Dr. Thomas Inge has been performing bariatric surgery on adolescents for five years. Now, he's leading a study to determine the overall benefits and risks of this surgery on adolescents.

"While adult weight-loss surgery still is more common, an estimated 2,744 youngsters nationwide had the operations from 1996 through 2003, with the pace tripling between 2000 and 2003, according to an earlier study co-written by Inge."

Researchers will compare health factors like cholesterol levels and liver function both before and after the surgery. The findings will be compared to the results from a similar study that was conducted with adults. Read more online.

Labels: adolescence, health_factors, weight_loss_surgery

Federal school meal programs have had to adhere to specific standards for years, but food and snacks that aren't part of a federal program have not. Today, U.S. Health Officials took their first steps to correct this and improve the overall health and nutritional value of food, beverages, and snacks offered in public schools.

"The committee authoring this report first divided foods and beverages into two tiers, based on how well they conform to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Tier 1 foods and beverages provide at least one serving of fruit, vegetable and/or whole grains or non fat/low-fat dairy. Tier 2 items do not meet Tier 1 specifications but aren't entirely outside dietary intake recommendations. These might include baked potato chips, low-sodium whole wheat crackers or animal crackers."

Lisa Harper Mallonee, a registered dietician, says the recommendations are wonderful but also emphasized the importance of getting schools and parents working to implement the recommendations. Read more online.

Labels: health_officials, nutrition, schools

In the past few weeks some dire reports have come from the medical world about childhood obesity. One study found a worrisome increase in fatty liver syndrome in children, the other found overweight children sometimes have enlarged hearts. You may have heard the most dire of the warnings: this generation may be the first generation to have a lower average life span than their parents. The primary reason? Obesity.

As the news grows more concerning, local schools, doctors, and communities have begun to push for changes to help kids get fit again. As a parent, you can be a big part in changing how your child views food and exercise - your behavior will have a major influence on your child's behavior.

One interesting answer to the "family influence" problem is a program called Wellspring Family Camp. This camp focuses on younger children - and trying to catch the bad habits early - as well as on the family unit as a whole. Their motto could be, "The family that loses together, wins together!"

The summer program, located next to Clear Lake in Michigan's upper peninsula, allows kids as young as 5 years old to attend - with a parent or grandparent. The two-week camping program offers all types of fun recreational activities, so you aren't just "dieting." To learn more about Wellspring Family Camp, visit their website.

Health officials are now saying than crankiness isn't the only thing to worry about if your child doesn't get enough sleep. An ongoing study at Yale is researching the connection between sleep, obesity, and diabetes.

Dr. Sumit Bhargava, of the Yale Pediatric Sleep Lab is studying "whether obese children who have obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to become diabetic."

Read more online.

Labels: diabetes, research, sleep

A study conducted by the EU Childhood Obesity Programme finds that the low-protein content in baby formula, which may have metabolic, endocrinal and developmental benefits for infants, may play a role in kids and obesity. The study also found evidence that obesity later in life is determined in early childhood - although the researchers did say that more research is needed.

"Professor Berthold Koletzko, project coordinator from the University of Munich, Germany, said the results 'emphasise the importance of promotion of and support for breastfeeding, together with the development of the right composition of infant formula, and support for the choice of appropriate complementary food.'"

Nearly 1000 infants took part of the 3 1/2 year long study which compared breast-fed and formula-fed babies. The study took careful to note the amount of protein and calories each child was fed. Read more online.

Labels: formula, infant, protein

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a report which shows that children and teenagers are subjected to dozen of hours of food commercials every year; nearly 41 hours for teens between the ages of 13 and 17.

"That might not be a problem if the ads promoted healthy fare. But the report, the largest over conducted on food marketing to children and teens, highlights how TV commercials mostly tout junk food."

One-third of the commercials promoted candy and snacks, 28 percent were for cereals, and 10 percent were for fast food. Though many countries regulate food advertising, the United States isn't one of the. Which means the regulating is up to the parents. Dr. David Ludwig, director of the Obesity Program at Children's Hospital in Boston, recommends that parents limit their children's television watching to as little as a half-hour a day. Read more at DallasNews.com.

Labels: junk food, marketing, media influences

CBS3 in Philadelphia reported on new research that shows a link between childhood obesity and build up of fluid in the middle ear.

"Severely over-weight children who have related problems, like elevated cholesterol, also have increased rates of inner ear fluid build up, but researchers are not sure how to explain the connection."

Read more online.

Labels: health problems, research

ABC News posted ways for parents to help their children in the battle of the bulge. By using simple planning strategies provided by the American Obesity Association, families can incorporate healthy eating habits and exercise into their lives. Some of the tips include:

"'Create a family activity that involves fitness, such as walks, bike rides or Rollerblading' and 'Find other families in your neighborhood and schedule time for basketball, hide and seek and other active games.'"

Read more tips to get and stay healthy online.

Labels: families, healthy_living, tips

With the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, Florida legislators are trying to help the children of their state by requiring elementary students get at least 2 ½ hours a week of physical education physical education. The purposed bill would also require that junior high students get a minimum of 3 hours and 45 minutes of PE a week.

"'Obesity is becoming an epidemic and not only the state of Florida but nationally,' says Rep. Will Weatherford. 'I think this is an opportunity for us to really tackle it at the early stages... and we're talking about elementary school kids.'"

State legislators are working with the American Heart Association to make sure kids of the Sunshine State get the time they need to exercise while at school. Read more online.

Labels: legislation, schools, states

Liposuction and tummy tucks are inappropriate procedures for weight loss for people of any age. With the recent coverage in the media of a growing number of teenagers going under the knife to loose weight, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is getting the word out about the lack of scientific data supporting the use of body contouring procedures to fight childhood obesity.

"'The teenage years can be extremely tough for kids who are teased about their weight; however, liposuction and tummy tucks are not the answer,' said ASPS President Roxanne Guy, MD. 'My message to young kids - proper diet and exercise are still the best ways to slim down.'"

While there may be some physical and psychological benefits from having the surgery, there is no data to support it's benefit to childhood obesity. Read more online.

Labels: liposuction, obesity surgery, weight loss

A recently published studies kids actually gain weight during the summer.

"One researcher said, 'Clearly the sources of children's obesity problems lie outside of the school." Researchers suggested lengthening the school year or providing structured programs to maintain control of kids' eating and activity levels. Because many children are poorly supervised in the summertime, parents might be depending on junk-food and video-games to keep kids safely occupied."

Parents must begin to refrain from letting their children sit inside all day and letting them constantly eat whatever they want. It may be more difficult to do, but whoever said parenting was easy? Read more online.

Labels: parenting, summers

Most parents would do anything to decrease their children's risk of behavioral problems, psychosocial stress, alcohol use, and sexual experimentation. But most don't know that one thing that they can do to delay or eliminate these problems for girls is to prevent obesity.

Sound strange? Not when you consider that recent research suggests that childhood overweight and obesity may be contributing to earlier onset of puberty in girls, some as early as 9 years old. And many previous studies have shown that early puberty is associated with stress and behavioral problems as well as earlier experimentation with alcohol and sexual activity.

Labels: health problems, puberty, substance abuse