A recent study from the Harvard Prevention Research Center and conducted by The Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) team shows the relevance of policy in combating obesity-related health costs. The study looked at interventions at a national policy level to help prevent obesity that would more than pay for themselves by reducing healthcare costs related to obesity. Projections on these interventions could respectively prevent 576,000, 129,100, and 345,000 cases of childhood obesity, in 2025. The study highlights the importance of prioritizing primary preventions for policy makers aiming to reduce childhood obesity. The study also shows the importance of maintaining policies like the Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and reveals future policies that may help ...
Sugary drinks, which can represent up to 40% of a child's total caloric intake, are a leading cause of obesity among children, reported an article from Los Angeles, where new water campaigns are popping up throughout the city. Leading the country with the highest obesity rate for children between the ages two and four, California (38.6% Latino) is trying to help parents and kids put the sugary drinks and sodas down the drain with their new water campaign. The campaign, "Water: The Healthiest Choice", is geared at helping bring information to parents, caregivers, and kids to choose water over sugary drinks. Dr. Simon, the director of Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advises parents in a recent article, "We ...
In addition to complex social, behavioral and environment factors that influence childhood obesity are genetic factors. On February 26–27, 2015, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Food and Nutrition Board and the National Research Council Board on Children, Youth, and Families convened a workshop to explore the body of evolving science that examines the nexus of biology, environment, and developmental stage on risk of childhood obesity. The workshop focused on the prenatal period, infancy, and early childhood and addressed evidence from both animal and human studies. Workshop objectives developed by the Planning Committee on Understanding the Dynamic Relationships Between Biology, Environment and Early Childhood Development on Risk of Obesity were to: Identify ...
Miami, a highly Latino populated city (65.6% Latino) is also struggling with obesity for the many immigrant families that live in low-income areas. In fact according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 67.4% of the adult population of the county is overweight or obese. For 23 years, a pediatric mobile health clinic supported by Children's Health fund and Miami Miller School of Medicine has been providing comprehensive medical care to low-income children. The University of Miami Pediatric Mobile clinic is now acknowledging the obesity issues in the low-income migrant population. The mobile clinic will now be providing and testing a new telehealth obesity prevention program. Using technology such as text messaging, health education apps, electronic fitness ...
Latino, black, and white adults all list childhood obesity and bullying as two of the top-three child health issues, but Latinos rank child abuse and neglect higher, according to the annual National Poll on Children’s Health by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Overall, adults grew increasingly concerned about Internet safety (the 4th-biggest issue, up from 8th last year) and sexting (up to 6th from 13th). For Latinos, the issues that increased in concern were: Childhood obesity (rose to 1st biggest issue, up from 3rd last year)
Child abuse and neglect (rose to 3rd from 14th last year)
Internet safety (rose to 6th from 11th last year)
Sexting (rose to 7th from 8th last year)
Teen pregnancy (rose to 8th from 10th last year)
Suicide (rose to 9th from 13th last ...
Eight new articles have been published in a special issue of The International Journal of Behavior Nutrition and Physical Activity, titled “The Science of Childhood Obesity: An Individual to Societal Framework.” These eight articles explore: An introduction into the implications of a public-private partnership to address socioeconomic inequalities related to obesity prevention
Time spent with friends as a complex, explanatory mediator of obesity related to time spent viewing television
Soda and non-soda SSB consumption after states ban the sale of soda in high schools
Obesity and immediate academic performance
The SES-obesity association stratified the by racial/ethnic groups
SES differences in dietary patterns related to the home food environment
Low income ...
Obesity is a serious public health problem in the US and can affect anyone regardless of age. In particular, childhood obesity prevalence remains high. As well as compromising a child's immediate health, obesity can also negatively influence long-term health dramatically. Unfortunately, some racial and ethnic groups are affected by obesity much more than others. On average, childhood obesity in the US has not changed significantly since 2003-2004, and overall, approximately 17% of all children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese - a total of 12.7 million. Significant disparities exist in obesity prevalence between different racial and ethnic groups. The CDC report the following obesity prevalence percentages among different youth demographics: Hispanic youth - ...
Senators and representatives in Idaho, a state with a quickly growing Latino community, are tracking their steps, water intake, and servings of fruits and vegetables as part of a month long, friendly competition aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and fighting childhood obesity. According to a Fox9 report 50 state legislators are taking part in a competition organized by health insurance provider Blue Cross of Idaho. At the end of the competition the three legislators who track the most physical activity and record eating more fruits and vegetables will win $5,000 from the Blue Cross of Idaho to go toward providing healthier options to elementary school children in their district. Funds will provide for outdoor exercise equipment, healthier meal options, and any other ...
Latino children are more obese/overweight than their white and black peers, and they face many barriers to healthy lifestyles, studies show. Who is stepping up for Latino kids? Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children this week received a one-year, $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to develop new evidence and educational content that empowers people to drive healthy policy changes for Latino children. The new funding allows Salud America! to expand its membership, which has recruited more than 10,000 parents, leaders, academics, and advocates. The network also will conduct research reviews and policy recommendations to guide anti-obesity efforts. It also will enhance its award-winning Salud America! ...
