Childhood Obesity News and Research

RSS

Metabolic syndrome in children

Metabolic syndrome in children represents a potentially serious threat to health in adulthood, yet many parents and caregivers do not have a clear idea of what metabolic syndrome is and why it is dangerous.

15 Jan 2008

Tax sodas to fight obesity says mayor of San Francisco

The mayor of San Francisco, in an attempt to improve the overall health of citizens, is considering a tax on sodas and other drinks which are artificially sweetened by high-fructose corn syrup.

27 Dec 2007

Children given more 'rope' are more active and enjoy a richer social life

Youngsters who are allowed to leave the house without an adult are more active and enjoy a richer social life than those who are constantly supervised, according to a study conducted at UCL and reported in a special edition of the journal Built Environment (19th December).

20 Dec 2007

Fructose overload

Here's one tip for how to eat at the holidays: Don't take your cues from Santa. The sugary cookies and fat-laden fruitcakes the mythical North Pole resident eats are a no-no.

13 Dec 2007

Kids more active when playground well equipped

Children play harder and longer when their child-care centers provide portable play equipment such as balls and jump ropes, more opportunities for active play and physical activity training and education for staff and students, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health.

12 Dec 2007

Do parents care if kids are fat?

There's no harm in allowing kids a few extra cookies, a box of candy canes, some fudge and an extra helping of turkey and mashed potatoes during the holidays, right?

11 Dec 2007

Obesity all set to make future generations fatter and sicker

Researchers from the United States and Denmark are warning that unless steps are taken to reverse the growth in the number of obese children, future generations will be both fatter and sicker than their parents.

6 Dec 2007

Childhood obesity and the increasing burden of diabetes among young adults

Obesity is taking a hefty toll on the health of children and young adults, leaving more Americans facing the burden of a lifetime of diabetes care and management.

27 Nov 2007

HHS launches childhood obesity prevention initiative

First Lady Laura Bush saluted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' new Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative, announced today at the National Prevention Summit, which targets obesity prevention and the promotion of healthy weight for children.

27 Nov 2007

More youth with diabetes hospitalized, costing billions

Obesity is taking a hefty toll on the health of children and young adults, leaving more Americans facing the burden of a lifetime of diabetes care and management.

27 Nov 2007

Being overweight bad for bone health

Being overweight is a known risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and a host of other health conditions.

27 Nov 2007

Active parents raise active children

Parents who are active during pregnancy and early in their child's life tend to raise more active children, finds a study published on bmj.com.

27 Nov 2007

Working mums and overweight kids: is there a link?

New research from the University of Bristol shows that children aged between 5 and 7, whose mothers work full time, are more likely to be overweight at age 16.

22 Nov 2007

Childhood obesity could be tackled with just positive parenting

Strategies for decreasing a child's risk for obesity often focus on improving eating habits and maintaining a high level of physical activity.

14 Nov 2007

The slimmer the better when it comes to avoiding cancer

A new study which has analysed 40 years of international research has revealed that maintaining a healthy weight is essential to preventing cancer.

4 Nov 2007

Watching TV found to be linked to obesity and now hypertension in kids

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego; the Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego; the University of California, San Francisco; and the University of South Alabama determined that television viewing is not only linked to childhood obesity, but also to hypertension in children, according to a study published in the December 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

31 Oct 2007

How body image is perceived across different ethnic backgrounds

Different cultures have different standards and norms for appropriate body size and shape, which can effect how children perceive their body image.

24 Oct 2007

Exercise improves thinking and reduces diabetes in overweight kids

Just three months of daily, vigorous physical activity in overweight children improves their thinking and reduces their diabetes risk, researchers say.

22 Oct 2007

Children who are obese or who are at risk for obesity show early signs of heart disease

Childhood obesity in the United States is an epidemic -- nationwide, 19 percent of children ages 6 to 11 and 17 percent of those 12 to 19 are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those who are overweight during childhood also have an increased risk of obesity in adulthood and are at greater risk for complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, because obesity increases total blood volume, which leads to extra stress on the heart.

18 Oct 2007