How Early Diagnosing Can Help Identify Obesity-Related Complications

Individuals can reduce their risk by adopting preventive interventions at each life cycle step, starting from pre-conception and continuing through the early years.

A sedentary lifestyle without physical exercise can lead to early stages of obesity, aggravating the progression of obesity, which has increased since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, affecting the onset of cardiovascular disease typically observed in adulthood, is increasingly recognized in the pediatric population. This has shifted the focus toward assessing disease susceptibility in childhood to enable early detection. Nearly half of the children under five who were overweight or living with obesity in 2022 resided in Asia.

The Prevalence Of Overweight Is 8% In 1990 To 20% In 2022

• This increase has been seen among both boys and girls, with WHO statistics stating that in 2022, 19% of girls and 21% of boys were overweight. The diagnosis of overweight and obesity is made (BMI): weight (kg)/height (m ). BMI is a surrogate marker of fatness, and additional measurements such as waist circumference can help diagnose obesity in adults. Under five and obesity is weight-for-height greater than three standard deviations above the median.
• Many overweight or obese children will become obese adults, with an enhanced risk for cardiovascular diseases. Childhood obesity is often accompanied by severe consequences such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, a pro-inflammatory state, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Hypertension, high LDL cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations, insulin resistance. Obese children and adolescents with clinically proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, currently recognized as the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome, are at greater cardiovascular risk compared with normal-weight children.

Early Laboratory Tests Are Crucial To Avoid Complications

These include:

• Thyroid function tests: Thyroid abnormalities can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
• Lipid profile: Evaluates lipid metabolism and identifies dyslipidemia, a common complication of obesity blood sugar tests (fasting, postprandial).
• HbA1c: Screen for impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus, frequently associated with obesity, with insulin estimation, helps assess insulin resistance.

Prevention And Management

Overweight, obesity, and their related non-communicable diseases are largely preventable and manageable. Individuals can reduce their risk by adopting preventive interventions at each life cycle step, starting from pre-conception and continuing through the early years.

These include:

1. Ensuring appropriate weight gain during pregnancy and until 24 months or beyond.
2. We support children, regardless of weight status, in developing healthy eating habits, engaging in physical activity, managing sedentary behaviours, and ensuring adequate sleep.
3. Reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods and promoting other healthy eating behaviours.
4. Adequate sleep, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, and emotional self-regulation.
5. Limiting screen time. Engaging in regular physical activity.
6. These interventions are crucial to reducing the risk of overweight and obesity in both children and adults.