Severe childhood obesity can drastically reduce life expectancy, cutting it nearly in half, according to a recent global study conducted by Stradoo GmbH, a life sciences consultancy in Munich. This research provides detailed insights into how the age of onset, severity, and duration of childhood obesity affect long-term health and life expectancy.
Long-term impact of childhood obesity
Presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy, the study findings quantified the impact of various aspects of childhood obesity on long-term health for the first time. It was led by Dr. Urs Wiedemann along with colleagues from universities and hospitals across Europe and the United States.
The researchers found that the earlier a child develops obesity, the more severe the long-term effects. For instance, a child living with severe obesity at age four, who does not lose weight, has a life expectancy of just 39 years — about half the average life expectancy.
The findings in detail
“While it’s widely accepted that childhood obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), and that it can reduce life expectancy, evidence on the size of the impact has been patchy,” said Dr. Wiedemann. She added:
A better understanding of the precise magnitude of the long-term consequences and the factors that drive them could help inform prevention policies and approaches to treatment, as well as improve health and lengthen life.
The researchers developed an early-onset obesity model to estimate the effect of childhood obesity on cardiovascular disease, related conditions like T2D, and life expectancy. This model included four key variables: age of obesity onset, obesity duration, irreversible risk accumulation (a measure of irreversible health effects even after weight loss), and severity of obesity.
Critical factors
The severity of childhood obesity was measured using BMI Z-scores, which indicate how much an individual’s Body Mass Index (BMI) deviates from the norm for their age and sex. For example, a four-year-old boy with a BMI Z-score of 3.5, indicating severe obesity, has a life expectancy of just 39 years if he does not lose weight.
Data for the model were drawn from 50 existing clinical studies on obesity and related comorbidities, involving over 10 million participants worldwide. Approximately 2.7 million of these individuals were between two and 29 years of age.
The risks of severe childhood obesity
The model shows that earlier onset and more severe childhood obesity elevate the likelihood of developing related health issues later in life. For instance, a child with a BMI Z-score of 3.5 at age four has a 27% likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by age 25 and a 45% chance by age 35. In contrast, a child with a BMI Z-score of 2 at age four has a 6.5% chance of developing type 2 diabetes by age 25 and 22% by age 35.
Higher BMI Z-scores at an early age also lead to a lower life expectancy. For instance, a BMI Z-score of 2 at age four without subsequent weight reduction reduces life expectancy from about 80 years to 65 years. The life expectancy drops further to 50 years for a BMI Z-score of 2.5 and 39 years for a BMI Z-score of 3.5.
Implications for early weight loss
Comparisons with other studies and expert opinions confirmed the model’s accuracy. Moreover, the model demonstrated the positive impact of weight loss on life expectancy and long-term health. For example, a child with severe early onset obesity (BMI Z-score of 4 at age four) has a life expectancy of 37 years and a 55% risk of developing T2D by age 35. If the child loses weight, reducing the BMI Z-score to 2 by age six, life expectancy increases to 64 years, and the risk of T2D drops to 29 percent.
“The early onset obesity model shows that weight reduction has a striking effect on life expectancy and comorbidity risk, especially when weight is lost early in life,” said Dr. Wiedemann.
Addressing childhood obesity
The model has some limitations. It does not account for the causes of obesity, genetic risk factors, ethnic or sex differences, or the interactions between different comorbidities. However, the impact of childhood obesity on life expectancy is profound.
Dr. Wiedemann said:
It is clear that childhood obesity should be considered a life-threatening disease. It is vital that treatment isn’t put off until the development of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or other ‘warning signs’ but starts early. Early diagnosis should and can improve quality and length of life.
The bottom line
The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for early intervention in cases of childhood obesity. Preventative measures and timely treatments are crucial to improving the long-term health and life expectancy of affected children. As our understanding of the long-term consequences of childhood obesity deepens, so too must our commitment to tackling this critical public health issue from an early age.
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Source: “Severe childhood obesity can cut life expectancy in half,” Earth.com, 05/16/24
Source: “Young children with persistent severe obesity could have half average life expectancy, study finds,” The Guardian, 05/14/24
Image by Christopher Williams on Unsplash
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