Exploring the Many Aspects of Obesity Research
Obesity as a medical problem is very pervasive, affecting nearly every organ system in the body. It is associated with a shorter life span. It is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. And it is on the rise in both adults and children throughout the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of childhood overweight tripled between 1980 and 2000. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are attuned to this epidemic and are investigating its effects from many different angles. In this issue of Research Horizons, we examine obesity research underway at Cincinnati Children's.
Studying Comorbidities
One team of scientists is looking at the relationship of obesity to cardiovascular abnormalities, including cholesterol, blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and the function of the heart and blood vessels. Another examines how overweight relates to diabetes. Yet another searches for answers about how obstructive sleep apnea may affect the heart and blood vessels.
It is clear that children experience many negative effects of overweight similar to adults. Researchers are looking into comorbidities of obesity to determine its long-lasting effects on children and teens. Another coexisting condition being looked at is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and how fat in the liver is related to overweight. In addition, a team of investigators studies obesity as a factor in maturation and risk for breast cancer. And another group looks into how overweight might be a factor in chronic renal disease.
Finding New Treatments
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's have been aware of the climb in obesity for the past several years. HealthWorks!, the medical center's multidisciplinary weight management program, opened five years ago. Planning of the intervention program began two years before that. Researchers are now studying HealthWorks! for its effectiveness in treating overweight.
Additionally, different dietary approaches to overweight are being explored, while another research team focuses on bariatric surgery in more severely overweight kids.
Strategy for Prevention
But the research doesn't end there. Scientists are also conducting quality of life studies on how children and families function with obesity as an issue. Other studies include how and where fat deposits develop in the body, as well as the effect of protein secreted by fat cells on various organ systems. The reach of these researchers even extends to epilepsy and antiepilepsy drugs, being studied for their possible association with weight gain or weight loss.
The results of these studies all lead to one important concept: prevention. Treating obese children can be a strategy for preventing adult obesity. The most desirable goal would be to prevent children from becoming at risk of overweight.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's are committed to addressing this critical public health problem. These investigators present their findings to one another on a monthly basis. They share the common goal of providing better treatments, developing methods for prevention, andthereby averting the medical complications of obesity. Their strength lies in their ability to draw from the vast expertise within the medical center and attack the issue from many sides. Read on for an in-depth look at some recent studies conducted by these devoted researchers.
