The development and implementation of obesity prevention strategies requires the identification and understanding of determinant factors that can be influenced by effective large-scale action plans over time.
Strategies aimed at the primary prevention of obesity in a population should be multifaceted and designed to actively involve stakeholders and other major parties concerned; in addition, multiple settings for implementation should be considered. In this paper, an overview is presented of the strategies currently in place for obesity prevention, particularly in Spain.
Archive for category Nutrition and obesity
This new global pandemic of obesity is rapidly becoming a problem of the poor. Extensive work has been undertaken to document the changes in weight and, to a much lesser extent, in diet, energy expenditures, and activity patterns. Broad-based creative public health actions are needed to offset these larger
forces that promote energy imbalance, poor diets, and reduced physical activity. Inaction will result in an acceleration of morbidity, disability, and deaths from major nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases – primarily in developing countries. Enjoy this paper by Barry Popkin.
Energy-dense sweets and fats are cheap, readily available, and convenient. In the absence of kitchen facilities, cooking skills, money or time, they offer satisfying, if sometimes nutrient-poor, options for low-income groups. They also help reduce waste, spoilage, and cooking costs.
Enjoy this paper by Adam Drewnowski and Petra Eichelsdoerfer.
Three middle schools replaced snacks and beverages that did not meet nutrition guidelines, whereas three comparison schools made no systematic changes. Findings indicate that removing low nutrition items from schools decreased students’ consumption with no compensatory increase at home. This dispels concerns that such efforts will have unintended negative consequences.
Obesity Paradox
May 19
Obese Heart Patients May Live Longer. Obesity is a leading cause of heart disease, but as a group, heart patients who are overweight or obese live longer than lean patients and respond better to treatment. It’s called the obesity paradox, and a new review of the research shows that it is real.
Researchers in Sweden found that among 579 adults ages 75 to 80 years, nearly 15 percent were at risk of malnutrition, based on their diet, weight and recent weight loss, and physical and mental well-being.
A study published in the journal Appetite shows that 66% of adults living in Spain eat fruit with their main meals, particularly from Monday to Friday.The study, carried out on-line using a sample of 831 people living in Spain aged between 25 and 49, recorded their food intake during the day and related this to the social context of these kinds of foods.
Could sleep be a critical component to maintaining a healthy body weight? According to new research to be presented on Sunday, May 17, at the American Thoracic Society’s 105th International Conference in San Diego, body mass index is linked to length and quality of sleep in a surprisingly consistent fashion.
The RWJF Active Living Research is calling for research proposals to investigate policies and environments to support active communities. RWJF supports research to identify promising policy and environmental strategies for increasing physical activity, decreasing sedentary behaviors and preventing obesity among children and adolescents. They place special emphasis on strategies with the potential to reach racial/ethnic populations and children living in lower-income communities who are at highest risk for obesity. Please note only US researchers can apply.
The Massachusetts Public Health Council approved rules requiring major chain restaurants to provide calorie information for the food that they sell.