Weight loss in obese children reduces adulthood health risks: Study

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDNov 17 2011

A new study from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Menzies Research Institute has found that obese children who shed weight in later years can reverse the damage done to their health by being overweight and it is really never too late. Overweight people reportedly have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, clogged arteries or atherosclerosis, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The study involving more than 6328 children showed that if an obese child lost weight their cardiovascular risks were reversed. The meta analysis of studies was released in the New England Journal of Medicine. It followed the participants for an average of 23 years. The study subjects were divided into four categories: those who were normal weight as kids and not obese as adults; those who were overweight or obese as kids but not obese as adults; those who were overweight or obese as kids and obese as adults, and those who were normal weight as kids but obese as adults.

In some studies being overweight in childhood was associated with a risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high-risk cholesterol levels in adulthood, and in all studies those weights were linked with high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels.

However trends revealed that among children who were overweight or obese as kids who were normal weight by adulthood it was a different story--their risks of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol were similar to people who had a body mass index that was normal throughout their life.

Adults who were obese had more risks, regardless of their weight in childhood. Their risk of developing type 2 diabetes grew by a factor of four compared to normal-weight adults who were overweight or obese as kids.

“These findings reinforce the concept that it is worthwhile helping overweight children to reach a normal weight as they become adults,” MCRI Prof Terry Dwyer said. She warned however that very few children can actually shed the excessive weight and 82 per cent of people who were obese as children were still too heavy as adults.