Childhood Obesity

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that beneficial bacteria in the small intestines produce a compound that protects against obesity. Read More

What are the scientific mechanisms by which obesity impacts the body? What are the genetic components of why some individuals struggle more with weight gain and loss? Join Professor Alyssa Hasty and panel as they explore these topics in the next Lab-to-Table Conversation from the School of Medicine Basic Sciences on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from noon to 1 p.m. CT. Read More

Graduate student Catherine Shelton has been selected as one of two students nationally to receive the ninth annual Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship grant from Danone North America, the fresh dairy and plant-based products company. Shelton will use her grant to fund her research on identifying early-life microbiota components that may prevent obesity in children. Read More

Diabetes drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as exenatide (Byetta), are a promising and safe treatment for a rare form of obesity. Read More

New research by Shari Barkin shows that improving nutrition and increasing opportunities to be more active were insufficient in achieving sustained reduction in childhood obesity in poor neighborhoods. Read More

The optimal “dose” for behavioral interventions to treat childhood obesity are not clear, Vanderbilt researchers concluded after analyzing 133 clinical trial that occurred over the course of 17 years. Read More

“Epigenetic signatures” in DNA may present an opportunity for prevention of or early intervention in childhood obesity. Read More

Preschool-aged children require the majority of their waking day to achieve their recommended daily physical activity, a Vanderbilt study published in Obesity found. Read More

A joint effort between Vanderbilt and Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation to prevent childhood obesity and enhance literacy promotion for preschoolers has reached an important milestone — the halfway mark. Read More

Dietary variety – not high-fat or sugary foods – appears to stimulate overeating in a mouse model of an inherited obesity syndrome. Read More

See how community members– and Beyoncé– are helping to kick off a large, NIH funded, community-based study bent on the prevention of childhood obesity. Now excitement is building as Vanderbilt researchers work to recruit 600 families with pre-school aged children to participate in Grow Right Onto Wellness (GROW). For more… Read More

This Week on VUCast, Vanderbilt’s online newscast: A healthy inspiration sparks a breakthrough program fighting childhood obesity. Is it the flu? A special tool to check your symptoms at home. Why this Vanderbilt student wants to be ‘King of the Nerds’ [vucastblurb]  … Read More