Childhood Obesity News and Research

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PCORI awards $93.5M to patient-powered research networks to boost efficiency of health research

A network of children's hospitals, data partners, and specialty networks led by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was recently approved for an award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to develop and expand its work as part of PCORnet: the National Patient-Centered National Clinical Research Network.

28 Dec 2013

Nutritional value of food advertised on children's TV programs is worse, shows study

The nutritional value of food and drinks advertised on children's television programs is worse than food shown in ads during general air time, according to University of Illinois at Chicago researchers.

17 Dec 2013

Campbell Healthy Communities Programs continue to build healthier life for Camden residents

Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) continues to advance its efforts to measurably improve the health of young people in its hometown of Camden.

11 Dec 2013

Scientists study genetic, social and dietary factors influencing child obesity

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Now, an extensive and long-term research project aims at identifying the causes of this dramatic increase. In a study including 16.000 children from across Europe and spanning over several years, scientists are now trying to determine possible genetic and social factors influencing obesity in children.

11 Dec 2013

Study links genetic predisposition to childhood obesity

Research has suggested that a particular gene in the brain's reward system contributes to overeating and obesity in adults. This same variant has now been linked to childhood obesity and tasty food choices, particularly for girls, according to a new study by Dr. Patricia Silveira and Prof. Michael Meaney of McGill University and Dr. Robert Levitan of the University of Toronto.

27 Nov 2013

Longer looks: Parents' crusade on rare diseases; fighting obesity; experts' view of alternative medicine

In the beginning, Chris Hempel noticed the clumsiness. Her girls tripped over toys on the floor. Their grandfather said he couldn't teach them to pedal their tricycles. … The Hempels learned of people who called themselves citizen-scientists. Many shared research papers and their day-to-day experience. Some talked of their willingness to try any promising drug. Others sought a role as equal partners with researchers. Scientists, while sympathetic, generally believe their work should be left to experts. Families are encouraged to raise money if they want to help, but the traditional view is that amateurs can't shape research or find cures. The Hempels found a maddening gap between the search for scientific knowledge and the search for treatments (Amy Docker Marcus, 11/2013).

22 Nov 2013

Smaller bowl sizes may be next weapon in battle against childhood obesity

Smaller bowl sizes may be the next weapon in the battle against childhood obesity, says a new Cornell study published this week in the Journal of Pediatrics which found children not only ask for more food to fill larger bowls, but they also eat 52 percent more.

20 Nov 2013

Kids' cardiovascular fitness declines around the globe, shows study

Many kids don't run as far or fast as their parents did, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013.

20 Nov 2013

When schools adopt healthful nutrition policies and practices, kids' diets improve

When schools adopt healthful nutrition policies and practices, kids' diets improve. According to new research led by Michigan State University and published in the current issue of Childhood Obesity, when schools offered snacks in lunchtime a la carte or vending that were mostly or entirely healthful, students responded with improvements in their diets, said Katherine Alaimo, MSU associate professor of food, science and human nutrition.

15 Nov 2013

Aerobic exercise may be superior to resistance exercise for obese teen girls

Obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the United States in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The growing rate of childhood obesity is a major health concern since overweight and obese youth are at increased risk of developing several diseases once considered reserved for adults. These new pediatric diseases include type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver, potentially impairing its function over time.

8 Nov 2013

Web-based, at-home interventions help mothers address behaviors to protect against childhood obesity

Never underestimate the power of Mom when it comes to influencing children's health. University of Cincinnati research explains how motherly influence could be even more effective when supported by Web-based parent education programs.

6 Nov 2013

Study examines impact of sleep on children's eating behaviors

It seems everyone is looking for a culprit when it comes to childhood obesity: fast food, sugary drinks, super-sized everything. But it turns out part of the blame may lie with the simple matter of turning out the lights and rolling into bed.

4 Nov 2013

Healthy weight: The key to a healthy heart

A healthy weight is the key to a healthy heart, and yet an estimated 1 out of 3 children is either overweight or obese in the U.S. During a special symposium Oct. 27 at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, pediatricians discussed obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, public health policy, and how physicians can partner with families to improve children's weight.

28 Oct 2013

AAP National Conference to highlight innovative, successful to prevent and treat childhood obesity

A special session at the 2013 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando will highlight innovative, successful ways pediatricians are working to prevent and treat childhood obesity.

25 Oct 2013

Special issue highlights crucial problem of obesity in children and adolescents

New studies of factors affecting the risk of obesity in children and adolescents—as well as promising approaches to prevention and treatment—are assembled in the special October Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

23 Oct 2013

Sugary drink consumption among young children spikes 8% in California

While consumption of soda and other sugary drinks among young children in California is starting to decline, a new study released today shows an alarming 8 percent spike among adolescents, the biggest consumers of these beverages.

19 Oct 2013

Researchers to present latest findings in emergency medicine research at ACEP13-Scientific Assembly

Leading researchers in emergency medicine will present more than 400 studies during ACEP13-Scientific Assembly, the annual meeting of the American College of Emergency Physicians in Seattle, Washington.

15 Oct 2013

NUS, A*STAR establish joint center to study role of nutrition and development in health, disease in Asia

The National University of Singapore (NUS) and A*STAR will be jointly establishing the S$148 million Singapore Centre for Nutritional Sciences, Metabolic Diseases, and Human Development (SiNMeD).

11 Oct 2013

Regular five-meal pattern associated with reduced risk of obesity

A regular eating pattern may protect adolescents from obesity, according to a Finnish population-based study with more than 4,000 participants. When eating five meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks - a day, even those with a genetic predisposition to obesity had no higher body mass index (BMI) than their controls.

3 Oct 2013

Study shows PTSD increases individual's risk of metabolic syndrome

People suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and death. A new study involving a comprehensive review of the medical literature shows that PTSD also increases an individual's risk of metabolic syndrome.