Childhood Obesity and Its Associations with Morbidity and Mortality in Adult Life

Abstract

Childhood and adulthood obesity has reached epidemic levels. Unfortunately, obesity tracks from childhood into adulthood and its persistence rises with age among obese children. Childhood obesity is associated with comorbidities, which are present even in childhood, including hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea and endocrine, musculoskeletal and psychosocial problems. Early onset obesity is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality later in life. The main causes of death of obese children and adolescents in adulthood include cardiovascular diseases, T2D and its complications, obstructive sleep apnea and cancer. Morbidity and mortality increase proportionately to the severity and duration of childhood obesity. Furthermore, body mass index (BMI) is associated with projected life expectancy. Decreased life expectancy is observed among obese, but also among lean individuals, with the best life expectancy being observed among normal weight and overweight people. Life expectancy has halted at present and further decrease due to the obesity epidemic is expected, if proper measures are not taken. The association between childhood obesity and adult morbidity and mortality strongly suggests that more effective prevention and treatment of childhood obesity should be pursued.

Association between the Dietary Phytochemical Index and Lower Prevalence of Obesity in Korean Preschoolers

“…The prevalence of obesity among children aged 2-18 years has increased from 8.6% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2017 in Korea [4]. Many studies have demonstrated childhood obesity to be related to an increased risk of several adverse health outcomes at an early age, including cardiovascular disease, fatty liver infiltration, and sleep apnea [5][6][7]. Moreover, controlling childhood obesity is very important since childhood obesity has a high risk of developing into adult obesity [8,9].…”

“…A follow-up study found that overweight children aged 2-5 years had >4 times greater tendency to become overweight adults [10]. Childhood obesity reportedly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer [11], and mortality [5,12,13] in adulthood.…”

Testing a multicomponent lifestyle intervention for combatting childhood obesity

“…The 2013 global statistics on prevalence of obesity and overweight indicate that in 2013, 23.8% of boys and 22.6% of girls in developed countries, and 12.9% of boys and 13.4% of girls in developing countries were classified as children with obesity [ 1 ]. Childhood obesity increases the risk of serious health problems including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance [ 2 , 3 ], has negative effects upon psychosocial factors such as self-esteem [ 4 ], and is associated with increased adult mortality [ 5 ].…”

School-based dietary intervention to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity among adolescence in rural area

“…Adolescent obesity is associated with co-morbidities such as hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (TII DM) [8] . Obesity can increase the risk for asthma in adults by approximately 50% [9] and cause psychological problems such as depression and poor quality of life [10] . Therefore, the prevention and management of childhood and an adolescent obesity is so important.…”