Do hospitalized children with obesity lose more weight than eutrophic ones?

The clinical course of hospitalized children with overweight has been scarcely investigated. Previous studies suggest that these children experience longer hospital stays and greater weight loss than their normal-weight peers, potentially compromising lean body mass and immune function.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nutritional status at hospital admission and hospital length of stay, and to compare weight loss trajectories between children with overweight and those with normal weight.

This prospective study included 125 hospitalized children and adolescents aged 2-14 years. Anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Associations with hospital length of stay were assessed using multiple Poisson regression, and weight loss trajectories were analyzed using analysis of covariance.

Of the 125 participants, 56.8% were male, and 29.6% had overweight. Asthma was the most common reason for hospitalization (25.6%). Children with overweight had a 25% longer hospital stay than those with normal weight. Among children with overweight, each additional day of hospitalization was associated with a mean weight loss of 0.20 kg (95%CI 0.14-0.26) and a 0.04-unit decrease in body mass index-for-age z-score (95%CI 0.01-0.06).

Overweight at hospital admission was associated with a longer hospital stay and progressive weight loss during hospitalization.