By Crystal Park
Washington, D.C.
31 July 2006
 


Childhood obesity is growing steadily in the United States and around the world. New research findings have given doctors new clues to fighting the trend. Jim Bertel narrates.

		Dr. Joseph Afram

A recent study from the University of Illinois reports people eat far more when they are given larger containers for their food. Experiment participants were randomly given either small or large bowls for ice cream. The participants with larger bowls gave themselves 50 percent more ice cream than those with smaller bowls. 

The nature and quantity of what we eat are large contributors to problems of being overweight

One mom recounts the struggles her child had to go through due to his obesity.

"We've just had to make modifications all the way. You couldn't just go to a restaurant if it was just booths,” says Brenda Jones. “You had to make sure you had tables. It's been quite a rough time."

Drugs provide an alternative for children who can't lose weight by conventional methods. One clinical study reports teens who took a new weight loss drug called Meridia shed 18 pounds more in one year than teens who took a placebo. The teens also showed improvement in cholesterol and blood sugar levels.  Meridia is thought to act directly on brain chemistry to decrease appetite. A drug called Xenical blocks fat from entering the intestines during digestion. Both medicines can cause stomach discomfort. 

		Most current guidelines recommend an hour a day of physical activity by children

A study by the New England Journal of Medicine projects the life expectancy of the average American will decrease by two to five years if the rate of obesity continues its steady growth over the next several decades.