Trends In Childhood Obesity Research Articles

Childhood Overweight, Obesity, and the Metabolic Syndrome in Developing Countries

The incidence of chronic disease is escalating much more rapidly in developing countries than in industrialized countries. A potential emerging public health issue may be the increasing incidence of childhood obesity in developing countries and the resulting socioeconomic and public health burden faced by these countries in the near future. In a systematic review carried out through an electronic search of the literature from 1950-2007, the author compared data from surveys on the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome among children living in developing countries. The highest prevalence of childhood overweight was found in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, whereas India and Sri Lanka had the lowest prevalence. The few studies conducted in developing countries showed a considerably high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among youth. These findings provide alarming data for health professionals and policy-makers about the extent of these problems in developing countries, many of which are still grappling with malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Time trends in childhood obesity and its metabolic consequences, defined by uniform criteria, should be monitored in developing countries in order to obtain useful insights for primordial and primary prevention of the upcoming chronic disease epidemic in such communities.

Secular Trends in Childhood Obesity in Denmark During 50 Years in Relation to Economic Growth

Our aim was to examine whether secular trends in childhood overweight and obesity during five decades could be explained by economic growth. Annual measurements of height and weight were available for all children born between 1930 and 1983 attending primary school in the Copenhagen Municipality: 165,389 boys and 163,609 girls from the age of 7 through 13 years. After computerization, we calculated BMI (kg/m2) and estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity, according to international age- and gender-specific criteria, by year of birth and of measurement, and separately by each age group and gender. Economic growth was indicated by the Gross National Product and the overall consumption per capita, adjusted for inflation. The prevalence of overweight occurred in phases: an increase from 1930 until the 1950s, followed by a plateau period between the 1950s and the 1960s and a steep increase thereafter. This pattern was apparent across all age groups and in both genders. Obesity trends showed a similar phase pattern; the prevalence remained relatively stable from 1930 until the 1940s, increased until the mid-1950s, followed by a plateau until 1965, and thereafter a second steep increase. Obesity trends were similar among boys across all age groups, although only among girls from 11 to 13 years of age. In both genders, increments were most pronounced in the upper BMI percentiles. After stagnation until 1947, the economic growth indicators showed a steady increase; i.e., after the first increase started in overweight and obesity, whether analyzed by year of birth or year of measurement, there were no indications of phases in the rise thereafter. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Danish children rose in phases, which were not paralleled by trends in economic growth. The macroeconomic growth indicators seem inappropriate as proxies for the environmental exposures that have elicited the obesity epidemic.

Tackling obesity at schools in Birmingham

The Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust joins forces with Aston Villa football club to address the worrying trend in childhood obesity. The innovative Villa Vitality project teaches children about making healthy choices and helps to make children adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Epidemic of Childhood Obesity: Implications for Kidney Disease

Childhood obesity has become a global epidemic. Childhood obesity has many long-term adverse effects on morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has risen dramatically in the past decade in parallel with the increase in obesity. Our current understanding of the consequences of childhood obesity on kidney function and disease is very limited. The present study presents the worldwide trends in childhood obesity and reviews published studies that have examined the association between obesity and kidney disease in the pediatric and adult populations. A large number of studies have been conducted to examine the association between obesity and kidney disease in general adult populations; however, few have been conducted to examine the impact of childhood obesity on the risk of kidney disease. Findings from large cohort studies in adult general populations show that obesity increases the risk of kidney diseases. Six follow-up studies in pediatric patients were identified, and they indicate that childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of kidney disease and the progression and mortality of kidney disease. Future studies in the pediatric populations are needed.

The nutritional quality of foods advertised on UK children's TV

With the increasing trend of childhood obesity, concerns have been raised about the influence of food advertising on children's eating habits. This paper describes a content analysis of food advertising on UK terrestrial children's television and of the nutritional quality of the food products advertised.

Secular Trends in Overweight and Obesity among Japanese Children and Adolescents

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased worldwide. It is a major public health concern in Japan as well. There are, however, few studies on the trends of childhood obesity in Japan. PURPOSE: To examine the trends of overweight and obesity in Japanese youth using international BMI cutoffs. METHODS: In Japan, a large-scale nationwide, cross- sectional survey has been carried out every year under the direction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Standing height and body mass are measured in the survey, and the frequency matrices on height (every 1 cm) and mass (every 1 kg), but not the raw data, have been published. For the present study, we used the matrix data for 5-, 8-, 11-, 14-, and 17-year-old males and females from the 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003 surveys. The body mass index (BMI) in each cell of the matrix was calculated from the body mass (kg) of the cell divided by square of the standing height (m) of the cell. Then the BMI of each cell was compared with sex- and age-specific international BMI cutoffs presented by Cole et al (2000). When the BMI of a cell exceeded the international cutoffs for overweight or obesity, we identified the subjects included in that cell as overweight or obese, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were obtained from the sum of frequencies included in the cells where the BMI exceeded the international cutoffs. RESULTS: The percentage (%) of overweight and obesity increased over the 25 years, as shown in the Table. The highest percentages were seen at age 11 for overweight and at age 8 for obesity in 2003, for both males and females. Mean values for standing height, body mass, and BMI gradually increased over time. However, the modes of BMI were almost constant during the 25 years, suggesting that the increasing percentage of youth having high BMI above a cutoff is not attributed to secular increase in body size or secular trends towards earlier maturation.TableCONCLUSION: A substantial increase over time in overweight and obesity was observed in Japanese youth, particularly for younger children aged 8 and 11 years.

The TRENDS Project: development of a methodology to reliably monitor the obesity epidemic in childhood

Aims: The government has set a target to halt the rise in childhood obesity in those aged under 11 by 2010, but no system is in place to ascertain if...

Obesity and Overweight Prevalence in Polish 7‐ to 9‐Year‐Old Children

Secular trend in childhood obesity is a well-known phenomenon, and it is important to monitor it in cross-sectional studies. The study aim was to estimate prevalence of obesity and overweight in Polish 7- to 9-year-old children and to compare the results with a French study based on the same protocol. The study was conducted in 2001 according to the protocol of the European Childhood Obesity Group. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated to define nutritional status in a randomly selected group of 2916 (1445 girls and 1471 boys) primary school children. Obesity and overweight were estimated according to International Obesity Task Force references with curve for obesity and overweight passing through 30 and 25 kg/m(2) at age 18, respectively. Overweight (including obesity) was found in 15.4% of Polish children (in 15.8% of girls and 15.0% of boys) and obesity in 3.6% (3.7% of girls and 3.6% of boys) compared with 18.1% of overweight and 3.8% of obese children in French study. There was no significant difference in nutrition status between Polish and French children except for higher frequency of overweight in French 9-year-old boys. The same trend of decreasing overweight through age classes was observed in both populations. The prevalence of obesity and overweight (including obesity) in prepubertal children estimated in two European countries according to the same protocol and using the same references showed little differences between the two populations despite higher prevalence of obesity in Polish than French adults.

Obesity in children and young people: a crisis in public health.

Ten per cent of the world’s school-aged children are estimated to be carrying excess body fat (Fig. 1), with an increased risk for developing chronic disease. Of these overweight children, a quarter are obese, with a significant likelihood of some having multiple risk factors for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and a variety of other co-morbidities before or during early adulthood. The prevalence of overweight is dramatically higher in economically developed regions, but is rising significantly in most parts of the world. In many countries the problem of childhood obesity is worsening at a dramatic rate. Surveys during the 1990s show that in Brazil and the USA, an additional 0.5% of the entire child population became overweight each year. In Canada, Australia and parts of Europe the rates were higher, with an additional 1% of all children becoming overweight each year. The burden upon the health services cannot yet be estimated. Although childhood obesity brings a number of additional problems in its train – hyperinsulinaemia, poor glucose tolerance and a raised risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea, social exclusion and depression – the greatest health problems will be seen in the next generation of adults as the present childhood obesity epidemic passes through to adulthood. Greatly increased rates of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis, endocrine disorders and other obesityrelated conditions will be found in young adult populations, and their need for medical treatment may last for their remaining life-times. The costs to the health services, the losses to society and the burdens carried by the individuals involved will be great. The present report has been written to focus attention on the issue and to urge policy-makers to consider taking action before it is too late. Specifically, the report:

Childhood Obesity Among Punjabi Children in Relation to Physical Activity and Their Blood Profile

The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing during the last three decades and child obesity accounts for nearly 30 percent of all adult obesity. Obesity occurs when a positive balance develops between the energy intake and expenditure. Obese children spend less time in physical activity more time in sedentary activities and rest. Higher amounts of physical activity have the potential to protect against obesity through the maintenance of energy balance and thus prevention of accumulation of excess adipose tissue. Obesity is greater among children and adolescents who frequently watched television not only because little energy was expended while viewing TV but also because of concurrent consumption of high calorie snacks. There is a strong relation of obesity to higher BP and fasting insulin and lipid concentrations in children and young adults. Childhood obesity has emerged only recently in India unlike in the West where it existed for a long time. Obesity in children as young as two years onwards have been reported from the Indian population. Since there is increase in the trend of childhood obesity the present study was undertaken to assess childhood obesity among Punjabi children in relation to physical activity and their blood profile. (excerpt)

Childhood obesity and the role of physical activity.

Similar to adult obesity, childhood obesity has recently become a serious threat to public health. Children face the same environmental and lifestyle challenges that have made high energy dense food and drink increasingly available and opportunities for energy expenditure through transport and active play less likely. Governments are becoming concerned but research has been under funded, is relatively scarce in the UK and has provided little sound evidence on which to base interventions. Physical activity seems to be declining and there is some evidence that time spent in sedentary pursuits such as TV watching is increasing and that this may be related to obesity. However, not all children are inactive and it may be more fruitful to independently examine different elements of activity such as play, walking and cycling as transport, organised sports, and active jobs so that children's profiles of activity can be mapped on an individual and group level. Recent research using accelerometry is providing insight into those elements which produce significant energy expenditure in a child's daily routine. The school and the structure to the school day appear particularly important. It is also likely that attention will need to be paid to parenting--the anxieties that parents demonstrate when making decisions about the freedom of their child to be active. Furthermore, without neighbourhoods that are safe and attractive for activity it is unlikely that levels will be increased. For physical activity to contribute to reversing the trend in childhood obesity, a multi-factorial and multi-agency solution will be required that involves schools, the home, the neighbourhood and considered local planning and provision.

Trends & Prospects

Biotech Start-ups Looking for Foreign Funding. Alarming Trends in Childhood Obesity and Diabetes. Asian Scientists to Develop Water-less “Aerobic” Rice.

Selections from current literature. Treatment issues in childhood obesity.

Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in the USA and is a growing problem in developed countries. It is associated with a number of co-morbidities, such as coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, gall bladder disease and sleep apnoea. The health care cost associated with obesity in US adults is estimated to be 100 billion dollars annually.1 Trends in childhood obesity are paralleling those of adult obesity, with ~25% of American children either overweight or obese.2 Childhood obesity is associated with increased risk factors, such as high cholesterol and hypertension, for chronic illness in adulthood, and with increased presentation of co-morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, in early adolescence.3,4 These trends in childhood obesity are global, with increasing prevalence in Russia, China and Brazil, as well as the USA. Wang suggests that this trend will lead to a rise in global rates of obesity-related diseases.1 Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys reveal that the prevalence of adult and childhood obesity increased substantially over a single decade. This increase cannot, therefore, be attributed to changes in the genetic makeup of the population. The rapid rate of increase in the prevalence of obesity must be due to the interaction between genetic predispositions and changes in the environment, such as decreased opportunities for physical activity and increased availability of calorically dense foods.5 Such trends speak to the need for family-based behavioural weight management programmes, since families share genetic predispositions, as well as environments. This article reviews the current literature, specifically examining family-based treatment programmes, types of dietary interventions and macronutrient issues. Epstein laid the groundwork for family-based behavioural treatments with his landmark 1990 publication in which he compares 10-year follow-up data on three family treatment programmes. Golan and colleagues continue work in this area. They examine not only changes in children’s weight resulting from family-based behavioural programmes focused on children’s weight loss, but also changes in parents’ weight and cardiovascular risk factors. Lastly, Spieth and colleagues explore the hotly debated topic of dietary macronutrient content and glycaemic index in the context of behavioural change programmes. This article concludes with recommendations for family physicians in their work with obese children and their families.