Full Description
Focusing on prevention rather than treatment, Obesity: Dietary and Developmental Influences reviews and evaluates the determinants of obesity. The book uses evidence-based research as a basis to define foods and dietary behaviors that should be supported and encouraged as well as those that should be discouraged. This comprehensive review represents a critical step forward in the quest to identify actionable strategies to prevent obesity.
The book describes the potential role of 26 different dietary factors and 8 developmental periods in the prevention of obesity among children and adults. The dietary factors examined include macronutrients, micronutrients, specific types of foods and beverages, snack and meal patterns, portion size, parenting practices, breastfeeding, and more. The factors from each developmental period in the life cycle are examined in the context of the likelihood of obesity development. For each dietary factor and developmental period, four lines of evidence are examined: secular trends, plausible mechanisms, observational studies, and prevention trials.
Providing easy access to information, the book features 38 tables that summarize observational studies, 38 graphs depicting trends in dietary intake, and 9 tables that summarize prevention trials. It provides a synopsis of the latest research on obesity, investigating all major lines of evidence, and clarifies common misconceptions while identifying which behaviors to target and which dietary factors show the most promise for prevention.
Contents
Introduction. The Obesity Epidemic. The Obesity Prevention Network Determinants of Energy Imbalance Workgroup. A Focus on Prevention. Defining Target Behaviors: A First Step. Methodology. Search Process and Criteria. Article Abstraction and Manuscript Format. Lines of Evidence. Critical Periods. Intrauterine Growth and Birth Weight. Infancy. Adiposity Rebound. Early Puberty. Pregnancy. Postpartum. Menopause. Elderly. Dietary Influences on Energy balance. Total Calories. Energy Density. Macronutrient Intake. Minerals and Vitamins. Vegetables and Fruits. Sweetened Beverages and Fruit Juice. Restaurant-Prepared Foods. Dietary Patterns. Variety of Foods. Reduced-Fat Food Products. Portion Size. Meal and Snack Patterns. Parenting Influences. Breastfeeding. Food Insecurity. Conclusions. When to Intervene: Critical Periods in the Development of Obesity. What to Recommend: Dietary Influences on Energy Balance. Implications. Priorities for Further Research. Reference.
