Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Childhood obesity indicates greater risk of school absenteeism, Penn study reveals

Childhood obesity indicates greater risk of school absenteeism, Penn study reveals

August 13, 2007

In the first study of how weight may affect school attendance, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University have found that overweight children are at greater risk of school absenteeism than their normal-weight peers. The study of more than a thousand 4th, 5th and 6th graders in the Philadelphia school system also determined that body mass index, or BMI, is as significant a factor in determining absenteeism from school as age, race, socioeconomic status and gender, formerly the four main predictors.

The study found that overweight children were absent on average 20 percent more than their normal-weight peers.




"At this young age, children are not necessarily experiencing the health problems that will likely confront them later in life unless serious intervention takes place," said Andrew B. Geier, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Penn. "However, they are missing school at a greater rate than their peers, setting themselves up for the negative fallout that accompanies absenteeism. What's keeping them from school, more than heath issues, is the stigma and the bullying that accompanies being overweight. Future research should explore this additional, very damaging side effect of being overweight."

The study builds on others that show that the medical and psychosocial consequences of being overweight are numerous and still being discovered. The disadvantages that arise from missing school such as increased drug use, increased rates of pregnancy and poor academic performance have been previously documented. Meanwhile, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled in the United States during the past 25 years.

The four indicators of increased absenteeism among school children have traditionally been race, socioeconomic status, age and gender. Young men from economically disadvantaged, minority populations were considered at greater risk for school absenteeism, and that remains true; however, in this study, BMI was a better indicator of poor classroom attendance than these traditional factors or any others.

Researchers attempted to control for the socioeconomic differences among students by selecting inner-city schools that were homogeneously among the city's poorest. More than 80 percent of students at these schools were eligible for free and reduced-cost meal plans.

University of Pennsylvania



Related Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News Articles Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News RSS Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News RSS
Researchers: Ban on fast food TV advertising would reverse childhood obesity trends
A ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent, according to a new study being published this month in the Journal of Law and Economics.

Fatty diet during pregnancy makes new cells in fetal brain that cause early onset obesity
A study in rats shows that exposure to a high-fat diet during pregnancy produces permanent changes in the offspring's brain that lead to overeating and obesity early in life, according to new research by Rockefeller University scientists.

Eliminating soda from school diets does not affect overall consumption
With childhood obesity increasing, school administrators and public health officials are reducing availability of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in schools.

Tweens and teens double use of diabetes drugs
America's tweens and teens more than doubled their use of type 2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005, with girls between 10 and 14 years of age showing a 166 percent increase. One likely cause: Obesity, which is closely associated with type 2 diabetes.

Green neighborhoods may reduce childhood obesity
Childhood obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, sleep apnea and emotional distress. Obese children and youth are likely to be obese as adults, experience more cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke and incur higher healthcare costs.

Neighborhood greenness has long term positive impact on kids' health
In the first study to look at the effect of neighborhood greenness on inner city children's weight over time, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the University of Washington report that higher neighborhood greenness is associated with slower increases in children's body mass over a two year period, regardless of residential density.

Recommendations for children's exercise lacking say experts
Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, UK, have carried out research that suggests the one hour of moderate exercise a day recommended to children from health experts may not be enough to tackle the rising problem of childhood obesity.

Walking forum report shows need to expand physical activity in schools
With childhood obesity expanding to epidemic proportions in the United States, educators, researchers and health practitioners are actively seeking to identify effective means of addressing this public-health crisis.

ISU study finds link between a mother's stress and her child becoming overweight
A mother's stress may contribute to her young children being overweight in low income households with sufficient food, according to a new Iowa State University study that is published in the September issue of Pediatrics, the professional journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Risks and benefits of antipsychotics in children and adolescents
Many of the psychiatric disorders observed in adults have their onset in childhood or adolescence. In fact some studies show that at least 20% of children and adolescents will fulfil a diagnostic criterion for a mental disorder before reaching adulthood.
More Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News Articles


Underage and Overweight: America's Childhood Obesity Epidemic--What Every Parent Needs to Know
by Frances M. Berg

Childhood obesity has reached crisis proportions. Over the past two decades, the number of overweight adolescents has tripled. This skyrocketing youth obesity figure is associated with increases in high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, as well as higher obesity figures in the adult population. With the rate of obesity among children and teens skyrocketing, the health of an...



Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity
by Susan Okie

Obesity now ranks second only to smoking as a wholly preventable cause of death. It is a major contributor to heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression. Even conservative estimates show that 20 per cent of all children are now considered to be overweight - worldwide there are 22 million kids under five years old that are defined as fat. Eating way too much unhealthy...



A Parent's Guide to Childhood Obesity: A Roadmap to Health
by American Academy of Pediatrics

Research-based evidence informs this guide to understanding—and combating—childhood obesity. Addressing medical, emotional, and psychological factors, the sensible and tested guidelines help parents create balanced meals, encourage physical activity, and partner with pediatricians, family, schools, and child-care providers in their fight against obesity. A section on setbacks and detours...



Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence (Volume 1: Medical, Biological, and Social Issues)

Obesity has become the number one health threat to Americans, but the incidence is most tragic for our children and teenagers. Nearly 1 in every 7 boys and girls is obese and far more are overweight. Most developed countries including the United Kingdom and Canada are seeing similar rates. In these volumes, a cross-disciplinary team of experts presents what we know and are learning about the...



Childhood Obesity (Diseases and Disorders)
by M. N. Jimerson



Too Much (Focus) (Focus) (Focus) (Focus) (Focus)
by Linda T. West

Luke likes food a little too much. He wants to eat everything. When will he stop? Join Luke on this rhyming adventure as he learns the importance of good food and exercise. The bright colorful illustrations and easy to read text make this book fun and educational for both preschoolers and beginning...



Oscar & Otis: Fat Fighters
by Alicia Kirschenheiter

Oscar and Otis - Fat Fighters is the story of 2 friends learning about health & fitness to help one of their fathers fight the fat! The story is both laughable and learnable. Children can identify with the characters and enjoy the lesson of making better choices everyday to help out ones we love and...



Conquering Childhood Obesity For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback))
by Kimberly A. Tessmer, Michelle Hagen, Meghan Beecher

Features fun, kid-friendly activities to get them moving A positive and safe plan for lifetime weight management Concerned about your child's weight? This practical guide provides effective strategies for improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, and dealing with weight issues at home and in the classroom. You'll see how to change your family's lifestyle, help your...



Understanding Childhood Obesity (Understanding Health and Sickness Series)
by M.D., J. Clinton Smith

Almost fourteen percent of American children over age six and twelve percent of adolescents are obese, more than double the rate of thirty years ago. Although there are countless diet and weight-loss books on the market, few of them explain in jargon-free terms the basic factors, the body processes that can lead to childhood obesity, and the research currently underway to combat this growing...



Overcoming Childhood Obesity
by Colleen Thomason, Ellen Shanley

Being overweight at a young age can lead to future health problems and can negatively impact every area of a child’s life. Instead of simply suggesting a reduced-calorie diet, this book outlines effective strategies for improving nutrition, decreasing reliance on fast foods, increasing physical activity, and eating together as a family. When kids shop, cook, eat, and exercise alongside their...

© 2009 BrightSurf.com