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Journal of Obesity 2013As a public health problem, childhood obesity operates at multiple levels, ranging from individual health behaviors to school and community characteristics to public... (Review)
Review
As a public health problem, childhood obesity operates at multiple levels, ranging from individual health behaviors to school and community characteristics to public policies. Examining obesity, particularly childhood obesity, from any single perspective is likely to fail, and systems science methods offer a possible solution. We systematically reviewed studies that examined the causes and/or consequences of obesity from a systems science perspective. The 21 included studies addressed four general areas of systems science in obesity: (1) translating interventions to a large scale, (2) the effect of obesity on other health or economic outcomes, (3) the effect of geography on obesity, and (4) the effect of social networks on obesity. In general, little research addresses obesity from a true, integrated systems science perspective, and the available research infrequently focuses on children. This shortcoming limits the ability of that research to inform public policy. However, we believe that the largely incremental approaches used in current systems science lay a foundation for future work and present a model demonstrating the system of childhood obesity. Systems science perspective and related methods are particularly promising in understanding the link between childhood obesity and adult outcomes. Systems models emphasize the evolution of agents and their interactions; such evolution is particularly salient in the context of a developing child.
Topics: Age Factors; Child; Child Development; Comorbidity; Cost of Illness; Health Services Research; Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Public Health; Residence Characteristics; Risk Factors; Social Support; Systems Theory; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 23710344
DOI: 10.1155/2013/129193 -
Nutrients Oct 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the implementation of policies that mandate various restrictions on daily life, including social distancing, the closure of public... (Review)
Review
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the implementation of policies that mandate various restrictions on daily life, including social distancing, the closure of public services and schools, and movement limitations. Even though these restrictive measures decreased the COVID-19 spread, they may have detrimental effects on various lifestyle components such as physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and dietary habits, influencing the maintenance of weight and contributing to obesity among children and adolescents. The coexistence of childhood obesity and COVID-19 and changes in the bioecological environment have put children and adolescents at increased risk for developing obesity and exacerbating the severity of this disorder. The use of telehealth technology is a modern approach useful for the delivery of health care services by health care professionals, where distance is a critical factor. Telehealth is effective in promoting increased self-monitoring and behavioral change, and provides the opportunity to perform online nutritional support and exercise training programs to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce sedentary behaviors in children and adolescents. Telehealth, including tele-exercise and tele-nutrition, has the potential to address many of the key challenges in providing health services, including in patients with obesity during the COVID-19 outbreak. This narrative review aims to describe the role of telehealth as an opportunity in the management of pediatric obesity in the COVID-19 era, and to deliver nutrition and exercise programs for the maintenance of health.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Age Factors; COVID-19; Child; Child Behavior; Diet, Healthy; Exercise Therapy; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Nutritive Value; Patient Education as Topic; Pediatric Obesity; Telemedicine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34835945
DOI: 10.3390/nu13113689 -
Pediatrics May 2016The burden of obesity-related asthma among children, particularly among ethnic minorities, necessitates an improved understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms.... (Review)
Review
The burden of obesity-related asthma among children, particularly among ethnic minorities, necessitates an improved understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms. Although obesity is an independent risk factor for asthma, not all obese children develop asthma. Several recent studies have elucidated mechanisms, including the role of diet, sedentary lifestyle, mechanical fat load, and adiposity-mediated inflammation that may underlie the obese asthma pathophysiology. Here, we review these recent studies and emerging scientific evidence that suggest metabolic dysregulation may play a role in pediatric obesity-related asthma. We also review the genetic and epigenetic factors that may underlie susceptibility to metabolic dysregulation and associated pulmonary morbidity among children. Lastly, we identify knowledge gaps that need further exploration to better define pathways that will allow development of primary preventive strategies for obesity-related asthma in children.
Topics: Asthma; Child; Diet; Epigenesis, Genetic; Humans; Insulin; Pediatric Obesity
PubMed: 27244776
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-0812 -
Current Obesity Reports Dec 2021The study aims to highlight the clinical importance of assessing and managing neuromusculoskeletal health in pediatric obesity and to support translation of evidence... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The study aims to highlight the clinical importance of assessing and managing neuromusculoskeletal health in pediatric obesity and to support translation of evidence into practice.
RECENT FINDINGS
A growing evidence base suggests that children with obesity experience neuromusculoskeletal impairments and physical complications including increased pain, reduced muscle strength, impaired balance and motor skill, gait deviations, postural malalignment, greater fatigue, and potentially reduced flexibility and sub-optimal bone health. Such evidence supports the need to screen, assess, and optimize neuromusculoskeletal health as part of pediatric obesity management. The likelihood of children with obesity experiencing neuromusculoskeletal impairments is high and can impact the way a child moves, and their interest or capacity to engage in physical activity and exercise. Barriers to movement should be minimized to promote optimal development of the neuromusculoskeletal system and to support engagement in sufficient physical activity for weight management. Healthcare professionals should screen for neuromusculoskeletal impairments as well as personalize interventions and modify standardized exercise interventions to optimize obesity treatment. Further research should explore whether neuromusculoskeletal impairments influence the success of obesity treatment or whether they improve following obesity treatment.
Topics: Child; Exercise; Humans; Pediatric Obesity
PubMed: 34958437
DOI: 10.1007/s13679-021-00463-9 -
JBI Evidence Synthesis Dec 2022The objective of this review was to examine existing literature and conceptually map the evidence for school-based obesity prevention programs implemented in rural... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review was to examine existing literature and conceptually map the evidence for school-based obesity prevention programs implemented in rural communities, as well as identify current gaps in the literature.
INTRODUCTION
Pediatric obesity is a significant public health condition worldwide. Rural residency places children at increased risk of obesity. Schools have been identified as an avenue for obesity prevention in rural communities.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
We considered citations focused on children (5 to 18 years of age) enrolled in a rural educational setting. We included obesity prevention programs delivered in rural schools that focused on nutrition or dietary changes, physical activity or exercise, decreasing screen time, or combined nutrition and physical activity that aimed to prevent childhood obesity. We included all quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research designs, as well as text and opinion data.
METHODS
A search was conducted of published and unpublished studies in English from 1990 through April 2020 using PubMed, CINAHL Complete, ERIC, Embase, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Gray literature was also searched. After title and abstract review, potentially relevant citations were retrieved in full text. The full texts were assessed in detail against the inclusion criteria by 2 independent reviewers. Included citations were reviewed and data extracted by 2 independent reviewers and captured on a spreadsheet targeting the review objectives.
RESULTS
Of the 105 studies selected for full-text review, 72 (68.6%) were included in the final study. Most of the studies (n = 50) were published between 2010 and 2019 and were conducted in the United States (n = 57). Most studies included children in rural elementary or middle schools (n = 57) and targeted obesity prevention (n = 67). Teachers implemented the programs in half of the studies (n = 36). Most studies included a combination of physical activity and nutrition components (n = 43). Other studies focused solely on nutrition (n = 9) or physical activity (n = 9), targeted obesity prevention policies (n = 9), or other components (n = 8). Programs ranged in length from weeks to years. Overall, weight-related, physical activity-specific, and nutrition-specific outcomes were most commonly examined in the included citations.
CONCLUSIONS
Obesity prevention programs that focused on a combination of physical activity and nutrition were the most common. Multiple outcomes were examined, but most programs included weight-specific and health behavior-specific outcomes. The length and intensity of rural school-based obesity prevention programs varied. More research examining scientific rigor and specific outcomes of rural school-based obesity prevention programs is needed.
Topics: Child; Humans; Exercise; Pediatric Obesity; Rural Population; School Health Services; Schools
PubMed: 36513382
DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-21-00233 -
Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal... Feb 2019While energy intake and energy expenditure have long been studied independently, the alarming progression of obesity has led to a more integrative approach to energy... (Review)
Review
While energy intake and energy expenditure have long been studied independently, the alarming progression of obesity has led to a more integrative approach to energy balance considering their potential interactions. Although the available literature concerned with the effect of chronic and acute exercise on energy intake and appetite control in adults is considerable, these questions remain less explored among children and adolescents. Based on the search of four databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library; articles published until May 2018), the objective of this review is to summarize and discuss the effect of acute and chronic physical exercise on energy intake and appetite control in children and adolescents with obesity, and to identify the physiological and neurocognitive signals and pathways involved. Evidence suggested that acute intensive exercise has the potential to reduce subsequent energy intake in children and adolescents with obesity but not healthy weight, through both peripheral (mainly gastro-peptides) and neurocognitive (neural responses to food cues) pathways. The nutritional responses to chronic physical activity remain less clear and require further consideration, especially from an anti-obesity perspective.
Topics: Adolescent; Appetite; Child; Cognition; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism; Exercise; Homeostasis; Humans; Pediatric Obesity
PubMed: 30358051
DOI: 10.1111/obr.12782 -
Pediatric Clinics of North America Jun 2016Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the United States, but current childhood obesity prevention approaches have limited efficacy. Self-regulation processes... (Review)
Review
Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the United States, but current childhood obesity prevention approaches have limited efficacy. Self-regulation processes organize behavior to achieve a goal and may shape health behaviors and health outcomes. Obesity prevention approaches that focus on the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms that underlie self-regulation early in life may therefore lead to better outcomes. This article reviews the development of executive functioning (EF), identifies influences on EF development, discusses aspects of EF relating to increased risk for childhood obesity, and considers how EF-weight associations may change across development. Implications for intervention are discussed.
Topics: Behavior Therapy; Body Mass Index; Child; Child Behavior; Child Welfare; Executive Function; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Motor Activity; Pediatric Obesity; United States
PubMed: 27261544
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2016.02.006 -
Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic... Oct 2023Worldwide, far too many children and adolescents are living with the disease of obesity. Despite decades of public health initiatives, rates are still rising in many... (Review)
Review
Worldwide, far too many children and adolescents are living with the disease of obesity. Despite decades of public health initiatives, rates are still rising in many countries. This raises the question of whether precision public health may be a more successful approach to preventing obesity in youth. In this review, the objective was to review the literature on precision public health in the context of childhood obesity prevention and to discuss how precision public health may advance the field of childhood obesity prevention. As precision public health is a concept that is still evolving and not fully identifiable in the literature, a lack of published studies precluded a formal review. Therefore, the approach of using a broad interpretation of precision public health was used and recent advances in childhood obesity research in the areas of surveillance and risk factor identification as well as intervention, evaluation and implementation using selected studies were summarized. Encouragingly, big data from a multitude of designed and organic sources are being used in new and innovative ways to provide more granular surveillance and risk factor identification in obesity in children. Challenges were identified in terms of data access, completeness, and integration, ensuring inclusion of all members of society, ethics, and translation to policy. As precision public health advances, it may yield novel insights that can contribute to strong policies acting in concert that ultimately lead to the prevention of obesity in children.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Public Health; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37055611
DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09802-8 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood.... Jun 2022Obesity is common among children and young people, with potential for significant clinical consequences. The physical and psychological comorbidities associated with...
Obesity is common among children and young people, with potential for significant clinical consequences. The physical and psychological comorbidities associated with childhood obesity persist into adult life, but many children do not have access to tailored obesity services. We present a framework for the identification, assessment and management of childhood obesity by the non-specialist. We also offer strategies to initiate discussions about weight and to communicate effectively with patients living with obesity.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Comorbidity; Family; Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Referral and Consultation
PubMed: 33832962
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-321029 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022
Topics: Child; Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36093116
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1000597