Archived news is organized into these categories:
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01/15/2008
- A cross-sectional analysis in the American Journal of Health Promotion examined associations of built environment variables with obesity prevalence and individual BMI among 421 impoverished residents of public housing developments. The study found that male gender and more supportive neighborhoods, with greater resource accessibility, more amenities, greater street connectivity, higher quality physical activity feature ratings, and fewer incivilities, were related to lower obesity prevalence rates and BMI among residents.
09/12/2007
- The Utah Department of Health released the most recent obesity data for Utah adults on September 11, 2007 in the Utah Health Status Update, Overweight/Obese, September 2007
The continued increased rate of obesity and overweight combined is troublesome, and the more rapid increase in the obesity rate is of particular concern.
07/24/2007
- First-ever Health Behavior Survey Data Now Available by Neighborhood. Would you like to know how physically active your neighbors are? Or whether your town is more overweight than others? Just check the Utah Department of Health’s (UDOH) new Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) report. The report summarizes the results of a comprehensive phone survey of more than 22,000 Utahns across the state.
04/23/2007
- In a cross-sectional study of 936 participants aged 65 and above in King County, Washington the authors created a walkability score based upon the respondent's built environment. The walkability score was then tested for its association with activity and body mass index. Men were nearly six times and women one and a half times more likely to walk for exercise in areas with higher walkability scores. A trend toward lower body mass index in men living in more walkable neighborhoods did not reach statistical significance.
04/11/2007
- Prevalence of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Physical Activity by Race/Ethnicity --- United States, 2005
Diets high in fruits and vegetables and participation in regular physical activity are associated with a lower risk for several chronic diseases and conditions To examine the combined prevalence of 1) consumption of fruits and vegetables five or more times per day and 2) regular physical activity among U.S. adults by race/ethnicity, CDC analyzed self-reported data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the combined prevalence of these two behavioral strategies was higher among men of multiple/other races (16.5%) compared with non-Hispanic white men (12.6%). In addition, only 12.6% of non-Hispanic black women and 14.8% of Hispanic women, compared with 17.4% of non-Hispanic white women, engaged in these two behavioral strategies. These results underscore the need to promote diets high in fruits and vegetables and regular physical activity among all populations in the United States and among racial and ethnic minority communities in particular.
03/06/2007
- Community Gardens Mini-Grant Awards
Through a grant from the National Governor's Association "Healthy America" Initiative, the Utah Department of Health awarded mini-grants from $1,300 to $4,000 to enhance or start new community gardens in Salt Lake or Weber Counties. Over twenty applications were received from potential community garden projects. Ten awards were given to support four existing gardens and six new gardens.
01/10/2007
- Adolescent girls who live within a half-mile of a public park are significantly more physically active than other girls. In a time of growing national concern about increasing rates of obesity and health problems cause by unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, this research may have implications for community design and planning. Although the magnitude of the association between parks and additional minutes physical activity was small for an individual, amounting to an average of 4%-6% of a girl's total non-school physical activity, it is likely to have a large population-level impact.
08/25/2006
- A large prospective study examined BMI in relation to the risk of death from any cause in the National Institutes of Health–AARP cohort who were 50 to 71 years old at enrollment. The study found that obesity (BMI 30+) and overweight (BMI 25-29) were both associated with an increased risk of death.
07/14/2006
- Mixed-race or white high-poverty areas and all African American areas (regardless of income) were less likely than predominantly white higher-income communities to have access to foods that enable individuals to make healthy choices. Click here for the article.
05/09/2006
- Researchers analyzed NHANES and BRFSS data found that self-reported weight and height systematically underestimated BMI compared to the 'gold standard' of measured health examination. Underestimation was greater in telephone interviews than in-person interviews, especially among the 20-44 and 45-64 year age groups. The self-report bias was greater for women than for men, especially among the young and the middleaged. BMI underestimation may be caused by overestimating height, underestimating weight, or a combination of the two.
04/04/2006
03/14/2006
- The Future of Children -
Childhood Obesity
Volume 16, Number 1 Spring 2006
The past thirty years have seen many dramatic changes in the ways Americans work, live, and eat. Researchers are now tracing today's obesity epidemic back to many of those changes. This volume reviews evidence on how each of these changes may have caused obesity to increase and examines how best to address each of the possible causes.
02/24/2006
- The Transportation Research Board (TRB) - Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity? Examining the Evidence:
2/06/2006
- Prevalence and Cardiovascular Disease Correlates of Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents and Adults (Dec 2005)
Mercedes R. Carnethon; Martha Gulati; Philip Greenland - JAMA. 2005;294:2981-2988.
Found low fitness in 34% of adolescents and 14% of adults.
02/03/2006
- Neighborhood Safety and Overweight Status in Children
Julie C. Lumeng; Danielle Appugliese; Howard J. Cabral; Robert H.Bradley; Barry Zuckerman - Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006;160 25-31
12/08/2005
Some Utah Communities ‘Tip the Scales’ More Than Others
- Press Release (PDF)
- Obesity Small Area Chart (PDF)
- Obesity Small Area Map (PDF)
08/11/2008
- Breastfeeding Report Card—United States, 2008
Breastfeeding rates in Utah have achieved the Healthy People 2010 Objectives, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s Breastfeeding Report Card—United States, 2008. Based on data from the annual CDC National Immunization Survey for births in 2005, the report shows an increase in breastfeeding initiation, with 90.3% of infants ever breastfed. Only 17.3% were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is associated with decreased risk of obesity.
08/06/2008
- Most children's meals at 13 top fast food restaurants exceeded the recommend caloric intake according to a new report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. In fact 93 percent of 1,474 possible choices at the 13 chains exceeded 430 calories—an amount that is one-third of what the Institute of Medicine recommends that children aged four through eight should consume in an entire day.
07/28/2008
- Florida state analysis assesses relationship between pre-pregnancy maternal obesity and risk of infant death. Infants born to women who were obese had odds of infant death 23% higher than the odds for the reference group of infants born to women with normal BMIs.
07/21/2008
- A study of 1032 participants in the 1991-2007 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development measured physical activity levels among children. The children were 9 years old at the beginning of the study and 15 years old at the end of the study. At age 9 years, children engaged in approximately 3 hours of physical activity per day on both weekends and weekdays. By age 15 years, adolescents were only engaging in moderate or vigorous physical activity for 49 minutes per weekday and 35 minutes per weekend day. The rate of decrease was the same for boys and girls. Current recommendations are for boys and girls to get at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each day.
06/02/2008
- Data on children aged 2-19 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that 16.3% were obese and nearly one-third (31.9%) were at an unhealthy weight. There were no significant differences in the rates between the 2003-2004 survey and the 2005-2006 survey, which may be an indication that the increasing obesity in children may leveling off.
04/14/2008
- A study of the sleep patterns of 915 children at ages 6 month, 1 year and 2 years found that daily sleep duration of less than 12 hours during infancy appears to be a risk factor for overweight and adiposity in preschool-aged children.
03/26/2008
- Weight loss interventions achieve short-term success, but re-gain is common. In this study 1032 overweight or obese adults with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or both who had lost at least 4 kg (8.8 pounds) during a 6-month weight loss program were randomized to one of three weight-loss maintenance programs: monthly personal contact, unlimited access to an interactive technology–based intervention, or self-directed control. Overall, 71% of all subjects remained below entry weight. Those receiving monthly personal contact regained less weight than those in the interactive technology-based intervention or the self-directed control group.
03/05/2008
- A study of 70 overweight children aged 4 to 7 was done to assess the impact of a 50% reduction in television viewing on physical activity, energy intake and overweight. Children randomized to the intervention group showed greater reductions in targeted sedentary behavior, body mass index and energy intake compared with the control group. Socioeconomic status moderated BMI change, with the experimental intervention working better among families of low socioeconomic status. Reducing television viewing and computer use may have an important role in preventing obesity and in lowering BMI in young children, and these changes may be related more to changes in energy intake than to changes in physical activity.
12/19/2007
- Expert Committee Recommendation Papers available in Pediatrics Supplement
The American Medical Association, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,convened an expert committee to develop recommendations on the assessment, prevention, and treatment of child and youth overweight and obesity. The expert committee guided the development of 3 articles that would explore current evidence-based science and form the basis of new recommendations on the assessment, prevention, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity. These articles, along with 1 overarching support document, are available as a supplemental issue of Pediatrics. The issue is: PEDIATRICS Vol. 120 Supplement December 2007
11/07/2007
- Recent cardiovascular improvements have not been accompanied by reduced disability within the obese older population. Obese participants surveyed during 1999-2004 were more likely to report functional impairments than obese participants surveyed during 1988-1994, and reductions in activities for daily living (ADL) impairment observed for nonobese older individuals did not occur in those who were obese. Over time, declines in obesity-related mortality, along with a younger age at onset of obesity, could lead to an increased burden of disability within the obese older population.
09/24/2007
06/26/2007
- Two Healthy Eating Research Briefs released in May 2007 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Scroll down and locate the links on the right lower panel, or link directly to the PDFs below.
- School Foods Sold Outside of Meals (Competitive Foods)
Found at least four studies have related the availability of snacks and drinks sold in schools to higher intakes of total energy (kcalories), soft drinks, total fat and saturated fat, and lower intakes of key nutrients (e.g., calcium, vitamin A), fruits, vegetables and milk.16-19 - Promoting Good Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child-Care Settings
- School Foods Sold Outside of Meals (Competitive Foods)
06/05/2007
- School-Based Fitness Changes Are Lost During the Summer Vacation
School-based interventions for overweight middle-school children documented positive changes in cardiovascular fitness, fasting insulin levels, and body composition during the 9-month school-year. These positive changes were reversed during the 3-month summer break.
03/27/2007
- Effects of Soft Drink Consumption on Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Lenny R. Vartanian, PhD, Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD and Kelly D. Brownell, PhD
In a meta-analysis of 88 studies, authors examined the association between soft drink consumption and nutrition and health outcomes. They found clear associations of soft drink intake with increased energy intake and body weight. Soft drink intake also was associated with lower intakes of milk, calcium, and other nutrients and with an increased risk of several medical problems (e.g., diabetes).
03/14/2007
- A 12-month randomized trial conducted in the United States from February 2003 to October 2005 among 311 free-living, overweight/obese (body mass index, 27-40) nondiabetic, premenopausal women found that those assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more weight and experienced more favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than women assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets.
02/06/2007
- Travel by Walking Before and After School and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls - Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med. 2007;161:153-158
This study found that middle-school girls who reported walking for transportation before and after school on at least 1 day of a 3-day self-report had significantly higher levels of total physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity before school, before and after school,and for an entire day than did girls who reported none.
01/19/2007
- Childhood Obesity: Factors Affecting Physical Activity presents findings from a literature review to identify factors affecting rates of physical activity for children and adolescents. The report, prepared by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), follows a previous GAO report that identified "increasing physical activity" as the program strategy experts deemed most important to prevent or reduce childhood overweight and obesity. The current report is based on 53 selected articles published from 2003 to 2006 that focus on factors affecting levels of physical activity in school-age children and adolescents, supplemented with information obtained from organizations that recently published information on childhood overweight and obesity. The factors presented in the articles are discussed in three groups: (1) demographic factors, (2) cognitive and behavioral factors, and (3) community factors. Additional research needs and concluding observations are also provided.
01/10/2007
- In the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS), annual measurements were obtained from over 2300 Caucasian African-American girls followed between age 9 or 10 and 18 years; self-reported measures were obtained at age 21 to 23 years. Rates of overweight increased through adolescence from 7% to 10% in the Caucasian girls and from 17% to 24% in the African-American girls. The incidence of overweight was greater at age 9 to 12 than in later adolescence. Girls who were overweight during childhood were 11 to 30 times more likely to be obese in young adulthood. Overweight was significantly associated with increased percent body fat, and unhealthful systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
11/14/2006
- A recent examination of 82,802 women in the Nurses' Health Study was used to examine the association between a low-carbohydrate-diet and the risk of coronary heart disease. The findings suggested that diets lower in carbohydrate and higher in protein and fat are not associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease in women. When vegetable sources of fat and protein were chosen, those diets reduced the risk of coronary heart disease.
10/19/2006
- Adults who had lost over 40 pounds in the previous two years were assigned to one of three groups: a control group, which received quarterly newsletters, a group that received face-to-face intervention, and a group that received Internet-based intervention. The group that received face-to-face intervention, which included daily weighing, maintained the weight loss better than the control group and the Internet-based intervention group.
09/22/2006
- Overweight In Early Childhood Increases Chances For Obesity At Age 12
Children who are overweight as toddlers or preschoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese in early adolescence, report researchers in a collaborative study by the NIH and several academic institutions. - The CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity is pleased to announce the new Weight Management Research to Practice brief and the companion lay piece:
- Does Drinking Beverages with Added Sugar Increase the Risk of Overweight? Research to Practice Series No
- Rethink Your Drink: How to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverages to Help Manage Your Weight
07/27/2006
- In a study of Pima Indians in Arizona, those with type 2 diabetes diagnosed before age 20 had higher rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality at all ages. The longer duration of diabetes by middle age in individuals diagnosed younger than age 20 years largely accounts for these outcomes.
05/11/2006
- Overweight children are often said to have baby fat that will disappear as they get older, but a new British study suggests this is a myth. In reality, overweight kids are more likely to become overweight teens, increasing their risk for diseases linked to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes.
04/14/2006
- The prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents and obesity among men increased significantly during the 6-year period from 1999 to 2004.
No overall increases in the prevalence of obesity were observed during the same period. These estimates suggest that the increases in body weight are continuing in men and in children and adolescents while they may be leveling off in women.
02/13/2006
- New Partnership Focuses On Maintenance Of Healthy Weight Among Women Of Childbearing Age
Promoting Healthy Weight Among Women of Reproductive Age outlines factors that influence weight, demographics of weight among women of reproductive age, and the impact of overweight and obesity on perinatal outcomes. The paper was produced by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs and CityMatCH Women's Health Partnership, a project to build state and local capacity to promote safe motherhood and enhance women's health before, during, and after pregnancy. A description of the theoretical frameworks underpinning the AMCHP/CityMaTCH project efforts are presented, along with resources and community-based interventions for assisting women of reproductive age to maintain a healthy weight.
06/30/2008
- After a VERY competitive bidding process, Utah is one of the 8 newly funded states, along with 15 previously funded states, to receive an obesity grant from CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. This grant marks a dramatic opportunity for UDOH to build capacity to better address the critical public health issues of overweight and obesity. The funding will allow the UDOH to establish a Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Program within the Bureau of Health Promotion.The first year will focus on establishing staff, further developing a coalition of diverse partners who will give input into the development of a detailed, comprehensive five-year state plan for obesity prevention, identifying priority populations, enhancing program evaluation activities, and monitoring trends in obesity and associated risk factors. Future efforts will focus on working with public and private partners to promote policies and environments that support healthy behaviors in communities, work sites, and schools. Press release (PDF)
04/15/2008
- A new study shows increased state spending on parks and recreation and required physical education classes are linked to increased physical activity levels among youth.
04/08/2008
- The Utah Legislature recognizes healthy weight is everyone's 'business' and declares April 2008 as Utah's Obesity Awareness month.
12/10/2007
- Utah's Healthy Kids, Healthy America grant application was funded. Utah was not listed in the initial funding announcement in July. However, since then, 5 additional states were funded. Our vision is to increase opportunities for Utah children to eat healthy and be active in the school setting. Our goals include:
- Enroll 100% of elementary schools in Davis School District in Gold Medal Schools.
- Provide new education/training for elementary school teachers to transition from 90 minutes of PE per week to 150 per week minutes of PE.
- Establish a new Utah Parent Teacher Association policy for non-food incentives in the classrooms.
- Spread the lessons learned to all Gold Medal Schools.
01/31/2007
- "Childhood Overweight in Utah" is a 4-page document describing a 2006 Utah Department of Health project to weigh and measure elementary school students. The results show that the percentage of elementary school children who are at risk for overweight or who are overweight continues to increase. "What Schools Can Do" is a document describing positive steps that schools have implemented and a list of resources. For more information about the Utah Department of Health's elementary school height & weight studies, contact Michael Friedrichs at 801-538-6244 or mfriedrichs@utah.gov.
- Childhood Overweight in Utah (PDF 456KB)
- What Schools Can Do (PDF 249KB)
01/29/2007
- Obesity or being overweight is seen as the most important health issue for US children, according to a new poll commissioned by Research! America and The Endocrine Society.
More than one-quarter of Americans surveyed (27%) named obesity as the top health issue for children, followed by lack of health care/insurance (16%) and nutrition/unhealthy diet (9%). Fifty-two percent think obesity is a public health issue that society should address. Eighty-four percent believe the government should provide financial support for obesity prevention programs and 81% believe the government should fund obesity research.
- On September 25, 2006 Governor and Mrs. Hunstman hosted The Hunstman Kick-Off to Promote Healthy Weight in Utah at the Governor's Mansion. The purpose of this meeting was to begin implementation of the Utah Blueprint to Promote Healthy Weight for Children, Youth and Adults. Community leaders and their organizations were invited to form a private/public/community partnership to create healthy choices where Utahns live, learn, work, and play. Expert presentations were made prior to participants breaking into leadership groups to discuss the formation of Blueprint Leadership Implementation Teams within the Community, Family, Health Care, Media, Worksite, and School settings. For more information, please see the Next Steps page.
- Agenda (PDF 39KB)
- Speaking Points (PDF 28KB)
- How Heavy Are We? (PowerPoint 2585KB)
- The Blueprint a Bird's Eye View (PowerPoint 4998KB)
08/31/2006
- KSL News report on the Utah NGA Grant for Community Gardens.
- The Utah application to the National Governors Association Healthy States grant was funded. Out of the 13 states funded Utah was one of only 2 states that proposed a community wellness effort. The intent of Utah's proposal is to partner with Wasatch Community Gardens to increase community gardens in low income neighborhoods in SL and Weber counties. Increasing participation in gardening is one of the strategies in the Utah Blueprint to Promote Healthy Weight.
06/27/2006
- Utah's application to the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices "Healthy States Grant Program - Wellness in the Workplace and Community". Request for Proposals (RFP)
- On May 3, Governor and Mrs. Huntsman announced the launch of Tipping the Scales Toward a Healthier Population: The Utah Blueprint to Promote Healthy Weight for Children, Youth, and Adults. The Blueprint offers comprehensive, statewide obesity prevention strategies.
- This announcement came when he signed Utah's Healthy America Week Declaration at Jennie P. Stewart Elementary, a Gold Medal School.
- Press Release
- The National Governor's Association's Healthy America Initiative promotes healthier, more active lifestyles for all Americans. Learn more about Healthy America at www.nga.org.
08/17/2005
Utah Childhood Obesity Forum - Tipping the Scales Toward Healthier Children
held on August 17, 2005
04/16/2008
- Obesity during pregnancy carries bigger price tag. Study finds the extra health-care costs strain the system. Link to NEJM abstract.
11/07/2007
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1971-1994, with mortality follow-up through 2000 was analyzed to identify cause-specific excess deaths related to obesity. Overweight was associated with significantly decreased mortality from noncancer, non-CVD causes but not associated with cancer or CVD mortality. Obesity was associated with significantly increased CVD mortality but not associated with cancer mortality or with noncancer, non-CVD mortality. Overweight and obesity combined were associated with increased mortality from diabetes and kidney disease and decreased mortality from other noncancer, non-CVD causes. Obesity was associated with increased mortality from cancers considered obesity-related but not associated with mortality from other cancers.
09/12/2007
- The Utah Department of Health released the most recent obesity data for Utah adults on September 11, 2007 in the Utah Health Status Update, Overweight/Obese, September 2007
The continued increased rate of obesity and overweight combined is troublesome, and the more rapid increase in the obesity rate is of particular concern.
09/04/2007
- The Relationship Between Relative Weight and School Attendance Among Elementary Schoolchildren - Andrew B. Geier, Gary D. Foster, Leslie G. Womble, Jackie McLaughlin, Kelley E. Borradaile, Joan Nachmani, Sandy Sherman, Shiriki Kumanyika, and Justine Shults
A total of 1069 fourth to sixth graders from nine elementary schools in the inner city of Philadelphia, PA, were part of an ongoing randomized control trial to assess prevention strategies for obesity. Absentee data for the entire academic year were recorded by homeroom teachers. Participants were classified into relative weight categories described by the Institute of Medicine: underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese. The results suggest that in addition to the medical and psychosocial consequences of being overweight, heavier children have greater risk for school absenteeism than their normal-weight peers.
08/23/2007
- A case-control study in Sweden matched 2010 severely obese persons who got bariatric surgery with 2037 severely obese persons who did not. Bariatric surgery for severe obesity was associated with long-term weight loss and decreased overall mortality.
03/27/2007
- Effects of Soft Drink Consumption on Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Lenny R. Vartanian, PhD, Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD and Kelly D. Brownell, PhD
In a meta-analysis of 88 studies, authors examined the association between soft drink consumption and nutrition and health outcomes. They found clear associations of soft drink intake with increased energy intake and body weight. Soft drink intake also was associated with lower intakes of milk, calcium, and other nutrients and with an increased risk of several medical problems (e.g., diabetes).
03/06/2007
- Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents - Recent National Trends in Use and In-Hospital Outcome
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:217-221.
Study analyzed recent nationwide trends in the use of adolescent bariatric surgery and to compare early postoperative outcomes of adolescents and adults undergoing these procedures. - The Prevalence and Health Care Use of Overweight Children in an Integrated Health Care System
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:222-227.
Study was done to determine the prevalence, health care use, and costs of overweight children when compared with healthy-weight children.
02/06/2007
- Travel by Walking Before and After School and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls - Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med. 2007;161:153-158
This study found that middle-school girls who reported walking for transportation before and after school on at least 1 day of a 3-day self-report had significantly higher levels of total physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity before school, before and after school,and for an entire day than did girls who reported none.
01/19/2007
- Childhood Obesity: Factors Affecting Physical Activity presents findings from a literature review to identify factors affecting rates of physical activity for children and adolescents. The report, prepared by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), follows a previous GAO report that identified "increasing physical activity" as the program strategy experts deemed most important to prevent or reduce childhood overweight and obesity. The current report is based on 53 selected articles published from 2003 to 2006 that focus on factors affecting levels of physical activity in school-age children and adolescents, supplemented with information obtained from organizations that recently published information on childhood overweight and obesity. The factors presented in the articles are discussed in three groups: (1) demographic factors, (2) cognitive and behavioral factors, and (3) community factors. Additional research needs and concluding observations are also provided.
11/17/2006
- MMWR reports QuickStats: Prevalence of Overweight* Among Persons Aged 2--19 Years, by Sex --- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), United States, 1999--2000 Through 2003--2004
09/22/2006
-
OVERWEIGHT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INCREASES CHANCES FOR OBESITY AT AGE 12
Children who are overweight as toddlers or preschoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese in early adolescence, report researchers in a collaborative study by the NIH and several academic institutions. -
The CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity is pleased to announce the new Weight Management Research to Practice brief and the companion lay piece:
- Does Drinking Beverages with Added Sugar Increase the Risk of Overweight? Research to Practice Series No 3
- Rethink Your Drink: How to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverages to Help Manage Your Weight
08/25/2006
- A large prospective study examined BMI in relation to the risk of death from any cause in the National Institutes of Health–AARP cohort who were 50 to 71 years old at enrollment. The study found that obesity (BMI 30+) and overweight (BMI 25-29) were both associated with an increased risk of death.
07/27/2006
- In a study of Pima Indians in Arizona, those with type 2 diabetes diagnosed before age 20 had higher rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and mortality at all ages. The longer duration of diabetes by middle age in individuals diagnosed younger than age 20 years largely accounts for these outcomes.
04/03/2006
- Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Breastfeeding --- United States, 2004
Substantial health benefits accrue to infants who are breast fed, including that duration of breast feeding is inversely associated with risk for childhood overweight. The findings in this report indicate substantial racial and economic disparities in rates of breastfeeding initiation and breastfeeding continuation to at least age 6 months. The findings also demonstrate that race is associated with breastfeeding status independent of socioeconomic and other demographic factors, but also that socioeconomic and other factors are associated with breastfeeding independent of race.
03/14/2006
- The Future of Children
Childhood Obesity
Volume 16, Number 1 Spring 2006
Focus of the Volume
The past thirty years have seen many dramatic changes in the ways Americans work, live, and eat. Researchers are now tracing today's obesity epidemic back to many of those changes. This volume reviews evidence on how each of these changes may have caused obesity to increase and examines how best to address each of the possible causes.
03/13/2006
02/27/2006
02/24/2006
02/21/2006
- Effect of Rimonabant, a Cannabinoid, a Cannabinoid-1 Receptor Blocker, on Weight and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Overweight or Obese Patients: RIO-North America: A Randomized Controlled Trial
F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer; Louis J. Aronne; Hassan M. Heshmati; Jeanne Devin; Julio Rosenstock; for the RIO-North America Study Group - JAMA 2006;295 761-775
In this multicenter trial, treatment with 20 mg/d of rimonabant plus diet for 2 years promoted modest but sustained reductions in weight and waist circumference and favorable changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. However, the trial was limited by a high drop-out rate and longer-term effects of the drug require further study. -
Body Weight and Mortality Among Men and Women in China
Dongfeng Gu; Jiang He; Xiufeng Duan; Kristi Reynolds; Xigui Wu; Jing Chen; Guangyong Huang; Chung-Shiuan Chen; Paul K. Whelton - JAMA 2006;295 776-783
Study results indicate that both underweight and obesity were associated with increased mortality in the Chinese adult population. Furthermore, findings support the use of a single common recommendation for defining overweight and obesity among all racial and ethnic groups.
02/06/2006
- Midlife Body Mass Index and Hospitalization and Mortality in Older Age (Jan 2006)
Lijing L. Yan; Martha L. Daviglus; Kiang Liu; Jeremiah Stamler; Renwei Wang; Amber Pirzada; Daniel B. Garside; Alan R. Dyer; Linda Van Horn; Youlian Liao; James F. Fries; Philip Greenland - JAMA. 2006;295:190-198.
Adults with or without cardiovascular risk factors who were obese at middle age had a higher risk of hospitalization and mortality from CHD, cardiovascular disease and diabetes than those of ideal weight. - Randomized Trial of Lifestyle Modification and Pharmacotherapy for Obesity (Dec 2005)
Thomas A. Wadden, Ph.D., Robert I. Berkowitz, M.D., Leslie G. Womble, Ph.D., David B. Sarwer, Ph.D., Suzanne Phelan, Ph.D., Robert K. Cato, M.D., Louise A. Hesson, M.S.N., Suzette Y. Osei, M.D., Ph.D., Rosalind Kaplan, M.D., and Albert J. Stunkard, M.D.
The combination of medication and group lifestyle modification (the LEARN Program for Weight Control) resulted in more weight loss than either medication or lifestyle modification alone.
02/03/2006
- Treatment of Eating Disorders in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Martin Fisher - Pediatrics in Review 2006;27 5-16
03/29/2007
- A new Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that food is the top product seen advertised by children. The study, Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising to Children in the United States, combines content analysis of TV ads with detailed data about children’s viewing habits to provide an estimate of the number and type of TV ads seen by children of various ages.
As the fight against childhood obesity escalates, the issue of food advertising to children has come under increasing scrutiny. Policymakers in Congress, the Federal Trade Commission and agencies such as the Institute of Medicine have called for changes in the advertising landscape, and U.S. food and media industries are developing their own voluntary initiatives related to advertising food to children.
01/02/2007
- Effects of Food Marketing to Kids: I’m Lovin’ It?
National Health Policy Forum - Issue Brief #814; 08/15/2006
Eileen Salinsky, Principal Research Associate
This issue brief reviews key findings and recommendations from the Institute of Medicine study on food marketing and its effects on childhood obesity; the childhood obesity epidemic, discusses key trends associated with rising childhood obesity rates, considers the relative role of marketing practices on diet and obesity within the broader context of complex contributory factors; and also summarizes the current legal framework for regulating marketing directed at children; discusses voluntary, self-regulatory mechanisms; and highlights proposals to re-orient marketing practices to combat childhood obesity.
11/17/2006
- MMWR reports QuickStats: Prevalence of Overweight* Among Persons Aged 2--19 Years, by Sex --- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), United States, 1999--2000 Through 2003--2004
11/14/2006
- New Food, Beverage Initiative to Focus Kids' Ads on Healthy Choices; Revised Guidelines Strengthen CARU's Guidance to Food Advertisers
Industry Pledge Program, Key Guidelines Revisions Follow Extensive Review
The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) and the National Advertising Review Council (NARC0, on 11/14/33006, announced two significant developments in the self-regulation of advertising directed to children under 12.
07/14/2006
- A new study by the Institute of Medicine found that food marketing intentionally targets children who are too young to distinguish advertising from truth and induces them to eat high-calorie, low-nutrient (but highly profitable) "junk" foods.
05/08/2006
- The FTC and HHS released a report on food marketing to children
The report makes welcome recommendations on improving food marketing aimed at kids. Importantly, the agencies recommend that food companies and the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) set nutrition standards for
foods that can be marketed to children through television, schools, via cartoon characters on food packages, etc. - Food Marketing to Children and Youth from the Institute of Medicine
04/04/2006
- Television Exposure and Overweight Risk in Preschoolers
Children who watched television for 2 or more hours per day were almost three times more likely to be overweight at age 36 months than children watching less television.
03/14/2006
- The Future of Children
Childhood Obesity
Volume 16, Number 1 Spring 2006
Focus of the Volume
The past thirty years have seen many dramatic changes in the ways Americans work, live, and eat. Researchers are now tracing today's obesity epidemic back to many of those changes. This volume reviews evidence on how each of these changes may have caused obesity to increase and examines how best to address each of the possible causes.
02/22/2006
- Advertising, Marketing and the Media: Improving Messages
- Watching television is associated with childhood obesity: but is it clinically important?
- Television viewing and its associations with overweight, sedentary lifestyle, and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables among US high school students: differences by race, ethnicity, and gender.
07/21/2008
- A study of 1032 participants in the 1991-2007 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development measured physical activity levels among children. The children were 9 years old at the beginning of the study and 15 years old at the end of the study. At age 9 years, children engaged in approximately 3 hours of physical activity per day on both weekends and weekdays. By age 15 years, adolescents were only engaging in moderate or vigorous physical activity for 49 minutes per weekday and 35 minutes per weekend day. The rate of decrease was the same for boys and girls. Current recommendations are for boys and girls to get at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each day.
06/03/2008
- According to the 2006 School Health Profiles (Profiles) survey, Utah middle and high schools ranked worst in the nation among all states in the percentage of schools offering chocolate candy (85.9%), salty snacks not low in fat (75.9%) and soda pop (86.0%) in vending machines or at the school store, canteen or snack bar. Utah also ranked worst among states with the percentage of schools that restricted access to these foods during lunch periods (18.7%).
06/22/2008
- Data on children aged 2-19 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that 16.3% were obese and nearly one-third (31.9%) were at an unhealthy weight. There were no significant differences in the rates between the 2003-2004 survey and the 2005-2006 survey, which may be an indication that the increasing obesity in children may leveling off.
04/07/2008
- In 2003 The Food Trust developed a Comprehensive School Nutrition Policy for the School District of Philadelphia (1200K .pdf) to help youth attain their full educational potential and good health by providing them with the skills, social support and environmental reinforcement needed to adopt long-term healthy eating habits. The Comprehensive School Nutrition Policy Initiative was evaluated by Dr. Gary Foster of Temple University. The initiative was found to reduce the incidence of childhood overweight by 50%. The result were published in the April 2008 journal Pediatrics.
01/09/2008
- A study of 5723 girls aged 12 to 18 years found that those with lower self-reported social status were more likely to increase body mass index within the two year period.
- A study of 3345 adolescents in grades 8 to 12 with body mass index available at baseline and 5 years later found that increasing participation in certain extracurricular physical activities and physical education decreased the likelihood of young adulthood overweight. The likelihood of being an overweight adult was reduced most by performing certain wheel-related activities (rollerblading, roller skating, skateboarding, or bicycling) more than 4 times per week.
12/10/2007
- Utah's Healthy Kids, Healthy America grant application was funded. Utah was not listed in the initial funding announcement in July. However, since then, 5 additional states were funded. Our vision is to increase opportunities for Utah children to eat healthy and be active in the school setting. Our goals include:
- Enroll 100% of elementary schools in Davis School District in Gold Medal Schools.
- Provide new education/training for elementary school teachers to transition from 90 minutes of PE per week to 150 per week minutes of PE.
- Establish a new Utah Parent Teacher Association policy for non-food incentives in the classrooms.
- Spread the lessons learned to all Gold Medal Schools.
10/19/2007
- 2006 CDC School Health Policies and Programs Study reveals improvements in school environments for food offerings and physical activity, although the nation's schools are still far from getting straight A's. The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels.
09/04/2007
- The Relationship Between Relative Weight and School Attendance Among Elementary Schoolchildren - Andrew B. Geier, Gary D. Foster, Leslie G. Womble, Jackie McLaughlin, Kelley E. Borradaile, Joan Nachmani, Sandy Sherman, Shiriki Kumanyika, and Justine Shults
A total of 1069 fourth to sixth graders from nine elementary schools in the inner city of Philadelphia, PA, were part of an ongoing randomized control trial to assess prevention strategies for obesity. Absentee data for the entire academic year were recorded by homeroom teachers. Participants were classified into relative weight categories described by the Institute of Medicine: underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese. The results suggest that in addition to the medical and psychosocial consequences of being overweight, heavier children have greater risk for school absenteeism than their normal-weight peers.
06/26/2007
- Two Healthy Eating Research Briefs released in May 2007 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Scroll down and locate the links on the right lower panel, or link directly to the PDFs below.
- School Foods Sold Outside of Meals (Competitive Foods)
Found at least four studies have related the availability of snacks and drinks sold in schools to higher intakes of total energy (kcalories), soft drinks, total fat and saturated fat, and lower intakes of key nutrients (e.g., calcium, vitamin A), fruits, vegetables and milk.16-19 - Promoting Good Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child-Care Settings
- School Foods Sold Outside of Meals (Competitive Foods)
06/05/2007
- School-Based Fitness Changes Are Lost During the Summer Vacation
School-based interventions for overweight middle-school children documented positive changes in cardiovascular fitness, fasting insulin levels, and body composition during the 9-month school-year. These positive changes were reversed during the 3-month summer break.
05/08/2007
- A systematic review of controlled trials of interventions to prevent childhood obesity and overweight: A realistic synthesis of the evidence
Connelly, J, et al. Public Health (2007), oi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.11.015
Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health
By using a novel approach to synthesizing trials, a decisive role for the ‘compulsory’ provision of aerobic physical activity in schools has been demonstrated. Further research is required to identify how such activity can be sustained and transformed into a personally chosen behavior by children and over the life course.
02/06/2007
- Travel by Walking Before and After School and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls - Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med. 2007;161:153-158
This study found that middle-school girls who reported walking for transportation before and after school on at least 1 day of a 3-day self-report had significantly higher levels of total physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity before school, before and after school,and for an entire day than did girls who reported none.
01/30/2007
- Analysis of middle school students in 4 eastern North Carolina counties using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS, n=5174) found a relationship between perceived weight status and suicidal thoughts and actions. Females who perceived themselves as overweight were significantly more likely to report suicidal thoughts and actions; while for males, perceptions of overweight and underweight were significantly associated with suicidal thoughts and actions.
01/19/2007
- Childhood Obesity: Factors Affecting Physical Activity presents findings from a literature review to identify factors affecting rates of physical activity for children and adolescents. The report, prepared by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), follows a previous GAO report that identified "increasing physical activity" as the program strategy experts deemed most important to prevent or reduce childhood overweight and obesity. The current report is based on 53 selected articles published from 2003 to 2006 that focus on factors affecting levels of physical activity in school-age children and adolescents, supplemented with information obtained from organizations that recently published information on childhood overweight and obesity. The factors presented in the articles are discussed in three groups: (1) demographic factors, (2) cognitive and behavioral factors, and (3) community factors. Additional research needs and concluding observations are also provided.
01/10/2007
- In the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS), annual measurements were obtained from over 2300 Caucasian African-American girls followed between age 9 or 10 and 18 years; self-reported measures were obtained at age 21 to 23 years. Rates of overweight increased through adolescence from 7% to 10% in the Caucasian girls and from 17% to 24% in the African-American girls. The incidence of overweight was greater at age 9 to 12 than in later adolescence. Girls who were overweight during childhood were 11 to 30 times more likely to be obese in young adulthood. Overweight was significantly associated with increased percent body fat, and unhealthful systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
09/22/2006
-
OVERWEIGHT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INCREASES CHANCES FOR OBESITY AT AGE 12
Children who are overweight as toddlers or preschoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese in early adolescence, report researchers in a collaborative study by the NIH and several academic institutions. -
The CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity is pleased to announce the new Weight Management Research to Practice brief and the companion lay piece:
- Does Drinking Beverages with Added Sugar Increase the Risk of Overweight? Research to Practice Series No 3
- Rethink Your Drink: How to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverages to Help Manage Your Weight
08/08/2006
- The 2004 School Health Profiles for public secondary schools (SHEP) survey asked lead health education teachers in public secondary schools about nutrition and physical activity programs and professional education in 25 states and 10 large cities. The survey found that in Utah 64.3% of schools reported teaching all 15 nutrition and dietary behavior topics and 48.2% of schools reported teaching all 12 physical activity topics. Only 21..4% and 34.9% of schools reported receiving staff development on dietary behavior and physical activity, respectively.
- Secondary School Health Education Related to Nutrition and Physical Activity - Selected Sites, United States, 2004
Eating a healthful diet and engaging in physical activity have important health benefits for youths, such as reducing overweight, a condition that affected 17% of those aged 12-19 years during 2003-2004. This report summarizes the results of analysis of the Youth Behavioral Risk Surveillance Survey. It indicates that in 2004, approximately one half to three fourths of schools in the participating states and school districts taught all 15 nutrition and dietary behavior topics listed in the School Health Profiles questionnaire in a required health education course, and approximately one third to two thirds taught all 12 physical activity and fitness topics. State and local education agencies should continue to encourage schools to provide education on nutrition and physical activity as part of a coordinated school health program and promote staff development for health education teachers.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 4, 2006 / 55(30);821-824, CDC
05/08/2006
- The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Heart Association are pleased to bring you the 2006 Shape of the Nation Report: Status of Physical Education in the USA. The complete report, including mandates, executive summary, state policies and profiles, as well as the press release are available.
04/04/2006
03/14/2006
- The Future of Children
Childhood Obesity
Volume 16, Number 1 Spring 2006
Focus of the Volume
The past thirty years have seen many dramatic changes in the ways Americans work, live, and eat. Researchers are now tracing today's obesity epidemic back to many of those changes. This volume reviews evidence on how each of these changes may have caused obesity to increase and examines how best to address each of the possible causes.
02/22/2006
- National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) resources:
02/06/2006
- Schoolwide Food Practices Are Associated With Body Mass Index in Middle School Students (Dec 2005)
Martha Y. Kubik, PhD, RN; Leslie A. Lytle, PhD, RD; Mary Story, PhD - Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:1111-1114.
Schoolwide food practices that supported frequent snacking and the consumption of foods and beverages high in calories and low in nutrients were associated with higher body mass index among middle school students.
11/17/2006
- Study examined eating trends from 1971 to 2002. Eating episodes increased slightly in women. The amount of foods and beverages consumed, the energy density of foods, and energy intake per eating episode increased. The mention of breakfast declined in both sexes. The observed trends in mention of a snack (in men) and percentage of energy from evening food intake (in women) were downward. The amount of foods and their energy density were independent positive correlates of obesity in combined data from all surveys.
08/25/2006
- New York Times MAGAZINE | Fat Factors
By ROBIN MARANTZ HENIG
It’s clear that diet and genes contribute to how fat you are. But a new wave of scientific research suggests that, for some people, there might be a third factor — microorganisms.
06/26/2006
- CDC's monthly Public Health Perspective focuses on a single topic and contains information and commentary related to genetics. The latest Public Health Perspective examines the topic of Obesity and Genetics.
02/03/2006
- Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Weight Change Over 7 Years: The Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial
Barbara V. Howard; JoAnn E. Manson; Marcia L. Stefanick; Shirley A.Beresford; Gail Frank; Bobette Jones; Rebecca J. Rodabough; Linda Snetselaar; Cynthia Thomson; Lesley Tinker; Mara Vitolins; Ross Prentice - JAMA 2006;295 39-49
