Is overweight/obesity a risk factor for atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children? A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Childhood Obesity Research
• Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases

Background:

• The relationship between body weight status and allergic diseases in children is not fully understood.
• Atopic allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis and asthma, are common in childhood.
• Understanding risk factors like body mass index (BMI) is crucial for prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between body weight status (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) and atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children.
• To compare the prevalence of atopic allergic diseases in children with different BMI categories.
• To identify potential links between body weight and the risk of developing allergic conditions.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study involving 707 prepubertal children aged 3-10 years.
• Participants included 278 children diagnosed with atopic allergic disease and 429 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
• Data collection occurred at a university hospital's pediatric clinics between December 2019 and November 2020.

Main Results:

• Obesity (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.71) and overweight status (OR 1.62) were significantly associated with an increased risk of atopic allergic disease compared to normal weight.
• No significant relationship was found between underweight status and atopic allergic disease (OR 1.03).
• The observed associations did not differ by gender.

Conclusions:

• Overweight and obesity are risk factors for atopic allergic disease in prepubertal children.
• Normal weight is associated with a lower risk of atopic allergic disease.
• These findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy weight in children to reduce the risk of allergic conditions.