Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 May;10(5):351-365.
doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00047-X. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management

Hiba Jebeile  1 , Aaron S Kelly  2 , Grace O'Malley  3 , Louise A Baur  4
Affiliations
Review

Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management

Hiba Jebeile et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022 May.

Abstract

This Review describes current knowledge on the epidemiology and causes of child and adolescent obesity, considerations for assessment, and current management approaches. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, obesity prevalence in children and adolescents had plateaued in many high-income countries despite levels of severe obesity having increased. However, in low-income and middle-income countries, obesity prevalence had risen. During the pandemic, weight gain among children and adolescents has increased in several jurisdictions. Obesity is associated with cardiometabolic and psychosocial comorbidity as well as premature adult mortality. The development and perpetuation of obesity is largely explained by a bio-socioecological framework, whereby biological predisposition, socioeconomic, and environmental factors interact together to promote deposition and proliferation of adipose tissue. First-line treatment approaches include family-based behavioural obesity interventions addressing diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and sleep quality, underpinned by behaviour change strategies. Evidence for intensive dietary approaches, pharmacotherapy, and metabolic and bariatric surgery as supplemental therapies are emerging; however, access to these therapies is scarce in most jurisdictions. Research is still needed to inform the personalisation of treatment approaches of obesity in children and adolescents and their translation to clinical practice.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests ASK serves as an unpaid consultant for Novo Nordisk, Vivus, Eli Lilly, and Boehringer Ingelheim; and receives donated drug and placebo from Vivus for a National Institutes of Health funded clinical trial. LAB serves on the Advisory Committee of the ACTION Teens study, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, for which an honorarium is paid to her hospital research cost centre. All other authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A socioecological model for understanding the dynamic interrelationships between various personal and environmental factors influencing child and adolescent obesity. Adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social-ecological model framework for prevention. *Defined as being traversable on foot, compact, physically enticing, and safe.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Short-term and long-term health complications and comorbidities associated with child and adolescent obesity Health complications and comorbidities include neurological, dental, cardiovascular,, , , psychosocial,, , , , respiratory,, , , , endocrine,, , musculoskeletal,, , , renal,, gastrointestinal,, skin, function, and participation.,
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lobstein T, Brinsden H. World Obesity Federation; London: 2019. Atlas of childhood obesity.
    1. Pulgarón ER. Childhood obesity: a review of increased risk for physical and psychological comorbidities. Clin Ther. 2013;35:A18–A32. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Horesh A, Tsur AM, Bardugo A, Twig G. Adolescent and childhood obesity and excess morbidity and mortality in young adulthood— a systematic review. Curr Obes Rep. 2021;10:301–310. - PubMed
    1. Jebeile H, Cardel MI, Kyle TK, Jastreboff AM. Addressing psychosocial health in the treatment and care of adolescents with obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2021;29:1413–1422. - PubMed
    1. Simmonds M, Llewellyn A, Owen CG, Woolacott N. Simple tests for the diagnosis of childhood obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2016;17:1301–1315. - PubMed

Publication types