Years ago, safety experts discovered that obese adults were more likely to suffer serious injuries if involved in an automobile accident, most likely because heavier people have more mass and more momentum in collisions.

Now, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered that obese children share the same risk. Keshia M. Pollack and her colleagues analyzed data on 3,232 children ages 9 to 15 who were involved in 2,873 crashes between 2000 and 2006, 34 percent of whom were overweight or obese. The findings, published in the journal Injury Prevention, demonstrated that during a car crash, overweight or obese children face twice the risk of injury to their arms and legs that normal-weight children do.

Car accidents kill approximately 8,000 children in the United States each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12 percent of children between 2 and 5 are obese, as are roughly 17 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19. Thus, the study's findings could have wide-ranging implications, say the researchers.

"...Clearly, the impact of the association can be dramatic and immediate in terms of car crash injuries," lead author Pollack said, "so we really need to think about this additional consequence of children being overweight and obese."

Obese children are at greater risk in car accidents perhaps because their weight makes the impact of a collision more severe, or possibly because obese children are more prone to bone fractures. Whatever the reason, we can add one more drawback to the already extensive list of obesity-related problems.

"Our findings document yet another risk associated with overweight and obesity in children," said Pollack. "Previous research has shown that poor-fitting car safety seats can put overweight children at greater risk for injury. We found that being overweight negatively impacts older kids involved in motor vehicle accidents as well."

Car seat manufacturers have already begun selling heftier models to accommodate the increasing number of overweight and obese children. According to national growth charts and census data, more than a quarter of a million U.S. children ages 1 to 6 are heavier than the weight limits for standard car seats, which are designed for 1- to 3-year-olds weighing up to 40 pounds. Using undersized car seats can put children at even further risk of injury in a car accident.

According to Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, the recent study "underscore[s] that childhood obesity and overweight has large public health implications, and impacts on many health conditions. And it fits into the overall picture that being overweight entails a risk not just for diabetes and heart disease, but also potentially for bone fractures and other physical injuries that are more immediate."

Labels: car-crashes, driving, safety

New research indicates that stopping fast food advertisements on children's television shows could reduce the number of overweight children by 18 percent and the number of overweight teens by 14 percent.

In a report that appeared in the Journal of Law and Economics, two professors of economics from LeHigh College and Georgia State University linked obesity rates in young people to the amount of time they spend watching fast food commercials on television. Among their suggestions is to eliminate the federal income tax deduction that fast food companies receive for advertising on children's shows.

Sweden, Norway, and Finland are the only three countries that do not allow commercials on children's television shows.

Some spokespeople for the fast food industry argue that the new study is not credible because the professors used data from the late 1990s. Since then, companies like Burger King and McDonalds have begun running TV ads for healthy menu options for children, such as milk and apple slices, the spokespeople reported.

Labels: advertising, fast_food

A new study from the University of Minnesota found that overweight teenagers who weigh themselves at least once a week are more likely to lose weight.

Dr. Mary Alm and her colleagues divided 130 overweight teens into two groups - those who weigh themselves weekly or more often, and those who rarely weigh themselves. The ones who weigh themselves frequently weighed seven pounds less than those in the other group, and were more likely to have lost ten pounds over the past two years. They also consumed fewer calories and ate healthier foods.

"The fear is that an excessive focus on weight from frequent self-weighing may place teens at greater risk for engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors and for developing an eating disorder," said lead author Mary Alm, Ph.D. "Our results suggest that self-weighing may be a beneficial tool, but more research is needed before recommending self-weighing to teens for weight control."

This study appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: scales, weigh_in

A new study from the University of Missouri indicates that obese children as young as 13 years old are developing signs of heart disease not usually seen until age 45.

Dr. Geetha Raghuveer, a professor at Missouri's School of Medicine, used ultrasound techniques to detect changes in the neck arteries of 70 obese children and teenagers. She had to match the children's arteries to those of 45 year-olds to develop accurate comparisons. She said "vascular age" is very different from chronological age, and there was no way of knowing if the children's abnormal cholesterol would continue to build up or plateau.

This study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association.

Children More Likely to Eat Whole Grains if Introduced Gradually

The key to making children and preteens eat whole grain bread may be to introduce it gradually, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Len Marquart and his colleagues studied the amounts of bread that students in grades kindergarten through sixth threw away over the course of a school year as they gradually added more whole grains to the breads. The students did not throw away significantly more bread once it reached 70 percent whole grain.

This study appears in the Journal of Child Nutrition and Management.

Labels: heart_disease, teenagers

A new study from Harvard University found that women who gain too much weight during their pregnancies might create obesity problems in their children.

The study involved looking at the health records of over 12,000 teenagers. If the mothers had gained more than the desired 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, the children were 42 percent more likely to be obese between ages 9 and 14 years old.

The scientists believe that overeating during pregnancy may somehow alter gene expression or affect the child's appetite control centers.

This study appeared in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Corn in Fast Foods May Be Cause of Obesity Epidemic

"Corn is not just a grain used in the production of fast foods - it is the basis of all fast foods," according to a new study from the University of Hawaii.

Dr. Hope Jahren and her colleagues analyzed 480 servings of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and french fries from Wendy's, McDonalds, and Burger King restaurants in San Francisco, Detroit, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, and Baltimore. All the food was freeze-dried and analyzed chemically in a laboratory.

The researchers found that the basis of all the food was corn, partly because corn oil was used to make French fries and corn-fed beef was used in hamburgers. Corn syrup was a major ingredient in soft drinks, which were not part of this study.

Dr. Jahren and others in the field of nutrition believe that today's obesity epidemic is linked to over-consumption of corn products.

This study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, pregnancy

A heart rate of 80 or more beats per minute increases a person's chances of developing diabetes becoming obese, according to two studies from Northwestern University in Illinois and Kurume University in Japan.

The NU researchers studied Chicagoans over a 33-year period; the Japanese team followed 614 people from rural farm areas starting in 1979. Both found that a rapid heartbeat predicts obesity and diabetes.

This study was published in the American Journal of Hypertension.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, heartbeat, predictors

Young women with normal levels of Vitamin D are taller and slimmer than those who are deficient in the vitamin, according to a new study from McGill University Health Center.

Vitamin D is easily obtained from sunlight and certain foods.

The McGill team used blood tests and body fat assessments on girls ages 16 to 22.

This study appeared in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Labels: vitamins, weight loss

A small study from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that overweight brothers and sisters of children with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have abnormal glucose levels than are other overweight children. This increases their chances of developing diabetes.

Dr. Sheila Magge, author of this study - which was published in the journal Pediatrics - said her findings could help identify children who could benefit from diabetes prevention.
programs.

Labels: diabetes, siblings

Skipping meals or spending too much time in front of television, computer, and video game screens contributes to childhood obesity, according to a new study from Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Molly Martin and her colleagues collected information on 2,500 pairs of twins, siblings, or half-siblings in order to determine what non-genetic factors influence whether a child is overweight. They found that certain aspects of a family's lifestyle, such as sitting down for regular meals together and being physically active during leisure hours, can help keep children slim, regardless of the family's education, socioeconomic levels, or the children's birth weights.

"Not skipping meals seems to be the biggest factor in weight control," Dr. Martin said. "When you miss a meal, you are more likely to overeat later." The other biggest factor was how much time the family spent watching television or playing video games.

This study appeared in the Journal of American Sociology.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, skipping_meals, TV

Guidelines that appeared in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association call for doctors to help prevent childhood obesity.

The new guidelines suggest that doctors advise local schools to provide an hour of exercise every day at all grade levels and to restrict junk foods in school cafeterias. Doctors should work within their communities to help create better access for safe walking, bicycling and athletic activities. Finally, physicians should make a point of discussing nutrition and exercise with parents, and should advise new mothers to breastfeed their infants for the first six months.

Labels: involvement, pediatricians

Recent studies have linked child and teen obesity to sleep problems, reduced quality of life, and higher rates of breathing complications during surgeries. One study from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia found that obese children between the ages of 8 and 12 had "poorer scores for sleep onset delay, sleep-disordered breathing, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness, compared to children who were overweight or healthy weight."

The same obese children consistently reported lower overall scores for psychosocial factors and total quality of life. Kelly Ann Davis, lead researcher, commented, "In this study, sleep and weight each contributed unique variance for quality of life scores, thus indicating the need to evaluate daytime functioning in children with both obesity and sleep problems."

Research has shown that obesity increases a child's risk of developing OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea. This sleep-related breathing disorder actually causes the child to stop breathing for periods of time while sleeping. Although OSA mainly disrupts sleep, it is serious and can be fatal if left untreated.

A second study, released in 2008 by the University of Michigan Healthy System, found a significant correlation between childhood obesity and breathing complications during surgery. Obese children were more likely to experience "difficult mask ventilation, airway obstruction, major oxygen desaturation (a decrease in oxygen in the patient's blood), and other airway problems."

Labels: quality_of_life, side-effects, sleep

Rates of child and teen obesity in the United States have tripled over the past 30 years. Child and teen obesity is a serious medical problem that is affecting more and more young people. Due to excess weight, many children and teens are experiencing health problems that were once associated only with adults, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Overweight children and teens are also at higher risk for skin infections, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, and liver disease. Experts have begun to address this problem by exploring risk factors and behaviors that are common among obese youth, and developing exercise and weight loss programs specifically designed for overweight young people.

Although a small percentage of overweight children suffer from medical conditions that cause weight gain, the vast majority of child and teen obesity is due to a simple equation of too much food and too little activity. Unlike adults, children naturally eat to gain weight; they must consume calories in addition to what is necessary for daily activities in order to support the growth of their bodies. When children consume enough calories to support daily activities and growth, their weight gain will remain in proportion to their growth. When they consume more than this amount, however, they begin to store the excess calories as fat.

According to information from the Mayo Clinic, risk factors for childhood obesity fall into several categories. Risk factors can include diet, activity level, genetic predisposition, psychological health, family environment, and socioeconomic status. Dietetic causes of obesity are generally identified as high-fat, high-sugar foods, such as fried foods, candy, soda, baked goods, and fast food. Low levels of physical activity, often due to sedentary activities like playing video games, watching television, and surfing the Internet, are also linked to child and teen obesity.

Many children overeat, like adults, to help deal with emotional problems. Family eating habits have an enormous impact on child and teen weight problems simply because youth are not responsible for choosing the foods that are brought into the home; if parents encourage and/or facilitate poor eating habits, a child will emulate these habits. Research shows that children from low-income families are more vulnerable to weight problems. Some experts believe that this may be due to the fact that lower income parents may lack the time, financial resources, and information to help their children eat healthy foods and get enough exercise.

Parents who are concerned that their children may be overweight are advised to seek a professional opinion. Children carry weight differently than adults, and not all excess weight is necessarily a symptom of a weight problem. It is especially important for parents to consult a physician or nutritional specialist before placing a child on a restricted diet or starting a weight loss program. Children and teens have nutritional and emotional needs that are different from adults, and child and teen weight loss efforts should always be supervised by a professional.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, health_risks

Childhood obesity is the top health concern for kids in 2008, according to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health. Childhood obesity outranked both smoking and drug abuse to claim the top spot. Approximately 35 percent of adults surveyed indicated childhood obesity as their top overall health concern for children. In 2007, childhood obesity ranked third.

However, many parents do not accurately perceive weight problems in their children, according to a recent study by the American College of Gastroenterology. The study gathered information from 46 parents of children ages 5-9 with a body mass index (BMI) in the 70th percentile or higher. The children were measured for height and weight during a regular pediatric visit and then parents were mailed a series of questionnaires. Parents were asked to answer questions about their perception of their child's current weight as well as whether they thought their child might be at risk for obesity in adulthood.

Although all of the children involved in the study had high BMIs, less than 13 percent of the parents surveyed perceived their children to be overweight, and less than one in three parents thought their children had above-average or very high risk for adult obesity.

Parents who may be questioning whether their child is overweight have access to a variety of online resources, including BMI calculators and a wealth of helpful articles. Weight loss camps, or "fat camps," can be immensely beneficial in teaching young people healthy habits and nutritional information. In addition, it is recommended that parents seek the professional opinion of a physician when considering weight loss measures for children.

Labels: denial, health, parents

A new study from the University of Florida indicates that fructose syrup may play a role in changing body chemistry to create obesity.

Fructose is a sugar found in fruit. Fructose syrup is a common ingredient in table sugar, corn syrup, and many foods and beverages.

The Florida team fed two groups of mice the same diet, except that one group also consumed fructose syrup. After six months, members of the fructose group had higher levels of triglycerides in their blood. Next, the scientists injected all the rats with leptin, a substance that ordinarily would decrease appetite and lower food intake. However, the fructose group members did not decrease their food intake as the other group did.

Dr. Philip Scarpace, one of the authors of the study, believes that elevated triglycerides somehow prevent leptin from entering the brain. Leptin, Scarpace said, signals the brain to "stop eating".

The study appeared in the journal Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology.

Labels: brain_activity, causes of childhood obesity, sugars

Students at Marsh Elementary School in Antioch, California, are learning to count their steps with the help of pedometers that were provided to the school through the California Center for Physical Activity.

During the 90 minutes a week they spend in her class, [physical education teacher Wendy] Jones' students attach the blue, pager-size units to their waistband. The technology tracks not only their progress toward the goal of logging 10,000 steps a day, but also calculates how many miles they cover based on the length of their strides.

Once students have learned how to use the pedometers, they can take them home and wear them all the time. Fifth-graders will get to keep the pedometers at the end of the school year. Source: East County Times (CA)

Labels: activity, exercise, pedometers

Healthy eating and exercise habits are not only necessary to reverse childhood obesity, but to prevent it. Parents may be tempted to worry less about kids' diets if their weight is within a healthy range.

Reversing bad habits is always much more difficult than avoiding them in the first place... The best approach is to tackle the issue as a family, not just as something to be forced on the kids. Working to improve the entire family's diet and exercise habits can lay the foundation for lifelong health for your kids.

If your children are healthy and active, take steps now to ensure that they continue these healthy habits for the rest of their lives. Source: McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Labels: eating-habits, exercise, healthy_living