 |
|
Childhood obesity: The increasing vascular drama
August 31, 2009Obesity is one of the most important health problems in industrialized countries irrespective of socio-economic status, age, sex or ethnicity. The prevalence of childhood obesity in children has reached alarming levels, even in developing countries. It is estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide are overweight, with 22 millions being under the age of 5 years and 300 million people are obese. By 2010 it is estimated that 26 million children in E.U. countries will be overweight, including 6.4 million who will be obese.
The reasons for childhood obesity include environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and also cultural background. However, in our affluent society an increase in caloric and fat intake is one of the major causes for developing overweight and obesity. On the other hand, there is rising evidence that a marked decline in physical activity also plays a major role in the dramatically increasing rates of obesity all around the world. Consequently, both over-consumption of calories and reduced physical activity are involved in childhood obesity.
Already in early childhood, overweight and obesity are associated with the classical risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases like diabetes or pre-diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. These diseases all together contribute to the so called "metabolic syndrome". Furthermore, the dramatic increase in weight also results in orthopaedic disorders, like erosions and arthrosis of waist or knee joint, making any physical activity impossible, even if the children were willing to do it. Given the fact that up to 50% of obese children are suffering from metabolic syndrome, it is conceivable that these children are already characterized by vascular damages resulting in developing plaque formation, referred to as atherosclerosis. It is well known that a normal function of vessels depends on a balance between relaxing and contracting factors produced within the internal lining of arterial vessels, the endothelium. The major endothelium-derived relaxing factor is nitric oxide. The availability of nitric oxide is critically influenced by the above mentioned risk factors and diseases leading to a mismatch between relaxation and contraction of the vessels. The occurrence of endothelial dysfunction is considered to be the earliest stage of atherosclerosis and can be present years before an atherosclerotic lesion will be detectable. Moreover, recent studies suggest a prognostic impact of endothelial dysfunction. That means, if endothelial dysfunction is present, the likelihood of developing a cardiovascular disease or to die from it is considerably increased. With our present, still ongoing study, we aim to investigate whether obesity in early childhood is associated with endothelial dysfunction or other damages of the vessels as an early stage of atherosclerosis. Furthermore we are interested in the relationship between markers of metabolic syndrome (high blood glucose, elevated blood pressure or cholesterol) and the degree of vessel injury.
We included 80 obese or overweight children at an average age of 12 years into this study and compared them with 60 age-matched lean control children. We took blood samples to determine cholesterol levels and performed a so called "oral glucose tolerance testing", a test investigating the individual blood glucose response to a defined amount of glucose intake. With this standardized test we are able to detect diabetes or pre-diabetic alterations like insulin resistance.
As measures of vessel injury we determined intima-media-thickness of the carotid artery and endothelium-dependent relaxation of the forearm, both well-established markers of early vessel alteration which are easily and non-invasively assessable.
Since we know that vessel integrity is strongly associated with self-healing processes managed by the body's own bone-marrow-derived stem or precursor cells, we measured the number and function of specific stem cells in the blood that are known to contribute to vessel repair und formation of new blood vessels.
In our study, we were able to show that at an average of 12 years obese or overweight children suffer from pre-diabetes as indicated by much higher levels of insulin in oral glucose tolerance testing compared to lean healthy children. The concentration of "bad" LDL cholesterol was higher and that of "good" HDL cholesterol much less in obese children. In obese children 24 h-blood pressure monitoring indicates an about 8 to 10 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure over the day. Finally, nearly all components of metabolic syndrome are evident in our population of obese children.
The most result of our trial was that endothelium-dependent relaxation of forearm arteries is already impaired by the same in adults with chronic heart failure, and this in our 12-years old obese children! We found a clear relationship between the degree of obesity and the impairment of endothelial function: those with the highest body weight had the worst vessel function.
Also the extent of intima-media-thickness of carotid artery was increased, and this was again more pronounced in those with severe obesity.
These vascular alterations are accompanied by a significantly impaired release of stem and precursor cells from the bone marrow indicating that self-healing capacity might be diminished.
Considering these disastrous alterations of arterial vessels and also the hampered repair mechanisms in obese children, it is not surprising that this vascular drama obligatory results in atherosclerosis followed by acute myocardial infarctions or strokes even in young adults.
Therefore, primary or secondary prevention strategies starting early in childhood should aim at reversing current increase in childhood obesity. A number of potential strategies can be implemented to target built environment, physical activity, and diet. These strategies can be initiated at home and in preschool institutions, schools or after-school care services as natural setting to influence diet and physical activity in the entire children population. However, further research needs to explore the most effective strategies to prevent and treat obesity.
European Society of Cardiology
We included 80 obese or overweight children at an average age of 12 years into this study and compared them with 60 age-matched lean control children. We took blood samples to determine cholesterol levels and performed a so called "oral glucose tolerance testing", a test investigating the individual blood glucose response to a defined amount of glucose intake. With this standardized test we are able to detect diabetes or pre-diabetic alterations like insulin resistance.
As measures of vessel injury we determined intima-media-thickness of the carotid artery and endothelium-dependent relaxation of the forearm, both well-established markers of early vessel alteration which are easily and non-invasively assessable.
Since we know that vessel integrity is strongly associated with self-healing processes managed by the body's own bone-marrow-derived stem or precursor cells, we measured the number and function of specific stem cells in the blood that are known to contribute to vessel repair und formation of new blood vessels.
In our study, we were able to show that at an average of 12 years obese or overweight children suffer from pre-diabetes as indicated by much higher levels of insulin in oral glucose tolerance testing compared to lean healthy children. The concentration of "bad" LDL cholesterol was higher and that of "good" HDL cholesterol much less in obese children. In obese children 24 h-blood pressure monitoring indicates an about 8 to 10 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure over the day. Finally, nearly all components of metabolic syndrome are evident in our population of obese children.
The most result of our trial was that endothelium-dependent relaxation of forearm arteries is already impaired by the same in adults with chronic heart failure, and this in our 12-years old obese children! We found a clear relationship between the degree of obesity and the impairment of endothelial function: those with the highest body weight had the worst vessel function.
Also the extent of intima-media-thickness of carotid artery was increased, and this was again more pronounced in those with severe obesity.
These vascular alterations are accompanied by a significantly impaired release of stem and precursor cells from the bone marrow indicating that self-healing capacity might be diminished.
Considering these disastrous alterations of arterial vessels and also the hampered repair mechanisms in obese children, it is not surprising that this vascular drama obligatory results in atherosclerosis followed by acute myocardial infarctions or strokes even in young adults.
Therefore, primary or secondary prevention strategies starting early in childhood should aim at reversing current increase in childhood obesity. A number of potential strategies can be implemented to target built environment, physical activity, and diet. These strategies can be initiated at home and in preschool institutions, schools or after-school care services as natural setting to influence diet and physical activity in the entire children population. However, further research needs to explore the most effective strategies to prevent and treat obesity.
European Society of Cardiology
Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News RSSTeens' mental health affects how long they stay in school, new study shows
Queen's University researcher Steven Lehrer has won a prestigious international award in recognition of his contributions to health economics.
Physical education key to improving health in low-income adolescents
School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley.
TV bombards children with commercials for high-fat and high-sugar foods
Childhood obesity in the United States is reaching epidemic proportions. With more than one fourth of advertising on daytime and prime time television devoted to foods and beverages and continuing questions about the role television plays in obesity.
Study: Lap band surgery effective for morbidly obese children
A surgeon at Children's National Medical Center and his colleagues from New York University have found laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap band) to improve the health of morbidly obese adolescents.
ISU study finds intervention program helps kids eat healthier, reduce screen time
A new Iowa State University study found that a family, school and community intervention program helps children live healthier lives and could be a new tool in the fight against the nation's childhood obesity epidemic.
UNC study: Color-coded chart improves parents' understanding of body mass index (BMI)
In the study, published in the September/October 2009 issue of journal Academic Pediatrics, a sample of 163 parents of children seen at pediatric clinics at UNC and Vanderbilt University were tested to assess their understanding of BMI, their health literacy and their math abilities.
Current national primary care policies for childhood obesity need to be improved
Current primary care policies aimed at reducing obesity and increasing physical activity in children do not work and are very costly to run.
Health experts offer action steps local governments can use to cut childhood obesity rates
Zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants near schools and playgrounds, community policing to improve safety around public recreational sites, requirements that publicly run after-school programs limit video game and TV time, and taxes on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and drinks are some of the strategies local government officials can use to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic in their communities.
Weight-loss surgery can break a family's cycle of obesity
Adolescent and young children of obese mothers who underwent weight-loss surgery prior to pregnancy have been found to have a lower prevalence of obesity and significantly improved cardio-metabolic markers when compared to siblings born before the same obese mothers had weight-loss surgery.
Certain behavioral traits and feeding practices may increase risk for weight gain in children
Many clinicians and public health officials view parental involvement as an essential part of solving the current childhood obesity epidemic.
More Childhood Obesity Current Events and Childhood Obesity News Articles
 |
Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity by Susan Okie (Author) 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 food coupled with lifestyles that don't involve a lot of physical activity accounts for a lot of what's making our children heavier. But that's not the whole story. Researchers are at a loss to explain why obesity rates have risen so suddenly and so steeply. "Fed Up!", based in part on the Institute of Medicine's ground-breaking report on childhood obesity, and written by paediatrician and... |
 |
A Parent's Guide to Childhood Obesity: A Roadmap to Health by American Academy of Pediatrics (Author), Sandra G. Hassink FAAP (Editor) 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 addresses such challenges as sneaking food, snacking and grazing, and eating during the holidays. Self-assessment questionnaires, worksheets, and parent tips discuss age-specific obesity issues ranging from the prenatal period to age 21. |
 |
Your Child's Weight: Helping without Harming by Ellyn Satter (Author) 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, making them go hungry and forcing them to be active makes children preoccupied with food, prone to overeating, turned off to activity, and likely to gain too much weight. Trust is a central theme here: children must be able to trust parents to provide as much food as they need to satisfy their appetites; parents must trust children to eat only as much as they need. Satter provides compelling evidence... |
 |
Underage and Overweight: America's Childhood Obesity Epidemic--What Every Parent Needs to Know by Frances M. Berg (Author) 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 entire generation is at risk. The first step in solving this health crisis is understanding it. In Underage & Overweight: America's Childhood Obesity Crisis—What Every Family Needs to Know, the first shattering look at this looming disaster, childhood obesity expert Frances Berg clearly lays out the causes of the current crisis. Underage & Overweight clearly lays out the causes of... |
 |
Conquering Childhood Obesity For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)) by Kimberly A. Tessmer (Author), Michelle Hagen (Author), Meghan Beecher (Author) 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 child make healthier choices (and stick to them!), and foster a lifetime commitment to health and fitness. Discover how to * Introduce good eating habits * Keep your family fit and active * Prepare healthier meals * Maintain your child's weight loss * Find outside professional support * Fix over 30 tasty recipes |
 |
Childhood Obesity One of the most important decisions a parent makes these days is what to feed their children, yet so many families have lost control of their children's weight. NBC 4 will present a half-hour special that explores the increase in childhood obesity. Hosted by reporter Carol Anne Riddell, "Childhood Obesity" aired on Saturday, June 4 at 12:30 p.m and Wednesday, June 8th at 4:30pm. NewsChannel 4 reporters Dr. Max Gomez and John Noel also contributed reports to the program. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 15% of children and adolescents are overweight. "Childhood Obesity" focuses on the myriad of health problems that are caused by being overweight, including arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes, the link between obesity and poverty, and the social and health... |
 |
Understanding Childhood Obesity (Understanding Health and Sickness Series) by M.D., J. Clinton Smith (Author) 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 health risk. In Understanding Childhood Obesity, Dr. J. Clinton Smith has created a comprehensive guide covering nearly every field of obesity research. He explores causes and methods of control, the body's physical and chemical make up, prevention strategies, new treatments and behavior modifications, and future research possibilities. Smith closely examines the genetic and environmental... |
 |
Native Remedies JuniorSlim to Prevent Weight Gain and Obesity in Children (50ml) by Native Remedies JuniorSlim is a 100% safe, non-addictive natural herbal remedy formulated by our team of natural health experts for children and preteens. JuniorSlim can especially benefit those children and preteens needing to consistently support routine weight management and a healthy metabolism without compromising growth and health and without serious side effects. JuniorSlim is effectively used as part of a total slimming program to safely support healthy metabolism, energy levels and systemic harmony in the stomach and digestive system, without harmful side effects and without stimulants. Use JuniorSlim to support healthy metabolism along with a balanced lifestyle; support normal growth and development in growing children; encourage healthy weight goals without the use of artificial stimulants or... |
 |
Overcoming Childhood Obesity by Colleen Thomason MS RD (Author), Ellen Shanley MBA RD CD-N (Author) 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 parents, it instills good eating habits and lifestyle behaviors for a lifetime of health and fitness. Helpful illustrations, charts, and tables are included. |
 |
Too Much (Focus) (Focus) (Focus) (Focus) by Linda T. West (Author), Jack Harrison (Editor), Shangrila Studio (Editor) 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 readers. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |