Pediatricians, attention! Why are our children getting fat?

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing. Impaired fat metabolism has dangerous consequences: excess adipose tissue is associated with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, damage to the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems, kidneys, hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal tracts, and even cancer. Unfortunately, many of these diseases are now common among pediatric patients. Obesity is a disease that requires treatment. Often, the problem of excess weight begins in childhood and continues throughout life, so the increasing prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents is particularly alarming. Obesity is primarily caused by an excess of energy intake over energy expenditure. Many factors influence the risk of obesity, including biological, behavioral, environmental, socioeconomic, cultural, geographical, and psychological factors. Contributing factors include comorbidities, the use of certain medications, and changes in the gut microbiota. Rapid urbanization and globalization of society exacerbate the consumption of high-calorie foods and a sedentary lifestyle, fostering an environment conducive to the development of obesity. However, not everyone living in such conditions will become obese. There are a number of modifiable risk factors that, if addressed, can successfully manage body weight. Improving the knowledge of both physicians and patients can significantly facilitate the fight against such a complex disease as obesity. This article, intended for pediatricians, outlines the risk factors for obesity in children and adolescents. The review includes the results of over 80 systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical studies, selected from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science using the keywords “obesity”, “overweight”, “body mass index”, “risk factors”, “nutrition”, and “microbiota”. Duplicates and publications describing clinical cases and off-topic issues were excluded.

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