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Recent Articles on Childhood Obesity
At Growing Lean, we strive to stay on top of all of the latest research in teen and childhood obesity. Check back to this page regularly in order to see what the latest research might offer you or your child. Below are several very recent relevant articles on childhood obesity.
This 2007 report, subtitled “How Obesity Policies are Failing in America,” asserts that childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and that state and federal government agencies need to adjust their policies to address this threat to public health. The study relies on the 2004 National Survey of Children’s Health, which recorded that nearly 15% of children ages 10-17 are overweight; as many as 25 million children of all ages nationwide are overweight or obese. This report emphasizes the benefits of physical activity in combating weight problems.
This exhaustive website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers an excellent overview of the incidence and effects of childhood overweight and obesity. The CDC warns that “overweight children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.” The authors suggest that parents must encourage incremental change in their children’s nutrition as well as their overall relationship to food. “You can help children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing calorie-rich temptations”
A website managed by a private pediatrics group, the article linked here from The Informed Parent presents a clinical case study of childhood obesity. The author, Louis P. Theriot MD, discusses how a twelve-year-old girl presented at his office having gained considerable weight. As is often the case, the child’s nascent obesity provoked great stress and was correlated to the entire family’s struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “In just a few moments of conversation it became apparent that most of the family activities centered around food...with very little physical activity.” Theriot presents important information in a personalized, friendly manner that contrasts with the sometimes stern tone of government agencies and therefore might serve as a good conversation-starter with your children.
This website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains the significance of the weight indicator called the “Body Mass Index,” or BMI. Aimed at providing information appropriate for children, adolescents, and teens, the authors explain why BMI is the gold standard criteria for weight loss, as other measurements (such as weight tables) cannot effectively account for children’s growth relative to their weight. The site includes a simple BMI calculator for ages 2 – 20 years. The authors stress that BMI must be understood in context, and in order “to determine a counseling strategy, assessments of diet, health, and physical activity are needed.”
This website produced by Colorado State University offers a sensible, east-to-follow overview of childhood overweight and obesity. It provides simple guidelines for combating weight issues in many arenas, emphasizing the emotional issues that can drive children and teens to ignore their body’s actual nutritional needs. It is also important to be realistic in your goals, maintaining a positive outlook as you make incremental changes in your child’s lifestyle that will impact them decades down the road.
An authoritative report from the American Institute for Cancer Research details the results of an exhaustive study titled Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. The authors concluded that parents should “ensure that body weight through childhood and adolescent growth projects towards the lower end of the normal BMI range at age 21” because “maintenance of a healthy body weight throughout life may be one of the most important ways to protect against cancer.”
While this website, authored by the staff of the New York University Child Study Center, offers an overview of childhood and teen obesity, the section on obesity and mental health is of special interest. The authors highlight the problems of low self-esteem and social ostracism. This section includes the startling fact that a 2003 study showed that “obese children rated their quality of life with scores as low as those of young cancer patients on chemotherapy.”
Prevalence and Identification of Childhood Obesity
The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has published several recent articles on childhood obesity. Dr. David Ludwig offered an overview of the December 6th, 2007 issue in a perspective piece titled “Childhood Obesity—The Shape of Things to Come. “ If we don’t take steps to reverse course, the children of each successive generation seem destined to be fatter and sicker than their parents. . . . Parents must take responsibility for their children’s welfare by providing high-quality food, limiting television viewing, and modeling a healthful lifestyle.”This 2007 report, subtitled “How Obesity Policies are Failing in America,” asserts that childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and that state and federal government agencies need to adjust their policies to address this threat to public health. The study relies on the 2004 National Survey of Children’s Health, which recorded that nearly 15% of children ages 10-17 are overweight; as many as 25 million children of all ages nationwide are overweight or obese. This report emphasizes the benefits of physical activity in combating weight problems.
This exhaustive website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers an excellent overview of the incidence and effects of childhood overweight and obesity. The CDC warns that “overweight children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.” The authors suggest that parents must encourage incremental change in their children’s nutrition as well as their overall relationship to food. “You can help children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing calorie-rich temptations”
A website managed by a private pediatrics group, the article linked here from The Informed Parent presents a clinical case study of childhood obesity. The author, Louis P. Theriot MD, discusses how a twelve-year-old girl presented at his office having gained considerable weight. As is often the case, the child’s nascent obesity provoked great stress and was correlated to the entire family’s struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “In just a few moments of conversation it became apparent that most of the family activities centered around food...with very little physical activity.” Theriot presents important information in a personalized, friendly manner that contrasts with the sometimes stern tone of government agencies and therefore might serve as a good conversation-starter with your children.
This website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains the significance of the weight indicator called the “Body Mass Index,” or BMI. Aimed at providing information appropriate for children, adolescents, and teens, the authors explain why BMI is the gold standard criteria for weight loss, as other measurements (such as weight tables) cannot effectively account for children’s growth relative to their weight. The site includes a simple BMI calculator for ages 2 – 20 years. The authors stress that BMI must be understood in context, and in order “to determine a counseling strategy, assessments of diet, health, and physical activity are needed.”
This website produced by Colorado State University offers a sensible, east-to-follow overview of childhood overweight and obesity. It provides simple guidelines for combating weight issues in many arenas, emphasizing the emotional issues that can drive children and teens to ignore their body’s actual nutritional needs. It is also important to be realistic in your goals, maintaining a positive outlook as you make incremental changes in your child’s lifestyle that will impact them decades down the road.
Health Effects: Physical Health and Obesity
“Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries. Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health.” This 2005 article from Nutrition Journal offers a stark assessment of the individual impact and public health problems created by overweight and obese young people. The article notes that none of the available treatments for the health effects of overweight and obesity is satisfactory: you must lose the excess weight in order to become healthier. The authors emphasize that adults have tremendous trouble losing weight and keeping it off; therefore, early intervention with children and adolescents is essential to avoid raising the first generation in modern times to be less healthy and have lower life expectancies than that of their parents.An authoritative report from the American Institute for Cancer Research details the results of an exhaustive study titled Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. The authors concluded that parents should “ensure that body weight through childhood and adolescent growth projects towards the lower end of the normal BMI range at age 21” because “maintenance of a healthy body weight throughout life may be one of the most important ways to protect against cancer.”
Health Effects: Mental Health and Obesity
This study, which opens as a pdf file, was commissioned by the Texas Department of Health to evaluate the psychological impact of obesity on children. While the report concluded that not all obese children have psychological difficulties, it did recognize that many overweight and obese teens and children face increased social isolation and bullying from their peers. This experience can naturally lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and can exacerbate depression. It remains important for children and teens that struggle with weight issues to create and maintain strong social ties with their families and peer groups.While this website, authored by the staff of the New York University Child Study Center, offers an overview of childhood and teen obesity, the section on obesity and mental health is of special interest. The authors highlight the problems of low self-esteem and social ostracism. This section includes the startling fact that a 2003 study showed that “obese children rated their quality of life with scores as low as those of young cancer patients on chemotherapy.”
