Causative Mechanisms of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Leading to Adult Cardiometabolic Disease: A Literature Review

The past few decades have shown a worrisome increase in the prevalence of obesity and its related illnesses. This increasing burden has a noteworthy impact on overall worldwide mortality and morbidity, with significant economic implications as well. The same trend is apparent regarding pediatric obesity. This is a particularly concerning aspect when considering the well-established link between cardiovascular disease and obesity, and the fact that childhood obesity frequently leads to adult obesity. Moreover, most obese adults have a history of excess weight starting in childhood. In addition, given the cumulative character of both time and severity of exposure to obesity as a risk factor for associated diseases, the repercussions of obesity prevalence and related morbidity could be exponential in time. The purpose of this review is to outline key aspects regarding the current knowledge on childhood and adolescent obesity as a cardiometabolic risk factor, as well as the most common etiological pathways involved in the development of weight excess and associated cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Association of Nutrition in Early Childhood with Body Composition and Leptin in Later Childhood and Early Adulthood

Objectives: Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), this study aimed to replicate the finding of the Etude Longitudinale Alimentation Nutrition Croissance des Enfants (ELANCE) that low fat intake in early childhood was associated with increased adiposity in adulthood. Methods: Diet was assessed at 8 and 18 months using 3-day food records. Body composition variables were measured at 9 and 17 years, and serum leptin at 9 years. Associations were modelled using adjusted linear regression. Results: In replication analyses, in contrast to ELANCE, there was a positive association between fat intake (% energy) at 18 months and fat mass (FM) at 9 years (B coefficient 0.10 (95% CI 0.03, 0.20) kg, p = 0.005). There was no association with serum leptin. In extended analyses fat intake at 18 months was positively associated with FM in boys (0.2 (0.00, 0.30), p = 0.008) at 9 years but not in girls. Fat intake was positively associated with serum leptin concentration in boys (0.2 (0.1, 0.4) ng/mL, p = 0.011) but not in girls. Conclusions: Our results did not corroborate the findings from the ELANCE study. A high fat diet in early life may have implications for later childhood and adolescent obesity.

The Importance of Parents for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Prevention: Should We Pay More Attention to Automatic Processes and Parental Stress?

This Special Issue concerns the theme of how parents may influence child and adolescent weight-related and obesity developments [...]

A SHORT REVIEW OF VALIDATED QUESTIONNAIRES FOR EVALUATING LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Childhood and adolescent obesity becomes a worldwide health problem, as for the past years the prevalence of obesity amongst youngsters has reached very high levels. The increased levels of obesity at younger age rises concern at a global basis, therefore the prevalence of childhood obesity sets enormous pressure on healthcare system. Obesity is a complex trait influenced not only by genetic factors, but also by other such as: physical inactivity and unhealthy diet or overeating as well as weight status misperception. Some of the measures needed to overcome these factors is that the intervention programs used to prevent or combat obesity, must include assessment and correction of these factors, as well as monitoring their evolution over time. Questionnaires are efficient instruments that can be used for the evaluation of such parameters. This study aims to revise the scientific literature, from the last five years, to identify and centralize the most reliable and valid questionnaires created and used for the assessment of physical activity in children and adolescents.

Obesity and Multiple Sclerosis—A Multifaceted Association

Background: Given the common elements in the pathophysiological theories that try to explain the appearance and evolution of obesity and multiple sclerosis, the association between the two pathologies has become an increasingly researched topic in recent years. On the one hand, there is the chronic demyelinating inflammation caused by the autoimmune cascade of multiple sclerosis, while on the other hand, according to the latest research, it has been shown that obesity shares an inflammatory component with most chronic diseases. Methods: The authors performed independent research of the available literature in the most important electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Science Direct) in February 2021. After applying the exclusion criteria, the reviewers focused on the most relevant articles published during the last 10 years with respect to epidemiology and pathophysiology. Results: The data presented are a step forward in trying to elucidate the intricate relationship between obesity and MS, especially the causal relationship between childhood and adolescent obesity and MS, focusing on the epidemiological associations observed in the most relevant observational studies conducted in recent years. In the second part, the authors comment on the latest findings related to the pathophysiological mechanisms that may explain the correlations between obesity and multiple sclerosis, focusing also on the role of adipokines. Conclusions: Based on available epidemiological data, obesity in early life appears to be strongly associated with a higher risk of MS development, independent of other risk factors. Although much research has been done on the pathophysiology of obesity, MS, their possible common mechanism, and the role of adipokines, further studies are needed in order to explain what remains unknown. No relevant data were found regarding the association between obesity, disability (high EDSS score), and mortality risk in MS patients. Thus, we consider that this topic should be elucidated in future research.

Predictors of the Psychosocial Health of Children and Adolescents With Obesity and Overweight: the Underappreciated Role of Physical Fitness

Background: Childhood and adolescent obesity impacts on various dimensions of psychosocial health, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and personal self-concept. Detecting inhibitory and promotive factors of psychosocial health could contribute to the development of more effective obesity management. In this context, the role of physical fitness among the predicting variables of psychosocial health has rarely been investigated.Objective: To identify relevant predictors of weight-specific HRQOL and self-concept in the context of childhood and adolescent obesity.Methods: The sample comprised cross-sectional data of 241 children and adolescents with obesity and overweight (12.5 ± 2.1 years; 51.9% girls) and their parents. Information on demographics and active/inactive lifestyle were assessed via parent report. Anthropometric data and physical fitness in relation to body weight (W/kg) were measured. Children and adolescents completed standardized questionnaires (GW-LQ-KJ, FSK-K) to assess HRQOL and five dimensions of self-concept (scholastic, social, physical, behavioral, and self-worth). Results: Backward multivariable linear regression analysis showed that three subdomains of self-concept (physical, behavioral, self-worth) were negatively associated with increasing BMI Z-scores, age, physical activity (hours/week), low parental educational levels, or migration background. HRQOL, however, was only significantly related to relative physical fitness (W/kg; β=8.02, P<0.05) as were scholastic (β=8.92, P<0.05) and social self-concept (social β=8.68, P<0.05). Conclusion: The results add physical fitness as a relevant predictor of HRQOL and self-concept of children and adolescents with obesity and overweight. Therapeutic and preventive weight management strategies should therefore consider physical fitness as an important additional outcome measure of psychosocial health.