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Monday, May 12, 2025
Outside the box.
Being overweight as a young child could double risk of adult obesity, research shows
New studies reveal critical insights into the predictors of obesity from early childhood to adolescence.
Research from the Netherlands indicates that being overweight as a young child could significantly elevate the risk of obesity in adulthood.
The study, which tracked the Body Mass Index (BMI) of thousands of children at ages two, six, ten, fourteen, and eighteen, suggests that a child's BMI at the age of six serves as a reliable predictor for obesity in later life.
It found that for every one-unit increase in BMI at age six, the likelihood of being overweight or obese by age eighteen more than doubled.
The research, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga, highlighted the importance of the early years in preventing weight gain, noting that children who were classified as overweight yet managed to achieve a healthier weight before turning six were not at a higher risk of obesity in their late teens.
Conversely, those who lost weight after the age of six continued to face an increased risk.
Among the 3,528 participants in the study, 32.3% were considered overweight or obese at age two, 22.3% at age six, 24.7% at age ten, and 20.6% at age fourteen, with many remaining overweight or obese by age eighteen.
Jasmin de Groot, associated with Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, emphasized the need to comprehend child development patterns to foster healthier future generations.
She noted the first five years of a child's life as a vital period for intervention against obesity, aimed at ensuring every child has the opportunity for a healthy life.
Additionally, separate research conducted by the University of Bristol and presented at the same congress showed a significant rise in overweight teenagers in England, climbing 50% from 22% in 2008-2010 to 33% between 2021-2023.
Lead researcher Dr. Dinesh Giri, a consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, attributed this surge to multiple factors, including increased consumer reliance on ultra-processed foods, sedentary lifestyles linked to excessive screen time, inadequate sleep, and growing mental health concerns.
He further pointed out that limited opportunities for physical activity and socioeconomic disparities have contributed to an environment that fosters unhealthy lifestyle choices.
The study, which tracked the Body Mass Index (BMI) of thousands of children at ages two, six, ten, fourteen, and eighteen, suggests that a child's BMI at the age of six serves as a reliable predictor for obesity in later life.
It found that for every one-unit increase in BMI at age six, the likelihood of being overweight or obese by age eighteen more than doubled.
The research, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga, highlighted the importance of the early years in preventing weight gain, noting that children who were classified as overweight yet managed to achieve a healthier weight before turning six were not at a higher risk of obesity in their late teens.
Conversely, those who lost weight after the age of six continued to face an increased risk.
Among the 3,528 participants in the study, 32.3% were considered overweight or obese at age two, 22.3% at age six, 24.7% at age ten, and 20.6% at age fourteen, with many remaining overweight or obese by age eighteen.
Jasmin de Groot, associated with Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, emphasized the need to comprehend child development patterns to foster healthier future generations.
She noted the first five years of a child's life as a vital period for intervention against obesity, aimed at ensuring every child has the opportunity for a healthy life.
Additionally, separate research conducted by the University of Bristol and presented at the same congress showed a significant rise in overweight teenagers in England, climbing 50% from 22% in 2008-2010 to 33% between 2021-2023.
Lead researcher Dr. Dinesh Giri, a consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, attributed this surge to multiple factors, including increased consumer reliance on ultra-processed foods, sedentary lifestyles linked to excessive screen time, inadequate sleep, and growing mental health concerns.
He further pointed out that limited opportunities for physical activity and socioeconomic disparities have contributed to an environment that fosters unhealthy lifestyle choices.
