International Conference on Childhood Obesity & Child Development August 29-30, 2016 Atlanta, USA

Biography:

Analia S Loria earned her PhD degree at the University of Murcia, Spain. She developed models to study the origins of adult disease in rodents for the last decade using a unique model called maternal separation (MatSep) to mimic the effects of postnatal chronic behavioral stress exposure or early life stress (ELS). As an Assistant Professor, she has focused on studying the impact of the psychological stress superimposed to energy-dense (high fat) food consumption on the blood pressure regulation.

Abstract:

Individuals exposed to adverse childhood experiences and early life stress (ELS) display higher risk for chronic disease. As such, ELS is an emerging independent risk factor for obesity and hypertension, components of the cardiometabolic syndrome affecting more than 50% of the adult US population. While a link between ELS and chronic disease is established, causative mechanisms remain unknown. We found that Maternal Separation (MatSep), a model of ELS, augments the circulating levels of the stress-induced glucocorticoids (GCs) when male and female C57BL/6 mice are fed a high fat (HF) diet. HF-fed male and female MatSep exhibit exaggerated obesity associated with elevated biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease and hypertension compared to control mice. We obtained similar findidings in a rat model, with a normalization of the body weight and glucose intolerance after a postnatal treatment with a corticosterone synthase inhibitor. It is well-accepted that GCs are a robust stimulus of adipocyte differentiation and metabolism. Exposure to MatSep increased the production of adipocyte-derived factors intimately associated with the increased risk to develop obesity-induced hypertension, such as angiotensinogen and leptin. First, angiotensinogen is the only known precursor of the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II. Second, leptin is known to enhance the sympatho-mediated responses during the progression of obesity induced-hypertension and has been directly associated with metabolic disease in patients with a positive history of ELS. We found that obese MatSep mice show reduced spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and increased magnitude of blood pressure reduction in response to a ganglion blockade, suggesting that exacerbated blood pressure occurs most likely though a sympatho-mediated, cardiovascular-driven response. Taken together, we hypothesize that ELS enhances obesity-induced hypertension in rodents though GC-dependent mechanisms.

Biography:

Dr. Susan Farus-Brown completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) with a focus in pediatric obesity in 2014 and a Post Masters in 2008 with a focus in Advanced Clinical Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner, from Otterbein University. She is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Ohio University and has been a practicing Family Nurse Practitioner for eight years. She practices in ambulatory care were she cares for obese and overweight children. It was her role as a provider often feeling unprepared to tackle the problem of pediatric obesity that lead her to develop this research

Abstract:

The objective of this project was to provide education on utilization of a tool kit to increase the nurse practitioner (NP) participants’ knowledge base in regards to pediatric obesity prevention, recognition, and treatment. As the pre-intervention, a questionnaire was distributed to the participants to measure their knowledge of childhood obesity. An educational session was provided and then the participants utilized a tool kit in their clinical practice. After a two-month period the Project Director met with the participants and distributed the same questionnaire to determine if participant knowledge, skills and perceptions changed after adopting the tool kit principles into their practice. Data analysis was completed utilizing an analysis of both the mode and median for each question to determine whether or not there was a change in the pre and post-intervention responses. An analysis of pre and post-frequency distributions was completed to determine the direction and extent of that change. Statistical significance of each change was tested utilizing the Mann-Whitney U-Test. Mode, median, and statistical significance were calculated utilizing Excel. Post-intervention participants reported that children would not outgrow being overweight, and identified that a significant barrier to pediatric obesity treatment was not the patient, but lack of preparation on the part of NPs. The results supported that increased knowledge did translate into improved treatment practices in the ambulatory care setting. As more NPs are prepared to recognize, prevent, and treat pediatric obesity, the health of our children will improve significantly

Biography:

Gerry Leisman is Director and Professor of the National Institute for Brain and Rehabilitation Sciences in Nazareth, Israel and as Professor of Restorative Neurology at Universidad de Ciencias Médicas Facultad Manuel Fajardo, Havana, Cuba. He has examined self-organizing systems in the nervous system applied to cognitive functions in memory, kinesiology, optimization, consciousness, and autism. He has applied optimization strategies to movement, gait, and cognition. In the 1970’s, he was one of the first to identify functional disconnectivities in the brain. His work in Rehabilitation Sciences, has applied the tools of Industrial Engineering to those with developmental disabilities.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that motor and cognitive processes are not separate, but likely share similar evolutionary history. METHODS: We review data that motor processes contribute to cognitive function. RESULTS: Motor and cognitive processes have dynamical bidirectional relationships. Rodent research has revealed that exercise influences the striatum by increasing dopamine signaling and angiogenesis. In children, higher aerobic fitness levels are associated with greater hippocampal volumes, superior performance on tasks of attentional and interference control, and elevated event-related brain potential indices of executive function. CONCLUSIONS: We endeavor to integrate the Neurosciences, Cognitive Psychology and Biomechanics in providing a fundamental understanding of the relation between intention, decision-making, and movement in the context of functional connectivity, awareness, attention, and action. Evidence the SMA is involved in the organization of motor sequences based on plans, the PM is involved in the preparation of a specific action, the prefrontal cortex is involved in the initiation and in the temporal organization of action, and the cerebellum is involved in the temporal control of action sequences. All these regions show anticipatory activity in relation to a forthcoming action. Motor cognition relies on a multicomponent system, with many distinct processes occurring simultaneously in different brain regions that support different neural networks. The lack of movement represented in office work and youngsters fettered to video games reduces the ability to formulate effective connectivities. Because children are becoming increasingly overweight, unhealthy and unfit, understanding the neurocognitive benefits of an active lifestyle during childhood has important public health and educational implications.

Biography:

Shaweta Vasudeva is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Certified Nutritional Therapist, Black Belt Karate and Tai Chi Instructor for Urban Monk, a company she founded as a result of her passion to help others become the best version of, “self.”  She does this by offering Personal Fitness Training and Nutritional Programs, Karate and Tai Chi classes. She is a hard working individual who has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Psychology and has had a very successful career as a Substance Abuse Counselor.

Abstract:

This workshop is a hands-on, interactive experience supporting the research of Malkina-Pykh, I.G. (2012) and the works of authors Kelly, Michael (2001), McCarthy, Patrick (1995), and Milne, Hugh (1995). Their works cover associations between the mind-body connection and the importance of integrating a holistic approach to reach optimal levels of fitness, thereby, impacting levels of obesity in individuals. Focus is placed on a health based movement practice within the scope of the client’s abilities. The workshop will cover breathing techniques, beginning and simple movement, and the promotion of a positive and nonjudgmental support system. The methods will be taken from personal experience of teaching movement based practices since 2004 successfully with elementary to college aged students. The combination of the three allows for awareness of the human body and how truly interconnected it is. When we as people eat, we put food into the human body. When we breathe and move, we train the human body. When we connect with other like-minded people, we are connecting to other human bodies.  Through this awareness, practice and connection students can start to have a sense of belonging and thereby impacting levels of obesity.

Biography:

Salmah Alghamdi is a student in the PhD Nursing Program at Michigan State University. She graduated with a master’s degree in Advance Practice Nursing for Women, Neonates, and Children from Wayne State University. Her research interests include promoting healthy infant feeding practices and prevention of early childhood obesity. She participated as an active member of a federally funded study on promotion of healthy infant feeding. She presented her recent study at the Midwest Nursing Research Society 2016. She is a member of several professional organizations including The Academy of Neonatal Nursing and the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

Abstract:

Despite the numerous health advantages of breastfeeding, including the prevention of early childhood obesity, the global rates of exclusive breastfeeding is extremely low during the first six months of the infant’s life as recommended by the World Health Organization. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, defined as a mother’s confidence in her ability to successfully breastfeed, has been identified as an important modifiable factor and amenable to change for improving the practice of breastfeeding. However, the association between breastfeeding self-efficacy and the practice of breastfeeding has not been well established in the literature. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies that have examined the association between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from CINAHL, PubMed, and PsychInfo. The search process was limited to peer-reviewed research articles published in English between 2001 and 2016. Studies were included in the review if they: were original research, involved healthy mothers and infants aged 0–6 months, included breastfeeding self-efficacy as an independent variable, and reported breastfeeding exclusivity and duration as outcome variables. A total of 15 studies from nine different countries around the world were included in the systemic review. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was found to be a significant predictor of breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Thus, breastfeeding self-efficacy assessment is critical in the postpartum period to identify women at increased risk for early breastfeeding cessation. Recommendations for future research include emphasis on policy changes and implementation of strategies that enhance a mother’s breastfeeding self-efficacy to promote breastfeeding practice.

Biography:

Shuo Wang has majored in Public Health and is pursuing PhD degree at Peking University (Sep 2013). She is now a visiting PhD student at University of Notre Dame (Oct 2015). Her research focus is on the genetic risk factors of obesity in children and adolescents, including single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene-behavior interaction and DNA methylation. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals including PLoS One, Chinese Journal of Child Health Care, Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, etc.

Abstract:

Hypoxia Inducible Factor 3 Alpha Subunit (HIF3A) DNA methylation has been demonstrated to be associated with obesity, and also reported to have a Body Mass Index (BMI)-independent association with plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT). To further examine the relation among obesity, ALT and HIF3A, the genotype of the HIF3A rs3826795 polymorphism was tested in a case-control study including 2030 Chinese children aged 7-18 years old (705 obese cases and 1,325 non-obese controls), and furthermore the HIF3A DNA methylation of the peripheral blood was measured in 110 severely obese children and 110 age- and gender- matched normal-weight controls. A significant interaction between obesity and the HIF3A rs3826795 polymorphism in relation with ALT was found (P_inter<0.050), with rs3826795 G-allele number elevating ALT significantly only in obese children (β'=0.075, P=0.037), but not in non-obese children (β'=-0.009, P=0.741). Additionally, a complete mediation effect of HIF3A methylation was indicated in the association between the HIF3A rs3826795 polymorphism and ALT among obese children (β'=0.242, P=0.014). This is the first study to report the interaction between obesity and HIF3A gene in relation with plasma ALT, and also the first to reveal a complete mediation effect among the HIF3A polymorphism, methylation and plasma ALT. This study could provide new clues to the function of HIF3A gene and its relation with obesity and ALT, which would be useful for future risk assessment and personalized treatment of liver diseases.

Biography:

Abdulaziz Al-Muhanna, a fresh graduate from the College of Medicine at King Saud University on April, 2016. He is currently a Chief Intern at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. More or less, his interest in this field of research has brought him here today.

Abstract:

Aim : To assess the possible association between duration of playing electronic games (e-games) and body weight among primary school age children (6-12 years old) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2015. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on primary school students between the ages of 6-12 years. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the sample as follows. Riyadh is divided into five administrative regions (North, South, middle, East and East). A list of schools in each region was collected and numbered randomly by the Random Number Generator (RNG). After choosing random schools, the next step was choosing a random class by the RNG and asking all students in that chosen class to fill out the developed questionnaire. Well trained investigators then measured the weight and height of each student. Results: The study included 718 students. Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) was associated with more hours of playing e-games (P=0.008), cooking types of e-games and duration (P=0.023, P=0.018), duration of playing adventure e-games (P=0.008), history of obesity in family (P=0.000), child’s age (0.018), and child’s height (P=0.012). Parents’ education, family income, nationality of the participants, house region, personal electronic devices, and age of starting playing e-games were not significantly associated with BMI. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that duration of playing electronic games has an impact on child BMI.

Biography:

Tesfai Yemane Nguse has completed Bachelor of Science from Asmara College of Health Sciences, Eritrea in July 2010. He is now doing Master of Public Health in Global Health from Thammasat University, School of Global Studies, Thailand.

Abstract:

Background: The food system of the world is framed by globalization, liberalization and industrialization. While the benefits of a globalized food system are apparent, industrial food production, processing, trade, marketing and retailing are a major stressor to the planet and contribute to the nutrition and epidemiological transitions taking place in developing countries. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight and of these over 600 million were obese (WHO, 2015). WHO also indicates that the worldwide prevalence of obesity has doubled between 1980 and 2014. Once considered a high-income country problem, overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan African countries and this status may be a signal of future vulnerability for Sub-Saharan African population. Even though there are numerous studies dedicated in prevalence of overweight/obesity and food pattern, there is no research done that studies the shifting trend in food consumption particularly in Sub-Saharan African region during the past one and half decade.

Objective: To determine overweight and obesity prevalence trends in Sub-Saharan African and identify changes in calories intake and diet.

Methodology: An extensive literature review applying a descriptive documentary research design using quantitative approaches was done using existing secondary data retrieved by a computer based search from databases of PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar and Google search engines produced in English language during 2000-2015, including source materials such as: the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of Sub-Saharan Africa countries, World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, UNICEF and Scientific publications. Obesity and overweight are defined based on World Health Organization guidelines as BMI > 30 kg/m² and BMI >25 kg/m² respectively (WHO, 2015).

Results: Overweight trend increased from 3 to 10% in all Sub-Saharan African countries while obesity trend increased from 5 to 15%. South Africa had the highest increase in overweight and obesity. Inversely lowest rise in overweight and obesity was revealed in Eritrea. Remarkably, in the one and half decade, the highest variation in calorie intake was in South Africa (1200 kcal/day), while the lowest change was in Eritrea (120 kcal/day). Most of Sub-Saharan African countries increased the rate of sugar and wheat ingestion while they diminished their rate of rice intake. 

Discussion: There are possible confounding factors that may have affected obesity such as gender, age, exercise, access to food availability and trade. Further study is required to address these contributing factors and consequence of globalization on diet intake.

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity are in the rise in almost all Sub-Saharan African countries and might take epidemic proportions in the future. Like other public health challenges, they need to be prevented and reduced as planned in the WHO policy on diet and health.

Biography:

Mansi Rajesh Naik has completed her schooling from St. Francis of Asissi Convent High School, Navsari, India and 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year of Med School (MBBS) from Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, India. She stood among the Top 500 students of the state among 2,00,000 students who appeared in the State Board and got admission in Medical School, India on the basis of Government Scholarship. She has participated in the IAPSM- World Health Day 2016 Quiz on “Beat Diabetes” organized by Community Medicine department of GMC, Bhavnagar. She has participated in the poster competition "From farm to plate" held on World Health Day-2015 by the Community Medicine department, GMC, Bhavnagar; attended the Medical quizes & debates during the National Medical Organisation Conference held at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand – 2014 and; worked as an active member of the Anti-Tobacco campaign held in GMC, Bhavnagar during 2012-13. She has participated in the fund-raising campaign for the "Care of the cancer patients" in 2008 & 2007 empowered by Global Cancer Concern Society, Gujarat, India under the guidance of teachers of SFA Convent High School, Gujarat. She interacted with the HIV-AIDS suffering patients during her school time and recorded their experiences under the “HIV Awareness Programme” conducted by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO)-2007 and also served the Leprosy patients for 2 months along with a team of 6 fellow students during her school time.

Abstract:

Protein-Energy Malnutrition has by far been the most devastating cause responsible for mortality in school-going children in developing countries. In the world, during 2006-12 more than 15% of the world’s children under the age of 5 years were underweight for their age. This eventually brings me to the prime objective of my speech which is to assess the children of anganwadi for their nutritional deficiency based on clinical and anthropometric findings. My project is basically a cross-sectional study among 50 children of 3-6 years from the four selected anganwadis of Bhavnagar Corporation. The study is based on analysis of results of the questions of the pre-tested and structured questionnaries after acquiring the verbal consent of the children’s mother or relatives. I will begin my oral presentation with explaining the basic summary of the term Protein-Energy Malnutrition(PEM). I will then shed light on the incidence of PEM among different classes of society in developing countries, in my case India. This will be followed by addressing the variety of diseases as an outcome of deficiency of the important constituents of a ‘Balanced Diet’. Thereby, my speech will further highlight an array of diseases occuring due to deficiency of Vitamins and other essential macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients. Since the study emphasizes on a significant impact of Nutrition on the child’s overall physical, mental and social development, I will include in my speech the important causes and contributing factors for Protein-Energy Malnutrition, as well as its risk factors. Since, the perks of my study were having a small counselling talk with each child and his mother/relative/guardian who was being a part of the study and sessions of “What is a balanced Diet for a child 0f 0-6 years age” among small groups of them, regarding ‘Awareness of Child Nutrition in Mothers’. I will also share my experiences during conversations with them. This will eventually allow me to address the significant factors which were responsible for causing Malnourishment in children of the study group. Followed would be the results, discussion and analysis of my study and I would finally conclude my speech by mentioning the treatment of malnutrition in brief.