Childhood Obesity - Risk Factors and Consequences of the Disease

Introduction: In recent years, there has been a global increase in the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents. Researchers around the world are making efforts to better understand the mechanisms behind childhood obesity, to predict and prevent its consequences. The purpose of this paper: to present the latest reports on the risk factors and consequences of obesity in the minor population. Materials and methods: To search for relevant articles, the PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using terms such as: ‘childhood obesity‘, ‘adolescent adiposity’, childhood obesity risk factors’, ‘childhood obesity implications’. Summary of current knowledge: A number of risk factors for childhood obesity have been demonstrated, which can be categorized in various ways. Among the most influential are behavioral factors, related to young people's choices regarding diet or physical activity undertaken. It has been proven that excessive fat accumulation is promoted by a diet based on highly processed foods and the consumption of high-calorie meals. Studies have shown that factors independent of children’s behavior are important, such as disorders of prenatal development, the way the mother cares for her newborn, or the socioeconomic status of the child's family. Childhood obesity adversely affects the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems, causes mental illness and increases the risk of cancer in adulthood. Conclusions: Childhood obesity is an important public health problem today due to its prevalence and numerous negative effects on the human body both in youth and adulthood. It is extremely important to thoroughly understand the risk factors of the childhood obesity and to be able to predict its consequences, which will allow to effectively combat the problem in question.