Expert Exchange Workgroup on Children Aged 5 and Younger with Severe Obesity: A Narrative Review of Medical and Genetic Risk Factors.

This article provides an overview of the prevalence, classification of obesity severity, patterns of weight gain trajectory, medical and genetic risk factors, and comorbid disorders among young children with an emphasis on severe obesity. Studies suggest rapid weight gain trajectory in infancy, maternal smoking, maternal gestational diabetes, and genetic conditions are associated with an increased risk for severe obesity in early childhood. Among populations of young children with severe obesity seeking care, co-morbid conditions such as dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease are present and families report behavioral concerns and developmental delays. Children with severe obesity by age 5 represent a vulnerable population of children at high medical risk and need to be identified early and appropriately managed. PMID: 29791184 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Childhood Obesity - Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Tags: Child Obes Source Type: research