Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has changed children’s eating and physical activity behaviours. These changes have been positive for some households and negative for others, revealing health inequalities that have ramifications for childhood obesity. This study investigates the pandemic’s impact on families of children aged 2–6 years with overweight or obesity. Methods: Drawing on interviews conducted as part of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) for childhood obesity, thematic analysis was used to examine how parents of pre-schoolers perceived changes in their eating, screentime and physical activity behaviours between the first and second waves of Covid-19. Parents (n = 70, representing 68 families) were interviewed twice during a period of 6 months in three countries with markedly different pandemic policies – Sweden, Romania, and Spain. The analysis is informed by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, which embeds home- and school-based influences within societal and policy contexts. Results: The findings show that, although all participants were recruited from an RCT for families of children with excess weight, they reported different responses to the pandemic’s second wave, with some children engaging in healthier eating and physical activity, and others engaging in comfort eating and a more sedentary lifestyle. Differences in children’s obesity-related behaviours were closely related to differences in parents’ practices, which were, in turn, linked to their emotional and social wellbeing. Notably, across all sites, parents’ feeding and physical activity facilitation practices, as well as their emotional and social wellbeing, were embedded in household resilience. In resilient households, where parents had secure housing and employment, they were better able to adapt to the challenges posed by the pandemic, whereas parents who experienced household insecurity found it more difficult to cope. Conclusions: As the Covid-19 pandemic is turning into a long-term public health challenge, studies that address household resilience are crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment responses to childhood obesity.

Food neophobia (FN), the fear of sampling new foods, can have a significant impact on children’s eating habits. Children with phenylketonuria (PKU), a hereditary condition that inhibits the body’s capacity to metabolize phenylalanine, should take this attitude with caution. Patients with PKU must follow a rigorous phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet to avoid brain malfunction that can include intellectual disability, seizures, and behavioral difficulties. The novelty of our work stems from the fact that we explored the origins of this incorrect intake pattern, which exacerbates PKU patients’ already fragile health. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 34 previously diagnosed phenylketonuria patients and a control group ranging in age from 7 months to 40 years, with a sex ratio of M/F 2:1. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) was used to determine neophobia. We used JASP (version 0.18.1) statistical analysis to examine the relationship between neophobia and PKU condition, age and nutritional status at the time of study, diet compliance, parental educational level, period from birth to PKU diagnosis, and environmental (rural/urban) provenience of PKU patients. According to the data, 61.76% of patients with PKU were neophobic, as were 70.57% of the control group. Food neophobia was associated with PKU patients’ present age, the period from birth to PKU diagnosis, and parental educational level.

Food neophobia involves avoiding new foods due to reluctance, aversion, or disgust. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) is the most reliable and common adult food neophobia test. It helps compare food neophobia across cultures by being translated into numerous languages. This study adapted, translated, and validated the FNS for Romania. This translated version was piloted in November 2023 on 59 students in the medical field from two distinct Romanian cities. Between December 2023 and February 2024, 375 adults were surveyed, representing Romania’s population within a 90% confidence interval. The average age of responders was 38.07 years, with a standard deviation of 10.75 and a 4:1 female-to-male sex ratio. The Cronbach’s alpha test was used to validate the questionnaire. Our study found that the mean FNS value was 31.86; most Romanian respondents (69.20%) were neutral towards trying new foods, with a significant portion being neophobes (18.21%) outnumbering neophiles (12.59%). When compared to international study results, Romanian adults, on average, exhibited a higher percentage of neophobes compared to those in Korea (13%), Hungary (16.8%), Italy (17%), and Brazil (17.5%), but a lower percentage than those in Lebanon (21.5%). The findings indicate that the translated scale can be utilized to assess neophobia among Romanian speakers.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder primarily caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene, leading to motor neuron degeneration and muscle atrophy, affecting multiple organ systems. Nusinersen treatment targets gene expression and is expected to enhance the motor function of voluntary muscles in the limbs and trunk. Motor skills can be assessed through specific scales like the Revised Upper Limb Module Scale (RULM) and Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE). This study aims to evaluate the influence of nusinersen on the motor skills of patients with SMA Type 2 and 3 using real-world data collected over 54 months. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 37 SMA patients treated with nusinersen, analyzing data with R statistical software. The outcomes revealed significant improvements in motor functions, particularly in SMA Type 3 patients with higher RULM and HFSME scores. Additionally, GEE analysis identified time, type, age, and exon deletions as essential predictors of motor score improvements. The extended observation period is both a major strength and a limitation of this research, as the dropout rates could present challenges in interpretation. Variability in responses, influenced by genetic background, SMA type, and onset age, highlights the need for personalized treatment approaches.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), identified over a century ago, is characterized by severe muscle wasting and early mortality. Despite its rarity, the high carrier frequency of the responsible genetic mutations and the variability in its manifestations make it a significant research focus. This prospective cross-sectional descriptive study evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across eight health domains in 43 Romanian SMA patients treated with nusinersen, using the SF-36 questionnaire to analyze influencing factors. The survey was conducted online with informed consent, and the data were analyzed using MedCalc software, employing both parametric and non-parametric statistical tests for accurate interpretation. The results revealed significant variations in HRQoL. Most patients were non-ambulatory (74.4%), reflecting SMA’s impact on mobility. Urban residents reported better outcomes, particularly in physical functioning (p = 0.014), which may be attributed to improved access to healthcare services. Younger participants (under 14), represented by proxy responses, noted better general health (p = 0.0072) and emotional well-being (p = 0.0217) compared to older participants. These findings suggest that younger patients or their proxies perceive a better health status, highlighting the need for age-specific approaches in SMA management and the potential optimistic bias associated with proxy reporting on perceived health outcomes.

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the impact of supplementation with a combination of nutrients on metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related liver parameters, and other parameters related to metabolic syndrome in adults with obesity. These measurements included anthropometric and lipid profiling, and FibroScan technology (controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and transient elastography (TE) values). Materials and Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial was conducted over a three-month treatment period. Adults with metabolic syndrome and obesity were allocated to receive either a cocktail of nutrients with defined daily dosages (5-MTHF, betaine, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, choline bitartrate, docosahexaenoic acid, and vitamin B12) or a placebo. The participants were evaluated at the start and the end of the three-month treatment period. Results: A total of 155 participants entered the study, comprising 84 in the treatment group and 71 in the placebo group. The administration of the nutritional supplement resulted in a notable reduction in both CAP and TE scores when compared to the placebo group. The treatment group exhibited a mean reduction in CAP of 4% (p < 0.05) and a mean reduction in TE of 7.8% (p < 0.05), indicative of a decline in liver fat content and fibrosis. Conclusions: The supplementation over a period of three months led to a significant amelioration of liver fibrosis and steatosis parameters in adults with metabolic syndrome and obesity. These findings suggest that this supplementation regimen could be a beneficial adjunct therapy for improving liver health in adults with obesity-induced MASLD.