Obesity

Babies who receive repeated doses of certain antibiotics between birth and 23 months of age have a higher risk of developing obesity in early childhood than babies who don’t, a 12-year study reveals.

After years of knowing that obesity and asthma had some connection, but not whether obesity brought about asthma or vice versa, new evidence may finally hold the answer.

Children, especially girls, who weigh more at 5 years of age tend to have lower levels of a hormone that affects the onset of puberty and enter puberty earlier than less heavy children, a new study reports.

A new study supports the hypothesis that a genetic disposition to being overweight rests in part on an association with a low level of responsiveness to internal satiety cues, which can lead to overeating and weight gain.

Adding to the long list of bodily damage done by obesity, researchers now find that a significant number of children and adolescents-close to 1 in 5-who are severely obese have evidence of kidney abnormalities.

A new investigation assessing whether openings or expansions of American Indian-owned casinos are associated with the risk of overweight suggests that economic resources have a direct effect on overweight/obesity risk.

Not everyone agrees that the obesity rate among our nation’s preschoolers is dropping, as we reported earlier this month.

Efforts to increase the time adolescents spend in physical activity and reduce the time they spend watching television seem to be paying off, according to analysis of data from 3 quadrennial surveys of students in grades 6 to 10.

Pediatricians have a critical role in addressing childhood overweight and obesity. However, their success in achieving positive outcomes with individual patients depends on the spoken and unspoken messages delivered during the clinical encounter.

Because childhood obesity is a chronic issue, Contemporary Pediatrics would like to serve as a clearinghouse and forum for sharing your ideas, success stories, and anecdotal wins.

Childhood obesity comes at a high cost. Not only does it threaten the health and lives of future generations, but it also puts a heavy burden on future health care spending.

Body mass index (BMI) or degree of change in BMI is insufficient when it comes to evaluating the success or failure of obesity interventions in children, finds a new study.

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.