Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Anthropometric trajectories of Korean children and adolescents with severe obesity
Jeongho Han1, Hakyung Lee1, Dong Jun Ha1
1Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Insights
Lifestyle changes modestly reduced BMI z scores in severely obese children, but most remained obese with few metabolic improvements. Early, intensive interventions are crucial for pediatric obesity management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Obesity Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Severe pediatric obesity presents a growing global health challenge, particularly in South Korea.
- It is strongly linked to metabolic and cardiovascular complications.
- Limited longitudinal data exist for Korean children experiencing severe obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome components in children and adolescents with severe obesity.
- To evaluate outcomes of management solely through lifestyle modifications, excluding pharmacological or surgical interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 124 participants (age <18) with severe obesity (BMI ≥120% of 95th percentile) from 2017-2024.
- Inclusion criteria required over 1 year of follow-up; management focused on lifestyle changes (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, screen time).
- Primary outcome: change in BMI z-score; secondary analysis explored predictors of BMI z-score change.
Main Results:
- A modest mean decrease in BMI z-scores was observed (from 3.68±0.75 to -0.27±0.79, P<0.001) over a mean follow-up of 2.64 years.
- Younger age and male sex were associated with greater BMI z-score reductions.
- Most participants remained severely obese, with only modest improvements in liver transaminases and no significant changes in other metabolic syndrome components.
Conclusions:
- Lifestyle modifications led to a small reduction in BMI z-scores for severely obese children, but did not resolve severe obesity or significantly improve most metabolic health markers.
- Findings highlight the urgent need for early and more intensive interventions to effectively manage pediatric obesity and its associated health risks.
Background:
The burden of severe pediatric obesity is increasing globally, including in South Korea, and associated with metabolic and cardiovascular complications. However, longitudinal data of Korean children with severe obesity are limited.
Purpose:
This study evaluated the changes in body mass index (BMI) and associated metabolic syndrome components in children and adolescents with severe obesity managed without pharmacological or surgical treatment.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed participants diagnosed with severe obesity (BMI ≥120% of the 95th percentile) before the age of 18 years at 3 medical centers in 2017-2024. Participants with more than 1 year of follow-up were included. Management consisted exclusively of lifestyle modifications, including nutritional counseling and physician-led education on physical activity, screen time, and sleep. Patients with chronic illnesses, with psychiatric disorders, or who were taking medications that affect weight were excluded. The primary outcome was the change in BMI z score from baseline to the last visit. Predictors of a change in the BMI z score were analyzed using multivariable linear regression with adjustment for age, sex, pubertal stage, baseline BMI z score, and follow-up duration and frequency.
Results:
Among 124 participants (mean age, 9.69±3.39 years; 61.3% boys) followed for a mean duration of 2.64±1.51 years, BMI z scores significantly decreased (from 3.68±0.75 to a mean change of -0.27±0.79, P<0.001). Younger age and male sex were associated with greater reductions in BMI z scores. However, most participants remained severely obese. Except for modest improvements in liver transaminase levels, no substantial differences were observed in other metabolic syndrome components.
Conclusion:
Lifestyle modification resulted in a modest BMI z score reduction; however, most participants remained severely obese with no significant improvements in most metabolic syndrome components. These findings underscore the need for early and intensive interventions for pediatric obesity.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
01:27Signs of Puberty
01:25Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...