Mekdes Gebremariam

• Daas, Merel C.; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Poelman, Maartje P.; Andersen, Lene Frost; Klepp, Knut Inge & Bjelland, Mona [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Mediators and Moderators of the Effects of a School-based Intervention on Adolescents' Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: The HEIA Study. Public Health Nutrition (PHN). ISSN 1368-9800. doi: 10.1017/S1368980024000260.
• Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Helle, Christine; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Wills, Andrew Keith & Osorio, Natalie Garzon [Show all 22 contributors for this article] (2024). Scaling up evidence-based digital early life nutrition interventions in a county setting: an implementation trial – protocol for Phase 2 of the Nutrition Now project. Frontiers in Public Health. ISSN 2296-2565. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1326787. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Few effective health interventions transition from smaller efficacy or effectiveness studies to real-world implementation at scale, representing a gap between evidence and practice. Recognising this, we have developed Nutrition Now – a tailored digital resource building on four efficacious dietary interventions, aiming to improve nutrition in the important first 1,000 days of life. Nutrition Now targets and guides expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds, serves as a reliable source of evidence-based information for midwives and public health nurses at maternal and child healthcare (MCH) centres, and offers pedagogical tools for early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff. The aim of this study is to implement Nutrition Now at scale and evaluate the impact of different sets of multifaceted implementation strategies on implementation outcomes. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with three study arms will be used, providing either low, medium or high implementation support, when rolled out in 50 municipalities in 2 counties in Norway. Nutrition Now will be implemented in MCH and ECEC settings and made available to expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds through social media and MCH. The implementation support builds on strategies described in the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) implementation framework and is informed by dialogues with stakeholders. Impact of the different degree of implementation support will be assessed by examining reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability using usage data generated from the Nutrition Now resource, publicly available municipal data and qualitative interviews with MCH and ECEC staff. Discussion: Nutrition Now Phase 2 will break new ground by scaling up successively delivered and complementary dietary interventions in the first 1,000 days of life in a real-life context. The project also seeks to identify what level of implementation support is most effective when implementing digital, scalable, evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in community settings. The project will inform implementation research and provide knowledge about effective implementation strategies to be used in a national scale-up of Nutrition Now. Trial registration: The study is registered prospectively (submitted 14/06/2022, registration date: 19/06/2022) in the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN): reg. Number: ISRCTN10694967, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10694967.

• Aguiar Rodriguez, Anaely ; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Romanenko, Eduard; Onal, Furkan; Kopainsky, Birgit & Savona, Natalie [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). System dynamics simulation models on overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews. ISSN 1467-7881. 24(S2). doi: 10.1111/obr.13632. Full text in Research Archive
• Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen; Papadopoulou, Eleni Zoumpoulia; Lien, Nanna; Andersen, Lene Frost; Pinho, Maria Gabriela Matias & Havdal, Hanne Hennig [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Mediators of parental educational differences in the intake of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks among adolescents, and the moderating role of neighbourhood income. Nutrition Journal. ISSN 1475-2891. 22. doi: 10.1186/s12937-023-00872-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Kabeta, Teshome; Holst, Rene; Wondafrash, Beyene; Frigessi, Arnoldo & Gebremariam, Mekdes (2023). Determinants of household dietary diversity in rural Ethiopia: A household panel study. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 12. doi: 10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100550. Full text in Research Archive
• Meshkovska, Biljana; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Atukunda, Prudence; Iversen, Per Ole; Wandel, Margareta & Lien, Nanna (2023). Barriers and facilitators to implementation of nutrition-related actions in school settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): a qualitative systematic review using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Implementation Science Communications. ISSN 2662-2211. 4(1). doi: 10.1186/s43058-023-00454-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Coutinho, Sílvia; Andersen, Oddbjørn Klomsten; Lien, Nanna & Gebremariam, Mekdes (2023). Neighborhood deprivation, built environment, and overweight in adolescents in the city of Oslo. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 23. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15261-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Even though the social and built environment characteristics of neighborhoods have been studied as potential determinants of social inequalities in obesity among adults, fewer studies have focused on children. Our first aim was to investigate whether there were differences in the food and physical activity environments between different neighborhood deprivation levels in the city of Oslo. We also explored whether there was an association between the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among adolescents and (i) neighborhood deprivation levels and (ii) food and physical activity environments of the neighborhoods they live in. Methods: We conducted a food and physical activity environment mapping (using ArcGIS Pro) in all neighborhoods of Oslo, which were defined by administrative boundaries (sub-districts). The neighborhood deprivation score was calculated based on the percentage of households living in poverty, unemployment in the neighborhood, and residents with low education. A cross-sectional study including 802 seventh graders from 28 primary schools in Oslo residing in 75 out of 97 sub-districts in Oslo was also performed. MANCOVA and partial correlations were ran to compare the built environment distribution between different neighborhood deprivation levels, and multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to explore the effect of neighborhood deprivation and the food and physical activity environments on childhood overweight. Results: We found that deprived neighborhoods had greater availability of fast food restaurants and fewer indoor recreational facilities compared to low-deprived neighborhoods. Additionally, we observed that the residential neighborhoods of the adolescents with overweight had greater availability of grocery and convenience stores when compared to the residential neighborhoods of the adolescents without overweight. Adolescents living in neighborhoods with high deprivation had a two-fold higher odds (95% CI = 1.1–3.8) to have overweight compared to adolescents living in neighborhoods with low deprivation, regardless of participants’ ethnicity and parental education. However, the built environment did not determine the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and overweight in adolescents. Conclusion: The neighborhoods in Oslo with higher deprivation levels had more obesogenic characteristics than the low-deprived neighborhoods. Adolescents living in high-deprived neighborhoods were more likely to have overweight than their counterparts from low-deprived neighborhoods. Thus, preventive measures targeting adolescents from high-deprived neighborhoods should be put in place in order to reduce incidence of overweight.

• Andersen, Oddbjørn Klomsten; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Kolle, Elin & Tarp, Jakob (2022). Socioeconomic position, built environment and physical activity among children and adolescents: a systematic review of mediating and moderating effects. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 19. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01385-y. Show summary

  Background: Physical activity behaviors among children and adolescents are socioeconomically patterned. Understanding if, and how, the built environment contributes to socioeconomic inequalities in physical activity and for whom built environments are most important, can lead to the identification of intervention entry points to reduce inequalities in physical activity. Objective: To summarize the existing evidence among children and adolescents on (a) whether the built environment mediates the association between socioeconomic position and physical activity and (b) whether socioeconomic position moderates the association between the built environment and physical activity. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Two independent reviewers screened articles for eligibility, extracted information from included studies and assessed risk of bias with the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional studies. We performed a narrative evidence synthesis considering the totality of the evidence and by study characteristics such as geographic region, age group, and exposure-outcome assessment methodology. The reporting was conducted in agreement with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Results: A total of 28 papers were included. In general, the studies were of low methodological quality. There was no evidence to support that the built environment functions as a mediator in the relationship between socioeconomic position and physical activity. We observed inconclusive moderation patterns with five studies reporting stronger associations between features of the built environment and physical activity among high socioeconomic positioned youths. Seven studies reported stronger associations among low socioeconomic positioned youth and fourteen studies reported no difference in associations. We observed different moderation patterns across geographical regions (Europe vs. US) indicating that, in Europe, having a walkable neighborhood is important for low socioeconomic positioned youth only. No differences in moderation patterns were observed for younger vs. older children or activity domains. Conclusion: Current evidence does not support a strong interplay between built environment and socioeconomic position on physical activity in youth. However, given the low quality of the evidence, firm conclusions cannot be made, and additional high-quality research is likely to have substantial impact on the evidence base.

• Ousman, Seman Kedir; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Sundby, Johanne Sommerschild & Magnus, Jeanette H. (2022). Maternal exposure to intimate partner violence and uptake of maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia: Evidence from a national survey. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 17(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273146. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Women exposed to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) often do not utilize maternal health care optimally both because of stigma and other social problems. The current study aims to explore an association between maternal healthcare seeking and violence exposure among Ethiopian women and to assess if educational attainment and wealth status moderate this association. Methods The analyses included 2836 (weighted) currently married women with one live birth. We focus on the five years preceding the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) who participate, in the domestic violence sub-study. Exposure was determined by maternal reports of physical, emotional, sexual IPV or any form of IPV. The utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and place of delivery were used as proxy outcome variables for uptake of skilled maternal healthcare utilization. Women’s education attainment and wealth status were selected as potential moderators, as they can enable women with psychological and financial resources to counteract impact of IPV. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between spousal IPV and maternal health outcomes. Moderation effects by education and wealth status were tested, and the data stratified. Using statistical software Stata MP 16.1, the restricted maximum likelihood method, we obtained the model estimates. Results About 27.5% of the women who reported exposure to any form of IPV had a health facility delivery. While 23.4% and 22.4% visited four or more antenatal care services among mothers exposed to emotional IPV and sexual IPV, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, only the association between maternal exposure to emotional IPV and adequate use of ANC was statistically significant (OR = 0.73, (95% CI:0.56–0.95)). But we found no significant association between IPV and utilization of health facility delivery. Some moderation effects of education and wealth in the association between IPV and maternal healthcare service utilization outcome were found. Conclusion Exposure to emotional IPV was associated with poor uptake of maternal health care service utilization for married Ethiopian women. While developing interventions to improve women’s maternal healthcare service use, it is crucial to consider the effects of socio-economic variables that moderate the association especially with the intersection of IPV.

• Havdal, Hanne Hennig; Fosse, Elisabeth Minda; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Stronks, Karien; Andersen, Oddbjørn Klomsten & Lien, Nanna (2022). Does the socioeconomic positioned neighbourhood matter? Norwegian adolescents’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators for physical activity. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/14034948211066673. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background and aims: A higher proportion of adolescents from lower socioeconomic position families tend to be less physically active than their counterparts from higher socioeconomic position families. More research is needed to understand the causes of these differences, particularly the influence of the neighbourhood environment. This qualitative study aims to explore how adolescents and their parents from higher and lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods perceive the social, organisational and physical environment influencing adolescents’ physical activity behaviours. Method: We conducted six semi-structured focus groups with 35 13–14-year-olds and eight interviews with some of their parents. The interviewees were recruited from one higher and two lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods in Oslo, Norway. Theme-based coding was used for analysis, and the results discussed in light of an ecological framework. Results: The results indicate that factors like social norms in a neighbourhood could shape adolescents’ physical activity behaviour, and a social norm of an active lifestyle seemed to be an essential facilitator in the higher socioeconomic neighbourhood. Higher availability of physical activity and high parental engagement seemed to facilitate higher physical activity in this neighbourhood. In the lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods, the availability of local organised physical activity and volunteer engagement from parents varied. Programmes from the municipality and volunteer organisations seemed to influence and be essential for adolescents’ physical activity behaviour in these neighbourhoods. Conclusions: The results illustrate the complexity of behaviour and environment interaction, and a limitation in explaining the phenomenon by focusing primarily on the individual level rather than an ecological perspective.

• Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Andersen, Lene Frost; Lien, Nanna; Arah, Onyebuchi A. & Gebremariam, Mekdes [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Mediators of differences by parental education in weight-related outcomes in childhood and adolescence in Norway. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 12(1), p. 1–13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-09987-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Studies exploring mediators of socioeconomic inequalities in excess weight gain in early-life and subsequent overweight/obesity (OW/OB) among youth are limited. Thus, this study examined the mediating role of prenatal and early postnatal factors and child energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB) in the effects of parental education on (i) excess weight gain from birth to 2 years and (ii) OW/OB at 5, 8 and 14 years. The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study was used to include participants at the ages of 2 (n = 59,597), 5 (n = 27,134), 8 (n = 28,285) and 14 (n = 11,278) years. Causal mediation analyses using the inverse odds weighting approach were conducted. Children of low-educated parents had a higher conditional excess weight gain at 2 years compared to children of high-educated parents (total effect, RRTE = 1.06; 95% CI 1.01, 1.10). The joint mediation effects of the prenatal and early postnatal factors explained most of the total effect of low education on conditional excess weight gain at 2 years. Children of low-educated parents had a higher risk of OW/OB at 5, 8 and 14 years compared to children of high-educated parents. The mediators jointly explained 63.7%, 67% and 88.9% of the total effect of parental education on OW/OB among 5, 8 and 14 year-old-children, respectively. Of the total mediated effects at 5, 8 and 14 years, the prenatal and early postnatal mediators explained 59.2%, 61.7% and 73.7%, whereas the child EBRB explained 10.3%, 15.8.0%% and 34.8%. The mediators included were found to have a considerable mediating effect in the associations explored, in particular the prenatal and early postnatal factors. If truly causal, the findings could indicate potential targets for interventions to tackle socioeconomic inequalities in OW/OB from birth to adolescence.

• Sibhatu, Biadgilign; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede & Tennyson, Mgutshini (2021). The association of household and child food insecurity with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents in an urban setting of Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 21(1336). doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11392-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Nianogo, Roch A.; Lien, Nanna; Bjelland, Mona; Klepp, Knut Inge & Bergh, Ingunn Holden [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). The impact of hypothetical interventions on adiposity in adolescence. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90415-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In order to develop effective public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy weight development, identifying the interventions/combination of interventions with the highest beneficial effect on body weight is vital. The study aimed to estimate the mean BMI at age 13 under hypothetical interventions targeting dietary behavior, physical activity and screen time at age 11. We used data from a school-based cohort study of 530 participants followed between the ages of 11 and 13. We used g-computation, a causal modeling method, to estimate the impact of single and combined hypothetical behavioral interventions at age 11 on BMI at age 13. Of the hypothetical interventions, the one with the largest population mean difference in BMI was the one combining all interventions (dietary behavior, physical activity and screen time interventions) and assuming 100% intervention adherence, with a population mean differences of − 0.28 (95% CI − 0.59, 0.07). Isolated behavioral interventions had a limited impact on BMI. This study demonstrated that a combination of healthy dietary behavior and physical activity promotion, as well as screen time reduction interventions at age 11 could have the highest beneficial effect on the reduction of BMI at age 13, although the change in BMI was small. The findings highlight the importance of a systems approach to obesity prevention focusing on multicomponent interventions.

• Andersen, Oddbjørn Klomsten; O'Halloran, Siobhan Anne; Kolle, Elin; Lien, Nanna; Lakerveld, Jeroen & Arah, Onyebuchi A. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Adapting the SPOTLIGHT Virtual Audit Tool to assess food and activity environments relevant for adolescents: a validity and reliability study. International Journal of Health Geographics. ISSN 1476-072X. 20:4, p. 1–14. doi: 10.1186/s12942-021-00258-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen; Papadopoulou, Eleni Zoumpoulia; Arah, Onyebuchi A.; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Lien, Nanna & Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede (2021). Socioeconomic inequalities in children's weight, height and BMI trajectories in Norway. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 11, p. 1–9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84615-w. Full text in Research Archive
• Havdal, Hanne Hennig; Fosse, Elisabeth; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Lakerveld, Jeroen; Arah, Onyebuchi A. & Stronks, Karien [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Perceptions of the social and physical environment of adolescents’ dietary behaviour in neighbourhoods of different socioeconomic position. Appetite. ISSN 0195-6663. 159, p. 1–10. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.105070.
• Chortatos, Arthur; Henjum, Sigrun; Torheim, Liv Elin; Terragni, Laura & Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede (2020). Comparing three screen-based sedentary behaviours' effect upon adolescents' participation in physical activity: The ESSENS study. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 15(11). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241887. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Henjum, Sigrun; Terragni, Laura & Torheim, Liv Elin (2020). Correlates of screen time and mediators of differences by parental education among adolescents. . BMC Pediatrics. ISSN 1471-2431. 20(279). doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02181-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Osman, Seman Kedir; Magnus, Jeanette H.; Sundby, Johanne & Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede (2020). Uptake of Skilled Maternal Healthcare in Ethiopia: A Positive Deviance Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 17(5). doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051712. Full text in Research Archive
• Yitayew, Teferi Mekonnen; Havdal, Hanne Hennig; Lien, Nanna; O'Halloran, Siobhan Anne; Arah, Onyebuchi A. & Papadopoulou, Eleni Zoumpoulia [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Mediators of socioeconomic inequalities in dietary behaviours among youth: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews. ISSN 1467-7881. 21(7), p. 1–17. doi: 10.1111/obr.13016. Full text in Research Archive
• O'Halloran, Siobhan Anne; Eksteen, Gabriel; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede & Alston, Laura (2020). Measurement methods used to assess the school food environment: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 17:1623(5), p. 1–23. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051623. Full text in Research Archive
• Himberg-Sundet, Anne; Kristiansen, Anne Lene; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Moser, Thomas; Andersen, Lene Frost & Bjelland, Mona [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Exploring workplace climate and culture in relation to food environment-related factors in Norwegian kindergartens. The BRA-Study. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 14(12). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225831. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Arah, Onyebuchi A.; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Andersen, Lene Frost; Bjelland, Mona & Grydeland, May [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Factors affecting the dose of intervention received and the participant satisfaction in a school-based obesity prevention intervention. Preventive Medicine Reports. ISSN 2211-3355. 15. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100906. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study assessed factors associated with the perceived dose of intervention received and with the participantsatisfaction in a school-based obesity prevention intervention. It also explored the variance in the dose of in-tervention received that was at the school level. Process evaluation data from a school-based intervention studyconducted in Oslo in 2007–2009 were used. A total of 542 11-year-olds from 12 intervention schools wereincluded. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive analyses and multilevel regressionanalyses were conducted. Females and those with medium (vs. low) parental education had higher odds ofreporting a high vs. low dose of intervention received at mid-way (8 months after baseline). Perceived socialcapital and perceived social support for physical activity from friends at baseline were positively associated withthe dose of intervention received at mid-way. Perceived social capital at mid-way was positively associated withthe dose of intervention reported post-intervention (20 months after baseline). Around 20% of the variance inthe perceived dose of intervention received was at the school level. Satisfaction with the intervention was highoverall and higher for females for several intervention components at mid-way and at post-intervention. Thefactors identified in this study should be taken into consideration when planning future obesity preventioninterventions among youth.

• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Arah, Onyebuchi A.; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Andersen, Lene Frost; Ommundsen, Yngvar & Totland, Torunn Holm [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2019). Gender-specific mediators of the association between parental education and adiposity among adolescents: the HEIA study. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43604-w. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Identifying the mechanisms behind socioeconomic inequalities in adiposity among youth is vital for efforts aimed at combating these inequalities. The study explored whether a broad range of behavioral and familial factors mediated the associations between parental education and indicators of adiposity among adolescents. Baseline data from a school-based intervention study conducted in 2007 among 11-year-old adolescents were used. Anthropometric outcomes, physical activity and sedentary time among adolescents were objectively measured. Other behavioral variables and parental waist circumference were self-reported. Mediation analyses were conducted. Among boys, maternal waist circumference (WC), paternal WC and TV viewing mediated 16%, 11.5% and 13% of the association between parental education and adolescent WC. The respective proportions when body fat percentage was used as the outcome variable were 22.5%, 16% and 21%. Among girls, maternal and paternal WC mediated 20% and 14% of the association between parental education and WC. The respective proportions when body fat percentage was used as the outcome variable were 14% and 10%. Other included variables did not play any mediating role. Parental WC was found to be a mediator of socioeconomic differences in adiposity in both genders; underlying mechanisms were however not investigated. Among boys, reducing TV time could contribute to the reduction of social inequalities in adiposity.

• Chortatos, Arthur; Terragni, Laura; Henjum, Sigrun; Gjertsen, Marianne K.; Torheim, Liv Elin & Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede (2018). Consumption habits of school canteen and non-canteen users among Norwegian young adolescents: a mixed method analysis. BMC Pediatrics. ISSN 1471-2431. 18(1). doi: 10.1186/s12887-018-1299-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Arah, Onyebuchi A.; Lien, Nanna; Næss, Øyvind; Ariansen, Inger Kristine Holtermann & Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg (2018). Change in BMI Distribution over a 24-Year Period and Associated Socioeconomic Gradients: A Quantile Regression Analysis. Obesity. ISSN 1930-7381. 26(4), p. 769–775. doi: 10.1002/oby.22133. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ObjectiveThis study assessed the change in body mass index (BMI) distribution among 18- or 19-year-olds over 24 years. It also investigated parallel changes in the distribution of birth weight and in the association between birth weight and later risk of overweight and/or obesity. Parental educational variations in the trends and associations were explored. MethodsThe study used data on 606,832 male military conscripts enlisted between 1985 and 2008. Quantile regression was used to assess the temporal change in BMI and birth weight distribution. The association between birth weight and overweight and/or obesity at age 18 or 19 years was quantified by using logistic regression. ResultsIncreases in BMI over time were found namely in the 90th, 95th, 97th, and 99th percentiles. Socioeconomic differences in this increase were documented in the 75th to 97th percentiles. The distribution of birth weight and the association between birth weight and the risk of overweight and/or obesity at age 18 or 19 years remained stable over time. ConclusionsThe difference in the increase in BMI between low and high percentiles indicates the limited role of mean BMI in reflecting population changes. The results suggest a need to focus on those with low socioeconomic position in the upper ends of the BMI distribution to combat increasing disparities in obesity-related outcomes.

• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Nianogo, Roch A. & Arah, Onyebuchi A. (2018). Weight gain during incarceration: systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews. ISSN 1467-7881. 19(1), p. 98–110. doi: 10.1111/obr.12622.
• Morseth, Marianne S.; Torheim, Liv Elin; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Chandyo, Ram Krishna; Ulak, Manjeswori & Shrestha, Sanjaya Kumar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Tracking of infant and young child feeding practices among 9- to 24-month-old children in Nepal: The MAL-ED Birth Cohort Study. Public Health Nutrition (PHN). ISSN 1368-9800. 21(2), p. 355–364. doi: 10.1017/S1368980017002294. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Lien, Nanna; Nianogo, Roch A. & Arah, Onyebuchi A. (2017). Mediators of socioeconomic differences in adiposity among youth: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews. ISSN 1467-7881. 18(8), p. 880–898. doi: 10.1111/obr.12547.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Vaqué-Crusellas, Cristina; Andersen, Lene Frost; Stok, F. Marijn; Stelmach-Mardas, Marta & Brug, Johannes [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Measurement of availability and accessibility of food among youth: A systematic review of methodological studies. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 14:22, p. 1–19. doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0477-z.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Henjum, Sigrun; Hurum, Elisabeth; Utne, Jorun; Terragni, Laura & Torheim, Liv Elin (2017). Mediators of the association between parental education and breakfast consumption among adolescents : the ESSENS study. BMC Pediatrics. ISSN 1471-2431. 17(61), p. 1–8. doi: 10.1186/s12887-017-0811-2.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Chinapaw, Mai J.; Bringolf-Isler, Bettina; Bere, Elling; Kovács, Éva & Verloigne, Maïté [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2017). Screen-based sedentary time: Association with soft drink consumption and the moderating effect of parental education in European children: The ENERGY study. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 12(2). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171537. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Henjum, Sigrun; Terragni, Laura & Torheim, Liv Elin (2016). Correlates of fruit, vegetable, soft drink, and snack intake among adolescents: The ESSENS study. Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). ISSN 1654-6628. 60. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v60.32512.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Lien, Nanna; Torheim, Liv Elin; Andersen, Lene Frost; Melbye, Elisabeth Lind & Glavin, Kari [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2016). Perceived rules and accessibility: measurement and mediating role in the association between parental education and vegetable and soft drink intake. Nutrition Journal. ISSN 1475-2891. 15:76. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0196-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Altenburg, Teatske; Lakerveld, Jeroen; Andersen, Lene Frost; Stronks, Karien & Chinapaw, Mai J. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). Associations between socioeconomic position and correlates of sedentary behaviour among youth: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews. ISSN 1467-7881. 16(11), p. 988–1000. doi: 10.1111/obr.12314.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Andersen, Lene Frost; Bjelland, Mona; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Totland, Torunn Holm & Ommundsen, Yngvar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2015). Are weight-related attitudes and behaviours associated with the accuracy of BMI derived from self-reported weight and height among 13-year-olds? Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. 43(2), p. 130–137. doi: 10.1177/1403494814563370.
• Totland, Torunn Holm; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Lien, Nanna; Bjelland, Mona; Grydeland, May & Bergh, Ingunn Holden [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Does tracking of dietary behaviours differ by parental education in children during the transition into adolescence? Public Health Nutrition (PHN). ISSN 1368-9800. 16(4), p. 673–682. doi: 10.1017/S1368980012003060.
• Totland, Torunn Holm; Bjelland, Mona; Lien, Nanna; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Gebremariam, Mekdes & Grydeland, May [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Adolescents' prospective screen time by gender and parental education, the mediation of parental influences. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 10. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-89. Show summary

  Background: The present study investigated associations in gender dyads of parents’ and adolescents’ time spent on television and video viewing (TV/DVD), and computer and electronic game use (PC/games) at the ages of 11 and 13 years. Possible mediating effects of parental modelling and parental regulation in the relationship between parental education and adolescents’ prospective TV/DVD and PC/game time were further examined. Methods: A total of 908 adolescents, participating at both ages 11 and 13 years in the Norwegian HEalth In Adolescents (HEIA) cohort study (2007–2009), were included in the analyses. Data on adolescents’, mothers’ and fathers’ self reported time spent on TV/DVD and PC/games were measured at both time points by questionnaires. Correlation coefficients were used to examine gender dyads of parents’ and adolescents’ reports. Mediation analyses using linear regression investigated possible mediation effects of parental modelling and parental regulation in the prospective relationship between parental education and adolescents’ time spent on TV/DVD and PC/games between the ages of 11 and 13 years. Results: Correlations of screen time behaviours in gender dyads of parents and adolescents showed significant associations in time spent on TV/DVD at the age of 11 and 13 years. Associations between mothers and sons and between fathers and daughters were also observed in time spent on PC/games at the age of 11 years. Maternal and paternal modelling was further found to mediate the relationship between parental education and adolescents’ prospective TV/DVD time between the ages of 11 and 13 years. No mediation effect was observed for parental regulation, however a decrease in both maternal and paternal regulation at the age of 11 years significantly predicted more TV/DVD time among adolescents at the age of 13 years. Conclusion: Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships were observed in gender dyads of parents’ and adolescents’ screen time behaviours at the ages of 11 and 13 years, and further studies including both parents and their children should be emphasized. Moreover, maternal and paternal modelling were found to be important target variables in interventions aiming to reduce social differences by parental education in adolescents’ prospective time spent on TV/DVD.

• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Andersen, Lene Frost; Ommundsen, Yngvar; Totland, Torunn Holm & Bjelland, Mona [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Are screen-based sedentary behaviors longitudinally associated with dietary behaviors and leisure-time physical activity in the transition into adolescence? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 10. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-9.
• Totland, Torunn Holm; Lien, Nanna; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Bjelland, Mona; Gebremariam, Mekdes & Klepp, Knut Inge [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). The relationship between parental education and adolescents’ soft drink intake from the age of 11–13 years, and possible mediating effects of availability and accessibility. British Journal of Nutrition. ISSN 0007-1145. 110(5), p. 926–933. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512005946.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Andersen, Lene Frost; Bjelland, Mona; Klepp, Knut Inge; Totland, Torunn Holm & Bergh, Ingunn Holden [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). Does the school food environment influence the dietary behaviours of Norwegian 11-year-olds? The HEIA study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. 40(5), p. 491–497. doi: 10.1177/1403494812454948.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Andersen, Lene Frost; Ommundsen, Yngvar; Bjelland, Mona & Lien, Nanna (2012). Stability and change in potential correlates of physical activity and association with pubertal status among Norwegian children in the transition between childhood and adolescence. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 9. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-56. Show summary

  Background: Whereas tracking and change in physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents have been well documented, studies investigating these patterns in its correlates are lacking. The present study aims to address this gap and in addition explore the impact of pubertal status on PA and its potential psychological and social-environmental correlates in a sample of Norwegian children over a 20-month period. Methods: A total of 885 students from 25 control schools of an intervention study, the HEalth In Adolescents (HEIA) study were included (mean age at baseline 11.2 (0.3)). The baseline took place in September 2007, the first follow-up in May 2008 and the second follow-up in May 2009. PA and its potential correlates (enjoyment of PA, self-efficacy related to barriers to PA, perceived support for PA from parents, friends and teachers, perceived social inclusion and perceived environmental opportunities for PA) were self-reported. Pubertal status was assessed using the Pubertal Development Scale. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to explore changes. Tracking was assessed using Spearman’s rank order correlation. Pubertal groups were compared using ANOVA or ANCOVA (controlling for BMI). Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate whether pubertal stage at age 11 would predict levels of correlates and PA at age 13. Results: Potential correlates of PA and the behaviour itself were found to track moderately in the transition between childhood and adolescence. Small but significant changes in enjoyment of PA and teachers’ support for PA in both genders and in friends’ support for PA and perceived environmental opportunities for PA in females in a direction unfavourable to PA were detected. A few weak positive associations between pubertal stage and correlates of PA at age 11 were noted among boys. Conclusions: Enjoyment of PA, self-efficacy related to barriers to PA, perceived social support for PA, perceived social inclusion, perceived environmental opportunities for PA and the behaviour itself were found to be moderately stable in the transition between childhood and adolescence. Health promotion efforts in childhood targeting PA and its psychosocial and social-environmental correlates might have favourable effects in later years.

• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Totland, Torunn Holm; Andersen, Lene Frost; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Bjelland, Mona & Grydeland, May [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2012). Stability and change in screen-based sedentary behaviours and associated factors among Norwegian children in the transition between childhood and adolescence. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 12. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-104. Show summary

  Background In order to inform interventions to prevent sedentariness, more longitudinal studies are needed focusing on stability and change over time in multiple sedentary behaviours. This paper investigates patterns of stability and change in TV/DVD use, computer/electronic game use and total screen time (TST) and factors associated with these patterns among Norwegian children in the transition between childhood and adolescence. Methods The baseline of this longitudinal study took place in September 2007 and included 975 students from 25 control schools of an intervention study, the HEalth In Adolescents (HEIA) study. The first follow-up took place in May 2008 and the second follow-up in May 2009, with 885 students participating at all time points (average age at baseline = 11.2, standard deviation ± 0.3). Time used for/spent on TV/DVD and computer/electronic games was self-reported, and a TST variable (hours/week) was computed. Tracking analyses based on absolute and rank measures, as well as regression analyses to assess factors associated with change in TST and with tracking high TST were conducted. Results Time spent on all sedentary behaviours investigated increased in both genders. Findings based on absolute and rank measures revealed a fair to moderate level of tracking over the 2 year period. High parental education was inversely related to an increase in TST among females. In males, self-efficacy related to barriers to physical activity and living with married or cohabitating parents were inversely related to an increase in TST. Factors associated with tracking high vs. low TST in the multinomial regression analyses were low self-efficacy and being of an ethnic minority background among females, and low self-efficacy, being overweight/obese and not living with married or cohabitating parents among males. Conclusions Use of TV/DVD and computer/electronic games increased with age and tracked over time in this group of 11-13 year old Norwegian children. Interventions targeting these sedentary behaviours should thus be introduced early. The identified modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with change in TST and tracking of high TST should be taken into consideration when planning such interventions.

• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Bjune, Gunnar Aksel & Frich, Jan C (2011). Lay beliefs of TB and TB/HIV co-infection in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a qualitative study. BMC Research Notes. ISSN 1756-0500. 4. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-4-277.
• Gebremariam, Mekdes; Bjune, Gunnar Aksel & Frich, Jan C (2010). Barriers and facilitators of adherence to TB treatment in patients on concomitant TB and HIV treatment: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 10. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-651.

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• Gele, Abdi; Mahmud, Amina Jama; Kumar, Bernadette Nirmal; Wangamati, Cynthia Khamala; Duale, Hodan A & Malik, Mamunur Rahman [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Editorial: Encouraging health research productivity in complex humanitarian crises: Somalia. Frontiers in Public Health. ISSN 2296-2565. 12. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1377036.
• Ling, Jiying & Gebremariam, Mekdes (2023). Embracing parenting role in childhood obesity. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 23. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16039-2.
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Helle, Christine; Wills, Andrew Keith & Lamu, Admassu Nadew [Show all 23 contributors for this article] (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in a community setting a hybrid type 1 non-randomized trial – the Nutrition Now project protocol. Frontiers in Endocrinology. ISSN 1664-2392. 13. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1071489. Full text in Research Archive
• Khudair, Mohammed; Marcuzzi, Anna; Ng, Kwok; Tempest, Gavin Daniel; Bartoš, František & Peric, Ratko [Show all 64 contributors for this article] (2022). DE-PASS Best Evidence Statement (BESt): modifiable determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents aged 5-19 years-a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 12(9). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059202. Full text in Research Archive
• Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Henjum, Sigrun; Terragni, Laura & Torheim, Liv Elin (2016). The influence of the school and neighborhood food environment on the dietary behaviors of youth in Norway.
• Totland, Torunn Holm; Lien, Nanna; Bergh, Ingunn Holden; Bjelland, Mona; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede & Klepp, Knut Inge [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). Prediction of parental education on adolescents’ soft drink intake, and mediation effects of availability and accessibility at home.
• Aguiar Rodriguez, Anaely; Gebremariam, Mekdes Kebede; Kopainsky, Birgit & Lien, Nanna (2019). Review of existing system dynamics models on overweight/obesity in children and ado-lescents. D7.1 H2020 project CoCREATE. H2020 project CoCreate.

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