Childhood Obesity News and Research

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Waist measurement a better guide to obesity

New research by Canadian scientists suggests that doctors should add a tape measure to their key diagnostic tool kit.

10 Apr 2007

Liposuction and tummy tucks are not the answer for obese kids

In light of recent media coverage on teenagers seeking surgical options to lose weight, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) cautions that liposuction and tummy tucks are inappropriate procedures for weight loss.

5 Apr 2007

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy directly associated with having an overweight child

Pregnant women who gain excessive or even appropriate weight, according to current guidelines, are four times more likely than women who gain inadequate weight to have a baby who becomes overweight in early childhood.

2 Apr 2007

Just 15 minutes of exercise lowers a child's chances of being obese by almost 50 per cent

Everyone knows children are getting fatter and that both a poor diet and a lack of exercise are to blame. But, what researchers have been unable to discover until now, is exactly how major a role activity plays in the battle to keep obesity at bay.

21 Mar 2007

Obesity epidemic fuelling premature puberty in girls

Researchers in the United States say girls who are overweight at the age of three run the risk of reaching puberty as early as nine years old and warn that the obesity crisis is now affecting children's development.

5 Mar 2007

Low-GI diets could prevent obesity in babies

According to a study undertaken by scientists from the University of Sydney, a pregnant woman's diet could predispose her unborn baby to obesity.

28 Feb 2007

Living in green neighborhoods or close to grocery stores associated with reduced risk of being overweight

...according to a study of more than 7,000 children ages 3 to 18 conducted by researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine; the Department of Geography, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; and the University of Cincinnati.

26 Feb 2007

Lack of sleep a factor in childhood obesity

According to the latest research not getting enough sleep can increase a child's risk of being overweight.

7 Feb 2007

Current obesity prevention campaigns not hitting the mark with parents

Researchers with Deakin's Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research surveyed more than 1200 families to find out if parents had concerns about their children's weight and if they took any preventative action to avoid obesity in their children.

5 Feb 2007

Poor mums more likely to become obese

A new study in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, reveals how women from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds are most at risk of developing maternal obesity.

4 Feb 2007

Children being set up for heart disease later on in life

A new study by Canadian researchers says that clogged arteries show up in children, and fatty diets and a lack of exercise are setting children up for heart problems later on in life.

13 Nov 2006

Tubby tummies in kids increase the risk of serious disease later on

A new study by American researchers has found that between 1988 and 2004 abdominal obesity increased more than 65 percent among boys and almost 70 percent among girls.

7 Nov 2006

Bill clinches deal with snack food companies

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has convinced some companies to improve the quality of food available in schools in the U.S. and to make school snacks healthier.

8 Oct 2006

Fortune Magazine profile Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

Fortune Magazine recently profiled former President Clinton and his involvement in the global battle against HIV/AIDS, including the work of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative.

18 Sep 2006

Report on childhood obesity calls for more investment, leadership and commitment

A report by the the National Academies' Institute of Medicine (IOM) released this week on childhood obesity, says that despite the public and media focus on obesity, not a great deal of progress appears to have been made.

18 Sep 2006

Global action needed to protect children from junk food ads on the internet

An international conference on obesity in Sydney, Australia, has heard that children are being targeted by junk food manufacturers through internet advertising, chat rooms, text messages and "advergames" on websites.

6 Sep 2006

Feeding your baby foods made with real fruits and vegetables early in life key to controlling their waistline as they grow older

Already, years of research has shown that breastfeeding does protect against obesity risk later in life. With that in mind, Lumeng encourages new moms to make their best effort at breastfeeding, and to seek help from their pediatrician or a lactation consultant if they experience any difficulty.

5 Sep 2006