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Tuesday, 03 Nov, 2015
Study identifies childhood obesity-causing foods
A new study published in the November issue of journal Health Affairs has examined the connection between the consumption of specific food and beverages and weight gain among children and adolescents. A team from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS) led the research which has implications for the public and policy makers.
Childhood obesity is a pressing public health challenge which affects the entire world. Overweight children are likely to become obese adults, and are more likely to develop diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Professor Eric Finkelstein, Assistant Professor Marcel Bilger and a graduate student, Dong Di, from Duke-NUS and Associate Professor Rob M. van Dam from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have been working to identify successful strategies to reduce long-term childhood obesity risk, such as ways to improve diet quality.
The study looked at a set of data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the United Kingdom which showed the level of consumption of 27 foods and beverages by a group of 4,646 young people age 7-13, in addition to their physical activity and weight. Children completed a food diary and had their height and weight measured at ages seven, 10 and 13 years. This allowed for understanding how changes in food consumption and physical activity over time influenced weight gain.
Results show that potato chips are one of the most obesity-promoting foods for young people to consume. Other foods with the largest association with excess weight gain included butter and margarine, breaded or coated chicken or fish, french fries, processed meats, refined grains such as white bread, desserts and sweets, and milk and soda.
Despite the fact that both potato chips and french fries are on the “bad” list, potatoes themselves, when boiled or mashed without using oil, are highly satiating and contain a number of essential nutrients. As such, this type of potato was not associated with weight gain. Consumption of uncoated chicken and fish also appeared protective for weight gain, as was engaging in at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
“Our findings support policies that aim to reduce the intake of specific food items and efforts to change methods of cooking and processing food,” said senior author Dr Finkelstein, a professor in the Duke-NUS Programme for Health Services and Systems Research.
He also said the findings of this study support policy efforts underway in several countries that encourage healthier school meals, limit sales of sugar-sweetened beverages, and increase access to school- or community-based physical activity programmes.
Dr Eric Finkelstein
The study was supported by the Duke-NUS Signature Research Programme, with funding from the Singapore Ministry of Health, and the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Link to the study’s abstract.