To compare the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and mortality in young adulthood among children with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), and their peers from the general population, and to assess the impact of lifestyle-based obesity treatment on disease risk between MHO and MUO groups.
Approach:
Study Design: A cohort study of children undergoing obesity treatment enrolled in the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register (BORIS) from 1997 to 2020, comparing them to matched general population peers.
Inclusion Criteria: Participants aged 7 to 17 years at treatment initiation with complete cardiometabolic data were included.
Outcome Measures: Follow-up for outcomes included type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and mortality until age 30 years or end of follow-up.
Key Findings:
Obesity is heterogeneous, with some individuals experiencing metabolic health despite obesity.
The classification of obesity into MHO and MUO is crucial for understanding treatment needs.
Long-term cardiometabolic risks in children with MHO remain unclear.
Interpretation:
The study aims to clarify the implications of obesity treatment in children with MHO for future health risks.
Limitations:
Participant race and ethnicity information was not collected, which may limit the generalizability of findings.
Exclusion criteria may limit generalizability of findings.
Conclusion:
Understanding the differences in cardiometabolic risks between MHO and MUO is essential for appropriate treatment strategies in pediatric obesity.
