Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Metabolic complications of childhood obesity: identifying and mitigating the risk

Ram Weiss1, Francine Ratner Kaufman

  • 1Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolism, Diabetes Center, Hadassah Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. weissr@hadassah.org.il

Diabetes Care
|February 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Diagnosing metabolic issues in obese children, like impaired glucose metabolism and fatty liver disease, is challenging. Early identification through history and exams enables timely interventions to prevent long-term health problems.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a global health concern, posing diagnostic challenges for clinicians.
  • Obesity-driven insulin resistance can lead to early, asymptomatic metabolic abnormalities.
  • Impaired glucose metabolism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are key early manifestations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the diagnostic challenges in identifying metabolic abnormalities in obese children.
  • To emphasize the importance of early detection for effective intervention.
  • To discuss the role of clinical assessment in risk stratification.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical manifestations and diagnostic approaches for obesity-related metabolic disorders.
  • Emphasis on thorough patient history and focused physical examinations.
  • Discussion of lifestyle modification interventions.

Main Results:

  • Early metabolic abnormalities in obese children are often asymptomatic.
  • A high index of suspicion and appropriate testing are crucial for diagnosis.
  • Lifestyle interventions show promise in improving metabolic profiles.

Conclusions:

  • Early diagnosis of obesity-related metabolic issues is critical for preventing morbidity.
  • Clinical evaluation is essential for identifying at-risk children.
  • Prompt intervention can significantly benefit the long-term health of obese children.

More Related Videos

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report05:10

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes08:30

Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes

Published on: March 15, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is based on...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Complications of Diabetes Mellitus01:22

Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency, resistance, or both. Prolonged hyperglycemia disrupts metabolic homeostasis and leads to acute and chronic complications.Acute ComplicationsAcute complications result from sudden metabolic imbalance.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mainly appears in type 1 diabetes but may also develop in type 2 diabetes, particularly under extreme stress. It arises from severe insulin deficiency,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...