PCD News Summary for February 16, 2017

About the Journal

Published every Thursday, Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) is a peer-reviewed online journal established by CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The News Media Branch prepares press summary packets each week. To receive these press summaries on an embargoed basis, send an e-mail to media@cdc.gov. Please note that this e-mail list is for credentialed journalists only. All others, please visit Hookup to Health to sign up for e-mail updates

Notice to News Media - PCD Release Time and Embargo Policy:
CDC’s News Media Branch releases to reporters the PCD media packet every Tuesday afternoon between 12 and 2 pm.

Embargoed until Thursday, February 16, at 12:00 PM ET

Absence of Fluoride-Varnish–Related Adverse Events in Caries Prevention Trials in Young Children, United States

Melissa Newton
mnewton@cdc.gov
404-718-6281

New research further confirms that fluoride varnish is safe to use in young children for prevention of tooth decay. Fluoride varnish is a topical fluoride treatment applied to the surface of the teeth by a health care provider to prevent cavities. A total of 2,424 community-dwelling U.S. children, 0 to 5 years old, were enrolled in three cavity-prevention studies lasting two to three years. Cumulatively, children received 10,249 fluoride varnish treatments. On average, each child received 4.2 fluoride varnish treatments. Researchers found that there were zero fluoride-varnish-related side effects, supporting the safety of fluoride varnish use in young children. This report is the first prospective systematic assessment of side effects related to fluoride varnish treatment in young children.

Turning the Curve on Obesity Prevalence Among Fifth Graders in the Los Angeles Unified School District, 2001–2013

Melissa Newton
mnewton@cdc.gov
404-718-6281

Despite positive signs of progress in reducing childhood obesity among fifth^h graders in the Los Angeles Unified School District, prevention efforts will need to be greatly intensified in community and school settings to reduce childhood obesity rates to pre-epidemic levels. In the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest public school district in the nation, the obesity rate among fifth graders declined from 31.6 percent to 28.5 percent between 2010 and 2013. This was the first decline since tracking was initiated in 2001. The decline occurred earlier among white students and those attending schools with more affluent students. Despite this progress, large disparities in child obesity rates persist, with the highest rates reported among Latino boys and girls (36.8 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively, in 2013). The findings suggest that childhood obesity prevention efforts over the past decade may be making a difference. However, to reduce childhood obesity to the levels seen in the 1960s, before the child obesity epidemic, these efforts will need to be greatly intensified.

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Note: Not all articles published in PCD represent work done at CDC. In your stories, please clarify whether a study was conducted by CDC (“a CDC study”) or by another institution (“a study published by CDC”). The opinions expressed by authors contributing to PCD do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CDC or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. PCD requests that, when possible, you include a live link to the article in your stories. 

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