Gut microbiota, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
The intestinal microbiota may play a role in the development of obesity by influencing body composition in favor of the expansion of adipose tissue. This review article discusses how obese individuals have unique microbiota that seem to harvest energy from the diet more effectively than thin individuals, producing more short-chain fatty acids and lower fasting-induced adipose factor expression, which causes greater entry of fatty acids into peripheral adipose tissue and the liver. Specific dietary intake  known to modulate intestinal microbiota and lead to endotoxemia-the development of insulin resistance, statosis, inflammation and liver fibrogenesis-is also discussed.  

Trends in dietary intake among U.S. 2- to 6-year-old children: 1989-2008
The prevalence of obesity in 2- to 5-year-olds more than doubled between 1976-80 and 2009-10 (from 5 percent to 12.1 percent).  This prompted an evaluation of the changes in dietary intake in children.  This study identified major changes in per capita food consumption between 1989 and 2008.  Researchers found an increase in the proportion of foods that are key sources of added sugars and solid fats and high in sodium in the diets of U.S. preschool children in the past two decades. There were large increases in savory snacks, pizzas, sweets, fruit juice and mixed Mexican dishes, which are likely to affect future diets of these preschoolers as they age. The only positive change was a small increase in fruit intake. The dietary trends among U.S. preschoolers reflected in this article reinforce calls to improve the diets of young children in an effort to prevent obesity in children.

Lifestyle modifications are frequently used for treating children with obesity, yet many of these approaches have limited success in improving health and body weight.  This article critically reviews the available data for the safety and efficacy of medications that have been studied for the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents, including drugs approved for pediatric obesity treatment, those used off-label for obesity as well as drugs under development for treatment of obesity in adults.