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[Primary exogenous obesity]
Insights
Early-onset childhood obesity, often starting within the first year of life, is strongly linked to parental obesity and family history. This highlights the critical role of early detection and intervention for pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health
Context:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Understanding the early developmental factors of pediatric obesity is crucial for effective management.
Purpose:
- To investigate the onset and familial factors associated with obesity in a cohort of children aged 5-14 years.
- To analyze the relationship between the age of obesity onset, birth weight, parental obesity, and family history of diseases.
Summary:
- A study of 214 obese children (ages 5-14) found that 51.87% experienced obesity onset within their first year of life.
- A strong correlation exists between the severity of obesity and its early onset. Parental obesity was present in 88.3% of cases.
- While birth weight did not correlate with obesity intensity, early onset significantly predicted severity. Familial history of diabetes mellitus and obesity were also noted.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the importance of identifying familial antecedents and the early course of obesity in children.
- Provides insights for targeted prevention and treatment strategies for pediatric obesity.
- Highlights the critical window during the first year of life for obesity development and intervention.
Abstract:
A group of 214 obese children were studied (108 males and 106 females) with ages between 5 and 14 years. The average weight of our patients at birth was 3.17 +/- 0.5 Kgs. In babies with birth weight above 2.5 Kgs., obesity began frequently before the first year of life. No relationship was found between birth weight and intensity of obesity. It was significant that 111 children (51.87%) began their obesity during their first year of life and only 2 (0.93%) did it after the age of 11 years. A close relationship was observed between severeness of obesity and the onset of it during the first years of life. One or both parents were obese in 88.3% of our patients. In 31.87% of cases, there was a familial history of diabetes mellitus and in 31.31% a history of obesity was added. The characteristics of our patients are compared with reports from other authors and the importance of the knowledge of familial antecedents is emphasized together with the course of the disturbance in the child during the first years of life with an outlook to prevent and treat this malady.