Center Overview

Center for Nutritional Disorders and Obesity

The Department of Pediatrics created the Center for Nutritional Disorders and Obesity (CENDO) in October, 2006 to address the pressing health issues related to obesity in the pediatric population. The Center encompasses diagnostic and clinical treatment of obesity, research initiatives, educational, and community outreach programs related to the prevention, diagnosis and management of childhood obesity. The Healthy Lifestyles Program is Duke's comprehensive clinical treatment program for children, adolescents and their families. Based on the best available scientific evidence, the multidisciplinary team assists families in changing lifestyle behaviors to create a healthier future. Over 1,000 families have been served by the Healthy Lifestyles Team.

What's New

What does it take to be a Healthy Lifestyles Kid?

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Healthy Lifestyles Program Expands to Raleigh
Due to an unprecedented number of families seeking care through the Healthy Lifestyles Program, a satellite clinic in Duke Children's Consultative Services of Raleigh at the Duke Medicine Plaza (on the campus of Duke Raleigh Hospital) was opened on March 31, 2009. More>>

Thinning a Generation

Call Them Generation X Box

by Kathleen Yount

Our increasingly sedentary, overweight kids are in big trouble.

Pediatric obesity rates have tripled since 1980, with one out of every three American children now overweight or obese. As these children develop the debilitating chronic diseases of their parents and grandparents, pediatricians are routinely encountering illnesses many of them never expected to treat -- from fatty liver disease to type 2 diabetes.

It’s one thing to bemoan America’s expanding waistline. But with obesity making our children ill, it’s not merely a social issue -- it’s a full-blown medical crisis.

From a new childhood obesity clinic to community-based interventions, Duke caregivers are adopting sweeping new strategies to address the health of a generation.

Read the complete article

Back to School Nutrition

Help Your Children Eat Better
By Shereen Jegtvig

Is good nutrition important for good learning? In a word, yes. Research has shown that children who regularly eat breakfast have better standardized test scores, better behavior, and are less hyperactive than children who skipped breakfast. When comparing low glycemic index (GI) breakfasts to high GI breakfasts eaten by 9- to 12-year-old children, research also shows that children who eat high GI breakfasts (sugary breakfasts) tend to eat more at lunch.

What makes a good breakfast for children? One good example would be an egg, a slice of whole grain toast with nut butter, a piece of fruit and a glass of low-fat milk. Tofu, lean meat and whole grain cereals are also good choices at breakfast. The protein and fiber from the whole grains will keep your child satisfied until lunch time.

Try to avoid giving your child sugary breakfast cereals, white-flour pancakes and syrup--all of which will leave your child hungry and tired half way through the morning. If your child tends to get hungry in the middle of the morning no matter what, send an apple, whole grain crackers, nuts and cheese snacks rather than sugary cookies or white-flour crackers.

School Lunches

Most schools try to provide nutritious lunches for children, but a tour through your local school's cafeteria might show a lot of junk. Many schools offer fast food, greasy pizzas, French fries and other poor-quality foods alongside the usual lunch selections.

Eating healthy at lunch will help keep your child's mind sharp and ready to learn all afternoon. Convincing schools to change their lunches might take a lot of effort, but there are other things you can do, such as teach your kids the importance of eating nutritious foods. Hopefully with your help, they will choose healthier salads and vegetables instead of French fries, and water instead of soda. Another option is to send lunch with your kids. Hearty soups, salads, fruits, and sandwiches with whole grains can all be packed in insulated containers to stay hot or cold.

After School Snacks

Even with a great breakfast and healthy lunch, a light after-school snack is nice to refuel a kid's body before play or study time. A handful of nuts and an apple is perfect, or maybe a snack tray of vegetables and dips. Even a healthy version of a peanut butter and jelly will satisfy picky kids. Keep chips, sugary sodas, pastries and candy out of the house--sugary and high glycemic index foods just make kids hungrier.

Life-Long Health Means Good Nutrition

Children who eat healthy foods will be more likely to make better food and nutrition choices as adults. Unfortunately, studies show that the opposite is also true--overweight children tend to become overweight adults.

Teach your children about healthy foods. Here are some tips to help:

Read over the different food pyramids and ask your kids to pick out some favorite foods from each food group.
Have them help you plan a meal that includes a healthy serving of protein, a vegetable or two, and a healthy fruit for dessert.
For young kids, make a chart to keep track of all the fruits and vegetables they eat.
Snack time can be more fun if you try different recipes and snack ideas together with your kids.

Teaching your children to enjoy a healthy diet will have a bigger impact if you set the example. Eat right, get some exercise, and make a healthy lifestyle a family affair.

_Sources:

_{Murphy JM, Wehler CA, Pagano ME, Little M, Kleinman RE, Jellinek
MS. "Relationship Between Hunger and Psychosocial Functioning in
Low-Income American Children." Journal of the American Academy of Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998.}

_{Warren JM, Henry CJ, Simonite V. "Low Glycemic Index Breakfasts
and Reduced Food Intake in Preadolescent Children." Pediatrics,
November 2003.}

_{Steinberger J, Moran A, Hong CP, Jacobs DR, Sinaiko AR. "Adiposity
in childhood predicts obesity and insulin resistance in young
adulthood." Journal of Pediatrics, April 2001.}