Community Event: Influences of Childhood Adversity on Adult Physical Health

Judge Baker Children's Center, Harvard Medical School
Child Mental Health Forum

Judith A. Crowell, M.D.
Professor and Director of Training, Department of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Division, Stony Brook University
Senior Scientist, Judge Baker Children's Center, Harvard Medical School

The United States leads the world in obesity with two-thirds of adults being overweight or obese. In turn, obesity, and especially central obesity, leads to or exacerbates many health problems, accounting for close to 200,000 excess deaths annually from diabetes (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), renal disease, and cancer. The experience of childhood adversity, e.g., abuse, neglect, poverty, and other maladaptive caregiving, is also common; approximately two-thirds of adults report at least one adverse experience in childhood/adolescence, and 30% report 3 or more. Childhood adversity is strongly related to body weight, with obesity risk increasing linearly with number of childhood experiences. Although primary (pre- and perinatal) and secondary (childhood) prevention strategies for both public health problems are imperative, tertiary prevention –that is identifying obese adults with childhood adversity histories and engaging in efforts to reverse these effects– is critical given our aging population. This presentation aims to advance understanding of the mechanisms by which adults who have experienced childhood adversity develop special health vulnerabilities.

Target Audience: Physicians (psychiatrists, pediatricians, child neurologists), psychologists, social workers, other mental health clinicians and researchers, and students and trainees. Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to (1) identify psychosocial key predictors of obesity and (2) understand hypothesized metabolic changes associated with adversity. For more information, or to be added to the mailing list, please email cmhf@jbcc.harvard.edu or call (617) 278-4104. Physicians: The Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Psychologists: The Children's Hospital Boston Psychology Division is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Children's Hospital Boston Psychology Division maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Social Workers: Application for social work continuing education credits will be submitted shortly. (Revised: 8/20/2013)

CMHF webpage: http://www.jbcc.harvard.edu/events/forum.htm