Below are releases on studies appearing in the March issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: Monday, February 8, 2010 12:01 am (ET)

EFFECTS OF FAMILY MEALS, SLEEPING AND SCREEN TIME ON OBESITY IN PRESCHOOLERS

Preschool children exposed to three household routines -- regularly eating family meals, getting adequate sleep, and limiting screen-viewing time -- had a roughly 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than those exposed to none of these routines. The study, “Household Routines and Obesity in U.S. Preschool-Aged Children,” published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online Feb. 8), involved a cross-sectional analysis of 8,550 4-year-old U.S. children in which researchers examined the association between childhood obesity and three household routines. Eighteen percent of all the children in the study were obese. Among those exposed to all three household routines, the prevalence of obesity was 14.3 percent, compared with 24.5 percent among those exposed to none of the routines. Each routine by itself was associated with lower risk of obesity, and the more routines children had the lower was their risk for obesity. The association between having these routines and a lower risk of obesity was seen in both higher and lower income households and for children with and without an obese mother. Study authors suggest that these household routines offer a promising approach to preventing childhood obesity and the routines may also benefit other parts of children’s development.

EXAMINING BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL INJURIES

While high school baseball and softball players experience the same rate of shoulder injuries, there are differences in how those injuries occur, according the study, “Shoulder Injuries in U.S. High School Baseball and Softball Athletes, 2005-2008,” published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online February 8). During the study period, softball shoulder injuries tended to occur across all positions played, while baseball shoulder injuries increased in pitchers. For both sports, muscle strains made up the majority of injuries -- approximately 33 percent. Softball players were more frequently injured in practices, while baseball injuries occurred more frequently in competitions. The authors conclude that preventive measures, such as video analysis of shoulder injury mechanics -- including pitching mechanics -- could help coaches identify problem areas and work to improve technique, thus reducing the risk of injury.

FICTION CAN INSPIRE TEEN GIRLS TO MANAGE WEIGHT

Girls enrolled in a healthy lifestyles program had more success reducing their body mass index (BMI) percentile if they read a book with a fictional character as a role model, according to the study, “A ‘Novel’ Intervention: A Pilot Study of Children’s Literature and Healthy Lifestyles,” published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online February 8). Researchers studied 81 obese girls enrolled in a program providing lifestyle and obesity management counseling in a clinical office setting. Some girls were given a book featuring an overweight girl who, through her adventures, improves her self-esteem and learns about nutrition and physical activity. Other girls were given a book with similar characters that did not address these issues. A third group of girls were not given a book as part of their counseling. Two months after the intervention, the girls who read the book geared to nutrition and physical activity had reduced their BMI percentile significantly more than the other two groups. The girls who read the alternate book reduced their BMI percentile more than the group with no book. The authors conclude that age-appropriate literature can encourage girls to read as part of a healthy lifestyle, and if they can identify with the subject matter, it can motivate them to make positive changes in their eating habits and physical activity levels.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.