US teen obesity crisis reaches alarming levels - Study

LOS ANGELES - Obesity in US adolescents has reached alarming levels, with approximately 21 per cent of those aged 12 to 18 affected, according to a study released recently.

This condition impacts current health and significantly increases the likelihood of adult obesity and associated diseases, said the report published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA).

The study defines adolescent obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex. It underscores the growing prevalence of severe obesity, which affects 7.6 per cent of US adolescents and is characterised by a BMI of 120 per cent of the 95th percentile or greater, said Xinhua.

Key factors contributing to this epidemic include genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences. Heritability estimates suggest genetics account for 40 per cent to 70 per cent of obesity risk, the study finds.

Lifestyle behaviours such as excessive screen time and poor sleep also play critical roles. For instance, adolescents who spend over two hours a day on recreational screen activities have a 67 per cent higher risk of being overweight or obese.

The report highlights the complex pathophysiology of obesity, which involves an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure influenced by hormones that regulate hunger and satiety.

Adolescent obesity is associated with numerous health complications, including insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep disorders, and depression.

Alarmingly, obesity during adolescence is linked to higher adult mortality from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the report.

Treatment strategies vary, but lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone. Effective interventions include dietary changes, increased physical activity, and behavioural counselling, according to the study. - BERNAMA-XINHUA