childhood obesity topics for research papers

134 Childhood Obesity Essay Topics & Examples

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143 Childhood Obesity Essay Topics

🏆 best childhood obesity topics for essays, 🎓 childhood obesity essay topics for college, 👍 good childhood obesity research paper examples, 💡 simple childhood obesity research paper & essay ideas, ❓ childhood obesity research questions, ✍️ obesity & child’s health essay topics.

• Childhood Obesity: Causes and Effects
• Childhood Obesity: Causes and Solutions
• Childhood Obesity: Quantitative Annotated Bibliography
• Childhood Obesity and Nutrition
• Childhood Obesity: Problem Analysis
• Childhood Obesity Study and Health Belief Model
• Childhood Obesity: Prevention and Mitigation Over the past three decades, childhood obesity has developed into an epidemic and is considered as one of the major health issues in the world.
• Childhood Obesity Causes: Junk Food and Video Games The problem of “competitive foods and beverages” that are sold in schools outside the existing breakfast and lunch programs has been discussed for a while now.
• Nutrition: Fighting the Childhood Obesity Epidemic Childhood obesity is defined variably as the condition of excessive body fat in children that adversely his/her health. It has been cited as a serious health concern issue in many countries.
• Childhood Obesity and Public Policies in England The study identifies the preventive measures of the English government to deal with childhood obesity and compares the trends in England with the rest of the UK.
• Childhood Obesity and Overweight Issues The paper discusses childhood obesity. It has been shown to have a negative influence on both physical health and mental well-being.
• Childhood Obesity: Methods and Data Collection The first instrument that will be used in data collection is body mass index (BMI). The BMI is measured by dividing a patient’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
• Childhood Obesity and Health Promotion Today, childhood obesity is one of the critical health concerns. Being an important factor impacting the future of the nation, children`s health should be cultivated.
• Childhood Obesity Prevention: The Role of Nursing Education Nurse practitioners have to deal with childhood obesity challenges and identity healthy physical and environmental factors to help pediatric patients and their parents.
• Childhood Obesity Prevention: Physical Education and Nutrition The paper examines how physical education in schools can prevent child obesity and how to educate parents about the importance of proper nutrition.
• Humanistic Theory in Childhood Obesity Research The humanistic theory will assist in research investigating how the use of dieting and parental supervision can help to resolve the issue of obesity.
• Childhood Obesity as an International Problem This paper explores the significance of using the web-based technological approach in combating obesity among Jewish children.
• Childhood Obesity Study: Literature Review Obesity in children remains a major public health issue. A growing body of evidence suggests that social networks present a viable way to improve the situation.
• Childhood Obesity and Self-Care Deficit Theory To help the target audience develop an understanding of the effects that their eating behavior has on their health, Dorothea Orem’s Theory of Self-Care Deficit can be utilized.
• Childhood Obesity: Data Management The use of electronic health records (EHR) is regarded as one of the effective ways to treat obesity in the population.
• Childhood Obesity Problem Solution As a means of solving the problem of childhood obesity, the author of the research proposes to develop healthy custom menus for schools under a program called “Soul Food.”
• Childhood Obesity, Social Actions and Intervention This literature review presents the major social actions and family-based interventions that have been in use to address the problem of obesity in children.
• Childhood Obesity and Parent Education: Ethical Issues The proposed research reveals important insights about obesity among children and infants. Apart from the positive intentions of the research, different ethical considerations have to be described.
• Childhood Obesity and Healthy Lifestyle Education The research hypothesis is if parents are educated about a healthy lifestyle, then positive outcomes and prevention of childhood obesity will increase.
• Describing the Problem of Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a problem that affects many children. If individuals experience a health issue in their childhood, it is going to lead to negative consequences.
• Childhood Obesity in the US from Economic Perspective The economic explanation for the problem of childhood obesity refers to the inability of a part of the population to provide themselves and their children with healthy food.
• The Problem of Childhood Obesity Obesity in childhood is a great concern of current medicine as the habits of healthy eating and lifestyle are taught by parents at an early age.
• Childhood Obesity in the US From an Economic Perspective Looking at the problem of childhood obesity from an economic point of view offers an understanding of a wider range of causes and the definition of government intervention.
• Articles About Childhood Obesity The most straightforward technique to diagnose childhood obesity is to measure the child’s weight and height and compare them to conventional height and weight charts.
• A National Childhood Obesity Prevention Program We Can!® A national childhood obesity prevention program We Can!® explains the rules for eating right and getting active. The program also pays attention to reducing screen time.
• Childhood Obesity Teaching Experience and Observations The proposed teaching plan aimed at introducing the importance of healthy eating habits to children between the ages of 6 and 11.
• Care Plan: Quincy Town, Massachusetts With Childhood Obesity This study will develop a community assessment program based on the city with the aim of creating a care plan for tackling the issue of child obesity in the town.
• Childhood Obesity in Modern Schools Most schools have poor canteens with untrained staff and poor equipment for workers. That’s why they can’t cook quality food and offer better services to students.
• The Problem of Childhood Obesity in the United States Childhood obesity is one of the reasons for the development of chronic diseases. In the US the problem is quite burning as the percentage of obese children increased significantly.
• Childhood Obesity and Healthy Lifestyles The purpose of this paper is to discuss childhood obesity and the various ways of fostering good eating habits and healthy lifestyles.
• Policymaker Visit About the Childhood Obesity Problem The policy issue of childhood obesity continues to be burning in American society. It causes a variety of concurrent problems including mental disorders.
• Childhood Obesity and Its Potential Prevention The paper delves into the use of early onset obesity detection in children and suggests methods of potentially preventing childhood obesity later on in the child’s life.
• Childhood Obesity in Ocean Springs Mississippi The purpose of this article is to look at the problem of childhood obesity and how prevalent it is in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
• The Prevention of Childhood Obesity in Children of 1 to 10 Years of Age Educational interventions aimed at proper exercise, dieting, medication, and parental involvement decrease the overall BMI in children.
• Prevention of Childhood Obesity The school’s mission is to educate students and teach them how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition lessons should go hand in hand with promoting an active way of life.
• Childhood Obesity: Medical Complications and Social Problems The children have also suffered from the adverse effects that have been instilled into our society. Obesity has become a common problem in children of American and European countries.
• Childhood Obesity: Issue Analysis Obesity is believed to be an ever-growing health issue as it is connected to chronic health problems in children and adults, indicating that obesity acquired during childhood would continue till adulthood stage.
• Data Mining Techniques for African American Childhood Obesity Factors One of the major healthcare problems that manifest significant racial disparities is obesity. In the US, research suggests that African American children have increased risks of developing the issue.
• Approaches to Childhood Obesity Treatment As parents have a decisive influence on children as well as their dietary and activity patterns, it is only logical that education interventions must be aimed at them and not just the child.
• Researching Childhood Obesity Issues Childhood obesity is a persistent problem that poses a threat not only to the US but to the global system of health care.
• Infant Feeding Practices and Early Childhood Obesity Breastfeeding supports children’s natural growth, while formula can negatively affect infants’ weight, often leading to obesity.
• Childhood Obesity: Research Methodology Based on their body mass index measurement or diagnosis by a qualified physician, all children in the sample should be qualified as having obesity.
• Childhood Obesity and Mothers’ Education Project The chosen health-related topic relates to childhood obesity. The nursing practice issue refers to educating children’s mothers on the significance of preventing childhood obesity.
• Childhood Obesity Research Critiques The research, both quantitative and qualitative, in its association with the PICOT question, demonstrates the highly complex conceptualization of childhood obesity interventions.
• Childhood Obesity: Medication and Parent Education The discussed research project is proposed to comparatively analyze the effectiveness of medication treatment and parent education in managing childhood obesity.
• Childhood Obesity Interventions: Data Analysis The described analysis of research variables will make it possible to test the research and null hypotheses and contribute to the treatment of obesity in children.
• Childhood Obesity as a Topic for Academic Studies Childhood obesity is an issue of great public health concern globally. A higher than normal body mass index (BMI) in children is a diagnosis of this condition.
• The Issues of Childhood Obesity: Overweight and Parent Education This paper examines the relationships between overweight and parental education, child overweight and physical activity, and investigate the domestic co-occurrence of overweight.
• Childhood Obesity Study, Ethics, and Human Rights The present paper discusses ethical considerations and plans in the protection of human rights in the childhood obesity issue, possible limitations, and implications of the study.
• Childhood Obesity, Demographics and Environment Childhood obesity remains an ongoing societal problem that affects public health due to the long-term medical risks that the condition carries.
• Childhood Obesity and American Policy Intervention Obesity rates in the U.S. have dramatically multiplied in recent decades despite reports give empowering information proposing that rates have slowed.
• Childhood Obesity and Public Health Intervention Childhood obesity can be significantly reduced through a public health intervention grounded in the socio-ecological model, in particular, parents’ active participation.
• Childhood Obesity and Healtcare Spending in the US Reducing the prevalence of obesity would help to promote better public health and reduce healthcare spending in the United States.
• Childhood Obesity, Medical and Parental Education Does parent education about a healthy lifestyle increase the positive outcomes and prevention of childhood obesity compared with medical treatment?
• Nursing Role in Tackling Youth Obesity Due to the gravity of the childhood obesity, there is a need for health professionals to design efficient and effective interventions to alleviate the problem.
• Childhood Obesity: Problem Issues Childhood obesity is a serious health problem that is associated with significant health complications, including elevated cardiovascular risk, pediatric hypertension, and diabetes.
• Childhood Obesity and Eating Habits in Low-Income Families The paper uses an experimental method of influencing child obesity rates by changing the nutrition habits within several families.
• Childhood Obesity and Family’s Responsibility Who should be blamed for childhood obesity? What can be more effective to treat childhood obesity? Is it a psychological or physiological problem?
• Childhood Obesity: Parental Education vs. Medicaments The incidence of overweight and obesity among children has become a global concern that is associated with increased health complications.
• Childhood Obesity and Health Promoting Schools Program The Health Promoting Schools program is evidently a global platform and, therefore, necessitates an intensive nursing depiction and support past its present approach.
• Childhood Obesity Risks, Reasons, Prevention In the modern world, obesity is the most widely spread health problem among children. That is why it should be the primary concern of the public.
• Childhood Obesity: The Relationships Between Overweight and Parental Education The given study pursues establishing a correlation between two certain variables: parents’ education and children’s BMI.
• Advocacy Campaign: Childhood Obesity This paper will review two articles studying different advocacy campaigns: a community-based approach and a youth-led intervention for childhood obesity.
• The Issue of Obesity in Youth in the U.S. Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in the US that is associated with significant health complications, including elevated cardiovascular risk, pediatric hypertension.
• The Role of Family in Childhood Obesity Families and healthcare providers develop numerous interventions in order to provide their children with a chance to avoid obesity complications.
• Childhood Obesity Risks and Preventive Measures The problem of childhood obesity is not new. The prevalence of obesity in children increased by more than ten percent in forty years.
• Pharmacotherapy for Childhood Obesity The review of the recent literature on the problem of preventing and treating obesity in children and adolescents has indicated three main themes.
• “Let’s Move” Intervention for Childhood Obesity With the development of technologies and creation of unhealthy products, children started to prefer inactive lifestyles and eat junk food, which leads to weight gaining.
• Childhood Obesity Prevention Trends Even though the steps taken to reduce the obesity rates will not be easy, they are necessary for improving the well-being of the growing generation.
• Childhood Obesity, Health and Psychological State Childhood obesity remains a complex, multilayered issue that can be caused and exacerbated by a variety of factors.
• Parents’ Education in Childhood Obesity Prevention It can be extremely important to compare and contrast the role of parent education and common methods of treatment in childhood obesity prevention.
• Childhood Obesity in the US According to the facts and statistics regarding childhood obesity in the US, at least one of every five children of school age is affected by excessive weight or obesity.
• Childhood Obesity and Its Solutions Researchers have investigated the topic of childhood obesity to come up with appropriate solutions to this growing issue and find evidence in support of the proposed intervention.
• Childhood Obesity and Governmental Measures The biggest problem is that many parents do not view the issue of childhood obesity as significant, and they think that the body mass of their children will change with time.
• Childhood Obesity Research and Ethical Concerns Since the present study is focused on the exploration of a problem that affects children, it is logical that the sample is comprised mainly of children and their parents.
• Childhood Obesity and Independent Variable in Parents This paper includes measuring the influence of the independent variables to consider a mass index of parents and their socioeconomic status.
• Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis Karnik and Kanekar try to show the threatening tendency towards the deterioration of children`s health and the actions that should be performed to change the situation.
• Childhood Obesity, Its Definition and Causes Obesity is a problem that is continuously becoming more severe in many countries. The rates of obesity in all age groups are steadily increasing every year.
• Public Health Initiative for Childhood Obesity This paper contains the initiative that has to solve the problem of childhood obesity to improve the quality of life for the children and their parents.
• Childhood Obesity in the US: Factors and Challenges The narrowed topic is the incidence of childhood obesity in the United States: factors determining it and measures for overcoming this challenge.
• Childhood Obesity in the USA This paper discusses what are the possible causes of obesity in children, what are the associated problems, how does childhood obesity affect USA as a whole.
• Racial and Ethnic Trends in Childhood Obesity in the US In this study, Asieba wanted his readers to focus on the racial/ethnic factors that play a key role in the development of the phenomenon called childhood obesity in the United States.
• Age and Gender in Childhood Obesity Prevention Obesity among children has become a matter of concern in present-day society. This research aims to consider some probable improvements in the situation.
• Childhood Obesity and Public Health Interventions Childhood obesity is linked to multiple chronic conditions, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes that affect one’s quality of life and increase medical spending.
• Food Ads Ban for Childhood Obesity Prevention In order to prevent childhood obesity, it is necessary to ban food ads because they have adverse effects on children’s food preferences, consumption, and purchasing behaviors.
• Childhood Obesity and Parent Education Work studies the relations between overweight and parental education, child overweight and physical activity, and the domestic co-occurrence of overweight on a country-wide scale.
• Childhood Obesity and Community Nursing Intervention In the recent decades, the issue of childhood obesity in the US has been increasingly coming to the forefront in the public view and in academia as a major health problem.
• Family-Based Childhood Obesity and Parental Weight The article examines the multifactorial nature of the growing health issue of childhood obesity and investigates the correlation between childhood BMI and parental obesity.
• Childhood Obesity and Socio-Ecological Model Childhood obesity can be significantly reduced through a public health intervention grounded in the socio-ecological model.
• Childhood Obesity and Depression Intervention The main intervention to combat depressive moods in adolescents should be linked to improving the psychological health of young people in cooperation with schools.
• Problem of the Childhood Obesity The major controversy concerning childhood obesity is whether the condition is predetermined by genetics, individual behavior, or the social or physical environment in which children are raised.
• Advocacy Campaign: the Problem of Childhood Obesity The obesity advocacy campaign might be embraced because it seeks to address a major health epidemic and improve people’s health.
• Childhood Obesity and Control Measures in the US In as much as the medical sector has continued to emphasize healthy lifestyles to reduce obesity, the need for more research in this area has become more eminent.
• The Evidence of Association between Iron Deficiency and Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is an overweight condition that is caused by deposition of disproportionate fats in the body.
• Childhood Obesity: a Population Health Issue This paper will discuss childhood obesity in relation to measuring parameters, risk factors, consequences, and preventive strategies.
• What Are the Main Causes of Childhood Obesity?
• What Are The Consequences of Childhood Obesity?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Affect School Achievement?
• Who Is at Risk for Childhood Obesity?
• How Childhood Obesity Is a Growing Concern?
• How Can We Reduce Childhood Obesity?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Affect a Child’s Mental Health?
• Are Parents Responsible for Childhood Obesity?
• What Are the Lifelong Effects of Childhood Obesity?
• How Are Fast Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity Related?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Affect Kids’ Behavior?
• Can Childhood Obesity Lead to Depression?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Affect the Health Care System?
• Does Childhood Obesity Make It Harder to Lose Weight?
• How Did Childhood Obesity Become a Dangerous Epidemic?
• Why Is Childhood Obesity a Public Health Issue?
• How Does America Address Childhood Obesity?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Affect Children’s Success in Elementary Schools?
• Why Is It Important to Prevent Childhood Obesity?
• Where Is Childhood Obesity Most Common?
• What Was the Childhood Obesity Rate in 2020?
• What Is the Childhood Obesity Rate in the UK?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Correlate With Academic Performance?
• Why Is Childhood Obesity a Problem in the UK?
• How Does Childhood Obesity Rates Compare in Wales and the USA?
• Why Is Childhood Obesity on the Rise?
• How Did COVID-19 Impact Childhood Obesity?
• What Actions Can Schools Take To Prevent Childhood Obesity in the USA?
• What Is the Best Strategy to Reduce Childhood Obesity?
• What Is the Most Effective Intervention for Childhood Obesity?
• Childhood Obesity and the Burden on Healthcare Systems: Global Perspective
• Schools in Creating a Supportive Environment for Children’s Health and Wellness
• The Effect of Technology: Analyzing the Relationship between Screen Time and Childhood Obesity Prevalence
• Sleep Patterns and Screen Time: The Effects on Childhood Obesity
• The Impact of Food Deserts on Childhood Obesity in Urban Areas
• Connection Between Childhood Obesity and Academic Performance
• Early Childhood Nutrition and Obesity: Identifying the Long-Term Effects on Health Prevalence
• Brainstorming Solutions: Combating Childhood Obesity through Community-Based Programs and Initiatives
• Physical Education and Extracurricular Activities in Promoting Children’s Health and Reducing Obesity
• Childhood Obesity and its Impact on Physical and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study
• The Cause-and-Effect Relationship: Exploring the Factors Contributing to the Rising Obesity Prevalence among Children
• Promoting Healthy Eating Habits and Physical Activity in Early Childhood to Prevent Obesity

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Childhood obesity: A review of current and future management options

Affiliations.

• 1 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
• 2 Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
• 3 Department of Paediatric Dietetics, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
• 4 Department of Paediatric Clinical Psychology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
• PMID: 34750858
• DOI: 10.1111/cen.14625

Obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent in paediatric populations worldwide. In addition to increasing prevalence, the severity of obesity is also continuing to rise. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a worrying trend and highlight one of the most significant challenges to public health. Childhood obesity affects multiple organs in the body and is associated with both significant morbidity and ultimately premature mortality. The prevalence of complications associated with obesity, including dyslipidaemia, hypertension, fatty liver disease and psychosocial complications are becoming increasingly prevalent within the paediatric populations. Treatment guidelines currently focus on intervention with lifestyle and behavioural modifications, with pharmacotherapy and surgery reserved for patients who are refractory to such treatment. Research into adult obesity has established pharmacological novel therapies, which have been approved and established in clinical practice; however, the research and implementation of such therapies in paediatric populations have been lagging behind. Despite the relative lack of widespread research in comparison to the adult population, newer therapies are being trialled, which should allow a greater availability of treatment options for childhood obesity in the future. This review summarizes the current evidence for the management of obesity in terms of medical and surgical options. Both future therapeutic agents and those which cause weight loss but have an alternative indication are also included and discussed as part of the review. The review summarizes the most recent research for each intervention and demonstrates the potential efficacy and limitations of each treatment option.

Keywords: BMI; childhood obesity; lifestyle interventions; paediatrics; pharmacotherapy.

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Publication types

• Medical History Taking
• Pediatric Obesity* / therapy
• Weight Loss

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• Published: 20 October 2015

Biological, environmental, and social influences on childhood obesity

• M. Karen Campbell 1 , 2 , 3 , 4  

Pediatric Research volume  79 ,  pages 205–211 ( 2016 ) Cite this article

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• Metabolic disorders
• Risk factors

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased globally over the past three decades, with evidence of recent leveling off in developed countries. Reduction in the, currently high, prevalence of obesity will require a full understanding of the biological and social pathways to obesity in order to develop appropriately targeted prevention strategies in early life. Determinants of childhood obesity include individual level factors, including biological, social, and behavioral risks, acting within the influence of the child’s family environment, which is, in turn, imbedded in the context of the community environment. These influences act across childhood, with suggestions of early critical periods of biological and behavioral plasticity. There is evidence of sex and gender differences in the responses of boys and girls to their environments. The evidence that determinants of childhood obesity act at many levels and at different stages of childhood is of policy relevance to those planning early health promotion and primary prevention programs as it suggests the need to address the individual, the family, the physical environment, the social environment, and social policy. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize current, and emerging, literature in a multilevel, life course framework.

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Introduction

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased globally over the past three decades, with more rapid increases recently occurring in low-income countries ( 1 ). In the United States, more than 30% of children are now overweight or obese ( 1 ), with evidence that the prevalence has leveled off ( 2 ). Children and adolescents are exhibiting obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher fasting insulin levels ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ). In addition, childhood obesity predicts adulthood obesity and its known health consequences ( 7 , 8 ). Treatment of obesity is notoriously difficult, with weight loss rarely sustained in adults ( 9 ). Therapeutic interventions in childhood are somewhat more successful, particularly if the intervention occurs prior to onset of puberty ( 10 ). However, real and sustained progress in combating the obesity epidemic will require a full understanding of the biological and social pathways to obesity in order to develop appropriately targeted prevention strategies in early life.

Pathways to childhood obesity are complex. It is therefore helpful to discuss determinants of obesity within a conceptual framework. A multilevel conceptual model, Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Systems Theory ( 11 ), has previously been applied to the conceptualization of childhood obesity by Davison and Birch ( 12 ). This framework depicts individual-level factors, including biological, social, and behavioral risks, as acting within the influence of the child’s family environment, which is, in turn imbedded in the context of the community environment. It is also helpful to consider critical periods for obesity risk and, as will be further illustrated in a later section, there are likely critical periods of biological and behavioral plasticity beginning as early as fetal life ( 13 ) with risk factors accumulating, and interacting with each other, across the life course. This is consistent with a life course model of chronic disease epidemiology ( 14 ). Specific determinants of obesity will be discussed below within this multilevel framework and life course perspective.

This narrative review will discuss both biological and social determinants of childhood obesity at three levels (individual, family, and community) and across early childhood. The relationship between childhood stress and obesity will be explored in greater detail as this is an important pathway of active interest in current literature. In addition, the review will address recent attention to sex- and gender-based differences in obesity risk. A key purpose in undertaking this review was to summarize evidence regarding pathways to obesity in boys and girls by integrating established plus emerging perspectives in the literature. These include an overview of important factors at each level. Given the breadth of the literature, it was not the intention to cover all literature on each determinant but rather to provide these as key examples of the many dimensions of obesity risk.

Individual-, Family-, and Community-Level Determinants of Obesity

At the individual level, the most direct determinant of children’s obesity is the energy balance between nutritional intake and activity, the latter being influenced by both physical activity and sedentary behaviors ( 15 , 16 , 17 ). These behavioral factors are therefore frequent targets for both preventive and therapeutic interventions. However, nutrition and activity are “downstream” factors that can be influenced by many “upstream” causes. The energy balance required to maintain an appropriate fat mass varies among individuals due to differences in metabolism and in lipostatic set point, which will influence appetite and activity preferences ( 18 ). Metabolism and lipostatic set point, while to some degree influenced by genetic predisposition ( 18 ), can be altered by gene–environment interactions ( 19 , 20 , 21 ).

The family, physical, and social environment influence children’s obesity risk in two ways: through a direct influence on children’s nutrition and activity behaviors and through indirect influences via stress as will be discussed later in this paper. Higher parental education, parental nurturing, and higher self-esteem reduce obesity risk in girls ( 22 ). There is an abundance of evidence that the home food environment ( 23 , 24 , 25 ), shared family meals ( 26 , 27 ), and electronic media use influence children’s obesity ( 28 ) largely through behavioral pathways. Mothers primarily establish the home food environment and are role models for eating behaviors ( 29 ) with evidence of strong correlation between the eating patterns of mothers and children ( 25 , 29 ). Appetite control and food preferences are established early in life ( 30 ), and there is a high correlation between parental obesity and their children’s obesity ( 20 , 22 ).

The community environment is increasingly obesogenic, with increased use of convenience foods, automobiles, and electronic and televised forms of entertainment ( 31 , 32 , 33 ) leading to higher consumption of calorie-dense foods and more sedentary lifestyles. Food choices have been shown to be influenced by proximity to fast food outlets, supermarkets, and farmers markets ( 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ). Physical activity levels are influenced by public recreation opportunities, transit availability, and neighborhood walkability ( 35 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ). In addition, lower obesity levels are observed in areas where the natural environment has high recreational value ( 43 ). While evidence suggests that the above environmental factors affect risk behaviors and obesity, there is still a gap in understanding how children interface with the obesogenic environment ( 44 ).

Prenatal and Postnatal Influences

There is emerging interest in prenatal factors, postnatal factors, and their interactions. These are critical time periods of metabolic and endocrine plasticity and may condition later physiologic responses to environmental influences ( 13 ). This field of research has been labeled as the developmental origins of health and disease and is the subject of much attention in the biomedical and epidemiologic sciences.

For the past two decades, there has been intense interest in the possible effect of fetal undernutrition on later obesity. The interest in this proposed association was precipitated by seminal work by Barker ( 45 ). In humans, fetal undernutrition may be a consequence of maternal undernutrition, maternal smoking, or placental dysfunction from preeclampsia. Markers of fetal undernutrition, which include fetal growth restriction and its proxy indicator small birth weight for gestational age, have been shown to be associated with a modestly elevated risk of obesity. It has been suggested that this effect is due to an in utero adaptation that becomes a mismatch to a postnatal environment in which nutrition is abundant ( 46 , 47 ). Animal studies, often based on maternal dietary restriction, confirm evidence for such fetal metabolic adaptations to undernutrition ( 48 ). In both animal and human studies, there is evidence of the permanence of these adaptations. The greatest elevation in obesity risk is for those who were born small, but experienced rapid “catch up growth” postnatally ( 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ).

Emerging literature is challenging the relationship of fetal undernutrition as a determinant of obesity. First, if the association does exist, is a genetic component partially responsible? Specific adult obesity gene loci have been implicated as associated both with fetal growth ( 53 ) and with growth velocity in infancy ( 54 ). In this genomic era, this will be an aspect of the literature to watch, although to date the predictive value of individual gene loci for obesity risk has been modest. There is emerging speculation as to whether this association indeed exists at all, despite the abundance of literature on the topic. Part of this speculation is based on a statistical argument that, in the zealous effort to control for the myriad of potential confounders, most studies looking at the relationship between fetal growth restriction or small birth weight for gestational age and later chronic conditions have controlled for variables along the causal pathway and thus introduced bias ( 55 , 56 ). Moreover, recent carefully analyzed studies have suggested the inverse; that small birth weight for gestational age is associated with a lower risk of obesity ( 57 ). This question remains an active topic of interest in the literature, despite the recognition that the association, if real, is a small magnitude association with no clear implications for prevention ( 58 ).

Fetal overnutrition, evidenced by large infant birth weight for gestational age, is a strong predictor of obesity in childhood and later life ( 59 , 60 , 61 ). A caveat is that, while large infant birth weight for gestational age is generally an indicator of excess fat mass, it may also reflect other growth parameters such that a subset of large infant birth weight for gestational age infants may have increased lean mass ( 62 , 63 ). Risk factors for large infant birth weight for gestational age include maternal obesity and maternal gestational diabetes ( 64 , 65 ) with African-American women exhibiting risk at lower maternal BMI thresholds ( 66 ). It is suggested that fetal hyperglycemia triggers fetal insulin production which in turn triggers fetal growth and adiposity ( 67 ). Animal studies demonstrate that fetal hyperinsulinemia may invoke permanent changes in the CNS mechanisms for regulating metabolism and body weight ( 67 ). Thus, fetal overnutrition may be a mechanism of intergenerational transmission of obesity and diabetes ( 67 , 68 ).

Early postnatal experiences are also important contributors to obesity risk. Breastfed infants are at lower risk for later obesity ( 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ) for hypothesized reasons including that formula-fed infants develop greater reliance on external hunger cues ( 74 ) and have higher intake of protein ( 75 ), which may contribute to obesity risk through behavioral and physiologic mechanisms, respectively. The benefits of breastfeeding appear to be confined to exclusive breastfeeding; mixed infant feeding of breastmilk and formula do not reduce obesity risks associated with formula feeding ( 76 ). In addition, the timing and choice of complementary foods introduced into an infant’s diet may influence their food preferences in the long term ( 77 ). In general, obesity risk is elevated for those who experienced rapid early weight gain in infancy ( 78 , 79 , 80 ). Based on this knowledge, strategies for primary prevention in high-income countries may include support for long-term breastfeeding ( 81 ).

Psychosocial Vulnerabilities

There is evidence that psychosocial stress is associated with obesity in children. Measures of stress vary from study to study ( 82 ), but the findings are consistent. Whether this association is causal is not known, but there are theoretical frameworks that suggest causality. For example, the life course–stress process perspective introduced by Pearlin et al . ( 83 ) has been discussed by Wickrama et al . ( 84 ) in the context of body mass. A pathway from stress to obesity could include inflammatory mechanisms ( 85 ) including arousal of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis leading to increased cortisol levels and subsequent metabolic disruption and increased hunger ( 84 , 86 , 87 , 88 ). If so, nutrition may mediate the relationship between stress and obesity, or lifestyle factors may be coexisting with environmental stressors ( 89 , 90 ). Some of the reported associations of environmental stressors with childhood overweight and obesity include negative life events ( 82 ), maltreatment ( 91 ), how well the family communicates ( 90 ), and parental stress ( 92 ).

Depression and obesity are often comorbid in both children and adults. This comorbidity may be due to common genetic and environmental etiologies ( 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 ) or common pathways via dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal system ( 93 , 95 , 96 ). Increased food intake and reduced physical activity are characteristic of both conditions ( 94 ). Bidirectional causation is also plausible, with suggestions that obesity may be a determinant of later depression in children ( 97 , 98 , 99 ) and conversely hypothesized mechanisms for depression causing obesity ( 93 , 95 , 98 , 99 , 100 ). Indeed, it has more recently been suggested that these two comorbid conditions may mutually reinforce a progressive downward spiral in each other ( 101 ) and that additional insight into their longitudinal interaction may be important for intervention strategies ( 102 ).

Mothers’ mental and emotional well-being has been shown to be associated with childhood obesity. Children of mothers with depressive symptoms are more likely to be obese or overweight in infancy ( 103 , 104 ), childhood ( 105 , 106 ), and adolescence ( 107 ). Prenatal exposure to maternal stress and distress has been shown to be associated with both children’s obesity and rapid postnatal growth ( 108 , 109 ). Proposed mechanisms for the association include infant feeding practices ( 110 ), mother–infant interaction ( 111 ), mother–infant feeding interactions ( 112 ), parenting style ( 113 ), and a direct effect of stressors leading to central adiposity via arousal of the child’s hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis ( 86 ). It has also been suggested that, due to the comorbidity between maternal overweight and emotion regulation, these pathways may also play into the intergenerational transfer of overweight and obesity ( 112 ), as well as the roles of shared genes and environment ( 86 ). A recent systematic review noted the need for more prospective studies to confirm and explain these associations ( 114 ).

Consistently, in high-income countries, socioeconomic disadvantage has been shown to be associated with obesity risk in childhood and persistently throughout life ( 115 , 116 , 117 ). Socioeconomic disadvantage may exert its influence as early as the prenatal and postnatal period, through its association with maternal depression ( 106 , 118 ) and its consequences. Moreover, poverty may be associated with poorer individual diet ( 119 ), poorer retail food and recreational environment ( 34 , 120 , 121 ), suboptimal family food routines ( 118 , 122 ), and environmental stressors such as living in a higher crime neighborhood ( 121 ). The risks associated with socioeconomic disadvantage may accumulate and compound throughout childhood ( 123 ). Miller and Chen ( 124 ) present a theoretical model, with corresponding research evidence, linking poverty to the development of a proinflammatory phenotype and subsequent elevated risk for chronic conditions in childhood and beyond. Overall, it appears that poverty is associated with later obesity through its association with other obesity risk factors and through the stress process.

There is an increasing attention in the literature to the differences in vulnerabilities in boys and girls, suggesting different pathways to obesity. Much of the literature, to date, has looked at determinants of childhood obesity while statistically controlling for children’s sex. However, to truly understand the developmental processes leading to obesity, researchers may need to look at boys and girls separately in order to recognize both sex-specific (biological) and gender-specific (social and cultural) differences in the ways in which boys and girls interact with their physical and social environments. Some biological differences include body composition and growth patterns, with clear sex differences in the distribution of adiposity beginning as early as the neonatal period and continuing through adulthood ( 125 ). Energy requirements and the aptitude for specific physical activities exhibit sex differences, while specific gender differences include how boys and girls interact with their family and their food environment as well as their overall physical activity levels ( 126 ). There are also gender differences in metabolic responses to stress ( 87 ) and family disruption or conflict ( 127 ). Responses to the physical and social environment will influence, and be influenced by, pubertal development ( 47 , 48 , 125 ). Pubertal timing itself has significant influence on insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, particularly in girls ( 128 , 129 ). The pubertal transition is also well established as a time when depression rates rise dramatically, particularly for females; indeed, this developmental stage is when the gender difference in depression emerges ( 130 , 131 ). Finally, pubertal timing and growth influence later adult cardiovascular risk in both males and females ( 128 ). Additional research focusing on the gendered dimensions of childhood obesity is needed.

Summary and Implications

In undertaking a review of this broad area of significant health promotion interest, I have used the narrative review method. It has been argued that narrative reviews have advantages when the scope and literature coverage is broad and covers a range of issues within a given topic ( 132 ). This broader coverage comes at the expense of the more explicit methods, reporting and reproducibility, that are associated with systematic reviews, which tend to focus on narrower topics using prescribed search methods ( 132 ). Given the methodological limitations of the narrative method, and the acknowledged potential for selection biases in study selection when a nonsystematic review is undertaken, the reader should turn to determinant-specific systematic reviews for exhaustive discussion of the specific determinants covered in this review. The main objective of this review was to summarize key early determinants of childhood obesity within the important framework of individual-, family-, and community-level biological and social influences acting across early life.

Consideration of determinants of obesity within this broader multilevel framework may imply that strategies for health promotion and primary prevention should include attention to determinants at all levels. The upstream influences on childhood obesity occur at many levels, including the family and the community, and begin very early in the life course. Health promotion activities typically target individual lifestyle factors, despite emerging evidence of the importance of broader environmental prevention targets ( 133 ). Family-based interventions to improve the home food environment ( 90 ) and parenting style ( 134 ) and policies to reduce the costs of healthy food choices ( 135 ) are needed. Prevention efforts should also include programs to reduce financial stress in families and programs aimed at teaching children on how to cope with stressors in their environment ( 86 ). It has been suggested that overweight and obesity reductions may accrue if the prevention focus is shifted, more broadly, to promoting healthy lifestyles and healthy environments and beyond the focus on individual children’s body weight as the outcome ( 136 ). The opportunities for early health promotion require attention simultaneously to many levels ( 30 ), suggesting the need to address the individual, family, and physical environment, the social environment, and social policy.

Statement of Financial Support

none; there are no conflicts of interest.

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Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

M. Karen Campbell

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Campbell, M. Biological, environmental, and social influences on childhood obesity. Pediatr Res 79 , 205–211 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.208

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Received : 17 April 2015

Accepted : 30 September 2015

Published : 20 October 2015

Issue Date : January 2016

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.208

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60 Unique and Easy Childhood Obesity Research paper Topics

Childhood Obesity Research paper Topics

Childhood obesity is a common topic for most research papers in college, and selecting one question to research can be hectic. Topic selection is one of the main ways to start writing a research paper , and you need to get it right.

To help you make a better selection, we have explained and listed 60 research paper topics for students to write research papers about childhood obesity. Each of these topics is wide enough to write a long paper, either an essay or a research paper.

Obesity can be described as the abnormal, excessive accumulation of fats in one’s body that puts the individual’s health at risk. The condition is common in children, and the childhood obesity research paper topics we present in this write-up can be used in conducting research.

Need Help with your Homework or Essays?

60 childhood obesity research paper topics to make your homework unique.

Here is an extensive list of childhood obesity topics for your research paper that can make your paper unique and impressive among the rest. We briefly discuss 20 of them and list 40 other topics.

1. Discuss the main Causes of Obesity among Children in your State

Obesity in children is said to be caused mainly by eating habits that are not healthy, lack of involvement in physical activities, and a variety of genetic factors.

2. Does Obesity Influence the Academic Performance of a Child

Obesity can cause a deterioration in the academic performance of school-going children if they are subjected to social pathways such as stigma and discrimination.

Children feel alone because they are not involved in any interactions.

3. Are Children Raised by Single Parents more likely to Suffer Obesity?

Many researchers identify that single-mother-raised children are at a higher risk of becoming obese because they carry dangerous amounts of weight as they grow due to a lack of energetic and boisterous play from their fathers.

4. Explain how Exercise can be Encouraged among Children to Reduce Risks of Obesity

In order to encourage your kids to exercise, motivate them and invite their friends to help them in exercise. Do the right timing and mix it with a little play.

5. How can Institutions such as High Schools Reduce Rates of Obesity?

Schools can reduce the level of obesity by changing the school meals to healthier ones, providing water throughout and making physical exercise lessons for the whole school mandatory.

6. How are Newborns Affected by the Mother’s Obesity?

Genetic studies have proved that it is possible that obese pregnant women are at risk of passing obesity to their unborn children who may also experience metabolic diseases in the future.

7. Can Obesity be Termed as a Mental Illness?

Obesity causes diabetic disease type 2 and cardiovascular disease which affects the child psychologically.  Several studies also prove that most people with mental illnesses are obese.

8. Can Obesity in Children be Fought Through Surgery?

A surgery known as bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery can be significant in helping obese individuals lose large amounts of weight and is accompanied by lifestyle changes and like exercise and diet changes.

9. Can Obesity in Children be Considered an International Illness?

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is one of the visible and most neglected health problem around the world and it recommends that action be taken to prevent a global health crisis.

10. Do Vegetable Diets Prevent Obesity?

Vegetables must be included in a healthy diet. They have low levels of sugar, fats, and salt that plays a role in making sure you don’t gain weight.

11. Effects of Obesity on the Self-Development of the Child and Self-Esteem.

Despite being subjected to discrimination that lowers self-esteem children that are obese develop conditions such as hypertension, sleep disorders, Dyslopodemia and type 2 diabetes which affects their early development.

12. How does Advertising Affect Obesity Rates in the United States

Most junk foods and drinks adverts target children and youths and influence them more to increased junk consumption therefore rising the rates of obesity. These adverts overshadow nutrition adverts.

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13. Describe Whether Obesity in Children is a Chronic or a Non-Chronic Disease

Due the factors that obesity is wide spread and it can lead to serious health problems such as the cardiovascular disease, the American Medical Association termed it as a chronic disease.

14. Is the Fast-Food Industry causing an Increase in Obesity Rates in the U.S

Fast food restaurants play a huge role in causing obesity. This is because many home diets don’t include fast foods, leaving the restaurants as the number one source where fast foods are acquired.

15. Are Female Children at a High Risk of Obesity than Male Children?

Many researchers have established that girls are more likely to be obese than boys as they grow due to the biological high percentage of body fats in the bodies of girls.

16. Do Children in Urban areas have more chances of Experiencing Obesity than those in Rural areas?

Trends in cities of consumption of unhealthy foods have spread widely in rural areas and people view them as a way of becoming diverse. Developments also scrapped duties that were a form of exercise hence making obesity more rapid in rural areas.

17. Explain the Life Expectancy of Children Suffering from Obesity

To write this paper, you will need life expectancy data to back up your arguments. Obesity in children has proved incurable. It may cause between two to five years of decrease in life expectancy of children as compared to their parents according to multiple studies.

18. Should the Government Focus on Reducing Obesity among Children?

The government should be involved in fighting obesity because it is not one individual’s task. Increasing taxation on production of junks foods and promoting healthy habits are some activities the government can be involved in.

19. How are Insulin Resistance and Obesity Connected among Children?

Due to the factor that obesity causes type 2 diabetes, it has been proved that obesity can develop insulin resistance. This development is caused by release of fatty acids, hormones, and glycerol. 

20. How Obese Parents Risk their Children being Obese

If parents are not involved in obese preventative activities, then there is a likelihood of the children being obese. This includes parents not controlling the consumption of fast foods by their children and low involvement in physical exercise activities.

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40 more Childhood Obesity Topics for your Research Paper

• Reasons for child obesity in well-developed countries.
• How do the obesity rates of children relate to the obesity rates of adults?
• How do childhood abuse and neglect relate to obesity in adulthood?
• In what ways do obesity in children affect the community
• For children with obesity, can restrictions on isocaloric fructose be effective?
• Effects of electronic medical records on Screening and diagnosing obesity in Children
• Influence of childhood obesity on their parents.
• Which stage of childhood and child development is obesity rampant?
• How can we prevent children from coming in contact with junk food?
• Our physical education programs in schools are effective enough to prevent obesity.
• Who should be more responsible for preventing obesity in children between parents, the government, mass media, and educational intuitions?
• Should there be a defense that junk food manufacturers display warning statements on the food labels?
• Do a child’s behavior and lifestyle of the family influence the risk of obesity?
• How can the society we live in address the issue of obesity?
• How can be nutrition programs be made available to parents with children?
• Can breastfeeding prevent obesity during childhood?
• Discuss ways in which childhood obesity affects the overall growth of a child.
• Why will the obesity rates continue to rise among children?
• Can culture be a contributing factor in causing obesity?
• Why are immigrants and their children more prone to obesity?
• Analyze and give a report on obesity in children in your area of residence.
• Analyze and give a report on obesity among the children of your country.
• Explain why obese children should not be subjected to discrimination.
• How do the economic status of the parents cause obesity in children?
• Compare the rates of obesity in your country with those in neighboring countries and the rest of the world.
• Should the manufacturing of junk foods liked by children be banned?
• What is the difference between overweight children and children suffering from obesity?
• Access the medication for the treatment of obesity based on the effectiveness and side effects.
• Examine obesity in children from a psychological perspective.
• Does heart failure relate to obesity in children?
• Explain the digestive diseases that are associated with obesity in children.
• What role can nurses play in preventing and curing obesity in children?
• Access the influence of corn syrup on obesity among children.
• Draw a comparison between obesity and anorexia in children.
• Explore why child obesity is lower in developing countries
• Discuss why child obesity is not considered a problem in the US.
• Discuss the role of diet in the emergence of child obesity.
• What measures can be taken to tackle child obesity in your state
• How can we promote positive self-image and self-esteem among obese children
• What ethical principles should we observe when dealing with obesity among children?

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Young-Hyman, D, Morris, K, Kettel Khan, L, et al. (2018). The Childhood Obesity Declines Project: Implications for research and evaluation approaches. Child Obes. 2018 Mar;14(S1):S12-21,S40-S44. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0023

Childhood Obesity Declines Project: An Exploratory Study of Strategies Identified in Communities Reporting Declines

Ottley, P, Dawkins-Lyn, N, Harris, C, et al. Childhood Obesity Declines Project: An exploratory study of strategies identified in communities reporting declines. Child Obes. 2018 Mar;14(S1):S12-21. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0020

Childhood Obesity Declines Project: A Different Methodology

Kettel Khan, L, Ottley, P, Harris C, et al. Childhood Obesity Declines Project: A different methodology. Child Obes. 2018 Mar;14(S1):S5-S11. Available at https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0019

Childhood Obesity Declines Project: An Effort of the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research To Explore Progress in Four Communities

Kauh, TJ, Dawkins-Lyn, N, Dooyema, C, et al. Childhood Obesity Declines Project: An effort of the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research to explore progress in four communities. Child Obes. 2018 Mar;14(S1):S1-S4. Available at https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0018

Childhood Obesity Declines Project: Highlights of Community Strategies and Policies

Jernigan, J, Kettel Khan, L, Dooyema, C, et al. Childhood Obesity Declines Project: Highlights of community strategies and policies. Child Obes. 2018 Mar;14(S1):S12-21,S32-S39. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0022

The Childhood Obesity Declines Project: A Review of Enacted Policies

Dooyema, C, Jernigan, J, Warnock, AL, et al. The Childhood Obesity Declines Project: A review of enacted policies. Child Obes. 2018 Mar;14(S1):S12-21,S22-S31. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0021

A Youth Compendium of Physical Activities Activity Codes and Metabolic Intensities

Butte, NF, Watson, KB, Ridley, K, et al. A youth compendium of physical activities: Activity codes and metabolic intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018 Feb;50(2):246-256. Available at https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001430

Implementation of Multisetting Interventions to Address Childhood Obesity in Diverse, Lower-Income Communities: CDC’s Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Projects

2017  |  Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD)

Dooyema, CA, Belay, B, Blanck, H.M. Implementation of multisetting interventions to address childhood obesity in diverse, lower-income communities: CDC’s Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Projects. Prev Chronic Dis. 2017 Dec 21;14:E140. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.170491 (This issue included three additional articles about CORD.)

Community Policies and Programs to Prevent Obesity and Child Adiposity

2017  |  The Healthy Communities Study

Frongillo EA, Fawcett, SB, Ritchie, L., et al. Community policies and programs to prevent obesity and child adiposity. Am J Prev Med. 2017 Nov;53(5):576-583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.05.006

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Butte, NF, Hoelscher, DM, Barlow, SE, et al. Efficacy of a community- versus primary care–centered program for childhood obesity: TX CORD RCT, Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017 Sep;25(9):1584-1593. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21929 (This issue included three additional articles about CORD. Two additional articles were also published about CORD in 2017.)

Useful Behavioral Design Resources

Health, Behavioral Design, and the Built Environment White Paper

Measures Registry User Guide: Physical Activity Environment

Measures Registry User Guide: Individual Physical Activity

Measures Registry User Guide: Individual Diet

Measures Registry User Guide: Food Environment

Measures Registry User Guide Fact Sheet: Physical Activity Environment

Measures Registry User Guide Fact Sheet: Individual Physical Activity

Measures Registry User Guide Fact Sheet: Individual Diet

Measures Registry User Guide Fact Sheet: Food Environment

Expanding Our Outreach: NCCOR 2016 Annual Report

Youth Compendium Fact Sheet

Measures Registry Resource Suite Teaching Slides: Physical Activity Environment

Measures Registry Resource Suite Teaching Slides: Food Environment

Measures Registry User Guides: Tailoring Messaging and Outreach to a Diverse Target Audience Poster, National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media 2017

New data for an updated youth energy expenditure compendium: an introduction.

2016  |  Youth Compendium of Physical Activities

Herrmann, S, Pfeiffer, KA. New data for an updated youth energy expenditure compendium: An introduction. J Phys Act Health. 13(6 Suppl 1), pp. S1–S2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2016-0405 (This supplement included 17 papers reporting values of energy expenditure for diverse youth activities.)

Logic Model: Metrics

Evaluation of Health Care-Community Engagement Efforts to Address Obesity: A Sample Logic Model

IPEN Research Brief

Rapid Response Funding

Understanding and Advancing Declines in Childhood Obesity: NCCOR 2015 Annual Report

Evaluating Community-Clinical Engagement to Address Childhood Obesity: Implications and Recommendations for the Field

Obesity-related policy/environmental interventions a systematic review of economic analyses.

2016  |  Economics and Obesity

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2015  |  The Healthy Communities Study

Arteaga, SS, Loria, CM, Crawford, PB, et al. The Healthy Communities Study: Its rationale, aims, and approach. Am J Prev Med. 2015 Oct;49(4):615-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2015.06.029 (This supplement includes six additional articles that detail the methods of the Healthy Communities Study.)

Exploring Metrics to Express Energy Expenditure of Physical Activity in Youth

2015  |  Youth Compendium of Physical Activities

McMurray, RG, Butte, NF, Crouter, SE, et al. Exploring metrics to express energy expenditure of physical activity in youth. PLoS One. 2015 Jun 23;10(6):e0130869. Available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0130869

Management of Obesity: Improvement of Health-care Training and Systems for Prevention and Care

2015  |  Envision

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Envision Member Publications

The Healthy Eating Index 2015

Lessons Learned from Global Efforts – Summary Report

Exploring New Frontiers: NCCOR 2014 Annual Report

Signs of Progress in Childhood Obesity Declines -Site Summary Report – Philadelphia, PA, 2015

Signs of Progress in Childhood Obesity Declines -Site Summary Report – New York, NY, 2015

Signs of Progress in Childhood Obesity Declines -Site Summary Report – Granville, NC, 2015

Signs of Progress in Childhood Obesity Declines -Site Summary Report – Anchorage, Alaska, 2015

Strengthening of accountability systems to create healthy food environments and reduce global obesity.

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The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project: A Team Approach for Supporting a Multisite, Multisector Intervention

2015  |  Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD)

Williams, N. Dooyema, CA, Foltz, JL, et al. The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project: A team approach for supporting a multisite, multisector intervention. Child Obes. 2015 Feb;11(1):104-8. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2014.0063 (This supplement includes nine additional articles that provide an overview of CORD. Three additional articles on CORD were published in 2015.)

Child and Adolescent Obesity: Part of a Bigger Picture

Lobstein, T, Jackson-Leach, R, Moodie, ML, et al. Child and adolescent obesity: Part of a bigger picture. Lancet. 2015 Jun 20;385(9986):2510-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61746-3

Visualizing Diet Quality at Multiple Levels of the Food Stream

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2015  |  Healthy Eating Index

Miller, PE, Reedy, J, Kirkpatrick, SI, et al. The United States food supply Is not consistent with dietary guidance: Evidence from an evaluation using the Healthy Eating Index-2010. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015 Jan;115(1):95-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.08.030

Systems Science for Obesity-Related Research Questions: An Introduction to the Theme Issue

2014  |  Envision

Mabry, PL, Bures, RM. Systems science for obesity-related research questions: An introduction to the theme issue. Am J Public Health. 2014 July;104(7):1157–1159. https://dx.doi.org/10.2105%2FAJPH.2014.302083

Modeling US Adult Obesity Trends: A System Dynamics Model for Estimating Energy Imbalance Gap

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Systems Science: A Tool for Understanding Obesity

Bures, RM, Mabry, PL, Orleans, CT, et al. Systems science: A tool for understanding obesity. Am J Public Health. 2014 July;104(7):1156. https://doi.org/10.0.8.57/AJPH.2014.302082

A Metabolic–Epidemiological Microsimulation Model to Estimate the Changes in Energy Intake and Physical Activity Necessary to Meet the Healthy People 2020 Obesity Objective

Basu, S, Seligman, H, Winkleby, M. A metabolic–epidemiological microsimulation model to estimate the changes in energy intake and physical activity necessary to meet the Healthy People 2020 obesity objective. Am J Public Health. 2014 Jul;104(7):1209-16. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301674

2014  |  The Johns Hopkins Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC)

Fallah-Fini, S, Rahmandad, H, Huang, T, et al. Modeling U.S. adult obesity trends: A system dynamics model for estimating energy imbalance gap. Am J Public Health. 2014 July;104(7):1230–1239. doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301882 (GOPC has published more than 60 additional articles using systems science to assess key contributing factors associated with obesity. http://www.globalobesity.org/about-the-gopc/our-publications/index.html)

Impact of Different Policies on Unhealthy Dietary Behaviors in an Urban Adult Population: An Agent-Based Simulation Model

Zhang, D, Giabbanelli, PJ, Arah, OA, et al. Impact of different policies on unhealthy dietary behaviors in an urban adult population: An agent-based simulation model. Am J Public Health. 2014 Jul;104(7):1217-22. Available at https://10.2105/AJPH.2014.301934

Control Systems Engineering for Optimizing a Prenatal Weight Gain Intervention to Regulate Infant Birth Weight

Savage, JS, Downs, DS, Dong, Y, et al. Control systems engineering for optimizing a prenatal weight gain intervention to regulate infant birth weight. Am J Public Health. 2014 Jul;104(7):1247-54 https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301959

A Novel System Dynamics Model of Female Obesity and Fertility

Sabounchi, NS, Hovmand, PS, Osgood, ND, et al. A novel system dynamics model of female obesity and fertility. Am J Public Health. 2014 Jul;104(7):1240-6. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301898

Evaluation of Bias in Estimates of Early Childhood Obesity From Parent-Reported Heights and Weights

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Schaefer, DR, Simpkins, SD. Using social network analysis to clarify the role of obesity in selection of adolescent friends. Am J Public Health. 2014 Jul;104(7):1223-9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301768

Building Momentum: NCCOR 2013 Annual Report

The healthy eating index-2010 is a valid and reliable measure of diet quality according to the 2010 dietary guidelines for americans.

2014  |  Healthy Eating Index

Guenther, PM, Kirkpatrick, SI, Reedy, J, et al. The Healthy Eating Index-2010 Is a valid measure of diet quality according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. J Nutr. 2014 Mar;144(3):399-407. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.113.183079

Measures Registry Filter Options

NCCOR Catalogue of Surveillance Systems Filter Options

Public health and the green building industry partnership opportunities for childhood obesity prevention.

2013  |  Green Health

Trowbridge, MJ, Huang, TT, Botchwey, ND, et al. Public health and the green building industry: Partnership opportunities for childhood obesity prevention. Am J Prev Med. 2013 May;44(5):489-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.01.010v

Green Health Infographic

The Food Patterns Equivalents Database

Making an Impact: NCCOR 2012 Annual Report

Update of the healthy eating index: hei-2010.

2013  |  Healthy Eating Index

Guenther, PM, Casavale, KO, Reedy, J, et al. Update of the Healthy Eating Index: HEI-2010. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013 Apr;113(4):569-80. https://10.1016/j.jand.2012.12.016

Healthy Diet and Healthy Eating Index Infographics Series: 4—What Would We Need To Do To Have a Healthy Food Supply?

Healthy Diet and Healthy Eating Index Infographics Series: 3—How Does Our Food Supply Measure Up?

Healthy Diet and Healthy Eating Index Infographics Series: 2—Eating a Healthy Diet Depends on Having a Healthy Food Supply

Healthy Diet and Healthy Eating Index Infographics Series: 1— Here Are the Elements of a Healthy Diet

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Green Health: Building Sustainable Schools for Healthy Kids

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National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research Who We Are, Where We’ve Been, and What’s Next: NCCOR 2011 Annual Report

Measures Registry Usage from Around the World

NCCOR Catalogue of Surveillance Systems Usage from Around the World

The national collaborative on childhood obesity research catalogue of surveillance systems and measures registry: new tools to spur innovation and increase productivity in childhood obesity research.

2012  |  Measures Registry and Catalogue of Surveillance Systems

McKinnon, RA, Reedy, J, Berrigan, D, et al. The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research Catalogue of Surveillance Systems and Measures Registry: New tools to spur innovation and increase productivity in childhood obesity research. Am J Prev Med. 2012 Apr;42(4):433-5. https://10.1016/j.amepre.2012.01.004

2007-2009 State Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income Children Aged 2 to 4 Years

U.S. Childhood Obesity Trends

NCCOR Project Participation

NCCOR Overview Graphic

Green Health Case Study

Food Patterns Equivalents Database Case Study

Catalogue of Surveillance Systems Case Study

Health and economic burden of the projected obesity trends in the usa and the uk.

2011  |  Envision

Wang, YC, McPherson, K, Marsh, T, et al. Health and economic burden of the projected obesity trends in the USA and UK. Lancet. 2011 Aug 27;378(9793):815-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60814-3

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2011  | 

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Development of the Database for the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research Measures Registry

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Doctors on front line of tackling childhood obesity need more training and resources, say researchers

by University of Birmingham

Doctors are feeling unable to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity due to a lack of training and capacity according to new research.

In a paper published in the British Journal of General Practice , researchers from the University of Birmingham conducted in-depth interviews with health care professionals (HCPs) to understand their experiences of supporting families to tackle childhood obesity.

One participant in the study said, "I had one mum and her child was overweight, but she was a young parent and she actually didn't know how to cook the dinners and, yeah… we spent a lot of time with her giving her worksheets, how to cook, make potato and beans rather than going to the fish and chip shop."

Among key themes that were discussed, professionals shared their frustrations with a lack of time and training to support families, including limited availability for specialist services and lack of access to routinely collected data on children's weight. HCPs also shared their concerns about damaging trust by highlighting weight concerns about children, and many said that they were aware of cultural considerations when bringing up weight.

Miranda Pallan, Professor of Child and Adolescent Public Health in the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham and senior author of the paper said, "This study brings a fresh awareness about the pressures that health care professionals face, including the limitations that they face in trying to provide preventative care for young people.

"Through the series of interviews with doctors, primary care nurses and school nurses, we have been able to see some clear barriers that prevent effective advice and support for families to tackle the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

"While we should not expect doctors to be spending lots of time teaching families how to cook healthy, balanced meals, the study does highlight that health care professionals need more support and dedicated time to enable them to give practical advice and in some cases refer to more specialist services."

Case study: 'No-one is actually talking about the root causes with parents'

Dr. Ellen Fallows is a sessional GP in North Oxfordshire and has a particular interest in supporting families to address childhood obesity. Also holding roles in teaching and as Vice-President of The British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Fallows regularly works with families who are struggling to understand where to go to get support, but with no specific pediatric weight management services locally often has to draw on her own expertise to provide advice.

Dr. Fallows said, "Everyone thinks it is everyone else's problem, no one is actually talking about the root causes with parents—which is predominantly food quality. This is due to lack of time, knowledge and incentives for health care professionals. There are good and free training resources out there that really should be routinely provided as a first port of call.

"Childhood obesity is a really serious problem that could have lifelong implications and GPs could be ideally placed to lead the work to address it. However, without the training and a mandate to support people with self-care to address root causes, it will continue to be a challenge to make a meaningful difference for the many families who are looking for help."

Lack of trust in BMI

Health care professionals also raised the issue of the use of BMI centiles for assessing weight problems in children.

Different health care professionals raised different concerns, with doctors and primary care nurses noting that they are less familiar with BMI centiles, and that BMI is not a good measure for younger children.

Another participant said, "We used to use the [height and weight] centile charts and actually the BMI will put a lot more children in an overweight category than the centile charts will."

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Obesity: causes, consequences, treatments, and challenges

Obesity has become a global epidemic and is one of today’s most public health problems worldwide. Obesity poses a major risk for a variety of serious diseases including diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer ( Bluher, 2019 ).

Obesity is mainly caused by imbalanced energy intake and expenditure due to a sedentary lifestyle coupled with overnutrition. Excess nutrients are stored in adipose tissue (AT) in the form of triglycerides, which will be utilized as nutrients by other tissues through lipolysis under nutrient deficit conditions. There are two major types of AT, white AT (WAT) and brown AT, the latter is a specialized form of fat depot that participates in non-shivering thermogenesis through lipid oxidation-mediated heat generation. While WAT has been historically considered merely an energy reservoir, this fat depot is now well known to function as an endocrine organ that produces and secretes various hormones, cytokines, and metabolites (termed as adipokines) to control systemic energy balance. Studies over the past decade also show that WAT, especially subcutaneous WAT, could undergo ‘beiging’ remodeling in response to environmental or hormonal perturbation. In the first paper of this special issue, Cheong and Xu (2021) systematically review the recent progress on the factors, pathways, and mechanisms that regulate the intercellular and inter-organ crosstalks in the beiging of WAT. A critical but still not fully addressed issue in the adipose research field is the origin of the beige cells. Although beige adipocytes are known to have distinct cellular origins from brown and while adipocytes, it remains unclear on whether the cells are from pre-existing mature white adipocytes through a transdifferentiation process or from de novo differentiation of precursor cells. AT is a heterogeneous tissue composed of not only adipocytes but also nonadipocyte cell populations, including fibroblasts, as well as endothelial, blood, stromal, and adipocyte precursor cells ( Ruan, 2020 ). The authors examined evidence to show that heterogeneity contributes to different browning capacities among fat depots and even within the same depot. The local microenvironment in WAT, which is dynamically and coordinately controlled by inputs from the heterogeneous cell types, plays a critical role in the beige adipogenesis process. The authors also examined key regulators of the AT microenvironment, including vascularization, the sympathetic nerve system, immune cells, peptide hormones, exosomes, and gut microbiota-derived metabolites. Given that increasing beige fat function enhances energy expenditure and consequently reduces body weight gain, identification and characterization of novel regulators and understanding their mechanisms of action in the beiging process has a therapeutic potential to combat obesity and its associated diseases. However, as noticed by the authors, most of the current pre-clinical research on ‘beiging’ are done in rodent models, which may not represent the exact phenomenon in humans ( Cheong and Xu, 2021 ). Thus, further investigations will be needed to translate the findings from bench to clinic.

While both social–environmental factors and genetic preposition have been recognized to play important roles in obesity epidemic, Gao et al. (2021) present evidence showing that epigenetic changes may be a key factor to explain interindividual differences in obesity. The authors examined data on the function of DNA methylation in regulating the expression of key genes involved in metabolism. They also summarize the roles of histone modifications as well as various RNAs such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs in regulating metabolic gene expression in metabolic organs in response to environmental cues. Lastly, the authors discuss the effect of lifestyle modification and therapeutic agents on epigenetic regulation of energy homeostasis. Understanding the mechanisms by which lifestyles such as diet and exercise modulate the expression and function of epigenetic factors in metabolism should be essential for developing novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.

A major consequence of obesity is type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when body cannot use and produce insulin effectively. Diabetes profoundly and adversely affects the vasculature, leading to various cardiovascular-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, arteriosclerotic, and microvascular diseases, which have been recognized as the most common causes of death in people with diabetes ( Cho et al., 2018 ). Love et al. (2021) systematically review the roles and regulation of endothelial insulin resistance in diabetes complications, focusing mainly on vascular dysfunction. The authors review the vasoprotective functions and the mechanisms of action of endothelial insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling pathways. They also examined the contribution and impart of endothelial insulin resistance to diabetes complications from both biochemical and physiological perspectives and evaluated the beneficial roles of many of the medications currently used for T2D treatment in vascular management, including metformin, thiazolidinediones, glucagon-like receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors, as well as exercise. The authors present evidence to suggest that sex differences and racial/ethnic disparities contribute significantly to vascular dysfunction in the setting of diabetes. Lastly, the authors raise a number of very important questions with regard to the role and connection of endothelial insulin resistance to metabolic dysfunction in other major metabolic organs/tissues and suggest several insightful directions in this area for future investigation.

Following on from the theme of obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction, Xia et al. (2021) review the latest progresses on the role of membrane-type I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), a zinc-dependent endopeptidase that proteolytically cleaves extracellular matrix components and non-matrix proteins, in lipid metabolism. The authors examined data on the transcriptional and post-translational modification regulation of MT1-MMP gene expression and function. They also present evidence showing that the functions of MT1-MMP in lipid metabolism are cell specific as it may either promote or suppress inflammation and atherosclerosis depending on its presence in distinct cells. MT1-MMP appears to exert a complex role in obesity for that the molecule delays the progression of early obesity but exacerbates obesity at the advanced stage. Because inhibition of MT1-MMP can potentially lower the circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cancer metastasis and atherosclerosis, the protein has been viewed as a very promising therapeutic target. However, challenges remain in developing MT1-MMP-based therapies due to the tissue-specific roles of MT1-MMP and the lack of specific inhibitors for this molecule. Further investigations are needed to address these questions and to develop MT1-MMP-based therapeutic interventions.

Lastly, Huang et al. (2021) present new findings on a critical role of puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA), an integral non-transmembrane enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of amino acids near the N-terminus of polypeptides, in NAFLD. NAFLD, ranging from simple nonalcoholic fatty liver to the more aggressive subtype nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, has now become the leading chronic liver disease worldwide ( Loomba et al., 2021 ). At present, no effective drugs are available for NAFLD management in the clinic mainly due to the lack of a complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease progress, reinforcing the urgent need to identify and validate novel targets and to elucidate their mechanisms of action in NAFLD development and pathogenesis. Huang et al. (2021) found that PSA expression levels were greatly reduced in the livers of obese mouse models and that the decreased PSA expression correlated with the progression of NAFLD in humans. They also found that PSA levels were negatively correlated with triglyceride accumulation in cultured hepatocytes and in the liver of ob/ob mice. Moreover, PSA suppresses steatosis by promoting lipogenesis and attenuating fatty acid β-oxidation in hepatocytes and protects oxidative stress and lipid overload in the liver by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, the master regulator of antioxidant response. These studies identify PSA as a pivotal regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism and suggest that PSA may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for treating NAFLD.

In summary, papers in this issue review our current knowledge on the causes, consequences, and interventions of obesity and its associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes, NAFLD, and cardiovascular disease ( Cheong and Xu, 2021 ; Gao et al., 2021 ; Love et al., 2021 ). Potential targets for the treatment of dyslipidemia and NAFLD are also discussed, as exemplified by MT1-MMP and PSA ( Huang et al., 2021 ; Xia et al., 2021 ). It is noted that despite enormous effect, few pharmacological interventions are currently available in the clinic to effectively treat obesity. In addition, while enhancing energy expenditure by browning/beiging of WAT has been demonstrated as a promising alternative approach to alleviate obesity in rodent models, it remains to be determined on whether such WAT reprogramming is effective in combating obesity in humans ( Cheong and Xu, 2021 ). Better understanding the mechanisms by which obesity induces various medical consequences and identification and characterization of novel anti-obesity secreted factors/soluble molecules would be helpful for developing effective therapeutic treatments for obesity and its associated medical complications.

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