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Updated: Oct 13, 2025
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
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Childhood obesity: an ecological perspective
Roseli Oselka Saccardo Sarni1, Cristiane Kochi2, Fabiola Isabel Suano-Souza1
1Centro Universitário Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Departamento de Pediatria, Santo André, SP, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Jornal De Pediatria
|November 15, 2021
Summary
Environmental factors significantly contribute to childhood obesity, a growing global health challenge. Addressing these environmental influences is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant global health concern with high prevalence.
- Environmental factors play a critical role in the development of obesity and related comorbidities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the role of environmental factors in the childhood obesity epidemic.
- To synthesize current research on the environment-obesity interface.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of articles published in PubMed over the last 10 years.
- Focus on studies investigating the relationship between environmental exposures and childhood obesity.
Main Results:
- Environmental factors like air pollution, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, ultra-processed foods, gut microbiota alterations, and sedentary behavior are linked to increased obesity.
- These factors contribute to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
- Impact is heightened during critical developmental periods, such as the first thousand days of life, affecting gene expression related to adipogenesis and metabolic regulation.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors are integral to the etiopathogenesis of childhood obesity.
- Prevention and treatment strategies must incorporate environmental considerations at both individual and population levels.
- Comprehensive public health policies are essential for mitigating environmental influences on childhood obesity.
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