Increasing Rates Of Obesity Research Articles

Fertility-preserving treatment in women with early endometrial cancer: the Chinese experience.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common malignant tumor of the female reproductive tract in developed countries and the second most common gynecologic malignancy in China. Although EC is most often diagnosed in postmenopausal women, the increase in obesity rates and other lifestyle changes has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of EC among younger women. Approximately 4% of patients are diagnosed before the age of 40 years and before having given birth. Such patients may have a strong desire to preserve their fertility despite oncologic risks and thus may be reluctant to undergo standard treatment for EC, which includes hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and surgical staging. Therefore, more conservative treatment approaches may need to be discussed, along with their associated oncologic and reproductive outcomes. In fact, various studies have confirmed the effectiveness and safety of conservative treatment in EC. This review aimed to provide a concise yet informative overview of the current status of fertility-preserving treatment for EC in China, as well as to summarize the latest and ongoing research efforts in this area.

Pediatric Hypertension.

The prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension in children and adolescents has increased over the past decade. This trend is most likely related to increases in primary hypertension associated with increasing obesity rates in children. Lifestyle as well as genetics play a significant role in the development of primary hypertension. Hypertension in children and adolescents is under-recognized and undertreated. The 2017 Revised Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents aimed to create new normative blood pressure tables using data from healthy weight children, meaning between the 5th and 85th percentile per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another important objective was to simplify normative data to ease screening and detection of elevated blood pressures. The consequences of chronic hypertension are significant, with its major affect being in poor cardiovascular health outcomes both in childhood and early adulthood. Challenges to detection and adequate treatment should be overcome with continued education and awareness to prevent the long-term effects of uncontrolled hypertension that starts in childhood. [Pediatr Ann. 2018;47(12):e499-e503.].

Adipocytes and Obesity-Related Conditions Jointly Promote Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Motility: Associations With CAP1 for Prognosis.

The global increase in overweight and obesity rates represent pressing public health concerns associated with severe comorbidities, amongst a rising incidence and impaired outcome of breast cancer. Yet, biological explanations for how obesity affects breast cancer are incompletely mapped. Herein, the joint impact by differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obesity-related metabolic conditions on breast cancer cells was evaluated in vitro and adipocyte-derived mediators assessed. Adipokine receptor expression was explored among breast cancer cell lines (n = 47) and primary breast tumors (n = 1,881), where associations with survival outcomes were investigated. Adipocytes and metabolic complications jointly stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation and motility, with phenotype-specific differences. Resistin was among the top modulated adipokines secreted by 3T3-L1 adipocytes under obesity-associated metabolic conditions compared with normal physiology. The newly identified resistin receptor, CAP1, was expressed across a large panel of breast cancer cell lines and primary breast tumors. CAP1 was associated with poor tumor characteristics with higher CAP1 expression among estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors, relative to ER-positive tumors (P = 0.025), and higher histological grades (P = 0.016). High CAP1 tumor expression was associated with shorter overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj] 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–2.13) and relapse-free survival (HRadj 1.47; 95% CI, 1.10–1.96), compared with low or intermediate CAP1 expression, particularly among ER-positive tumors or lymph node positive tumors. Together, these translational data demonstrate that the adipocyte secretome promote breast cancer cell proliferation and motility and highlight a potential role of CAP1 regarding breast cancer outcome—results that warrant further investigation to elucidate the obesity-breast cancer link in human pathology.

Anti-angiogenic isoform of vascular endothelial growth factor-A in cardiovascular and renal disease.

Accumulating evidence suggests that pathologic interactions between the heart and the kidney can contribute to the progressive dysfunction of both organs. Recently, there has been an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to increasing obesity rates. It has been reported that obesity causes various heart and renal disorders and appears to accelerate their progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a major regulator of angiogenesis and vessel permeability, and is associated with CVD and CKD. It is now recognized that alternative VEGF-A gene splicing generates VEGF-A isoforms that differ in their biological actions. Proximal splicing that includes an exon 8a sequence results in pro-angiogenic VEGF-A165a, whereas distal splicing inclusive of exon 8b yields the anti-angiogenic isoform of VEGF-A (VEGF-A165b). This review highlights several recent preclinical and clinical studies on the role of VEGF-A165b in CVD and CKD as a novel function of VEGF-A. This review also discusses potential therapeutic approaches of the use of VEGF-A in clinical settings as a potential circulating biomarker for CVD and CKD.

Parental perceptions of onsite hospital food outlets in a large hospital in the North East of England: A qualitative interview study

BackgroundAddressing the increasing obesity rates in children living in the United Kingdom has become a priority. A public health level approach as opposed to an individual approach is potentially one way forward. The wider food environment should be designed so that the ‘healthier choice’ is the easiest choice; this includes public sector settings such as hospitals. Many hospital outlets sell and promote food and drinks high in sugar, fat and salt undermining health messages developed by the UK National Health Service. Financial incentives have been provided to encourage hospitals to promote healthier food choices; however, few outlets have complied with the targets.The aim of this qualitative interview study was to determine the dietary perceptions and needs of parents whose children attend a large children’s hospital in the North East of England and to identify potential barriers and facilitators to eating healthily in a hospital setting.MethodsEighteen parents whose children attended the hospital as an in- or out-patient were recruited through either ward research nurses, information posters or a parent hospital Facebook page to participate in a one-to-one in-depth interview.ResultsParents reported a lack of affordable healthy options for sale both for themselves and visiting children. Although parents wanted to see more healthy options available for sale they did not feel it was appropriate to ban or restrict sales of any food types. Parents of frequent or long-term in-patients found it difficult to adequately feed themselves.ConclusionsThe ways in which visitors and staff can be encouraged to choose the healthier option in an NHS hospital setting warrants further investigation. The use of ‘nudge theory’, which has gained particular momentum in areas such as health promotion, may be a tool which can be utilised by hospitals to facilitate the promotion of healthy eating.

The Unintended Consequences of Biotechnology Innovation Adoption

The notion that technological innovation can benefit the economic and social well-being of a society is well accepted, but less examined is the potential that the adoption of new technologies may inadvertently lead to adverse effects in society. In this study, we consider the potential effects of adoption of agricultural biotechnology innovation in the context of the U.S. agrarian economy. We also consider the intervening impact of social innovation in the agrarian sector – in the form of certified organic operations — in this framework. Using panel data techniques on a representative sample of U.S. states, we show that increasing the adoption of agricultural biotechnology innovation in a state (i.e. the proportion of planted seeds that are genetically engineered seeds) is associated with increasing food insecurity and increasing obesity rates in a state. Furthermore, the findings indicate that certified organic operations have a positive influence on economic and social well-being. These findings offer initial insights into unforeseen demand side effects of product innovation adoption, while indicating promising avenues for future research and policy.

Relationship between rice consumption and body weight gain in Japanese workers: white versus brown rice/multigrain rice.

Increasing obesity rates have driven research into dietary support for body weight control, but previous studies have only assessed changes in body weight of ±3 kg. We investigated the relationships between white or brown/multi-grain rice consumption and 1-year body weight gain ≥3 kg in Japanese factory workers (n = 437). Routine medical check-up data from a 1-year nutrition and lifestyle cohort study were analysed. Participants were divided into white rice and brown/multi-grain rice consumption groups and further classified by tertile of rice consumption. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed by tertile. At 1 year, high white rice consumption was significantly associated with increased risk of body weight gain ≥3 kg compared with low white rice consumption, maintained after adjustment for age, sex, and consumption of other obesogenic foods (p = 0.034). In the brown/multi-grain rice consumption group, however, there was no significant difference in risk between high and low consumption, even after multi-variate adjustment (p = 0.387). The consumption of white rice, but not brown rice/multi-grain rice, was positively correlated with the risk of a 1-year body weight gain of 3 kg or more. This suggests that brown rice/multi-grain rice consumption is useful for body weight control among Japanese workers.

Co-Morbidities as a Predictor for Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Introduction: Greater than 64 million people in the US have Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), constituting an economic burden of more than $100 billion annually in healthcare costs. Though metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor, there remains uncertainty about the natural history of disease and the interplay of major comorbidities. A better understanding of the progression from NAFLD to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis has major implications for healthcare cost, screening recommendations, evaluation and treatment. Methods: Retrospective review of outpatients between 2008 and 2016 using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Over 500 patients with NAFLD were identified. Those without liver biopsy or incomplete data were excluded. Biopsies were categorized based on the NAFLD activity score (NAS) which is the unweighted sum of the grade of steatosis, lobular inflammation and hepatocellular ballooning. NAS score of 0-2 was classified as non-NASH, 3-4 as borderline steatohepatitis and 5-8 as NASH. Patients with cirrhosis were excluded as NAS is not an accurate representation of severity of liver disease in this population and cirrhotics tend to have low NAS. Chi-square was used for categorical values and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for numerical values. Results: 114 patients were available for review. 60.5% were female, mean age (SD): 54 (12), and 82.4% Caucasian. There was no statistical difference in age, gender, BMI or ethnicity among the three groups. Final analysis revealed a distribution of non-NASH, borderline steatohepatitis and NASH in 8 (70%), 59 (51.7%) and 47 (41.2%), respectively. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) were seen in 4.4% and 1.8% of the population. NAFLD patients with CAD, gallstone disease, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and PCOS were more likely to have borderline steatohepatitis or NASH (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggests that gallstone disease, CAD, OSA, and PCOS, all diseases related to obesity, may have implications in predicting risk for progression of NAFLD to NASH. Evolving our understanding of NAFLD will help mitigate disease progression to fibrosis and cirrhosis, and to target patients at higher risk for developing NASH. NAFLD is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, and its clinical and economic burden will continue to grow with parallel increases in rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Further evaluation with a larger dataset, at multiple institutions, is warranted to validate our results.

Dietary Intake and Obesity among Filipino Americans in New Jersey.

The prevalence of obesity is a public concern and is linked to chronic diseases. Filipino Americans have a high prevalence rate of hypertension and diabetes. This study investigated the dietary intake of first-generation Filipino Americans (n=210). In addition, it provides a comparison of the obesity rates using the International guideline and the WHO Asian recommendation. The dietary intake included caloric, carbohydrate, and fat intake and was determined using the Block Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire. The anthropometric measurements included actual height, weight, and waist measurements. The body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were categorized using the International guideline and the WHO Asian recommendation to determine obesity. The caloric and carbohydrate intake were normal; however, fat intake was increased. The BMI and waist circumference showed substantial difference when using the International and Asian guidelines to determine obesity. The results highlight the increased health risks of Filipino American immigrants including a high dietary fat intake and an increased obesity rate.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Provision of Lifestyle Counseling for Diabetes or Prediabetes With Comorbid Obesity: Analysis of Office-Based Physician Visits Made by Patients 20 Years of Age or Older

Obesity, defined as a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, is one of the most common and costly preventable causes of death in the United States (1–3). Increased prevalence of obesity, which affects an estimated 36.5% of U.S. adults (1), has been linked to a growing risk of morbidity from several medical conditions, including diabetes and heart disease (4). In parallel with increases in obesity rates (4), the age-adjusted percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes increased from 3.6% in 1990 to 8.7% in 2010 (5), and an estimated 9.3% of U.S. adults had diagnosed diabetes in 2015 (6). Prediabetes, another consequence of obesity, affects ∼34% of U.S. adults, placing them at increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular complications (5,7). Of those with prediabetes, only about 12% report having been told by a health care professional that they had the condition (5). A previous analysis of office-based physician visits made by U.S. patients with diabetes in 2005, conducted by Neumiller et al. with data reported in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), found that comorbid obesity increased the likelihood of presenting with concomitant disease states such as heart failure (6.1% for obesity/diabetes visits vs. 4.0% for all diabetes visits), depression (21.2 vs. 10.8%), hyperlipidemia (62.2 vs. 46.3%), and hypertension (71.4 vs. 64.1%) (8). Obesity was also associated with increases in the ordering or provision of lifestyle counseling (e.g., diet/nutrition counseling in 58.8% of obesity/diabetes visits vs. 36.6% of all diabetes visits) (8). Since the time of the study by Neumiller et al., attention to obesity-related health risks has increased, with a focus on the potential for early screening and intervention to prevent disease progression, such as from prediabetes to diabetes or from diabetes to cardiovascular disease (9,10). These trends make it important …

Vinclozolin induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of pathologies and sperm epimutation biomarkers for specific diseases.

Exposure to vinclozolin has been shown to induce the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of increased susceptibility to disease, and to induce transgenerational changes to the epigenome. In the current study, gestating F0 generation rats were exposed to vinclozolin, and the subsequent F1, F2 and transgenerational F3 generations were evaluated for diseases and pathologies. F1 and F2 generation rats exhibited few abnormalities. However, F3 generation rats showed transgenerational increases in testis, prostate, and kidney disease, changes in the age of puberty onset in males, and an increased obesity rate in females. Overall there was an increase in the rate of animals with disease, and in the incidence of animals with multiple diseases. The objective of the current study was to analyze the sperm epigenome of F3 generation rats with specific abnormalities and compare them to rats without those abnormalities, in an effort to find epigenetic biomarkers of transgenerational disease. Unique signatures of differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) in sperm were found that associated with testis disease, prostate disease and kidney disease. Confounding factors identified were the presence of multiple diseases in the analysis and the limited number of animals without disease. These results further our understanding of the mechanisms governing epigenetic transgenerational inheritance, and may lead in the future to the use of epigenetic biomarkers that will help predict an individual’s susceptibility for specific diseases.

Trends in the Prevalence of Diabetes Among U.S. Adults: 1999–2016

The prevalence of diabetes has increased substantially over the past three decades. This study sought to estimate recent trends in the prevalence of diabetes among U.S. adults. This paper estimated trends in the prevalence of diagnosed, undiagnosed, and total diabetes among U.S. adults from 1999-2000 to 2015-2016 (analyzed in 2017). Data come from 42,554 respondents aged ≥20 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diagnosed diabetes was measured through self-report, undiagnosed diabetes was measured as never being diagnosed with diabetes but having glycated hemoglobin levels ≥6.5%, and total diabetes was measured as the sum of individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. In the overall U.S. adult population, the unadjusted prevalence of total diabetes increased from 7.7% in 1999-2000 to 13.3% in 2015-2016 (p<0.001 for trend). Growth was observed for all subgroups, though the rate of change was higher in older adults, racial minorities, and those who were obese compared with their peers. Increasing prevalence among Mexican-American adults was particularly pronounced, rising by 10.1 percentage points during the study period (8.3% to 18.4%, p<0.001). Roughly 40% of the increase in total diabetes was accounted for by changes in the age and rates of obesity in the U.S. From 1999 to 2016, the prevalence of diabetes among U.S. adults increased at a substantial rate. This growth occurred differentially across subgroups, particularly impacting Mexican-American adults, and was driven in large part by population aging and increasing obesity rates.

How a race to the bottom can make you fat

ABSTRACT This article measures the effect of fiscal competition on obesity rates in the United States through education and health spending. We hypothesize that fiscal competition to attract firms results in lower business tax revenues and higher public infrastructure spending which crowds out education and health spending leading to an increase in obesity rates. We empirically test this hypothesis. We find that there is significant fiscal competition to attract firms. Next, we show that when business tax revenues are lowered and public infrastructure spending favouring businesses increased, public health and education spending declines and obesity rates significantly increase. Thus, fiscal competition significantly contributes to obesity rates through the education and health spending channel.

Higher Level of Obesity Is Associated with Intensive Personal Care Assistance in the Nursing Home

ObjectivesTo examine whether higher obesity level was associated with extensive staffing assistance (from 2 or more persons) for completing activities of daily living (ADL) among older nursing home residents. DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study. SettingUS government–certified nursing homes. ParticipantsMedicare beneficiaries residing in a nursing home on April 1, 2015. Exclusion criteria were age less than 65 years and body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 (underweight). MeasuresResidents were divided by obesity level according to established BMI cutoffs, as follows: nonobese (BMI = 18.5-29.9) or mild (BMI = 30.0-34.9), moderate (BMI = 35.0-39.9), or severe (BMI ≥40) obesity. Level of staffing assistance for completing each of 10 ADL (bed mobility, transfer, walking in room, walking in corridor, on- and off-unit locomotion, dressing, eating, toileting, and personal hygiene) was dichotomized as below 2 and 2 or more. Robust Poisson regression was used to test whether obesity conferred excess risk for needing 2 or more staff to complete each ADL. Adjusted models included individual-level covariates and nursing home fixed effects. ResultsA total of 1,063,383 nursing home residents were identified, including 309,263 (29.0%) with obesity. Adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for 2-person assistance with bed mobility associated with mild, moderate, and severe obesity were 1.17 (1.15, 1.18), 1.28 (1.25, 1.31), and 1.40 (1.36, 1.43), respectively. Adjusted relative risks for 2-person assistance with transferring associated with mild, moderate, and severe obesity were 1.15 (1.13, 1.17), 1.24 (1.22, 1.27), and 1.36 (1.33, 1.39), respectively. Obesity was associated with 2-person assistance for all other ADL except for eating. ConclusionsHigher obesity level was significantly associated with assistance from 2 or more staff for completing 9 of 10 ADL. Given increasing obesity rates in nursing homes, payment mechanisms that do not adjust for obesity or comprehensively account for excess ADL assistance may need revision to prevent adverse impacts on the long-term care system.

M1 Extra Weight in the Balance: The Role of Macrophages in Obesity

Obesity affects millions of people worldwide and is a complex and multifactorial syndrome. Alterations in eating habits and lifestyle in developed countries increased obesity rates drastically through the past years and also the deaths associated with this condition. The immune system is an important component to maintain adipose tissue homeostasis and also to promote inflammation during obesity. In this mini review, we will briefly describe the main factors that contribute to systemic low-grade inflammation in obesity and lead to insulin resistance.

Stunting at 24 Months Is Not Related to Incidence of Overweight through Young Adulthood in an Urban South African Birth Cohort

BackgroundThe role that childhood stunting plays in the development of overweight and obesity later in life is not well understood, particularly in adolescence and young adulthood, because most studies have only followed up through midchildhood. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the relation between stunting and age-specific patterns of overweight and obesity incidence from early childhood to young adulthood in the context of a country in the process of the nutrition transition while these children were growing up. MethodsWe analyzed data from 895 participants in the Birth-to-Twenty Plus Cohort (Bt20+), an urban South African birth cohort initiated in 1990. Anthropometric data were collected at multiple ages and participants were included if they provided height at age 24 mo and ≥1 measure of body mass index [BMI; weight (kg)/height (m)2] in each of the following time periods: 4–8 y, 11–12 y, 13–15 y, 16–18 y, and 22–24 y. We defined stunting at age 24 mo as height-for-age z score <2 and overweight as BMI z score (BMIZ) >1 in childhood (4–8 y) and adolescence (11–12 y, 13–15 y, and 16–18 y) and BMI ≥25 in young adulthood (22–24 y). We compared BMI, BMIZ, and the prevalence of overweight by stunting status, stratified by sex. ResultsOur sample was 93% black and 51% female. The prevalence of stunting at 24 mo was 26% in males and 19% in females. In young adulthood, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.5% (men) and 47.5% (women). Among both males and females, neither mean BMI nor a combined measure of overweight and obesity in any subsequent period differed by stunting status at 24 mo (P ≥ 0.05). ConclusionsStunting at 24 mo was not related to the risk of overweight or obesity in this cohort. Stunting may not be an important contributor to the increasing obesity rates in urban South Africa.

Ultra-processed food consumption and adiposity trajectories in a Brazilian cohort of adolescents: ELANA study

Background/objectivesIn Brazil, the increase in obesity rates has been accompanied by increased consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF). The objective of this paper was to evaluate body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF) trajectories in adolescents over a 3-year follow-up according to the frequency of UPF consumption.Subjects/methodsData of three consecutive years (2010, 2011, and 2012) were obtained from the Adolescent Nutritional Assessment Longitudinal Study (ELANA) that aimed to assess changes in anthropometric indicators of nutritional status, and 1035 adolescents enrolled in the 1st year of high school from six schools (four private and two public) in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were included. At three follow-ups, they had their weights and heights measured. Body composition was measured at the first and second follow-ups. Mixed linear regression models were used to estimate BMI and %BF trajectories based on quartiles of UPF intake, adjusting for type of school, sex, physical activity, and underreporting.ResultsCompared to their counterparts in the 1st quartile, adolescents in the 4th quartile of UPF consumption had a lower daily intake of fruits, cooked vegetables, and raw vegetables and a higher intake of total sugar and physical activity levels (p < 0.001). There was an inverse association between UPF consumption and BMI both at baseline and at follow-up. Values for %BF followed the same trend. Adolescents in the 4th quartile had the greatest level of physical activity and lowest total energy intake.ConclusionThis study confirmed that greater intake of UPF is a marker of an unhealthy diet, but did not support the hypothesis of a high rate of change in BMI associated with greater UPF consumption, even after adjusting for physical activity.

When Back of Pack Meets Front of Pack: How Salient and Simplified Nutrition Labels Affect Food Sales in Supermarkets

Back-of-package (BOP) nutrition information appears ineffective against increasing obesity rates. Therefore, federal agencies increasingly promote front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels. Despite the public attention the topic has received in recent years, research is still short of evidence about the effectiveness of FOP nutrition labels in real-life settings. To add to extant literature, this study uses individual-level purchase data to analyze the impact of adding simplified FOP nutrition labels when BOP information is already available. Consumers reduced the number of calories contained in their purchases for products that started carrying a simplified FOP nutrition label. Furthermore, results show a long-term (short-term) decrease in price (promotion) sensitivity for these products after label introduction. These findings suggest that simplified FOP nutrition labels can induce healthier purchases in supermarkets compared with when only BOP nutrition information is available.

Central Adiposity is a Strong Predictor of Non‐alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in South Asian Women

Incidence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing with increasing obesity rates due to its relation with the metabolic syndrome. This is of concern in the South Asian population since they develop metabolic complications at lower levels of obesity compared to their Western counterparts. Furthermore, the relationship between NAFLD, insulin resistance and obesity is not well characterized in humans. To address this issue, we used a convenience sample of Sri Lankan adult females (n = 34) and collected anthropometric data, adipose tissue specimens (for histology), and fasted serum samples (for metabolic and inflammatory markers). Hepatic steatosis was assessed by ultrasound scanning and used to classify participants as NAFL 0, NAFL 1, and NAFL 2. Waist circumference significantly increased with increasing NAFLD grade. Participants with NAFLD had significantly higher body mass index, hip circumference, and fasting blood glucose, as well as a higher mean adipocyte area in both omental and abdominal areas, indicating a higher degree of adipocyte hypertrophy associated with fatty liver. There were, however, no differences in measures of dyslipidemia. Various adipokines were measured; however, resistin was the only pro‐inflammatory adipokine significantly elevated in NAFL 2. These findings indicate that measures of adiposity and fasting blood glucose may be important indicators of NAFLD in South Asian women.Support or Funding InformationThis research was funded by an International Research/Development Seed Grant from the Office of International Affairs at Texas Tech University, an International Research Seed Grant from the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University, and the Obesity Research Cluster at Texas Tech University. NMM is in part supported by the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH NCCIH) award number 1 R15 AT008879‐01A1. KAS is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Fellow supported by an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's (AFRI) Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative (ELI) Predoctoral Fellowship under award number 2017‐67011‐26029. NSK was funded by the International Research Center, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (InRC/2015/01).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Current data in Greek children indicate decreasing trends of obesity in the transition from childhood to adolescence; results from the National Action for Children's Health (EYZHN) program.

The aim of the study is to present the most recent estimates of obesity (total and central) prevalence in Greek children and associated risk factors. Population data are derived from a yearly, school-based health survey polled in 2015 on 336,014 (51% boys) children aged 4 to 17 years old from almost 40% of all schools of primary and secondary education in Greece. Anthropometric and physical fitness measurements were obtained by trained investigators. Dietary habits, physical activity status, sedentary activities and sleeping hours were assessed through self-completed questionnaires. The gender and age-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) cut-off points were used in order to define BMI groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the whole population was 22.2% and 9.0% in boys and 21.6% and 7.5% in girls, respectively. Obesity presented decreasing trends in the transition from childhood to adolescence. Central obesity was diagnosed in 95.3% and 93.5% of the simple obese boys and girls, respectively, in almost two to three of overweight children (68.6% of boys and 64.3% of girls), and in 12% of normal weight children. Age, physical fitness, low adherence to Mediterranean diet, insufficient sleeping hours, inadequate physical activity levels and increased screen time were all associated with higher odds of total and central obesity. Serious and urgent actions need to be taken from public health policy makers in order not only to prevent a further increase in obesity rates but, more important, to treat obesity and/or the obesity associated co-morbidities.