Awareness Of Childhood Obesity Research Articles

Obesity and metabolic syndrome in children in Brazil: The challenge of lifestyle change.

The purpose of this observational study was to examine the prevalence of obesity in children of 6 to 8 years of age from primary public schools over a period of 6 years and the associated environmental and metabolic health risk factors.This was a cohort observational study to investigate the prevalence of obesity in children from 14 state primary schools in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo state. Environmental and metabolic health risk factors for obesity were investigated in a cross-sectional survey.This present study revealed 74.0% of children with obesity consumed fried foods and sweets at school, and 84.0% consumed snacks and soft drinks at home. This cohort reported to have engaged in physical activity for less than 3 hours per week at school (93.0%) and at home (85.0%). There was a high prevalence of increased waist circumference and insulin resistance among children with obesity (84.9% and 84.5%, respectively). The body mass index had a significant Spearman correlation with waist circumference, insulin resistance, and triglycerides.Childhood obesity was associated with a high prevalence of both environmental and metabolic risk factors. Also, the authors conclude that the lack of parents’ awareness of childhood obesity and its risk factors represents a substantial barrier to lifestyle counseling.

A 5-year longitudinal analysis of modifiable predictors for outdoor play and screen-time of 2- to 5-year-olds.

BackgroundEarly childhood is a critical time for establishing physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Identifying modifiable predictors of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in the early life stages can inform the development of early intervention programs. The aim of this study was to identify modifiable predictors of outdoor play (a proxy of physical activity) and screen-time in 2- to 5-year-olds.MethodsA longitudinal data analysis was conducted using 5-year follow-up data from the Healthy Beginnings Trial undertaken in Sydney, Australia from 2007 to 2013. A total of 667 pregnant women were recruited for the study. Information on mothers’ demographics, physical activity, screen-time, knowledge of child development, and awareness of childhood obesity during pregnancy (at baseline); children’s tummy time (a colloquial term describing the time when a baby is placed on his or her stomach while awake and supervised) at 6 months old and screen-time at 1 year old was collected via interviews with participating mothers as potential modifiable predictors. Main outcomes were children’s outdoor playtime and screen-time at ages 2, 3.5, and 5 years. Mixed linear and logistic regression models were built to determine these modifiable predictors.ResultsMothers’ screen-time during pregnancy (β = 2.1, 95 % CI 0.17–4.12; P = 0.030) and children’s daily screen-time at age 1 year (β = 15.2, 95 % CI 7.28–23.11; P < 0.0001) predicted children’s daily screen-time across ages 2 to 5 years after controlling for confounding factors. Practising tummy time daily (β = 13.4, 95 % CI 1.26–25.52; P = 0.030), mother’s physical activity level (β = 3.9, 95 % CI 0.46–7.28; P = 0.026), and having been informed about playing with child at baseline (β = 11.6, 95 % CI 1.56–21.54; P = 0.023) predicted children’s outdoor playtime across ages 2 to 5 years.ConclusionsMothers played an important role in their children’s outdoor play and screen-time in the first years of live. Children’s early exposure to screen devices could be associated with their later screen-time. Early interventions to improve young children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour should focus on improving pregnant women’s physical activity, awareness of playing with their child, reducing their own screen-time as well as practicing daily tummy time for infants after giving birth.Trial registrationThe Healthy Beginnings Trial is registered with the Australian Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRNO12607000168459). Registered 13 March 2007. Prospectively registered.

Parents′ perception of children′s obesity, in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives:Although the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased significantly in Saudi Arabia, parents are unable to appreciate obesity in their child. The objective of the study was to identify the percentage of parents who misclassify the status of child's weight, and determine whether there is a difference between those parents whose children are overweight and obese and those with children of normal weight.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study included 601 children aged 6-10 years. The children were recruited from the primary schools located in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The body mass index of the children was assessed in the school, and their parents responded to a self-administered questionnaire which contained questions on parental perception of the children's weight/obesity status. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS.Results:Parents with overweight/obese children had significantly more misclassification than those with normal weight children. Ninety percent of parents of the 81 overweight children misclassified and reported that their child had normal weight, while 65% of parents of the 61 obese children, misclassified the child's weight status.Conclusions:The level of misclassification of children's weight status by parents is high. Saudi parents with overweight and obese children do not recognize their child's weight status. Parents’ awareness of childhood obesity and its negative health impact needs to be improved.

Parents' Perceptions of Food Availability: Implications for Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States, with children experiencing chronic adult diseases and poor health outcomes. Focus groups were held with parents of children between 6–12 years of age in three different communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx, New York, to explore their attitudes and practices regarding food availability. Poor food quality and discrimination were the key themes affecting parents' food choices and perceptions of food availability in their neighborhoods. Social workers are in a position to decrease obesity prevalence by supporting childhood obesity policy legislation, designing interventions to increase parental awareness of childhood obesity and the importance of making healthy food choices, and working with parents to improve food quality and availability in their neighborhoods.

Child Health Ecological Surveillance System (CHESS) for childhood obesity: a feasibility study

To assess the feasibility of employing an ecologically guided childhood obesity relevant surveillance system. Cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 31 organizational representatives across 28 unique organizations and/or departments from three purposively sampled communities in the Capital Health Region in Alberta, Canada. All the organizational representatives surveyed reported awareness of childhood obesity and 36% reported participation in child obesity initiatives. Data to support a surveillance system are available but not in a suitable format, and privacy legislation present significant barriers. Interest in developing and sustaining an ecologically based surveillance system was low (18%). Due to the heterogeneity of available data and limited vision for the development and implementation of a surveillance system, the application of an ecologically based surveillance system relevant to childhood obesity may be constrained. Broad-based awareness of childhood obesity by a wide range of organizations could assist in establishing an effective coalition to address this issue over the long term by supporting the establishment of a surveillance system.

New insights into the field of children and adolescents' obesity: the European perspective.

The problem of childhood obesity is accelerating throughout the world. The following is a position paper from The European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) that outlines the nature of the problem of childhood obesity along with treatment and prevention methods available today. The paucity of literature on prevention and treatment of obesity in children as documented in this paper points out the need for much additional research on obesity in children. The awareness of childhood obesity as a major health problem and an uncontrolled worldwide epidemic has to be increased in the society. In order to improve the quality of the health care and to minimize the cost it is important to investigate and standardize pediatric obesity prevention and treatment and to adapt to social and cultural aspects. Obesity is the result of excess body fat. The different norms and definitions in Europe and the US is described and clarified. However, the available methods for the direct measurement of body fat are not easily used in daily practice. For this reason, obesity is often assessed by means of indirect estimates of body fat, that is, anthropometrics. There are essentially six relevant levels, which could be involved in prevention of child and adolescent obesity: family (child, parents, siblings, etc), schools, health professionals, government, industry and media. Evidence-based health promotion programs has to be given a high priority. Government should encourage media increase information about healthy nutrition and to avoid the marketing of unhealthy foods including sweet drinks, for example, in TV. Many different approaches of treatments of obesity have been investigated, including diet, exercise, behavioral therapy, surgery, and medication. None have been found to be effective enough as sole tools in children. This has led to focus on multidisciplinary programs especially involving families. Behavioral cognitive therapy is effective in treating childhood obesity as is family therapy. Surgery and drug treatment cannot be recommended without additional research. Clinicians should consider the various factors that can influence body composition. It is important to know and to follow nutritional factors, energy intake and composition of the diet, nutrition and hormonal status, food preferences and behavior, and the influence of non-nutritional factors. We recommend that obesity should be the major priority both in the health care system, on the scientific level and for future political actions.