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The International Association for the Study of Obesity Newsletter

September 2011

Greetings!

 

Latest News from IASO

 

UN Summit...

Professor Shiriki Kumanyika, co-chair of IASO's International Obesity TaskForce, will represent IASO at the forthcoming high level UN Summit on Non-Communicable Disease, to be held at the UN Assembly in New York, September 19th-20th.  Meanwhile IASO has joined over one hundred other professional and civil society organisations calling on the UN to develop a code of conduct for relations with commercially-interested organisations. The issue has come to a head in the drafting of a statement for the UN Summit, in which 'partnerships' with industry interests are being discussed.

 

 

Marketing to Children... 

IASO has contributed to the development of a Manual for Monitoring Food Marketing to Children, prepared by Consumers International and due to be published in early September. Read our

IASO Weekly News Brief for further details.

To subscribe to the services of IASO's news briefs please write to newsnet@iaso.org

 

 

The Lancet... 

Professor Boyd Swinburn, co-chair of IASO's International Obesity TaskForce, is author of several papers on obesity published in The Lancet at the end of August.

See http://www.thelancet.com/series/obesity for free access to the full series of related papers.

 

 

Farewell Estelle...

We would like to wish a fond farewell to Estelle Challe who has taken up a new position with the Epson Group. IASO members who have attended our events from ICO to Scope Summer School will recall Estelle's efficient organisation and dedication to her role. We would like to thank Estelle for her tremendous contribution to IASO over the past 2 years and wish her well in her new position.  


Obesity in the News

 

Latest articles of obesity in the news...

 

Please note that all external links are provided for information only, their inclusion is not indicative of IASO endorsement.

 

Obesity plan could cost shoppers dear (August 31st, 2011)

Health group says voucher scheme, Change4Life, would mean spending five times more than people would get in discounts.

 

Irish Broadcasting Authority proposes UK-style TV marketing regulations (August 31st, 2011)

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) announced the start of a public consultation process on the advertising of certain foods, after which it will decide whether existing broadcasting codes need to be changed.

 

US: Time video on internet gaming and junk food promotion (August 31st, 2011)

A new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics says interactive marketing of junk food online may be contributing to child obesity. TIME's Alice Park shows a few examples of how companies are reaching kids online.    

 

Click headlines to see the full story

 

To see more of the latest articles of obesity in the news please visit: http://www.iaso.org/news/obesity-news/ 

 

Publications

Clinical Obesity...
  

   COB COVER

Clinical Obesity was successfully launched  earlier this year and Issue 2 will be published later this month. We are keen to attract submissions on clinical research papers that may include pharmacological obesity-related disease, treatment, trials and research; bariatric surgery; psychological aspects of obesity, provision of care relating to all health care professionals.  

Read the first issue here... 

 

Participate Today! Submit your paper via our online peer-review system. 

 

 

 

 

 

Obesity Reviews Volume 12 Issue 9...

 

A message from Professor David York, Editor-in-Chief...

 

Once again,OBR COVERI hope the September edition of Obesity Reviews has something of interest to the diverse interests of the professional communities interested in obesity. There is currently wide discussion of the most appropriate ways of addressing the current obesity epidemic. The manuscript by ten Have and colleagues addresses the ethical considerations of proposed interventions and policies toprevent obesity and overweight and emphasizes the need for an appropriate ethical framework to help in preventing societal objections to intervention initiatives. There are 3 reviews looking at differing aspects of Obesity Management. In the first, Czernichow et al report the outcome of a large meta-analysis that compares the discriminatory value of BMI waist circumference and waist hip ratio in predicting cardiovascular disease mortality risk. You will have to read the review to find the answer. 

 

The second review (Stubbs et al) looks at the problems of identifying predictors and correlates of weight loss and the implications of this for weight control therapies based upon behavioral change. It concludes that obesity is a chronic relapsing condition that requires lifelong management in the same way that addictions, affective disorders and some metabolic disorders require constant self-monitoring and strategies for coping with lapses, to avoid total relapse. The third paper (Armstrong et al) is both a systematic review and meta-analysis of motivational interviewing in randomized controlled trials that concludes that motivational interviewing does enhance weight loss. Dietary fiber has been the focus of many studies related to appetite and food intake. The review by Wanders et al looks at the complexity of such studies in relation to both the physicochemical properties and structure of the fiber and the differing short and long term responses.

 

The final manuscript in this edition looks at the growing evidence for an association between obesity and cognitive performance deficits, especially executive function, in all age groups except the elderly. The authors (Smith et al ) suggest that a neurological deficit may predispose to the development of obesity while excess weight gain itself compounds this effect through brain responses to either low-grade inflammation, elevated lipids or brain insulin resistance. A review of a new book on the "Obesity Epidemic" authored by Hilary Shaw might also be of interest.

 

Obesity Reviews September 2011 

 

 

 

International Journal of Pediatric Obesity...    

 

POB COVER

 

New name, New look... 

 

From January 2012, International Journal of Pediatric Obesity will become Pediatric Obesity with a new look, exciting new features and a new website.  

 

Have a look online at some 'early view' papers and look out for more exciting news to come with Pediatric Obesity!!

 

    

 

Other News

 

Obesity Staging System Predicts Mortality Better Than BMI

 

Two new studies show that the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS), a 5-point system that ranks obese patients by presence of physical, mental and functional health (Stage 0: no health problems to Stage 4: irreversible (end-stage) health problems), is superior to anthropometric measures in predicting mortality in overweight and obese individuals. The independent studies examined large populations from the US-NHANES and the Aerobics Centre Longitudinal Study, respectively. Lower EOSS scores were associated with healthier eating and greater physical fitness, while higher EOSS scores were associated with history of weight cycling. Importantly, EOSS 0/1 individuals with Class III obesity had no increased risk of mortality over the almost 20 year observation periods, while overweight and Class I obese individuals with higher EOSS scores had a mortality risk comparable to individuals with higher EOSS scores at higher BMIs. Dr. Arya Sharma, who first developed the Staging System, says, "While BMI tells me how 'big' my patient is, EOSS tells me how 'sick' my patient is - this is a better way to make decisions about treatment plans including weight loss than BMI alone".

The articles were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal and Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. A video of Dr. Sharma explaining EOSS can be seen here.

 

 

 

The Battle of the Bulge

 A History of Obesity Research

George A. Bray

 

Weight is probably the number one thing on the minds of many people these days-and given the numbers of diet books; weight loss centers; and low-fat, low-carb, high-protein prepackaged foods on the market, it's an issue so many people are seriously trying to tackle. In this historical summary, based on the series of articles published in Obesity Research, George Bray provides a comprehensive survey of weight throughout time in his book The Battle of the Bulge: A history of Obesity Research.  Beginning with evidence of overweight individuals in the earliest times through artifacts, legends, and writings, Bray makes it clear that obesity isn't a problem isolated to the modern day. Much attention is paid to the medical advancements that led to greater understanding of the physical and psychological factors that contribute to weight gain and obesity. In addition to the physical and mental pain obesity can cause, he also examines recurring trends in terms of diets and treatments to point out the futility of fad diets. In all, this scientific-minded approach to the study of overweight seeks to answer, through data and observation three core issues: What is obesity, how did we get that way, and what can we do about it? Besides the commentaries in each area which cover 400 pages, there are 57 classic papers reproduced or translated into English to provide the key documents needed for anyone interested in the history of obesity.

 

The retail cost of the book is $57.00, but it is available from Dorrance Publishing for $31.35.

 

Please visit: http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/baofbuhiofob.html  

 

 

 

 

Healthy Living Center

 

The Hattie Mae Children's Healthy Living Center and Funville Activity Park is America's first activity complex devoted to combating childhood obesity. With a planned opening for Fall 2013, the complex will include a 60,000 sq. ft. facility on over 70 acres of land located in D'Iberville Mississippi.

 

Upon completion, the center and grounds will be a physical model of the Hattie Mae & Pals Foundation team's commitment to educate children in the fundamental importance of making healthy choices in all aspects of their lives.

 

"We are very excited to help Mississippi lead the way in the fight against childhood obesity on a National and International level.   Everyone supports the cause of bettering the lives of children, especially given the recent upsurge in childhood obesity," said Foundation CEO, Shawn Smith. "This center will provide children with resources, tools, and a safe place to exercise and play in a safe, healthy environment."

 

Please visit: www.hattiemaeandpals.org 

 

 

If you have any comments or information you would like us to include in the next IASO newsletter please contact:

 

Emma Graham

Publishing and Communications Manager

email: egraham@iaso.org

phone: +44 (0) 20 7685 2580

web: http://www.iaso.org

 

 

 

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