Anna Ek

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About me

I am a senior researcher and dietitian with 20 years work experience in both clinical and research settings. My research has focused on prevention and treatment of obesity in children with a special interests towards younger ages. Currently I am involved in EU-projects using novel methods to improve digital health systems to support both adults and youth in their weight management efforts.

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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