title: Adiposity and response to an obesity prevention intervention in Pakistani and Bangladeshi primary school boys and girls: a secondary analysis using the BEACHeS feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As a secondary analysis of the BEACHeS study, we hypothesised there would be sex differences in Pakistani and Bangladeshi school children when examining adiposity and their response to an obesity intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Birmingham healthy Eating and Active lifestyle for CHildren Study (BEACHeS) was designed as a Phase II feasibility study of a complex intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 primary schools with predominantly South Asian children in Birmingham, UK PARTICIPANTS: 1090 pupils (aged 5-7 years old) from school year 1 and 2 were allocated at school level to receive an intervention. A total of 574 were enrolled in the study with consent. We focused on the 466 children of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin (50.6% boys).
  
  
  METHODS
  Delivered between 2007 and 2009, the 1-year obesity prevention intervention targeted school and family-based dietary and physical activities.
  Adiposity measures including skinfold thickness were compared by sex at baseline and follow-up. Gains in adiposity measures were compared between control and intervention arms in boys and in girls. Measures were compared using two-sample t tests and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum tests according to normality distribution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, girls had larger skinfold measures at all sites compared to boys although body mass index (BMI) was similar (eg, median subscapular skinfold 6.6 mm vs 5.7 mm; p<0.001). At follow-up, girls in the intervention group gained less weight and adiposity compared to respective controls (p<0.05 for weight, BMI, waist circumference, central and thigh skinfold) with a median total skinfold gain of 7.0 mm in the control group compared to 0.3 mm in the intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our secondary analysis suggests differences in adiposity in Pakistani and Bangladeshi girls and boys and in the effect of the intervention reducing adiposity in girls. These preliminary findings indicate that including sex differences should be examined in future trials.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN51016370; Post-results.
authors: Edinburgh Migration, Ethnicity and Health Research Group (EMEHRG), Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Geneviève
authors: G
authors: Cezard
authors: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge, UK.
authors: Narinder
authors: N
authors: Bansal
authors: Edinburgh Migration, Ethnicity and Health Research Group (EMEHRG), Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Raj
authors: R
authors: Bhopal
authors: Unit of Public Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors: Miranda
authors: M
authors: Pallan
authors: Primary Care Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors: Paramjit
authors: P
authors: Gill
authors: School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Barrett
authors: Unit of Public Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors: Peymane
authors: P
authors: Adab
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D001459:Bangladesh; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: South Asian children; adiposity; intervention; sex; skinfold thickness measurements