Sample Solution

The adipocyte hormone leptin, which circulates at concentrations proportional to body-fat content, plays an important role in the relationship between obesity and energy homeostasis. A deficiency of leptin causes severe hyperphagia and obesity, with physiological leptin replacement corrects both hyperphagia and obesity in leptin-deficient individuals. But most individuals with obesity have elevated plasma leptin levels, raising the possibility that common forms of obesity are associated with leptin resistance.

1. Lifestyle and diet:
Lack of physical activity is a major contributor to childhood obesity. Evolution of multimedia, television, internet, video-games are engaging the child in sedentary lifestyle. Parents are now more conscious about the academic performance of the child, as a result of which child’s physical activity is restricted.
According to NHANES III (1988-1994), the prevalence of childhood obesity is highest among children who watch television ≥4hours/day and lowest among those who watch ≤1hour/day.
A large randomized control trial by Robinson(5) compared two groups of children at similar public schools. One group received a 6-month classroom curriculum to reduce television, videotape, and video-game use, while the other group did not. Robinson found that compared to the control group, children in the intervention group had statistically significant decrease in BMI.