Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Introduction

   • Iris Pigeot, Luis A. Moreno, Wolfgang Ahrens

   Pages 1-6

3. Ethics and Public Policy

   • Dita Wickins-Drazilova, Garrath Williams

   Pages 7-20

4. Methodological Aspects for Childhood and Adolescence Obesity Epidemiology

   • Gerardo Rodríguez, Angelo Pietrobelli, Youfa Wang, Luis A. Moreno

   Pages 21-40

5. Descriptive Epidemiology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-41

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   2. Childhood Obesity in the WHO European Region

      • Yannis Manios, Vassiliki Costarelli

      Pages 43-68

   3. The Epidemiology of Childhood Obesity in Canada, Mexico and the United States

      • Cynthia L. Ogden, Sarah Connor Gorber, Juan A. Rivera Dommarco, Margaret Carroll, Margot Shields, Katherine Flegal

      Pages 69-93

   4. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children in South America

      • Cecilia Albala, Camila Corvalan

      Pages 95-110

   5. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Region

      • Kylie Hesketh, Karen Campbell, Rachael Taylor

      Pages 111-125

   6. Prevalence and Etiology: Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Countries

      • Hafez Elzein, Sima Hamadeh

      Pages 127-152

   7. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Japan

      • Masao Yoshinaga, Tomoko Ichiki, Yoshiya Ito

      Pages 153-162

   8. Social Epidemiology of Nutritional Burden Among Children and Adolescents in India

      • Jessica M. Perkins, S. V. Subramanian

      Pages 163-181

   9. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents in China

      • Youfa Wang, Jie Mi, Yexuan Tao, Ping Chen

      Pages 183-194

   10. Epidemiology and Clinical Profile of Obesity in Children and Adolescents: South-East Asia and Singapore

       • Ting Fei Ho

       Pages 195-217

   11. Childhood Obesity: Prevalence Worldwide - Synthesis Part I

       • Wolfgang Ahrens, Luis A. Moreno, Iris Pigeot

       Pages 219-235

6. Etiological Factors

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 237-237

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7. Aetiological Factors

   1. Genetic Factors

      • Paola Russo, Fabio Lauria, Alfonso Siani

      Pages 239-252

   2. Genetics and Nutrigenomics of Obesity

      • Andreu Palou, M. Luisa Bonet, Francisca Serra, Catalina Picó

      Pages 253-290

   3. Neuroendocrine Regulation

      • Vicente Barrios, Gabriel Ángel Martos-Moreno, Laura M. Frago, Julie A. Chowen, Jesús Argente

      Pages 291-309

   4. Perinatal and Infant Determinants of Obesity

      • Debbie A. Lawlor, George Davey Smith, Richard Martin

      Pages 311-328

Despite adults’ best preventive efforts, childhood obesity is on the rise in most areas of the world, and with it the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other formerly adult-onset conditions. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents takes the global ecological approach that is needed to understand the scope of the problem and its multiple causes and mechanisms, and to aid in developing more effective prevention and intervention programs. In the book’s first half, experts present a descriptive summary of youth obesity trends in ten world regions, broken down by age group, gender, socioeconomic status, and risk factors. Complementing these findings, part two reviews the evidence base regarding the variables, separately and in combination, having the most significant impact on young people’s development of obesity, including: • Genetic and nutrigenomic factors. • Environmental and psychosocial factors, such as family shopping and eating habits and access to healthful foods. • Neuroendocrine regulation. • Prenatal and neonatal factors (e.g., gestational diabetes of the mother). • Dietary factors, from nutrient content to young people’s food preferences. • Physical activity versus sedentary behavior. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents is necessary reading for the range of professionals involved in curtailing this epidemic, including public health specialists, epidemiologists, pediatricians, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, health educators, and policymakers.

• childhood obesity
• global health
• pediatric obesity
• pediatric overweight

From the reviews:

“This book brings a global focus to obesity in children and adolescents, a very important topic as the obesity problem reaches pandemic proportions. … The book has appeal for a broad audience that includes both biology and epidemiology students, as well as medical students and practitioners. … This is the first book that I have seen that focuses on obesity in children and adolescents. It is excellent and provides a great deal of value to the field.” (Linda G. Snetselaar, Doody’s Review Service, September, 2011)

• Fac. Ciencias, Inst. Ciencia de Materiales de Aragon, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

  Luis A. Moreno

• FB Mathematik und Informatik, Inst. Statistik, Univ. Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  Iris Pigeot

• und Sozialmedizin (BIPS), Bremer Institut für Präventionsforschung, Bremen, Germany

  Wolfgang Ahrens

Luis Moreno Aznar is Professor in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Zaragoza, Spain.

Iris Pigeot is Professor in the Division of Biometry and Data Management at the University of Bremen, Germany.

Wolfgang Ahrens is Professor in the Division of Epidemiological Methods and Etiologic Research at the University of Bremen.

Policies and ethics