Early intervention in childhood obesity lowers risk of adult cardiometabolic diseases

A new study from the University of Copenhagen has identified lipid biomarkers in children and teenagers living with obesity that signal an increased risk of developing serious health issues.

Published in Nature Medicine, the research highlights the importance of early intervention in mitigating these long-term health risks.

Lipid biomarkers, which are fats and oils in the body that play key roles in energy storage and cellular signaling, can change in children with obesity, leading to early complications related to metabolism and cardiometabolic health. The study’s findings suggest that these lipid changes in childhood could act as early warning signs for future health risks.

The scientists used advanced mass spectrometry to analyse the lipid profiles of nearly 1,000 children living with obesity and compared them to children of normal weight. They discovered that certain lipid species, linked to cardiometabolic diseases in adults, are already present in children living with obesity. These findings could pave the way for early diagnostic tests, enabling healthcare providers to identify children at higher risk of developing severe health conditions later in life.

In addition to identifying these lipid biomarkers, the study examined the impact of lifestyle interventions. A group of 186 children underwent a one-year obesity management programme at the Children's Obesity Clinic at Holbaek Hospital, an accredited European Centre for Obesity Management. The programme, known as the Holbaek Obesity Treatment method, focuses on lifestyle changes, and the results were promising: 83 per cent of participants reduced their weight, and the levels of harmful lipids dropped significantly. This reduction was closely linked to improvements in cardiometabolic health markers.

"The study emphasises the urgent need to treat childhood obesity seriously, as it poses significant risks for future health," says Professor Torben Hansen, co-senior author of the study. "However, our findings also show that early intervention can reverse these risks, giving children and teenagers a chance at healthier, disease-free lives."

With over 250 million children and teenagers expected to be affected by obesity by 2030, the study underscores the critical importance of early, effective interventions. Left untreated, childhood obesity increases the risk of insulin resistance, fatty liver, and high blood pressure, all of which can lead to more severe conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease in adulthood.