My Overweight Child

20 Percent of U.S. Teens have Abnormal Cholesterol Levels

One in every five American teenagers has abnormal cholesterol readings, according to a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The problem is particularly acute among overweight and obese youth:

Among obese teens, the abnormal cholesterol rate is 43 percent.
Among the overweight teens, it is 22 percent.
Among teens of normal weight, the percentage is 14 percent.
Boys were at greater risk than girls, with 24 percent of boys having abnormal readings, compared to 16 percent of girls.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that people under 18 years old should be screened for cholesterol if they have family histories of heart disease or high blood cholesterol, if they smoke, have high blood pressure or diabetes, or if they are overweight.

The new study was published in the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Researchers used data on 3125 young people enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted every other year

Labels: cholesterol, obese teens, overweight children

Heavy Children Likely to Befriend One Another

Overweight children are twice as likely as normal weight children to have overweight friends, according to a study from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Researchers surveyed 617 students ages 11 to 13 years old, most of whom were in seventh grade.
The overweight children in the study were more likely to have overweight friends
Overweight girls were less likely to be named friends of normal weight girls.

“These results have two important implications: the social contagion of obesity may start at a young age and social affiliations by obesity status may have far-reaching consequences for adolescent development,” said Professor Thomas Valente.

This study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: friends, overweight children, research

Excessive Screen Time Associated with Overweight among Children

Overweight children spend more time watching TV, playing video games and using computers than do children whose weight falls within the normal range, according to a new study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Researchers analyzed three behaviors of boys and girls ages six to 11 and ages 12 to 17 years old.
The behaviors studied were eating fruits and vegetables, spending time in front of screens, and physical exercise.
Seventy-five percent of overweight teenage boys spent two hours or more in front of screens, as did 50 percent of all overweight children ages six to 11 years old.
Among normal weight children, 69 percent spent less than two hours a day in front of TVs, video games or computers.

These findings illustrate the value of getting kids off the couch, said Mark Tremblay, an officer for Healthy Active Kids Canada.

Labels: computers, overweight children, television

Overweight Youth More Likely to be Hospitalized

Children who are overweight are more likely to be admitted to hospitals after they are seen in emergency rooms, according to new research presented at a meeting of the American College of Emergency Room Physicians.

Dr. Adam Singer from State University of New York studied 6,304 children who had been seen in emergency rooms in 2007
He determined that 12 percent of these children went on to be admitted to hospitals.
Among this group, 17 percent were at risk of overweight, 18 percent were overweight, and 6.9 percent were underweight.

"We can speculate that obese children may be more likely to get sick, and when they are sick, they may be more likely to have severe illness," Dr. Singer said.

Labels: hospitals, overweight children

Hospitalization of Overweight Kids Increases by 340 Percent in Great Britain

The number of adults under age 30 in Great Britain who were admitted to hospitals because of obesity-related causes increased by 340 percent in the past five years. More than 800 children admitted to hospitals because of their weight since 2004.

"This absolutely horrendous rise shows what happens as yesterday's adolescents bring their bad habits -- junk food, lack of exercise, binge drinking -- into adulthood," said Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum.

Norman Lamb, a Liberal Democrat health spokesperson called the statistics "utterly shocking" and expressed concern about medical costs.

"The pattern among young people is particularly alarming," he said, "because of what it shows about the problems ahead, not just for the individuals involved, but for the National Health Service, which will be bankrupted because of obesity, unless there is drastic action."

The quotes and other information in this post originally appeared in an Aug. 22 article by Laura Donnelly of the British newspaper The Telegraph.

Labels: health problems, hospitals, overweight children

Obese, Overweight Kids Experience Dramatic Rise in Hospitalization Rates

According to a July 9 USA Today article, hospitalizations rates for overweight and obese children have dramatically increased in the first half of the current decade:

The number of hospitalizations of kids and teens, ages 2 to 19, with a primary or secondary diagnosis of obesity nearly doubled between 1999 and 2005, climbing from 21,743 to 42,429, according to a study published Thursday on the Health Affairs website.

These were stays for obesity-related conditions such as asthma, diabetes, gallbladder disease, pneumonia, skin infections, pregnancy complications, depression and other mental disorders.

USA Today also reported that hospitalization costs for overweight and obese children rose from about $126 million in 2001 to about $238 million four years later.

Labels: health problems, hospitals, overweight children

UK Parents to Receive Notices Detailing Children's Weight Problems

Officials with The Brighton and Hove City (UK) Primary Care Trust will be sending letters to parents of Year Six students to inform them if their children are overweight. Those whose children are deemed overweight or obese will also get food and exercise recommendations. (Year Six in the United Kingdom is equivalent to fifth grade in the U.S. system.)

An Aug. 12 article by Siobhan Ryan of The Argus provided the following details on this effort:

Health bosses claim the intention is to support parents to make important lifestyle changes to help their child reach a healthy weight ... Figures from the 2007/08 measurement programme show that 21 percent of reception [kindergarten-age] children and 31 percent of year 6 children were overweight.

"Modern living can really make it hard for children to maintain a healthy weight," PCT public health development manager Lydie Lawrence said in Ryan's article. "If this trend [of childhood overweight and obesity] continues, nine out of ten children may grow up with dangerous amounts of fat in their bodies which puts them at greater risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease as adults."

Source: The Argus (UK)

Labels: childhood_obesity, overweight children, schools, UK

Many Kids Gain Weight in Summer

With ample opportunities to get outside and play, summer vacation would seem to be the ideal time for overweight young people to shed a few unwanted pounds. But according to a recent study in Madison, Wisconsin, this may not be the case.

According to a July 23 article by Adam Helmsing of the Marshalfield News Herald, the researchers discovered that many students who improved their body fat percentage during the school year gained weight during summer vacation:

"It would seem that the summer months offer prime opportunities for riding bikes, playing ball, swimming, and other activities that burn calories, but it appears that much of this time is spent in more sedentary activities like watching TV and playing video games," said [Susan Nitzke, a nutrition specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Extension].

Experts with whom Helmsing spoke offered the following tips to help children maintain a healthy weight during summer vacation:

Share activities with your children.
Play games outside, take a walk, or ride bikes together whenever the weather permits.
Try to avoid concentrated sweets. Eat nutritionally dense foods instead.
Set activity goals each week and plan small rewards to celebrate reaching these goals.
Keep chips, candy, soda and other "junk" foods out of the house. When it's time for a snack, make sure healthier options like fruits, vegetables, whole-grain crackers and low fat milk are available.

For more information about helping overweight children, check out this list of tips for parents of overweight kids.

Labels: nutrition, overweight children, summers

Experts Debate Criminal Charges for Mother of Obese Child

Arresting the mother of a 550-pound boy for child abuse may set a bad precedent, according to some experts studying a South Carolina case. Jerri Gray faces charges of child neglect, because her son, Alexander Draper, became morbidly obese by age 14.

Alexander is in foster care, and Gray was released on a $50,000 bond.

Linda Spears, vice president of policy and public affairs for the Child Welfare League of America, said criminal charges like this should only be a last resort.

"I think I would draw the line at a place where there are serious health consequences for the child and efforts to work with the family have repeatedly failed," she said.

The Gray case appears at a time when 20 states require students to go through weight-related exams, and some send home "weight report cards" to parents.

Ron Jones, a corporate wellness expert, believes parents should be held responsible for their children's weight.

"If you gave your child a drug, you'd be held in court," he said. "But if you kill them with food, that seems to be acceptable."

Labels: laws, overweight children, parenting

Childhood Overweight Linked to Sleep Problems

A study of 700 children found that the overweight children were more likely to have sleep-disordered breathing problems.

Dr. Edward Bixler and his colleagues at Penn State University College of Medicine said that sleep-disordered breathing is linked to behavioral problems, hyperactivity, and falling asleep in school.

"Because sleep-disordered breathing in children is not just the outcome of anatomical abnormalities, treatment strategies should consider alternative options, such as weight loss and correction of nasal problems," Dr. Bixler wrote in the journal Sleep.

Dr. Bixler's findings are similar to those of Dr. Judith Owens, whose 2008 research project explored the link between sleep disorders, ADHD, and weight problems in children.

Labels: overweight children, research, sleep disorders

Overweight Teen Boys Show Signs of Early Heart Trouble

Overweight male teens are showing signs of heart disease even though they have normal blood pressure, according to a study from the Medical College of Georgia.

Researchers studied 126 boys ages 15 to 17 years old. Those who were overweight had elevated levels of aldosterone, a hormone associated with heart disease, even though they did not necessarily have elevated blood pressure.

Dr. Dayal D. Raja said that this study might indicate that certain boys should receive early treatment and intervention, especially if they have a family history of heart disease.

Dr. Raja presented his study in May during the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists' 18th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress in Houston.

Labels: boys, heart_disease, overweight children, teens

Half of Overweight Kids Think They're Slim

As many as 50 percent of overweight or obese children believe they are of normal weight -- or even underweight -- according to a new study from John Hopkins University that appeared in the journal BMC Public Health:

Dr. Youfa Wang studied children from four Chicago public schools.
The average age of the children who were studies was 12, and about 40 percent were overweight or obese.
Thirty-one percent of the overweight girls and 62 percent of the overweight boys listed their weight as normal or underweight.
About one in four of the overweight group said they were dissatisfied with their weight.

The children who were trying to lose weight actually spent more time watching television than their slimmer counterparts, and their diets were not any healthier than were the diets of other children. Dr. Wang said that this finding indicates that adults need to guide overweight children in the healthiest and best ways to lose weight.

Labels: overweight children

Overweight Kids at Increased Risk for Pancreatic Cancer, Heart Disease

Overweight and obese youth are at greater risk for two serious diseases -- pancreatic cancer and cardiovascular disease -- according to two new studies.

The first study compared the childhood weights of 841 pancreatic cancer patients to 754 healthy people:

Those who were overweight from ages 14 to 39 years old were 67 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
People who were overweight between ages 20 to 49 years old increased their risk by 2.5 times.
This study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The second study was from The Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dr. Nelly Mauras and her colleagues found that obese children as young as seven years old were at higher risk for future cardiovascular disease and stroke.
They compared 115 obese children to 87 lean children, all of whom had normal fasting blood sugar levels, normal blood pressure, and normal cholesterol levels.
The obese children had elevated levels of certain proteins and other markers for cardiovascular disease

The old thinking was that cardiovascular disease is associated with a cluster of symptoms called metabolic syndrome. These symptoms include high blood pressure, high levels of bad cholesterol, low levels of good cholesterol, and high blood glucose.

Dr. Mauras and her team wanted to know if obesity could raise cardiovascular disease risk before metabolic old syndrome develops. "The results were striking because the children were entirely healthy otherwise," she said while presenting the study during the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society.

Labels: cancer, heart_disease, overweight children, research

Recession May Cause Kids to Gain Weight

Almost a third of American children are overweight, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Now a new report says they may grow even heavier during the recession.

"There is concern with 'recession obesity' apart from the general trend toward an increasing number of obese American children," said Dr. Kenneth Land, director of the Child Well-Being Index, a project that tracks how American children fare in terms of education and health.

Dr. Land, a professor at Duke University, said that parents often substitute less expensive foods with high carbohydrate and high sugar contents when money is scarce. This kind of diet is related to the increasing numbers of overweight children.

Dr. Land's conclusions are consistent with the findings of others who have explored the link between obesity and poverty.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, economics, overweight children

Study: Stressed Teens More Likely to be Overweight

A study of 1,011 adolescents found that those who had higher levels of stress were more likely to be overweight.

"We found that an adolescent or youth who is more stressed -- caused by such things as having poor grades, mental health problems, aggressive behaviors, or doing more drugs and alcohol -- is more likely to be overweight or obese," said Brenda Lohman, professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University.

The five stress factors used were academic problems, consumption of drugs and alcohol, depression or mental health issues, aggression, and lack of future orientation. The study, which involved children ages 10 to 15 years old, also found that their mothers' stress could be a contributing factor to their being overweight.

Adolescent overweight has been associated with a wide range of serious health problems (including an increased risk of premature death) both during one's younger years and into adulthood.

This study appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, overweight children, stress

NY Issues Revised Diabetes Resource Guide

The New York State Department of Health has issued a newly revised resource guide on diabetes in children. Titled Children with Diabetes: A Resource Guide for Family and Schools, the document is designed to assist families, school officials and others as they work to identify and prevent diabetes in children.

Approximately 9,000 children and youth in New York State are diagnosed with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for nearly 85 percent of diagnosed diabetes among youth. There are currently no known strategies to prevent Type 1 diabetes. (Source: EMax Health)

Diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes are also increasing in children, a trend that many experts attribute to disturbing rises in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. New York's new resource guide addresses issues related to Type 2 diabetes and helps parents, children, school staff and health care professionals devise plans for working together.

Labels: childhood_obesity, diabetes, health_risks, overweight children

Experts Introduce Seven-Step Plan for Childhood Weight Loss

Health-care experts continually try to devise plans that will help overweight and obese children lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The latest plan has seven steps that progressively increase in intensity and level of commitment.

For behavioral therapy, the plan suggests starting with groups such as Weight Watchers or Take Off Pounds Sensibly that offer support, education and accountability and allow parents and children to work together. (Source: The Los Angeles Times)

The program referred to the in LA Times article includes the following seven stages:

1. Medical Management
2. Education
3. Environmental changes
4. Support groups
5 & 6. Two forms of cognitive behavior therapy
7. Bariatric surgery (only as a last result)

These steps are meant to be shared among parent, child, and physician so they can all work together to design and a comprehensive plan of action. Failing to address weight issues in childhood can lead to one of the many health issues facing overweight teens.

Labels: childhood_obesity, overweight children, weight loss

Weather Affects Teens' Exercise Levels

Teenagers get more exercise in warm weather months, but this does not compensate for an acute drop-off in exercise time during the winter, according to a new study from Canada.

For five years, researchers monitored 1,293 Montreal-area students ages 12 and 13. The most common reason the children canceled unplanned physical activities was bad weather, but planned activities often took place regardless of weather.

The research team recommended that a "variety of activities be available in winter," both indoor and outdoor.

Weather is just the latest in a list of obstacles to exercise that have been cited for preventing young people from getting an adequate amount of healthy activity. However, many health and weight loss experts have noted that overweight young people can overcome obstacles to exercise, and can reap the many benefits that are associated with following a healthy diet and remaining physically active.

Labels: exercise, overweight children, teens

Study: Kids Should Avoid Sugar-Sweetened Drinks

The vast majority of American children (90 percent) drink sugar-sweetened drinks every day. Now a new study finds that replacing those drinks with water could help them reduce calorie intake and experience fewer dental problems.

Dr. Y. Claire Wang and her associates at Columbia University analyzed reports of diets from the 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of children ages two to 19. They found that the empty calories in sugary drinks accounted for more than 10 percent of the children's daily calories. Other studies have found that children and teens consume 70 percent of their soft drinks at home, and only 15 percent at school.

"The evidence is clear that replacing these 'liquid calories' with calorie-free beverage alternatives both at home and school represents a key strategy to eliminate excess calories and prevent childhood obesity," Dr. Wang said.

This study appeared in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Labels: overweight children, soft_drinks, studies, weight loss

Massachusetts to Provide Parents with Kids' BMI Info

The Massachusetts legislature has unanimously agreed to a new regulation that requires public schools to send children's Body Mass Index (BMI) results home to their parents. Results will be sent home for children in first, fourth, seventh, and 10th grades.

The new rule will replace the current process of weighing children every year. Eighteen other states require a body mass index calculation, but Massachusetts joins a smaller list of states, including Arkansas, that requires schools to notify parents about it.

An eating disorder support association has expressed concern over the new regulation, pointing to the fact that many eating disorders are triggered when a child's weight is measured in school or a child is forced to go on a diet. Still, several health groups support the regulation, which will be phased into Massachusetts schools over the next 18 months.

Source: South Coast Today

Labels: body_mass_index, legislation, overweight children, schools

Children with Low Self-Control More Likely to Become Overweight

A study that was conducted at the University of Michigan found that children who can't practice delayed gratification are more likely to gain weight. This was true whether their lack of control was related to food or toys.

[In the study] children were asked to choose candy, animal crackers, or pretzels as their preferred food, and [were] left alone with two plates of different quantities of the food. Children were told that they would be allowed to eat a larger quantity of the chosen food if they waited until the examiner returned. (Source: EmaxHealth)

Forty-seven percent of the children who participated in the study were unable to wait for the examiner to return - and those who displayed a limited ability to wait were 29 percent more likely to be overweight as they got older.

Researchers pointed to their findings as proof that parents need to teach the benefits of delayed gratification and model this behavior themselves.

Labels: overeating, overweight children, self-control, studies

'Negative' Moms More Likely to Give Kids Junk Food

A study of more than 27,700 mothers found that those with negative moods and mindsets are more likely to feed their children junk foods.

Psychologist Elvind Ystrom of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health asked the mothers how often they fed their (all of whom were less than 18 months old) any of 36 different fatty and sweet foods, and then inquired about the mothers' states of mind.

"We found that mothers who were emotionally unstable, anxious, sad, angry, had poor self-confidence or a negative view of the world were far more likely to give their child sweets and fatty foods," Prof. Ystrom said. "At the same time there was no link between maternal personality and how healthy a diet the child got in the form of fruits and vegetables. … Unfortunately, we could not study the fathers."

One theory is that depressed mothers could not say "no" to their children.

This study was done in conjunction with the University of Oslo.

Labels: childhood_obesity, eating-habits, obese-kids, overweight children, parenting

One-third of British Kids Are Overweight or Obese

Despite expensive government interventions, Great Britain is not gaining ground in its battle against childhood obesity.

A new report finds that 25% of British children are obese or overweight at age five - a figure that climbs to 33% by the time the children turn 10.

"These latest figures are cause for concern," said Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum. "We had high hopes that there would have been a marked improvement after all the money that is being thrown at the problem."

Dawn Primarolo, British Public Health Prime Minister, commented, "If we do nothing, 90% of today's children could be overweight or obese by 2050."

Labels: overweight children, research, statistics

Fat Children Have Surgery More Often, Suffer More Complications than Leaner Kids

Overweight children have more surgery and experience more complications from their operations than normal weight children, according to a new study at the University of Michigan Health System.

Researchers studied the records of 6017 children who had surgery at the University of Michigan hospitals between 2000 and 2004. More than a third of them were overweight; half of those were obese. Many of the surgeries that the heavier children underwent had to do with being overweight, such operations for breathing problems, sleep apnea, and digestive issues.

The researchers also found that overweight children who had surgery experienced more complications, usually because of health problems associated with obesity and formerly diagnosed only in adults. For example, overweight children were more likely to be diabetic, which made them more prone to infections.

Michigan has one of the nation's highest rates of obesity, which means that what holds true there may not be the same in every other state. This study appears in the February 2007 Journal of the National Medical Association.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, gastric bypass, obesity surgery, overweight children, weight loss surgery

Fast Food Causing Rise in Kidney Stones in Overweight Children

Doctors at Johns Hopkins and other medical institutions have noticed a curious, if not alarming, increase in children with kidney stones. The painful condition may be a consequence of America's dependence on processed foods with a high-salt content.

The childhood obesity epidemic already has resulted in a dramatic rise in cases of Type 2 diabetes among young children. Fats and sugar are the main culprits in childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes - and the kidney stones may be the result of the other problem with fast food - too much salt. Though kidney stones are still not commonly found among children, specialists who once saw only a handful of cases each year now diagnose many times that number.

"'Five years ago, we used to see maybe a handful of children a year, maybe five or six,' said Dr. Yegappan Lakshmanan, a pediatric urologist at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. 'Now, it's five or six a month. Some are repeat patients, but it's definitely a trend.'"

Kidney stones, once found almost exclusively in adults, are tiny mineral deposits that can cause excruciating pain when they lodge in the urinary tract.

John Hopkins has even established a pediatric kidney stone clinic because of the increased incidence in children, as have the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee and the Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital in Boston.

Labels: causes of childhood obesity, fast food, fast_food, overweight children