German scientists from the life sciences company Stardoo have discovered that severe obesity in early childhood can reduce a person’s average life expectancy by about 50 percent. The researchers presented the results of their study at the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) conference. In their calculations, the researchers used four key variables: the age at which obesity begins, the duration of obesity, the accumulation of irreversible risks (irreversible obesity risk index - health consequences that persist even after weight loss), and the severity of obesity. They obtained this data from 50 clinical studies on obesity and related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and fatty liver disease.
The modeling showed that children who are obese at the age of four and do not lose the excess weight later can live only up to 39 years. The modeling also revealed that early onset and severe obesity increase the likelihood of associated diseases. For example, a child with severe obesity has a 27 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes by the age of 25. By the age of 35, this risk rises to 45 percent. According to the researchers, these consequences can be avoided if the child manages to shed excess weight early, as the modeling indicated that the quicker a child's weight returns to normal, the longer their lifespan and the lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
