CHILDREN , THE FEEDING RELATIONSHIP AND WEIGHT Selected

Relationships of childhood weight status to morbidity in adults. Notes: This 35 year longitudinal study was done of 1,963 Hagerstown, MD white males who were 9-13 years old between 1923 and 1928 and 47/48 years old at followup. It showed that lean boys who became fat men had a twofold elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas fat boys who remained fat as adults had only an average risk. The study demonstrated that prevalence rates for hypertensive vascular and cardiovascular renal disease varied within the average, moderately overweight, and markedly overweight adult groups, and that the adult who had been a below average weight child had the highest rate in each category, respectively. ES note: It appears that it is not fatness, per se, but unstable body weight that is correlated with cardiovascular disease. Adair LS. The infant's ability to self-regulate caloric intake: A case study. Notes: The formula and solid food intake of a male demand-fed infant were followed from age 1 week to 9 months. Growth was well canalized and tracked close to the 50th %tile; food intake was near the 10th %tile. The infant adjusted formula intake downward when solid foods were added. Daily intake fluctuated considerably, ie, during the second month, formula intake ranged from 19 to 34.5 oz per day. Alaimo K, Olson CM, Frongillo EA. Family food insufficiency, but not low family income, is positively associated with dysthymia and suicide symptoms in adolescents. Notes: Food-insufficient but not low-income adolescents were significantly more likely to have had dysthymia, thoughts of death, a desire to die and have attempted suicide. There is a strong association between food insufficiency and depressive disorder and suicidal symptoms in U.S. adolescents. Anliker JA, Laus MJ, Samonds KW, Beal VA. Mothers' reports of their three-year-old children's control over foods and involvement in food-related activities. Notes: Parents provided children with structured meals and snacks but controlled food choices and portion sizes at those times. Between times, most children were allowed to help themselves with no limits to the refrigerator, cupboards, etc. ES note: The implications to nurturing and child development are grave. Children need their parents' presence. However, when parents were around they spoiled eating by putting pressure on it. The only way children could eat without interference was by going off on their own to do it. The learning? That to be your own person, you have to be by yourself. Notes: …