Pediatric Obesity Resources

Article Summary Treatment Across the Care Continuum in Adolescent Obesity Management: This article reviews the complexity of treating adolescents affected by obesity using antiobesity medications and metabolic bariatric surgery, the potential role of concurrent versus singular treatment strategies and highlights and the need for further research to define optimal timing of these therapies in the adolescent population. Read the Full Article Article Review The treatment landscape for adolescents affected by obesity in the United States has changed dramatically over the past few years. This article highlights the growing impact of adolescent obesity, current information, epidemiology, unique features of adolescent obesity, barriers to care and reviews current treatment options, including antiobesity pharmacotherapy and metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS). Expanding pediatric obesity programs that offer comprehensive care, including lifestyle interventions, anti-obesity medications, and adolescent MBS may help optimize treatment strategies and improve long-term outcomes for adolescents with obesity. Reframing obesity treatment in the adolescent population using a chronic disease model would shift the perspective from viewing treatment as a one-time intervention to recognizing it as part of a continuous, long-term care process. Adopting this model may improve the sustainability of weight management, support the prevention and treatment of weight regain, and promote better long-term health outcomes for adolescents living with obesity. Implications for adult and pediatric obesity specialists include advocating for patients access to evidence-based care, including treatment for adolescents affected by obesity and its associated comorbidities.

Article Summary This long-term population study examines how changes in weight from childhood to young adulthood relate to adult coronary heart disease risk, highlighting adolescence as a critical period. The BMI Epidemiology Study (BEST) in Gothenburg, Sweden examined whether changes in weight status from childhood through young adulthood influence adult CHD risk. Childhood and Young Adulthood Overweight, Including Obesity, and the Risk of CHD: Both childhood overweight and young adult overweight/obesity were associated with higher adult CHD risk, though no significant differences were seen between sexes. Changes in Weight Status Between Childhood and Young Adulthood and the Risk of CHD: Individuals who were overweight in childhood but normalized by young adulthood had CHD risk like those who were never overweight, indicating reversibility of risk. In contrast, pubertal onset overweight (normal childhood weight but overweight in young adulthood) and persistent overweight (overweight in both periods) were linked to higher CHD risk, with pubertal onset overweight carrying the highest risk, particularly in men. BMI Percentile Changes Between Childhood and Young Adulthood and the Risk of CHD: Using BMI percentiles, high childhood BMI that normalized by young adulthood did not increase CHD risk, while high young adult BMI, regardless of childhood BMI, was linked to higher CHD risk. While excess adiposity in childhood is associated with later obesity, it does not appear to irreversibly program CHD risk if weight normalizes by young adulthood. Change in Weight Status From Childhood to Young Adulthood and Risk of Adult Coronary Heart Disease.

A recent study by Rodriguez et al. (2025) reviewed differences in pediatric obesity treatment before and after the release of the 2023 AAP Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity.