Tagged: obesity

It’s swimsuit season and many are looking to shed a few pounds gained over the winter. But losing weight is a challenge and current research shows the odds are stacked against us when it comes to overcoming the mental obstacles of weight loss. With one third of children in the United States and two thirds of adults who are obese or overweight, it seems there is a huge challenge when trying to stay healthy. Amanda Bruce, a Childhood Obesity and imaging specialist at UMKC and  Jennifer D. Lundgren, Clinical Ph.D. Associate Professor and at UMKC both work on the issue of how psychology plays into childhood and adult obesity.

A common picture of the country life includes living in open spaces and eating food fresh from the farm.

Researchers at the University of Missouri found a link between childhood obesity and poor math performance. The study, released Thursday in the journal Child Development, monitored 6,250 children from the time they were in kindergarten until fifth grade.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James knows that when he’s in better shape, he’s more productive and less stressed out. And he recognizes the weight, so to speak, of having a better diet and getting exercise regularly.

Historically Black Americans have marched for freedom and ran the long race for equality. In modern times there is a different race to be ran, a literal movement to be undertaken and that’s keeping pace with personal health, running the race against time itself.

A curious — and good — thing has happened on the road to Obesity Nation: the share of the U.S. adult population with high cholesterol has dropped.

Data just out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that only 13.4 percent of adults in this country have high cholesterol, according to data collected in 2009 and 2010.

Scientists have found one more reason that pregnancy and obesity can be a bad combination.

A new study in the journal Pediatrics suggests that moms who are obese or have diabetes are more likely to have a child with autism or another developmental problem.

The finding is "worrisome in light of this rather striking epidemic of obesity" in the U.S., says Irva Hertz-Picciotto from the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis, one of the study's authors.

Missouri could soon have an official state exercise. Backers of a bill in the Missouri House say an official exercise could help keep kids active and fight childhood obesity.

Kansas City, MO – Reverend Eric Williams of Calvary Temple Baptist Church in midtown has worked for a long time on health issues in the African American community. A few years ago, he says he was tired of seeing people suffering and dying from health problems related to obesity and lack of exercise. So his church formed a non-profit and eventually built a gym right next door. The Calvary Community Wellness Center opened in 2008.