Population studies indicate a strong relationship between birth weight (BW) and body size in later life. However, BW as a variable was never accounted for in studies on the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and overweight. This study aims to assess the relationship between ADHD and overweight with control of birth weight and other confounding factors. Prevalence of overweight was compared in clinical sample of 219 boys with ADHD and 396 boys without ADHD, aged 6–18 years. The following factors were controlled: BW, parents income and education level, place of residence, ADHD type, selected comorbid disorders and stimulant treatment. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed according to the criteria proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between ADHD and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Boys with ADHD differed significantly from the control group in distribution of low BW (8.2 vs. 3.0 %, χ ² = 8.23, p = 0.02). Low BW was associated with a lower prevalence of overweight than normal and high BW (0 vs. 12.14 %, χ ² = 4.12, p = 0.04). Overweight was observed significantly more often in boys with ADHD (17.3 vs. 8.3 %, χ ² = 11.23, p < 0.001) even after adjustment for BW and other variables (OR = 2.44, 95 % CI 1.38–4.29, p = 0.002) and after controlling for ADHD type, stimulant treatment and selected comorbid disorders. Independently to applied analysis, obesity was not associated with ADHD. Lower birth weight is over twice more often observed in boys with ADHD than in control group. Although this phenomenon may reduce the rate of overweight in the studied group, ADHD remains strongly associated with increased prevalence of overweight.

Objective: Previous studies have associated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with growth deviations and obesity. However, available data regarding the growth of children with ADHD in their early childhood are insufficient. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether there are differences in body size between preschool boys with and without ADHD. Methods: The study used cross-sectional and retrospective longitudinal data concerning 112 boys with ADHD and a community-based sample of 308 boys without ADHD. The groups were homogeneous in terms of socioeconomic status, place of residence, term of birth, and birth weight. The average age of diagnosis was 8.3 years, and none of boys had been treated with stimulants before they were 7 years of age. Comparisons were made at the ages of 2, 4, and 6 years, for World Health Organization (WHO)-norm-standardized height, weight, body mass index (BMI), prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity. Separate analysis were made for the cross-sectional measurements of current body size. Results: Boys with ADHD at the age of 2 had significantly lower z scores for weight ( t =−1.98, p =0.04) and BMI ( t =−2.09, p =0.04), and at the age of 4 for weight ( t =−2.05, p =0.04) than the boys from the control group. A significantly lower percentage of overweight/obesity was observed in boys with ADHD at the age of 2 in comparison with the control group. At the age of 6, boys with ADHD were underweight more often. Cross-sectional analysis of current body size showed that boys with ADHD had lower z scores for height ( t =−3.08, p =0.002) and higher z scores ( t =3.13, p =0.002) for BMI. Overweight was more frequent in this group. Conclusions: Preschool boys with ADHD (age of 2–6 years) have a tendency toward lower body weight than their peers. But in subsequent phases of development, they are shorter and more frequently overweight than boys without ADHD, when place of residence, socioeconomic status, term of birth, birth weight, comorbid conditions, and treatment are controlled.

Objective: The aim of the study was to hierarchically assess the predictive power of low and high birth weight, pre-term and post-term birth, and low Apgar score as the risk factors for ADHD. Method: The data of 132 boys diagnosed with ADHD and 146 boys from control group, aged 6 to 18 years, have been analyzed. The boys were categorized according to term of birth, birth weight, and Apgar score. CART method (Classification and Regression Trees) was used for assessment of the relationship between perinatal factors and the risk of ADHD. Results: Low Apgar score (21.97% vs. 13.01%) and post-term birth (12.12% vs. 0.68%) were more frequent in the sample than in the control group. CART method additionally indicated low birth weight as associated with the risk of ADHD. Among analyzed risk factors, Apgar score had the highest predictive value. Conclusion: The decreased Apgar score is the most important perinatal risk factor of ADHD. Research results also indicated a high significance of post-term birth in predicting the disorder.

Qualitative dietary assessments are not common in aging athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate diet quality and its determinants among aging masters athletes. Eighty-six participants of the 8th World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships were enrolled in the study (age range 36–65 years). Three subgroups were distinguished to represent countries with different eating habits. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Eating habits and diet quality were assessed using the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN^®, Warszawa, Poland), and the Pro-healthy Diet Index (pHDI-10). Dietary quality determinants were identified by a multiple regression model conducted for each subgroup separately (Great Britain, France, and Poland). The results showed that none of the subgroups adhered to the reference intake of products with beneficial health outcomes. This was particularly noticeable in the insufficient consumption of whole grain products, dairy, and fish. The fish and vegetables consumption frequency significantly differentiated the eating habits of the studied groups. Diet quality determinants varied depending on the group. However, in each of them, fruit consumption was one of the components of a good-quality diet. The obtained results can be used by institutions providing health education among the elderly to develop an appropriate strategy aimed at changing inappropriate eating habits.

Health education (HE), an educational process that leads to increased nutritional awareness and improved health, is one of the factors influencing diet quality (DQ) during pregnancy. The aim was to evaluate the DQ of pregnant women and its determinants considering their HE. The study included 122 pregnant women aged 20–40 years. DQ was assessed using the Kom-PAN^® questionnaire and the Pro-Healthy Diet Index (pHDI). Data collected included dietary habits, socio-demographic data, education level, place of residence, and maternal lifestyle-related characteristics, namely, pre-pregnancy weight, trimester of pregnancy, and pre-pregnancy and pregnancy physical activity (PA). Weekly energy expenditure was determined using the Polish version of the PPAQ questionnaire. HE at school more than tripled the odds of a higher DQ. Women in their second trimester were 54% more likely to have a higher DQ than women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Undertaking pre-pregnancy PA increased the odds of a higher DQ 2.5 times. Comparative analyses performed in a group of women with HE (HEG, n = 33) and without HE (nHEG, n = 89) showed better DQ in the former, but this was still unsatisfactory in health-promoting properties. The results obtained showed that the HE and trimester of pregnancy and pre-pregnancy Pa influenced DQ in pregnant women.

Background/Objectives: Dietary intake during pregnancy influences hematological parameters, reflecting nutritional status and potentially affecting maternal and fetal outcomes. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to compare dietary nutrient intake in pregnant women depending on their red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV). Methods: A total of 31 pregnant women in their third trimester were divided into the following two groups: within reference range RDW-CV (n = 22) and elevated RDW-CV (n = 9). Dietary intake was assessed via a dietary recall (USDA Multiple-Pass Method). Intake of energy (kcal/day), macronutrients (g/day), vitamins (mg/day; µg/day) B1, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, A, D, E, and minerals (mg/day) Zn, P, Mg, K, Ca, Fe were recorded. Complete blood count (CBC) parameters were measured (Total WBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, RDW-CV, PLT, NEU, LYM, MON, EOS, BAS, LMR). Results: The elevated RDW-CV group had a significantly lower level of daily energy adequacy. Both groups did not meet recommended intakes for energy, iron, vitamin D. A statistical significance in MCV differences was noted, with lower values in the elevated RDW-CV group, supported by a Cohen’s d = 0.82, suggesting early changes in erythrocyte size distribution. The reference range RDW-CV group consumed significantly more zinc, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin B12, whereas vitamin C intake was higher in the elevated RDW-CV group. Conclusions: Pregnant women with an elevated RDW-CV tended to exhibit greater nutritional insufficiencies than those with reference range RDW-CV. Our findings suggest potential associations between hematologic indices (RDW-CV, MCV) and dietary nutrient intake patterns during pregnancy. These preliminary observations are based on a pilot study and warrant confirmation in larger, prospective studies incorporating biochemical markers.