Food adverts during family TV shows encourage junk food consumption
A new report that contains research conducted at the University of Liverpool has found that six in ten food adverts shown during family programmes push junk food, including fast food, takeaways and sweets. Normally, these adverts would be banned from children’s TV under UK regulations which prohibit the advertising of food high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) during programmes that are specifically aimed at children. However, due to a loophole in the legislation, adverts during ‘family’ TV programmes that are popular with children do not have the same safeguards in place. This is despite the fact that significantly more children are watching these programmes than some of the more popular children’s shows.
The researchers, based at the University of Liverpool, have previously published research that demonstrated that television food advertising alters children’s food preferences, towards high fat, salt and sugar foods. In this study they found that, at its worst, junk food advertising constituted nine adverts within a 30-minute period. In total 59% of food and drink adverts were for HFSS foods, whilst only 1% were for fruit and vegetables. The researchers hope that the regulations put in place over HFSS food advertising during children’s programmes will be extended to include more family focused programmes up to the watershed of 9pm.
Read MoreObesity during pregnancy directly results in foetal overgrowth
A recent study published in JAMA Paediatrics has suggested that being obese during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to an atypically large infant, this is independent of other health effects such as diabetes that may also be present. A large foetus – macrosomia – can present a variety of problems during pregnancy and labour. Macrosomia itself can increase the chances of the foetus suffering a bone fracture during delivery and the need for a caesarean section, the risks to the mother include an increased incidence of post-partum haemorrhage.
Using data from over 2,800 pregnant women the researchers were able to categorise, according to BMI, and control for accompanying diseases (such as diabetes and high blood pressure), they also analysed the ultrasound scans of the participants in order to assess the size of the foetus. It was found that foetuses of obese women were generally larger than their non-obese-mother counterparts. Importantly, the researchers were not able to examine the exact reason for the difference in size; they did however theorize that disorders such as insulin resistance in the mothers can lead to an increased blood pressure and therefore overgrowth in the foetus. They called for further study in this area to assess what further health issues the children may face, and to analyse the exact mechanism by which the children are large for dates.
Read MoreWeight management programme can induce remission in type 2 diabetics
An intensive weight management programme has been shown to induce remission in patients with type 2 diabetes at one year, without the help of medications, according to a new randomised controlled trial. The study has been published in The Lancet and shows that after 1 year, half of the participants had not only induced remission of diabetes but on average each had lost 10kg (compared to 1kg for the control group). Previous research from the same team highlighted that type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat within the liver and pancreas, they then suggested that intensive weight management with a very low calorie diet could help reverse this.
The researchers explained that current treatments for diabetes do not address the root cause; they focus on reducing blood sugar levels. This study aimed to develop discussion of using weight management and cutting calories as a form of treatment to induce remission. 298 adults took part in the trial, all of whom had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the previous 6 years across the United Kingdom. The programme itself involved a preliminary diet replacement phase for 3-5 months, followed by stepped food reintroduction for 2-8 weeks. This was combined with interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and strategies to increase physical activity. All anti-diabetic medications were stopped at the beginning of the trial. The study authors have explained that the weight loss goals provided by the programme are largely achievable for many individuals struggling with weight management. Further to this, follow up of this particular trial will continue for four years in order to assess the long-term results.
Read MoreLevels of obesity within the healthcare workforce
A recent study has examined the prevalence of obesity amongst health care professionals in England. It found that 25.1% of nurses were obese whilst 31.9% of unregistered care workers were obese. Using data from the Health Survey for England, 20,103 individuals were included. This study itself did not examine the reasons for obesity within the healthcare professional population; however it was hypothesised that the largely disruptive shift pattern of work would be a significant contributor. The study also suggests that being obese could get in the way of providing the best care for patients and may also mean that nurses are more likely to have to take time off due to other health conditions related to obesity.
The researchers were hoping that their findings would help policymakers pay more attention to improving staff health. This would not only have positive implications for the overall health of the workforce but could also help improve patient centred care, especially as many of the general population can look to the health workforce as role models when it comes to medical health.
Read MoreObesity knowledge in medical students assessed
Recently, a small team of researchers in Norway developed a 20-item questionnaire assessing level of obesity knowledge and published their results in Obesity Facts. The questionnaire was given to a group of final year medical students and the results were compared against a group of experts and a group of first year students. 281 individuals in total took part in the survey, with the majority of these being final year students (226), with 13 experts and 96 first year students. The results showed that experts scored significantly higher than both the final year students and the first year students. In addition to this the final year students scored significantly higher than the first year students, however it was suggested that their level of obesity knowledge was still inadequate, especially with regard to aetiology, diagnosis and treatment aspects.
As obesity is becoming a global problem it is vital that health care providers are given the adequate knowledge and skills in order to effectively tackle the problem. This study suggests that the provision of these skills should start early, even at medical school, for future doctors so that they may have the confidence to appropriately treat patients who are overweight or obese. Further assessment of medical student competency should be carried out so that universities can revise their curricula and improve the standard of care for overweight individuals.
Read More