Published online October 1, 2004
PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 4 October 2004, pp. 1146-1173 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-0347B)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lederman, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Wardle, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Lederman, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Wardle, J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Nutrition & Metabolism
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

SUPPLEMENT ARTICLE

Summary of the Presentations at the Conference on Preventing Childhood Obesity, December 8, 2003

Sally Ann Lederman, PhD*, Sharon R. Akabas, PhD{ddagger}, Barbara J. Moore, PhD§, Margaret E. Bentley, PhD, Barbara Devaney, PhD, Matthew W. Gillman, MD, Michael S. Kramer, MD, Julie A. Mennella, PhD, Andrew Ness, PhD and Jane Wardle, PhD

* Obesity Research Center, St Luke’s Hospital, Columbia University, New York, New York
{ddagger} Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, New York
§ Shape Up America!, Portage, Wisconsin

Objective. Because of the rising rates of childhood obesity, we set out to determine what is known about its causes and what could be done to prevent additional increases.

Methodology. A meeting was convened of experts in areas that bear on prevention of obesity development during intrauterine life, infancy, and very early childhood. They presented recent data and their interpretations of the stage of our current knowledge in related areas. They also proposed possible useful interventions and future directions for research.

Findings. The speakers’ talks indicated that (1) breastfeeding as currently practiced seems to be significantly (albeit weakly) protective against obesity and should be encouraged as the preferred method of feeding infants for as long a duration as practical during the first year of life; (2) infant-feeding practices are changing in a way that may predispose to obesity (eg, soda and french fries are being fed to infants as young as 7 months of age), possibly altering taste preferences for foods and beverages that are energy dense and nutrient poor; (3) although little is known about parenting styles (eg, authoritative versus permissive), parenting style is likely to be a fruitful area of current research into childhood obesity etiology; and (4) the pattern of weight changes in the first few years of life may contribute to later risk of obesity.

Conclusions. Children’s obesity will continue to be a growing problem unless we improve understanding of the key factors likely to be operative during intrauterine life, infancy, and very early childhood, identify those in whom intervention would have the greatest effect, design and evaluate preventive interventions, and promote those that are successful.

Key Words: obesity • pediatrics • prevention • infant feeding • birth weight • activity • dietary choices • maternal weight • feeding styles

Abbreviations: IOM, Institute of Medicine • SES, socioeconomic status • BMI, body mass index • NCHS, National Center for Health Statistics • LGA, large for gestational age • SGA, small for gestational age • NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey • WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children • OR, odds ratio • CI, confidence interval • FITS, Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study • IFSQ, Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire • ALSPAC, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

Accepted Jun 17, 2004.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PediatricsHome page
E. J. Maher, G. Li, L. Carter, and D. B. Johnson
Preschool Child Care Participation and Obesity at the Start of Kindergarten
Pediatrics, August 1, 2008; 122(2): 322 - 330.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
American Heart Association, S. S. Gidding, B. A. Dennison, L. L. Birch, S. R. Daniels, M. W. Gilman, A. H. Lichtenstein, K. T. Rattay, J. Steinberger, N. Stettler, et al.
Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Practitioners
Pediatrics, February 1, 2006; 117(2): 544 - 559.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CirculationHome page
Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, S. S. Gidding, B. A. Dennison, L. L. Birch, S. R. Daniels, M. W. Gilman, A. H. Lichtenstein, K. T. Rattay, J. Steinberger, N. Stettler, et al.
Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Practitioners: Consensus Statement From the American Heart Association
Circulation, September 27, 2005; 112(13): 2061 - 2075.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]