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Biomedical subjects

D Boniface

Publications and source records attributed to D Boniface.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Parental perceptions of overweight in 3-5 y olds.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of parents' perceptions of their 3 to 5 y old children's weight status in a large UK sample. METHOD: Parental perception and concern about child weight, demographic variables, and children's height and weight were obtained for 564 parent-child dyads. RESULTS: Only 1.9% of parents of overweight children and 17.1% of parents of obese children described their child as overweight. The odds of parents perceiving the child as overweight were increased for overweight (2.7; 95% CI 0.4, 16.5) and obese (28.5; 7.1, 115.4) compared with normal weight children, but were not associated with parental weight or with any demographic factors. Although few parents perceived their overweight children as overweight, more (66.2%) expressed concern about their overweight child becoming overweight in the future. Odds of concern were progressively higher for overweight (2.5; 1.6, 3.9) and obese children (4.6; 2.2, 9.7), and were also higher for parents who were themselves overweight (1.9; 1.2, 2.9) or obese (2.5; 1.3, 4.8). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that parents of 3-5 y olds show poor awareness of their child's current weight status. Reframing discussions in terms of preventing future overweight may be an effective way to engage parents.

Body Height↗
PubMed2005

Predictors of programme adherence and weight loss in women in an obesity programme using meal replacements.

OBJECTIVE: To explore predictors of programme adherence and weight loss in patients participating in a weight management programme using meal replacements (MR). DESIGN: One hundred and fifty healthy obese women, age 48.5 years (s.d. = 8.3); weight, 97.6 kg (13.4); body mass index (BMI) 36.5 (3.7), participated in a longitudinal study with a 16-week acute weight loss phase (Phase 1) followed by 1 year of a trial of weight-loss maintenance (Phase 2). Energy intake during Phase 1 totaled 900 kcal (3.7 MJ) a day from a diet including two MR. Energy intake during Phase 2 consisted of either MR or a low-fat diet with a calculated energy deficit of 600 kcal/day (2.5 MJ). METHODS: Weight, height and waist circumference were measured and body composition assessed by air plethysmography (Bodpod). Glucose and insulin were measured by standard immunoassays and insulin sensitivity assessed by homeostatic model assessment. RESULTS: At the end of 16 weeks, 114 subjects (76%) completed Phase 1 and achieved a mean weight loss of 8.95 kg (3.38). Adherence to Phase 1 was predicted by weight loss over the first 2 weeks (p < 0.001). Weight loss during Phase 1 was predicted by initial weight and initial systolic blood pressure. Adherence to Phase 2 was not predicted by physiological measures. Weight loss maintenance in Phase 2 (not gaining more than 3% of the weight at start of phase 2) was predicted by cholesterol and triglyceride measured at the start of Phase 2 but otherwise was not predicted by the physiological measures. Initial insulin sensitivity did not predict weight loss in either phase. CONCLUSION: Participants whose weight loss over the first 2 weeks falls in the bottom third may need additional intervention if they are to continue in this type of programme. A battery of physiological measures at entry to a MR weight loss and maintenance programme explains only a very small proportion of the variation in weight loss.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1999

Diagnostic image quality of mobile neonatal chest X-rays and the radiation exposure incurred.

A study was undertaken to identify the variation of entrance skin doses (ESDs) in mobile neonatal chest radiography with regard to the European Commission (EC) reference dose and to examine potential relationships with image quality and radiographic techniques. Five sites from the former North West Thames region participated. All mobile neonatal radiographic techniques were surveyed. Dose-area product per examination was directly measured and the ESD calculated. Image quality criteria were developed from those published by the EC. Image quality was graded by two independent observers. Over the five sites, 144 examinations were recorded. Calculated ESDs ranged up to 160 microGy, with an appreciable variation not only between sites but also within sites. A clear relationship between actual rather than nominal speed and dose over all sites was demonstrated (r = -0.95, p = 0.013). No correlation between image quality and dose was noted (r = -0.044, p = 0.665). Neonatal imaging systems at participating sites, within the North Thames region, comply with EC guidelines on patient dose and image quality for mobile chest X-rays. Significant variation in ESDs was encountered between sites with no discernible relationship with image quality or the employed radiographic techniques as described by the EC. The strong inverse relationship between ESDs and actual rather than nominal speed suggests a neglected aspect of radiation protection.

England↗
PubMed1978

How much child psychiatry does a general practitioner do?

Eleven general practitioners recorded information on relevant psychological and social factors on 1,127 consecutive attendances of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. The proportion of 'pure' psychological problems was low (3.5 per cent of all attendances), but in 25.7 per cent of attendances a psychological component to the presenting problem existed. Non-specific 'emotional' problems were the most frequent psychological symptoms noted, but management problems in infancy and early childhood were also common. There were significant differences between practitioners in the proportion of 'purely physical' diagnoses made and in action taken at the time of attendance. The findings suggest that paediatric training of general practitioners should contain a considerable child psychiatric component.

Adolescent↗