A large-scale study conducted by researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) and elsewhere has highlighted a critical health concern: the link between adolescent obesity and the early onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in young adulthood.
Published in JAMA Pediatrics, this research underscores the urgency of addressing obesity in adolescents to manage future risks of kidney disease.
The study, involving collaborations with Johns Hopkins and Harvard University, analyzed medical assessment data of 593,660 Israeli adolescents aged 16-20, who were evaluated for mandatory military service.
The participants, born after January 1, 1975, were followed for an average of 13.4 years.
The findings are alarming. Out of the total cohort, 1,963 adolescents (0.3%) developed early CKD. The risk associated with obesity was significant:
- For male adolescents, severe obesity increased the risk of CKD most dramatically (hazard ratio [HR], 9.4). However, even mild obesity (HR, 6.7), being overweight (HR, 4.0), or having a high-normal BMI (HR, 1.8) in adolescence were associated with increased risks.
- Among female adolescents, the highest risk was again linked to severe obesity (HR, 4.3). Mild obesity (HR, 2.7), being overweight (HR, 2.3), or having a high-normal BMI (HR, 1.4) also posed significant risks.
These findings indicate that the threat of CKD extends beyond severely obese adolescents to those with high-normal BMI values. This broadens the scope of concern to include individuals who might be considered healthy by conventional standards.
Lead by Dr. Avishai M. Tsur of the Hebrew University Department of Military Medicine, the study team warns of the increasing likelihood of preventable CKD and subsequent cardiovascular diseases stemming from adolescent obesity.
This research is a call to action to reduce adolescent obesity rates. It emphasizes the need for early interventions and lifestyle modifications among young individuals, particularly those at risk due to higher BMIs.
By addressing obesity in adolescence, there is potential to significantly reduce the onset of chronic kidney disease later in life, safeguarding the long-term health of the younger generation.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA Padiatrics.
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