Pediatric Obesity: It’s Time to Act!

Editorial

Ann Obes Disord. 2016; 1(1): 1002.

Pediatric Obesity: It’s Time to Act!

Di Sessa A and Marzuillo P*

Department of Woman, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Italy

*Corresponding author: Marzuillo P, Department of Woman, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Via L. De Crecchio 2, 80138, Naples, Italy

Received: March 24, 2016; Accepted: March 28, 2016; Published: March 28, 2016

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization, childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century [1] and this translates into an increased childhood risk for numerous physiological [2] and subsequently long term medical complications [3-6] such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and musculoskeletal impairments- as well as psychosocial conditions (e.g.; stigmatization) [2-9]. Obese children and adolescents are also at greater risk for becoming obese adults [10], who in turn are at an increased risk for developing serious lifelong comorbidities (cardiovascular, metabolic disease and cancer) [3-6,11].

The “weight” of the problem

Globally, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased by 28% in adults and 47% in children between 1980 and 2013 [12]. Current estimates suggest that there are nearly 2,1 billion people in the world who are either overweight or obese [12]. In the United States, approximately one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese [12,13].

Mechanisms behind the obesity

Several factors [14,15] can contribute to the increased prevalence of childhood obesity. A combination of excessive calorie consumption, sugar-sweetened beverage [16], coupled with a lack of physical activity, excess screen time, as well as the excess use of electronic games creates an energy imbalance, which then leads to weight gain [17]. However, multiple other factors play a significant role in excess weight gain [18], such as genetic predisposition, socioeconomic factors and other various conditions (Table 1).

Citation: Di Sessa A and Marzuillo P. Pediatric Obesity: It’s Time to Act!. Ann Obes Disord. 2016; 1(1): 1002.