Life · 3 authors, 2 centres
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This narrative review summarizes that pediatric obesity is a prevalent chronic disease with numerous metabolic and psychosocial complications, and its management primarily relies on lifestyle modification, with recent advances in FDA-approved anti-obesity medications and bariatric surgery as additional options.
This narrative review synthesizes data on pediatric obesity, a condition affecting about 1 in 5 youth globally. It outlines key metabolic complications including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and polycystic ovary syndrome, alongside psychosocial impacts like weight stigma. Metabolic and bariatric surgery is noted as effective for severe obesity but limited by specialized centers and low uptake. Limitations include a paucity of approved pediatric therapies and a lack of large-scale or long-term studies. The review concludes that timely diagnosis and a multifaceted approach are critical for managing this chronic disease.
