Wolfgang Ahrens
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 6035280 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Wolfgang Ahrens |
| PRENOMES | Wolfgang |
| SOBRENOME | Ahrens |
| ASSINATURA | AHRENS W |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3777-570X |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 36 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 9 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 36 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2003 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2025 |
| ÍNDICE H | 2 |
Implementing a family-based intervention to promote healthy family routines in deprived neighborhoods – a feasibility study from Bremen, Germany
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Europe is high. Particularly ethnic minority and low-income families are at increased risk. This highlights the need for effective family-based interventions addressing multiple obesity-related behaviors tailored to socially deprived families. Addressing this issue, our study aimed to adapt the North American ‘Healthy Habits, Happy Homes’ program to socially deprived neighborhoods in Brem…
Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022
BACKGROUND: Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. METHODS: ). For school-aged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI 2 SD above the median). FINDINGS: From 1990 to 20…
Constitutional Factors and Irradiation as Risk Factors for Thymoma
Little is known about the aetiology of thymoma. This study aims to identify medical risk factors for thymoma as a systematic approach to new hypotheses on the aetiology of this disease. A European multi-centre case-control study was conducted from 1995 to 1997, including incident cases aged 35-69 years with thymoma. Altogether, we accepted 85 cases and 3350 controls, of which we interviewed 77 cases and 2071 population controls about constitution…
Birth Order, Caesarean Section, or Daycare Attendance in Relation to Child- and Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes
(1) Background: Global incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is rising and nearly half occurred in adults. However, it is unclear if certain early-life childhood T1D risk factors were also associated with adult-onset T1D. This study aimed to assess associations between birth order, delivery mode or daycare attendance and type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk in a population-based cohort and whether these were similar for childhood- and adult-onset T1D (cut-off…
Correlates of bitter, sweet, salty and umami taste sensitivity in European children
Associations Between Psychosocial Well-Being, Stressful Life Events and Emotion-Driven Impulsiveness in European Adolescents
Knowing the extent to which mental well-being and stressful life events during adolescence contribute to personality characteristics related to risk-taking behaviors, such as emotion-driven impulsiveness, is highly relevant for the development of health promotion measures. This study examined whether psychosocial well-being and different stressful life events are associated with emotion-driven impulsiveness. In total, 3,031 adolescents (52% girls…
Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019
BACKGROUND: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. METHODS: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blo…
Occupational socioeconomic risk associations for head and neck cancer in Europe and South America
BACKGROUND: The association between socioeconomic disadvantage (low education and/or income) and head and neck cancer is well established, with smoking and alcohol consumption explaining up to three-quarters of the risk. We aimed to investigate the nature of and explanations for head and neck cancer risk associated with occupational socioeconomic prestige (a perceptual measure of psychosocial status), occupational socioeconomic position and manua…
Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories
BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. METHODS: For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease …
Variations in accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time across Europe – harmonized analyses of 47,497 children and adolescents
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Psychosocial Well-Being and Cardiometabolic Markers in European Children and Adolescents
OBJECTIVE: Research examining aspects of positive mental health as potential predictors of cardiometabolic health in young populations is scarce. We investigated the associations between psychosocial well-being and waist circumference (WAIST), blood pressure (BP), the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol considering life-style factors as mediators. METHODS: Data of European c…
School- and Leisure Time Factors Are Associated With Sitting Time of German and Irish Children and Adolescents During School
Objective: The study aims to investigate to what extent school- and leisure time-related factors are associated with sedentary behavior during school in German and Irish children and adolescents. Methods: The study based on a sample of 198 children and adolescents surveyed in 2015. Sedentary and activity behavior were measured using the activPAL physical activity monitor. Information on socio-economic status, school- and leisure-time related fact…
Advancing the evidence base for public policies impacting on dietary behaviour, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Europe
28 research institutes have joined in the Policy Evaluation Network (PEN). • PEN studies EU policies on diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. • PEN advances knowledge on impact and effective implementation of these policies. • We here describe the rationale and specific goals of PEN, and highlight innovations. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of global mortality. As the social and economic costs of NCDs have esca…
Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults
Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3–6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean B…
Association between variants of neuromedin U gene and taste thresholds and food preferences in European children
Data on Determinants Are Needed to Curb the Sedentary Epidemic in Europe. Lessons Learnt from the Dedipac European Knowledge Hub
Societal and technological changes have resulted in sitting being the dominant posture during most activities of daily living, such as learning, working, travelling and leisure time. Too much time spent in seated activities, referred to as sedentary behaviour, is a novel concern for public health as it is one of the key lifestyle causes of poor health. The European DEDIPAC (Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity) Knowledge Hub coordinated the…
Children’s propensity to consume sugar and fat predicts regular alcohol consumption in adolescence
Objective The present study investigated the association between sugar and fat intake in childhood in relation to alcohol use in adolescence. We hypothesized that early exposure to diets high in fat and sugar may affect ingestive behaviours later in life, including alcohol use. Design/Setting/Subjects Children from the European IDEFICS/I.Family cohort study were examined at ages 5–9 years and followed up at ages 11–16 years. FFQ were completed by…
Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015
BACKGROUND: Raised blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated worldwide trends in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure, and the prevalence of, and number of people with, raised blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. METHODS: For this analysis, we pooled national, subnational, or comm…
Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016
BACKGROUND: Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends with those of adults. METHODS: We pooled 2416 population-based studies with measurements of height…
Timing of solid food introduction and association with later childhood overweight and obesity
This study investigated associations between timing of solid food introduction and childhood obesity and explored maternal characteristics influencing early feeding practices. Cross-sectional data from children 2-9 years (n = 10,808; 50.5% boys) residing in 8 European countries of the IDEFICS study (2007-2008) were included. Late solid food introduction (≥7 months of age) was associated with an increased prevalence of later childhood overweight/o…
Domain-Specific Self-Reported and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Children
Little is known about the extent that different domains contribute to total sedentary (SED), light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). We aimed to identify domain-specific physical activity (PA) patterns in school-aged children who were assessed by questionnaire and accelerometry. For the study, 298 German school children and adolescents aged 6-17 years wore an accelerometer for one week and completed a PA recall-questionnair…
Urinary Mineral Concentrations in European Pre-Adolescent Children and Their Association with Calcaneal Bone Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements
This study investigates differences and associations between urinary mineral concentrations and calcaneal bone measures assessed by quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) in 4322 children (3.1-11.9 years, 50.6% boys) from seven European countries. Urinary mineral concentrations and calcaneal QUS parameters differed significantly across countries. Clustering revealed a lower stiffness index (SI) in children with low and medium urinary mineral concentr…
Pester power and its consequences
Objective Children may influence household spending through ‘pester power’. The present study examined pestering through parent–child food shopping behaviours in relation to children’s diet and weight status. Design Cross-sectional and prospective analyses drawn from the IDEFICS study, a cohort study of parents and their children. Children’s height and weight were measured and their recent diets were reported by parental proxy based on the Childr…
The influence of aerobic fitness on obesity and its parent-offspring correlations in a cross-sectional study among German families
AF clustered in families after controlling for PA, BMI and parental smoking. Heritability was stronger for mother-child pairs as compared to father-child pairs after controlling for PA and BMI. Above average AF was negatively associated with overweight/obesity
In search for a definition of the metabolic syndrome in pre-adolescent children. A population-based approach
Objective Measures of the Built Environment and Physical Activity in Children
Advancing the evidence base for public policies impacting on dietary behaviour, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Europe
28 research institutes have joined in the Policy Evaluation Network (PEN). • PEN studies EU policies on diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. • PEN advances knowledge on impact and effective implementation of these policies. • We here describe the rationale and specific goals of PEN, and highlight innovations. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of global mortality. As the social and economic costs of NCDs have esca…
Social context for workplace health promotion
We constructed a simple, flexible procedure that facilitates the pre-assessment of feasibility of workplace health promotion (WHP) programmes. It evaluates cancer hazards, workers' need for hazard reduction, acceptability of WHP, and social context. It was tested and applied in 16 workplace communities and among 1085 employees in industry, construction, transport, services, teaching and municipal works in Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Spain and S…
SP6-13 Sleep duration and overweight in European children
Introduction An association between sleep duration and overweight has been reported from several countries. Comparability of those results is limited by reasons of methodological differences. In a multi-center study we analysed this association in children from northern and southern Europe. Objectives To investigate differences and a possible effect modification by geographical region in the association between sleep duration and overweight. Meth…
SP1-7 Pesticide exposure in farming and forestry and the risk of uveal melanoma
Introduction Since pesticides are disputed risk factors for uveal melanoma, we studied the association between occupational pesticide exposure and uveal melanoma risk in a case-control study from nine European countries. Methods Incident cases of uveal melanoma and population as well as hospital controls were included and frequency-matched by country, 5-year age groups and sex. Self-reported exposure was quantified with respect to duration of exp…
SP1-6 No effect of hormonal exposures on uveal melanoma
Introduction Several studies suggest that hormonal mechanisms may be associated with the development of uveal melanoma. Objectives To study the association between the risk of uveal melanoma and exposure to hormonal exposures in a case-control study from nine European countries. Methods Incident cases of uveal melanoma were frequency-matched to population and hospital controls by country, age and sex. Female subjects were asked about their reprod…
Public attitudes towards taxation and subsidisation as obesity intervention measures
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Determinants of children's sedentary behaviour vary according to maternal weight status
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Being Macrosomic at Birth is an Independent Predictor of Overweight in Children
Assessment of selection bias in a health survey of children and families – the Idefics Sweden-study
Families with single parenthood, foreign background, low education and income were underrepresented in the IDEFICS Sweden study. BMI at inclusion had no selection effect, but developing obesity was significantly greater among referents
Objective Measures of the Built Environment and Physical Activity in Children
The influence of aerobic fitness on obesity and its parent-offspring correlations in a cross-sectional study among German families
AF clustered in families after controlling for PA, BMI and parental smoking. Heritability was stronger for mother-child pairs as compared to father-child pairs after controlling for PA and BMI. Above average AF was negatively associated with overweight/obesity
In search for a definition of the metabolic syndrome in pre-adolescent children. A population-based approach
Differences in adherence to the obesity-related lifestyle intervention targets in the metabolically unhealthy population of the Idefics study
Blood lipids among young children in Europe. Results from the European Idefics study
Urinary Mineral Concentrations in European Pre-Adolescent Children and Their Association with Calcaneal Bone Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements
This study investigates differences and associations between urinary mineral concentrations and calcaneal bone measures assessed by quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) in 4322 children (3.1-11.9 years, 50.6% boys) from seven European countries. Urinary mineral concentrations and calcaneal QUS parameters differed significantly across countries. Clustering revealed a lower stiffness index (SI) in children with low and medium urinary mineral concentr…
Pester power and its consequences
Objective Children may influence household spending through ‘pester power’. The present study examined pestering through parent–child food shopping behaviours in relation to children’s diet and weight status. Design Cross-sectional and prospective analyses drawn from the IDEFICS study, a cohort study of parents and their children. Children’s height and weight were measured and their recent diets were reported by parental proxy based on the Childr…
Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015
BACKGROUND: Raised blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated worldwide trends in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure, and the prevalence of, and number of people with, raised blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. METHODS: For this analysis, we pooled national, subnational, or comm…
Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016
BACKGROUND: Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends with those of adults. METHODS: We pooled 2416 population-based studies with measurements of height…
Timing of solid food introduction and association with later childhood overweight and obesity
This study investigated associations between timing of solid food introduction and childhood obesity and explored maternal characteristics influencing early feeding practices. Cross-sectional data from children 2-9 years (n = 10,808; 50.5% boys) residing in 8 European countries of the IDEFICS study (2007-2008) were included. Late solid food introduction (≥7 months of age) was associated with an increased prevalence of later childhood overweight/o…
Domain-Specific Self-Reported and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Children
Little is known about the extent that different domains contribute to total sedentary (SED), light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). We aimed to identify domain-specific physical activity (PA) patterns in school-aged children who were assessed by questionnaire and accelerometry. For the study, 298 German school children and adolescents aged 6-17 years wore an accelerometer for one week and completed a PA recall-questionnair…
Data on Determinants Are Needed to Curb the Sedentary Epidemic in Europe. Lessons Learnt from the Dedipac European Knowledge Hub
Societal and technological changes have resulted in sitting being the dominant posture during most activities of daily living, such as learning, working, travelling and leisure time. Too much time spent in seated activities, referred to as sedentary behaviour, is a novel concern for public health as it is one of the key lifestyle causes of poor health. The European DEDIPAC (Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity) Knowledge Hub coordinated the…
Children’s propensity to consume sugar and fat predicts regular alcohol consumption in adolescence
Objective The present study investigated the association between sugar and fat intake in childhood in relation to alcohol use in adolescence. We hypothesized that early exposure to diets high in fat and sugar may affect ingestive behaviours later in life, including alcohol use. Design/Setting/Subjects Children from the European IDEFICS/I.Family cohort study were examined at ages 5–9 years and followed up at ages 11–16 years. FFQ were completed by…
Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults
Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3–6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean B…
Association between variants of neuromedin U gene and taste thresholds and food preferences in European children
Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories
BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. METHODS: For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease …
Variations in accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time across Europe – harmonized analyses of 47,497 children and adolescents
Medicine (35 obras) · Environmental health (21 obras) · Demography (20 obras) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (20 obras) · Population (14 obras) · Internal Medicine (13 obras) · Obesity (13 obras) · Overweight (10 obras) · Psychology (10 obras) · Body mass index (8 obras)