Lifespan halved: When children are far too fat

This is exactly what an international research team has now calculated. The short answer is: the earlier and the longer a person is obese, the more life expectancy they lose. In extreme cases, it can shrink to around 40 years – which would be about half the usual life expectancy in western industrialized nations.

But the modelers don’t just have bad news: their calculations also show how much weight normalization can achieve, especially at a young age.

Consequences of lifelong obesity

The life expectancy of a normal-weight four-year-old boy is about 80 years. The risk of type 2 diabetes is very low, provided he does not become overweight.

The calculations for the effects of obesity on children of the same age, however, show impressively how severe the health consequences are:

Example 1 – severe obesity: A four-year-old boy who is 103 cm tall and weighs 22.7 kg is severely obese (child BMI +3.5). If he does not lose weight, his risk of developing type 2 diabetes at the age of 25 is 27 percent, and at the age of 35 it is 45 percent. His life expectancy is 39 years.

Example 2 – early obesity: A boy of the same height and age who weighs 19.5 kg is classified as slightly obese (child BMI +2). This does represent early obesity. However, the effects are already significantly less than with severe obesity. His risk of type 2 diabetes is 6.5 percent at the age of 25 and 22 percent at the age of 35. His life expectancy is 65 years.

This is how much early weight loss brings

But the data also show how encouraging the effect of weight loss in early life is:

A child with a childhood BMI of +4 at age 4 would only have a life expectancy of 37 years. If they lost enough weight by age 6 to be only slightly obese with a childhood BMI of +2, life expectancy would increase to 64 years.

Insulin resistance – causes and consequences

Insulin resistance – how it arises and why it is often the precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance occurs when cells in muscles, fat, and the liver don’t respond well to insulin, leading the pancreas to produce more insulin to help glucose enter cells. This condition is often triggered by factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and a diet high in sugars and fats. Genetic predisposition also plays a role. Over time, insulin resistance can result in elevated blood glucose levels, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The body struggles to maintain normal blood sugar levels, leading to further health complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, and nerve issues.

Basics of calculations

The calculation model is based on four key values:

• Age at onset of obesity
• Severity of obesity
• Duration of obesity
• Risks of obesity that persist even after weight loss

The severity of obesity was determined using the BMI Z-score, which was developed specifically for children. Unlike the BMI (body mass index) for adults, it also records the extent to which body weight deviates from the normal weight range for children of the same age.

The scale starts at -3 (severe underweight) and is theoretically open-ended. A BMI Z-score of 0 represents the normal range, and obesity begins at a score of +2.

“Childhood obesity is life-threatening”

“It is clear that childhood obesity should be considered a life-threatening disease,” says study leader Dr. Urs Wiedemann of Stradoo GmbH, a life sciences consulting company in Munich. It is crucial that treatment is not postponed until type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or other “warning signs” appear, but that it is started early.

Limitations of the model include that it does not take into account factors such as the cause of obesity, genetic risk factors, ethnic or gender differences, and the interactions between different comorbidities.

The researchers presented the results at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO), which took place in Venice from May 12 to 15.

The problem of early obesity affects many children: almost one in three primary school children in Europe is already overweight or obese. This is shown by figures from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Summertime in the UAE can exasperate the problem

Summertime in the UAE can exacerbate insulin resistance issues due to extreme heat discouraging physical activity. High temperatures often lead to increased consumption of sugary, cold beverages and processed foods, which contribute to weight gain and poor dietary habits. Additionally, the heat can cause dehydration, which affects blood sugar levels and insulin function. Limited outdoor activity reduces exercise, a crucial factor in managing insulin sensitivity. Therefore, it’s essential to find ways to stay active indoors and maintain a balanced diet during the Gulf’s hot summers to mitigate the impact on insulin resistance and overall health.