 |
|
2 years old -- a childhood obesity tipping point?
August 04, 2008Research suggests that childhood obesity begins in infancy
Over the last decade, childhood obesity has grown into an epidemic, reflected in soaring rates of type 2 diabetes and recommendations that pediatricians check toddlers for elevated cholesterol.
What hasn't been as clear is how early to intervene.
A study presented at a pediatric research program on Friday suggested obesity prevention efforts should begin as early as age two, when children reach a "tipping point" in a progression that leads to obesity later in life.
"This study suggests that doctors may want to start reviewing the diet of children during early well-child visits," said John W. Harrington, M.D., a pediatrician at Virginia's Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD). "By the time they reach eight years old, they're already far into the overweight category, making treatment more difficult."
The study examined records of 111 overweight children from a suburban pediatric practice. All of the children had their height and weight measured at least five times during pediatric visits. The average age was 12.
Children whose body mass index exceeded that of 85 percent of the general population were classified as overweight. Researchers charted the recorded body mass index of the children from infancy. through They found that the obese children had started gaining weight in infancy at an average rate of .08 excess BMI units per month. On average, they began this progression at three months of age.
Over half the children could be classified as overweight at two years old, 90 percent before reaching their fifth birthday.
Vu Nguyen, a second year student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, CHKD's academic partner, said the results surprised him.
"I didn't think that that obesity would start that early," said Nguyen, who presented the results Friday at a pediatric research scholars program.
Nguyen conducted the study with Harrington and Lawrence Pasquinelli, M.D., a pediatrician with Tidewater Children's Associates in Virginia Beach, Va.
More research is needed to determine the causes of early obesity including "information on family history and the dietary and exercise habits in infancy," said Harrington, an EVMS associate professor. "We may then have to look prospectively to see what interventions work in reversing this trend."
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
A study presented at a pediatric research program on Friday suggested obesity prevention efforts should begin as early as age two, when children reach a "tipping point" in a progression that leads to obesity later in life.
"This study suggests that doctors may want to start reviewing the diet of children during early well-child visits," said John W. Harrington, M.D., a pediatrician at Virginia's Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD). "By the time they reach eight years old, they're already far into the overweight category, making treatment more difficult."
The study examined records of 111 overweight children from a suburban pediatric practice. All of the children had their height and weight measured at least five times during pediatric visits. The average age was 12.
Children whose body mass index exceeded that of 85 percent of the general population were classified as overweight. Researchers charted the recorded body mass index of the children from infancy. through They found that the obese children had started gaining weight in infancy at an average rate of .08 excess BMI units per month. On average, they began this progression at three months of age.
Over half the children could be classified as overweight at two years old, 90 percent before reaching their fifth birthday.
Vu Nguyen, a second year student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, CHKD's academic partner, said the results surprised him.
"I didn't think that that obesity would start that early," said Nguyen, who presented the results Friday at a pediatric research scholars program.
Nguyen conducted the study with Harrington and Lawrence Pasquinelli, M.D., a pediatrician with Tidewater Children's Associates in Virginia Beach, Va.
More research is needed to determine the causes of early obesity including "information on family history and the dietary and exercise habits in infancy," said Harrington, an EVMS associate professor. "We may then have to look prospectively to see what interventions work in reversing this trend."
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News RSSResearchers: 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
 | 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... |
 | 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... |
 | 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... |
 | New Prescription for Childhood Obesity: Fight Childhood Obesity with Antioxidants & Phytonutrients by Billy C. Johnson About one in three American children is either overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is a crisis robbing youth of health and energy, and even causing children to die prematurely. Obesity among children, which is likely to carry over to adulthood, is also linked to a greater risk of high cholesterol, diabetes, early heart disease, and high blood pressure. New Prescription for Childhood Obesity... |
 | Overcoming Childhood Obesity by Colleen Thomason, Ellen Shanley Written to combat the ever-increasing childhood obesity epidemic, this book focuses on prevention of the disease by revealing how making fundamental moves toward family-centered change in eating behaviors and lifestyle can produce gradual results that can last a... |
 | Childhood Obesity: A Biobehavioral Perspective by Kenneth L. Lichstein, Gilman Grave, Norman Kretchmer This volume highlights recent research findings which elucidate the biological and behavioral underpinnings of childhood obesity. The book is divided into four sections: Perspectives, Determinants, Prevention, and Treatment. Topics include the social and psychological factors that comprise the obese child's world; eating patterns early in life and their influence on adiposity later in... |
 | 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... |
 | Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up? by Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity The remarkable increase in the prevalence of obesity among children and youth in the United States over a relatively short timespan represents one of the defining public health challenges of the 21st century. The country is beginning to recognize childhood obesity as a major public health epidemic that will incur substantial costs to the nation. However, the current level of investment by the... |
 | Your Child's Weight: Helping without Harming by Ellyn Satter As much about parenting as feeding, this latest release from renowned childhood feeding expert Ellyn Satter considers the overweight child issue in a new way. Combining scientific research with inspiring anecdotes from her decades of clinical practice, Satter challenges the conventional belief that parents must get overweight children to eat less and exercise more. In the long run, she says,... |
 | Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity (Issues in Clinical Child Psychology) (Issues in Clinical Child Psychology) Within the past two generations alone, child and adolescent obesity has more than doubled for some age groups and tripled for others. Consequently, the extraordinary number of school-age children now being diagnosed with what were once considered adult-onset disorders hypertension, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and related cardio-pulmonary conditions has catapulted pediatric obesity to the... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |