Early life factors, such as birth weight, maternal smoking and fathers’ weight, can all predispose a young child to obesity, suggest two European studies.
Overweight parents more likely to have overweight children
A Greek study conducted by Harokopio University in Athens has confirmed the belief amongst health professionals that child obesity risk is much higher when parents themselves are overweight.
Organised by the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) the 11th International Congress of Obesity took place in Stockholm 11th to 15th of July 2010. The Congress gathered scient ...
More information about this podcastIn this interview with EUFIC's Director General, Dr. Josephine Wills, Robert Madelin explains the important role that the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical ...
In the first of two podcasts recorded recently at the Second International Conference on Physical Activity & Public Health (ICPAPH) in Amsterdam, EUFIC spoke with Professors Steven Blair and St ...
This is the last in the series of articles examining the prevention of childhood obesity and will look at the overall guidance gleaned from earlier studies which can be used to inform and improve future interventions.
Previously in this series of articles we discussed key messages for the primary prevention of childhood obesity, and how the age, gender and ethnicity of the target children affect outcome. Now we examine the influence of the setting on programme success.
Programmes to prevent childhood overweight and obesity, which focus on modification of dietary behaviour, increasing physical activity or reducing sedentary behaviour, have been underway for a number of years in countries all over the world. Encouraging results have provided useful data for the development of future initiatives. This is the second in a series of articles discussing current research on the prevention of childhood obesity.
As levels of overweight and obesity in European children continue to rise, it is generally agreed that preventive action is needed urgently. However, there is still much debate over when and how to introduce interventions and what precise measures should be used. Here are some of the considerations
The burden of obesity threatens the health and quality of life of an increasing number of Europeans. For this reason national governments and the European Commission have allocated substantial resources to find out how to reverse this trend. Although we now know a great deal about body weight control systems and that these are influenced by genetic traits, the current increase in obesity in Europe is greatly influenced by lifestyle, diet and physical activity. There is a need for more information on the precise factors that promote obesity and this will in turn provide the basis for preventive public health measures. Here is an overview of some of the current EU funded research projects in this area referred to by their acronyms.
As European waistlines continue to expand, research into the optimal diet for weight loss and keeping slim continues. As in all areas of research, ideas evolve and develop in surprising ways, often challenging accepted wisdom. Here are some of the recent developments in obesity research.
With only some basic data, the energy balance calculator defines your Body Mass Index (BMI), your daily energy requirements and if you are at risk for certain diseases.
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) is a non-profit organisation which communicates science-based information on nutrition and health, food safety and quality, to help consumers to be better informed when choosing a well-balanced, safe and healthful diet.