Researchers awarded grant to find effective methods for childhood obesity prevention

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and with it comes an increased risk for developing health problems such as type 2 diabetes. The best way to reduce the risk of serious weight-related health issues such as diabetes is to eat healthy and increase physical activity.

Researchers at Geisinger Health System's Henry Hood Center for Health Research and the University of Pennsylvania have been awarded a grant by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to find effective methods to prevent and treat childhood obesity in primary care settings for children ages 4 to 8 who are in the 85th percentile or higher body mass index (BMI). BMI is a weight for height category based on a child's age and sex. Children with BMI above the 85th percentile are more likely to develop lifelong weight-related health problems.

Families in Geisinger's Garden Gang study learn ways to eat more vegetables and fruits, decrease high-fat/high-sugar food and beverage intake, and increase physical activity. The goal of the study is to teach healthy lifestyles for children to maintain weight as they grow to bring the BMI below the 85th percentile.

According to Margaret Rukstalis, M.D., lead clinical researcher for the study, families with children between the ages of 4 to 8 who don't eat their fruits and vegetables and have a BMI of 85 percent or more qualify to participate. The study teaches kids and parents how to take a positive approach as they make healthy lifestyle modifications. Researchers will examine the effectiveness of educational handouts vs. a more intensive program.

"Finding an effective way to change behaviors is key," said Dr. Rukstalis.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports the prevalence of children who are obese has doubled over the past two decades. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported that 31.9 percent of children and adolescents were overweight (BMI at or above the 85th percentile) and 16.3 percent were obese (BMI at or above 95th percentile).

"This is the first time a study like this will be done in the primary care setting. Children from rural areas are particularly at risk for being overweight and obese, so this is a very relevant study for kids in our area, especially because an overweight or obese child has a higher likelihood of chronic medical problems and adult obesity," said Dr. Rukstalis. "Participants benefit because they receive state-of-the-art, evidence-based prevention and treatments while also giving back to science."

Researchers working on fun way to combat childhood obesity

Researchers are working to find effective, fun filled methods to prevent childhood obesity, which could bring on an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Researchers at Geisinger Health System's Henry Hood Centre for Health Research and University of Pennsylvania are trying to find ways to prevent obesity in children aged four to eight years.

Children with BMI above the 85 percentile are more likely to develop lifelong weight-related health problems. BMI is a weight to height ratio based on a child's age and sex.

The goal of the study is to teach healthy lifestyles for children to maintain weight as they grow to bring the BMI down to acceptable levels.

Margaret Rukstalis, lead clinical researcher for the study, says "finding an effective way to change behaviours is key".

The American Academy of Paediatrics reports the prevalence of children who are obese has doubled over the past two decades, says a Geisinger Health release.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported that 31.9 percent of children and adolescents were overweight and 16.3 percent in the US were obese.

What You Should Know About Childhood Obesity

by Mike Selvon

You may have heard there is an "obesity epidemic" in America that is afflicting our children. Perhaps you're wondering if your own child is average, overweight or obese. One way to determine childhood obesity is to measure your child's BMI (body mass index), which looks at their weight in relation to their height. The BMI index is a non-invasive screening tool that can be performed simply by taking some measurements and looking up the average at Dnpabmi.

Some say the alarming childhood obesity rate has been caused by a shift in our culture from an active society to a more sedentary society. Compared to the children of the seventies, today's children are more sedentary, spending three hours per day watching TV, movies or playing video games, which has decreased the amount of time children and teens spend actively outdoors.

Television also encourages increased food consumption and tempts children to make unhealthy food choices through exposure to advertisements. Since 1991, the percentage of students' participation in daily physical education during school has decreased from 42% to 28%. The importance of a healthy diet for children cannot be overstated, nor can the need for daily physical activity, since studies show the patterns a child develops early in life tend to remain with him or her for life.

If left untreated, childhood obesity can lead to a number of problems, both physical and psychosocial. Physically, 70% of obese 5 to 17-year-olds have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor already, whether it is high blood pressure, high cholesterol or abnormal glucose tolerance, and 25% have at least two risk factors.

Obesity is also the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, as 60% of diabetics are also overweight. More immediate health problems include sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis (fatty degeneration of the liver), kidney failure and asthma. Psychologically, obese adolescents become the targets of social stigmatization, which can leave lasting emotional scars that may never fully heal.

There are many ways to prevent childhood obesity in your home. While you certainly don't want to place your child on a restrictive diet that may interfere with normal growth and development, planning meals with balanced calories can help ensure your child gets an appropriate amount of nutrition. Be sure to encourage your child's healthy eating habits by providing vegetables, fruits, whole-grain foods, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, proper portion sizes and plenty of water. Limit sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar and fatty foods in the house as much as possible.

About the Author
Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about the type childhood obesity at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our obesity causes blog.

Childhood obesity warning over clock change

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is encouraging parents to ensure children are physically active to overcome problems with sleeplessness.

A lack of sleep is linked to increased hunger in both adults and children and this can increase appetite and body weight.

Boys develop closer bonds with Bob the Builder than with parentsPhysiotherapists said regular exercise is important to burn calories as well has promote good quality sleep.

Televisions, computers and mobile phones in a child's bedroom all affect sleep, they said, and research has shown that for every hour a child is sitting – whether watching TV or reading a book during the day – it takes an extra three minutes for them to get to sleep.

Sammy Margo, chartered physiotherapist, author of The Good Sleep Guide and the forthcoming Good Sleep Guide for Kids said: "Many children appear to be overstimulated, overworked and overcommitted and at the same time under-exercised.

"All these factors affect sleep, which in turn is a factor in the worrying rates of childhood obesity in the UK. Making sure your child exercises for at least an hour a day, giving them healthy food, creating a restful sleeping environment and a bedtime ritual means that your child will be ready to sleep once they’ve been tucked in and it’s time to turn out the light."

Around one third of children in Britain are overweight or obese and only one fifth of parents know children should be physically active for one hour a day.

Better health system needed to identify and manage childhood obesity

A new study has revealed GPs and pediatricians believe their capacity to effectively identify and manage childhood obesity is limited, due to barriers such as time constraints. 65 per cent of the doctors also perceived a shortfall in public sector dietitians to assist them in managing overweight and obese children, according to the study in Nutrition & Dietetics, published by Wiley-Blackwell.

Forty GPs and three pediatricians from New South Wales were interviewed about their capacity, knowledge, skill and confidence in managing overweight and obese children.

The doctors felt the health system needed to better support them in identifying and managing obesity in children - and 62 per cent were unaware of local services provided by dietitians.

'We need to be educating and encouraging doctors to refer overweight and obese children to nutrition experts as early as possible,' said co-author Julie McFarlane, an Accredited Practising Dietitian, from the Wyong Hospital.

Claire Hewat, CEO of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), said, "Current nutrition services provided by the local public sector are insufficient. DAA would like to see improved access to Accredited Practising Dietitians in the community setting to help manage overweight and obesity in children and adolescents."

"These kids have an increased risk of becoming obese adults. Carrying excess weight is linked with a greater risk of Hypertension.aspx">high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes - conditions that are already straining our health system and costing the Government big dollars."

Ms. Hewat said many children are eating too much saturated fat, salt and sugar, and not enough fruit and vegetables. She also said many weren't getting the recommended hour or more of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

Doctors' Efforts to Fight Childhood Obesity Not Working

Researchers are recommending that officials in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia rethink their efforts to combat obesity in children because the current strategies -- emphasizing healthy diets and exercise -- aren't working.

In a study released online Sept. 4 in BMJ, Australian researchers followed more than 250 overweight and mildly obese Australian children who visited their general practitioners between 2005 and 2006. A total of 139 were given counseling over three months about changing their eating habits and increasing exercise; the other 119 did not get such counseling.

Parents said the kids who received counseling drank fewer soft drinks, but they didn't eat more fruit or vegetables or less fat, and they didn't lose significant amounts of weight.

The researchers reported that brief, physician-led intervention produced no long-term improvement in body mass index, physical activity or nutrition habits.

The counseling isn't harmful, the study authors noted, but it doesn't seem to work and is expensive.

"Resources may be better divided between primary prevention at the community and population levels, and enhancement of clinical treatment options for children with established obesity," the researchers concluded.

Communities can make an impact on childhood obesity rates

Parents strive to help children stay fit and healthy. Now, a new report says local government should do its part, too.

The report from the Institute of Medicine offers a menu of obesity-fighting actions that communities nationwide could implement. Tactics range from zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants near schools, to community policing to improve safety around public recreational sites.

“The healthy choice must be the easy choice,” said Eduardo J. Sanchez, chair of the committee behind the report and vice president and chief medical officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. “It’s hard to eat fruit instead of chips when neighborhood stores carry little fresh produce, or to bike to school on busy roads with no bike lanes.”

How Communities Can Help Keep Kids Fit:

Provide incentives to lure grocery stores to underserved neighborhoods.
Require nutritional information on restaurant menus.
Implement “Safe Route to School” programs for walkers and bikers.
Ensure publicly run after-school programs limit video game and TV time.
Efforts undertaken in communities ranging from Shelby, Mont., to New York City show how local officials can make an impact on obesity rates. The solutions boil down to increasing access to healthy foods and opportunity for active play and exercise.