Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is a major public health concern in Canada and many other countries. Over the last 25 year, obesity rates among children in Canada have nearly tripled. During childhood, obesity is associated with adverse health effects and deficits in cognitive processes that are involved in the conscious control of action and thought. Another factor related to childhood obesity is self-regulation, which includes the adjustment of cognition, motivation and emotion. For example, a study on emotional regulation found that toddlers who had poorer emotional regulation skills and lower inhibitory control skills were more likely to be categorized as overweight or at risk for being overweight in early childhood. Research also suggests young children are inactive during child care and preschool, which is a contributing factor to childhood obesity. However, we know that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of health related conditions and chronic disease; thus, it is urgent to encourage healthy behavior during childhood. In our discussion we will: a) describe current statistics related to childhood obesity, b) present information on factors related to childhood obesity, and c) discuss long term health implications and interventions. Our goal is to present a select series of factors to illustrate how childhood obesity is complex societal issue which makes the development of successful interventions a challenging process. Please bring your ideas and questions and join us for a conversation about childhood obesity and how to encourage healthy development.