Beyond the Metabolic Syndrome: Non-Obvious Complications of Obesity in Children

Abstract

Obesity is currently one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide due to the continuous increase in obesity rates among children, especially younger children. Complications related to obesity, including serious ones, are increasingly being diagnosed in younger children. A search was performed from January 2023 to September 2023 using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, MEDLINE, and EBSCO databases. The focus was on English-language meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, and observational studies worldwide. Four main topics were defined as follows: disorders of glucose metabolism; liver disease associated with childhood obesity; the relationship between respiratory disorders and obesity in children; and the effects of obesity on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and puberty. Understanding potential complications and their underlying mechanisms can expedite the diagnostic process and enhance the effectiveness of treatment. We aspire that this study will bring insight into the often-overlooked complications associated with obesity.