Health News
If only we knew from the start which babies were predisposed to becoming diabetic and hypertensive and overweight . . . News out this week suggests we can. NBC News reports that British researchers have published findings in the journal PLOS ONE saying that a simple assessment can predict at birth a baby's likelihood of becoming obese during childhood. The formula, available as an online calculator here, estimates the child's obesity risk based on its birth weight, the body mass index of the parents, the number of people in the household, the mother's professional status and whether she smoked during pregnancy.
The hope is to help families will take steps to control the weight of babies and small children before medical problems arise. Philippe Froguel of Imperial College London, who led the study, explained that teaching parents about the dangers of over-feeding and bad nutritional habits at a young age is much more effective than having to teach children how to lose weight. Froguel's team developed their formula following 4,000 Finnish children since 1986. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of early type 2 diabetes, as well as various types of cardiovascular disease. (Read more)
- Obese Children's Parents Say Kids Are 'about The Right Weight,' Likely Comparing Them To Other Kids Instead Of Growth Standards
Most parents of overweight children consider them to be "about the right weight," which poses a real concern because parents aren't likely to help their children change their behaviors toward weight reduction if they don't recognize there is a...
- Child Obesity Persists Among The Poor And Less Educated; Early-life Factors Also Matter; Kentucky's Rate Is High
Although youth obesity has become slightly less prevalent, most of the improvement has been restricted to children in families with higher salaries and educations, according to a Harvard University Kennedy School of Government analysis by Robert...
- Childhood Obesity Is Linked To More Immediate Health Problems Than Doctors Formerly Realized
While a plethora of research on childhood obesity has linked it to long-term health problems, a new UCLA study focuses on the condition's more proximate consequences, showing that obese children are at a greater risk for immediate health problems...
- Canadian Study Suggests Children In Day Care Are More Likely To Be Obese Than Those Cared For By Their Parents
Children who attend day care regularly are 50 percent more likely to be overweight than those who stay home with parents, according to a new University of Montreal study in Quebec. Lead researcher Marie-Claude Geoffroy said the disparity...
- How To Help Your Child Lose Weight? Lose Weight Yourself
If parents want to help their children lose weight, they should lose weight themselves, a new study shows. "Parents are the most significant people in a child's environment, serving as the first and most important teachers," said Kerri N. Boutelle,...
Health News
British researchers say a simple calculation can predict likelihood of a baby's chance of becoming obese during childhood
The hope is to help families will take steps to control the weight of babies and small children before medical problems arise. Philippe Froguel of Imperial College London, who led the study, explained that teaching parents about the dangers of over-feeding and bad nutritional habits at a young age is much more effective than having to teach children how to lose weight. Froguel's team developed their formula following 4,000 Finnish children since 1986. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of early type 2 diabetes, as well as various types of cardiovascular disease. (Read more)
- Obese Children's Parents Say Kids Are 'about The Right Weight,' Likely Comparing Them To Other Kids Instead Of Growth Standards
Most parents of overweight children consider them to be "about the right weight," which poses a real concern because parents aren't likely to help their children change their behaviors toward weight reduction if they don't recognize there is a...
- Child Obesity Persists Among The Poor And Less Educated; Early-life Factors Also Matter; Kentucky's Rate Is High
Although youth obesity has become slightly less prevalent, most of the improvement has been restricted to children in families with higher salaries and educations, according to a Harvard University Kennedy School of Government analysis by Robert...
- Childhood Obesity Is Linked To More Immediate Health Problems Than Doctors Formerly Realized
While a plethora of research on childhood obesity has linked it to long-term health problems, a new UCLA study focuses on the condition's more proximate consequences, showing that obese children are at a greater risk for immediate health problems...
- Canadian Study Suggests Children In Day Care Are More Likely To Be Obese Than Those Cared For By Their Parents
Children who attend day care regularly are 50 percent more likely to be overweight than those who stay home with parents, according to a new University of Montreal study in Quebec. Lead researcher Marie-Claude Geoffroy said the disparity...
- How To Help Your Child Lose Weight? Lose Weight Yourself
If parents want to help their children lose weight, they should lose weight themselves, a new study shows. "Parents are the most significant people in a child's environment, serving as the first and most important teachers," said Kerri N. Boutelle,...