Endocrinology News

Despite previous reports of a decline in childhood obesity, new study data suggest there is no decline in obesity in children aged 2 to 19 years, and prevalence of severe obesity in children aged 2 to 5 years has actually increased.

Obesity-related health care costs in the United States rose 29% between 2001 and 2015, and new data from the most populous states reveal that the cost burden varies throughout the country, according to research published in Clinical Chemistry.

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes livings in households with low and very low food security have higher HbA1c and higher prevalence of hospitalizations and ED visits compared with those living in households with marginal and high food security, study data show.

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes who report a high level of diabetes distress are more likely to have higher HbA1c vs. patients reporting lower levels of distress, independent of depressive symptoms, according to findings published in Pediatric Diabetes.

Adolescents adhering to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, characterized by greater consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts; moderate consumption of low-fat dairy; and lower consumption of red or processed meats and sweetened beverages have a decreased risk for central and general obesity compared with those with low adherence, according to researchers.

The risk for childhood obesity at age 4 and 6 years is increased in children born to mothers with very low vitamin D status, study data show.

Among adolescents with type 1 diabetes, greater central adiposity and BMI standard deviation score were predictors of poor heart rate variability, independent of glycemic control and insulin dose for body weight, according to findings from a longitudinal study.

Lean, sedentary adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome have higher levels of fasting serum irisin vs. adolescents without PCOS, even after controlling for BMI, according to findings published in Clinical Endocrinology.

Children who have a chronic physical illness such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, food allergy or juvenile arthritis are likely to experience a mental disorder, with 58% of children experiencing both physical and psychological conditions at time of diagnosis.

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes assigned to a behavioral intervention had improvements in diet quality without increasing disordered eating behavior, study data show.