Infant Feeding, Early Habits & Childhood Obesity: What Parents Need to Know
Release Date: 11/25/2025
Beyond the Delivery Room: Data, Doulas, and Patient-Centered OB-GYN
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Dillon Bannis, an OB-GYN practitioner based in the South Side of Chicago, shares his insights on the evolving challenges and innovations in obstetric and gynecological care. Dr. Bannis explores how listening, collaboration, and technology are reshaping the patient experience—from prenatal care and delivery practices to addressing health disparities and integrating AI into medicine.
With a strong emphasis on patient-centered communication, interdisciplinary col
info_outline
Infant Feeding, Early Habits & Childhood Obesity: What Parents Need to Know
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Wanda Averhart, a general pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, explores the complex causes and lifelong impacts of childhood obesity, emphasizing how early feeding practices, maternal health, and social disparities shape children's long-term outcomes.
Dr. Averhart provides a comprehensive look at how environmental, cultural, and biological factors contribute to rising obesity rates among children—especially in underrepresented communities. She discuss
info_outline
The Future of Myeloma: Quadruplets, CAR-T & Beyond
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Shaina A. Rozell, a hematologist-oncologist at Affiliate Oncology in Chicago, Illinois, explores the rapidly advancing field of multiple myeloma treatment. She discusses how quadruplet therapies, MRD monitoring, and novel immunotherapies like bispecific antibodies and CAR-T are transforming outcomes for patients. Dr. Rozell also examines disparities in access to care, the growing role of community practices in clinical trials, and the balance between extending survival
info_outline
HPV Throat Cancer Misdiagnoses And How Technology Shapes ENT Health
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, a board-certified otolaryngologist and head & neck surgeon, discusses the gaps in ENT care, the growing impact of HPV-related cancers, and the importance of education and early detection in improving outcomes—particularly for underserved communities. Drawing from years of practice, Dr. Farmer explores how social, behavioral, and environmental factors shape ENT health and shares insights on emerging research and technologies revolutionizing the field.
info_outline
Personalized Approaches to Metabolic Liver Disease and MASH Management
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Christopher Kaisa, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the University of Chicago Medicine, provides an in-depth discussion on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and the evolving strategies for its management. He explains the latest non-invasive diagnostic tools, pharmacologic advancements, and the importance of multidisciplinary care in improving outcomes for patients with metabolic liver
info_outline
What's Next in Diabetes Care: New Treatments and Tech Insights
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Rachael Sood, a diabetes nurse practitioner and certified diabetes care and education specialist from New Orleans, Louisiana, shares her insights from the 85th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions. As the founder of The Diabetes Collective, Dr. Sood discusses the evolution of diabetology—a specialized field focused solely on the identification, treatment, and management of diabetes across all patient populations.
info_outline
High-Risk Multiple Myeloma & Personalized Treatment
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Martin Kaiser, Consultant Hematologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Professor of Hematology at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, discusses groundbreaking advances in the diagnosis and management of high-risk multiple myeloma. Drawing insights from the OptiMUM trial and related studies, Dr. Kaiser explores how genetic profiling, long-term treatment intensity, and personalized approaches are transforming patient outcomes. He also examines the challenges of t
info_outline
Clinical Trials vs Real World Practice in Leukemia Treatment
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Mark R. Litzow, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses the groundbreaking findings from the ECOG-ACRIN E1910 trial and the evolving role of immunotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). He explores how real-world evidence complements clinical trials, the challenges of standardizing measurable residual disease (MRD) testing, and the future of personalized treatment strategies in hematologic malignancies.
Dr. Litzow shares deep
info_outline
A New Way to Treat Adrenal Insufficiency with an Insulin Pump
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Sassan Mirfakhraee, adult endocrinologist and associate professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, shares groundbreaking insights into the management of adrenal insufficiency. At the Endocrine 2025 conference, Dr. Mirfakhraee presented his research on utilizing insulin pumps to deliver hydrocortisone—an innovative off-label approach that is showing promising results for patients who remain symptomatic on oral therapy.
He explains how thi
info_outline
Fighting Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, we welcome Dr. Emily Zboril, a PhD candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University, to discuss her groundbreaking research on ER-positive breast cancer with bone metastasis. Emily sheds light on the unique challenges of treating this condition, the role of the bone microenvironment, and how novel therapies like lazophoxifene may change the landscape of care.
She explains how endocrine therapies currently used to block estrogen signaling often worsen bone fragility, leading t
info_outlineIn this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Wanda Averhart, a general pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, explores the complex causes and lifelong impacts of childhood obesity, emphasizing how early feeding practices, maternal health, and social disparities shape children's long-term outcomes.
Dr. Averhart provides a comprehensive look at how environmental, cultural, and biological factors contribute to rising obesity rates among children—especially in underrepresented communities. She discusses the importance of infant feeding patterns, maternal diabetes and stress, and access to nutrition in determining early weight trajectories. Her insights reveal that addressing obesity begins before birth, and that family education and community-based interventions are key to prevention.
Episode Highlights:Understanding Childhood and Infant Obesity Dr. Averhart explains that while "infant obesity" isn't technically defined, early feeding habits play a crucial role in a child's risk for obesity. Factors such as maternal health during pregnancy, feeding type, and cultural feeding practices all influence growth and metabolic outcomes.
The Role of Feeding Practices and Culture From breastfeeding and formula feeding to early solid food introduction, Dr. Averhart emphasizes how cultural norms and parental beliefs shape feeding behavior. Introducing solid foods too early—especially high-sugar or fried foods—can increase obesity risk later in life.
Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors She discusses how food deserts, limited access to fresh produce, and economic barriers make it difficult for many families to follow nutritional guidelines. Dr. Averhart highlights programs like WIC and SNAP that can provide critical nutritional support.
Maternal Health and Stress Dr. Averhart outlines how maternal obesity, diabetes, and stress can biologically influence a child's future weight and metabolism through hormonal pathways like cortisol. She also connects maternal mental health to early childhood nutrition and caregiving quality.
The Rise of Pediatric Comorbidities She notes an alarming increase in fatty liver disease, hypertension, and prediabetes among children—conditions once rare in pediatrics. These comorbidities disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic children and those from low-income households.
Emerging Treatments and Future Research Dr. Averhart discusses the growing field of pediatric obesity treatment, including the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (like semaglutide) in adolescents. However, she stresses that compassion, education, and prevention remain the most effective strategies.
Key Takeaway Dr. Averhart calls on healthcare providers to approach obesity with empathy and understanding, recognizing it as a chronic, relapsing condition. She encourages clinicians to combine medical management, cultural awareness, and community engagement to support children and families most at risk.
Resources: Website: https://mdnewsline.com/ Newsletter: https://mdnewsline.com/subscribe/
Connect with Dr. Wanda Averhart: Here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.