Complications of obesity in children and adolescents

Int J Obes (Lond). 2009 Apr:33 Suppl 1:S60-5. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2009.20.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence and severity of obesity in children and adolescents has provided greater emphasis on the wide variety of comorbid conditions and complications that can be experienced as a consequence of obesity. These complications can occur both in the short term and in the long term. Some complications, earlier thought to be long-term issues, which would only occur in adulthood, have now been shown to occur in children and adolescents. These findings have raised concerns about the overall health experience of those who develop obesity early in life and have even raised questions about whether the obesity epidemic might shorten the life span of the current generation of children. In this paper, I will examine current knowledge regarding the different organ systems that may be impacted by childhood obesity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Development / physiology
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epiphyses, Slipped / epidemiology
  • Epiphyses, Slipped / etiology
  • Fatty Liver / epidemiology
  • Fatty Liver / etiology
  • Fatty Liver / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metabolic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Metabolic Diseases / etiology*
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / mortality
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / etiology
  • Young Adult