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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Associations between obesity severity and medical comorbidities for children with obesity in low intensity hospital
Maya Tsao-Wu1, Ronald J Williams2, Helen M Hendy3
1College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, United States.
Insights
Children with Class III obesity face higher risks for serious medical conditions like hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Early, intensive interventions are crucial to prevent severe obesity and related comorbidities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Childhood obesity prevalence has surged in the U.S.
- Limited research addresses medical comorbidities associated with obesity severity.
- Understanding comorbidities can inform prevention and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between obesity severity levels and specific medical comorbidities in children.
- To analyze the relationship between obesity severity and blood pressure, and the prevalence of diagnoses like hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 2038 children at a Pediatric Weight Management Clinic.
- Linear regression to assess obesity severity and blood pressure percentiles.
- Logistical regression to evaluate obesity severity and medical diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Class III obesity was linked to significantly higher risks for five of seven medical conditions.
- Children with Class III obesity had elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure scores.
- Higher odds of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea were observed in severe obesity.
Conclusions:
- Severe obesity (Class III) is associated with increased risk of critical medical comorbidities.
- Further research is needed on intensive behavioral interventions before obesity reaches Class III severity.
- Proactive interventions may prevent severe obesity and its associated health complications in children.
Background:
Childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the United States. Most available research has followed obesity prevalence with little attention to medical comorbidities, which could guide prevention and intervention.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review examined 2038 children referred to a Pediatric Weight Management Clinic providing low intensity (<26 contact hours) intervention. Linear regression examined associations between obesity severity level (I, II, III) and blood pressure percentile scores (systolic, diastolic) while controlling for gender, age group, and ethnicity. Logistical regression examined associations between obesity severity level and five medical diagnoses (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, elevated ALT, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea), again controlling for demographics.
Results:
Results revealed that children with Class III obesity severity had significantly greater risk for five of the seven medical conditions examined, with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure scores, and higher odds for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Conclusion:
The US Preventive Services Task Force has documented the effectiveness of intensive behavioral interventions (>26 contact hours for changes in diet, exercise, screen time) for reducing obesity severity in children. Additional research is required to determine whether more intensive behavioral approaches should be added before a child's obesity reaches the Class III level of severity in order to prevent medical comorbidities.
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