Posts tagged as:

pregnancy

Can obesity prevention begin before birth?

by David Ludwig, MD, PhD on August 5, 2010

David LudwigDavid Ludwig’s research was featured in Time, The Boston Globe, USA Today and CNN.

If you believe that gaining a little weight above what’s recommended while pregnant doesn’t matter, it may be time to re-think that notion. Janet Currie, PhD, of Columbia University and I collaborated to examine this question, and found that excess pregnancy weight gain is a strong predictor of high birth weight in infants. What’s the big deal if a baby is a bit too heavy? Research suggests high birth weight increases risk for numerous health problems, including obesity later in life.

Nearly one-third of children in America are now overweight or obese. Without marked decreases in prevalence, this generation of children may lead shorter, less healthful lives than their parents due to weight related diseases. Full story »

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Health headlines: Food labels, alcoholism & teen obesity surgery

by Childrens Hospital Boston staff on February 13, 2010

soda pouring into a glassOther stories we’ve been reading:

There’s more bad news for soda – a new study links it to pancreas cancer. [Read what Children’s obesity expert has to say about artificially sweetened beverages.] There are federal efforts to ban junk food from schools. [Read about junk food advertisements on kids’ websites.] The FDA wants nutrition information labels on the front of food packages. Junk food is getting the spot light in many movies.

Children born early in the year are more likely to be athletes. Obese children are more likely to die young. There’s a link between children with a super sweet tooth and alcoholism. Can you really tell if you’re child will be obese by age 2?

Depression during pregnancy could result in an antisocial teen. A pregnant woman can decrease her baby’s risk of schizophrenia later in life by increasing her iron intake. Obese moms put their newborns at risk for a number of health risks. Older women are more likely to give birth to a child who develops autism. Extremely premature babies show a higher risk for autism.

Obesity surgery may be the best solution for overweight teens. Early language problems may hinder adult literacy. There may be a genetic cause for your child’s obstructive sleep apnea. Childhood cancer survivors are at an increased of dying from a heart-related condition. Reading fiction may be the key to teen girls properly managing their weight.

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Health Headlines: Industrial chemicals as dietary supplements, growth hormone therapy and school lunch safety

by Childrens Hospital Boston staff on February 6, 2010

Other stories we’ve been reading:

Adolescents taking a certain anti-psychotic drugs are at an increased risk for diabetes. An industrial chemical is being sold as a dietary supplement for autism treatment. Diabetes drugs are helping dieting teens lose weight. [Read Minnie’s story about living with Type 2 diabetes.]

Loving foster homes improves children’s attention and impulsivity. Girls with ADHD are more likely to develop other mental health risks.

Obese boys are more likely to begin puberty later in life. A Girl Scouts’ survey found that the fashion industry pressures girls to be thin. [Read about unrealistic media images and how one teen feels about them.] Boys are treated with growth hormone therapy much more often than girls.

Babies of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are much more stressed out. [Read how dangerous secondhand smoke is to children.] Black and Hispanic infants are more likely to have HIV. Expectant mothers can receive pregnancy tips through texting.

Girls who bike to school are in better shape than those who walk or get a ride. The USDA is tightening requirements to assure school lunch safety.[Read about our nation’s fight for kids’ food.]  Overloaded backpacks set your child up for spine strain. [Read about National School Backpack Awareness Day.]

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This week on Thrive: Jan. 18 – 22

by Childrens Hospital Boston staff on January 24, 2010

Here’s a quick look at what Thrive was up to last week.

Researchers have found that morphine can lesson PTSD before it even strikes. Graco recalled 1.5 million strollers. Schools are starting to evaluate students’ weights. Children’s Judith Palfrey, MD, FAAP carried the Olympic torch for children everywhere. Kids spend more time online than they do in school. Children’s Joanne Cox, MD reflects on the alleged Gloucester pregnancy pact on the eve of Lifetime’s movie based on news stories. Keep up with Children’s disaster response teams working in Haiti.

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Lifetime movie based on alleged teen pregnancy pact

by Childrens Hospital Boston staff on January 22, 2010

teenage girl lying on bed looking at pregnancy testGloucester, a Massachusetts fishing town, made national headlines in the summer of 2008 when it was discovered that 17 teenage girls from the same high school were pregnant. This pregnancy pact hasn’t been confirmed by any of the teens, but that hasn’t stopped Lifetime from making a movie based upon these events. The movie, “The Pregnancy Pact,” is scheduled to premier Saturday, January 23.

Joanne Cox, MD, medical director of Children’s Primary Care Center and Young Parents Program, offers her views on the Gloucester event and how to prevent a new epidemic of teen pregnancy. Full story »

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