Introdução - O aumento da prevalência de obesidade entre a população jovem, motivou o crescimento do número de pesquisas que buscam identificar os fatores associados à ocorrência desse distúrbio nutricional. Objetivo - Identificar os fatores dietéticos e de atividade física associados à mudança do estado nutricional de adolescentes. Métodos - Trata-se de um estudo de coorte realizado com 256 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 10 e 17 anos, matriculados em escolas públicas de Piracicaba, São Paulo. Os adolescentes foram entrevistados em dois momentos, respeitando-se o intervalo médio de um ano. Avaliou-se o estado nutricional a partir do Índice de Massa Corporal, consumo alimentar habitual (questionário de freqüência alimentar para adolescentes - QFAA), padrão de atividade física (prática de atividades físicas e de atividades de baixa intensidade), maturação sexual e variáveis demográficas. A análise de regressão linear múltipla foi utilizada para identificar as possíveis associações. Definiu-se como variável dependente a variação anual do escore z do IMC e como variáveis independentes a variação anual do consumo de grupos alimentares de interesse e da prática de atividade física. Resultados - Verificou-se, para ambos os sexos, um aumento do uso de computador e consumo de bebidas artificiais adoçadas. Houve redução do consumo de lipídios, sucos naturais adicionados de açúcar e alimentos com elevado teor lipídico. O consumo de frutas, verduras e legumes aumentou no intervalo de um ano entre as meninas. Na análise múltipla, observou-se que o maior consumo de alimentos com elevado teor lipídico (=0,036, p=0,048) e de sucos naturais adicionados de açúcar (=0,053, p=0,034) associaram-se positivamente ao aumento do escore z do IMC. Conclusão - A variação do escore z do IMC de adolescentes no período de um ano mostra-se direta e independentemente associada a variações no consumo de alimentos ricos em lipídios e de sucos naturais adicionados de açúcar. 8 Novos estudos prospectivos com maior tempo de seguimento são necessários para que sejam produzidos resultados que esclareçam a complexa etiologia da obesidade / Introduction - With the rise of obesity prevalence among young people, is increasing the number of researches to identify factors associated with the occurrence of this nutritional disorder. Objective - To identify the dietary and physical activity factors associated with nutritional status change of adolescents. Methods - This is a cohort study conducted with 256 adolescents of both genders, with ages ranging from 10 and 17 years, from public schools of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo. Adolescents were interviewed on two occasions, with the average interval of one year. Nutritional status from body mass index, usual food intake (food-frequency questionnaire for adolescents-FFQA), physical activity pattern (physical activity and inactivity), sexual maturation and demographic variables were assessed. Multiple regression was used to identify possible associations. It was defined as dependent variable the annual BMI z-score change and as independent variables, the annual change in consumption of food groups of interest and practice of physical activity. Results - An increase of computer use, and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption was verified for both genders. The consumption of fat, sweetened fruit juices and fatty foods decreased. Among girls, the consumption of fruits and vegetables increased in an interval of one year. In the multiple analyses, it was observed that increased consumption of fatty foods ( = 0.036, p = 0.048) and sweetened fruit juices ( = 0.053, p = 0.034) was positively associated with the rise of BMI z-score. Conclusion - Change in adolescents BMI z-score over a year is directly and independently associated with changes in fatty foods and sweetened fruit juices. Further prospective researches with longer follow-up are necessary to better understand the complex etiology of obesity

Introdução - O aumento da prevalência de obesidade entre a população jovem, motivou o crescimento do número de pesquisas que buscam identificar os fatores associados à ocorrência desse distúrbio nutricional. Objetivo - Identificar os fatores dietéticos e de atividade física associados à mudança do estado nutricional de adolescentes. Métodos - Trata-se de um estudo de coorte realizado com 256 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 10 e 17 anos, matriculados em escolas públicas de Piracicaba, São Paulo. Os adolescentes foram entrevistados em dois momentos, respeitando-se o intervalo médio de um ano. Avaliou-se o estado nutricional a partir do Índice de Massa Corporal, consumo alimentar habitual (questionário de freqüência alimentar para adolescentes - QFAA), padrão de atividade física (prática de atividades físicas e de atividades de baixa intensidade), maturação sexual e variáveis demográficas. A análise de regressão linear múltipla foi utilizada para identificar as possíveis associações. Definiu-se como variável dependente a variação anual do escore z do IMC e como variáveis independentes a variação anual do consumo de grupos alimentares de interesse e da prática de atividade física. Resultados - Verificou-se, para ambos os sexos, um aumento do uso de computador e consumo de bebidas artificiais adoçadas. Houve redução do consumo de lipídios, sucos naturais adicionados de açúcar e alimentos com elevado teor lipídico. O consumo de frutas, verduras e legumes aumentou no intervalo de um ano entre as meninas. Na análise múltipla, observou-se que o maior consumo de alimentos com elevado teor lipídico (=0,036, p=0,048) e de sucos naturais adicionados de açúcar (=0,053, p=0,034) associaram-se positivamente ao aumento do escore z do IMC. Conclusão - A variação do escore z do IMC de adolescentes no período de um ano mostra-se direta e independentemente associada a variações no consumo de alimentos ricos em lipídios e de sucos naturais adicionados de açúcar. 8 Novos estudos prospectivos com maior tempo de seguimento são necessários para que sejam produzidos resultados que esclareçam a complexa etiologia da obesidade / Introduction - With the rise of obesity prevalence among young people, is increasing the number of researches to identify factors associated with the occurrence of this nutritional disorder. Objective - To identify the dietary and physical activity factors associated with nutritional status change of adolescents. Methods - This is a cohort study conducted with 256 adolescents of both genders, with ages ranging from 10 and 17 years, from public schools of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo. Adolescents were interviewed on two occasions, with the average interval of one year. Nutritional status from body mass index, usual food intake (food-frequency questionnaire for adolescents-FFQA), physical activity pattern (physical activity and inactivity), sexual maturation and demographic variables were assessed. Multiple regression was used to identify possible associations. It was defined as dependent variable the annual BMI z-score change and as independent variables, the annual change in consumption of food groups of interest and practice of physical activity. Results - An increase of computer use, and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption was verified for both genders. The consumption of fat, sweetened fruit juices and fatty foods decreased. Among girls, the consumption of fruits and vegetables increased in an interval of one year. In the multiple analyses, it was observed that increased consumption of fatty foods ( = 0.036, p = 0.048) and sweetened fruit juices ( = 0.053, p = 0.034) was positively associated with the rise of BMI z-score. Conclusion - Change in adolescents BMI z-score over a year is directly and independently associated with changes in fatty foods and sweetened fruit juices. Further prospective researches with longer follow-up are necessary to better understand the complex etiology of obesity

Sensory motor deficits, although not part of the diagnostic criteria, are frequently reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The ob jective of this project is to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of an approximately periodic motor activity (circle drawing) in children with ASD. The natural rhythm of periodic motor activities such as circle drawing are known to exhibit statistical persistence in typically developing individuals. A sample of 15 children aged 4 to 8 years, with a primary diagnosis of ASD were asked to draw circles using a computerized tablet and pen, which record spatio-temporal data. Results were compared with those of 19 typically developing children. While no differences were seen in statistical persistence, differences were observed in timing of discontinuous circle drawing and in kinetic process variable such as grip and axial forces. Understanding the specific nature of graphomotor deficits is the first step towards developing targeted treatment for these impairments.

Sensory motor deficits, although not part of the diagnostic criteria, are frequently reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The ob jective of this project is to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of an approximately periodic motor activity (circle drawing) in children with ASD. The natural rhythm of periodic motor activities such as circle drawing are known to exhibit statistical persistence in typically developing individuals. A sample of 15 children aged 4 to 8 years, with a primary diagnosis of ASD were asked to draw circles using a computerized tablet and pen, which record spatio-temporal data. Results were compared with those of 19 typically developing children. While no differences were seen in statistical persistence, differences were observed in timing of discontinuous circle drawing and in kinetic process variable such as grip and axial forces. Understanding the specific nature of graphomotor deficits is the first step towards developing targeted treatment for these impairments.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / "December 2003." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-175). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-165). Also available on the Internet.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.