William Atkins
Monday, 06 October 2008 20:10
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
The lead researcher in the study was Alexandra C. Russell, a fourth-year medical student at Duke University’s School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Russell stated,
"Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic problem in this country. We need to find ways to appeal to a large population in an effective way." [SparkPeople.com: “
Book Offers Novel Approach to Weight Loss”]
The conclusion of the study was presented on October 4, 2008, at the annual meeting of the Obesity Society, which was held from October 3 to 7, 2008, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.
The Obesity Society is:
“… dedicated to the study of obesity. Since 1982, The Obesity Society has been committed to encouraging research on the causes and treatment of obesity, and to keeping the medical community and public informed of new advances.”
According to the October 4, 2008 Duke University article “
Duke Researchers Show Reading Can Help Obese Kids Lose Weight,” Dr. Sarah Armstrong, director of the Healthy Lifestyles Program at Duke University, stated,
“As a pediatrician, I can't count the number of times I tell parents to buy a book that might provide useful advice, yet I've never been able to point to research to back up my recommendations.”
She adds,
“This is the first prospective interventional study that found literature can have a positive impact on healthy lifestyle changes in young girls."
The study’s results, however, only decreased BMI scores by a small amount. Never-the-less, Armstrong states in the Duke article that even a small decrease is a step in the right direction because BMI scores usually increase as children grow older and continue to increase into adulthood.
She states,
"If their BMI percentile goes down, it means they are they are either losing weight or getting tall and not gaining weight. Both are seen as positive indicators in kids who are trying to lose weight.”
Page three talks about implimenting a healthy lifestyle early in life, along with more information about the novel "
Lake Rescue" and its Beacon Street Girls series of books.
