, where three workshops which lasted 90 minutes each were held from April to June 2015: two with 10 mothers, and one with 14 primary care professionals. The workshops were recorded, transcribed and subjected to content analysis. To develop the flip chart, themes were drawn from workshops, technical documents were used from the Ministry of Health and pictures were taken from the internet. The flip chart was validated by eight judges, who were part of the city professional Board of Health and Education. They evaluated the flip charts content and appearance by filling out a form validation for group discussion. The percentage of the judges agreement was analyzed. Results: The analysis of the listening workshops gave origin to the topics, weight excess acknowledgement\", consequences for the childs health\" and \"strategies for prevention and childrens health promotion. The flip chart consists of 27 sheets: odds pages with figure and even pages with plug-Script. There was 99% of the judges agreement on the proposed theme, 96% regarding clarity and understanding, 94% regarding the importance of each picture, and 47% as for needs of adjustments or exclusion. Resolution improvements and picture replacements were the main suggestions for the material validation. Conclusions: The flip chart construction and validation based on critical education involves the participants, facilitates the use of this technology by health professionals in the educational process in primary care, and promotes understanding and incorporation of important steps to prevent child\'s weight overflow, contributing to the child\'s health promotion.

La santé maternelle et la santé pédiatrique font partie des priorités de santé publique mondiale. La présente thèse a pour objectif d’élargir les connaissances portant sur l’influence de la santé maternelle durant la grossesse sur la santé pondérale et cardiométabolique de la population pédiatrique. Une première étude a montré qu’une exposition intra-utérine à une ou plusieurs conditions gestationnelles sous-optimales (diabète gestationnel, désordres hypertensifs de la grossesse, tabagisme maternel durant la grossesse) avait un effet délétère sur la santé pondérale et cardiométabolique de la population pédiatrique et que cet effet était spécifique au sexe. Une seconde étude a montré que l’efficacité mécanique et l’oxydation des substrats énergétiques (lipides et glucides) au repos et durant l’exercice ne sont pas altérées dans cette population en comparaison avec les enfants non exposés. Ainsi, ce résultat suggère que d’autres mécanismes seraient à l’origine des effets délétères des conditions gestationnelles sous-optimales sur la santé pondérale et cardiométabolique de cette population. Enfin, la troisième étude a montré que seule l’activité physique d’intensité légère réduisait l’effet délétère d’une exposition intra-utérine à plus d’une condition gestationnelle sous-optimale sur le taux de cholestérol à lipoprotéine de haute densité chez les garçons. De plus, une durée de sommeil correspondant aux recommandations canadiennes actuelles n’avait pas d’effet protecteur vis-à-vis du risque d’obésité abdominale (enfants) et d’obésité (filles) dans le contexte d’une exposition au tabagisme maternel durant la grossesse. Par ailleurs, les autres saines habitudes de vie telles que l’activité physique d’intensité moyenne à élevée et une alimentation riche en fruits et légumes, en produits laitiers et en produits céréaliers n’ont pas contrecarré les effets délétères d’une exposition intra-utérine à une ou plusieurs conditions gestationnelles sous-optimales sur la santé pondérale et cardiométabolique des enfants. L’ensemble de ces résultats souligne l’importance de la santé maternelle durant la grossesse pour la santé pondérale et cardiométabolique de la population pédiatrique. Par ailleurs, étant donné que ces effets délétères ne sont que peu contrecarrés par les habitudes de vie durant l’enfance, il reste important de continuer les efforts de prévention et de prise en charge des conditions gestationnelles sous-optimales auprès des femmes enceintes qui les présentent. En terminant, il est important de continuer à explorer les mécanismes sous-jacents à ces effets délétères et à déterminer si des interventions en habitudes de vie peuvent prévenir l’obésité et les facteurs de risque cardiométaboliques dans cette population. / Maternal and children’s health are major worldwide public health concerns. The current thesis aimed to explore the impact of maternal health during pregnancy on children’s and adolescents’ health and included three original research projects. The first study found that a prenatal exposure to independent or combined suboptimal gestational factors (SGF : gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy) was positively associated with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children around puberty, and these associations were sex-dependent. The second study found that children exposed to one SGF display a similar physiological response in terms of mechanical efficiency and substrate oxidation at rest and during exercise (submaximal and maximal) in comparison with non-exposed children. The third study of the thesis found that light-intensity physical activity reduced the adverse impact of prenatal exposure to combined SGF on high density lipoprotein-cholestrol levels in boys. A sleep duration within the range of the current Canadian recommendations for sleep did not mitigate the risk of high waist circumference (children) and obesity (girls) in a context of exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Furthermore, other lifestyle factors such as moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and a healthy diet (intakes of: fruits and vegetables, grains, and dairy products), did not mitigate the adverse impact of a prenatal exposure to independent or combined SGF on children’s risk of obesity and cardiomeatbolic outcomes. Taken together, these results suggest that it is important to continue maternal SGF prevention and management programs to provide optimal health for children. Moreover, future studies should also develop and evaluate the impact of lifestyle habits interventions to design future prevention strategies during childhood and adolescence to reduce obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in this population.

BACKGROUND: China has seen rapid increase in obesity and hypertension prevalence and fast food consumption over the past decade. We examined status and risk factors for Western- and Chinese fast food consumption and their associations with health outcomes in Chinese children, and examined how maternal factors were associated with child health outcomes. METHODS: Data of 1626 students aged 7-16 (11.6 ± 2.0) years and their parents in four mega-cities across China (Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xi'an) were collected in the 2015 baseline survey of the Childhood Obesity Study in China Mega-cities. Weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. Food intake was assessed using questionnaire. Mixed models were used to examine the associations. RESULTS: Among the children, 11.1% were obese, 19.7% were centrally obese, and 9.0% had hypertension. Obesity prevalence was much higher in boys than in girls (15.2% vs. 6.9% and 27.4% vs. 11.7%, respectively, both P < 0.001). About half (51.9% and 43.6%) of children consumed Western and Chinese fast food, respectively, over the past 3 months. Compared to those with college or above maternal education level, those with elementary school or below maternal education level were 49% more likely to consume Western fast food (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49 [1.10-2.03]). Chinese fast food consumption rate increased by 12% with each year of increase in child's age (OR and 95% CI: 1.12 [1.02-1.23]). No significant associations between fast food consumption and health outcomes were detected. Adjusting for Western fast food consumption, children with lower maternal education were 71% and 43% more likely to have obesity and central obesity (ORs and 95% CIs: 1.71 [1.12-2.61] and 1.43 [1.00-2.03], respectively), and maternal body mass index was positively associated with child obesity, central obesity, and hypertension (ORs and 95% CIs: 1.11 [1.06-1.17], 1.12 [1.07-1.17], and 1.09 [1.03-1.15], respectively). Results were similar when Chinese fast food consumption was adjusted for. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of fast food consumption, obesity and hypertension is high among children in major cities in China. Maternal factors affect child outcomes.

A greater understanding of critical periods of body weight regulation, including pregnancy, may aid in efforts to optimize weight management strategies for the mother and her baby. The gestational period has been implicated to play, in the child, a vital role in the developmental origins of obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases later in life. Therefore, we initially examined existing literature on the role of maternal obesity and its link to pediatric obesity and documented the known underlying physiological mechanisms responsible for this relationship while suggesting potential intervention targets that may improve maternal-fetal outcomes. In a second paper, we aimed to quantify maternal predictors of large for gestational age (LGA) neonates in the Ottawa and Kingston (OaK) birth cohort with specific hypotheses verifying the independent contribution of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) to fetal overgrowth. This paper also highlights the clinical utility of the revised 2009 Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines and discusses the potential role of physiological factors underlying the observed associations between BMI, excessive GWG and LGA neonates. As a follow-up to our population-level analysis (i.e., OAK cohort), papers three and four highlight how the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, a vital regulator of growth and development, may be compromised at the molecular level in cases of maternal obesity (paper 3) and excessive GWG (paper 4). In paper 3 we show that maternal obesity is associated with attenuated expression of IGF binding protein-4 (IGFBP4) in umbilical cord blood and discuss how this may preferentially promote fetal adipogenesis. The effects of excessive GWG on IGF axis protein expression are addressed in paper four where we show that excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with increased expression of IGFBP3 in maternal circulation in normoglycemic term pregnancies. In this paper we discuss the potential inhibitory role of IGFBP3 on adipogenesis and how it relates to glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Recognizing that both obesity and excessive GWG can alter physiological processes in mother and her baby, appropriate evidence-based interventions are warranted to best optimize outcomes. In paper five, we discuss the results of a study which sought to assess patient information channels and knowledge of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy with the intent that these findings be applied to best design efficacious strategies that cater to the needs of our target group of pregnant women. In our analysis we show that the majority of pregnant women studied would be willing to participate in a lifestyle intervention for their own personal health and that of their child. Of great interest was the observation that most women were not informed of the importance of pregnancy-specific energy intake, or made aware of their own healthy GWG targets. Additionally, many of the respondents reported receiving no information pertaining to appropriate physical activity recommendations; despite the fact that the vast majority of participants consider this lifestyle modality to be safe during their pregnancy. Finally in paper six, we build on the results of our previous work and evaluate the risks and benefits of physical activity during pregnancy on maternal-fetal outcomes through a review of the literature and note that engaging in non-sedentary pursuits during gestation may aid in maternal weight regulation, protect against metabolic disorders and optimize neonatal birth weight and body composition. Overall, the collective nature of the papers presented in this dissertation provides qualitative and quantitative evidence to support not only the complexity of body weight regulation in the mother and her baby, but also highlights potential avenues for intervention that may improve maternal-fetal outcomes during this critical period.

A greater understanding of critical periods of body weight regulation, including pregnancy, may aid in efforts to optimize weight management strategies for the mother and her baby. The gestational period has been implicated to play, in the child, a vital role in the developmental origins of obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases later in life. Therefore, we initially examined existing literature on the role of maternal obesity and its link to pediatric obesity and documented the known underlying physiological mechanisms responsible for this relationship while suggesting potential intervention targets that may improve maternal-fetal outcomes. In a second paper, we aimed to quantify maternal predictors of large for gestational age (LGA) neonates in the Ottawa and Kingston (OaK) birth cohort with specific hypotheses verifying the independent contribution of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) to fetal overgrowth. This paper also highlights the clinical utility of the revised 2009 Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines and discusses the potential role of physiological factors underlying the observed associations between BMI, excessive GWG and LGA neonates. As a follow-up to our population-level analysis (i.e., OAK cohort), papers three and four highlight how the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, a vital regulator of growth and development, may be compromised at the molecular level in cases of maternal obesity (paper 3) and excessive GWG (paper 4). In paper 3 we show that maternal obesity is associated with attenuated expression of IGF binding protein-4 (IGFBP4) in umbilical cord blood and discuss how this may preferentially promote fetal adipogenesis. The effects of excessive GWG on IGF axis protein expression are addressed in paper four where we show that excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with increased expression of IGFBP3 in maternal circulation in normoglycemic term pregnancies. In this paper we discuss the potential inhibitory role of IGFBP3 on adipogenesis and how it relates to glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Recognizing that both obesity and excessive GWG can alter physiological processes in mother and her baby, appropriate evidence-based interventions are warranted to best optimize outcomes. In paper five, we discuss the results of a study which sought to assess patient information channels and knowledge of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy with the intent that these findings be applied to best design efficacious strategies that cater to the needs of our target group of pregnant women. In our analysis we show that the majority of pregnant women studied would be willing to participate in a lifestyle intervention for their own personal health and that of their child. Of great interest was the observation that most women were not informed of the importance of pregnancy-specific energy intake, or made aware of their own healthy GWG targets. Additionally, many of the respondents reported receiving no information pertaining to appropriate physical activity recommendations; despite the fact that the vast majority of participants consider this lifestyle modality to be safe during their pregnancy. Finally in paper six, we build on the results of our previous work and evaluate the risks and benefits of physical activity during pregnancy on maternal-fetal outcomes through a review of the literature and note that engaging in non-sedentary pursuits during gestation may aid in maternal weight regulation, protect against metabolic disorders and optimize neonatal birth weight and body composition. Overall, the collective nature of the papers presented in this dissertation provides qualitative and quantitative evidence to support not only the complexity of body weight regulation in the mother and her baby, but also highlights potential avenues for intervention that may improve maternal-fetal outcomes during this critical period.

A greater understanding of critical periods of body weight regulation, including pregnancy, may aid in efforts to optimize weight management strategies for the mother and her baby. The gestational period has been implicated to play, in the child, a vital role in the developmental origins of obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases later in life. Therefore, we initially examined existing literature on the role of maternal obesity and its link to pediatric obesity and documented the known underlying physiological mechanisms responsible for this relationship while suggesting potential intervention targets that may improve maternal-fetal outcomes. In a second paper, we aimed to quantify maternal predictors of large for gestational age (LGA) neonates in the Ottawa and Kingston (OaK) birth cohort with specific hypotheses verifying the independent contribution of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) to fetal overgrowth. This paper also highlights the clinical utility of the revised 2009 Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines and discusses the potential role of physiological factors underlying the observed associations between BMI, excessive GWG and LGA neonates. As a follow-up to our population-level analysis (i.e., OAK cohort), papers three and four highlight how the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, a vital regulator of growth and development, may be compromised at the molecular level in cases of maternal obesity (paper 3) and excessive GWG (paper 4). In paper 3 we show that maternal obesity is associated with attenuated expression of IGF binding protein-4 (IGFBP4) in umbilical cord blood and discuss how this may preferentially promote fetal adipogenesis. The effects of excessive GWG on IGF axis protein expression are addressed in paper four where we show that excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with increased expression of IGFBP3 in maternal circulation in normoglycemic term pregnancies. In this paper we discuss the potential inhibitory role of IGFBP3 on adipogenesis and how it relates to glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Recognizing that both obesity and excessive GWG can alter physiological processes in mother and her baby, appropriate evidence-based interventions are warranted to best optimize outcomes. In paper five, we discuss the results of a study which sought to assess patient information channels and knowledge of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy with the intent that these findings be applied to best design efficacious strategies that cater to the needs of our target group of pregnant women. In our analysis we show that the majority of pregnant women studied would be willing to participate in a lifestyle intervention for their own personal health and that of their child. Of great interest was the observation that most women were not informed of the importance of pregnancy-specific energy intake, or made aware of their own healthy GWG targets. Additionally, many of the respondents reported receiving no information pertaining to appropriate physical activity recommendations; despite the fact that the vast majority of participants consider this lifestyle modality to be safe during their pregnancy. Finally in paper six, we build on the results of our previous work and evaluate the risks and benefits of physical activity during pregnancy on maternal-fetal outcomes through a review of the literature and note that engaging in non-sedentary pursuits during gestation may aid in maternal weight regulation, protect against metabolic disorders and optimize neonatal birth weight and body composition. Overall, the collective nature of the papers presented in this dissertation provides qualitative and quantitative evidence to support not only the complexity of body weight regulation in the mother and her baby, but also highlights potential avenues for intervention that may improve maternal-fetal outcomes during this critical period.

INTRODUÇÃO: A obesidade infantil é um importante problema de saúde pública e apresenta impacto direto na qualidade de vida das crianças e adolescentes, bem como no desenvolvimento futuro de doenças crônicas. O padrão alimentar rico em gordura e açúcar, e com baixo aporte de fibra dietética, vitaminas e minerais é reconhecido como fator de risco para o surgimento da obesidade, no entanto os fatores que contribuem para a preferência por alimentos ricos nestes nutrientes não são bem estabelecidos. O sabor dos alimentos é reconhecido como um importante preditor das escolhas alimentares, e os polimorfismos nos genes que codificam os receptores do sabor podem explicar a variabilidade da preferência e consumo alimentar na população. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência de polimorfismos de genes de receptores de sabor gorduroso (CD36), doce (TAS1R2) e amargo (TAS2R38) no consumo alimentar e no perfil metabólico de crianças e adolescentes obesos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 668 crianças e adolescentes obesos e um grupo controle de 135 crianças eutróficas, de ambos os gêneros. Foi realizado o estudo molecular dos polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs) rs1761667 e rs1527483 do CD36, rs9701796 e rs35874116 do TAS1R2, e rs1726866 e rs713598 do TAS2R38, bem como análise do consumo alimentar e perfil metabólico. RESULTADOS: Em relação ao CD36, o alelo A do rs1761667 relacionou-se com menor consumo de lipídios totais, gorduras poli e monoinsaturadas, consumo de alimentos de sabor gorduroso, ingestão de óleos vegetais e açúcares totais em obesos. O alelo A do rs1527483 associou-se com menor percentil de pressão arterial diastólica, menor massa gorda e maior massa livre de gordura em obesos. Quanto ao gene TAS1R2, a variante rs9701796 teve maior risco metabólico segundo a razão circunferência da cintura-estatura (RCE), bem como relação com maior consumo de achocolatado em pó em obesos. Já a variante rs35874116 mostrou relação com a menor ingestão de fibras dietéticas em obesos. No TAS2R38, o alelo G do rs1726866 foi associado com menor consumo de gorduras monoinsaturadas e maior consumo de açúcares totais, em obesos. O alelo G do rs713598 mostrou relação com maior consumo de carboidratos, consumo de alimentos de sabor doce, refrigerantes e menor ingestão de fibras pelos indivíduos eutróficos. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve relação entre genótipos e risco de obesidade. Os achados mostram a associação entre polimorfismos dos genes de receptores de sabor com o consumo alimentar, indicando diferenças entre obesos e magros, e alelos de proteção e de risco cardiometabólico, respectivamente dos genes CD36 e TAS1R2 / BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a major public health problem and it has a direct impact on the quality of life of children and adolescents, as well as the future risk for development of chronic diseases. The dietary pattern rich in fats and sugars associated to the low intake of dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals is widespread for the rise of obesity. However the factors that contribute to the preference for foods rich in these nutrients are not well established. Taste is recognized as an important predictor of food choices, and polymorphisms in genes encoding its receptors may explain the variability of taste preference and food intake on population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of fat (CD36), sweet (TAS1R2) and bitter (TAS2R38) taste receptor genes in diet and metabolic profile in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 668 obese children and adolescents and a control group of 135 normal-weight children. The molecular study was made for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs1761667 and rs1527483 of CD36, rs9701796 and rs35874116 of TAS1R2, rs1726866 and rs713598 of TAS2R38, and the analysis of food intake and metabolic profile. RESULTS: In relation to CD36, the A allele of rs1761667 was associated with lower intake of total fat, poly and monounsaturated fats, consumption of fatty flavor food, intake of vegetable oils and total sugars in obese. The A allele of rs1527483 was associated with lower percentile of diastolic blood pressure, lower fat mass and increased fat-free mass in obese. Regarding TAS1R2 gene, the variant rs9701796 was associated to increased metabolic risk according to waist-height ratio, as well as with higher consumption of chocolate powder in obese. The variant rs35874116 showed a lower intake of dietary fiber. In TAS2R38, the G allele of rs1726866 was associated with a lower intake of monounsaturated fat and a higher intake of total sugars in obese. The G allele of rs713598 was related to the higher carbohydrate intake, consumption of sweet tasting food, soda drinks and less fiber intake by normal weight children. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between genotypes and risk of obesity. The findings show the association between polymorphisms of taste receptor genes with dietary intake, indicating differences between obese and lean children, as well as the protective and risk alleles for cardiometabolic risk in CD36 and TAS1R2, respectively

INTRODUÇÃO: A obesidade infantil é um importante problema de saúde pública e apresenta impacto direto na qualidade de vida das crianças e adolescentes, bem como no desenvolvimento futuro de doenças crônicas. O padrão alimentar rico em gordura e açúcar, e com baixo aporte de fibra dietética, vitaminas e minerais é reconhecido como fator de risco para o surgimento da obesidade, no entanto os fatores que contribuem para a preferência por alimentos ricos nestes nutrientes não são bem estabelecidos. O sabor dos alimentos é reconhecido como um importante preditor das escolhas alimentares, e os polimorfismos nos genes que codificam os receptores do sabor podem explicar a variabilidade da preferência e consumo alimentar na população. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência de polimorfismos de genes de receptores de sabor gorduroso (CD36), doce (TAS1R2) e amargo (TAS2R38) no consumo alimentar e no perfil metabólico de crianças e adolescentes obesos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 668 crianças e adolescentes obesos e um grupo controle de 135 crianças eutróficas, de ambos os gêneros. Foi realizado o estudo molecular dos polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs) rs1761667 e rs1527483 do CD36, rs9701796 e rs35874116 do TAS1R2, e rs1726866 e rs713598 do TAS2R38, bem como análise do consumo alimentar e perfil metabólico. RESULTADOS: Em relação ao CD36, o alelo A do rs1761667 relacionou-se com menor consumo de lipídios totais, gorduras poli e monoinsaturadas, consumo de alimentos de sabor gorduroso, ingestão de óleos vegetais e açúcares totais em obesos. O alelo A do rs1527483 associou-se com menor percentil de pressão arterial diastólica, menor massa gorda e maior massa livre de gordura em obesos. Quanto ao gene TAS1R2, a variante rs9701796 teve maior risco metabólico segundo a razão circunferência da cintura-estatura (RCE), bem como relação com maior consumo de achocolatado em pó em obesos. Já a variante rs35874116 mostrou relação com a menor ingestão de fibras dietéticas em obesos. No TAS2R38, o alelo G do rs1726866 foi associado com menor consumo de gorduras monoinsaturadas e maior consumo de açúcares totais, em obesos. O alelo G do rs713598 mostrou relação com maior consumo de carboidratos, consumo de alimentos de sabor doce, refrigerantes e menor ingestão de fibras pelos indivíduos eutróficos. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve relação entre genótipos e risco de obesidade. Os achados mostram a associação entre polimorfismos dos genes de receptores de sabor com o consumo alimentar, indicando diferenças entre obesos e magros, e alelos de proteção e de risco cardiometabólico, respectivamente dos genes CD36 e TAS1R2 / BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a major public health problem and it has a direct impact on the quality of life of children and adolescents, as well as the future risk for development of chronic diseases. The dietary pattern rich in fats and sugars associated to the low intake of dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals is widespread for the rise of obesity. However the factors that contribute to the preference for foods rich in these nutrients are not well established. Taste is recognized as an important predictor of food choices, and polymorphisms in genes encoding its receptors may explain the variability of taste preference and food intake on population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of fat (CD36), sweet (TAS1R2) and bitter (TAS2R38) taste receptor genes in diet and metabolic profile in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 668 obese children and adolescents and a control group of 135 normal-weight children. The molecular study was made for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs1761667 and rs1527483 of CD36, rs9701796 and rs35874116 of TAS1R2, rs1726866 and rs713598 of TAS2R38, and the analysis of food intake and metabolic profile. RESULTS: In relation to CD36, the A allele of rs1761667 was associated with lower intake of total fat, poly and monounsaturated fats, consumption of fatty flavor food, intake of vegetable oils and total sugars in obese. The A allele of rs1527483 was associated with lower percentile of diastolic blood pressure, lower fat mass and increased fat-free mass in obese. Regarding TAS1R2 gene, the variant rs9701796 was associated to increased metabolic risk according to waist-height ratio, as well as with higher consumption of chocolate powder in obese. The variant rs35874116 showed a lower intake of dietary fiber. In TAS2R38, the G allele of rs1726866 was associated with a lower intake of monounsaturated fat and a higher intake of total sugars in obese. The G allele of rs713598 was related to the higher carbohydrate intake, consumption of sweet tasting food, soda drinks and less fiber intake by normal weight children. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between genotypes and risk of obesity. The findings show the association between polymorphisms of taste receptor genes with dietary intake, indicating differences between obese and lean children, as well as the protective and risk alleles for cardiometabolic risk in CD36 and TAS1R2, respectively