Anna Ek

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About me

My research has mainly focused on early interventions to prevent or treat obesity early in life. My interest in obesity in children started already
during my undergraduate studies at Uppsala University. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the complexity of obesity has subsequently been built up during close to 20 years of work experience in both clinical and research settings.

Articles

Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY. 2023;47(11):1152-1160

A long-term follow-up of treatment for young children with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

Ek A; Brissman M; Nordin K; Eli K; Nowicka P
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;22(1):1540

Parents' experiences following conversations about their young child's weight in the primary health care setting: a study within the STOP project.

Eli K; Neovius C; Nordin K; Brissman M; Ek A
Article: BMC PEDIATRICS. 2022;22(1):342

Children's experiences of meals after obesity treatment: a qualitative follow-up four years after a randomized controlled trial.

Neuman N; Jörnvi A; Ek A; Nordin K; Eli K; Nowicka P
Article: CHILDHOOD OBESITY. 2022;18(4):274-280

How Do Interpersonal Relationships Affect Children's Weight Management? A Qualitative Analysis of Parents' Long-Term Perceptions after Obesity Treatment.

Nowicka P; Ek A; Grafström E; Johansson T; Nordin K; Neuman N; Reijs Richards H; Eli K
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;22(1):1000

Explaining the complex impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with overweight and obesity: a comparative ecological analysis of parents' perceptions in three countries.

Nowicka P; Ek A; Jurca-Simina IE; Bouzas C; Argelich E; Nordin K; García S; Vasquez Barquero MY; Hoffer U; Reijs Richards H; Tur JA; Chirita-Emandi A; Eli K
Article: APPETITE. 2022;169:105822

How do young children eat after an obesity intervention? Validation of the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire using the Rasch Model in diverse samples from Australia and Sweden.

Somaraki M; Ek A; Sandvik P; Byrne R; Nowicka P
Article: APPETITE. 2022;168:105724

Associations of preschoolers' dietary patterns with eating behaviors and parental feeding practices at a 12-month follow-up of obesity treatment.

Sandvik P; Kuronen S; Reijs Richards H; Eli K; Ek A; Somaraki M; Nowicka P
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;18(21):11293

Changing the Home Food Environment: Parents' Perspectives Four Years after Starting Obesity Treatment for Their Preschool Aged Child.

Nowicka P; Keres J; Ek A; Nordin K; Sandvik P
Article: PEDIATRIC OBESITY. 2021;16(6):e12754

The role of parental depression during early childhood obesity treatment-Secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial.

Ek A; Vásquez-Barquero MY; Sandvik P; Eli K; Somaraki M; Nowicka P
Article: PLOS ONE. 2021;16(9):e0257187

Parenting and childhood obesity: Validation of a new questionnaire and evaluation of treatment effects during the preschool years.

Somaraki M; Ek A; Eli K; Ljung S; Mildton V; Sandvik P; Nowicka P
Article: FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;9:652491

Making Childhood Obesity a Priority: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on Facilitating Communication and Improving Treatment.

Serban CL; Putnoky S; Ek A; Eli K; Nowicka P; Chirita-Emandi A
Article: APPETITE. 2020;154:104746

Changes in parental feeding practices and preschoolers' food intake following a randomized controlled childhood obesity trial.

Somaraki M; Eli K; Sorjonen K; Ek A; Sandvik P; Nowicka P
Article: JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH. 2020;8(8):e19380

User Perception of a Smartphone App to Promote Physical Activity Through Active Transportation: Inductive Qualitative Content Analysis Within the Smart City Active Mobile Phone Intervention (SCAMPI) Study.

Lindqvist A-K; Rutberg S; Söderström E; Ek A; Alexandrou C; Maddison R; Löf M
Article: JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH. 2020;8(6):e18531

Effectiveness of a 3-Month Mobile Phone-Based Behavior Change Program on Active Transportation and Physical Activity in Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ek A; Alexandrou C; Söderström E; Bergman P; Delisle Nyström C; Direito A; Eriksson U; Henriksson P; Maddison R; Trolle Lagerros Y; Bendtsen M; Löf M
Article: APPETITE. 2020;145:104488

Responding positively to "children who like to eat": Parents' experiences of skills-based treatment for childhood obesity.

Ek A; Nordin K; Nyström CD; Sandvik P; Eli K; Nowicka P
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;19(1):1494

Planting a seed - child health care nurses' perceptions of speaking to parents about overweight and obesity: a qualitative study within the STOP project.

Sjunnestrand M; Nordin K; Eli K; Nowicka P; Ek A
Article: PEDIATRIC OBESITY. 2019;14(11):e12556

The influence of preschoolers' emotional and behavioural problems on obesity treatment outcomes: Secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial.

Eiffener E; Eli K; Ek A; Sandvik P; Somaraki M; Kremers S; Sleddens E; Nowicka P
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. 2019;16(1):76

Picky eating in an obesity intervention for preschool-aged children - what role does it play, and does the measurement instrument matter?

Sandvik P; Ek A; Eli K; Somaraki M; Bottai M; Nowicka P
Article: PEDIATRICS. 2019;144(2):e20183457

A Parent Treatment Program for Preschoolers With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ek A; Lewis Chamberlain K; Sorjonen K; Hammar U; Etminan Malek M; Sandvik P; Somaraki M; Nyman J; Lindberg L; Nordin K; Ejderhamn J; Fisher PA; Chamberlain P; Marcus C; Nowicka P
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;19(1):945

A randomized controlled trial for overweight and obesity in preschoolers: the More and Less Europe study - an intervention within the STOP project.

Ek A; Delisle Nyström C; Chirita-Emandi A; Tur JA; Nordin K; Bouzas C; Argelich E; Martínez JA; Frost G; Garcia-Perez I; Saez M; Paul C; Löf M; Nowicka P
Journal article: OBESITY RESEARCH & CLINICAL PRACTICE. 2019;13(3):323

Changes in parental feeding practices and children's food intake: A randomized control trial of obesity treatment in preschoolers

Somaraki M; Eli K; Ek A; Sandvik P; Sorjonen K; Nowicka P
Article: JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN SPORT. 2019;22(5):574-579

Physical fitness in relation to later body composition in pre-school children.

Henriksson P; Leppänen MH; Henriksson H; Delisle Nyström C; Cadenas-Sanchez C; Ek A; Ruiz JR; Ortega FB; Löf M
Article: JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH. 2019;7(4):e12512

Physical Activity and Mobile Phone Apps in the Preschool Age: Perceptions of Teachers and Parents.

Ek A; Sandborg J; Delisle Nyström C; Lindqvist A-K; Rutberg S; Löf M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2019;16(2):E234-234

Active School Transportation in Winter Conditions: Biking Together is Warmer.

Lindqvist A-K; Löf M; Ek A; Rutberg S
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION. 2018;72(11):1561-1566

Is BMI a relevant marker of fat mass in 4 year old children? Results from the MINISTOP trial.

Delisle Nyström C; Henriksson P; Ek A; Henriksson H; Ortega FB; Ruiz JR; Löf M
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. 2018;15(1):74

Picky eating in Swedish preschoolers of different weight status: application of two new screening cut-offs.

Sandvik P; Ek A; Somaraki M; Hammar U; Eli K; Nowicka P
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2018;18(1):880

The Smart City Active Mobile Phone Intervention (SCAMPI) study to promote physical activity through active transportation in healthy adults: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Ek A; Alexandrou C; Delisle Nyström C; Direito A; Eriksson U; Hammar U; Henriksson P; Maddison R; Trolle Lagerros Y; Löf M
Article: APPETITE. 2018;125:302-313

Perceived child eating behaviours and maternal migrant background.

Somaraki M; Eli K; Sorjonen K; Flodmark C-E; Marcus C; Faith MS; Osowski CP; Ek A; Nowicka P
Article: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION. 2017;20(5):848-858

Controlling feeding practices and maternal migrant background: an analysis of a multicultural sample.

Somaraki M; Eli K; Ek A; Lindberg L; Nyman J; Marcus C; Flodmark C-E; Pietrobelli A; Faith MS; Sorjonen K; Nowicka P
Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2017;106(2):304-311

Sleep differences in one-year-old children were related to obesity risks based on their parents' weight according to baseline longitudinal study data.

Ekstedt M; Darkeh MHSE; Xiu L; Forssén M; Johansson E; Ek A; Svensson V; Ekbom K; Marcus C
Article: PEDIATRIC OBESITY. 2016;11(4):313-316

Low grandparental social support combined with low parental socioeconomic status is closely associated with obesity in preschool-aged children: a pilot study.

Lindberg L; Ek A; Nyman J; Marcus C; Ulijaszek S; Nowicka P
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION. 2016;55(2):781-792

Obesogenic dietary intake in families with 1-year-old infants at high and low obesity risk based on parental weight status: baseline data from a longitudinal intervention (Early STOPP).

Svensson V; Sobko T; Ek A; Forssén M; Ekbom K; Johansson E; Nowicka P; Westerståhl M; Riserus U; Marcus C
Article: PLOS ONE. 2016;11(1):e0147257

Associations between Parental Concerns about Preschoolers' Weight and Eating and Parental Feeding Practices: Results from Analyses of the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire, the Child Feeding Questionnaire, and the Lifestyle Behavior Checklist.

Ek A; Sorjonen K; Eli K; Lindberg L; Nyman J; Marcus C; Nowicka P
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2015;15:735

The More and Less Study: a randomized controlled trial testing different approaches to treat obesity in preschoolers.

Ek A; Chamberlain KL; Ejderhamn J; Fisher PA; Marcus C; Chamberlain P; Nowicka P
Journal article: APPETITE. 2015;89:309

Overeating and physical inactivity in preschool-aged children challenge parents and their confidence. Results from the Lifestyle Behaviour Checklist and the Child Feeding Questionnaire

Ek A; Sorjonen K; Marcus C; Nowicka P
Journal article: APPETITE. 2015;89:315

Comparing different treatment approaches to childhood obesity in preschoolers. Preliminary results of the More and Less study, a randomized controlled trial

Nyman J; Ek A; Marcus C; Nowicka P
Journal article: APPETITE. 2015;89:303

Effects of one year obesity prevention on relative weight and dietary intake in toddlers with overweight or obese parents. Early STOPP, a randomized controlled intervention

Svensson V; Johansson E; Ek A; Forssén M; Ekbom K; Nowicka P; Ekstedt M; Hagströmer M; Marcus C
Journal article: APPETITE. 2015;89:307

Child behaviours and childhood obesity. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Lifestyle Behaviour Checklist

Nowicka P; Ek A; Sorjonen K; Marcus C
Journal article: APPETITE. 2015;89:326

Low parental economic capital and low grandparental social support are closely associated with obesity in preschool-aged children. Preliminary findings

Lindberg L; Ek A; Nyman J; Marcus C; Ulijaszek S; Nowicka P
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. 2015;12:36

Child behaviors associated with childhood obesity and parents' self-efficacy to handle them: confirmatory factor analysis of the Lifestyle Behavior Checklist.

Ek A; Sorjonen K; Nyman J; Marcus C; Nowicka P
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. 2015;12:3

Objectively measured physical activity in two-year-old children - levels, patterns and correlates.

Johansson E; Hagströmer M; Svensson V; Ek A; Forssén M; Nero H; Marcus C
Journal article: APPETITE. 2014;76:203

Income of parents, and not their education level, is associated with the weight status of their preschool children.

NOWICKA P; EK A; FILIPSSON D; MARCUS C; ULIJASZEK S
Journal article: APPETITE. 2014;76:197-198

Early psychopathology of obesity. A study with preschoolers and their parents.

EK A; HEDMAN J; MARCUS C; NOWICKA P
Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA. 2014;103(4):418-425

Infant growth is associated with parental education but not with parental adiposity - Early Stockholm Obesity Prevention Project.

Svensson V; Ek A; Forssén M; Ekbom K; Cao Y; Ebrahim M; Johansson E; Nero H; Hagströmer M; Ekstedt M; Nowicka P; Marcus C
Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2011;11:336

A randomised controlled trial for overweight and obese parents to prevent childhood obesity--Early STOPP (STockholm Obesity Prevention Program).

Sobko T; Svensson V; Ek A; Ekstedt M; Karlsson H; Johansson E; Cao Y; Hagströmer M; Marcus C
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All other publications

Conference publication: ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM. 2023;79(4):386

Four-year follow-up of metabolic risk factors in children treated for obesity in the preschool age: Pooled secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial

Ek A; Wennborg S; Nordin K; Eli K; Nowicka P; Brissman M
Preprint: JMIR PREPRINTS. 2020

User Perception of a Smartphone App to Promote Physical Activity Through Active Transportation: Inductive Qualitative Content Analysis Within the Smart City Active Mobile Phone Intervention (SCAMPI) Study (Preprint)

Lindqvist A-K; Rutberg S; Söderström E; Ek A; Alexandrou C; Maddison R; Löf M
Preprint: JMIR PREPRINTS. 2020

Effectiveness of a 3-Month Mobile Phone–Based Behavior Change Program on Active Transportation and Physical Activity in Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Ek A; Alexandrou C; Söderström E; Bergman P; Delisle Nyström C; Direito A; Eriksson U; Henriksson P; Maddison R; Trolle Lagerros Y; Bendtsen M; Löf M
Corrigendum: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;17(5):1524

Active School Transportation in Winter Conditions: Biking Together is Warmer (vol 16, 234, 2019)

Lindqvist A-K; Lof M; Ek A; Rutberg S
Conference publication: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2017;27:158

Perceived child eating behaviours and maternal migrant Background

Somaraki M; Eli K; Sorjonen K; Flodmark CE; Marcus C; Faith MS; Osowski CP; Ek A; Nowicka P
Thesis / dissertation: 2016

Early obesity : family-based risk factors and treatment interventions

Ek, Anna
Conference publication: JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH. 2016;25:326-327

Bedtime eating and sleep disturbances among 2 years old children

Xiu L; Svensson V; Johansson E; Ek A; Marcus C; Ekstedt M
Conference publication: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2010;20:86-87

Early-STOPP: targeted obesity prevention directed to overweight parents with young children, a randomized controlled study

Sobko T; Svensson V; Ek A; Marcus C
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY. 2008;32:S92

A sports camp doesn't have effect on children's degree of obesity longitudinal controlled study

Nowicka P; Pietrobelli A; Ek A; Bengtsson B; Flodmark C-E

Employments

Principal Researcher, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-

Degrees and Education

Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 2016

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