"Food insecurity," which is the lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times because of economic constraints, afflicts 40.6% of low-income households with children. Research shows that living in a food-insecure household can lead to negative health and developmental consequences for young children, including obesity.…

This article reviews recent research evidence, largely from systematic reviews, on a number of aspects of childhood obesity: its definition and prevalence; consequences; causes and prevention. The basis of the body mass index (BMI) as a means of defining obesity in children and adolescents is discussed: a high BMI for age constitutes obesity. In…

In schools across the U.S., kids who are heavier than their classmates experience size bias from peers and adults, and school health programs can sometimes hurt more than they help. Experts from the size-acceptance community, whose views are often omitted from health debates, offer a fresh perspective: eat healthy foods, stay active, and do not…

The objective of this study was to examine (1) the association between consumption of fast food and sweets on overweight among U.S. adolescents; and (2) how consumption of different types of food and physical exercise is associated with parental education and other background variables. The data were based on cross-sectional, national survey study…

An ethnically diverse sample of at-risk-for-overweight and overweight youths (body mass index greater than the 85th percentile for age and gender; n = 667 male participants, and n = 684 female participants) completed a school-based survey measuring family variables (connectedness, mealtime environment, and weight commentary), psychosocial…

Most studies of bulimics have used an identified, clinical sample of individuals who have been evaluated and diagnosed by professional mental health workers. In this study, self-reported food addicts completed a questionnaire that assessed demographic as well as behavioral and cognitive factors related to their eating. The intent was to describe…

Assessed the effectiveness of a combined program of very low calorie diet and behavior therapy in treating obesity. Combined treatment and behavior therapy alone subjects maintained weight losses; none of the diet alone subjects met the criterion used to define maintenance. Only those receiving behavior therapy alone and combined treatment showed…

Explores implications of interdisciplinary findings in an attempt to: (1) identify family practices and behaviors that contribute to preschool obesity; and (2) suggest effective obesity control strategies that can guide family-oriented nutrition education and counseling efforts. (JN)

The relationship between high levels of body fat and emotional motivations for eating among Mexican-American children was examined. Data were gathered through a self-report instrument dealing with emotional motivators and through anthropometric measurements. Results are discussed. (Author/DF)

Determined the extent to which light, moderate, and heavy television viewing relates to multiple measures of obesity and physical fitness among high school males (N=379). Showed that light television viewers scored significantly better than heavy viewers on a composite fitness index. Light viewers were not significantly less obese than moderate or…

Moderately obese volunteers were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions (behavior therapy or behavior therapy plus aerobic exercise) and two posttreatment conditions (no further contact or a multicomponent maintenance program). Clients in the aerobic exercise condition lost significantly more weight than those who received behavior therapy…

Explores the family dynamics of childhood obesity, and presents evidence supporting the need for a family-based treatment model. (Author/ABB)

A sample of 356 matched cases of overfat, overweight, and obese students were tracked for three years during high school to test the hypothesis that obese ninth grade students were more likely to be obese as twelfth-grade students than non-obese ninth graders were. Results are presented. (Author/MT)

Identifies and describes specific patterns of interaction in families with obese adolescent daughters. (Author/BL)

Evaluated the effectiveness of a multicomponent program designed to enhance the maintenance of weight loss in moderately obese clients (N=43). Results of 15- and 21-month follow-up assessments revealed that the multicomponent program significantly enhanced the maintenance of weight loss. (LLL)