“High Blood Pressure in Children.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5 Dec. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20373440.

The Mayo Clinic discusses high blood pressure in children and teens and it's correlation with obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Children can have high blood pressure just like adults. The causes could be hereditary, or from some other condition, but obesity is a common cause. Parents that support their child making lifestyle changes, limiting screen time, and adding a daily activity , can reduce the chances of their child becoming an obese adult. 

Owens, Peter. Teens, Health & Obesity. Mason Crest, 2014.

This book examines the causes of obesity in children and teens, and discusses the causes and long-term effects. Teens feel the peer-pressure to be thin but their lifestyle may contribute to obesity. Children and teens that are obese, usually become obese adults unless their habits change. Maybe teens don't realize the health implications of being overweight and how they extend into adulthood. The author is a doctor and has many books on obesity. 

“Environmental Barriers to Activity.” Obesity Prevention Source, 8 Apr. 2016, www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/physical-activity-environment/.

This site is about how the environment around a person determines how much exercise they get and how that impacts obesity rates. Families that are involved in their children's sports, or that go on bike rides and hikes together, are less likely to have obesity issues. Some employers have taken an active roll in creating a workspace that makes being active a priority. On-site gyms, exercise breaks throughout the work day, nutrition and physical activity programs are ways employers create that healthy environment. Many schools offer programs to kids after school so they can be active. Whether it's a sports program or just an outdoor park, offering kids a place to play limits their screen time, and helps with weight control. The type of neighborhood a person lives in also determines whether they have the ability to go for a bike ride or take a walk. Many inner-city areas don't have this option, and have higher obesity rates than suburban areas.  

“Television Watching and ‘Sit Time.’” Obesity Prevention Source, 13 Apr. 2016, www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/television-and-sedentary-behavior-and-obesity/.

Harvard discovered the link between television and obesity over 25 years ago. Their studies show that limiting television time contributes to better weigh control for children and teens. They recommend that television/screen time is limited to two hours a day. Children that have televisions in their room are likely to gain more weight then children that do not. Children are more likely to do an activity if they don't have access to a screen. This directly impacts their weight. Adults that sit and watch television also have a higher obesity percentage than those that limit their screen time. Food marketing on television is also linked to obesity. 

“Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 June 2020, www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html.

The CDC define childhood obesity as when children have a BMI of higher than 95% of their peers of the same age and sex. They list behavior and genetics as contributing causes to childhood obesity. Eating high-calorie food, lack of sleep, and too much screen time are contributing factors, as well. Eating healthier foods and getting in some daily activity can prevent excess weight gain and can help prevent diseases like diabetes and heart disease when they are older. The CDC offers Dietary and Physical Guidelines as resources for parents and children. Childhood obesity can lead to anxiety, bullying, low self esteem, high blood pressure, and even asthma. 

“Bariatric Surgery Procedures: ASMBS.” American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures.

The ASMBS is focused on improving health by lessening obesity and obesity-related disease around the world. They offer educational and support services to people looking to have weight loss surgery. Their mission includes: 

• Improving the care and treatment of people suffering from obesity.
• Advancing the science and understanding of metabolic and bariatric surgery.
• Fostering communication between health professionals on obesity and related conditions.
• Being the recognized authority and resource on metabolic and bariatric surgery.
• Advocating for the health care policy that ensures patient access to high quality prevention and treatment of obesity.
• Serving the educational and professional needs of our diverse membership.

The President of the society is the Assistant Professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and Surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. All of the board members are doctors; most of them are board vertified surgeons. 

“Smartphone, Tablet Use Linked with Obesity in Teens.” News, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 22 June 2018, www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/smartphone-tablet-use-linked-with-obesity-in-teens/.

This Harvard study looks at 25,000 teens between 2013 and 2015 and discovered most of them spend about 5 hours on their phones or tablets. The teens were more likely to drink soda and sleep less than teens who spent less time on their devices. Television is included in the devices. More physical activity and less screen time would benefit teens. 

Robinson, Thomas N et al. “Screen Media Exposure and Obesity in Children and Adolescents.” Pediatrics vol. 140,Suppl 2 (2017): S97-S101. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1758K

This study discusses how increased screen time leads to overeating and obesity. The study included two different schools and reducing screen time for one. After 7 months of reduced screen time, those children had slower weight gain than the children that had no screen time reduction. The children who have more screen time tend to eat less nutrient-dense food and have a higher calorie intake. These authors all have their PhD. 

Hillman, Charles H., et al. The Relation of Childhood Physical Activity to Brain Health, Cognition, and Scholastic Achievement . Wiley.


These authors discuss the fact that children have become less active and more unfit over the years. Obesity in children can lead to type 2 diabetes as adults. They study how lack of physical activity effects the brain health of children. More physical activity time for children can improve their cognitive skills. 

Dawes, L. (2014). Childhood obesity in America : biography of an epidemic . Harvard University 
            Press.


This book is about childhood obesity in America. The author discusses how overweight children often grow up into overweight adults. Information about how society influences children and weight gain. In addition, other elements are discussed, like metabolic, psychological and social issues.

Eaton, C. B., Lapane, K. L., Carber, C. A., Assaf, A. R., Lasater, T. M., & Carleton, R. A. (1995). Sedentary lifestyle and risk of coronary heart disease in women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 27(11), 1535–1539. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199511000-00010

The authors investigate the correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and heart disease in women. They also look at other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Results showed that the risk factors are open to interpretation. 

Rey-López, Juan Pablo, et al. “Sedentary Behaviour and Obesity Development in Children and Adolescents.” Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, Elsevier, 20 Dec. 2007, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S093947530700169X.

This study analyzes children and their sedentary lifestyles. This includes playing video games, watching tv, and using computers. This study finds that for some children, a sedentary lifestyle doesn't mean they will be obese. There are other factors involved like family structure and socioeconomic status. The authors are all from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Zaragoza in Spain. 

R. Rubin, W. Altman, et al. “Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle: Modifiable Risk Factors for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes.” Current Diabetes Reports, Current Medicine Group, 1 Jan. 1994, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11892-001-0030-x.

This article is about the rise of diabetes type 2 and how a sedentary lifestyle increases ones risk. Study shows weight loss and activity can lower risk of diabetes type 2. Both of the authors work in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of South Carolina. 

Quick, V. M., McWilliams, R., & Byrd-Bredbenner, C. (2013). Fatty, Fatty, Two-by-Four: Weight-Teasing 
         History and Disturbed Eating in Young Adult Women. American Journal of Public Health, 103(3), 508–
         515. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300898 


This study was done at three large universities and investigates the long-term effects of teasing for being overweight. The subjects are young women ages 18-26. The authors gathered data from the women about their weight growing up and how often they were teased. The results showed that the women who were teased for their weight were more likely to have an eating disorder. This study is a good resource to show the effects of childhood teasing and the development of eating disorders. Virginia Quick has a PhD from Rutgers and is the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics. Rita McWilliams is at the Rutgers Food Policy Institute. 

Davies, H., Fitzgerald, H., Silk, K., & Kraft, C. (n.d.). Obesity in childhood and adolescence .  
         Praeger, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC.

This book has details of obesity and children's health. One-third of America's children are overweight or obese. This book discusses health issues, both short and long term, of childhood obesity. The creators studied the lives of obese children and how their daily life is effected. This book is a good resource because the creators learned about the challenges obese children face, and how to reduce prevalence. H. Dele Davies has a Masters Degree of Science in Epidemiology and is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric infectious diseases. Hiram E. Fitzgerald has his PhD is developmental psychology from the University of Denver.