Vandy Study Teaches Kids About Obesity

Childhood obesity is a growing problem that will extend past childhood and into adulthood with subsequent health issues.

Many of these children aren't getting enough exercise, but Vanderbilt has found a way to help get kids back in shape.

In a new study, researchers use portable devices and a metabolic chamber to collect data on about 100 kids to find out how they respond to certain kinds of activities.

Their activity patterns can be displayed on a computer screen showing kids how much energy they're spending on each task. The results could be surprising, especially for children who are overweight.

"A lot of kids think they're being active, when they're not being as active as they think they are," Carol Bartoo Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

The hope is that by wearing a portable energy-reading monitor, obese children can keep track of and improve on their exercise habits.

"They can find something they like that really is a good type of activity that will help them maintain a healthy weight," Bartoo said.

By showing kids what counts as exercise and what doesn't, researchers at the Vanderbilt Medical Center hope to teach children how to best battle obesity.

The Vanderbilt Children's Hospital study is one of the only a handful of its kind in the U.S. They hope to have an efficient, user friendly monitoring device ready for mainstream use by fall.

To participate in the study, call 936-1211.