Obesity

Although the mechanisms are currently unclear, 19 states/territories in the United States managed to reduce their rates of childhood obesity among low-income preschoolers, according to a report from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

A new study suggests that it is possible for children, particularly boys and those who are not severely obese, to use growth spurts to outgrow obesity without losing weight.

Formula-fed infants are about 2.5 times more likely to be obese by age 2 years than those who are breastfed for the first 6 months of life, according to a recent study.

Researchers have for the first time identified teenaged pregnancy as a predictor of obesity in women later in life.

Encouraging young children to serve themselves at meals is thought to develop social and motor skills, but a new study has found that when children served themselves using large-sized dinnerware they placed more food on their plates and ate more of it.

Findings of a study comparing relative changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to glucose and fructose in specific regions of the brain that regulate appetite and reward processing suggest that the answer to this question could be yes.

Children who watch TV in their bedrooms are at double the risk for being obese and almost 3 times as likely to develop heart disease and diabetes than children who watch the family set,researchers found when they examined how viewing time affects health in children and adolescents.

Facebook, Twitter, and other Internet-based technologies can be effective weapons in the fight against childhood obesity.

Researchers have developed an algorithm that uses traditional risk factors to predict whether a newborn will develop obesity as a child.

Children who are overweight or obese, especially girls, face an increased risk for developing gallstone disease compared with their normal-weight peers, according to research by Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

New research has linked bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in the lining of metal cans, food packaging, polycarbonate drink bottles, and other consumer products, to obesity in children and adolescents. More >>

A number of studies show that some school-based interventions for the prevention of childhood obesity can be effective, says a draft review from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the key federal agency charged with improving quality and effectiveness in health care.

Playing on more than 1 sports team during the school year could reduce obesity rates among high school students by more than 25%, a new study reports. What about other activities? More >>

Low concentrations of intestinal microbiota could lead to obesity in children, a new study suggests. What dietary deficiency is associated with decreased colonization rates of these bacteria? More >>

New research has found that cumulative exposure to social risk factors in girls aged 1 and 3 years increases their odds of being obese by 5 years, with even higher odds if 2 or more risk factors are experienced at the same time. What are these risk factors, and how do you spot them during visits?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of pediatric chronic liver disease. New research has found that genetic variants are associated with increased susceptibility to fatty liver disease in children with obesity. What does this finding mean for your patients with obesity?

Use of electronic health record (EHR) computer-assisted decision tools can increase identification, diagnosis, and counseling for overweight and obese children and adolescents, a study of a large pediatric population suggests. Find out how these tools can help overcome barriers to weight management for your patients.

The latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that the overall prevalence of obesity in children may be leveling off at about 17%, in contrast to the rapid increases seen in the 1980s and 1990s. Another study showed that the availability of junk foods had little effect on weight gain in middle-school children. Learn why efforts to promote healthy eating may have to extend beyond the classroom.

Addressing health issues affecting your obese patients now instead of waiting until they develop medical conditions later can help save $3 billion in US health costs a year. But you have to be careful how you discuss children’s obesity issues with their parents. What are the terms most likely to be accepted, understood, and acted on?

More than 90% of responding parents said that they would seek medical attention for a condition that would limit their child?s ability to play, reduce life expectancy, or increase future health care costs. Yet, only just more than half said they would seek medical attention for overweight or obesity?even though it?s been proven that obesity can cause those problems and more. Parents also had some surprising answers when asked which would be preferable: removal of the obese child from the home or bariatric surgery.

Parents who continue to bottle feed their infants past the first birthday are encouraging behaviors that may contribute to obesity by the time their children enter kindergarten.

Investigators examined the extent to which introduction of solid foods to infants younger than 4 months is associated with increased risk of obesity at 3 years.

Childhood obesity has escalated into one of the most - if not the most - significant public health concerns of the 21st Century.

Childhood obesity is one of the most challenging problems facing pediatricians today.

Investigators assessed the relationship between adenovirus 36-specific antibodies and obesity in children to test the hypothesis that this type of viral infection may play a role in the epidemic increase in prevalence of pediatric obesity.

Help families lead the fight against child obesity by helping their children to eat healthfully at home, FDA says.

Short durations of sleep among infants and preschool-aged children appear to be a risk factor for obesity later in childhood.

Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity has led to many intervention programs promoting prevention.

Investigators examined the association between obesity and 3 household routines in young children: regularly eating dinner as a family, sleeping on weekdays and limited TV viewing.

Healthcare teams at several Massachusetts community health centers are trying out a "third way" for treating obesity in the primary care setting.