Addressing Structural Racism Is Critical for Ameliorating the Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Black Youth.

Racism and childhood obesity are both pervasive factors adversely affecting the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents in the United States. The association between racism and obesity has been touched upon in the literature; yet most work has focused on a few dimensions of intersectionality of these two domains at one time. The renewed focus on structural racism as the primary contributor to distress of Black individuals in the United States has highlighted the urgency of identifying the contributions of racism to the childhood obesity epidemic. The current article is not a complete review of the literature, rather, it is meant to take a broad narrative review of the myriad ways in which racism contributes to the obesity epidemic in Black youth to serve as a call to action for more research, prevention, and intervention. The current article illustrates how a number of mechanisms for the etiology and maintenance of obesity are heavily influenced by racism and how addressing racism is critical for ameliorating the childhood obesity epidemic.

Incorporating Yoga into a Pediatric Weight Management Program: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of yoga incorporated into a pediatric weight management program (promoting health in teens; PHIT Yoga) to racially diverse caregivers and youth and to compare this program with a cohort that received a program that did not include yoga (PHIT Kids). Methods: Thirty children with obesity were enrolled in a 12-week pediatric weight management intervention (PHIT Kids, n = 17; PHIT Yoga, n = 13). Weight, BMI z-score (BMIz), BMI percent of the 95th percentile, and health habits assessment were obtained from both cohorts pre- and post intervention. Acceptability was assessed in the yoga cohort. Results: Fifty-four percent of children in the PHIT Yoga cohort and 65% of children in the PHIT Kids cohort attended ≥75% of the intervention sessions. Survey results support that the PHIT Yoga was acceptable to both caregivers and children. Improvements in BMIz were observed in 50% of children in each cohort and both groups improved on five of seven health habits; cohorts overlapped on three habits (breakfast, screen time, and sugar-sweetened drinks). Conclusion: Findings support that yoga classes added to a pediatric weight management program are feasible and acceptable in racially diverse children with severe obesity and their caregivers.

Psychosocial Aspects of Obesity.

This article is the sixth in a series of the comorbidities of childhood obesity and reviews psychosocial aspects with a focus on weight-based victimization and discrimination stemming from weight bias and stigma. Outcomes from these bullying and discriminatory experiences are pervasive and impact youth across all settings, including school. Lastly, this article provides recommendations on how to reduce bias and stigma to better serve these students in the school environment.

Comparison of a condensed 12-week version and a 24-week version of a family-based pediatric weight management program.

BACKGROUND: The current study compares the effectiveness of a condensed 12-week version and a 24-week version of the same pediatric behavioral weight management program. METHODS: Children (n=162) between the ages of 8 and 18 years (baseline BMIz=2.39; standard deviation=0.29) were randomized to either a 12- or 24-week version of the same behavioral weight management program. Child anthropometric data were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 12 months. A two-level longitudinal model was used to examine within- and between-group differences in BMIz change over time. RESULTS: A significant group-by-time interaction was found (ß=-0.01; standard error, <0.01; p<0.01) with the 24-week group showing greater reductions in BMIz. Children in the 24-week group showed significant BMIz reductions over time (z=-5.18; p<0.01), but children in the 12-week group did not (z=-0.85; p=0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Children in the 24-week program demonstrated greater reductions in BMIz than children in the 12-week group. Therefore, there may be additional benefit to sessions above and beyond the 8- to 12-week minimum suggested for pediatric weight management programs.

Outcomes of a weight management clinic for children with special needs.

OBJECTIVE: Rates of obesity are elevated among children with special needs (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, or developmental disabilities). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary tailored intervention to treat obesity among youth with special needs. METHOD: Seventy-six children aged 2 to 19 years participated in a multidisciplinary weight management clinic adapted for children with special needs. A description of the patients presenting for specialized clinical services is provided, and the impact of the intervention on child body mass index (BMI) and food variety was examined for a subset (n = 30) of children. Descriptive statistics of the patient population at baseline were calculated and a series of t tests, correlations, and analysis of variance models examined change in BMI z-scores (BMIz) and diet variety. Factors related to treatment outcomes were also explored. RESULTS: BMIz decreased significantly by the 6-month follow-up (M = 2.43 to M = 2.36, p < .01). There were significant increases in the variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains that children ate (t(16) = 3.18, p < .01; t(16) = 2.63, p = .02; t(16) = 2.37, p = .03, respectively). CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary clinic-based intervention was effective in reducing BMIz over a 6-month period and increasing the variety of foods that children were eating. These results have implications for providing tailored weight management interventions for youth with obesity and special needs.