Childhood Obesity News and Research

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State roundup: Immigration proposal could mean big state health care costs

Making immigrants ineligible for public health benefits -- at least initially -- under proposed immigration law changes would push the costs of health care from the federal government to states and counties, said Sonal Ambegaokar, a health policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center.

18 Apr 2013

RWJF awards grant to UCLA pediatrician to study dietary behaviors that lead to childhood obesity

Dr. Alma Guerrero, assistant professor of pediatrics at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), to research racial and ethnic disparities in dietary behaviors that lead to obesity among California children and examine the family and neighborhood factors associated with these dietary behaviors.

10 Apr 2013

Study shows genetics could play a role in exercise motivation

Studies show 97 percent of American adults get less than 30 minutes of exercise a day, which is the minimum recommended amount based on federal guidelines. New research from the University of Missouri suggests certain genetic traits may predispose people to being more or less motivated to exercise and remain active.

9 Apr 2013

Stricter school meal nutrition standards linked with better weight status among students

A study suggests that states with stricter school meal nutrition standards were associated with better weight status among students who received free or reduced-price lunches compared with students who did not eat school lunches, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics, a JAMA Network publication.

9 Apr 2013

Researchers identify four genes newly associated with severe childhood obesity

Researchers have identified four genes newly associated with severe childhood obesity. They also found an increased burden of rare structural variations in severely obese children.

8 Apr 2013

Brown University professor awarded grant to study childhood obesity among Southeast Asians

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's leading philanthropy on health and health care, has awarded Akilah Dulin Keita, Brown University Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, a 24-month grant through the New Connections program.

6 Apr 2013

Roundtable Discussion offers novel strategies, solutions to control childhood obesity

The battle to control the childhood obesity epidemic is being fought on many levels. It could benefit from targeted programs and funding to support and integrate worksite and school-based health promotion initiatives.

5 Apr 2013

Study demonstrates effectiveness of guided self-help treatment program for overweight children

It is known that family-based treatment that combines nutrition and exercise education, along with behavior modification, is a good approach to help children lose weight. But clinic-based weight-control programs for childhood obesity are not accessible to many families, due to issues such as cost or time commitment.

1 Apr 2013

State roundup: Calif. report card shows improved care for kids

The latest developments in health policy from California, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas.

29 Mar 2013

Educated parents promote healthy eating habits, prevent childhood obesity

Almost 15,000 children aged between two and nine years old took part in the study. The level of education of parents has an influence on the frequency with which their children eat foods linked to obesity. The children of parents with low and medium levels of education eat fewer vegetables and fruit and more processed products and sweet drinks.

28 Mar 2013

Genetic variants influence childhood obesity, say researchers

Previous research has shown that obesity runs in families, and twin studies suggest that this is largely due to genetic factors, with heritability estimates over 50%.

27 Mar 2013

University of Michigan poll shows most parents don't always follow pediatrician's advice

Pediatricians regularly dispense advice to parents of young children during well-child visits, but a new University of Michigan poll shows that many aren't following doctors' orders.

19 Mar 2013

Study highlights policy adherence, promotional efforts of water intake in child care settings

Support is needed in child care centers to help meet existing water policies and new water requirements included in the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, according to a study published by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.

7 Mar 2013

Funding opportunity for schools to implement innovative programs targeting childhood obesity announced by first lady Michelle Obama

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center's CHALK/Just Move program is one of three programs selected by ChildObesity180, a national organization comprising public, nonprofit, academic, and private-sector leaders, for its Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP). An opportunity for schools across the country to apply for a grant to implement one of the three model programs was announced today in Chicago, with first lady Michelle Obama, as part of her "Let's Move! Active Schools" campaign.

1 Mar 2013

Loyola to reach more than 200 students on Mar.11 with classroom presentations on healthy snacks

Students at Proviso East High School will soon have the opportunity to learn about the importance of healthy snacking during National Nutrition Month in March. Loyola University Chicago dietetic intern, Sara Casey, will reach more than 200 students on Monday, March 11, with classroom presentations on healthy snacks to help students feel and perform their best.

1 Mar 2013

Links between aerobic fitness, BMI and academic performance in children

Although the long-term consequences of childhood obesity are well documented, some school districts have reduced physical education classes to devote more time to the 3 Rs in education-reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, there is new evidence that leaving out an important fourth R-aerobics-could actually be counterproductive for increasing test scores.

1 Mar 2013

Viewpoints: Michelle Obama makes a business case for healthy food; Orszag weighs reforms to Medical malpractice

For years, America's childhood obesity crisis was viewed as an insurmountable problem, one that was too complicated and too entrenched to ever really solve. According to the conventional wisdom, healthy food simply didn't sell-;the demand wasn't there and higher profits were found elsewhere-;so it just wasn't worth the investment. But thanks to businesses across the country, today we are proving the conventional wisdom wrong.

28 Feb 2013

Lunchroom makeover improves children’s diet

Making fruits and vegetables more attractive in high school cafeterias and lunchrooms can help increase their consumption among students, say researchers.

28 Feb 2013

Small, inexpensive changes to school cafeterias influence choice and consumption of healthier foods

In January 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture passed a series of regulations designed to make school lunches more nutritious, which included requiring schools to increase whole grain offerings and making students select either a fruit or vegetable with their purchased lunch. However, children cannot be forced to eat these healthier lunches.

22 Feb 2013

Central College to study effects of triclosan on heart rate

How often does a heart beat? For a zebrafish, it depends on the water it's swimming in. Ellen Du Pre, professor of biology at Central College, is working with four students, as well as biology colleague Nicole Palenske, to study the effects of triclosan on heart rate. The tiny fish, which can be as small as an eyelash when newly hatched, is transparent, and the students can easily count the heart beats under a microscope.

16 Feb 2013

Childhood Obesity News and Research

State roundup: Immigration proposal could mean big state health care costs

RWJF awards grant to UCLA pediatrician to study dietary behaviors that lead to childhood obesity

Study shows genetics could play a role in exercise motivation

Stricter school meal nutrition standards linked with better weight status among students

Researchers identify four genes newly associated with severe childhood obesity

Brown University professor awarded grant to study childhood obesity among Southeast Asians

Roundtable Discussion offers novel strategies, solutions to control childhood obesity

Study demonstrates effectiveness of guided self-help treatment program for overweight children

State roundup: Calif. report card shows improved care for kids

Educated parents promote healthy eating habits, prevent childhood obesity

Genetic variants influence childhood obesity, say researchers

University of Michigan poll shows most parents don't always follow pediatrician's advice

Study highlights policy adherence, promotional efforts of water intake in child care settings

Funding opportunity for schools to implement innovative programs targeting childhood obesity announced by first lady Michelle Obama

Loyola to reach more than 200 students on Mar.11 with classroom presentations on healthy snacks

Links between aerobic fitness, BMI and academic performance in children

Viewpoints: Michelle Obama makes a business case for healthy food; Orszag weighs reforms to Medical malpractice

Lunchroom makeover improves children’s diet

Small, inexpensive changes to school cafeterias influence choice and consumption of healthier foods

Central College to study effects of triclosan on heart rate

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