Sources on childhood obesity

Prevention of child obesity: ‘First, do no harm’

Jennifer A. O'Dea

Health Education Research 2005 20(2):259-265

The first step in approaching any health education problem or planning any prevention program is to be very clear about what it is that we are trying to achieve and to have a clear definition of what we are trying to prevent. In the case of child obesity, we need to be clear from the outset that our role as health educators and prevention specialists is not in the diagnosis or treatment of child obesity.

Prevention of obesity and eating disorders: a consideration of shared risk factors

Jess Haines^* and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer

Health Education Research Advance Access originally published online on September 8, 2006

Health Education Research 2006 21(6):770-782; doi:10.1093/her/cyl094

In response to the high prevalence of obesity, eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors among youth, researchers in both the obesity and eating disorders fields have proposed using an integrated approach to prevention that addresses the spectrum of weight-related disorders within interventions. The identification of risk factors that are shared between these weight-related disorders is an essential step to developing effective prevention interventions. This article provides preliminary support for the existence of shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders. Specifically, the authors examined and found preliminary evidence that dieting, media use, body image dissatisfaction and weight-related teasing may have relevance for the development of the spectrum of weight-related disorders. Future etiologic research designed to specifically test these and other potentially shared risk factors is needed and would provide important insights into the relevant factors to be addressed in interventions aimed at preventing a broad spectrum of weight-related disorders.