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A prospective cohort analysis from Germany shows transition into adulthood is an underestimated vulnerable period for children with overweight/obesity.
Commun. Med. 5:447 (2025)
BACKGROUND: Even though the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a vulnerable and crucial period for young individuals with chronic conditions, it remains poorly studied in obesity. We comprehensively characterized the transition of children with overweight/obesity from childhood to adult care. METHODS: Data from an adulthood follow-up of the Leipzig childhood obesity cohort (N = 209, mean age at follow-up 24.9 years) were analyzed and related to the respective childhood data. Assessments comprised anthropometrics, oral glucose tolerance testing, carotid ultrasonography, 24 h blood pressure monitoring, liver elastography and questionnaires on psychosocial background, quality of life and transition process. RESULTS: Here we show that childhood onset overweight/obesity persists in 93.3% until adulthood. However, most patients (55.6%) who move into a higher BMI category during transition still report that things are going better with their weight during adulthood. Complications are frequent among young adults (overall 83.7%, (pre)diabetes 11.4%, hypertension 24.5%, elevated intima-media thickness 82.2%, fatty liver disease 10.2%, regular intake of medication 45%) and deteriorate with progressing weight gain from childhood to adulthood. 87% of adults have not been aware of one or more of these complications before. Most participants report physical complaints (57.3%) and symptoms of depression/anxiety (52.0%). The majority (94.3%) lose contact with specialized obesity care during transition with lack of knowledge being the most frequent reason. Instead, general practitioners are regularly consulted by 50.7%, but obesity is seldom addressed as a topic (22.6%). Better management of the transition process is desired by 26.7% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Children with overweight/obesity carry a substantial health burden into adulthood which is often not perceived. Structured transition approaches are needed to address obesity as a chronic condition.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Keywords
Body-mass Index; Cardiovascular-disease Risk; Fatty Liver-disease; Childhood Obesity; Adolescent Obesity; Young-adults; Health; Care; Bmi; Society
ISSN (print) / ISBN
2730-664X
e-ISSN
2730-664X
Journal
Communications Medicine
Quellenangaben
Volume: 5,
Issue: 1,
Article Number: 447
Publisher
Springer
Publishing Place
Campus, 4 Crinan St, London, N1 9xw, England
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG)
Grants
Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (German Diabetes Society)
Joint Programming Initiative A healthy diet for a healthy life (JPI A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life)
01GL1906 SUCCEED]
Bundesministerium fr Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology)
Novo Nordisk Fonden (Novo Nordisk Foundation)
Joint Programming Initiative A healthy diet for a healthy life (JPI A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life)
01GL1906 SUCCEED]
Bundesministerium fr Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology)
Novo Nordisk Fonden (Novo Nordisk Foundation)