To identify factors that contribute to the increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 in obese children and adolescents, and its health consequences. Studies published between 2000 and 2020 in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO, and Cochrane databases. Obesity is a highly prevalent comorbidity in severe cases of COVID-19 in children and adolescents; social isolation may lead to increase fat accumulation. Excessive adipose tissue, deficit in lean mass, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and low intake of essential nutrients are factors that compromise the functioning of organs and systems in obese individuals. These factors are associated with damage to immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems, along with modification of the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis). In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, these organic changes from obesity may increase the need for ventilatory assistance, risk of thromboembolism, reduced glomerular filtration rate, changes in the innate and adaptive immune response, and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory response. The need for social isolation can have the effect of causing or worsening obesity and its comorbidities, and pediatricians need to be aware of this issue. Facing children with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, health professionals should 1) diagnose excess weight; 2) advise on health care in times of isolation; 3) screen for comorbidities, ensuring that treatment is not interrupted; 4) measure levels of immunonutrients; 5) guide the family in understanding the specifics of the situation; and 6) refer to units qualified to care for obese children and adolescents when necessary.

To review the literature in order to evaluate how health professionals promote and support breastfeeding. Studies from the following databases were retrieved: Scopus, PubMed, Medline, Lilacs, SciELO, Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (Cinahl). The descriptors "breastfeeding", "professional role" and "patient care team" were used in the research. The review was limited to articles in Portuguese, Spanish, and English published between 1997 and 2013. The search retrieved 1,396 studies, 18 of which were selected for being directly relevant to the main question. The review showed that breastfeeding is a challenge for health professionals, regardless of their specialization, as they have to face a demand that requires skill and sensibility, for which they are not prepared. Health professionals have considered breastfeeding a purely instinctive and biological act. Moreover, it is noticeable that many of them possess theoretical expertise on the subject, but lack the practical skills. Health professionals need to be better trained to work on promoting breastfeeding, whether by health and medical schools or by healthcare administrators, in order to consolidate multiprofessional teams committed to maternal-infant health.

To present the different aspects that may be involved in the genesis and maintenance of obesity in children and adolescents. Narrative review of articles published in the PubMed, Scielo, Lilacs, Scopus and Google Scholar databases, using the search terms: overweight, obesity, pre-conception, prenatal, infants, schoolchildren, children, and adolescents. The search was conducted in studies written in Portuguese, English and Spanish, including narrative, integrative or systematic reviews, meta-analyses, cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies, published between 2003 and 2023. A total of 598 studies were initially screened and 60 of them, which showed the main biopsychosocial aspects related to greater risks of excessive adiposity in the pediatric age, were included in the review. The data were presented taking into account the incidence of risk factors and their consequences in six periods: pre-conception, pre-natal, infant, preschool, school age, and adolescence. The causal factors described in the scientific literature that have been shown to be related to obesity in childhood and adolescence are presented.

Vitamins B2, B6, B12, and folate are essential for methylation reactions and possibly influence the transport of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells (RBC). Associations between B-vitamin biomarkers and fatty acid (FA) profile were analyzed in Brazilian children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 249 children and adolescents, aged 9–13 years old. Dietary intake was assessed by the food frequency questionnaire and the healthy eating index (HEI). Biomarkers for vitamins B2, B6, B12, and folate were measured in plasma. The FA profile and the metabolites of one-carbon metabolism were measured in RBC. Associations were tested with multiple linear regression models. An increase of 1 nmol/L in vitamin B2 was associated with an increase of 0.19 mg/dL of EPA, 0.20 mg/dL of ARA, and 0.25 mg/dL of DHA in RBC. An increase of 1 ng/mL in plasma folate was associated with an increase of 0.14 mg/dL of EPA, 0.22 mg/dL of ARA, and 0.21 mg/dL of DHA in RBC. These findings highlight the importance of an adequate intake of vitamin B2 and folate in childhood, since they may improve the FA profile in RBCs and may help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of anaemia in Brazilian children up to 83·9 months old.Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis, using databases PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, Lilacs, Google Scholar, Periódicos Capes, Arca, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, Microsoft Academic Search and Cochrane Library using search terms: anaemia, prevalence, child and Brazil. PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42020208818.Setting: Cross-sectional, cohort, case–control and intervention studies published between 2007 and 2020 were searched, excluding those who assessed children with an illness or chronic condition. The main outcome was anaemia prevalence. Random effects models based on the inverse variance method were used to estimate pooled prevalence measures. Sensitivity analyses removed studies with high contribution to overall heterogeneity.Participants: From 6790 first screened, 134 eligible studies were included, totalling 46 978 children aged zero to 83·9 months analysed, with adequate regions representativeness.Results: Pooled prevalence of anaemia was 33 % (95 % CI 30, 35). Sensitivity analyses showed that withdrawal of studies that contributed to high heterogeneity did not influence national average prevalence.Conclusions: Childhood anaemia is still a serious public health problem in Brazil, exposing 33 % of Brazilian children to the anaemia repercussions. The main limitation of the study is the estimation of national prevalence based on local surveys, but a large number of studies were included, with representation in all regions of the country, giving strength to the results. In Brazil, more public policies are needed to promote supplementation, fortification and access to healthy eating to reduce the high level of anaemia among children.

Objective: To explore recent findings on how nutritional, gastrointestinal, social, and epigenetic factors interact in autism spectrum disorder, highlighting their implications for clinical management and intervention strategies that could improve development and quality of life of affected children. Sources: Studies published from 2000 to 2024 in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases were collected. The process for the review adhered to the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis framework. Summary of the findings: Children with autism spectrum disorder have restrictive eating habits and often exhibit food selectivity with either hyper- or hypo-sensory characteristics. This review provides an overview of the literature on diagnosis and intervention strategies for selectivity in autism spectrum disorder, including the involvement of family members in meals, sharing a healthy diet and positive relationship with food, and the importance of exploring visual, olfactory, and tactile experiences of food and introducing new foods through play activities to expand the food repertoire. Modifications in the microbiota and gastrointestinal disorders may also be present in autism spectrum disorder and are presented due to their frequent nutritional repercussions. The medium and long-term implications of food preferences and behavior issues for nutritional status are also discussed, given the tendency for children with autism spectrum disorder to consume low-quality and energy-dense foods, leading to nutritional problems. Conclusions: Children with autism spectrum disorder have feeding difficulties, especially selectivity, gastrointestinal problems, changes in the microbiota and can evolve with micronutrient deficiencies, malnutrition and obesity. This review describes the evidence for possible targets for interventions aiming to improve nutritional health for children with autism spectrum disorder.