Resource
Mindful Eating and Maternal Health
Research
Influencing obesity before birth
The very earliest influences on a child’s health come before birth. Research has shown that an expectant mother’s health and weight have a direct correlation to their child’s future risk for obesity. Similarly, infant feeding habits including frequency and amount also bear a connection to future health.1,2 Findings such as these help influence the development of educational materials and resources for both expectant parents and their healthcare providers to achieve positive outcomes.
Supporting early childhood development
Many habits and preferences are established before the age of five, making early childhood a critical window of opportunity for positive influence. Nutritious food options, motor skill development, and limited screen time play pivotal roles in building a strong foundation for a healthy life.3 Given the important nature of this stage, many of the Greaux Healthy resources have been developed for children between the ages of two and five.
Greauxing healthy kids
As children enter their school-age years, they are able to make their own choices while still requiring guidance. Health and nutrition education becomes critical at this stage, as does family involvement. Modeling of healthy behaviors, availability of resources, and access to educational materials set the stage for obesity prevention.
Treating obesity in teens and young adults
By the time children enter adolescence and grow into young adults, many have obesity and are already experiencing detrimental effects to their health,4 both physical and mental. Increasingly, young people are encountering weight-related complications such as elevated blood pressure and diabetes. Emotionally, they may be experiencing the effects of bullying, weight bias, and societal stigma. In addition to educational resources and behavioral interventions, children and young people in this stage of life may also safely benefit from medication and surgery to aid in weight loss.
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Citations
- Maternal Metabolic Health and Infant Fat Mass at Birth. Erickson ML, Patinkin ZW, Duensing AM, Dabelea D, Redman LM, Boyle KE. Maternal metabolic health drives mesenchymal stem cell metabolism and infant fat mass at birth. JCI Insight. 2021;6(13):e146606. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.146606
- Infant Feeding Varies Across Eating Behavior and Feeding Modalities. Kebbe M, Altazan AD, Beyl RA, Gilmore LA, Redman LM. Infant feeding varies across eating behavior and feeding modalities in mothers with low income. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022;54(9):827-834. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.03.004
- Preventing Childhood Obesity: 6 Things Families Can Do | Obesity | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Childhood Obesity: 6 Things Families Can Do. Obesity. January 26, 2024. Accessed November 19, 2024.
- Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics. Hampl SE, Hassink SG, Skinner AC, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with obesity. Pediatrics. 2023;151(2):e2022060640. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-060640