Childhood and adolescent obesity and adult mortality: a systematic review of cohort studies

Abstract

This systematic review addressed cohort studies on obesity in childhood and adolescence and adult mortality, published from January 1990 to March 2007. We searched the PubMed database with the following uniterms: obesity, mortality, child, adolescent; obesity and mortality; overweight and mortality. References were also analyzed. The age limit was 2 to 18 years. Quality of the articles was assessed, and eight were identified and reviewed. All used weight and stature for determination of obesity, and seven used body mass index (BMI). The quality score varied from 9 to 17. Evidence of association between obesity in childhood and adolescence and adult mortality should be viewed with caution. Use of BMI and potential confounders were discussed. Further research is needed to analyze the relationship between childhood and adolescent obesity and adult mortality.

Variáveis infantis e maternas associadas à presença de sobrepeso em crianças de creches

“…Estudos têm sugerido uma associação entre a obesidade na infância e vida adulta e o maior risco para doenças crônicas não-transmissíveis, tornando este um dos mais importantes temas de Saúde Pública da atualidade (16) .…”

Estimating the lifetime cost of childhood obesity in Germany: Results of a Markov Model

“…Relative mortality risk of obesity reported in this study was weighted using age-specific obesity prevalence data from Germany (Appendix 3). Relative risk of mortality during adult life due to obesity in childhood and adolescence was based on a systematic review by Adami (19). Because of the heterogeneity of studies in the systematic review, we used two Norwegian studies (20) that had the highest quality scores (based on external and internal validity, study power and clarity of presentation) and had similar prevalence rates of overweight and obesity as Germany (21).…”

First nationwide survey of prevalence of weight disorders in Iranian children at school entry

“…[2] However, most national public health programs and policies, as well as nationallevel researches on children in low-and middle-income countries are still focused on undernutrition and its effects on survival, mortality and development of mothers and children. In addition to its early health hazards during childhood, [3][4][5] overweight might have significant impact on chronic diseases and mortality rate later in life, [6,7] and it has been largely ignored in health strategies developed at national level in many low-and middle-income countries. This might be due to the fact that generally this medical condition is not recognized as a health priority partly because of the lack of national valid data about the prevalence of different weight disorders.…”