Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
Obesity-related renal injury in childhood
Alessandra Savino1, Piernicola Pelliccia, Francesco Chiarelli
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. alessavino@katamail.com
Insights
Obesity and insulin resistance in children are linked to increased risk of kidney disease and cardiovascular problems later in life. Early identification of these risk factors is crucial for preventing long-term health issues.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Pediatrics
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Rising rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) correlate with increasing childhood obesity and insulin resistance.
- Obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are significant risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD.
- Reduced insulin sensitivity (IS) is a key independent risk factor for kidney disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between obesity and kidney disease risk.
- To explore how obesity and its metabolic complications contribute to renal injury, particularly in childhood.
- To highlight the early origins of adult cardiovascular consequences of childhood obesity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on the link between obesity, metabolic syndrome, and kidney disease.
- Analysis of studies examining risk factors for chronic kidney disease and ESRD in pediatric populations.
- Synthesis of evidence on the impact of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents.
Main Results:
- Obesity and associated metabolic issues are strongly linked to increased risk of CKD and ESRD.
- Reduced insulin sensitivity in childhood is a predictor of future organ damage, including kidney injury.
- Cardiovascular risk factors cluster in obese children with poor insulin sensitivity, indicating early development of long-term health consequences.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity and insulin resistance are critical factors contributing to the rising prevalence of kidney disease.
- Interventions targeting obesity and metabolic health in children are essential for preventing future renal and cardiovascular disease.
- Understanding the pediatric origins of these conditions is vital for effective public health strategies.
Abstract:
A significant increase in the prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been reported over the last three decades, paralleling the increasing prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance, also in the pediatric population. Overweight, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, which frequently coexist, contribute substantially to cardiovascular disease and ESRD. A higher body mass index, the presence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and, of particular importance, reduced insulin sensitivity (IS), have recently emerged as strong independent risk factors for chronic kidney disease and ESRD. Of particular concern, the long-term cardiovascular impact of obesity, although deferred to adult life, has its origins in childhood. Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is seen in children and adolescents with the highest degree of reduced IS, suggesting that adult consequences of obesity on target organs, including the kidney, are more likely to develop in these young people. This review will discuss the association between obesity and the risk of kidney disease, focusing on the way in which obesity and its metabolic complications may lead to renal involvement and injury, with particular regard to childhood. It is beyond the scope of this article to examine kidney disease as a component of syndromes that result in obesity in childhood.
Related Concept Videos
External Anatomy of the Kidney
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...
Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction
Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
Obesity
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

