Childhood Obesity Treatment Significantly Reduces Long-Term Health Risks, Study Finds
Helping children and teenagers with obesity lose excess weight can have a profound impact on their long-term health, significantly lowering their risk of developing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol in adulthood. A new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics on January 21, also reveals that successful weight loss in childhood and adolescence dramatically reduces the likelihood of early death.
Dr. Emilia Hagman, senior researcher and docent of clinical science, intervention, and technology at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, described the findings as highly encouraging. She emphasized that early intervention in childhood obesity is crucial, as it greatly increases the chances of successful treatment while also mitigating long-term health risks. There has been ongoing debate about whether weight loss in childhood has lasting benefits, but this study provides strong evidence supporting its positive impact.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 6,700 Swedish children who received obesity treatment between 1996 and 2019. The children, who began treatment at an average age of 12, underwent obesity management for approximately three years. As they reached adulthood, between the ages of 18 and 30, researchers assessed their health outcomes. The study found that children who responded well to obesity treatment had significantly lower risks of developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Those who lost enough weight to no longer be classified as obese experienced even greater health benefits, including a dramatically reduced risk of requiring bariatric surgery. Most notably, the study found that successful obesity treatment in childhood was associated with an 88 percent lower risk of early death.
While the study highlighted the clear physical health benefits of obesity treatment, it found no evidence that losing weight reduced the risk of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression in adulthood. Hagman noted that while there is often an assumption that weight loss improves mental health, the findings suggest that obesity and mood disorders must be treated separately.
Given the study’s results, Hagman suggested that GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as Wegovy and Zepbound, could be considered for children struggling with obesity. These drugs, which are commonly prescribed for adults, help curb hunger—a challenge many children with obesity face. However, she stressed that lifestyle therapy, including dietary changes and physical activity, remains the cornerstone of all childhood obesity treatments.
The study was funded by Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, a disclosure that underscores the need for independent studies to further validate these findings. Despite this, the research offers strong evidence that effective childhood obesity treatment can lead to significant long-term health improvements and potentially save lives.