Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

28.0K

Childhood obesity: a (re) programming disease?

S T Paes1, C F Gonçalves1, M M Terra1

  • 11Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora,Juiz de Fora,MG,Brasil.

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
|October 27, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Early life metabolic programming, influenced by nutrition and exercise, significantly impacts childhood obesity development. Environmental factors during pregnancy and childhood play a crucial role in epigenetic modifications related to obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Metabolic Health
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
  • Metabolic (re)programming is increasingly recognized as a key factor in obesity development.
  • Epigenetic modifications are proposed mechanisms linking early life exposures to long-term metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on the effects of metabolic (re)programming on childhood obesity.
  • To analyze international findings on the role of epigenetics in childhood obesity.
  • To provide a theoretical basis for understanding early life influences on obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE databases (June-August 2014).
  • Keywords used: children obesity, epigenetic, metabolic programming, exercise, nutrition.
  • Inclusion/exclusion criteria applied to 132 eligible abstracts, resulting in 50 selected studies.

Main Results:

  • Most studies linked obesity development and treatment to epigenetically stimulated metabolic programming.
  • Early life exposures, including nutrition and exercise, were associated with altered metabolic behavior.
  • These epigenetic changes can occur during pregnancy and childhood, potentially delaying or initiating obesity.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity development is strongly linked to metabolic programming influenced by early environmental factors.
  • Epigenetic mechanisms mediate the impact of nutrition and exercise on obesogenic metabolic behavior.
  • Understanding these early programming effects is crucial for childhood obesity prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords:
children obesityepigeneticsexercisemetabolic programmingnutrition

More Related Videos

Segmentation and Measurement of Fat Volumes in Murine Obesity Models Using X-ray Computed Tomography13:09

Segmentation and Measurement of Fat Volumes in Murine Obesity Models Using X-ray Computed Tomography

Published on: April 4, 2012

16.7K
Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents09:10

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents

Published on: November 1, 2019

11.8K

Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
1.5K
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
1.9K
Binge Eating Disorders01:23

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
757
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
3.1K
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
4.4K
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
1.0K