Intermedia Blog » Body Image

Childhood Trauma and Obesity Link

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:53:46 +0000

Related to a previous post about Michelle Obama’s effort to combat childhood obesity, we found this interesting article published by Time that discusses the links between childhood sexual abuse and trauma to eating disorders and obesity

In recent years, studies by both Felitti and others have largely confirmed the association between sexual abuse — as well as other types of traumatic childhood experience — and eating disorders or obesity. A 2007 study of more than 11,000 California women found that those who had been abused as children were 27% more likely to be obese as adults, compared with those who had not, after adjusting for other factors. A 2009 study of more than 15,000 adolescents found that sexual abuse in childhood raised the risk of obesity 66% in males in adulthood. That study found no such effect in women, but did find a higher risk of eating disorders in sexually abused girls.

Discoveries by Felitti and colleagues have also helped give rise to broader work linking stressful experiences early in life — as early as in the womb — to effects on health and behavior later on, such as an increased risk of heart disease or becoming addicted to drugs. Scientists are finding that such effects are not only long-lasting, but can even be inherited by future generations.

Link to the complete Time article

Michelle Obama and Childhood Obesity

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:00:05 +0000

Found via Care2.com: First lady Michelle Obama talks about the growing problem of childhood Obesity in the United States.

“Medical experts have warned that our children are on track to be less healthy than we are.” – First Lady Michelle Obama

We should be ashamed of that fact.

Michelle Obama is leading the charge against childhood obesity. We’ve already seen her tending the White House vegetable garden and encouraging children to participate in the growing process. Now she’s taking that enthusiasm to a whole new level, with a national campaign.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 12.4 percent of 2-5 year olds are obese; for 6-11 year-olds it’s 17.0 percent; and for the 12-19 year-old crowd, it’s 17.6 percent.

Health risks as a result of obesity include heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and sleep apnea.

Link to the Article.

Can Anorexia be predicted?

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:27:59 +0000

According to a new study released in England, the answer may be yes. From The Guardian:

“Our research shows that certain kids’ brains develop in such a way that makes them more vulnerable to the more commonly-known risk factors for eating disorders, such as the size-zero debate, media representations of very skinny women and bad parents,” said Ian Frampton, one of the authors, who is an honorary consultant in paediatric psychology at London’s Great Ormond Street hospital.