Over the last decades, there have been significant changes in human behaviours and lifestyle (i.e., increase in consumption of unhealthy food and overeating as well as a reduction in physical activity). These changes seem to be associated with escalating rates of obesity, to become a global major health issue now a day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2016 obesity affected as many as 650 million people. In particular, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents continues to increase and it is expected that weight-related complications in these age groups will increase too.
In adults, obesity is associated with several metabolic alterations such as impairment of glucose metabolism (insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes) dyslipidaemia (i.e., hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels), and cardiovascular diseases (i.e., hypertension), and nearly three decades ago has been identified as metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Several features of this phenotype (i.e., MetS) are still unclear in non-adult populations and need more investigations to be better elucidated. This Research Topic aims to gather the latest research on metabolic perturbations in children and adolescents with obesity. We welcome original research, reviews, and mini-review articles focused on the following themes (but not limited to):
• Impact of metabolic complications on future physical, mental and reproductive health of adolescents with obesity;
• Suitable definitions of MetS in children and adolescents;
• Novel simple indicators (i.e., simple anthropometric measures) and biomarkers (biochemical test) for the screening of MetS in children and adolescents with obesity;
• Link between childhood obesity and adult MetS;
• The potential role of imaging technology in the diagnosis of MetS in children and adolescents with obesity;
• Genetic background of MetS and its components.
Over the last decades, there have been significant changes in human behaviours and lifestyle (i.e., increase in consumption of unhealthy food and overeating as well as a reduction in physical activity). These changes seem to be associated with escalating rates of obesity, to become a global major health issue now a day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2016 obesity affected as many as 650 million people. In particular, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents continues to increase and it is expected that weight-related complications in these age groups will increase too.
In adults, obesity is associated with several metabolic alterations such as impairment of glucose metabolism (insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes) dyslipidaemia (i.e., hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels), and cardiovascular diseases (i.e., hypertension), and nearly three decades ago has been identified as metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Several features of this phenotype (i.e., MetS) are still unclear in non-adult populations and need more investigations to be better elucidated. This Research Topic aims to gather the latest research on metabolic perturbations in children and adolescents with obesity. We welcome original research, reviews, and mini-review articles focused on the following themes (but not limited to):
• Impact of metabolic complications on future physical, mental and reproductive health of adolescents with obesity;
• Suitable definitions of MetS in children and adolescents;
• Novel simple indicators (i.e., simple anthropometric measures) and biomarkers (biochemical test) for the screening of MetS in children and adolescents with obesity;
• Link between childhood obesity and adult MetS;
• The potential role of imaging technology in the diagnosis of MetS in children and adolescents with obesity;
• Genetic background of MetS and its components.