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Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention: Second Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 8990

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 35 Michigan, Suite 1800 MC 232, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
2. Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, 35 Michigan, Suite 1800 MC 232, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
Interests: lifestyle medicine; pediatric obesity prevention and treatment; physical activity; sedentary behavior; nutrition; wellness; quality of life; behavioral health

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Pediatrics, and James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
2. Department of Pediatics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
Interests: school-based obesity initiatives; behavioral economic change in food selection; cardiovascular risk screening in children
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Due to the success of the first edition of the Special Issue “Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/special_issues/pediatric_obesity), we are pleased to announce a second edition on this important topic. This Special Issue will focus on the causes and consequences of environmental factors, including behavioral, social, and policy influences, as they relate to the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity. The venue is the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes articles and communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. For detailed information on the journal, we refer you to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph.  

Pediatric obesity is a chronic disease with a complex etiology and a host of both near- and long-term physical and psychological sequelae. Evidence supports the Social Ecological framework for obesity prevention and treatment, including individual and family influences, while also acknowledging the potential impact of organization, community, and policy factors. Health-promotion initiatives at each of these levels may play a prominent role in fighting the obesogenic environment that youth currently face. With this Special Issue, we hope to explore new and innovative ways to combat obesity at across all societal levels. 

This Special Issue remains open to any subject area related to the impacts of public and population health on pediatric obesity. The listed keywords suggest just a few of the many possibilities. 

Dr. Jared M. Tucker
Prof. Dr. Robert M. Siegel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Pediatric obesity
  • Primary care
  • Weight management
  • Built environment
  • Population health
  • Food insecurity
  • Food desert
  • Public health
  • Health geography
  • Community interventions
  • Food selection
  • Physical activity
  • Walkability
  • Behavioral economics
  • Incentives
  • Policy

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1756 KiB  
Article
STEP IN: Supporting Together Exercise and Play and Improving Nutrition; a Feasibility Study of Parent-Led Group Sessions and Fitness Trackers to Improve Family Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in a Low-Income, Predominantly Black Population
by Michelle C. Gorecki, Megan E. Piotrowski, Courtney M. Brown, Radhika R. Teli, Zana Percy, Laura Lane, Christopher F. Bolling, Robert M. Siegel and Kristen A. Copeland
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(9), 5686; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095686 - 28 Apr 2023
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Abstract
Background: Pediatric obesity is prevalent and challenging to treat. Although family-centered behavioral management is the gold standard, many families face structural inequities to its access and efficacy. Identifying ways to manage pediatric obesity within primary care is needed. Methods: This feasibility study included [...] Read more.
Background: Pediatric obesity is prevalent and challenging to treat. Although family-centered behavioral management is the gold standard, many families face structural inequities to its access and efficacy. Identifying ways to manage pediatric obesity within primary care is needed. Methods: This feasibility study included three sequential trials of peer-led group sessions occurring biweekly or monthly between 3/2016 and 2/2017. Parent–child dyads were recruited from a large academic primary care clinic via mailed invitations, prioritizing patients living in local zip codes of historical disinvestment. Eligible patients were 6 to 12 years with a body mass index ≥85th percentile, with parent and child interest in making healthy lifestyle changes, and English speaking. Results: 27 dyads participated, 77% were non-Hispanic Black. Retention and attendance rates were highest in the initial four-session biweekly pilot (100%, 0 dropouts), high in the full six-session biweekly cohort (83%, 1 dropout), and moderate in the monthly cohort (62.7%, 4 dropouts). Families reported high satisfaction with the sessions (4.75/5). Qualitative comments suggested social connections had motivated behavior change in some families. Conclusion: Parent-led group sessions for pediatric weight management show promise in engaging families. A future large trial is needed to assess behavior change and anthropometric outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention: Second Edition)
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11 pages, 789 KiB  
Commentary
Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders in Pediatric Obesity: Assessment and Next Steps
by Eileen Chaves, D. Thomas Jeffrey and Dominique R. Williams
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(17), 6638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176638 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2646
Abstract
While the exact prevalence of disordered eating in youth who are overweight and have obesity has not been determined, studies show that the odds of a young adult (18–24 years) with obesity engaging in disordered eating behaviors is 2.45 times more likely to [...] Read more.
While the exact prevalence of disordered eating in youth who are overweight and have obesity has not been determined, studies show that the odds of a young adult (18–24 years) with obesity engaging in disordered eating behaviors is 2.45 times more likely to occur than in young adults with Body Mass Indexes (BMI) in the normative range. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role that disordered eating and eating disorders may play in pediatric obesity and the importance of screening for these conditions. The ability to identify and assess disordered eating alters the course of treatment. Without an understanding of the intersection of obesity and disordered eating, medical providers may continue treatment-as-usual. Doing so may inadvertently contribute to internalized weight bias in patients with obesity and exacerbate their disordered eating symptoms and behaviors. In addition, understanding the spectrum of disordered eating in pediatric patients with obesity allows providers to tailor treatments, discuss food and physical activity differently, and know when to refer patients to eating-disorder-specific providers for continued treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention: Second Edition)
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15 pages, 955 KiB  
Systematic Review
Disinhibited Eating and Executive Functioning in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Clarissa V. Shields, Kara V. Hultstrand, Caroline E. West, John J. Gunstad and Amy F. Sato
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13384; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013384 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1655
Abstract
A growing body of research suggests disinhibited eating and weaker executive function (EF) are two risk factors for pediatric obesity. Emerging brain imaging and behavioral findings support the notion that EF skills impact eating regulation. However, a major gap in the current literature [...] Read more.
A growing body of research suggests disinhibited eating and weaker executive function (EF) are two risk factors for pediatric obesity. Emerging brain imaging and behavioral findings support the notion that EF skills impact eating regulation. However, a major gap in the current literature is a synthesis of the association between various EF skills and disinhibited eating patterns across child development. To address this gap, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effect of EF skills on disinhibited eating behaviors among youth ages 3–18 years old. PubMed and PsychINFO databases were utilized and data from 15 studies with a total sample of 4909 youth were included. A random effects meta-analysis revealed a small negative effect of overall EF skills on disinhibited eating behavior, r = −0.14, p < 0.01. Analysis of individual EF skills found working memory had an overall medium negative effect on disinhibited eating behavior, r = −0.25, p < 0.05. Taken together, findings from this meta-analysis support an inverse relationship between EF abilities and disinhibited eating patterns in children and adolescents, such that poorer EF abilities are associated with higher levels of disinhibited eating. Given the effect on eating behavior, future research is needed to assess whether EF difficulties may be a barrier to effective weight management in youth. Specifically, research is needed to examine whether EF skills may be a key target to consider for effective obesity prevention and treatment in children and adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention: Second Edition)
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8 pages, 309 KiB  
Commentary
The Continued Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Obesity: A Commentary on the Return to a Healthy New “Normal”
by Eileen Chaves, Sheethal D. Reddy, Adelle Cadieux, Jessica Tomasula and Kimberly Reynolds
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5597; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095597 - 05 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2005
Abstract
Two years into this pandemic, mental health symptoms are more prevalent in children and adolescents, routine wellness visits have decreased, individuals and families are experiencing increased stress, and food and nutrition insecurity are on the rise. Pediatric overweight and obesity are yet another [...] Read more.
Two years into this pandemic, mental health symptoms are more prevalent in children and adolescents, routine wellness visits have decreased, individuals and families are experiencing increased stress, and food and nutrition insecurity are on the rise. Pediatric overweight and obesity are yet another health condition that has been impacted by the pandemic. The current commentary aims to (a) summarize a variety of factors contributing to worsening obesity and healthy lifestyle choices in youth throughout the pandemic and to (b) provide recommendations for healthcare providers on navigating this challenge. Specific health behaviors, such as increased sedentary behavior, decreased physical activity, a change to families’ home-food environments, and an increase in sleep dysregulation have contributed to increased weight gain in children and adolescents. As uncertainty continues with the advent of various COVID-19 variants, it remains important to consider how the pandemic has impacted pediatric overweight and obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention: Second Edition)
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