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Teen obesity in England increases by 50% over 15 years
Apr
New research that will be presented at this year’s European Congress of Obesity (Eco 2025, Malaga, Spain, May 11-14) show that the percentage of teenagers living overweight or obesity in England increased by 50%in 2008-2010 (22%) to 2021-2023 (33%). Research, presented in two studies, are by Dr. Dinesha Giri, a pediatric consultant of the endocrinologist, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol, Bristol, Great Britain and Dr. Senhil Senniappan, Endocrinologist pediatric consultants, Alder Hey Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, Great Britain.
Previous studies have shown that overweight and obesity during puberty are associated with increased incidence. In this study, the authors tried to estimate the dissemination of overweight and obesity among teenagers in England, using routinely collected health care data. They also examined the relationship between the youth body mass (BMI) and the beginning of concomitant conditions during puberty.
The authors used the basic related (DATALINK clinical trial [CPRD]) and secondary data (hospital episode statistics) data on their analysis. Among teenagers aged 12-17 registered in practice bringing CPRD (about 20% of practices throughout the country) in 2008-2023 with BMI readings and using the reference centers of 1990 (commonly used reference to this type of research). Overweight was defined as in the 91st percentile and obesity, as in the 98th centile or above.
Three -year reconnaissance for overweight and obesity was calculated, because they provide more stable estimates, as well as a clearer picture of long -term trends, and not focusing on small changes from year to year. The authors explain that this helps to smooth all random ups and downs that can happen in one year.
Young people with healthy BMI, in or above 2ND and below 91. The centers were included as a comparator. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics for teenagers were described at the first BMI. The incidence of new comorbidities (see Fig. 1 Full Summary) during puberty was compared between teenagers living with overweight or obesity, and people with a healthy weight using statistical modeling.
The period of prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 22% in 2008-2010 to 33% in 2021-2023. There is evidence of more steep growth during / after Covid-19 pandemic.
Of the 139,258 overweight teenagers with an overweight 140 990 with obesity and 560 789 with a healthy weight, higher overweight (26%) or obesity (31%) proportions (31%) than healthy weight (22%) comes from the most deprived of geography (calculated by DECILE or group 10%).
Higher proportions of people living overweight (8%) and obesity (27%) veins with obesity in childhood than people with a healthy weight (1%). A new beginning of mental health (obesity: 8.6% compared to overweight: 7.8% compared to healthy weight: 7.1%), physical (11.6% vs 10.7% vs 9.3%) and cardiometabolic (3.1% vs 1.2% vs 0.5%) coexisting was higher during adolesia, they were higher during adolesia and lived in the period pulled out in relation to a healthy weight.
The second study studied other co -existing diseases in more detail. Of the 15 studied co -existing diseases, the risk of 14 was much higher in teenagers living overweight or obesity compared to those with a healthy weight.
Within 6 years, the risk (Fig. 1 of the second summary) of many comorbidities was higher in overweight teenagers (n = 139 258) or obesity (n = 140 990) than those with a healthy weight (n = 560 789), in particular; obstructive sleep apnea (3 times higher [overweight] and 8 times higher [obesity]), type 2 diabetes (3 and 11 times higher) and metabolic dysfunction associated with liver steatotic (3 and 12 times higher), Prediabetes (2 and 4 times higher) and polycystic syndrome (PCOS) (2 and 4 times higher).
The authors summarize: “The burden of overweight and obesity among teenagers in England is significant and increased in 2008-2023. There is a much higher risk of early occurrence of many, especially cardiometabolic, coexisting among teenagers living with overweight or obese, and the risk increases with the increase in BMI.”
They add: “Over the past 15 years, the obesity in teenagers has increased significantly due to the combination of increased eating ultra-transformed food, a sedentary lifestyle powered by excessive time on the screen, inadequate sleep and growing challenges of mental health. Reduced possibilities of physical and socio-economic activity contribute to the environment that promotes non-extinguishing life.
They say: “In the case of many co -existing diseases associated with the weight overweight and obesity during puberty, they are associated with higher risk both during puberty and growing up. Changing BMI during puberty may have a long -term effect on the risk of developing co -extinguishing diseases. Increased focus on weight management during adolescence can lead to long -term improvement in general health.”
