Morbidities Associated with Childhood Obesity and its Prevention from the First Thousand Days

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a public health problem on a global scale that directly impacts morbidity and mortality caused by non-communicable diseases.

Objective: Describe from scientific production the increase in obese patients in pediatric age and its relationship with the different morbidities.

Methods: A documentary review was carried out. Relevant studies were located and selected in the electronic databases Medline, Virtual Health Library, Google Scholar, SciELO and in digital books. For the search, the following words were used: childhood obesity, overweight, metabolic syndrome in children, diabetes mellitus in children, non-communicable diseases. Were found 67 articles published in the period from 2000 to 2021 on related topics. Of these, 44 were chosen that addressed the issue of the relationship between childhood obesity, non-communicable diseases and their prevention.

Conclusions: Childhood obesity is the world epidemic of the 21st century, so if there is no effective intervention in children, the incidence of non-communicable diseases in pediatric ages will surely increase and there will be obese adults suffering the consequences of morbidities, which increase the risk of early mortality. The study of the epigenome and its modifications according to the different epigenetic mechanisms will allow the development of more effective behaviors that ensure the health of the child.