Obesity rates in US women and teens climbing
According to two new studies from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in JAMA the obesity rates for US women and teens is unfortunately on the rise. Survey data that was collected in 2014 and reported in one of the studies found that 41% of women are obese compared to 38% from a decade earlier.
In the second study, CDC researchers found that during the same time period, obesity in teens rose from 17% to 21%.
The data did however also show that during the same time period, the obesity rates in children ages 2 to 5, dropped from 14% to 9%.
Read MoreBarriers to better obesity care
A recent study published in Obesity, Science and Practice found that only a few patients who are eligible for obesity medication are actually utilising them. Those who do receive medication are more likely to be young females, who are insured and use antidepressants and NSAIDS. In another recent investigation, found in the Pink Sheet, industry analysts have described how this is leading to a ‘slow goodbye’ for obesity medication, as the market declines. The researchers suggest that this could be a contributing factor to the rise in severe obesity, as obesity is being allowed to develop in the people that aren’t being effectively treated. It is also suggested that there are 3 main factors that interfere with the delivery of obesity care: the widespread bias and lack of understanding of obesity, the relatively few healthcare professionals who can treat it, and health plans that aren’t comprehensive.
The bias is thought to be the most influential factor, and this describes the idea that healthcare professionals think obese people to be non-compliant and weak-willed, often overlooking the complexities of the disease. In addition to this, there is a lack of healthcare professionals specialising in obesity care, meaning that much primary care is unequipped to treat and effectively manage it. Furthermore, health plans do not routinely cover obesity care; employers are commonly viewing obesity as a lifestyle condition, and not a real disease.
Most of this research was conducted in the United States, and reveals the sluggishness of progress within the country. There seems to be too much of a blame culture, which is having a negative effect on any progress that is being made. A greater utilisation of obesity services is required, as well as an increase in healthcare professionals entering the field, and the acceptance of obesity as a disease.
Read MoreWearable fitness monitors don’t influence physical activity
In a study carried out at Oklahoma State University, which has been accepted for publication in the PHEnex Journal, it was found that wearable fitness monitors do not necessarily motivate exercise. The study consisted of only a small cohort (36 participants) of Physical Education students. In the study, participants were given a monitor which they were told would capture the amount of sunlight that they receive each day. They were then later given a monitor which they were told would track the number of steps that they took each day. Both monitors were actually measuring how active each of the study participants were.
Interestingly, it was found that the students’ activity levels didn’t change with the monitoring. Clarkson University Associate Professor of Physical Therapy & Physician Assistant Studies Ali Boolani who was conducting the study, with Oklahoma State University Associate Professor of Physical Education Timothy Baghurst, said that as physical education students “they should be modeling good health. This shows you, don’t rely on an exercise monitor as your motivation.” Boolani and Baghurst are keen to develop the study further and explore the activity levels among different professions and university disciplines, in multiple sites.
Read MoreThe effect of social class on childhood obesity
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have been conducting research into the influence of early life factors that contribute to childhood obesity rates in people of different socio-economic backgrounds. The researchers estimated the risk of overweight and obesity in 12,000 children, according to their socioeconomic circumstances at birth. They also examined the potential impact of a range of factors that were identified using questionnaires. These included whether the mother was overweight before the pregnancy, whether she smoked during it and how the child was fed postpartum.
The study found that being overweight before pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy, lack of breastfeeding and early weaning onto solid foods were all significantly related to a higher BMI by age 11. The researchers suggest that these factors partially account for the social inequalities found in childhood overweight. They go on to explain that policies to support mothers to maintain healthy weight and stay educated on these early life factors are important and should be developed.
To learn more about obesity, its prevention, and its treatment please look at CCH’s Postgraduate Academic Courses in Lifestyle Medicine (Obesity Care), and CPD Short Courses in topics such as childhood obesity and behaviour change, designed to up-skill health professionals in this vitally important, and often overlooked, area of care.
Read MoreSelf-regulation strategies can prevent weight gain in young adults
A new study has identified 2 self-regulation strategies that prevent weight gain amongst young adults. By teaching participants to weigh themselves every day and use that information to maintain a healthy weight or implement behaviour changes, it was shown that weight gain could be prevented. The findings of this study have been published online ahead of print in JAMA Internal Medicine. A total of 599 participants, aged 18-35 took part in this study, of which half were of normal weight, while the others were overweight. They were then split into 3 groups. One group that were taught behavioural and lifestyle changes to prevent weight gain, a second group that focused on a large initial 5-10 pound weight loss to buffer any weight gain, and a control group that received no intervention.
The 2 self-regulation groups both showed reduced weight gain after a 3 year follow-up period. The ‘initial weight loss’ group showed an overall weight loss over this period. The study showed that frequent weighing and either initial weight loss or smaller daily interventions are useful tools in preventing weight gain. The researchers themselves are hoping that the new self-regulation approaches will be taken notice of as they are both cost-effective and easy to carry out for young adults.
Read MoreAverage BMI associated with lowest risk of death increases
Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark recently examined whether BMI associated with the lowest mortality rates has increased in the general population over a period of 30 years and published their findings in JAMA. Previous work has suggested that whilst average BMI is increasing across most countries, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is decreasing; the researchers hypothesised that the BMI associated with lowest all-cause mortality might have changed over this time period.
They found that BMI values have increased by a factor of 3.3 over three decades. This means that the optimal BMI in relation to mortality is in the overweight category (for the last cohort that they examined – 2003-2013). The authors have suggested that the WHO should revise the BMI values that currently categorise people into normal weight, overweight and obese, as the data to form these was collected before the 1990s. However, they acknowledge that further investigation is needed to understand the reasons for these changes as well as any potential implications.
Read MoreHigh-fat diets increase tiredness
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found that men who consume a diet high in fat are more likely to feel tired throughout the day. The Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) study analysed data from 1800 Australian men over a 12-month period. The study controlled for other demographic and lifestyle factors and found an overall trend that those consuming higher fat diets would feel more tired throughout the day, affecting their work due to the implications for alertness and concentration.
Sleep quality at night was also affected, as those who consumed more fat tended to report a poorer overall quality. Unfortunately, the researchers noticed that the effect is cyclical, as poor sleep and feeling tired throughout the day is associated with cravings for food high in fat. Obviously, the best way to counter this is to not give in to temptation and eat a healthier diet. However, this is much easier said than done. The researchers are hoping to continue their work and to inform future intervention studies so that people can lose weight whilst also improve their sleep quality.
Read MoreWeight gain in pregnancy imprints on child
A new study published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal has shown that mothers who gain excess weight or have elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy are more likely to have overweight and obese children. The study examined 24,141 mothers and children over a ten-year period. Even though previous studies have found that women who gain excess weight during pregnancy are more likely to have bigger babies, this study revealed that even normal weight babies could grow up to become overweight or obese children.
The authors of this study hypothesised that an ‘imprinting’ mechanism in these children makes them more susceptible to becoming obese over their early years. The children whose mothers suffered from gestational diabetes were at greatest risk of becoming obese, being 30% more likely to be overweight between ages 2 and 10, than those whose mothers had a normal blood sugar level. The researchers suggest that this study proves that the effect of a mother’s womb during pregnancy is as important as the risk factors that the child is exposed to postpartum.
Read MoreDrinking artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy linked to increased infant BMI
A recent study published in JAMA Paediatrics revealed that consumption of artificially sweetened beverages by pregnant women was associated with a higher infant BMI. It is known that excess sugar consumption can lead to obesity, both in mothers and children. However, little research has been conducted into the effects of sugar replacement exposure during pregnancy. In this study, 3,033 mother-child pairs were examined, with particular interest in their dietary choices during pregnancy and the subsequent effects on infant BMI.
About 30% of women reported drinking beverages with artificial sweeteners during their pregnancy. It was found that these women were more likely to have obese children, with a 2 to 4 fold increase in the risk of overweight by age 1. The authors admit that there was a margin for error as the study relied on food questionnaires, however an effect on the infants’ BMI was clearly present. Given that there is both widespread childhood obesity as well as artificial sweetener use, the authors hope to further their research and understand the biological mechanisms for such an effect.
Read MoreThe complex interaction between families and childhood obesity
The causes of obesity are known to be very complex, however a recent review has highlighted how family interventions may be able to significantly reduce a child’s genetic risk. The authors suggest that families should be fully involved in planning healthy living campaigns and in the? efforts to regulate food marketing strategies. Barbara Fiese, one of the review’s authors, explained that the family system should not be used as a source for blame, but rather as part of a larger ecology that could support or derail children’s health. The review points out that the likelihood of developing weight problems can be greatly reduced by family meals which promote and model healthy eating behaviours.
Furthemore, the use of electronic media devices whilst eating also increased children’s risk for obesity. This may lead to increased exposure to advertising of unhealthy foods, as well as impede positive communication within the family. Positive communication has been shown to promote healthy habits due to attention to what, and how much, the children are consuming. The researchers support the collaboration of experts with families, but admit that parents also require the social tools to put concepts into action. This has proved to be difficult, however the authors have begun to address this by developing educational videos that focus on healthy habits in the family environment.
Read MoreDoes nanoparticle drug delivery offer hope to obese patients?
Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed nanoparticles to deliver anti-obesity drugs. In a study using a mouse model, researchers were able to effectively deliver drugs which converted white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue – thereby helping to burn off the fat. The drugs also increased vasculature to these areas, allowing for more drugs to be subsequently delivered to the correct areas, helping to avoid unwanted side effects in other parts of the body.
The researchers are particularly encouraged to know that they can deliver the drug to particular areas and have an overall positive effect. After treating the mice intravenously, it was noted that those on a high-fat diet lost approximately 10% of their body weight, with cholesterol and triglyceride levels also dropping. Furthermore, the treatment did not cause any side effects to the mice. Further research involves looking into an easier delivery approach of the nanoparticles, such as delivering them by mouth – something that has proven difficult in the past. Overall, the authors are reassured by their results and are looking forward to taking the research further.
Read MoreParent’s perception of child weight has larger impact than once thought
A collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Florida State University College of Medicine has recently taken place to determine the effect of parents perception of their children’s weight on subsequent weight gain. They found that parents whose children are overweight often fail to identify their offspring’s weight accurately . Little research has taken place before to examine whether parental perceptions of child weight status are protective against further weight gain.
By analysing the data of 3,557 Australian children and their parents, the researchers found that children whose parents perceived them as being overweight as opposed to being ‘about the right weight’, gained more weight following analysis. This showed that an identification of overweight by parents does not actually carry any protection for the child but instead it puts them at more risk of weight gain in the future. Further research is required to understand how parental perceptions of child weight may counter-intuitively contribute to obesity.
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